High pressure photoluminescence and Raman studies of ZnxCd 1-xSe quantum dots

10.1088/0953-8984/20/32/325214Journal of Physics Condensed Matter2032-JCOM

Regulation of estrogen receptor-mediated long range transcription via evolutionarily conserved distal response elements

10.1074/jbc.M802024200Journal of Biological Chemistry2834732977-32988JBCH

Effects of dietary niacinamide and CP concentrations on the nitrogen excretion, growth performance, and meat quality of pigs

Reducing the dietary CP concentration in the formulation of low-protein diets without adverse effects on animal growth performance and meat quality remains challenging. In this study, we investigated the effects of nicotinamide (NAM) on the nitrogen excretion, growth performance, and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs fed low-protein diets. To measure the nitrogen balance, we conducted two trials: in nitrogen balance trial 1, four crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) barrows (40 ± 0.5 kg BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with four diets and periods. The diets consisted of a basal diet + 30 mg/kg NAM (a control dose), basal diet + 90 mg/kg NAM, basal diet + 210 mg/kg NAM, and basal diet + 360 mg/kg NAM. In nitrogen balance trial 2, another four barrows (40 ± 0.5 kg BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The diets consisted of a basal diet + including 30 mg/kg NAM (control), basal diet + 360 mg/kg NAM, low-protein diet + 30 mg/kg NAM, and low-protein diet + 360 mg/kg NAM. To measure growth performance, two trials were conducted. In growth performance trial 1, 40 barrows (37.0 ± 1.0 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments (n = 10 per group), whereas in growth performance trial 2, 300 barrows (41.4 ± 2.0 kg) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments, with each dietary treatment conducted in five repetitions with 15 pigs each. The four diets in the two growth performance trials were similar to those in nitrogen balance trial 2. Supplementing the diet with 210 or 360 mg/kg NAM reduced urinary nitrogen excretion and total nitrogen excretion and increased nitrogen retention comparted with the control diet (P  0.05). Pigs fed the low-protein diet with 360 mg/kg NAM showed a decreased intramuscular fat content in the longissimus thoracis muscle when compared with pigs fed the control diet (P > 0.05). Our results suggest NAM as a suitable dietary additive to reduce dietary CP concentration, maximise nitrogen retention and growth performance, and decrease fat deposition in pigs

Primary instabilities and bicriticality in fiber suspensions between rotating cylinders

The linear stability of fiber suspensions between two concentric cylinders rotating independently is studied. The modified stability equation is obtained based on the fiber orientation model and Hinch-Leal closure approximation. The primary instabilities and bicritical curves have been calculated numerically. The critical Reynolds number, wavenumber and wave speeds of fiber suspensions as functions of the aspect ratio, volume concentration of the fibers and the gap width of cylinders are obtained

The effect of simulated gastric environments on the anti-Helicobacter activity of garlic oil.

AIMS: To investigate the effects of simulated gastric conditions upon the anti-Helicobacter pylori effects of garlic oil (GO). METHODS AND RESULTS: Time course viability experiments assessed the anti-H. pylori activity of GO (16 and 32 microg ml(-1)) in simulated gastric environments. Rapid anti-H. pylori action of GO was observed in artificial gastric juice. Mucus (1-5%) was strongly protective of H. pylori both alone and in the presence of GO, but its protective effect was antagonized by GO. Peptone (5-15 g l(-1)) caused a dose-dependent reduction in the anti-H. pylori activity of GO. Rapeseed oil (5.7-17 g l(-1)) greatly diminished the anti-H. pylori activity of GO. Dextrin (44 and 133 g l(-1)) exhibited direct anti-H. pylori effects and added to those of GO. Simulated meal mixtures decreased but did not eliminate the anti-H. pylori activity of 32 mug ml(-1) GO. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-H. pylori activity of GO was noticeably affected by food materials and mucin. However, substantial activity remained under simulated gastric conditions. Further investigation of the therapeutic potential of GO against H. pylori is therefore warranted. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Garlic oil may be useful as an alternative treatment against H. pylori, a major cause of gastrointestinal infections in humans