Benefits of tributyrin on growth performance,gastrointestinal tract development,ruminal bacteria and volatile fatty acid formation of weaned Small-Tailed Han lambs

This study aimed to determine the effects of tributyrin on growth performance,gastrointestinal tract development,ruminal bacteria and volatile fatty acid(VFA)formation.Thirty healthy weaned SmallTailed Han female lambs at 3 months old with BW 27.5±4.1 kg(mean±SD)were randomly assigned to five groups of six lambs each,and each group received tributyrin at 0,0.5,1.0,2.0 and 4.0 g/kg in feed.Weights were measured before the start and end of the study.After 15 d adaptation,DMI,feed,faeces and urine were recorded every week.Lambs were sacrificed at d 75.Compared to lambs fed no tributyrin,lambs fed 4.0 g/kg tributyrin had higher average daily BW gain(P=0.04)and DMI(P<0.01).Tributyrin reduced nitrogen(P<0.01),Ca(P<0.01)and P(P<0.01)losses derived from faeces and urine.The mostly important,tributyrin increased dorsal sac thickness(P<0.01),papillae length(P=0.04)and width(P<0.01),ventral sac papillae length(P<0.01)and width(P<0.01),caudodorsal blind sac thickness(P=0.02),papillae length(P<0.01)and width(P<0.01).Furthermore,tributyrin increased thicknesses of both the duodenum(P<0.01)and ileum(P=0.01),and villus heights of the duodenum(P=0.01),ileum(P<0.01),jejunum(P<0.01)and caecum(P=0.02),but tributyrin decreased duodenal(P<0.01)and caecal crypt depths(P<0.01).Tributyrin reduced rumen pH(P<0.01)while promoting total VFA concentration(P<0.01).Tributyrin improved the structure of rumen bacteria by enhancing Clostridium(P=0.04),Butyrivibrio(P<0.01),Streptococcus(P=0.04),Prevotella(P=0.04),Ruminobacter(P=0.02)and Fibrobacter(P=0.03).In conclusion,tributyrin could stimulate gastrointestinal tract development by enhancing colonization of rumen VFA-producing bacteria,and dietary supplementation of tributyrin at 4.0 g/kg of DM was recommended for the weaned lambs.

Nondestructive identification of softness via bioinspired multisensory electronic skins integrated on a robotic hand

Tactile sensing is essentially required for dexterous manipulation in robotic applications.Mimicking human perception of softness identification in a non-invasive fashion,thus achieving satisfactory interaction with fragile objects remains a grand challenge.Here,a scatheless measuring methodology based on the multisensory electronic skins to quantify the elastic coefficient of soft materials is reported.This recognition approach lies in the preliminary classification of softness by piezoelectric signals with a modified machine learning algorithm,contributing to an appropriate contact force assignment for subsequent quantitative measurements via strain sensing feedback.The integration of multifunctional sensing system allows the manipulator to hold capabilities of selfsensing and adaptive grasping motility in response to objects with the various softness(i.e.,kPa-MPa).As a proof-of-concept demonstration,the biomimetic manipulator cooperates with the robotic arm to realize the intelligent sorting of oranges varying in freshness,paving the way for the development of microsurgery robots,human-machine interfacing,and advanced prosthetics.

TRIM31 facilitates K27-linked polyubiquitination of SYK to regulate antifungal immunity

Spleen tyrosine kinase(SYK)is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase,which plays an essential role in both innate and adaptive immunity.However,the key molecular mechanisms that regulate SYK activity are poorly understood.Here we identified the E3 ligase TRIM31 as a crucial regulator of SYK activation.We found that TRIM31 interacted with SYK and catalyzed K27-linked polyubiquitination at Lys375 and Lys517 of SYK.This K27-linked polyubiquitination of SYK promoted its plasma membrane translocation and binding with the C-type lectin receptors(CLRs).