Lower Relative Weight Research Articles

Exploring supply chain and regional resilience through the analysis of the transport dimension

Despite the key role that global supply chains (GSC), and more specifically, the transport and logistics function, might play in the performance of regions, there is a lack of analytical tools that turn the data generated by supply chain operations into quantitative metrics allowing policymakers to identify early signals of potential vulnerabilities and assess how resilient the GSC are at regional level. In an effort to fill this gap, we present a Transportation Resilience Index (TRI) that permits evaluating how transport chains affect supply chain resilience and, consequently, regional resilience. Our index, based on publicly available data –statistics on foreign trade flows provided by the Spanish Customs, the World Bank’ Logistics Performance Index and the UNCTAD’ Bilateral Liner Shipping Connectivity Index − differentiates between the determinants over which the company has direct decision-making control, and those linked to the selection of the supply market (market and macro dimensions). The TRI is applied to the Spanish regions (NUTS2) by using the Benefit-of-the-Doubt (BoD) approach to Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and applying a Common Set of Weights (CSW) for the selection of the weights to the index components. In our specific analysis, the market and macroeconomic components account for 84% of the total weight of the TRI. Despite the lower relative weight of the company dimension, the high degree of homogeneity in the market and macroeconomic scores means the company dimension plays a key role in the relative resilience of the Spanish regions.

Enhancing Giant African Land Snail (Archachatina marginata) production with Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae) in the south-west region of Cameroon

This study was designed to determine the effect of Thymus vulgaris leaf meal on the production of Archachatina marginata. Two hundred and twenty-four adult snails were divided into four treatments of 14 snails and four replicates. Treatment T0 received only the experimental diet while three other treatments received diets with different inclusion levels of T. vulgaris leaf meal at 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%. Feed and leftovers were quantified daily using an electronic weighing scale. The results obtained show that feed intake was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in animals receiving 0.75% T. vulgaris, compared to other treatments. Likewise, the values of cardiac and pedal mass were higher in animals receiving 0.25% inclusion of T. vulgaris in their diet. Low relative weight variations in the internal organs across treatments were observed but significant differences occurred regarding only the shell weight and ovotestis. The results obtained from the proximate analysis of snail flesh show that dry matter was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in animals receiving 0.25% T. vulgaris in their diet. Minerals analyzed were also significantly affected (P < 0.05) by the inclusion of T. vulgaris in the diet. In conclusion, incorporation of T. vulgaris leaf powder at 0.25% can be recommended in the diet of snails.

Morbidity and mortality in premature or low birth weight patients with congenital heart disease in three European pediatric heart centers between 2016 and 2020.

The treatment of preterm and low birth weight (LBW) neonates born with congenital heart disease (CHD) requiring early cardiac intervention remains challenging. We aimed to analyze morbidity and mortality in this combined high-risk patient group. A retrospective cohort study was conducted of preterm [<37 weeks gestational age (GA)] and/or LBW neonates (<2,500 g) born with a diagnosis of CHD, which requires invasive cardiac intervention (surgery or catheter) within their first year of life. Patients born between 2016 and 2020 and treated in three European pediatric heart centers were included. A total of 308 neonates (51% male) with CHD were included. Of those, 237 (77%) were born preterm, 259 (84%) were LBW, and 188 (61%) were both. The median GA was 35.4 weeks (interquartile range 33.3-36.9) and the mean birth weight was 2,016 ± 580 g. CHD was categorized as simple (12%), moderate (64%), or severe (24%). The overall complication rate was 45% and was highest in patients with severe CHD (p = 0.002). One-year mortality (19%) was associated with severe CHD, low relative birth weight in patients with genetic diagnoses, and low GA at birth, whereas GA at birth significantly impacted survival only after 3 months of life. The high morbidity and mortality in preterm and LBW neonates with CHD reflect their complexity and consequent limited treatment feasibility.

Connective Tissue Dysplasia As A Predictor Of Premature Skin Aging

Background — One of the manifestations of connective tissue dysplasia (CTD) is premature skin aging. The latter can have different etiological factors. The objective of our study was to investigate the effect of predictors of premature skin aging, especially CTD, on the severity of involutional changes in the skin, as well as to develop the approach for the management of patients with premature aging. Material and Methods — We included in our study 78 women 35-45 years of age with no substantial anti-aging treatment procedures in their anamneses. We considered genealogical and cosmetological anamneses, and life history (including somatic pathology), physical examination; determined prevailing type of facial skin aging; identified predictors of CTD, assessed psychoemotional state of the patient, and performed sonography of the skin and biochemical examination of patient serum. At a clinical stage, we conducted a randomized comparative study of biorevitalizant efficacy in patients with normal and premature patterns of skin aging. Results — Our study established the role of CTD in assessing the risk of premature skin aging. In addition to the presence of CTD, the importance of identifying isolated phenotypic manifestations of CTD (such as arachnodactyly, hypermobility syndrome, low relative weight of the patient, and skin manifestations of CTD) was shown. Other predictors were also analyzed; their identification can help assessing the risk of premature skin aging. Among them, somatic pathology (varicose veins, herniated discs, visceroptosis, autonomic vascular dystonia) and physical examination data (such as pallor of the facial skin, swelling, skin hyperelasticity) were noted. When assessing the clinical efficacy of biorevitalization, the greatest satisfaction of patients with premature skin aging regarding its results was characteristic for the group of patients after 7% collagen treatment. The clinical efficacy according to sonography and histological examination in patients with premature skin aging was significantly higher after the use of collagen or a complex hyaluronic acid (HA) preparation, compared with native HA. Patients with premature skin aging exhibited high level of anxiety and/or depression, which in turn increased the risk of underestimating the outcome of procedures. Conclusion — The presented study confirmed the role of CTD in assessing the risk of premature skin aging. Predictors were revealed (somatic pathology, type of facial aging, physical examination data of the patient, etc.) that could be used to assess the risk of premature skin aging. In patients with premature aging, preparation with native HA (as a biorevitalizant) had a low clinical efficacy comparable to using placebo. A collagen-based preparation and a complex HA-based preparation exhibited high clinical efficacy. Also, patients with premature aging of the skin had a higher score of anxiety and depression, while patients with high levels of anxiety and depression were more likely to underestimate the satisfaction with the results of their aesthetic treatment.

Spectral Characteristics and Source Analysis of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in Surface Water of Taihu Lake Before Cyanobacterial Blooming

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is an important part of the nutrient biogeochemical cycle in aquatic ecosystems. To explore the characteristics and sources of CDOM components in the surface water of Taihu Lake, UV-visible spectroscopy and excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy-parallel factor analysis were used to analyze CDOM components in surface water. Combined with CDOM optical parameters (a355, SUVA254, a250/a365, FI, BIX, and HIX), the spatial differences and pollution sources were identified, and a preliminary comparison was made between this study and the historical data of CDOM components in Taihu Lake. According to the results, a355, SUVA254, and a250/a365 showed the characteristics of high concentration, high aromatic ability, and low relative molecular weight of CDOM in the surface water of the eastern part of Taihu Lake; however, the northern part showed the opposite characteristics. Four components were isolated from CDOM using parallel factor analysis:one tyrosine-like (C1), two types of tryptophan (C2 and C4), and one fulionic acid (C3). The main component C1 had a strong linear relationship with the C2 and C3 components, suggesting that different components originated from similar pollution sources. The fluorescence index showed that CDOM in different areas of Taihu Lake were differently affected by endogenous and terrestrial inputs; however, the overall humification degree was low. This indicated that the CDOM components in Taihu Lake were primarily protein-like (C1, C2, and C4) (>85%) and autogenous, with good biochemical availability.

Prey species and abundance affect growth and photosynthetic performance of the polyphagous sea slug Elysia crispata.

Some sacoglossan sea slugs steal functional macroalgal chloroplasts (kleptoplasts). In this study, we investigated the effects of algal prey species and abundance on the growth and photosynthetic capacity of the tropical polyphagous sea slug Elysia crispata. Recently hatched sea slugs fed and acquired chloroplasts from the macroalga Bryopsis plumosa, but not from Acetabularia acetabulum. However, adult sea slugs were able to switch diet to A. acetabulum, rapidly replacing the great majority of the original kleptoplasts. When fed with B. plumosa, higher feeding frequency resulted in significantly higher growth and kleptoplast photosynthetic yield, as well as a slower relative decrease in these parameters upon starvation. Longevity of A. acetabulum-derived chloroplasts in E. crispata was over twofold that of B. plumosa. Furthermore, significantly lower relative weight loss under starvation was observed in sea slugs previously fed on A. acetabulum than on B. plumosa. This study shows that functionality and longevity of kleptoplasts in photosynthetic sea slugs depend on the origin of the plastids. Furthermore, we have identified A. acetabulum as a donor of photosynthetically efficient chloroplasts common to highly specialized monophagous and polyphagous sea slugs capable of long-term retention, which opens new experimental routes to unravel the unsolved mysteries of kleptoplasty.

Degree of Public Basic Schools' Principals in Al-Balqa Governorate Practicing the Transformational Leadership and its impact on Developing institutional Performance from The Teachers Point of View

The study aimed to identify the training needs of teachers who have students with motor disabilities at their classes, as well as arranging these training needs, which may contribute to the preparation of any future training program. The researcher used the descriptive analytical method to describe and analyse the problem of the study in the hope of raising the level of awareness of stakeholders to the training needs of the study sample, which consisted of (n=87) male and female teachers. The main study tool was employed, which is a questionnaire prepared by the researcher. The scale contains thirty phrases distributed over five dimensions. These dimensions represent training topics. The results showed that the relative weight of the training needs to develop teachers' knowledge and skills in schools amounted to (71.2%), and this indicates that the level of teachers' awareness of ways to respond to the emotional needs of students with motor disabilities was at a moderate degree. Since the low relative weight in the scale means an increase in the level of teachers’ need for training, then the teachers’ training needs can be arranged according to the dimensions of the training topics from the most need to the least training need as follows: psychological needs, teacher’s role in facilitating the satisfaction of psychological needs, motor disability, psychological needs of students with motor disabilities, and integration and inclusive education. The study came out with some relationships with some variables and some important recommendations for the practice of inclusive education and responding to emotional needs. Keywords: teacher's training needs – teachers respond - psychological needs – students with disabilities - inclusive education

Teachers' training needs to respond to psychological needs of students with disability in line with inclusive education

The study aimed to identify the training needs of teachers who have students with motor disabilities at their classes, as well as arranging these training needs, which may contribute to the preparation of any future training program. The researcher used the descriptive analytical method to describe and analyse the problem of the study in the hope of raising the level of awareness of stakeholders to the training needs of the study sample, which consisted of (n=87) male and female teachers. The main study tool was employed, which is a questionnaire prepared by the researcher. The scale contains thirty phrases distributed over five dimensions. These dimensions represent training topics. The results showed that the relative weight of the training needs to develop teachers' knowledge and skills in schools amounted to (71.2%), and this indicates that the level of teachers' awareness of ways to respond to the emotional needs of students with motor disabilities was at a moderate degree. Since the low relative weight in the scale means an increase in the level of teachers’ need for training, then the teachers’ training needs can be arranged according to the dimensions of the training topics from the most need to the least training need as follows: psychological needs, teacher’s role in facilitating the satisfaction of psychological needs, motor disability, psychological needs of students with motor disabilities, and integration and inclusive education. The study came out with some relationships with some variables and some important recommendations for the practice of inclusive education and responding to emotional needs. Keywords: teacher's training needs – teachers respond - psychological needs – students with disabilities - inclusive education

Characterization of a thermostable PL-31 family alginate lyase from Paenibacillus ehimensis and its application for alginate oligosaccharides bioproduction

Currently, people pay more attention to marine sugars, because of their unique physiological effects. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) are the degradation products of alginate and have been used in food, cosmetic, and medicine fields. AOS display good physical characteristics (low relative molecular weight, good solubility, high safety, and high stability) and excellent physiological functions (immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and prebiotic activities). Alginate lyase plays a key role in the AOS bioproduction. In this study, a novel PL-31 family alginate lyase from Paenibacillus ehimensis (paeh-aly) was identified and characterized. It was extracellularly secreted in E. coli and exhibited a preference for the substrate poly β-D-mannuronate. Using sodium alginate as the substrate, it showed the maximum catalytic activity (125.7 U/mg) at pH 7.5 and 55 °C with 50 mM NaCl. Compared with other alginate lyases, paeh-aly exhibited good stability. About 86.6% and 61.0% residual activity could be maintained after 5 h incubation at 50 and 55 °C respectively, and its Tm value was 61.5 °C. The degradation products were AOS with DP 2–4. Paeh-aly demonstrated strong promise for AOS industrial production because of its excellent thermostability and efficiency.

Study of the Behavior and the Mechanical Properties of Adhesively Bonded Polymer Matrix Composites Under Mechanical Loading

Glass fiber reinforced Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) have a complex set of properties - high specific strength and hardness, good corrosion and chemical resistance, and most of all low relative weight, making them the preferred material over metallic materials in a number of industries (aircraft, boat building, renewable energy facilities and many others). The main aim set in the present work was reduced to the obtaining of PMCs made by adhesive bonding of two composites with a matrix of different types of resin (vinyl ester and epoxy) and the study of their behaviour in determining their mechanical properties. The studies were carried out with four types of adhesively bonded PMCs made in the form of laminates produced from a combination of three types of resin (two types of vinyl ester and one type of epoxy resin) and reinforced with biaxial fiberglass. The aim is to combine the lack of shrinkage of the epoxy resin with the better mechanical properties and better productivity of the vinyl ester resin. An analysis to determine shear strength, tensile strength and bending strength of the investigated composites was made. A macrostructural fractographic analysis to investigate the material behaviour under mechanical loads was carried out.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) polysaccharide ameliorates type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) via the regulation of hepatic glycogen metabolism

This study intends to explore the antihyperglycemic effect and the possible hypoglycemic mechanism of garlic (Allium sativum L.) polysaccharide (GP) using an animal model. Kunming mice were fed with GP (1.25, 2.5, 5.0 g/kg‧bw) for five weeks after insulin resistance (IR) engendering by a high-oil-high-sugar diet and streptozotocin (STZ). Intragastric administration of GP effectively improved the disease of polyphagia and polydipsia in diabetic mice. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) in the high-dose GP (DGH) group was meaningfully 42% lower than that in the diabetic model (DC) group showing its hypoglycemic effect. GP might manipulate hepatic glycogen metabolism by regulating the content of glucokinase (GK), glycogen synthase (GS), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). Results showed that GP with a low relative molecular weight (MW) of 2.0 kDa consisted predominately of a 2,1-β-D-Fruf backbone with 20.7% side chains owning the structure-effect on hypoglycemia indicating it could be a potential supplement for the intervention and management of hyperglycemia.

Key drivers of the textile and clothing industry decarbonisation within the EU-27

The European Union has identified the Textile and Clothing industry as one of the essential objectives towards carbon neutrality in 2050 in line with the “European Green Deal”. There are no previous research papers focused on analysing the drivers and inhibitors of the past greenhouse gas emission changes of the textile and clothing industry in Europe. This paper aims to analyse the determinants of the changes in these emissions, and the disassociation level between emissions and economic growth, throughout the 27 Member States of the European Union, from 2008 to 2018. A Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index that explains the key drivers of the changes in greenhouse gas emissions of European Union Textile and Cloth industry and a Decoupling Index have been applied. The results generally conclude that the intensity and carbonisation effects are key factors that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The lower relative weight of the textile and clothing industry throughout the EU-27 was noteworthy, and favours lower emissions, partially counteracted by the activity effect. Also, most Member States have been decoupling the industry's emissions from economic growth. Our policy recommendation shows that if further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are to be achieved, energy efficiency improvements and cleaner use of energy sources would offset the potential increase in emissions of this industry as a result of a relative increase in its gross value added.

Guanidinoacetic acid supplementation improves intestinal morphology, mucosal barrier function of broilers subjected to chronic heat stress.

The current study is designed to investigate dietary guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation on the growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, and jejunum mucosal barrier function of broilers that are subjected to chronic heat stress (HS). A total of 192 male broilers (28-d old) were randomly allocated to four groups. A chronic HS model (at a temperature of 32 °C and 50%-60% relative humidity for 24 h daily) was applied in the experiment. Normal control (NC, ad libitum feeding, 22 °C), HS group (HS, ad libitum feeding, 32 °C), pair-fed group (PF, received food equivalent to that consumed by the HS group on the previous day, 22 °C), guanidinoacetic acid group (HG, ad libitum feeding, supplementing the basal diet with 0.6 g/kg GAA, 32 °C). The experiment lasted from 28 to 35 and 28 to 42 d of age of broilers. Our results showed that broilers subjected to HS had lower average daily feed intake and average daily gain (P < 0.05), higher feed-to-gain ratio and relative length of the small intestine (P < 0.05), as well as lower relative weight and weight per unit length of the small intestine (P < 0.05). HS damaged the small intestinal histomorphology by decreasing the small intestinal VH and the VH/CD (P < 0.05). Compared with the HS group, supplementation with 0.6 g/kg GAA increased jejunal VH and VH/CD (P < 0.05), but decreased relative weight and relative length of the small intestine (P < 0.05). Moreover, in comparison with NC, HS elevated intestinal permeability (D-Lactic acid concentration and diamine oxidase activity) and mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (P < 0.05), reduced jejunal mucus thickness, number of goblet cells, IgA + cell density, and mucin2 mRNA expression level of broilers (P < 0.05). Compared with the HS group, dietary GAA elevated jejunal mucus thickness, goblet cell number and IgA+ cell density (P < 0.05), and up-regulated jejunal mRNA expression of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (P < 0.05). In conclusion, HS impaired growth performance, and the intestinal mucosal barrier function of broilers. Dietary supplementation with 0.6 g/kg GAA alleviated HS-induced histomorphology changes of small intestine and jejunal mucosal barrier dysfunction.

The advanced treatment of textile printing and dyeing wastewater by hydrodynamic cavitation and ozone: Degradation, mechanism, and transformation of dissolved organic matter

The emission standards for textile printing and dyeing wastewater are stricter due to serious environmental issues. A novel technology, hydrodynamic cavitation combined with ozone (HC + O3), has attracted wide attention in wastewater advanced treatment, whereas the contaminants removal mechanism and transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were rarely reported. This study investigated the removal efficiency and mechanism of HC + O3. The maximum removal rates of UV254, chrominance, CODCr, and TOC were 64.99%, 91.90%, 32.30%, and 36.67% in 60 min, respectively, at the inlet pressure of 0.15 MPa and O3 dosage of 6.25 mmol/L. The synergetic coefficient of HC + O3 was 2.77. The removal of contaminants was the synergy of 1O2, ·OH and ·O2−, and high molecular weight and strong aromaticity organic matters were degraded effectively. The main components in DOM were tryptophan-like and tyrosine-like, which were effectively removed after HC + O3. Meanwhile, most DOM had decreased to low apparent relative molecular weight (LARMW) compounds. Additionally, the HC + O3 effluent can reach the emission standard in 60 min for 8.07 USD/m3. It can be concluded that HC + O3 is an effective technology for the advanced treatment of industrial wastewater. This study will provide suggestions for the engineering application of HC + O3.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) non-specific lipid transfer protein StLTP6 promotes viral infection by inhibiting virus-induced RNA silencing.

For the first time it is reported that members of the nsLTP protein family could promote viral infection by inhibiting virus-induced RNA silencing. Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are a class of soluble proteins with low relative molecular weight and widely present in higher plants. The role of nsLTPs in biotic and abiotic stresses has been studied, but no report has shown that nsLTPs play a role in the process of viral infection. We report the function and mechanism of the classical nsLTP protein StLTP6 in viral infection. We found that StLTP6 expression was remarkably upregulated in potato infected with potato virus Y and potato virus S. The infection efficiency and virus content of StLTP6-overexpressed potato and Nicotiana benthamiana were remarkable increased. Further study found that the overexpression of StLTP6 inhibited the expression of multiple genes in the RNA silencing pathway, thereby inhibiting virus-induced RNA silencing. This result indicated that StLTP6 expression was induced during viral infection to inhibit the resistance of virus-induced RNA silencing and promote viral infection. In summary, we reported the role of StLTP6 in viral infection, broadening the biological function range of the nsLTP family and providing valuable information for the study of viral infection mechanism.

Analysis of the Dimensions of Lean Manufacturing through the Hierarchical Analysis Process in the General Company for Automobile and Equipment Manufacturing in Alexandria, Babylon of Iraq

This study analyzed the dimensions of agile manufacturing through a hierarchical analysis process at Alexandria’s State Company for Automotive and Equipment. This topic is important in the use of management accounting methods as means to improve the performance of automotive and equipment manufacturers in Alexandria, with a view to achieving their objectives. The fact that these companies also have a significant and fundamental impact on the realities of Egypt’s economy was the answer to the following questions: What are the elements of agile manufacturing at Alexandria’s State Automotive and Equipment Company? What are the most relevant dimensions of the company’s agile manufacturing? And the researcher has followed the analytical approach of analyzing the data on research that will be obtained through the study tool of the scale of dimensions of agile manufacturing, The research was based on the collection of data related to the search on the personal interview with members of the company’s senior management to obtain information and data and relying on the lean manufacturing scale 2012 Singh &amp; Culshan which consists of nine dimensions and applied to employees of the Automotive and Equipment Industry Company in Alexandria, One of the results of this study is a hierarchical analysis process, which depends on the opinions and ideas of the people involved in issuing judgments only, but not other employees of the company, and therefore the views of as many employees as possible must be expanded. In Alexandria, there is an average value for agile manufacturing. Interest from Alexandria General Automotive Company’s management in achieving agile manufacturing and the study recommended that attention should be paid to low relative weight dimensions and to high relative weight dimensions and maintain this level to be used in the implementation of agile manufacturing, Raising the level of awareness of the employees of the State Automotive Company in Alexandria of the importance of applying and increasing the level of efficiency of the dimensions of the process of agile manufacturing and providing all the possibilities and needs required by the process of agile manufacturing.

Aroma Clouds of Foods: A Step Forward to Unveil Food Aroma Complexity Using GC × GC.

The human senses shape the life in several aspects, namely well-being, socialization, health status, and diet, among others. However, only recently, the understanding of this highly sophisticated sensory neuronal pathway has gained new advances. Also, it is known that each olfactory receptor cell expresses only one type of odorant receptor, and each receptor can detect a limited number of odorant substances. Odorant substances are typically volatile or semi-volatile in nature, exhibit low relative molecular weight, and represent a wide variety of chemical families. These molecules may be released from foods, constituting clouds surrounding them, and are responsible for their aroma properties. A single natural aroma may contain a huge number of volatile components, and some of them are present in trace amounts, which make their study especially difficult. Understanding the components of food aromas has become more important than ever with the transformation of food systems and the increased innovation in the food industry. Two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-ToFMS) seems to be a powerful technique for the analytical coverage of the food aromas. Thus, the main purpose of this review is to critically discuss the potential of the GC × GC–based methodologies, combined with a headspace solvent-free microextraction technique, in tandem with data processing and data analysis, as a useful tool to the analysis of the chemical aroma clouds of foods. Due to the broad and complex nature of the aroma chemistry subject, some concepts and challenges related to the characterization of volatile molecules and the perception of aromas will be presented in advance. All topics covered in this review will be elucidated, as much as possible, with examples reported in recent publications, to make the interpretation of the fascinating world of food aroma chemistry more attractive and perceptive.

Is visceral organ size related to feed efficiency in tropical hair sheep?

The residual feed intake (RFI) and residual intake and gain (RIG) are indices that measure ruminant feed efficiency. Their application has become alternatives to improve the profitability of intensive lamb production systems. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of RFI and RIG to measure the non-carcase organ size and cavitary fat of lambs. Thirty non-castrated male lambs were fed for 92 days and slaughtered, and non-carcase organs were weighed. RFI and RIG were classified in low, medium and high efficiency groups, and correlated to carcase and non-carcase organ size. The average RFI values were 0.07, 0.00, and −0.07 kg DM/d and the RIG values were 1.86, −0.20, and −1.91, for high, medium and low, respectively. Low-RFI lambs had lower (p < .05) dry matter intake (DMI) and percentage of DMI standardised by metabolic weight. High-RIG lambs had a higher feed conversion ratio (p ≤ .05) and tended (p < .10) towards higher average dairy gain. The efficient lambs (low-RFI and high-RIG) had a higher heart weight (p ≤ .05). Trends (p < .10) towards higher blood volume and lower relative weight in omental and total cavitary fat deposits were found in lambs with low RFI. Lambs classified as low-RFI and high-RIG had larger hearts, which could be related to improved cardiovascular performance and feed efficiency. Highlights Heart size is related to feed efficiency. Lambs with improved feed efficiency have larger hearts. High-RIG lambs have higher intestinal mass.

STUDY OF OXIDATION KINETICS OF Al-Si ALLOYS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATION OF IMPURITIES (Fe, Zr, V)

Aluminium alloys are used as lightweight materials especially in the aerospace and automotive industries. They have a number of properties such as high corrosion resistance due to the surface oxide coating, low relative weight and better castability. At normal temperatures, metal oxides are more resistant than the metal itself. The oxide layer is much thinner than the metal but protects it from interacting with the air. The kinetics of oxidation processes is the subject of the current work. As the temperature rises, the oxidation process usually proceeds in the presence of water vapour, and its rate depends on various factors, including the initial oxide layer and oxidation kinetics. The values of the oxidation exponent n аrе calculated for aluminium ribbons with different contents of Fe, Mg and Sb. Their influence on the intensity and two-stage tendency of the oxidation process is established.

Nicotinamide Riboside Neutralizes Hypothalamic Inflammation and Increases Weight Loss Without Altering Muscle Mass in Obese Rats Under Calorie Restriction: A Preliminary Investigation.

Obesity treatments, such as calorie restriction (CR), eventually lead to muscle wasting and higher rates of neuroinflammation, whereas hypothalamic inflammatory conditions impair body weight (BW) control. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) has been proposed against obesity but with little evidence on skeletal muscle tissue (SMT) and neuroinflammation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of CR on SMT and on hypothalamic inflammatory biomarkers in obese adult male Wistar rats, and whether NR supplementation alone or in combination with CR affects these parameters. Obesity was induced in rats through a cafeteria diet for 6 weeks. After that, a group of obese rats was exposed to CR, associated or not associated with NR supplementation (400 mg/kg), for another 4 weeks. As a result, obese rats, with or without CR, presented lower relative weight of SMT when compared with eutrophic rats. Rats under CR presented lower absolute SMT weight compared with obese and eutrophic rats, in addition to presenting elevated hypothalamic levels of TNF-α. NR supplementation, in all groups, enhanced weight loss and increased relative weight of the SMT. Furthermore, in animals under CR, NR reversed increases TNF-α levels in the hypothalamus. In this study, these data, although succinct, are the first to evidence the effects of NR on SMT and neuroinflammation when associated with CR, especially in obesity conditions. Therefore, this provides preliminary support for future studies in this investigative field. Furthermore, NR emerges as a potential adjuvant for preventing muscle mass loss in the weight loss processes.