Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (nano Fe2O3) and MgO nanoparticles (nano MgO) were evaluated for the effects on algae growth and lipid production. Nano Fe2O3 promoted cell growth in the range of 0–20 mg·L−1. CNTs, nano Fe2O3 and nano MgO inhibited cell growth of Scenedesmus obliquus at 10, 40 and 0.8 mg·L−1 respectively. Neutral lipid and total lipid content increased with the increasing concentration of all tested nanoparticles. The maximum lipid productivity of cultures exposed to CNTs, nano Fe2O3 and nano MgO was observed at 5 mg·L−1, 5 mg·L−1 and 40 mg·L−1, with the improvement by 8.9%, 39.6% and 18.5%. High dose exposure to nanoparticles limited increase in lipid productivity, possibly due to the repression on cell growth caused by nanoparticles-catalyzed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, finally leading to reduction in biomass and lipid production. Reduced accumulation of fatty acids of C18:3n3, C18:3n6 and C20:2 was observed in cells exposed to nanoparticles.

BackgroundDNA barcoding has recently been proposed as a promising tool for the rapid species identification in a wide range of animal taxa. Two broad methods (distance and monophyly-based methods) have been used. One method is based on degree of DNA sequence variation within and between species while another method requires the recovery of species as discrete clades (monophyly) on a phylogenetic tree. Nevertheless, some issues complicate the use of both methods. A recently applied new technique, the character-based DNA barcode method, however, characterizes species through a unique combination of diagnostic characters.Methodology/Principal FindingsHere we analyzed 108 COI and 102 16S rDNA sequences of 40 species of Neogastropoda from a wide phylogenetic range to assess the performance of distance, monophyly and character-based methods of DNA barcoding. The distance-based method for both COI and 16S rDNA genes performed poorly in terms of species identification. Obvious overlap between intraspecific and interspecific divergences for both genes was found. The “10× rule” threshold resulted in lumping about half of distinct species for both genes. The neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree of COI could distinguish all species studied. However, the 16S rDNA tree could not distinguish some closely related species. In contrast, the character-based barcode method for both genes successfully identified 100% of the neogastropod species included, and performed well in discriminating neogastropod genera.Conclusions/SignificanceThis present study demonstrates the effectiveness of the character-based barcoding method for species identification in different taxonomic levels, especially for discriminating the closely related species. While distance and monophyly-based methods commonly use COI as the ideal gene for barcoding, the character-based approach can perform well for species identification using relatively conserved gene markers (e.g., 16S rDNA in this study). Nevertheless, distance and monophyly-based methods, especially the monophyly-based method, can still be used to flag species.

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Sodium butyrate (NaBu) is a by-product of microbial fermentation of dietary fiber in the gastrointestinal tract and has been shown to increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase or heme oxidase-1, in vivo. However, the mechanism of this effect is still unclear. This study investigated the antioxidant effect of NaBu on HepG2 cells under HO-induced oxidative stress. NaBu (0.3 mM) attenuated cell death and accumulation of reactive oxygen species and improved multiple antioxidant parameters in HO-injured HepG2 cells. NaBu inhibited glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) by increasing the p-GSK-3β (Ser9) level and promoted nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which increased the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes. Together with promotion of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha and mitochondrial DNA copy number, NaBu modulated energy metabolism and mitochondrial function, decreasing glycolysis, increasing β-oxidation, and enhancing the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. NaBu increased mitochondrial manganese-superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity. In conclusion, NaBu protected HepG2 cells against oxidative stress by modulating Nrf2 pathway activity and mitochondrial function.

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The effects of pyruvate (Pyr), creatine pyruvate (Cr-Pyr) and creatine (Cr) on lipid and protein metabolism were compared in broiler chickens. A total of 400 1-day-old male birds (Aconred) were allocated to four groups, each of which included four replicates (25 birds per replicate). Treatments consisted of unsupplemented basal diet (Control), basal diet containing 2% Pyr, basal diet containing 3% Cr and basal diet containing 5% Cr-Pyr. Cr-Pyr and Pyr significantly decreased the hepatic triglyceride and serum total cholesterol concentration (P , 0.01). Cr-Pyr markedly increased the serum non-esterified fatty acid and highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations (P , 0.05), whereas the expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase I (P , 0.05) and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-a (P , 0.01) mRNA in the liver were both decidedly enhanced in the Cr-Pyr group. The relative leg muscle weight was higher in the Cr-Pyr group than in the control group, whereas the serum uric acid content and hepatic glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activity were lower in the Cr-Pyr and Cr groups (P , 0.05), respectively. Muscle insulin-like growth factor I (P , 0.05) expression was enhanced, and the myostatin (P , 0.01) mRNA level was reduced in both the Cr-Pyr and Cr groups. In addition, Cr-Pyr did not alter body weight or the feed conversion ratio. These results indicate that, compared with Pyr and Cr alone, Cr-Pyr has a bifunctional role in broiler chickens, in that it influences both lipid and protein metabolism.Keywords: creatine pyruvate, pyruvate, creatine, lipolysis, protein synthesis ImplicationsIn this study, the administration of creatine pyruvate (Cr-Pyr, a new compound, which contains pure pyruvic acid molecularly bound to pure pharmaceutical grade creatine at a concentration ratio of 40 : 60) was compared with the administration of Pyr or Cr alone for its effect on lipid and protein metabolism in broilers. The insights gained from this study will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the Cr-Pyr effect on broiler chickens. Further clarity will help the industry to avoid obesity-related problems during production and explore new ways to improve muscle growth in broilers.

Cereal Chem. 74(3):249-253The effect of lactic acid on starch yields of different corn hybrids was determined by wet-milling 18 commercial corn hybrids at three levels of lactic acid. All 18 hybrid samples tested had higher starch yields when lactic acid was added to the steep solution, although the magnitude of the increased starch yields varied between 2.9 and 12.0%. The optimal lactic acid concentration for maximum starch recovery was found to be between 0.55 and 1.67% lactic acid, by wet-milling nine of the same 18 corn hybrids with seven levels of added lactic acid. Between 0.83 and 1.67% lactic acid, the starch yields of eight of the nine hybrids were constant (within ±0.5%). Results showed that the average starch yield across all hybrids decreased with a lactic acid concentration <0.55% and a lactic acid concentration >1.67%. 2 Corresponding

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