Search Results (23)

The increasing global demand for protein underscores the necessity for sustainable alternatives to soybean-based animal feed, which poses a challenge to human food security. Thus, the search for sustainable, alternative protein sources is transforming the feed industry in its effort to sustainable operations. In this study, a microbial consortium was subjected to adaptive laboratory evolution using non-protein nitrogen (NPN) and wheat straw as the sole carbon source. The evolved microbial consortium was subsequently utilized to perform solid-state fermentation on wheat straw and NPN to produce feed protein. After 20 generations, the microbial consortium demonstrated tolerance to 5 g/L NPN, including ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, and urea, which represents a fivefold increase compared to the original microbial consortium. Among the three NPNs tested, the evolved microbial consortium exhibited optimal growth performance with ammonium sulfate. Subsequently, the evolved microbial consortium was employed for the solid-state fermentation (SSF) of wheat straw, and the fermentation conditions were optimized. It was found that the true protein content of wheat straw could be increased from 2.74% to 10.42% under specific conditions: ammoniated wheat straw (15% w/w), non-sterilization of the substrate, an inoculation amount of 15% (v/w), nitrogen addition amount of 0.5% (w/w), an initial moisture content of 70%, a fermentation temperature of 30 °C, and a fermentation duration of 10 days. Finally, the SSF process for wheat straw was successfully scaled up from 0.04 to 2.5 kg, resulting in an increased true protein content of 9.84%. This study provides a promising approach for the production of feed protein from straw and NPN through microbial fermentation, addressing protein resource shortages in animal feed and improving the value of waste straw. Full article

Water-based nutrient injection technology, widely used in sectors like viticulture, hydroponics, and intensive animal systems, has previously seen limited application in livestock production. Early mechanical dispensers for nutrients, such as non-protein nitrogen (NPN) and phosphorus (P), were prone to malfunction, leading to inconsistent dosing and potential livestock health risks. This contributed to skepticism and slow adoption among producers. However, recent technological advancements have renewed interest in water-based supplementation for grazing animals. This case study assessed the use of water injection technology to deliver nutrients and a methane-reducing compound to cattle on a commercial cattle station under extensive grazing conditions. A total of 120 steers [initial liveweight (LW) 322.5 ± 28.3 kg] were assigned to three groups: water only (Control), a water supplement containing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, known as uPRO GREEN^® (Green), and uPRO GREEN^® combined with Agolin Ruminant L^® (Blue). The experiment lasted 90 days, during which LW was continuously monitored via a walk-over weighing system, and water disappearance was measured at the mob level. Methane emissions were forecasted using dry matter intake estimates based on observed animal growth rates. Additionally, 24 steers were equipped with on-animal sensors with GPS to monitor behavioral changes. The results indicate that despite the potential reduction in water intake (Control and Green: 948.1 and 973.5 L/d, respectively, versus 547.5 L/d for Blue), there were no negative effects on growth (mean average daily gain of 1.32 kg/d) or animal behaviors. The predicted methane emission of 209.04 g CH₄/head/day could potentially be reduced by 10–15% with the compound used in the current trial. These findings suggest that water-based supplementation can be used to optimize nutrient delivery and a methane-reducing compound without compromising cattle productivity in extensive grazing environments. In addition, the potential enteric methane mitigation presents an opportunity for livestock producers to generate additional revenue through carbon credits or to create new markets for beef with low greenhouse gas emissions when cattle consume methane-reducing compounds. Full article

Dry tea residue is a byproduct generated during the production, processing, and storage of tea leaves. The active ingredients and microbial composition of dried tea residue vary depending on different tea processing techniques. This study investigated the effects of six processed dry tea residues—green tea (G), black tea (B), raw Pu’er tea (Z), white tea (W), and ripe Pu’er tea (D)—at two addition ratios (5% and 10%) on the nutritional composition, fermentation quality, in vitro fermentation, and bacterial community of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in the ensiling process. Compared to the control group (CK), the addition of tea residue significantly increased the crude protein (CP) content in silage by 17.9% to 180% (p < 0.05), and the content increased with increasing ratios of tea residue. The G10 treatment resulted in the highest CP content, reaching 16.4%. Including tea residue also influenced the ratio of ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) to non-protein nitrogen (NPN). Furthermore, the G and Z treatments at both addition levels increased the total phenolic content, DPPH free-radical scavenging activity, and total antioxidant capacity of the sweet sorghum silage. Except for the Z5 and W10 treatments, the addition of tea residue did not significantly affect in vitro dry matter digestibility. Overall, this study showed that incorporating tea residue could enhance the nutritional quality and antioxidant capacity of sweet sorghum silage, and the G5 treatment performed the best. The research results suggested that dried tea residues have potential as silage additives. Full article

It has been documented that the shelf life of fishery products is extremely reduced due to microbial development and its endogenous biochemistry. For this reason, food technologists around the world are researching how to reduce the main processes that lead to spoilage. Recently, high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) has had different applications in the food industry because the cavitation effect can inhibit or reduce microbial development as well as cause conformational changes in muscle enzymes. Therefore, in this study, HIU was applied for 30, 60, and 90 min to the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillet, and subsequently, it was stored on ice for 20 days. During this period, samples were taken every 5 days (day 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20), and moisture content, pH, total volatile base (TVB-N), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), texture, electrophoresis, color, and microbiological analyses (mesophiles and psychrophiles) were determined. No significant changes (p ≥ 0.05) were observed in the moisture content, pH, and the L* parameter, while a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in TVB-N (from 29.67 to 15.09), NPN (from 0.39 to 0.27%), and texture (from 4.88 to 2.69 N) were found. On the other hand, an increase (p < 0.05) in a* (from 2.02 to 4.27) and b* (from 10.66 to 12.45) parameters, as well as total mesophile count (from 2.48 to 6.52 log CFU/g) were detected due to the application of ultrasound. The results suggest that the application of this treatment represents a viable alternative to increase the shelf life and quality of tilapia fillets stored on ice. Full article

The water buffalo faces challenges in optimizing nutrition due to varying local feed resources. In response to this challenge, the current study introduces originality by addressing the lack of region-specific feeding strategies for water buffaloes. This is achieved through the formulation of 30 different diets based on locally available resources, offering a tailored approach to enhance nutritional optimization in diverse agroecological contexts. These diets were segmented into three groups of ten, each catering to the maintenance (MD₁ to MD₁₀), growth (GD₁ to GD₁₀), and lactation/production (PD₁ to PD₁₀) needs of buffaloes. Utilizing local feed ingredients, each diet was assessed for its chemical composition, in vitro gas and methane emissions, and dry matter (DM) disappearance using buffalo rumen liquor. The production diets (127 and 32.2 g/kg DM) had more protein and fats than the maintenance diets (82.0 and 21.0 g/kg DM). There was less (p < 0.05) fiber in the production diets compared to the maintenance ones. Different protein components (P_B1, P_B2) were lower (p < 0.05) in the maintenance diets compared to the growth and production ones, but other protein fractions (P_B3, P_c) were higher (p < 0.05) in the maintenance diet. Furthermore, the growth diets had the highest amount of other protein components (P_A), while the maintenance diets had the highest amount of soluble carbohydrates (586 g/kg DM), whereas the carbohydrate fraction (C_B1) was highest (p < 0.05) in the production diets (187 g/kg DM), followed by the growth (129 g/kg DM) and maintenance diets (96.1 g/kg DM). On the contrary, the carbohydrate C_A fraction was (p < 0.05) higher in the maintenance diets (107 g/kg DM) than in the growth (70.4 g/kg DM) and production diets (44.7 g/kg DM). The in vitro gas production over time (12, 24, and 48 h) was roughly the same for all the diets. Interestingly, certain components (ether extract, lignin, NDIN, ADIN, and P_B3 and C_C) of the diets seemed to reduce methane production, while others (OM, NPN, SP, P_A and P_B1, tCHO and C_B2) increased it. In simple words, this study reveals that different diets affect gas production during digestion, signifying a significant step towards a promising future for buffalo farming through tailored, region-specific formulations. Full article

The impact of unique terrain on the microphysics of nighttime precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has not been fully appreciated, due to a lack of observation. In this study, we used three raindrop spectrometers deployed in the northeastern TP to analyze the characteristics of the raindrop spectrum during two types of summer precipitation. These two types are classified according to their occurrence times: one starting in the daytime and lasting into the night (DP), while the other started at night and continuing into the daytime (NP). The results show that precipitation with a rain rate ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 mm h⁻¹ contributes the most to the total precipitation, with this contribution rate being higher in the NP than in the DP. All the raindrop spectra follow a single-peak distribution pattern, and the logarithm of the generalized intercept parameter (lgN_w) rises with the rain rate. The spectral widths of the DP-n (the nighttime part of the DP) are broader than those of the DP-d (the daytime part of the DP). Moreover, the average $\mathrm{l}\mathrm{g}{N}_w$ and mass-weighted mean diameter ($D_m$) over the northeastern TP were 2.65 mm⁻¹ mm⁻³ and 1.04 mm, respectively, both of which are smaller than their equivalents in the plains. In addition, the gamma distribution can better fit the raindrop size distributions of the two types of precipitation. It is found that precipitation is more likely to occur over the TP at night. The characteristics of NP are reflected in two aspects. First, the sample size of the precipitation at the rain rate of 1.0–5.0 mm h⁻¹ is higher in the NP-n (the nighttime part of the NP), and the precipitation at this rain rate contributes the most to the total precipitation. Second, for the same rain rate, the precipitation particles in the NP-n are larger. Full article

Supplementing tropical grasses with leguminous forages is known to improve the nutritive value of forage-based diets. However, it is not clear how basal grass forages supplemented with Kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides) affect the nitrogen (N) and crude protein (CP) fractions of grass/legume forages. The aim of this study was to determine the N and CP fractions and in vitro ruminal CP degradability of Brachiaria hybrid (B. ruziziensis × B. decumbens × B. brizantha) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) supplemented with Kudzu at a target CP content of 133 ± 0.6 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The grass/legume forages were evaluated for total N, buffer-soluble N (BSN), buffer-insoluble N (BISN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), neutral detergent-insoluble N (NDIN), acid detergent-insoluble N (ADIN), CP fractions A, B₁, B₂, B₃, C, rumen-degradable protein (RDP), rumen-undegraded protein (RUP), and in vitro ruminal CP degradability. The CP concentration of Kudzu was 217 g/kg DM, while grass forages ranged between 79.9 and 112 g/kg DM. The BISN, CP degradability parameters b, and potential degradability were approximately 56, 41, and 74%, respectively, higher in grass forages supplemented with Kudzu. The concentrations of RUP in the grass forages (23.9–32.5 g/kg DM) were significantly improved when they were supplemented with Kudzu (72.0–79.9 g/kg DM). Therefore, we concluded that basal grass forages supplemented with Kudzu to a target CP content can improve the amount of RUP supplied by the forage portion of the diet. This can have a positive effect on forage utilization and animal performance while reducing the cost to feed for ruminants. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with non-protein nitrogen (NPN) or ruminal undegradable protein (RUP) on intake, digestibility, and amino acid (AA) use efficiency of Nellore cattle grazing during the dry season. Eight Nellore steers (12 ± 2 months old) were used in quadruplicate Latin squares (2 × 2). The animals were placed on Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés under continuous grazing. The treatments included the following: (1) urea supplementation (NPN) and (2) supplementation of corn gluten meal 60 (CGM, RUP). Animals supplemented with CGM showed higher intakes of dry matter (DM) supplement, total AA, essential AA, and individual AA. The supplementation did not affect the total AA digestibility, total AA flux, and the AA fluxes of microbial origin and RUP from the diet (p > 0.05). The ruminal microorganism origin flux of total AA to the duodenum was 44.5% and 52.7% for animals supplemented with NPN and CGM, respectively. Animals supplemented with CGM showed an increase in blood concentrations of isoleucine (+19.09 μmol/L), cystine (+27.29 μmol/L), and albumin (+0.11 g/dL) (p < 0.05), but this increase was not accompanied by an improvement in N use efficiency of steers (p > 0.05). RUP supplementation via CGM can be an efficient nutritional strategy to enhance the intake and absorption of AA by Nellore cattle grazing low-quality forage during the dry season. Full article

Fifth-generation technologies have reached a stage where it is now feasible to consider deployments that extend beyond traditional public networks. Central to this process is the application of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in 5G Non-public Networks (NPNs) that can utilise a novel combination of radio technologies to deploy an infrastructure on top of 5G NR or entirely from scratch. However, the use of FWA backhaul faces many challenges in relation to the trade-offs for reduced costs and a relatively simple deployment. Specifically, the use of meshed deployments is critical as it provides resilience against a temporary loss of connectivity due to link errors. In this paper, we examine the use of meshing in a FWA backhaul to determine if an optimal trade-off exists between the deployment of more nodes/links to provide multiple paths to the nearest Point of Presence (POP) and the performance of the network. Using a real 5G NPN deployment as a basis, we have conducted a simulated analysis of increasing network densities to determine the optimal configuration. Our results show a clear advantage for meshing in general, but there is also a performance trade-off to consider between overall network throughput and stability. Full article

The next generation of mobile broadband communication, 5G, is seen as a driver for the industrial Internet of things (IIoT). The expected 5G-increased performance spanning across different indicators, flexibility to tailor the network to the needs of specific use cases, and the inherent security that offers guarantees both in terms of performance and data isolation have triggered the emergence of the concept of public network integrated non-public network (PNI-NPN) 5G networks. These networks might be a flexible alternative for the well-known (albeit mostly proprietary) Ethernet wired connections and protocols commonly used in the industry setting. With that in mind, this paper presents a practical implementation of IIoT over 5G composed of different infrastructure and application components. From the infrastructure perspective, the implementation includes a 5G Internet of things (IoT) end device that collects sensing data from shop floor assets and the surrounding environment and makes these data available over an industrial 5G Network. Application-wise, the implementation includes an intelligent assistant that consumes such data to generate valuable insights that allow for the sustainable operation of assets. These components have been tested and validated in a real shop floor environment at Bosch Termotecnologia (Bosch TT). Results show the potential of 5G as an enhancer of IIoT towards smarter, more sustainable, green, and environmentally friendly factories. Full article

The deterioration of steel rebar in reinforced concrete is a major issue that reduces RC structures’ durability and structural integrity. Significant efforts have been devoted to developing high-performance coatings to provide efficient protection of the rebar, and one promising approach is to utilize nanofiller as additives to improve the performance of polymer resins. This study aimed to improve the corrosion resistance of steel rebar by applying an epoxy coating with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and silica nanopowders (NSs) as additives. The corrosion behavior of nanocomposite-coated rebars was characterized via an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test, and salt spray exposure was utilized to evaluate the durability of the coated rebars. Investigation of abrasion resistance and mechanical properties of the coatings was conducted using the falling sand test and tensile coupon test. In addition, the nanocomposites were scanned by micro-CT to explore the effect of binary nanofillers on the intactness of the polymeric matrix. The GNP-NS hybrid filler reduced the void fraction to 0.002%, whereas the void fraction in pure epoxy was 0.07%. Significant reinforcement was found in the mechanical properties; the addition of GNP-NS hybrid filler increased the tensile strength to 37.1 MPa, a 56% increase compared to the pure epoxy. Additionally, the GNP-NS hybrid fillers have led to an improvement of 16% in the Young’s modulus. In terms of corrosion resistance, the Rc value of rebar coated with GNP-NS coating was about three times greater than the ones coated with a single-filler epoxy coating during the initial test, and this value remained undegraded after 200 hr of exposure. In contrast, the group containing hybrid fillers displayed the lowest thickness loss following abrasion testing, with a 74% reduction in thickness loss, showing the coating’s high abrasion resistance. Hence, the results reveal that GNP-NS hybrid fillers have superior wear resistance, mechanical capabilities, anticorrosion properties, and durability. This research provides valuable insights into developing and implementing high-performance polymeric material to protect steel rebars in concrete structures, therefore significantly increasing the sustainability of concrete structures. Full article

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) due to intense physical exertion can negatively impact contractility and performance. Previously, NPN_1 (PeptiStrong™), a Vicia faba hydrolysate derived from a protein concentrate discovered through artificial intelligence (AI), was preclinically shown to help maintain muscle health, indicating the potential to mediate the effect of DOMS and alter molecular markers of muscle damage to improve recovery and performance. A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 30 healthy male (30–45 years old) volunteers (NCT05159375). Following initial strength testing on day 0, subjects were administered either placebo or NPN_1 (2.4 g/day). On day 14, DOMS was induced using resistance exercise. Strength recovery and fatigue were measured after 48 and 72 h. Biomarker analysis was performed on blood samples collected prior to DOMS induction and 0, 2, 48 and 72 h post-DOMS induction. NPN_1 supplementation significantly improved strength recovery compared to placebo over the 72 h period post-resistance exercise (p = 0.027), measured by peak torque per bodyweight, but not at individual timepoints. Muscle fatigue was significantly reduced over the same 72 h period (p = 0.041), as was myostatin expression (p = 0.006). A concomitant increase in other acute markers regulating muscle protein synthesis, regeneration and myoblast differentiation was also observed. NPN_1 significantly improves strength recovery and restoration, reduces fatigue and positively modulates alterations in markers related to muscle homeostasis. Full article

The objective was to evaluate the effects of urea with post-ruminal absorption in the supplementation of growing Nellore cattle reared on pasture during a seasonal period. For the study, two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, rumen and blood parameters were evaluated using eight rumen-cannulated Nellore bulls with initial body weight (BW) of 763 ± 44 kg, distributed in a double Latin square 4 × 4. In experiment 2, 120 Nellore steers with initial BW of 380 ± 35 kg were used for performance evaluation, distributed in a randomized block design (blocking factor or initial BW). The evaluated treatments were 1: (TP-U) (control) = supplement with 24% crude protein (CP) containing urea as a source of non-protein nitrogen (NPN; 3%) and soybean meal, 2: (TP-PRU) = 24% CP supplement containing post-ruminal urea (PRU; 3.6%) and soybean meal; 3: (NPN-U-PRU) = 24% CP supplement containing urea + post-ruminal urea (U = 3% and PRU = 3.9%), without soybean meal; 4: (NPN-PRU) = supplement with 24% CP containing post-ruminal urea (7.5%), without soybean meal. The supplement was offered at 3 g/kg BW per animal, daily, once a day. All animals were kept on Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu pasture. Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS PROC MIXED, and the data were evaluated by the following contrasts: C1 = TP-U/TP-PRU vs. NPN-U-PRU/NPN-PRU (Soybean meal replacement by NPN); C2 = TP-U vs. TP-PRU (conventional urea vs. post-immune urea); C3 = NPN-U-PRU vs. NPN-PRU (low and high post-ruminal urea-PRU level). The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and NDF was lower when soybean meal was replaced by non-protein nitrogen, also being different between the levels of post-ruminal urea used in the supplement. Ruminal pH was different when soybean meal was replaced by NPN (p = 0.003). Total concentration of short-chain fatty acids, concentrations of isobutyrate (p = 0.003), valerate (p = 0.001), and isovalerate (p = 0.001) were different, and blood urea was different when soybean meal was replaced by NPN (p = 0.006). Simpson’s diversity index was higher in the rumen of animals supplemented with TP-U than in those supplemented with TP-PRU (p = 0.05). A total of 27 phyla, 234 families, and 488 genera were identified. Nitrospirota and Gemmatimonadota phyla were detected just in the rumen of steers supplemented with TP-PRU. The performance (final BW, weight gain and gain per area) of the animals was different, being higher (p = 0.04) in animals supplemented with soybean meal, compared to NPN. The removal of soybean meal from the supplement and its replacement with either conventional urea plus post-ruminal urea or only post-ruminal urea compromises the performance of the animals. The lower the post-ruminal urea inclusion level, the lower the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and NDF, when compared to animals supplemented with higher levels. Full article

To investigate the effect of steaming time (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 min) on the protein degradation and non-volatile flavor substances of swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus), the moisture content, total nitrogen (TN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), free amino acids (FAAs), flavor nucleotides, electronic tongue analysis, and sensory evaluation were determined. The results showed that the contents of NPN and total FAAs were the highest after crabs steamed for 10 min. Meanwhile, the AMP (adenosine monophosphate) content reached the maximum value (332.83 mg/100 g) and the taste active value (TAV) reached 6.67, which indicated that AMP contributes the most to the taste of steamed crab at 10 min. The electronic tongue distinguished the taste difference well, and the sensory score was the highest at 15 min. Combined with equivalent umami concentration (EUC) and TAV value, swimming crab (weight = 200 ± 20 g) steamed for 10–15 min tasted best. Full article

Non-public networks (NPNs) have drawn much attention due to their flexibility and efficiency with B5G. According to the requirements of various application scenarios, NPNs can be tailored to a number of deployments, sharing the B5G system totally or in part. The isolation of NPNs is a critical issue. This paper provides a survey of isolation schemes for B5G NPNs. First, we present an overview of various deployments and the corresponding isolation demands for B5G NPNs. To meet these isolation demands, three kinds of NPN isolation—i.e., spectrum isolation, RAN isolation and CN isolation—are discussed. Then, the corresponding isolation technologies are introduced and analyzed. Finally, open research challenges, such as wireless throughput capacity with spectrum isolation, operation with isolation requirements and data isolation of software-defined CN for B5G NPNs, are discussed. Full article