ABSTRACT Chicken coccidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by one or more species of Eimeria infection with severe consequences. The NF-κB signaling pathway and TGF-β4 play an important role in the inflammation and immune response caused by coccidiosis infection. This study was designed to investigate the changes of NF-κB signaling pathway and the effects of TGF-β4 silencing on the expression of NF-κB signaling pathway in chicken’s intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) after infecting with E. tenella sporozoites. TGF-β4 small interfering RNA (TGF-β4 siRNA) sequences were transfected into chicken IECs for reducing TGF-β4 expression. The results showed that compared with uninfected control group (Con.), the proinflammatory factors of NF-κB, IL-6, IL-2, IL-1β increased significantly in the E. tenella infected group (ET) (p<0.05). In comparison with the IECs in the ET, the expression level of NF-κB, IL-6, IL-2, IL-1β dropped significantly in the group infected both by E. tenella and TGF-β4 siRNA vector (ET+siRNA) (p<0.05). The results of this experiment indicate that NF-κB signaling pathway is closely correlated with TGF-β4 in IECs infected with coccidia sporozoites. TGF-β4 plays an important role in regulating the immune function of coccidia-infected chicken epithelial cells through NF-κB signaling pathway and preventing immune-mediated pathological changes.

We investigated the effects of glucose and root exudates in combination with different nitrogen (N) forms on the spore germination rate and hyphal growth of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus intraradices. Spores were cultured for 20 days at 26 ºC in agar medium containing either glucose or root exudates at different concentrations. Nitrogen was supplied in the form of 4 mM NaNO3, 4 mM NH4Cl, 4 mM NH4NO3 or 2 mM urea. Three different controls without added N were used: deionized water, glucose, and root exudates. After 20 days, Glucose concentrations of 10, 25, 40 and 50 g L-1 inhibited the spore germination; however, when the concentration of glucose was 5 g L-1, the mean hyphal length was longer than that in the control. Glucose plus different forms of N sources also has no positive effect on the germination as well as hyphal growth. The addition of root exudates significantly improved both the spore germination rate and hyphal lengths in all four media (root exudates +4 mmol NaNO3, root exudates +4 mmol NH4Cl, root exudates +4 mmol NH4NO3 and root exudates +2 mmol urea). After incubation for 20 days, the highest spore germination rates (80.33%) were detected in the root exudate + urea medium, while that in the root exudate + NaNO3 medium was lower than in the control. In all these four media, hyphal growth was initially rapid and slowed in the later stages of incubation. Finally, the greatest hyphal length (15. 15 mmspores-1 was observed in the root exudate + NH4NO3 medium, while the lowest was observed in the exudate + NaNO3 medium.

Antecedentes: la suplementación con ácidos orgánicos y aceites esenciales mejora el crecimiento y digestibilidad de los nutrientes. Los microencapsulados permiten la lenta liberación de materiales en periodos y/o ambientes especiales. Objetivo: investigar el efecto de los ácidos orgánicos y aceites esenciales (MOE) microencapsulados sobre el crecimiento, digestibilidad de los nutrientes, y características sanguíneas y de heces en cerdos destetos. Métodos: fueron utilizados 125 cerdos destetos [(Yorkshire × Landrace) x Duroc], con un peso promedio (BW) de 6,76 ± 0,11 kg en un experimento con duración de 42 d. Los cerdos fueron asignados a 5 tratamientos dietarios de acuerdo a su peso inicial, 5 réplicas por tratamiento con 5 cerdos por corral. Los tratamientos fueron: 1) control negativo (NC), dieta básica libre de antibióticos; 2) control positivo (PC), dieta básica + tiamulina 39 mg/ kg; 3) MOE0.5, dieta básica + 0,5 g MOE/kg; 4) MOE1, dieta básica + 1 g MOE/kg; y 5) MOE2, dieta básica + 2 g MOE/kg. Resultados: el peso final fue mayor en MOE2 y PC que en NC (p<0,05). Durante los d 0 al 7, los cerdos tuvieron un incremento de la eficiencia alimenticia (G:F) con MOE en comparación con NC y PC (p<0,05). Durante los d 7 al 21, disminuyó el consumo promedio de alimento (ADFI) en los cerdos sometidos a MOE0.5 y MOE1 en comparación con PC (p<0,05). Sin embargo, no hubo diferencia significativa en la ganancia diaria de peso (ADG) y G:F comparados con PC (p<0,05). Durante los d 22 al 42, la ADG fue mayor en PC que en NC (p<0,05). En NC y MOE0.5 la G:F disminuyó en comparación con PC (p<0,05). La ADG y G:F fue mayor en PC que en NC (p<0,05). En el d 42, la digestibilidad de la materia seca y nitrógeno fue mayor (p<0,05) en PC y los suplementados con MOE que en NC. La calificación de las heces de cerdos alimentados con MOE1 fue menor (p<0,05) que la de NC. El pH fecal disminuyó (p<0,05) en MOE0.5 y MOE1 comparado con NC en el d 7. El pH fecal disminuyó en los tratamientos con MOE comparado con NC y PC en el d 21. Conclusión: la suplementación con MOE puede mejorar el crecimiento y digestibilidad de los nutrientes, y disminuir la calificación fecal y pH en cerdos destetos.

Background: dietary supplementation with organic acids and essential oils has positive effects on growth improvement and nutrient digestion. Microencapsulation of nutrients allow for the slow release of core materials in a specific period and/or environment. Objective: to investigate the effect of microencapsulated organic acids and essential oils (MOE) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood and fecal characteristics in weanling pigs. Methods: one-hundred twenty-five weanling pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) x Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of 6.76 ± 0.11 Kg were used in a 42-d experiment. Pigs were allotted to five dietary treatments according to initial body weight, using five replicates per treatment and five pigs per pen. Dietary treatments were: 1) NC (negative control): basal diet free of antibiotics; 2) PC (positive control), basal diet with tiamulin 39 mg/kg; 3) MOE0.5, basal diet with 0.5 g MOE/kg; 4) MOE1, basal diet with 1 g MOE/kg; and 5) MOE2, basal diet with 2 g MOE/kg. Results: final BW was greater in MOE2 and PC treatments compared to NC treatment (p<0.05). Increased feed efficiency (G:F) was observed for MOE treatments during 0 to 7 d compared with NC and PC (p<0.05). During 7 to 21 d, MOE0.5 and MOE1 supplementation decreased average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared with PC (p<0.05). However, there were no differences in average daily gain (ADG) and G:F among treatments (p>0.05). During 22 to 42 d, ADG was greater for PC compared with NC (p<0.05). The G:F of NC and MOE0.5 was lower than that of PC (p<0.05). Overall, ADG and G:F were greater for PC compared to NC (p<0.05). On 42 d, DM and N digestibilities in PC and MOE were greater (p<0.05) than in NC. Fecal scores of pigs fed MOE1 were lower (p<0.05) than those of pigs fed NC. Fecal pH was decreased in MOE0.5 and MOE1 when compared to NC (p<0.05) on day 7. Fecal pH was decreased with MOE compared to NC and PC (p<0.05) on d 21. Conclusion: MOE supplementation improved growth performance and nutrient digestibility while decreasing fecal scores and pH in weanling pigs.

Antecedentes: a suplementação com ácidos orgânicos e óleos essenciais melhora o crescimento e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes. A microencapsulação pode permitir a liberação lenta de materiais em um período e/ou ambiente especial. Objetivo: pesquisar sobre o efeito dos ácidos orgânicos microencapsulados e óleos essenciais (MOE) no desempenho produtivo, a digestibilidade dos nutrientes, as características sanguíneas e fecais em leitões desmamados. Métodos: utilizou-se uma amostra total de 125 leitões desmamados [(York Shire × Landrace) x Duroc] com um peso corporal médio (BW) de 6,76 ± 0,11 kg testados durante 42 d. Os leitões foram distribuídos em cinco tratamentos dietéticos de acordo com seu peso corporal inicial, cinco repetições por tratamento com cinco animais por curral. Os tratamentos foram: 1) NC (controle negativo): dieta basal livre de antibióticos; 2) PC (controle positivo), dieta basal com tiamuline 39 mg/kg; 3) MOE0.5, dieta basal com 0,5 g MOE/kg; 4) MOE1, dieta basal com 1 g MOE/kg; e 5) MOE2, dieta basal com 2 g MOE/kg. Resultados: o peso final foi maior em MOE2 e PC do que NC (p<0,05). Durante 0-7 d, houve um aumento da eficiência alimentar (G: F) com MOE em comparação com NC e PC (p<0,05). Durante o período 7 a 21 d, a suplementação MOE0.5 e MOE1 diminuiu o consumo médio diário de ração (ADFI), em comparação com PC (p<0,05). No entanto, não houve diferenças em ganho de peso médio diário (ADG) e G:F entre os tratamentos (p>0,05). No período entre os 22 e 42 d, ADG foi maior no tratamento PC que NC (p<0,05). Em NC e MOE0.5 a G:F diminui-o em comparação com PC (p<0,05). Em geral, a ADG e G:F foram maiores no PC do que NC (p<0,05). No dia 42, a digestibilidade da matéria seca e nitrogênio foi maior em PC e MOE que em NC (p<0,05). A pontuação fecal de suínos alimentados com MOE1 foi menor que a NC (p<0,05). No dia 7 o pH das fezes diminuiu em MOE0.5 e MOE1 em comparação com NC (p<0,05). O pH fecal no dia 21 diminuiu com MOE em comparação com NC e PC (p<0,05). Conclusão: a suplementação com MOE pode melhorar o desempenho de crescimento e digestibilidade de nutrientes, bem como diminuir o escore fecal e pH em leitões desmamados.

Antecedentes: los efectos positivos de los ácidos orgánicos y aceites esenciales (MOE) en el ganado han sido documentados. La microencapsulación permite la liberación lenta del material de núcleo en un período o medio ambiente particulares. Objetivo: evaluar el efecto de suplementar cerdos de engorde con mezclas microencapsuladas de ácidos orgánicos y aceites esenciales (MOE) sobre el rendimiento productivo, la digestibilidad de nutrientes, las emisiones de gases fecales, y la calidad de la carne. Métodos: 75 cerdos cruzados [(Yorkshire × Landrace) x Duroc), 56,15 ± 3,77 kg] se utilizaron en las 10 semanas que duró el ensayo. Los cerdos se distribuyeron aleatoriamente en 1 de 3 tratamientos dietarios, de acuerdo con su peso corporal (BW) y género. Cada tratamiento tuvo 5 réplicas (corrales) con 5 cerdos por corral (2 hembras y 3 machos castrados). Los tratamientos fueron: CON (dieta basal); MOE1 (CON + 0,025% MOE); MOE2 (CON + 0,050% MOE). Resultados: los cerdos alimentados con la dieta MOE2 tuvieron mayor BW final en las semanas 5ª y 10ª que los alimentados con la dieta CON (p<0,05). Durante la semana 0 a la 5 los grupos MOE1 y MOE2 tuvieron mayor ganancia media diaria (ADG) que el grupo CON (p<0,05). En general, la ADG de MOE2 fue mayor que en el tratamiento CON (p<0,05). El grupo MOE2 tuvo mayor digestibilidad de la materia seca (DM) y de la energía que el grupo CON (p<0,05). Conclusión: los resultados indican que la suplementación de la dieta con 0,05% MOE mejora el crecimiento y la digestibilidad de nutrientes en cerdos de ceba.

Background: positive effects of organic acids and essential oils (MOE) on livestock are well documented. Microencapsulation allows the slow release of core materials in a specific moment or environment. Objective: to evaluate the effect of supplementing finishing pigs with microencapsulated blends of organic acids and essential oils (MOE) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal noxious gas emissions, and meat quality. Methods: 75 crossbred pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc, 56.15 ± 3.77 kg] were used in this 10-week trial. Pigs were randomly distributed into 1 of 3 dietary treatments on the basis of body weight (BW) and gender. Each treatment had 5 replicate pens with 5 pigs (2 gilts, 3 barrows) per pen. Treatments were as follows: CON (a basal diet); MOE1 (CON + 0.025% MOE); MOE2 (CON + 0.050% MOE). Results: pigs fed the MOE2 diet had higher final BW at 5th and 10th week than those fed the CON diet (p<0.05). During weeks 0 to 5, MOE1 and MOE2 groups had greater average daily gain (ADG) than the CON group (p<0.05). Overall, ADG in MOE2 was greater than that in CON treatment (p<0.05). MOE2 group had higher dry matter (DM) and energy digestibility than the CON group (p<0.05). Conclusion: the present results indicate that dietary supplementation with 0.05% MOE improves growth performance and nutrient digestibility in finishing pigs.

Antecedentes: os efeitos positivos de ácidos orgânicos e óleos essenciais (MOE) para o gado estão bem documentados na literatura. A microencapsulação permite a liberação lenta de materiais centrais num momento ou ambiente específico. Objetivos: avaliar os efeitos de suplementação de suínos em terminação com misturas microencapsuladas de ácidos orgânicos e óleos essenciais (MOE) em pontos como desempenho produtivo, digestibilidade dos nutrientes, emissões de gases nocivos fecais e qualidade da carne. Metodologia: 75 suínos mestiços [(Yorkshire × Landrace) x Duroc), 56,15 ± 3,77 kg] foram utilizados neste teste de 10 semanas. Os animais foram selecionados aleatoriamente em 1 de 3 currais de tratamento dietético, com base no peso corporal (BW) e sexo. Cada curral teve 5 réplicas e cada curral, 5 suínos (2 fêmeas, 3 machos castrados). Os tratamentos foram os seguintes: CON (dieta basal); MOE1 (CON + 0,025% MOE); MOE2 (CON + 0,050% MOE). Resultados: os animais que receberam a dieta MOE2 apresentaram significativamente maior PV final em 5 e 10 semanas do que aqueles alimentados com a dieta CON (p<0,05). Durante 0-5 semanas, os grupos MOE1 e MOE2 tiveram maior GMD que o grupo CON (p<0,05). De um modo geral, ADG de MOE2 foi maior do que no grupo CON (p<0,05). O grupo MOE2 teve a matéria seca (DM) e a digestibilidade de energia maiores do que o grupo CON (p<0,05). Conclusão: os resultados indicam que a suplementação dietética com 0.05% de MOE melhora o desempenho do crescimento e digestibilidade de nutrientes em suínos em terminação.

Carrying out regression analysis for gas leakage of pressure-relief valve (PRV) to get accurate leakage flow and changing trend of leakage will be helpful in assessing the reliability of PRV. Classic support vector regression (SVR) is an excellent regression model, and has been widely used in various fields. However, standard SVR model does regression only using leakage data without elements closely related to the leakage considered. In this paper a regression model based on support vector regression plus (SVR+) is put forward to perform leakage regression of PRV, in which particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used to select optimum parameters of SVR+, termed PSO_SVR+. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model taking the difference of inlet pressure and outlet pressure of PRV as hidden information can access a more favorable regression precision than SVR can provide. Meanwhile this article also investigates effects of PSO and Genetic Algorithm on the performance of regression model (SVR+ or SVR)

The effects of vibration parameters, operating conditions and material properties on bed voidage were investigated using an optical fiber probe approach in a vibrating fluidized bed with a diameter of 148 mm. Variables studied included frequency (0-282 s-1), amplitude (0 mm-1 mm), bed height (0.1 m-0.4 m) as well as four kinds of particles (belonging to Geldart's B and D groups). The axial and radial voidage distribution with vibration is compared with that without vibration, which shows vibration can aid in the fluidization behaviors of particles. For a larger vibration amplitude, the vibration seriously affects bed voidage. The vibration energy can damp out for particle layers with increasing the bed height. According to analysis of experimental data, an empirical correlation for predicting bed voidage, giving good agreement with the experimental data and a deviation within ±15%, was proposed.