Search for Spin-Dependent Gravitational Interactions at Earth Range.

Among the four fundamental forces, only gravity does not couple to particle spins according to the general theory of relativity. We test this principle by searching for an anomalous scalar coupling between the neutron spin and the Earth's gravity on the ground. We develop an atomic gas comagnetometer to measure the ratio of nuclear spin-precession frequencies between ^{129}Xe and ^{131}Xe, and search for a change of this ratio to the precision of 10^{-9} as the sensor is flipped in Earth's gravitational field. The null results of this search set an upper limit on the coupling energy between the neutron spin and the gravity on the ground at 5.3×10^{-22} eV (95% confidence level), resulting in a 17-fold improvement over the previous limit. The results can also be used to constrain several other anomalous interactions. In particular, the limit on the coupling strength of axion-mediated monopole-dipole interactions at the range of Earth's radius is improved by a factor of 17.

Search for Monopole-Dipole Interactions at the Submillimeter Range with a

Monopole-dipole interactions involving scalar couplings between a spin and a massive particle violate both P and T symmetry, and can be mediated by axions. We use a ^{129}Xe-^{131}Xe-Rb atomic cell comagnetometer to measure the ratio of precession frequencies between the two xenon isotopes, and search for changes of the ratio correlated with the distance between the atomic cell and a nonmagnetic bismuth germanate crystal. A modulated Rb polarization scheme is used to suppress systematic effects by 2 orders of magnitude. The null results of this search improve the upper limit on the coupling strength g_{s}^{N}g_{p}^{n} over the interaction range 0.11-0.55 mm, and by a maximum improvement factor of 30 at 0.24 mm. The corresponding propagator mass range of this new excluded region covers 0.36-1.80 meV.

Association between air pollution and atopic dermatitis in Guangzhou, China: modification by age and season.

BACKGROUND: The short-term effect of ambient air pollution on atopic dermatitis (AD), along with its effect modifiers, has not been fully addressed. OBJECTIVES: To examine the short-term associations between air pollution and AD, and to identify effect modifications by age and season. METHODS: We used the generalized additive model to evaluate the short-term effect of ambient air pollution on daily hospital visits for AD, adjusting for potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify potential effect modifications by season and age (< 18 years and ≥ 18 years). RESULTS: A total of 29 972 hospital visits for AD were recorded in Guangzhou, China, from 19 January 2013 to 31 December 2017. Among them, 72·8% were visits by children and 51·4% occurred in the cool season. Acute and delayed effects on AD hospital visits were significant for all air pollutants. Stronger effects were seen in the cool season (approximately 1·7-3·0 times higher than effects in the warm season). Stronger effects were also observed in children (approximately 1·3-1·8 times higher than effects in adults). Sensitivity analyses indicated the results were robust. CONCLUSIONS: Air pollution might be an important trigger for AD in subtropical Guangzhou, China. Children are more vulnerable than adults, and the effects are stronger in the cool season.

Effect of oviposition by Bactrocera dorsalis on the antioxidant activity of orange juice / Efeito da oviposição de Bactrocera dorsalis na atividade antioxidante do suco de laranja

Abstract Among fruits and fruit products, oranges and orange juice are the most widely consumed worldwide. However, the effects of pest infestation of oranges on the quality of orange juice are not yet known. To evaluate the effect of the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis on the antioxidant activity of orange juice, we measured changes in the vitamin C (Vc) concentration, total phenol content, and antioxidant activity of orange juice after the introduction of fruit fly eggs. Ten days after the eggs were introduced (larvae removed), the concentration of Vc in orange juice was 18.65 µg/mL, which was 9.16 µg/mL lower than that measured in healthy orange juice. In addition, the total phenol content decreased by 46.519 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE)/g to 9.748 mg GAE/g. Furthermore, the free-radical scavenging activity decreased from 22.297% to 5.393%. Correlation analysis indicated significant correlations between Vc concentration, total phenol content, and antioxidant activity of orange juice after B. dorsalis infestation. The decrease in Vc concentration, total phenol content and free-radical scavenging activity indicated that B. dorsalis changed the quality of orange juice by affecting the antioxidant activity of the juice after the oranges were infested.

Resumo Entre frutas e produtos de frutas, as laranjas e suco de laranja são os mais consumidos em todo o mundo. No entanto, os efeitos da infestação de laranjas sobre a qualidade do suco de laranja ainda não são conhecidos. Para avaliar o efeito da mosca-das-frutas oriental, Bactrocera dorsalis, sobre a atividade antioxidante do suco de laranja, foram medidas as mudanças na concentração de vitamina C (Vc), no teor de fenol total e na atividade antioxidante do suco de laranja após a introdução de ovos da mosca-das-frutas oriental. Dez dias após a introdução dos ovos (larvas removidas), a concentração de Vc no suco de laranja foi de 18,65 µg/mL, que foi 9,16 µg/mL menor do que a medida em suco de laranja saudável. Além disso, o teor total de fenol diminuiu de 46,519 mg em equivalente de ácido gípico (GAE)/g para 9,748 mg de GAE/g. Ademais, a atividade de eliminação de radicais livres diminuiu de 22,297% para 5,393%. A análise de correlação indicou correlações significativas dentre a concentração de Vc, o conteúdo total de fenol e a atividade antioxidante do suco de laranja após a infestação por B. dorsalis. A diminuição na concentração de Vc, o conteúdo total de fenol e a atividade sequestradora de radicais livres indicaram que B. dorsalis alterou a qualidade do suco de laranja, afetando a atividade antioxidante do suco após a infestação das laranjas.

Effect of oviposition by Bactrocera dorsalis on the antioxidant activity of orange juice.

Among fruits and fruit products, oranges and orange juice are the most widely consumed worldwide. However, the effects of pest infestation of oranges on the quality of orange juice are not yet known. To evaluate the effect of the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis on the antioxidant activity of orange juice, we measured changes in the vitamin C (Vc) concentration, total phenol content, and antioxidant activity of orange juice after the introduction of fruit fly eggs. Ten days after the eggs were introduced (larvae removed), the concentration of Vc in orange juice was 18.65 µg/mL, which was 9.16 µg/mL lower than that measured in healthy orange juice. In addition, the total phenol content decreased by 46.519 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE)/g to 9.748 mg GAE/g. Furthermore, the free-radical scavenging activity decreased from 22.297% to 5.393%. Correlation analysis indicated significant correlations between Vc concentration, total phenol content, and antioxidant activity of orange juice after B. dorsalis infestation. The decrease in Vc concentration, total phenol content and free-radical scavenging activity indicated that B. dorsalis changed the quality of orange juice by affecting the antioxidant activity of the juice after the oranges were infested.

Effect of oviposition by Bactrocera dorsalis on the antioxidant activity of orange juice

Abstract Among fruits and fruit products, oranges and orange juice are the most widely consumed worldwide. However, the effects of pest infestation of oranges on the quality of orange juice are not yet known. To evaluate the effect of the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis on the antioxidant activity of orange juice, we measured changes in the vitamin C (Vc) concentration, total phenol content, and antioxidant activity of orange juice after the introduction of fruit fly eggs. Ten days after the eggs were introduced (larvae removed), the concentration of Vc in orange juice was 18.65 µg/mL, which was 9.16 µg/mL lower than that measured in healthy orange juice. In addition, the total phenol content decreased by 46.519 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE)/g to 9.748 mg GAE/g. Furthermore, the free-radical scavenging activity decreased from 22.297% to 5.393%. Correlation analysis indicated significant correlations between Vc concentration, total phenol content, and antioxidant activity of orange juice after B. dorsalis infestation. The decrease in Vc concentration, total phenol content and free-radical scavenging activity indicated that B. dorsalis changed the quality of orange juice by affecting the antioxidant activity of the juice after the oranges were infested.

Resumo Entre frutas e produtos de frutas, as laranjas e suco de laranja são os mais consumidos em todo o mundo. No entanto, os efeitos da infestação de laranjas sobre a qualidade do suco de laranja ainda não são conhecidos. Para avaliar o efeito da mosca-das-frutas oriental, Bactrocera dorsalis, sobre a atividade antioxidante do suco de laranja, foram medidas as mudanças na concentração de vitamina C (Vc), no teor de fenol total e na atividade antioxidante do suco de laranja após a introdução de ovos da mosca-das-frutas oriental. Dez dias após a introdução dos ovos (larvas removidas), a concentração de Vc no suco de laranja foi de 18,65 µg/mL, que foi 9,16 µg/mL menor do que a medida em suco de laranja saudável. Além disso, o teor total de fenol diminuiu de 46,519 mg em equivalente de ácido gípico (GAE)/g para 9,748 mg de GAE/g. Ademais, a atividade de eliminação de radicais livres diminuiu de 22,297% para 5,393%. A análise de correlação indicou correlações significativas dentre a concentração de Vc, o conteúdo total de fenol e a atividade antioxidante do suco de laranja após a infestação por B. dorsalis. A diminuição na concentração de Vc, o conteúdo total de fenol e a atividade sequestradora de radicais livres indicaram que B. dorsalis alterou a qualidade do suco de laranja, afetando a atividade antioxidante do suco após a infestação das laranjas.

Influence of Palm Kernel Meal Inclusion and Exogenous Enzyme Supplementation on Growth Performance, Energy Utilization, and Nutrient Digestibility in Young Broilers.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of palm kernel meal (PKM) inclusion and exogenous enzyme supplementation on growth performance, nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn), coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) and total tract retention of nutrients in young broilers fed corn-based diets. Four inclusion levels of PKM (no PKM [PKM0], 8% [PKM8], 16% [PKM16], and 24% [PKM24]) and two enzyme additions were evaluated in a 4×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. A total of 384, one-d-old male broilers (Ross 308) were individually weighed and allocated to 48 cages (eight broilers/cage), and cages were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments. Results indicated that the inclusion of 8% and 16% PKM increased (p<0.05) the weight gain compared to the PKM0 diet. Birds fed the PKM8 diets had the highest (p<0.05) feed intake. Weight gain and feed intake were severely reduced (p<0.05) by feeding the PKM24 diet. Enzyme supplementation increased weight gain (p<0.05), independent of PKM inclusion level. In PKM0 and PKM8 diets, enzyme addition significantly (p<0.05) lowered feed conversion ratio (FCR); whereas enzyme addition had no effect on FCR of birds fed PKM16 and PKM24 diets. In PKM0 and PKM16 diets, enzyme addition significantly (p<0.05) increased CAID of nitrogen and energy but had no effect in the PKM8 and PKM24 diets. Inclusion of PKM into the basal diet, irrespective of inclusion level, enhanced (p<0.05) starch and fat digestibility. Inclusion of PKM at 16% and 24% resulted in similar CAID of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) but higher (p<0.05) than that of the PKM0 and PKM8 diets. Enzyme addition, regardless of the level of PKM inclusion, significantly (p<0.05) increased CAID of NDF. There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in AMEn with PKM inclusion of 24%. The present data suggest that inclusion of PKM in broiler diets could be optimized if PKM-containing diets are formulated based on digestible amino acid contents and supplemented with exogenous enzymes. If amino acid digestibility and AME of PKM considered in the formulation, it can be included in broiler diets up to 16% with no deleterious effects on growth performance.

The net energy values of corn, dried distillers grains with solubles and wheat bran for laying hens using indirect calorimetry method.

The present study was conducted to estimate the NE values of corn, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and wheat bran (WB) for laying hens based on an indirect calorimetry method and nitrogen balance measurements. A total of 576 twenty-eight-wk-old Dwarf Pink-shell laying hens were randomly assigned to four groups fed a basal diet (BD) or a combination of BD with 50% corn or 20% DDGS or 20% WB, with four replicates each. After a 7-d adaptation period, each replicate with 36 hens were kept in one of the two respiration chambers to measure the heat production (HP) for 6 days during the feeding period and subsequent 3-d fasting. The equilibrium fasting HP (FHP) provided an estimate of NE requirements for maintenance (NEm). The NE values of test feedstuffs was estimated using the difference method. Results showed that the heat increment that contributed 35.34 to 37.85% of ME intake was not influenced by experimental diets (p>0.05) when expressed as Mcal/kg of DM feed intake. Lighting increased the HP in hens in an fed-state. The FHP decreased over time (p<0.05) with the lowest value determined on the third day of starvation. No significant difference between treatments was found on FHP of d 3 (p>0.05). The estimated AME, AMEn, and NE values were 3.46, 3.44 and 2.25 Mcal/kg DM for corn, 3.11, 2.79, and 1.80 Mcal/kg DM for DDGS, 2.14, 2.10, and 1.14 Mcal/kg DM for WB, respectively. The net availability of AME of corn tended to be numerically higher than DDGS and WB (p = 0.096). In conclusion, compared with corn, the energy values of DDGS and WB were overestimated when expressed on an AME basis.

Changes of haematic parameters, redox status and mitochondrial complex activity in the heart and liver of broilers fed with different density diets under low ambient temperature.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary nutrient density on haematic parameters, oxidative status and mitochondrial complex activity in the heart and liver of broilers under low ambient temperature. Eight-day-old male ROSS-308 chickens were randomly divided into two treatments fed with normal (control) and high metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein density (H) diets. A high nutrient density diet increased body weight gain and reduced the feed conversation ratio during the first 3 weeks. Increased ascites-related mortality (weeks 4 to 6), right ventricle/total ventricle (week 6), blood haemoglobin (weeks 2 and 4) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (week 2) were observed in treatment H. Levels of malonaldehyde and protein carbonylation were increased at week 4, and activities of glutathione peroxidase at week 4 and CuZn superoxide dismutase and catalase at week 6 were decreased in the heart; only malonaldehyde (week 6) was increased in the liver in treatment H. Relative mRNA expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (heart) was increased and heme oxygenase-1 (heart and liver) was decreased at week 4 in broilers fed with high ME and protein diet. Activities of mitochondrial complex III and IV (week 6) in the heart, and complex I (week 6) and complex III and IV (week 4) in the liver were decreased in treatment H. In conclusion, high levels of dietary ME and protein resulted in oxidative stress and high incidence of ascites in broilers under low ambient temperature. Heart dysfunction was primarily attributed to ascites development, in which oxidative injury and inhibition of mitochondrial complex activity were involved.

Effects of Dietary L-carnitine Supplementation on Growth Performance, Organ Weight, Biochemical Parameters and Ascites Susceptibility in Broilers Reared Under Low-temperature Environment.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of L-carnitine on growth performance, organ weight, biochemical parameters of blood, heart and liver, and ascites susceptibility of broilers at different ages reared under a low-temperature environment. A total of 420 1-d-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments with fifteen replicates of fourteen broilers each. Treatment diets consisted of L-carnitine supplementation at levels of 0 and 100 mg/kg. At 11-d of age, low temperature stress was used to increase ascites susceptibility. Blood, heart and liver samples were collected at different ages for analysis of boichemical parameters. The results showed that, there was no significant difference in growth performance with L-carnitine supplementation, but the mortality due to ascites was significantly decreased. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced heart index (HI) and ascites heart index (AHI) on d 21, lung index (LUI) on d 35 and liver index (LI) on d 42. The broilers fed diets containing L-carnitine had significantly lower red blood cell counts (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) concentration and hematocrit (HCT) on d 42. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content of heart tissue on d 21 and 35, and significantly increased total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of the heart on d 21 and 42. L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced serum triglyceride (TG) content on d 28 and 35 and serum glucose (GLU) on d 35 and 42, and significantly increased serum total protein (TP) and globulin (GLO) content on d 42. L-carnitine supplementation significantly enhanced liver succinodehydrogenase (SDH), malic dehydrogenase (MDH) and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity on d 28, and tended to reduce the lactic acid (LD) level of liver on d 35 (p = 0.06). L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced serum uric acid (UA) content on d 28, 35 and 42. Based on the current results, it can be concluded that dietary L-carnitine supplementation reduced organ index, red blood cell counts and hematocrit, enhanced antioxidative capacity of the heart, enhanced liver enzymes activity involved in tricarboxylic acid cycle, and reduced serum glucose and triglyceride. Therefore, it is suggested that L-carnitine can potentially reduce susceptibility and mortality due to ascites.

Earlier Metabolizable Energy Intake Level Influences Heat Production during a Following 3-Day Fast in Laying Hens.

The present study was conducted to estimate energy requirements for maintenance in laying hens by using indirect calorimetry and energy balance. A total of 576 28-wk-old Nongda-3 laying hens with dwarf gene were randomly allocated into four ME intake levels (86.57, 124.45, 166.63 and 197.20 kcal/kg body weight (BW)(0.75) per d) with four replicates each. After a 4 d adaptation period, 36 hens from one replicate were maintained in one of the two respiration chambers to measure the heat production (HP) for 3 d during the feeding period and subsequent 3 d fast. Metabolizable energy (ME) intake was partitioned between heat increment (HI), HP associated with activity, fasting HP (FHP) and retained energy (RE). The equilibrium FHP may provide an estimate of NE requirements for maintenance (NEm). Results showed that HP, HI and RE in the fed state increased with ME intake level (p<0.05). Based on the regression of HP on ME intake, the estimated ME requirements for maintenance (MEm) was 113.09 kcal/kg BW(0.75) per d when ME intake equals HP. The FHP was decreased day by day with the lowest value on the third day of starvation. Except for lowest ME intake level, the FHP increased with ME intake level on the first day of starvation (p<0.05). The FHP at the two higher ME intake levels were greater than that at the two lower ME intake levels (p<0.05) but no difference was found between the two lower ME intake levels. Linear regression of HP from the fed state to zero ME intake yielded a value of 71.02 kcal/kg BW(0·75) per d, which is higher than the extrapolated FHP at zero ME intake (60.78, 65.23 and 62.14 kcal/kg BW(0.75) per d for the first, second and third day of fasting, respectively). Fasting time, lighting schedules, calculation methods and duration of adaptation of hens to changes in ME intake level should be properly established when using indirect calorimetry technique to estimate dietary NE content, MEm and NEm for laying hens.

Effect of thyroxine on munc-18 and syntaxin-1 expression in dorsal hippocampus of adult-onset hypothyroid rats.

Adult-onset hypothyroidism induces a variety of impairments on hippocampus-dependent neurocognitive functioningin which many synaptic proteins in hippocampus neurons are involved. Here, we observed the effect of adult-onset hypothyroidism on the expression of syntaxin-1 and munc-18 in the dorsal hippocampus and whether the altered proteins could be restored by levothyroxine (T4) treatment. All rats were separated into 4 groups randomly: hypothyroid group, 5 µg T4/100 g body weight (BW) treated group, 20 µg T4/100g BW treated group and control group. The radioimmunoassay kits were applied to assay the levels of serum T3 and T4, and the levels of syntaxin-1 and munc-18 in hippocampus were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Both analysis corroborated that syntaxin-1 in the hypothyroid group was significantly higher. Munc-18 was lower in four layers of CA3 and dentate gyrus by immunohistochemistry. After two weeks of treatment with 5 µg T4/100g BW for hypothyroidism, syntaxin-1 levels were completely restored, whereas the recovery of munc-18 only located in two of the four impaired layers. Twenty µg T4/100g BW treatment normalized munc-18 levels. These data suggested that adult-onset hypothyroidism induced increment of syntaxin-1 and decrement of munc-18 in the dorsal hippocampus, which could be restored by T4 treatment. Larger dosage of T4 caused more effective restorations.

Surface-displayed VP28 on Bacillus subtilis spores induce protection against white spot syndrome virus in crayfish by oral administration.

AIM: Surface-displayed heterologous antigens on Bacillus subtilis spores can induce the vertebrate animals tested to generate local and systematic immune response through oral immunization. Here, the protection potential of the recombinant spores displaying the VP28 protein of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was investigated in the invertebrate crayfish (Cambarus clarkii). METHODS AND RESULTS: The VP28 protein was successfully displayed on the surfaces of B. subtilis spores using CotB or CotC as a fusion partner. Crayfish were administrated orally by feeding the feed pellets coated with B. subtilis spores for 7 days and immediately followed by WSSV challenge. Oral administration of either spores expressing CotB-VP28 or CotC-VP28 resulted in significantly higher relative survival rates of 37.9 and 44.8% compared with the crayfish orally administrated with the spores nonexpressing VP28 (10.3% relative survival rate). When challenges were separately conducted at 7 and 21 days after oral administration, the relative survival rates increased to 46.4 and 50% at 7 days post-oral administration, but decreased to 30 and 33.3% at 21 days after oral administration. CONCLUSION: These evidences indicate that the surface-displayed VP28 on B. subtilis spore could induce protection of crayfish against WSSV via oral administration. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report to use the spore surface display system to deliver orally a heterologous antigen in an aquatic invertebrate animal, crayfish. The results presented here suggest that the spore-displayed VP28 might be suitable for an oral booster vaccine on prevention of WSSV infection in shrimp farming.