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It is not easy to make the insulators of the railway catenary for the dry and cold environment of the icy Qinghai-Tibet plateau, without causing serious ice-related flashover accidents. To study the operating status of catenary icing insulators, a two-dimensional icing model of catenary cantilever insulators was established based on the winter environmental characteristics of the Golmud station on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Compared different directions of ice growth, the spatial electric field distribution, and surface temperature distribution characteristics of icing insulatorswere analyzed by multi-physical field coupling simulation. The results show that as the thickness of the ice layer increases and the length of the icicle increases, the field intensity of the insulator gradually increases, and the surface temperature continues to rise. When the ice edge grows vertically downward, the electric field intensity of the insulator is the smallest, and the electric field intensity is the largest when the ice edge grows horizontally. Although the surface temperature of the insulator will rise with the increase of icing degree, it is lower than the freezing point and will not have a great impact on insulation performance. Secondly, when the cantilever insulator is arranged obliquely, the increase in the inclination angle will cause the electric field to increase and the temperature to rise slightly, so the inclination angle of the oblique cantilever should be reduced as much as possible during installation. Finally, the insulator with better insulation performance is obtained by optimizing the structure of the flat cantilever insulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domain structures and their evolution with temperature in the [001]C oriented (K,Na)(Nb,Ta)O3 (KNNT) single crystal have been studied before and after poling by polarizing light microscopy. The results indicate that the KNNT crystal is difficult to be completely poled by the room temperature poling process. The domain structure is rather stable in the orthorhombic phase, but exhibits substantial changes near the phase transition temperatures TO-T and TC. Narrower stripe domains are formed during both the orthorhombic-tetragonal and tetragonal-cubic phase transition processes, no intermediate phases were found during the phase transitions. The temperature dependence of the dielectric and piezoelectric properties were measured, and the influence of domain structures on the dielectric and electromechanical properties were quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to apply EQrot 1 nonconforming finite element(FE) to solve a generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation. First, a new important property of EQrot 1 nonconforming FE (see (2.3) of Lemma 2 below) is proved by use ofBHXlemma and the integral identities techniques. Second, a linearized Crank-Nicolson fully discrete scheme is constructed and the superclose error estimate of orderO(h2+τ2) for original variable u in broken H1-norm is also derived by using the properties of EQrot 1 element and the splitting argument for nonlinear terms, while previous works always only obtain convergent error estimates with this element. Furthermore, the global superconvergence is arrived at by the interpolated postprocessing technique. Finally, two numerical experiments are provided to confirm the theoretical analysis. Here, h is the subdivision parameter and τ is the time step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Li and Ta modified (K, Na)NbO3 lead-free single crystal with a large size (13×10×20mm3) has been grown by using the top-seeded solution growth method. The large size allows us to carry out an extensive study on this tetragonal crystal. We have measured a complete set of elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric constants for the [001]C poled crystal with the single domain state. The crystal exhibits high shear piezoelectricity with d15 = 518 pC/N and k15 = 0.733, showing excellent potential in shear electro-sonic energy transformation devices. It is found that the high shear piezoelectricity originates from the vicinity of orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition, which favors polarization rotation greatly. The orientation dependence of longitudinal dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic constants and electromechanical coupling factor in the 3-dimentional space were calculated based on the single domain dataset. We believe that this work is of great importance for both fundamental studies and device designs for lead-free materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Golgi-localized Saccharomyces cerevisiae ScGdt1 is a member of the cation/Ca2+ exchanger superfamily. We show here that Candida albicans CaGdt1 is the functional homolog of ScGdt1 in calcium sensitivity, and shows genetic interactions with CaCch1 or CaMid1 in response to ER stresses. In addition, similar to ScCCH1 and ScMID1, deletion of either CaCCH1 or CaMID1 leads to a growth sensitivity of cells to cold stress, which can be suppressed by deletion of CaGDT1. Furthermore, deletion of CaCCH1 leads to a severe delay in filamentation of C. albicans cells, and this defect is abolished by deletion of CaGDT1. In contrast, CaGDT1 does not show genetic interaction with CaMID1 in filamentation. Interestingly, C. albicans cells lacking both CaMID1 and CaGDT1 exhibit an intermediate virulence between C. albicans cells lacking CaCCH1 (non-virulent) and C. albicans cells lacking CaGDT1 (partially virulent), while C. albicans cells lacking both CaCCH1 and CaGDT1 are not virulent in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. Therefore, CaGdt1 genetically interacts with the plasma membrane calcium channel, CaCch1/CaMid1, in the response of C. albicans cells to cold and ER stresses and antifungal drug challenge as well as in filamentation and virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrinsic contributions play an important role in the functionalities of ferroelectric materials, while domain structure evolution is crucial for understanding the extrinsic dielectric and piezoelectric responses. In this work, domain configuration changes with an electric field applied along [001]C in the tetragonal (K, Na, Li)(Nb, Sb, Ta)O3 single crystal were studied by means of polarizing light microscopy. Results show that parts of the spontaneous polarizations in the (001)C plane are switched to [001]C direction, while others still stay in the (001)C plane due to high induced internal stresses. Single domain state cannot be achieved even under a high electric field. After being poled along [001]C, the volume fraction of domains with polarzations in the (001)C plane is still about 25.2%. The extrinsic contributions to the dielectric constant are 15.7% and 27.2% under the E field of 1 kV/cm and under 2 kV/cm, respectively, estimated by the Rayleigh analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the plasma retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) levels and to evaluate the associations of RBP4 with abnormal lipid metabolism and renal dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, we determined RBP4, sdLDL-C, ox-LDL levels and renal parameters in 120 T2DM patients with or without nephropathy and 70 controls. The correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. Compared with controls, the RBP4 and sdLDL-C levels were found significantly increased only in diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients and ox-LDL levels were elevated in both groups of T2DM patients. The RBP4 levels were positively correlated with sdLDL-C, ox-LDL, and negatively with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in all the T2DM patients. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that sdLDL-C and eGFR were the independent predictors of RBP4 levels, and RBP4 were one of the independent determinants for sdLDL-C and ox-LDL levels in T2DM patients, respectively. In conclusion, plasma RBP4, sdLDL-C, ox-LDL levels were significantly increased in DN patients. Circulating RBP4 may be associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and renal dysfunction, and considered as a biomarker of cardiovascular disease and renal function in T2DM patients. Practical applications: The findings in the present study support the hypothesis that circulating RBP4 not only plays an important role in lipid metabolism abnormalities of atherosclerosis, contributing to the increased risk of CVD, but also could reflect renal dysfunction and be associated with the severity of nephropathy in T2DM patients. Therefore, the clinical monitoring of plasma RBP4 level as well as its dynamic changes may possess distinctly clinical value for assessments of renal function and CVD risk in T2DM patients. These findings may contribute to the further understanding of the pathogenic role of circulating RBP4 in proatherogenic dyslipidemia and nephropathy in T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Amino acids (AA) are not only the building blocks of proteins but are also key regulators of metabolic pathways in cells. However, the mechanisms responsible for the effects of AA are largely unknown. With the completion of human and other mammalian genome projects, revolutionary technologies in life sciences characterized by high throughput, high efficiency, and rapid computation are now available for AA nutrition research. These advanced tools include genetics (the genomic variety), epigenetics (stable and heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype that occurs without changes in DNA sequence), transcriptomics (alternative mRNA splicing, microRNAs, and gene transcription), proteomics (protein expression and interactions), metabolomics (metabolite profiles in cells and tissues), and bioinformatics (analysis of metabolic pathways using systems biology approach). These robust, powerful methods can be employed for the analysis of DNA, RNA, protein, and low-molecular-weight metabolites, whose expression and concentration are affected by the interaction between genes and dietary AA. With the omics and other advanced methodologies, we expect that the molecular actions of AA on target tissues can be defined and that optimal dietary recommendations for these nutrients can be devised for individual humans (personalized nutrition) and animals (targeted feeding) in response to changes in physiological and pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary supplementation of glutamine prevents intestinal dysfunction and atrophy in weanling piglets, but the underlying mechanism(s) are largely unknown. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that weaning or glutamine may modulate expression of genes that are crucial for intestinal metabolism and function. In Expt. 1, we obtained small intestine from 28-d-old pigs weaned at 21 d of age and from age-matched suckling piglets. In Expt. 2, piglets were weaned at 21 d of age and then had free access to diets supplemented with 1% L-glutamine (wt:wt) or isonitrogenous L-alanine (control). At d 28, we collected small intestine for biochemical and morphological measurements and microarray analysis of gene expression using the Operon Porcine Genome Oligo set. Early weaning resulted in increased (52-346%) expression of genes related to oxidative stress and immune activation but decreased l35-77%l expression of genes related to macronutrient metabolism and cell proliferation in the gut. Dietary glutamine supplementation increased intestinal expression (120-124%) of genes that are necessary for cell growth and removal of oxidants, while reducing (34-75%) expression of genes that promote oxidative stress and immune activation. Functionally, the glutamine treatment enhanced intestinal oxidative-defense capacity (indicated by a 29% increase in glutathione concentration), prevented jejunal atrophy, and promoted small intestine growth (+ 12%) and body weight gain (+ 19%) in weaned piglets. These findings reveal coordinate alterations of gene expression in response to weaning and aid in providing molecular mechanisms for the beneficial effect of dietary glutamine supplementation to improve nutrition status in young mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiency of nutrient utilization is high in neonates with normal birth weights but is reduced in those with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study was conducted with the piglet model and proteomics technology to test the hypothesis that IUGR affects expression of key proteins that regulate growth and development of the small intestine, liver, and muscle, the major organs involved in the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of dietary nutrients. Jejunum, liver, and gastrocnemius muscle were obtained from IUGR and normal birth-weight piglets at birth for analysis of proteomes using the 2-dimensional-PAGE MS technology. The results indicate that IUGR decreased the levels of proteins that regulate immune function (immunoglobulins and annexin A1), oxidative defense (peroxiredoxin 1, transferrin, and ζ-crystallin), intermediary metabolism (creatine kinase, alcohol dehydrogenase, L-lactate dehydrogenase, prostaglandin F synthase, apolipoprotein Al, catecho O-methyltransferase, and phosphoglycerate kinase 1), protein synthesis (eukaryotic translation initiation factor-3), and tissue growth (β-actin, desmin, and keratin 10) in a tissue-specific manner. In addition, IUGR increased the levels of proteins that are involved in proteolysis (proteasome α-5 and α-1 subunits), response to oxidative stress (scavenger-receptor protein and α-1 acid glycoprotein), and ATP hydrolysis (F1-ATPase). These novel findings suggest that cellular signaling defects, redox imbalance, reduced protein synthesis, and enhanced proteolysis may be the major mechanisms responsible for abnormal absorption and metabolism of nutrients, as well as reduced growth and impaired development of the small intestine, liver, and muscle in IUGR neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are ∼100,000 proteins in humans with various physiological functions. The complement of proteins in the organism as well as their interactions is defined as the proteome. Its analysis (proteomics) by highly specific, sensitive, and accurate MS has been made possible with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization or electrospray ionization of proteins and large peptides. Currently, the most commonly used proteomics technologies involve either specific digestion of proteins (the bottom-up approach using 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and multidimensional protein identification technology) or direct analysis of intact proteins after their chromatographic separation (the top-down approach and surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization). Proteomics holds great promise for discoveries in nutrition research, including profiles and characteristics of dietary and body proteins; digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients; functions of nutrients and other dietary factors in growth, reproduction, and health; biomarkers of the nutritional status and disease; and individualized requirements of nutrients. The proteome analysis is expected to play an important role in solving major nutrition-associated problems in humans and animals, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, aging, and intrauterine fetal retardation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric micro-cantilever resonant sensor has promising use in gas and bio detection. The effect of DC bias voltage on the resonant frequency of PZT piezoelectric microcantilever is researched. And the analytic equations suitable for multilayer PZT structure are built. At the same time, the laser interference experiment confirms the analytic equations. A second order relationship between the DC bias and the resonant frequency shift can be reached from both the analytic equations and the experiment results. When the DC electrical field is below 1 × 10 7 V/m, the linear zone exists. This result can benefit to improve the output signal acquisition system so that the resonant frequency measurement can be greatly simplified through DC voltage scanning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Al–Cr–Mo–Ni system is of technical interest because it is an essential system for the thermodynamic modeling of systems related to the Ni- and NiAl-based superalloys. The knowledge of phase behaviors and thermodynamic properties of this system will be greatly helpful for the development of related alloys. Thermodynamic modeling of the Al–Cr–Mo–Ni system in the previous effort is not satisfactory. In this study, the Cr–Mo–Ni system was re-optimized with more sophisticated binary databases, and a new thermodynamic database of the Al–Cr–Mo–Ni system was established. A satisfactory agreement between calculated results and experimental data was obtained. The thermodynamic database developed in this study is suitable for assisting the design of both Ni- and NiAl-based superalloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ventral attention network (VAN), associated with cognitive performance, is one of the functional networks that are most vulnerable in white matter hyperintensity (WMH). Considering the global interaction of networks for cognitive performance, we hypothesized that VAN-related between-network connectivity might play a role in maintaining cognition in patients with WMH. We included 139 participants for both cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis from CIRCLE study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03542734) between January 2014 and January 2021. Differences of VAN-related between-network connectivity were compared between normalcognition (NC) and cognitive-impairment (CI) groups cross-sectionally, and between cognitive-decline (CD) and cognitive non-decline (CND) groups longitudinally by using t-test. False Discovery Rate was used for multiple comparison correction. The relationship between the network connectivity and WMH was tested on linear and quadratic models. Subgroup analysis of different WMH burdens were performed to test the difference of network connectivity between NC and CI groups. Among VAN-related between-network connectivity, only VAN-Visual Network (VN) connectivity was higher both in NC (n = 106) and CND (n = 113) groups versus CI (n = 33) and CD groups (n = 26), respectively. There was an inverted U-shaped relation between periventricular WMH (PWMH) burden and VAN-VN connectivity. Normal-cognition participants had higher VAN-VN connectivity among high, but not low PWMH burden subgroups. These findings suggest that the VAN-VN connectivity plays an important role in maintaining cognitive performance in WMH patients. It may serve as a unique marker for cognitive prediction and a potential target for intervention to prevent cognitive decline in WMH patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a field-to-wire coupling model for wire bundles with strongly non-uniform path. Previous studies on multi-conductor transmission lines (MTL) are mainly confined to uniform or weakly nonuniform path, which is sometimes not the case in practice. In this paper, the external and internal characteristics of the wire bundle are decomposed by a mode transformation method, of which the advantage is the transformation matrices do not vary with the nonuniform path. The external characteristics correspond to common-mode (CM) components, modeled as an equivalent single wire running in the same path with the bundle above the reference ground. The internal characteristics correspond to differential-mode (DM) components, modeled as a uniform MTL system composed of the original wires in the bundle. In this way, the effects of the non-uniform path and the external field only exist in the CM model. Mode conversion caused by the dielectric coating and terminals is modeled with equivalent circuits. The proposed model is validated with a bundle of curved wires above a PCB board. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to screen and identify excellent breeding resources and provide basic materials for Brassica rapa breeding, the contents of erucic acid, oleic acid and glucosinolate in 84 kinds of B. rapa were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy, and the correlations among them were also analyzed. The results showed that the content of erucic acid and oleic acid were significantly negatively correlated, the contents of erucic acid and glucosinolate were significantly positively correlated, while the contents of oleic acid and glucosinolate were significantly negatively correlated; principal component analysis (PCA) were performed on the population materials, factors 1 and 2 were extracted for plotting, factor 1 and factor 2 could explain 73.7% and 23.2% of the phenotypic variation, respectively; through cluster analysis, 79 materials aggrega ted to form group I, and five special variants deviated from the population. The variation of erucic acid, oleic acid and glucosinolates in B. rapa populations was rich and there was significant correlation. Through cluster analysis, five excellent B. rapa breeding materials (No. 32, No. 45, No. 46, No. 50, and No. 59) were screened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T Probiotics are widely used to promote performance and improve gut health in weaning piglets. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. animalis) JYBR-190 on the growth performance, intestine health, and gut microbiota of weaning piglets. The results showed that the dietary addition of B. animalis significantly improved growth performance and decreased diarrhea incidence. B. animalis increased villus height in the duodenum and elevated goblet cell numbers and amylase activity in the jejunum. Additionally, B. animalis supplementation markedly increased total antioxidant capacity in jejunal mucosa but declined the malondialdehyde content. B. animalis treatment did not affect the mRNA expressions associated with the intestinal barrier and inflammatory cytokine in various intestinal segments. Microbiota analysis indicated that a diet supplemented with B. animalis significantly increased the relative abundances of health-promoting bacteria in the lumen, such as Streptococcus, Erysipelotrichaceae, Coprococcus, and Oscillibacter. There was a trend for B. animalis fed piglets to have a higher relative abundance of B. animalis in ileal digesta. Moreover, B. animalis-treated pigs decreased the abundance of Helicobacter and Escherichia-Shigella in ileal mucosaassociated microbiota. In summary, this study showed that B. animalis supplementation stimulated growth performance, improved gut development, enriched beneficial bacteria abundances, and declined intestinal pathogens populations, while B. animalis had limited effects on the intestinal barrier and immune function. IMPORTANCE In the modern swine industry, weaning is a critical period in the pig’s life cycle. Sudden dietary, social, and environmental changes can easily lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis, diarrhea, and a decrease in growth performance. To stabilize intestinal microbiota and promote animal growth, antibiotics were widely applied in swine diets during the past few decades. However, the side effects of antibiotics posed a great threat to public health and food safety. Therefore, it is urgent to find and develop antibiotic alternatives. The growing evidence suggested that probiotics can be preferable alternatives to antibiotics because they can modulate microbiota composition and resist pathogens colonization. In this study, our results indicated that dietary supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis promoted growth in weaning piglets by improving gut development, increasing beneficial bacteria abundances, and declining pathogens populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new mixed finite element scheme is proposed for the nonlinear Sobolev equation by employing the finite element pair Q 11 / Q 01 × Q 10 . Based on the combination of interpolation and projection skill as well as the mean-value technique, the τ -independent superclose results of the original variable u in H 1 -norm and the variable q → = − ( a ( u ) ∇ u t + b ( u ) ∇ u ) in L 2 -norm are deduced for the semi-discrete and linearized fully-discrete systems ( τ is the temporal partition parameter). What’s more, the new interpolated postprocessing operators are put forward and the corresponding global superconvergence results are obtained unconditionally, while previous literature always require certain time step conditions. Finally, some numerical results are provided to confirm our theoretical analysis, and show the efficiency of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging of composite insulators in outdoor operation for a long time has a direct impact on the safe and stable operation of the power grid. To solve this problem, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of composite insulators based on level difference maximum is proposed. To verify the feasibility of this method, insulators in Xinjiang are sampled and the index evaluation system for composite insulators is established based on electrical, mechanical, hydrophobic and other properties, combined with operational years, geographical environment and other factors; Firstly, different membership functions are established according to index types. It is more likely to determine the grade of insulator by comparing measured data with the boundary value. Then, to solve the problem that weights cannot be effectively integrated in the combination weighting, level difference maximization is proposed (during the operation of insulators, the index which has a greater influence on the performance of insulators takes a higher proportion of the weight). Finally, on the basis of fully considering the clarity and ambiguity of grade division, the grade state of insulators is obtained by using the linear weighting method. The results show that compared with the traditional method, the improved method of the membership function and level difference maximum can realize the dynamic adjustment of the index based on the degree of information change. The method can better evaluate the insulator grade. The case study shows that the model can accurately and quickly judge the state of composite insulators, which can be used as a reference for manufacturing and maintenance departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity results in part from altered adipocyte metabolism and enhanced adipogenesis. However, the factors that influence insulin-independent differentiation of preadipocytes in response to excess intake of dietary energy remain poorly understood. Based on our recent finding that L0C66273 isoform 2 (L12), a gene that encodes a novel Mth938 domain-containing protein, is highly expressed in white adipose tissues, we hypothesized that L12 plays an important role in adipogenesis. Plasmid pcDNA3.1-L12 was electroporated into 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to overexpress the L12 protein. Synthetic siRNA was transfected into 3T3-L1 cells to knockdown endogenous L12. Using constitutively active and potent siRNA against L12, we determined cell morphology, cell viability, and adipocytic factors in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Our results indicated that L12 was sufficient to drive preadipocyte differentiation via modulating the phosphorylation level and transcriptional activity of CREB, coincident with expression of several adipogenic regulators and mature adipocyte markers, without insulin treatment. In addition, overexpression of the L12 protein inhibited preadipocyte growth, whereas knockdown of the L12 protein resulted in preadipocyte apoptosis via caspase-3 activation during adipogenesis. These results indicated that L12 might function to switch preadipocytes from proliferation to differentiation and to maintain the viability of preadipocytes during adipogenesis by regulating the caspase-3 pathway. Our findings highlight the importance of L12 in the formation of new adipocytes, thus helping understand the mechanisms responsible for insulin-independent adipogenesis in mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influences of the free volume and the termperature on the damping property of chlorinated isoprene−isobutylene rubber (CIIR) were first investigated by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. From the variations of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) lifetimes as a function of temperature, two transition temperatures can be observed, i.e., Tgand TB. We found that there exists a pre-rubbery state between the glass transition temperature Tgand TB. The DMA results indicate that the tan peak of CIIR has a very broad temperature distribution because of the existence of a liquid−liquid transition (Tll). The temperature dependence of the average free volume size can be linearly fitted below Tgand above TB, respectively. It is very interesting that the difference spectrum of the free volume size between the results fitted by two lines (below Tgand above TB) and experimental data is very similar to the dynamic mechanical spectrum of CIIR. In order to clarify the damping mechanics, the Williams−Landel−Ferry (WLF) equation based on free volume theory has been successfully used to establish a direct quantificational relationship between the free volume and the damping property, which indicates that the free volume plays an important role in determining the damping property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the effects of body weight (BW) and fiber sources on nutrient digestibility, fiber fermentation and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration in different intestinal segments of growing pigs fed high-fiber diets. Methods: Nine barrows with initial BW of 25.17±0.73 kg and 9 barrows with initial BW of 63.47±2.18 kg were allotted to a duplicate 9×2 Youden Square design with 3 dietary treatments and 2 periods. The dietary treatments were formulated with 3 different high-fiber ingredients: corn bran, sugar beet pulp, and soybean hulls, respectively. Each diet was fed to 3 barrows with different stage of BW in each period. Results: There were no differences in the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of most nutrients between pigs at different BW stages. Pigs at 60 kg had greater (p<0.05) apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of total dietary fiber (TDF), soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), and had greater (p<0.05) hindgut disappearance of IDF and cellulose than pigs at 25 kg. The acetate, propionate and total SCFA concentrations in ileal digesta and feces of pigs at 60 kg were greater (p<0.05) than those of pigs at 25 kg. In addition, fiber sources affected (p<0.05) the AID of gross energy (GE), organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE), crude protein, SDF and hemicellulose, the hindgut disappearance and ATTD of dietary fiber components, the lactate and propionate concentrations in ileal digesta and the butyrate, valerate and total SCFA concentrations in feces. There were interactions (p<0.05) between BW and fiber sources on the AID of GE, OM, EE, SDF, hemicellulose, the ATTD of EE, TDF, and IDF, and the hindgut disappearance of SDF and hemicellulose. Conclusion: Increasing BW mainly improved the digestibility of dietary fiber fractions, and the dietary fiber sources influenced the digestibility of almost all the dietary nutrients in growing pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deteriorative effect of low birth weight (LBW) on the mucosal permeability of the small intestine in piglets has been widely confirmed. However, whether the hindgut epithelial barrier function in LBW pigs is deteriorated during the growing stage is still unclear. Our study investigated differences in the hindgut epithelial barrier function between LBW and normal birth weight pigs during the growing stage (d 90). Our data demonstrated that the hindgut epithelium of LBW pigs has a high histopathological score, accompanied by decreased antioxidant capacity and increased apoptosis rate, as well as elevated expression and activity of caspase-3. In addition, the number of intestinal goblet cells and gene expression of mucin 2 were significantly down-regulated in LBW pigs. The expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin) was markedly inhibited by the LBW. The mRNA abundance of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 was significantly increased in the hindgut mucosa of LBW pigs. Furthermore, our data revealed that LBW altered the intestinal microbial community in the hindgut mucosa of pigs. Collectively, these finding add to our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for hindgut epithelial barrier dysfunction in LBW pigs during the growing stage and facilitate the development of nutritional intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This experiment was conducted to determine the chemical composition, digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of corn germ meals (CGM) and to develop equations to predict the corresponding energy contents based on the chemical characteristics of individual CGM. Methods: Sixty-six barrows (initial body weight = 51.3±4.6 kg) were allotted to 11 diets including a basal diet and 10 CGM test diets in a completely randomized design. In the test diets, CGM was included in replacement of 30% of the energy-providing ingredients in the basal diet, resulting in a final inclusion rate of 29.1%. Each diet was fed to 6 barrows housed in individual metabolism crates for a 7-d acclimation period followed by a 5-d total but separate collection of feces and urine. Results: Considerable variation was observed in acid-hydrolyzed ether extract, ether extract, ash, calcium (Ca) and total phosphorus contents among the CGM samples. On dry matter (DM) basis, the DE and ME contents of the CGM ranged from 10.22 to 15.83 MJ/kg and from 9.94 to 15.43 MJ/kg, respectively. The acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents were negatively correlated with the DE and ME contents of CGM samples. The best-fit prediction equations for the DE and ME values (MJ/kg DM) of the 10 CGM were: DE = 26.85-0.28 insoluble dietary fiber (%)-17.79 Ca (%); ME = 21.05-0.43 ADF (%)-11.40 Ca (%). Conclusion: The chemical compositions of CGM vary depending on sources, particularly in ether extract and Ca. The DE and ME values of CGM can be predicted based on their chemical composition in growing pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to unveil the biological role of carbonic anhydrase IV (CA IV) and its association with clinical pathological characteristics and prognostic significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The relative expression level of CA IV was measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 114 resected NSCLC tumors and matched adjacent normal tissues and NSCLC cell lines. Overexpression and cell proliferation were assessed in human NSCLC cell lines transfected with CA IV mRNA by lentivirus-mediated technology. The association of CA IV expression with clinical pathological features and overall survival in 114 cases of NSCLC patients was analyzed. It was demonstrated that CA IV expression was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tumors and six cell lines. Reduced expression of CA IV was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis. The overall survival of NSCLC patients with low CA IV expression was significantly shorter compared with the high expression group. Overexpression of CA IV suppressed cell proliferation in A549 and NCI-H1299 cells. The results indicate that low expression of CA IV promotes cell proliferation and serves as an indicator for poor prognosis in NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important characteristic of intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) neonate is the impaired intestinal barrier function. With the use of a pig model, this study was conducted to identify the responsible microRNA (miRNA) for the intestinal damage in IUGR neonates through comparing the miRNA profile of IUGR and normal porcine neonates and to investigate the regulation mechanism. Compared with the normal ones, we identified 83 upregulated and 76 downregulated miRNAs in the jejunum of IUGR pigs. Notably, IUGR is associated with profoundly increasesd miR-29 family and decreased expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) and tight junction (TJ) proteins in the jejunum. Furthermore, in vitro study using theporcine intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-1) showed that inhibition of miR-29a expression could improve the monolayer integrity by increasing cell proliferation and transepithelial resistance. Also, overexpression/inhibition of miR-29a in IPEC-1 cells can suppress/increase the expression of integrin-β1, collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectin, and claudin 1, both at transcriptional and translational levels. Subsequent luciferase reporter assay confirmed a direct interaction between miR-29a and the 3'-untranslated regions of these genes. In conclusion, this study reveals that IUGR-impaired intestinal barrier function is associated with downregulated ECM and TJ protein expression mediated by the upregulation of miR-29a. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) remains a major problem for both human health and animal production due to its association with high rates of preweaning morbidity and mortality. We have identified the abnormal expression of microRNA-29a (miR-29a) in the small intestine of IUGR neonates, as well as its targets and mechanisms. These results provide new information about biological characteristics of IUGR-affected intestinal dysfunction and can lead to the development of potentially solution for preventing and treating IUGR in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the field experiment, we set up the treatments of non-application of potash fertilizer, conventional fertilization, balanced fertilization and halved application of potash fertilizer, and studied the rffect of different treatments on rice yield and soil nutrient content. The results showed that compared with non-application of potash fertilizer, conventional fertilization and balanced fertilization significantly increased the spike length, thousand kernel weight, yield and total potassium content of the stalk, as well as soil organic matter, total nitrogen and avalable phosphorus content; compared with conventional fertilization, the balanced fertilization did not significantly increase the rice growth and yield, but effectively increased rice grain total nitrogen, stalk total nitrogen and total phosphorus content, a well as soil available phosphorus and available potassium content. It could be found that potash fertilizer played a certain role in increaing rice yield and soil nutrient content, and the balanced fertilization had the most significant efect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weaning of piglets reflects intestinal dysfunction and atrophy and affected the physiological state of enterocytes. However, few studies have defined physiological state of enterocytes along the crypt-villus axis in early-weaning piglets. A total of 16 piglets from 8 litters were used in the experiment. One group of piglets was nursed by sows until age 21 days, and another group was weaned at age 14 days and then fed creep feed instead of breast milk for 7 days. Piglets were killed at 21 days, and the jejunum segments were dissected. After sequential isolation of jejunum epithelial cells along the crypt-villus axis, their proteins were analyzed through the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification, and proteins involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway and proliferating cell nuclear antigen abundances in jejunal epithelial cells of weaning or suckling group were determined by Western blotting. The differential proteins in three cell fractions were identified and analyzed. The results showed that proteins involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, β-oxidation, and the glycolysis pathway were significantly downregulated in the upper and middle villus of the early-weaned group. However, proteins involved in glycolysis were significantly upregulated in crypt cells. In addition, Western blot analysis showed that the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin pathway-related proteins was decreased (P < 0.05) in the earlyweaned group. The present results showed that early-weaning differentially affect the expression of proteins involved in energy production of enterocytes along the jejunal crypt-villus axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domain pattern variations with temperature were studied by polarizing light microscopy for the morphotropic phase boundary composition 0.67Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.33PbTiO3 (PMN-0.33PT) single crystal. At room temperature, the monoclinic MA phase is the dominant phase in the unpoled crystal, which coexists with a small fraction of the tetragonal (T) phase. The orientation of spontaneous polarization was calculated to be ∼4.8° away from the pseudocubic (111)C in the {001}C plane family. Under an electric field of 6 kV/cm along [011]C, a single domain orthorhombic (O) phase was induced but partially switched back to MA a few hours after the removal of the E field. It was found that the temperature induced phase transition sequence of the [011]C poled PMN-0.33PT single crystal is strongly hysteretic. On heating, the phase transition sequence is as follows: coexistence of O phase and MA→rhombohedral→monoclinicMC→cubic(C). On cooling, the phase transition sequence is given by C→T→MA. The complete set of dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic constants for the [011]C poled PMN-0.33PT single crystal was measured, which showed the strong feature of the single domain O phase with high shear (d15=2321pC/N,d24=1941pC/N) and low longitudinal piezoelectric coefficients (d33=165pC/N). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate serum beta2-glycoprotein I-low-density lipoprotein (β2-GPI-LDL) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and to further evaluate the associations of β2-GPI-LDL with ox-LDL in vivo and with the presence of diabetic microvascular complications. Methods: We determined β2-GPI-LDL, ox-LDL and small dense low density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) levels in 236 T2DM patients with or without microvascular complications and 75 controls. The correlation analyses, multiple linear regression analyses and logistic regression analyses were performed, respectively. Results: Compared with controls, β2-GPI-LDL and ox-LDL levels were significantly elevated in both groups of T2DM patients and those with microvascular complications exhibited the more significant increase than those without complications. Serum β2-GPI-LDL levels were positively correlated with ox-LDL as well as sdLDL-C levels in T2DM patients. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that ox-LDL was one of the independent determinants of β2-GPI-LDL levels. Logistic regression analyses indicated that elevated β2-GPI-LDL and ox-LDL levels had significant predictive values for diabetic microvascular complications. Conclusions: Elevated serum β2-GPI-LDL levels may be a serological hallmark of enhanced LDL oxidation in vivo and closely associated with the presence of diabetic microvascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-consistent complete set of dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic constants for single domain Ta modified (K, Na)NbO3 (KNN) crystal was determined. This full set constant for single domain KNN-based crystals allowed the prediction of orientation dependence of the longitudinal dielectric, piezoelectric, elastic coefficients, and electromechanical coupling factors. The maximum piezoelectric and electromechanical properties were found to exist near [001]C. In addition, material constants of [001]C poled domain engineered single crystal with 4mm symmetry were experimentally measured and compared with the calculated values. Based on this, extrinsic contribution to the piezoelectricity was estimated to be ~20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high quality orthorhombic (K, Na, Li)(Nb, Ta)O3 single crystal with a large size of 9 x 9 x 11 mm³ was successfully grown using the top-seeded solution growth method. Its large size allowed us to perform comprehensive investigation on this crystal. A complete set of elastic, dielectric and piezoelectric coefficients was determined using combined resonance and ultrasonic methods. The longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient d33 and the transverse piezoelectric coefficient d31 of this lead-free piezoelectric single crystal are as high as 354 pC N-1 and -163 pC N-1, respectively, which are two times higher than those of KNN-TL ceramics and are comparable with those of PZT5. The electromechanical coupling factor k33 is as high as 82%, much higher than those of KNN-TL ceramics and PZT5. The coefficient d33,strain was found to be as high as 672 pm v-1 and the extrinsic contribution (~22%) was investigated by Rayleigh analysis. These high piezoelectric properties make this single crystal a promising candidate for replacing lead-based piezoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the correlation between fit accuracy and fracture resistance of zirconia abutments, as well as its feasibility for clinical applications. Methods: Twenty self-made zirconia abutments were tested with 30 Osstem GSII implants. First, 10 Osstem GSII implants were cut into two parts along the long axis and assembled with the zirconia abutments. The microgaps between the implants and the zirconia abutments were measured under a scanning electron microscope. Second, the zirconia abutments were assembled with 20 un-cut implants and photographed before and after being fixed with a central screw of 30-N cm torque. The dental films were measured by Digora for Windows 2.6 software. Then the fracture resistance of zirconia abutments was measured using the universal testing machine at 908. All results were analyzed using SPSS13.0 software. Results: The average internal-hexagon microgaps between the implants and zirconia abutments were 19.38 ± 1.34 μm. The average Morse taper microgap in the implant-abutment interface was 17.55 ± 1.68 μm. The dental film showed that the Morse taper gap in the implant-abutment interface disappeared after being fixed with a central screw of 30-N cm torque, and the average moving distance of the zirconia abutments to the implants was 0.19 ± 0.02 μm. The average fracture resistance of zirconia abutments was 282.93 ± 17.28 N. The internal-hexagon microgap between the implants and zirconia abutments was negatively related to the fracture resistance of the abutments (r1 = -0.97, p < 0.01). The Morse taper microgap in the implant-abutment interface was negatively related to the fracture resistance of the abutments (r2 = -0.84, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The microgap between implant and abutment was negatively related to the fracture resistance of the abutment, while the internal-hexagon microgap has better correlation than the Morse taper microgap. The closure of microgap is helpful to improve the fracture resistance of zirconia abutments. The fracture resistance of zirconia abutments can satisfy the clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS), which is considered as a potential prebiotic, exhibits multiple beneficial effects on modulation of gut microbiota, strength of intestinal barrier, and inhibition of intestinal inflammation. The objective of this study is to investigate whether XOS protects against Salmonella infection by modulating gut microbiota, enhancing the intestinal barrier, and resisting colonization. C57BL/6 male mice received water supplementation with 5% XOS for 14 days before Salmonella Typhimurium infection. The results showed that XOS suppressed the Salmonella-induced inflammation, but had limited effects on tight junction molecules and mRNA expression of mucus proteins, except for claudin-1 in the colon. Data of 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that XOS modulated gut microbiota composition by significantly stimulating Bifidobacterium animalis (B. animalis), and reducing Salmonella counts. Therefore, the potential protective effects of B. animalis against Salmonella challenge were investigated as well. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis BB-12 (BB12), which could markedly increase in XOS, was selected to treat mice. Similarly, Salmonella-induced inflammatory reactions were alleviated by BB12 but tight junction molecules and mucin proteins in the colonic tissues were not affected. Administration of BB12 remarkably decreased the copies of Salmonella in cecal digesta post Salmonella infection. Additionally, the decrease concentrations of cecal propionate and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in Salmonella-infected mice were reversed by BB12 treatment, and propionate performed a strong inhibitory effect on Salmonella growth in vitro. Besides that, BB12 could directly restrict Salmonella proliferation in vitro. Moreover, BB12 reduced the adhesion ability of Salmonella on the Caco-2 cells model. Our results suggest that XOS could be considered as a candidate of functional food to protect against Salmonella infection by stimulating Bifidobacterium, which then resists Salmonella colonization by maintaining the intestinal SCFAs levels and suppressing adhesibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Administration of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG), an analogue of endogenous N-acetyl-glutamate (an activator of arginine synthesis) has been shown to enhance neonatal growth by increasing circulating arginine levels. However, the effect of NCG on pregnancy remains unknown. This study examined the effects of NCG on pregnancy outcome and evaluated potential mechanisms involved. Reproductive performance, embryo implantation, and concentration of amino acids in serum and uterine flushing, were determined in rats fed control or NCG supplemented diets. Ishikawa cells and JAR cells were used to examine the mechanism by which NCG affects embryo implantation. Dietary NCG supplementation increased serum levels of arginine, onithine, and proline, as well as uterine levels of arginine, glutamine, glutamate, and proline. Additionally, it stimulated LIF expression, and enhanced the activation of signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), protein kinase B (PKB), and 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K1) during the periimplantation period, resulting in an increase in litter size but not birth weight. In uterine Ishikawa cells, LIF expression was also enhanced by treatment with arginine and its metabolites. In trophoblast JAR cells, treatment with arginine and its metabolites enhanced Stat3, PKB, and S6K1 activation and facilitated cellular adhesion activity. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (wortmannin) and mammalian target of rapamycin (rapamycin). The results demonstrate that NCG supplementation enhances pregnancy outcome and have important implications for the pregnancy outcome of mammalian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remains a major problem for both human health and animal production due to its association with high rates of neonatal morbidity and mortality, low efficiency of food utilization, permanent adverse effects on postnatal growth and development, and long-term health and productivity of the offspring. However, the underlying mechanisms for IUGR are largely unknown. In this study, one IUGR fetus and one normal body weight (NBW) fetus were obtained from each of 9 gilts at each of 2 gestational ages (d 90 and 1101. Metabolomes of umbilical vein plasma in IUGR and NBW fetuses were determined by MS, while hormones, amino acids, and related metabolites in maternal and fetal plasma were measured using assay kits and chromatographic methods. Metabolites (including glucose, urea, ammonia, amino acids, and lipids) in umbilical vein plasma exhibited a cluster of differences between IUGR and NBW fetuses on d 90 and 110 of gestation. These changes in the UGR group are associated with disorders of nutrient and energy metabolism as well. as endocrine imbalances, which may contribute to the retardation of fetal growth and development. The findings help provide information regarding potential mechanisms responsible for IUGR in swine and also have important implications for the design of effective strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat IUGR in other mammalian species, including humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics have long been used in animal production and medication to alleviate weaning stress. However, due to the concerns over food safety and human health, its use in animal production has been prohibited in many countries. Therefore, there is growing interest in developing alternative additives, such as a probiotic Lactobacillus. In this study, a proteomic approach coupled with biochemical analysis was applied to investigate alterations of proteomes in the small intestinal mucosa of weanling piglets after a 13-d period of feeding with supplemental L. fermentum I5007 or aureomycin (an antibiotic). We indentified 27 differentially expressed protein spots that participated in 7 key biological processes, including: 1) energy metabolism; 2) lipid metabolism; 3) protein synthesis; 4) cell structure and mobility; 5) cellular proliferation and apoptosis; 6) immune response; and 7) stress response and detoxification. Both L. fermentum I5007 and aureomycin decreased the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, stress response, and increased the expression of proteins related to detoxification in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of weanling piglets. L. fermentum I5007 exhibited additional effects in alleviating weaning stress syndrome by enhancing the levels of proteins involved in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, cell structure and mobility, protein synthesis, and immune response, thereby facilitating cellular proliferation and depressing apoptosis. In contrast, aureomycin reduced the levels of proteins related to energy metabolism, protein synthesis, cell structure, motility, and immunity. These novel findings have important implications for understanding the mechanisms whereby L. fermentum I5007 can improve the GI health of postweaning piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of the thalamus in memory is potentially very complex. However, most studies on the memory impairments of thalamic lesions have focused on retrospective memory, rarely on prospective memory. To explore the effect of thalamic lesions on event-based prospective memory (EBPM) and time-based prospective memory (TBPM), respectively, and to verify the hypothesis that the thalamus is involved in the prospective memory, EBPM and TBPM tasks were administered to 18 thalamic stroke patients and 18 age-and education-matched healthy controls. In the EBPM task, subjects were asked to perform an action whenever particular words were presented. In the TBPM task, subjects were asked to perform an action at certain times. Compared with the performance of healthy controls on EBPM and TBPM tasks (EBPM, 4.3 ± 1.5; TBPM, 5.4 ± 1.0), there was a significant difference in the performance of thalamic stroke patients in the TBPM tasks (2.4 ± 1.6), but no difference was found in EBPM tasks(3.7 ± 1.1). These results may indicate that the thalamus is involved in PM and particularly in TBPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Zinc is an important dietary factor that regulates intestinal amino acid and protein metabolism in animals. Recent work with the piglet, an established animal model for studying human infant nutrition, has shown that supplementing high levels of zinc oxide (ZnO) to the diet ameliorates weaning-associated intestinal injury and growth retardation. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that zinc supplementation affects expression of proteins related to glutathione metabolism and oxidative stress in the gut. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, we identified 22 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated protein spots in the jejunum of weanling piglets supplemented with ZnO (3,000 mg/kg Zn) compared with the control pigs (100 mg/kg Zn). These proteins are related to energy metabolism (increased level for succinyl-CoA transferase and decreased level for creatine kinase M-type); oxidative stress (decreased levels for 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein and glutathione-S-transferase-ω); and cell proliferation and apoptosis (increased levels for A-Raf-1 and calregulin). Consistent with the changes in protein expression, the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione was increased, whereas glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase activities as well as the protein level of active caspase-3 were reduced in ZnO-supplemented piglets. Collectively, these results indicate that ZnO supplementation improves the redox state and prevents apoptosis in the jejunum of weaning piglets, thereby alleviating weaning-associated intestinal dysfunction and malabsorption of nutrients (including amino acids). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in a wide spectrum of biological processes and have been shown to be important effectors in the intricate host-pathogen interaction networks. Avian influenza virus (AIV) not only causes significant economic losses in poultry production, but also is of great concern to human health. The objective of this study was to identify miRNAs associated with AIV infections in chickens. Results: Total RNAs were isolated from lung and trachea of low pathogenic H5N3 infected and non-infected SPF chickens at 4 days post-infection. A total of 278,398 and 340,726 reads were obtained from lung and trachea, respectively. And 377 miRNAs were detected in lungs and 149 in tracheae from a total of 474 distinct chicken miRNAs available at the miRBase, respectively. Seventy-three and thirty-six miRNAs were differentially expressed between infected and non-infected chickens in lungs and tracheae, respectively. There were more miRNAs highly expressed in non-infected tissues than in infected tissues. Interestingly, some of these differentially expressed miRNAs, including miR-146, have been previously reported to be associated with immune-related signal pathways in mammals. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study on miRNA gene expression in AIV infected chickens using a deep sequencing approach. During AIV infection, many host miRNAs were differentially regulated, supporting the hypothesis that certain miRNAs might be essential in the host-pathogen interactions. Elucidation of the mechanism of these miRNAs on the regulation of host-AIV interaction will lead to the development of new control strategies to prevent or treat AIV infections in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary arginine levels on microvascular development of the small intestine in early-weaned pigs. Twenty-four crossbred pigs 15.0 ± 0.3 kg body weight) were individually housed and randomly allotted to 1 of 3 diets supplemented with 0, 0.7, and 1.2% 햫-arginine (8 pigs per group). Pigs consumed the diets ad libitum for 10 d. We collected blood samples on d 3, 6, and 10. On d 10, 6 pigs from each group were randomly selected and killed for tissue sample collection. Compared with control pigs, dietary supplementation with 0.7% 햫-arginine increased (P < 0.051 jejunal concentrations of nitrite and nitrate (stable oxidation products of nitric oxide), intestinal villus height, as well as plasma proline and arginine concentrations on d 6 and 10. Dietary supplementation with 0.7% 햫-arginine also increased (P < 0.05) immunoreactive expression of CD34 in duodenal submucosa, ileal mucosa and submucosa, and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor IVEGFI in duodenal submucosa, jejunal mucosa and submucosa, and ileal mucosa compared with the control and 1.2% 햫-arginine supplementation. Dietary supplementation with 1 .2% 햫-arginine increased (P < 0.05) the concentration of jejunal endothelin-1 compared with the control pigs. Immunoexpression of VEGF in duodenal mucosa and plasma lysine concentrations on d 6 and 10 were lower (P< 0.05) in pigs supplemented with 1.2% 햫-arginine than in unsupplemented pigs. Collectively, these findings indicate that the effects of 햫-arginine on microvascular development are beneficial at lower levels but have adverse effects at higher intakes. Dietary supplementation with 0.7% 햫-arginine may be a useful method to improve microvascular development in the small intestine of early-weaned pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs in chicken lung and trachea with avian influenza virus infection by a deep sequencing approach," that was published in a previous issue of the journal is presented.