Supplementation with Antimicrobial Peptides or a Tannic Acid Can Effectively Replace the Pharmacological Effects of Zinc Oxide in the Early Stages of Weaning Piglets.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) harms the environment and can potentially increase the number of drug-resistant bacteria. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find safe and effective alternatives to improve gut health and reduce the incidence of diarrhea in weaned piglets. This study conducted an antibacterial test of ZnO, antibacterial peptides (AMPs), and tannic acid (TA) in vitro. Thirty piglets were randomly allotted to one of the following three dietary treatments: ZnO (2000 mg/kg ZnO diet), AMPs (700 mg/kg AMPs diet), and TA (1000 mg/kg TA diet). The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations of ZnO and TA against Escherichia coli and Salmonella were lower than those of AMPs, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of ZnO, AMPs, and TA against Staphylococcus aureus were the same. Compared to ZnO, AMPs increased the digestibility of dry, organic matter and the crude fat. Additionally, TA significantly (p < 0.05) increased the digestibility of dry and organic matter. On experimental day 14, the plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) content of piglets supplemented with AMPs and TA was increased significantly (p < 0.05). On experimental day 28, alanine aminotransferase activity in the plasma of weaned piglets in the ZnO and TA groups was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in piglets in the AMPs group. The levels of plasma IL-6 and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the ZnO and AMPs groups than in the TA group. On experimental days 14 and 28, no significant differences were observed in the antioxidant capacity among the three experimental groups. Intestinal microbial diversity analysis showed that the Chao1 and ACE indices of piglets in the AMPs group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in the ZnO and TA groups. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Treponema_2 was higher in the feces of piglets fed a diet supplemented with TA than in those fed diet supplemented with ZnO (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae was higher in the feces of piglets fed a diet supplemented with AMPs than in those fed diet supplemented with ZnO or TA. Overall, AMPs and TA could be added to feed as substitutes for ZnO to reduce diarrhea, improve nutrient digestibility and immunity, and increase the abundance of beneficial intestinal bacteria in weaned piglets.

Crystal Engineering of Naphthalenediimide-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks: Structure-Dependent Lithium Storage.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) possess great structural diversity because of the flexible design of linker groups and metal nodes. The structure-property correlation has been extensively investigated in areas like chiral catalysis, gas storage and absorption, water purification, energy storage, etc. However, the use of MOFs in lithium storage is hampered by stability issues, and how its porosity helps with battery performance is not well understood. Herein, through anion and thermodynamic control, we design a series of naphthalenediimide-based MOFs 1-4 that can be used for cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Complexation of the N,N'-di(4-pyridyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenediimide (DPNDI) ligand and CdX2 (X = NO3- or ClO4-) produces complexes MOFs 1 and 2 with a one-dimensional (1D) nonporous network and a porous, noninterpenetrated two-dimensional (2D) square-grid structure, respectively. With the DPNDI ligand and Co(NCS)2, a porous 1D MOF 3 as a kinetic product is obtained, while a nonporous, noninterpenetrated 2D square-grid structure MOF 4 as a thermodynamic product is formed. The performance of LIBs is largely affected by the stability and porosity of these MOFs. For instance, the initial charge-discharge curves of MOFs 1 and 2 show a specific capacity of ∼47 mA h g-1 with a capacity retention ratio of >70% during 50 cycles at 100 mA g-1, which is much better than that of MOFs 3 and 4. The better performances are assigned to the higher stability of Cd(II) MOFs compared to that of Co(II) MOFs during the electrochemical process, according to X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, despite having the same Cd(II) node in the framework, MOF 2 exhibits a lithium-ion diffusion coefficient (DLi) larger than that of MOF 1 because of its higher porosity. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis indicate that metal nodes in these MOFs remain intact and only the DPNDI ligand undergoes the revisible redox reaction during the lithiation-delithiation process.

Networked Spin Cages: Tunable Magnetism and Lithium Ion Storage via Modulation of Spin-Electron Interactions.

A networked spin cage comprising infinite CoII6L4 cages arrays (where Co = Co(NCS)2 and L = 1,3,5-tri-(4-pyridyl)-verdazal radical) is synthesized and found to exhibit tunable magnetic and electrochemical properties via inclusion of guests. SQUID investigation reveals the coexistence of ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic interactions between the Co(II) ion center and radical ligands. Inclusion of electron-deficient guests (e.g., tetracyanoethylene) dramatically enhances spin concentration and increases anti-ferromagnetic interactions due to the formation of charge-transfer complex between the host and the guest. In addition, introduction of electron-rich guests (e.g., tetrathiafulvalene) into the networked spin cages doubles the capacity for binding the lithium ions.

[Input and distribution of rice photosynthesized carbon in the tillering stage under different nitrogen application following continuous 13C labeling].

The input of rice-photosynthesized carbon (C) into soil plays an important role in soil C cycling. A 13C-labelled microcosm experiment was carried out to quantify the input of photosynthesized C into soil C pools in a rice-soil system during the tillering stage. Growing rice (Oryza sativa L. ) was continuously fed with 13C-labeled CO, ( C-CO, ) in a closed chamber without nitrogen (NO), or at different rates of N supply (N10,N20, N30, N40 or N60). The results showed that there were significant differences in rice shoot (1.58 g plot-1 to 4.35 g plot-1) and root (1.05 g plot-1 to 2.44 g plot-1 ) biomass among the N treatments after labeling for 18 days. The amounts of 13C in shoots and roots ranged from 44.0 g plot-1 to 157.6 g.plot-1 and 8.3 g.plot-1 to 49.4 g.plot-1, respectively, and generally followed the order of N60 > N40 > N20 > N10 > NO. The contents of rice-planted 13C-SOC, 13C-DOC and 13C-MBC in soil carbon pool were much higher than those of CK (without rice and N supply). The amount of 13C-SOC ranged from 11.1 g plot - to 23.7 gplot-1 , depending on the rate of N addition, accounting for 10.2% -18. 1% of the net assimilation. The amounts of 13C-DOC and 13C-MBC ranged from 4. 82-14.51 microg kg-1 and 526. 1-1 478.8 microg kg-1 , both depending on the N application rate. In addition, at 18-day of labeling, the 13C-SOC, 13C-DOC and 13C-MBC concentration was positively correlated with the rice biomass. Therefore, our results suggest that paddy soils can probably sequester more C from the atmosphere if more photosynthesized C enters the soils and N application can stimulate C rhizodeposition during the tillering stage.

[Dynamics of the mineralization and transformation of rice photosynthesized carbon in paddy soils--a batch incubation experiment].

Photosynthesized carbon is an important part in C cycling of "atmosphere-plant-soil" and is the source of soil organic carbon (SOC), but its mineralization and transformation dynamics in paddy soils remains still unclear. Therefore, a batch incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the mineralization and transformation of rice photosynthesized carbon in paddy soils after rice harvest. The results showed that the mineralization rate of native SOC ranged from 4.44 to 17.8 microg x (g x d)(-1), while that of photosynthesized carbon (new carbon) was 0.15- 1.51 micro x (gx d)(-1) during the course of 100-day-incubation span. Rice photosynthesized carbon input significantly influenced the soil active carbon (DOC, MBC) transformation. During the incubation period (100 d), the amount of 14C-DOC transformation ranged from 1.89 to 5.32 mg x 8 kg(-1), and that of native DOC varied from 61.13 to 90.65 mg x kg(-2), with the transformation rates ranged from 0.18 to 0.34 mg x (kg x d)(-1) and from 4.10 to 5.48 mg. (kg x d)(-1), respectively. However, the 14C-MBC and native original MBC were 10.92-44.11 mg x kg(-1) and 463.31-1153.46 mg x kg(-1), respectively, and their transformation rates were 0.80-2.87, 41.60-74.46 mg x (kg-d)(-1), respectively. It suggested that the turnover of MBC was greater than that of DOC. Furthermore, "new carbon" was easier to be mineralized and decomposed than native SOC. The mineralized portion in "new carbon" was 13.5%-20.2%, whereas that in native SOC was only 2.2%-3.7%. Therefore, we concluded that the incorporation of rice photosynthesized carbon was vital to maintain the soil carbon sink for paddy soils.

Continuous flow Sonogashira C-C coupling using a heterogeneous palladium-copper dual reactor.

We report the development of a heterogeneous catalyst system on continuous flow chemistry. A palladium (Pd) coated tubular reactor was placed in line with copper (Cu) tubing using a continuous flow platform, and a Sonogashira C-C coupling reaction was used to evaluate the performance. The reactions were favorably carried out in the Cu reactor, catalyzed by the traces of leached Pd from the Pd reactor. The leached Pd and Cu were trapped with a metal scavaging resin at the back-end of the continuous flow system, affording a genuine approach toward green chemistry.

Migration kinetics and mechanisms of plasticizers, stabilizers at interfaces of NEPE propellant/HTPB liner/EDPM insulation.

Migration appeared in the interfaces of nitrate ester plasticized polyether (NEPE) based propellant/hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) based liner/ethylene propylene terpolymer (EPDM) based insulation was studied by aging at different temperatures. The migration components were extracted with solvent and determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The migration occurred within 1mm to the interfaces, and the apparent migration activation energy (Ea) of nitroglycerin (NG), 1,2,4-butanetriol trinitrate (BTTN) and a kind of aniline stabilizer AD in propellant, liner and insulation was calculated respectively on the basis of HPLC data. The Ea values were among 15 and 50 kJ/mol, which were much less than chemical energy, and almost the same as hydrogen bond energy. The average diffusion coefficients were in the range of 10(-19)m(2)s(-1) to 10(-16)m(2)s(-1). It seemed the faster the migration rates, the smaller the apparent migration activation energy, the larger the diffusion coefficient and the less the amount of migration. It could be explained that the migration rate and energy were affected by the molecular volume of a mobile component and its diffusion property, and the amount of migration was resulted from the molecular polarity comparability of a mobile component to the based material.

[The relationship between ApoE gene polymorphism and lipid parameters].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism and serum lipid profile. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragments length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to determine ApoE genotype on 1452 subjects including 1101 cases with cardio cerebrovascular disease including 379 cases with cerebral infarction, 313 cases with cerebral hemorrhage, 257 cases with coronary heart disease, and 152 cases with other types and on 351 healthy controls. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex and BMI, the subjects with ApoE4 carriers had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and ApoB than those with ApoE2 carriers and ApoE3/3 (P < 0.05), and higher level of triglyceride(TG) than those with ApoE3/3 (P < 0.05), while the subjects with ApoE2 carriers had significantly higher levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) than those with ApoE4 (P < 0.05). The effects of ApoE polymorphism exhibited similarity in different sex and age of subjects. Linear regression analysis showed that unlike ApoE3/3, the HDL-C level in ApoE2 carriers tend upward with age (beta = 0.178, P = 0.015), significantly higher than ApoE4 carriers and ApoE3/3 in the cohort of 65-74 years (P < 0.05). The level of TC and TG in ApoE4 carriers had a tendency of downward with age (p = -0.179, P = 0.009; beta = -0.147, P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: ApoE gene polymorphism affected profile of blood lipids and the effects were found in different sex and age. The degrees of effects related to ApoE2 carriers and ApoE4 carriers to blood lipid level seemed to be related to age.

Effect of the interaction between paranoxonase 1 and ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 gene polymorphism on serum lipid level.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of interaction between paranoxonase 1 (PON1)gene polymorphism and ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) genetic variation on serum lipid level. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragments length polymorphism was used to determine PON1 A/B192 and ABCA1R219K genotype of 1019 subjects, including 680 patients with strokes and 339 healthy individuals as controls. RESULTS: No significant association between A/B192 genotype and any of the lipid measurements was detected. The levels of HDL-C in the subjects with RR, RK and KK genotypes showed a significant upward tendency respectively (P < 0.05); the levels of their triglyceride (TG) tended downward respectively, but there were no significant differences between them. The relationship between R219K genotype and serum lipid level was modified by A/B192 genotype. The levels of HDL-C in the subjects with AA/RR genotype and BB/KK genotype [(1.41 +/- 0.40) mmol/L, (1.41 +/- 0.39) mmol/L] were significantly different from that in the subjects with BB/RR genotype [(1.28 +/- 0.36) mmol/L] (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The result exhibited an interaction of PON1 A/B192 and ABCA1 R219K on serum lipid level.

[Relationship between ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 R219K genetic variation and blood lipids].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) R219K genetic variation is correlated with blood lipids. METHOD: Specimens of peripheral blood were collected from 692 patients with cerebral apoplexy, aged 62 +/- aged 12, and 352 sex- and age-matched persons without cardio-cerebro-vascular disease. Polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragments length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to determine the ABCA1 genotype: RR type (177 bp), RK type (177 bp, 107 bp, and 70 bp); and KK type (107 bp and 70 bp). The RR and KK type products were sequenced. RESULTS: The level of HDL-C showed an upward trend in the sequence of RR, RK, and KK genotypes with a significant difference between RR genotype (1.3 mmol/L +/- 0.4 mmol/L) and KK genotype (1.4 mmol/L +/- 0.4 mmol/L), especially in the males. The levels of TG tended downward in the sequence of RR, RK, and KK genotypes, however, without a significant difference between any 2 genotypes. Linear regression analysis showed that the HDL-C level was positively correlated with age in the noncarriers of ABCA1R219K genetic variation (RR genotype), and the TC level was negatively correlated with age in the carriers (RK + KK genotype). In the cohort aged