Dietary supplementation of zinc oxide modulates intestinal functionality during the post-weaning period in clinically healthy piglets

Background To improve our understanding of host and intestinal microbiome interaction,this research investigated the effects of a high-level zinc oxide in the diet as model intervention on the intestinal microbiome and small intestinal functionality in clinically healthy post-weaning piglets.In study 1,piglets received either a high concentration of zinc(Zn)as zinc oxide(Zn O,Zn,2,690 mg/kg)or a low Zn concentration(100 mg/kg)in the diet during the post weaning period(d 14–23).The effects on the piglet's small intestinal microbiome and functionality of intestinal tissue were investigated.In study 2,the impact of timing of the dietary zinc intervention was investigated,i.e.,between d 0–14 and/or d 14–23 post weaning,and the consecutive effects on the piglet's intestinal functionality,here referring to microbiota composition and diversity and gene expression profiles.Results Differences in the small intestinal functionality were observed during the post weaning period between piglets receiving a diet with a low or high concentration Zn O content.A shift in the microbiota composition in the small intestine was observed that could be characterized as a non-pathological change,where mainly the commensals inter-changed.In the immediate post weaning period,i.e.,d 0–14,the highest number of differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in intestinal tissue were observed between animals receiving a diet with a low or high concentration Zn O content,i.e.,23 DEGs in jejunal tissue and 11 DEGs in ileal tissue.These genes are involved in biological processes related to immunity and inflammatory responses.For example,genes CD59 and REG3G were downregulated in the animals receiving a diet with a high concentration Zn O content compared to low Zn O content in both jejunum and ileum tissue.In the second study,a similar result was obtained regarding the expression of genes in intestinal tissue related to immune pathways when comparing piglets receiving a diet with a high concentration Zn O content compared to low Zn O content.Conclusions Supplementing a diet with a pharmaceutical level of Zn as Zn O for clinically healthy post weaning piglets influences various aspects intestinal functionality,in particular in the first two weeks post-weaning.The model intervention increased both the alpha diversity of the intestinal microbiome and the expression of a limited number of genes linked to the local immune system in intestinal tissue.The effects do not seem related to a direct antimicrobial effect of Zn O.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nano-sized Zinc Oxide Coating on Cellulosic Fibers： Photoactivity and Flame-retardancy Study

We have investigated the effect of zinc oxide as a photocatalyst and durable flame-retardant on cellulosic fibers. Zinc oxide nanocrystals were successfully synthesized and deposited onto cellulosic fibers using sol-gel process at low temperature. The samples were characterized by means of several techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogra- vimetric analysis. The photocatalytic activity was tested by measuring the photodegradation of methylene blue under UV-Vis illumination. Moreover, flame-retardancy was tested by vertical flame spread test. The optimum add-on value for donating flame-retardancy onto cellulosic fabric was obtained to be in the range of 15.24 to 23.20 g of the ZnO per 100 g of fabric. Thermogravimetric analysis of pure and flame-retarded samples were accomplished and discussed. The results obtained are in agreement with Wall effect theory and Coating theory. The originality of this work on introducing photoactive flame-retarded fibers is highly valuable for industrial implementation.

Electronic and thermal properties of Ag-doped single crystal zinc oxide via laser-induced technique

The doping of ZnO has attracted lots of attention because it is an important way to tune the properties of ZnO.Postdoping after growth is one of the efficient strategies.Here,we report a unique approach to successfully dope the single crystalline ZnO with Ag by the laser-induced method,which can effectively further post-treat grown samples.Magnetron sputtering was used to coat the Ag film with a thickness of about 50 nm on the single crystalline ZnO.Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet(Nd:YAG)laser was chosen to irradiate the Ag-capped ZnO samples,followed by annealing at700℃for two hours to form ZnO:Ag.The three-dimensional(3D)information of the elemental distribution of Ag in ZnO was obtained through time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry(TOF-SIMS).TOF-SIMS and core-level x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)demonstrated that the Ag impurities could be effectively doped into single crystalline ZnO samples as deep as several hundred nanometers.Obvious broadening of core level XPS profiles of Ag from the surface to depths of hundred nms was observed,indicating the variance of chemical state changes in laser-induced Ag-doped ZnO.Interesting features of electronic mixing states were detected in the valence band XPS of ZnO:Ag,suggesting the strong coupling or interaction of Ag and ZnO in the sample rather than their simple mixture.The Ag-doped ZnO also showed a narrower bandgap and a decrease in thermal diffusion coefficient compared to the pure ZnO,which would be beneficial to thermoelectric performance.

Maternal zinc alleviates tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress on embryonic development involving the activation of Nrf2/PGC-1αpathway

Background Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by excessive mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(ROS)damages embryonic development and leads to growth arrest.Objective The purpose of this study is to elucidate whether maternal zinc(Zn)exert protective effect on oxidative stress targeting mitochondrial function using an avian model.Result In ovo injected tert-butyl hydroperoxide(BHP)increases(P<0.05)hepatic mitochondrial ROS,malondialdehyde(MDA)and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG),and decreases(P<0.05)mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)copy number and adenosine triphosphate(ATP)content,contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction.In vivo and in vitro studies revealed that Zn addition enhances(P<0.05)ATP synthesis and metallothionein 4(MT4)content and expression as well as alleviates(P<0.05)the BHP-induced mitochondrial ROS generation,oxidative damage and dysfunction,exerting a protective effect on mitochondrial function by enhancing antioxidant capacity and upregulating the mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 and PGC-1α.Conclusions The present study provides a new way to protect offspring against oxidative damage by maternal Zn supplementation through the process of targeting mitochondria involving the activation of Nrf2/PGC-1αsignaling.

Efficient degradation of dye pollutants in wastewater via photocatalysis using a magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide-based catalyst

In this paper, we present a proof-of-concept study of the enhancement of photocatalytic activity via a combined strategy of fabricating a visible-light responsive ternary heterostructure and improving overall photostability by incorporating magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide (ZGF). A solvothermal approach was used to synthesize the catalyst. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopic, energy dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopic, vibrating sample magnetometric, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the synthesized samples. The obtained optimal Zn(NO_(3))_(2) concentration, temperature, and heating duration were 0.10 mol/L, 600℃, and 1 h, respectively. The XRD pattern revealed the presence of peaks corresponding to zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide, indicating that the ZGF catalyst was effectively synthesized. Furthermore, when the developed ZGF was used for methylene blue dye degradation, the optimum irradiation time, dye concentration, catalyst dosage, irradiation intensity, and solution pH were 90 min, 10 mg/L, 0.03 g/L, 100 W, and 8.0, respectively. Therefore, the synthesized ZGF system could be used as a catalyst to degrade dyes in wastewater samples. This hybrid nanocomposite consisting of zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide could also be used as an effective photocatalytic degrader for various dye pollutants.

Effects of Zinc Oxide Particles with Different Sizes on Root Development in Oryza sativa

Given the consistent release of zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles into the environment,it is urgent to study their impact on plants in depth.In this study,grains of rice were treated with two different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles(NP-ZnO,10 and 100 mg/L),and their bulk counterpart(B-ZnO)were used to evaluate whether ZnO action could depend on particle size.To test this hypothesis,root growth and development assessment,oxidative stress parameters,indole-3-acetic acid(IAA)content and molecules/enzymes involved in IAA metabolism were analyzed.In situ localization of Zn in control and treated roots was also performed.Though Zn was visible inside root cells only following nanoparticle treatment,both materials(NP-ZnO and B-ZnO)were able to affect seedling growth and root morphology,with alteration in the concentration/pattern of localization of oxidative stress markers and with a different action depending on particle size.In addition,only ZnO supplied as bulk material induced a significant increase in both IAA concentration and lateral root density,supporting our hypothesis that bulk particles might enhance lateral root development through the rise of IAA concentration.Apparently,IAA concentration was influenced more by the activity of the catabolic peroxidases than by the protective action of phenols.

Multi-Objective Adaptive Optimization Model Predictive Control:Decreasing Carbon Emissions from a Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln

The zinc oxide rotary kiln,as an essential piece of equipment in the zinc smelting industrial process,is presenting new challenges in process control.China’s strategy of achieving a carbon peak and carbon neutrality is putting new demands on the industry,including green production and the use of fewer resources;thus,traditional stability control is no longer suitable for multi-objective control tasks.Although researchers have revealed the principle of the rotary kiln and set up computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulation models to study its dynamics,these models cannot be directly applied to process control due to their high computational complexity.To address these issues,this paper proposes a multi-objective adaptive optimization model predictive control(MAO-MPC)method based on sparse identification.More specifically,with a large amount of data collected from a CFD model,a sparse regression problem is first formulated and solved to obtain a reduction model.Then,a two-layered control framework including real-time optimization(RTO)and model predictive control(MPC)is designed.In the RTO layer,an optimization problem with the goal of achieving optimal operation performance and the lowest possible resource consumption is set up.By solving the optimization problem in real time,a suitable setting value is sent to the MPC layer to ensure that the zinc oxide rotary kiln always functions in an optimal state.Our experiments show the strength and reliability of the proposed method,which reduces the usage of coal while maintaining high profits.

Incorporation of Nano-Zinc Oxide in Lamellar Zirconium Phosphate: Synthesis and Characterization

In order to provide ultraviolet barrier, antifungal and antibacterial properties, nano-zinc oxide (ZnO) was added to lamellar zirconium phosphate (ZrP). The phosphate was synthesized via reaction of zirconium oxychloride octahydrate and phosphoric acid following its chemical modification with Jeffamine and nano-ZnO. Diffractometric, morphological, thermal, structural and relaxometric evaluations were conducted. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed increase of the area between 4000 - 3000 cm-1 due to the formation of ionic specie PO? +NH3-[C-(H)(CH3)-CH2-O-(C-(H)(CH3)-CH2-O)8-(CH2-CH2-O-CH3)] and nano-ZnO particles. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction indicated that intercalation of Jeffamine was successful. Thermogravimetry confirmed that nano-ZnO particle forced the expulsion of Jeffamine outside ZrP galleries. Scanning electron microscopy evidenced the Jeffamine intercalation and sample heterogeneity. Hydrogen molecular relaxation indicated the increase of molecular rigidity owing to the formation of ionic specie and the addition of nano-ZnO particles. It was postulated that a multifunctional and miscellaneous material constituted by as prepared ZrP, some delaminated ZrP platelets and nano-ZnO particles was achieved. The material has potential for usage as filler in polymeric composites.

Effect of RF power on the properties of transparent conducting zirconium-doped zinc oxide films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering

Transparent and conducting zirconium-doped zinc oxide films with high transparency and relatively low resistivity have been successfully prepared by radio frequency （RF） msgnetron sputtering at room temperature, The RF power is varied from 75 to 150 W. At first the crystallinity and conductivity of the film are improved and then both of them show deterioration with the increase of the RF power, The lowest resistivity achieved is 2.07 × 10^-3Ωcm at an RF power of 100W with a Hall mobility of 16cm^2V^-1s^-1 and a carrier concentration of 1.95 × 10^20 cm^-3. The films obtained are polycryetalline with a hexagonal structure and a preferred orientation along the c-axis, All the films have a high transmittance of approximately 92% in the visible range. The optical band gap is about 3.33 eV for the films deposited at different RF powers.

Recovery of zinc from low-grade zinc oxide ores by solvent extraction

The recovery of zinc from low-grade zinc oxide ores with solvent extraction-electrowinning technique was investigated by using D2EHPA as extractant and 260 # kerosene as diluent. The results show that it is possible to selectively leach zinc from the ores by heap leaching. The zinc concentration of leach solution in the first leaching cycle is 32.57 g/L, and in the sixteenth cycle the zinc concentration is 8.27g/L after solvent extraction. The leaching solution is subjected to solvent extraction, scrubbing and selective stripping for enrichment of zinc and removal of impurities. The pregnant zinc sulfate solution produced from the stripping cycle is suitable for zinc electrowinning. Extra-pure zinc metal was obtained in the electrowinning test under conventional conditions.

Extracting reaction mechanism analysis of Zn and Si from zinc oxide ore by NaOH roasting method

The orthogonal test was used to optimize the reaction conditions of roasting zinc oxide ore with NaOH aiming to comprehensively utilize zinc oxide ore.The optimized reaction conditions were molar ratio of NaOH to zinc oxide ore 6:1,roasting temperature 450°C,holding time 150 min.The molar ratio of NaOH to zinc oxide ore was the most predominant factor affecting the extraction ratios of zinc oxide and silica.The mineral phase transformations were investigated by testing the phases of specimens obtained at different temperatures.The process was that silica reacted with molten NaOH to form Na_2SiO_3 at first,then transformed into Na_4SiO_4 with temperature rising.ZnCO_3 and its decomposing product ZnO reacted with NaOH to form Na_2ZnO_2.Na_2ZnSiO_4was also obtained.The reaction rate was investigated using unreacted shrinking core model.Two models used were chemical reaction at the particle surface and diffusion through the product layer.The results indicated that the reaction rate was combine-controlled by two models.The activation energy and frequency factor were obtained as 24.12 k J/mol and 0.0682,respectively.

Indium recovery from zinc oxide flue dust by oxidative pressure leaching

Indium was recovered from zinc oxide flue dust(ZOFD)with sulfuric acid by oxidative pressure leaching in an autoclave, and the effects of different technological conditions on indium leaching were studied.Potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide were used as oxidants.The atmospheric pressure leaching experiments were also carried out.The experimental results show that the leaching rate of indium can be effectively improved by oxidative pressure leaching.The optimum conditions of pressure leaching are determined as sulfuric 5.10 mol/L acid,leaching time 150 min,temperature 90℃,and the H2O2 dosage of 0.5 mL/g or 2.5%KMnO4.The leaching rate of indium is more than 90%,which is increased by 13%compared with that of atmospheric pressure leaching process without oxidant under the optimum conditions.

Synthesis,Growth Mechanism,and Applications of Zinc Oxide Nanomaterials

This article reviews recent progresses in growth mechanism, synthesis, and applications of zinc oxide nano-materials （mainly focusing on one-dimensional （1D） nanomaterials）. In the first part of this article, we briefly introduce the importance, the synthesis methods and growth mechanisms, the properties and applications of ZnO 1D nanomaterials. In the second part of this article, the growth mechanisms of ZnO 1D nanomaterials will be discussed in detail in the framework of vapor-liquid-solid （VLS）, vapor-solid （VS）, and aqueous solution growth （ASG） approaches. Both qualitative and quantitative information will be provided to show how a controlled synthesis of ZnO 1D nanomaterials can be achieved. In the third part of this article, we present recent progresses in our group for the synthesis of ZnO 1D nanomaterials, and the results from other groups will only be mentioned briefly. Especially, experiment designing according to theories will be elaborated to demonstrate the concept of controlled synthesis. In the fourth part of this article, the properties and potential applications of ZnO 1D nanomaterials will be treated. Finally, a summary part will be presented in the fifth section. The future trend of research for ZnO 1D nanomaterials will be pointed out and key issues to be solved will be proposed.

Carbothermic Reduction of Zinc Oxide Concentrate by Microwave

Industrial application of microwave, as a heating source for material processing, was reviewed. The feasibility of carbothermic reduction of zinc oxide concentrate, as well as the effect of operating parameters was investigated, using a home style microwave oven at 2.45 GHz. Zinc oxide concentrate does not effectively absorb microwave energy, while any source of carbon, which is used as the reduction agent, absorbs microwave energy very well. In this respect coke breeze was found to be the best, and thus, coke was used both as the reducing agent and the absorbent of microwave energy. It was also found that any increase in the carbon content and size, increases the reduction rate. Increasing the microwave power and the size of the sample could also increase the reduction rate. Further investigation shows that when zinc oxide is exposed to the microwave for some time, the rate of the reduction by conventional method increases.

Electrochemical Synthesis and Photocatalytic Property of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Zinc oxide(ZnO) nanoparticles of varying sizes(20, 44 and 73 nm) have been successfully synthesized by a hybrid electrochemical-thermal method using aqueous sodium bicarbonate electrolyte and sacrificial Zn anode and cathode in an undivided cell under galvanostatic mode at room temperature. The as-synthesized product was characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra(XPS), Scanning electron microscopy along with Energy dispersive analysis of X-ray(SEM/EDAX), Transmission electron microscopy(TEM), Ultra Violet- Diffuse reflectance spectroscopic methods(UV-DRS). and UV-DRS spectral methods.The as-synthesized compound were single-crystalline and Rietveld refinement of calcined samples exhibited hexagonal(Wurtzite) structure with space group of P63mc(No.186). The band gaps for synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were 3.07, 3.12 and 3.13 e V, respectively, based on the results of diffuse reflectance spectra(DRS). The electrochemically synthesized ZnO powder was used as photocatalysts for UV-induced degradation of Methylene blue(MB). Photodegradation was also found to be function of exposure time and dye solution p H. It has been found that as-synthesized powder has excellent photocatalytic activity with 92% degradation of MB, indicating ZnO nanoparticles can play an important role as a semiconductor photocatalyst.

Microbial synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and their potential application as an antimicrobial agent and a feed supplement in animal industry: a review

In recent years, zinc oxide nanoparticles(ZnO NPs) have gained tremendous attention attributed to their unique properties. Notably, evidence has shown that zinc is an important nutrient in living organisms. As such, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes including bacteria, fungi and yeast are exploited for the synthesis of ZnO NPs by using microbial cells or enzyme, protein and other biomolecules compounds in either an intracellular or extracellular route. ZnO NPs exhibit antimicrobial properties, however, the properties of nanoparticles(NPs) are depended upon on their size and shape, which make them specific for various applications. Nevertheless, the desired size and shape of NPs can be obtained through the optimization process of microbes mediated synthesis by manipulating their reaction conditions. It should be noted that ZnO NPs are synthesized by various chemical and physical methods.Nonetheless, these methods are expensive and not environmentally friendly. On that account, the microbes mediated synthesis of ZnO NPs have rapidly evolved recently where the microbes are cleaner, eco-friendly, nontoxic and biocompatible as the alternatives to chemical and physical practices. Moreover, zinc in the form of NPs is more effective than their bulk counterparts and thus, they have been explored for many potential applications including in animals industry. Notably, with the advent of multi-drug resistant strains, ZnO NPs have emerged as the potential antimicrobial agents. This is mainly due to their superior properties in combating a broad spectrum of pathogens. Moreover, zinc is known as an essential trace element for most of the biological function in the animal’s body. As such, the applications of ZnO NPs have been reported to significantly enhance the health and production of the farm animals. Thus, this paper reviews the biological synthesis of ZnO NPs by the microbes, the mechanisms of the biological synthesis, parameters for the optimization process and their potential application as an antimicrobial agent and feed supplement in the animal industry as well as their toxicological hazards on animals.

Scavenging Action of Zinc and Green Tea Polyphenol on Cisplatin and Nickel Induced Nitric Oxide Generation and Lipid Peroxidation in Rats

Objective Toxic metal ions have been implicated in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). Metallothionines (MT) and plant flavonoids have been reported in the intervention against oxidative damage. We investigated the effect of zinc induced MT and green tea polyphenol (GTP) in reducing the oxidative responses induced by nickel and platinum. Methods Zinc (10 mg/kg b. wt, sc) was administered to rats twice at a gap of 24hrs and GTP (10 mg/100 mL in drinking water) was fed ad libitum for 8 days. Nickel chloride (150 umol/kgb.wt, ip) and cisplatin (50 mmol/kg b.wt, sc) was administered to rats 24 h after Zn or GTP pre-treatment. Animals of all the groups were sacrificed 16 hrs after treatment and biochemical markers for toxicity were monitored. Results Zinc or GTP pre-treatment caused significant protection against nickel or cisplatin enhanced mortality in rats, and reduction in lipid peroxidation and NO. Conclusion It is proposed that inhibition of ROS and NO by GTP and zinc may prove useful as a selective pharmacological agent in the amelioration of metal toxicity.

Synthesis, characterization and biocompatibility studies of zinc oxide(ZnO) nanorods for biomedical application

Nanoparticles are increasingly being recognized for their potential utility in biological applications including nanomedicine.Here,we have synthesized zinc oxide(ZnO)nanorods using zinc acetate and hexamethylenetetramine as precursors followed by characterizing using X-ray diffraction,fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.The growth of synthesized zinc oxide nanorods was found to be very close to its hexagonal nature,which is confirmed by X-ray diffraction.The nanorod was grown perpendicular to the long-axis and grew along the[001]direction,which is the nature of ZnO growth.The morphology of synthesized ZnO nanorods from the individual crystalline nucleus was confirmed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.The length of the nanorod was estimated to be around 21 nm in diameter and 50 nm in length.Our toxicology studies showed that synthesized ZnO nanorods exposure on hela cells has no significant induction of oxidative stress or cell death even in higher concentration(10μg/ml).The results suggest that ZnO nanorods might be a safer nanomaterial for biological applications.

Enhancement of thermal stability and UV resistance of halloysite nanotubes using zinc oxide functionalization via a solvent-free approach

The aim of this study was to synthesize and evaluate the thermal properties and ultraviolet(UV)resistance of zinc oxide-functionalized halloysite nanotubes(HNT–ZnO).The HNT–ZnO was synthesized using a facile solvent-free route.The properties of the HNT–ZnO nanofillers were characterized using zeta-potential measurement,X-ray diffraction(XRD),field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA).The immobilization of ZnO nanoparticles onto HNT is feasible even at the lowest mass ratio of HNT/ZnO.The TGA results indicate that the thermal stability of the HNT–ZnO nanofillers is higher than that of the HNT.Furthermore,UV?Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy(UV-DRS)results show that the HNT–ZnO achieve a total reflectance as high as approximately 87.5%in the UV region,as compare with 66.9%for the HNT.In summary,the immobilization of ZnO onto HNT is a viable approach for increasing the thermal stability and improving the UV shielding of HNT.

Three‑Dimensional Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Spheres Modified with Ultrafine Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Microwave Absorption Properties

Currently,electromagnetic radiation and interference have a significant effect on the operation of electronic devices and human health systems.Thus,developing excellent microwave absorbers have a huge significance in the material research field.Herein,a kind of ultrafine zinc oxide(ZnO)nanoparticles(NPs)supported on three-dimensional(3D)ordered mesoporous carbon spheres(ZnO/OMCS)is prepared from silica inverse opal by using phenolic resol precursor as carbon source.The prepared lightweight ZnO/OMCS nanocomposites exhibit 3D ordered carbon sphere array and highly dispersed ultrafine ZnO NPs on the mesoporous cell walls of carbon spheres.ZnO/OMCS-30 shows microwave absorbing ability with a strong absorption(−39.3 dB at 10.4 GHz with a small thickness of 2 mm)and a broad effective absorption bandwidth(9.1 GHz).The outstanding microwave absorbing ability benefits to the well-dispersed ultrafine ZnO NPs and the 3D ordered mesoporous carbon spheres structure.This work opened up a unique way for developing lightweight and high-efficient carbon-based microwave absorbing materials.