Effects of illite supplementation on in vitro and in vivo rumen fermentation,microbial population and methane emission of Hanwoo steers fed high concentrate diets

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding supplemental illite to Hanwoo steers on methane (CH₄) emission and rumen fermentation parameters. An in vitro ruminal fermentation technique was conducted using a commercial concentrate as substrate and illite was added at different concentrations as treatments: 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% illite. Total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were different (P < 0.05) at 24 h of incubation where the highest total VFA was observed at 1.0% of illite. Conversely, lowest CH₄ production (P < 0.01) was found at 1.0% of illite. In the in vivo experiment, two diets were provided, without illite and with addition of 1% illite. An automated head chamber (GreenFeed) system was used to measure enteric CH₄ production. Cattle received illite supplemented feed increased (P < 0.05) total VFA concentrations in the rumen compared with those fed control. Feeding illite numerically decreased CH₄ production (g/day) and yield (g/kg dry matter intake). Rumen microbial population analysis indicated that the population of total bacteria, protozoa and methanogens were lower (P < 0.05) for illite compared with the control. Accordingly, overall results suggested that feeding a diet supplemented with 1% illite can have positive effects on feed fermentation in the rumen and enteric CH₄ mitigation in beef cattle.     

Determination of reference intervals for metabolic profile of Hanwoo cows at early,middle and late gestation periods

Background: Metabolic profile was initially designed as a presymptomatic diagnostic aid based on statistical analyses of blood metabolites to provide an early warning of certain types of metabolic disorder. However, there is little metabolic profile data available about Korean Hanwoo cows. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reference intervals of metabolic profile for Korean Hanwoo cows.Methods: Healthy animals(2,205) were selected and divided into early(day 1 to 95), middle(day 96 to 190) and late(day 191 to 285) period according to their gestating period. Metabolic profile including total protein(TP), albumin(Alb), urea(UREA), glucose(Glu), total cholesterol(T-Cho), long-chain fatty acid(LCFA), aspartate aminotransferase(AST),gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT), creatinine(Crea), calcium(Ca), inorganic phosphorous(i P) and magnesium(Mg)were analyzed using a TBA-40 FR automatic biochemical analyzer. The data of Korean Hanwoo cows were then compared to those of the Japanese Wagyu cows.Results: Most of the data of the Korean Hanwoo cows were relatively higher than those of Japanese Wagyu cows, with the exception of Glu and GGT. This may indicate that the nutritional level of feed for the Korean Hanwoo cows was higher than that of the Japanese Wagyu cows because of the different feeding system. In particular, relatively higher levels of UREA and LCFA were observed in the Korean Hanwoo cows, and this may also contribute to the low reproduction efficiency.Conclusions: These findings may provide some theoretical basis for understanding the reproductive and feeding situation of Korean Hanwoo cows.     

水稻孕穗期和开花期的旱害及其和体内水分分配的关系

本文比较了两个水稻品种在孕穗期和开花期的旱害,并联系株内的水分状况的改变来说明品种差异的原因。从本试验结果可看出体内水分的重新分配是植株对干旱的适应反应之一,器官生长发育速度的调节是抗旱的一个有效方式。     

Licochalcone A prevents adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis via suppression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and sterol regulatory element-binding protein pathways

Licochalcone A (LA) has been shown to exert multiple pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antifungal, anticancer, and osteogenic activities. The present study investigated the ability of LA to suppress the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and its antiobesity activity was explored using high fat diet (HFD)-fed ICR mice. During the terminal differentiation process, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with LA, and the lipid contents were quantified along with any changes in the expression of biomarkers associated with adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis. The results show that LA significantly reduced lipid accumulation and down-regulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, and their target genes (fatty acid binding protein, fatty acid synthase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase). In an animal study, body weight, triglyceride, cholesterol, and nonesterified fatty acid levels in the group given 10 mg/kg LA were significantly decreased by 14.0, 48.2, 58.9, and 73.5%, respectively. Transverse microcomputed tomography indicated that visceral fat depots in LA-treated mice were markedly reduced when compared with those of the HFD control group. In summary, these results suggest that LA exerts an antiobesity effect and that it is a candidate for future clinical trials.     

用AFLP技术进行水稻光合作用光保护有关基因候选分子标记的研究初探

本项目用扩增片段长度多型性(AFLP)技术,研究了水稻光合作用和光保护机制有关的8个性状F2代极端样本,在32对引物的研究中,全部引物可以在亲本中检出多型性,有28对引物可以在F2群体,8组极端样本之间找到差异条带标记,每个性状可以找到7～22个差异条带.在叶绿素ab含量、玉米黄素+花黄素总量、超氧化物歧化酶活性上,Lemont具有明显的增效片段优势.玉米黄素+花黄素+紫黄质数总量和活性蛋白总量可能是提高光合作用的最大限制因子.同时研究表明,对预选PCR 产物进行纯化处理,可大大提高AFLP分析技术的有效性.     

Solvated electrons in high-temperature melts and glasses of the room-temperature stable electride [Ca₂₄Al₂₈O₆₄]⁴⁺·4e⁻

Solvated electrons in alkali metal-ammonia solutions have attracted attention as a prototype electronic conductor and chemical reducing agent for over a century. However, solvated electrons have not been realized in a high-temperature melt or glass of an oxide system to date. We demonstrated the formation of persistent solvated electrons in both a high-temperature melt and its glass by using the thermally stable electride [Ca(24)Al(28)O(64)](4+)·4e(-) (C12A7:e(-)) and controlling the partial pressure of oxygen. The electrical and structural properties of the resulting melt and glass differ from those of the conventional C12A7:O(2-) oxide, exhibiting metallic and hopping conduction, respectively, and a glass transition temperature that is ~160 kelvin lower than that of C12A7:O(2-) glass. Solvated electrons reside in cage structures in C12A7:e(-) and form a diamagnetic paired state.     

Preparation of phytoncide-emitting nylon/PP sheath/core fiber and the release profile of phytoncide

Phytoncide, a volatile essential oil produced by plants and trees, has not only anti-microbial activity, but also a stress relieving effect. We prepared a sheath/core type melt-spun fiber that releases phytoncide for a prolonged time. The fiber is comprised of a nylon sheath and a polypropylene (PP) core material. Phytoncide-containing microcapsules are embedded within the core part. The phytoncide microcapsule-containing nylon/PP sheath/core (M-Ny/PP) fiber has suitable mechanical properties for textile application. The phytoncide release from the microcapsule-containing the PP fiber (M-PP) reached a plateau level after 4 days and maintained that level for an additional 7 days, indicating a zero-order release after the initial burst. The M-Ny/PP fiber emitted the volatile phytoncide even though the fiber was spun at 250 °C. The release of phytoncide decreased in the M-Ny/PP fiber compared to the phytoncide microcapsule-containing PP (M-PP) fiber due to the dense sheath layer.     

Preparation of poly(vinyl acetate)/clay and poly(vinyl acetate)/poly(vinyl alcohol)/clay microspheres

Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc)/poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)/montmorillonite (MMT) clay nanocomposite microspheres with a core/shell structure have been developed via a suspension polymerization approach. In order to prepare the PVAc/MMT and PVAc/PVA/MMT nanocomposite microspheres, which are promising precursor of PVA/MMT nanocomposite microspheres, suspension polymerization of vinyl acetate with organophilic MMT and heterogeneous saponification were conducted. A quaternary ammonium salt, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, was mixed with the MMT in the monomer phase prior to the suspension polymerization. The rate of conversion decreased with an increase in MMT concentration. The incorporation of MMT into the PVAc was verified by FT-IR spectroscopy. Organic vinyl acetate monomers were intercalated into the interlayer regions of organophilic clay hosts and followed by suspension polymerization. Partially saponified PVA/MMT nanocomposite microspheres with a core/shell structure were successfully prepared by heterogeneous saponification.     

Application of Jackfruit Latex Gum as an Eco-friendly Binder to Pigment Printing

Jackfruit latex gum was applied to pigment printing of cotton fabrics as a binder and their printing properties were compared with those of conventional pigment printing. The printing performances were influenced by the content of Jackfruit latex gum in the binder and the curing conditions. Based on a series of experiments, the pigment printing paste recipe and the process were optimized, considering color fastness, color strength, and fabric handle properties compared with those of the synthetic binder. The use of combined binder containing Jackfruit latex gum for pigment printing showed reasonable printing performances and offers an option for replacing synthetic binders, which cause adverse effect on human health and environments.