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OBJECTIVE: Non-specific low back pain is a common disorder that affects more than 80% of the world’s population. But the potential risk factors remain unclear. The aim of this study is to develop a nomogram for the risk prediction of low back pain in young population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 264 young participants (18-45 years old) were recruited and randomly divided into a training set (n=188) and a validation set (n=76) by a ratio of 7:3. The nomogram was developed based on the training set. The independent predictors of low back pain were identified by LASSO and logistic regression analysis. A nomogram was developed according to the predictors. To assess the reliability of the nomogram, the area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were applied. The validation set was used to validate the results. RESULTS: Sixteen factors were included in the characteristics of the eligible subjects. LASSO showed that five independent predictors including working posture, exercising hours per week, Tuffier’s line, six lumbar vertebrae anomaly, and lumbar lordosis angle were the independent risk factors of low back pain in young population, which were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis and were used to establish the nomogram. The AUC values of the nomogram were 0.867 (95% CI: 0.809-0.924) and 0.868 (95% CI: 0.775-0.961) in the training and validation set, respectively. The calibration curve revealed that the prediction model of the nomogram was greatly consistent with the actual observation. In addition, the DCA indicated that the nomogram was clinically useful. CONCLUSIONS: Working posture, exercising hours per week, Tuffier’s line, six lumbar vertebrae anomaly, and lumbar lordosis angle are identified as independent predictors of non-specific low back pain in young population. And the nomogram based on the above five predictors can accurately predict the risk of low back pain in young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnO2 quantum dots (QDs) are potential materials for deep ultraviolet (DUV) light emitting devices. In this study, we report the temperature and excitation power-dependent exciton luminescence from SnO2 QDs. The exciton emission exhibits anomalous blue shift, accompanied with band width reduction with increasing temperature and excitation power above 300K. The anomalous temperature dependences of the peak energy and band width are well interpreted by the strongly localized carrier thermal hopping process and Gaussian shape of band tails states, respectively. The localized wells and band tails at conduction minimum are considered to be induced by the surface oxygen defects and local potential fluctuation in SnO2 QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium tantalates, K2Ta2O6 and KTaO3, were synthesized by hydrothermal route. The crystal structural, optical, and adsorption properties of tantalates were investigated in the manuscript. The results indicate that the initial concentration of KOH is the determinate factor of crystal structure of tantalates. When the concentration of KOH is lower than 6M, the product is K2Ta2O6. While when the concentration is higher than 7M, the main product is KTaO3. Optical properties of tantalates analysis shows that the band gap of K2Ta2O6 is larger than that of KTaO3, which may be due to the different electronic band structure originating from the different overlapping way of the atomic orbital of tantalum and oxygen. The adsorption performance study shows that the adsorption property of K2Ta2O6 is higher than that of KTaO3, which would be assigned to its larger surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth depends on an animal's capacity to digest and assimilate ingested nutrients, and insufficient supply and impairment will constrain lamb growth. Eight groups of Alpine Finewool lambs were harvested on 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 d to measure pH and enzymatic activities in the duodenum, proximal jejunum, middle jejunum, distal jejunum, and ileum mucosa or digesta. From the duodenum to the ileum the pH of intestinal mucosa and digesta increased, whereas pH changed very little with age. The trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, lactase, and α-amylase activities observed at birth decreased by d 3, followed by a nonuniform enzymatic response in the small intestine. The trypsin activity increased from d 3 to peak, at d 21, followed by a decline. Chymotrypsin activity followed the same general trend but with smaller responses in activities. Trypsin demonstrated greater enzymatic activity than chymotrypsin at the same age. The lipase activity of small intestinal mucosa and digesta changed little with age. The lactase activity was high at birth, decreased by d 3, and then increased, followed by a decrease as lambs approached weaning. α-Amylase activity was similar in the small intestinal mucosa and digesta at birth but increased with age for the duodenum and proximal jejunum. Plasma concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK), secretin, and gastrin were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with ileal mucosa lipase activity. Plasma concentration of CCK, secretin, gastrin, and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with ileal mucosa lactase activity. Plasma concentration of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with lactase activity in the middle jejunum and ileal mucosa. Plasma concentrations of CCK, secretin, gastrin, and GIP were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with α-amylase activity in the ileal mucosa but negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with duodenum, prejejunum, and middle jejunum. Plasma PP concentrations were positively correlated (P < 0.01) with α-amylase activity of duodenum, middle jejunum, and postjejunum mucosa but not with the enzyme activity of postjejunum and ileal mucosa (P > 0.05). Small intestinal enzymatic activities exist and may be sufficient to enhance lamb growth via appropriate nutrient supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of residual feed intake (RFI) on rumen function in finishing lambs. A total of 60 male Hu lambs (average initial BW = 25.2 ± 2.5kg) were used and were offered a pelleted high-concentrate diet, of which the forage to concentrate ratio was 25:75. Individual feed intake was recorded over a period of 42 d, then 10 lambs with the lowest RFI and the highest RFI were selected, respectively. The rumen fluid used for fermentation variables and relative abundance of bacteria measurement was obtained on d 10 and 20 after RFI measurement. At the end of this experiment, the selected lambs were slaughtered and rumen epithelium and liver tissues were collected for RNA extraction. Low-RFI lambs had lower (P < 0.01) DMI and greater (P < 0.05) G:F than the high-RFI ones, while the RFI groups did not differ in ADG and BW (P > 0.05). Additionally, RFI was positively (r = 0.57; P < 0.01) correlated with DMI and negatively (r = -0.53; P < 0.05) correlated with G:F. Total VFA and individual VFA decreased (P < 0.05) over time. The concentrations of total VFA, acetate, valerate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, and rumen pH (P > 0.05) were not affected by RFI classification. Nonetheless, low-RFI group lambs had a greater (P < 0.05) concentration of propionate, a lower (P < 0.05) concentration of butyrate, and a lower (P < 0.05) acetate to propionate ratio compared with the high-RFI group. There was a significant (P < 0.05) effect of RFI on the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and Escherichia coli. The relative abundance of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Prevotella bryantii decreased (P < 0.05) over time in high-RFI group. And the relative abundance of B. fibrisolvens in high-RFI group was greater (P < 0.05) than its low-RFI counterpart. Furthermore, RFI had no effect (P > 0.05) on gene expression associated with intracellular pH regulation (PAT1, AE2, DRA, NHE2, NHE3, MCT1, MCT4, and ATPase) in rumen epithelium and ß-hydroxybutyrate metabolism (HMGCS2) in both rumen epithelium and liver tissues. In conclusion, even though low- RFI lambs had lower DMI, however, the number of B. fibrisolvens was lower. Additionally, there was no difference in gene expressions level associated with intracellular pH regulation in rumen epithelium between RFI groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to compare the effects of different corona discharge fields on the germination rate, vigor index, impedance, and dielectric properties of paddy seed, paddy seed samples were exposed to different corona discharge fields generated with three kinds of prick electrodes (needle, sawtooth, and arc shaped) at 8750 V (RMS) and 17500 V (RMS) for 3 min. The results showed that paddy seed vigor improved to different degrees after processing with three kinds of corona discharge fields at the same voltage. The impedance and dielectric properties of the paddy seed also changed in comparison with the untreated control. From measurement of the voltage waveform and corona current (RMS) of the three kinds of prick electrodes during the experiments, it was found that the voltage waveform and corona current were both different despite the fact that the same voltage (RMS) was supplied to the different electrodes. The difference in the germination of paddy seed treated with different corona discharge fields at different voltages was perhaps caused by reorientation and disarrangement of membrane components in the dry seed. In addition, it was concluded that an optimum treatment energy should exist when treating seed with a corona discharge field, and that optimum treatment energy should be further researched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 6-week feeding trial was carried out in glass tanks to determine the effects of partial replacement of fish meal (FM) with a combination of meat and bone meal (MBM), poultry by-product meal (PBM), blood meal (BM) and corn gluten meal (CGM) in practical diets on the growth, nutrient digestibility and body composition of Pacific white shrimp. Six practical diets were formulated, containing two levels of crude protein (CP) (330 and 380 g kg) and similar crude lipid (CL) levels. For the 330 g kg dietary protein level, 0, 357 and 714 g kg FM were replaced by the mixture in Diets 1-3, respectively; while 0, 514 and 784 g kg FM were replaced in Diets 4-6, respectively, for 380 g kg dietary protein level. White shrimp-fed diets containing 330 g kg CP had significantly lower weight gain compared with white shrimp fed diets containing 380 g kg CP. Increasing the mixture and dietary protein level significantly raised the body ash content of white shrimp. White shrimp fed a low-protein diet obtained better nutrient digestibility compared with those fed a high-protein diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary phytate and phytase on the metabolic parameters of lipid, protein, enzyme, electrolyte in the blood or intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens. Diets containing phytate phosphorus (0.22% or 0.44%) with phytase supplementation (0, 500 or 1000 U/kg) were administrated to 504 Cobb chicks for 4 weeks. Results showed that the serum concentrations of total cholesterol (T-CHO), albumin, albumin/globulin, total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were decreased by 9–41% in high phytate diets (p < 0.05) and the concentrations of blood P, K, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mg were decreased by 4–14% for birds fed high phytate diets (p < 0.05), whereas inclusion of phytase compensated these adverse influences. In the duodenum, phytate decreased the level of T-AOC by 13% (p < 0.05), whereas phytase increased the levels of T-SOD, T-AOC and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) by 9–16% (p < 0.05). Also, in the jejunum, diets with high phytate showed lower activity of T-SOD, T-AOC and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) (p < 0.05), and phytase increased T-SOD, T-AOC and ALP (p < 0.05). However, phytase decreased transaminase activity in the low phytate basal diets (p < 0.05). This study suggests that dietary phytate can adversely interfere with the metabolisms of lipid and protein, as well as the antioxidation of blood and intestinal cells, while phytase supplementation may compensate these effects for broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of dietary phytate and phytase on carbohydrase activity and hexose transport was investigated in broiler chickens. Diets containing phytate P (2.2 or 4.4 g/kg) with different phytase dose rates (0, 500, or 1,000 phytase units/kg) were fed to 504 female Cobb chicks for 3 wk. Diets containing high phytate concentrations depressed (P < 0.05) BW and G:F, whereas phytase supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the performance of birds. In the duodenum, phytate decreased (P < 0.05) the activities of disaccharidases, Na[sup+]K[sup+]-ATPase, and glucose concentrations by 5 to 11%, but phytase enhanced (P < 0.05) the concentrations of amylase, sucrase, maltase, Na[sup+]K[sup+]-ATPase, and glucose by 5 to 30%. In the jejunum, phytate decreased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of amylase, sucrase, Na[sup+]K[sup+]-ATPase, and glucose by 10 to 22%, and phytase alleviated the negative effect of phytate on the above variables. Ingestion of diets containing phytate also decreased (P < 0.05) serum amylase activity and glucose concentration, and phytase enhanced (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of amylase, sucrase, maltase, Na[sup+]K[sup+]-ATPase, and glucose. There were also interactions (P < 0.05) between phytate and phytase on the concentrations of serum amylase, duodenal amylase, sucrase, and jejunal glucose. Enzymatic analysis at a molecular level showed that neither phytate nor phytase influenced the mRNA expression of sucrase-isomaltase in the small intestine. Also, the investigation into the sodium glucose cotransporter gene may challenge the mechanism by which phytate interferes with glucose utilization, as partly indicated by bird performance, and transmembrane transport because diets containing increased phytate upregulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of the sodium glucose cotransporter gene in duodenum and did not influence it in the jejunum. These results indicate that phytate can impair endogenous carbohydrase activity and digestive competence, and phytase can ameliorate these effects for chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of phytases on the performance of layers and the ileal nutrient digestibility of corn-, soy- bean-, and by-product meal-based diets were assessed with 320 Hy-Line brown layers from 23 to 28 wk of age. Layers were grouped randomly into 5 treatments, with 8 replicates per treatment and 8 layers per replicate. The 5 diets consisted of a positive control diet with adequate Ca (3.30%), total P (0.50%), and nonphytate P (NPP; 0.28%), and a negative control diet with Ca reduced by 0.12%, total P reduced by 0.14%, NPP reduced by 0.13%, and 3 phytases (phytase A derived from Aspergillus niger, and phytases B and C derived from Escherichia coli) supplemented at 300 phytase units/kg of feed, respectively. Egg production and feed intake were recorded daily, and eggshell quality and heal nutrient digestibility were measured at the end of a 6-wk feeding period. The results revealed that the reduction of Ca and P from the positive control diet significantly depressed feed intake, egg mass, eggshell hardness, and the digestibility of N, Ca, F, and amino acids (P < 0.05). Phytase supplementation in the negative control diet improved the digestibility of P and Ca by 11.08 and 9.81% (P < 0.05), respectively, whereas it improved the digestibility of amino acids by 2 to 8% (P < 0.05). However, the digestibility of most amino acids was not restored to the levels of the positive control diet by the application of phytases. Supplementing phytases in the negative control diet improved the rate of lay, egg mass, and egshell quality to the levels of birds fed the positive control diet. These results suggest that supplementing phytases can improve the digestibility not only of Ca and P. but also of amino acids in layers fed a corn-, soybean-, and by-product-based diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effects on alfalfa preservation and chemical composition of the addition of different levels of malic acid and citric acid at ensiling as well as the utilization efficiency of these 2 organic acids after fermentation. Alfalfa was harvested at early bloom stage. After wilting to a dry matter content of approximately 40%, the alfalfa was chopped into 1- to 2-cm pieces for ensiling. Four levels (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1% of fresh weight) of malic acid or citric acid were applied to chopped alfalfa at ensiling with 4 replicates for each treatment, and the treated alfalfa forages were ensiled for 60 d in vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags (dimensions: 200 mm × 300 mm) packed with 200 to 230 g of fresh alfalfa per mini silo and an initial density of 0.534 g/cm3. The application of malic or citric acids at ensiling for 60 d led to lower silage pH than was observed in the control silage (0% of malic or citric acids). Application of the 2 organic acids led to higher lactic acid concentration in alfalfa silage than in the control silage except with the application rate of 1% of fresh weight. Silages treated with both organic acids had lower nonprotein nitrogen concentrations than the control silages, and the nonprotein nitrogen concentrations in ensiled forages decreased with the increase in malic or citric acid application rates. The application of the 2 organic acid additives led to lower saturated fatty acid proportions and higher polyunsaturated fatty acid proportions in ensiled alfalfa than in the control silage. The amount of malic and citric acids degraded during ensiling of alfalfa was 1.45 and 0.63 g, respectively. At the application rate of 0.5% of fresh weight, residues of malic acid and citric acid in alfalfa silage were 11.1 and 13.6 g/kg of dry matter. These results indicate that including malic or citric acids at the ensiling of alfalfa effectively improved silage fermentation quality, limited proteolysis, improved fatty acid composition of the ensiled forage, and could provide animals with additional feed additives proven to promote animal performance. However, when the application rate of both organic acids reached 1%, the concentration of lactic acid in silages decreased notably. Additionally, 0.5 and 1% application rates also increased the yeast count in ensiled alfalfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental objectives were to determine the effects of supplemental saturated fatty acids on production, body temperature indices, and some aspects of metabolism in mid-lactation dairy cows experiencing heat stress. Forty-eight heat-stressed Holstein cows were allocated into 3 groups (n = 16/group) according to a completely randomized block design. Three treatment diets consisted of supplemental saturated fatty acids (SFA) at 0 (SFA0), 1.5 (SFA1.5), or 3.0% (SFA3) of dry matter (DM) for 10 wk. Diets were isonitrogenous (crude protein = 16.8%) and contained 1.42, 1.46, and 1.49 Mcal of net energy for lactation/kg of DM for the SFA0, SFA1.5 and SFA3 diets, respectively. The average temperature-humidity index at 0700, 1400 and 2200 h was 72.2, 84.3, and 76.6, respectively. Rectal temperatures at 1400 h were decreased with fat supplementation. Treatment did not affect dry matter intake (20.1 ± 0.02 kg/d), body condition score (2.72 ± 0.04), body weight (627 ± 16.1 kg), or calculated energy balance (1.32 ± 0.83 Mcal/d). Saturated fatty acid supplementation increased milk yield, milk fat content, and total milk solids. Increasing fat supplementation decreased plasma nonesterified fatty acids (8%) but had no effect on other energetic metabolites or hormones. In summary, supplemental SFA improved milk yield and milk fat content and yield and reduced peak rectal temperatures in mid-lactation heat-stressed dairy cows. This demonstrates the remarkable amount of metabolic heat that is “saved” by energetically replacing fermentable carbohydrates with supplemental SFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of phytate and phytase on broiler performance and cellular and humoral immunity was assessed by using 504 Cobb 500 female broilers fed nutritionally marginal diets. At 1 d of age, the chicks were randomly allocated to 6 treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement including 2 levels of phytate P (0.22 or 0.44%) and 3 dose rates of an Escherichia coli-derived phytase [0, 500, or 1,000 phytase units (FTU)/kg of feed]. Both low- and high-phytate diets were corn and soy based with the same nutritional specifications (AME 2,900 kcal/kg, CP 21.00%, Ca 0.78%, and nonphytate P 0.28%), differing only in the concentration of phytate P. The immune status of birds was measured at 14, 21, and 28 d of age. The results revealed that phytase improved feed intake, BW, and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), whereas high dietary phytate depressed bird performance (P < 0.05). There was no interaction between phytate and phytase on bird performance. Feeding phytase increased the percentages of erythrocyte rosette-forming cells and erythrocyte-antibody complement cells by 3.03 and 1.83% at d 21, and by 2.76 and 2.20% at d 28, respectively (P < 0.05). The percentages of CD4+CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets were also increased by phytase (P < 0.05), without affecting the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+. The levels of intestinal secretory IgA were improved with phytase at d 14, 21, and 28 (P < 0.05). Antibodies against Newcastle disease virus vaccine were enhanced at d 21 and 28 in the high-phytate diets with phytase addition (P < 0.05). Increasing the phytase dose to 1,000 FTU/kg did not improve immune function further than 500 FTU/kg. The results suggest that application of phytase in nutritionally marginal diets could enhance lymphocyte numbers and the seral and mucosal antibodies of 1- to 28-d-old broilers, suggesting that both phytate and phytase may have a role in gastrointestinal health and immune competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]