Maternal undernutrition alters the skeletal muscle development and methylation of myogenic factors in goat offspring

Zhou Xiaoling,Yan Qiongxian,Liu Liling,Chen Genyuan,Tang Shaoxun,He Zhixiong,Tan Zhiliang 아세아·태평양축산학회 2022 Animal Bioscience Vol.35 No.6

Objective: The effects of maternal undernutrition during midgestation on muscle fiber histology, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression, methylation modification of myogenic factors, and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the skeletal muscles of prenatal and postnatal goats were examined. Methods: Twenty-four pregnant goats were assigned to a control (100% of the nutrients requirement, n = 12) or a restricted group (60% of the nutrients requirement, n = 12) between 45 and 100 days of gestation. Descendants were harvested at day 100 of gestation and at day 90 after birth to collect the femoris muscle tissue. Results: Maternal undernutrition increased (p<0.05) the fiber area of the vastus muscle in the fetuses and enhanced (p<0.01) the proportions of MyHCI and MyHCIIA fibers in offspring, while the proportion of MyHCIIX fibers was decreased (p<0.01). DNA methylation at the +530 cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) site of the myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) promoter in restricted fetuses was increased (p<0.05), but the methylation of the MYF5 gene at the +274,280 CpG site and of the myogenic differentiation (MYOD) gene at the +252 CpG site in restricted kids was reduced (p<0.05). mTOR protein signals were downregulated (p<0.05) in the restricted offspring. Conclusion: Maternal undernutrition altered the muscle fiber type in offspring, but its relationship with methylation in the promoter regions of myogenic genes needs to be elucidated. Objective: The effects of maternal undernutrition during midgestation on muscle fiber histology, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression, methylation modification of myogenic factors, and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the skeletal muscles of prenatal and postnatal goats were examined.Methods: Twenty-four pregnant goats were assigned to a control (100% of the nutrients requirement, n = 12) or a restricted group (60% of the nutrients requirement, n = 12) between 45 and 100 days of gestation. Descendants were harvested at day 100 of gestation and at day 90 after birth to collect the femoris muscle tissue.Results: Maternal undernutrition increased (p<0.05) the fiber area of the vastus muscle in the fetuses and enhanced (p<0.01) the proportions of MyHCI and MyHCIIA fibers in offspring, while the proportion of MyHCIIX fibers was decreased (p<0.01). DNA methylation at the +530 cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) site of the myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) promoter in restricted fetuses was increased (p<0.05), but the methylation of the MYF5 gene at the +274,280 CpG site and of the myogenic differentiation (MYOD) gene at the +252 CpG site in restricted kids was reduced (p<0.05). mTOR protein signals were downregulated (p<0.05) in the restricted offspring.Conclusion: Maternal undernutrition altered the muscle fiber type in offspring, but its relationship with methylation in the promoter regions of myogenic genes needs to be elucidated.

Effect of plant secondary metabolites on common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Qi Su,Zhixiong ZHOU,Jianmin ZHANG,Caihua SHI,Guohui ZHANG,Zhenyu JIN,Wenkai WANG,Chuanren LI 한국곤충학회 2018 Entomological Research Vol.48 No.1

The effect of various flavonoids, lectins and phenyl β‐D‐glucoside on larval survival, weights and the activities of digestive (total serine protease and trypsin) and detoxifying (esterase and glutathione‐S‐transferase) enzymes of Spodoptera litura larvae at 7 days after treatment was studied through diet incorporation assay. Flavonoids (rutin, chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, caffeic acid, naringenin, quercitin, kaempferol, myricetin, catechin, and ferulic acid) were incorporated in artificial diet at 100, 500 and 1000 ppm, lectins: groundnut leaf lectin (GLL), concavalin A (ConA) and phenyl β‐D‐glucoside at 1, 2 and 5 μg/mL. Flavonoids such as rutin, quercitin and kaempferol at 1000 ppm were more toxic to S. litura larvae than quinic acid, caffeic acid, naringenin, myricetin, catechin, and ferulic acid. Larval growth and development were significantly reduced in S. litura larvae fed on a diet with GLL and ConA at 5 μg/mL compared to the larvae fed at 2 and 1 μg/mL concentrations. The larvae fed on flavonoid‐treated diets showed significant reduction in serine protease, trypsin and esterase activities. The flavonoids such as rutin, chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, naringenin, quercitin, kaempferol and myricetin, and lectins, GLL and ConA can be utilized in insect control programs.

Development of a High-Speed and Precision Micro- Spindle for Micro-Cutting

Wei Liu,Zhixiong Zhou,Xiangming Huang,Zhi-Jian He,Yong Du 한국정밀공학회 2014 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

Mechanical micromachining using micro-machine tools is very competitive in manufacturing geometrically complex 3D micro-partsin various engineering materials with advantages of small space, energy-efficient, low equipment production and operation costs. Askey components of micro-machine tools, micro-spindles directly determine the performance of micro-machine tools and theapplication and development of mechanical micromachining technology. This study proposes a novel design concept of the separatelyspindle and tool and one-piece tool/rotor structure for micro-spindles, whose micro-tool can maintain good rotational accuracy athigh rotational speeds. In the principle prototype micro-spindle, an air driven turbine was used as power spindle. The design andoptimization of the micro-spindle were conducted. The fabrication and evaluation of the prototype micro-spindle were presented. Theresults of the principle prototype micro-spindle were analyzed and some efforts for the subsequent micro-spindle were proposed.

Experimental study on white layers in high-speed grinding of AISI52100 hardened steel

Xiangming Huang,Yinghui Ren,Zhixiong Zhou,Hang Xiao 대한기계학회 2015 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.29 No.3

Ground white layer structure is an untempered martensitic due to grinding heat and plastic deformation. Many researchers have studiedthe formation of white layers at low grinding speed. However, few studies were found on white layer at high grinding speed. Therefore,to minimize white layer, it would be very useful to know the formation of white layer in the high-speed grinding. We performed grindingexperiments using hardened AISI52100 steel with cubic boron nitride (CBN). Grinding force and grinding temperature were onlinemeasured during grinding process. Surface roughness, residual stress and white layer were also examined, respectively. The influence ofgrinding wheel speed on grinding force and surface integrity was analyzed. Formation of white layer was also studied. Experimentalresults show that grinding force and plastic deformation decrease significantly at higher grinding speed. Meanwhile, white layer depthand residual stress value increase with the grinding wheel speed, and residual stress is well correlated with ground white layer depth. White layer during high-speed grinding process results from phase transformation due to grinding heat and rapid cooling, while the plasticdeformation may be ignored for the ground white layer.

Evaluation of Different Yeast Species for Improving In vitro Fermentation of Cereal Straws

Wang, Zuo,He, Zhixiong,Beauchemin, Karen A.,Tang, Shaoxun,Zhou, Chuanshe,Han, Xuefeng,Wang, Min,Kang, Jinhe,Odongo, Nicholas E.,Tan, Zhiliang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.2

Information on the effects of different yeast species on ruminal fermentation is limited. This experiment was conducted in a $3{\times}4$ factorial arrangement to explore and compare the effects of addition of three different live yeast species (Candida utilis 1314, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 1355, and Candida tropicalis 1254) at four doses (0, $0.25{\times}10^7$, $0.50{\times}10^7$, and $0.75{\times}10^7$ colony-forming unit [cfu]) on in vitro gas production kinetics, fiber degradation, methane production and ruminal fermentation characteristics of maize stover, and rice straw by mixed rumen microorganisms in dairy cows. The maximum gas production (Vf), dry matter disappearance (IVDMD), neutral detergent fiber disappearance (IVNDFD), and methane production in C. utilis group were less (p<0.01) than other two live yeast supplemented groups. The inclusion of S. cerevisiae reduced (p<0.01) the concentrations of ammonia nitrogen ($NH_3$-N), isobutyrate, and isovalerate compared to the other two yeast groups. C. tropicalis addition generally enhanced (p<0.05) IVDMD and IVNDFD. The $NH_3$-N concentration and $CH_4$ production were increased (p<0.05) by the addition of S. cerevisiae and C. tropicalis compared with the control. Supplementation of three yeast species decreased (p<0.05) or numerically decreased the ratio of acetate to propionate. The current results indicate that C. tropicalis is more preferred as yeast culture supplements, and its optimal dose should be $0.25{\times}10^7$ cfu/500 mg substrates in vitro.

The Dual-frequency (20/40 kHz) Ultrasound Assisted Photocatalysis with the Active Carbon Fiber-loaded Fe³⁺-TiO₂ as Photocatalyst for Degradation of Organic Dye

Xiong, Shaofeng,Yin, Zhoulan,Zhou, Yuanjin,Peng, Xianzhong,Yan, Wenbin,Liu, Zhixiong,Zhang, Xiangyu Korean Chemical Society 2013 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.34 No.10

Dual-frequency ultrasound assisted photocatalysis (DUAP) method was proposed to degrade a stable organic model effluent, cresol red (CR), using the prepared $Fe^{3+}$-doped $TiO_2$ with active carbon fiber loading ($Fe^{3+}-TiO_2/ACF$) as photocatalyst. The influence of key factors, including Fe doping amount and power density of dual-frequency ultrasounds (20/40 kHz), on the degradation efficiency was investigated. The degradation efficiency rises to 98.7% in 60 min accompanied by the color removal of CR liquid samples from yellow to colorless transparent at optimal conditions. A synergy index of 1.40 was yielded by comparison with single ultrasound assisted photocatalysis (SUAP) and the photocatalysis without ultrasound assisted (UV/$TiO_2$), indicating that a clear synergistic effect exists for the DUAP process. Obvious enhancement of degradation efficiency for the DUAP process should be attributed to production of large amount of free radicals by strong cavitational effects of dual ultrasounds.

The Dual-frequency (20/40 kHz) Ultrasound Assisted Photocatalysis with the Active Carbon Fiber-loaded Fe3+-TiO2 as Photocatalyst for Degradation of Organic Dye

Shaofeng Xiong,Zhoulan Yin,Yuanjin Zhou,Xianzhong Peng,Wenbin Yan,Zhixiong Liu,Xiangyu Zhang 대한화학회 2013 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.34 No.10

Dual-frequency ultrasound assisted photocatalysis (DUAP) method was proposed to degrade a stable organic model effluent, cresol red (CR), using the prepared Fe3+-doped TiO2 with active carbon fiber loading (Fe3+- TiO2/ACF) as photocatalyst. The influence of key factors, including Fe doping amount and power density of dual-frequency ultrasounds (20/40 kHz), on the degradation efficiency was investigated. The degradation efficiency rises to 98.7% in 60 min accompanied by the color removal of CR liquid samples from yellow to colorless transparent at optimal conditions. A synergy index of 1.40 was yielded by comparison with single ultrasound assisted photocatalysis (SUAP) and the photocatalysis without ultrasound assisted (UV/TiO2), indicating that a clear synergistic effect exists for the DUAP process. Obvious enhancement of degradation efficiency for the DUAP process should be attributed to production of large amount of free radicals by strong cavitational effects of dual ultrasounds.

Effects of dietary leucine supplementation on the hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in normal birth weight and intrauterine growth-retarded weanling piglets

Weipeng Su,Wen Xu,Hao Zhang,Zhixiong Ying,Le Zhou,Lili Zhang,Tian Wang 한국영양학회 2017 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.11 No.2

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary leucine supplementation on mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in the liver of normal birth weight (NBW) and intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) weanling piglets. MATERIALS/METHODS: A total of sixteen pairs of NBW and IUGR piglets from sixteen sows were selected according to their birth weight. At postnatal day 14, all piglets were weaned and fed either a control diet or a leucine-supplemented diet for 21 d. Thereafter, a 2 × 2 factorial experimental design was used. Each treatment consisted of eight replications with one piglet per replication. RESULTS: Compared with NBW piglets, IUGR piglets had a decreased (P < 0.05) hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content. Also, IUGR piglets exhibited reductions (P < 0.05) in the activities of hepatic mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), citrate synthase (CS), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and complexes I and V, along with decreases (P < 0.05) in the concentration of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the protein expression of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α). Dietary leucine supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the content of ATP, and the activities of CS, α-KGDH, MDH, and complex V in the liver of piglets. Furthermore, compared to those fed a control diet, piglets given a leucine-supplemented diet exhibited increases (P < 0.05) in the mtDNA content and in the mRNA expressions of sirtuin 1, PGC-1α, nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial transcription factor A, and ATP synthase, H+ transporting, mitochondrial F1 complex, β polypeptide in liver. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary leucine supplementation may exert beneficial effects on mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in NBW and IUGR weanling piglets.

Effects of Momordica charantia Saponins on In vitro Ruminal Fermentation and Microbial Population

Kang, Jinhe,Zeng, Bo,Tang, Shaoxun,Wang, Min,Han, Xuefeng,Zhou, Chuanshe,Yan, Qiongxian,He, Zhixiong,Liu, Jinfu,Tan, Zhiliang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.4

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Momordica charantia saponin (MCS) on ruminal fermentation of maize stover and abundance of selected microbial populations in vitro. Five levels of MCS supplements (0, 0.01, 0.06, 0.30, 0.60 mg/mL) were tested. The pH, $NH_3-N$, and volatile fatty acid were measured at 6, 24, 48 h of in vitro mixed incubation fluids, whilst the selected microbial populations were determined at 6 and 24 h. The high dose of MCS increased the initial fractional rate of degradation at t-value = 0 ($FRD_0$) and the fractional rate of gas production (k), but decreased the theoretical maximum of gas production ($V_F$) and the half-life ($t_{0.5}$) compared with the control. The $NH_3-N$ concentration reached the lowest concentration with 0.01 mg MCS/mL at 6 h. The MSC inclusion increased (p<0.001) the molar proportion of butyrate, isovalerate at 24 h and 48 h, and the molar proportion of acetate at 24 h, but then decreased (p<0.05) them at 48 h. The molar proportion of valerate was increased (p<0.05) at 24 h. The acetate to propionate ratio (A/P; linear, p<0.01) was increased at 24 h, but reached the least value at the level of 0.30 mg/mL MCS. The MCS inclusion decreased (p<0.05) the molar proportion of propionate at 24 h and then increased it at 48 h. The concentration of total volatile fatty acid was decreased (p<0.001) at 24 h, but reached the greatest concentration at the level of 0.01 mg/mL and the least concentration at the level of 0.60 mg/mL. The relative abundance of Ruminococcus albus was increased at 6 h and 24 h, and the relative abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes was the lowest (p<0.05) at 0.60 mg/mL at 6 h and 24 h. The relative abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and fungus reached the greatest value (p<0.05) at low doses of MCS inclusion and the least value (p<0.05) at 0.60 mg/mL at 24 h. The present results demonstrates that a high level of MCS quickly inhibits in vitro fermentation of maize stover, while MCS at low doses has the ability to modulate the ruminal fermentation pattern by regulating the number of functional rumen microbes including cellulolytic bacteria and fungi populations, and may have potential as a feed additive applied in the diets of ruminants.

Investigation of Grinding Characteristic using Nanofluid Minimum Quantity Lubrication

Cong Mao,Xiaojun Tang,Hongfu Zou,Xiangming Huang,Zhixiong Zhou 한국정밀공학회 2012 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

Conventional grinding fluid is widely used in grinding process, which results in high consumption and impacting the environment. The promising alternative to conventional dry and fluid coolant application is minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). It is known that the cooling and lubrication performance of the grinding fluid is the key technical area for the success application of MQL grinding process. In this study, Water based Al2O3 nanofluid was applied to grinding process with MQL approach for its excellent convection heat transfer and thermal conductivity properties. The grinding characteristics of hardened AISI 52100 steel were investigated and compared with those of wet, dry and pure water MQL grinding. Experimental results show that water based Al2O3 nanofluid MQL grinding can significantly reduce the grinding temperature, decrease the grinding forces, improve the ground surface morphology and reduce the surface roughness in comparison to pure water MQL grinding. Furthermore, the cooling and lubricating mechanism for nanofluid MQL grinding was discussed in detail.