Effects of different levels of protein-to-energy ratios on nutrient digestibility and digestive enzyme activity in Leiothrix luteal

Effects of different levels of protein-to-energy ratios (PER) on nutrient utilization, digestive organs index and digestive enzymes activities in Leiothrix luteal were investigated in this research. It was found that different PER feedstuff had no significant effects on the utilization of dry matter (DM), calcium (Ca) and total phosphorus (TP). With the improvement of the PER, average daily feed intake (ADFI) gradually increased, the apparent utilization rate of energy and fat gradually improved, while the apparent utilization rate of crude protein increased at first and then decreased. Development of digestive organs of L. luteal was affected by the level of dietary PER, with the increase in PER, the digestive organ indices of muscular stomach, duodenum, jejunoileum and rectum exhibited a downward trend, the main influencing factors were the level of metabolizable energy in diets. With the intestinal tract moving backward, the relative activity of proteases gradually reduced, manifesting as pancreas > duodenum > jejunoileum. The relative activity of carbohydrate digestion enzymes gradually increased as the intestinal tract moved backward. With the improvement of PER, the relative activity of lipase gradually decreased in pancreas, duodenum, and jejunoileum. L. luteal possessed a strong ability to digest crude fiber and total phosphorus; the reason might be closely related to the types and quantities of intestinal flora, which was affected by the feeding habits of this bird. By comprehensively considering the nutrient utilization, digestive organ indices and digestive enzymes activities, the formula of PER II was more appropriate for nutritional needs of L. luteal in captivity.Keywords: Leiothrix luteal, protein-to-energy ratios, nutrients, digestion and utilization, enzyme activitiesAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(15), pp. 1902-190

Diagnostic value of two dimensional shear wave elastography combined with texture analysis in early liver fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Staging diagnosis of liver fibrosis is a prerequisite for timely diagnosis and therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. In recent years, ultrasound elastography has become an important method for clinical noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis stage, but its diagnostic value for early liver fibrosis still needs to be further improved. In this study, the texture analysis was carried out on the basis of two dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), and the feasibility of 2D-SWE plus texture analysis in the diagnosis of early liver fibrosis was discussed. AIM: To assess the diagnostic value of 2D-SWE combined with textural analysis in liver fibrosis staging. METHODS: This study recruited 46 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Patients underwent 2D-SWE and texture analysis; Young\u27s modulus values and textural patterns were obtained, respectively. Textural pattern was analyzed with regard to contrast, correlation, angular second moment (ASM), and homogeneity. Pathological results of biopsy specimens were the gold standard; comparison and assessment of the diagnosis efficiency were conducted for 2D-SWE, texture analysis and their combination. RESULTS: 2D-SWE displayed diagnosis efficiency in early fibrosis, significant fibrosis, severe fibrosis, and early cirrhosis (AUC \u3e 0.7, P \u3c 0.05) with respective AUC values of 0.823 (0.678-0.921), 0.808 (0.662-0.911), 0.920 (0.798-0.980), and 0.855 (0.716-0.943). Contrast and homogeneity displayed independent diagnosis efficiency in liver fibrosis stage (AUC \u3e 0.7, P \u3c 0.05), whereas correlation and ASM showed limited values. AUC of contrast and homogeneity were respectively 0.906 (0.779-0.973), 0.835 (0.693-0.930), 0.807 (0.660-0.910) and 0.925 (0.805-0.983), 0.789 (0.639-0.897), 0.736 (0.582-0.858), 0.705 (0.549-0.883) and 0.798 (0.650-0.904) in four liver fibrosis stages, which exhibited equivalence to 2D-SWE in diagnostic efficiency (P \u3e 0.05). Combined diagnosis (PRE) displayed diagnostic efficiency (AUC \u3e 0.7, P \u3c 0.01) for all fibrosis stages with respective AUC of 0.952 (0.841-0.994), 0.896 (0.766-0.967), 0.978 (0.881-0.999), 0.947 (0.835-0.992). The combined diagnosis showed higher diagnosis efficiency over 2D-SWE in early liver fibrosis (P \u3c 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed in other comparisons (P \u3e 0.05). CONCLUSION: Texture analysis was capable of diagnosing liver fibrosis stage, combined diagnosis had obvious advantages in early liver fibrosis, liver fibrosis stage might be related to the hepatic tissue hardness distribution

Modulating the Verwey Transition of Epitaxial Magnetite Thin Films by Ionic Gating

Understanding the Verwey transition in magnetite (Fe3O4), a strongly correlated magnetic oxide, is a one-century-old topic that recaptures great attention because of the recent spectroscopy studies revealing its orbital details. Here, the modulation of the Verwey transition by tuning the orbital configurations with ionic gating is reported. In epitaxial magnetite thin films, the insulating Verwey state can be tuned continuously to be metallic showing that the low-temperature trimeron states can be controllably metalized by both the gate-induced oxygen vacancies and proton doping. The ionic gating can also reverse the sign of the anomalous Hall coefficient, indicating that the metallization is associated with the presence of a new type of carrier with competing spin. The variable spin orientation associated with the sign reversal is originated from the structural distortions driven by the gate-induced oxygen vacancies

Conventional MRI features for predicting the clinical outcome of patients with invasive placenta

PURPOSE:We aimed to evaluate whether morphologic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features could help to predict the maternal outcome after uterine artery embolization (UAE)-assisted cesarean section (CS) in patients with invasive placenta previa.METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed the MRI data of 40 pregnant women who have undergone UAE-assisted cesarean section due to suspected high risk of massive hemorrhage caused by invasive placenta previa. Patients were divided into two groups based on the maternal outcome (good-outcome group: minor hemorrhage and uterus preserved; poor-outcome group: significant hemorrhage or emergency hysterectomy). Morphologic MRI features were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the most valuable variables, and predictive value of the identified risk factor was determined. RESULTS:Low signal intensity bands on T2-weighted imaging (P < 0.001), placenta percreta (P = 0.011), and placental cervical protrusion sign (P = 0.002) were more frequently observed in patients with poor outcome. Low signal intensity bands on T2-weighted imaging was the only significant predictor of poor maternal outcome in multivariate analysis (P = 0.020; odds ratio, 14.79), with 81.3% sensitivity and 84.3% specificity.CONCLUSION:Low signal intensity bands on T2-weighted imaging might be a predictor of poor maternal outcome after UAE-assisted cesarean section in patients with invasive placenta previa

Complete mitochondrial genomes of Taenia multiceps, T. hydatigena and T. pisiformis: additional molecular markers for a tapeworm genus of human and animal health significance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mitochondrial genomes provide a rich source of molecular variation of proven and widespread utility in molecular ecology, population genetics and evolutionary biology. The tapeworm genus <it>Taenia </it>includes a diversity of tapeworm parasites of significant human and veterinary importance. Here we add complete sequences of the mt genomes of <it>T. multiceps</it>, <it>T. hydatigena </it>and <it>T. pisiformis</it>, to a data set of 4 published mtDNAs in the same genus. Seven complete mt genomes of <it>Taenia </it>species are used to compare and contrast variation within and between genomes in the genus, to estimate a phylogeny for the genus, and to develop novel molecular markers as part of an extended mitochondrial toolkit.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The complete circular mtDNAs of <it>T. multiceps</it>, <it>T. hydatigena </it>and <it>T. pisiformis </it>were 13,693, 13,492 and 13,387 bp in size respectively, comprising the usual complement of flatworm genes. Start and stop codons of protein coding genes included those found commonly amongst other platyhelminth mt genomes, but the much rarer initiation codon GTT was inferred for the gene <it>atp</it>6 in <it>T. pisiformis</it>. Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNAs offered novel estimates of the interrelationships of <it>Taenia</it>. Sliding window analyses showed <it>nad</it>6, <it>nad</it>5, <it>atp</it>6, <it>nad</it>3 and <it>nad</it>2 are amongst the most variable of genes per unit length, with the highest peaks in nucleotide diversity found in <it>nad</it>5. New primer pairs capable of amplifying fragments of variable DNA in <it>nad</it>1, <it>rrn</it>S and <it>nad</it>5 genes were designed <it>in silico </it>and tested as possible alternatives to existing mitochondrial markers for <it>Taenia</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>With the availability of complete mtDNAs of 7 <it>Taenia </it>species, we have shown that analysis of amino acids provides a robust estimate of phylogeny for the genus that differs markedly from morphological estimates or those using partial genes; with implications for understanding the evolutionary radiation of important <it>Taenia</it>. Full alignment of the nucleotides of <it>Taenia </it>mtDNAs and sliding window analysis suggests numerous alternative gene regions are likely to capture greater nucleotide variation than those currently pursued as molecular markers. New PCR primers developed from a comparative mitogenomic analysis of <it>Taenia </it>species, extend the use of mitochondrial markers for molecular ecology, population genetics and diagnostics.</p

Anti-HCV reactive volunteer blood donors distribution character and genotypes switch in Xi'an, China

HCV is prevailed in the world as well as in China. Blood transfusion is one of the most common transmission pathways of this pathogen. Although data of HCV infection character were reported during the past years, anti-HCV reactive profile of China donors was not fully clear yet. Furthermore, infection progress was found related to the HCV genotype. Different genotype led to different efficacy when interferon was introduced into HCV therapy. Here we provided character data of HCV infection in China blood donors from the year of 2000 to 2009. The infection rate in local donors was lower than general population and descended from 0.80% to 0.40% or so in recent years. About 83% HCV strains were categorized into genotypes 1b and 2a. But 1b subtype cases climbed and 2a subtype cases decreased. The current study threw more light on HCV infection of blood donors in China, at least in the Northern region

Plasmoid ejection and secondary current sheet generation from magnetic reconnection in laser-plasma interaction

Reconnection of the self-generated magnetic fields in laser-plasma interaction was first investigated experimentally by Nilson {\it et al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 255001 (2006)] by shining two laser pulses a distance apart on a solid target layer. An elongated current sheet (CS) was observed in the plasma between the two laser spots. In order to more closely model magnetotail reconnection, here two side-by-side thin target layers, instead of a single one, are used. It is found that at one end of the elongated CS a fan-like electron outflow region including three well-collimated electron jets appears. The ($>1$ MeV) tail of the jet energy distribution exhibits a power-law scaling. The enhanced electron acceleration is attributed to the intense inductive electric field in the narrow electron dominated reconnection region, as well as additional acceleration as they are trapped inside the rapidly moving plasmoid formed in and ejected from the CS. The ejection also induces a secondary CS