Alginate oligosaccharide extends the service lifespan by improving the sperm metabolome and gut microbiota in an aging Duroc boars model.

Introduction: Alginate oligosaccharide (AOS), as a natural non-toxic plant extract, has been paid more attention in recent years due to its strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-cancer properties. However, the mechanism by which AOS affects animal reproductive performance is still unclear. Methods: The purpose of this study is to use multi-omics technology to analyze the effects of AOS in extending the service lifespan of aging boars. Results: The results showed that AOS can significantly improve the sperm motility (p < 0.05) and sperm validity rate (p < 0.001) of aging boars and significantly reduce the abnormal sperm rate (p < 0.01) by increasing the protein levels such as CatSper 8 and protein kinase A (PKA) for semen quality. At the same time, AOS significantly improved the testosterone content in the blood of boars (p < 0.01). AOS significantly improved fatty acids such as adrenic acid (p < 0.05) and antioxidants such as succinic acid (p < 0.05) in sperm metabolites, significantly reducing harmful substances such as dibutyl phthalate (p < 0.05), which has a negative effect on spermatogenesis. AOS can improve the composition of intestinal microbes, mainly increasing beneficial bacteria Enterobacter (p = 0.1262) and reducing harmful bacteria such as Streptococcus (p < 0.05), Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 (p < 0.05), and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, short-chain fatty acids in feces such as acetic acid (p < 0.05) and butyric acid (p < 0.05) were significantly increased. Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a close correlation among microorganisms, sperm metabolites, and sperm parameters. Discussion: Therefore, the data indicated that AOS improved the semen quality of older boars by improving the intestinal microbiota and sperm metabolome. AOS can be used as a feed additive to solve the problem of high elimination rate in large-scale boar studs.

Study on the thermal reduction effect of organic components in spent ternary lithium battery cathode active materials.

To improve the adhesion between cathode materials and current collector, and increase the electronic conductivity among electroactive substances, a certain proportion of conductive agents (acetylene black) and agglomerant (PVDF) are usually added in the battery manufacturing process. However, these conductive agents have negative effects on the recovery of cathode materials by pyrolysis or calcination. Recognizing this issue, a method based on the concept of "treating spent with spent" was developed in this paper. Organic matters contained in cathode active materials functioned as the reduction reagents, which can reduce the valence state of transition metals, resulting in the breakdown of the strong chemical bond and the stable layered structure of cathode materials. In this study, the thermal reduction effect of different organic components on cathode active materials was analyzed respectively to evaluate the reduction function of each component. XRD, XPS and ICP-MS were used to compare and analyze changes of phase, element compound state and ion leaching efficiencies of different cathode materials before and after thermal reduction under different amounts of reducing agents. The results show that both PVDF and acetylene black reduced the high-valent metals to low-valent oxides or elemental substances, demonstrating their thermal reduction capabilities. Comparisons of the XRD, XPS analysis and ion leaching results of thermal reduced products suggest that acetylene black has a stronger thermal reduction ability than that of PVDF. The results also show that the reduction of the high nickel cathode material (NCM811) is easier than that of the low nickel cathode material (NCM111).

Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii on sows' farrowing duration and reproductive performance, and weanling piglets' performance and IgG concentration.

We studied the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 (LSB) supplemented to lactating sows on reproductive traits and farrowing duration and to piglets from day 7 of life on post-weaning performance and IgG concentration. Ninety-six Landrace × Yorkshire sows started the trial 5 days before the expected farrowing date. Sows were distributed into 2 groups according to parity number and backfat thickness: control (CON: regular lactation diet) and LSB (CON + LSB at 2 × 109 colony forming units [CFU]/kg of feed). Seven days after birth, litters were randomly selected from each group and supplemented creep feed with or without LSB at 2 × 109 CFU/kg. At weaning, piglets from CON sows were shifted to a commercial farm and allocated to 14 pens in groups of 25 piglets/pen according to the creep feed supplemented during lactation. Piglets followed a 3-phase feeding program: creep, pre-starter and starter, with or without LSB at 2 × 109 CFU/kg LSB in creep and pre-starter, and 1 × 109 CFU/kg LSB in starter. The piglets were vaccinated against classical swine fever on days 41 and 72 of life. One day before each vaccination and at the end of the trial, blood samples were collected from 15 randomly selected piglets per treatment and assessed for total IgG. Supplemented sows with non-supplemented litters displayed the lowest backfat thickness loss during lactation (p < 0.05). The LSB supplementation shortened farrowing duration (p < 0.05) and increased feed intake (p < 0.05) during the first week of lactation. The LSB-fed piglets were heavier at the end of creep (p < 0.05), pre-starter (p < 0.05), and the trial (p < 0.05); grew faster during creep (p < 0.05), starter (p < 0.05), and overall (p < 0.05); and displayed an improved feed conversion ratio during creep (p < 0.05). Total IgG content was higher at days 40 (p < 0.05) and 71 (p < 0.05) in LSB-fed piglets. We conclude that supplementing sows with Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 from late gestation until weaning shortens farrowing duration, increases feed intake, and minimizes backfat losses during lactation. When supplemented to piglet diet, post-weaning performance is improved. This improvement observed could be linked to a better immune status, as suggested by the higher IgG.

Human papillomavirus 16 E6 oncoprotein interferences with insulin signaling pathway by binding to tuberin.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2 tumor suppressor gene. TSC1 and TSC2 products, Harmatin and Tuberin, form the functional complex to serve as the negative regulator for insulin-induced phosphorylation of S6 kinase and elF4E-binding protein 1. High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the necessary cause for cervical cancer. E6 oncoprotein encoded by HPV plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis by interference with the host intracellular protein functions. In this study, we show that HPV16 E6 interacts with tumor suppressor gene TSC2 product, Tuberin, and results in the phosphorylation of S6 kinase and S6 even in the absence of insulin. The overexpression of Tuberin overcomes the effect of E6 on S6 kinase phosphorylation. Binding with HPV16 E6 causes the proteasome-mediated degradation of Tuberin. A DILG motif and an ELVG motif located in the carboxyl-terminal of Tuberin are required for E6 binding. In addition, the Tuberin interaction region in E6 has been mapped in the amino-terminal portion of HPV16 E6, which is different from the binding domain with p53. These results provide a possible link between E6-induced oncogenesis and the insulin-stimulated cell proliferation signaling pathway.