Obesity is a metabolic disease and causes significant changes in host and gut microbial metabolite levels. However, little research has been done on the relationship between host and gut microbial metabolites. Thus, this study investigated the connection of the chemicals, based on the different effects of two Inonotus obliquus extracts on high-fat-diet-induced mice and their mechanisms. In this study, C57BL6/J mice fed with a high-fat diet were given I. obliquus ethanol extract (IOE) and polysaccharide (IOP). 1 H NMR-based metabolomics, 16S rRNA sequencing, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect metabolites, cecal microbes, and expressions of genes in liver. IOE and IOP effectively improved the obesity of mice, including the adjustment of body weight gain, energy intake, energy efficiency, liver glucose metabolism and triglyceride metabolism, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and degradation of three major nutrients (carbohydrate, lipid, and protein). IOE significantly increased cecal propionate based on Bacteroides and Akkermansia , thereby inhibiting energy intake and fat accumulation in mice. IOP remarkably improved the level of cecal butyrate by Lactobacillus and the Bacteroidales S24-7 group, resulting in increased energy consumption, and fat degradation by regulating the TCA cycle of the host. Two extracts containing different bioactive substances of I. obliquus improved obesity in mice through different effects on production of cecal microbial metabolites. Moreover, cecal butyrate (not propionate) was connected with chemicals of mice, including four metabolites of the TCA cycle and other metabolism-related chemicals.

Obesity is a disease that causes metabolic disorders in the human body and is closely related to intestinal microbes. This experiment compares the therapeutic effects of two Inonotus obliquus extracts on high‐fat diet (HFD) mice and explores the effects and mechanisms of intestinal flora and its metabolites. The energy intake (EI), weight gain (BWG), fecal flora diversity, fecal and urine metabolites, and fecal triglycerides (TG) of mice were measured at 4 temporal points. We found that due to the difference in energy intake between the two groups in the early stage of the experiment, the ethanol extract of Inonotus obliquus (IOE) had a stronger effect on the accumulated BWG than the polysaccharide (IOP) of Inonotus obliquus at the end of the experiment. Moreover, the difference caused by IOE and IOP intake was the largest in the second week, in four temporal points. Compared with IOP, IOE in the second week can reduce EI, fecal short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) and TG, reduce host metabolism, increase fecal Akkermansia and fatty acid elongation, and increase host substrate phosphorylation. The change trend of the fatty acid elongation P value from 2 to 14 weeks is consistent with the overall difference trend between the two groups. The difference in the regulating effect of the two Inonotus obliquus extracts on HFD mice is related to the fatty acid elongation function of the intestinal flora, which leads to the reduction of IOE and the effect of BWG is better than IOP. It provides a theoretical reference for the development of functional food using the extract of Inonotus obliquus.

The corn threshing process is a complex process of contact interaction between thresher mechanical parts and corn ears. The paper analyzed this process with the discrete element method (DEM). A method was set up to calculate the contact forces between thresher mechanical parts (boundary) and corn ears. The conditions for corn kernels threshing were established as well. On this basis, we developed the corn threshing simulation software, and simulated the corn threshing process using the software. The simulation results are close to the actual situation, and the results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the new method. Thus we have laid the foundation for using the DEM to analyze the corn threshing process and putting forward a novel method for the optimal design of the corn thresher.

This paper presents a new method that use the library function offered by Pro/TOOLKIT and on account of Visual C++ development platform to achieve the recognition of Pro/ENGINEER solid model of mechanical components and extraction of geometry information. Motion attribute is set according to requirements, and analytical mode of three-dimensional discrete element method is built, therefore, Pro/ENGINEER software and the performance analysis software of three-dimensional discrete element method developed autonomously are integrated. A kind of new method and new tool is offered to three-dimensional discrete element method performance analysis and optimization design, and three-dimensional discrete element method belongs to relevant mechanical components contacted and acted with granular materials. What’s more, the correctness and effectiveness of boundary modeling method of three-dimensional discrete element method and developed software are tested and verified through real examples.

A three-dimensional discrete element method analytic model of the corn seed metering device with combination inner-cell was established based on its 3D CAD model, and the three-dimensional particle model of corn seeds was built by using the method of combination spherical particle. The working process of the corn seed metering device was simulated and analyzed by self-developed three-dimensional CAE software. It was observed that the simulative results of the seeding performance, clearing angles and dropping angles of the corn seeds well agreed with the bench test results. A novel method for studying and designing of the corn seed metering device was put forward.

No abstract

1. This study examined the pharmacokinetics, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of [(14)C] nefopam in rats after a single oral administration. Blood, plasma, and excreta were analyzed for total radioactivity, nefopam, and metabolites. Metabolites were profiled and identified. Radioactivity distribution was determined by quantitative whole-body autoradiography. 2. The pharmacokinetic profiles of total radioactivity and nefopam were similar in male and female rats. Radioactivity partitioned approximately equally between plasma and red blood cells. A majority of the radioactivity was excreted in urine within 24 hours and mass balance was achieved within 7 days. 3. Intact nefopam was a minor component in plasma and excreta. Numerous metabolites were identified in plasma and urine generated by multiple pathways including: hydroxylation/oxidation metabolites (M11, M22a and M22b, M16, M20), some of which were further glucuronidated (M6a to M6c, M7a to M7c, M8a and M8b, M3a to M3d); N-demethylation of nefopam to metabolite M21, which additionally undergoes single or multiple hydroxylations or sulfation (M9, M14, M23), with some of the hydroxylated metabolites further glucuronidated (M2a to M2d). 4. Total radioactivity rapidly distributed with highest concentrations found in the urinary bladder, stomach, liver, kidney medulla, small intestine, uveal tract, and kidney cortex without significant accumulation or persistence. Radioactivity reversibly associated with melanin-containing tissues.