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Cardiovascular health is a hot topic around the world, and as the incidence of cardiovascular disease increases each year, people are increasingly focusing on the management of their heart health. Dietary and lifestyle changes as nonpharmacological treatments have been increasingly recognized as important in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and in reducing the risk of cardiovascular accidents. Awareness of different nutrients and their effects on cardiovascular health is important for establishing a good dietary pattern. This review summarizes the effects of the five major nutrients in the daily diet, namely carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fats, vitamins, and minerals, on cardiovascular health, and aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of a healthy dietary pattern on cardiovascular health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the mechanical, thermal stability, and water absorption behaviour of silane-treated high content cellulose Abelmoschus esculentus (okra fibre) and macromolecule tamarind kernel powder (MTP)–toughened epoxy composites. The primary objective of this study was to examine the effects of adding surface-modified high content cellulose okra fibre (CCO) and the contribution of tamarind kernel macromolecule powder to various properties of epoxy resin composite. The fibre and particle were surface-treated by an amino silane (3- Aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS). The composites were fabricated by the hand lay-up process and post cured at 120 °C. The outcomes of the Izod impact tests indicated that the combination of surface-treated okra fibre and tamarind kernel powder increased the resistance to damage. Similarly, the tensile, flexural, and thermal tests reported improvements in load-bearing and high thermal stability. The hardness test and SEM images revealed enhanced adhesion and distribution of kernel particles in the resin, resulting in a maximum attainable hardness of 93 shore-D. Moreover, the contact angle of the silane-treated composites was higher, indicating a retained hydrophobicity. Such mechanical, thermal, and impact toughness, as well as hardness improved composites with higher hydrophobic nature, would be highly preferable for structural and industrial applications like automobile body parts, armour guards in defence, sports goods, and domestic appliances manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the influence of silane coupling on composites comprising recycled PET bottle waste foam and areca fruit fibre reinforced modified vinyl ester by comparing with untreated composite specimens. The hand layup method was adopted for fabrication and characterizations are done as per ASTM standards. The study investigates the effects of thermal and water-accelerated aging by subjecting the composites to sea and rainwater exposure, as well as elevated temperatures at 50 °C and 70 °C. Silane-treated and untreated specimens were comprehensively characterized. The findings indicate that silane-treated composites consistently outperform untreated counterparts in mechanical properties, even under accelerated aging. Despite a reduction in mechanical properties after prolonged exposure to 70 °C for 20 days, silane-treated composites exhibited robust laminar adhesion without significant delamination. Sea water aging resulted in inferior properties compared to rainwater aging, and silane-treated composites demonstrated slower flame propagation speeds in flame retardancy testing. In thermally aged composites, A51 and A52 series exhibited higher flame propagation speeds, while A21 and A22 series showed reduced speeds. Thermal conductivity measurements revealed increased values for aged composites, with composite A22 displaying the highest thermal conductivity of 0.179 W/mK. Overall, silane surface treatment significantly enhanced the stability of laminates against water and temperature aging. The resulting composites, with heightened strength and retained lightweight characteristics, show promise for applications in structural, automotive, defense, sports, and aviation industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of adding peanut husk-derived Si3N4 on load bearing, time dependent and thermal properties of basalt fiber-reinforced polyester composites. The fine Si3N4 particles are synthesized via thermo-chemical process and the composites are meticulously prepared using the hand layup method. The composites undergo various characterization methods following ASTM standards. According to the results, the composite, RBS2 produced an improved tensile, flexural and impact values of 131 MPa, 177 MPa and 3.84 J respectively whereas the composite RBS3 produced an improved wear resistance, reduced creep strain, enhanced flame retardance and high thermal stability. It demonstrates a specific wear rate of 0.009 mm3/Nm, coefficient of friction of 0.31 and a low creep strain of 0.0086 mm at 10000 s. It also exhibits a notably high initial decomposition temperature of 410 °C and a lower flame propagation speed of 6.72 mm/min. In terms of fatigue, RBS2 performs exceptionally well, with high values at 25%, 50%, and 75% of its ultimate tensile strength. However, RBS3 experiences a slight reduction in fatigue due to localized stress concentrations. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the composite's suitability for diverse engineering applications, where a balance between wear resistance, fatigue strength, creep resistance, and thermal and flame stability is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study examined the effects of applying silane treatment to corn husk and tamarind fiber-reinforced epoxy composites, which were further enhanced with betel nut filler. The study focused on evaluating the impact of these treatments on the fatigue properties, thermal conductivity, and machining characteristics of the composites. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of silane treatment on the fibers and betel nut filler on the attributes of the biocomposite. The reinforcement materials were treated with a silane coupling agent called 3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. The composites were then made utilizing a hand layup procedure. The results indicate that the addition of 40 vol. % maize husk fibre and 3 vol. % betel nut filler to the resin enhanced its load-bearing capabilities. The enhanced durability cycles are notably attained in composite ECA2, which amounts to 24,192. Conversely, the load-bearing effect of tamarind fiber was slightly diminished. Microscopic study showed enhanced interaction between the fibers, fillers, and matrix. The heat conductivity was slightly enhanced by the inclusion of fibers, with corn husk fibers exhibiting more beneficial outcomes compared to tamarind fibers. ECA3 attained a peak thermal conductivity of 0.37 W/mK. The utilization of silane-treated fibers with betel nut filler leads to the formation of very stable drilled holes. The enhanced dimensional stability can be ascribed to the efficient load suspension action of the filler particles, which function as dampers and diminish the load impact at the interface between the drill tool and the composite material. Overall, the incorporation of silane-treated fibers and betel nut fillers resulted in a substantial enhancement of composite characteristics. The corn husk fiber had a crucial function in supporting weight, while the betel nut powder helped to the preservation of the environment. This study provides valuable insights for the development of environmentally-friendly composites that can be used in various industries such as infrastructure, automotive, aerospace, and consumer products manufacture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Sleepwear and bedding materials can affect sleep quality by influencing the skin and body temperature and thermal comfort. This review systematically evaluates the impact of sleepwear or bedding of different fibre types on sleep quality. A systematic search was conducted in six data bases plus Google Scholar and manual searches. Original articles that compared human sleep quality between at least two fibre types of bedding or sleepwear were included, resulting in nine eligible articles included in the review. The fibre types included cotton, polyester, wool, and blended materials for sleepwear; cotton, duck down, goose down, polyester and wool for duvet; and linen and a combination of cotton and polyester for bedding. The interplay between fibre materials and sleep quality is complex. Blended sleepwear demonstrated potential benefits for specific populations. Wool sleepwear showed benefits for sleep onset in adults (cool conditions) and in older adults (warm conditions). Linen bedsheets improved sleep quality under warm conditions in young adults. Goose down‐filled duvets increased slow‐wave sleep under cool conditions in young adults. However, a systematic comparison of fibre types is challenging due to the diverse nature of the studies evaluating sleep quality. Further research employing standardised methodologies with standard fibre samples in different populations and in different temperature conditions is imperative to elucidate comprehensively the effects of fibre choices on sleep quality. Despite the limitations and heterogeneity of the included studies, this analysis offers valuable insights for individuals seeking to optimise their sleep experiences and for manufacturers developing sleep‐related products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matcha—Japanese powdered tea—is a variety of green tea (Camellia sinensis L.), one of the most popular beverages in the world. Due to the unique way it is grown, it contains high concentrations of health-promoting phytochemicals. The aim of this study was to determine the basic nutritional and phenolic composition of dry matcha green tea powder. The fibre content was determined according to the enzymatic–gravimetric method. Crude protein was measured by the Kjeldahl method. The total fat content was measured by the Soxhlet method, and the fatty acid profile was defined by the GC method. The determination of the phenolic acid and caffeine content was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The total fibre content of matcha was 56.1 g/100 g, with 52.8 g/100 g (94.1% of total fibre) of insoluble dietary fibre and 3.3 g/100 g of soluble fibre (5.9% of total fibre). The total protein content was 17.3 g/100 g. The total fat content in dry matcha was 7.285 g/100 g, comprising varying proportions of individual fatty acids, the highest ones being those of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid. The caffeine content of matcha tea was 2213.492 µg/g. With regard to phenolic acids, the highest content was estimated for gallic acid (252.3755 µg/g). Matcha showed a particularly high content of total dietary fibre, with a predominance of the insoluble fraction. Matcha was found to be a valuable source of plant protein and unsaturated fatty acids, mostly of the omega-3 fatty acid family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence suggests that the low fermentable oligo‐, di‐, mono‐saccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet improves irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms when delivered by a dietitian. However, demand for dietetic appointments exceeds supply. Prerecorded webinars are acceptable and cost‐effective for delivering first‐line IBS dietary advice. Methodology: This study, using a pre–post design, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a low‐FODMAP diet restriction phase webinar at improving IBS symptoms. Participants with self‐reported IBS symptoms were asked to report their IBS symptoms, stool frequency, stool consistency and IBS medication use, before and 8 weeks postwebinar via an online questionnaire. The presence and severity of participants' symptoms and bowel habits were captured using validated tools and a global symptom question. Results: In total 228 participants responded to both pre‐ and postsurveys. A statistically significant improvement in all symptoms was observed 8 weeks postwebinar (p < 0.05). The proportion of participants rating their overall symptoms as moderate‐to‐severe reduced from 85.5% at baseline to 34.6% postwebinar (50.9% reduction [p < 0.001]). The proportion of participants reporting normal stool consistency and frequency significantly increased postwebinar (23.2%–39.9% [p < 0.001] and 76.3%–89% [p < 0.001], respectively). Satisfactory relief of symptoms increased from 16.7% to 53.1%, (p < 0.001) 8 weeks postwebinar. Conclusions: These results are comparable with literature on the efficacy of face‐to‐face delivery of low‐FODMAP diet education. Dietitians should consider directing triaged patients with IBS, who have tried first‐line dietary advice, to this webinar as an alternative or alongside current practice. Key points: The low fermentable oligo‐, di‐, mono‐saccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet has been shown to be effective in alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) when administered by a dietitian. However, demand for dietetic appointments currently exceeds capacity.Prerecorded webinars have been shown to be a cost‐effective and acceptable method for delivering first‐line IBS dietary advice in previous research.This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a dietitian‐developed low‐FODMAP diet webinar in improving IBS symptoms. Participants with self‐reported IBS symptoms (n = 228) completed online questionnaires before and 8 weeks after viewing the webinar.There was a statistically significant improvement across all IBS symptoms (p < 0.05) 8 weeks postwebinar.The proportion of participants rating their overall symptoms as moderate‐to‐severe reduced from 85.5% at baseline to 34.6% postwebinar (50.9% reduction [p < 0.001]).The proportion of participants reporting normal stool consistency and frequency significantly increased postwebinar (23.2%–39.9% (p < 0.001) and 76.3%–89% (p < 0.001).Satisfactory relief of symptoms increased from 16.7% to 53.1%, (p < 0.001) 8 weeks postwebinar.These findings align with previous research on the efficacy of face‐to‐face dietitian delivery of low‐FODMAP diet education, and the use of prerecorded webinars supports the objectives of the long‐term plan of the NHS to digitise healthcare and reduce the number of outpatient appointments.Dietitians should consider signposting triaged patients with IBS to the low‐FODMAP diet webinar as an alternative or to supplement current practice.Long‐term follow‐up of this cohort will be explored in future research to determine how long participants experienced satisfactory relief from symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an escalating public health concern due to its association with short- and long-term adverse maternal and child health outcomes. Dysbiosis of microbiota within the gastrointestinal tract has been linked to the development of GDM. Modification of microbiota dysbiosis through dietary adjustments has attracted considerable attention as adjunct strategies to improve metabolic disease. Diets high in fibre and polyphenol content are associated with increased gut microbiota alpha diversity, reduced inflammation and oxidative processes and improved intestinal barrier function. This review explores the potential of fibre and polyphenol supplementation to prevent GDM by investigating their impact on gut microbiota composition and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-fibre diet leads to gut microbiota imbalance, characterized by low diversity and reduced ability to produce beneficial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This imbalance is associated with poor gastrointestinal and metabolic health. We aimed to determine whether one dietary change, substitution of white bread with high-fibre bread, improves gut microbiota diversity and SCFA-producing capability. Twenty-two healthy adults completed a two-phase randomized, cross-over trial. The participants consumed three slices of a high-fibre bread (Prebiotic Cape Seed Loaf with BARLEYmax®) or control white bread as part of their usual diet for 2 weeks, with the treatment periods separated by a 4-week washout. High-fibre bread consumption increased total dietary fibre intake to 40 g/d, which was double the amount of fibre consumed at baseline or during the white bread intervention. Compared to white bread, the high-fibre bread intervention resulted in higher faecal alpha diversity (Shannon, p = 0.014) and relative abundance of the Lachnospiracae ND3007 group (p < 0.001, FDR = 0.019) and tended to increase the butyrate-producing capability (p = 0.062). In conclusion, substituting white bread with a high-fibre bread improved the diversity of gut microbiota and specific microbes involved in SCFA production and may enhance the butyrate-producing capability of gut microbiota in healthy adults. These findings suggest that a single dietary change involving high-fibre bread provides a practical way for adults to exceed recommended dietary fibre intake levels that improve gut microbiota composition and support gastrointestinal and metabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile industries have recently become prevalent environmental pollutants as a result of natural inconsistencies and resource scarcity. As a remedy, using natural fibres for textile production is strongly encouraged. Dracaena fragrans is an Ethiopian plant with lingo-cellulosic fibres that can be used for textile applications. This study focuses on the extraction and characterization of Ethiopian Dracaena fragrans leaf fibre and evaluates its application in the textile industry. For fibre extraction, water, 10% NaOH, 1% H2O2, EDTA di (with 1.5% and 1%, respectively), 0.2% pectinase (presoak), 0.05% alpha-amylase (for 24 hours, 18 hours, and 12 hours retting), and 5% gel retting methods were utilized. Subsequently, the properties of extracted fibre, mainly fibre length, fineness, tenacity, elongation at break, and degree of whiteness, were evaluated. Longer fibres (46 ± 0.74 cm) were obtained by pectinase retting. Comparatively, finer (11.22 ± 0.64 dtex) fibres were obtained by the water retting method. Fibre with the best tenacity (54.51 ± 0.61, 53.54 ± 0.60, and 52.53 ± 0.61) was obtained by EDTA di (1%), 5% gel retting and water retting methods respectively. On the other hand, higher elongation at break (7.28 ± 0.78%) was obtained by 0.05% alpha-amylase retting with a retting time of 24 hours. And finally, the best fibre whiteness (w* = 71) was obtained by 1% H2O2 retting. Long fibres obtained by the pectinase retting method can be used for the production of packaging sacks and hessians. Fibres obtained by the water retting method can be used for the production of linen fabrics such as lace and sheeting. On the other hand, high-tenacity fibres extracted using (1%) EDTA di retting and 5% gel retting methods can be used for the production of cloths, bags, and shoes. Finally, a highly extensible fibre extracted using α-amylase (24 hours retting) can be used for the production of sports clothes.

A comprehensive understanding of the role of dietary fibre in non-ruminant animal production is elusive. Equivocal and conflated definitions of fibre coupled with significant analytical complexity, interact with poorly defined host and microbiome relationships. Dietary fibre is known to influence gut development, feed intake and passage rate, nutrient absorption, microbiome taxonomy and function, gut pH, endogenous nutrient loss, environmental sustainability, animal welfare and more. Whilst significant gaps persist in our understanding of fibre in non-ruminant animal production, there is substantial interest in optimizing the fibre fraction of feed to induce high value phenotypes such as improved welfare, live performance and to reduce the environmental footprint of animal production systems. In order to achieve these aspirational goals, it is important to tackle dietary fibre with the same level of scrutiny as is currently done for other critical nutrient classes such as protein, minerals and vitamins. The chemical, mechanical and nutritional role of fibre must be explored at the level of monomeric sugars, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of varying molecular weight and decoration, and this must be in parallel to standardisation of analytical tools and definitions for speciation. To further complicate subject, exogenous carbohydrases recognise dietary fibre as a focal substrate and have varying capacity to generate lower molecular weight carbohydrates that interact differentially with the host and the enteric microbiome. This short review article will explore the interactive space between dietary fibre and exogenous carbohydrases and will include their nutritional and health effects with emphasis on functional development of the gut, microbiome modulation and host metabolism.

Dairy cows are the highest daily and annual methane (CH4) producers among all cattle categories. So, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of increasing supplementation levels of a low-quality forage on dry matter intake (DMI), DM digestibility (DMD), milk production, enteric CH4 emission, gross energy, and protein partitioning in Holstein cows. In total, eight cows (112 ± 38 days postpartum; mean ± s.d.) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments composed of 4 dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) inclusion levels (40.2% (control), 43.3%, 46.5%, and 50.5%) in a 4 × 4 repeated Latin square experimental design. The cows were fed corn + alfalfa silage and a concentrate (60:40 forage:concentrate ratio). To increase the contents of low-quality NDF, part of the silage was replaced with maize stover (MSTV). The CH4 production was measured in an open-circuit respiration chamber. The DMI increased significantly and linearly (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of MSTV. However, the CH4 yield decreased (p < 0.0001) as the NDF level increased (32.1, 28.1, 23.1, and 21.3 CH4 L/kg DMI, respectively). DMD decreased as NDF levels in the diet increased (p < 0.0001). The NDF digestibility (DNDF) explained the better (p < 0.0001) CH4 production response than DMD. It was concluded that low-quality forages can be used to regulate CH4 production in subtropical and tropical climate regions.

Abstract According to previous studies, three representative avian adenoviral strains utilize coxsackievirus–adenovirus receptor (CAR) as a receptor and seem to exhibit diverse binding affinities and modes. Thus, further revealing the exact molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between different FAdVs and the attachment receptor CAR is necessary. In this study, we successfully solved the crystal structure of the FAdV-4 fiber1 knob at 1.6 Å resolution. The interaction between the fibre knob and different domains of CAR was verified by confocal microscopy, coimmunoprecipitation and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis. The fibre knobs of the three representative fowl adenoviruses specifically recognized CAR domain 1 (D1), but the recognition of CAR domain 2 (D2) by chicken embryo lethal orphan (CELO) strains was weak. These results provide insights into the differences in adenovirus‒host cell interactions and have important implications for the exploration of viral invasion mechanisms.

Due to the growing need for sustainable and ultra-high-strength construction materials, scientists have created an innovative ultra-high-performance concrete called Geopolymer based ultra-high-performance concrete (GUHPC). Besides, in the last few decades, there have been a lot of explosions and ballistic attacks around the world, which have killed many civilians and fighters in border areas. In this context, this article reviews the fresh state and mechanical properties of GUHPC. Firstly, the ingredients of GUHPC and fresh properties such as setting time and flowability are briefly covered. Secondly, the review of compressive strength, flexure strength, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of fibrous GUHPC. Thirdly, the blast and projectile impact resistance performance was reviewed. Finally, the microstructural characteristics were reviewed using the scanning electron microscope and X-ray Powder Diffraction. The review outcome reveals that the mechanical properties were increased when 30% silica fume was added to a higher dose of steel fibre to improve the microstructure of GUHPC. It is hypothesized that the brittleness of GUHPC was mitigated by adding 1.5% steel fibre reinforcement, which played a role in the decrease of contact explosion cratering and spalling. Removing the need for cement in GUHPC was a key factor in the review, indicating a promising potential for lowering carbon emissions. However, GUHPC research is still in its early stages, so more study is required before its full potential can be utilized.

This research study showed the effectiveness of amino silane-grafted areca fibre and orange peel biochar particles in the improvement of mechanical, thermal conductivity and electron admittance (dielectric) properties of epoxy resin biocomposite. The study was performed to investigate the effect of silane treatment on fibre and their relative outcomes in the composite's properties. The raw chopped fibre and peel-dried particles are treated using amino silane using the acid hydrolysis method and air-dried using an oven. The oven-dried areca nut fibre and biochar particles are then used for making composites by a hand layup process and characterized as per the ASTM standards. According to the results, the mechanical properties were enhanced by 64% and 50% for tensile and flexural strengths, respectively and improved impact resistances by around 93%. Similarly, the composite designation RAB3 gives the highest thermal conductivity of 0.426 w/mK. The dielectric properties increased gradually with the introduction of orange peel biochar particles of significant volume. The highest dielectric constant of 6.4 with a loss factor of 1.5 was noted for the RAB3 composite. The SEM fractography shows better adhesion of biochar and areca fibre with resin, due to the silane treatment process and the pore structure of biochar. With these improved essential properties, the developed epoxy biocomposite could be used in food storage containers and packaging stuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bali cattle (Bos javanicus) are a local breed from Indonesia with the potential for beef production, but its meat has been reported to be tough. This indicates that there is a need to develop various methods that can be used for assessment to improve the quality of the meat. One such method is muscle scoring (MS), which is often used to predict the amount of meat in the carcass from live animals, but the muscle microstructure contributing to the quality is often neglected. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the correlation between the muscle score of Bali cattle and the quality of muscle microstructure in terms of myofibril morphometric and connective tissue composition using a histochemistry approach. The population consisted of 31 Bali cattle, and MS was performed by evaluating the muscle line using a range of 1 to 15. The three individuals with the highest scores (Hi) and the three with the lowest (Lo) were sampled for semitendinosus muscle microstructural observation. The results showed that cattle in the Hi group had a higher surface area of myofibril and sarcomere length, but had a significantly lower relative percentage of intramuscular collagen compared to others in the Lo group (p < 0.05). Generally, muscle score had a positive correlation with body weight, surface area of myofibril and sarcomere length. In all cattle, the fibres identified were similar, where the thick types were dominant in the epimysium and perimysium, followed by the thin variants. Furthermore, the endomysium prominently contained non‐fibrous or other types of fibre. This study can provide the basic data that can be used as a pilot for future studies of muscle score assessment in Indonesian cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of a high‐fibre diet on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, intestinal health, and intestinal microbiota composition of growing pigs. Twelve healthy "Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire" castrates (49 ± 1.35 kg) were randomly divided into two groups with six replicates and one pig per replicate. The two diet treatments were fed the basal diet (CON) based on corn and soybean meal and high fibre diet (HF) respectively. The nutritional levels of the two treatments were the same. The experiment lasted 28 days. The results showed that the addition of 16% wheat bran fibre to the diet of growing pigs did not affect growth performance (p > 0.05). Compared with the CON, contents of isobutyric and butyric acid, GSH‐PX and T‐AOC in serum were increased in the HF. It decreased the gross energy digestibility and acetic acid content in feces of growing pigs (p < 0.05), the contents of GSH‐PX and T‐AOC in serum. It decreased the gross energy digestibility and acetic acid content in feces of growing pigs (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON, the Shannon, and Chao1 indexes of the HF were increased (p < 0.05). At the phylum level, the abundance of g_Lactobacillus increased in the HF (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that a total of 18 microbial genera were correlated with antioxidant capacity and volatile fatty acid levels (p < 0.05). In summary, this study showed that adding 16% wheat bran to the diet of growing pigs had no effect on growth performance but helped to improve the richness and stability of intestinal microbiota, promote posterior intestinal fermentation and increase serum antioxidant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy cows are the highest daily and annual methane (CH4) producers among all cattle categories. So, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of increasing supplementation levels of a low-quality forage on dry matter intake (DMI), DM digestibility (DMD), milk production, enteric CH4 emission, gross energy, and protein partitioning in Holstein cows. In total, eight cows (112 ± 38 days postpartum; mean ± s.d.) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments composed of 4 dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) inclusion levels (40.2% (control), 43.3%, 46.5%, and 50.5%) in a 4 × 4 repeated Latin square experimental design. The cows were fed corn + alfalfa silage and a concentrate (60:40 forage:concentrate ratio). To increase the contents of low-quality NDF, part of the silage was replaced with maize stover (MSTV). The CH4 production was measured in an open-circuit respiration chamber. The DMI increased significantly and linearly (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of MSTV. However, the CH4 yield decreased (p < 0.0001) as the NDF level increased (32.1, 28.1, 23.1, and 21.3 CH4 L/kg DMI, respectively). DMD decreased as NDF levels in the diet increased (p < 0.0001). The NDF digestibility (DNDF) explained the better (p < 0.0001) CH4 production response than DMD. It was concluded that low-quality forages can be used to regulate CH4 production in subtropical and tropical climate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diets deficient in fibre are reported globally. The associated health risks of insufficient dietary fibre are sufficiently grave to necessitate large-scale interventions to increase population intake levels. The Danish Whole Grain Partnership (DWP) is a public–private enterprise model that successfully augmented whole-grain intake in the Danish population. The potential transferability of the DWP model to Slovenia, Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina has recently been explored. Here, we outline the feasibility of adopting the approach in the UK. Drawing on the collaborative experience of DWP partners, academics from the Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People (H3) project and food industry representatives (Food and Drink Federation), this article examines the transferability of the DWP approach to increase whole grain and/or fibre intake in the UK. Specific consideration is given to the UK's political, regulatory and socio-economic context. We note key political, regulatory, social and cultural challenges to transferring the success of DWP to the UK, highlighting the particular challenge of increasing fibre consumption among low socio-economic status groups – which were also most resistant to interventions in Denmark. Wholesale transfer of the DWP model to the UK is considered unlikely given the absence of the key 'success factors' present in Denmark. However, the DWP provides a template against which a UK-centric approach can be developed. In the absence of a clear regulatory context for whole grain in the UK, fibre should be prioritised and public–private partnerships supported to increase the availability and acceptability of fibre-rich foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBrewers spent grain (BSG) is a valuable source of arabinoxylans with potential beneficial effects on glucose values. This pilot randomised crossover double-blind trial compared the effects of panettone, a sweet baked-product, enriched with BSG-fibre (p-rich) to unenriched panettone (p-standard) on glucose and insulin blood values and appetite scores. Ten healthy volunteers consumed each food in a random order. Blood variables and appetite scores were assessed at fasting and at different intervals after each food consumption. Glucose values were significantly higher after p-standard intake at 90-min (89.9 ± 16.1 vs 74.6 ± 19.4 mg/dL) and 120-min (81.1 ± 9.85 vs 72.1 ± 14.0 mg/dL). The areas-under-the-curve (AUCs) were lower for both glucose (p = .043) and insulin values (p = .036) with p-rich. At 240-min, satiety was higher (p = .006), and desire-to-eat lower (p = .008) with p-rich; desire-to-eat AUC was lower with p-rich too (p = .029). The integration of a small amount of BSG-derived fibre into a sweet food led to improved glycaemic control and appetite regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to previous studies, three representative avian adenoviral strains utilize coxsackievirus–adenovirus receptor (CAR) as a receptor and seem to exhibit diverse binding affinities and modes. Thus, further revealing the exact molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between different FAdVs and the attachment receptor CAR is necessary. In this study, we successfully solved the crystal structure of the FAdV-4 fiber1 knob at 1.6 Å resolution. The interaction between the fibre knob and different domains of CAR was verified by confocal microscopy, coimmunoprecipitation and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis. The fibre knobs of the three representative fowl adenoviruses specifically recognized CAR domain 1 (D1), but the recognition of CAR domain 2 (D2) by chicken embryo lethal orphan (CELO) strains was weak. These results provide insights into the differences in adenovirus‒host cell interactions and have important implications for the exploration of viral invasion mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of a 3-strain Bacillus-based probiotic (BP; Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and two Bacillus subtilis) in broiler diets with different rye levels on performance, mucus, viscosity, and nutrient digestibility. We distributed 720 one-d-old female broilers into 72 pens and designed nine diets using a 3 × 3 factorial approach, varying BP levels (0, 1.2 × 106, and 1.2 × 107 CFU/g) and rye concentrations (0, 200, 400 g/kg). On d 35, diets with 200 or 400 g/kg rye reduced broiler weight gain (BWG). Diets with 400 g/kg rye had the highest FCR, while rye-free diets had the lowest (p ≤0.05). Adding BP increased feed intake and BWG in weeks two and three (p ≤0.05). It should be noted that the overall performance fell below the goals of the breed. Including rye in diets reduced the coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) for protein, ether extract (EE), calcium, phosphorus, and all amino acids (p ≤0.05). Rye-free diets exhibited the highest CAID for all nutrients, except for methionine, EE, and calcium, while diets with 400 g/kg of rye demonstrated the lowest CAID (p ≤0.05). BP in diets decreased phosphorus CAID (p ≤0.05). Diets containing 1.2 × 107 CFU/g (10X) of BP exhibited higher CAID of methionine than the other two diets (p ≤0.05). Diets containing 10X of BP showed higher CAID of cysteine than diets with no BP (p ≤0.05). Ileal viscosity increased as the inclusion level of rye in the diets increased (p ≤0.05). The ileal concentration of glucosamine in chickens fed diets with 400 g/kg of rye was higher than in those fed diets with no rye (p ≤0.05). Furthermore, ileal galactosamine concentrations were elevated in diets with 200 and 400 g/kg of rye when compared to rye-free diets (p ≤0.05). However, BP in diets had no impact on ileal viscosity, galactosamine, or glucosamine (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the applied Bacillus strains appeared to have a limited capacity to produce arabinoxylan-degrading enzymes and were only partially effective in mitigating the negative impacts of rye arabinoxylans on broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice bran (RB) is a major by-product of the rice industry, and the high proportion (~90%) of insoluble fibre (IF) is the main reason limiting its applications in foods. Thus, the objective of this research is to enhance the solubility of rice bran fibre and decrease the molecular weight (MW) of the soluble fibre (SF) fraction through ultrasound (US) and steam explosion (SE) treatments. The main sugars in the RB fibre were xylose and arabinose, with glucose, galactose, and mannose present in the side chains. The ratio of Ara/Xyl was 0.92 for the un-purified and 1.02 for the purified RB, reflecting the high degree of substitution of the xylan backbone. The highest amount of SF was obtained from RB treated at 60% US amplitude, 20 min treatment, where 7.8% (un-purified) and 35.2% (purified), respectively. For SE treatments, the amount of SF in un-purified RB increased as the pressure increased from 0.3 and 0.6 MPa, which were 6.10±0.34 and 8.83±0.56%, respectively. Meanwhile, the highest SF fraction (35.2%) of purified RB was obtained from the SE treatment at 0.6 MPa. The SF produced from both treatments mainly contained oligosaccharides with MW <1 kDa, with those produced by the SE treatment generally smaller than those by the US treatment. Purification of RB significantly enhanced the efficiency of the US and SE treatments in breaking down the IF into the SF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) stimulate proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens. This results in enhanced utilisation of dietary non-starch polysaccharides and increased production of valuable short-chain fatty acids. However, these positive effects do not always translate into improved bird productive performance, with inconsistent performance responses observed between bird trials. 2. A holo-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing XOS into broiler diets on bird feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion and mortality. This was done by comparing the XOS supplemented treatment to the control treatment. A total of 53 studies which met the criteria for inclusion were used in the analysis. 3. The results showed that XOS had a notable positive impact on bird mortality; XOS reduced mortality by 0.69% for every 1% increment in the control group. XOS supplementation induced a positive effect on the feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, the efficacy of XOS at improving FCR was dependent on the efficiency of the control group (performance of the flock), and the concentration of total arabinoxylan, protein and phytase in the diet. There were insufficient data points to predict the effect of XOS on body weight and feed intake. 4. In conclusion, the holo-analysis revealed that supplementing XOS to broiler chicken diets reduces bird mortality. XOS can also improve FCR, but the scale of response is dependent on the diet composition and control flock performance. Additional studies are required to confirm the effects of XOS on body weight and feed intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A noncomplete graph G $G$ of diameter d $d$ is called an antipodal r $r$‐cover if its vertex set can be partitioned into the subsets (also called fibres) V1,V2,...,Vm ${V}_{1},{V}_{2},\ldots ,{V}_{m}$ of r $r$ vertices each, in such a way that two vertices of G $G$ are at distance d $d$ if and only if they belong to the same fibre. We say that G $G$ is symmetric if for every u∈Vi,v∈Vj $u\in {V}_{i},v\in {V}_{j}$, there exist u′∈Vi $u^{\prime} \in {V}_{i}$ such that d(u,u′)=d(u,v)+d(v,u′) $d(u,u^{\prime})=d(u,v)+d(v,u^{\prime})$, where 1≤i≠j≤m $1\le i\ne j\le m$. In this paper, we prove that, for r≥2 $r\ge 2$, an antipodal r $r$‐cover which is not a cycle, has at least r3d2 $r\unicode{x0230A}\frac{3d}{2}\unicode{x0230B}$ vertices provided d≥3 $d\ge 3$, and at least 2r(d−1) $2r(d-1)$ vertices provided it is symmetric. Our results extend those of Göbel and Veldman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major objective was to study how adding silane-treated CCP and a hybrid blend of fiber and leather would improve the epoxy biocomposite's mechanical and ballistic resistance. Fiber and tanned leather were treated with silane and composites were made via the hand layup method. The fibre and leather was laid by two different sequence and the composites were cured at elevated temperature. Results revealed that the Areca/Leather/Areca (ALLA) stacking sequence of 1.0 vol. % of CCP significantly improved the composite's mechanical properties. The low-velocity impact capability was significantly increased by the hybridization of fiber and leather, reaching 11.8 J for untreated reinforcements and 12.44 J for reinforcements treated with 1.0 vol.% of CCP. Similarly, the maximal fatigue life count of 36,131 was achieved by adding 1.0 vol. % of CCP to the ALLA sequenced composite. The research indicates that the best outcomes are achieved by using hybrid layup configuration of Areca/Leather/Areca and silane-treated 1.0 vol.% CCP. These composites with increased ballistic resistance and toughness could have potential utility in domains such as automotive industries, defense and structural, where high toughness is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the growing need for sustainable and ultra-high-strength construction materials, scientists have created an innovative ultra-high-performance concrete called Geopolymer based ultra-highperformance concrete (GUHPC). Besides, in the last few decades, there have been a lot of explosions and ballistic attacks around the world, which have killed many civilians and fighters in border areas. In this context, this article reviews the fresh state and mechanical properties of GUHPC. Firstly, the ingredients of GUHPC and fresh properties such as setting time and flowability are briefly covered. Secondly, the review of compressive strength, flexure strength, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of fibrous GUHPC. Thirdly, the blast and projectile impact resistance performance was reviewed. Finally, the microstructural characteristics were reviewed using the scanning electron microscope and X-ray Powder Diffraction. The review outcome reveals that the mechanical properties were increased when 30% silica fume was added to a higher dose of steel fibre to improve the microstructure of GUHPC. It is hypothesized that the brittleness of GUHPC was mitigated by adding 1.5% steel fibre reinforcement, which played a role in the decrease of contact explosion cratering and spalling. Removing the need for cement in GUHPC was a key factor in the review, indicating a promising potential for lowering carbon emissions. However, GUHPC research is still in its early stages, so more study is required before its full potential can be utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Spinifex littoreus fibre-reinforced sugarcane bagasse biosilica particle dispersed epoxy resin hybrid composite was made and described. The major goal of this study was to develop a novel epoxy hybrid composite system that included surface-treated Spinifex littoreus fibre and sugarcane biosilica particle for sustainable material development. The fibre was treated with alkali and silane whereas the biosilica was treated with silane alone. The hand layup process was used to create the composites, which were then post-cured at 110 °C. The composites with base and silane-treated fibres have improved mechanical properties. The tensile and flexural strengths of the composite containing 1vol% powder were 148 and 155 MPa, respectively. Similarly, with a Shore-D value of 94, the composite designation SPS4 has the highest hardness. Moreover, 2 vol% powder added composites explicated improved wear resistance. Composite fatigue behaviour has significantly improved with a fatigue life count of 26,822 for the composite designation SPS3. The water absorption % of silane-treated biosilica particle in epoxy produced controlled water uptake. These improved composites might be used in structural, automotive, aerospace, residential and military applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous chicken production consists of an array of activities important to smallholder poultry farmers in Africa. One of the many factors influencing their production and threating the local food security is in the area of nutrition, particularly, that related to protein supplementation. The available feed resources to farmers are not enough to sustain the productivity of the chickens. Hence, the chickens’ diets often require nutritional supplementation. There is therefore an urgent need for the validation of locally grown feed ingredients to improve the sustainability of poultry production in sub-Saharan Africa. A dietary ingredient that may be used in the diets of chickens is lucerne (Medicago sativa), which is also known as alfalfa. In South Africa, lucerne is the most cultivated forage legume and approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes of lucerne are produced per year. Lucerne has high nutritional value, as it is a source of protein, amino acids, vitamins, and fatty acids. The potential of lucerne as a feed resource for indigenous chickens should, therefore, be investigated so that strategies to improve the nutrition of such chickens can be developed. The purpose of this review was to highlight lucerne as a potential dietary ingredient for indigenous chickens and discuss its effects on the productivity of broilers, egg-layers, and dual-purpose chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk hydrogels have shown potential for tissue engineering applications, but several gaps and challenges, such as a restricted ability to form hydrogels with tuned mechanics and structural features, still limit their utilisation. Here, Bombyx mori and Antheraea mylitta (Tasar) silk microfibres were embedded within self-assembling B. mori silk hydrogels to modify the bulk hydrogel mechanical properties. This approach is particularly attractive because it creates structured silk hydrogels. First, B. mori and Tasar microfibres were prepared with lengths between 250 and 500 μm. Secondary structure analyses showed high beta-sheet contents of 61% and 63% for B. mori and Tasar microfibres, respectively. Mixing either microfibre type, at either 2% or 10% (w/v) concentrations, into 3% (w/v) silk solutions during the solution–gel transition increased the initial stiffness of the resulting silk hydrogels, with the 10% (w/v) addition giving a greater increase. Microfibre addition also altered hydrogel stress relaxation, with the fastest stress relaxation observed with a rank order of 2% (w/v) > 10% (w/v) > unmodified hydrogels for either fibre type, although B. mori fibres showed a greater effect. The resulting data sets are interesting because they suggest that the presence of microfibres provided potential 'flow points' within these hydrogels. Assessment of the biological responses by monitoring cell attachment onto these two-dimensional hydrogel substrates revealed greater numbers of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iPSC-MSCs) attached to the hydrogels containing 10% (w/v) B. mori microfibres as well as 2% (w/v) and 10% (w/v) Tasar microfibres at 24 h after seeding. Cytoskeleton staining revealed a more elongated and stretched morphology for the cells growing on hydrogels containing Tasar microfibres. Overall, these findings illustrate that hydrogel stiffness, stress relaxation and the iPSC-MSC responses towards silk hydrogels can be tuned using microfibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Adding fibre to the diet is one of the factors that help the growth and development of the digestive system of pullets during the rearing period. Insoluble-fibre inclusion enhances the grinding competence and functionality of gizzards and increases the retention time of digesta in the gastrointestinal tract. Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction effects of insoluble fibre and the physical form of feed. Methods. The interactive effect of two levels of sunflower hull (SH, 0 and 40 g/kg) and two feed forms (mash and pellet) on the growth of Hy-Line-W36 laying pullets from hatching until 8 weeks of age was investigated. For this purpose, 640 1-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to 64 cages. Key results. Insoluble fibre had no effect on performance. Birds offered pelleted feed had a higher overall daily weight gain and daily feed intake than did those fed mash feed. A significant interaction between SH inclusion and feed form was observed for daily feed intake from 0 to 2 weeks. The pullets fed with mash feed without SH had a heavier weight of the gizzard than did the others. Feeding pelleted diets reduced caecum weight and the length of jejunumand ileum. Fibre inclusion resulted in a lower crypt depth in the jejunum. The jejunal villus height and muscle-layer thickness were higher in pellet-fed pullets. Feeding pelleted diets increased the tibia length and tibiotarsal index. The lowest propionate content of caecumwas recorded in pellet-fed pullets without SH. Conclusions. Overall, the inclusion of SH in diets had no significant effect on performance but improved the morphology of the intestine. Feeding pelleted diets improved the growth performance and intestinalmorphology of pullets. Implications. Compared to mash diets, feeding pelleted diets improved the performance. Adding fiber to the diet improves intestinal structure, which helps improve digestion and absorption of nutrients. Also, feed pelleting technology improves the effective parameters of the gastrointestinal tract in laying pullets. Also, the use of pelleted feed compared to mesh is associated with improved economic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Background/Objectives: Protein-based meal replacements (MR) with viscous soluble fibre are known aids for weight loss. This study aims to compare the effects of new whey and vegan MR containing different amounts of PGX (PolyGlycopleX) on weight loss over 12 weeks, along with a calorie-restricted diet. Design/methodology/approach: Subjects/Methods: Sixty-eight healthy adults of both sexes (53 women; 15 men; average age 47.1 years; BMI 31 ± 7.1 kg/m2 and weight 85.05 ± 23.3 kg) were recruited. Participants consumed a whey or vegan MR twice/d (5–10 g/day PGX) with a low-energy diet (1,200 kcal/day), over 12 weeks. Weight, height, waist and hip circumference were recorded (four time periods). Findings: Results: Forty-four participants completed the study. Results showed significant reductions in average body weight and at week 12, whey group was [−7.7 kg ± 0.9 (8.3%), p < 0.001] and vegan group was [−4.5 kg ± 0.8 (6.2%), p < 0.001)]. All participants (n = 44; BMI 27 to 33 kg/m2) achieved significant reductions in body measurements from baseline to week 12; p < 0.001. Conclusions: Supplementation of protein-based MR with PGX and a balanced, low-energy diet, appears to be an effective approach for short-term weight loss. Research limitations/implications: As the authors were evaluating if the MR as a whole (i.e. with PGX) caused weight loss from baseline over the 12 weeks, no comparators, i.e. just the MR without PGX, were used. Formulation of these new MRs resulted in a whey product with 5 g PGX and a vegan product with 2.5 g PGX. Only 2.5 g PGX could be formulated with the vegan protein due to taste and viscosity limitations. Study participants were not randomized and no control groups (e.g. no MR or MR without PGX but with energy restricted diet) were used. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the sort of protein alone or the combination with a higher amount of PGX (whey with 5 g PGX/serving vs vegan with 2.5 g PGX/serving) has contributed to these significant greater weight-loss effects. This was something the authors were testing, i.e. could only 2.5 g PGX/serving have an effect on weight loss for a vegan MR. These limitations would be somethings to evaluate in a subsequent randomized controlled study. Hence, the results of this study may serve as a good starting point for further sophisticated randomized controlled trials that can demonstrate causality – which the authors acknowledge as one of the fundamental limitations of an observational study design. Participants tracked their calories but adherence and compliance were self-assessed and they were encouraged to keep their exercise routine consistent throughout the study. Hence, these are further limitations. No control group was used in this study to observe the effect of the dietary intervention and/or physical activity on weight loss alone. However, a goal of the authors was to keep this study as close to a real-life situation as possible, where people would not be doing any of these measurements, to see if with minimal supervision or intervention, people can still lose weight and alter their body composition. Furthermore, differences in gender and the corresponding weight loss effects in response to MR-protein-based treatments could be evaluated in follow-up studies. Practical implications: This study indicates that the consumption of protein-based (animal, whey or plant, pea protein) MR incorporating the highly soluble viscous PGX is beneficial for weight loss when combined with a healthy-balanced, calorie-restricted diet. MRs at either 2.5 g or 5 g per serving (RealEasyTM with PGX) proved to be a highly effective as a short-term solution for weight loss. The observed results are encouraging, however, further long-term studies (i.e. randomized clinical trials RCT) are needed to confirm the clinical relevance. RCTs should focus on the individual effects of PGX and/or the different protein sources used in MRs, on weight loss and the maintenance of the reduced body weight, and should measure detailed blood parameters (lipid profiles, glucose etc.) as well as collect detailed exercise and food consumption diaries. Originality/value: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study comparing a whey versus vegan, (as pea) protein-based MR that is supplemented with fibre PGX; thus, this work adds information to the already existing literature on fibre (such as PGX) and MRs regarding their combined weight loss effects. The purpose of this study was to observe if the novel protein-based (either whey or vegan versions) MR RealEasyTM with PGX at 2.5 or 5 g in addition to a calorie-restricted diet (total of 1,200 kcal/day) would aid in weight loss in individuals over a 12-weeks period. Adding increasing amounts of whey protein and soluble fibre can help reduce subsequent ad libitum energy intake which could help adherence to energy restricted diets, but whether similar effects are seen with vegan protein is unclear – this study does aim to address this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fibre-rich diet mitigates 5-FU-induced increases to astrocyte abundance. • Protective microbial profiles associate with decreased neuroinflammatory markers. • Increased propionic acid levels associate with decreased neuroinflammatory markers. • Propionic acid links diet-induced changes to gut microbiota and CNS after 5-FU. The gastrointestinal microbiota has received increasing recognition as a key mediator of neurological conditions with neuroinflammatory features, through its production of the bioactive metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Although neuroinflammation is a hallmark shared by the neuropsychological complications of chemotherapy (including cognitive impairment, fatigue and depression), the use of microbial-based therapeutics has not previously been studied in this setting. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of a high fibre diet known to modulate the microbiota, and its associated metabolome, on neuroinflammation caused by the common chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Twenty-four female C57Bl/6 mice were treated with 5-FU (400 mg/kg, intraperitoneal, i.p.) or vehicle control, with or without a high fibre diet (constituting amylose starch; 4.7 % crude fibre content), given one week prior to 5-FU and until study completion (16 days after 5-FU). Faecal pellets were collected longitudinally for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and terminal SCFA concentrations of the caecal contents were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Neuroinflammation was determined by immunofluorescent analysis of astrocyte density (GFAP). The high fibre diet significantly altered gut microbiota composition, increasing the abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Akkermansiaceae (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0179) whilst increasing the production of propionate (p = 0.0097). In the context of 5-FU, the diet reduced GFAP expression in the CA1 region of the hippocampus (p < 0.0001) as well as the midbrain (p = 0.0216). Astrocyte density negatively correlated with propionate concentrations and the abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Akkermansiaceae , suggesting a relationship between neuroinflammatory and gastrointestinal markers in this model. This study provides the first evidence of the neuroprotective effects of fibre via dietary intake in alleviating the neuroimmune changes seen in response to systemically administered 5-FU, indicating that the microbiota-gut-brain axis is a targetable mediator to reduce the neurotoxic effects of chemotherapy treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this present study for light weight and low-cost engineering applications, high toughness epoxy biocomposites were made using Caryota urens woven (CUW) fibre and coconut husk biochar (CHB) particle. The major goal of this study was to see how adding CHB particles to an epoxy resin composite containing CUW fibre affected the characteristics of the composite. Biochar was made from coconut husk utilizing a low-temperature pyrolysis technique in this study. The composites made with 5% CHB have the maximum tensile strength of 188 MPa. Similarly, a CHB concentration of 7% in epoxy resin reduced wear volume to a higher extent. Furthermore, the composite produced with 7vol. percent CHB had the highest dielectric constant and loss factor of 5.6 and 0.78, and a thermal conductivity of 0.34 W/mK with a larger contact angle of 72°. SEM scans revealed a heavily adherent phase of CHB in the epoxy resin matrix. Electrically stable composites with increased mechanical qualities could be employed in engineering applications such as insulation covers, higher current transmission tunnels, and the automotive industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of sustainable materials for composite fabrication, this study investigates the utilization of eco-friendly sugarcane biochar as a filler to enhance the mechanical properties of S-Glass/polyester hybrid composites. The incorporation of sugarcane biochar aims to mitigate environmental concerns associated with conventional fillers while simultaneously improving composite performance. Two techniques were utilized in the fabrication composites such as hand layup and vacuum bagging methods. Composite was fabricated with varying weight percentage of sugarcane biochar concentrations such as 5, 10, and 15 wt%. The mechanical behaviour of the composites was assessed through tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness tests. It is noted that the composites that comprised sugarcane biochar at concentrations as high as 10 wt% demonstrated the highest mechanical strength and performance. The maximum tensile strength of 119 MPa, flexural strength of 154 MPa and impact strength of 45 MPa was noted on the 10 wt% biochar composite. The findings underscore the effectiveness of sugarcane biochar as a filler in improving the mechanical behaviour of S-Glass/polyester hybrid composites. The successful integration of sugarcane biochar not only contributes to the development of sustainable composite materials but also highlights its potential to achieve superior mechanical performance.

Summary: Background: Consumption of fibre, fruits and vegetables have been linked with lower colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. A genome-wide gene-environment (G × E) analysis was performed to test whether genetic variants modify these associations. Methods: A pooled sample of 45 studies including up to 69,734 participants (cases: 29,896; controls: 39,838) of European ancestry were included. To identify G × E interactions, we used the traditional 1--degree-of-freedom (DF) G × E test and to improve power a 2-step procedure and a 3DF joint test that investigates the association between a genetic variant and dietary exposure, CRC risk and G × E interaction simultaneously. Findings: The 3-DF joint test revealed two significant loci with p-value

As a versatile and multipurpose plant, hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) possesses immense potential for its application in nutraceuticals, food and nutrition, fibre, and construction material. However, its broader industrial potentials are hindered by the lack of sufficient knowledge on varietal differences, phytochemical properties, food and fibre processing techniques, bioenergy application and valorisation of whole plant, clinical evidence, and standardised quality control mechanisms. In this context, we systematically reviewed 101 reviews and 655 research papers on hemp to map what we already know and what we still need to know about hemp, across its supply chain; from cultivar selection through production to end use. We reviewed the literature based on major themes and sub-themes. Existing literature spanned 33 sub-themes of hemp, which can be classified under five broad themes: production, material, health, futures, and research and education. The ‘material’ theme (42%) was the most researched, followed by ‘production’ (27%) and ‘health’ (19%). At the sub-theme level, one-fifth of the research articles covered fibre and composite material (n = 139), followed by phytochemical analysis and potency testing (n = 45), hempcrete and construction applications (n = 43), and germination and plantation techniques (n = 41). More than half of the selected research articles on hemp were published in the last three years (2020–2022), concentrated mainly in North America, Europe, and China. Cannabidiol, fibre, and seed oil were considered as the quick wins of hemp industry (hemp champions). Based on our review, we have discussed various research gaps and research priorities across the supply chain, beginning from early detection of hemp breed to valorisation of hemp hurd and industrial residue to address opportunities and challenges for the industrial development of major hemp products.

By-products (wastes or residues) of renewable materials have the potential to be manufactured into higher value fibre insulation products for the Australian market. Currently, such products have been imported for servicing the Australian market. This presents a potential opportunity to divert considerable quantities of waste from landfill and produce a high performance, locally made, low carbon, natural fibre insulation product for the Australian domestic and commercial building industry. This article assesses the hemp-based bulk insulations available in the Australian market.

Globally, industrial hemp offers consumers with over 25,000 value-added products that are valued at approximately US$4.2 billion of current market value and likely to surpass US$26.6 billion by 2025. In Northern Australia, the industrial hemp sector is at infancy stages of development. Given the suitability of certain Northern Australia’s geographical zones in terms of soil, water, and climate, a study was conducted to identify potential industrial hemp value chains. Probable value chains were developed by characterizing the production to market segments of the supply chains to determine the return on investment and analyzing the capacity of the stakeholders in terms of communication and relationships. Consequently, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the developed value chains were analyzed. This study collected data from three complementary sources that included review of the literature, results of variety trials evaluation conducted in Northern Australia, and survey of hemp industry stakeholders. Results suggested that Northern Australia offers conducive growing conditions for hemp that allows for the development of three value chains including seed, fiber and silage. The research recommended ongoing investment in the industry through engagement of public and private sector while focusing on further establishment of the industry.