Organ Index Research Articles

Effect of triptolide on reproductive toxicity in female rats with Ⅱ type collagen induced arthritis

In order to study the toxic effect and mechanism of triptolide(TP) on the reproductive system of female rats with Ⅱ type collagen induced arthritis(CIA), 50 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, CIA model group, and three groups receiving TP tablets at clinically equivalent doses of 0. 5, 1, and 2 times, respectively(with TP dosages of 3. 75, 7. 5, and 15 μg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), each comprising 10 rats. Intragastric administration was started on the day after the first immunization, once a day, for 42 days.The results were taken on the 21st and 42nd days to calculate the uterine and ovarian organ indexes; pathological and morphological changes in uterus and ovaries were observed under a light microscope; and the levels of estradiol(E_2) and cytochrome P450A1(aromatase,CYP19A1) in ovarian homogenate were detected by ELISA. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression levels of transforming growth factor β3( TGFβ3) pathway-related proteins, mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3(Smad3) and steroidogenic factor-1(SF-1) in ovarian tissues. In vitro, the mouse Chinese hamster ovary(CHO) cell line was established, and after 24 hours of TP administration(30, 60, 120 nmol·L~(-1)), cell proliferation was detected by the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide(MTT) method, apoptosis by the flow cytometry, and TGFβ3, Smad3 and SF-1 protein expression in cells by the Western blot method, and the nuclear entry of SF-1 was detected by immunofluorescence. The results showed that compared with the CIA model group, all TP administration groups showed decreased number of uterine glands, total follicles, mature follicles, and corpus luteum on days 21 and 42 of administration, but there was no statistical difference, and only the administration of 2 times the clinically equivalent dose of TP could significantly increase the number of atretic follicles at 42 days of administration. TP at 3. 75 μg·kg-1·d-1significantly reduced the level of E_2 at 21 days of administration and the expression of TGFβ3 and Smad3 factors in ovarian tissues,but had no significant effect on the rate-limiting enzyme in estrogen synthesis CYP19A1. TP at 7. 5 and 15 μg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) significantly reduced the expression of SF-1 regardless of administration for 21 days or 42 days. TP can significantly promote ovarian cell apoptosis in vitro, with apoptosis mainly concentrated in the late stage of apoptosis after 24 hours of administration. In addition, 60 nmol·L~(-1) TP significantly reduced the protein expression of TGFβ3, Smad3 and SF-1 in a dose-dependent manner. In summary, intragastric administration of TP at less than 2 times the clinically equivalent dose for 21 days and 42 days did not cause obvious reproductive damage to the uterus and ovarian tissues of CIA rats, and the number of atretic follicles changed significantly only when the 2 times the clinically equivalent dose was administered for 42 days. TP exerted reproductive toxicity in vivo on reproductive target organs and in vitro on ovarian cells by inhibiting the expression of TGFβ3/Smad3/SF-1 pathway.

TMT-based proteomics analysis of the blood enriching mechanism of the total Tannins of Gei Herba in mice

Lanbuzheng (LBZ) is the traditional seedling medicine in Guizhou, which has the effect of tonifying blood. It has been found that the main active ingredient is tannin, however, the blood-replenishing effect of tannin and its mechanism are still unclear.The study was to explore the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of the total Tannins of Lanbuzheng (LBZT) against anemia in mice. Anemia mice was induced by cyclophosphamide, the effect of LBZT against anemia was determined by analyzing peripheral blood and evaluating organs indexes. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics technology coupled with bioinformatics analysis was then used to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in spleen. Compared to the model, number of RBCs, PLTs and WBCs, HCT ratio and HGB content were increased, the indexes of thymus, spleen and liver were also increased, after LBZT intervention. A total of 377 DEPs were identified in LBZT group, of which 206 DEPs were significantly up-regulated and 171 DEPs were significantly down-regulated. Bioinformatics analysis showed that hematopoietic function has been restored by activating the complement and coagulation cascade signaling pathways. Results suggest that LBZT exerts it therapeutic effects against anemia by regulating complement and coagulation cascade signaling pathways and provides scientific basis for further mechanistic studies for LBZT.

Lycium barbarum (Wolfberry) Branches and Leaves Enhance the Growth Performance and Improve the Rumen Microbiota in Hu Sheep.

The Lycium barbarum branches and leaves (LBL) are known to contain a range of active substances that have positive effects on animal immunity and antioxidation. This study aimed to examine how LBL impacts the growth and slaughter performance as well as rumen fermentation and microbiota in Hu sheep. A total of 50 male Hu sheep of indigenous origin, aged 3 months, were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 sheep each. The groups were given different levels of LBL supplementation (0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%) to evaluate growth performance and nutrient apparent digestibility. Rumen fluid samples were collected for analysis of the fermentation parameters and rumen chyme was examined to study the rumen microbiota. The slaughter performance, meat quality, and organ index were evaluated at the conclusion of the experiment. The results showed that the final body weight and average daily gain of the LBL1 group were significantly higher than those of the CON group, LBL3 group, and LBL4 group (p < 0.05). The average dry matter intake of the LBL4 group was significantly lower than that of other experimental groups (p < 0.05). The apparent digestibility of CP in the LBL1 and LBL2 groups was higher than that in other experimental groups (p < 0.05). At the same time, the eye muscle area and grade-rule (GR) value of Hu sheep in the LBL1 group significantly increased and the quality of Hu sheep meat improved (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in organ weight and organ index between the experimental groups (p > 0.05). The pH of the rumen fluid in the LBL1 group was significantly lower than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the NH3-N content between the experimental groups (p > 0.05). The propionate and valerate in the rumen fluid of Hu sheep in the LBL2 group were significantly higher than those in other experimental groups (p < 0.05). In addition, this had no significant effect on the structure and abundance of the rumen microbiota (p > 0.05). LBL is a promising functional feed. Adding an appropriate amount of LBL to the diet can improve the feed efficiency, growth performance, and meat quality of Hu sheep but has no adverse effects on the rumen. In this experiment, the appropriate supplemental level of LBL in the diet was 3%.

Role of autonomic nervous system in BDE-209 maternal exposure induced immunotoxicity in female offspring.

Decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) is a typical persistent organic pollutant that can cross the placental barrier, increasing the exposure risk for offspring. Norepinephrine (NE) from nerve terminals and acetylcholine (Ach) can bind to specific receptors on immune cells, inhibit the immune function of the body then cause immunotoxicity. However, whether maternal exposure to BDE-209 could lead to immunotoxicity in the offspring by acting on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems remains unclear. In view of this, the pregnancy and lactation rat BDE-209 exposure model was established and the results demonstrated that pregnancy and lactation BDE-209 exposure could induce immunotoxicity to female offspring via affecting immunopathology (hematological and biochemical parameters, organ indices, and spleen histopathological), decreasing humoral immunity (serum hemolysin, immunoglobulins, and cytokine productions), damaging cellular immunity (splenic lymphocytes and spleen cytokine productions), and restraining nonspecific immunity. Moreover, a dramatically significant correlation was observed between spleen nerve indices and immunity indices. Additionally, the mechanism revealed that maternal BDE-209 exposure caused offspring immunotoxicity through (1) activating MHC/PKCθ/NF-κB pathway; (2) promoting sympathetic nervous pathway, by upregulating the expression of β2AR protein, which in turn elevating cAMP, following activate PKA and phosphorylate CREB, ultimately leading to immunotoxicity;(3) activating parasympathetic nerve pathway by reducing the binding with Ach and α7nAchR, upregulating the expression of JAK2 and phosphorylating STAT3, induced immunotoxicity of female offspring.

Study on the material basis and immunological enhancement activity of dangdi oral liquid

Studies have shown that a lot of traditional Chinese medicines could improve the immunity of the body. Dangdi oral liquid (DDO) was mainly composed of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Danggui), Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. (Dihuang), Achyranthes bidentata Bl. (Niuxi), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Gancao). In this study, the rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) method was used to identify the potentially effective compounds of DDO. Then the immune activity of DDO was measured by lymphocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytic function, NK cell activity, delayed type hypersensitivity reaction, hemolytic plaque number, sIgA content and immune organ index. The results showed that a total of 51 compounds were identified. In addition, DDO could significantly promote the lymphocyte proliferation, improve macrophage phagocytic ability, NK cell activity, hemolytic plaque number, sIgA content and immune organ index compared with control group, and the medium dose possessed the best efficacy (P＜0.05). These results indicated that DDO could enhance the immunity of mice.

An integrated GEE and machine learning framework for detecting ecological stability under land use/land cover changes

Ecological stability (ES) is recognized as a crucial factor for sustainable development at global and regional scales. However, the importance of this factor was not considered significant. Hence, the main aim of this study was to introduce a new approach that focuses on detecting ES over the Maharloo watershed in Iran. To achieve this goal, we extracted land use and land cover (LULC) data from the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform by applying the random forest (RF) machine learning method, which obtained Kappa statistics of 0.85, 0.86, and 0.87 for the years 2002, 2013, and 2023, respectively. We identified both stable and unstable regions based on LULC changes and employed them using machine learning to forecast the ES. The most important predictors of ES were elevation, soil organic carbon index, precipitation, and salinity. The results of this research revealed that certain areas within the Maharloo watershed have experienced ecological instability in recent years, with gardens showing the highest percentage (60.65 %) of instability among all land-use categories. The performance and validation of our model suggest that the study results are reliable (AUC = 0.86). This study offers detailed maps of ES and trends, offering valuable insights for decision makers to support landscape conservation and restoration efforts. Overall, the findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the ecological dynamics of the Maharloo watershed and provide valuable insights for sustainable development and conservation efforts in other regions.

Modulation of cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression and intestinal flora in broiler by deep eutectic solvent extracted polysaccharides of Acanthopanax senticosus.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the modulation effect of Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS-PD) extracted with deep eutectic solvent on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in broilers and its modulation of the gut microbiota of broilers. The 108 one-day-old broilers were divided into six groups, including the control group, the Cyclophosphamide (CY) model group, the ASPS-PD control group, the ASPA-PD high and low dose groups and the Astragalus polysaccharide group. Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and immune organ index of broilers at 7, 14, and 21 days were determined; IL-2, IFN-γ, and lgG1 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); Broiler caeca feces were analyzed by amplification and 16S rRNA sequencing. The results showed that ASPS-PD can restore growth performance, increase immune organ index and improve serum cytokine levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ and immunoglobulin lgG1 levels in CY-treated broilers. The analysis of cecum flora showed that ASPS-PD can promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and reduce the number of harmful bacteria, regulating intestinal flora. Therefore, ASPA-PD may be a potential novel immunomodulator to ameliorate CY-induced immunosuppression and intestinal flora dysregulation in broiler.

Ameliorative effect of rare ginsenosides on reproductive injury induced by cyclophosphamide in female rats: based on metabonomics

Objective: To investigate the effect of rare ginsenosides (RGS) on reproductive injury induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) in female rats. Methods: Twenty-four female rats were divided into four groups [normal control (NC), RGS, CP, and CP+RGS group] with 6 rats in each group. CP group (the model group) and CP+RGS group (the treatment group) were intraperitoneally injected with CP 30 mg/kg for 5 days for modeling, and CP+RGS group was given RGS intragastric intervention. General growth status of rats in each group was observed, the organ index was calculated, and the pathological changes of ovary, uterus, liver and kidney were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Serum levels of estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), pro-inflammatory factors interleukin (IL) 6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α were detected. The urine samples were collected after RGS treatment for metabonomics analysis. Metabolomic profiling based on ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) was used to analyze and determine the urine metabolites of rats in each group. Results: Compared with NC group, the ovary index of CP group [(0.054±0.015) %] was significantly decreased (P<0.05), the uterus index [(0.293±0.036) %] and estradiol level [(62.9±6.4) pmol/L] were significantly decreased (all P<0.01), serum levels of FSH, LH, IL-6 and IL-1β [(20.4±1.0) U/L, (29.0±3.0) U/L, (185.4±28.6) ng/L, (72.9±2.0) ng/L, respectively] were significantly increased (all P<0.01). Compared with CP group, the ovary index in CP+RGS group [(0.075±0.010) %] was significantly increased (P<0.05), serum estradiol level [(122.1±16.2) pmol/L] was significantly increased (P<0.01), serum FSH, IL-1β and IL-6 levels [(16.7±1.0) U/L, (111.8±17.4) ng/L, (60.1±2.2) ng/L, respectively] were significantly decreased (all P<0.01). Metabonomics analysis results showed that, a total of 352 metabolites were detected in urine, of which 12 were found to be potential markers associated with reproductive injury according to the screening standard. After treatment with RGS, differential metabolites were improved in the direction of NC group. Pathway enrichment suggests that the therapeutic effect of RGS was related to multiple metabolic pathways, including purine metabolism and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism. Conclusion: RGS might reduce inflammation and thus ameliorate the damage caused by CP to the reproductive system of female rats by affecting purine metabolism and other pathways.

Assessing river water quality for ecological risk in the context of a decaying river in India.

The decay of rivers and river water pollution are common problems worldwide. However, many works have been performed on decaying rivers in India, and the status of the water quality is still unknown in Jalangi River. To this end, the present study intends to examine the water quality of the Jalangi River to assess ecological status in both the spatial and seasonal dimensions. To depict the spatiality of ecological risks, 34 water samples were collected from the source to the sink of the Jalangi River with an interval of 10km while 119 water samples were collected from a secondary source during 2012-2022to capture the seasonal dynamics. In this work, the seasonality and spatiality of change in the river's water quality have been explored. This study used the eutrophication index (EI), organic pollution index (OPI), and overall index of pollution (OIP) to assess the ecological risk. The results illustrated that the values of OPI range from 7.17 to 588, and the values of EI exceed the standard of 1, indicating the critical situation of the ecological status of Jalangi River. The value of OIP ranges between 2.67 and 3.91 revealing the slightly polluted condition of the river water. The study signified the ecological status of the river is in a critical situation due to elevated concentrations of biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and low concentrations of dissolved oxygen. The present study found that stagnation of water flow in the river, primarily driven by the eastward tilting of the Bengal basin, triggered water pollution and ecological risk. Moreover, anthropogenic interventions in the form of riverbed agriculture and the discharge of untreated sewage from urban areas are playing a crucial role in deteriorating the water quality of the river. This decay needs substantial attention from the various stakeholders in a participatory manner.

Anti-obesity effects of potential probiotic Lactobacillus strains isolated from Mongolian fermented dairy products in high-fat diet-induced obese rodent model.

This study aims to investigate the anti-obesity properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented dairy products such as "Airag" and "Khoormog" in Mongolia. These traditional dairy products are widely used in Mongolia and believe in having potential probiotic, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, and anti-tuberculosis properties and are made from unheated two-humped camel milk and mare milk, respectively. We chose three LAB strains based on their probiotic characteristics, including tolerance of gastric and bile acids. Then we checked the anti-obesity activity of probiotic strains in vivo. An animal model was evaluated in twenty male C57BL/6J mice by inducing obesity with a high-fat diet (HFD), which was divided into five groups: regular diet group (Negative control), HFD group (Positive control), HFD with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei X-1 (X-1), Lacticaseibacillus paracasei X-17 (X-17), and Limosilactobacillus fermentum BM-325 (BM-325). For six weeks, 5 × 109 colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria were given orally to the LAB-fed groups. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profiles, organ index, and organ morphology were all measured. The probiotic strains suppressed growth in adipose cell volume, stabilized FBG, reduced liver cell degeneration, and slowed HFD-induced body weight gain. The results suggest that some strains increase general metabolism while lowering body weight.

Inclusion of Sorghum in Cyprinus carpio L. Diet: Effects on Growth, Flesh Quality, Microbiota, and Oxidative Status.

This study investigates the impact of including sorghum in the diet of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) on its growth, blood parameters, meat composition, intestinal microbiota, and oxidative stress. Experimental diets with varying sorghum content (0%-V0 or control, 10%-V1, 20%-V2, and 30%-V3) were administered to carp weighing 43 g initially. Notably, in the 30% variant, sorghum entirely replaced corn and barley in the diet. Chemical analysis of sorghum unveiled a protein content of 14% and a fat content of 3.9%. Sorghum inclusion led to a decline in final body weight and weight gain, particularly notable in the V3 group with 30% sorghum. However, other physiological parameters, such as feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, and organ indices, remained unaffected. Protein and salt content in carp flesh increased with higher sorghum inclusion levels, while hematological parameters showed minimal variations. Analysis of the intestinal microbiota revealed increases in both aerobic and anaerobic bacterial populations with sorghum inclusion. Furthermore, sorghum concentration inversely correlated with glutathione levels and positively correlated with malondialdehyde content, indicating a disruption of antioxidant defense mechanisms and elevated oxidative stress.

Prevention of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression by polysaccharides from Apocynum venetum flowers via enhancing immune response, reducing oxidative stress, and regulating gut microbiota in mice

IntroductionEmerging proof suggests that Apocynum venetum flowers polysaccharide (AVFP) has immunomodulatory effects in vitro. However, the action mechanism of AVFA is still unclear in vivo. The purpose of this study is to probe into the potential mechanism of AVFA in immunosuppressed mice by investigating organ index, cytokine levels, anti-oxidative stress capacity, transcriptomics, and gut microbiota.MethodsImmunocompromised mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) were divided into six groups. The enzyme-labeled method, hematoxylin and eosin, transcriptomics, and high-throughput sequencing were used to detect the regulatory effects of AVFP on immunocompromised mice and the function of AVFP on the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the intestinal microbiota and biochemical indexes.ResultsThe experimental results illustrated that AVFP has protective effects against CTX-induced immunosuppression in mice by prominently increasing the organ index and levels of anti-inflammatory factors in serum in addition to enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the liver. Meanwhile, it could also signally decrease the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum, the activity of transaminase in serum, and the content of free radicals in the liver, and alleviate the spleen tissue damage induced by CTX. Transcriptomics results discovered that AVFP could play a role in immune regulation by participating in the NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating the immune-related genes Bcl3, Hp, Lbp, Cebpd, Gstp2, and Lcn2. Gut microbiota results illustrated that AVFP could increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria, reduce the abundance of harmful bacteria, and regulate the metabolic function of intestinal microorganisms while dramatically improving the content of SCFAs, modulating immune responses, and improving the host metabolism. The Spearman analysis further evaluated the association between intestinal microbiota and immune-related indicators.ConclusionThese findings demonstrated that AVFP could enhance the immune effects of the immunosuppressed mice and improve the body’s ability to resist oxidative stress.

Development of unique soil organic carbon stability index under influence of integrated nutrient management in four major soil orders of India

Stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) is pre-requisite for stabilization of C leading to long-term C sequestration. However, development of a comprehensive metric of SOC stability is a major challenge. The objectives for the study were to develop novel SOC stability indices by encompassing physical, chemical, and biochemical SOC stability parameters and identifying the most important indicators from a Mollisol, an Inceptisol, a Vertisol, and an Alfisol under long-term manuring and fertilization. The treatments were control, 100%NPK, 50% NPK+ 50% N through either farmyard manure, cereal residue, or green manure. SOC stability indicators were selected, transformed and integrated into unique SOC stability indices via conceptual framework and principal component analysis. Principal component analysis identified Al-macroaggregate, humic acid C-microaggregate, microaggregate-C, particulate organic matter-C-macroaggregate and polyphenol-microaggregate as the important SOC stability indicators. The principal component analysis -based SOC stability index varied from 0.2 to 0.9, 0.1 to 0.5, 0.2 to 0.6, 0.1 to 0.5 for Mollisol, Inceptisol, Vertisol and Alfisol, respectively. The SOC-stability index derived from conceptual framework and principal component analysis significantly lined up well with one another, although NaOCl-Res-C showed a high correlation with both conceptual framework (r = 0.8) and principal component analysis-based (r = 0.7) SOC stability indexes, suggesting that both methods might be used to quickly assess SOC stability in four soil orders. Overall, 50%NPK+50%N by farmyard manure or green manure emerged as the most effective management practices for enhancing stability of SOC in Mollisol, Inceptisol, Vertisol, and Alfisol of India which might act as major C sink in rice-wheat and maize-wheat cropping systems. The other aspect of C sequestration is to enhance agricultural productivity without depending much on expensive chemical fertilizers. The model yardstick thus developed for assessing SOC stability might be useful to other systems as well.

Co-exposure of microcystin and nitrite enhanced spermatogenic disorders: The role of mtROS-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis

Microcystins (MCs) and nitrites are coexisted in the environment and have reproductive toxicity. The combined toxic effect and mechanism of MCs and nitrite on spermatogenesis remain largely unclear. In the present study, co-exposure to microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) aggravated testicular damage of Balb/c mice and mitochondrial impairment of spermatogonia, Sertoli cells, and sperm. Furthermore, MC-LR and NaNO2 reduced sperm density with a synergistic effect. In addition, MC-LR and NaNO2 synergistically induced oxidative stress in the reproductive system by decreasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels and increasing levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). More importantly, mitoquidone mesylate (MitoQ), an inhibitor of mtROS, blocked MC-LR and NaNO2-induced spermatogonia and Sertoli cell apoptosis by inhibiting high expression of Bax, Fadd, Caspase-8, and cleaved-Caspase-3. On the other hand, MitoQ suppressed pyroptosis of Sertoli cells by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3, N-GSDMD, and cleaved-Caspase-1. Additionally, MitoQ alleviated co-exposure-induced sperm density reduction and organ index disorders in F1 generation mice. Together, co-exposure of MC-LR and NaNO2 can enhance spermatogenic disorders by mitochondrial oxidative impairment-mediated germ cell death. This study emphasizes the potential risks of MC-LR and NaNO2 on reproduction in realistic environments and highlights new insights into the cause and treatment of spermatogenic disorders.

Petroleum Potential Prospectivity of Muglad Basin, South Sudan: A Case of Source Rocks Characterisation in the Drilled Kaikang West-1 Well

This study focuses on Prospectivity of Petroleum Potential of Muglad basin, South Sudan, with the help of petroleum source rocks characterisation in the drilled Kaikang West-1 Well based on the organic matter quantity, quality, and the thermal maturation generation capability of the organic matter disseminated in the analysed rock samples. Muglad basin is a major petroliferous Western and Central African Rifts System (WCARS) member, with estimated reserves of 2,053 mm bbl. Muglad Basin comprises thick sandstones of Aradeiba and Bentiu Formations, considered to be the main petroleum prospectivity targets, with trapping mechanism being structural faults and lithological anticlines. The organic matter contents were determined directly from laboratory analyses of the source rock samples with the help of seismic and gamma ray profiles, total organic carbon (TOC wt %), maturity indices (OI, HI and PI), temperature maximum (Tmax °C), porosities and other sedimentological parameters. This study involved a series of analytical geochemistry and petro-physical studies to ascertain a number of effective source rock samples from the well cores which were then analysed in terms of TOC, OI, PI, HI, S2, S1 and Tmax to determine oil/gas prone samples (resource areas). These were then distinguished from strata with very high organic matter samples as well as very high TOC to help identify for possible source rock characterizations within the lithology pertaining to the well in terms of potential source-reservoir-seals combinations. The Rock-Eval pyrolysis data were useful in assessing and evaluating the type of organic matter, thermal maturity, and the generation capability of source rocks for hydrocarbon exploration rationale. The analyses revealed that some strata, within the sampled well data, have high hydrocarbon generation potential with the existence of commercial hydrocarbon production

Treatment of landfill leachate by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae and the changes of intestinal microbial community

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) are commonly used to treat organic waste. This work aims to evaluate the transformation effect, heavy metal migration, and alterations in the gut microbiota of BSFL in addition to treating landfill leachate (LL) with BSFL. We found that BSFL may grow in various landfill leachate concentrations without obvious toxicity and growth inhibition. In addition, the results indicated a significant increase in the content of ammonia nitrogen and the activity of urease and β-glucosidase (β-GC) in LL, increased from 2570.17 mg/L to 5853.67 mg/L, 1859.17 mg/(g·d) to 517,177.98 mg/(g·d), 313.73 μg/(g·h) to 441.91 μg/(g·h) respectively. Conversely, the content of total nitrogen (TN) and total organic carbon (TOC) decreased in LL, decreasing by 31.24% and 29.45% respectively. Heavy metals are accumulated in the leachate by the BSFL to differing degrees, the descending sequence of accumulation is Cd > As > Cu > Cr. As dropped by 26.0%, Cd increased by 22.6%, Cu reduced by 5.23%, and Cr increased by 317.1% in the remaining matrix. The concentration of heavy metals satisfies the organic fertilizers' limit index (NY/T1978). The diversity of intestinal microorganisms in BSFL decreased, from 2819 OTUs to 2338 OTUs, with Providencia and Morganella emerging as the core flora. The gene abundance of nitrogen metabolism in the microbiota increased significantly. The TOC, β-GC, and Copper (Cu) content in BSFL correlated significantly with the gut microbiota. In Summary, this study revealed the treatment effect of BSFL on LL, the migration of heavy metals, and changes in the intestinal microorganisms of BSFL. The content of heavy metals in BSFL was found to be much lower than the upper limit of feed protein raw materials, demonstrating that BSFL is a sustainable method to treat LL.

Tuna Dark Muscle Feeding Improved the Meat Quality of Holland Mini-Piglets and Modulated the Gut Microbiota.

Pork is one of the most widely produced and consumed meats in the world, and it is also an important source of animal protein. The continuous rise in feed prices has forced the pig industry to consider adding cost-effective alternative feed to pig diets. In this study, we aimed to explore the beneficial effects of tuna dark muscle as a nutritional supplement on the growth performance, serum lipids and antioxidant levels of Holland mini-piglets, as well as on the odor and volatile substances of pork and the gut microbiota. Two-month-old male mini-piglets (n = 24) were fed a control diet or supplemented with either 2% (LD) or 4% (HD) tuna dark muscle for 8 weeks. The use of tuna dark muscle at low and high dosages significantly increased the average daily weight gain, but it showed no significant effect on organ indices or blood lipids. In addition, dark muscle treatment significantly increased the antioxidant capacity, characterized by increased SOD and GSH-Px activities, and it decreased the content of MDA in serum. Moreover, tuna dark muscle feeding shifted the odor of rib muscle and tendon meat away from that of the control group, while similar odor patterns were observed in the longissimus dorsi muscle. Among these volatile substances, hexanal, nonanal, and heptanal increased in response to dietary tuna dark muscle and were regarded as indispensable contributors to the feeding. Furthermore, dietary tuna dark muscle modulated the gut microbiota of the piglets, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as butyric acid-producing bacteria, and reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria. The feeding strategy reported in this study not only reduces the production costs of pork but also utilizes tuna processing by-products in an environmentally friendly way.

Tetrabromobisphenol A reduces male rats reproductive organ coefficients and disrupting sexual hormone by causing oxidative stress

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) has become a topic of public attention due to its pervasive detection in the environment and organisms in recent decades. However, limited information is available regarding the toxicity of TBBPA on reproductive ability of male mammals. Herein, the reproductive toxicity of TBBPA was investigated in male rats to fill the knowledge gap. In this study, male rats were exposed to TBBPA (0, 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. Subsequently, body and organ indexes, histopathological evaluation of testis and epididymis, ultrastructural observation of sperm, testosterone and progesterone levels, and oxidative stress indicators were conducted to reveal corresponding mechanisms. Results obtained showed that compare to the control group, the body weight, testes weight, epididymis weight, seminal vesicle and coagulation glands weight of rats in the 1000 mg/kg group lost 8.30%, 16.84%, 20.16%, 19.72% and 26.42%, respectively. Intriguingly, exposure to TBBPA (10, 100, 100 mg/kg) resulted in substantial pathological damage in testis, epididymis and sperm. TBBPA exposure also increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents, as well as superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in testicular tissue. What’s more, the testosterone and progesterone levels in male rat serum were significantly decreased after exposure to TBBPA for 6 weeks. Meanwhile, results of molecular docking showed that TBBPA has a strong affinity with estrogen receptors (ERs). These findings demonstrated that TBBPA exposure negatively impacts the reproductive ability of male rats, thus providing new insights for risk assessment for reproductive health under TBBPA exposure.

Structural characterization and immune-enhancing effects of a novel polysaccharide extracted from Sargassum fusiforme

To alleviate the adverse effects of chemotherapy and bolster immune function, a novel polysaccharide derived from Sargassum fusiforme named as SFP-αII. The structural composition of SFP-αII predominantly consisted of guluronic and mannuronic acids in a molar ratio of 33.8:66.2, with an average molecular weight of 16.5 kDa. Its structure was primarily characterized by →4)-α-GulA-(1 → and →4)-β-ManA-(1 → linkages confirmed by FT-IR, methylation, and NMR analyses. The absence of a triple-helix structure was in SFP-αII was confirmed using circular dichroism and Congo red dye assays. The dimensions varied with lengths ranging from 20 nm up to 3 μm revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). SFP-αII has been found to enhance immunomodulatory activity in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressed mice. This was evidenced by improvements in immune organ indices, cytokine levels, and the release of nitric oxide (NO). Specifically, SFP-αII mitigated immunosuppression by upregulating the secretion of IL-1β (167.3 %) and TNF-α (227.1 %) at a dose of 400 mg/kg, compared with the CTX group in macrophages. Ultimately, SFP-αII may serve as a mechanism for immune enhancement through modulation of TLR4-mediated NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. This integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, leveraging SFP-αII as a potential functional food could be pivotal in alleviating immunosuppressive side effects in CTX treatment.

Unconventional hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Paleoproterozoic Fraynes Formation in Manbulloo S1, Northern Territory

The Paleoproterozoic Fraynes Formation in the Birrindudu Basin is a chronostratigraphic equivalent to the prospective Barney Creek Formation in the McArthur Basin and yet a comparable understanding of its source potential is lacking. As part of Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future program, this study aims to assess the hydrocarbon generating potential and shale gas prospectivity of the Fraynes Formation in the exploration drill hole Manbulloo S1 through the reconstruction of the original source-rock characteristics and well log interpretation. Internal units inside the Fraynes Formation were defined according to sedimentary facies. The hydrocarbon generation potential was estimated from the calculated original total organic carbon content, hydrogen index and thermal maturity data measured from bitumen reflectance data. The shale total porosity was re-interpreted from bulk density logs by removing the organic matter effect, adding organic porosity for the organic-rich shales, and updating the water saturation. The maximum amount of gas generated from the organic-rich source rocks is 3969, 2769 and 1912 Mcf/a-ft assuming the kerogen compositions of 100% Type I, mix of 50–50% Type I and II, and 100% Type II, respectively. The richness of organic matter and interpreted water saturation (&lt;100%) imply favourable shale gas prospectivity in the Fraynes Formation. This work expands our knowledge on the potential unconventional energy resources in the west of the greater McArthur Basin.