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This study was to investigate the effects of chitosan-chelated zinc on ileal microbiota, inflammatory response, and barrier function in weaned piglets challenged with Escherichia coli K88. Piglets of the chitosan-chelated zinc treatment (Cs-Zn; 100 mg zinc + 766 mg chitosan/kg basal diet, from chitosan-chelated zinc) and the chitosan treatment (CS, 766 mg chitosan/kg basal diet) had significantly increased ileal villus height and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth. CS-Zn group piglets had a higher abundance of Lactobacillus in the ileal digesta, while the abundance of Streptococcus, Escherichia shigella, Actinobacillus, and Clostridium sensu stricto 6 was significantly decreased. The concentrations of propionate, butyrate, and lactate in the CS-Zn group piglets were significantly increased, while the pH value was significantly decreased. Furthermore, the concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-α, MPO, and INF-γ in the ileal mucosa of the CS-Zn and the H-ZnO group (pharmacological dose of 1600 mg Zn/kg basal diet, from ZnO) were significantly lower than those of the control group fed with basal diet, and the mRNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB of the CS-Zn group was also reduced. In addition, the mRNA expression of IGF-1 was increased, the protein expression of occludin and claudin-1 was enhanced, while the mRNA expression of caspase 3 and caspase 8 was decreased in the CS-Zn group. These results suggest CS-Zn treatment could help modulate the composition of ileal microbiota, attenuate inflammatory response, and maintain the intestinal function in weaned piglets challenged with Escherichia coli K88. • Chitosan-chelated zinc significantly modulated ileal microbiota. • Chitosan-chelated zinc can improve ileal health. • The ileal microbiota plays an important role in host health.

Recently, the melting of Arctic sea ice and development of maritime technology are enabling the regular voyages in Arctic waters. However, the Arctic maritime transportation system (AMTS) is a complex and dynamic system with respect to human, technical, environmental and organizational issues. For example, ships operating in Arctic waters suffer severe weather conditions, fully and partially ice-covered waters, and are also difficult to search and rescue in ice-covered Arctic waters due to remoteness from lands. These risk factors will influence the safety and security of ships operating in Arctic waters. For this, this paper identifies potential risk influencing factors (RIFs) for the AMTS from human, technical (ship), environmental and organizational aspects. An analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method is used to analyze the hierarchical relationships and calculate the relative importance of the selected RIFs. Due to the complexity and uncertainty involved in the comprehensive analysis of RIFs ...