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Simple Summary: Colostrum is of interest to the scientific community because of its nutritional and therapeutic capabilities. The aims of this study were to characterize the macro and micro composition of colostrum from Sarda dairy sheep and to compare it with the composition of the mature milk of the same breed. The results of this survey showed a large variation in the immunoglobulin concentration in colostrum, which could affect the acquisition of passive immunity by lambs. The strong correlation between immunoglobulin G and the total protein content suggests that this can be used to estimate the immunoglobulin content in sheep colostrum. The concentration of essential minerals is higher in colostrum than in milk as a result of mineral salt block supplementation at the end of gestation. Colostrum has a significantly different fatty acid profile than milk, and this is due to the specific needs of newborn lambs. Colostrum is a major source of immunity in ruminants. It allows the transfer of antibodies from the mother to the fetus, and it is the exclusive source of nutrients for the newborn. The objectives of this study were (i) to characterize the macro and the micro composition of colostrum; (ii) to analyze the antioxidant capacity, fatty acid profile, and essential and toxic mineral content of colostrum; and (iii) to compare FA profiles and the amount of trace elements between colostrum and mature milk. For these purposes, samples of colostrum and milk were collected from a representative sample of animals from eight sheep dairy farms in the north of Sardinia (Italy). Fat, proteins, and seven essential and toxic minerals were measured in all samples of colostrum and milk. Furthermore, the FA profile was also measured in both matrices, while total antioxidant capacity was measured only in colostrum samples. The average amounts of fat and protein (TP) concentration in colostrum were 7.8% and 16%, respectively. Additionally, an average amount of 40 ± 20 g dm−3 was found for immunoglobulin G (IgG). As regards the antioxidant capacity of colostrum, a large variation was observed between samples from different farms for test 2, 2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), which was 30 ± 10% (mean ± standard deviation). High levels of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) were found in colostrum (200 µg kg−1, 25,000 µg kg−1, and 1200 µg kg−1, respectively). A strong positive correlation between TP and IgG was observed (r = 91%). In colostrum, the amount of IgG is positively correlated with Se and Zn, as they are essential minerals to the immune system. The FA profile demonstrated higher levels of medium and long chain fatty acids in colostrum than in mature milk, and this is mainly true for arachidonic acid (ARA), ecosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This study provided new information on the quality of colostrum in Sarda dairy sheep and showed the different composition of fatty acids between colostrum and mature milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco contains a large amount of bioactive ingredients which can be used as source of feed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary addition of low-nicotine tobacco (LNT) on the growth performance, blood status, cecum microbiota and metabolite composition of meat rabbits. A total of 80 Kangda meat rabbits of similar weight were assigned randomly as four groups, and three of them were supplemented with 5%, 10%, and 20% LNT, respectively, with the other one fed with basal diet as control group. Each experiment group with 20 rabbits was raised in a single cage. The experiments lasted for 40 days with a predictive period of 7 days. The results revealed that LNT supplementation had no significant effect on the growth performance, but increased the half carcass weight compared with control group. Dietary supplemention of LNT decreased the triglycerides and cholesterol content in rabbit serum, and significantly increased the plasma concentration of lymphocytes (LYM), monocytes, eosinophils, hemoglobin HGB and red blood cells. In addition, LNT supplementation significantly changed the microbial diversity and richness, and metagenomic analysis showed that LNT supplementation significantly increased Eubacterium_siraeum_group, Alistipes, Monoglobus and Marvinbryantia at genus level. Moreover, LC–MS data analysis identified a total of 308 metabolites that markedly differed after LNT addition, with 190 significantly upregulated metabolites and 118 significantly downregulated metabolites. Furthermore, the correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between the microbial difference and the rabbit growth performance. Overall, these findings provide theoretical basis and data support for the application of LNT in rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is carried out in the Mexican oil and gas industry. An Intelligent Decision Support System (IDSS) is proposed, through support modules for the human operator (fuzzy expert system and artificial neural network) that simulate, forecast and standardize operational decision criteria of a sequential pipeline pumping system, with problems of vandalism, mechanical deterioration in the face of a complex topographic profile, in order to minimize operational subjectivity and prevent contingencies. The research provides new control and monitoring alternatives that guarantee the operational reliability of a pumping station, minimizing the effects of risk by managing the knowledge of the experts involved in the problem, data mining and association of results, which allow to unify criteria decision. The originality of the work focuses on the ability to model, identify and adapt variables to current international parameters, considering previous works through a comprehensive perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a global disease with no effective medication. The fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) can reverse this liver dysfunction, but requires targeted delivery to the liver, which can be achieved via oral administration. Therefore, we fused FGF21 to transferrin (Tf) via a furin cleavage site (F), to promote uptake from the intestine into the portal vein, yielding FGF21-F-Tf, and established its production in both seeds and leaves of commercial Nicotiana tabacum cultivars, compared their expression profile and tested the bioavailability and bioactivity in feeding studies. Since biopharmaceuticals need to be produced in a contained environment, e.g., greenhouses in case of plants, the seed production was increased in this setting from 239 to 380 g m-2 a-1 seed mass with costs of 1.64 € g-1 by side branch induction, whereas leaves yielded 8,193 g m-2 a-1 leave mass at 0.19€ g-1. FGF21-F-Tf expression in transgenic seeds and leaves yielded 6.7 and 5.6 mg kg-1 intact fusion protein, but also 4.5 and 2.3 mg kg-1 additional Tf degradation products. Removing the furin site and introducing the liver-targeting peptide PLUS doubled accumulation of intact FGF21-transferrin fusion protein when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana from 0.8 to 1.6 mg kg-1, whereas truncation of transferrin (nTf338) and reversing the order of FGF21 and nTf338 increased the accumulation to 2.1 mg kg-1 and decreased the degradation products to 7% for nTf338-FGF21-PLUS. Application of partially purified nTf338-FGF21-PLUS to FGF21-/- mice by oral gavage proved its transfer from the intestine into the blood circulation and acutely affected hepatic mRNA expression. Hence, the medication of NASH via oral delivery of nTf338-FGF21- PLUS containing plants seems possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lactose is a kind of carbohydrate that exists in mammal milk. It has some physiological functions, such as providing energy, regulating gut microbiota, and affecting immunity. Rotavirus (RV) is the main pathogen that induces severe diarrhea in piglets, which impairs their growth and development. In this study, we investigated whether different levels (4% and 6%) of dietary lactose supplementation alleviates RV-induced diarrhea in weaned piglets. The results showed that lactose administration relieved the negative effect of RV on growth, which was derived from the improvement of nutrient utilization, gut barrier function, and immunity. Moreover, supplementing 6% lactose in the diets had a tendency to alleviate diarrhea in RV-infected piglets. Thus, we suggest that the diet of weaned piglets should be supplemented with more than 4% lactose (especially in the early period of weaning) if the cost of feed can be afforded. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary lactose supplementation relieves rotavirus (RV)-induced diarrhea and gut dysfunction. Thirty-six crossbred weaned piglets were randomly allocated into three groups and fed diets containing 0, 4%, and 6% lactose for 20 days. On Day 15, half of the piglets in each group were orally infused with RV. RV infection impaired growth performance; induced severe diarrhea; decreased serum D-xylose concentration and morphology and sIgA level of jejunal mucosa; downregulated MUC1, MUC2, occludin, Bcl-2, IL-4, pBD3, pBD2, and pBD1 mRNA expression of jejunal mucosa and/or mesenteric lymph nodes; upregulated Bax, caspase-3, IL-2, IFN-γ, and IFN-β mRNA expression of jejunal mucosa and/or mesenteric lymph nodes; and damaged microbiota and metabolites of cecal digesta in weaned piglets (p < 0.05). Dietary lactose supplementation improved nutrient digestibility and growth performance and relieved the negative influence of RV challenge on intestinal barrier function, mRNA expression of cytokines, and host defense peptides of jejunal mucosa and/or mesenteric lymph nodes in weaned piglets (p < 0.05). Dietary administration of 6% lactose tended to relieve diarrhea (p = 0.07). These results suggest that lactose in feed increases growth performance and has a tendency to alleviate RV-induced diarrhea, derived from the improvement of nutrient utilization, gut barrier function, and immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The article summarizes the current knowledge on factors related to pregnancy, parturition, and newborns that affect the health status of a puppy and determine its chances for survival and development. The detailed information is provided in terms of breed predispositions, objectives of pregnancy monitoring, potential sources of complications, and veterinary advances in care and treatment of perinatal conditions. Successful pregnancy outcomes still pose challenges in veterinary neonatology; thus, publications presenting the current state of knowledge in this field are in demand. The perinatal period has a critical impact on viability of the newborns. The variety of factors that can potentially affect the health of a litter during pregnancy, birth, and the first weeks of life requires proper attention from both the breeder and the veterinarian. The health status of puppies can be influenced by various maternal factors, including breed characteristics, anatomy, quality of nutrition, delivery assistance, neonatal care, and environmental or infectious agents encountered during pregnancy. Regular examinations and pregnancy monitoring are key tools for early detection of signals that can indicate disorders even before clinical signs occur. Early detection significantly increases the chances of puppies' survival and proper development. The purpose of the review was to summarize and discuss the complex interactions between all elements that, throughout pregnancy and the first days of life, have a tangible impact on the subsequent fate of the offspring. Many of these components continue to pose challenges in veterinary neonatology; thus, publications presenting the current state of knowledge in this field are in demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoregulation in newborn mammals is an essential species-specific mechanism of the nervous system that contributes to their survival during the first hours and days of their life. When exposed to cold weather, which is a risk factor associated with mortality in neonates, pathways such as the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) are activated to achieve temperature control, increasing the circulating levels of catecholamine and cortisol. Consequently, alterations in blood circulation and mechanisms to produce or to retain heat (e.g., vasoconstriction, piloerection, shivering, brown adipocyte tissue activation, and huddling) begin to prevent hypothermia. This study aimed to discuss the mechanisms of thermoregulation in newborn domestic mammals, highlighting the differences between altricial and precocial species. The processes that employ brown adipocyte tissue, shivering, thermoregulatory behaviors, and dermal vasomotor control will be analyzed to understand the physiology and the importance of implementing techniques to promote thermoregulation and survival in the critical post-birth period of mammals. Also, infrared thermography as a helpful method to perform thermal measurements without animal interactions does not affect these parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to monitor the performance and related efficiency of a combined cycle power plant (CCPP), in addition to the best utilization of its power output, it is vital to predict its full load electrical power output. In this paper, the full load electrical power output of CCPP was predicted employing practically efficient machine learning algorithms, including linear regression, ridge regression, lasso regression, elastic net regression, random forest regression, and gradient boost regression. The original data came from an actual confidential power plant, which was working on a full load for 6 years, with four major features: ambient temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and exhaust vacuum, and one target (electrical power output per hour). Different regression performance measures were used, including R² (coefficient of determination), MAE (Mean Absolute Error), MSE (Mean Squared Error), RMSE (Root Mean Squared Error), and MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error). Research results revealed that the gradient boost regression model outperformed other models with and without using the dimensionality reduction technique (PCA) with the highest R² of 0.912 and 0.872, respectively, and had the lowest MAPE of 0.872 % and 1.039 %, respectively. Moreover, prediction performance dropped slightly after using the dimensionality reduction technique almost in all regression algorithms used. The novelty in this work is summarized in predicting electrical power output in a CCPP based on a few features using simpler algorithms than reported deep learning and neural networks algorithms combined. That means a lower cost and less complicated procedure as per each, however, resulting in practically accepted results according to the evaluation metrics used [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental dietary amino acids (AAs) need to be provided in a form that prevents their degradation along the gastrointestinal tract to guarantee their high bioavailability and bioactivity. In this study, methionine (Met) protected via organo-clay intercalation (natural carriers) has been developed as a sustainable alternative to polymeric coating. Specifically, two different bentonite-zeolite-based mineral clays were tested, Adsorbene (ADS) and BioKi (BIO). Briefly, 1 g of the carrier (ADS or BIO) was contacted with 50 mL of an aqueous solution at a pH of 3.0, 5.8, and 8.9. Solid-liquid separation was conducted. The released Met in the liquid phase was analysed by Chemical Oxygen Demand, while residual Met in the solid phase was analysed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The effect of Met-ADS complex on cell viability was tested on IPEC-J2 cells incubated 3 h with Met-ADS 2.5 mM. Jejunum segments obtained by entire male pigs (Swiss Large White, body weight 100 ± 5 kg) were used as ex vivo models to compare the absorption of 2.5 mM Met released by ADS with 2.5 mM free Met and its influence on epithelial integrity in perfusion Ussing chambers. The carriers released a very low amount of Met and Met-BIO interaction was stronger than Met-ADS. The maximum release of Met was at pH 3, with 3% and 6% of Met release from Met-BIO and Met-ADS, respectively. Cell viability experiments revealed that Met-ADS did not alter cell metabolic activity. No differences in Met absorption and intestinal epithelial integrity were observed ex vivo between free Met and Met-ADS. This study provided new insights into the release of Met from natural clays such as ADS and BIO, the safety of its use in the porcine intestine and the ability of ADS-released Met to absorb to the same extent as the free Met in porcine jejunum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural heritage is a challenging domain of application for novel interactive technologies, where varying aspects in the way that cultural assets are delivered play a major role in enhancing the visitor experience, either onsite or online. Technology-supported natural human–computer interaction that is based on multimodalities is a key factor in enabling wider and enriched access to cultural heritage assets. In this paper, we present the design and evaluation of an interactive system that aims to support visitors towards a better understanding of art contexts through the use of a multimodal interface, based on visual and audio interactions. The results of the evaluation study shed light on the dimensions of evoking natural interactions within cultural heritage environments, using micro-narratives for self-exploration and understanding of cultural content, and the intersection between human–computer interaction and artificial intelligence within cultural heritage. We expect our findings to provide useful insights for practitioners and researchers of the broad human–computer interaction and cultural heritage communities on designing and evaluating multimodal interfaces to better support visitor experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: In this article, the performance improvement of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton cycles through heat recovery and advanced heat exchanger (HX) design is reviewed. The configuration of sCO2 cycles and the bottleneck of the design of an efficient sCO2 cycle is first evaluated. It was found that heat rejected in the precooler is a large waste that could potentially enhance the overall sCO2 system performance. Then integration of the absorption cycle, organic Rankine cycle, and thermal desalination plant to the sCO2 cycle to recover the waste thermal energy is reviewed and discussed. Results showed that these bottoming heat recovery cycles could substantially improve the overall sCO2 system efficiency. The combined system of sCO2/absorption chiller, sCO2/ORC increases the cycle efficiency to about 78% and 79%, respectively. Also, a combined system of sCO2/desalination produces about 200 000 m3/day with a cost of less than $1.0/m3. Based on the review, the evaluation criteria are proposed for decision‐makers. Another bottleneck of the design of the sCO2 system is the HXs (recuperators) used in the sCO2 cycle which are relatively large and negatively affect the cycle compactness and performance. Therefore, various types of recuperators proposed and designed for sCO2 cycles are reviewed and evaluated. This review highlights the need for further research to enhance heat recovery, reduce the cost of bottoming cycles, and improve the design of HXs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review addresses the potential role of antioxidants and methyl-group sources in optimising the metabolic health of dairy ruminants. The productivity of high-yielding dairy cows has increased over the past 40 years and the milk yield has doubled. Such increases in milk production have been observed not only in dairy cows but also to some extent in other dairy ruminants such as ewes, goats and buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). As a consequence, in all specialized dairy ruminants it is essential to optimize the macro and micro-nutrient supply, especially during the most critical period in the animals' production cycle i.e. from parturition until the peak of lactation. In this critical phase, an array of factors can enhance the balance between the intake and demand for nutrients, although the availability and supply of the selected micronutrients is also important. The supplementation of dietary antioxidants or boosting the endogenous methyl group status, via vitamin E, selenium and choline are proposed as possible strategies in maintaining stable metabolic health and optimising milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radial inflow turbine and nozzle among the other components of the cryogenic turboexpander has a significant effect on the efficiency of the system. This study proposes an effective one-dimensional design approach of a radial turbine by introducing different loss correlations. The methodology also describes the effect of non-dimensional design variables on the performance of the turbine. These variables (blade speed ratio, pressure ratio, hub and shroud to turbine inlet radius ratio) undergo artificial intelligence-based model to predict their optimal range for better efficiency and power output of the turbine. Based on these optimal ranges, two turbine and nozzle models are generated. The results of the optimized configuration show that the turbine total-to-static efficiency and power output are higher by 4% and 18.9% respectively as compared to the existing literature. Thereafter, the three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is carried out to visualize the fluid flow and thermal characteristics at different inlet temperatures in the flow passage using ANSYS CFX®. The study also focuses to identify the flow separation zone, tip leakage flow, vortex formation, secondary losses and its reasons at different spans of the turbine. An experimental platform is also established to validate the CFD results of a case study. The experimental results show that the mass flow rate and rotational speed has major effect on temperature drop and isentropic efficiency of the turboexpander. The study highlights the importance of the design methodology, the estimation capability of artificial intelligence models, the experimental techniques and benchmarking model for numerical analysis at different cryogenic temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) ion channel is a sensor for irritant chemicals, has ancient lineage, and is distributed across animal species including humans, where it features in many organs. Its activation by a diverse panel of electrophilic molecules (TRPA1 agonists) through electrostatic binding and/or covalent attachment to the protein causes the sensation of pain. This article reviews the species differences between TRPA1 channels and their responses, to assess the suitability of different animals to model the effects of TRPA1-activating electrophiles in humans, referring to common TRPA1 activators (exogenous and endogenous) and possible mechanisms of action relating to their toxicology. It concludes that close matching of in vitro and in vivo models will help optimise the identification of relevant biochemical and physiological responses to benchmark the efficacy of potential therapeutic drugs, including TRPA1 antagonists, to counter the toxic effects of those electrophiles capable of harming humans. The analysis of the species issue provided should aid the development of medical treatments to counter poisoning by such chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sanitary landfills for municipal solid waste (MSW) represent one of the major anthropogenic source of GHGs emissions and are directly responsible of the climate changes we are facing nowadays. Indeed, the biodegradable organic matter of MSW undergoes anaerobic digestion producing the landfill gas (LFG), whose main components are CH4 and CO2. Therefore, biomethane energy exploitation in MSW landfills will reduce GHGs emission positively affecting the global warming. The aim of the present study was to assess the methane production in a Sicilian landfill by comparing the results from field measurements of methane emission and the estimates achieved by applying different mathematical models. A subsequent energetic/economic analysis was carried out based on the Italian incentive mechanisms. Two different scenarios were simulated for LFG valorization considering either internal combustion engines or micro gas turbines. The evaluation of the economic viability was performed by applying the classic models of the Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return. The results of the present study showed that the LFG produced in the investigated landfill could be profitably used as energetic source and the economic income due to thermal and electrical energy valorization might positively contribute to the landfill management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constant pressure is put on energy consumers to decrease their demands. A special focus is on primary energy sources, its maximum efficiency, and the best possible utilisation of produced energy. Another critical question nowadays is the environmental impact. With strict emission limits, it is important to aim for the cleanest source possible. A cogeneration unit seems to be a very promising solution thanks to its high efficiency and good acquaintance. This paper focuses on gas microturbines which are still considered progressive technology. A gas microturbine can obtain the combined heat and power efficiency of up to 90% with low pollutant flue gas. With such parameters, gas microturbine ought to be considered a promising source of energy, especially for industrial operations with high heat demand. This paper provides essential gas microturbine characteristics, its advantages and disadvantages, and a comparison with other types of combined heat and power units (e.g., organic Rankine cycle units, solid oxide fuel cells units). The study is based on recent papers published in a wide range of journals. Review of the literature shows that gas microturbine is suitable for coupling with other technologies, especially for combined cooling, heat and power units. However, about 50% of the examined paper used gas microturbine only for power generation. There is still space for complex and more rigorous gas microturbine integration into industrial operations, especially the use of exhaust gases for direct drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a number of power plants such as the South Pars Gas Company, efficient control performance regarding the turbine generator is always needed to avoid facing disturbances of islanding in the supply of power, at each instance of time. It is particularly important to deal with through state-of-the-art techniques, due to the fact that the separation of the electrical grid may increase or reduce the speed of the above-referenced turbine generator and correspondingly the frequency, in its permitted range, may be deviated to stop power generation, abruptly. With this key goal, a set of control strategies through the representation of the gas turbine via Rowen is proposed in the present research. In a word, there are some classical and intelligence-based control approaches to cope with the disturbance of islanding with a focus on load-shedding system. In reality, the proposed investigation is mainly concentrating on the fuzzy-based neural network control approach to cope with the turbulence of frequency deviation. The main contribution made in this research is to deal with gas turbine model in association with generator in conjunction with load-shedding system, while intelligence-based techniques considering fuzzy, neural network and genetic algorithm are synchronously established to design the control strategy with high accuracy. In the sequel, the effectiveness of the proposed intelligence-based control approach is verified, while the classical proportional-integral-derivative control approach via the Ziegler-Nichols and also the simulated annealing tuning processes are taken as the benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ratio of 1.36:1 in relative bioactivity of RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate as a natural (Nat-α-T) source to all-rac -α-tocopheryl-acetate, as a synthetic (Syn-α-T) source, is generally accepted. This factor also largely reflects the difference in bioavailability. However, studies indicate that neither bioavailability of α-tocopherol stereoisomers nor relative bioavailability between them are constant, but are dose-dependent and differ between organs. However, no information is available about how different ratios between synthetic and natural α-tocopherol affect bioavailability of α-tocopherol stereoisomers. Thirty lambs were randomly assigned to diets supplied with additives containing 5 different Syn-α-T to Nat-α-T ratios, including 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100. The experiment lasted for 70 d after which the lambs were slaughtered. The amount of RRR-α-tocopherol generally increased in plasma and organs with increasing the proportion of Nat-α-T in the diet (P < 0.05). However, the relative bioavailability of RRR- and RRS-α-tocopherol in plasma, organs, and abdominal fat generally decreased with increasing the proportion of Nat-α-T in the diet (P < 0.05), whereas the other stereoisomers only showed minor changes with the exception of liver. However, a linear response was maintained between the ratio of stereoisomers in the feed and the ratio in plasma and organs. In conclusion, regardless of Syn-α-T to Nat-α-T ratio in the diets, amounts of α-tocopherol stereoisomers in plasma, brain, heart, lungs, and abdominal fat were in the following order: RRR > RRS, RSR, RSS > Σ2S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal manure is one of the diffusion routes of heavy metals and metalloids into the environment, where the soil can accumulate them. Heavy metals and metalloids can then be released into groundwater sources, be absorbed by crops, and enter the food chain with negative effects for human and animal health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals and mineral nutrients from modern animal rearing systems in order to develop effective strategies to increase the sustainability. Samples of feed (n = 24: n = 16 from swine, n = 8 from cattle), faeces (n = 120: n = 80 from swine, n = 40 from cattle) and water (n = 8), were collected from eight typical intensive swine and cattle farms located in northern Italy. All samples were analysed for the humidity and the principal components. The samples were also dried, mineralised, and analysed by ICP-MS to detect the following elements: Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, and Pb. The swine diets represented the highest amounts of Zn and Cu, with an average concentration for the finishing and weaning phases of Zn: 1737.9 ± 301.3; 821.7 ± 301.3; Cu: 133.8 ± 11.6; 160.1 ± 11.6 mg/kg as fed, respectively. The faecal content reflected the heavy metal composition from feed. The average content of cattle diets of Zn and Cu did not result higher than the maximum permitted levels. We observed that the swine manure represented the sources of Zn and Cu output into the environment. The Zn and Cu content should be monitored strictly in line with agroecology principles. Evaluation of the role of zinc and copper in animal production. Increase the sustainability of farms. Consider the feed as major route of HMs in livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this review is to focus the attention on the nutrition ecology of the heavy metals and on the major criticisms related to the heavy metals content in animal feeds, manure, soil and animal-origin products. Heavy metals are metallic elements that have a high density that have progressively accumulated in the food chain with negative effects for human health. Some metals are essential (Fe, I, Co, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo, Se) to maintain various physiological functions and are usually added as nutritional additives in animal feed. Other metals (As, Cd, F, Pb, Hg) have no established biological functions and are considered as contaminants/undesirable substances. The European Union adopted several measures in order to control their presence in the environment, as a result of human activities such as: farming, industry or food processing and storage contamination. The control of the animal input could be an effective strategy to reduce human health risks related to the consumption of animal-origin products and the environmental pollution by manure. Different management of raw materials and feed, animal species as well as different legal limits can influence the spread of heavy metals. To set up effective strategies against heavy metals the complex interrelationships in rural processes, the widely variability of farming practices, the soil and climatic conditions must be considered. Innovative and sustainable approaches have discussed for the heavy metal nutrition ecology to control the environmental pollution from livestock-related activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An artificial neural network (ANN) to estimate the second virial coefficient, valid for organic and inorganic compounds, is presented. First, we statistically analyzed 6,531 experimental points, belonging to 234 fluids, collected from literature. The data were investigated with a factor analysis approach to identify the most significant parameters that influence the second virial coefficient. The factor analysis, combined with physical considerations, allowed to find four (Tr, Tc, Pc, ω) or five (μr) parameters as input variables for the ANN, according to the specific chemical family. The architecture of the proposed multi-layers perceptron (MLP) neural network consists of one input layer with five input variables (Tr, Tc, Pc, ω, μr), one output layer with one neuron (B) and two-hidden-layers with 19 neurons each. We trained, validated and tested several configurations of the neural network to obtain this network topology that minimizes the deviations between experimental and calculated points. Results show that the ANN is able to calculate the second virial coefficient with greater accuracy (RMSE = 29.38 cm3/mol) than that of correlations available in literature. To identify the outliers and applicability domain of the proposed MLP neural network, an outlier diagnosis based on the Leverage approach was performed. This analysis shows that the model is statistically valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PH-responsive micelles that were formed by asymmetric MOPEO-b-PAAc diblock copolymers with chemically complementary methoxypoly(ethylene oxide)/poly(acrylic acid) blocks were used as nanocarriers to study the encapsulation/release processes of the poorly soluble homologue of α-tocopheryl acetate, known as the analogue of Vitamin E. These nanocarriers showed the high encapsulation degree of α-TOCA (near 100%) which did not depend on the encapsulation pathway (in situ or ex situ). The effect of various factors such as the time, the solution pH and the addition of NaCl on the state and behavior of α-TOCA solutions, micellar dispersions of the diblock copolymer and their micellar compositions were studied and discussed. A methodology for correctly determining the degree of α-TOCA encapsulation and release by the copolymer micelles was described. A gradual release of α-TOCA from micellar nanocarriers in the dialysis of micellar compositions against deionized water and a significant decrease in α-TOCA release in "physiological solution" and, especially, in water with pH =9 was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small size gas turbine application has increased with the advancement of technology. These engines have simple structures, fewer number of operating components, and less design and construction costs in comparison with large gas turbines. Small size gas turbines can be used in different fields such as remotely piloted vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, and special purpose aircraft such as vertical takeoff and landing aircrafts [1]. The advantages of these engines compared to the large gas turbine engines leads to high usage of small-sized engines and growing demand for research activities and experimental test results on the operating parameters of these engines, such as exhaust gas temperature (EGT). In general, research on gas turbine engines, related with the present work, can be divided into two parts. The first part includes studies about past experiments and modeling of gas turbine engines, and the second part focuses on data mining methods applied on gas turbine engines. These two areas are discussed in the following sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimuli-responsive micelles were formed by asymmetric diblock and triblock copolymers, which comprised chemically complementary (methoxy)poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(acrylic acid) blocks of different length. They were used as nanocarriers to encapsulate and deliver in vivo a poorly soluble homolog of α-tocopheryl acetate (α-TOCA), commonly known as an analogue of vitamin E. Self-assembly of the copolymer macromolecules into special micellar structures in aqueous solutions depended on the solution pH. The micellar structures arising at pH < 5 due to hydrogen bonds between the blocks and the subsequent segregation of the hydrophobic bound segments in the aqueous medium were stable in the temperature range 20-60 °C and with dilution of the solution. The micelle formation/destruction in the copolymer solutions at pH alteration was shown to be an equilibrium process. Various morphological forms of micelles depending on the copolymer structure and the blocks' asymmetry were revealed by the TEM method. All types of micelles showed high binding degrees (about 100%) of α-TOCA, which did not depend on the encapsulation pathway ('in situ' or 'ex situ'). Encapsulation of α-TOCA resulted in hydrophobization of the micelle surface, thereby enhancing the aggregation of micelles in aqueous solution. Encapsulated α-tocopheryl acetate was in vivo fully digested by the animals (white mice) and showed increased biological activity, which allowed reducing its therapeutic dose by 25 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco seeds show a coat-imposed dormancy in which the seed envelope tissues (testa and endosperm) impose a physical constraint on the radicle protrusion. The germination-limiting process is represented by the endosperm rupture which is induced by cell-wall weakening. Transgenic tobacco seeds, obtained by insertion of exogenous genes codifying for seed-based oral vaccines (F18 and VT2eB), showed retarded germination with respect to the wild type and modified the expression of endogenous proteins. Morphological and proteomic analyses of wild type and transgenic seeds revealed new insights into factors influencing seed germination. Our data showed that the interference of exogenous DNA influences the germination rather than the dormancy release, by modifying the maturation process. Dry seeds of F18 and VT2eB transgenic lines accumulated a higher amount of reserve and stress–related proteins with respect to the wild type. Moreover, the storage proteins accumulated in tobacco F18 and VT2eB dry seeds have structural properties that do not enable the early limited proteolysis observed in the wild type. Morphological observations by electron and light microscopy revealed a retarded mobilization of the storage material from protein and lipid bodies in transgenic seeds, thus impairing water imbibition and embryo elongation. In addition, both F18 and VT2eB dry seeds are more rounded than the wild type. Both the morphological and biochemical characteristics of transgenic seeds mimic the seed persistent profile, in which their roundness enables them to be buried in the soil, while the higher content of storage material enables the hypocotyl to elongate more and the cotyledons to emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solid phase extraction technique for sample cleanup and extraction of α-tocopherol and α-tocopheryl acetate is described and applied to their simultaneous HPLC analysis in dairy products, plant-based milks, infant formulas, and pharmaceutical colostrum. The proposed method includes sample pretreatment by using ethanol, followed by solid-phase extraction of the organic supernatant on C18 cartridges. The identification and quantification were done by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection (ex 295 nm, em 330 nm) for tocopherol and with UV detector set at 220 nm for tocopheryl acetate. The mobile phase consisted of 100% acetonitrile. The linear ranges were from 0.02-0.40 μg/mL (dairy products) and 0.50-5.00 μg/mL (plant milks, infant formulas, powdered products) for α-tocopherol and those of α-tocopheryl acetate were from 0.20-2.00 μg/mL (dairy products) and 1.00-10.0 μg/mL (plant milks, infant formulas, powdered products). The LOD and LOQ of α-tocopherol were 0.1 and 0.4 μg/mL, while those of the α-tocopheryl acetate were 2.0 μg/mL for LOD and 6.0 μg/mL for LOQ. The method gave extraction recoveries from 73-94% with RSDs values being 5-10%. This method is simple, SPE procedure is fast and HPLC analysis time is less than 10 min. The total time of performing analysis per sample is less than 1 h. The important advantage of the proposed method is the capability of determining and reporting α-tocopherol and α-tocopheryl acetate separately. Moreover, the developed method is suitable for fast screening of the synthetic form of vitamin E in dairy products, plant-based milks, infant formulas, and pharmaceutical colostrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics have been demonstrated to be useful to enhance gut health and prevent gastrointestinal infections. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the potential of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT 7210 (B. infantis IM1) to prevent and fight intestinal disease by using a Salmonella Typhimurium (Trial 1) or an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (Trial 2) oral challenge in a weaning piglet model. Seventy-two piglets were used in each trial. After an adaptation period, animals were orally challenged. One animal per pen was euthanized at Days 4 and 8/9 (Trial 1/Trial 2) post-inoculation (PI). Animal performance, clinical signs, pathogen excretion, fermentation, immune response, and intestinal morphology were evaluated. In Trial 1, most parameters responded to the challenge, whereas, in Trial 2, effects were much milder. Consistent effects of the probiotic were detected in both experiments: Reduction of pathogen excretion (P = 0.043 on Day 3 PI, Trial 1) or ileal colonization (33% reduction of animals with countable coliforms; P = 0.077, Trial 2); increases in intraepithelial lymphocytes (P = 0.002 on Day 8 PI in Trial 1, P = 0.091 on Day 4 PI in Trial 2), and improvement of the fermentation profile by increasing butyric acid in non-challenged animals [P challenge × probiotic (interaction) = 0.092 in Trial 1 and P = 0.056 in Trial 2] concomitant with an enhancement of the villus:crypt ratio on Day 8/9 PI (P interaction = 0.091 for Trial 1 and P = 0.006 for Trial 2). Challenged animals treated with the probiotic showed reduced feed intakes (P interaction = 0.019 in Trial 1 and P = 0.020 in Trial 2) and had lower short-chain fatty acid concentrations in the colon (P interaction = 0.008 in Trial 1 and P = 0.082 in Trial 2). In conclusion, this probiotic demonstrated potential to reduce the intestinal colonization by pathogens and to stimulate local immune response. However, effects on feed intake, microbial fermentation, and intestinal architecture showed a differential pattern between challenged and non-challenged animals. Effects of the probiotic intervention were dependent on the structure of the ecosystem in which it was applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the use of solid industrial waste generated by a water treatment plant (WTP) at a pulp mill in Brazil for manufacturing building bricks. The sludge from the WTP was mixed with three different wastes generated by the same factory (dregs, grits, and lime mud) and other wastes generated from crushing and grinding granite rock (granite fines). Mathematical and statistical methods are proposed for designing mixtures that satisfy the material properties for ceramic processing and the mechanical properties for the end product. A method for solving a linear system of equations using fewer equations than variables was required, as the number of materials exceeded the number of reference grain size distributions. This type of system is generally compatible and indeterminate. To obtain feasible solutions, a combination-of-variables method is proposed to optimize the mixture design. The formulation of the mixtures was based on the grain size distribution of the residues and the proportions of calcium, sodium, and potassium oxides in the mixtures. The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test and the median test were applied for all mixtures, followed by a multiple comparison test of classes. The mechanical properties of the specimens were evaluated after drying (linear shrinkage and flexural strength) and firing (ignition loss, linear shrinkage, and flexural strength) according to the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards and Brazilian Standards for red ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of β-glucan and mannan-oligosaccharide (BG + MOS) supplementation in feed on growth performance, bacterial population in feces and immune responses of weaned pigs were investigated. Two hundred and eighty-eight weaning piglets were randomly allocated into 3 groups with 8 replicates per group and 12 pigs per replicate. Group 1, as control, was fed a commercial basal nursery diet. Groups 2 and 3 were fed the same diet supplemented with BG + MOS (Biolex® MB-40) 1 and 2 kg/ton of feed, respectively. Weight gain (WG), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated on days 1, 21 and 42 of experiment. Blood samples were analyzed for interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-β). Total bacteria, total coliform, Lactobacillus concentrations and Lactobacillus to Coliform ratio (L:C) in feces were also determined. Results showed that groups 2 and 3 had better WG, ADFI and ADG on days 1-21. No significant difference in growth performance was, however, observed among the groups on days 21-42 and 1-42. FCR was not different among the groups throughout the experiment. Both BG + MOS supplemented groups had reduction in total bacteria and coliform concentration in feces but increase in number of Lactobacillus spp. and L:C ratio. Similar extent of reduction in diarrhea incidence of both BG + MOS supplemented groups was observed during the first 3 weeks of experiment. Group 3 pigs exhibited higher PRRS antibody response than the others on day 42. No statistically significant difference in serum IL-1, IL-6 and TNF- among the groups was shown during the experiment. In conclusion, BG + MOS supplementation is potentially beneficial to growth performance on days 1-21, bacterial population balance in feces and diarrhea incidence reduction of weaning pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shared diseases between animals and humans are known as zoonotic diseases and spread infectious diseases among humans. Zoonotic diseases are not only a major burden to livestock industry but also threaten humans accounting for >60% cases of human illness. About 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans have been reported to originate from zoonotic pathogens. Because antibiotics are frequently used to protect livestock from bacterial diseases, the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of epidemic and zoonotic pathogens is now a major concern. Live attenuated and killed vaccines are the only option to control these infectious diseases and this approach has been used since 1890. However, major problems with this approach include high cost and injectable vaccines is impractical for >20 billion poultry animals or fish in aquaculture. Plants offer an attractive and affordable platform for vaccines against animal diseases because of their low cost, and they are free of attenuated pathogens and cold chain requirement. Therefore, several plant-based vaccines against human and animals diseases have been developed recently that undergo clinical and regulatory approval. Plant-based vaccines serve as ideal booster vaccines that could eliminate multiple boosters of attenuated bacteria or viruses, but requirement of injectable priming with adjuvant is a current limitation. So, new approaches like oral vaccines are needed to overcome this challenge. In this review, we discuss the progress made in plant-based vaccines against zoonotic or other animal diseases and future challenges in advancing this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the present paper is the implementation of a fault detection strategy to ensure the fault detection in a gas turbine which is presenting a complex system. This strategy is based on an adaptive hybrid neuro fuzzy inference technique which combines the advantages of both techniques of neuron networks and fuzzy logic, where, the objective is to maintain the desired performance of the studied gas turbine system in the presence of faults. On the other side, the representation of fuzzy knowledge in the learning neural networks has to be accurate to provide significant improvements for modeling of the studied system dynamic behavior. The results presented in this paper proves clearly that the proposed detection technique allows the perfect detection of the studied gas turbine malfunctions, furthermore it shows that the use of the proposed technique based on the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Interference System (ANFIS) approach which uses the adaptive learning mechanism of neuron networks and fuzzy inference techniques, can be a promising technique to be applied in several industrial application for faults detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) significantly contribute to diarrhea in piglets and weaners. The smallholder pig producers in Uganda identified diarrhea as one of the major problems especially in piglets. The aim of this study was to; i) characterize the virulence factors of E. coli strains isolated from diarrheic and non-diarrheic suckling piglets and weaners from smallholder herds in northern and eastern Uganda and ii) identify and describe the post-mortem picture of ETEC infection in severely diarrheic piglets. Rectal swab samples were collected from 83 piglets and weaners in 20 herds and isolated E. coli were characterized by PCR, serotyping and hemolysis. Results: The E. coli strains carried genes for the heat stable toxins STa, STb and EAST1 and adhesins F4 and AIDA-I. The genes for the heat labile toxin LT and adhesins F5, F6, F18 and F41 were not detected in any of the E. coli isolates. Where the serogroup could be identified, E. coli isolates from the same diarrheic pig belonged to the same serogroup. The prevalence of EAST1, STb, Stx2e, STa, AIDA-I, and F4 in the E. coli isolates from suckling piglets and weaners (diarrheic and non-diarrheic combined) was 29, 26.5, 2.4, 1.2, 16, and 8.4 %, respectively. However the prevalence of F4 and AIDA-I in E. coli from diarrheic suckling piglets alone was 22.2 and 20 %, respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the individual virulence factors in E. coli from the diarrheic and non-diarrheic pigs (p > 0.05). The main ETEC strains isolated from diarrheic and nondiarrheic pigs included F4/STb/EAST1 (7.2 %), F4/STb (1.2 %), AIDA/STb/EAST1 (8 %) and AIDA/STb (8 %). At post-mortem, two diarrheic suckling piglets carrying ETEC showed intact intestinal villi, enterocytes and brush border but with a layer of cells attached to the brush border, suggestive of ETEC infections. Conclusion: This study has shown that the F4 fimbriae is the most predominant in E. coli from diarrheic piglets in the study area and therefore an F4-based vaccine should be considered one of the preventive measures for controlling ETEC infections in the piglets in northern and eastern Uganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin E comprises eight related compounds: α-, β-, γ-, δ-tocopherols and α-, β-, γ-, δ-tocotrienols. In the past, α-tocopherol has been the isomer that was studied most, and its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects have been described. Therefore, many prevention trials have investigated the effect of α-tocopherol on human health. Current research studies have also defined the important roles of other tocopherols, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and cancer preventative effects. Knowledge of the individual tocopherols could help to understand their roles in various metabolic pathways. This review summarizes the recent trends in sample pretreatment, liquid chromatography and selected applications of the determination of tocopherols in various biological materials. The relationship between tocopherol isomers and serious diseases is also described. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tocotrienols, members of the vitamin E family, are natural compounds found in a number of vegetable oils, wheat germ, barley and certain types of nuts and grains. Vegetable oils provide the best sources of these vitamin E forms, particularly palm oil and rice bran oil contain higher amounts of tocotrienols. Other sources of tocotrienols include grape fruit seed oil, oats, hazelnuts, maize, olive oil, buckthorn berry, rye, flax seed oil, poppy seed oil and sunflower oil. Tocotrienols are of four types, viz. alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (γ) and delta (δ). Unlike tocopherols, tocotrienols are unsaturated and possess an isoprenoid side chain. A number of researchers have developed methods for the extraction, analysis, identification and quantification of different types of vitamin E compounds. This article constitutes an in-depth review of the chemistry and extraction of the unsaturated vitamin E derivatives, tocotrienols, from various sources using different methods. This review article lists the different techniques that are used in the characterization and purification of tocotrienols such as soxhlet and solid-liquid extractions, saponification method, chromatography (thin layer, column chromatography, gas chromatography, supercritical fluid, high performance), capillary electrochromatography and mass spectrometry. Some of the methods described were able to identify one form or type while others could analyse all the analogues of tocotrienol molecules. Hence, this article will be helpful in understanding the various methods used in the characterization of this lesser known vitamin E variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin E is an essential nontoxic fat-soluble micronutrient whose effects on livestock performance and products can be attributed to its antioxidant and nonantioxidant properties. Although it is needed in small quantity in the diet, its roles in livestock production are indispensable as it is required in boosting performance, nutritional qualities, and yield of animal and animal products. The dietary or oral supplementation of vitamin E is essential in reducing lipid oxidation in muscle, egg, and dairy products as well as lowering cholesterol concentrations and improving antioxidant status of livestock. Evidence has shown that bioavailability of vitamin E-enriched animal products could serve as an invaluable nutritional benefit to consumers; especially those in regions of limited resources where vitamin E deficiencies pose a risk that may be detrimental to some cellular activities of the body and on human health. It is therefore important to redirect research on the impact of vitamin E supplementation as antioxidant on livestock performance and animal products., (© 2020 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

This study explores a bibliometric approach to quantitatively assessing current research trends on solid waste, by using the related literature published between 1997 and 2011 in journals of all the subject categories of the Science Citation Index. The articles acquired from such literature were concentrated on the general analysis by publication type and language, characteristics of articles outputs, country, subject categories and journals, and the frequency of title-words and keywords used. Over the past 15 years, there had been a notable growth trend in publication outputs, along with more participation of countries/territories. The seven major industrialized countries (G7) published the majority of the world articles, while their article share was being replacing by other countries represented by BRIC countries. An analysis of the title-words, author keywords and keywords plus showed that municipal solid waste and sludge were the major research types of solid wastes and 'anaerobic digestion', 'wastewater' and 'heavy metals' were recent major topics of solid waste research. Meanwhile, the analysis indicated the analysis technologies, represented by solid-phase extraction and tandem mass-spectrometry, were more and more widely used for solid waste research. Besides, life cycle assessment and health risk assessment were the most two frequently environmental assessment tools used for solid waste research in the 15-year research period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study the economical evaluation of injecting the water/steam into the micro gas turbine (MT) cycle witch operate in combined heat and powercycle. Heat and electricity cogeneration is a way for optimizing energy consumption. Cogeneration power plants produce both electric and thermal from one energy source. These systems could work by different movers but one of the most important and applied prime movers are Microturbine. Microturbines are small electricity generators which their producted electric power is 25-350 kW and their efficiency is almost 18% that can reach to 30% approximately by use of recuperator in their cycle. By water/steam injection into the MT cycle, the power will be enhanced and its efficiency will be changed too. The fundamental aim of this study is economic evaluation of outfit the MT cycle to water/steam injection system. Here after the presentation of cogeneration systems, there are explanations of Microturbines and a thermodynamic analysis has been shown. Then the experimental and simulation results of water and steam injection to the different points in the cycle were compared. At last the economic evaluation of these cases and the energy production cost of any system were evaluated by Matlab codes. However injection increase the produced power, but according to the energy and set prices, the injection to the system is not economical. Non-injected system have the least payback (6 year) and its energy production cost is 0.043 $/kWh. But between the injection cases, water injection into the combustor is preferable choice that has 7.1 year as capital payback period, the least energy production cost (0.054 $/kWh) and (-89.8 $) disadvantage (decrease in net incomes) respect to Dry in compare to other case of injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The health of piglets, especially the health of the gastrointestinal tract, is subject to severe stress during weaning. The use of antibiotics can help piglets to counteract the negative effects of this period. However, the use of antibiotics as growth promoters can increase the risk of antibiotic resistance. For this reason, antibiotic replacement products are sought to promote gut health. We tested the commercial product GreenFIS® (New Feed Team Ltd., Lodi, Italy), a blend of natural substances acknowledged as beneficial for gut health, at two levels of inclusion, compared to a control diet, on 60 piglets. No differences were recorded between diets regarding the growth performance. The gut histological analysis performed on some animals did not reveal any difference between diets. Microbiological analyses were also performed on the feces and the piglets fed GreenFIS® showed a higher number of a group of bacteria positively associated with starch utilization. After the post-weaning trial, a digestibility study was conducted on six pigs randomly chosen for each treatment. The addition of GreenFIS® to the diet led to higher digestibility compared to the control, although it did not reveal, in the excellent hygienic conditions of the experimental farm, a positive effect on the gut heath. The weaning period is a stressful period for the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of piglets. This work aims to evaluate the effects of the commercial polyphenol-based product GreenFIS® on: (1) GIT health and performance of 60 weaned piglets; (2) digestibility in 18 growing pigs. Three diets were tested: a control diet (C), C plus 2.5 g of GreenFIS®/kg C (T1), and C plus 5 g of GreenFIS®/kg C (T2). After the post-weaning trial three piglets per treatment were sacrificed for the GIT histological analysis. No differences between diets were recorded in terms of growing performance or clinical and biochemical blood parameters. The GIT histological analysis did not show any indicators of inflammation for any of the groups. The feces of the two extreme treatments (C and T2) were analyzed for microbiota, revealing a greater presence of the Ruminococcus bromii group, positively associated with starch degradation, in T2. In the second experiment six pigs per treatment were randomly chosen for the digestibility study. The inclusion of GreenFIS® at both levels led to a higher fecal digestibility of gross energy (86.2%, 89.1%, and 89.5%, for C, T1, and T2, respectively) and crude protein (87.0%, 90.2%, and 90.0%). In conclusion, the additive did not improve, in the excellent experimental hygienic conditions, the gut health, but it did increase nutrient digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little information is available about the management and clinical outcome of bone metastases (BM) in breast cancer patients. Methods: We prospectively studied 459 breast cancer patients with first diagnosis of BM for at least 2 years to collect information about diagnosis, management and clinical outcome. Results: Two hundred and forty-eight patients (54%) had only BM, 86 (18.7%) had concomitant nonskeletal BM and 125 (27.2%) had previous nonskeletal BM. At enrolment, skeletal-related events were present in 132 patients (28.8%). Cancer treatments consisted of hormones (227/459, 49.5%) or chemotherapy (192/459, 41.8%). Age (≤70) and nonskeletal BM are inversely correlated with the use of chemotherapy or endocrine treatment (p < 0.0001). Bisphosphonates were used in 67.5% of the cases, alone (62.3%) or combined with other drugs. After a median follow-up of 28 months (range 2–43), 272 patients developed new metastases (59.2%), progression occurred mainly in nonskeletal sites (107/459, 23.3%), except for BM patients, who progressed prevalently at bone (69/248, 27.8%). New skeletal-related events were observed in 122 patients (26.6%). The 2-year probability for disease progression control and survival was 0.19 (95% CI 0.15–0.24) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.58–0.69), respectively. The 2-year probability for death according to the presence of nonskeletal metastases and the time of appearance (previous or concomitant to BM) was 0.74 (95% CI 0.67–0.79) for BM, 0.38 (95% CI 0.25–0.51) for previous nonskeletal BM and 0.56 (95% CI 0.46–0.66) for concomitant nonskeletal BM (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Clinical outcome is significantly different according to the metastatic sites. Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains, previously isolated from weaned piglets, were considered for the evaluation of their adhesive characteristics. Lactobacilli were treated with LiCl in order to remove the surface protein layer, and probiotic activity was compared with those of untreated strains. The autoaggregation, co-aggregation to E. coli F18+, and adhesive abilities of LiCl-treated Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) compared with the respective untreated strain. The hydrophobic and basic phenotypes were observed due to the strong affinity to chloroform and low adherence to ethyl acetate. In particular, L. plantarum showed higher hydrophobicity compared to L. reuteri, which may reflect their different colonizing ability. After treatment with LiCl to remove surface proteins, the adherence capabilities of L. reuteri and L. casei on IPEC-J2 cells decreased significantly (p < 0.001) and L. reuteri adhered more frequently. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that both L. reuteri and L. plantarum had several bands ranging from 20 to 100 kDa. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed an acidic profile of the surface-layer polypeptides for both bacterial strains, and more studies are needed to characterize their profile and functions. The results confirm the pivotal role of surface proteins in the probiotic potential of L. reuteri and L. plantarum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The aim of the study was to set up experimental conditions to simulate the simultaneous outbreak of post-weaning diarrhea and enterotoxaemia in weaned piglets, through verocytotoxic O138 Escherichia coli challenge. Zootechnical, clinical, microbiological, histological and immunological parameters were evaluated along the follow-up of control and infected groups. Results showed that experimental infection significantly affected the clinical status. Infected animals showed significant higher total median scores of epiphora, vitality, hair irregularity, oedema and depression; in addition, they displayed evident inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes, and follicular hyperplasia, increase of IgG in the intestinal crypts and CD3-positive T cells in intestinal epithelium. The infection model, carried out on receptor-mediated susceptible piglets, allowed to identify a discriminative panel of clinical symptoms related to Escherichia coli O138 infection and could be used to assess the protective effect of antibiotic alternatives. Pig livestock was influenced by several global concerns that imposed a re-thinking of the farming system, which included the reduction in chemical dependency and the development of antimicrobial alternatives. Post-weaning diarrhea and enterotoxaemia caused by Escherichia coli, are serious threats that are responsible for the economic losses related to mortality, morbidity and stunted growth in weaning piglets. The aim of the study was to set up experimental conditions to simulate the simultaneous outbreak of post-weaning diarrhea and enterotoxaemia in weaned piglets, through verocytotoxic O138 Escherichia coli challenge, with a multidisciplinary approach. Eighteen piglets susceptible to F18 VTEC infection were selected by polymerase chain reaction for polymorphism on the fucosyltransferase 1 gene and randomly divided in two experimental groups, non-infected controls (C; n = 6) and infected ones (I; n = 12) and housed into individual pens at the same environmental conditions for 29 days. At day 20, I pigs were orally inoculated with Escherichia coli O138 and fed a high protein ration for 3 days. Zootechnical, clinical, microbiological, histological and immunological parameters were evaluated along the follow up (3 and 9 days). Experimental infection, confirmed by bacteria faecal shedding of the I group, significantly affected the clinical status. The I group showed significantly higher total scores, corresponding to medians of the sum of daily scores from days 1 to 3 (Σ3) and 1 to 9 (Σ9) post infection, epiphora, vitality, hair irregularity, oedema and depression. Histological examination showed evident inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes, and follicular hyperplasia in I pigs; in the same group, the immunohistochemical and immunological assays revealed an increase in IgG in the intestinal crypts and CD3-positive T cells in intestinal epithelium. The experimental Escherichia coli infection in controlled conditions is crucial for both the evaluation of innovative compounds and the elucidation of the mechanisms associated with the persistence of antibacterial resistant strains. In conclusion, the adopted infection model, carried out on receptor-mediated susceptible piglets, allowed us to identify a discriminative panel of clinical symptoms related to Escherichia coli O138 infection, and could be used to assess the protective effect of antibiotic alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The milk production systems in goats are mainly intensive and semi-extensive. In the former, the goats are housed and are fed a total mixed ration with vitamin supplementation. In the latter, the feeding of the goats is based on grazing, although with some supplementation with compound feed. Retinol and α-tocopherol that appear in these animals come from the feeding regime, since the animal cannot synthesize them. The objective of this study was to verify if the vitamins provided in different management systems of Payoya lactating goats are good markers of the production system. For this purpose, the content of carotenoids, retinol and α-tocopherol in the milk and plasma of the goats was quantified. Results showed an inverse relationship of the amount of these vitamins between milk and plasma. On the other hand, the metabolism of different vitamins depends on their origin (natural/synthetic), with natural α-tocopherol and synthetic retinol showing the highest amount in milk. Finally, it was found that these compounds can be good traceability tools which allows to guaranty to the consumer the origin of the products derived from these animals. The retinol and α-tocopherol concentrations were quantified (μg/mL) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in both plasma and milk of goats from three management systems. The aim was to investigate if the compounds pass from feed to animals' fluids and to evaluate their potential use as feeding regime biomarkers. A total of 45 Payoya dams were distributed in three groups according to management system during the first month of lactation: mountain grazing (MG), cultivated meadow (CM) and total mixed ration (TMR). TMR group had higher concentrations of retinol in both plasma (25.92 ± 3.61 at 30 days postpartum) and milk (8.26 ± 0.79 at 10 days postpartum), and they were also the unique animals whose milk contained detectable concentrations of α-tocopherol (3.15 ± 0.19 at parturition). However, MG and CM goats showed higher plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol (64.26 ± 14.56 and 44.65 ± 5.75 at 30 days postpartum, respectively). These results could imply differences in the bioavailability of supplemented vitamin A and natural β-carotene and between the natural/synthetic forms of α-tocopherol. An inverse relationship between the fluids (plasma/milk) in the contents of α-tocopherol and retinol was observed as lactation progressed. Since 80% of the animals were correctly classified using a discriminant analysis based on these vitamins, these compounds could be used as traceability biomarkers of feeding system, but further studies are necessary to know the possible passage to kid meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the study were to test the biological activities of peppermint and spearmint oils via (i) measuring in vitro anti-inflammatory effects with porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), (ii) determining the barrier integrity of IPEC-J2 by analyzing transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), (iii) testing their antioxidant activities, and (iv) investigating the antimicrobial activity against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F18+. Briefly, (i) macrophages were seeded at 106 cells/mL and treated (24 h) with mint oils and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The treatments were 2 (0 or 1 μg/mL of LPS) × 5 (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 µg/mL of mint oils). The supernatants were collected for TNF-α and IL-1β measurement by ELISA; (ii) IPEC-J2 cells were seeded at 5 × 105 cells/mL and treated with mint oils (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL). TEER (Ωcm2) was measured at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h; (iii) the antioxidant activity was assessed (0, 1, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 600 mg/mL) using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and reducing power assays; (iv) overnight-grown ETEC F18+ were quantified (CFU/mL) after supplementing with peppermint and spearmint oils (0, 1.44, 2.87, 5.75, 11.50, and 23.00 mg/mL). All data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure. Both mint oils significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) IL-1β and TNF-α secretion from LPS-stimulated PAMs. Mint oil treatments did not affect TEER in IPEC-J2. Spearmint and peppermint oils exhibited (p < 0.05) strong antioxidant activities in DPPH and reducing power assays. Both mint oils also dose-dependently inhibited (p < 0.05) the growth of ETEC F18+ in vitro. The results of the study indicated that both mint oils are great candidate feed additives due to their in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Further research is needed to evaluate their efficacy in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing global concern. Effective alternatives that could replace and reduce antimicrobial treatments in farming have therefore become crucial for animal, human and environmental health. In swine farming, weaning is a stressful phase where piglets can develop multifactorial enteric disorders that require antibiotic treatments. Functional nutrition could thus represent a valuable alternative to reduce and tackle antibiotic resistance. This study assesses the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus reuteri on in-feed supplementation in weaned piglets. After weaning, piglets were allotted to four experimental groups fed a basal diet (CTRL) and a basal diet supplemented with 2 × 108 CFU/g of L. plantarum (PLA), L. reuteri and a combination of the two strains (P+R) for 28 days. Zootechnical performance and diarrhoea occurrence were recorded. Microbiological and serum metabolism analyses of faeces and blood samples were performed. Supplemented groups with lactobacilli showed a lower occurrence of diarrhoea and improved faecal consistency compared to the control. The PLA group registered the lowest diarrhoea frequency during the 28-day experimental period. The results suggest that dietary administration of L. plantarum and L. reuteri could prevent the occurrence of diarrhoea in weaned piglets. The effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus reuteri and their combination were assessed in weaned piglets. Three hundred and fifty weaned piglets (Landrace × Large White), balanced in terms of weight and sex, were randomly allotted to four experimental groups (25 pens, 14 piglets/pen). Piglets were fed a basal control diet (CTRL, six pens) and a treatment diet supplemented with 2 × 108 CFU/g of L. plantarum (PLA, 6 pens), 2 × 108 CFU/g L. reuteri (REU, six pens) and the combination of both bacterial strains (1 × 108 CFU/g of L. plantarum combined with 1 × 108 CFU/g of L. reuteri, P+R, 7 pens) for 28 days. Body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly. Diarrhoea occurrence was assessed weekly by the faecal score (0–3; considering diarrhoea ≥ 2). At 0 and 28 days, faecal samples were obtained from four piglets per pen for microbiological analyses and serum samples were collected from two piglets per pen for serum metabolic profiling. Treatments significantly reduced diarrhoea occurrence and decreased the average faecal score (0.94 ± 0.08 CTRL, 0.31 ± 0.08 PLA, 0.45 ± 0.08 REU, 0.27 ± 0.08 P+R; p < 0.05). The PLA group registered the lowest number of diarrhoea cases compared to other groups (20 cases CTRL, 5 cases PLA, 8 cases REU, 10 cases P+R; p < 0.01). After 28 days, the globulin serum level increased in PLA compared to the other groups (24.91 ± 1.09 g/L CTRL, 28.89 ± 1.03 g/L PLA, 25.91 ± 1.03 g/L REU, 25.31 ± 1.03 g/L P+R; p < 0.05). L. plantarum and L. reuteri could thus be considered as interesting functional additives to prevent diarrhoea occurrence in weaned piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]