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[Display omitted] • Phylogenetic analysis of TGF-β/Smad2 pathway genes in H. armigera. • Smad2 is activated by TGFβRI, and binds to TGFβRI or Smad4. • TGF-β/Smad2 pathway is involved in pupal development or diapause. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays important roles in embryonic development, cell proliferation and tissue differentiation in vertebrates. Our previous studies demonstrated that TGF-β signal activates Smad1-POU-TFAM and PP2A-Akt pathways to regulate pupal diapause in Helicoverpa armigera. In this study, we investigated the function of TGF-β activates Smad2 pathway in H. armigera. Phylogenetic analysis of H. armigera TGF-β receptor I (TGFβRI), Smad2 , Smad4 genes showed high conservation across species. In vitro experiments showed that TGFβRI was localized in the cell membrane where it binds Smad2 leading to the phosphorylation of Smad2. Smad4 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm, and bind to Smad2. Protein expression analysis showed that expression of TGFβRI, Smad4, Smad2, p-Smad2 were lower in diapause-destined pupae compared with nondiapause-destined pupae. Notably, treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) increased expression of the above proteins. Inhibition of TGF-β/Smad2 signaling pathway delayed pupal development. These findings indicate that TGF-β/Smad2 pathway is involved in pupal development or diapause in H. armigera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation mechanism of volatile compounds in Tan lamb meat under different feeding regimes remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether the volatile compounds in meat are related to lipid metabolism in an attempt to improve the theoretical basis for increasing the yield and quality of lamb production. Results showed that the specialized pasture grazing with indoor feeding (GF) and indoor feeding only (F) regimes had advantages in terms of growth and carcass traits compared to the specialized pasture grazing only (G) regime. Lamb meat qualities of the GF group were in an intergrade position compared to those of the F and G groups. Although the lamb meat of the three groups had different aroma attributes, as measured using SPME-GC-MS, GF lamb meat had the most pleasant active compounds. In contrast, the expression of lipid transport genes was altered in all three groups. In summary, Tan lambs had different growth performance, intramuscular fat content, and composition under the three feeding regimes, which might be due to the differences in energy and lipid transport, resulting in unique volatile compound profiles in meat from different groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Battery strength under dynamic loading is larger than in the quasi-static loading. • The strain rate dependence of batteries is largely due to the flow of electrolyte. • Poro-mechanical theory can characterize the strain rate dependence of batteries. • In 1-D situation, the poro-mechanical model is reduced to a closed-form solution. • The poro-mechanical theory can be implemented in Abaqus for simulation. This study was inspired by the experimental observation that the battery resistance under dynamic loading is larger than that in the quasi-static loading. To clarify the underlying mechanism, control tests comparing the compressive responses of dry and wet battery samples were carried out under five loading speeds. Test results showed a clear strengthening of the resistance of the wet samples while the behavior of dry samples was almost identical under increasing loading speeds. This means that the strain rate effect of the wet cells largely comes from the electrolyte. To quantify this effect and model the overall mechanical behavior, a poromechanical model utilizing Darcy's law to characterize the pressure gradient and velocity of electrolyte was established, and the Kozeny–Carman equation was used to determine the permeability of the porous media of the cell. The prediction of the model with the assumption of planar flow agreed well with the experimental results of uniaxial compression. Furthermore, a detailed finite element model of the multi-layered structure of battery cell was established in Abaqus in which separator, current collector, and coatings of electrodes were all modeled as individual components. Simulation results clearly showed the influence of electrolyte on the dynamic response of battery cells. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Litter size affects fetal development but its relation to diet-induced fatty liver later in life is unknown.Objectives: This aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that litter size influences postweaning fatty liver development in response to soybean oil-supplemented diet.Methods: Weanling twin (TW) or triplet (TP) male lambs (n = 16) were fed a control diet or 2% soybean oil-supplemented diet (SO) for 90 d. Liver tissue morphology, biochemical parameters, and lipid metabolic enzymes were determined. Hepatic gene expression was analyzed by RNA sequencing (n = 3), followed by enrichment analysis according to Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Differentially expressed genes involved in lipid metabolism were further verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (n = 4). All data were analyzed by a 2-factor ANOVA, apart from differentially expressed genes, which were identified by the Benjamini-Hochberg approach (q value ≤0.05).Results: SO increased liver triglyceride (by 55%) and nonesterified fatty acid (by 54%) concentrations in TPs (P ≤ 0.05) but not in TWs (P > 0.05). SO also induced a 2.3- and 2.1-fold increase in the liver steatosis score of TPs and TWs, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, SO reduced the activity of lipolytic enzymes including hepatic lipase and total lipase in TPs by 47% and 25%, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). In contrast, activities of lipogenic enzymes, including malic enzyme and acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, were significantly higher in TPs (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, TPs had higher expression of lipogenic genes, such as FASN (by 45%) and APOB (by 72%), and lower expression of lipolytic genes, such as PRKAA2 (by 28%) and CPT1A (by 43%), compared with TWs (P ≤ 0.05).Conclusions: TPs have a gene expression profile that is more susceptible to SO-induced fatty liver than that of TWs, which indicates that insufficient maternal nutrient supply at fetal and neonatal stages may increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to investigate the potential of liquorice extract (LE) from Glycyrrhiza uralensis as a dietary supplement for sheep to improve antioxidant capacity of meat. Fifty Tan sheep were randomly allocated to five groups with LE supplementation at levels of 0, 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 mg/kg feed. After 120 days, the longissimus thoracis muscle was sampled and conditioned for 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 days at 4 °C. The results revealed that LE scavenged free radical in a dose–response manner in vitro. Supplementation with LE in animal diet increased ( P < 0.05) antioxidant content and radical scavenging activity while it decreased ( P < 0.05) reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels of meat. Dietary LE supplementation can improve antioxidant capacity of meat, and the optimum dosage range of LE supplementation appeared to be 3000 to 4000 mg/kg feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The experiment was to investigate the effect of liquorice extract (LE) as an antioxidant supplement in sheep diet on meat physical quality. Fifty-four-month-old Tan male sheep were randomly allocated among five dietary groups with LE supplementation at levels of 0mg/kg, 1000mg/kg, 2000mg/kg, 3000mg/kg and 4000mg/kg feed. After 120 days of feeding, the muscle was sampled at slaughter and the samples were conditioned for 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 days in a chiller (4°C). The results showed that supplementation with LE decreased (P <0.05) temperature, drip loss, metmyoglobin (MetMb) concentration and percentage, whereas it increased (P <0.05) myoglobin (Mb) concentration. As aging progressed after postmortem, temperature, drip loss and Mb concentration decreased (P <0.05), but MetMb concentration and percentage increased (P <0.05). The results demonstrate that LE supplementation can improve the physical quality of fresh meat, and the data suggest the optimal dose is between 3000mg/kg and 4000mg/kg feed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Circadian oscillatory system plays a key role in coordinating the metabolism of most organisms. Perturbation of genetic effects and misalignment of circadian rhythms result in circadian dysfunction and signs of metabolic disorders. The eating-fasting cycle can act on the peripheral circadian clocks, bypassing the photoperiod. Therefore, time-restricted eating (TRE) can improve metabolic health by adjusting eating rhythms, a process achieved through reprogramming of circadian genomes and metabolic programs at different tissue levels or remodeling of the intestinal microbiota, with omics technology allowing visualization of the regulatory processes. Here, we review recent advances in circadian regulation of metabolism, focus on the potential application of TRE for rescuing circadian dysfunction and metabolic disorders with the contribution of intestinal microbiota in between, and summarize the significance of omics technology. [Display omitted] • Circadian rhythms maintain metabolic homeostasis in the body. • TRE can alleviate circadian dysfunction, thereby reducing metabolic disorders. • Intestinal microbiota involves in TRE regulation of circadian rhythms and metabolism. • Omics technology reveals multiple layers of circadian regulatory functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we propose a novel fitting method, called the Conceptual Space based Model Fitting (CSMF), to fit and segment multi-structure data contaminated with a large number of outliers. CSMF includes two main parts: an outlier removal algorithm and a model selection algorithm. Specifically, we firstly construct a novel conceptual space to measure data points by only considering the good model hypotheses. Then we analyze the conceptual space to effectively remove the gross outliers. Based on the results of outlier removal, we propose to search center points (representing the estimated model instances) in the conceptual space for model selection. CSMF is able to efficiently and effectively remove gross outliers in data, and simultaneously estimate the number and the parameters of model instances without using prior information. Experimental results on both synthetic data and real images demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method over several state-of-the-art fitting methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding mechanisms of deformation of battery cell components is important in order to improve the mechanical safety of lithium-ion batteries. In this study, micro-scale deformation and failure of fully-discharged battery components including an anode, a cathode, and a separator were investigated at room temperature. Nanoindentation tests and in-situ tensile tests under scanning electron microscope (SEM) were carried out on the electrodes of a commercial battery cell in order to measure the elastic modulus of coating materials and the elastic–plastic and fracture behavior of the electrodes. Additionally, interrupted tests were conducted on a polypropylene separator and its deformation at each stage was investigated under SEM. Samples with the same size were loaded to different strains and then fully unloaded. SEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were subsequently used to analyze the changes in the microstructure such as crystal orientation and pore size. From these tests, it was found that cathode and anode coatings have distinct deformation mechanisms. The cathode develops a number of micro cracks on the surface before reaching final failure, while the anode maintains its integrity until later stages of deformation. The separator also shows unique stages of deformation such as elongation of fibrils and formation of new pores until reaching final onset of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating climate change is an urgent global issue, and agricultural carbon emissions are an important component of global emissions. Hence, it is imperative to fully understand the current state of carbon emissions in agriculture and accurately evaluate emissions throughout various farming processes. This review aims to understand and evaluate these emissions, focusing on the agricultural sector. A systematic review of existing literature and data on agricultural carbon emissions was conducted, exploring the potential of innovative technology and approaches for mitigation. The effectiveness of energy-saving carbon emission reduction strategies and the role of technological innovation in achieving environmentally sustainable agriculture were assessed. The findings reveal that sustainable development goals have fostered a global strategy for achieving highly productive, efficient, and environmentally sustainable agriculture. In addition, potential transitions towards more sustainable agricultural practices, driven by technological innovation and effective carbon policies, were identified as significant means for mitigating carbon emissions. In this sense, there is an urgent need for a close global effort to implement carbon policies and technological innovation to mitigate the climate impacts of agriculture. Therefore, this research is a time-noting study to help international policymakers achieve environmental sustainability-oriented policies. [Display omitted] • Mitigating climate change has emerged as a crucial agenda. • Carbon emissions from agriculture contribute to 10–12% of total global emissions. • Global policies and technological innovations drive the reduction of emissions in agriculture. • Carbon policies are crucial for tackling climate change in sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropic plasticity of DP780 steel sheets is characterized using Hill48 model in this paper. Both associated and non-associated flow rules (AFR and non-AFR) for Hill48 model are taken into account, and in total four approaches are used to calibrate model parameters under the plane stress state. For the non-AFR Hill48 model, the yield function is calibrated by equivalent stress values and meantime the plastic potential is calibrated by Lankford r -values. The other three calibration approaches are respectively implemented for the AFR model, which achieves three specified models, i.e. von Mises model (a reduced form), stress-calibrated (calibrated by equivalent stress) and r -calibrated (calibrated by r -value) AFR Hill48 model. Each model as well as the calibrated parameters is used to simulate the same group of tests including uniaxial tension, notched tension, shear and punch. A comparison between the test results and the four groups of simulation indicates that the non-AFR Hill48 model achieves the most accurate characterization of both the force–displacement curve and the local strain evolution. Among the three AFR models, the stress-calibrated one leads to the most acceptable simulation as far as the force response is concerned. Recommendations are finally made in terms of flow rule selection, calibration approach and validation in simulation of high strength steels using Hill48 model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Vitamin E supplementation on the testicular ‘marker’ enzyme activity and Vitamin E content in Aohan fine-wool sheep. Thirty male Aohan fine-wool sheep (5 months of age) with similar body weight were selected from the Aohan fine-wool sheep-breeding farm of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The sheep were randomly divided into five groups and supplemented with 0, 20, 200, 1000 or 2400IUsheep−1 d−1 Vitamin E for 12 months. Three sheep in each group were slaughtered at 17 months to collect a testis sample for testicular marker enzyme analysis. The results showed that, compared to Control, supplementing the diet with Vitamin E at 200IUsheep−1 d−1 significantly increased the content of Vitamin E in testis and improved the activity of testicular mitochondrial ATPase (P <0.01), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P <0.01), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) (P <0.01), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P <0.05). The present study demonstrated that supplementing Vitamin E can have a positive role in improving testicular marker enzyme activity and that the optimum range of dose appeared to be 100–200IUsheep−1 d−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thirty male Aohan fine-wool sheep (5 months of age) with similar body weight were procured from the Aohan fine-wool sheep breeding farm of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The sheep were divided randomly into five groups, which were labeled as Group 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and supplemented respectively with 0, 20, 200, 1000 or 2400IUsheep−1 d−1 Vitamin E, for 12 months, respectively. Three Aohan fine-wool sheep in each group were selected randomly for semen collection at the age of 16 months, then slaughtered at 17 months to collect the testis sample for testicular cell membranal and mitochondrial antioxidant abilities analysis. The results showed that supplementing Vitamin E at the concentration of 200IUsheep−1 d−1 in diets may have a positive effect in increasing semen quality and quantity (P <0.05), significantly reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) level and improve the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD)and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in testicular cell membrane and mitochondria (P <0.05). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that that supplementing Vitamin E can have a positive role in improving semen quality via protecting testicular cell membrane and mitochondria from antioxidant abilities. However, the optimal level of Vitamin supplement has still to be determined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the temporal–spatial change of α-tubulin and cortical granules (CGs) in ovine oocytes matured in vitro were studied using human recombinant VEGF165 at 5ng/ml in maturation media. Immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy and orcein staining were used to evaluate cell cycle-dependent modifications in nuclear configuration, quality of the metaphase II oocytes, microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) translocation, temporal and spatial redistribution of α-tubulin and CGs in ovine oocytes undergoing in vitro maturation. The percentage of oocytes that reached metaphase II (M-II) in the VEGF-treated and the control groups were 87.08% and 80.03% (P =0.077) at 18h and 87.42% and 83.89% (P =0.28) at 24h, respectively. The percentages of oocytes displaying a normal distribution of α-tubulin and chromosomes in M-II increased significantly (P =0.015) in the VEGF group (77.50%) compared to the control (62.60%). The percentage of oocytes with CGs transfering completely in cortex was significantly higher (P =0.002) in the VEGF group (79.24%) than in the control group (60.97%). VEGF promoted the MTOCs domains to disappear from the cortex and stimulated assembly of α-tubulin around chromosome domains when germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was commencing. In conclusion, VEGF may improve the quality of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of ovine oocytes in vitro by its effect on temporal and spatial translocation or redistribution of α-tubulin and CGs and on the normal distribution of nuclear configuration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Addressing health-related concerns linked to the metabolite profile of lamb meat has become paramount, in line with the growing demand for enhanced flavor and taste. We examined the impact of Perilla frutescens seeds on Tan lamb growth, carcass traits, and metabolite profiles. Three diets were employed: a low-concentrate group (LC), a high-concentrate group (HC), and a PFS group (the LC diet supplemented with 3% Perilla frutescens seeds) on a dry matter basis. Forty-five male Tan-lambs (approximately six months) with similar body weights (25.1 kg ± 1.12 SD) were randomly assigned to one of these three groups for 84-day feeding, including an initial 14-day adjustment phase. The supplementation of PFS resulted in increased average daily gain (P < 0.01) and improved carcass quality and meat color (P < 0.05). Additionally, it led to an enhancement in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.05) and a reduction in the omega-6/omega-3 ratio (P < 0.05). Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, 369 volatile compounds were identified with enhanced levels of acetaldehyde and 1,2,4-trimethyl-benzene associated with PFS (P < 0.05). Among the 807 compounds identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, there were 66 significantly differential compounds (P < 0.05), including 43 hydrophilic metabolites and 23 lipids. PFS supplementation led to significant alterations in 66 metabolites, with three metabolites including 2,5-diisopropyl-3-methylphenol, 3-hydroxydecanoic acid, and lysophosphatidylcholine (15:0) emerging as potential PFS-related biomarkers. The study indicates that PFS supplementation can enhance Tan-lamb growth, feed efficiency, and meat quality, potentially providing lamb meat with improved flavor and nutritional characteristics. [Display omitted] • Perilla frutescens seeds (PFS) improves growth and carcass quality in Tan-lambs. • PFS increases n-3 PUFAs, reduces n-6/n-3 ratio, and alteres volatile compounds. • Higher beneficial and lower detrimental compounds are found in PFS lamb meat. • High definition-mix LC-MS/MS can be used for hydrolipophilic metabolome analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally accepted that the phenotype and gene expression pattern of the offspring can be altered by maternal folic acid (FA) supplementation during the gestation period. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of maternal FA supplementation on the growth performance, muscle development and immunity of newborn lambs of different litter size. According to litter size (twins, TW; triplets, TR) and maternal dietary FA supplementation levels (control, C; 16 or 32 mg·kg-1 FA supplementation, F16 and F32), neonatal lambs were randomly divided into six groups (TW-C, TW-F16, TW-F32, TR-C, TR-F16 and TR-F32). After farrowing, the birth weight in TW was higher than that in the TR group, and increased with FA supplementation of their mothers (P<.05). Folate, IGF-I, IgM and IgA concentrations of newborn lambs showed a litter size and FA supplementation interaction (P<.05). FA supplementation also increased diameter, area, perimeter and DNA content of the longissimus dorsi muscle of the lambs (P<.05) regardless of the litter size. Transcriptome analysis of the longissimus dorsi muscle revealed differentially expressed genes with dietary FA supplementation enriched in immunity- and cell development-related genes. Furthermore, FA supplementation upregulated the expression of myogenesis-related genes, while downregulated those involved in the inhibition of muscle development. In addition, immunity-related genes in the neonatal lambs showed lower expression levels in response to maternal dietary FA supplementation. Overall, maternal FA supplementation during gestation could increase the offspring's birth weight and modulate its muscle development and immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a well-known plant secondary metabolite exhibiting multiple physiological functions. The present study focused on screening for synergistic antibacterial combinations containing CGA. The combination of CGA and p -coumaric acid (p CA) exhibited remarkably enhanced antibacterial activity compared to that when administering the treatment only. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that a low-dose combination treatment could disrupt the Shigella dysenteriae cell membrane. A comprehensive analysis using nucleic acid and protein leakage assay, conductivity measurements, and biofilm formation inhibition experiments revealed that co-treatment increased the cell permeability and inhibited the biofilm formation substantially. Further, the polyacrylamide protein- and agarose gel-electrophoresis indicated that the proteins and DNA genome of Shigella dysenteriae severely degraded. Finally, the synergistic bactericidal effect was established for fresh-cut tomato preservation. This study demonstrates the remarkable potential of strategically selecting antibacterial agents with maximum synergistic effect and minimum dosage exhibiting excellent antibacterial activity in food preservation. • Screening CGA-phenolic acid antibacterial effect combos on 5 bacterial strains. • CGA- p CA treatment increases cell permeability and inhibits biofilm formation. • CGA- p CA combo disrupts Shigella dysenteriae membranes, and degrades proteins, DNA. • CGA- p CA combo bacteriostatically synergizes in fresh-cut tomato preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota medicated gut-liver axis is vital for liver function and health. We aimed to explore the underlying molecular mechanism of diet-induced metabolic liver disorders via microbiota-gut-liver axis using multi-omics. Metataxonomics, metaproteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics were conducted on liver tissue and biofluids (gastrointestinal contents and blood) to elucidate the microbial mechanism related to metabolic disorders and liver injury. The hepatic inflammation occurred based on histomorphology after feeding a long-term grain-based high-energy diet, and the serum biochemical parameters and proinflammatory cytokines were significantly activated. Metaproteomics analysis indicated that the high-energy diet reduced anti-infection, immunity, anti-oxidant functions, and increased cell death and damage of rumen microbiome. Ruminal Ruminococcus_2, Solobacterium, and Syntrophococcu and jejunal Pirellula were potential microbial markers of liver disorders. The high-energy diet promoted hepatic inflammatory response and cytokine/chemokine-mediated signaling pathways located in the core of the functional genomic network. The high-energy diet increased indoxyl sulfate and p-cresol sulfate and decreased triterpenoids in the liver that were the potential biomarkers associated with metabolic liver disorders. Integrated multi-omics analyses showed interactions among the rumen and jejunum microbiota, circulating metabolites, and liver gene expression, suggesting a systemic immune response and liver disorder that signals through the microbiota-gut-liver axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of fatty acid composition with specific bacteria involved in hydrogenation of 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acid in response to dietary oil sources. 28 finishing Bamei lambs were randomly allocated to 4 diets composed of dehydrated hay and concentrate mixture containing no additional lipid (CONT), supplemented with 40 g/kg dry matter (DM) of fish oil (FO), 40 g/kg DM of sunflower oil (SFO), or 10 g/kg DM of fish oil plus 30 g/kg DM of sunflower oil (FOSFO). After 120 days of feeding, ruminal fluid and digesta were harvested from each lamb for FA composition and fermentation characteristic analysis, respectively. QPCR was undertaken for determining the relative contents of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus in ruminal fluid. Compared with CONT, both SFO and FOSFO did not influence the major ruminal fermentation parameters except for total volatile FA (TVFA), however FO fed alone shifted rumen fermentation toward propionate at the expense of acetate with no change in molar proportions of other individual volatile FA (VFA). Dietary oil supplements resulted in the accumulation of trans -11 C18:1 in ruminal digesta, and FO inclusion simultaneously induced a marked decrease in C18:0 concentrations. Sunflower oil inclusion resulted in a small decrease in the relative proportion of B. fibrisolvens , however, the relative proportion of B. proteoclasticus was substantially less for lambs fed fish oil supplements compared with CONT. QPCR analysis indicated that a weak relationship between the number of B. proteoclasticus and C18:0 concentrations ( P < 0.01, R 2 = 0.3293). In general, unprotected FO, SFO, or FOSFO affected ruminal fermentation and produced series of bio-hydrogenation intermediates. Alterations in ruminal bio-hydrogenation were associated with changes in the abundance of B. proteoclasticus , but B. proteoclasticus was not the dominant bacterium in producing C18:0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bile acids supplementation had no adverse effects on Tan lambs' growth performance, antioxidant status, and immune function. • Bile acids had no apparent effects on the meat fatty acids content. • Bile acids can facilitate the production of high-quality lamb carcass with less fat. • Ferroptosis and fatty acid biosynthesis were changed by bile acid. • ACSL6 and HEXB can be the regulatory targeted genes for tail fat development of lambs. Higher quality lamb carcasses with more muscle and less fat are crucial for consumer preference and healthy eating. This study evaluated bile acids' functional roles and mechanisms on fat deposition in lambs. Forty-five lambs were arranged into three groups with control (CON) and two types of bile acid treatments (BA1, mainly hyocholic acid; BA2, mainly hyodeoxycholic acid, ruminally protected). The BA1 treatment did not affect the dry matter intake, body weight, and the average daily gain but significantly decreased the body fat (assessed as GR value) compared to the CON (7.92 vs 5.55 mm). The BA2 decreased tail fat weight compared to CON (1.99 vs 1.51 kg). Both BA1 and BA2 significantly decreased the tail fat ratio (110 vs 89.8 vs 78.6 g/kg of carcass weight). No significant differences were found between the three groups' blood antioxidant capacity and immune characteristics. The RNA-sequencing analysis identified 46 differentially expressed genes between CON and BA2. Several pathways, including ferroptosis and fatty acid biosynthesis and core genes such as HSPA8 , HIFIA , HEXB , ACSL6 , and MAP1LC3B were changed mainly or significantly correlated with the tail fat weight or proportion phenotypes, can be selected as targeted gene markers related to regulating the tail fat. This study provided new insight into bile acids' roles and revealed their comprehensive mechanism in regulating fat distribution in ruminants and will facilitate improvements of lamb meat production with decreased subcutaneous and tail fat deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene-chip technology was employed to study the effect of dietary vitamin E on gene expression in sheep testes based on our previous research. Thirty-five male Tan sheep (20–30 days after weaning) with similar body weight were randomly allocated into five groups and supplemented 0, 20, 100, 200 and 2000 IU sheep − 1 day − 1 vitamin E (treatments denoted as E0, E20, E100, E200, and E2000, respectively) for 120 days. At the end of the study the sheep were slaughtered and the testis samples were immediately collected and stored in liquid nitrogen. Differences in gene expression between different treated groups were identified. Based on GO enrichment analysis and the KEGG database to evaluate the gene expression data we found that vitamin E might affect genes in the testes by modulating the oxidation level, by affecting the expression of various receptors and transcription factors in biological pathways, and by regulating the expression of metabolism-associated genes. The effect of vitamin E supplementation on the expression of oxidative enzyme-related genes was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. The results show that dietary vitamin E, at various doses, can significantly increase ( P < 0.05) the mRNA and protein expression of Glutathione peroxidase 3 and Glutathione S-transferase alpha 1. In addition, the results of qRT-PCR of the antioxidant enzyme genes were consistent with those obtained using the gene chip microarray analysis. In summary, the dietary vitamin E treatment altered the expression of a number of genes in sheep testes. The increase in the mRNA and protein levels of antioxidant enzyme genes, coupled with the elevation in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes were primarily responsible for the improved reproductive performance promoted by dietary vitamin E. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this study was to investigate the effect of lycopene as an antioxidant supplement on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, fatty acid profile and meat lipid oxidation in lambs. Twenty-eight weaned (90 days old) Bamei lambs were equally allotted to four dietary treatments and fed basal diet alone (Control) or basal diet supplemented with 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg of lycopene from tomato extracts. After 120 days of feeding, the lycopene-supplemented groups showed a greater dry matter intake ( P < 0.05) than the control and tended to increase the average daily gain ( P = 0.068); the tissue depth (GR values) increased after administration of lycopene ( P < 0.05). Dietary lycopene tended to make the meat darker and redder as indicated by lower lightness ( P < 0.05) and hue angle values ( P < 0.05) at 24 h. Muscle fat content and lipid oxidation declined in the lycopene-supplemented groups ( P < 0.05), while polyunsaturated fatty acids increased compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). In general, dietary lycopene supplementation in the diet improved the growth of lambs and produced meat of lower fat and higher polyunsaturated fatty acid contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fifty male Ningxia Tan sheep were randomly divided into five groups (10 per group). Different feeding strategies were applied to each group for 120days prior to slaughter. The sheep belong to five groups were pastured for 0h (feedlot-fed), 2h, 4h, 8h, 12h per day on a natural grazing ground, respectively. M. semitendinosus muscle from Tan sheep was obtained after slaughter. Instrumental color, pH values, oxygen consumption rate, metmyoglobin reducing activity and relative metmyoglobin percentages were analyzed after 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9days of refrigerated storage. Long-term daily grazing and herbage-based diet were conducive to maintain a lower oxygen consumption rate, higher metmyoglobin reducing activity and lower metmyoglobin accumulation. The combination of pasture-fed and feedlot-fed was conducive to weight gain, and at the same time, increased the color stability of the meat from Ningxia Tan sheep. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The proteomics and parallel reaction monitoring were firstly used in spermatogenesis promoted by Vitamin E. • Acrosome and plasma membrane-related proteins was identified for spermatogenesis promoted by Vitamin E. • The research confirmed that Vitamin E tended to down-regulate gene expression in testis. Vitamin E is generally believed to promote the production of ovine sperm mainly through its antioxidant effect. Our previous studies have shown that some non-antioxidant genes may also be key in mediating this process. The objective of this study was to identify key candidate proteins that were differentially expressed in response to a treatment with Vitamin E. Prepubertal ovine testicular cells were isolated and divided into two groups. They were either treated with 800 μM Vitamin E (based on our previous results) or used as a non-treated control. After 24 h, all the cells were harvested for proteomic analysis. We found 115 differentially expressed proteins, 4 of which were up-regulated and 111 were down-regulated. A GO term enrichment analysis identified 127 Biological Process, 63 Cell Component and 26 Molecular Function terms that were enriched. Within those terms, 13, 11 and 26 terms were significantly enriched, respectively. Terms related to membrane and enzyme activity including the inner acrosomal membrane, signal peptidase complex, cysteine-type endopeptidase activity, etc., were also markedly enriched, while none of the KEGG pathways were enriched. We found that many of the differentially expressed proteins, such as CD46 (membrane cofactor protein), FLNA (Filamin A), DYSF (Dysferlin), IFT20 (Intraflagellar transport 20), SPCS1 (Signal peptidase complex subunit 1) and SPCS3 (Signal peptidase complex subunit 3) were related to the acrosomal and plasma membranes. A parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis verified that Vitamin E improved spermatogenesis by regulating the expression of FLNA, SPCS3, YBX3 and RARS, proteins that are associated with the plasma membranes and protamine biosynthesis of the spermatozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Perilla frutescens leaf promoted the milk nucleotides and oleanolic acid content. • Pyrimidine metabolism and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids were activated. • Perilla frutescens leaf affected the co-occurrence network between rumen and milk. • The production of Perilla frutescens milk can be achieved. • Untargeted metabolomics could promote the traceability of Perilla frutescens milk. Milk compounds are important for human nutrient requirements and health. The ruminal metabolic profile is responsible for dietary nutrition and determines milk production. Perilla frutescens leaf (PFL) is a commonly used medicinal herb due to its bioactive metabolites. This study elucidated the effects of PFL on the metabolome of two biofluids (rumen fluid and milk) of 14 cows fed a basic total mixed ration diet (CON, n = 7) and supplemented with 300 g/d PFL per cow (PFL, n = 7) by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Milk PE-NMe (18:1(9Z)/18:1(9Z)) and DG (18:0/20:4(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)/0:0), oleanolic acid, and nucleotides were upregulated, and milk medium-chain fatty acids (2-hydroxycaprylic acid) were down-regulated in response to PFL. The supplementation of PFL increased the abundance of pyrimidine nucleotides both in rumen fluid and milk. The pathways of pyrimidine metabolism and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids were enriched both in the rumen fluid and milk. We also found the milk 2-hydroxycaprylic acid was positively correlated with ruminal uridine 5-monophosphate, and was negatively correlated with ruminal deoxycytidine, and the milk thymidine was positively correlated with ruminal icosenoic acid. This study found that the supplementation of PFL could alter the ruminal metabolic profiles and milk synthesis through regulation of the pathways of pyrimidine metabolism and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. Our new findings provide comprehensive insights into the metabolomics profile of rumen fluid and milk, supporting the potential production of Perilla frutescens milk in dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]