Nocturnal One-Hour Lighting Stimulates Gonadal Development and Lowers Fat Deposition in Male Mule Ducks.

In this study, the effects of a nocturnal light pulse on body weight, organ mass, gonadal function, and plasma levels of metabolites were determined in male mule ducks. In total, 32 15-week-old mule ducks were randomly allocated to either Group C (control group) or L+ (lighting group). Group C was exposed to the natural photoperiod, whereas Group L+ was provided with a 1-h lighting over 20:00-21:00 every day, in addition to the natural photoperiod.

Protein interactome analysis of iduronic acid-containing glycosaminoglycans reveals a novel flagellar invasion factor MbhA.

Pathogens are able to exploit specific glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), especially iduronic acid (IdoA)-containing GAGs, to invade the host. By analyzing Escherichia coli proteome chip data, we identified the interactomes of three IdoA-containing GAGs: heparin, heparin sulfate (HS), and chondroitin sulfate B (CSB). Using non-IdoA-containing GAG, chondroitin sulfate C, as a negative control, 157 proteins specifically binding with IdoA-containing GAGs were revealed in the present study.

Using Percutaneous Endoscopic Outside-In Technique to Treat Selected Patients with Refractory Discogenic Low Back Pain.

Background: Controversy is not uncommon in the diagnosis of discogenic low back pain (DLBP) and in the identification of the location of the pain source for the symptomatic disc in patients with DLBP. Various techniques, from minimally invasive procedures to fusion surgery, are used to treat chronic DLBP, but the clinical outcomes are variable. Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy by transforaminal or interlaminar approach is considered to be an effective method to treat DLBP, but the evidence is limited; the lack of clear evidence may be associated with patient selection and surgical technique.

Nocturnal Light Pulses Lower Carbon Dioxide Production Rate without Affecting Feed Intake in Geese.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of nocturnal light pulses (NLPs) on the feed intake and metabolic rate in geese. Fourteen adult Chinese geese were penned individually, and randomly assigned to either the C (control) or NLP group. The C group was exposed to a 12L:12D photoperiod (12 h light and 12 h darkness per day), whereas the NLP group was exposed to a 12L:12D photoperiod inserted by 15-min lighting at 2-h intervals in the scotophase.

Effect of Two-step Time-restricted Feeding on the Fattening Traits in Geese.

The present study was conducted to determine whether the two-step time-restricted feeding improves the fattening traits of one-step time-restricted feeding in geese. Thirty-six 8-wk-old geese were allotted into one of three groups. Group R1 (the 1-step restricted feeding group) was allowed access to feed for 2 h in the morning from 8 wk to 14 wk of age.

Effects of age on plasma levels of calcium-regulating hormones and bone status in male SAMP8 mice.

This study was undertaken to examine whether the plasma levels of calcium-regulating hormones and bone status alter with age in male senescence accelerated mice (SAM), SAMP8. Age-matched senescence-resistant mice, SAMR1, were used as controls. The blood and femur samples were collected at 2.