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This study aimed to investigate whether fermented rice bran can substitute soybean meal in the diet of the grey mullet. Four different substitution levels (0, 5, 10, and 15%) in the diet were investigated for soybean meal replacement with fermented rice bran (FRB). In the 0-10% replacement groups, weight, specific growth rate, feed efficiency ratio, body protein level, and protein efficiency ratio were significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to the 15% replacement group. Additionally, there was no difference (P>0.05) in the grey mullet's growth rate in the 0 and 10% replacement treatments. Furthermore, replacing up to 15% of soybean meal with fermented rice bran (FRB) did not significantly affect the overall immunity of the grey mullet. Additionally, incorporating fermented rice bran (FRB) significantly increased the gut microbiota counts (P< 0.05). The greatest increase in the gut microbiota was observed when up to 5% of soybean meal was replaced with FRB. From an economic perspective, substituting up to 5% of soybean meal with FRB reduced the cost of formulating the diet by 0.64% and decreased the cost per kilogram of weight gain by 5 to 10%, or approximately 9.9 and 1.5%, respectively. Overall, the study suggests that replacing up to 10% of rice bran with FRB can enhance growth performance, feed consumption, body composition, intestinal microbiota counts, and financial viability in the grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermentation technology is essential for raising feed's nutritional content and improving quality. The purpose of the current feeding study was to assess the impact of switching from raw rice bran to fermented rice bran (FRB) on the growth performance, nutritional consumption, economic value, and histological alterations in the gut and liver of the grey mullet, Mugil cephalus (with an initial weight of 5.7 ± 0.01g). The control diet (c) and the other three isoproteic (27% crude protein) diets (B50, B75, and B100) were formulated with FRB replacing 50, 75, and 100% of the rice bran, respectively. Following a 60-day feeding period, the grey mullet given the B100% diet had greater final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein contents in their bodies compared to the control group (P< 0.05). Additionally, the fish given the B100% diet showed improved feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and feed efficiency ratio values. Furthermore, the insertion of FRB resulted in a substantial increase in the count of intestinal microbiota (P< 0.05). In contrast to the control group, the fermented therapies had no detrimental effects on the overall immunity. From an economic perspective, the cost of formulating the diet increased by 0.88% when rice bran was fully replaced with fermented rice bran (FRB) (B100). The results of this study suggest that substituting rice bran with FRB up to 100% may improve growth performance, feed consumption, gut health, and profitability in juvenile M. cephalus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth layered structure ferroelectrics (BLSFs), also known as Aurivillius phase materials, are ideal for energy-efficient applications, particularly for solar cells. This work reports the first comprehensive detailed theoretical study on the fascinating structural, electronic, and optical properties of XNb2Bi2O9 (X = Ca, Ba, Be, Mg, Sr). The Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof approach and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) are implemented to thoroughly investigate the structural, bandgap, optical, and electronic properties of the compounds. The optical conductivity, band topologies, dielectric function, bandgap values, absorption coefficient, reflectivity, extinction coefficient, refractive index, and partial and total densities of states are thoroughly investigated from a photovoltaics standpoint. The material exhibits distinct behaviors, including significant optical anisotropy and an elevated absorption coefficient > 105 cm−1 in the region of visible; ultraviolet energy is observed, the elevated transparency lies in the visible and infrared regions for the imaginary portion of the dielectric function, and peaks in the optical spectra caused by inter-band transitions are detected. According to the data reported, it becomes obvious that XNb2Bi2O9 (X = Ca, Ba, Be, Mg, and Sr) is a suitable candidate for implementation in solar energy conversion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the prophylactic effects of Berberine on experimentally induced lung sepsis and examine its effects on selected cytokines, genes, and protein expression besides the histopathological evaluation. Berberine significantly reduced the wet/dry lung ratio, the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein, cells, neutrophils percentage, and cytokines levels. In addition, pretreatment with Berberine decreased the myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decreased gene expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and the intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) by RT-qPCR analysis, revealing Berberine’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mode of action. Western blot analysis revealed increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) expression in the Berberine pretreated group compared to the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group, in which the histopathological examination evidenced this improvement. In conclusion, Berberine improved lung sepsis via its PPAR-γ mediated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an excessive accumulation of fats in the liver resulting in hepatic inflammation and fibrous tissue formation along with insulin resistance. This study was designed to investigate the possible protective effects of metformin alone and in combination with different phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDEIs). Rats were fed a high- fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks to induce NAFLD. Starting from week 12, rats received metformin alone or in combination with pentoxifylline, cilostazol, or sildenafil. HFD administration resulted in hepatic steatosis and inflammation in rats. In addition, liver index, body composition index, activities of liver enzymes, and serum lipids deviated from normal. Further, significant elevations were recorded compared to control in terms of serum glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance), oxidative stress parameters, hepatic TNF-[alpha] and NF-[kappa]B gene expression, and iNOS protein expression. Rats treated with metformin showed a significant improvement in the aforementioned parameters. However, the addition of pentoxifylline to metformin treatment synergized its action and produced a fortified effect against HFD-induced NAFLD better than other PDEIs. Data from this study indicated that combined treatment of metformin and pentoxifylline had the most remarkable ameliorated effects against HFD-induced NAFLD; further clinical investigations are needed to approve PDEIs for NAFLD treatment. Key words: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, inflammation, oxidative stress, metformin, phosphodiesterase inhibitors. La steatose hepatique non alcoolique (SHNA) correspond a une accumulation excessive de matieres grasses dans le foie a la suite d'inflammation et de formation de tissu fibreux localement, accompagnee d'une resistance a l'insuline. Cette etude a ete concue en vue d'evaluer les effets protecteurs eventuels de la metformine en monotherapie et en association avec differents inhibiteurs des phosphodiesterases (iPDE). Nous avons administre a des rats un regime alimentaire a haute teneur en matieres grasses (RHG) pendant seize semaines en vue de provoquer une SHNA. A partir de la semaine 12, les rats ont re^u de la metformine seule ou en association avec de la pentoxifylline, du cilostazol ou du sildenafil. L'administration du RHG a entrame une steatose et de l'inflammation dans le foie des rats. De plus, l'indice hepatique, l'indice de composition corporelle, l'activite des enzymes hepatiques et les taux de lipides seriques s'ecartaient des valeurs normales. En outre, nous avons enregistre une augmentation marquee des taux de glucose et d'insuline seriques ainsi que de l'homeostasie de la resistance a l'insuline (ou de l'HOMA-IR pour <>), de parametres du stress oxydatif, de l'expression genique du TNF-[alpha] et du facteur nucleaire NF-[kappa]B, ainsi que de l'expression de l'oxyde nitrique synthase inductible (iNOS) en proteines dans le foie par rapport aux temoins. Les rats auxquels nous avons administre de la metformine ont presente une amelioration notable quant aux parametres ci-dessus mentionnes. Cependant, l'ajout de pentoxifylline a l'administration de metformine a forme une action synergique et produit une meilleure augmentation de l'effet de la metformine contre la SHNA provoquee par le RHG que d'autres iPDE. Les donnees de cette etude montraient qu'un traitement d'association par la metformine avec la pentoxifylline se manifestait par de meilleurs effets contre la SHNA provoquee par un RHG; des recherches cliniques futures sont necessaries pour approuver des iPDE dans le traitement de la SHNA. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: steatose hepatique non alcoolique, inflammation, stress oxydatif, metformine, inhibiteurs des phosphodiesterases., Introduction Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly prevalent chronic disease that starts with simple hepatic lipid accumulation and then progresses to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer (Eshraghian 2017; Wang [...]