Surface Resonant Raman Scattering from Cu(110).

We report the first evidence of Raman scattering from surface phonons of a pristine metal surface. Our study reveals a Raman-active surface vibrational resonance on Cu(110) with a surprisingly large scattering efficiency. With the incident photon energy close to the energy of the Cu(110) surface state electronic transition, the Raman scattering from the surface optical resonance can be significantly enhanced, while any contribution from bulk phonons is absent.

[Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) : a model of metabolic inflammation («metaflammation¼)]. / Stéatohépatite non alcoolique (NASH) : un modèle d'inflammation métabolique («métaflammation¼).

Diseases related to fatty liver, independently of alcohol consumption («non-alcoholic fatty liver disease¼ or NAFLD), are increasing because of the epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes. These disorders reflect a continuum that comprises isolated steatosis, steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis, with, at the end, an increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. It has been recently proposed to replace the term NAFLD by MAFLD, i.e. «Metabolic (dysfunction) Associated Fatty Liver Disease¼, which better reflects the pathogenesis of the disease. Inflammation plays a crucial role in the aggravation of the disorder and profoundly influences the prognostic evolution. This article illustrates the natural history of this underestimated metabolic disorder, recall the diagnostic criteria used in clinical practice, emphasizes the deleterious role of inflammation and discusses some therapeutic perspectives.

: Les maladies liées à un «foie gras¼, indépendamment de la consommation d'alcool («non-alcoholic fatty liver disease¼ ou NAFLD), sont en augmentation en raison de l'«épidémie¼ d'obésité et de diabète de type 2. Il s'agit d'un continuum comprenant la stéatose isolée, la stéatohépatite (NASH) et la fibrose avec, in fine, un risque accru de cirrhose et d'hépatocarcinome. Il a été proposé récemment de remplacer le terme NAFLD par MAFLD pour «Metabolic (dysfunction) Associated Fatty Liver Disease¼, ce qui reflète mieux la pathogénie de la maladie. L'inflammation joue un rôle clé dans l'aggravation du trouble et conditionne l'évolution pronostique. Cet article retrace l'histoire naturelle de cette pathologie métabolique sous-estimée, rappelle les critères diagnostiques utilisés en clinique, précise le rôle délétère de l'inflammation et conclut par quelques perspectives thérapeutiques.

[Inflammation, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and gut microbiota]. / Inflammation, obésité et diabète de type 2. Rôle de l'inflammasome NLRP3 et du microbiote intestinal.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia in a context of insulin resistance and ?-cell dysfunction. A chronic low-grade inflammation is observed in obesity and has been associated with the development of metabolic disorders. The molecular mechanisms underlying this inflammation are not fully understood. Production of interleukin-1? by macrophages infiltrating insulin-sensitive tissues and pancreatic islets plays a major role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. This pro-inflammatory cytokine is produced through the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in response to danger signals that accumulate during obesity, including saturated fatty acids. The composition of the intestinal microbiota differs in obese subjects compared with lean individuals, particularly in response to high saturated fat diet. These modifications could trigger a chronic low-grade inflammation and promote the emergence of type 2 diabetes. The microbiota could therefore constitutes a therapeutic target in the prevention and management of metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity.

: Le diabète de type 2 est caractérisé par une hyperglycémie chronique survenant dans un contexte de résistance à l'insuline et de déficit de sécrétion d'insuline par les cellules ? du pancréas. Un état inflammatoire chronique à bas bruit est observé dans l'obésité et est associé au développement d'anomalies métaboliques. Les mécanismes moléculaires à l'origine de cette inflammation ne sont pas encore bien compris. La production d'interleukine-1? par les macrophages infiltrant les tissus cibles de l'insuline et les îlots pancréatiques joue un rôle important dans la pathogénie du diabète de type 2. Cette cytokine pro-inflammatoire est produite via l'activation de l'inflammasome NLRP3 en réponse à divers signaux de danger s'accumulant avec l'obésité, dont les acides gras saturés. La composition du microbiote intestinal diffère chez les sujets obèses par rapport aux individus minces, notamment en réponse à une alimentation riche en graisses saturées. Ces modifications pourraient entraîner le déclenchement d'un état inflammatoire chronique et favoriser l'émergence d'un diabète de type 2. Le microbiote pourrait, dès lors, constituer une cible thérapeutique dans la prévention et la prise en charge des anomalies métaboliques associées à l'obésité.

Effect of diet energy level and genomic residual feed intake on bred Holstein dairy heifer growth and feed efficiency.

The objective of this study was to determine growth, feed intake, and feed efficiency of postbred dairy heifers with different genomic residual feed intake (RFI) predicted as a lactating cow when offered diets differing in energy density. Postbred Holstein heifers (n = 128, ages 14-20 mo) were blocked by initial weight (high, medium-high, medium-low, and low) with 32 heifers per block. Each weight block was sorted by RFI (high or low) to obtain 2 pens of heifers with high and low genomically predicted RFI within each block (8 heifers per pen). Low RFI heifers were expected to have greater feed efficiency than high RFI heifers. Dietary treatments consisted of a higher energy control diet based on corn silage and alfalfa haylage [HE; 62.7% total digestible nutrients, 11.8% crude protein, and 45.6% neutral detergent fiber; dry matter (DM) basis], and a lower energy diet diluted with straw (LE; 57.0% total digestible nutrients, 11.7% crude protein, and 50.1% neutral detergent fiber; DM basis). Each pen within a block was randomly allocated a diet treatment to obtain a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (2 RFI levels and 2 dietary energy levels). Diets were offered in a 120-d trial. Dry matter intake by heifers was affected by diet (11.0 vs. 10.0 kg/d for HE and LE, respectively) but not by RFI or the interaction of RFI and diet. Daily gain was affected by the interaction of RFI and diet, with low RFI heifers gaining more than high RFI heifers when fed LE (0.94 vs. 0.85 kg/d for low and high RFI, respectively), but no difference for RFI groups when fed HE (1.16 vs. 1.19 kg/d for low and high RFI, respectively). Respective feed efficiencies were improved for low RFI compared with high RFI heifers when fed LE (10.6 vs. 11.8 kg of feed DM/kg of gain), but no effect of RFI was found when fed HE (9.4 vs. 9.5 kg of DM/kg of gain for high and low RFI, respectively). No effect of RFI or diet on first-lactation performance through 150 DIM was observed. Based on these results, the feed efficiency of heifers having different genomic RFI may be dependent on diet energy level, whereby low RFI heifers utilized the LE diet more efficiently. The higher fiber straw (LE) diet controlled intake and maintained more desirable heifer weight gains. This suggests that selection for improved RFI in lactating cows may improve feed efficiency in growing heifers when fed to meet growth goals of 0.9 to 1.0 kg of gain/d.

Effects of feedbunk restrictions and push-up frequency on the growth performance of Holstein dairy heifers offered a forage-based diet with a limit-feeding strategy.

Conceptually, there are 2 feeding strategies for avoiding over-conditioning, which can be problematic for gravid dairy heifers that have reduced dietary energy density requirements relative to younger animals: (1) diluting the ad libitum-fed diet with low-energy forages; or (2) offering a diet of greater nutrient density but intentionally restricting the DM available for consumption (limit-feeding). Our objectives for this study were to evaluate the effects of feedbunk restriction and feed push-up frequency on the growth performance of gravid Holstein dairy heifers. A total of 128 Holstein heifers (434 ± 46.7 kg) were enrolled in the trial. Heifers were blocked by weight, and assigned to 1 of 16 identical research pens (4 pens/weight block; 8 heifers/pen), where the mean initial body weight (BW; ± SD) for the 4 blocks were 491 ± 19.0, 450 ± 16.5, 419 ± 10.6, 374 ± 23.0 kg. Within each block, a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was assigned; treatments consisted of feedbunk access [full (FUL) or restricted (RES] and feed push-up frequency [1.5- or 3.0-h intervals]. The RES treatment was applied by covering 2 of the 8 head-locking feed gates in assigned pens with plywood partitions, thereby creating a feedbunk-stocking rate of 133%. A total mixed ration diet composed of alfalfa haylage (60.5%), corn silage (38.0%), and mineral (1.5%) was offered once daily for 91 d; daily feed allotments (overall mean = 9.11 kg dry matter (DM)/d) were generally consumed entirely within 9 h of feeding. Nutrient intakes were not affected by push-up frequency or the interaction of main effects, but all intakes were affected by feedbunk access, except for DM and neutral detergent fiber expressed as a percentage of BW (overall means = 1.93 and 0.80%, respectively). In each case, intakes for FUL were greater than those observed for RES; for DM intake, this amounted to a difference of 0.20 kg/d between those main-effect treatments. After 91 d, heifers without feedbunk restriction exhibited greater final BW, but total gain and average daily gain differed only numerically between FUL and RES. Under the conditions of this trial, heifers were blocked by weight, such that BW were relatively uniform within each pen, and head-locking feed gates were used, which also provided some protection from adjacent aggressive heifers. These results suggest heifers can exhibit acceptable growth performance on high-forage diets in a limit-feeding program that includes moderate feedbunk restriction provided other forms of stress are minimized.

Vibration-Driven Self-Doping of Dangling-Bond Wires on Si(553)-Au Surfaces.

Density-functional theory is used to explore the Si(553)-Au surface dynamics. Our study (i) reveals a complex two-stage order-disorder phase transition where with rising temperature first the ×3 order along the Si step edges and, subsequently, the ×2 order of the Au chains is lost, (ii) identifies the transient modification of the electron chemical potential during soft Au chain vibrations as instrumental for disorder at the step edge, and (iii) shows that the transition leads to a self-doping of the Si dangling-bond wire at the step edge. The calculations are corroborated by Raman measurements of surface phonon modes and explain previous electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, and surface transport data.

Efficacy of recycled sand or organic solids as bedding sources for lactating cows housed in freestalls.

Our objective was to compare the composition of bedding materials and manure, cow welfare and hygiene assessments, measures of milk production and quality, and incidence of mastitis during a 3-yr trial with lactating Holstein cows housed in a freestall barn containing 4 identical pens with 32 freestalls/pen. Bedding systems evaluated included deep-bedded organic manure solids (DBOS), shallow-bedded manure solids spread over mattresses (MAT), deep-bedded recycled sand (RSA), and deep-bedded new sand (NSA). The experiment was designed as a 4 × 4 Latin square with 4 bedding systems and 4 experimental periods, but was terminated after 3 yr following discussions with the consulting statistician; therefore, data were analyzed as an incomplete Latin square. A total of n = 734 mostly primiparous cows (n = 725 primiparous, n = 9 multiparous; 224 to 267 cows/yr) were enrolled in the trial. Before placement in freestalls, organic solids (OS) exhibited lower concentrations of dry matter (36.5 vs. 94.3%), and greater concentrations of volatile solids, C, N, NH4-N, P, water-extractable P, K, and S compared with RSA or NSA. Cow comfort index was greater for sand-bedded systems compared with those using OS (88.4 vs. 82.8%). Cows bedded in systems using OS (DBOS and MAT) exhibited greater mean hock scores (1 = no swelling, no hair loss; 2 = no swelling, bald area on hock) than those bedded in sand (1.25 vs. 1.04), but this effect was entirely associated with use of mattresses (MAT), which differed sharply from DBOS (1.42 vs. 1.07). Generally, hygiene scores for legs, flanks, and udders were numerically similar for DBOS, NSA, and RSA bedding systems, and differences between bedding systems were associated entirely with MAT, yielding detectable contrasts between MAT and DBOS for legs (2.94 vs. 2.20), flanks (2.34 vs. 1.68), and udders (1.83 vs. 1.38). No significant contrast comparing bedding systems was detected for measures of milk production or quality. Documented cases of clinical mastitis requiring treatment ranged from a low rate of 7.4 cases/yr for RSA to a high of 23.1 cases/yr for DBOS, based on a mean enrollment of 60.7 to 63.0 cows/treatment per yr. Cows bedded with OS exhibited a greater incidence of mastitis than those bedded with sand (19.0 vs. 8.4 cases/yr), but no differences were observed for comparisons within individual bedding-material types. Collectively, these results generally favored use of sand-bedding materials over systems using OS.

Effect of diet energy density and genomic residual feed intake on prebred dairy heifer feed efficiency, growth, and manure excretion.

The objective of this study was to determine the growth, feed efficiency, and manure excretion of prebred dairy heifers with differing predicted genomic residual feed intakes (RFI) when offered diets differing in energy density. Prebred Holstein heifers (n = 128, ages 4 to 8 mo) were blocked by weight (low, medium-low, medium-high, or high) with 32 heifers per block. Heifers in each weight block were grouped by RFI and randomly assigned to obtain 2 pens of high (HRFI) and 2 pens of low RFI (LRFI) heifers within each block (8 heifers/pen). Heifers with LRFI were hypothesized to have greater feed efficiency than HRFI heifers. Dietary treatments were a high-energy diet (HE; 66.6% total digestible nutrients, 14.0% crude protein, and 36.3% neutral detergent fiber, dry matter basis) and a low-energy diet (LE; 63.8% total digestible nutrients, 13.5% crude protein, and 41.2% neutral detergent fiber, dry matter basis). Each pen of heifers was randomly assigned to a treatment to obtain a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (2 RFI levels × 2 diet energy densities). Diets were offered in a 120-d trial. Dry matter intake was not affected by diet, RFI, or their interaction. Average daily gain (ADG) was affected by diet, with heifers fed HE having greater ADG than heifers fed LE. In addition, RFI affected ADG, with LRFI heifers having greater ADG than HRFI heifers, whereas the interaction of RFI and diet was not significant. Feed efficiency was improved for heifers fed the HE diet, but it was not affected by RFI or the interaction of RFI and diet. Overall, feed efficiency of prebred heifers was not dependent on predicted genomic RFI, because the greater ADG of LRFI heifers was accompanied by slightly higher dry matter intake. Feed efficiency of heifers was reduced when heifers were fed the LE diet, but this resulted in more optimal ADG compared with the HE diet fed for ad libitum intake.

Effects of overstocking at the feedbunk on the growth performance and sorting characteristics of a forage-based diet offered for ad libitum intake to replacement Holstein dairy heifers.

Various forms of overcrowding are common in heifer-rearing operations. Our objectives for this study were to evaluate the effects of overstocking at the feedbunk (100, 133, 160, or 200% of capacity) on the growth performance, feedbunk sorting behaviors, and hygiene of 128 gravid Holstein heifers (475 ± 55.3 kg) consuming an alfalfa haylage and corn silage diet diluted with processed wheat straw at an inclusion rate of 25.2% (DM basis). In this study, heifers were overstocked only at the feedbunk, and not with respect to available freestalls or pen area. Heifers were blocked by weight, and subsequently assigned to 1 of 16 identical research pens. A total mixed ration was distributed at 1000 h daily for 91 d via a drive-through feed alley, with heifers allowed access to the feedbunk through head-locking feeding gates. Mean weights for the 4 blocks (32 heifers/block) were 406 ± 14.9, 453 ± 15.3, 493 ± 17.6, and 548 ± 21.9 kg. Generally, nutrient intakes were not affected by stocking rate at the feedbunk; mean intakes of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrients across all feedbunk stocking rates were 10.63, 5.19, and 6.29 kg/d, respectively. Overall, the effects of competition at the feedbunk on heifer growth performance were minor, with a collective average daily gain of 1.02 kg/d across all treatments. Only trends for linear increases in total weight gain and BCS were observed with overstocking at the feedbunk. Collectively, overstocked rates also exhibited a trend for better feed-to-gain ratio than pens stocked at 100% of feedbunk capacity (10.3 vs. 11.0 kg:kg). We observed solid evidence that heifers collectively sorted against large (>19 mm) particles, and also exhibited preference for short (>1.18 and <8 mm) and fine (<1.18 mm) feed particles; however, these responses were not affected by feedbunk stocking rate. Additionally, heifers sorted against neutral detergent fiber as the concentration of neutral detergent fiber remaining in the feedbunk increased during the 24-h period following feeding; conversely, they preferred crude protein, as indicated by a decreasing concentration of this nutrient over time. Heifer hygiene was not affected by competition at the feedbunk. Under the experimental conditions established for this trial, overstocking at the feedbunk did not affect heifer growth performance, but it should not be practiced blindly without attention to other critical components of animal welfare.

Controlling the Local Electronic Properties of Si(553)-Au through Hydrogen Doping.

We propose a quantitative and reversible method for tuning the charge localization of Au-stabilized stepped Si surfaces by site-specific hydrogenation. This is demonstrated for Si(553)-Au as a model system by combining density functional theory simulations and reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy experiments. We find that controlled H passivation is a two-step process: step-edge adsorption drives excess charge into the conducting metal chain "reservoir" and renders it insulating, while surplus H recovers metallic behavior. Our approach illustrates a route towards microscopic manipulation of the local surface charge distribution and establishes a reversible switch of site-specific chemical reactivity and magnetic properties on vicinal surfaces.

Effects of straw processing and pen overstocking on the growth performance and sorting characteristics of diets offered to replacement Holstein dairy heifers.

Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of pen-stocking density and straw processing on the growth performance, feed-bunk sorting behaviors, and hygiene of Holstein dairy heifers. Two corn silage-alfalfa haylage diets diluted with wheat straw were offered; diet composition was identical, except that one diet contained short (well-processed) straw (SS; 46.0% neutral detergent fiber, 12.9% crude protein, 60.7% total digestible nutrients, TDN), and the other long (poorly processed) straw (LS; 46.5% neutral detergent fiber, 12.6% crude protein, 60.0% TDN; % of dry matter basis). A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of straw-processing (SS or LS) and pen-stocking-density [100, 125, or 150% of capacity] treatments was evaluated with 240 Holstein dairy heifers (410 ± 56.3 kg) that were blocked by weight, and then assigned to 24 pens with 4 pens/interactive treatment. For 91 d, diets were dispersed at 1100 h daily, and bunks were sampled subsequently at 1300, 1600, 1900, 2200, 0100, and 0600 h during 3 evaluation periods throughout the trial. Diets were offered for ad libitum intake, but with minimal orts (<3%); as such, particle-size concentration factors were calculated as bunk concentration/initial concentration. For the LS diet, particle-size concentration factors for large (>19 mm) particles increased linearly from 1.26 to 2.82 across sampling times, differing from the SS diet at 2200, 0100, 0600, and 0900 h (orts). Similar factors calculated for the SS diet also increased linearly across sampling times, but these responses were less severe (1.27 to 1.97). Overall, particle-size concentration factors for physically effective fiber exhibited responses similar to those observed for large particles, except they were limited to narrower ranges for both the SS (1.04 to 1.14) and LS (1.03 to 1.26) diets. Despite these differences, daily dry matter intake was not affected by treatment (mean = 9.65 kg of dry matter/d), nor was daily intake of TDN (mean = 5.92 kg of TDN/d). For SS, heifers housed within overstocked pens exhibited reduced average daily gain (ADG) compared with the 100% stocking rate (0.93 vs. 0.99 kg/d). With LS processing, ADG differed between the 125 and 150% stocking rates (0.96 vs. 0.88 kg/d), as did the within-pen coefficient of variation for ADG (10.7 vs. 18.6%). Hygiene scores (1 = clean, 4 = caked-on manure) for legs (range = 2.1 to 2.3) and flanks (range = 1.6 to 1.9) indicated heifers stayed acceptably clean, but the within-pen coefficient of variation for legs (14.4 vs. 9.0%) and flanks (34.2 vs. 23.8%) was greater for overstocked pens compared with the 100% stocking density, thereby suggesting hygiene scores were more variable without a free stall for each heifer.

Growth performance and sorting characteristics of corn silage-alfalfa haylage diets with or without forage dilution offered to replacement Holstein dairy heifers.

Gravid heifers consuming high-quality forage diets are susceptible to excessive weight gains and overconditioning. One approach for controlling this problem is to dilute diets with low-energy forages, such as straw, that reduce the caloric density and dry matter intake (DMI) of that diet by heifers. These diluting agents are often sortable by dairy heifers, but previous visual evidence has suggested that eastern gamagrass haylage may be a nonsortable alternative. Our objectives were (1) to compare the growth performance of dairy heifers offered a high-quality forage diet (control) with diets containing 1 of 3 diluting agents [eastern gamagrass haylage (EGH), chopped wheat straw (WS), or chopped corn fodder (CF)]; and (2) evaluate sorting behaviors of heifers offered these forage diets. Holstein heifers (n=128) were stratified (32 heifers/block) on the basis of initial body weight (heavy, 560 ± 27.7 kg; medium-heavy, 481 ± 17.7 kg; medium-light, 441 ± 22.0 kg; and light, 399 ± 14.4 kg), and then assigned to 1 of 16 identical research pens (4 pens/block; 8 heifers/pen), where each of the 4 research diets were assigned to 1 pen within each block. Diets were offered in a 118-d feeding trial with heifers crowded to 133% of capacity at the feed bunk. Inclusion of low-energy forages was effective in reducing both diet energy density and DMI. Concentrations of physically effective fiber (pef) particles did not change during the 24-h period following feeding for either the control or EGH diets; however, this response for pef particles masked the competing (and cancelling) responses for individual large and medium particles, which heifers sorted with discrimination and preference, respectively. Sorting against pef particles was detected for WS, and much more severely for the CF diet. Sorting of forage particles by heifers could not be related to heifer performance. Compared with control (1.16 kg/d), average daily gains (ADG) were reduced by dilution in all cases, but were virtually identical between EGH (0.98 kg/d) and CF (0.97 kg/d), which exhibited no sorting and extensive sorting of pef, respectively. Furthermore, ADG for WS was approximately 0.2 kg/d less than EGH or CF, despite exhibiting sorting characteristics intermediate between EGH and CF. Diets diluted with low-energy forages were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric; within that context, WS was most effective in reducing DMI and maintaining ADG within typical recommendations for Holstein heifers.

Effects of cultivar and grazing initiation date on fall-grown oat for replacement dairy heifers.

Fall-grown oat has shown promise for extending the grazing season in Wisconsin, but the optimum date for initiating grazing has not been evaluated. Our objectives for this project were (1) to assess the pasture productivity and nutritive value of 2 oat cultivars [Ogle and ForagePlus (OG and FP, respectively)] with late-September (EG) or mid-October (LG) grazing initiation dates; and (2) to evaluate growth performance by heifers grazing these oat forages compared with heifers reared in confinement (CON). A total of 160 gravid Holstein heifers (80 heifers/yr) were assigned to 10 research groups (8 heifers/group). Mean initial body weight was 509±40.5 kg in 2013 and 517±30.2 kg in 2014. Heifer groups were assigned to specific pastures arranged as a 2×2 factorial of oat cultivars and grazing initiation dates. Grazing heifer groups were allowed to strip-graze oat pastures for 6 h daily before returning to the barn, where they were offered a forage-based basal total mixed ration. Main effects of oat cultivar and sampling date interacted for forage characteristics in 2013, but not in 2014. During 2013, oat forage mass increased until early November before declining in response to freezing weather conditions, thereby exhibiting linear and quadratic effects of sampling date, regardless of oat cultivar. Similar trends over time were observed in 2014. For 2013, the maximum forage mass was 5,329 and 5,046 kg/ha for FP and OG, respectively, whereas the mean maximum forage mass for 2014 was 4,806 kg/ha. ForagePlus did not reach the boot stage of growth during either year of the trial; OG matured more rapidly, reaching the late-heading stage during 2013, but exhibited only minor maturity differences from FP in 2014. For 2013, average daily gain for CON did not differ from grazing heifer groups (overall mean=0.63 kg/d); however, average daily gain from FP was greater than OG (0.68 vs. 0.57 kg/d), and greater from EG compared with LG (0.82 vs. 0.43 kg/d). For 2013, advantages in average daily gain for heifers grazing FP pastures were likely related to the greater energy density of FP oat throughout the fall that reached a maximum of 68.8% total digestible nutrients on November 27 compared with only 63.7% for OG on October 10. During 2014, average daily gain from CON exceeded all grazing heifer groups (0.81 vs. 0.57 kg/d), and average daily gain from EG again exceeded LG (0.70 vs. 0.44 kg/d). These results suggest that delaying grazing until mid-October will consistently suppress heifer growth performance, particularly if rapidly maturing cultivars are used.

Inflammatory markers and cardiometabolic diseases.

OBJECTIVES: A growing body of evidence emerges that obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are intimately related to chronic inflammation. METHODS: A narrative review summarizing the most recent data of the literature describing the pathological implications of inflammation in obese patients with cardiometabolic disorders. RESULTS: Besides high-sensitive C-reactive protein, various circulating or in situ inflammatory markers have been identified, presumably reflecting the presence of inflammation in various key-organs (visceral adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, pancreatic islets, liver, intestine, arterial wall). Available data support the concept that targeting inflammation, not only reduces systemic inflammatory markers, but also improves insulin sensitivity and ameliorates glucose control in insulin-resistant patients, thus potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications. CONCLUSION: These observations confirm the role of inflammation in cardiometabolic diseases and support the development of pharmacological strategies that aim at reducing inflammation, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Antidiabetic agents: Potential anti-inflammatory activity beyond glucose control.

A growing body of evidence is emerging to show that abdominal obesity, the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and microvascular diabetic complications are intimately related to chronic inflammation. These observations pave the way to the development of new pharmacological strategies that aim to reduce silent inflammation. However, besides specific anti-inflammatory agents, glucose-lowering medications may also exert anti-inflammatory effects that could contribute to improved outcomes in diabetic patients. Most studies have used metformin, an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, and thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which act as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) agonists. Both pharmacological classes (considered insulin-sparing agents or insulin sensitizers) appear to have greater anti-inflammatory activity than insulin-secreting agents such as sulphonylureas or glinides. In particular, TZDs have shown the widest range of evidence of lowered tissue (visceral fat and liver) and serum inflammation. In contrast, despite reducing postprandial hyperglycaemia, the effect of α-glucosidase inhibitors on inflammatory markers appears rather modest, whereas dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors (gliptins) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists appear more promising in this respect. These incretin-based therapies exert pleiotropic effects, including reports of anti-inflammatory activity. No human data are available so far regarding sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Although they may have indirect effects due to reduced glucotoxicity, their specific mode of action in the kidneys does not suggest systemic anti-inflammatory activity. Also, in spite of the complex relationship between insulin and atherosclerosis, exogenous insulin may also exert anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, for all these glucose-lowering agents, it is essential to distinguish between anti-inflammatory effects resulting from better glucose control and potential anti-inflammatory effects related to intrinsic actions of the pharmacological class. Finally, it would also be of major clinical interest to define what role the anti-inflammatory effects of these glucose-lowering agents may play in the prevention of macrovascular and microvascular diabetic complications.

A synchrotron-radiation-based variable angle ellipsometer for the visible to vacuum ultraviolet spectral range.

A rotating analyzer spectroscopic polarimeter and ellipsometer with a wide-range θ-2θ goniometer installed at the Insertion Device Beamline of the Metrology Light Source in Berlin is presented. With a combination of transmission- and reflection-based polarizing elements and the inherent degree of polarization of the undulator radiation, this ellipsometer is able to cover photon energies from about 2 eV up to 40 eV. Additionally, a new compensator design based on a CaF2 Fresnel rhomb is presented. This compensator allows ellipsometric measurements with circular polarization in the vacuum ultraviolet spectral range and thus, for example, the characterization of depolarizing samples. The new instrument was initially used for the characterization of the polarization of the beamline. The technical capabilities of the ellipsometer are demonstrated by a cohesive wide-range measurement of the dielectric function of epitaxially grown ZnO.

Fall-grown oat to extend the fall grazing season for replacement dairy heifers.

Our objective was to assess the pasture productivity and forage characteristics of 2 fall-grown oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars, specifically for extending the grazing season and reducing reliance on harvested forages by replacement dairy heifers. A total of 160 gravid Holstein heifers (80 heifers/yr) were stratified by weight, and assigned to 1 of 10 identical research pens (8 heifers/pen). Initial body weights were 480 ± 43.5 kg in 2011 and 509 ± 39.4 kg in 2012. During both years of the trial, four 1.0-ha pasture replicates were seeded in August with Ogle oat (Schumitsch Seed Inc., Antigo, WI), and 4 separate, but similarly configured, pasture replicates were seeded with Forage Plus oat (Kratz Farms, Slinger, WI). Heifer groups were maintained as units, assigned to specific pastures, and then allowed to graze fall-oat pastures for 6h daily before returning to the barn, where they were offered a forage-based basal total mixed ration. Two heifer groups were retained in confinement (without grazing) as controls and offered the identical total mixed ration as pasture groups. During 2011, available forage mass increased with strong linear and quadratic effects for both cultivars, peaking at almost 9 Mg/ha on October 31. In contrast, forage mass was not affected by evaluation date in 2012, remaining ≤ 2,639 kg/ha across all dates because of droughty climatic conditions. During 2012, Ogle exhibited greater forage mass than Forage Plus across all sampling dates (2,678 vs. 1,856 kg/ha), largely because of its more rapid maturation rate and greater canopy height. Estimates of energy density for oat forage ranged from 59.6 to 69.1% during 2011, and ranged narrowly from 68.4 to 70.4% during 2012. For 2011, responses for both cultivars had strong quadratic character, in which the most energy-dense forages occurred in mid November, largely due to accumulation of water-soluble carbohydrates that reached maximum concentrations of 18.2 and 15.1% for Forage Plus and Ogle, respectively. Across the 2-yr trial, average daily gain for grazing heifer groups tended to be greater than heifers remaining in confinement (0.85 vs. 0.74 kg/d), but both management strategies produced weight gains within reasonable proximity to normal targets for heifers in this weight range. Fall-grown oat should be managed as stockpiled forage for deferred grazing, and good utilization of fall-oat forage can be accomplished by a one-time removal of standing forage, facilitated by a single lead wire advanced daily to prevent waste.

[NLRP3 inflammasome and visceral adipose tissue]. / Inflammasome NLRP3 et graisse viscérale.

It is recognized that abdominal obesity is accompanied by a chronic low-grade inflammation that is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes are associated with an abnormal production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, an increased level of acute-phase proteins and an activation of inflammatory signalling pathways. These pro-inflammatory cytokines, mainly produced by adipose tissue macrophages, are involved in development of obesity-associated insulin resistance and in the progression from obesity to type 2 diabetes. Particularly, the interleukin-1 beta may play a key role through the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Adipose tissue topography, more than the total amount of fat, may play an important pathogenic role. Indeed, the presence of metabolic abnormalities in obesity is associated with a deleterious immunological and inflammatory profile of visceral adipose tissue and with an increased activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages infiltrating visceral adipose tissue. Targeting inflammation, especially NLRP3 inflammasome, may offer potential novel therapeutic perspectives in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Unique interrelationships between fiber composition, water-soluble carbohydrates, and in vitro gas production for fall-grown oat forages.

Sixty samples of 'ForagePlus' oat were selected from a previous plot study for analysis of in vitro gas production (IVGP) on the basis of 2 factors: (1) high (n=29) or low (n=31) neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 62.7±2.61 and 45.1±3.91%, respectively); and (2) the range of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) within the high- and low-NDF groups. For the WSC selection factor, concentrations ranged from 4.7 to 13.4% (mean=7.9±2.06%) and from 3.5 to 19.4% (mean=9.7±4.57%) within high- and low-NDF forages, respectively. Our objectives were to assess the relationships between IVGP and various agronomic or nutritional characteristics for high- and low-NDF fall-oat forages. Cumulative IVGP was fitted to a single-pool nonlinear regression model: Y=MAX × (1 - e ([-)(K)(× (t - lag)])), where Y=cumulative gas produced (mL), MAX=maximum cumulative gas produced with infinite incubation time (mL), K=rate constant, t=incubation time (h), and lag=discrete lag time (h). Generally, cumulative IVGP after 12, 24, 36, or 48h within high-NDF fall-oat forages was negatively correlated with NDF, hemicellulose, lignin, and ash, but positively correlated with WSC, nonfiber carbohydrate (NFC), and total digestible nutrients (TDN). For low-NDF fall-grown oat forages, IVGP was positively correlated with growth stage, canopy height, WSC, NFC, and TDN; negative correlations were observed with ash and crude protein (CP) but not generally with fiber components. These responses were also reflected in multiple regression analysis for high- and low-NDF forages. After 12, 24, or 36h of incubation, cumulative IVGP within high-NDF fall-oat forages was explained by complex regression equations utilizing (lignin:NDF)(2), lignin:NDF, hemicellulose, lignin, and TDN(2) as independent variables (R(2)≥0.43). Within low-NDF fall-grown oat forages, cumulative IVGP at these incubation intervals was explained by positive linear relationships with NFC that also exhibited high coefficients of determination (R(2)≥0.75). Gas production was accelerated at early incubation times within low-NDF forages, specifically in response to large pools of WSC that were most likely to be present as forages approached boot stage by late-fall.

Technical note: whole-pen assessments of nutrient excretion and digestibility from dairy replacement heifers housed in sand-bedded freestalls.

Our objectives were to describe and test refined procedures for quantifying excreta produced from whole pens of dairy heifers. Previous research efforts attempting to make whole-pen measurements of excreta output have been complicated by the use of organic bedding, which requires cumbersome analytical techniques to quantify excreta apart from the bedding. Research pens equipped with sand-bedded freestalls offer a unique opportunity for refinement of whole-pen fecal collection methods, primarily because sand-bedded freestall systems contain no organic bedding; therefore, concentrations of ash within the manure, sand, and feces can be used to correct for contamination of manure by sand bedding. This study was conducted on a subset of heifers from a larger production-scale feeding trial evaluating ensiled eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.] haylage (EGG) that was incorporated into a corn silage/alfalfa haylage-based blended diet at rates of 0, 9.1, 18.3, or 27.4% of total DM. The diet without EGG also was offered on a limit-fed basis. Eighty Holstein dairy heifers were blocked (heavy weight, 424 ± 15.9 kg; light weight, 324 ± 22.4 kg) and then assigned to 10 individual pens containing 8 heifers/pen. One pen per block was assigned to each of the 5 research diets, and whole-pen fecal collections were conducted twice for each pen. Grab fecal samples also were gathered from individual heifers within each pen, and subsequent analysis of these whole-pen composites allowed reasonable estimates of OM and NDF excreta output. Under the conditions of our experimental design, pooled SEM for the excreta DM, OM, NDF, and NDF (ash corrected) output were 0.113, 0.085, 0.093, and 0.075 kg·heifer(-1)·d(-1), respectively. For DM excretion, this represented about one-third of the SEM reported for previous whole-pen collections from bedded-pack housing systems. Subsequent calculations of apparent DM and OM digestibilities indicated that the technique was sensitive, and linear trends (P ≤ 0.027) associated with the inclusion rates of EGG within the diet were detected. This technique allows estimation of apparent diet digestibilities on multiple animals simultaneously, thereby mitigating the need for isolating individual animals to obtain digestibility coefficients. The approach appears viable but requires hand labor for collections of multiple pens and thorough mixing of large volumes of manure as well as analytical corrections for sand ingested by lounging heifers.