Growth Requirements Research Articles

Comparison of suckling and artificial rearing on calf growth and milk requirements in pastoral dairy systems

Context Dairy calf-rearing practises have the potential to influence profitability through milk requirements at rearing, and affect lifetime productivity and market access from an animal-welfare perspective. Aims The aim of this research was to compare calf growth and milk requirements by using conventional artificial rearing (AR) and restricted milk allocation with AR and high milk allocation or suckled calves. Methods Forty-five Friesian × Jersey calves were allocated to be either AR on 6 L/calf.day, (ARC) or 12 L/calf.day, (ARH), or suckled with dams in a cow–calf contact system using partial contact (15 h/day, CCC). AR calves were fed, and intake measured, using an automatic feeder, whereas CCC calves had access to their dams between 1500 hours and 0600 hours. Calves were transitioned off milk, once they reached at least 75 kg liveweight (LW), by gradually reducing their milk allocation (AR) or reducing access to their dam (CCC). Key results Milk consumption for ARH was greater than for ARC calves (382 vs 450 L/calf, P < 0.05), whereas for CCC calves milk-yield difference between dams for the control and suckling groups during the suckling period and over the full season was 706 and 1048 L/cow respectively. There was no difference in weaning weight of calves (87 ± 1.7 kg LW), but, owing to differences in pre-weaning growth rate, age to weaning was youngest (P < 0.05) for CCC (55 days), followed by ARH (62 days) and ARC (73 days). Respective growth rates between birth and weaning (P < 0.001) for CCC, ARH and ARC calves were 0.955, 0.873 and 0.755 ± 0.028 kg/day. Although there was a growth check among CCC calves during the weaning period, there were no post-weaning differences in growth rate among the groups. Conclusions Increasing milk allowance had the benefit of improving calf pre-weaning growth rate, giving the option of weaning calves either earlier or when heavier. However, milk yield losses under suckling systems may be too high to warrant the elevated pre-weaning growth of calves. Implications The costs–benefits of high milk allocation or suckling systems need to be ascertained over the lifetime of the animals to assess long-term survival and productivity outcomes.

Elevated hospital floor-based HDU (POPUP-HDU): a new safe alternative to PICU for high-risk neuromuscular and syndromic children undergoing scoliosis surgery.

Children undergoing either posterior spinal fusion (PSF) or index insertion of growing rods for neuromuscular or genetic/syndromic scoliosis may require post-operative care on the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Demands on this limited resource result in frequent bed shortage related cancellations. In response, an ad-hoc or 'pop-up' ward-based high-dependency unit (POPUP-HDU) was developed. This converts a ward bed to POP-HDUbed for the required time. This study assesses the safety and efficacy of postoperative management that utilises POPUP-HDU as an alternative to a PICU bed. Retrospective review of 111 consecutive children undergoing posterior surgery for scoliosis between June 2016 and April 2023. The inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of genetic/syndromic or neuromuscular scoliosis; PSF or primary insertion of distraction-based growth rods and requirement for postoperative care in a PICU. We excluded those children that were mandated to go to PICU post-operatively for any reason by the anaesthetic team. 49 patients (mean age 13.0years) were managed on PICU, and 62 (mean age 11.4years) on POPUP-HDU. The groups were matched with respect to body weight, curve magnitude, operative duration, type of fusion procedure performed, the presence of cardiac malformations, the use of home breathing support, the number of operated levels, pelvic instrumentation and intraoperative blood loss. 8 patients in the PICU, and 16 in the POP-HDU groups were readmitted back to PICU following step-down to the hospital ward (p = 0.27). The median PICU length of stay was 1day in the PICU group and less than a day in POPUP-HDU (for those that needed to be subsequently admitted to PICU). The median total length of hospital stay was 10days in the PICU group, and 8days in POPUP-HDU (p < 0.05). 14 patients developed medical complications in the PICU group, compared to 19 in POPUP-HDU. There were no bedshortage cancellations in POPUP-HDU, compared to 23 in PICU. For children with neuromuscular, genetic or syndromic scoliosis undergoing PSF or growth rods that are not deemed suitable for immediate ward-level post-operative care, POPUP-HDU provided a safe alternative to PICU for appropriate patients and was associated with shorter hospital stay and fewer cancellations for lack of PICU beds. Therapeutic Level III.

Site of breast cancer metastasis is independent of single nutrient levels.

Cancer metastasis is a major contributor to patient morbidity and mortality 1 , yet the factors that determine the organs where cancers can metastasize are incompletely understood. In this study, we quantify the absolute levels of over 100 nutrients available across multiple tissues in mice and investigate how this relates to the ability of breast cancer cells to grow in different organs. We engineered breast cancer cells with broad metastatic potential to be auxotrophic for specific nutrients and assessed their ability to colonize different organs. We then asked how tumor growth in different tissues relates to nutrient availability and tumor biosynthetic activity. We find that single nutrients alone do not define the sites where breast cancer cells can grow as metastases. Additionally, we identify purine synthesis as a requirement for tumor growth and metastasis across many tissues and find that this phenotype is independent of tissue nucleotide availability or tumor de novo nucleotide synthesis activity. These data suggest that a complex interplay of multiple nutrients within the microenvironment dictates potential sites of metastatic cancer growth, and highlights the interdependence between extrinsic environmental factors and intrinsic cellular properties in influencing where breast cancer cells can grow as metastases.

Chlorella-enriched hydrogels protect against myocardial damage and reactive oxygen species production in an in vitro ischemia/reperfusion model using cardiac spheroids

Microalgae have emerged as promising photosynthetic microorganisms for biofabricating advanced tissue constructs, with improved oxygenation and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, their use in the engineering of human tissues has been limited due to their intrinsic growth requirements, which are not compatible with human cells. In this study, we first formulated alginate-gelatin (AlgGel) hydrogels with increasing densities ofChlorella vulgaris. Then, we characterised their mechanical properties and pore size. Finally, we evaluated their effects on cardiac spheroid (CS) pathophysiological response under control and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) conditions. Our results showed that the addition ofChlorelladid not affect AlgGel mechanical properties, while the mean pore size significantly decreased by 35% in the presence of the 107cells ml-1microalgae density. Under normoxic conditions, the addition of 107Chlorellacells ml-1significantly reduced CS viability starting from 14 d in. No changes in pore size nor CS viability were measured for hydrogels containing 105and 106Chlorellacells ml-1. In our I/R model, allChlorella-enriched hydrogels reduced cardiac cell sensitivity to hypoxic conditions with a corresponding reduction in ROS production, as well as protected against I/R-induced reduction in cell viability. Altogether, our results support a promising use ofChlorella-enriched Alg-Gel hydrogels for cardiovascular tissue engineering.

Primary productivity regulates rhizosphere soil organic carbon: Evidence from a chronosequence of subtropical Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation

Tree plantations worldwide are a large terrestrial carbon sink. Previous studies on the carbon sequestration capacity of plantations mainly focused on tree biomass carbon sequestration, but the importance of soil organic carbon (SOC) was relatively unclear. Living root carbon inputs influence SOC via plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere and play an essential role in nutrient cycling. Here, we compared SOC, including its fractions, microbial properties, and major nutrients in rhizosphere and bulk soils, and examined their relationships to net primary productivity (NPP) across three developmental stages of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations (6, 18, and 42 years old) in subtropical China. Although NPP differed among the three plantations, SOC concentration in bulk soils did not vary significantly among them. However, SOC concentration and labile C pool I and recalcitrant C pool in rhizosphere soils were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the young (6-year) and mature (42-year) plantations, both of which had lower (p < 0.05) NPP (−37.71 % and − 42.67 %) compared to the middle-aged (18-year) plantation, suggesting a decoupling of NPP from rhizosphere SOC in the plantations. The decoupling of NPP from rhizosphere SOC concentrations may be driven by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) tree growth requirements, belowground C allocation, and resultant microbial activity in this highly weathered subtropical soil. Our study provides field-based evidence suggesting that rhizosphere SOC changes are primarily regulated by net primary production in subtropical forest plantations. We propose that accurate predictions of SOC dynamics in forest plantations require an improved understanding of rhizosphere processes during plantation development.

Do cooking techniques influence copper bioaccesibility in foods after in vitro digestion/fermentation in adults and children?

Cu is essential for the growth and organism health. Classically, its available fraction has been studied by in vitro digestion studies as a measure of bioaccessibility of Cu (Cu-BA). In this work we applied a novel in vitro digestion/fermentation method to multiple foods subjected to different home cooking techniques (raw form vs. frying, roasting, toasting, boiling and grilling) by metabolization with faecal inoculate from healthy adults (HE-AD), and healthy children (HE-CH) and sick children (children with gluten related disorders, GRD-CH; children with obesity, OB-CH; and children with allergy/intolerance to cow’s milk proteins, AICM-CH). In raw and cooked foods the bioaccessibility of Cu in the small intestine (Cu-BASI) was higher vs. that in the Cu bioaccessibility in the large intestine (Cu-BALI) (30.8 ± 15.4 and 28.2 ± 14.7 vs. 18.4 ± 21.2 and 22.8 ± 22.1 %, respectively; p < 0.001). Total Cu-BA in cooked foods (51.0 ± 24.4 %) was higher than that in raw foods (49.0 ± 25.1 %). In cereals, total Cu-BA was higher in the raw form, as well as in whole grains and those with gluten (p < 0.05). In vegetables, the most drastic cooking techniques (roasting and frying) show higher values of total Cu-BA compared to raw form and boiling. The Cu-BALI in HE-CH (37.7 ± 23.7 %) is higher than that determined in HE-AD (14.1 ± 18.5 %) and sick children (GRD-CH: 14.6 ± 19.8; OB-CH: 15.5 ± 17.8; and AICM-CH: 26.9 ± 19.3 %; p < 0.001). In conclusion, cooking techniques influence Cu-BA depending on the food group. Total Cu-BA, as well as that determined in the large and small intestine varied according to the category, group and specific foods, which is related to their different composition and species of the element. In healthy children, total Cu-BALI is higher than in adults and celiac, obese and allergic children probably due to growth requirements and specific microbiota.

Evaluation of storage stability of poultry by-product meal incorporated fish feed under aerobic storage condition

The research focused on development of fish feed utilising poultry by-product meal (PBM) as a substitute for fish meal (FM) and evaluating its shelf life under aerobic packaging conditions. Initially, a basal diet (C) was formulated to meet the nutritional requirements for optimal growth of Tilapia by using FM as the major protein source. After analysing the nutritional composition of PBM, an isoproteinaceous diet (T) was formulated by replacing FM with PBM. The product was packed in HDPE bags and kept at room temperature and analysed for physico chemical and microbial characteristics for 45 days at weekly intervals. Moisture content of both C and T decreased significantly (p0.05) was found between C and T. The TBARS value of both C and T followed an increasing trend. This increase in C was not significant (p&lt;0.01) between 28th and 35th day, and between 42nd and 45th day but that of T increased significantly (p&lt;0.01) throughout the storage period. T consistently displayed the highest TBARS value during storage period. Tyrosine Value (TV) of both C and T also increased during storage and was significant (p&lt;0.01) up to 42nd day of storage. C exhibited the highest TV throughout the storage period. Similarly, total viable count (TVC) of both C and T increased on storage. The increase in TVC for C was not significant (p&lt;0.01) between 21st and 28th days, whereas that of T was significant (p&lt;0.01) throughout the storage period. On 45th day, T exhibited highest count and was significantly different (p&lt;0.01) from C. Throughout the 45-day storage period, no observable coliform count or yeast and mould count was noted in either C or T. The present study indicated that fish feed can be effectively prepared by utilising PBM and can be stored under room temperature up to 45 days. Keywords: Poultry by-product meal, fish meal, fish feed, storage stability

Analisis Faktor-Faktor Kinerja Operasional Pemeliharaan Aset Fisik Pengolahan Instalasi Air Limbah di Kota Sungai Penuh

Infrastructure Assets and Facilities are basic requirements for economic development and growth, both are not simple objects and require huge costs. In addition, the relationship between the two with the aspect of election is very important. Because there is no maintenance of the physical assets of communal WWTP in Sungai TFull City, often the units on the WWTP are damaged so that it can hinder the wastewater treatment process. The less optimal performance of WWTP is influenced by human resources, machinery and equipment, as well as problems in the series of WWTP processes. The research method that is used is a quantitative method with the distribution of questionnaires to the respondents involved. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors and dominant factors of the operational performance of the maintenance of physical assets of wastewater treatment plants in Sungai TFull City, as well as to provide strategic strategies to improve the maintenance operations of physical assets of wastewater treatment plants in Sungai TFull City. The results of the research conducted are 5 factors in the operational performance of the maintenance of physical assets of wastewater treatment plants in Sungai TFull City, which consists of cost factors, human resource factors, work method factors, and equipment factors.

Influence of climate change on flowering phenology of Yoshino cherry at its southern distribution limit.

To clarify the influence of climate change on the flowering phenology of Yoshino cherry at its southern distribution limit, we examined the relationship between cold exposure for endodormancy release (chilling requirement) and heat requirement for bud growth on Hachijojima Island, Japan, from 1948 to 2024. Cold exposure and heat requirement had a significant relationship approximated by linear or log-linear functions. In years with less cold exposure, the first flowering dates were much later than normal, in accordance with the higher heat requirement. Our results indicate that the variation in the balance between cold exposure and heat requirement depending on the pattern of annual air temperature change is likely to vary the first flowering date greatly at the distribution limit of Yoshino cherry.

Identification of plant soil water and soil aeration corequisites: A management tool

AbstractPlant‐available soil‐water and adequate soil aeration within the root zone are essential corequisites for successful plant growth. Characterization of these two requirements for plant growth is generally done by independent measurements of water and air phase properties and functions in soil, with limited emphasis on their combined effect. This study investigated soil‐water characteristic (SWC) measurements in vadose soil profiles (up to 117‐cm depth) in six pasture soils to examine the combined behavior of soil‐water and diffusion‐controlled aeration within the root zone. The soil moisture measurements were made over matric potentials ranging from −1 to −1500 kPa using tension table and pressure plate apparatus. The van Genuchten model was used to parameterize the measured SWC curve, while the Millington–Quick model was used to derive soil‐gas diffusivity from measured soil physical properties. Based on two simple indices, derived to represent plant‐available soil‐water and soil aeration status at a given moisture content, we propose an assessment matrix, which illustrates how a soil satisfies the corequisites for successful plant growth, as it drains to different matric potentials upon irrigation. Results show a pronounced effect of soil texture and, to a lesser extent, soil structure on satisfying these corequisites. With the aid of the assessment matrix, we observed that loam, sandy loam textures exhibited a good overall performance, while sand, clay loam, and clay soils struggled to meet these corequisites during drainage.

A convenient and versatile culturomics platform to expand the human gut culturome of Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae.

The human gut microbiota is increasingly being recognised to play an important role in maintaining health. The families Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae in particular, are often reduced in disease states but are relatively poorly represented in culture collections. Cultured representatives are required to investigate the physiology and host interactions of gut microbes. Establishing cultured isolate collections can be laborious and expensive owing to the fastidious growth requirements of these organisms and the costs associated with taxonomic classification. This study proposes a culturomics platform combining a single basal culture medium with matrix-assisted laser adsorption/ionisation coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for fast and reliable isolation and identification of hundreds of novel isolates. In this study, basal YCFA medium supplemented with either glucose, apple pectin, or porcine mucin was used to cultivate a total of 724 different isolates derived from only 11 different faecal samples from healthy volunteers, of which 389 isolates belonged to the Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae families. Moreover, 27 isolates could not be assigned to known species based on their 16S rRNA gene, 17 of which may even represent novel genera. To aid MALDI-TOF MS identification of gut bacteria, the commercial database was complemented with the MaldiGut database presented here, containing a collection of 132 different Main Spectrum Profiles, including the profiles of 125 Firmicutes species, 3 Bacteroidetes species, 3 Actinobacteria species, and one Verrucomicrobia species. The culturomics platform and MaldiGut database presented here will enable further expansion of the gut culturome, especially within the understudied Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae families.

CFD Analysis to Optimize Air Quality in Aeroponic Tower Garden

Aeroponic tower gardens represent an innovative approach to urban agriculture, utilizing vertical structures to cultivate plants without soil. Research highlights the efficiency of this method in optimizing resource usage, such as water and space, compared to traditional farming. Studies emphasize increased crop yields, faster growth rates, and reduced environmental impact. Additionally, aeroponic systems enable precise nutrient delivery to plants, fostering optimal growth conditions. While the technology shows promise, further investigations are needed to address potential challenges and optimize its application in diverse agricultural settings. The study presents the simulation of air temperature and humidity distribution in a closed chamber of the vertical farm for optimization purposes. The environmental conditions inside the chamber are optimized for plant growth, to maintain the temperature at a range of 18-24 °C temperature and the relative humidity at a range of 75-85 %. The paper also discusses the challenges, limitations, and future recommendations for improving the system. Simulation of the system, on the other hand, is crucial not only for prototype fabrication but also for the optimization of sensor locations. The simulation of the tower garden system was performed using ANSYS-FLUENT to portray how the airflow inside the tower garden's enclosed environment was distributed. The system parameters such as humidity and temperature were set to meet the plants' growth requirements, and the system was treated as the steady state with an adiabatic boundary. Based on the simulation results, the best design recommended is to use two humidity and temperature sensors, one at the top and the other at the core of the prototype. Hence, a complete mapping of temperature and humidity distribution that is critical for plant growth would be occurred.

Factors Related To Compliance With The Consumption Of Iron Tablets In Adolescent Females

Background : Anemia is a condition characterized by decreased hemoglobin levels, red blood cell counts, and impaired oxygen requirements. One type of anemia that is often experienced by adolescents is iron deficiency anemia, due to the high iron requirements for adolescent growth which is inversely proportional to the amount of iron intake of adolescents. Many factors cause adolescent girls not to consume or still low consumption of Iron Supplement Tablets in Adolescent Girls. This study aims to determine the factors that influence compliance in taking iron tablets in adolescent girls at SMP Negeri 1 Kotabunan. Materials and Methods: This type of research uses quantitative observational analytic with a cross-sectional approach conducted on 74 female students taken from total sampling. Data collection was obtained from a research instrument in the form of a questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out by univariate analysis carried out on each variable and bivariate using the Charles Spearman Correlation Test or Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient with a confidence level (alpha) of 0.05. Results:of the study showed that respondents started menstruating at the age of 11-12 years by 35%, adolescent girls were obedient in consuming iron tablets by 57 people (77%), knowledge of adolescent girls by 67 people (90.5%) with a good category, Teacher Support 82.4%, Family 66.2% and Peers 77% supported adolescent girls consuming iron tablets, the correlation coefficient value with the Spearman's Rank test. for knowledge with compliance in consuming iron tablets 0.000, teacher support 0.003, family support 0.000 and peer support 0.007. There is a relationship between the level of knowledge, teacher support, family support and peer support with compliance in consuming iron tablets with a correlation coefficient value (sig.2-tailed) &lt;0.05. Conclusion: Adolescents in the growth and development period require adequate nutrient intake including the consumption of iron tablets to avoid anaemia. This study shows that factors associated with adherence to iron tablet consumption in adolescent girls are knowledge, attitude, parental support and teacher support.

Dabur Chyawankidz Gummies: A novel dosage form for immunomodulation

Across age groups, a tasty eatable product is always cherished and so is immunity on the other hand, equally indispensable throughout lifetime. Optimal and sustained immunity is a contiguous requirement for growth and welfare of the body and goodness of herbs of Chyawanprash is a time-tested formula in Ayurveda for a healthy life. Combining the innovation of a chewable system of drug delivery with goodness of Ayurveda, Dabur India Limited has prepared the Dabur ChyawanKidz Gummies – a palatable, chewable and immune boosting formulation. To assess its efficacy, the active immune boosting formulation of the product were studied for its activity on NK Cell, Cytokines (TNF-α) and phagocytosis by Macrophages; wherein compared to the control groups, the test product showed up to 49% increased NK Cell activity, 66-fold increase in TNF-α (Cytokines) and 55% increased phagocytic activity by macrophages. The result indicates 3x (triple) immunity action of the Dabur ChyawanKidz Gummies, making it a unique choice of chewable immunomodulatory preparation, which appeals across ages, combining taste with immunity.

Pittosporum tobira Japanese Pittosporum, Japanese Cheesewood

This document provides an overview of Pittosporum tobira, commonly known as Japanese pittosporum or Japanese cheesewood. It details the plant’s characteristics, including its glossy, dark green leaves, creamy white flowers, and natural mounding shape. The document highlights its uses in landscaping, such as for screens, hedges, and container planting, and discusses its growth requirements and maintenance needs. Additionally, it addresses potential issues like pest sensitivity and soil preferences, emphasizing the importance of proper drainage to prevent root rot. The document also mentions different cultivars and their suitability for residential landscapes. Original publication date October, 1999.

Nutrient Requirement of Advanced Olitorius Breeding Line O-0512-6-2 for Maximum Growth and Yield

The research work was conducted at Jute Agriculture Experimental Station (JAES) Manikganj and Jute Agriculture Regional Station (JARS) Faridpur of Bangladesh. The present study aimed at determining the nutritional requirement for optimum growth and yield of an advanced olitorius breeding line of O-0512-6-2 in Bangladesh. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with 10 treatments having three replications during the year 2019, 2020 and 2021. The results indicated significant effect on yield and yield contributing characters over control with different fertilizer (NPKS) levels of advanced olitorius breeding line of O-0512-6-2. The highest number of plant height, base diameter, green weight with leaves and without leaves was observed by the treatment T3 (N100P10K25S20) which is statistically significant. The highest fiber yield (2.75 t ha−1) and stick yield (6.50 t ha−1) at Manikganj and highest fiber yield (2.58 t ha−1) and stick yield (6.09 t ha–1) at Faridpur was also obtained by the combined dose of N100P10K25S20 (T3) kg ha−1. Therefore, this combination N100P10K25S20 Kg ha−1 seemed to be optimum for maximum growth and yield of advanced olitorius breeding line of O-0512-6-2. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2024, 26(2): 1-6

PSIV-23 Transcriptomic analysis revealed the mechanisms of resilience and susceptibility to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in dairy goats under high-concentrate diet

Abstract Liver health is vital for growth and health of ruminants, which can directly affect their performance. High-concentrate diet (HCD) feeding, a common practice to meet the energy requirements for animal production and growth, has been known to induce liver damage, including nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in ruminants. To date, the regulatory mechanisms of liver metabolic dysfunctions in ruminants induced by HCD are not well defined. To elucidate molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying liver dysfunction in ruminants, we compared liver transcriptome and single-cell transcriptome of dairy goats that had varied responses to the HCD, aiming to underpin the key mechanisms behind resilience and susceptibility to NASH in ruminants. After feeding 30 dairy goats with low-concentrate diet (LCD, n = 15, defined as Con) or high-concentrate diet (HCD, n = 15) for 6 wk, 10 of them developed NASH (defined as NASH), while the other 5 did not showed any NASH symptom (defined as NASH-tolerance, NASH-T) under HCD. Liver tissues were collected to extract RNA. The paired-end RNA-seq library was sequenced with a NovaSeq6000 sequencer (Illumina). Real-time quantitative PCR was conducted to verify the significantly different genes among groups. Liver single-cell transcriptome was performed using 10×Genomics Chromium system. Liver transcriptome analysis revealed that the expression level of genes involved in the interleukin (IL)-17 signaling pathway, including IL-17A (P = 0.035; 0.001), Act1 (P = 0.036; 0.002), FOSB (P = 0.041; 0.048) and IL-1β (P = 0.022; 0.002) in the NASH group were significantly greater than those in the Con and NASH-T groups. Hepatic single-cell RNA sequencing identified seven cell types in the liver, including hepatocytes, macrophages, T cells, endothelial cell, natural killer (NK) cell, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), B cells. In T cell subset, significantly decreased T helper 17 (TH17) cells and increased regulatory T (Treg) cells were detected in the NASH group compared with Con and NASH-T groups. In TH17 cell, the expression levels of IL-17A (P = 0.004; 0.009) and IL-23R (P = 0.007; 0.01; the surface antibodies of TH17 cells) in NASH group were significantly greater than those in the Con and NASH-T groups. The expression levels of Foxp3 (P &amp;lt; 0.001; 0.013), IL-2R (P &amp;lt; 0.001; 0.001), CTLA-4 (P = 0.005; 0.017) and CD127 (P = 0.004; 0.009; the surface antibodies of Treg cells) in NASH group were significantly less than those in the Con and NASH-T groups. Our results revealed the role of liver immune cells in maintaining tolerance to NASH in dairy goats under HCD, which provides new understanding in pathogenesis of NASH under HCD. Further studies are needed to identify major factors that drive the changes of ratio of TH17/Treg cell.

171 Examining the role of vitamin E in ruminant livestock growth and production

Abstract Vitamin E is necessary for health, growth, and reproduction in livestock. However, vitamin E requirements and supplement strategies for optimal livestock production and performance are poorly understood, and the role that it plays in skeletal muscle growth has not been thoroughly explored. Ideal vitamin E requirements for optimal skeletal muscle growth have yet to be identified in beef cattle or sheep. Because skeletal muscle growth is important for meat production in livestock, a more thorough understanding of postnatal skeletal muscle growth and the relationship with vitamin E is necessary. The goal of this presentation is to discuss what we currently understand about vitamin E and the relationship it has with skeletal muscle growth in ruminant livestock. This presentation will discuss previous research relating to vitamin E supplementation in beef cattle and sheep, and the resulting impacts on growth and production. Additionally, emerging research using both in vivo and in vitro methods to further explore the relationship between vitamin E and skeletal muscle growth and production of beef cattle and sheep will be presented.

A simple culture medium for phenotypic characterization and long-term storage of medically relevant fusarioid fungi

Fusarioid fungi, particularly Neocosmospora solani and Fusarium oxysporum, are emerging as significant human pathogens, causing infections ranging from localized mycoses to life-threatening systemic diseases. Accurate identification and preservation of these fungi in clinical laboratories remain challenging because of their diverse morphologies and specific growth requirements. This study evaluated a novel milk-honey and malt agar (MHM) against conventional media for cultivating and preserving 60 clinical fusarioid isolates, including Neocosmospora spp. (n = 47), Bisifusarium spp. (n = 5), and Fusarium spp. (n = 8). Compared with Sabouraud dextrose 2 % agar (SDA) and malt extract agar (ME2), MHM significantly increased conidia production (p < 0.0001, mean = 3.4 × 103, standard deviation (SD) = ±1.3 × 103), with results similar to those of carnation leaf agar (CLA). MHM facilitated superior preservation of fusarioid viability for up to one year at room temperature on slant cultures and over two years on swabs in Amies gel with charcoal, outperforming current methods such as Castellani (water) or cryopreservation. Morphological characterization of fusarioid fungi grown on MHM revealed distinct growth patterns and conidial structures for Neocosmospora, Bisifusarium, and Fusarium species, aiding in identifying these genera. The superior performance of MHM in stimulating conidiation, maintaining viability, and preserving morphology underscore its potential as a reference medium for medically relevant fusarioid fungi, with broad implications for clinical mycology laboratories and resource-limited settings.

Exploring agricultural waste substrate for enhancement of &lt;i&gt;Pleurotus ostreatus&lt;/i&gt; cultivation

The proximate composition of the organic waste substrates used in cultivating Pleurotus ostreatus was analyzed, and the results revealed significant variations in various nutritional components among the substrates. Palm Chaff had the highest ash content (7.14%), followed by Oil Palm Empty Bunch (5.08%), Yam Peel (4.29%), and Saw Dust (1.36%). This indicated that Palm Chaff was the richest in minerals, while sawdust had the lowest mineral content. In addition, Yam Peel had the highest moisture content (8.46%), followed by Palm Chaff (5.87%), Oil Palm Empty Bunch (4.62%), and Saw Dust (2.83%). This suggested that Saw Dust was the driest substrate. Furthermore, Oil Palm Empty Bunch had the highest crude lipid content (1.94%), followed by Palm Chaff (1.38%), Yam Peel (1.13%), and Saw Dust (0.04%). Moreover, Oil Palm Empty Bunch had the highest crude protein content (2.56%), followed by Yam Peel (2.1%) and Palm Chaff (2.02%). Saw Dust had the lowest crude protein content (1.74%). Besides, Oil Palm Empty Bunch had the highest crude fiber content (48.27%), followed by Palm Chaff (36.94%), Saw Dust (26.17%), and Yam Peel (14.36%). In addition, Saw Dust had the highest carbohydrate content (67.86%), followed by Yam Peel (69.64%) and Palm Chaff (46.65%). Oil Palm Empty Bunch had the lowest carbohydrate content (37.58%). These findings offered valuable insights into the suitability of each substrate for cultivating Pleurotus ostreatus Additionally, it enabled growers to make informed decisions about substrate selection based on the specific nutritional needs and growth requirements of the mushrooms. The impact of various organic waste substrates on the growth dynamics of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom), revealed significant variations in several key parameters. In primordial Formation, the number of early-stage fruiting bodies formed varied between 12 and 36 across different substrate formulations. The highest primordial formation was observed in treatment A + B + C + D (36), while treatments involving individual substrates or their combinations had the lowest primordial formation (12). Furthermore, in Fruiting Body Production, the number of mature mushrooms produced varied across treatments. Treatment A + C resulted in the highest number of fruiting bodies (26), while treatments involving combinations of substrates (B + C + D, A + B + C, A + B + C + D, C + D) had the lowest number of fruiting bodies (3). Overall, the findings highlight the influence of specific substrate combinations on various aspects of mushroom growth dynamics. However, the choice of growth substrates did not significantly impact the overall weight and biological efficiency of Pleurotus ostreatus in this study. These results provide valuable insights for optimizing mushroom cultivation practices.