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As the understanding of the pathways involved in such effect are quite limited, we investigated the gene pathways that modulate lipid metabolism in layers and the fatty acid profiles of the yolk of layers that were challenged with dietary vanadium (V) and supplemented with epigallo-catechin-3-gallate (EGCG). For this purpose, a total of 120 hens were divided into four groups which were fed the following experimental diets for a period of 8 weeks: control (basal diet), V10 (control + 10 mg/kg V), EGCG130 (V10 + 130 mg/kg EGCG), and EGCG217 (V10 + 217 mg/kg EGCG). Blood total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration were lower in V10, EGCG130, and EGCG217 groups compared to the control group, while total cholesterol and triglyceride content in blood were lower in the EGCG217 group than in V10 group (P < 0.05). Hens consumed V10 diet had the highest triglyceride content in liver among treatments, whereas EGCG130 and EGCG217 groups had lower values when compared to those observed in the control group (P < 0.01). Dietary inclusion of V increased yolk polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and total unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) content compared to the control group (P < 0.05), whereas the addition of either 130 or 217 mg/kg EGCG in V containing diet resulted in similar yolk PUFA and UFA contents with those observed in the control group. Treatment with V alone upregulated the expression of hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol-regulator element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), while EGCG downregulated FAS and SREBP1 expressions in contrast to V10 treatments (P < 0.01). Liver gene expression peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) was lower in the V10 than in the control group while EGCG inclusion groups upregulated their expression (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the data gathered in this study indicate that dietary V and EGCG alter the layers' lipid metabolism and fat deposition pattern in egg yolk, which might be associated with their modulatory effect on lipogenesis-related gene (FAS, SREBP1, and PPARγ) expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two Schiff base copper( II) complexes, bis(N-furfurylsalicylaldiminato)copper( II) ( I) and bis(N-tetrahydrofurfurylsalicylaldiminato)copper( II) ( II), were synthesized and their solid state structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex I has a square planar geometry. In contrast, complex II displays a distorted square planar geometry. Thus, the geometry around copper in the solid state structures of I and II is determined by a combination of steric and electronic effects, as well as by crystal packing forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most stable structures of gaseous Si m C n (3 ⩽ n+ m ⩽ 6) clusters in their ground electronic states are determined with the high level electronic correlation method QCISD(T)/g3large. Thermodynamic properties on heat capacity ( C ), entropy ( S ), Gibbs energy function (−[ G Θ − H Θ( T r )]/ T) and enthalpy function ( H Θ− H Θ( T r )) are predicted with standard statistical thermodynamics using the structure parameters and vibrational frequencies obtained with B3PW91/6-31G( d) method combined with the electronic excitation energies determined with time dependent density functional (TD DFT) method at B3PW91/6-31G( d) level. The electronic energies are calculated with the accurate model chemistry method at G3(QCI) level of theory and the Δ f H (0 K), Δ f H (298.15 K) and Δ f G (298.15 K) values are predicted. The heat capacities C ( T) as a function of temperature within 298.15-2000 K are fitted into analytical equations. The thermodynamic functions at higher temperatures are determined classically by using these equations. Most of the results obtained in this work are consistent with the available experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]