Alanine and glutamate catabolism collaborate to ensure the success of Bacillus subtilis sporulation.

Sporulation as a typical bacterial differentiation process has been studied for decades. However, two crucial aspects of sporulation, (i) the energy sources supporting the process, and (ii) the maintenance of spore dormancy throughout sporulation, are scarcely explored. Here, we reported the crucial role of RocG-mediated glutamate catabolism in regulating mother cell lysis, a critical step for sporulation completion of Bacillus subtilis, likely by providing energy metabolite ATP. Notably, rocG overexpression resulted in an excessive ATP accumulation in sporulating cells, leading to adverse effects on future spore properties, e.g. increased germination efficiency, reduced DPA content, and lowered heat resistance. Additionally, we revealed that Ald-mediated alanine metabolism was highly related to the inhibition of premature germination and the maintenance of spore dormancy during sporulation, which might be achieved by decreasing the typical germinant L-alanine concentration in sporulating environment. Our data inferred that sporulation of B. subtilis was a highly orchestrated biological process requiring a delicate balance in diverse metabolic pathways, hence ensuring both the completion of sporulation and production of high-quality spores.

Ambient Moisture-Driven Self-Powered Iontophoresis Patch for Enhanced Transdermal Drug Delivery.

Iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery (TDD) devices are known to enhance the transdermal transport of drugs. However, conventional transdermal iontophoretic devices require external power sources, wired connections, or mechanical parts, which reduce the comfort level for patients during extended use. In this work, a self-powered, wearable transdermal iontophoretic patch (TIP) is proposed by harvesting ambient humidity for energy generation, enabling controlled TDD. This patch primarily uses moist-electric generators (MEGs) as its power source, thus obviating the need for complex power management modules and mechanical components. A single MEG unit can produce an open-circuit voltage of 0.80 V and a short-circuit current of 11.65 µA under the condition of 80% relative humidity. Amplification of the electrical output is feasible by connecting multiple generator units in series and parallel, facilitating the powering of certain commercial electronic devices. Subsequently, the MEG array is integrated with the TDD circuit to create the wearable TIP. After 20 min of application, the depth of drug penetration through the skin is observed to increase threefold. The effective promotion effect of TIP on the transdermal delivery of ionized drugs is corroborated by simulations and experiments. This wearable TIP offers a simple, noninvasive solution for TDD.

Fundamental properties and sustainable applications of the natural zeolite clinoptilolite.

This review explores a set of sustainable applications of clinoptilolite, a natural zeolite abundant around the world in different localities. Thanks to its physico-chemical properties this material is extremely versatile for several applications, ranging from environmental catalysis and CO2 removal to industrial and agricultural wastewater purification, aquaculture, animal feeding, and food industry but also medical applications and energy storage systems. Due to the presence of cations in its framework, it is possible to tune the material's features making it suitable for adsorbing specific compounds. Thus, this review aims to provide insight into developing new technologies based on the use of this material that is sustainable, not harmful for humans and animals, naturally abundant, and above all cost-effective. Furthermore, it is intended to promote the use of natural materials in various areas with a view to sustainability and to reduce as far as possible the use of chemicals or other materials whose synthesis process can have a polluting effect on the environment.

Selecting an optimal approach to reduce energy crises under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment.

The concept of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets is intellectually stimulating and holds significant utility in the representation and analysis of real-world problems. The development of similarity measures within the class of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets possesses significant importance across various academic disciplines, particularly in the fields of decision-making and pattern recognition. The utilization of similarity measures is of utmost importance in the decision-making process when implementing interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets. This is due to its inherent capability to quantitatively assess the level of resemblance or similarity between two interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets. In this article, the drawbacks of the existing similarity measures in the context of an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment are addressed, and a novel similarity measure is presented. Many fundamental properties of this new interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy similarity measure are also established, and the effectiveness of this similarity measure is illustrated by presenting a useful example. Moreover, a comparison is given to demonstrate the validity of the newly proposed similarity measure within the existing knowledge of similarity measures in the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment. In addition, an algorithm is designed to solve multi-criteria decision making problems by means of the proposed measure in the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy setting. Furthermore, this newly defined similarity measure is successfully applied to select an optimal renewable energy source to reduce energy crises. Finally, we conduct a comparative study to showcase the authenticity of the recently defined technique within the existing knowledge of similarity measures in the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment.

Proflavine (PFH+): as a photosensitizer (PS) biocatalyst for the visible-light-induced synthesis of pyrano [2,3-d] pyrimidine scaffolds.

A sustainable methodology for the synthesis of pyrano [2,3-d] pyrimidine scaffolds have been developed, employing the Knoevenagel-Michael tandem cyclocondensation reaction of barbituric acid/1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid, malononitrile, and aryl aldehydes. This study elucidates the advancement of a sustainable and environmentally conscious approach to synthesizing this category of chemical compounds. In the present investigation, a novel photosensitizer comprising proflavine (PFH+) bio-photocatalyst was employed in an aqueous medium, subjected to air atmosphere at room temperature, and stimulated by a blue-light-emitting diode (LED) to harness renewable energy. The fundamental objective of this initiative is to utilize a photosensitizer (PS) biocatalyst that has been recently developed, can be conveniently acquired, and is priced affordably. The proflavine (PFH+) photocatalyst, demonstrates the ability to initiate photoinduced-electron transfer (PET) through exposure to visible light. This property endows the photocatalyst with a practical and efficient method of achieving high effectiveness, energy efficiency, and environmentally friendly outcomes. The current research endeavor has the objective of examining the turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) pertaining to pyrano [2,3-d] pyrimidine scaffolds. Moreover, it has been validated that cyclization at the gram-scale is a feasible approach that can be employed in various industrial settings.

Halogenated dicyanobenzene-based photosensitizer (3DPAFIPN) as a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) used in gram-scale photosynthesis 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-one/thione derivatives via a consecutive visible-light-induced electron-transfer pathway.

Background: Organic dyes often have shorter lifetimes in the excited state, which is a major obstacle to the development of effective photoredox methods. The scientific community has shown a great deal of interest in a certain class of organic chromophores because of their unique characteristics and effectiveness. One characteristic of the molecules under research is thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), which is only observed in molecules with a tiny energy gap (often less than 0.2 eV) between their lowest two excited states, i.e., singlet excited state (S1) and triplet excited state (T1). The extended singlet excited states arising from TADF and the simplicity with which their redox potentials may be altered make the isophthalonitrile family of chromophores an attractive option for organic photocatalyst applications. Methods: The Biginelli reaction between ß-ketoesters, arylaldehydes, and urea/thiourea has been used to build a sustainable technique for the production of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-one/thione derivatives. In the present study, the development of a green radical synthesis approach for this class of compounds is addressed in depth. As a photocatalyst, a new halogenated dicyanobenzene-based photosensitizer was employed in this study. As a renewable energy source activated by a blue LED, it was dissolved in ethanol, at room temperature in air atmosphere. The primary objective of this research is to employ a novel donor-acceptor (D-A) based on halogenated cyanoarene that is affordable, easily available, and innovative. Findings: The 3DPAFIPN [2,4,6-tris(diphenylamino)-5-fluoroisophthalonitrile] photocatalyst, a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), induces single-electron transfer (SET) in response to visible light, offering a straightforward, eco-friendly, and highly efficient process. Additionally, we determined the 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-one/thione derivatives turnover frequency (TOF) and turnover number (TON). It has also been demonstrated that gram-scale cyclization is a workable method for industrial purposes.

Current status and issues with the dosimetric assay of iodine-125 seed sources at medical facilities in Japan: a questionnaire-based survey†.

In conducting dosimetric assays of seed sources containing iodine-125 (125I), several major guidelines require the medical physicist to verify the source strength before patient treatment. Japanese guidelines do not mandate dosimetric assays at medical facilities, but since 2017, three incidents have occurred in Japan wherein seeds with incorrect strengths were delivered to medical facilities. Therefore, this study aimed to survey the current situation and any barriers to conducting the dosimetric assay of iodine-125 seeds at medical facilities in Japan. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey from December 2020 to April 2021, to examine whether seed assay and verification of the number of seeds delivered were being performed. We found that only 9 facilities (16%) performed seed assay and 28 (52%) verified the number of seeds. None of the facilities used an assay method that ensured traceability. The reasons for not performing an assay were divided into two categories: lack of resources and legal issues. Lack of resources included lack of instruments, lack of knowledge of assay methods, shorthand, or all of the above, whereas legal issues included the inability to resterilize iodine-125 seeds distributed in Japan and/or purchase seeds dedicated to the assay. Dosimetric assays, including simple methods, are effective in detecting calibration date errors and non-radioactive seeds. The study findings suggest that familiarization of medical personnel with these assay methods and investigation of the associated costs of labor and equipment should be recommended, as these measures will lead to medical reimbursement for quality assurance.

Soil organic matter and nutrient availability affect the applicability of low-carbon energy source in Dehalococcoides-augmented soil.

Dehalococcoides is a functional microorganism that completely dechlorinates trichloroethene (TCE). Augmentation with pure Dehalococcoides is important for reducing environmental disturbances that accompany bioaugmentation. However, the applicability of Dehalococcoides-bioaugmentation to contaminated soils is unclear. In this study, seven low-carbon energy sources (methanol, formate, acetate, ethanol, lactate, citrate, and benzoate) were used as electron donors for Dehalococcides to evaluate its applicability in remediating TCE-contaminated soils. Soil microcosms supplemented with ethanol, formate, or lactate showed relatively high dechlorination activity within 111-180 days. The functional gene profiles predicted by PICRUSt2 from 16 S rRNA gene sequences were similar in the proportions of dehydrogenases, which initiate electron donor oxidation, in all soils and did not seem to reflect Dehalococcoides-bioaugmentation applicability. Soils with higher organic matter content (>3.2%; dry weight base) and protein concentration (>1.6 µg/mL) supported complete dechlorination. These results suggest that organic matter and nutrient availability mainly affect successful TCE dechlorination in Dehalococcoides-augmented soils. The study offers significant experimental support for comprehending the suitability of low-carbon energy sources in successful bioaugmentation, aiming to mitigate environmental disturbances associated with the process.

Electrical performance enhancement of a triboelectric nanogenerator based on epoxy resin/BaTiO3by Al nanopowder addition for low power electronic devices.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are crucial for applications such as smart sensors and bio-electronics. In the current work, we aimed for improved performance of TENGs with incorporation of BaTiO3powder, which is known for its strong ferroelectric properties, combining it with epoxy resin to improve the flexibility of our devices. We observed that our TENGs can operate for over 24 000 cycles with no degradation of function. Additionally, we improved the electrical performance of the TENGs by incorporating various aluminum concentrations that change the electronic properties in the form of mixed epoxy resin, BaTiO3, and Al nanopowders. To identify the optimum conditions for the best performance, we analyzed the electrical characteristics and material properties by employing scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray diffractometry characterization techniques. Our findings suggest that this innovative combination of materials and optimization techniques can significantly improve the performance of TENGs, making them ideal for practical applications in various fields, such as low-power electronics, environmental monitoring and healthcare. Moreover, these enhanced TENGs can serve as sustainable and dependable energy sources for various applications.

A prospective comparative study to evaluate safety and efficacy of pneumatic versus laser lithotripsy in mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

OBJECTIVE: The choice of lithotripter is an important part of planning in mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini perc) as the operating time is prolonged due to reduced sheath size and smaller working channel. Previous studies mostly reported the use of laser lithotripter for stone fragmentation while the literature on pneumatic lithotripter use in miniperc is scant. METHODS: In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety of the laser lithotripter (LL) vs pneumatic lithotripter (PL) in miniperc for small to medium-sized renal/upper ureteric stones (size: 1-2 cm). All consecutive patients who underwent miniperc from September 2020 to August 2022 were included in the study. Laser lithotripter was used in 81 patients (group LL), while pneumatic was used in 75 patients (group PL). The preoperative, operative, and postoperative findings were compared. RESULTS: Baseline patient characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, and co-morbid illness) and stone characteristics (size, stone number, laterality, presence of staghorn calculi, presence of hydronephrosis, Guy's stone scores) were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). The mean operative time was comparable (P=0.38) while the mean fragmentation time was significantly higher in the PL group (35.42±6.34 vs 28.96±2.82 minutes; P<0.01). 29.3% required forceps/basket for stone removal in PL group as compared to 7.4% in LL group (P=0.02). Mean VAS (Visual Analog Scale) score on the first post-operative day, stone clearance, drop in hemoglobin, average hospital stay, stone clearance at 3 months postoperative, and complications were comparable (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Lithotripsy with pneumatic lithotripter can be used as an equally effective and safe alternative to laser lithotripter in mini-perc for treatment of small-medium sized renal/upper ureteric calculi.

Comparison of Cassava Chips and Winged Bean Tubers with Various Starch Modifications on Chemical Composition, the Kinetics of Gas, Ruminal Degradation, and Ruminal Fermentation Characteristics Using an In Situ Nylon Bag and an In Vitro Gas Production Technique.

This research assessed the impact of cassava chips (CSC) and winged bean tubers (WBT) with various starch modification methods on the chemical composition, ruminal degradation, gas production, in vitro degradability, and ruminal fermentation of feed using an in situ and in vitro gas production technique. Experimental treatments were arranged for a 2 × 5 factorial, a completely randomized design with two sources of starch and five levels of modification treatments. Two sources of starch were CSC and WBT, while five modification treatments of starch were: no modification treatment, steam treatment, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment, calcium hydroxide (CaOH2) treatment, and lactic acid (LA) treatment. The starch modification methods with NaOH and CaOH2 increased the ash content (p <0.05), whereas the crude protein (CP) content was lower after treatment with NaOH (p < 0.05). Steam reduced the soluble fraction (a) and effective dry matter degradability of WBT in situ (p <0.05). In addition, the WBT steaming methods result in a lower degradation rate constant in situ (p <0.05). The degradation rate constants for the insoluble fraction (c) in the untreated CSC were higher than those of the other groups. Starch modification with LA reduced in vitro dry matter degradability at 12 and 24 h of incubation (p <0.05). The starch modification method of the raw material showed the lowest pH value at 4 h (p <0.05). The source of starch and starch modification methods did not influence the in vitro ammonia nitrogen concentrations, or in vitro volatile fatty acids. In conclusion, compared to the CSC group and untreated treatment, treating WBT with steam might be a more effective strategy for enhancing feed efficiency by decreasing or retarding ruminal starch degradability and maintaining ruminal pH.

Methyl jasmonate redirects the dynamics of carbohydrates and amino acids toward the lignans accumulation in Linum album cells.

Linum album accumulates lignans e.g., podophyllotoxin (PTOX) and 6-methoxy podophyllotoxin (6MPTOX). This study was aimed to figure out how different concentrations of MeJA (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µM) by affecting on free sugars and amino acids contents induce lignans accumulation in L. album cells. Results revealed that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content increased at 50µM, while it decreased at the high levels of MeJA (150 and 200 µM). Also, increasing trend of nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxidation levels peaked at 200 µM MeJA. An increased antioxidant enzymes activity was also observed in the treated cells. Moreover, an increase in rhamnose/xylose, glucose, and mannose was detected at 150 and 200 µM MeJA compared to the control. These compounds provide energy source and carbon skeleton for amino acids biosynthesis. Our results emphasized variations in amino acids levels in the presence of MeJA, where Phe level shifts along with synthesizing phenolics. Likewise, MeJA treatment switch on phenyl-ammonia lyase (PAL) and tyrosine-ammonia lyase (TAL) activities that regenerate phenolic compounds. Changes in phenolic acids (cinnamic, coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, and salicylic acid) and flavonoids (catechin, vitexin, myricetin, and kaempferol) were observed under MeJA treatment. Eventually, MeJA induced lignans production except for lariciresinol (LARI), so that the highest amounts of PTOX and 6MPTOX were analyzed at 50 µM, which were 4 and 5 time of control, respectively. Conclusively, it can be suggested that MeJA-induced oxidative status change redirects free sugars and amino acids toward the production of phenolic compounds especially lignans in L. album cells.

Pasta wastes, as substitute for corn, in the laying Japanese quails diet: Effects on production performance, egg quality and blood biochemistry.

BACKGROUND: Animal food shortage and finding efficient ways to produce poultry products are getting more and more important issues in the world. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to determine the effect of replacing corn with pasta wastes (0%, 50% and 100%) in the diet on production performance, some blood variables and the egg quality traits of laying quails. METHODS: A total of 240 laying quails were allocated into 3 experimental groups with 8 replicates for 8 weeks. Egg production percentage, egg mass, feed intake and also mortality rate and percentage of abnormal eggs, egg quality traits and blood variables were evaluated. RESULTS: None of the pasta wastes inclusion had significant effect on egg mass, abnormal egg percentage, mortality rate, yolk diameter, yolk weight, albumen height, yolk index, shell weight percentage, egg shape index and blood parameters (except for triglycerides). Replacing 100% corn with pasta by-product reduced feed conversion ratio and increased egg weight values. Replacing 100% corn by pasta wastes significantly increased the albumen weight, shell weight and also egg length and width and decreased the Haugh unit. Replacing 50% and 100% corn had a significant increase in yolk height, egg surface area and significantly decreased shell thickness and yolk colour. Overall, 100% replacement of corn by pasta by-product increased blood triglycerides compared to the 50% group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the result of current experiment, total replacement of corn with pasta wastes could increase the egg weight and also improve feed conversion ratio in the laying quail diets.

Detoxification and metabolism of glyphosate by a Pseudomonas sp. via biogenic manganese oxidation.

Biogenic manganese oxides (BMO) are widely distributed in groundwater and provides promise for adsorbing and oxidizing a wide range of micropollutants, however, the continuous biodegradation and bioavailability of micropollutants via cycle biogenic Mn(II) oxidation remains to be elucidated. In this study, glyphosate was degraded and to serve as the nutrient source by a Pseudomonas sp. QJX-1. The addition of glyphosate will not affect the Mn(II) oxidation function of the strain but will affect its Mn(II) oxidation process and effect. The glyphosate degradation products could further be used as the C, N and P sources for bacterium growth. Analysis of the RNA-seq data suggested that Mn(II) oxidation driven by oxidoreductases for glyphosate degradation. The long-term column experiments using biological Mn(II) cycling to realize continuous detoxification and metabolism of glyphosate, and thus revealed the synergism effects of biological and chemical conversion on toxic micropollutants and continuous metabolism in an aquatic ecosystem.

Serine metabolism contributes to cell survival by regulating extracellular pH and providing an energy source in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Changes in extracellular pH affect the homeostasis and survival of unicellular organisms. Supplementation of culture media with amino acids can extend the lifespan of budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, by alleviating the decrease in pH. However, the optimal amino acids to use to achieve this end, and the underlying mechanisms involved, remain unclear. Here, we describe the specific role of serine metabolism in the regulation of pH in a medium. The addition of serine to synthetic minimal medium suppressed acidification, and at higher doses increased the pH. CHA1, which encodes a catabolic serine hydratase that degrades serine into ammonium and pyruvate, is essential for serine-mediated alleviation of acidification. Moreover, serine metabolism supports extra growth after glucose depletion. Therefore, medium supplementation with serine can play a prominent role in the batch culture of budding yeast, controlling extracellular pH through catabolism into ammonium and acting as an energy source after glucose exhaustion.

Resonant vibrations of a non-ideal gyroscopic rotary system with nonlinear damping and nonlinear stiffness of the elastic support.

When motor performance characteristic is unknown, non-linear differential equations of motion of nonideal gyroscopic rigid rotary system with nonlinear cubic damping and nonlinear stiffness of the elastic support turn out to be numerically unsolvable.•In this case, the method uses the motor performance characteristic expression found from the frequency equation of forced stationary oscillations based on assumption that the angular acceleration is many times less than the square of the angular speed of rotation, replacing the stationary rotation angular speed with the shaft rotation angle derivative.•The method correctness is evidenced by a good consistency between the rotor motion equation numerical solution results and the analytical solution results, and by the nonlinear cubic damping of the shaft angular coordinate oscillograms obtained by direct simulation, as well as by comparison with the results of numerical simulation for a straight-line DC motor performance characteristic.•The method limitations are that it is used for the first approximation and weak nonlinear oscillations in the resonance region, where the shaft rotation speed is of the order of the oscillating system natural frequency.

R&D performance and relevant factors of renewable energy projects: separating innovation and economic perspectives.

Many countries, including South Korea, focus on securing renewable energy technologies to cope with climate change and foster new industries. This study analyzed R&D performance and relevant factors through tracking data on the Korean government's renewable energy R&D project, which ended in 2010-2014. The main findings provide several meaningful information. First, the overall performance of completed projects is relatively low, both innovation and economic perspectives. Second, renewable energy source, R&D organizer, and The R&D stage are relevant factors on R&D performance. The R&D stage significantly influences innovation performance. Lastly, R&D performance is under an imbalance between innovation and economic perspectives. This paper can provide useful information to policy and decision-makers to improve future R&D project performance. In addition, scholars also may refer to related researches. Ultimately, we expect to promote renewable energy R&D projects and help manage their performance.

Improving suitability of urban canals and canalized rivers for transportation, thermal energy extraction and recreation in two European delta cities.

Canals and canalized rivers form a major part of surface water systems in European delta cities and societal ambitions to use these waters increase. This is the first assessment of how suitability of these waters can improve for three important uses: transportation, thermal energy extraction (TEE) and recreation. We assess suitability with Suitability Indices (SIs) and identify which alterations in the water system are needed to improve SI scores in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Ghent, Belgium. The results show spatial variability in suitability scores. Current suitability for transportation is low (SI score = 1) to excellent (SI score = 4), for TEE fair (SI score = 2) to excellent (SI score = 4), and suitability for recreation is low (SI score = 1). Suitability could improve by enlarging specific waterway dimensions, increasing discharge and clarity, and by enhancing microbiological water quality. The same methodology can be applied to optimize designs for new water bodies and for more water uses.

Utilization of Mao (Antidesma thwaitesianum Muell. Arg.) Pomace Meal to Substitute Rice Bran on Feed Utilization and Rumen Fermentation in Tropical Beef Cattle.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing rice bran with mao pomace meal on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation in beef cattle. Four crossbred (50% Brahman × 50% Thai native) beef cattle with an initial body weight of 195 ± 13 kg and 16 months of age were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The dietary treatments included four levels of RB replacement with mao pomace meal at 0, 33, 67, and 100% in concentrate diets. Rice straw was used as a roughage source, fed ad libitum. Replacement of mao pomace meal with rice bran did not affect (p > 0.05) the intakes of concentrate, rice straw, and total dry matter intake. Ether extract intake decreased linearly when increasing the levels of mao pomace meal (p < 0.01). The experimental diets had no effect (p > 0.05) on the digestibility of fiber and crude protein, while dry matter, organic matter, and ether extract digestibility decreased linearly in the group of mao pomace meal replacing rice bran (p < 0.05). Increasing levels of mao pomace meal in concentrate diets did not alter rumen pH, ammonia−nitrogen, or total volatile fatty acid concentration (p > 0.05). The proportion of propionate increased linearly (p < 0.05), whereas acetate and the acetate to propionate ratio decreased linearly (p < 0.05) when replacing rice bran with mao pomace meal. Moreover, the proportion of propionate was greatest, while acetate was lowest when mao pomace meal was included at 100% in the concentrate diet. In conclusion, the replacement of rice bran with mao pomace meal in a diet could enhance the efficiency of rumen fermentation. Nonetheless, it reduced the digestion of nutrients in tropical beef cattle.