CP Levels Research Articles

Association between fitness levels and physical activity in apparently healthy Colombian men

Abstract Physical condition (PC) such as strength and endurance favor functional independence and disease prevention (Melo, 2014). Objective: To characterize the levels of Physical Activity (PA) and CP in apparently healthy men who practice PA in different settings in Bogotá-Colombia. This study is observational cross-sectional, 485 Men (M) participated, mean age 42±17.8 years. To measure the levels PA the IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaires) was applied. The Confidence Interval (CI) and Standard Error (SE) were taken into account. For PA levels, data were analyzed with Rstudio v2022.12.0, with empirical distribution tests, Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality and independence with Chi-Square (χ²), in addition, mean (X¯), percentage (%) and standard deviation (±). 90.6% of the H met the overall PA recommendations (Leisure Time+Active Transportation) with 95% CI (88.0-93.0) and SE (0.012). The PC variables such as; Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Adiposity Index (BAI), Abdominal Circumference (AC), Grip Strength (GS) and Maximal Oxygen Consumption (Vo2max). The results showed that 35.6% (26.9±1.48) of H were Overweight (Ow) and 10.6% (32.7±2.39) were Obese (Ob), 39.7% (98.4±6.8) with Cardiovascular Risk (Rcv) by AC and 24.3% (29.7±3.45) with risk by BAI. As for GS 41.5% (27.1±6.39) is weak and 32.3% (33.3±6.3) is low Vo2max. According to independence tests with χ² there is association between the G and BMI (χ²=1452.1, df = 1427, p-value=0. 315), G and AC (χ²=394.9, df = 382, p-value=0. 313), G and Vo2max (χ²=155.5, df = 6, p-value<2.2e-16), G and BAI (χ²=2970.3, df = 1502, p-value<2.2e-16), G and GS (χ²=6015.5, df = 1502, p-value<2.2e-16). This project was approved by the bioethics committee. Conclusions 149 men corresponding to 30.7% of the sample present an increased possibility of Rcv, despite compliance with global PA recommendations. It is recommended that PA programs reinforce the improvement and promotion of PC to prevent possible Rcv. Key messages • The capacities that define physical fitness (FC) such as strength and endurance favor functional independence and disease prevention (Melo, 2014). • Apparently healthy men in Colombia present a higher possibility of Cardiovascular Risk due to low levels of physical fitness, despite compliance with global BP recommendations.

Human bare and clothing-covered skin exposure to chlorinated paraffins for the general populations: Exposure pattern differential and significance of indirect dermal exposure via clothing-to-skin transport

To investigate human exposure to short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) through dermal and oral intake via hand-to-mouth contact, wipes from the face, forearm, hand, and foot of 30 volunteers were sampled. The concentration of ∑SCCPs and ∑MCCPs ranged from 0.66 to 119 and 0.71 to 565 µg/m2, respectively. Hands exhibited significantly higher ∑CPs concentrations than other skin areas, indicating that direct contact with indoor surfaces contributed considerable CP levels on this bare skin area. Gender differences in CP levels were observed in wipes from all locations, except for the hands, possibly because of the significant variability in residuals on the hands. A significant positive relationship was found between CP levels on the hands and faces, and the CP ratios of the hands/faces were related to log KOA. Bare skin showed more significant variations in CP partitioning among related congeners and between genders than skin covered by clothing, as elucidated by the linear analysis of RSD and log KOA. Although concentrations on clothing-covered areas were relatively lower than on bare skin, the median estimated dermal absorption doses of ∑SCCPs and ∑MCCPs (152 and 737 ng/kg bw/day, respectively) for the entire body were approximately 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than those for oral ingestion (1.62 and 7.94 ng/kg bw/day, respectively), emphasizing indirect dermal uptake as a significant exposure pathway for humans.

Increased coproporphyrin serum levels in healthy volunteers treated with the cholesterol uptake inhibitor ezetimibe.

Ezetimibe undergoes glucuronidation that results in the active metabolite ezetimibe phenoxy-glucuronide (ezetimibe-glucuronide). This phase-II metabolite was shown to interact with the clinically relevant hepatic transporter organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1. In recent years, coproporphyrin I (CPI) was established as a Tier 1 biomarker for OATP1B-mediated interactions among other endogenous substrates like CPIII. To evaluate whether levels of the biomarker are affected by ezetimibe treatment, we assessed the impact of ezetimibe and ezetimibe-glucuronide on OATP1B1-mediated transport of CPs invitro. Then, we quantified CP levels in serum samples of healthy volunteers treated with a single oral dose of ezetimibe (20 mg) alone or in combination with rifampin (600 mg). Results from our invitro experiments showed a significant reduction in cellular CPI accumulation in the presence of ezetimibe-glucuronide with an IC50 of 1.97 μM [95% CI: 1.04 to 3.96], while CPIII accumulation was impacted by 10 μM and above. In the invivo study, we observed peak CP concentrations 1.33 h after dosing, which is closest to the tmax of the ezetimibe metabolite. Co-administration of ezetimibe with rifampin resulted in even higher serum CP levels. The AUC0-24h of CPI and CPIII increased two- and threefold, respectively, after concomitant dosing compared to ezetimibe alone. Moreover, we quantified CP levels in cumulative urine from both study phases where the renally excreted amount (Ae) of CPI and CPIII increased after ezetimibe and rifampin co-administration compared to ezetimibe alone. In conclusion, our findings indicate that rifampin co-administration results in additional inhibition of OATP1B1 invivo.

Effects of Maize–Lablab Intercropping and Lactic Acid Bacteria Additives on Forage Yield, Fermentation Quality and Profitability

Intercropping systems and exogenous microorganism additives are recognized for their potential to influence silage fermentation and quality. This study aims to evaluate the impacts of maize–lablab bean intercropping and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) additives on silage yield, nutritional quality, and economic profitability. A randomized block design was employed with two cropping patterns—maize monocrop (M) and maize–lablab intercrop (ML)—and five additive treatments: No additives (CK), and varying ratios of Lactobacillus Plantarum (LP) and Lactobacillus Buchneri (LB), T1 (100% LP), T2 (9LP:LB), T3 (8LP:2LB), and T4 (100% LB). The silage was analyzed and evaluated for its nutritional quality, fermentation quality, and fermentation effect after 90 days of fermentation. ML intercropping significantly enhanced the fresh matter yields by 8.59% and crude protein content by 8.73% compared to M. From the point of view of inoculation with different lactobacilli, the pH, AA, and NH3-N/TN were lower in the T2 and T3 treatments than in the other treatments, while LA was significantly higher. The V-score, which reflects the overall fermentation quality, was excellent across all treatments, with scores exceeding 80 points; the T2 treatment in ML silage achieved the highest score of 99.58. In addition, intercropping can increase the net income of farmers by 21.67%. In conclusion, maize–lablab intercropping combined with LAB inoculation, particularly with the T2 and T3 treatments, significantly enhances the silage quality and economic returns by reducing pH, increasing the LA content, and improving the CP levels. This study is the first to comprehensively analyze the synergistic effects of altering cropping systems and adding functional microorganisms on forage yield and fermentation quality, offering strategic insights for farms, especially mixed farms, to produce high-quality feed. We recommend adopting these methods to improve feed quality and maximize the profitability of silage production systems.

Antioxidant activity, structural and physical properties of soy‐based textured vegetable protein with added cannabis leaves as affected by extrusion process

SummaryThe effects of cannabis leaf powder substituted for defatted soy flour (CP; 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) and the moisture content of the mixture (MC; 25%, 35% and 45% on a wet basis) on physical properties and antioxidant activities of textured vegetable protein (TVP) prepared using a twin‐screw extruder were studied. Increasing CP and MC decreased expansion, resulting in small air cells within the structure, which, in turn, led to an increased bulk density and decreased water absorption capacity, water holding capacity and water solubility index. After rehydration, TVP with the higher CP and MC levels tended to exhibit higher hardness and cohesiveness. An increase in CP significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of TVP as determined by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. The preliminary consumer acceptance test indicated that TVP containing less than 10% CP and 25% MC tended to have higher overall liking score, with the texture resembling that of meat.

Integrating 16S rRNA Sequencing and LC-MS-Based Metabolomics to Evaluate the Effects of Dietary Crude Protein on Ruminal Morphology, Fermentation Parameter and Digestive Enzyme Activity in Tibetan Sheep.

The dietary crude protein level could affect ruminal fermentation parameters and the microflora of ruminants. The present study's aim was to investigate the effects of different protein level diets on ruminal morphology, fermentation parameters, digestive enzyme activity, microflora and metabolites of Tibetan sheep. Ninety weaned lambs (initial weight of 15.40 ± 0.81 kg, 2 months old) were selected and randomly divided into three groups (six pens/treatment, five rams/pen). Dietary treatments were formulated with 13.03% (high protein, HP), 11.58% (moderate protein, MP) and 10.20% (low protein, LP), respectively. Compared with LP, both papillae length and papillae width were significantly promoted in HP and MP (p < 0.05). The concentrations of ammonia nitrogen, total VFAs, propionic acids and butyric acids in HP were significantly increased compared to those in MP and LP (p < 0.05). The activities of protease and α-amylase in HP were significantly greater than those of LP (p < 0.05). For the ruminal microbial community, higher proportions of phylum Prevotella 1 and Succiniclasticum and genus Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group and Ruminococcus 1 were observed in HP (p < 0.05). A total of 60 differential metabolites (DMs) (28 up, 32 down) between HP and MP; 73 DMs (55 up, 18 down) between HP and LP; and 65 DMs (49 up, 16 down) between MP and LP were identified. Furthermore, four pathways of the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, tryptophan metabolism, bile secretion and ABC transporters were significantly different (p < 0.05). The abundance of phylum Prevotella 1 was negatively associated with stearic acid and palmitic acid but positively associated with the taurine. The abundance of genus Ruminococcus 1 was negatively associated with stearic acid, oleic acid, erucic acid, Indole-3-acetamide and palmitic acid but positively associated with 6-hydroxymelatonin. In conclusion, a 13.03% CP level improved ruminal morphology, fermentation parameters and digestive enzyme activities through modulating the microbial community and regulating metabolism in Tibetan sheep.

Evaluation of chitosan and microbial inoculants on aerobic stability and fermentative profile pearl millet, corn and sorghum silages

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of microbial inoculants, chitosan, and blend (microbial inoculants and chitosan) on chemical composition, in vitro degradability, fermentative profile, losses, aerobic stability, and microorganism counts of corn, pearl millet and sorghum silages. A randomised block design was used in a factorial arrangement of 3 × 4. Three crops (pearl millet, corn and sorghum) and four additives: Control (without additive), 2 g of microbial inoculants (for ton of forage), 10 g/kg chitosan per kg of ensiled material, and blend (chitosan [5 g/kg] plus microbial inoculants [2 g/ton forage]), with five replicates per treatment. Chitosan increases the CP levels of silages and improves the in vitro degradability of DM in sorghum silage. The microbial inoculants reduced the pH in pearl millet, corn and sorghum silages (P < 0.001). The additives affected (P < 0.05) the aerobic stability of silages throughout the evaluation period. However, when evaluating the chitosan, the average temperature of the pearl millet and corn silages remained stable for a longer period. Chitosan improved the nutritional quality of sorghum silage. Chitosan-treated silages pearl millet and corn silages show great efficiency in aerobic stability due to antifungal activity. The microbial inoculants show reduced gas losses compared to chitosan.

Photocatalytic Removal of the Endocrine Disruptor Chlorpyrifos using a ZnO.MoO3 Composite Supported on Al2O3

AbstractChlorpyrifos is an endocrine disruptor pesticide that induces breast cancer cell proliferation through Estrogen receptor alpha pathway in humans. It also has toxic effects on some beneficial insects like bees, wasps, and arthropods, even low levels of CP can kill fish in water. Thus, it is important to efficiently remove this compound from wastewaters to get rid of its hazardous effects. Al2O3 supported ZnO.MoO3 composite was prepared as an efficient material for photo‐degradation of chlorpyrifos under UV irradiation and characterized by SEM‐EDX, XRD and TG techniques. The XRD analysis showed the orthorhombic structures with band gap of 2.86 eV for ZnO.MoO3/Al2O3 which was 2.96 eV for MoO3/Al2O3. The kinetics of degradation depicted that ZnO.MoO3/Al2O3 afforded a complete degradation of chlorpyrifos with half life of only 3 minutes which otherwise was 24 minutes in the presence of MoO3/Al2O3. The complete mineralization of chlorpyrifos was confirmed by GC/MS analysis, where no peaks of intermediates were recorded. The prepared material also exhibited good recyclability without any leaching of Zn and Mo metals. Thus, ZnO.MoO3/Al2O3 is an efficient and cost effective material for removal of chlorpyrifos. Its potential may also be explored for the removal of other hazardous organic pollutants.

The Effects of Dietary Resveratrol and β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyric Acid Supplementation at Two Protein Levels on the Ruminal Microbiome and Metabolome of Tibetan Sheep

Resveratrol (RES) and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other beneficial properties. Here, we hypothesize that supplementation with RES and HMB could affect the rumen function in Tibetan sheep. This study aims to explore the effects of RES and HMB supplementation at different protein levels on the rumen microbial and metabolite compositions of Tibetan sheep. Four treatments (n = 30) were prepared according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with two dietary protein levels (12% and 14%) and two feed additives (RES 1.50 g/day and HMB 1.25 g/day). The experimental treatments were fed diets with 12% CP level non-supplemented (L), 12% protein with RES and HMB (L-RES-HMB), 14% CP level non-supplemented (H), and 14% protein with RES and HMB (H-RES-HMB), respectively. Our results indicated that the trypsin, chymotrypsin, and lipase were significantly increased in the H-RES-HMB group (p &lt; 0.05), while the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration was significantly reduced (p &lt; 0.05). The alpha diversity analysis found that the ACE indices of the L-RES-HMB, and H-RES-HMB groups was significantly higher than that of the L group (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, compared with the L, L-RES-HMB, and H groups, it was found that the abundance of Euryarchaeota, Spirochaeota, and Metanobrevibacter was significantly increased in the H-RES-HMB group, while the abundance of Proteobacteria was significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.05). A total of 745 significantly different metabolites were identified, of which 14 metabolites were common among the three comparative groups. Differential metabolites were mainly enriched in pathways including the pyrimidine metabolism, the glycine, serine, and threonine metabolisms, and ABC transporters. Overall, CP level and RES/HMB exhibited positively interaction effect on digestive enzyme activity and antioxidant capacity. Dietary RES and HMB supplementation on 14% CP level improved the ruminal digestive enzyme activity and antioxidant capacity through modulating the microbial community and regulating the metabolism.

Clinical performance of fecal calprotectin, lactoferrin, and hemoglobin for evaluating the disease activity of IBD and detecting colorectal tumors.

Recently, noninvasive fecal markers have been used as indicators of intestinal inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We conducted a clinical validation study to measure fecal calprotectin (Cp), lactoferrin (Lf), and hemoglobin (Hb) levels using an all-in-one kit in patients with IBD and colorectal tumors and aimed to clarify the utility of these fecal markers. In this study, 104 patients were analyzed, including 25 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 20 with Crohn's disease (CD), 48 with colorectal tumors, and 13 healthy controls (HC). Of the 48 patients with colorectal tumors, 14 had invasive cancer. We validated the utility of fecal Cp, Lf, and Hb levels by simultaneously measuring fecal markers in patients with IBD and colorectal tumors. Fecal Cp and Lf had almost equivalent abilities in detecting clinical remission in patients with UC; however, fecal Cp was slightly superior to Lf. Regarding colorectal tumors, fecal Cp and Lf levels tended to be higher in patients with adenomas and colorectal cancer than in HCs. Although fecal Hb alone had the best sensitivity and specificity for detecting colorectal cancer, it had relatively low sensitivity for detecting advanced neoplasms and colorectal cancer. Fecal Cp and Lf can be used as almost equivalent biomarkers to assess the clinical activity in patients with UC. Fecal Hb is the most useful marker for screening colorectal cancer; however, adding fecal Cp and Lf may compensate for the low sensitivity of detecting for advanced colorectal tumors based on Hb alone.

Impact of dietary protein and energy levels on fatty acid profile, gut microbiome and cecal metabolome in native growing chickens

The present study investigated the optimal concentration of dietary ME and CP for the fatty acid profile of meat, gut microbiome, and cecal metabolome in Danzhou chickens from 120 to 150 d of age. A total of seven hundred and twenty 120-d-old Danzhou female chickens, with a similar BW, were randomly allocated into 6 treatments with 6 replicates and each of 20 birds. The chickens were fed 2 levels of dietary ME (11.70 MJ/kg, 12.50 MJ/kg), and 3 levels of dietary CP (13%, 14%, and 15%). The results showed that dietary ME and CP levels didn't affect final BW, ADG, ADFI, and feed gain ratio (g: g) (P > 0.05). The serum concentrations of triglyceride, insulin, and glucose in the 12.50 MJ/kg group were the highest (P < 0.05). Dietary ME, CP levels, and their interactions affected (P < 0.05) the fatty acid content in the breast muscle, thigh muscle, and liver. The levels of C18:0, C20:0, C22:0, C22:1, C18:2, C18:3, C22:6, and SFA of the liver in the high ME group were higher than those in the low ME group (P < 0.05). The levels of C16:0, C14:1, C18:1, C22:5, SFA, MUFA and USFA in the low CP group were higher than the corresponding values in the other groups (P < 0.05). Dietary ME and CP levels altered the composition and relative abundance of microbiota in the cecum of chickens at various taxonomic levels to different extents. Significant effects of interactions were found between dietary ME and CP on the relative abundance of 10 species (P < 0.05), and among these species, 6 species belonged to the genus Bacteroides. Notably, the relative abundance of 2 probiotic species including Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus salivarius was significantly increased (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary ME level. There were 6 differential metabolites in the cecum, comprising thromboxane A2, 5,6-DHET, prostaglandin D2, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 12(S)-HPETE and prostaglandin I2 significantly reduced (P < 0.05) with increasing the dietary ME level; all of them are involved in arachidonic acid metabolism. In conclusion, the present study suggested that the dietary levels of 12.50 MJ/kg ME and 14% CP enhanced meat quality in terms of fatty acid composition, and showed benefits for maintaining intestinal health via positive regulation of cecal microbiota in native growing Danzhou chickens.

The Influence of N-Acetyl-selenomethionine on Two RONS-Generating Cancer Cell Lines Compared to N-Acetyl-methionine.

Jurkat and MTC-SK cells were cultured in the absence or presence of varying concentrations (0-500 µg/mL) of NASeLM and NALM solutions. After 0, 24, 48, and 72 h, mitochondrial activity, cancer cell membrane CP levels, cell growth, and caspase-3 activity were assessed in aliquots of Jurkat and MTC-SK cells. Both substances, NASeLM and NALM, were similarly able to inhibit cell growth and mitochondrial activity of Jurkat cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner up to 70%. Only the determination of caspase activity showed that only NASeLM was able to increase this to almost 40% compared to the control as well as the same lack of NALM. However, the experiments on MTC-SK cells showed a clear difference in favor of NASeLM compared to NALM. While NASeLM was able to reduce cell growth to up to 55%, the same amount of NALM was only at around 15%, which turned out to be highly significant (p < 0.001). The same could also be measured for the reduction in MTC-SK mitochondrial activity. Time dependence could also be recognized: the longer both substances, NASeLM and NALM, were incubated, the higher the effect on cell growth and mitochondrial activity, in favour of NASeLM. Only NASeLM was able to increase caspase-3 activity in MTC-SK cells: at 250 µg/mL NASeLM, caspase-3 activity increased significantly to 28% after 24 and 48 h compared to the control (14%) or the same NALM concentration (14%). After 72 h, this could still increase to 37%. A further increase in the NASeLM concentration did not result in higher caspase-3 activity. NASeLM could clearly increase caspase-3 activity in both cell types, Jurkat or MTC-SK cells, and thus induce cell death. NALM and NASeLM showed a reduction in cell growth and mitochondrial activity in both cell lines: While NALM and NASeLM showed almost identical measurements on Jurkat cells, NASeLM was much more effective on MTC-SK than the non-selenium-containing carrier, indicating that it has additional anti-chemoprotective effects.

Effect of Achyranthes japonica extract on growth, digestibility, microbiota, gas emission, and meat quality in broilers fed different protein diets.

Achyranthes japonica extract (AJE) is a multifuctional products that express anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of AJE addition to standard and low crude protein (LCP) diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta bacterial count, excreta noxious gas emissions, breast meat quality, and organ weight of broiler chicken. A total of 340 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers [initial body weight (BW) of 43.10 ± 1.46 g, 5 replicate cages per treatment, and 17 birds per cage] were randomly distributed into 1 of 4 dietary treatment groups for a 35 day trial. The diets were provided based on three age stage of the broiler. In the starter stage broiler were fed basal diet. Experimental diet were fed to broiler from day 8 to 35. In growing (days 8-21) and finishing (days 22-35) stage broiler were fed: Standard crude protein (SCP) diet and LCP diet with 0.025% and 0.05% of AJE supplementation respectively. Here, the SCP and LCP diets were 21.50% and 20.86% CP during days 8-21 and 20.00% and 19.40% CP during days 22-35, respectively. The SCP diets with 0.025% AJE supplementation resulted in higher (p < 0.5) BW gain (BWG) at finishing stage and a tendency to lower feed conversion ratio and BWG in the overall period compared to LCP diets with or without AJE supplemenation. Moreover, dry matter and nitrogen digestibility were increased with SCP diet along with 0.025% of AJE. No significant difference was found in meat quality parameters except for pH. Interestingly, the NH3 gas emission to the environment was found to be less with different levels of CP and AJE supplementation. Therefore, we concluded that the addition of 0.025% AJE to the SCP diet improved broiler growth performance and nutrient digestibility with low fecal NH3 emissions.

Dietary effects of protected fat, glycerol, and soybean meal on performance, physiological parameters, carcass characteristics, and behavioral measurements of late-fattening Hanwoo steers under heat stress conditions.

This study aimed to determine the effects of increasing energy and protein levels in diets by including protected fat (PF), glycerol (GL), and soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance, physiological parameters, carcass characteristics, and behavioral measurements of late-fattening Hanwoo steers under heat stress conditions. Thirty-six steers (initial body weight, 724.9±58.3 kg; age, 25.5±0.4 month) were assigned into control (total digestible nutrient [TDN] 76%, crude protein [CP] 15%), PF (TDN 83.6%, CP 15%), PF+GL (TDN 83.6%, CP 15%) and PF+GL+SBM (TDN 83.6%, CP 16.5%) by randomized complete block design for a total of 16 weeks with division of 4-week periods. The average temperature-humidity index was 87.0 (1st period; severe), 82.8 (2nd; moderate), 71.4 (3rd; comfort), and 68.1 (4th; comfort). The dry matter intake (DMI) showed no treatments differences during the whole experiment. However, DMI in 1st and 2nd period decreased by approximately 30% and 10% compared to 4th period, respectively. Higher average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were noted for treatments compared to control at both 1st and 2nd period (p<0.05). There were no treatment effects on rectal temperature (RT), cortisol, and behaviors during the entire experiment. However, both RT and cortisol in 0, 1st and 2nd period were higher than those of 3rd and 4th period (p<0.05). Carcass yield and grade remained unaffected by increasing TDN and CP levels. Behavioral changes in the hot season (1st period) included reduced lying (43%), increased standing (48%), decreased walking (62%), and decreased eating (38%) (p<0.05), with an increase in drinking by 54%. Rumination during standing was 53% higher, while rumination during lying was about 33% lower compared to the post-hot season (3rd period) (p<0.05). Dietary supplementation of protected fat in late-fattening Hanwoo steers under heat stress had a positive effect on preventing a reduction in performance.

Evaluation of internal markers in digestibility estimation for sheep and goats.

The objective of this study was to compare the indirect methods of obtaining digestibility with the direct method of total fecal collection to estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients in sheep and goats supplemented with non-protein nitrogen. Five goats and five sheep with no defined racial pattern were used, distributed in two 5 × 5 Latin squares, with split plots, considering the diets as plots and the apparent digestibility determination methodologies as subplots. The diets were composed of buffelgrass hay and the addition, via ruminal infusion, of increasing amounts of nitrogen supplementation in order to gradually raise the CP level of the basal diet in intervals of 2% points, that is, + 2, +4, + 6 and + 8%. Samples of the feeds offered, and the leftovers were collected daily during the five days of collection to determine the nutrient intake, as well as the total collection of feces to determine the apparent digestibility of the nutrients. The amount of fecal dry matter excreted was estimated by the concentration of Indigestible Acid Detergent Fiber (ADFi), Indigestible Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDFi), Indigestible Dry Matter at 244h (DMi 244h) and Indigestible Dry Matter at 264h (DMi 264h). Among the evaluated markers, DMi 264h had the lowest accuracy in estimating fecal excretion and nutrient digestibility. For the goat species, the markers ADFi and DMi 244h proved to be able to adequately predict fecal excretion and digestibility indices, while NDFi stood out for both species. Among the evaluated markers, NDFi is the one that most accurately estimates the nutrient digestibility of the diet for goats and sheep.

Determination of Malondialdehyde, Nitric Oxide, Reduced Glutathione, Sialic Acid and Ceruloplasmin Levels in Sheep Liver Tissue With Hydatic Cyst

Cystic echinococcosis is a prevalent helminth-zoonosis that poses a significant threat to human and animal health worldwide. Although it typically shows an asymptomatic clinical course, it has been reported to cause many damages and biochemical changes in tissues and organism. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), ceruloplasmin (Cp), and total sialic acid (TSA) in sheep liver tissue affected by cystic echinococcosis. The study was carried out on sheep between 4-5 years of age brought to the slaughterhouse in the Igdir territory. The livers were examined post-mortem for cystic echinococcosis and cystic structures. Sheep liver tissues that tested positive for protoscolex were designated as the ‘infected group’, while healthy sheep liver tissues without lesions were assigned to the ‘control group’. The results showed significantly higher levels of NO, MDA, Cp and TSA in the infected group compared to the control group (p&amp;lt;0.05), while GSH levels were significantly lower (p&amp;lt;0.05). These findings indicate that cystic echinococcosis in sheep is closely associated with mechanisms of inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue damage. Moreover, our study provides insights into the oxidative response of cystic echinococcosis in liver tissue and enhances our understanding of the disease’s pathogenesis.

A Pushover analysis approach considering structural and loading uncertainties for seismic performance assessment

This paper proposes an approach for evaluating the seismic performance of buildings. By considering the uncertainties in material and geometrical properties of the structural elements as well as those related to the seismic loading, this method aims to delimit the performance zone of the structure rather than focusing on a single performance point commonly used in pushover analysis. This zone makes it possible to identify the probable levels of performance of the building linked to uncertainties and to indicate the most severe level of damage. Reasoning by performance points leads to an answer that gives a single state of damage. The performance zone is defined by capacity curves and response spectrum representing the mean values plus and minus standard deviation obtained by Monte Carlo simulations. These simulations consider the stiffnesses of the structural elements, the natural periods, and the damping ratio of the response spectrum as random variables. The application of the procedure to a case of a building made it possible to identify the upper limit of damage corresponding to the most unfavourable scenario of uncertainties, as well as the situation of the response value of the studied structure in the performance zone, indicating a less critical level of damage (minor damage) to the building. The calculation of the performance point revealed a level of damage oscillating between Immediate Occupancy (IO) and Life Safety (LS). Considering the uncertainties in the material and geometric properties of the structural elements as well as those linked to the response spectrum, the probable extreme damage state is between the LS and CP levels (severe damage).

Essential tremor is associated with reduced serum ceruloplasmin levels.

Essential tremor (ET), a prevalent movement disorder, has an elusive pathogenesis. A reduction in ceruloplasmin (Cp) levels can be found in some patients with ET. In addition, some studies have suggested an association between ET and neurodegeneration. As a ferroxidase, Cp is critical for iron metabolism, protecting against oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. Iron metabolism dysregulation, linked to ferroptosis, has implications in neurodegenerative diseases. Yet, research on Cp and ET remains limited. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between ET and serum Cp levels. We collected demographic and clinical data from 62 patients with ET satisfying the diagnostic criteria and compared these to data from 100 healthy controls. The median Cp levels in ET patients were 21.5 (18.8, 23.9) mg/dL, significantly lower than those in controls (23.1 [(20.7, 25.7) mg/dL; P = 0.006]). A reduction in Cp levels emerged as a risk factor for ET incidence (odds ratio (OR) = 0.873, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.795, 0.959; P = 0.005). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for serum Cp levels to predict the onset of ET was 0.629 (95% CI, 0.537-0.720; P = 0.006), and the optimal cut-off value for Cp levels was 19.5mg/dL with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 33.9%. Our analysis suggests that reduced Cp levels are associated with ET. We speculate that reduced Cp levels may be involved in the pathogenesis of ET, which requires further studies.

Doppler ultrasonographic scan, gene expression and serum profile of immune, APPs and antioxidant markers in Egyptian buffalo–cows with clinical endometritis

The objective of this study was to elaborate Doppler ultrasonographic scan, genetic resistance and serum profile of markers associated with endometritis susceptibility in Egyptian buffalo–cows. The enrolled animals were designed as; twenty five apparently healthy buffalo–cows considered as a control group and twenty five infected buffalo with endometritis. There were significant (p < 0.05) increased of cervical diameter, endometrium thickness, uterine horn diameter, TAMEAN, TAMAX and blood flow through middle uterine artery with significant decrease of PI and RI values in endometritis buffalo–cows. Gene expression levels were considerably higher in endometritis-affected buffaloes than in resistant ones for the genes A2M, ADAMTS20, KCNT2, MAP3K4, MAPK14, FKBP5, FCAMR, TLR2, IRAK3, CCl2, EPHA4, and iNOS. The RXFP1, NDUFS5, TGF-β, SOD3, CAT, and GPX genes were expressed at substantially lower levels in endometritis-affected buffaloes. The PCR-DNA sequence verdicts of healthy and affected buffaloes revealed differences in the SNPs in the amplified DNA bases related to endometritis for the investigated genes. However, MAP3K4 elicited a monomorphic pattern. There was a significant decrease of red blood cells (RBCs) count, Hb and packed cell volume (PCV) with neutrophilia, lymphocytosis and monocytosis in endometritis group compared with healthy ones. The serum levels of Hp, SAA, Cp, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, NO and MDA were significantly (P˂0.05) increased, along with reduction of CAT, GPx, SOD and TAC in buffalo–cows with endometritis compared to healthy ones. The variability of Doppler ultrasonographic scan and studied genes alongside alterations in the serum profile of investigated markers could be a reference guide for limiting buffalo endometritis through selective breeding of natural resistant animals.

Type-shifting in headless relative clauses

Research on the (in)definiteness of bare nouns has developed various proposals regarding which type-shifters exist in human language and which principles are needed to govern their distribution (Carlson 1977; Partee 1987; Chierchia 1998; Dayal 2004; i.a.). At the same time, literature on headless relative clauses (HRCs), primarily focusing on free relatives (FRs) in Indo-European languages, has also developed type-shifting principles (Jacobson 1995; Caponigro 2003, 2004). The type-shifting principles from the FR literature, however, are fundamentally different than those found in proposals for bare nouns. Here, we present case studies from two Mayan languages which diverge from one another in the behavior of bare nouns, and which possess several different kinds of headless relative clauses. We show that “super-free relative clauses” (Caponigro et al. 2021; Caponigro 2022), which lack a wh-word, pattern in ways parallel to bare nouns in the respective languages. We also demonstrate that HRCs headed by a wh-word—i.e., FRs—diverge from bare nouns; they pattern similarly to one another across the languages under investigation, and in ways similar to what has been reported for FRs crosslinguistically. We provide evidence that there is a dedicated FR type-shifter (FR-ι) used as a post-syntactic mechanism to repair a type-mismatch at the CP level, building on work by Caponigro (2004). Our novel contribution is that this type-shifter is available regardless of the presence or absence of other type-shifters in a language. This paper adds new data to our understanding of the range and applicability of different definiteness-related type-shifters as well as captures certain typological tendencies regarding HRCs.