Reduction In Fiber Content Research Articles

Cerebral white matter damage in patients with end stage kidney disease associates with cognitive impairment

Abstract Background and hypothesis Damages in brain white matter often occurs in individuals with chronic kidney disease, which might be related to their cognitive decline. This study aims to investigate tract specific white matter damage in patients with end stage renal disease by using fixel based analysis. Methods Images of 31 end stage renal disease patients and 16 normal controls (aged: 61.1 ± 10.4 years; 11 men) were acquired from a 1.5 T MR scanner. The patients were subsequently divided into with normal cognition (N = 17, aged: 66.9 ± 7.2 years; 10 men) and cognitive impairment (N = 14, aged: 72.4 ± 9.4 years; 7 men). Cognitive assessment, neurologic, hematologic and biochemical samples were collected. Fixel-based analysis was used to examine the tract-specific damage within white matter. Differences between groups were evaluated through connectivity-based fixel enhancement and non-parametric permutation testing. Correlation with biomarkers was conducted through general linear model. Significance was determined with familywise error-corrected p-value < 0.05. Results Reduced fixel-based metrics were observed in specific tract located the cerebral peduncle, internal capsule, corpus callosum, fornix, and superior corona radiata in patients when compared to normal controls, indicating a reduction in fiber content. The fibers crossing the corpus callosum and the fornix/stria terminalis are particularly vulnerable sites, which can be associated with the decrease in both Mini-Mental State Examination (R2 ranged between 0.420 and 0.556) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (R2 ranged between 0.425 and 0.509), as well as the plasma concentration of calcium (R2 ranged between 0.207 and 0.322). The plasma concentration of indoxyl sulfate was associated with the descending tracts from right posterior limb of internal capsule to cerebral peduncle (R2 ranged between 0.262 and 0.335). Conclusions Tract specific white matter damage can be noticed in the patients with end stage renal disease, and can be associated with their cognitive decline.

Bacteria Pseudomonas taiwanensis as a decomposing agent of peat fiber

Efforts are needed to accelerate the decomposition of peat fiber to reduce the fiber content through bioaugmentation using Pseudomonas taiwanensis bacteria so that it can reduce the high-water content of peat fiber. The research aimed to determine the effect of adding Pseudomonas taiwanensis bacteria on the decomposition of peat fiber. This research is a laboratory experimental research. The research sampling location was in Bereng Bengkel Village, Palangkaraya. The parameters observed included fiber content, fiber size distribution, and peat fiber decomposition speed following the Peat Testing Manual. The research instrument was an observation sheet for fiber content, size distribution, and peat fiber decomposition speed. Research data was analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. The results showed that adding 15% Pseudomonas taiwanensis bacteria with a curing period of 28 days in fibrous peat resulted in the highest reduction in fiber content, from the initial condition of 61.14% to 12.33%. This variation also shows a decrease in coarse and medium fiber content and a significant increase in fine fiber content. The decomposition rate for this variation shows good consistency. The conclusion was that adding 15% Pseudomonas taiwanensis bacteria with a curing period of 28 days showed optimal results in accelerating the decomposition of peat fiber through the bioaugmentation method.

Millets in India: Current Scenario and the Way Forward

Millets are small-seeded plants with a short growing season, low water requirements and high disease resistance. Millet cultivation can potentially improve food security of marginal farmers in areas affected by drought due to climate change. But they are not the preferred crops in other areas because of low yield, short shelf life, low demand and non-remunerative selling price. There had been a progressive reduction in millet consumption over decades partly due to ready availability of subsidized rice and wheat through Public Distribution System (PDS) and partly because of the drudgery in processing of millets and difficulty in making tasty millet preparations. Industrial level processing methods to improve organoleptic properties often result in reduction in fiber content. Carbohydrate protein and fat content of millets are similar to cereals; they are gluten-free. Millets have higher vitamins, calcium, iron, phyto-nutrients and anti-oxidant content as compared to rice and wheat. Bio-availability of calcium and iron in millet-based diets is low because of the high fibre and phytate content. Millet-based meals with high fibre contents lows intestinal transit and provides satiety. Millets contain resistant starch which gets digested and absorbed slowly. The high phytonutrient and anti-oxidant content of millets has been shown to have a protective role in the prevention of non-communicable diseases in animals and may help in reducing CVD risk in human beings. Reintroducing millets into habitual Indian diets may help in the dietary management of over-nutrition, blood sugar in diabetic persons, halt the rise in lipid levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Test of low-alkaloid lupine with multi enzyme complex in compound feed as an alternative to soybean in feeding quails

The article presents data from a study conducted to study the effect of a protein component from low-alkaloid lupine with multi enzyme complex as part of mixed feed on the yield of products when feeding quails from birth to the 45th day. It was established that the possibility of using the lupine component and the level of its inclusion (up to 29%) in the compound feed for birds, completely replacing expensive soybeans in the diet, reducing the cost per 1 kg of feed by 7-8%. The lupine component can be used not only in feeding poultry, but also fish, monogastric animals, due to the reduction in fiber content to 2.3% and the fermentation process, which contributes to a more complete absorption of feed components.

Quality evaluation of gari produced from provitamin A cassava (Manihot esculenta) enriched with African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa)

Provitamin A cassava (PVAC), a biofortified yellow cassava, has great potential to alleviate vitamin A deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa. Blending PVAC with an underutilized legume, African Yam Bean (AYB), in gari production will go a long way in reducing protein and vitamin A malnutrition problems in sub-Saharan Africa where gari is a staple food. Gariwas produced from PVAC mash substituted with varying proportions (0, 7.5, 15, 23 and 30%) of AYB using simplex lattice design expert (version 16.0). The gari samples were evaluated for their nutritional composition, physicochemical properties and anti-nutritional factors. Sensory attributes of the products were evaluated using a 7-point hedonic scale. Moisture contents of all the gari samples were below 5% indicating safe level for prolonged storage. Substituting PVAC with AYB at varying proportions resulted in 14.4-23.7%, 16.3-23.5%, 19.8-20.3% and 15.5-20.3% for ash, protein, calorific and beta-carotene contents, respectively, and 18.3–21.8% reduction in fiber content. Production of gari from blends of PVAC and AYB significantly (p<0.05) increased pH level and reduced total titratable acidity of the gari samples. Gariproduced from 92.5% PVAC and 7.5% AYB mash had the least value of 1.20 mg/kg HCN, and 100 % cassava gari had the highest value (5.0 mg/kg) of HCN. The swelling capacity decreased with increase in the substitution level of AYB in the mixture. The results of syneresis of the samples followed a similar trend with that of swelling capacity. Water absorption capacity and reconstitution index showed increase with increase in the level of AYB inclusion. The anti-nutritional factor of the gari sample ranged from 1.95 to 5.65% for trypsin inhibitor, 4.53-31.02 mg/100g for total phenols, and 2.56-5.33 mg/100g for alkaloids. Gariproduced from 100% PVAC was the most preferred in terms of colour, texture, aroma and appearance while gari substituted with 7.5% AYB was best preferred in terms of taste. Significant difference (p<0.05) was recorded for the overall acceptability attribute of 100% PVAC gari(control sample) which was best rated by the panelists. It was concluded that a substitution of 7.5% AYBintoPVAC mash gave the gari with the best overall quality acceptability. These findings indicated the potential of AYB in gari processing to curb vitamin A deficiency among the vulnerable group.

Influence of anaerobic rumen fungal inoculation on the fermentation and nutritive content of selected forage silages

This study investigated the ability of isolated anaerobic fungi to facilitate silage fermentation characteristic and nutritive content. To achieve this, two fungal isolates out of fourteen obtained in our laboratory from sheep rumen content were selected as silage inoculants. Selection of the isolates was based on their ability to present the highest growth characteristics and they belong to the genus Orpinomyces, and Neocallimastix (as identified with microscope). The two fungi alongside the control (i.e. no fungi) were used to inoculate different silages prepared from four selected forages i.e. two tropical grasses (i.e. Andropogon gayanus- AG, Brachiaria decumbens- BD) and two temperate forages (i.e. Triticum aestivum- TA straw and Lolium perenne- LP) in order to examine their effect on fermentation (i.e. pH) and nutritive content of these silages over 14 and 28 days of inoculation, respectively. The anaerobic fungal inoculated silages showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement in quality than un-inoculated silages which was reflected in terms of increase in soluble fraction i.e. CP content; reduction in fibre content; increase in metabolites, increase in total antioxidant content (TAC); and reduction in pH with minimal nutrient loss. However, the rate of the anaerobic fungal improvement was influenced by the forages used for the silage and the length of inoculation. The highest and lowest increase in quality was recorded in LP and TA silages, respectively, while more extended inoculation time supported more quality improvement in the silages. The use of anaerobic fungi as inoculants improved AG, BD, TA and LP silages quality through facilitation of the fermentation characteristics (i.e. pH and nutritive content).

Dietary effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with or without molasses in rice husk based-diet on performance and health status of goats

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the impact of introducing Saccharomyces cerevisiae with or without molasses in a diet based on rice husk on the health status of goats. Thirty (30) West African Dwarf (WAD) goats with mean weight of 10.46 ± 0.06 kg were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments of six goats per treatment in a completely randomized design experiment for 84 days. The goats were fed five formulated diets of rice husks anaerobically fermented for 7days with S. cerevisiae with or without molasses at graded levels. Nutrient composition of feed, daily nutrient intake, apparent digestibility coefficients, weekly weight gain/change by the goats were evaluated. At the end of the feeding trial, faeces, urine and blood samples were collected and analysed using standard procedures. The efficacy of the diet containing a combination of S. cerevisiae and molasses in ratio 1:1 as a feed additive, coupled with fermentation was proven by the concomitant reduction in fibre content. All the growth criteria (feed intake, live weight gain and feed conversion ratio), blood profiles and serum minerals measured favoured goats fed this Diet 3. No mortality was recorded during the trial. Conclusively, introducing S. cerevisiae with molasses at equi-ratio nutritionally enhances optimal rice husk utilization in goats’ nutrition and supported productive performance and their health status.

Fertilization with liquid swine manure increases productivity and improves the quality of Urochloa decumbens

This study aims at assessing the influence of mineral fertilization and biofertilizer from liquid swine manure (LSM) in productivity, levels of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) of Urochloa decumbens. The experiment was carried out in a red Latosol under a Urochloa decumbens pasture, in a state of degradation with loss of vigor and forage productivity. The delineation chosen for this study was randomized blocks with six treatments (control without fertilization, control with use of mineral fertilizer and four unique concentrations of liquid swine manure biofertilizer (61 m3 ha-1, 121 m3 ha-1, 181 m3 ha-1, 241 m3 ha-1)). The application of residue has been split in two times on the surface of the soil, by means of a distributor of liquid waste with a fan-shaped application. Yield and bromatological features were evaluated for two years. Fertilization with LSM can fully replace mineral fertilizing in Urochloa decumbens pasture systems, resulting in an increase, as a result, in the dry mass yield from the dosage of 121 m3 ha-1 and the reduction in fiber content in neutral and acid detergent. The increments in yield were observed in the second year, while improvement in bromatological quality was observed from the first application of LSM.

<b>Feeding behavior of dairy cows fed different levels of xiquexique (<i>Pilosocereus gounellei</i>)

This study evaluated the replacement of Tifton hay with xiquexique (0, 12, 24 and 36%) on feeding behavior of lactating dairy cows. To this end, eight cows with average milk production of 15 kg milk day-1 and average body weight of 465.2 ± 39.4 kg were distributed in a double 4x4 Latin square. Each experimental period lasted 16 days, ten for adaptation and six for data collection. The record of behavioral variables was made every five min. for 24 hours. The times spent in feeding, ruminating and total chewing, expressed in hours day-1, as well as feeding (FE) and rumination (RE) efficiencies, expressed in g NDF h-1, the number of cuds and cud chews per day showed a linear decrease according to the levels of xiquexique in the diet. There was a linear increase in time in idleness. Xiquexique levels in the diet for dairy cows did not influence FE and RE, expressed in g DM h-1, number and time spent in chewing per cud. The replacement of Tifton hay with xiquexique in the diet alters the feeding behavior of dairy cows due to the reduction in fiber content.

Efeito do tratamento enzimático sobre a viscosidade e os teores de fibra e pectina em suco de pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.)

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do tratamento enzimático, utilizando enzimas comerciais, sobre o comportamento reológico e o teor de fibras e pectina do suco de pitanga. Foram avaliadas diferentes combinações de pectinase (Pectinex Ultra SP-L) e celulase (Cellubrix-L), totalizando 0,1%, em massa, de enzima. Os resultados encontrados indicaram baixo valor de pectina (<0,003%) e significativa redução no teor de fibras após tratamento enzimático, sendo que a aplicação combinada de 0,025% de pectinase com 0,075% de celulase provocou a maior redução no teor de fibras e, consequentemente, menor viscosidade do suco. Ao mesmo tempo, uma aplicação igual ou superior a 0,05% de Pectinex Ultra SP-L foi necessária para resultar nas menores concentrações de pectina. A aplicação combinada de celulase e pectinase resultou em suco com menor viscosidade, cujo comportamento reológico foi próximo ao Newtoniano. No entanto, o modelo Lei da Potência seria o mais indicado para uso em modelagens matemáticas.

Evaluation of energy cane and sweet sorghum as feedstocks for conversion into fuels and chemicals

Sweet sorghum and energy cane (high fiber cane) are potential crops for conversion into fuels and chemicals due to their low agricultural input requirements, potentially high fiber content and processing similarities with established sugarcane crops. A conceptual approach to a biorefinery producing fuels and chemicals from sweet sorghum and energy cane is proposed. The front-end of the plant processes 10,000 t/d of feedstock to extract convertible sugars by milling and concentrate them into storable syrups. The latter can be processed into gasoline, jet fuel and isoprene using proprietary technologies. The fiber remaining after extraction, called bagasse, is used in the boilers of the front-end plant to provide steam and power for entire facility and to produce additional second generation sugars by pretreatment and hydrolysis in a lignocellulosic conversion plant. Material and energy balances for the front-end plant were calculated using SugarsTM software. Results show that for the selected variety of energy cane, up to 46% of bagasse is available for further lignocellulosic conversion resulting in production of additional 33.6% of sugars. In this case, however, surplus electricity production is reduced by 86%. Calculations for sweet sorghum follow the same trend. Results show that a 13% reduction in fiber content by processing sweet sorghum instead of energy cane, reduces power export by 71% and second generation sugars by 40%.

Low-Fiber Canola. Part 1. Chemical and Nutritive Composition of the Meal

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the chemical and nutritive composition of meals derived from a newly developed yellow-seeded Brassica napus canola and the canola-quality Brassica juncea . In comparison with its conventional black-seeded counterpart, meal derived from yellow-seeded B. napus canola contained more protein (49.8 vs 43.8% DM), more sucrose (10.2 vs 8.8% DM), and less total dietary fiber (24.1 vs 30.1% DM). B. juncea canola showed intermediate levels of protein, sucrose, and dietary fiber (47.4, 9.2, and 25.8%, respectively). The reduction in fiber content of yellow-seeded B. napus canola was a consequence of a bigger seed size, a lower contribution of the hull fraction to the total seed mass, and a lower content of lignin with associated polyphenols of the hull fraction. The meal derived from yellow-seeded B. napus canola would appear to have quality characteristics superior to those from black-seeded B. napus or yellow-seeded B. juncea.

Colocalization of a partially dominant gene for yellow seed colour with a major QTL influencing acid detergent fibre (ADF) content in different crosses of oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) contributing to yellow seed colour and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were localized and compared in 3 mapping populations developed from 2 crosses (designated 'YE1' and 'YE2') between 2 distinct sources of true-breeding yellow-seeded oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and 2 different black-seeded genotypes. A clear correlation was observed between seed colour and ADF content in both crosses. In all 3 populations, a major QTL, with a large effect on both seed colour and ADF in multiple environments, was detected at the same position on chromosome N18. In YE1, a second minor QTL, with a small effect on seed colour but not on ADF content, was localized on chromosome N1. In YE2, no QTL was observed on N1; however, 2 minor seed-colour loci were localized to N15 and N5. A second major QTL for ADF was localized in YE1 on N13; in YE2, no other QTLs for ADF were detected. Combined QTL and segregation data for seed colour and ADF content in the different populations suggest that a partially dominant B. napus gene for seed colour on N18 contributes to a reduction in fibre content in different yellow-seeded B. napus genotypes. The other QTLs that were identified appear to represent different genes in the 2 yellow-seeded rapeseed sources, which, in each case, affect only fibre content or seed colour, respectively. Potential candidate genes and implications for marker-assisted breeding of oilseed rape with reduced seed dietary fibre content are discussed.

Cellulase production with sugarcane straw byTrichoderma citrinoviride on solid bed

A locally soil-isolated strain of Trichoderma citrinoviride produced cellulase activity levels quite similar to the overproducing mutant T. reeSei (T. longibrachiatum) QM 9414 when grown in homogeneous cultures containing sugarcane straw. It was confirmed than the crude enzymatic extracts (filter paper enzyme, carboxymethylcellulase and s-glucosidase) have similar traits to the reference strain. Both strains utilized more efficiently the ground substrate in relation to other pre-treatments assayed. Kinetics of growth in solid beds containing sugarcane straw showed than the fermentation stopped around 96–120 hours, obtaining the highest enzyme production (filter paper enzyme: 16 U/g ), and released a minimum of residual sugar (glucose and xylose, 5.032 mg/g1 ). The final product is characterized by a reduction in fibre content of the substrate (40.4 %) and an increase in cell protein (6.2 - 7.9 %).

Digestible energy contents and apparent ileal amino acid digestibilities in regular or partial mechanically dehulled canola meal samples fed to growing pigs

A study was carried out to determine the influence of partial mechanical tail-end dehulling on apparent ileal amino acid (AA) digestibilities and digestible energy content in canola meal (CM) samples for growing pigs. Twenty Landrace × Yorkshire barrows, with an initial body weight of 35 kg, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum. Digestibilities were determined in 12 experimental diets with observations from five pigs per diet. Five batches of regular CM were obtained from five different crushing plants in Western Canada. A fraction of these batches was partially dehulled. The regular and partially dehulled CM samples were included at 20% in a barley-based diet. One pooled high-fiber CM sample and a straight barley diet were evaluated as well. Partial dehulling increased (P < 0.05) the digestible energy (DE) content from 12.2 to 13.3 MJ kg DM−1, respectively, and the level of crude protein (CP) from 40.6 to 43.8% in regular and partially dehulled CM samples, respectively. The digestibility of threonine was increased (P < 0.05) by partial dehulling, from 72.1 to 75.5%; the digestibilities of CP, lysine, methionine and cysteine were not affected (P > 0.05). Only the digestibilities of methionine and threonine were lower (P < 0.05) in the high-fiber CM sample than in the regular and partially dehulled samples. Digestible energy content, which ranged from 10.8 to 14.2 MJ kg DM−1, differed (P < 0.05) between crushing plants for both regular and partially dehulled CM samples. The digestibility of lysine did not differ (P > 0.05) between processing plants for the regular CM samples. The digestibility of lysine did not differ (P > 0.05) between processing plants for the regular CM samples. In contrast, there were differences (P < 0.05) in lysine digestibility, ranging from 74.8 to 83.8%, and methionine, ranging from 80.4 to 86.9%, between crushing plants for partially dehulled samples. There were low negative relationships between apparent ileal AA digestibilities and NDF, ADF and CF levels (r < 0.39) and between DE content and NDF, ADF and CF levels (r < 0.36) in the CM samples. In conclusion, the reduction in fiber content by mechanical tail-end dehulling increased the supply of DE and the level of CP, but did not influence apparent ileal CP or AA digestibilities, except for threonine which was slightly increased. Key words: Amino acid, canola meal, dehulling, ileal digestibility, pig

Optic nerve fibre lesions in adult cats: pattern of recovery of spatial vision.

Partial deafferentation in the pre-geniculate optic pathways of the adult cat was produced by micro-injection of diphtheria toxin. In this lesion a certain proportion of fibres was damaged while neighbouring fibres remained unaffected. Behavioural methods were used to study the time course, pattern, and extent of recovery of spatial vision after such lesions. Cats were trained to discriminate square-wave gratings from blank fields. A range of grating sizes (0.13--2.61 cycles/degree) at high contrast were presented each day and when performance was consistently 100%, the lesion was placed. At 24 h post-lesion and serially thereafter grating discrimination was tested. Contrast sensitivity was also measured before and after the lesion. All cats recovered to pre-lesion performance levels. The time course of recovery was characterized by an early rapid phase followed by a longer slower phase. The early recovery was temporally coincident with dispersal of oedema at the site of the lesion, while the later slower recovery probably represented a functional reorganization at the synapse. Optic nerve fibre analyses at one year post-lesion showed reduction in fibre content ranging from 33 to 77% in different cats without shift in the fibre size histograms. The length of recovery time was directly related to the magnitude of fibre loss. The return of spatial frequency perception was hierarchical - first medium (1--4 days), then low (1--2 months) and finally high spatial frequencies (5--8 months). Possible mechanisms are discussed and it is suggested that such a pattern of psychophysical results could be accounted for by date than the X-type.