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The emergence of nanotechnology and surface engineering techniques provides new opportunities for designing self-lubricant coatings with enhanced properties. In recent years, green coating technologies have played a vital role in environmental preservation. This article mainly reviews five typical types of self-lubricant coatings including MoN coatings, VN coatings, WN coatings and TMN (Transition Metal Nitride) soft-metal coatings, and DLC (Diamond-like Carbon) with lubricant agents deposited by PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) for the demanding tribological applications, which is the latest research into the green lubricant coatings. Furthermore, it is of great significance for designing the green self-lubricant coatings to adapt the demanding tribological applications to meet the industrial requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little information exists on the variation in morphological characteristics, nutritional value, ruminal degradability, and molecular structural makeup of diverse whole-plant silage corn (WPSC) cultivars among different growing regions. This study investigated the between-regions (Beijing, Urumchi, Cangzhou, Liaoyuan, Tianjin) discrepancies in five widely used WPSC cultivars in China (FKBN, YQ889, YQ23, DK301 and ZD958), in terms of 1) morphological characteristics; 2) crude protein (CP) chemical profile; 3) Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) CP subfractions; 4) in situ CP degradation kinetics; and 5) CP molecular structures. Our results revealed significant growing region and WPSC cultivar interaction for all estimated morphological characteristics (P < 0.001), CP chemical profile (P < 0.001), CNCPS subfractions (P < 0.001) and CP molecular structural features (P < 0.05). Except ear weight (P = 0.18), all measured morphological characteristics varied among different growing regions (P < 0.001). Besides, WPSC cultivars planted in different areas had remarkably different CP chemical profiles and CNCPS subfractions (P < 0.001). All spectral parameters of protein primary structure of WPSC differed (P < 0.05) due to the growing regions, except amide II area (P = 0.28). Finally, the area ratio of amide I to II was negatively correlated with the contents of soluble CP (δ = -0.66; P = 0.002), CP (δ = -0.61; P = 0.006), non-protein nitrogen (δ = -0.56; P = 0.004) and acid detergent insoluble CP (δ = -0.43; P = 0.008), in conjunction with a positive correlation with moderately degradable CP (PB1; δ = 0.58; P = 0.01). In conclusion, the cultivar of DK301 exhibited high and stable CP content. The WPSC planted in Beijing showed high CP, SCP and NPN. The low rumen degradable protein of WPSC was observed in Urumchi. Meanwhile, above changes in protein profiles and digestibility were strongly connected with the ratio of amide I and amide II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplementation with saccharomyces cerevisiae culture products (SCs) has shown effectiveness in alleviating or improving the health and productivity of ruminants at a high risk of digestive and metabolic problems as a consequence of their physiological state and feeding system (i.e., Holstein cows during peak lactation). However, the effects of SC supplementation on ruminal digestion and microbial population are not yet well-understood. Hence, this study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of the effects of in vitro SC supplementation on ruminal nutrient digestibility and microbial community. This study included three treatment groups: a control group (CON, 0% SC proportion of substrate DM), a low-dose SC group (LSC, 0.10% SC proportion of substrate DM), and a high-dose SC group (HSC, 0.30% SC proportion of substrate DM). The SC product contained 7.0 × 109 CFU/g. After 48 h of fermentation at 39 °C, the incubation fluid and residue were collected to measure the ruminal nutrient digestibility and microbial community. The results showed that supplemental SC tended (p = 0.096) to increase DM digestibility due to an increase (9.6%, p = 0.03) in CP digestibility and via a tendency (0.05 < p < 0.08) to increase the fiber fraction. Additionally, the 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing results revealed that the richness and diversity of the microbiota were unchanged by SC supplementation, while the abundances of Spirochaetes, Tenericutes, and Spirochaetaceae were lower in the SC groups than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). At the genus level, the abundances of Selenomonas and Succinivibrio were increased by SC supplementation (p < 0.05), while SC supplementation decreased the abundances of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 and Treponema_2 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the predicted function of the microbiota showed that carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism were enriched in the SC groups compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). Except for the increases in ADF digestibility (p = 0.032) and pH (p = 0.076) at 0.30%, the supplemental level did not result in additional effects. In summary, our results demonstrate that SC supplementation could improve ruminal nutrient degradation digestibility and alter microbiota composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]