The understanding of migrant workers'motivation for training is of significant importance to promote the vocational training effectiveness.The survey study of 626 migrant workers in Guangdong province identified t...The understanding of migrant workers'motivation for training is of significant importance to promote the vocational training effectiveness.The survey study of 626 migrant workers in Guangdong province identified that occupational development motivation is the most intensive,followed by the social environment and job responsibility while cognitive interest and interrelationship are among the least.Therefore,the authors suggest that appropriate guidance should be conducted to facilitate migrant workers'motivation in vocational training participation,and vocational training design and management should be delivered on the basis of motivation features.展开更多
Background Comprehending the patterns of alteration in boar semen quality and identifying effective nutritional interventions are crucial for enhancing the productivity of commercial pig systems.This study aimed to ex...Background Comprehending the patterns of alteration in boar semen quality and identifying effective nutritional interventions are crucial for enhancing the productivity of commercial pig systems.This study aimed to examine the alteration in semen quality in boars,and assess the impact of protocatechuic acid(PCA)on semen quality during the phase of declining semen quality.Methods In Exp.1,a total of 38 Pig Improvement Company(PIC)boars were selected and their semen quality data were recorded from the age of 9 to 37 months.In Exp.2,18 PIC boars(28 months old)were randomly assigned into three groups(n=6)and fed a basal diet,a basal diet containing 500 or 1,000 mg/kg PCA,respectively.The experiment lasted for 12 weeks.Results The semen volume,concentration,and total number of spermatozoa in boars exhibited an increase from 9 to 19 months old and showed a significant linear decreased trend in 28,24,and 22 months old.Sperm motility displayed an upward trajectory,reaching its peak at 20 months of age,and showed a significant linear decreased trend at 20 months old.Dietary supplementation of PCA demonstrated an effect to mitigate the decrease in semen volume,concentration of spermatozoa,total number of spermatozoa(P>0.05),and significantly increased the sperm motility(P<0.05).Moreover,supplementation of 1,000 mg/kg PCA significantly increased the sperm viability(P<0.05).Analysis on cellular signaling pathways revealed that PCA restored serum testosterone levels and alleviated oxidative damage by upregulating the expression of HO-1,SOD2,and NQO1 in testicular stromal cells.Notably,PCA can enhance phosphorylation by selectively binding to AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)protein,thereby improving sperm mitochondrial function and augmenting sperm motility via PGC-1/Nrf1.Conclusions These data elucidated the pattern of semen quality variation in boars within the age range of 9 to 37 months old,and PCA has the potential to be a natural antioxidant to enhance sperm quality through modulation of the AMPK/PGC-1/Nrf1 signaling pathway.展开更多
The Internet of Vehicles(Io V)has great potential for Intelligent Transportation Systems(ITS),enabling interactive vehicle applications,such as advanced driving and infotainment.It is crucial to ensure the reliability...The Internet of Vehicles(Io V)has great potential for Intelligent Transportation Systems(ITS),enabling interactive vehicle applications,such as advanced driving and infotainment.It is crucial to ensure the reliability during the vehicle-to-vehicle interaction process.Although the emerging blockchain has superiority in handling security-related issues,existing blockchain-based schemes show weakness in highly dynamic Io V.Both the transaction broadcast and consensus process require multiple rounds of communication throughout the whole network,while the high relative speed between vehicles and dynamic topology resulting in the intermittent connections will degrade the efficiency of blockchain.In this paper,we propose a Digital Twin(DT)-enabled blockchain framework for dynamic Io V,which aims to reduce both the communication cost and the operational latency of blockchain.To address the dynamic context,we propose a DT construction strategy that jointly considers the DT migration and blockchain computing consumption.Moreover,a communication-efficient Local Perceptual Multi-Agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(LPMA-DDPG)algorithm is designed to execute the DT construction strategy among edge servers in a decentralized manner.The simulation results show that the proposed framework can greatly reduce the communication cost,while achieving good security performance.The dynamic DT construction strategy shows superiority in operation latency compared with benchmark strategies.The decentralized LPMA-DDPG algorithm is helpful for implementing the optimal DT construction strategy in practical ITS.展开更多
Road obstacles that unexpectedly appear due to vehicle breakdowns and accidents are major causes of fatal road accidents.Connected Autonomous Vehicles(CAVs)can be used to avoid collisions to ensure road safety through...Road obstacles that unexpectedly appear due to vehicle breakdowns and accidents are major causes of fatal road accidents.Connected Autonomous Vehicles(CAVs)can be used to avoid collisions to ensure road safety through cooperative sensing and driving.However,the collision avoidance performance of CAVs with unexpected obstacles has not been studied in the existing works.In this paper,we first design a platoon-based collision avoidance framework for CAVs.In this framework,we deploy a Digital Twin(DT)system at the head vehicle in a platoon to reduce communication overhead and decision-making delay based on a proposed trajectory planning scheme.In addition,a DT-assistant system is deployed on the assistant vehicle to monitor vehicles out of the sensing range of the head vehicle for the maintenance of the DT system.In this case,the transmission frequency of kinetic states of platoon members can be reduced to ensure low-overhead communication.Moreover,we design a variable resource reservation interval that can ensure DT synchronization between DT and the assistant system with high reliability.To further improve road safety,an urgency level-based trajectory planning algorithm is proposed to avoid unexpected obstacles considering different levels of emergency risks.Simulation results show that our DT system-based scheme can achieve significant performance gains in unexpected obstacle avoidance.Compared to the existing schemes,it can reduce collisions by 95%and is faster by about 10%passing by the unexpected obstacle.展开更多
Background: Weaning is one of the major factors that cause stress and intestinal disease in piglets. Protocatechuic acid(PCA) is an active plant phenolic acid which exists in Chinese herb, Duzhong(Eucommia ulmoides Ol...Background: Weaning is one of the major factors that cause stress and intestinal disease in piglets. Protocatechuic acid(PCA) is an active plant phenolic acid which exists in Chinese herb, Duzhong(Eucommia ulmoides Oliver), and is also considered as the main bioactive metabolite of polyphenol against oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PCA on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and gut microbiota in a weaned piglet model challenged with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).Methods: Thirty-six piglets(Pig Improvement Company line 337 × C48, 28 d of age, 8.87 kg ± 0.11 kg BW) were randomly allocated into 3 treatments and fed with a basal diet(CTL), a diet added 50 mg/kg of aureomycin(AUR), or a diet supplemented with 4000 mg/kg of PCA, respectively. The piglets were challenged with LPS(10 μg/kg BW) on d 14 and d 21 by intraperitoneal injection during the 21-d experiment. Animals(n = 6 from each group) were sacrificed after being anesthetized by sodium pentobarbital at 2 h after the last injection of LPS. The serum was collected for antioxidant indices and inflammatory cytokines analysis, the ileum was harvested for detecting mRNA and protein levels of tight junction proteins by PCR and immunohistochemical staining, and the cecum chyme was collected for intestinal flora analysis using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing.Results: Dietary supplementation of PCA or AUR significantly increased the expression of tight junction proteins including ZO-1 and claudin-1 in intestinal mucosa, and decreased the serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) and IL-6, as compared with CTL group. In addition, PCA also decreased the serum levels of IL-2 and TNF-α(P < 0.05). Analysis of gut microbiota indicated that PCA increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio(P < 0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis at the genus level revealed that PCA reduced the relative abundance of Prevotella 9, Prevotella 2, Holdemanella, and Ruminococcus torques group(P < 0.05), and increased the relative abundance of Roseburia and Desulfovibrio(P < 0.05), whereas AUR had no significant effect on these bacteria.Conclusions: These results demonstrated that both PCA and AUR had protective effect on oxidative stress, inflammation and intestinal barrier function in piglets challenged with LPS, and PCA potentially exerted the protective function by modulating intestinal flora in a way different from AUR.展开更多
Drug delivery systems(DDSs)involved with nano/microparticles enjoy a superior advantage in accurately delivering drugs to the desired sites for higher therapeutic efficacies and lower side ef-fects.Unfortunately,the c...Drug delivery systems(DDSs)involved with nano/microparticles enjoy a superior advantage in accurately delivering drugs to the desired sites for higher therapeutic efficacies and lower side ef-fects.Unfortunately,the conventional nano/microparticle-based DDSs,even with passive and active targeting properties,show a total targeting efficiency of less than 1%,attributed to the complicated microenvironment in vivo1.Therefore,it is urgent to delicately design the DDSs by using the factors that influence the fate of DDSs in vivo.展开更多
Ruminant production, especially in the tropics and developing countries suffers a setback when compared with the temperate and developed countries, which is attributable to the kinds of available feed resources in the...Ruminant production, especially in the tropics and developing countries suffers a setback when compared with the temperate and developed countries, which is attributable to the kinds of available feed resources in the region of production. In the tropics, ruminants are restricted to grazing on low-quality forages, crop residues and agro-industrial by-products with very little or no concentrate diets, which adversely affect the animals in exhibiting their full production potential. Considering this fact, there is an increasing interest in improving the digestibility of these feed resources. In recent years, researchers have explored several methods to enhance the functions of rumen microflora, improve digestion and fermentation processes, as well as increase bioavailability and utilization of nutrients through feed supplementation. This review aims to explore the positive effects of supplementation of ruminant diets with probiotics or botanical extracts and their metabolites on the productivity of the animals. Moreover, the functions of these non-pathogenic and non-toxic live microorganisms(probiotics) and plant biologically active compounds(botanical extract)are explored because of the ban on non-therapeutic use of antibiotics as growth promoters coupled with the critical preference of consumers to high quality and safe animal products. It has been reported that these alternative supplemental products have a beneficial impact on both animal health and productivity, which is affecting stabilization of rumen environment, inhibition of pathogenic bacteria proliferation in gastrointestinal tract, modulation of immune response, increase in fibre degradation and fermentation, nutrients availability and utilization, animal growth performance and milk production, among others. However,long-term in vivo studies are still required to determine the synergetic effects of these 2 safe supplemental products.展开更多
Magnolol rich in Magnolia officinalis is a bioactive polyphenolic compound. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of magnolol additive(MA) on growth performance, expression levels of antioxidantrelated gene...Magnolol rich in Magnolia officinalis is a bioactive polyphenolic compound. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of magnolol additive(MA) on growth performance, expression levels of antioxidantrelated genes, and intestinal mucosal morphology of Linwu ducks aged from 49 to 70 days, comparing with that of an antibiotic additive(colistin sulfate [CS]). A total of 275,49-day-old ducks were assigned to5 groups with 5 cages of 11 ducks each and fed diets supplemented with 0,100, 200 and 300 mg of MA/kg and 300 mg of CS/kg for 3 weeks, respectively. The results showed that the average daily body weight gain(ADG) was increased significantly in MA-fed groups(200 and 300 mg/kg), compared with the basal diet(BD) group(P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of superoxide dismutase-1(SOD1), manganese superoxide dismutase-2(MnSOD2) and catalase(CAT) were also increased significantly in MA groups(P < 0.05). In addition, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that Linwu ducks fed the diets with MA had more intact intestinal mucosa than those fed the BD and CS diets. In addition, ileal villus height, ileal villus height/crypt depth ratio(V/C) and duodenal V/C were also improved significantly(P < 0.05). Taken together, these data demonstrated that MA is an effective feed additive to enhance the growth performance of the Linwu ducks by improving the antioxidant and intestinal mucosal status, suggesting that MA will be a potential additive to replace antibiotic(CS).展开更多
Nanoparticle-based therapeutics represent potential strategies for treating atherosclerosis;however,the complex plaque microenvironment poses a barrier for nanoparticles to target the dysfunctional cells.Here,we repor...Nanoparticle-based therapeutics represent potential strategies for treating atherosclerosis;however,the complex plaque microenvironment poses a barrier for nanoparticles to target the dysfunctional cells.Here,we report reactive oxygen species(ROS)-responsive and size-reducible nanoassemblies,formed by multivalent host-vip interactions betweenβ-cyclodextrins(β-CD)-anchored discoidal recombinant high-density lipoprotein(NP^(3)_(ST))and hyaluronic acid-ferrocene(HA-Fc)conjugates.The HA-Fc/NP^(3)_(ST)nanoassemblies have extended blood circulation time,specifically accumulate in atherosclerotic plaque mediated by the HA receptors CD44 highly expressed in injured endothelium,rapidly disassemble in response to excess ROS in the intimal and release smaller NP^(3)_(ST),allowing for further plaque penetration,macrophage-targeted cholesterol efflux and drug delivery.In vivo pharmacodynamicses in atherosclerotic mice shows that HA-Fc/NP^(3)_(ST)reduces plaque size by 53%,plaque lipid deposition by 63%,plaque macrophage content by 62%and local inflammatory factor level by 64%compared to the saline group.Meanwhile,HA-Fc/NP^(3)_(ST)alleviates systemic inflammation characterized by reduced serum inflammatory factor levels.Collectively,HA-Fc/NP^(3)_(ST)nanoassemblies with ROS-responsive and size-reducible properties exhibit a deeper penetration in atherosclerotic plaque and enhanced macrophage targeting ability,thus exerting effective cholesterol efflux and drug delivery for atherosclerosis therapy.展开更多
The present trial was performed to reveal the regulatory effects of L-theanine on the levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)endotoxin within different biofluids,as well as relevant inflammatory responses of dairy cattle un...The present trial was performed to reveal the regulatory effects of L-theanine on the levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)endotoxin within different biofluids,as well as relevant inflammatory responses of dairy cattle under heat stress conditions.Thirty lactating Chinese Holstein dairy cattle(189±47 d in milk,and 2±1 parities)were allocated in a completely randomized design to each of 3 dietary treatments:the control(CON,0 g/d per cow L-theanine),the low L-theanine dosage treatment(LL,16 g/d per cow L-theanine),and the high L-theanine dosage treatment(HL,32 g/d per cow L-theanine).This trial consisted of 38 d(7 d for adaption and 31 d for data and sample collection),and sample collection for rumen liquid,blood plasma or serum,and milk were conducted on the d 27 and 38,respectively.Dairy cattle were constantly exposed to environmental heat stress during this experiment according to the recorded temperature-humidity index(THI).In the LL treatment,LPS concentration in rumen liquid was higher(P<0.05),whilst LPS densities in plasma and milk were lower(P<0.05)than those of the CON.Supplementing L-theanine at 2 dosages both significantly lowered(P<0.05)the level of interleukin(IL)-1βin the serum.Results of the present study suggested that L-theanine could be a promising additive in reducing the detrimental effects of heat stress on dairy cows,and L-theanine supplementation at 16 g/d per cow is preferred because it reduced the LPS translocation into the peripheral blood and LPS accumulation in the milk,as well as mitigated LPS-induced inflammatory reactions in dairy cows during heat stress.Further studies are necessitated to investigate the underlying mechanisms of L-theanine in LPS alteration and inflammation alleviation.展开更多
This study evaluated the effects of flavonoids from mulberry leaves(FML)on plasma biochemical indices,serum activities of lipid metabolism-related enzymes,fat morphology,fatty acid composition,and lipid metabolism in ...This study evaluated the effects of flavonoids from mulberry leaves(FML)on plasma biochemical indices,serum activities of lipid metabolism-related enzymes,fat morphology,fatty acid composition,and lipid metabolism in different adipose tissues of finishing pigs.We used 120 Chinese hybrid barrows of Berkshire and Bama mini-pigs with an average initial body weight of 45.11±4.23 kg.The pigs were randomly assigned to five treatment groups and fed a control diet based on corn,soybean meal,and wheat bran or a control diet supplemented with 0.02%,0.04%,0.08%,or 0.16%FML.Each experimental group had six replicates(pens),with four pigs per pen.After a 7-d adaptation period,the feeding trial was conducted for 58 d.Blood and adipose tissue samples were collected from 30 pigs(one pig per pen)at the end of the test.The results showed that FML supplementation significantly decreased the feed intake to body gain ratio,the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and free fatty acids,and the serum activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase(linear or quadratic effects,P<0.05),and decreased the plasma triglyceride concentration(quadratic,P=0.07).Increasing FML supplementation increased the average daily gain and serum activities of lipoprotein lipase(linear and quadratic effects,P<0.05)and adipose triglyceride lipase(linear,P<0.05).Dietary FML supplementation decreased the adipocyte area in the dorsal subcutaneous adipose(DSA)tissue of finishing pigs(linear,P=0.05)and increased the adipocyte area in the visceral adipose tissue(quadratic,P<0.01).Increasing FML supplementation decreased the C20:1 content in DSA,abdominal subcutaneous adipose,and visceral adipose tissues of finishing pigs(P<0.05)and increased the C18:3n3 and n-3 PUFA contents(P<0.05).The lipid metabolism genes were regulated by the PPARγ-LXRa-ABCA1 signaling pathway,and their expressions differed in different adipose tissues.These findings suggest that FML improved growth performance,regulated lipid metabolism,inhibited fat production,and improved fatty acid distribution in the adipose tissue of finishing pigs,thereby improving pig fat's nutritional quality and health value.展开更多
This study evaluated the potential of mulberry leaf powder as an unconventional feed material for fin-ishing pigs by assessing the growth performance,antioxidative properties,fatty acid profile,and lipid metabolism in...This study evaluated the potential of mulberry leaf powder as an unconventional feed material for fin-ishing pigs by assessing the growth performance,antioxidative properties,fatty acid profile,and lipid metabolism in 180 Xiangcun black pigs.Pigs with an initial body weight(BW)of 71.64±1.46 kg were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups,including the control diet and 4 experimental diets.The corn,soybean meal,and wheat bran in the control diet were partly replaced by 3%,6%,9%,or 12%mulberry leaf powder in experimental diets.There were 6 replicates(pens)of 6 pigs per replicate in each treatment.Blood and muscle samples were collected after the 50-day feed experiment.Compared with the control group,the 3%,6%,and 9%mulberry diets had no adverse effect(P>0.05)on the growth performance of pigs.The serum glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione concentration increased linearly(P<0.05)with the increase in dietary mulberry inclusion.There was no significant difference in the relative expression levels of antioxidant-related genes in muscle tissue between the control and mul-berry groups.Inclusion of dietary mulberry powder increased(P<0.05)the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids,especially in the longissimus dorsi(LD)muscle,up-regulated(P<0.05)the relative mRNA expression level of uncoupling protein-3 in muscle tissue,but down-regulated(P<0.05)the relative mRNA expression levels of hormone-sensitive lipase,acetyl CoA carboxylaseα,lipoprotein lipase,and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y in LD in a linear pattern.The nuclear respiratory factor 2 expression level in the LD muscle of pigs fed the 9%mulberry diet was higher(P<0.01)than that in the other mulberry groups and control group.The inclusion of less than 12%dietary mulberry did not detrimentally affect the growth performance of Xiangcun black pigs,but enhanced the serum antioxidant property,increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid content,and inhibited lipid oxidation by regulating gene expression levels of lipid metabolism and mitochondrial uncoupling protein in muscle tissue.Mulberry leaves can be utilized as a forage crop in the diet of finishing pigs.展开更多
Blue honeysuckle is rich in polyphenols, and recently receiving attention because of its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic ...Blue honeysuckle is rich in polyphenols, and recently receiving attention because of its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease that develops hepatic inflammation and metabolic syndrome. The present study aims to study the effect of blue honeysuckle extract(BHE) on fat deposition and hepatic lipid peroxidation in a high-fat-diet(HFD)-induced mouse model. Mice were fed a normal diet(ND) or a HFD containing 0.5% or 1% of BHE or not for 45 d. Liver sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin staining.Serum lipids were measured by a clinical analyzer. Insulin was examined by ELISA, and hepatic proteins were detected by Western blotting. Dietary supplementation of BHE dose-dependently suppressed HFD-induced obesity and hepatic fat deposition. Moreover, BHE improved glucose metabolism by increasing insulin sensitivity and attenuated oxidative stress potentially by up-regulating nuclear factor(erythroid-derived 2)-like 2(Nrf2)-mediated pathway.展开更多
Ferulic acid(FA)and vanillic acid(VA)are considered as major phenolic metabolites of cyanidin 3-glucoside,a polyphenol that widely exists in plants that possess a protective effect against oxidative stress and inflamm...Ferulic acid(FA)and vanillic acid(VA)are considered as major phenolic metabolites of cyanidin 3-glucoside,a polyphenol that widely exists in plants that possess a protective effect against oxidative stress and inflammation in our previous study.This study aimed to investigate the effect of FA and VA on inflammation,gut barrier function,and growth performance in a weaned piglet model challenged with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).Thirty-six piglets(PIC 337×C48,28 d of age)were randomly allocated into 3 treatments with 6 replicate pens(2 piglets per pen).They were fed with a basal diet or a diet containing 4,000 mg/kg of FA or VA.Dietary supplementation of VA significantly increased average daily gain(ADG)(P<0.05).Both FA and VA decreased serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS),interlukin(IL)-1β,IL-2,IL-6,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α(P<0.05),and enhanced the expression of tight junction protein oclaudin(P<0.05).Analysis of gut microbiota indicated that both FA and VA increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio alongside reducing the relative abundance of the Prevotellaceae family including Prevotella 9 and Prevotella 2 genera,but enriched the Lachoiraceaea family including the Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group(P<0.05).Moreover,VA reduced the relative abundance of Prevotella 7 and Prevotella 1 but enriched Lachnospira,Eubacterium eligens group,and Eubacterium xylanophilum group(P<0.05),while FA showed a limited effect on these genera.The results demonstrated that both VA and FA could alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress,but only VA has a significant positive effect on the growth performance of LPS-challenged piglets potentially through modulating gut microbiota.展开更多
Rosemary extracts have been widely used as feed additives in recent years.This study aimed to investigate the effects of rosmarinic acid(RA)and ursolic acid(UA),the main active components of rosemary,on growth perform...Rosemary extracts have been widely used as feed additives in recent years.This study aimed to investigate the effects of rosmarinic acid(RA)and ursolic acid(UA),the main active components of rosemary,on growth performance,meat quality and lipid metabolism in finishing pigs.A total of 72 finishing pigs(Landrace;initial age of 150 d)were randomly divided into 3 treatments with 8 replicates of 3 pigs each,and fed a basal diet or diet containing 500 mg/kg of RA or UA.The results showed that dietary supplementation of RA or UA had no significant effect on the growth performance and carcass traits of finishing pigs(P>0.05).However,both RA and UA significantly increased the triglyceride(TG)level in soleus muscle(P<0.001).Supplementation of RA increased the expression of genes related to lipogenesis and transport including fatty acid synthase(FAS)(P<0.001),sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c(SREBP1c)(P<0.001)and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ)(P<0.05),while UA increased the expression of fatty acid transport protein 1(FATP1),a gene related to lipid uptake(P<0.05).However,RA reduced the expression of adipogenesis-related gene acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase a(ACCa)(P<0.01).Characterization of cecal microbiota indicated that RA increased the microbial richness(chao 1,P<0.001)and diversity(observed species,P<0.01).Further analysis of the genera revealed that RA increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides and g-UCG-005(P<0.05),and UA enriched Prevotella(P<0.001).Correlation analysis showed that g-UCG-005 was positively correlated with the expression of FAS,carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1B(CPT1B),SREBP1c and PPARγ(P<0.01).In conclusion,dietary supplementation of RA or UA may increase fat deposition in muscle of finishing pigs by regulating lipid metabolism and gut microbiota.展开更多
The objective of the study was to determine the role of vitamin D3(VD3) in regulating adaptation and mechanism of rats to low-phosphorus(P) diets. Rats were assigned to 4 diets containing 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%,or 0.8% P co...The objective of the study was to determine the role of vitamin D3(VD3) in regulating adaptation and mechanism of rats to low-phosphorus(P) diets. Rats were assigned to 4 diets containing 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%,or 0.8% P consisting of 5 replicate cages with 6 rats per replicate cage and fed for 7 days. Four rats from each replicate cage were treated with ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonicacid, tetrasodium salt(EHDP)and 2 rats remained untreated. Twelve hours prior to preparation on d 7, two of the EHDP-treated rats received an intraperitoneal injection of VD3 [1,25-(OH)_2 D_3] at 600 ng per kg body weight, while two rats did not receive the injection. Rats that did not receive VD_3 injection had decreased(P < 0.001) P absorption, but injection of VD3 resulted in increased(P < 0.001) absorption. The effect of VD3 injection was greater(P < 0.001) for rats fed 0.2% P diet than rats fed 0.8% P diet in ileum. Sodium dependent phosphate cotransporter type IIb(Na/Pi-IIb) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1-α hydroxylase(CYP27 B1) mRNA level showed the same trend with P absorption. Serum concentration of VD3 and la-hydroxylase activity in rats fed 0.2% P diet were lower than those fed 0.8% P diet. The injection of VD3 increased(P < 0.001)serum concentration of VD3 and la-hydroxylase activity. Thus, VD3 increased Na/Pi-Ⅱb and CYP27 B1 mRNA level and improved serum concentration of VD3 and la-hydroxylase activity in rats fed low-P diets.展开更多
In our Lett er, we selec ted several commercial optical t ransceivers, which consist of single-channel transceiver modules, parallel transmitting and receiving modules, and Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) opti...In our Lett er, we selec ted several commercial optical t ransceivers, which consist of single-channel transceiver modules, parallel transmitting and receiving modules, and Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) optical linet erminal (OLT) and optical net work unit (ONU) modules, to do the total ionizing dose (TID) testing via the gamma-ray radiation method. The changing of current and receiver sensitivity of optical transceivers is discussed and analyzed. Based on the TID testing exposed to a TID of 50 krad (Si) at a dose rate of about 0.1 rad (Si)/s, the performance of single-channel transceivers and parallel receiving modules has not changed after 50 krad (Si) exposure, the parallel transmitting and EPON ONU modules have not worked after 40 krad (Si) and 47 krad (Si) exposure, the EPON OLT module has bit error in the process of irradiation, and it can work well after annealing;the reason for the error of OLT is analyzed. Finally, based on the theoretical analysis and testing results, this Letter provides several design suggestions to improve the reliability for optical transceivers, which can be referenced by satellite system designation for various space missions.展开更多
The recent decade has witnessed an upsurge in the demands of intelligent and simplified Internet of Things(IoT)networks that provide ultra-low-power communication for numerous miniaturized devices.Although the researc...The recent decade has witnessed an upsurge in the demands of intelligent and simplified Internet of Things(IoT)networks that provide ultra-low-power communication for numerous miniaturized devices.Although the research community has paid great attention to wireless protocol designs for these networks,researchers are handicapped by the lack of an energy-efficient software-defined radio(SDR)platform for fast implementation and experimental evaluation.Current SDRs perform well in battery-equipped systems,but fail to support miniaturized IoT devices with stringent hardware and power constraints.This paper takes the first step toward designing an ultra-low-power SDR that satisfies the ultra-low-power or even battery-free requirements of intelligent and simplified IoT networks.To achieve this goal,the core technique is the effective integration ofµW-level backscatter in our SDR to sidestep power-hungry active radio frequency chains.We carefully develop a novel circuit design for efficient energy harvesting and power control,and devise a competent solution for eliminating the harmonic and mirror frequencies caused by backscatter hardware.We evaluate the proposed SDR using different modulation schemes,and it achieves a high data rate of 100 kb/s with power consumption less than 200µW in the active mode and as low as 10µW in the sleep mode.We also conduct a case study of railway inspection using our platform,achieving 1 kb/s battery-free data delivery to the monitoring unmanned aerial vehicle at a distance of 50 m in a real-world environment,and provide two case studies on smart factories and logistic distribution to explore the application of our platform.展开更多
文摘The understanding of migrant workers'motivation for training is of significant importance to promote the vocational training effectiveness.The survey study of 626 migrant workers in Guangdong province identified that occupational development motivation is the most intensive,followed by the social environment and job responsibility while cognitive interest and interrelationship are among the least.Therefore,the authors suggest that appropriate guidance should be conducted to facilitate migrant workers'motivation in vocational training participation,and vocational training design and management should be delivered on the basis of motivation features.
基金partially supported by the funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32102578&U22A20515)National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFD1302300&2023YFD1301204)。
文摘Background Comprehending the patterns of alteration in boar semen quality and identifying effective nutritional interventions are crucial for enhancing the productivity of commercial pig systems.This study aimed to examine the alteration in semen quality in boars,and assess the impact of protocatechuic acid(PCA)on semen quality during the phase of declining semen quality.Methods In Exp.1,a total of 38 Pig Improvement Company(PIC)boars were selected and their semen quality data were recorded from the age of 9 to 37 months.In Exp.2,18 PIC boars(28 months old)were randomly assigned into three groups(n=6)and fed a basal diet,a basal diet containing 500 or 1,000 mg/kg PCA,respectively.The experiment lasted for 12 weeks.Results The semen volume,concentration,and total number of spermatozoa in boars exhibited an increase from 9 to 19 months old and showed a significant linear decreased trend in 28,24,and 22 months old.Sperm motility displayed an upward trajectory,reaching its peak at 20 months of age,and showed a significant linear decreased trend at 20 months old.Dietary supplementation of PCA demonstrated an effect to mitigate the decrease in semen volume,concentration of spermatozoa,total number of spermatozoa(P>0.05),and significantly increased the sperm motility(P<0.05).Moreover,supplementation of 1,000 mg/kg PCA significantly increased the sperm viability(P<0.05).Analysis on cellular signaling pathways revealed that PCA restored serum testosterone levels and alleviated oxidative damage by upregulating the expression of HO-1,SOD2,and NQO1 in testicular stromal cells.Notably,PCA can enhance phosphorylation by selectively binding to AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)protein,thereby improving sperm mitochondrial function and augmenting sperm motility via PGC-1/Nrf1.Conclusions These data elucidated the pattern of semen quality variation in boars within the age range of 9 to 37 months old,and PCA has the potential to be a natural antioxidant to enhance sperm quality through modulation of the AMPK/PGC-1/Nrf1 signaling pathway.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62171104the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant 2018YFE0117500+1 种基金the Key Lab of Information Network Security under Grant C19603in part by the EU H2020 Project COSAFE(MSCA-RISE-2018-824019)。
文摘The Internet of Vehicles(Io V)has great potential for Intelligent Transportation Systems(ITS),enabling interactive vehicle applications,such as advanced driving and infotainment.It is crucial to ensure the reliability during the vehicle-to-vehicle interaction process.Although the emerging blockchain has superiority in handling security-related issues,existing blockchain-based schemes show weakness in highly dynamic Io V.Both the transaction broadcast and consensus process require multiple rounds of communication throughout the whole network,while the high relative speed between vehicles and dynamic topology resulting in the intermittent connections will degrade the efficiency of blockchain.In this paper,we propose a Digital Twin(DT)-enabled blockchain framework for dynamic Io V,which aims to reduce both the communication cost and the operational latency of blockchain.To address the dynamic context,we propose a DT construction strategy that jointly considers the DT migration and blockchain computing consumption.Moreover,a communication-efficient Local Perceptual Multi-Agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(LPMA-DDPG)algorithm is designed to execute the DT construction strategy among edge servers in a decentralized manner.The simulation results show that the proposed framework can greatly reduce the communication cost,while achieving good security performance.The dynamic DT construction strategy shows superiority in operation latency compared with benchmark strategies.The decentralized LPMA-DDPG algorithm is helpful for implementing the optimal DT construction strategy in practical ITS.
基金partly supported by National Key R&D Program of China(No.2018YFE0117500)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.62171104)+2 种基金EU Horizon2020(824019),EU Horizon2020(101022280)Horizon Europe(101086228)the UK EPSRC(EP/Y027787/1)。
文摘Road obstacles that unexpectedly appear due to vehicle breakdowns and accidents are major causes of fatal road accidents.Connected Autonomous Vehicles(CAVs)can be used to avoid collisions to ensure road safety through cooperative sensing and driving.However,the collision avoidance performance of CAVs with unexpected obstacles has not been studied in the existing works.In this paper,we first design a platoon-based collision avoidance framework for CAVs.In this framework,we deploy a Digital Twin(DT)system at the head vehicle in a platoon to reduce communication overhead and decision-making delay based on a proposed trajectory planning scheme.In addition,a DT-assistant system is deployed on the assistant vehicle to monitor vehicles out of the sensing range of the head vehicle for the maintenance of the DT system.In this case,the transmission frequency of kinetic states of platoon members can be reduced to ensure low-overhead communication.Moreover,we design a variable resource reservation interval that can ensure DT synchronization between DT and the assistant system with high reliability.To further improve road safety,an urgency level-based trajectory planning algorithm is proposed to avoid unexpected obstacles considering different levels of emergency risks.Simulation results show that our DT system-based scheme can achieve significant performance gains in unexpected obstacle avoidance.Compared to the existing schemes,it can reduce collisions by 95%and is faster by about 10%passing by the unexpected obstacle.
基金partially supported by the funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31772819, 31741115)Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (2019JJ30012)Double-First-Class Construction Project of Hunan Province (kxk201801004)。
文摘Background: Weaning is one of the major factors that cause stress and intestinal disease in piglets. Protocatechuic acid(PCA) is an active plant phenolic acid which exists in Chinese herb, Duzhong(Eucommia ulmoides Oliver), and is also considered as the main bioactive metabolite of polyphenol against oxidative stress and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PCA on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and gut microbiota in a weaned piglet model challenged with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).Methods: Thirty-six piglets(Pig Improvement Company line 337 × C48, 28 d of age, 8.87 kg ± 0.11 kg BW) were randomly allocated into 3 treatments and fed with a basal diet(CTL), a diet added 50 mg/kg of aureomycin(AUR), or a diet supplemented with 4000 mg/kg of PCA, respectively. The piglets were challenged with LPS(10 μg/kg BW) on d 14 and d 21 by intraperitoneal injection during the 21-d experiment. Animals(n = 6 from each group) were sacrificed after being anesthetized by sodium pentobarbital at 2 h after the last injection of LPS. The serum was collected for antioxidant indices and inflammatory cytokines analysis, the ileum was harvested for detecting mRNA and protein levels of tight junction proteins by PCR and immunohistochemical staining, and the cecum chyme was collected for intestinal flora analysis using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing.Results: Dietary supplementation of PCA or AUR significantly increased the expression of tight junction proteins including ZO-1 and claudin-1 in intestinal mucosa, and decreased the serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) and IL-6, as compared with CTL group. In addition, PCA also decreased the serum levels of IL-2 and TNF-α(P < 0.05). Analysis of gut microbiota indicated that PCA increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio(P < 0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis at the genus level revealed that PCA reduced the relative abundance of Prevotella 9, Prevotella 2, Holdemanella, and Ruminococcus torques group(P < 0.05), and increased the relative abundance of Roseburia and Desulfovibrio(P < 0.05), whereas AUR had no significant effect on these bacteria.Conclusions: These results demonstrated that both PCA and AUR had protective effect on oxidative stress, inflammation and intestinal barrier function in piglets challenged with LPS, and PCA potentially exerted the protective function by modulating intestinal flora in a way different from AUR.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82073782 and 82241002)the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee(No.19430741500,China)the Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine Preparation of Ministry of Education of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(zdsys-202103,China).
文摘Drug delivery systems(DDSs)involved with nano/microparticles enjoy a superior advantage in accurately delivering drugs to the desired sites for higher therapeutic efficacies and lower side ef-fects.Unfortunately,the conventional nano/microparticle-based DDSs,even with passive and active targeting properties,show a total targeting efficiency of less than 1%,attributed to the complicated microenvironment in vivo1.Therefore,it is urgent to delicately design the DDSs by using the factors that influence the fate of DDSs in vivo.
文摘Ruminant production, especially in the tropics and developing countries suffers a setback when compared with the temperate and developed countries, which is attributable to the kinds of available feed resources in the region of production. In the tropics, ruminants are restricted to grazing on low-quality forages, crop residues and agro-industrial by-products with very little or no concentrate diets, which adversely affect the animals in exhibiting their full production potential. Considering this fact, there is an increasing interest in improving the digestibility of these feed resources. In recent years, researchers have explored several methods to enhance the functions of rumen microflora, improve digestion and fermentation processes, as well as increase bioavailability and utilization of nutrients through feed supplementation. This review aims to explore the positive effects of supplementation of ruminant diets with probiotics or botanical extracts and their metabolites on the productivity of the animals. Moreover, the functions of these non-pathogenic and non-toxic live microorganisms(probiotics) and plant biologically active compounds(botanical extract)are explored because of the ban on non-therapeutic use of antibiotics as growth promoters coupled with the critical preference of consumers to high quality and safe animal products. It has been reported that these alternative supplemental products have a beneficial impact on both animal health and productivity, which is affecting stabilization of rumen environment, inhibition of pathogenic bacteria proliferation in gastrointestinal tract, modulation of immune response, increase in fibre degradation and fermentation, nutrients availability and utilization, animal growth performance and milk production, among others. However,long-term in vivo studies are still required to determine the synergetic effects of these 2 safe supplemental products.
基金PhD Program supported by China Scholarship Councilsupported by the Special Fund for National Key R&D Program(Grant:2016YFD0501209)+5 种基金Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest(Grant:201403047)National Science and Technology Basic Project(Grant:2014FY111000-3)Hunan Key Scientific and Technological Project(Grant:2016NK2124)Core Research Program 1515 of Hunan Agricultural UniversityHunan Postgraduate Scientific Research and Innovation Projects(Grant:CX2014B284)Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Cultivating Fund of Hunan Agricultural University(Grant:YB2015003)
文摘Magnolol rich in Magnolia officinalis is a bioactive polyphenolic compound. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of magnolol additive(MA) on growth performance, expression levels of antioxidantrelated genes, and intestinal mucosal morphology of Linwu ducks aged from 49 to 70 days, comparing with that of an antibiotic additive(colistin sulfate [CS]). A total of 275,49-day-old ducks were assigned to5 groups with 5 cages of 11 ducks each and fed diets supplemented with 0,100, 200 and 300 mg of MA/kg and 300 mg of CS/kg for 3 weeks, respectively. The results showed that the average daily body weight gain(ADG) was increased significantly in MA-fed groups(200 and 300 mg/kg), compared with the basal diet(BD) group(P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of superoxide dismutase-1(SOD1), manganese superoxide dismutase-2(MnSOD2) and catalase(CAT) were also increased significantly in MA groups(P < 0.05). In addition, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that Linwu ducks fed the diets with MA had more intact intestinal mucosa than those fed the BD and CS diets. In addition, ileal villus height, ileal villus height/crypt depth ratio(V/C) and duodenal V/C were also improved significantly(P < 0.05). Taken together, these data demonstrated that MA is an effective feed additive to enhance the growth performance of the Linwu ducks by improving the antioxidant and intestinal mucosal status, suggesting that MA will be a potential additive to replace antibiotic(CS).
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant no.81773669,82073788)National Major Science and Technology Projects of China(grant no.2017YFA0205400).
文摘Nanoparticle-based therapeutics represent potential strategies for treating atherosclerosis;however,the complex plaque microenvironment poses a barrier for nanoparticles to target the dysfunctional cells.Here,we report reactive oxygen species(ROS)-responsive and size-reducible nanoassemblies,formed by multivalent host-vip interactions betweenβ-cyclodextrins(β-CD)-anchored discoidal recombinant high-density lipoprotein(NP^(3)_(ST))and hyaluronic acid-ferrocene(HA-Fc)conjugates.The HA-Fc/NP^(3)_(ST)nanoassemblies have extended blood circulation time,specifically accumulate in atherosclerotic plaque mediated by the HA receptors CD44 highly expressed in injured endothelium,rapidly disassemble in response to excess ROS in the intimal and release smaller NP^(3)_(ST),allowing for further plaque penetration,macrophage-targeted cholesterol efflux and drug delivery.In vivo pharmacodynamicses in atherosclerotic mice shows that HA-Fc/NP^(3)_(ST)reduces plaque size by 53%,plaque lipid deposition by 63%,plaque macrophage content by 62%and local inflammatory factor level by 64%compared to the saline group.Meanwhile,HA-Fc/NP^(3)_(ST)alleviates systemic inflammation characterized by reduced serum inflammatory factor levels.Collectively,HA-Fc/NP^(3)_(ST)nanoassemblies with ROS-responsive and size-reducible properties exhibit a deeper penetration in atherosclerotic plaque and enhanced macrophage targeting ability,thus exerting effective cholesterol efflux and drug delivery for atherosclerosis therapy.
基金the funding through the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.2019JJ50279,2019RS3021)Hunan Provincial Education Department(Grant No.19B257)+2 种基金Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department(Grant No.2017NK1020)Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Grant No.2018YFD0501604)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31772633)。
文摘The present trial was performed to reveal the regulatory effects of L-theanine on the levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)endotoxin within different biofluids,as well as relevant inflammatory responses of dairy cattle under heat stress conditions.Thirty lactating Chinese Holstein dairy cattle(189±47 d in milk,and 2±1 parities)were allocated in a completely randomized design to each of 3 dietary treatments:the control(CON,0 g/d per cow L-theanine),the low L-theanine dosage treatment(LL,16 g/d per cow L-theanine),and the high L-theanine dosage treatment(HL,32 g/d per cow L-theanine).This trial consisted of 38 d(7 d for adaption and 31 d for data and sample collection),and sample collection for rumen liquid,blood plasma or serum,and milk were conducted on the d 27 and 38,respectively.Dairy cattle were constantly exposed to environmental heat stress during this experiment according to the recorded temperature-humidity index(THI).In the LL treatment,LPS concentration in rumen liquid was higher(P<0.05),whilst LPS densities in plasma and milk were lower(P<0.05)than those of the CON.Supplementing L-theanine at 2 dosages both significantly lowered(P<0.05)the level of interleukin(IL)-1βin the serum.Results of the present study suggested that L-theanine could be a promising additive in reducing the detrimental effects of heat stress on dairy cows,and L-theanine supplementation at 16 g/d per cow is preferred because it reduced the LPS translocation into the peripheral blood and LPS accumulation in the milk,as well as mitigated LPS-induced inflammatory reactions in dairy cows during heat stress.Further studies are necessitated to investigate the underlying mechanisms of L-theanine in LPS alteration and inflammation alleviation.
基金supported by the Hunan Province Key R&D Program Project(2020NK2033)Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(2022JJ30317)+1 种基金Innovation Platform and Talent Plan Program of Hunan Province(2022NK4145)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31972600)
文摘This study evaluated the effects of flavonoids from mulberry leaves(FML)on plasma biochemical indices,serum activities of lipid metabolism-related enzymes,fat morphology,fatty acid composition,and lipid metabolism in different adipose tissues of finishing pigs.We used 120 Chinese hybrid barrows of Berkshire and Bama mini-pigs with an average initial body weight of 45.11±4.23 kg.The pigs were randomly assigned to five treatment groups and fed a control diet based on corn,soybean meal,and wheat bran or a control diet supplemented with 0.02%,0.04%,0.08%,or 0.16%FML.Each experimental group had six replicates(pens),with four pigs per pen.After a 7-d adaptation period,the feeding trial was conducted for 58 d.Blood and adipose tissue samples were collected from 30 pigs(one pig per pen)at the end of the test.The results showed that FML supplementation significantly decreased the feed intake to body gain ratio,the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and free fatty acids,and the serum activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase(linear or quadratic effects,P<0.05),and decreased the plasma triglyceride concentration(quadratic,P=0.07).Increasing FML supplementation increased the average daily gain and serum activities of lipoprotein lipase(linear and quadratic effects,P<0.05)and adipose triglyceride lipase(linear,P<0.05).Dietary FML supplementation decreased the adipocyte area in the dorsal subcutaneous adipose(DSA)tissue of finishing pigs(linear,P=0.05)and increased the adipocyte area in the visceral adipose tissue(quadratic,P<0.01).Increasing FML supplementation decreased the C20:1 content in DSA,abdominal subcutaneous adipose,and visceral adipose tissues of finishing pigs(P<0.05)and increased the C18:3n3 and n-3 PUFA contents(P<0.05).The lipid metabolism genes were regulated by the PPARγ-LXRa-ABCA1 signaling pathway,and their expressions differed in different adipose tissues.These findings suggest that FML improved growth performance,regulated lipid metabolism,inhibited fat production,and improved fatty acid distribution in the adipose tissue of finishing pigs,thereby improving pig fat's nutritional quality and health value.
基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2019M652772)Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2017JJ3137)+2 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31601954,31872991)Key Project of Hunan Provincial Education Department(16A096)Earmarked Fund for China Agricultural Research System(CARS-35).
文摘This study evaluated the potential of mulberry leaf powder as an unconventional feed material for fin-ishing pigs by assessing the growth performance,antioxidative properties,fatty acid profile,and lipid metabolism in 180 Xiangcun black pigs.Pigs with an initial body weight(BW)of 71.64±1.46 kg were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups,including the control diet and 4 experimental diets.The corn,soybean meal,and wheat bran in the control diet were partly replaced by 3%,6%,9%,or 12%mulberry leaf powder in experimental diets.There were 6 replicates(pens)of 6 pigs per replicate in each treatment.Blood and muscle samples were collected after the 50-day feed experiment.Compared with the control group,the 3%,6%,and 9%mulberry diets had no adverse effect(P>0.05)on the growth performance of pigs.The serum glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione concentration increased linearly(P<0.05)with the increase in dietary mulberry inclusion.There was no significant difference in the relative expression levels of antioxidant-related genes in muscle tissue between the control and mul-berry groups.Inclusion of dietary mulberry powder increased(P<0.05)the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids,especially in the longissimus dorsi(LD)muscle,up-regulated(P<0.05)the relative mRNA expression level of uncoupling protein-3 in muscle tissue,but down-regulated(P<0.05)the relative mRNA expression levels of hormone-sensitive lipase,acetyl CoA carboxylaseα,lipoprotein lipase,and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y in LD in a linear pattern.The nuclear respiratory factor 2 expression level in the LD muscle of pigs fed the 9%mulberry diet was higher(P<0.01)than that in the other mulberry groups and control group.The inclusion of less than 12%dietary mulberry did not detrimentally affect the growth performance of Xiangcun black pigs,but enhanced the serum antioxidant property,increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid content,and inhibited lipid oxidation by regulating gene expression levels of lipid metabolism and mitochondrial uncoupling protein in muscle tissue.Mulberry leaves can be utilized as a forage crop in the diet of finishing pigs.
基金partially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31741115)Core Research Program 1515 of Hunan Agricultural University
文摘Blue honeysuckle is rich in polyphenols, and recently receiving attention because of its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease that develops hepatic inflammation and metabolic syndrome. The present study aims to study the effect of blue honeysuckle extract(BHE) on fat deposition and hepatic lipid peroxidation in a high-fat-diet(HFD)-induced mouse model. Mice were fed a normal diet(ND) or a HFD containing 0.5% or 1% of BHE or not for 45 d. Liver sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin staining.Serum lipids were measured by a clinical analyzer. Insulin was examined by ELISA, and hepatic proteins were detected by Western blotting. Dietary supplementation of BHE dose-dependently suppressed HFD-induced obesity and hepatic fat deposition. Moreover, BHE improved glucose metabolism by increasing insulin sensitivity and attenuated oxidative stress potentially by up-regulating nuclear factor(erythroid-derived 2)-like 2(Nrf2)-mediated pathway.
基金This work was partially supported by the funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31741115,32102578)Fellowship of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2021T140715)+1 种基金Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars(2019JJ30012)Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department(18B098).
文摘Ferulic acid(FA)and vanillic acid(VA)are considered as major phenolic metabolites of cyanidin 3-glucoside,a polyphenol that widely exists in plants that possess a protective effect against oxidative stress and inflammation in our previous study.This study aimed to investigate the effect of FA and VA on inflammation,gut barrier function,and growth performance in a weaned piglet model challenged with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).Thirty-six piglets(PIC 337×C48,28 d of age)were randomly allocated into 3 treatments with 6 replicate pens(2 piglets per pen).They were fed with a basal diet or a diet containing 4,000 mg/kg of FA or VA.Dietary supplementation of VA significantly increased average daily gain(ADG)(P<0.05).Both FA and VA decreased serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS),interlukin(IL)-1β,IL-2,IL-6,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α(P<0.05),and enhanced the expression of tight junction protein oclaudin(P<0.05).Analysis of gut microbiota indicated that both FA and VA increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio alongside reducing the relative abundance of the Prevotellaceae family including Prevotella 9 and Prevotella 2 genera,but enriched the Lachoiraceaea family including the Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group(P<0.05).Moreover,VA reduced the relative abundance of Prevotella 7 and Prevotella 1 but enriched Lachnospira,Eubacterium eligens group,and Eubacterium xylanophilum group(P<0.05),while FA showed a limited effect on these genera.The results demonstrated that both VA and FA could alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress,but only VA has a significant positive effect on the growth performance of LPS-challenged piglets potentially through modulating gut microbiota.
基金This work was partially supported by the funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32102578,U22A20515)Key R&D Program of Hunan Province(2021NK2010)the earmarked fund for CARS(CARS-35).
文摘Rosemary extracts have been widely used as feed additives in recent years.This study aimed to investigate the effects of rosmarinic acid(RA)and ursolic acid(UA),the main active components of rosemary,on growth performance,meat quality and lipid metabolism in finishing pigs.A total of 72 finishing pigs(Landrace;initial age of 150 d)were randomly divided into 3 treatments with 8 replicates of 3 pigs each,and fed a basal diet or diet containing 500 mg/kg of RA or UA.The results showed that dietary supplementation of RA or UA had no significant effect on the growth performance and carcass traits of finishing pigs(P>0.05).However,both RA and UA significantly increased the triglyceride(TG)level in soleus muscle(P<0.001).Supplementation of RA increased the expression of genes related to lipogenesis and transport including fatty acid synthase(FAS)(P<0.001),sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c(SREBP1c)(P<0.001)and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ)(P<0.05),while UA increased the expression of fatty acid transport protein 1(FATP1),a gene related to lipid uptake(P<0.05).However,RA reduced the expression of adipogenesis-related gene acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase a(ACCa)(P<0.01).Characterization of cecal microbiota indicated that RA increased the microbial richness(chao 1,P<0.001)and diversity(observed species,P<0.01).Further analysis of the genera revealed that RA increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides and g-UCG-005(P<0.05),and UA enriched Prevotella(P<0.001).Correlation analysis showed that g-UCG-005 was positively correlated with the expression of FAS,carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1B(CPT1B),SREBP1c and PPARγ(P<0.01).In conclusion,dietary supplementation of RA or UA may increase fat deposition in muscle of finishing pigs by regulating lipid metabolism and gut microbiota.
基金supported by grants from the Nature Science Foundation (31201810, to M H Cao 31572419, to R J Fang)+1 种基金Education Department of Hunan Province(138039, to M H Cao)Innovation Team Funds Of Hunan Province (to J H He)
文摘The objective of the study was to determine the role of vitamin D3(VD3) in regulating adaptation and mechanism of rats to low-phosphorus(P) diets. Rats were assigned to 4 diets containing 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%,or 0.8% P consisting of 5 replicate cages with 6 rats per replicate cage and fed for 7 days. Four rats from each replicate cage were treated with ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonicacid, tetrasodium salt(EHDP)and 2 rats remained untreated. Twelve hours prior to preparation on d 7, two of the EHDP-treated rats received an intraperitoneal injection of VD3 [1,25-(OH)_2 D_3] at 600 ng per kg body weight, while two rats did not receive the injection. Rats that did not receive VD_3 injection had decreased(P < 0.001) P absorption, but injection of VD3 resulted in increased(P < 0.001) absorption. The effect of VD3 injection was greater(P < 0.001) for rats fed 0.2% P diet than rats fed 0.8% P diet in ileum. Sodium dependent phosphate cotransporter type IIb(Na/Pi-IIb) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1-α hydroxylase(CYP27 B1) mRNA level showed the same trend with P absorption. Serum concentration of VD3 and la-hydroxylase activity in rats fed 0.2% P diet were lower than those fed 0.8% P diet. The injection of VD3 increased(P < 0.001)serum concentration of VD3 and la-hydroxylase activity. Thus, VD3 increased Na/Pi-Ⅱb and CYP27 B1 mRNA level and improved serum concentration of VD3 and la-hydroxylase activity in rats fed low-P diets.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.61701484)the Research Fund of the Manned Space Engineering(No.18022010301)the Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications(BUPT)
文摘In our Lett er, we selec ted several commercial optical t ransceivers, which consist of single-channel transceiver modules, parallel transmitting and receiving modules, and Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) optical linet erminal (OLT) and optical net work unit (ONU) modules, to do the total ionizing dose (TID) testing via the gamma-ray radiation method. The changing of current and receiver sensitivity of optical transceivers is discussed and analyzed. Based on the TID testing exposed to a TID of 50 krad (Si) at a dose rate of about 0.1 rad (Si)/s, the performance of single-channel transceivers and parallel receiving modules has not changed after 50 krad (Si) exposure, the parallel transmitting and EPON ONU modules have not worked after 40 krad (Si) and 47 krad (Si) exposure, the EPON OLT module has bit error in the process of irradiation, and it can work well after annealing;the reason for the error of OLT is analyzed. Finally, based on the theoretical analysis and testing results, this Letter provides several design suggestions to improve the reliability for optical transceivers, which can be referenced by satellite system designation for various space missions.
基金Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Nos.2020YFB1806606 and 2016YFB1200100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.62071194)。
文摘The recent decade has witnessed an upsurge in the demands of intelligent and simplified Internet of Things(IoT)networks that provide ultra-low-power communication for numerous miniaturized devices.Although the research community has paid great attention to wireless protocol designs for these networks,researchers are handicapped by the lack of an energy-efficient software-defined radio(SDR)platform for fast implementation and experimental evaluation.Current SDRs perform well in battery-equipped systems,but fail to support miniaturized IoT devices with stringent hardware and power constraints.This paper takes the first step toward designing an ultra-low-power SDR that satisfies the ultra-low-power or even battery-free requirements of intelligent and simplified IoT networks.To achieve this goal,the core technique is the effective integration ofµW-level backscatter in our SDR to sidestep power-hungry active radio frequency chains.We carefully develop a novel circuit design for efficient energy harvesting and power control,and devise a competent solution for eliminating the harmonic and mirror frequencies caused by backscatter hardware.We evaluate the proposed SDR using different modulation schemes,and it achieves a high data rate of 100 kb/s with power consumption less than 200µW in the active mode and as low as 10µW in the sleep mode.We also conduct a case study of railway inspection using our platform,achieving 1 kb/s battery-free data delivery to the monitoring unmanned aerial vehicle at a distance of 50 m in a real-world environment,and provide two case studies on smart factories and logistic distribution to explore the application of our platform.
