The effects of chicken hydrolyzed proteins in extruded diets on plasma and fecal metabolic profiles in adult dogs.

Research has shown various hydrolyzed proteins possessed beneficial physiological functions; however, the mechanism of how hydrolysates influence metabolism is unclear. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the effects of different sources of protein hydrolysates, being the main dietary protein source in extruded diets, on metabolism in healthy adult dogs. Three complete and balanced extruded canine diets were formulated: control chicken meal diet (CONd), chicken liver and heart hydrolysate diet (CLHd), mechanically separated chicken hydrolysate diet (CHd).

Corrigendum: Navigating the fungal battlefield: cysteine-rich antifungal proteins and peptides from Eurotiales.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2024.

The antifungal protein NFAP2 has low potential to trigger resistance development in .

Due to the increase in the number of drug-resistant strains, new antifungal compounds with limited potential for the development of resistance are urgently needed. NFAP2, an antifungal protein (AFP) secreted by () , is a promising candidate. We investigated the ability of to develop resistance to NFAP2 in a microevolution experiment compared with generic fluconazole (FLC).

Strontium isotopes reveal a globally unique assemblage of Early Miocene baleen whales.

The earliest Miocene (Aquitanian, 23-20 Ma) remains a critically under-sampled 'dark age' in cetacean evolution. This is especially true of baleen whales (mysticetes), Aquitanian specimens of which remain almost entirely unknown. Across the globe, the nature of the cetacean fossil record radically shifts at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary, with mysticetes and some archaic odontocete lineages suddenly disappearing despite the availability of cetacean-bearing rock units.

Development of a CFD-DEM Model for a 1 MW Chemical Looping Gasification Pilot Plant Using Biogenic Residues as Feedstock.

Chemical looping gasification (CLG) is a novel dual fluidized bed gasification process that enables the conversion of solid feedstocks to a nitrogen-free syngas through in situ air separation, avoiding a costly air separation unit. While there have been recent advances in experimental studies, modeling of CLG is almost exclusively restricted to lab-scale units or 1D models. In this study, a 3D CFD-DEM model of a 1 MW fuel reactor for the conversion of solid biomass was developed.

Navigating the fungal battlefield: cysteine-rich antifungal proteins and peptides from Eurotiales.

Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment and play a key role in the decomposition and recycling of nutrients. On the one hand, their special properties are a great asset for the agricultural and industrial sector, as they are used as source of nutrients, producers of enzymes, pigments, flavorings, and biocontrol agents, and in food processing, bio-remediation and plant growth promotion. On the other hand, they pose a serious challenge to our lives and the environment, as they are responsible for fungal infections in plants, animals and humans.

Correction: Early mortality in tuberculosis patients initially lost to follow up following diagnosis in provincial hospitals and primary health care facilities in Western Cape, South Africa.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The effects of hydrolyzed protein on macronutrient digestibility, fecal metabolites and microbiota, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers, and skin and coat quality in adult dogs.

Research on protein hydrolysates has observed various properties and functionalities on ingredients depending on the type of hydrolysate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hydrolyzed chicken protein that was incorporated into diets on digestibility, gut health, skin and coat health, oxidative stress, and intestinal inflammation markers in healthy adult dogs. Five complete and balanced diets were manufactured: (1) CONd: 25% chicken meal diet; (2) 5% CLHd: 5% chicken liver and heart hydrolysate plus 20% chicken meal diet; (3) CLHd: 25% chicken liver and heart hydrolysate diet; (4) 5% CHd: 5% chicken hydrolysate plus 20% chicken meal diet; (5) CHd: 25% chicken hydrolysate diet.

Reducing Initial Loss to Follow-up Among People With Bacteriologically Confirmed Tuberculosis: LINKEDin, a Quasi-experimental Study in South Africa.

Every person diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) needs to initiate treatment. The World Health Organization estimated that 61% of people who developed TB in 2021 were included in a TB treatment registration system. Initial loss to follow-up (ILTFU) is the loss of persons to care between diagnosis and treatment initiation/registration.

Giant baleen whales emerged from a cold southern cradle.

Baleen whales (mysticetes) include the largest animals on the Earth. How they achieved such gigantic sizes remains debated, with previous research focusing primarily on when mysticetes became large, rather than where. Here, we describe an edentulous baleen whale fossil (21.

Effects of hydrolyzed chicken liver on digestibility, fecal and urinary characteristics, and fecal metabolites of adult dogs.

High-protein low-carbohydrate diets have been widely used for adult maintenance dogs, as well as in specific weight loss diets and maintenance programs. However, increasing dietary protein may increase undigested protein in the hindgut, modifying intestinal fermentation and fecal metabolite concentrations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of protein source and concentration on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, metabolizable energy (ME), fecal and urinary characteristics, and fecal metabolites of dogs.

Structure and Properties of Metallosupramolecular Polymers with a Nitrogen-Based Bidentate Ligand.

The solid-state properties of supramolecular polymers that feature metal-ligand (ML) complexes are, in addition to the general nature of the monomer, significantly affected by the choice of ligand and metal salt. Indeed, the variation of these components can be used to alter the structural, thermal, mechanical, and viscoelastic properties over a wide ranges. Moreover, the dynamic nature of certain ML complexes can render the resulting metallosupramolecular polymers (MSPs) stimuli-responsive, enabling functions such as healing, reversible adhesion, and mechanotransduction.

Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra on contaminated liquid cultures for tuberculosis and rifampicin-resistance detection: a diagnostic accuracy evaluation.

Background: Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra) is a widely used rapid front-line tuberculosis and rifampicin-susceptibility testing. Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) 960 liquid culture is used as an adjunct but is vulnerable to contamination. We aimed to assess whether Ultra can be used on to-be-discarded contaminated cultures.

Standardized amino acid digestibility and protein quality in extruded canine diets containing hydrolyzed protein using a precision-fed rooster assay.

Protein hydrolysate has become a choice of alternative protein source in canine diets as it showed greater digestibility, lower allergenic responses, and various functional properties when compared with intact proteins. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of hydrolyzed protein inclusion on amino acid digestibility and protein quality in extruded canine diets when compared with a traditional protein source for adult dogs. Five treatment diets were formulated to have similar compositions except for the main protein source.

Effects of Diets Based on Hydrolyzed Chicken Liver and Different Protein Concentrations on the Formation and Deamination of Biogenic Amines and Total Antioxidant Capacity of Dogs.

Biogenic amines are synthesized through the bacterial decarboxylation of amino acids, commonly found in high levels in animal by-product meals due to spoilage. Furthermore, biogenic amines and other metabolites can be produced by the fermentation of proteins in the hindgut according to the protein source and concentration of crude protein (CP) in the diet. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate two protein sources (poultry by-product meal (PBPM) and hydrolyzed chicken liver powder (HCLP)) and three CP concentrations (24, 32, and 40%) and their effects on the consumption and fecal excretion of biogenic amines, plasma monoamine oxidase (MAO) and diamine oxidase (DAO) activities, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of healthy adult dogs after 30 days of feeding the experimental diets.

Cost-effectiveness of Low-complexity Screening Tests in Community-based Case-finding for Tuberculosis.

Introduction: In high-burden settings, low-complexity screening tests for tuberculosis (TB) could expand the reach of community-based case-finding efforts. The potential costs and cost-effectiveness of approaches incorporating these tests are poorly understood.

Methods: We developed a microsimulation model assessing 3 approaches to community-based case-finding in hypothetical populations (India-, South Africa-, The Philippines-, Uganda-, and Vietnam-like settings) with TB prevalence 4 times that of national estimates: (1) screening with a point-of-care C-reactive protein (CRP) test, (2) screening with a more sensitive "Hypothetical Screening test" (95% sensitive for Xpert Ultra-positive TB, 70% specificity; equipment/labor costs similar to Xpert Ultra, but using a $2 cartridge) followed by sputum Xpert Ultra if positive, or (3) testing all individuals with sputum Xpert Ultra.

Phosphatase-degradable nanoparticles: A game-changing approach for the delivery of antifungal proteins.

Hypothesis: Polyphosphate nanoparticles as phosphatase-degradable carriers for Penicillium chrysogenum antifungal protein (PAF) can enhance the antifungal activity of the protein against Candida albicans biofilm.

Experiments: PAF-polyphosphate (PP) nanoparticles (PAF-PP NPs) were obtained through ionic gelation. The resulting NPs were characterized in terms of their particle size, size distribution and zeta potential.

Small area analysis of HIV viral load suppression patterns in a high priority district (2012-2016), South Africa.

Globally, high viral load (VL) suppression rates are indicators of successful HIV treatment programs. Evaluation of these programmes at lower levels is likely to highlight variations that are masked at the provincial or national levels. This ecological study used routinely collected clinical and surveillance data on the HIV programme from 88 sampled Ekurhuleni wards.

Impact of interventions for tuberculosis prevention and care in South Africa - a systematic review of mathematical modelling studies.

Background: Substantial additional efforts are needed to prevent, find and successfully treat tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa (SA). In thepast decade, an increasing body of mathematical modelling research has investigated the population-level impact of TB prevention and careinterventions. To date, this evidence has not been assessed in the SA context.