Melatonin for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury（SCI） from trauma or disease severely impairs sensory and motor function. Neurorehabilitation after SCI is a complex medical process that focuses on improving neurologic function and repairing damaged connections in the central nervous system. An increasing number of preclinical studies suggest that melatonin may be useful for the treatment of SCI. Melatonin is an indolamine that is primarily secreted by the pineal gland and known to be regulated by photoperiodicity. However, it is also a versatile hormone with antioxidative, antiapoptotic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we review the neuroprotective properties of melatonin and the potential mechanisms by which it might be beneficial in the treatment of SCI. We also describe therapies that combine melatonin with exercise, oxytetracycline, and dexamethasone to attenuate the secondary injury after SCI and limit potential side effects. Finally, we discuss how injury at different spinal levels may differentially affect the secretion of melatonin.

In-situ Enhanced Toughening of Poly（ethylene terephthalate）/elastomer Blends via Gamma-Ray Radiation at Presence of Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate

Gamma 光线放射总是是在聚合物混合修改界面的性质的一个方便、有效的方法。在这个工作， trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA ) 的小数量被合并到(乙烯 terephthalate )( 宠物) poly， /random terpolymer 弹性体(ST2000 ) 由融化混合相配。TMPTA 的存在将在相配的高温度导致宠物和 ST2000 分子的链的 crosslinking，导致在影响力量的改进但是在张力的力量的损失。当 PET/ST2000 混合被 gamma 光线放射照耀时，综合机械性质能在高吸收的剂量显著地被提高。在 100 kGy 的剂量的照耀的样品甚至 couldnt 在影响测试负担下面被打破，并且同时，将近不有张力的力量的损失。基于混合的断裂影响的表面形态学的分析，在高吸收的剂量的 gamma 光线放射能在 situ 推进，这能被结束由支持 TMPTA 和聚合物链的 crosslinking 反应提高界面的粘附。作为结果， PET/ST2000 混合的坚韧和力量能戏剧性地被改进。这个工作向一个面部、实际的方法提供到聚合物混合的制造高坚韧和力量。

Wheat silage partially replacing oaten hay exhibited greater feed efficiency and fibre digestion despite low feed intake by feedlot lambs

This study aimed to investigate the feeding effect of wheat silage on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,rumen fermentation,and microbiota composition in feedlot lambs.Sixty-four male crossbred Chinese Han lambs(BW=27.8±0.67 kg,3 months of age)were randomly assigned to four ration groups with wheat silage replacing 0%(WS0),36%(WS36),64%(WS64),and 100%(WS100)of oaten hay on forage dry matter basis.The concentrate-to-forage ratio was 80:20 and the feeding trial lasted 52 d.Increasing wheat silage inclusion linearly decreased dry matter intake by 4%to 27%(P<0.01).However,increasing the wheat silage replacement of oaten hay by no more than 64%improved the feed efficiency by 14%as noted by the feed-to-gain ratio(P=0.04).Apparent digestibility of organic matter(P<0.01),neutral detergent fibre(P=0.04)and acid detergent fibre(P<0.01)quadratically increased.Ammonia nitrogen(P=0.01)decreased while microbial protein production(P<0.01)increased with the increase of wheat silage inclusion.Total volatile fatty acids concentration increased quadratically with the increase of wheat silage inclusion(P<0.01),and the highest occurred in WS64.The molar proportion of acetate(P<0.01)and acetate-to-propionate ratio(P=0.04)decreased while butyrate(P<0.01)and isovalerate(P=0.04)increased.Increasing wheat silage inclusion increased the Firmicutes-toBacteroidota ratio by 226%to 357%,resulting in Firmicutes instead of Bacteroidota being the most abundant phylum.The relative abundance of cellulolytic Ruminococcus numerically increased but that of amylolytic Prevotella(P<0.01)decreased as increasing wheat silage inclusion.Taken together,increasing wheat silage replacement of oaten hay by no more than 64%exhibited greater feed efficiency and fibre digestion despite low feed intake by feedlot lambs due to the change of Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio in the rumen.

Synthesis and morphology control of raspberry-like poly(ethylene terephthalate)/polyacrylonitrile microspheres

The fabrication of raspberry-like poly（ethylene terephthalate）/polyacrylonitrile（PET/PAN） microspheres by g-ray radiation-induced polymerization of acrylonitrile on micron-sized PET microspheres were first reported in this work. A PET emulsion was firstly prepared by dispersing a PET solution with 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane/phenol mixture as the solvent into an aqueous solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate.Then, PET microspheres were formed by precipitating the PET emulsion droplets from ethanol. The influence of the PET solvent and the weight ratio of ethanol to PET emulsion on the morphology of the PET microspheres had been investigated. After the surface of the prepared PET microspheres was grafted with poly（acrylic acid）, the grafting polymerization of AN also had been successfully initiated by g-ray radiation to form PAN microspheres with a size of about 100 nm on the PET microspheres. This work provides a new method to fabricate micron-sized PET microspheres, and further expands the functionalization of PET and its application fields.

The release and catabolism of ferulic acid in plant cell wall by rumen microbes:A review

Ferulic acid(FA)is one of the most abundant hydroxycinnamic acids in the plant world,especially in the cell wall of grain bran,in comparison with forage and crop residues.Previous studies noted that FA was mainly linked with arabinoxylans and lignin in plant cell walls in ester and ether covalent forms.After forages were ingested by ruminant animals or encountered rumen microbial fermentation in vitro,these cross-linkages form physical and chemical barriers to protect cell-wall carbohydrates from microbial attack and enzymatic hydrolysis.Additionally,increasing studies noted that FA presented some toxic effect on microbial growth in the rumen.In recent decades,many studies have addressed the relationships of ester and/or ether-linked FA with rumen nutrient digestibility,and there is still some controversy whether these linkages could be used as a predicator of forage digestibility in ruminants.The authors in this review summarized the possible relationships between ester and/or ether-linked FA and fiber digestion in ruminants.Rumen microbes,especially bacteria and fungi,were found capable of breaking down the ester linkages within plant cell walls by secreting feruloyl and p-coumaroyl esterase,resulting in the release of free FA and improvement of cell wall digestibility.The increasing evidence noted that these esterases secreted by rumen microbes presented synergistic effects with xylanase and cellulase to effectively hydrolyze forage cell walls.Some released FA were absorbed through the rumen wall directly and entered into blood circulation and presented antioxidant effects on host animals.The others were partially catabolized into volatile fatty acids by rumen microbes,and the possible catabolic pathways discussed.To better understand plant cell wall degradation in the rumen,the metabolic fate of FA along with lignin decomposition mechanisms are needed to be explored via future microbial isolation and incubation studies with aims to maximize dietary fiber intake and enhance fiber digestion in ruminant animals.