Effects of Dietary Energy Profiles on Energy Metabolic Partition and Excreta in Songliao Black Pigs Under Different Ambient Temperature.

In order to further reveal the special characteristics of energy metabolism and the characteristics of energy requirements of fattening pigs grown in low-temperature environments, this study used a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial array of treatments, which harnessed two temperatures (low-temperature, LT group: 10 °C; normal-temperature, NT group: 20 °C), two feed energy levels (normal-energy, NE group: 14.02 MJ/kg metabolic energy; high-energy, HE group: 15.14 MJ/kg metabolic energy), and two feed energy sources (LF group: low fat, HF group: high fat).

Instruction alters the influence of allocentric landmarks in a reach task.

Allocentric landmarks have an implicit influence on aiming movements, but it is not clear how an explicit instruction (to aim relative to a landmark) influences reach accuracy and precision. Here, 12 participants performed a task with two instruction conditions (egocentric vs. allocentric) but with similar sensory and motor conditions.

Multiunit Frontal Eye Field Activity Codes the Visuomotor Transformation, But Not Gaze Prediction or Retrospective Target Memory, in a Delayed Saccade Task.

Single-unit (SU) activity-action potentials isolated from one neuron-has traditionally been employed to relate neuronal activity to behavior. However, recent investigations have shown that multiunit (MU) activity-ensemble neural activity recorded within the vicinity of one microelectrode-may also contain accurate estimations of task-related neural population dynamics. Here, using an established model-fitting approach, we compared the spatial codes of SU response fields with corresponding MU response fields recorded from the frontal eye fields (FEFs) in head-unrestrained monkeys () during a memory-guided saccade task.

Influence of gaze, vision, and memory on hand kinematics in a placement task.

People usually reach for objects to place them in some position and orientation, but the placement component of this sequence is often ignored. For example, reaches are influenced by gaze position, visual feedback, and memory delays, but their influence on object placement is unclear. Here, we tested these factors in a task where participants placed and oriented a trapezoidal block against two-dimensional (2-D) visual templates displayed on a frontally located computer screen.

Integration of landmark and saccade target signals in macaque frontal cortex visual responses.

Visual landmarks influence spatial cognition and behavior, but their influence on visual codes for action is poorly understood. Here, we test landmark influence on the visual response to saccade targets recorded from 312 frontal and 256 supplementary eye field neurons in rhesus macaques. Visual response fields are characterized by recording neural responses to various target-landmark combinations, and then we test against several candidate spatial models.

CircRNA PGAM1 Promotes the Migration and Invasion of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Cells by Activating the AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a lethal malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. Circular RNA, an endogenous noncoding RNA, is considered a new regulatory molecule in tumorigenesis and development. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of circPGAM1 in PAAD.

Isolation, characterization and whole genome analysis of the novel genus Lederbergvirus, phage vB_EcoP_E212 infecting enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88.

The newly discovered phage vB_EcoP_E212 (also known as E212) was characterized and its genome was annotated in this study, which was conducted in Jilin, China. Transmission electron microscopy indicates that phage E212 belongs to the class Caudoviricetes. This phage exclusively infects enterotoxigenic E.

PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its related molecules participate in PROK1 silence-induced anti-tumor effects on pancreatic cancer.

The PI3K/AKT/mTOR (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway can be initiated by PROK1 (prokineticin 1), but its effect and mechanism of action in pancreatic carcinoma (PC) are not fully understood. In this study, we elucidated the roles of PROK1 and its related molecules in PC . PANC-1 cells with PROK1 knockdown were injected into BALB/c nude mice.

Nutrient utilisation, metabolisable and net energy values of corn for broiler chickens during the starter and grower phases.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the energy values and nutrient utilisation of five corns at starer (14-16 days) and grower (28-30 days) phases. The 1-5 corn samples were obtained from Jinzhou, Liaoning; Gongzhuling, Jilin; Qingdao, Shandong; Songyuan, Jilin and Xinxiang, Henan, China. Each phase of the trial consisted of six treatments with six replicates each.

Fermentation of NaHCO-treated corn germ meal by Bacillus velezensis CL-4 promotes lignocellulose degradation and nutrient utilization.

Sodium bicarbonate pretreatment and solid-state fermentation (SSF) were used to maximize the nutritional value of corn germ meal (CGM) by inoculating it with Bacillus velezensis CL-4 (isolated from chicken cecal contents and capable of degrading lignocellulose). Based on genome sequencing, B. velezensis CL-4 has a 4,063,558 bp ring chromosome and 46.

Metabolizable and Net Energy Values of Expanded Cottonseed Meal for Laying Hens and Broiler Chickens.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the metabolizable energy (ME) and net energy (NE) values of expanded cottonseed meal (ECSM) for broilers aged 14-16 days (Experiment 1), broilers aged 28-30 days (Experiment 2), and 45-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens (Experiment 3). Reference diets based on corn-soybean meal were used to meet the nutritional needs of the birds. The test diets contained ECSM as basis, which was used to replace 18.

Net energy, energy utilization, and nitrogen and energy balance affected by dietary pea supplementation in broilers.

Pea starch consists predominantly of C-type of amylopectin chain which is more resistant to digestive enzymes than A-type of starch thus slowly digested in poultry. It was hypothesized that the presence of slowly digested pea starch in broiler diets will increase net energy and the efficiency of energy utilization in broilers. Two experiments were performed to investigate starch digestibility of pea at different incubation times (in vitro study) and the effect of dietary pea on heat increment and net energy in broilers using an open-circuit respiratory calorimetry system (in vivo study).

A Neural Network Model for Learning 3D Object Representations Through Haptic Exploration.

Humans initially learn about objects through the sense of touch, in a process called "haptic exploration." In this paper, we present a neural network model of this learning process. The model implements two key assumptions.

Nutritional quality improvement of soybean meal by Bacillus velezensis and Lactobacillus plantarum during two-stage solid- state fermentation.

Bacillus velezensis is widely used for agricultural biocontrol, due to its ability to enhance plant growth while suppressing the growth of microbial pathogens. However, there are few reports on its application in fermented feed. Here, a two-stage solid-state fermentation process using Bacillus velezensis followed by Lactobacillus plantarum was developed to degrade antinutritional factors (ANFs) and improve soybean meal (SBM) nutrition for animal feed.

Evaluation of origanum oil, hydrolysable tannins and tea saponin in mitigating ruminant methane: In vitro and in vivo methods.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of origanum oil (ORO), hydrolysable tannins (HYT) and tea saponin (TES) on methane (CH ) emission, rumen fermentation, productive performance and gas exchange in sheep by using in vitro and in vivo methods. The ORO, HYT and TES additive levels were normalized per kg dry matter (DM) in both in vitro and in vivo experiments: ORO-0, 10, 20 and 40 ml/kg; HYT-0, 15, 30 and 60 g/kg; and TES-0, 15, 30 and 60 g/kg, respectively. During in vitro incubation, 40 ml/kg ORO linearly decreased CH emission (p < 0.

Spatiotemporal Coding in the Macaque Supplementary Eye Fields: Landmark Influence in the Target-to-Gaze Transformation.

Eye-centered (egocentric) and landmark-centered (allocentric) visual signals influence spatial cognition, navigation, and goal-directed action, but the neural mechanisms that integrate these signals for motor control are poorly understood. A likely candidate for egocentric/allocentric integration in the gaze control system is the supplementary eye fields (SEF), a mediofrontal structure with high-level "executive" functions, spatially tuned visual/motor response fields, and reciprocal projections with the frontal eye fields (FEF). To test this hypothesis, we trained two head-unrestrained monkeys () to saccade toward a remembered visual target in the presence of a visual landmark that shifted during the delay, causing gaze end points to shift partially in the same direction.

Application of advanced molecular spectroscopy and modern evaluation techniques in canola molecular structure and nutrition property research.

This review aims to provide research update and progress on applications of advanced molecular spectroscopy to current research on canola related bio-processing technology, molecular structure, and nutrient utilization and availability. The studies focused on how inherent molecular structure changes affect nutritional quality of canola and its co-products from bio-processing. The molecular spectroscopic techniques (SR-IMS, DRIFT, ATR-FTIR) used for molecular structure and nutrition association were reviewed, including the synchrotron radiation with infrared microspectroscopy, the synchrotron radiation with soft x-ray microspectroscopy, the diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, the grading near infrared reflectance spectroscopy, and the Fourier transform infrared vibrational spectroscopy.

Integration of Eye-Centered and Landmark-Centered Codes in Frontal Eye Field Gaze Responses.

The visual system is thought to separate egocentric and allocentric representations, but behavioral experiments show that these codes are optimally integrated to influence goal-directed movements. To test if frontal cortex participates in this integration, we recorded primate frontal eye field activity during a cue-conflict memory delay saccade task. To dissociate egocentric and allocentric coordinates, we surreptitiously shifted a visual landmark during the delay period, causing saccades to deviate by 37% in the same direction.

The poly-ADP ribose polymerase-1/apoptosis-inducing factor pathway may help mediate the protective effect of electroacupuncture on early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a clinically common, acute, critical cerebrovascular disease associated with high mortality. Here, we investigated the effects of electroacupuncture on early brain injury after SAH. We successfully established a Sprague-Dawley rat model of the SAH model, and randomly divided the rats into four groups: sham-operated group, SAH group, positive control group, and electroacupuncture group.

Timing Determines Tuning: A Rapid Spatial Transformation in Superior Colliculus Neurons during Reactive Gaze Shifts.

Gaze saccades, rapid shifts of the eyes and head toward a goal, have provided fundamental insights into the neural control of movement. For example, it has been shown that the superior colliculus (SC) transforms a visual target (T) code to future gaze (G) location commands after a memory delay. However, this transformation has not been observed in "reactive" saccades made directly to a stimulus, so its contribution to normal gaze behavior is unclear.

Eye-head-hand coordination during visually guided reaches in head-unrestrained macaques.

Nonhuman primates have been used extensively to study eye-head coordination and eye-hand coordination, but the combination-eye-head-hand coordination-has not been studied. Our goal was to determine whether reaching influences eye-head coordination (and vice versa) in rhesus macaques. Eye, head, and hand motion were recorded in two animals with search coil and touch screen technology, respectively.

Effect of different forage-to-concentrate ratios on ruminal bacterial structure and real-time methane production in sheep.

Emission from ruminants has become one of the largest sources of anthropogenic methane emission in China. The structure of the rumen flora has a significant effect on methane production. To establish a more accurate prediction model for methane production, the rumen flora should be one of the most important parameters.

Using vibrational ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with chemometrics to reveal faba CHO molecular spectral profile and CHO nutritional features in ruminant systems.

The non-invasive spectroscopic technique is capable to detect the biomolecular structure spectral features that are associated with biological, nutritional and biodegradation functions. However, to date, no research has been reported on alteration of bioactive compounds/carbohydrate traits on physiochemical and structure spectral characteristics in faba pulse seeds. The objective of this study was to use non-invasive ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with uni- and multivariate analyses to reveal faba [VLF: VLF-1 = CDC snowdrop with low tannin and VLF-2 = FB9-4 with high tannin] CHO molecular spectral profile and CHO nutritional features in ruminant systems.

EG-VEGF silencing inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis in pancreatic carcinoma via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Objective: Pancreatic carcinoma (PC), one of the most prevalent and malignant tumors, has a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. EG-VEGF, a vascular endothelial growth factor from endocrine glands, also termed as PROK1, has a high positive expression rate in PC tissues and is involved in the pathogenesis of various tumors. However, the expression and potential role of EG-VEGF in PC has not been thoroughly explored.