Nutrient Utilization Research Articles

Tinjauan Literatur Pangan lokal di Indonesia

Local food plays a role in enhancing economic, social, and environmental sustainability. However, maximizing the utilization of local food faces various challenges. This study aims to identify publication trends and synthesize knowledge in the context of local food in Indonesia. This study employed the PRISMA diagram for a systematic literature review and Vosviewer for bibliometric analysis. The data used in this research consisted of articles on local food in Indonesia from the Scopus database. Publications on local food in Indonesia have increased from 1994 to the present. The journal with the most scientific articles is the Journal of Biodiversity. Based on bibliometric analysis, words related to local food in Indonesia can be clustered into 5 clusters. Future research in the context of local food in Indonesia can be linked to small and medium enterprises, farmers, nutritional status, health, and traditional food.

Glycogen homeostasis and mtDNA expression require motor neuron to muscle TGFβ/Activin Signaling in Drosophila.

Maintaining metabolic homeostasis requires coordinated nutrient utilization between intracellular organelles and across multiple organ systems. Many organs rely heavily on mitochondria to generate (ATP) from glucose, or stored glycogen. Proteins required for ATP generation are encoded in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). We show that motoneuron to muscle signaling by the TGFβ/Activin family member Actβ positively regulates glycogen levels during Drosophila development. Remarkably, we find that levels of stored glycogen are unaffected by altering cytoplasmic glucose catabolism. Instead, Actβ loss reduces levels of mtDNA and nuclearly encoded genes required for mtDNA replication, transcription and translation. Direct RNAi mediated knockdown of these same nuclearly encoded mtDNA expression factors also results in decreased glycogen stores. Lastly, we find that expressing an activated form of the type I receptor Baboon in muscle restores both glycogen and mtDNA levels in actβ mutants, thereby confirming a direct link between Actβ signaling, glycogen homeostasis and mtDNA expression.

International Development Trends in the Field of Agricultural Resources and the Environment

The development trends and research layout of agricultural resources and the environment (ARE) are the focus of global attention. In this study, we compiled a data set of SCI papers published in the ARE field since the 13th Five-Year Plan. Thereafter, the topic extraction model of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) was used to mine the text content so as to explore the research layout of global ARE. The results show that, between 2016 and the time of this study, 31,559 articles were published in the ARE field, exhibiting an overall upward trend. During this time, China and the United States were the main forces in paper publishing. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, and the US Department of Agriculture were the top three publishing institutions. Research institutes in China, the United States, Russia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Australia cooperated closely, and the CAS was at the center of the cooperation network. The clustering results of text topics based on the LDA model show that three topics—namely, the interaction mechanisms of plants, the rhizosphere, and microorganisms; the mechanisms and predictive evaluation of soil landslides or erosion; and the decomposition and interaction response of organic matter in agroforestry ecosystems—have been the hot research areas in this field since 2016. The management and efficient utilization of farmland nutrients, and the technology and mechanisms of agricultural waste resource utilization have become key research directions since 2019. The research layouts of China and the United States in this field were analyzed, and the similarities and differences were compared. In addition, suggestions for the future development of ARE are proposed. This study is of great significance for the overall development trend of ARE, the timely tracking of scientific research hotspots, outlining key research and development directions, and promoting scientific and technological innovation.

Combining No-Tillage with Hairy Vetch Return Improves Production and Nitrogen Utilization in Silage Maize.

The combination of no-till farming and green manure is key to nourishing the soil and increasing crop yields. However, it remains unclear how to enhance the efficiency of green manure under no-till conditions. We conducted a two-factor field trial of silage maize rotated with hairy vetch to test the effects of tillage methods and returning. Factor 1 is the type of tillage, which is divided into conventional ploughing and no-tillage; factor 2 is the different ways of returning hairy vetch as green manure, which were also compared: no return (NM), stubble return (H), mulching (HM), turnover (HR, for CT only), and live coverage (LM, for NT only). Our findings indicate that different methods of returning hairy vetch to the field will improve maize yield and quality. The best results were obtained in CT and NT in HM and LM, respectively. Specifically, HM resulted in the highest dry matter quality and yield, with improvements of 35.4% and 31.9% over NM under CT, respectively. It also demonstrated the best economic and net energy performance. However, other treatments had no significant effect on the beneficial utilization and return of nutrients. The LM improved yields under NT by boosting soil enzyme activity, promoting nitrogen transformation and accumulation, and increasing nitrogen use efficiency for better kernel development. Overall, NTLM is best at utilizing and distributing soil nutrients and increasing silage maize yield. This finding supports the eco-efficient cultivation approach in silage maize production in the region.

Beef production, physicochemical quality, oxidative shelf-life, fatty acid profile and sensory effects of replacing sorghum for maize in finisher diets

Climate change and high demand for maize have prompted the search for climate-smart, energy feedstuffs such as sorghum for use in beef finisher diets. Relative to maize, sorghum has comparable metabolizable energy content and contains more polyunsaturated fatty acids and bioactive phenolic compounds that may enhance beef health value, oxidative shelf-life, and sensory quality. The study investigated the impact of graded sorghum levels replacing maize in beef finisher diets on nutrient utilization, production, physicochemical quality, fatty acid composition, oxidative shelf-life, and sensory quality attributes of beef. Thirty-five, seven-months-old (230 ± 28 kg average initial weight) Angus steers were individually housed in pens and randomly allocated to five pellet diets formulated by replacing white maize in the basal diet (control) with 100, 200, 300, and 400 g/kg DM of sorghum. Diet did not affect (P > 0.05) nutrient intake, digestibility and utilization, growth performance, carcass characteristics, longissimus thoracis (LT) meat physicochemical quality, fatty acid contents and colour coordinates. Metmyoglobin and colour coordinates increased (P ≤ 0.05) with retail display except redness which declined (P ≤ 0.05). Lipid oxidation of LT meat aged for day 1 tended to increase (P ≤ 0.10) with increased dietary substitution of sorghum for maize in beef finishing diets. In addition, antioxidant activity, metallic aroma and liver-like flavour linearly increased (P ≤ 0.05) with sorghum inclusion in the diet. In conclusion, sorghum can fully replace maize in beef finisher diets with neutral effects on beef production, physicochemical quality, health value and colour stability, and somewhat desirable impact on antioxidant activity and myoglobin stability and undesirable effects on aroma and flavour of LT meat.

Effect of taurine on growth and immune response of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultured at different temperatures

Low temperature is a common challenge in the culture of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), and taurine is a potential nutrient that may improve its cold-resistance. This experiment aimed to investigate effects of dietary taurine on growth and immune response of Pacific white shrimp cultured at normal and cold temperatures. Six diets were supplemented with increasing levels of taurine (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0%) and fed to shrimp (1.59 ± 0.03 g) reared at two water temperatures (28 °C and 20 °C) for 8 weeks. The results showed that compared with 28 °C, shrimp reared at 20 °C showed lower growth performance, feed utilization, apparent digestibility and total hemocyte count (THC) (P < 0.05), but higher content of serum glucose, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+, malonaldehyde (MDA) and apoptosis rate (P < 0.05), indicating a higher risk of oxidative damage during low temperature stress. Interestingly, shrimp could cope with cold stress by changing hemocyte composition, increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and genes expression of apoptosis and autophagy. The effect of taurine was different at different temperatures. At 28 °C, taurine supplementation improved growth rate of shrimp by increasing digestive enzyme activities, digestion absorption rate and nutrient utilization. Based on the quadratic model of weight gain rate, feed efficiency, protein retention efficiency and the broken line model of apparent digestibility coefficients of protein, the amount of taurine required for shrimp reared at 28 °C was 0.57–0.60% of dry diet. At 20 °C, taurine increased the number of THC, granulocytes, semi-granulocytes, the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, and decreased the content of ROS in the cells, which may enhance cold resistance of shrimp. Moreover, taurine supplementation down-regulated mRNA expression of cell apoptosis genes (cyt-c, caspase-9 and caspase-3) and up-regulated mRNA expression of cell autophagy genes (atg1, atg13, atg7 and lc3) (P < 0.05), which may help to maintain cell stability at 20 °C. The optimal requirement of taurine in shrimp reared at 20 °C was 0.56–0.66% of dry diet in this experiment based on THC and MDA content. In conclusion, our study suggests that appropriate taurine promotes growth and feed utilization at optimal temperature and enhances the stability of hemocyte at low temperature in white shrimp.

A Preliminary Study on the Effect of Adding Sugarcane Syrup on the Flavor of Barley Lager Fermentation.

This study focuses on the diversified utilization of the sugarcane industry, and sugarcane syrup, as a by-product of the sugarcane industry, is a good raw material for fermentation. Bringing sugarcane syrup into beer is conducive to the enrichment of the sugar industry, and it can improve the flavor of beer and make it more aromatic. This study determined the optimal fermentation process for beer. By analyzing the consumption rate of the carbon and nitrogen sources of raw materials, the nutrient utilization of yeast, and the causes of differences in flavor substances, the flavor composition and flavor stability of beer were determined by SPME-HS-GC-MS technology. The results showed that beer brewed with sugarcane syrup as an auxiliary raw material met the basic specifications of beer. The addition of sugarcane syrup to the wort base increased the utilization of amino acids by the yeast, and LS (lager with added cane syrup) increased the nine flavor compounds of the beer, which constituted the basic flavor of the beer, bringing new flavor compounds compared with the normal all-barley beer. Forced aging experiments showed that LS produced fewer aging compounds than OWBL. Various experiments have shown that it is feasible to ferment beer with sugarcane syrup instead of partial wort.

Unravelling the intricate language of fish guts: Impact of plant-based vs. plant-insect-poultry-based diets on intestinal pathways in European seabass

The long-term sustainability of aquaculture depends on finding economically viable and environmentally friendly feed ingredients to reduce the use of fishmeal and fish oil. An optimal strategy for the industry is not to identify substitutes or alternatives, but to find a combination of complementary raw materials that together meet the specific nutritional requirements for a given farmed fish species. The study aimed to examine the effects of different diets on the pyloric caeca and distal intestine of subadult European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by applying transcriptomics and transmission electron microscopy. The study examined three dietary approaches: the classic fishmeal-based diet, a plant-based diet, and a plant-insect-poultry-based diet. The distal intestine was more sensitive to dietary changes than the pyloric caeca. The differentially expressed genes in both experimental diets were mainly involved in the digestion and absorption of proteins, fats, and vitamins. The overall transcriptomic changes were greater in the plant-based group than in the plant-insect-poultry-based group and included a greater number of overrepresented metabolic and signalling pathways. In contrast to the transcriptomic results, the ultrastructural findings showed decreased inflammation and/or evidence of tissue repair in the plant-based group, particularly in the pyloric caeca. Since the nutritional quality of all fish groups in this study was previously evaluated positively, the detected transcriptome-level changes can serve as evidence supporting the efficient nutrient utilisation and adaptability in European seabass. The study provides valuable insight into the potential benefits and implications of these dietary modifications on intestinal health and pathway regulation in European seabass. This can serve as a basis for further development of sustainable European seabass aquaculture practices and optimisation of diet formulations.

Improved digestibility of black gram leaf meal based diets for rohu (Labeo rohita) with supplementation of exogenous enzyme cocktail

Leaf meal is currently the most cost-effective source of protein and energy for use as a supplement in fish feed. The drawback associated with integrating it into the fish diet pertains to the presence of anti-nutritional elements that must be eliminated through a viable approach such as the addition of exogenous enzymes for achieving optimal fish production. Consequently, a 60-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the black gram leaf meal (BGLM) as a potential ingredient to replace de-oiled rice bran (DORB) in the diet of Labeo rohita juveniles and reported for the first time. Three hundred acclimatized juveniles (average weight 11 ± 0.09 g) were allocated randomly into ten treatment groups in triplicate. Ten iso-nitrogenous (32 %) and iso-lipidic (6 %) diets were made with varying degrees of BGLM inclusion by gradually replacing DORB without or with exogenous enzyme mixture (E) of protease, xylanase, and phytase at a ratio of 1:1:1 viz. Control (40 % DORB, 0 % BGLM), BG10 (30 % DORB, 10 % BGLM), BG20 (20 % DORB, 20 % BGLM), BG30 (10 % DORB, 30 % BGLM), BG40 (0 % DORB, 40 % BGLM) & CE (C + 0.1 % E), BG10E (BG10 + 0.1 % E), BG20E (BG20 + 0.1 % E), BG30E (BG30 + 0.1 % E), BG40E (BG40 + 0.1 % E) were prepared. Fish fed with BG20E diet exhibited maximum growth rates, nutrient utilization and digestibility co-efficient of the diet (P<0.05) however these were similar in C+E treatment (P>0.05). Inclusion of 20 % or more BGLM without enzyme cocktail significantly (P<0.05) decreased the nutrient utilization and growth performance of L. rohita. The dry matter and nutrient digestibility of the experimental diet were significantly decreased (P<0.05) with the inclusion of 20 % or more BGLM in place of DORB, however supplementation of exogenous enzyme cocktail significantly increase (P<0.05) the digestibility and highest was recorded in BG20E. The present study concluded that supplementation of exogenous enzyme cocktail (protease, xylanase, and phytase) increase the digestibility of BGLM and increases its inclusion level up to 30 % in the diet of L. rohita, however, 20 % BGLM supplemented with enzyme cocktail registered the best growth, nutrient utilization and digestibility coefficient of the diet.

Patagonian dust, Agulhas Current, and Antarctic ice-rafted debris contributions to the South Atlantic Ocean over the past 150,000 years

Disentangling inputs of aeolian dust, ice-rafted debris (IRD), and eroded continental detritus delivered by ocean currents to marine sediments provide important insights into Earth System processes and climate. This study uses Sr-Nd-Pb isotope ratios of the continent-derived (lithogenic) fraction in deep-sea core TN057-6 from the subantarctic Southern Ocean southwest of Africa over the past 150,000 y to identify source regions and quantify their relative contributions and fluxes utilizing a mixing model set in a Bayesian framework. The data are compared with proxies from parallel core Ocean Drilling Program Site 1090 and newly presented data from potential South America aeolian dust source areas (PSAs), allowing for an integrated investigation into atmospheric, oceanic, and cryospheric dynamics. PSA inputs varied on glacial/interglacial timescales, with southern South American sources dominating up to 88% of the lithogenic fraction (mainly Patagonia, which provided up to 68%) during cold periods, while southern African sources were more important during interglacials. During the warmer Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 of the last glacial period, lithogenic fluxes were twice that of colder MIS2 and MIS4 at times, and showed unique isotope ratios best explained by Antarctic-derived IRD, likely from the Weddell Sea. The IRD intrusions contributed up to 41% at times and followed Antarctic millennial warming events that raised temperatures, causing instability of icesheet margins. High IRD was synchronous with increased bioavailable iron, nutrient utilization, high biological productivity, and decreased atmospheric CO2. Overall, TN057-6 sediments record systematic Southern Hemisphere climate shifts and cryospheric changes that impacted biogeochemical cycling on both glacial/interglacial and subglacial timescales.

Impact of Phosphorus and Sulphur Levels on Growth Parameters of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Background: Groundnut, a well-recognized oilseed crop belonging to the Leguminosae family, faces several challenges in India that results in lesser productivity compared to the global average. The principal underlying cause of India’s diminished groundnut production lies in the irregular and inadequate utilization of essential nutrients. Given its status as a leguminous oilseed crop, it exhibits a heightened demand for phosphorus, calcium and sulphur, which often remains unmet, further exacerbating the problem. Methods: In a field experiment, split-plot design was employed to investigate the impact of four phosphorus levels (Control, 40, 50 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1) and four sulphur levels (Control, 25, 50 and 75 kg S ha-1) on the growth parameters of groundnut. Results: The findings demonstrate that the utilization of phosphorus and sulphur fertilizers yielded significant improvements in various aspects of groundnut growth parameters. These improvements encompassed increased plant height, root length, improved root-to-shoot ratio on a length and weight basis, greater numbers of root nodules per plant and dry weight of root nodules per plant.

Saline–Alkali Soil Reclamation Contributes to Soil Health Improvement in China

Soil salinization is a significant threat to soil health, especially to the agricultural ecosystem; it reduces vegetation biomass, destroys ecosystem diversity, and limits land use efficiency. This area of investigation has garnered extensive attention in China, especially in the arid and semi-arid areas, totaling 7.66 × 106 ha. A variety of theoretical research and technology developments have contributed to soil water and salt regulation and the screening of salt-tolerant varieties to improve nutrient utilization efficiency and microbial control and reduce ecological problems due to saline-based obstacles. These techniques can be classified into physical treatments, chemical treatments, biological treatments, and combined treatments; these different measures are all aimed at primarily solving saline–alkali stress. In general, the improvement and utilization of saline–alkali soil contribute to soil health improvement, concentrating on high-quality development, food security, ecological security, cultivated land protection, and agricultural upgrading. However, the risks of various technologies in the practical production process should be highlighted; green and healthy measures are still expected to be applied to saline–alkali land.

Conservation Agriculture is a Sustainable Approach for Future

Conservation agriculture (CA) embodies a forward-looking and sustainable approach to cultivation. It is characterized by a farming system that prioritizes sustainability through practices such as minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining permanent soil cover, and implementing crop rotations. The overarching goal is to preserve soil health and enhance productivity. This method emphasizes the optimization of natural resources, the reduction of inputs, and the enhancement of nutrient utilization efficiency. The primary focus of this review article around conservation agriculture (CA), characterized by revolutionary practices involving minimal soil disturbance (no-till, NT) and the maintenance of continuous soil cover (mulch). Agriculture heavily relies on cultivation and tillage practices. The review first explores the advantages of conventional cultivation techniques before the introduction of conservation tillage (CT), a method that originated in response to the American dust bowl of the 1930s. Subsequently, the review delves into the benefits of CA, considered an improvement over CT. The incorporation of no-till (NT), mulching, and related innovations significantly enhances soil qualities and various biotic factors within the framework of CA. Nevertheless, the promotion of Conservation Agriculture (CA) technologies encounters several challenges. These include the absence of suitable seeders tailored for small-scale farmers, conflicts between the use of CA and livestock feeding for crop residues, the practice of burning crop residues, a scarcity of skilled manpower, and the challenge of overcoming traditional attitudes towards tillage. Drawbacks of conservation agriculture encompass factors such as limited adoption, insufficient knowledge and skills, reliance on herbicides, and initial investment costs, among others.

Effect of Moringa, Subabul and Guava Leaves Either Sole or in Combination on Nutrient Utilization, Nitrogen Balance of Ram Lambs

Background: The use of alternate feed resources like tree leaves is key element in addressing the problems derived from climate change and food shortages that demand establishment of sustainable feeding system for ruminants. Methods: A study was conducted on 36 Nellore cross ram lambs (6-7 months; 18.48±0.29 kg BW) randomly allotted to six dietary treatments to evaluate the effect of 20% dietary inclusion of moringa (MOR) subabul (SBL) and guava (GVL) leaves either sole or in combination (MS and MG mixture incorporated at 60:40 and 40:60, respectively) in concentrate mixture on nutrient utilization, plane of nutrition and nitrogen balance. The control group concentrate mixture contained maize, de-oiled rice bran, cotton seed cake and soybean meal as major ingredients and in the 5 experimental concentrate mixtures, de-oiled rice bran and soybean meal were partially replaced with moringa (MOR20), subabul (SBL20), guava (GVL20), moringa and subabul mixture (MS20) and moringa and guava mixture (MG20), by including them at 20%. Animals were fed with respective concentrate mixtures to meet about 80% of protein requirements and sorghum stover was offered ad libitum to meet the nutrient requirements of lambs for maintenance and growth as per ICAR (2013). Result: Dietary inclusion of tree leaves had no effect on the intake of various nutrients viz. DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, NDF,ADF, Hemicellulose and cellulose and were comparable (P greater than 0.05) among the six dietary groups. The crude protein and crude fibre digestibility improved (P less than 0.01) in tree leaves included diets compared to control, while ether extract (EE) digestibility was lower (P less than 0.01) in tree leaves included diets compared to CON. The DCP, TDN (%) and ME content was higher (P less than 0.05) in MS20, MG20 and MOR20 groups compared to CON. The N intake (g/d), excretion through faeces and urine (g/d), total N excretion and total N balance (g/d) was comparable among the different dietary groups.

Digestibility and nutrient utilization in young cattle when feeding a zeolite-mineral additive

The purpose of the work was to study the digestibility and utilization of nutrients by young cattle during rearing when fed a zeolite-mineral additive. Experimental studies were carried out on reared young cattle of Simmental breed under the conditions of Central Yakutia. The studies were conducted on reared young Simmental cattle on the basis of the peasant farm of IP Makarov V. D. in the Churapchinsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). It was found s a result of the experiments that the use of a zeolite-mineral additive in different doses improved metabolic processes in the body of the experimental animals, which affected the efficiency of using nutrients in the ration. It was found that the experimental additive increased the digestibility coefficients of nutrients in the ration, and the improvement in metabolism is confirmed by an increase in the degree of utilization of feed nitrogen from the received nitrogen by 0.17 and 0.34 abs.%, and from the digested nitrogen by 0.31 and 0.42 abs.%. Improvement of mineral metabolism was refl ected in the efficiency of the degree of use of calcium and phosphorus in feed. An increase in the degree of use of calcium in feed by 0.19 and 0.51 abs.% was established. A similar improvement trend was observed in the increase in the degree of use of phosphorus in feed by 0.21 and 0.26 abs.%. Therefore, the presented research data complement the earlier experiments and clarify the most optimal rates of use of zeolite-mineral additive in feeding of young cattle, which improve metabolism in the body of animals under the conditions of Central Yakutia.

Effects of corn grain processing and phosphorus content in calf starters on intake, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, and urinary purine derivatives

Corn grain with a high phosphorus (P) content (mainly in the form of phytate-P) may need to be processed to improve the digestibility of nutrients for young calves. Processing corn grains can improve the accessibility of phytate-P to the rumen enzymes and increase the bioavailability of P, which benefits the growth and development of calves. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding starter diets with steam-flaked corn (SFC) compared with ground corn (GC) with 2 P contents of 0.4% and 0.7% DM basis on intake, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites and urinary purine derivatives in dairy calves. A total of 48 female Holstein dairy calves (3 d old; average initial weight 39.7 ± 3.9 kg) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (12 calves/treatment) in a randomized complete block design. The treatment groups were: 1) a starter diet of GC with 0.4% P (GC-0.4P); 2) a starter diet of GC with 0.7% P (GC-0.7P); 3) a starter diet of SFC with 0.4% P (SFC-0.4P); 4) a starter diet of SFC with 0.7% P (SFC-0.7P). Calves received 6 L/d of transition milk on d 2-3 and 5 L/d of whole milk on d 4-30, which was increased to 7 L/d on d 31-45, then decreased to 5 L/d on d 46-60 and reduced to a single feeding of 2 L on d 61-62. All calves had free access to starter feed and water. All calves were weaned on d 63 and remained in the study until d 83. Rumen fluid samples were collected on d 38 (pre-weaning) and d 76 (post-weaning). Blood samples were collected on d 40 and 80 and urine samples were collected on 4 consecutive days from d 79 to 82 to analyze urinary excretion of PD. The phytate-P content ranged from 0.23 to 0.17 for GC and SFC, respectively. In particular, the interaction between corn processing method and P content showed that the SFC-0.7P diets had a greater intake of starter feed during the pre- and post-weaning periods compared with the other experimental groups. In addition, calves fed the SFC-0.7P diet had greater average daily gain, body weight, withers height at weaning, better organic matter digestibility, higher blood β-hydroxybutyrate levels and higher microbial protein synthesis compared with all other groups. Feeding the SFC diet also resulted in improved feed efficiency, improved P digestibility and a tendency toward a lower rumen pH, albeit with a tendency toward an increase in blood glucose concentration during the pre-weaning period. In addition, the inclusion of 0.7% P to the starter diet resulted in increased fiber digestibility and a slight improvement in growth performance, which was particularly evident in hip height. Overall, the inclusion of SFC in the calf starter diet, especially in combination with a 0.7% DM basis P supplement, improved growth performance and nutrient utilization in dairy calves compared with GC.

Gut microbiota and epigenetic choreography: Implications for human health: A review.

The interwoven relationship between gut microbiota and the epigenetic landscape constitutes a pivotal axis in understanding human health and disease. Governed by a myriad of dietary, genetic, and environmental influences, the gut microbiota orchestrates a sophisticated metabolic interplay, shaping nutrient utilization, immune responses, and defenses against pathogens. Recent strides in genomics and metabolomics have shed light on the intricate connections between these microbial influencers and the host's physiological dynamics, presenting a dynamic panorama across diverse disease spectra. DNA methylation and histone modifications, as key players in epigenetics, intricately align with the dynamic orchestration of the gut microbiota. This seamless collaboration, notably evident in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and obesity, has captured the attention of researchers, prompting an exploration of its nuanced choreography. Nevertheless, challenges abound. Analyzing data is intricate due to the multifaceted nature of the gut microbiota and the limitations of current analytical methods. This underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach, where diverse disciplines converge to pave innovative research pathways. The integration of insights from microbiome and epigenome studies assumes paramount importance in unraveling the complexities of this intricate partnership. Deciphering the synchronized interactions within this collaboration offers a deeper understanding of these delicate interplays, potentially heralding revolutionary strides in treatment modalities and strategies for enhancing public health.

Metabolic phenotyping of healthy and diseased human RPE cells.

Metabolic defects in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) underlie many retinal degenerative diseases. This study aims to identify the nutrient requirements of healthy and diseased human RPE cells. We profiled nutrient utilization of various human RPE cells, including differentiated and dedifferentiated fetal RPE (fRPE), induced pluripotent stem cell derived-RPE (iPSC RPE), Sorsby fundus dystrophy (SFD) patient-derived iPSC RPE, CRISPR-corrected isogenic SFD (cSFD) iPSC RPE, and ARPE-19 cell lines using Biolog Phenotype MicroArray Assays. Differentiated fRPE cells and healthy iPSC RPE cells can utilize 51 and 48 nutrients respectively, including sugars, intermediates from glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, fatty acids, ketone bodies, amino acids, and dipeptides. However, when fRPE cells lose their epithelial phenotype through dedifferentiation, nutrient utilization becomes restricted to 17 nutrients, primarily sugar and glutamine-related amino acids. SFD RPE cells can utilize 37 nutrients; however, compared to cSFD RPE and healthy iPSC RPE, they are unable to utilize lactate, some TCA cycle intermediates, and short-chain fatty acids. Nonetheless, they show increased utilization of branch-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and BCAA-containing dipeptides. Dedifferentiated ARPE-19 cells grown in traditional culture media cannot utilize lactate and ketone bodies. In contrast, nicotinamide supplementation promotes differentiation towards an epithelial phenotype, restoring the ability to use these nutrients. Epithelial phenotype confers metabolic flexibility to healthy RPE for utilizing various nutrients. SFD RPE cells have reduced metabolic flexibility, relying on the oxidation of BCAAs. Our findings highlight the potentially important roles of nutrient availability and utilization in RPE differentiation and diseases.

Impacts of poultry manure and biochar amendments on the nutrients in sweet potato leaves and the minerals in the storage roots

Poultry manure (PM) has demonstrated its potential to enhance crop nutritional quality. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of knowledge regarding its synergistic effects when combined with wood biochar (B) on the nutrient concentrations in sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas L.) and the mineral content stored in sweet potato storage roots. Hence, a two-year field trial was undertaken during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons in southwestern Nigeria, spanning two locations (Owo—site A and Obasooto—site B), to jointly apply poultry manure and wood biochar as soil amendments aimed at enhancing the nutritional quality of sweet potato crop. Each year, the experiment involved different combinations of poultry manure at rates of 0, 5.0, and 10.0 t ha−1 and biochar at rates of 0, 10.0, 20.0, and 30.0 t ha−1, organized in a 3 × 4 factorial layout. The results of the present study demonstrated that the individual application of poultry manure (PM), biochar (B), or their combination had a significant positive impact on the nutrient composition of sweet potato leaves and minerals stored in the sweet potato storage roots, with notable synergistic effects between poultry manure and biochar (PM × B) in enhancing these parameters. This highlights the potential of biochar to enhance the efficiency of poultry manure utilization and improve nutrient utilization from poultry manure. The highest application rate of poultry manure at 10.0 t ha−1 and biochar at 30.0 t ha−1 (PM10 + B30), resulted in the highest leaf nutrient concentrations and mineral composition compared to other treatments at both sites. Averaged over two years, the highest application rate of poultry manure at 10.0 t ha−1 and biochar at 30.0 t ha−1 (PM10 + B30) significantly increased sweet potato leaf nutrient concentrations: nitrogen by 88.2%, phosphorus by 416.7%, potassium by 123.8%, calcium by 927.3%, and magnesium by 333.3%, compared to those in the control (PM0 + B0). The same treatment increased the concentration of sweet potato root storage minerals: phosphorus by 152.5%, potassium by 77.4%, calcium by 205.5%, magnesium by 294.6%, iron by 268.4%, zinc by 228.6%, and sodium by 433.3%, compared to the control. The highest application rate of poultry manure at 10.0 t ha−1 and biochar at 30.0 t ha−1 yielded the highest economic profitability in terms of gross margin (44,034 US$ ha−1), net return (30,038 US$ ha−1) and return rate or value-to-cost ratio (VCR) (263). The results suggested that the application of poultry manure at 10 t ha−1 and biochar at 30 t ha−1 is economically profitable in the study areas and under similar agroecological zones and soil conditions.

Effect of dried cauliflower leaf meal (Brassica oleracea var botrytis) dietary supplementation on the growth performance, carcass and meat characteristics of rabbits.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of feeding cauliflower leaf meal (CLM) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, carcass characteristics, histopathology and economics of rabbit production. A total of eighteen 45-day-old Newzeland White rabbits were randomly divided into three groups and fed with control (0%), 20% and 30% CLM in concentrate mixture and feeding trial continued for 3 months. Growth performance was recorded upto the end of the trial. On completion of the growth study, a digestibility trial was conducted to assess the digestibility of nutrients. Afterwards, all the experimental rabbits were slaughtered to evaluate the carcass and meat quality, and to examine histological changes in the viscera. The cost of production was calculated on the basis of partially replacing wheat bran with CLM. Results showed that the body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and digestibility of nutrients were similar among the groups of rabbits. Further, dressing percentage, wholesome cut yield, chemical composition of meat, sensory evaluation, water holding capacity and shear force value were also comparable among all groups. However, total phenolic content, vitamin A and E, and polyunsaturated fatty acid were significantly (p < 0.05) higher and 2-Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in 30% CLM-fed group. Histopathological study showed no pathological changes in viscera of rabbits fed with CLM. Moreover, the cost of production was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in 30% CLM-fed group of rabbits. The present work shows that the 30% CLM can be incorporated in concentrate mixture in rabbit diet without affecting growth performance or meat quality and successfully used in rabbit nutrition, which will be cheaper with enhanced keeping quality of meat.