Molecular precursor-mediated facile synthesis of photo-responsive stibnite Sb2S3 nanorods and tetrahedrite Cu12Sb4S13 nanocrystals.

Stibnite Sb2S3 and tetrahedrite Cu12Sb4S13 nanostructures being economical, environmentally benign and having a high absorption coefficient are highly promising materials for energy conversion applications. However, producing these materials especially tetrahedrite in the phase pure form is a challenging task. In this report we present a structurally characterized single source molecular precursor [Sb(4,6-Me2pymS)3] for the facile synthesis of binary Sb2S3 as well as ternary Cu12Sb4S13 in oleylamine (OAm) at a relatively lower temperature. The as-prepared Sb2S3 and Cu12Sb4S13 nanostructures were thoroughly checked for their phase purity, elemental composition and morphology by powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron microscopy techniques. pXRD and EDS studies confirm the formation of phase pure, crystalline orthorhombic Sb2S3 and cubic Cu12Sb4S13. The SEM, TEM and HRTEM images depict the formation of well-defined nanorods and nearly spherical nanocrystals for Sb2S3 and Cu12Sb4S13, respectively. The Sb2S3 nanorods and Cu12Sb4S13 nanocrystals exhibit an optical bandgap of ∼1.88 and 2.07 eV, respectively, which are slightly blue-shifted relative to their bulk bandgap, indicating the quantum confinement effect. Finally, efficient photoresponsivity and good photo-stability were achieved in the as-prepared Sb2S3 and Cu12Sb4S13 nanostructure-based prototype photo-electrochemical cell, which make them promising candidates for alternative low-cost photon absorber materials.

Changes in Digestive Microbiota, Rumen Fermentations and Oxidative Stress around Parturition Are Alleviated by Live Yeast Feed Supplementation to Gestating Ewes.

BACKGROUND: In ruminants, physiological and nutritional changes occur peripartum. We investigated if gastro-intestinal microbiota, rumen metabolism and antioxidant status were affected around parturition and what could be the impact of a daily supplementation of a live yeast additive in late gestating ewes. METHODS: Rumen, feces and blood samples were collected from 2 groups of 14 ewes one month and a few days before parturition, and 2 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: In the control ewes close to parturition, slight changes in the ruminal microbiota were observed, with a decrease in the concentration F. succinogenes and in the relative abundance of the Fibrobacteres phylum. Moreover, a decrease in the alpha-diversity of the bacterial community and a reduced relative abundance of the Fibrobacteres phylum were observed in their feces. Control ewes were prone to oxidative stress, as shown by an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, a lower total antioxidant status, and higher glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the blood. In the yeast supplemented ewes, most of the microbial changes observed in the control group were alleviated. An increase in GPx activity, and a significant decrease in MDA concentration were measured. CONCLUSIONS: The live yeast used in this study could stabilize gastro-intestinal microbiota and reduce oxidative stress close to parturition.

Validation of two laboratory methods for beef intramuscular fat quantification.

Many studies on beef nutritional qualities require the quantification of intramuscular fat. To reduce the sample amount, solvent use and time of analysis, two alternative methods to the Folch et al. (1957) reference method were studied: a miniaturised Folch's method and a near-infrared spectroscopic method. Performances and acceptability limits were evaluated with accuracy profiles for each of the methods. Equations to correct bias between the alternative and reference methods were calculated. Uncertainties associated with measurements were determined, and the validity domains were defined. From a previous set of studies, the ability of each method to discriminate samples from bovines of different breeds or receiving diverse treatments was tested. The validity domain of the miniaturised Folch's method ranged from 1.9 to 13.8 g of total lipids/100 g of tissue, and that of the near-infrared spectroscopic method ranged from 4.8 to 13.8 g of total lipids/100 g of tissue, with less than 20% difference from the reference method's results. Thus, the two alternative methods could be used depending on the research objectives: the miniaturised Folch's method could be used for detailed quantification of intramuscular fat and the near-infrared spectroscopic method for a quick classification of a large number of muscles. The precise knowledge of uncertainties associated with each measurement was determined, and perfect continuity with the results obtained so far with the reference Folch's method was confirmed.

Fatty acid composition and oxidation in beef muscles as affected by ageing times and cooking methods.

This study aimed to determine how ageing and cooking, each one applied to the beef meat most suitable (pan-fried or grilled ribeye steak, braised chuck and fried or roasted rump steak), induce changes in lipid content, fatty acid (FA) composition and lipid oxidation of muscles from 16 cattle representative of animals raised for France meat production. The fattiest muscle (ribeye) was the richest in saturated and monounsaturated FA leading to poor nutritional indexes. In contrast, the leanest muscle (rump) had the highest proportion of polyunsaturated FA and the highest levels of peroxidation without exceeding critical limits. The impact of cooking methods seemed mainly linked to the moisture loss increasing meat fat content and the culinary fat addition whose FA composition marked the meat. Cooking methods induced oxidation phenomena that could exceed the limit thresholds. In conclusion, short cooking time of rump steak was the best combination to meet nutritional expectations.

Dataset of lipids, antioxidative status and color attributes in cows meat from slaughter to storage: Impacts of diet supplementations and pre-slaughter stress.

This data article presents a dataset with 34 values of the fatty acids composition and of indicators of lipid oxidation determined in the Longissimus dorsi and Semitendinosus from 71 Normand cull-cows at slaughter, after muscle aging and after meat storage periods under different packaging conditions. Cows were subjected to 3 feeding diets and 2 slaughter protocols relative to pre-slaughter stress. The indicators of lipids, FA composition, antioxidative enzymes activities, antioxidative status and global lipid oxidation of the muscles, and meat at different time points and under different aging and storage conditions, may be used to increase our understanding of the evolution of oxidation and consequences on color development. The last research article published on part of these data [1] is available for some interpretive insights: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125668.

Hyperglycemia-induced seizures - Understanding the clinico- radiological association.

OBJECTIVES: To highlight the typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in hyperglycemia-induced seizures and compare the results with similar previous studies with a brief mention of pathophysiological mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included medical and imaging records of six consecutive patients with hyperglycemia-induced seizures. The data analysis included a clinical presentation and biochemical parameters at admission. The MRI sequences were evaluated for region involved, presence of subcortical T2 hypo-intensity, cortical hyper-intensity, and restricted diffusion. Similar previous studies from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) were analyzed and compared with our study. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were included from four studies in previous literature for comparison. In our study, on imaging, posterior cerebral region was predominantly involved, with parietal involvement in 83.3%, followed by occipital, frontal, and temporal involvement in 33.3% patients compared with occipital in 58.3%, parietal in 45.8%, and frontal and temporal in 16.6% of patients in previous literature. The subcortical T2 hypo-intensity was present in 83.3% of the patients, cortical hyper-intensity in all patients, and restricted diffusion in 66.6% of the patients in our study compared with subcortical T2 hypo-intensity in 95.8% of the patients, cortical hyper-intensity in 62.5%, and restricted diffusion in 58.3% of the patients in previous literature. CONCLUSION: Although many etiologies present with subcortical T2 hypointensity, cortical hyperintensity, restricted diffusion, and postcontrast enhancement on MRI, the clinical setting of seizures in a patient with uncontrolled hyperglycemia, hyperosmolar state, and absence of ketones should suggest hyperglycemia-induced seizures to avoid misdiagnosis, unnecessary invasive investigations, and initiate timely management. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Our study highlights the presence of posterior predominant subcortical T2, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), and susceptibility-weighted angiography (SWAN) hypointensity; cortical hyperintensity; and restricted diffusion in hyperglycemia-induced seizures. The presence of T2 and SWAN hypointensity could support the hypothesis of possible deposition of free radicals and iron in the subcortical white matter.

Plasma indicators of bovine health: Impacts of diet supplementations and pre-slaughter stress.

This data article reports the values of indicators of bovine health determined in the plasma of Normand cull-cows at different times of the about 100 days lasting finishing period and at slaughter. The data constitute a large dataset based on the quantification of metabolites and the evaluation of enzymes activities allowing the determination of antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress level, energy and lipid metabolisms, activity of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal axis and the hepatic status in cull-cows.

Quantification of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-protein adducts in the in vivo gastric digesta of mini-pigs using a GC-MS/MS method with accuracy profile validation.

Hydroxyalkenals are lipid oxidation end-products resulting from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). This study aimed at quantifying the production of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-protein adducts (HNE-P) via Michael addition from n-6 PUFA oxidation in the gastric digesta of mini-pigs after the consumption of meat-based meals with different plant antioxidant contents. Using the accuracy profile procedure, we validated an extraction protocol for the quantification of HNE-P by GC-MS/MS in gastric contents. The formation of HNE-P in the gastric compartment was observed for the first time, with concentrations ranging from less than 0.52 to 1.33 nmol HNE-P per 500 mg digesta. Nevertheless, most gastric HNE-P levels were below the limit of quantification of 0.52 nmol HNE-P per 500 mg digesta. In this animal study, the protective effect of plant antioxidant sources on HNE-P formation was not evidenced contrasting with the results using TBARS as markers.

Extruded linseed and rapeseed both influenced fatty acid composition of total lipids and their polar and neutral fractions in longissimus thoracis and semitendinosus muscles of finishing Normand cows.

The effects of extruded linseed and rapeseed on lipids and FA composition of total, polar and neutral lipids of longissimus thoracis (LT) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles were investigated in 21 Normand cull cows. Animals were assigned in a 100 d finishing period to straw (30%) and concentrate (70%) based (C) or the same diet supplemented with linseed (L) or with rapeseed (66%) plus linseed (33%) (RL). Beef polar and neutral lipids were purified by liquid chromatography and their FA analysed by GLC. Trans and cis 18:1, purified by HPLC from total FA methyl esters, were analysed by GLC-MS. L and LR diets did not increase beef lipid deposition, but had modified FA composition of both LT and ST muscles in favouring deposition of 18:3n-3 and 9cis,11tr 18:2 (CLA), mainly to the detriment of 18:1∆9 cis (neutral lipids) and 18:2n-6 (polar lipids). However, they did not favour deposition of LC n-3 PUFA in the two muscles, but had increased deposition of trans 18:1 significantly, especially of ∆13tr to ∆16tr isoforms to the detriment of ∆10tr 18:1 (L diet) and of ∆11tr 18:1 (RL diet).

Expression of enzymes and transcription factors involved in n-3 long chain PUFA biosynthesis in limousin bull tissues.

The current low consumption of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) led scientists to wonder about the possible enrichment of human food, including meats such as beef, with n-3 LCPUFA. However, their biosynthesis from dietary n-3 PUFA seems limited in mammalian tissues implying that a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for this down regulation is needed. This study aimed at identifying and comparing the limiting steps of n-3 LCPUFA synthesis in liver, intermuscular adipose tissue (IM-AT) and semitendinosus muscle (ST) from six Limousin bulls. Tissue FA composition was analysed by GLC and mRNA abundance of enzymes and transcription factors involved in n-3 LCPUFA synthesis was assessed by RT-qPCR. In liver, mRNA encoding proteins involved in n-3 LCPUFA synthesis were present in agreement with the significant high content of n-3 LCPUFA (8.4 mol% of total FA, 257 mg/100 g of fresh tissue) in this organ. In IM-AT, these mRNA were all present, but at a tenfold lower intensity than in liver in agreement with the low contents of n-3 LCPUFA in this tissue. In ST muscle, these mRNA were all present except elongase 5 mRNA which was only present as trace, the corresponding protein being undetectable, probably inducing a break of n-3 LCPUFA synthesis from 18:4n-3. In conclusion, Limousin bull ST muscle seemed unable to synthesize n-3 LCPUFA. However, the presence of 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:5n-3 (DPAn-3) in muscle raised the question of the origin of these n-3 LCPUFA.

Validation of the measurement of glucose appearance rate with [6,6-2H2]glucose in lactating dairy cows.

The aim of this study was to validate the measurement of glucose appearance rate using [6,6-2H2]glucose i.v. infusion in lactating dairy cows. Sample enrichments were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Linearity (enriched solutions) and specificity (enriched plasma) were good: for enrichments ranging between 1.6 and 6.3 mol% excess, the slopes were about 1 and the ordinates at the origin were not different from zero. For a plasma enriched at 3.74 mol% excess, repeatability and long term intralaboratory reproducibility coefficients of variation were 1.31 and 1.90%, respectively. The appearance rates were calculated by two models. The values provided by the steady-state model were not different from those provided by the non-steady-state Steele model. Both models can be used because the treatment effects were similarly discriminated regardless of the model. In our experiments analysing the nutritional effects on Ra in mid-lactating cows, the precision of the method (1.90%) was not the limiting factor to detect a significant difference in Ra compared to the statistical precision obtained with the experimental scheme (4 x 4 and 5 x 5 Latin square design). We conclude that in lactating dairy cows, the measurement of glucose fluxes with this method is relevant and minimally invasive for the animals.