-
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2024This study investigated the effects of replacing maize silage (MZS) with high-sugar sorghum silage (HSS) or forage sorghum silage (FSS) without additional grain...
Effects of Sweet and Forge Sorghum Silages Compared to Maize Silage without Additional Grain Supplement on Lactation Performance and Digestibility of Lactating Dairy Cows.
This study investigated the effects of replacing maize silage (MZS) with high-sugar sorghum silage (HSS) or forage sorghum silage (FSS) without additional grain supplement in the diets of dairy cows on nutrient digestibility, milk composition, nitrogen (N) use, and rumen fermentation. Twenty-four Chinese Holstein cows (545 ± 42.8 kg; 21.41 ± 0.62 kg milk yield; 150 ± 5.6 days in milk) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments = 8 cows/treatment). The cows were fed ad libitum total mixed rations containing (dry matter basis) either 40% MZS (MZS-based diet), 40% HSS (HSS-based diet), or 40% FSS (FSS-based diet). The study lasted for 42 days, with 14 days devoted to adaptation, 21 days to daily feed intake and milk production, and 7 days to the sampling of feed, refusals, feces, urine, and rumen fluid. Milk production was measured twice daily, and digestibility was estimated using the method of acid-insoluble ash. The data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA in SPSS 22.0 according to a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were used as fixed effects and cows as random effects. The results indicate that MZS and HSS had greater crude protein but less neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and a lower pH than FSS ( ≤ 0.04). High starch contents in MZS and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents in HSS were observed ( < 0.01). While the highest starch intake was observed for the MZS-based diet, the highest WSC intake was noted for the HSS-based diet, and the highest NDF, ADF, ADL intake was observed for the FSS-based diet ( ≤ 0.05). The diets, including MZS and HSS, had greater digestibility than that of FSS ( ≤ 0.03). Feeding MZS- and HSS-based diets increased the yield, fat, and protein content of the milk, as well as feed conversion efficiency ( ≤ 0.03). However, feeding the MZS- and HSS-based diets decreased the contents of milk urea N, urinary urea N, and urinary N excretion more than the FSS-based diet ( ≤ 0.05). The N use efficiency tended to increase relative to diets containing MZS and HSS compared with FSS ( = 0.06 and = 0.09). Ruminal ammonia-N and pH were lower, but total volatile fatty acids, acetate, and propionate were higher in cows fed the HSS- and MZS-based diets compared to those fed the FSS-based diet ( ≤ 0.03). It appears as though replacing MZS with HSS in the diet of cows without additional grain supplements has no negative influence on feed intake, milk yield, N utilization, or ruminal fermentation.
PubMed: 38891748
DOI: 10.3390/ani14111702 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024Cystatin C, ammonia, and bicarbonate have been described to be biomarkers of sepsis and inflammation in humans. The saliva of pigs can be used to detect a wide range of...
Cystatin C, ammonia, and bicarbonate have been described to be biomarkers of sepsis and inflammation in humans. The saliva of pigs can be used to detect a wide range of pathogens but also many biomarkers that can be analyzed to evaluate different conditions such as stress (i.e., cortisol and alpha amylase), immune system (i.e., ADA, S100 proteins), inflammation (i.e., acute phase proteins), redox status (i.e., various antioxidants and oxidants), and general metabolism or the status of different organs and tissues. However, there is a lack of assays for the possible measurement and use of cystatin C, ammonia, and bicarbonate in saliva as biomarkers of sepsis or inflammation in pigs. The objective of this study was to validate commercially available automated assays for the measurement of cystatin C, ammonia, and bicarbonate in the saliva of pigs, having the advantage of using a noninvasive sample that is easy to collect. The assays were precise and accurate, and the recommended storage condition for the saliva samples was -80 °C. In addition, cystatin and ammonia showed significant increases in the saliva of pigs with infection, whereas bicarbonate decreased. Further studies would be recommended to increase knowledge about the possible potential applications of the measurements of these three analytes in the saliva of pigs as biomarkers to evaluate the animals' health and welfare.
PubMed: 38891627
DOI: 10.3390/ani14111580 -
Polymers May 2024The impact of methyl salicylate (MeSA) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in chitosan (CS)/Gum Arabic (GA) mixture on physio-chemical characteristics and antioxidant status...
The impact of methyl salicylate (MeSA) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in chitosan (CS)/Gum Arabic (GA) mixture on physio-chemical characteristics and antioxidant status during the postharvest ripening of green tomato fruits was studied. CS/GA-MeSA at a 1 mM formulation was the best treatment to retard firmness and titratable acidity (TA) losses. Moreover, this formulation retarded pigmentation progress where it had the lowest significant values of total carotenes (TCs) and lycopene (LYP) contents until the 15th day of the storage period, as well as efficiently faced the rise in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Moreover, peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), catalase (CAT), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities of tomatoes treated with CS/GA-SNP at 2 mM were significantly better than that of control in the primary stages of storage. CS/GA-SNP at a 2 mM formulation showed an extremely high significant content of total polyphenol (TP) in the early stage of storage, while CS/GA and CS/GA-MeSA at 1 and 2 mM accumulated higher significant TP contents than uncoated fruits at the late stage of storage. All formulations were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the polymer formulations exhibited strong antifungal activity against and as major pathogens of postharvest tomatoes. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations for the mycelia of both fungi treated by CS/GA-MeSA at 2 mM revealed serious ultrastructural damage, including distortion of the cell wall and cell membrane and degradation of cytoplasmic organelles.
PubMed: 38891464
DOI: 10.3390/polym16111518 -
Polymers May 2024Partial nitrification-Anammox (PN-A) is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and efficient method for removing ammonia (NH-N) pollutants from water. However, the...
Partial nitrification-Anammox (PN-A) is a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and efficient method for removing ammonia (NH-N) pollutants from water. However, the limited accumulation of nitrite (NO-N) represents a bottleneck in the development of PN-A processes. To address this issue, this study developed a composite carrier loaded with nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and zeolite to enhance NO-N accumulation during short-cut nitrification. The modified composite carrier revealed electropositive, hydrophilicity, and surface roughness. These surface characteristics correlate positively with the carrier's total biomass adsorption capacity; the initial adsorption of microorganisms by the composite carrier was increased by 8.7 times. Zeolite endows the carrier with an NH-N adsorption capacity of 4.50 mg/g carrier. The entropy-driven ammonia adsorption process creates an ammonia-rich microenvironment on the surface of the carrier, providing effective inhibition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). In tests conducted with a moving bed biofilm reactor and a sequencing batch reactor, the composite carrier achieved a 95% NH-N removal efficiency, a NO-N accumulation efficiency of 78%, and a doubling in total nitrogen removal efficiency. This composite carrier enhances NO-N accumulation by preventing biomass washout, inhibiting NOB, and enriching PN-A functional bacteria, suggesting its potential for large-scale, stable PN-A applications.
PubMed: 38891453
DOI: 10.3390/polym16111506 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Sprouts' consumption has become popular due to their wide availability, easy cultivation process, and proven biological activity. Moreover, stress factors, such as...
Sprouts' consumption has become popular due to their wide availability, easy cultivation process, and proven biological activity. Moreover, stress factors, such as limited access to light or disturbed gravity during growth, may contribute to the increased activity and the synthesis of bioactive compounds. In this study, for the first time, the examination of the impact of darkness and simulated microgravity conditions on the white clover sprouts from the family was conducted. Among several species, used in the preliminary attempts, only white clover was satisfactory sprouting in the disturbed gravity conditions, and thus was chosen for further examination. A random positioning machine setup was used during the cultivation process to simulate microgravity conditions. Additionally, the sprouts were cultivated in total darkness. Simulated microgravity and/or darkness during the first few days of the sprouts' growth caused biomass reduction, the increased synthesis of bioactive compounds (isoflavones and phenolics), and changes in the level of abscisic acid and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Moreover, it increased the antioxidant properties of the sprouts, while the enhancement of their cytotoxic impact was observed only for androgen-dependent prostate cancer LNCaP cells. To conclude, the presented results are promising in searching for novel functional food candidates and further studies are necessary, directed at other plant families.
PubMed: 38891323
DOI: 10.3390/plants13111515 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024This study aimed to reveal the impact of MeJA and ZnSO treatments on the physiological metabolism of barley seedlings and the content of phenolic acid. The results...
This study aimed to reveal the impact of MeJA and ZnSO treatments on the physiological metabolism of barley seedlings and the content of phenolic acid. The results showed that MeJA (100 μM) and ZnSO (4 mM) treatments effectively increased the phenolic acid content by increasing the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (PAL) and cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and by up-regulating the expression of genes involved in phenolic acid synthesis. As a result of the MeJA or ZnSO treatment, the phenolic acid content increased by 35.3% and 30.9% at four days and by 33.8% and 34.5% at six days, respectively, compared to the control. Furthermore, MeJA and ZnSO treatments significantly increased the malondialdehyde content, causing cell membrane damage and decreasing the fresh weight and seedling length. Barley seedlings responded to MeJA- and ZnSO-induced stress by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and controlling their gene expression levels. Meanwhile, MeJA and ZnSO treatments significantly upregulated , , and genes in barley seedlings. This suggested that Ca may be the signaling molecule that promotes phenolic acid synthesis under MeJA and ZnSO treatment. This study deepens the understanding of the phenolic acid enrichment process in barley seedlings under MeJA and ZnSO treatments.
PubMed: 38891320
DOI: 10.3390/plants13111512 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Sweet basil ( L.) is an important aromatic plant with high edibility and economic value, widely distributed in many regions of the tropics including the south of China....
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Revealed Candidate Gene Modules Involved in Salt Stress Response in Sweet Basil and Overexpression of and Enhanced Salt Tolerance of Transgenic .
Sweet basil ( L.) is an important aromatic plant with high edibility and economic value, widely distributed in many regions of the tropics including the south of China. In recent years, environmental problems, especially soil salinization, have seriously restricted the planting and spread of sweet basil. However, the molecular mechanism of the salt stress response in sweet basil is still largely unknown. In this study, seed germination, seedling growth, and chlorophyll synthesis in sweet basil were inhibited under salt stress conditions. Through comparative transcriptome analysis, the gene modules involved in the metabolic processes, oxidative response, phytohormone signaling, cytoskeleton, and photosynthesis were screened out. In addition, the landscape of transcription factors during salt treatment in sweet basil was displayed as well. Moreover, the overexpression of the WRKY transcription factor-encoding gene, , and the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase-encoding gene, , enhanced the seed germination, seedling growth, and survival rate, respectively, of transgenic , suggesting that they might be important candidates for the creation of salt-tolerant sweet basil cultivars. Our data enrich the study on salt responses in sweet basil and provide essential gene resources for genetic improvements in sweet basil in the future.
PubMed: 38891295
DOI: 10.3390/plants13111487 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Submerged macrophytes in eutrophic aquatic environments adapt to changes in ammonia nitrogen (NH-N) levels by modifying their levels of free amino acids (FAAs) and...
Interspecific Differences in Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism and Leaf Epiphytic Bacteria among Three Submerged Macrophytes in Response to Elevated Ammonia Nitrogen Concentrations.
Submerged macrophytes in eutrophic aquatic environments adapt to changes in ammonia nitrogen (NH-N) levels by modifying their levels of free amino acids (FAAs) and soluble carbohydrates (SCs). As symbionts of submerged macrophytes, epiphytic bacteria have obvious host specificity. In the present study, the interspecific differences in the FAA and SC contents of (Linn. f.) Roylep, Hara and Gmelin and their leaf epiphytic bacterial communities were assessed in response to increased NH-N concentrations. The results revealed that the response of the three submerged macrophytes to NH-N stress involved the consumption of SCs and the production of FAAs. The NH-N concentration had a greater impact on the variation in the FAA content, whereas the variation in the SC content was primarily influenced by the species. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Nitrospirota on the leaves exhibited specific differences, with the order > > The dominant genera of epiphytic bacteria with denitrification effects on and leaves were and , respectively. When faced with NH-N stress, the variation in epiphytic bacterial populations associated with ammonia oxidation and denitrification among submerged macrophytes could contribute to their divergent responses to heightened nitrogen levels.
PubMed: 38891236
DOI: 10.3390/plants13111427 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Nitrogen (N) and silicon (Si) are mineral elements that have shown a reduction in the damage caused by tan spot ( ()) in wheat. However, the effects of these elements...
Nitrogen (N) and silicon (Si) are mineral elements that have shown a reduction in the damage caused by tan spot ( ()) in wheat. However, the effects of these elements were studied separately, and the N and Si interaction effect on wheat resistance to tan spot remains elusive. Histocytological and biochemical defense responses against in wheat leaves treated with Si (+Si) at low (LN) and high N (HN) inputs were investigated. Soil amendment with Si reduced the tan spot severity in 18% due to the increase in the leaf Si concentration (around 30%), but it was affected by the N level used. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was higher in +Si plants and inoculated with , leading to early and higher HO and callose accumulation in wheat leaf. Interestedly, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity was induced by the Si supplying, being negatively affected by the HN rate. Meanwhile, catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX) activities showed differential response patterns according to the Si and N rates used. Tan spot severity was reduced by both elements, but their interaction does not evidence synergic effects in this disease's control. Wheat plants from -Si and HN and +Si and LN treatments recorded lower tan spot severity.
PubMed: 38891235
DOI: 10.3390/plants13111426 -
Cells May 2024has been implicated in various gastrointestinal disorders, including functional dyspepsia. This study aimed to compare the anti- activity and gastroprotective effects... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
has been implicated in various gastrointestinal disorders, including functional dyspepsia. This study aimed to compare the anti- activity and gastroprotective effects of three typical herbal formulas used for gastrointestinal disorders in Korea: Shihosogan-tang (ST), Yijung-tang (YT), and Pyeongwi-san (PS). Firstly, we assessed the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidative capacity. Additionally, we evaluated the antibacterial effect on using an ammonia assay, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, and the disk agar diffusion method. Furthermore, we examined alterations in the gene expression of tight junction proteins, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and cellular vacuolation using an AGS cell model infected with . While ST exhibited a higher total phenolic content, superior free radical scavenging, and inhibition of compared to YT and PS, YT more evidently inhibited gastric cellular morphological changes such as vacuolation. All formulations significantly ameliorated changes in inflammatory and gastric inflammation-related genes and cellular morphological alterations induced by infection. Overall, the present in vitro study suggests that all three herbal formulas possess potential for ameliorating gastrointestinal disorders, with ST relatively excelling in inhibiting infection and inflammation, while YT potentially shows greater efficacy in directly protecting the gastric mucosa.
Topics: Helicobacter pylori; Dyspepsia; Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Helicobacter Infections; Antioxidants; Flavonoids; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Gastric Mucosa; Plant Extracts; Protective Agents; Drugs, Chinese Herbal
PubMed: 38891033
DOI: 10.3390/cells13110901