Morphometrical study of polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule positive cells in rat pups hippocampus following induction of seizure during pregnancy

Background:The polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) is expressed in developing brain. Fetal brain damage is caused by different conditions such as seizure and hypoxia. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of maternal seizures on the number of PSA-NCAM positive cells in pup''s hippocampus. Methods: Female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (a) kindled rats which received PTZ (40 mg/kg, i.p.) during pregnancy from embryonic day 14-19 (E14-E19) every 48 h, (b) kindled rats which did not receive PTZ during pregnancy, (c) non-kindle, pregnant rats which received PTZ injection (40 mg/kg, i.p.) during pregnancy from E14 to E19 every 48 h, and (d) non-kindle, pregnant rats which received injection with an equal volume of normal saline as sham controls. At postnatal day 14 (PD₁₄), rat pups were perfused, and their brain were fixed, embedded and coronal sections stained by immunohistochemistry method. The number of PSA-NCAM positive cells per unit area in the pup''s hippocampus was counted. Results: The number of PSA-NCAM positive cells in the CA1, CA3, and DG fields of pup''s hippocampus, which was obtained from mothers who experienced PTZ injection during pregnancy, was decreased approximately 2.6 (P = 0.001), 2 (P = 0.001), and 2.1 (P = 0.001) times compared with non-PTZ treated maternal groups, respectively. Conclusions: Our study showed that maternal seizures reduced the number of neurons and also PSA-NCAM positive cells per unit area in the offspring hippocampus that it may cause impairment in hippocampal functions.Key Words: Epilepsy, Polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM), Hippocampus, Seizures     

Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) treatment of candidiasis in normal and diabetic rats

Background: The leaves of Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) are used for treatment of diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eucalyptus in treatment of established systemic infection with Candida albicans in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Sixty normoglycemic male Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were selected and randomly divided into six groups (n= 10): normal control, control + C. albicans, control + eucalyptus + C. albicans, diabetic control, diabetic + C. albicans, diabetic + eucalyptus + C. albicans. Diabetes was induced after a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight) and eucalyptus was added to the diet (62.5 g/kg) and drinking water (2.5 g/L) of treated animals for 4 weeks. The concerned groups were inoculated with C. albicans 15 days after diabetes induction. At the end of one month experiment, fasted rats were killed by cervical decapitation. Blood was collected from neck vein for estimation of glucose. C. albicans concentrations were estimated in liver and kidneys using serial dilution culture of tissue homogenates. Results: Eucalyptus administration significantly improved the hyperglycemia, polydipsia, polyphagia, and it also compensated weight loss of diabetic rats (P<0.05). Moreover, eucalyptus caused a significant reduction in C. albicans concentration in liver and kidney homogenates (P<0.01). Conclusion: The results revealed that eucalyptus improves Candidia infection in normal and diabetic rats that in some ways validates the traditional use of this plant in treatment of diabetic patients. Key Words: Diabetes mellitus, Eucalyptus globulus, Candida albicans     

Effects of cabergoline on the fertility of female mice during early and late pregnancy,and potential for its use in mouse control

To evaluate the dose effects of cabergoline on the fertility of female mice during early or late pregnancy, cabergoline was continuously administered by gastrogavage for three days within 1 day to 3 day or 15 day to 17 day of gestation. The body mass, reproductive rate, litter size at birth and weaning of females, as well as the body mass, survival rate of pups, were recorded. During early pregnancy, cabergoline treatment effectively terminated the pregnancy of mice. Cabergoline (100 μg/kg) was half effective in terminating pregnancy and significantly reduced the average litter size and survival rate of pups compared with those of the controls. Cabergoline treatment of 200 and 400 μg/kg completely terminated pregnancy of mice and induced incomplete restoration of fertility (40% and 44%, respectively) even at the second cycle of reproduction. During late pregnancy, cabergoline did not change the litter size at birth but significantly reduced the litter size at weaning and the survival rate of pups, 400 μg/kg cabergoline markedly reduced the survival rate to 77% compared with the controls. The death of pups mainly occurred during seven days after parturition. Cabergoline had no significant difference on the average body mass of surviving pups in treated groups compared with controls during lactation. In conclusion, cabergoline may inhibit or reduce the reproduction of female mice, and demonstrate different dose effects on the fertility during early or late pregnancy. Together with infertility efficacy in phase prior to mating and lactation, cabergoline is a potential fertility control agent for pest rodent control.     

Inactivation of Heparin by Cationically Modified Chitosan

This study was performed to evaluate the ability of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC), the cationically modified chitosan, to form biologically inactive complexes with unfractionated heparin and thereby blocking its anticoagulant activity. Experiments were carried out in rats in vivo and in vitro using the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) tests for evaluation of heparin anticoagulant activity. For the first time we have found that HTCC effectively neutralizes anticoagulant action of heparin in rat blood in vitro as well as in rats in vivo. The effect of HTCC on suppression of heparin activity is dose-dependent and its efficacy can be comparable to that of protamine-the only agent used in clinic for heparin neutralization. HTCC administered i.v. alone had no direct effect on any of the coagulation tests used. The potential adverse effects of HTCC were further explored using rat experimental model of acute toxicity. When administered i.p. at high doses (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight), HTCC induced some significant dose-dependent structural abnormalities in the liver. However, when HTCC was administered at low doses, comparable to those used for neutralization of anticoagulant effect of heparin, no histopathological abnormalities in liver were observed.     

Protein quality of diets based on tuber,legume, and cereal in weanling rats

Weanling male rats (45–55 g) were studied to evaluate the protein quality of diets based on combinations of yam (YA); dehulled brown bean (DBB), dehulled white bean (DWB); and corn flour (PA) that provided 1.6 g N/100 g of diet. Casein served as the reference protein. Rats fed combinations of PA, DBB, and DWB had increases in food intake, weight gain, N intake, digested and retained N, and liver N compared to those of the casein control group and the other test groups (P < 0.05). Supplementation of YA with DBB or DWB reduced weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), N intake, digested and retained N, NPU and liver N values of the animals when compared with those fed the casein and the other diets containing YA. Combinations of DBB or DWB with PA appear to be the best mixtures as shown by food and N intakes, digested and retained N, liver N, and weight gain. These mixtures may possibly be economic sources of N for weaning children where these are staples in the diet.     

A Pilot Safety Assessment for Recombinant Epinephelus lanceolatus Piscidin Yeast Powder as a Drug Food Additive after Subacute and Subchronic Administration to SD Rats

Recombinant Epinephelus lanceolatus piscidin (RELP) was previously shown to improve growth performance and immune response when used as a feed additive for Gallus gallus domesticus. However, the long-term toxicity of RELP has not be thoroughly investigated. In the present study, we evaluated the subacute and subchronic oral toxicities of RELP in SD rats by hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses. To determine subacute and subchronic toxicities, male and female rats were fed with RELP 1000 mg/kg bodyweight/day for 28 and 90 days, respectively. Bodyweight and food intake were unchanged by RELP treatment over the course of the studies. After exposure, samples of blood, heart, lung, liver, and kidney were collected and analyzed. Results demonstrated that RELP exposure did not cause any observable hematological, biochemical, or histological abnormalities in SD rats. Thus, RELP may be a safe feed additive for use in agriculture and aquaculture.     

Marine-Derived Chitosan Nanoparticles Improved the Intestinal Histo-Morphometrical Features in Association with the Health and Immune Response of Grey Mullet (Liza ramada)

Marine-derived substances are known for their beneficial influences on aquatic animals’ performances and are recommended to improve intestinal health, immunity, and anti-oxidative status. The present study investigates the role of chitosan nanoparticles on the intestinal histo-morphometrical features in association with the health and immune response of Grey Mullet (Liza ramada). Chitosan nanoparticles are included in the diets at 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg and introduced to fish in a successive feeding trial for eight weeks. The final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) parameters are significantly increased while feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreases by chitosan nanoparticles compared to the control (p < 0.05). The morphometric analysis of the intestines reveals a significant improvement in villus height, villus width, and the number of goblet cells in chitosan-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between the thickness of the enterocyte brush border and the chitosan dose, referring to an increasing absorptive activity. Histologically, the intestinal wall of Grey Mullet consists of four layers; mucosa, sub-mucosa, tunica muscularis (muscular layers), and serosa. The histological examination of the L. ramada intestine shows a normal histo-morphology. The epithelial layer of intestinal mucosa is thrown into elongated finger-like projections, the intestinal villi. The values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells (RBCs), total protein (TP), albumin, and globulin are significantly increased in fish fed 1, and 2 g/kg of chitosan nanoparticles compared to fish fed 0 and 0.5 g/kg (p < 0.05). The highest levels of TP and albumin are observed in fish fed 1 g/kg diet (p < 0.05). The lysozyme activity and phagocytic index are significantly enhanced by feeding chitosan nanoparticles at 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg, whereas the phagocytic activity is improved in fish fed 1 and 2 g/kg (p < 0.05). The highest lysozyme activity and phagocytic index are observed in fish fed 1 g/kg. SOD is significantly activated by feeding chitosan nanoparticles at 1 g/kg. Simultaneously, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) activities also are enhanced by feeding chitosan at 1 and 2 g/kg, compared to fish fed 0 and 0.5 g/kg (p < 0.05). The highest GPx and CAT activities are observed in fish fed 1 g/kg (p < 0.05). Conversely, the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels are decreased by feeding chitosan at 1 and 2 g/kg, with the lowest being in fish fed 1 g/kg (p < 0.05). To summarize, the results elucidate that L. ramada fed dietary chitosan nanoparticles have a marked growth rate, immune response, and anti-oxidative response. These improvements are attributed to the potential role of chitosan nanoparticles in enhancing intestinal histo-morphometry and intestinal health. These results soundly support the possibility of using chitosan nanoparticles at 1–2 g/kg as a feasible functional supplement for aquatic animals.     

Enhydrin Regulates Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Diabetic Rats by Inhibition of α-Glucosidase Activity

During the last few years, numerous attempts were made to identify effective α-glucosidase inhibitors from natural sources in order to develop new alternatives for diabetes management. Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) leaves were found to be effective in controlling postprandial hyperglycemia. Enhydrin, a constituent of yacon leaves, was noted for its significant hypoglycemic properties in diabetic rats. These properties were also demonstrated for yacon leaves decoction, which is rich in phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid and its derivatives. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the potential of yacon leaves decoction and the isolated compound enhydrin to inhibit α-glucosidase enzyme, a possible mechanism of the above antihyperglycemic effect. In vitro assays showed that both 10% decoction and enhydrin significantly inhibited the activity of the yeast α-glucosidase enzyme in a dose-dependent manner, IC₅₀ values being 50.40 and 134.17 μg/ml, respectively. In vivo experiments showed a rapid decrease in the hyperglycemic peak after sucrose load (2 g/kg body weight) in normal rats treated with the 10% decoction (140 mg/kg) and enhydrin (0.8 mg/kg). Both treatments caused a significant decrease in blood glucose levels in diabetic rats after sucrose load compared to diabetic control. These results suggest that both products assayed could be effective in the management of postprandial hyperglycemia through inhibition of α-glucosidase in the small intestine.     

Comparison of different rice flour- and wheat flour-based butter cookies for acrylamide formation

Acrylamide (AcA) contents of different rice flour- and wheat flour-based butter cookies baked at 130 °C for 20, 55, or 90 min were investigated. AcA contents of different flour-based cookies increased with baking time. Color parameters in terms of CIE L*, b*, C*, and ΔE values showed significant opposite correlation to the AcA formation in each of the raw flour cookie. The cookies based on white rice flour had the lowest AcA contents ranging from not detectable (ND) to 204 μg/kg, followed by cookies based on brown rice flour (ND to 450 μg/kg), white wheat flour (155 μg/kg to 661 μg/kg), and whole wheat flour (306 μg/kg to 982 μg/kg). Considerably lower AcA levels were found in the rice flour-based cookies than in the wheat flour-based cookies, as well as in the milled flour-based cookies than in the whole-grain cookies. Although the flour source was considered to play a primary role in determining the AcA content, AcA content was apparently not dependent on the quantities of reducing sugars and free asparagine in the starting raw flour and cookies during baking. In summary, given its reducing potential for AcA formation, rice flour could be used in the production of cookies safe from heat-induced contaminants.     

Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory and Anti-Hypertensive Effect of Protein Hydrolysate from Actinopyga lecanora (Sea Cucumber) in Rats

Food protein hydrolysates are known to exhibit angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory properties and can be used as a novel functional food for prevention of hypertension. This study evaluated the ACE inhibitory potentials of Actinopyga lecanora proteolysate (ALP) in vivo. The pre-fed rats with ALP at various doses (200, 400, 800 mg/kg body weight) exhibited a significant (p ≤ 0.05) suppression effect after inducing hypertension. To determine the optimum effective dose that will produce maximal reduction in blood pressure, ALP at three doses was fed to the rats after inducing hypertension. The results showed that the 800 mg/kg body weight dose significantly reduced blood pressure without noticeable negative physiological effect. In addition, there were no observable changes in the rats’ heart rate after oral administration of the ALP. It was concluded that Actinopyga lecanora proteolysate could potentially be used for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals for prevention and treatment of hypertension.     

Effect of Exogenous Testosterone,Finasteride, and Castration on Serum Level of Thyroxin

Background: The secretion of thyroxin (T4) as the main hormone of thyroid gland is regulated by androgens. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of testosterone and finasteride administration and castration on serum levels of T4 and to show the effect of this regulation on total body weight, weight of testis, and the weight of prostate. Methods: Male adult rats (n = 32) were divided into 4 groups (n = 8): Group 1 (control), Group 2 (castration), Group 3 (finasteride: 20 mg/kg/day) and Group 4 (testosterone: 5 mg/kg/day). At the end of the study (35 days), serum level of thyroxin, body weight, weight of testis, and prostate were determined. Results: The data showed that the body weight increased in castrated (P = 0.04) and decreased in testosterone (P = 0.00) groups but did not differ in finasteride (P>0.05) group. There were not any differences in the weight of testis among control, finasteride, and testosterone groups but the weight of prostate increased in testosterone group (P = 0.00) and decreased in castrated (P = 0.03) and finasteride groups (P = 0.04). In addition, the serum level of T4 (nmo/ml) decreased in the three groups: finasteride (P = 0.03), testosterone (P = 0.04), and castrated (P = 0.00). Conclusion: Testosterone in both high and low levels decreased the amount of T4 with a time-dependent manner. Key Words: Finasteride, Rats, Testosterone, Thyroxin     

Antioxidant and Antihypertensive Activity of Extract from Thymus serpyllum L. in Experimental Hypertension

The low incidence of cardiovascular disease in Mediterranean countries leads to an increased interest of the scientific community for the Mediterranean diet. Our aim was to evaluate total phenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant capacity, free radical scavenging activity and potential antihypertensive effect of aqueous extract obtained from Thymus serpyllum L. (wild thyme, TE), an aromatic herb from the Lamiaceae family (highly present in Mediterranean diet), in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in normotensive Wistar rats. Total phenol content of TE was 2008.33?±?10.6 mg/L GAE, and rosmarinic and caffeic acids were predominant phenolic compounds. The ferric reducing/antioxidant power and antioxidant capacity analysis revealed strong antioxidative properties of TE. In vitro nitric oxide-scavenging activity of 1 mg/l TE was 63.43 % with the IC₅₀ value of 122.36 μg/ml. Bolus injection of TE (100 mg/kg body weight i.v.) induced significant decrease of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and total peripheral resistance in SHR, without effects on these parameters in normotensive Wistar rats. Cardiac index remained unchanged after TE treatment in all experimental rats. Given dose of TE did not show significant nitric oxide-scavenging activity in vivo. Our results indicate that TE may protect against hypertension in experimental model of essential hypertension.     

Chronic Toxicity Study of Neosaxitoxin in Rats

Neosaxitoxin (NeoSTX) is a specific reversible blocker of voltage gated sodium channels on excitable cells. In the last decade, it has been tested in a number of interesting clinical trials, however there is still little information available on mammalian toxicity. Rats were treated for 12 weeks with doses of 1, 3 or 6 μg/kg of subcutaneous NeoSTX. At weeks 12 and 17, animals were sacrificed and blood samples collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. Organs were harvested for weight determination and histopathological assessments. The lowest acute toxicity via the intraperitoneal (ip) route was (30.35 μg/kg) and there was no significant difference between intramuscular and subcutaneous routes (11.4 and 12.41 μg/kg). The NeoSTX adiministration did not produce lethality at week 12 and after five weeks of suspension. NeoSTX 6 μg/kg ip produced reductions (p < 0.05) in body weight and food intake, and increased blood level of total and direct bilirubin, GGT and SGOT at week 12; all of these were reversed in the recovery period. NeoSTX 1 and 3 μg/kg ip did not show significant changes with the control group. Histopathological presentations were normal in all groups. This study revealed that NeoSTX is safe in vivo, giving a reliable security margin for its use like a local anesthetic.     

Influence of high temperature during filling period on grain phytic acid and its relation to spikelet sterility and grain weight in non-lethal low phytic acid mutations in rice

Low phytic acid (lpa) crop is considered as an effective strategy to improve crop nutrition. However, the inferior agronomic performance of lpa crops and their environmental growth adaptation have not yet been fully understood. Three rice lpa lines and their corresponding wild-types were used to compare their differences in grain phytic acid (PA) in response to high temperature (HT) and its relation to spikelet sterility and grain weight at a controlled temperature at the filling stage. Results showed that HT caused an increase in grain PA and inorganic phosphate contents, with more substantial increase of PA content for lpa lines compared with corresponding wild-types. This increase in PA content in high temperature-ripened grains was not simply attributed to the reduction in grain weight and relatively enhanced proportion of aleurone-layer fraction to whole grains. Significant increase in PA contents was also detected in milled rice. Moreover, spikelet sterility and grain plumpness of lpa lines were more susceptible to HT stress than those of wild-types. Exogenous PA spraying with an appropriate concentration could increase grain PA content, but it had only a slight contribution to the enhancement of heat-tolerance and injury alleviation for rice exposed to stressful HT.     

转mtlD/gutD双价基因稻米对大鼠的毒性试验

对转mtlD/gutD双价基因稻米进行了大鼠急性、亚急性毒性实验,致突变试验和30 d喂养试验。结果表明,大鼠经口LD50＞30 g/kg体质量,无致突变作用;30 d喂养试验中,18、36、54 g/kg体质量各剂量组大鼠发育、增重、食物利用率、血常规、脏体比及病理组织学观察等各项指标与基础对照组相比均无显著差异。初步表明转mtlD/gutD双价基因稻米对大鼠来说是安全的。     

Insights into the Toxicological Properties of a Low Molecular Weight Fraction from Zoanthus sociatus (Cnidaria)

The phylum Cnidaria is an ancient group of venomous animals, specialized in the production and delivery of toxins. Many species belonging to the class Anthozoa have been studied and their venoms often contain a group of peptides, less than 10 kDa, that act upon ion channels. These peptides and their targets interact with high affinity producing neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects, and even death, depending on the dose and the administration pathway. Zoanthiniaria is an order of the Subclass Hexacorallia, class Anthozoa, and unlike sea anemone (order Actiniaria), neither its diversity of toxins nor the in vivo effects of the venoms has been exhaustively explored. In this study we assessed some toxicological tests on mice with a low molecular weight fraction obtained by gel filtration in Sephadex G-50 from Zoanthus sociatus crude extract. The gel filtration chromatogram at 280 nm revealed two major peaks, the highest absorbance corresponding to the low molecular weight fraction. The toxicological effects seem to be mostly autonomic and cardiotoxic, causing death in a dose dependent manner with a LD₅₀ of 792 μg/kg. Moreover, at a dose of 600 μg/kg the active fraction accelerated the KCl-induced lethality in mice.     

The effect of systemic fungicides,applied as seed treatments or early foliar sprays,on speckled leaf blotch of wheat, Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fuckel) Schroeter

Control of speckled leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) of wheat (Triticum aestivum) with systemic fungicides used as seed treatments or foliar sprays was studied. Seed treatment with either imazalil (1·125 g/kg seed), nuarimol (0·2 g/kg), thiabendazole (1·5 and 0·75 g/kg), triadimenol (0·3 and 0·2 g/kg) or Shell WL 47675 (0·415 g/kg) reduced the number of infected plants by 28–62% when assessments were made 11 weeks after sowing. Thiabendazole (1·5 and 0·75 g/kg) and triadimefon (0·3 and 0·2 g/kg) slowed the development of speckled leaf blotch for c. 15 weeks after sowing. A single foliar spray of triadimefon (125 g/ha) slowed the development of the disease for c. 10 weeks, but a single spray of benomyl controlled it for the whole season. There was no additional benefit from combining a seed treatment of triadimefon (0·225 g/kg) with the foliar spray.     

Unprecedented Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness of Lightweight Nonwoven Ag/PA66 Fabrics

Novel, high-performance silver coated polyamide, Ag/PA66, nonwoven fabrics with a density of only 0.04 g/cm³ have been developed using staple fibres of 19 (3.3 dtex) and 27 (6.7 dtex) μm diameter. The obtained nonwoven fabrics with an Ag loading of 12-18 wt% exhibited excellent weight-normalised specific electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of over 1200 dB/(g/cm³) in the 0.015-3 GHz range, which is among the highest reported till date. Moreover, the applied microwave was verified to be absorbed rather than being reflected back making the fabrics highly suitable for shielding applications. It was also observed that nonwoven fabrics made from finer 3.3 dtex Ag/PA66 fibres have higher reflection and lower absorption values than their thicker (6.7 dtex) counterparts. Additionally, we have also explored the use of these nonwoven Ag/PA66 fabrics for personal thermal management via Joule heating with samples showing rapid heating response (up to 0.2 °C/sec) and long-term stability measured over 10,000 seconds. The needle-punched Ag/PA66 nonwoven fabrics, in spite of their low density of the order of 0.04 g/cm², exhibited high EMSE values of nearly 69-80 dB, leading to excellent weightnormalised specific electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of over 1200 dB/(g/cm³) in the 0.015-3 GHz range. The production of Ag/PA66 needle punched nonwoven fabrics thus offers a facile route to develop multifunctional fabrics for EMI shielding as well as personal thermal management applications.     

Effect of altered carbohydrate traits in hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) on nutrient profiles and availability and nitrogen to energy synchronization

Four hulless barley cultivars (zero-amylose waxy, CDC Fibar; 5%-amylose waxy, CDC Rattan; normal-amylose, CDC McGwire and high-amylose, HB08302) were developed at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, with differences in carbohydrates traits on the basis of amylose (1–20% DM) and β-glucan (5–10% DM) content. The objectives of this research were to determine: 1) the effect of the alteration of these carbohydrate traits in hulless barley on nutrient availability in ruminants, and 2) carbohydrate structure conformation on hourly effective rumen degradation ratio, in comparison with hulled barley-CDC Copeland. Among the hulless barley lines, HB08302 was greater (P < 0.05) in rumen bypass crude protein (BCP: 52.1% CP), effective degradability (ED) of neutral detergent fibre (EDNDF: 74 g/kg DM) than these in CDC Fibar, whereas CDC Fibar showed greater (P < 0.05) effective degradable crude protein (EDCP: 90 g/kg DM) than the other hulless barley lines. Compared with hulless barley, the hulled CDC Copeland showed relatively greater (P < 0.05) BNDF (62.5% NDF or 98 g/kg DM), starch degradation rate (K_d: 17.4%/h) and EDST (75.9% ST) but reduced (P < 0.05) rumen undegradable protein (RUP: 49 g/kg DM). With the respect to hourly effective degradation (ED) ratios, hulless barley cultivars exhibited relatively optimal hourly ED ratios, ranging from 23 to 34 g N/kg CHO, higher than the hulled barley. Among hulless barley cultivars, CDC Fibar and Rattan had the highest (P < 0.05) ratios (34 g N/kg CHO), while the ratio for CDC McGwire (23 g N/kg CHO) was the lowest (P > 0.05). In conclusion, hulless barley lines with altered carbohydrate traits have the potential to increase rumen nutrient availability to ruminants. The altered carbohydrate conformation of hulless barley affected hourly ED ratios, thus affecting rumen nitrogen to energy synchronization.     

In vitro assesment of antimicrobial activity and characteristics of polyamide 6/silver nanocomposite fibers

In this study, the preparation method and characteristics of silver (Ag) nanoparticle (NP) loaded polyamide 6 (PA6) nanocomposite and its antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. The melt intercalation method was used to prepare a series of PA 6 nanocomposite fibers containing, 0; 1; 3; 5 % (wt.) Ag. PA6/Ag nanocomposite fibers exhibit increased antimicrobial efficiency with the increase of nanoparticle contents. On the other hand, thermal characterization tests show that the increased concentration of Ag nanoparticles reduces the mechanical properties due to their partial agglomeration leading to flaw generation. The crystallinity of the fibers was found to decrease about 10 % with increase of Ag to 5 %. This was attributed to faster cooling rate experienced in the presence of high thermal conductivity Ag particles.