Effect of Brazilian spinach (Alternanthera sissoo) pellet supplementation and dietary ratios on rumen characteristics, microorganisms, methane production, milk yield, and milk composition in dairy cows

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Abstract

The aim of the previous research was to evaluate the effects of Brazilian spinach pellet (BSP) supplementation and dietary ratios on rumen characteristics, methane estimation, and milk production in dairy cows. Four crossbred Thai dairy cattle, with Holstein Friesian (HF) cows with a body weight of 442 ± 50 kg were assessed in a 2 × 2 factorial in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to obtain diets; factor A was the roughage (R) to concentrate (C) ratio at 40:60 and 30:70, and factor B was level of BSP supplantation at 2% and 6% of dry matter (basis) intake (DMI). R:C ratio and supplementation of BSP had no interaction effect on DMI and nutrient digestibility. On DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake, the R:C ratio increased (p < 0.05). The digestibility of OM improved (p < 0.05) when cows were fed a R:C ratio of 30:70. On pH, ammonia-nitrogen, protozoal population, and blood urea-nitrogen, there were no interactions between the R:C ratio and BSP supplementation. Increasing the BSP supplementation to 6% (p < 0.01) decreased the protozoal population. The R:C ratio of 30:70 increased total volatile fatty acid (VFA) and propionate (C3) concentrations while decreasing the acetate (C2) to C3 ratio and methane (CH4) estimation (p < 0.01). The average concentration of total VFA has increased by 114.46 mmol/L for 6% of BSP supplementation. Increased BSP supplementation increased the C3 concentration while decreasing the C2:C3 ratio and CH4 emissions (p < 0.05). The R:C ratio and BSP supplementation had no interaction effect on milk yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM), or milk composition. The R:C ratio of 30:70 increased milk yield (p < 0.05) to the highest level of 12.18 kg/day. In conclusion, the diet containing a R:C ratio of 30:70 increased feed intake, milk yield, BUN, total VFA, and C3 concentration, and decreased the C2:C3 ratio and CH4 emission. BSP supplementation at 6% could increase TVFA and C3 concentrations while decreasing the protozoal population and CH4 estimation.

Physicochemical properties and structural changes of chicken breast meat subjected to radio frequency tempering combined with conventional thawing treatments

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Abstract

Being able to thaw frozen meat in a reasonable time without impairing quality is crucial for industry and households. Radio frequency (RF) techniques have been used to defrost frozen foods. The influences of RF (50 kW, 27.12 MHz) tempering combined with water immersion (WI, 20°C) thawing (RFWI) or air convection (AC, 20°C) thawing (RFAC) on the physicochemical and structural changes of chicken breast meat were investigated, and the results were compared with those of the fresh meat (FM) and the meat samples subjected to WI and AC only. The thawing processes were terminated when the core temperatures of the samples reached 4°C. The results indicated that AC was the most time-consuming technique, whereas RFWI required the least amount of time. The moisture losses, contents of the thiobarbituric acid–reactive substance, total volatile basic nitrogen, and total viable counts of the meat subjected to AC were higher. Relatively less changes in water-holding capacity, coloration, oxidation, microstructure, protein solubility, and high sensorial acceptance were observed for RFWI and RFAC. This study demonstrated that the meat thawed using RFWI and RFAC was of satisfactory quality. Therefore, the RF techniques can be effective alternatives to the time-consuming conventional thawing methods and benefit the meat industry.

Interactions between fitness components across the life cycle constrain competitor coexistence

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Interactions between fitness components across the life cycle constrain competitor coexistence

Multiple mechanisms can act simultaneously across the life cycle to generate stabilizing effects among a set of ecologically similar species. Yet, the relative contribution of different mechanisms towards species coexistence remains largely unknown. The authors quantify how different mechanisms, combine across the life cycle to shape the potential for local species coexistence.


Abstract

Numerous mechanisms can promote competitor coexistence. Yet, these mechanisms are often considered in isolation from one another. Consequently, whether multiple mechanisms shaping coexistence combine to promote or constrain species coexistence remains an open question. Here, we aim to understand how multiple mechanisms interact within and between life stages to determine frequency-dependent population growth, which has a key role stabilizing local competitor coexistence. We conducted field experiments in three lakes manipulating relative frequencies of two Enallagma damselfly species to evaluate demographic contributions of three mechanisms affecting different fitness components across the life cycle: the effect of resource competition on individual growth rate, predation shaping mortality rates, and mating harassment determining fecundity. We then used a demographic model that incorporates carry-over effects between life stages to decompose the relative effect of each fitness component generating frequency-dependent population growth. This decomposition showed that fitness components combined to increase population growth rates for one species when rare, but they combined to decrease population growth rates for the other species when rare, leading to predicted exclusion in most lakes. Because interactions between fitness components within and between life stages vary among populations, these results show that local coexistence is population specific. Moreover, we show that multiple mechanisms do not necessarily increase competitor coexistence, as they can also combine to yield exclusion. Identifying coexistence mechanisms in other systems will require greater focus on determining contributions of different fitness components across the life cycle shaping competitor coexistence in a way that captures the potential for population-level variation.

Pyroptosis‐related gene signature elicits immune response in rosacea

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Pyroptosis-related gene signature elicits immune response in rosacea

Our results show a high activated pyroptosis signalling in rosacea and revealed pyroptosis mediated immune cell infiltrations contributing to the aggravations of rosacea.


Abstract

Rosacea is a complex chronic inflammatory skin disorder with high morbidity. Pyroptosis is known as a regulated inflammatory cell death. While its association with immune response to various inflammatory disorders is well established, little is known about its functional relevance of rosacea. So, we aimed to explore and enrich the pathogenesis involved in pyroptosis-related rosacea aggravations. In this study, we evaluated the pyroptosis-related patterns of rosacea by consensus clustering analysis of 45 ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs), with multiple immune cell infiltration analysis to identify the pyroptosis-mediated immune response in rosacea using GSE65914 dataset. The co–co-work between PRGs and WGCNA-revealed hub genes has established using PPI network. FRG signature was highlighted in rosacea using multi-transcriptomic and experiment analysis. Based on this, three distinct pyroptosis-related rosacea patterns (non/moderate/high) were identified, and the notably enriched pathways have revealed through GO, KEGG and GSEA analysis, especially immune-related pathways. Also, the XCell/MCPcount/ssGSEA/Cibersort underlined the immune-related signalling (NK cells, Monocyte, Neutrophil, Th2 cells, Macrophage), whose hub genes were identified through WGCNA (NOD2, MYD88, STAT1, HSPA4, CXCL8). Finally, we established a pyroptosis-immune co-work during the rosacea aggravations. FRGs may affect the progression of rosacea by regulating the immune cell infiltrations. In all, pyroptosis with its mediated immune cell infiltration is a critical factor during the development of rosacea.

Low water supply differentially affects the growth, yield and mineral profile of kabuli and desi chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)

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Low water supply differentially affects the growth, yield and mineral profile of kabuli and desi chickpeas (Cicer arietinum)

At low water supplies, kabuli showed higher shoot water content, while desi had higher root water content. Shoot length was higher in kabuli, while root length increased in both genotypes. The root/shoot ratio was higher in kabuli and increased with water stress, negatively affecting pod and seed production. Lipid peroxidation also increased with water stress in kabuli, having positive correlations with growth parameters but negative with productivity. Water supply did not affect seed mineral accumulation, but desi sustained higher levels of P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn and B than kabuli, including at lower water supplies.


Abstract

The climatic events predicted to increase in intensity and frequency in the near future, including drought, may influence the quality and productivity of several important crops for human nutrition, such as legumes. Herein, two chickpea genotypes (Cicer arietinum) were analysed for their resilience to low water supply: a commercial white chickpea (kabuli) and a traditional black chickpea (desi) with marginal production in occidental countries. Plants were grown under four levels of water supplies (90%, 75%, 50% and 25% of field capacity) and biometric variables (root, shoot, pods and seeds), proxies of plant fitness (water content and oxidative stress) and the seed nutritional profile (protein and mineral concentrations) were analysed at plant maturity. The results show that the water content in shoots and roots decreased with the decrease in water supplies, with kabuli plants generally having higher water content in shoots and desi in roots. The shoot length was significantly higher in kabuli compared to desi, while the root length increased up to 11% in both species with the decrease in water supplies. The root-to-shoot ratio was higher in kabuli and increased with the decrease in the water supply, being negatively correlated with the number of pods and seeds per plant. Lipid peroxidation also increased with the decrease in the water supply, having slight positive correlations with plant growth parameters while being negatively correlated with plant productivity. No significant effects of plant genotype and water supply were observed on seed K, Ca and protein, but desi was able to sustain higher P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn and B concentrations than kabuli, including at lower water supplies. The results suggest that water stress negatively impacts plant growth and productivity and that the two chickpea genotypes have distinct biomass and water allocation strategies to cope with low water supply. These findings may be useful in strategies for improving the productivity and nutritional profile of chickpea crops under water-limited conditions.

Precalving behavior in dairy cattle with different calving times

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Abstract

Predicting the calving time in dairy cattle can help in avoiding calving accidents and reducing burdens on animal caretakers. In this study, we analyzed the behavior of pregnant dairy cattle for 7 days prior to calving, to assess the feasibility of predicting the calving time. Eleven Holstein cows were divided into two groups based on their calving times, that is, in the morning (the Morning Parturition Group) or the evening (the Evening Parturition Group). Their behavior was recorded on video. An analysis was conducted of the daily occurrences of each type of behavior and the number of switches of behavior during the day and at night. A statistical analysis was conducted, using a two-way factorial analysis. The behavioral sequence was analyzed using an adjacency matrix. Hierarchical structure charts were created, using Interpretive Structural Modeling. The results suggest that feeding and exploratory behaviors are associated with the calving time period and thus can be useful when predicting that period. The hierarchical structure charts suggest that the Morning Parturition Group had no definite behavioral sequence pattern, unlike the Evening Parturition Group. The detection of an unstable behavioral sequence pattern might predict the calving time period.

Modification of dietary rumen degradable starch content by chemical processing of feed ingredients: A meta‐analysis

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Abstract

The efficiency of starch utilization in ruminant feed can be enhanced by reducing the degradation of starch in the rumen. Chemical processing of feed ingredients may modify such ruminal starch degradation. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical processing of ruminant feed ingredients on rumen degradable starch (RDS) and starch degradation kinetics in the rumen. A database was constructed from a total of 34 articles, consisted of 100 observations. The articles were searched and identified from the Scopus platform. Data were analyzed by using the fixed effect model. The types of chemical processing in this study included sodium hydroxide, ammonia, potassium aluminum, urea, formaldehyde, and organic acid. Results indicated that chemical processing significantly reduced the RDS content (p < 0.001) and the immediately soluble fraction (p < 0.001) and increased the value of slowly degradable fraction (p < 0.001) and starch absorption in the small intestine (p < 0.01). Formaldehyde was particularly effective to decrease the RDS (p < 0.05). The RDS contents in corn and wheat were reduced by the chemical processing (p < 0.05), but not with that of barley. It can be concluded that chemical processing is effective in reducing starch degradation of ruminant feeds and may enhance its utilization by ruminants.

Egg‐laying capacity of parent flock geese at different stocking densities

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Abstract

This article presents the results of studies aimed at establishing the optimal stocking density of purebred and hybrid geese of the parent flock, taking into account the indicators of their live weight and egg production. When conducting research, the stocking density of geese was established depending on the breed and shape. Different stocking densities of geese in groups were achieved due to their different numbers in groups: Kuban 1.2; 1.5; 1.8 birds/m2, large gray 0.9; 1.2; 1.5 birds/m2, hybrid bird 1.0; 1.3; 1.5 birds/m2. It was revealed on the basis of the analysis of the productive qualities of adult geese that the optimal planting density of the Kuban geese is 1.8 heads/m2, large sulfur = 0.9, hybrid = 1.3. The safety of geese at a given stocking density ensured an increase in the safety of geese of the Kuban breed by 95.3%, large gray = 94.0%, hybrid = 97.0%. The live weight of Kuban geese increased by 0.9%, large gray geese = 0.10, hybrids = 1.2, egg production by 0.6%, 2.2% and 0.5%, respectively.

The quality of beef in the conditions of the former Semipalatinsk Test Site

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Abstract

The territory of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site represents vast areas of grassy steppes, their use as pastures seems promising. The purpose of work was to compare beef samples obtained from settlements belonging to different categories of radiation risk: Kokpekty village, Chagan urban-type settlement, Krivinka village, Sarzhal village, three samples were examined from each settlement. Organoleptic analysis, radiometric determination of 137Cs, was used as criteria. Also, an analysis of the amino acid composition by the high-performance liquid chromatograph method was carried out and a calculation of protein indicators was made: meat tenderness, amino acid usefulness, nutrition value. The organoleptic examination showed the compliance of all samples with the standards, with the exception of one sample from the Sarzhal village. The study of the specific activity of 137Cs showed a direct correlation between the category of radiation risk and the content of this radioisotope in meat from different zones. The availability of some deviations in the samples indicators obtained from the Sarzhal village indicates the need to approach the products control from this zone more carefully, and radioisotope analysis should become a decisive criterion in determining the safety profile of the product.

mTORC2‐AKT‐LAT1 signalling participates in methionine‐induced β‐CASEIN expression in mammary epithelial cells of dairy cows

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Abstract

This study investigated the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2)-protein kinase B (AKT) signalling in methionine (Met)-induced L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) expression and milk protein production. Primary mammary epithelial cells (MECs) from mammary parenchymal tissues of three lactating cows and MAC-T bovine MECs were cultured with or without 0.6 mM Met. Rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR (RICTOR) siRNA, the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin and the AKT activator SC79 were used to evaluate the effects of mTORC2-AKT signalling on Met-induced LAT1 expression and function. Each experiment was performed three times. Data were analysed with a two-sided unpaired t test or ANOVA with the Bonferroni multiple-comparison test. Western blotting showed that Met stimulation increased RICTOR expression (~244.67%; p < 0.05; control, 0.15 ± 0.026; Met, 0.517 ± 0.109) and AKT-S473 levels (~281.42%; p < 0.01; control, 0.253 ± 0.067; Met, 0.965 ± 0.019) in both primary MECs and MAC-T cells. Rapamycin-induced mTORC1 signalling inhibition decreased only Met-induced β-CASEIN expression by ~21.24% (p < 0.01; Met, 0.777 ± 0.01; Met and rapamycin, 0.612 ± 0.04) and did not affect Met-stimulated AKT-S473 levels, suggesting that mTORC2-AKT activation upon Met stimulation also contributes to milk protein synthesis. LAT1 participates in Met-induced β-CASEIN expression. In dairy cow MECs, mTORC2 inhibition by RICTOR siRNA decreased LAT1 levels on the plasma membrane by ~45.13% (p < 0.01; control, 0.359 ± 0.006; siRICTOR, 0.197 ± 0.004). However, SC79-induced AKT activation had the opposite effect (p < 0.01). In primary MECs and MAC-T cells, Met stimulation increased cytosolic and plasma membrane LAT1 expression respectively (MECs, 113.98% and 58.43%; MAC-T, 165.85% and 396.39%; p < 0.05). However, RICTOR siRNA significantly reduced Met-induced plasma membrane LAT1 expression (~76.48%; Met, 0.539 ± 0.05; Met and siRICTOR, 0.127 ± 0.012; p < 0.05). Thus, Met increased LAT1 expression and function via mTORC2-AKT signalling, upregulating milk protein synthesis in dairy cow MECs.