Urea Concentration Research Articles

Effects of Supplementing Different Quantities of Moringa stenopetala Leaves on Plasma Metabolite and Acylcarnitine Profile, Body Condition Score and Milk Yield Performance in Zebu (Bos indicus) Cattle.

The formulation of multi-nutrient blocks based on low-cost and locally available browse feed resources can be a valid feeding strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa, where inadequate feed supply, both in quality and quantity, is a major constraint. We evaluated the four different inclusion percentages (M-0%, M-25%, M-35% and M-45%) of Moringa stenopetala leaf powder to multi-nutrient blocks on their change on blood metabolite of dairy cows under practical, ranging conditions. Multi-nutrient blocks with four inclusion rates of M. stenopetala leaves were applied as complementary feed for free ranging dairy cows. The study was performed on 24 free ranging dairy cows reared around Arba Minch town in the Southern Ethiopian Rift Valley. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of dairy cows both before and after supplementation. Plasma glucose, beta hydroxy butyrate (BHB), urea, creatinine, triglycerides and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration was quantified spectrophotometrically. Dried serum spots were subject to quantitative electrospray tandem mass spectrometry to estimate changes in nutrient metabolism based on selected carnitines. Based on these measurements, the milk yield and body condition score were increased during the period of multi-nutrient block supplementation. During the supplementation period, the cows got higher plasma glucose, triglyceride and urea concentrations and lower concentrations of BHB, NEFA and creatinine. From the metabolite profiles, a more efficient nutrient use could be concluded. Although no clear dose-response relationship was observed, the highest inclusion of the M. stenopetala leaves in the multi-nutrient blocks gave the best performance. This outcome supports the idea of implementing M. stenopetala based multi-nutrient blocks on tropical smallholder farms that are not easily accessible to conventional extension services.

Biochemical contents of tapeworm Proteocephalus osculatus and its definitive host, Silurus triostegus

The current study dealt with the determination of the concentration of some biomolecules in the tissues of the tapeworm and the intestinal tissue of its definitive host (fish). At the probability level (P≤0.05) a sig-nificant difference was noticed in the concentration of proteins, glycogen and lipids in the intestinal tissue of non-infected fish compared to the infected fish. The concentration of proteins and glycogen in the tissues of the tapeworm was (9.95 and 7.33) mg/g of fresh weight respectively, it was lower than that in the intestinal tissues of its infected definitive host, which amounted to (22.06, 12.33) mg/g of fresh weight, respectively, while lipids appeared in a higher concentration in the tapeworm tissues (19.17) mg/g of fresh weight com-pared to its concentration in the intestine of its infected definitive host (17.10) mg/g of fresh weight. As for the concentration of urea and creatinine, it was found a significant difference at the level of probability (P≤0.05) in the serum of infected and non-infected fish, as both urea and creatinine showed a significant relative increase in the serum of infected fish (12.30, 2.31) mg/dl respectively than in non-infected fish (10.66 and 1.07) mg/dl respectively. Keywords: creatinine; glycogen; lipid; protein; Silurus triostegus; tapeworm; urea

Comparative Effects of Efavirenz and Dolutegravir on Metabolomic and Inflammatory Profiles, and Platelet Activation of People Living with HIV: A Pilot Study.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced the mortality and morbidity associated with HIV. However, irrespective of treatment, people living with HIV remain at a higher risk of developing non-AIDS-associated diseases. In 2019, the World Health Organization recommended the transition from efavirenz (EFV)- to dolutegravir (DTG)-based ART. Data on the impact of this transition are still limited. The current study therefore investigated the metabolic profiles, cytokine inflammatory responses, and platelet activation before and after the treatment transition. Plasma samples from nine virally suppressed adults living with HIV and sixteen healthy, HIV-uninfected individuals residing in Gauteng, South Africa were compared. Metabolite and cytokine profiles, and markers associated with platelet activation, were investigated with untargeted proton magnetic resonance metabolomics, multiplex suspension bead array immunoassays, and sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. In those individuals with normal C-reactive protein levels, the transition to a DTG-based ART regimen resulted in decreased concentrations of acetoacetic acid, creatinine, adenosine monophosphate, 1,7-dimethylxanthine, glycolic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, urea, and lysine. Moreover, increased levels of formic acid, glucose, lactic acid, myo-inositol, valine, glycolic acid, and 3-hydroxybutyric acid were observed. Notably, levels of interleukin-6, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, soluble cluster of differentiation 40 ligand, as well as regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) reached levels close to those observed in the healthy control participants. The elevated concentration of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha was the only marker indicative of elevated levels of inflammation associated with DTG-based treatment. The transition from EFV- to DTG-based regimens therefore appears to be of potential benefit with metabolic and inflammatory markers, as well as those associated with cardiovascular disease and other chronic non-AIDS-related diseases, reaching levels similar to those observed in individuals not living with HIV.

225 Kidney function and nitrogen excretion in Brown Swiss and Holstein dairy cows

Abstract The agricultural sector contributes to nitrogen (N) emissions since farm animals excrete considerable N amounts via feces and urine. To reduce N emissions by dairy cattle, methods predicting accurately individual N emissions are of great interest. Recent data showed that Brown Swiss (BS) cows have greater urea concentrations in milk and blood than Holstein (HO) cows. However, it is still unknown if greater BUN concentrations in a particular breed are congruently reflected by concomitantly increased contents of nitrogenous compounds in other media (e.g., urine and saliva). Thus, the present study simultaneously assessed biomarkers for kidney function like urea, and creatinine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) concentrations in several body fluids (i.e., blood, urine, milk, and saliva) as well as nitrogen excretion in feces in BS and HO cows under identical feeding conditions. Blood, saliva, urine, and feces were sampled in 31 multiparous BS and 46 HO cows kept under identical feeding and management conditions. Samples were collected at different lactational stages after the monthly DHIA control test-day. Concentrations of urea and creatinine were measured in serum, urine, and saliva. Symmetric dimethylarginine was determined in serum, which is an established indicator for glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Feces were analyzed for dry matter content and nitrogen concentrations. Data on milk urea and protein concentrations, and daily milk yield were obtained from the monthly DHIA test-day records. The effects of breed, time, and parity number on blood, saliva, urine, feces, and milk parameters were evaluated with the GLM procedure with breed, time, and parity number as fixed effects. Differences between BS and HO were assessed by the Tukey-corrected t-test at P < 0.05. Dry matter intake and body weight were similar in BS and HO cows (P > 0.05). No differences between BS and HO were observed for milk yield, fecal DM and nitrogen content. BS cows showed greater urea concentration (25.8 ± 0.7 vs 21.8 ± 0.7 mg/dL), and protein content in milk (3.70 ± 0.08 vs 3.45 ± 0.07%) than HO cows (P < 0.01). Concentrations of urea, creatinine, and SDMA in serum, were greater in BS than in HO cows (P < 0.01) with 5.46 ± 0.19 vs 4.72 ± 0.13 mmol/L for urea, 105.96 ± 2.23 vs 93.07 ± 1.50 mmol/l creatinine, and 16.78 ± 0.69 vs 13.39 ± 0.44 µg/dL SDMA, respectively. Urea and creatinine concentrations in urine and saliva did not differ among breeds. Despite greater urea and creatinine concentrations in blood, and milk urea content in BS compared with HO, excretion of these parameters did not differ between breeds in urine. Our results suggest a reduced renal glomerular filtration rate in BS compared with HO. The underlying mechanisms require further investigations.

Urea Concentration Detection in Milk Using Microscopic Image Processing Algorithm under Ultraviolet Light Approach

The adulteration of milk is a pressing concern for the citizens of India and people all around the globe. Due to a lack of regulation compliance and insufficient surveillance infrastructure, it is noticeably worse in emerging and slow-growing nations. One of the most common and dangerous adulterants in milk is urea. If the permissible quantity of urea in milk is surpassed, it could have a major negative impact on people's health. All existing methods of urea detection require time, expertise, costly chemicals, and enzymes, along with exorbitant instruments and instrument-specific expertise. The key to overcoming this challenge is having the infrastructure to detect adulterated milk. This study aims to identify a cost- effective and largely implementable system for quantitative detection of urea content to identify adulterated milk primarily for milk distribution centers in India. The proposed milk adulteration detection system, dubbed the MADS, entails a cost-effective, rapid, accurate, precise, and completely novel method for the quantitative computation of urea levels in adulterated milk. It is a device that detects the concentration of particles of urea in milk using a microscopic image processing algorithm under ultraviolet light. Using ultraviolet light and a proprietary program in Python, the isolation of the urea particle from the rest of the milk solids is done and the area concentration, as an average of the value calculated in each of the frames of the video captured through the microscopic camera, is computed. This gives the final urea concentration in milk, which can be used to check whether the concentration follows the government guidelines and exceeds the legal limit.

Utilization of the dialysate to characterize dialysis adequacy by using microwave urea biosensor based on complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR)

The aim of this study is going to develop a monitoring approach for measuring blood urea concentration. This method uses microwave technology and complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) to assess dialysis adequacy. The robust electric field near CSRR sides produces a high-sensitivity surface to a change in the nearby urea level. The proposed biosensor detection range spans from 1 to 100 mg/dL by modifying resonance frequency and peak attenuation. The biosensor was developed to operate at the main resonance frequency of 2.4 GHz, but all harmonics within the frequency range of 1–10 GHz were analyzed. A container incorporates the dialysate as the material being tested on the top of the sensor. Accurate measurement of blood urea variations using spent dialysate compared to the blood-based method has benefits due primarily to the lack of repetitive blood sampling. The innovative biosensor offers a non-invasive and convenient method to accurately evaluate the quantitative urea concentration in spent dialysate without the necessity of disposable chemicals. The biosensor has been designed to possess noteworthy attributes such as detecting minuscule concentration variations, low-cost fabrication, compact size, high sensitivity, and its ability to provide real-time results. By merging these features, the sensor demonstrates remarkable potential for non-invasively monitoring blood urea levels while seamlessly integrating with other dialysis devices. The initiative purpose of this study is going to offer renal patients methods for assessing dialysis adequacy with minimal impact on human health.

Molecular, Hematological and Biochemical Investigation of Trypanosoma spp. in Sheep

Background: Trypanosoma spp. is a flagellated unicellular protozoan parasite which caused a disease known as trypanosomiasis in various animals among many areas worldwide resulting in severe economic losses due to morbidities and mortalities. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. in sheep using the molecular assay with detection the impact of infection on various risk factors and blood markers. Methods: Totally, 341 sheep were selected from different areas in Wasit province (Iraq) during June to September (2023) and subjected to draining the venous blood that tested molecularly by the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Status of different hematological, biochemical and mineral markers were further investigated. Result: Targeting 16S sRNA gene, 7.92% animals were positively infected with trypanosomiasis. Relation to risk factors, positive infection and risk were significantly higher in females than males and in sheep aged greater than 1-3 years than others. Hematological findings reported a significant reduction in RBCs and Hb; while biochemically, significant elevation was reported in concentration of urea. Regarding various minerals, insignificant alteration was seen in infected sheep when compared to healthy ones.

Factors Affecting the Physical Properties of Microbial Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) Enhanced Recycled Aggregates

Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) can enhance the physical properties of recycled aggregates. Compared to traditional technologies, MICP offers environmental benefits and produces no pollution. However, its mineralization efficacy is significantly influenced by the process parameters. To investigate this, an MICP mineralization test was conducted by manipulating various process parameters throughout the mineralization process. The water absorption rate, apparent density, and calcium carbonate content of the mineralized recycled aggregates were assessed to discern the impact of these parameters on the mineralization outcome. Further analysis using techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to elucidate the mineralization mechanism of the recycled aggregates at a micro-level. The findings indicated that the MICP treatment induced bacteria to precipitate CaCO3, forming calcite crystalline CaCO3 within the pores and microcracks. This led to a denser interfacial transition zone and, consequently, improved the physical properties of the recycled aggregates. Optimal mineralization was achieved when the bacterial solution concentration was 1.4, the temperature and pH were 35 °C and 9, respectively, and the urea concentration, Ca+ concentration, and mineralization time were 0.5 mol/L, 0.5 mol/L, and 7 days, respectively. Under these conditions, the mineralized recycled aggregate exhibited a 16.07% reduction in water absorption, a 1.07% increase in apparent density, and a 2.28% change in mass.

Dose-response curves for the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum on growth performance, feed utilization, and health status of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp. Optimizing the economic efficiency of supplementation

Abstract A 14-weeks feeding trial was conducted to employ polynomial regression analysis to establish the optimal dosage of Lactobacillus plantarum (Lac) for enhancing the growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and blood biochemical, redox balance, and immunity response of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp (initial body weight = 2.94 ± 0.03 g). A total of 240 healthy Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp were randomly distributed into four equal groups and were fed diets containing 0, 200, 400 and 800 mg Lac /kg diet respectively for 98 days. Increasing the levels of dietary Lac cubically improved growth performance and feed utilization ( p <0.01), the optimal doses were established at 600 and 650 mg Lac/kg diet, respectively. Muscles thickness decreased significantly in all treated group compared to the control ( p <0.05). The dietary treatment quadratic ally affected total protein ( p <0.0001), tri-glycerides ( p <0.0001), and cortisol ( p =0.0097), the optimal responses were observed at 650, 700, and 600 mg Lac/kg diet, respectively. Meanwhile the activities of liver enzymes (ALT and AST), the levels of blood urea and digestive enzymes (amylase and proteases) were cubically enhanced by the treatment, the optimal dosages were at 600 and 650 mg Lac/kg diet for liver enzymes, and urea concentration, respectively and at 650 and 700 mg Lac/kg diet for the activities of amylase and protease, respectively. With regards to redox balance, increasing the levels of Lac caused a quadratic decrease in the levels of malondialdehyde ( p =0.0398) and a cubic increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase ( p =0.0265), and catalase ( p =0.0163), the corresponding dose–response curves showed that the optimal dose was at 650 mg/kg diet. However, the levels of total antioxidant capacity were in a quadratic increase ( p =0.0372), maximizing at a level of 600 mg Lac / kg diet. Concerning the immunity response, both of lysozyme and IgM significantly affected by the dietary treatment ( p =0.0002 and 0.0001, respectively), maximizing at 600 and 650 mg Lac/kg diet, respectively. Dietary supplementation of Lac had significant and substantial impacts on the economic efficiency ( p <0.0001). In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of 600-700 mg Lac /kg diet can be used as an effective and practical feeding strategy to enhanced growth performance, feed efficacy, redox balance and nonspecific immune responses in Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp.

A Simple and Sensitive Wearable SERS Sensor Utilizing Plasmonic-Active Gold Nanostars.

Wearable sweat sensors hold great potential for offering detailed health insights by monitoring various biomarkers present in sweat, such as glucose, lactate, uric acid, and urea, in real time. However, most previously reported sensors, primarily based on electrochemical technology, are limited to monitoring only a single analyte at a given time. This study introduces a simple, sensitive, wearable patch based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), integrated with highly plasmonically active sharp-branched gold nanostars (GNS) for the simultaneous detection of three sweat biomarkers: lactate, urea, and glucose. We have fabricated the GNS on commercially available adhesive tape, resulting in achieving a low-cost, flexible, and adhesive wearable SERS patch. The limits of detection for lactate, urea, and glucose were achieved at 0.7, 0.6, and 0.7 μM, respectively, which are significantly lower than the clinically relevant concentrations of these biomarkers in sweat. We further evaluated the performance of our wearable SERS patch during outdoor activities, including sitting, walking, and running. To evaluate its overall effectiveness, we simultaneously measured the concentrations of lactate, urea, and glucose during these activities. Overall, our simple, sensitive wearable SERS sensor represents a significant breakthrough by enabling the simultaneous detection of lactate, urea, and glucose present in sweat, marking a major step toward future applications in autonomous and noninvasive personalized healthcare monitoring at home.

Effect of the Protein Chain Conformation on the Collapse into Nanoparticles.

Protein single-chain nanoparticles can outperform synthetic nanoparticles in biomedical applications due to enhanced biocompatibility. Compared to synthetic (co)polymers, the chemical complexity of proteins challenges chain conformation control. Here, we investigate the impact of the precursor chain conformation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the nanoparticle structure after intramolecular cross-linking. We explore the urea concentration (denaturant), pH, salt, cross-linker length, and concentration. Small-angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering experiments reveal a shrinking chain conformation upon cross-linking. However, the ability to collapse depends on solvent conditions: more expanded chains collapse more, whereas proteins that are already compact barely change in size upon cross-linking. Static light scattering measurements demonstrate that binding is primarily intramolecular. The use of a shorter cross-linker does not lead to collapse of extended chains. Overall, BSA exhibits a similar behavior to that of polymer nanoparticles, which then allows to harness the precursor conformation for morphological control.

Novel Perspective on Molecular and Cellular Adaptations of the Mammary Gland-Regulating Milk Constituents and Immunity of Heat-Stressed Dairy Cows.

Climate change with increasing ambient temperatures negatively influences the biology of dairy cows and their milk production in the mammary gland (MG). This study aimed to elucidate the MG proteome, differences in milk composition, and ruminal short-chain fatty acid concentrations of dairy cows experiencing 7 days of heat stress [HS, 28 °C, temperature humidity index (THI) = 76], pair-feeding (PF), or ad libitum feeding (CON) at thermoneutrality (16 °C, THI = 60). Ruminal acetate, acetate/propionate ratio, and milk urea concentrations were greater, whereas milk protein and lactose were lower in HS than in control cows. Proteome analysis revealed an induced bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, leukocyte transendothelial migration, reduction of the pyruvate and carbon metabolism, and platelet activation in the MG of HS compared to CON or PF cows. These results highlight adaptive metabolic and immune responses to mitigate the negative effects of ambient heat in the MG.

Correlation between salivary and serum biomarkers of kidney function in chronic kidney disease patients attending the nephrology clinics at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Sri Lanka

The present study was designed to determine the correlation between salivary and serum levels of creatinine and urea in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to propose the use of saliva as an alternative medium for the analysis of biochemical parameters of kidney function. Accordingly, an analytical cross-sectional study was carried out using 100 CKD patients attending the Nephrology Clinics at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Sri Lanka. Saliva and serum samples were collected from the patients for the estimation of creatinine and urea using spectrophotometric assay kits. Of the total, the majority of the patients were found within CKD stage 3 (82%). The salivary and serum concentrations of creatinine varied within the range of 0.20 - 2.10 mg/dL and 1.54 – 11.6 mg/dL, whereas the salivary and serum concentrations of urea varied within the range of 68.04 – 127.59 mg/dL and 60.14 – 168.25 mg/dL respectively within the study population. Significant positive correlations were observed between the salivary and serum concentrations of creatinine (r= 0.985, p=0.01), and urea (r= 0.942, p=0.01), and between salivary concentrations of creatinine and urea (r=0.887, p=0.01). A significant difference was observed in the salivary biomarkers between mild to moderate stages of CKD patients and severe to end-stage CKD patients. No significant association was observed in the salivary markers with the age and sex of the patients. The area under curve values in the receiver operating characteristic analysis was>0.9 (95% CI). These findings revealed high levels of diagnostic accuracy in salivary biomarkers suggesting the potential use of saliva for the assessment of kidney function in CKD patients.

Mechanism of Polygonum hydropiper reducing ethyl carbamate in Chinese rice wine (Huangjiu) brewing

Polygonum hydropiper (PH) is a rich source of active compounds and serves as a pivotal ingredient in Chinese rice wine (Huangjiu) production. This study investigates the impact of PH and Polygonum hydropiper extract (PHE) on ethyl carbamate (EC) production during Huangjiu fermentation. Our findings reveal that PH enhances the relative abundance of Bacillus subtilis in Huangjiu fermentation, thereby facilitating its interaction with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Furthermore, PH modulates the urea metabolism of S. cerevisiae. In the PH-B. subtilis-S. cerevisiae fermentation system, the expression of DUR1,2 and DUR3 genes in S. cerevisiae is upregulated. This augmentation leads to increased urea uptake and metabolism by S. cerevisiae in the fermentation broth, subsequently reducing the urea concentration in the fermentation medium (The EC content in the CK group was approximately 355.55 % and 356.05 % higher than those in the PH and PHE groups, respectively). Consequently, PH demonstrates promise in reducing the EC concentration of Huangjiu, offering a novel approach to enhance the safety of Huangjiu consumption.

Quantitative Raman Spectroscopy of Urea and Thiourea in the Reaction Mixtures of Allantoin and 4,5‐Dihydroxyimidazolidine‐2‐Tione Formation

ABSTRACTThe present work introduces a new approach to quantitative determine the reagent concentrations (thiourea and urea) using in situ Raman spectroscopy in the reaction mixture exemplified by the reactions of formation of allantoin and 4,5‐dihydroxyimidazolidine‐2‐thione. The approach comprises the use of a commercially available immersion probe (MarqMetrix Process Elite BallProbe with sapphire lens) as a standard for the immersion probe band at 790 cm−1 of optical glass. This leads to a linear dependence of the ratio of the intensity of non‐overlapping analyte bands at 1003 cm−1 of ‐C‐N‐ vibrations in urea to the one of the 790 cm−1 immersion probe band on the concentration of urea in the test solution. The definable method parameters such as precision (repeatability and reproducibility), linearity, limit of detection (LoD), limit of quantitation (LoQ), and accuracy were determined. The quantitative Raman spectroscopy method is linear, precise within the range of determined concentrations from 0.75 to 2.00 M and can be used to calculate the kinetics of allantoin formation. Using thiourea as an example, it is shown that despite the partial overlap of the analyte band at 730 cm−1 of the ‐C=S vibrations of thiourea with the immersion probe band at 790 cm−1, the method to determine thiourea in the reaction of 4,5‐dihydroxyimidazolidine‐2‐thione preparation is also linear and precise in the range of determined concentrations from 0.10 to 1.57 M.

Transferability across countries of equations developed using milk mid-infrared spectroscopy to estimate daily body condition score change in dairy cows

Routine milk samples are commonly subjected to spectroscopic analysis within the mid-infrared (MIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum to estimate macro-constituents of milk like fat, protein, lactose, and urea content. These spectra, however, can also be used to predict other traits, such as daily body condition score (BCS) change. The objective of the present study was to assess the transferability across countries of equations to predict daily body condition score change (ΔBCS) developed using milk MIR data collected in Ireland and in Canada. Body condition was scored on a scale from 1 (emaciated) to 5 (obese) in both countries. A total of 347,254 BCS records from 80,400 Canadian cows were available along with 73,193 BCS records from 6,572 Irish cows. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and neural networks (NN) were separately used to predict daily ΔBCS. Two scenarios were studied 1) using Canadian and Irish data combined as the calibration data set to predict daily ΔBCS in Canada and in Ireland separately, and 2) Canadian and Irish data used separately to predict daily ΔBCS in each country separately. These prediction methods were applied to data with and without pretreatment (i.e., first derivative of the spectrum) as well as with and without standardizing daily ΔBCS across countries. For all the scenarios investigated, the correlation between actual and predicted daily ΔBCS when calibrated and validated (using cross-validation) in the same country ranged from 0.92 to 0.94, and from 0.85 to 0.87 for the Canadian and Irish data sets, respectively. When the data from Canada and Ireland were combined in the calibration process to predict daily ΔBCS, the correlations between actual and predicted ΔBCS were ≥ 0.90 and ≥ 0.80 for Canadian and Irish daily ΔBCS, respectively indicating no improvement in predictive ability. Predictive performance when calibrated using just Canadian data and validated using just Irish data was poor, and vice versa. Nonetheless, when developing equations for a country for which a limited database (i.e., 100 records) of gold standard and MIR data were available, predictive performance improved when the limited database was supplemented with the large data set from the other country. In general, for some of the investigated scenarios, standardizing the daily ΔBCS data within country before undertaking the calibration improved prediction accuracy. In conclusion, the benefit of merging data from different countries, at least based on the trait (i.e., daily ΔBCS) and countries (i.e., Ireland and Canada) considered in the present study were limited and, in cases, counter-productive.

The Effect of Different Forms of Solid Feed on Biochemical Parameters in Blood Plasma of Calves

Abstract The study examined how different solid feeds affected the biochemical parameters in calf plasma. The experiment involved a control group and three test groups of calves, each fed with a different starter mixture. The results showed significant differences in some biochemical parameters between the feeding groups. Calves in groups P1 and P3 had a statistically higher glucose concentration in blood plasma compared to group C. Calves from group P3 had a higher concentration of urea in blood plasma than calves from group C. Calves in groups P1 and P3 also had higher concentrations of total protein and globulin in blood plasma compared to group C. The concentration of inorganic phosphate in the blood plasma of calves from group P3 was significantly higher than that of group C. Female calves in the experimental groups showed a lower concentration of NEFA at three months of age compared to the control group. It was concluded that feeding calves with a starter mixture containing whey and easily digestible protein had a positive effect on the nutritional status and energy balance of the calves.

Investigation of the concentration and isotopic composition of Cu, Fe and Zn in human biofluids in the context of Alzheimer’s disease via tandem and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Studies on essential trace elements in the context of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) concluded that Cu, Fe and Zn interact with amyloid-β, accelerating plaque formation in the brain. Additionally, Cu and Fe in the vicinity of plaques produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in oxidative stress, whereas Zn plays a role in the antioxidant defence as a co-factor for antioxidants. In this work, the Cu, Fe and Zn concentrations and isotope ratios were determined in whole blood, blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 10 patients diagnosed with AD and 8 control individuals, using tandem (ICP-MS/MS) and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), respectively. In whole blood and blood serum of AD patients, a heavier Cu isotopic composition was observed (significant for whole blood only) compared to controls. Albumin levels in cerebrospinal fluid tend to increase with age, which could indicate an increased leakiness of the blood-brain barrier. In cerebrospinal fluid, a large variability was observed for the Cu and Fe isotope ratios, potentially resulting from that leakiness at the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, potential effects of AD on the concentration and isotopic composition of essential elements in cerebrospinal fluid related to amyloid-β formation could be hidden. Finally, in blood serum, Zn, urea and creatinine concentrations showed an increase with age and showed a significant difference between sexes.

Controlled synthesis and electrochemical characterization of Co3V2O8 hexagonal sheets for energy storage applications

This work explores the hydrothermal synthesis of Co3V2O8 hexagonal sheets and their effects on the structure and electrochemical properties of the electrode material, with a focus on various urea concentrations. The prepared materials were extensively characterized through a variety of imaging and electrical techniques, such as asymmetric supercapacitor studies, cyclic voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Morphological analyses revealed that distinct hexagonal sheets formed based on the urea content. XPS analysis has provided information about the oxidation states and chemical composition of the produced materials. The high capacitance of 293 F/g with an energy density of 14.68 Wh/kg at an applied current density of 1 mA/cm2 over CVO-0.6MU sample demonstrates the electrochemical capabilities of hexagonal sheets of Co3V2O8 as electrode materials for supercapacitor, as demonstrated by electrochemistry research such as GCD, CV, and EIS. Furthermore, we were able to attain a high capacitive retention of approximately 99 % columbic efficiency up to 20,000 cycles, as well as a high power density exceeding CVO-0.6MU, or 142 W/kg. These findings showed how highly feasible our as-synthesized CVO-0.6MU electrode material is as an energy storage device. The research carried out on asymmetric supercapacitor provides more evidence of the stable and promising capacitive performance of the synthetic materials, Additionally effect of the temperature on ASC were studied. This extensive work offers crucial details regarding the electrochemical characteristics and regulated manufacture of Co3V2O8 hexagonal sheets, which may find application in future cutting-edge energy storage technologies.

Effects of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) content from paint on automobile paint workers in Nsukka, South Eastern Nigeria

BackgroundVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) fume in the workplace can act as an inducing agent to many health disorders. ObjectivesThis work investigated the effects of exposure to VOCs content from paint on the automobile paint workers in South Eastern Nigeria. MethodsA total of fifty (50) respondent participated in the study. Following the completion of informed consent form and well-structured questionnaire, blood samples were drawn and used for biochemical analysis. ResultsThe results of the haematological analysis showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in white blood cell (WBC) cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), and platelet (PLT), and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (HB), lymphocytes (LYM) and eosinophil (EOS) of the exposed automobile paint workers compared to the control (unexposed workers). Results also showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in liver marker indices; alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TB) and albumin (ALB) as well as significant (p < 0.05) decrease in Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), direct bilirubin (DB). There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in urea, creatinine, potassium (K+), uric acid and nitric oxide concentrations and decrease in sodium (Na+) and bicarbonate (HCO3−) Again, results showed significant increase in Glutathione (GSH), and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and significant (p < 0.05) decrease in Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT). The Malondialdehyde MDA concentration showed varied significant (p < 0.05) difference based on ages. There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the Testosterone (TET) concentrations of the exposed automobile paint workers compared to the unexposed workers. ConclusionsResult of this study suggests a toxic outcome due to exposure to VOCs in spray paint workers.