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The release of greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants into the atmosphere is a global problem and requires in-depth inquiry. The aim of this research is to evaluate influence of some biologically active substances on gas production, digestibility and metabolic energy in different feeds. The influence of herbs: thyme, St. John's wort, lemongrass, lavender, oregano, chamomile and caltrop on the greenhouse gas emissions, digestibility and metabolic energy when added to various feeds has been studied. Oils from the above-mentioned biological stimulators were used. An in vitro methodology Ankom RF Gas Production System was used in the analysis of the feed. Gas production was analyzed at two levels - 24 and 48 hours of incubation, digestibility, metabolic energy, acid detergent fiber - ADF and neutral detergent fiber - NDF using fresh and lyophilized rumen fluid. Gas production from the ration for cows at 24 h of incubation, of the control sample(without additives) was 212.45 dm/mL, and at the feed with the addition of thyme, St. John's wort, lemongrass, lavender, oregano, chamomile and caltrop - 144.19, 157.97, 134.51, 182.25, 149,18, 141.42 and 154.33 dm/mL, respectively. We found reduced digestibility in the cows ration with the addition of essential oil of lemongrass - 3.43%, lavender and thyme - 2.68% and 2.65% respectively. In the sheep ration, the digestibility was considerable reduced with the addition of lavender oil - by 4.64%, with the oil of caltrop and thyme - by 2.83% and 2.76%, respectively. We found an improvement in digestibility in the range of 2.5-3% with the addition of oregano oil, St. John's wort and chamomile. The addition of oil from mentioned herbs to sheep's and cow's whole-ration considerable reduces the production of gas emissions. In-vitro analysis of metabolic energy with the addition of essential oils revealed a significant reduction of the same in all studied herbs - from 9.66 in the control samples to 6.08 - 6.96. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the effectiveness of the use of mixed feeds with different levels of metabolic energy for the cultivation of larvae and fry of rainbow trout. The aim of the experiment was to establish the influence of different levels of energy supply of trout on its performance. For this purpose, five experimental groups were formed by the method of analogues. During the equalization period, the experimental fish consumed feed of the control group. In the main period, the level of metabolic energy in trout feed ranged from 14 to 18 MJ. As a result of the conducted researches it is established that the increase of energy content in compound feed for trout larvae and fry from 16 to 18 MJ contributes to the increase of their weight by 11.1 % (p < 0.05) and growth intensity - by 5.6-14.2 %, while the reduction of energy content to 14 MJ / kg contributes to a probable decrease (p < 0.05) in mass by 11.9%, and a decrease in growth intensity by 6.0-14.7 %. It is proved that the feed consumption per 1 kg of weight gain in trout larvae and fry, which received feed with an energy content of 18 MJ was lower by 5.1 %, and with its content of 14 MJ - 4.8 % higher compared to fish consuming feed with an energy content of 16 MJ / kg. The safety of the experimental fish throughout the experiment was close and ranged from 83.1 to 84.9 %. However, it is most economically feasible to grow trout that consume feed with a nutritional value of 16 MJ of metabolic energy, compared with a decrease or increase of this indicator to 14 or 18 MJ, respectively

A prevailing assumption in the cardiovascular field is that the metabolic rate of the heart is a constant proportion of a mammal's whole-body aerobic metabolic rate. In this Commentary, we assemble previously published cardiovascular, metabolic and body mass data from matched terrestrial mammalian species, at rest and during heavy exercise, and reveal scaling relationships that challenge this assumption. Our analyses indicate that the fractional metabolic cost of systemic perfusion compared with whole-body metabolic rate increases significantly with body size among resting mammals, from ∼2.5% in a mouse to ∼10% in an elephant. We propose that two significant body size-dependent effects contribute to this conclusion; namely, that larger species generate higher mean systemic arterial blood pressure and that their myocardium operates with lower external mechanical efficiencies compared with those of smaller species. We discuss potential physiological and mechanical explanations, including the additional energy needed to support the arterial blood column above the heart in larger species, especially those with long necks, as well as the possible sources of greater internal energy losses from the heart of larger species. Thus, we present an updated view of how increasing blood pressure and decreasing efficiency of the myocardium result in an increasing fractional metabolic cost of perfusion as body size increases among resting mammals., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Metabolic energy can be used as a unifying principle to control neuronal activity. However, whether and how metabolic energy alone can determine the outcome of synaptic plasticity remains unclear. This study proposes a computational model of synaptic plasticity that is completely determined by energy. A simple quantitative relationship between synaptic plasticity and postsynaptic potential energy is established. Synaptic weight is directly proportional to the difference between the baseline potential energy and the suprathreshold potential energy and is constrained by the maximum energy supply. Results show that the energy constraint improves the performance of synaptic plasticity and avoids setting the hard boundary of synaptic weights. With the same set of model parameters, our model can reproduce several classical experiments in homo- and heterosynaptic plasticity. The proposed model can explain the interaction mechanism of Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity at the cellular level. Homeostatic synaptic plasticity at different time scales coexists. Homeostatic plasticity operating on a long time scale is caused by heterosynaptic plasticity and, on the same time scale as Hebbian synaptic plasticity, is caused by the constraint of energy supply.

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury induces multi-dimensional damage to neuronal cells through exacerbation of critical protective mechanisms.Targeting more than one mechanism simultaneously namely, inflammatory responses and metabolic energy homeostasis could provide additional benefits to restrict or manage cerebral injury. Being proven neuroprotective agents both, progesterone (PG) and trimetazidine (TMZ) has the potential to add on the individual therapeutic outcomes.We hypothesized the simultaneous administration of PG and TMZ could complement each other to synergize, or at least enhance neuroprotection in reperfusion injury. We investigated the combination of PG and TMZ on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced cerebral reperfusion injury in rats. Molecular docking on targets of energy homeostasis and apoptosis assessed the initial viability of PG and TMZ for neuroprotection. Animal experimentation with MCA induced ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats was performed on five randomized groups.Sham operated control group received vehicle (saline) while the other four I-R groups were pre-treated with vehicle (saline), PG (8 ​mg/kg), TMZ treated (25 ​mg/kg), and PG ​+ ​TMZ (8 and 25 ​mg/kg) for 7 days by intraperitoneal route. Neurological deficit, infarct volume, and oxidative stress were evaluated to assess the extent of injury in rats. Inflammatory reactivity and apoptotic activity were determined with alterations in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and DNA fragments. Reperfusion injury inflicted cerebral infarct, neurological deficit, and shattered BBB integrity.The combination treatment of PG and TMZ restricted cellular damage indicated by significant (p ​

Metabolic energy can be used as a unifying principle to control neuronal activity. However, whether and how metabolic energy alone can determine the outcome of synaptic plasticity remains unclear. This study proposes a computational model of synaptic plasticity that is completely determined by energy. A simple quantitative relationship between synaptic plasticity and postsynaptic potential energy is established. Synaptic weight is directly proportional to the difference between the baseline potential energy and the suprathreshold potential energy and is constrained by the maximum energy supply. Results show that the energy constraint improves the performance of synaptic plasticity and avoids setting the hard boundary of synaptic weights. With the same set of model parameters, our model can reproduce several classical experiments in homo- and heterosynaptic plasticity. The proposed model can explain the interaction mechanism of Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity at the cellular level. Homeostatic synaptic plasticity at different time scales coexists. Homeostatic plasticity operating on a long time scale is caused by heterosynaptic plasticity and, on the same time scale as Hebbian synaptic plasticity, is caused by the constraint of energy supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research is to develop a computer model that makes it possible to predict the productivity of pigs based on the data on their consumption of the exchange energy of feed and the amount of feed loss during storage and operation of technological equipment. Based on the known results, regression relationships have been established between the value of the exchange energy of the given feed and the average daily gain in the live weight of animals, as well as the cost of feed per kilogram of gain. Due to the loss of feed nutrients and the feed itself during the storage of feed in warehouses, during preparation and delivery to animals, as well as throwing away part of the feed when it is eaten by animals, the amount of nutrients consumed by the animal and the accounting of feed consumption do not match. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of a nearby boundary is likely to be important in the life cycle and evolution of motile flagellate bacteria. This has led many authors to employ numerical simulations to model nearsurface bacterial motion and compute hydrodynamic boundary effects. A common choice has been the method of images for regularized Stokeslets (MIRS); however, the method requires discretization sizes and regularization parameters that are not specified by any theory. To determine appropriate regularization parameters for given discretization choices in MIRS, we conducted dynamically similar macroscopic experiments and fit the simulations to the data. In the experiments, we measured the torque on cylinders and helices of different wavelengths as they rotated in a viscous fluid at various distances to a boundary. We found that differences between experiments and optimized simulations were less than 5% when using surface discretizations for cylinders and centerline discretizations for helices. Having determined optimal regularization parameters, we used MIRS to simulate an idealized free-swimming bacterium constructed of a cylindrical cell body and a helical flagellum moving near a boundary. We assessed the swimming performance of many bacterial morphologies by computing swimming speed, motor rotation rate, Purcell's propulsive efficiency, energy cost per swimming distance, and a new metabolic energy cost defined to be the energy cost per body mass per swimming distance. All five measures predicted that the optimal flagellar wavelength is eight times the helical radius independently of body size and surface proximity. Although the measures disagreed on the optimal body size, they all predicted that body size is an important factor in the energy cost of bacterial motility near and far from a surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern conditions of RF agro-industrial complex development, the transfer of animal husbandry to an industrial basis is possible only with high-grade vegetable protein production increase. Silage of the aboveground mass of pure corn during all phases of plant growth and development does not provide the content of nutrients in the feed unit according to the zootechnical requirements. Therefore, to optimize the finished feed in terms of the carbohydrate-protein ratio, green mass of legumes should be added to its composition during the preparation of silage from corn. The selection of the legume component should be carried out taking into account the following main criteria: coincidence with corn by the growing season duration, the same attitude to soil and climatic resources and insolation conditions, high provision of the legume component with digestible protein, dry matter, starch and exchange energy during the ensiling period. It has been established that the joint ensiling of corn with yellow lupine is expedient when the corn is in waxy ripeness, and the lupine is in the phase of shiny beans with the component ratio of 55:45%. In this case, the content of digestible protein in 1 feed unit of finished silage is 100.2 g at reliable feed supply with both irreplaceable (36.0 g) and critical (7.2 g) amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy storage molecule in metabolic pathways. It is common in marine studies to use particulate ATP (PATP) concentrations as representative of microbial biomass. However, there is growing evidence from culture studies, models, and transcriptional data that PATP concentration varies across microbes and conditions, thus compromising interpretations in environmental settings. Importantly, there is a lack of open ocean studies assessing variations in PATP concentrations and thus a deficiency of information on the key biogeochemical drivers for variability in microbial PATP independent of biomass. In sampling the U.S. GO-SHIP P06E zonal transect (32.5°S) across the eastern South Pacific, from the subtropical gyre to the upwelling waters off Chile, we conducted the first comprehensive transect survey quantifying PATP. PATP concentrations increased toward the upwelling region of the transect, but varied vertically when normalized against three measures of biomass: particulate phosphorus, microbial abundance, and microbial biovolume. Generally, greater biomass-normalized PATP concentrations were observed below the deep chlorophyll maximum. Subdividing the P06E transect into four biogeochemical regimes highlighted distinct metabolic strategies used by microbes. Between these regimes, we found PATP concentrations were representative of biomass in upper surface waters. However, below the deep chlorophyll maximum we observed higher biomass normalized PATP concentrations that we hypothesize were due to less availability of energy sources in those subeuphotic zone waters and abundances of chemoautotrophs in the microbial community. This finding suggests that stored energy was more important for these deeper microbes.

The brain can learn new tasks without forgetting old ones. This memory retention is closely associated with the long-term stability of synaptic strength. To understand the capacity of pyramidal neurons to preserve memory under different tasks, we established a plasticity model based on the postsynaptic membrane energy state, in which the change in synaptic strength depends on the difference between the energy state after stimulation and the resting energy state. If the post-stimulation energy state is higher than the resting energy state, then synaptic depression occurs. On the contrary, the synapse is strengthened. Our model unifies homo- and heterosynaptic plasticity and can reproduce synaptic plasticity observed in multiple experiments, such as spike-timing-dependent plasticity, and cooperative plasticity with few and common parameters. Based on the proposed plasticity model, we conducted a simulation study on how the activation patterns of dendritic branches by different tasks affect the synaptic connection strength of pyramidal neurons. We further investigate the formation mechanism by which different tasks activate different dendritic branches. Simulation results show that compare to the classic plasticity model, the plasticity model we proposed can achieve a better spatial separation of different branches activated by different tasks in pyramidal neurons, which deepens our insight into the memory retention mechanism of brains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low selenium (Se) in soil and forage can adversely affect on the quality of animalderived foods, and hence on human health. Lambs grazed on mixed pastures of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) were supplemented with five levels of Se [0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 µg/kg body weight (BW)]. The intake of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) varied with the level of Se supplementation, with a peak at 6 µg Se per kg BW (p = 0.05). Gross energy (GE) intake, digestive energy (DE) intake and metabolic energy (ME) intake were higher at 6 µg Se per kg BW than at other Se levels (p < 0.01); in addition, methane energy (CH4-E) output was lower at 6 µg Se per kg BW. Supplementation with Se significantly increased nitrogen (N) intake, faecal N and urine N, for which the peak values were 20.2 g N/, 5.62 g N/day and 7.92 g N/day, respectively, at 6 µg Se per kg BW. Se intake, blood Se, faecal Se, urine Se and retained Se were negatively correlated with forage crude protein (CP) content (p < 0.001) but were positively correlated with the content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) (p < 0.001). Thus, we recommend the addition of 6 µg Se per kg BW to sheep grazed on pastures in regions with low soil Se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have found that the walking economy can be enhanced by recycling ankle metabolic energy using an unpowered ankle exoskeleton. However, how to regulate multiarticular energy to enhance the overall energy efficiency of humans during walking remains a challenging problem, as multiarticular passive assistance is more likely to interfere with the human body’s natural biomechanics. Here we show that the metabolic energy of the hip and knee musculature can be regulated to a more energy-effective direction using a multiarticular unpowered exoskeleton that recycles negative mechanical energy of the knee joint in the late swing phase and transfers the stored energy to assist the hip extensors in performing positive mechanical work in the stance phase. The biarticular spring-clutch mechanism of the exoskeleton performs a complementary energy recycling and energy transfer function for hip and knee musculature. Through the phased regulation of the hip and knee metabolic energy, the target muscle activities decreased during the whole assistive period of the exoskeleton, which was the direct reason for 8.6 ± 1.5% (mean ± s.e.m) reduction in metabolic rate compared with that of walking without the exoskeleton. The proposed unpowered exoskeleton enhanced the user’s multiarticular energy efficiency, which equals improving musculoskeletal structure by adding a complementary loop for efficient energy recycling and energy transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plant & Soil Science is the property of National University of Life & Environmental Sciences of Ukraine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To investigate hydropriming and transplanting effect on biomass and nutritional content of forage sorghum, a two-year fi eld experiment was conducted in the semiarid condition of Iran. Experimental factor consisted of planting dates (July-1st, July-11th, July-23rd, August-1st) in the main plot and the factorial combination of planting methods (direct planting, hydropriming, transplanting) with cultivars (Speedfeed and Pegah) in the subplot. Planting date postponement from 1st of July to 10th of July, 23rd of July, and 1st of August, respectively, caused 16.1, 32.5 and 47.2% reduction in dry matter yield (DMY) and 7.4, 20.2, and 35.1% reduction in water use effi ciency of DMY production (WUEDMY). Hydropriming and transplanting produced 23.6 and 22.4% more DMY, 24.5 and 21.8% more WUEDMY, 24 and 16.3% more crude protein yield, 22.7 and 20.9% more digestible dry matter (DDM) yield, and 22.2 and 20.1% more metabolic energy (ME) yield, compared to the direct planting. Hydropriming compared to direct planting caused 29% increase in plant growth rate and utilized growing season more productively than transplanting for DMY production. Conclusively, hydropriming and transplanting compensated for delay in planting through enhancing and accelerating germination and plant development but, applying hydropriming on Speedfeed and planting in July-1st caused the highest DMY, WUEDMY and the yield of nutritive parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Tissue regeneration of skin and bone is an energy-intensive, ATP-consuming process that, if impaired, can lead to the development of chronic clinical pictures. ATP levels in the extracellular space including the exudate of wounds, especially chronic wounds, are low. This deficiency can be compensated by inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) supplied via the blood platelets to the regenerating site. Methods: The contribution of the different forms of energy derived from polyP (metabolic energy, mechanical energy and heat) to regeneration processes was dissected and studied both in vitro and in patients. ATP is generated metabolically during the enzymatic cleavage of the energy-rich anhydride bonds between the phosphate units of polyP, involving the two enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and adenylate kinase (ADK). Exogenous polyP was administered after incorporation into compressed collagen or hydrogel wound coverages to evaluate its regenerative activity for chronic wound healing. Results: In a proof-of-concept study, fast healing of chronic wounds was achieved with the embedded polyP, supporting the crucial regeneration-promoting activity of ATP. In the presence of Ca 2+ in the wound exudate, polyP undergoes a coacervation process leading to a conversion of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, a crucial step supporting cell migration during regenerative tissue repair. During coacervation, a switch from an endothermic to an exothermic, heat-generating process occurs, reflecting a shift from an entropically- to an enthalpically-driven thermodynamic reaction. In addition, mechanical forces cause the appearance of turbulent flows and vortices during liquid-liquid phase separation. These mechanical forces orient the cellular and mineralic (hydroxyapatite crystallite) components, as shown using mineralizing SaOS-2 cells as a model. Conclusion: Here we introduce the energetic triad: metabolic energy (ATP), thermal energy and mechanical energy as a novel theranostic biomarker, which contributes essentially to a successful application of polyP for regeneration processes., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Nanoparticles of a particular, evolutionarily old inorganic polymer found across the biological kingdoms have attracted increasing interest in recent years not only because of their crucial role in metabolism but also their potential medical applicability: it is inorganic polyphosphate (polyP). This ubiquitous linear polymer is composed of 10-1000 phosphate residues linked by high-energy anhydride bonds. PolyP causes induction of gene activity, provides phosphate for bone mineralization, and serves as an energy supplier through enzymatic cleavage of its acid anhydride bonds and subsequent ATP formation. The biomedical breakthrough of polyP came with the development of a successful fabrication process, in depot form, as Ca- or Mg-polyP nanoparticles, or as the directly effective polymer, as soluble Na-polyP, for regenerative repair and healing processes, especially in tissue areas with insufficient blood supply. Physiologically, the platelets are the main vehicles for polyP nanoparticles in the circulating blood. To be biomedically active, these particles undergo coacervation. This review provides an overview of the properties of polyP and polyP nanoparticles for applications in the regeneration and repair of bone, cartilage, and skin. In addition to studies on animal models, the first successful proof-of-concept studies on humans for the healing of chronic wounds are outlined., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Copyright of Manas Journal of Agriculture Veterinary & Life Sciences is the property of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The ar􀆟cle considers the effec􀆟veness of the use of mixed feeds with different levels of metabolic energy for the cul􀆟va􀆟on of larvae and fry of rainbow trout. The aim of the experiment was to establish the influence of different levels of energy supply of trout on its performance. For this purpose, five experimental groups were formed by the method of analogues. During the equaliza􀆟on period, the experimental fish consumed feed of the control group. In the main period, the level of metabolic energy in trout feed ranged from 14 to 18 MJ. As a result of the conducted researches it is established that the increase of energy content in compound feed for trout larvae and fry from 16 to 18 MJ contributes to the increase of their weight by 11.1 % (p < 0.05) and growth intensity - by 5.6-14.2 %, while the reduc􀆟on of energy content to 14 MJ / kg contributes to a probable decrease (p < 0.05) in mass by 11.9%, and a decrease in growth intensity by 6.0-14.7 %. It is proved that the feed consump􀆟on per 1 kg of weight gain in trout larvae and fry, which received feed with an energy content of 18 MJ was lower by 5.1 %, and with its content of 14 MJ - 4.8 % higher compared to fish consuming feed with an energy content of 16 MJ / kg. The safety of the experimental fish throughout the experiment was close and ranged from 83.1 to 84.9 %. However, it is most economically feasible to grow trout that consume feed with a nutri􀆟onal value of 16 MJ of metabolic energy, compared with a decrease or increase of this indicator to 14 or 18 MJ, respec􀆟vely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was carried out to determine the chemical composition, relative feed value (RFV), net energy lactation (NEL) and metabolic energy (ME) contents of the alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The beginning of flowering period in first and second harvest alfalfa grown in a private family farm in Hürrempalangasi Village of Erzincan Province in 2018 was used as a research material. At the beginning of the flowering period, the alfalfa was harvested twice during the experimental period. In each harvest, the RFV of the alfalfa were calculated by using the chemical composition, the dry matter digestibility (DMD) and dry matter consumption (DMC) parameters. At the same time, NEL and ME contents were calculated using the nutrient composition of the alfalfa. In the first and second harvest, the mean crude protein, RFV, NEL, ME and TDN contents of the alfalfa were determined 18.06% and 17.50%; 86.36 and 90.79; 1569.8 and 1548.5 Kcal; 2316.5 and 2285.2 Kcal; 53.96 and 52.15, respectively. Although there was no difference between the first and second harvest in terms of CP, NEL and ME contents, the difference in the relative feed values was found significant (P<0.01) in favor of the second harvest. In the first and second harvest, the mean crude protein, RFV, NEL, ME and TDN contents of the alfalfa were determined 18.06% and 17.50%; 86.36 and 90.79; 1569.8 and 1548.5 Kcal; 2316.5 and 2285.2 Kcal; 53.96 and 52.15, respectively. Although there was no difference between the first and second harvest in terms of CP, NEL and ME contents, the difference in the relative feed values was found significant (P<0.01) in favor of the second harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climbing animals theoretically should optimize the energetic costs of vertical climbing while also maintaining stability. Many modifications to climbing behaviors have been proposed as methods of satisfying these criteria, focusing on controlling the center of mass (COM) during ascent. However, the link between COM movements and metabolic energy costs has yet to be evaluated empirically. In this study, we manipulated climbing conditions across three experimental setups to elicit changes in COM position, and measured the impact of these changes upon metabolic costs across a sample of 14 humans. Metabolic energy was assessed via open flow respirometry, while COM movements were tracked both automatically and manually. Our findings demonstrate that, despite inducing variation in COM position, the energetic costs of climbing remained consistent across all three setups. Differences in energetic costs were similarly not affected by body mass; however, velocity had a significant impact upon both cost of transport and cost of locomotion, but such a relationship disappeared when accounting for metabolic costs per stride. These findings suggest that climbing has inescapable metabolic demands driven by gaining height, and that attempts to mitigate such a cost, with perhaps the exception of increasing speed, have only minimal impacts. We also demonstrate that metabolic and mechanical energy costs are largely uncorrelated. Collectively, we argue that these data refute the idea that efficient locomotion is the primary aim during climbing. Instead, adaptations towards effective climbing should focus on stability and reducing the risk of falling, as opposed to enhancing the metabolic efficiency of locomotion., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Copyright of Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to determine the dietary energy and protein levels for optimal growth performance and carcass characters of free force-feeding Peking ducks from 21 to 38 days of age. A total of 1,440 21-d-old Peking ducks were randomly assigned to 4 dietary metabolic energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) treatments: low nutrient (ME 11.93 MJ/kg, CP 16.0%), normal nutrient (ME 12.35 MJ/kg, CP 16.6%), moderate nutrient (ME 12.77 MJ/kg, CP 17.1%), and high nutrient (ME 13.19 MJ/kg, CP 17.7%), respectively, each containing 6 replicates with 30 males and 30 females per pen. At 38 d of age, performances, the carcass characteristics, serum biochemical indices, and hepatic and intestinal mRNA gene expression of ducks were measured. Body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion rate (FCR) were improved linearly with increasing dietary nutrient. Skin percentage showed a quadratic trend and relative liver weight had a quadratic relationship with dietary nutrient. Serum lipase increased linearly while lipoprotein lipase (LPL) decreased linearly as dietary nutrient increased. Liver microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) mRNA expression had a quadratic correlation with dietary nutrient. Besides, the intestinal neutral amino acid transporter SLC1A4 mRNA expression had a quadratic trend with dietary nutrient. Both low nutrient diet (ME = 11.93 MJ/kg, CP = 16.0%) and the high nutrient diet (ME = 13.19 MJ/kg, CP = 17.7%) are suitable for free force-feeding Peking ducks based on skin percentage, growth performance, and gain feed cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body size often strongly covaries with demography across species. Metabolism has long been invoked as the driver of these patterns, but tests of causal links between size, metabolism and demography within a species are exceedingly rare. We used 400 generations of artificial selection to evolve a 2427% size difference in the microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta. We repeatedly measured size, energy fluxes and demography across the evolved lineages. Then, we used standard metabolic theory to generate predictions of how size and demography should covary based on the scaling of energy fluxes that we measured. The size dependency of energy remained relatively consistent in time, but metabolic theory failed to predict demographic rates, which varied unpredictably in strength and even sign across generations. Classic theory holds that size affects demography via metabolism – our results suggest that both metabolism and size act separately to drive demography and that among‐species patterns may not predict within‐species processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences in gait parameters, muscle activation of the lower limbs, and metabolic energy cost during walking in olderadults. Methods: Twenty-four subjectswalked on a 10mlevelwalkway as self-selected speed while barefoot. A six-camera motion capture system was used to record the gait parameters.Wireless electromyography was used for the measurement of muscle activity. Next, the subjects were equipped with a mask connected to a computerized portable metabolic system. The subjects walked on a motor-driven treadmill in two different walking speeds. Results:Walking speed was significantly higher in older men than in women. Stride length was also significantly higher in older men than older women. Older men had significantly higher step lengths the right and left sides than did olderwomen. In the stance phase, muscle activation of the external oblique and erector spinae was significantly higher for older women than for older men. The absolute value of VO2 (ml/min) of older men was significantly higher at the self-selected speed and for the 30% increased speed than those of older women. Conclusion: These gender-related differences should be considered during gait training and rehabilitation in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted at the Poultry Research Station of the Livestock Research Department / Agricultural Research Department, Ministry of Agriculture in Abu Ghraib. During the period from 19 September 2017 to 30 October 2017. In this study, two hundred forty male of ROSS 308 broilers were randomly distributed into four treatments with 3 replicates per treatment and 20 chicks per replicate. The birds were fed on equal diets in the percentage of protein and metabolic energy according to the age requirements referred to in the Ross 308 index. The experimental treatments were involved: T1 was a positive control treatment with a complete nutrient requirement. T2 was negative control (with a deficient requirement for phosphorus available 0.17 aP), T3 was negative control with the addition of 1250 unit/kg of phytase enzyme, T4 negative control with the addition of 2500 unit/kg of phytease enzyme. The results of the present study showed a significant increase (P <0.05) in the body weight, average weight increase and the feed consumption rate of T1 compared to the negative control treatment. A significant increase (P <0.05) was observed in the mentioned characteristics of the two treatments. The results of the study also showed a significant increase (P <0.05) in the feed conversion coefficient of the negative control treatment (NC) compared to the positive control treatment (PC). The two treatments of the phytase enzyme were significantly (P <0.05) reduced FCR in NC and there was no significant difference between the addition coefficients and PC. As for the percentage of mortality, the results of the study did not show any significant difference between the experimental treatments. The higher concentration of the ALP enzyme in NC compared to PC was noted as well as ALP was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in T3 while a significant decrease was detected in T4 compared to the other treatments. As for the level of phosphorus in the blood, the percentage of thigh ash and the percentage of ash phosphorus showed a significant decrease (P <0.05) in the NC compared to the PC. A significant increase (P <0.05) in T3 and T4 to a level close to the PC was revealed in addition, there are no negative effects of addition of the enzyme in the production and physiological performance of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the combined effect of stocking rate and grazing season, it is very significant to ascertain whether there is a quantitative relationship between plant community characteristics, chemical composition of forage, and grazing behaviors of Tibetan sheep to better utilize native pasture in the northeast region of the Qinghai−Tibetan Plateau (QTP). The two consecutive year observation experiments on Tibetan sheep’s grazing behavior were conducted to evaluate the above-stated relationships between stocking rates of 8 sheep/ha and 16 sheep/ha stocking rates in the both the warm and cold seasons. The results demonstrated that at 8 sheep/ha or in the warm season, due to better forage quality, Tibetan sheep had higher herbage mass, forage crude protein (CP) concentration, CP intake, dry matter intake (DMI), and interval between feed boluses and total number of steps, as well as lower fiber concentration than that at 16 sheep/ha or in the cold season. Diurnal intake rate and walking velocity while intaking increased as both average daylight ambient temperature and relative humidity rose. Using the CP concentration, acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentration, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration, and forage metabolic energy (ME) to predict grazing behavior yielded the best fit equation for Tibetan sheep. For local herdsmen to sustainably use the alpine meadow, 8 sheep/ha in the warm season should be considered as the better grazing condition for preventing grassland degradation.

Neuronal networks in the brain are the structural basis of human cognitive function, and the plasticity of neuronal networks is thought to be the principal neural mechanism underlying learning and memory. Dominated by the Hebbian theory, researchers have devoted extensive effort to studying the changes in synaptic connections between neurons. However, understanding the network topology of all synaptic connections has been neglected over the past decades. Furthermore, increasing studies indicate that synaptic activities are tightly coupled with metabolic energy, and metabolic energy is a unifying principle governing neuronal activities. Therefore, the network topology of all synaptic connections may also be governed by metabolic energy. Here, by implementing a computational model, we investigate the general synaptic organization rules for neurons and neuronal networks from the perspective of energy metabolism. We find that to maintain the energy balance of individual neurons in the proposed model, the number of synaptic connections is inversely proportional to the average of the synaptic weights. This strategy may be adopted by neurons to ensure that the ability of neurons to transmit signals matches their own energy metabolism. In addition, we find that the density of neuronal networks is also an important factor in the energy balance of neuronal networks. An abnormal increase or decrease in the network density could lead to failure of energy metabolism in the neuronal network. These rules may change our view of neuronal networks in the brain and have guiding significance for the design of neuronal network models.

As a sophisticated computing unit, the pyramidal neuron requires sufficient metabolic energy to fuel its powerful computational capabilities. However, the majority of previous works focus on nonlinear integration and energy consumption in individual pyramidal neurons but seldom on the effects of metabolic energy on synaptic transmission and dendritic integration. Here, we developed biologically plausible models to simulate the synaptic transmission and dendritic integration of pyramidal neurons, exploring the relations between synaptic transmission and metabolic energy and between dendritic integration and metabolic energy. We find that synaptic energy not only drives synaptic vesicle cycle, but also participates in the regulation of this cycle. Release probability of synapses adapts to synaptic energy levels by regulating the speed of synaptic vesicle cycle. Besides, we also find that to match neural energy levels, only a part of the synapses receive presynaptic signals during a given period so that neurons have a low action potential frequency. That is, the number of simultaneously active synapses over a period of time should be adapted to neural energy levels.

Exoskeletons and other wearable robotic devices have a wide range of potential applications, including assisting patients with walking pathologies, acting as tools for rehabilitation, and enhancing the capabilities of healthy humans. However, applying these devices effectively in a real-world setting can be challenging, as the optimal design features and control commands for an exoskeleton are highly dependent on the current user, task and environment. Consequently, robust metrics and methods for quantifying exoskeleton performance are required. This work presents an analysis of walking data collected for healthy subjects walking with an active pelvis exoskeleton over three assistance scenarios and five walking contexts. Spatial and temporal, kinematic, kinetic and other novel dynamic gait metrics were compared to identify which metrics exhibit desirable invariance properties, and so are good candidates for use as a stability metric over varying walking conditions. Additionally, using a model-based approach, the average metabolic power consumption was calculated for a subset of muscles crossing the hip, knee and ankle joints, and used to analyse how the energy-reducing properties of an exoskeleton are affected by changes in walking context. The results demonstrated that medio-lateral centre of pressure displacement and medio-lateral margin of stability exhibit strong invariance to changes in walking conditions. This suggests that these dynamic gait metrics are optimised in human gait and are potentially suitable metrics for optimising in an exoskeleton control paradigm. The effectiveness of the exoskeleton at reducing human energy expenditure was observed to increase when walking on an incline, where muscles aiding in hip flexion were assisted, but decrease when walking at a slow speed. These results underline the need for adaptive control algorithms for exoskeletons if they are to be used in varied environments.

(Determination of metabolic energy and nutrient market by product for local poultry feed ingredients) ABSTRACT. This study aims to examine the metabolic energy (ME) and proximate analysis of the coconut husk, garlic skin, heart of young jackfruit, in order to see its potential as a local feed ingredients for poultry, especially chicken. The study was conducted in 3 stages include feed preparation stage, treatment stage and retrieval of data. Stage of treatment involves measurement of metabolic energy to "force feeding" the appropriate method of Sibbald (1976). The results of the proximate analysis and gross energy (GE) are water content ranged from 6.28 to 13.60%, from 5.09 to 12.34% crude protein, crude fat from 0.57 to 48.72%, crude fiber 31.33 to 51.66 %, from 2.38 to 8.39% ash, extract materials without nitrogen from 3.19 to 27.11% and GE 3387.21 to 6491.17 (kcal/kg). The results of ME research is mathematical and biological ME each feed ingredient is coconut husk 4492.84 kcal/kg; 4025.59 kcal /kg, the heart of young jackfruit 1533.44 kcal/kg ; 1625.39 kcal/kg , garlic skins 1388.76 kcal/kg; 1327.65 kcal/kg, leather bean sprouts in 1392.48 kcal/kg; 1089 .33 kcal/kg . Conclusion The study is based on the results of the proximate analysis, the content of GE and EM biological byproduct feedstuffs markets that have potential for use in poultry rations are coconut husk being able to supply the highest energy.

Overweight and obesity is a situation where a person has stacked too much fat that might affect negatively his/her health. Many people skip doing exercises due to several facts related to the encouragement, health-awareness, and time arrangement. Diverse aerobic video games have been proposed to help users in doing exercises. However, we observe some limitations in existing games. For instance, they don't give correct scores while wearing Arabic traditional suits, they don't consider showing immersive realistic scenes, and they don't stimulate users to do exercises and keeping them encouraged to play more. We propose in this paper an aerobic video game that displays real scenes of aerobic coaches and keeps the user notified about doing exercises. It is a kind of serious games that allows users to learn aerobic movements and practice with aerobic coaches. It contains several exercises in which each can be played on normal screen or in fully immersive virtual reality (VR). While the user is playing, he/she can see the playing score with the estimated amount of burned calories. It stores the time when the user plays to remind him/her about doing exercises again. The profound user studies demonstrated the usability and effectiveness of the proposed game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a sophisticated computing unit, the pyramidal neuron requires sufficient metabolic energy to fuel its powerful computational capabilities. However, the majority of previous works focus on nonlinear integration and energy consumption in individual pyramidal neurons but seldom on the effects of metabolic energy on synaptic transmission and dendritic integration. Here, we developed biologically plausible models to simulate the synaptic transmission and dendritic integration of pyramidal neurons, exploring the relations between synaptic transmission and metabolic energy and between dendritic integration and metabolic energy. We find that synaptic energy not only drives synaptic vesicle cycle, but also participates in the regulation of this cycle. Release probability of synapses adapts to synaptic energy levels by regulating the speed of synaptic vesicle cycle. Besides, we also find that to match neural energy levels, only a part of the synapses receive presynaptic signals during a given period so that neurons have a low action potential frequency. That is, the number of simultaneously active synapses over a period of time should be adapted to neural energy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether humans minimize metabolic energy in gait is unknown. Gradient-based optimization could be used to predict gait without using walking data but requires a twice differentiable metabolic energy model. Therefore, the metabolic energy model of Umberger et al. (2003) was adapted to be twice differentiable. Predictive simulations of a reaching task and gait were solved using this continuous model and by minimizing effort. The reaching task simulation showed that energy minimization predicts unrealistic movements when compared to effort minimization. The predictive gait simulations showed that objectives other than metabolic energy are also important in gait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) on the initial phase of angiogenesis and vascularization was investigated, applying the HUVEC cell tube formation assay. PolyP is a physiological and high energy phosphate polymer which has been proposed to act as a metabolic fuel in the extracellular space with only a comparably low ATP content. The experiments revealed that polyP accelerates tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), seeded onto a solidified basement membrane extract matrix which contains polyP-metabolizing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. This effect is abolished by co-addition of apyrase, which degrades ATP to AMP and inorganic phosphate. The assumption that ATP, derived from polyP, activates HUVEC cells leading to tube formation was corroborated by experiments showing that addition of polyP to the cells causes a strong rise of ATP level in the culture medium. Finally, we show that at a later stage of cultivation of HUVEC cells, after 3 d, polyP causes a strong enhancement of the expression of the genes encoding for the two major matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) released by endothelial cells during tube formation, MMP- 9 and MMP- 2. This stimulatory effect is again abrogated by addition of apyrase together with polyP. From these results, we propose that polyP is involved either directly or indirectly in energy supply, via ALP-mediated transfer of energy-rich phosphate under ATP formation. This ATP is utilized for the activation and oriented migration of endothelial cells and for the matrix organization during the initial phases of tube formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition, gas production, metabolic energy and organic matter digestibility of whole cottonseeds of five different cotton cultivars (Gossupolsuz 86, Lifsiz, Suregrov 125, Stoneville 453 and Nazilli). Crude protein contents of cottonseeds varied between 19.03-24.15%; ADF contents between 31.13-35.01%; NDF contents between 38.61-44.86%; crude ash contents between 2.98-4.39%; crude oil contents between 16.26-26.46% and dry matter between 65.06-69.13%. Gas production values varied between 60.33-92.71 mL; metabolic energy (ME) values between 7.94-11.42 MJ/kg/DM and organic matter digestibility (OMD) between 50.51-71.72%. The differences in chemical composition, gas production, ME and OMD values of cotton cultivars were found to be statistically significant (P<0.01). The cultivar Nazilli was prominent with high crude protein, metabolic energy, low ADF and NDF content. Current findings revealed that present cotton cultivars constituted high quality feed source for livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of maturity stages on the chemical composition, in vitro gas and methane production, metabolic energy and organic matter digestibility for eleven Astragalus species widely encountered over the rangelands and intensely grazed by ruminants. Astragalus samples were collected from the rangelands at three different stages namely as before flowering, flowering and bear fruit stages. Dried samples were then subjected to various chemical analysis. Effects of Astragalus species and maturity stages on chemical composition, in vitro gas and methane production, metabolic energy and organic matter digestibility were found to be quite significant (P < 0.001). Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratios increased, while the crude protein, crude ash, crude oil, condensed tannin contents, gas and methane production levels decreased with the progress of maturity stage. It can be suggested that grazing was more favorable at before flowering or flowering stages of Astragalus species because of high crude protein and metabolic energy content of plant at these stages. Also, although all Astragalus species were considered as a quality feed source for ruminants, endemic Astragalus oocephalus and Astragalus longifolius species were prominent with their superior nutritive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During ovary maturation of crabs, vitellogenin (Vg), a precursor molecule of vitellin (Vn) needed for embryogenesis, can be produced in large quantities in the hepatopancreas and then transported to the ovary by the hemolymph. In the present study, effects of Cd on Vg accumulation in the hepatopancreas and Vg transportation of the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense were investigated. We also studied the impacts of Cd on the mRNA expression of genes involved in energy metabolism, protein metabolism, and metallothionein (MT) and glutathione (GSH) synthesis. After Cd treatment, the Vg concentration and the Vg mRNA expression in the hepatopancreas were downregulated. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that the Vg level in the hepatopancreas correlated positively with those of the ovary and hemolymph (correlation coefficients 0.844 and 0.749, respectively), suggesting that the Vg transport from the hepatopancreas to the ovary can be impaired by Cd. The levels of carbohydrate and protein in the hepatopancreas of Cd-exposed crabs were decreased, and an inhibited protein metabolism was also observed. Energy production related isocitrate dehydrogenase and cytochrome C oxidase mRNA expressions, and MT and GSH synthesis increased after 10 days of Cd treatment and decreased after 20 days. Cd also caused a time-dependent upregulation of malondialdehyde. Our findings showed that Cd decreased Vg accumulation in the hepatopancreas due to partially excessive energy consumption and an activated defense system in the hepatopancreas, suggesting a possible regulatory mechanism in S. henanense which is the competitive advantage of energy reserves in metabolic Cd stress responses over the high-energy flux during vitellogenesis to ensure a continuous supply of metabolic energy. Moreover, the damage of Vg accumulation in the hepatopancreas caused by Cd could lead to an insufficient accumulation of Vn in the ovary and cause a retardation of oocyte development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achilles tendon (AT) compliance can affect the generation and transmission of triceps surae muscle forces, and thus has important biomechanical consequences for walking performance. However, the uniarticular soleus (SOL) and the biarticular (GAS) function differently during walking, with in vivo evidence suggesting that their associated fascicles and tendinous structures exhibit unique kinematics during walking. Given the strong association between muscle fiber length, velocity and force production, we conjectured that SOL and GAS mechanics and energetic behavior would respond differently to altered AT compliance. To test this, we characterized GAS and SOL muscle and tendon mechanics and energetics due to systematic changes in tendon compliance using musculoskeletal simulations of walking. Increased tendon compliance enlarged GAS and SOL tendon excursions, shortened fiber operation lengths and affected muscle excitation patterns. For both muscles, an optimal tendon compliance (tendon strains of approximately 5% with maximum isometric force) existed that minimized metabolic energy consumption. However, GAS muscle-tendon mechanics and energetics were significantly more sensitive to changes in tendon compliance than were those for SOL. In addition, GAS was not able to return stored tendon energy during push-off as effectively as SOL, particularly for larger values of tendon compliance. These fundamental differences between GAS and SOL sensitivity to altered tendon compliance seem to arise from the biarticular nature of GAS. These insights are potentially important for understanding the functional consequences of altered Achilles tendon compliance due to aging, injury, or disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]