Quantum Secure Multiparty Computation with Symmetric Boolean Functions

We propose a class of n-variable Boolean functions which can be used to implement quantum secure multiparty computation.We also give an implementation of a special quantum secure multiparty computation protocol.An advantage of our protocol is that only 1 qubit is needed to compute the n-tuple pairwise AND function,which is more efficient comparing with previous protocols.We demonstrate our protocol on the IBM quantum cloud platform,with a probability of correct output as high as 94.63%.Therefore,our protocol presents a promising generalization in realization of various secure multipartite quantum tasks.

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.

Investigating pharmacological mechanisms of andrographolide on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH):A bioinformatics approach of network pharmacology

Objective:To investigate the mechanisms of andrographolide against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)based on network pharmacology,so as to provide a reference for further study of andrographolide in the treatment of NASH and other metabolic diseases.Methods:The methionine-and choline-deficient(MCD)diet-induced NASH mice were treated by administration of andrographolide,and serum transaminase and pathological changes were analyzed.The network pharmacology-based bioinformatic strategy was then used to search the potential targets,construct protein–protein interaction(PPI)network,analyze gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment,and conduct molecular docking to explore the molecular mechanisms.Results:The predicted core targets TNF,MAPK8,IL6,IL1B and AKT1 were enriched in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)signaling pathway and against NASH by regulation of de novo fatty acids synthesis,anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation.Conclusion:This work provides a scientific basis for further demonstration of the anti-NASH mechanisms of andrographolide.

Chromium propionate improves performance and carcass traits in broilers

There is evidence to suggest that poultry may have a dietary requirement for metabolically available chromium(Cr)that exceeds the amount provided through wheat soybean meal diets.The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplemental organic Cr from Cr propionate at different dose levels(control=0μg/kg,T1=200μg/kg,T2=400μg/kg)on the growth performance,carcass traits,and meat quality of broilers.Weight gain and feed intake of each treatment were recorded at the start and after 14,28 and 35 d,and feed conversion ratios(FCR)were calculated accordingly.At35 d of age,birds were randomly selected and euthanized for carcass evaluation.Results of the first trial indicate that both Cr propionate treatments increased final body weight(P<0.05),feed efficiency(P<0.05)and body weight gain(P<0.0001).Furthermore,Cr propionate supplementation improved(P<0.0001)all carcass characteristics.Interestingly,with increased Cr dosage,carcass yield,dressing percentage and breast meat yield increased linearly(P<0.0001).The second study reveals that the feed intake in the control group was significantly higher compared to both Cr propionate supplemented groups(T1&T2).Furthermore,the Cr propionate supplemented T2 group displayed a significantly lower FCR than the control and T1 group(P=0.027).Finally,Cr propionate supplementation increased the dressing percentage compared to control birds(P<0.0001).In the third experiment,Cr propionate supplementation(T1&T2)increased final body weight and decreased FCR compared with the control treatment.These effects were highly significant(P<0.0001)throughout all feeding phases of the trial.Cr propionate supplementation also increased(P<0.0001)carcass yield,dressing percentage,breast meat yield,leg and thigh weights compared with the control treatment.In conclusion,growth performance,feed conversion,carcass yield,breast and leg meats of broiler birds can be significantly improved by dietary inclusion of Cr propionate.Cr propionate can be supplemented to broiler birds from 1 d old of age at a level that provides 200 or 400μg/kg organic Cr and can increase the efficiency of broiler production.

Balanced nutrient density for broiler chickens using a range of digestible lysine-to-metabolizable energy ratios and nutrient density:Growth performance,nutrient utilisation and apparent metabolizable energy

Currently,specific nutrient concentration,metabolizable energy(ME)and digestible amino acids are used as feed formulation criteria.A balanced nutrient density(BND)concept based on 2 criteria of nutrient density and balanced amino acids-to-ME ratio may offer more flexibility in optimisation of profit in formulation of diets compared with current formulation based on set values per unit of feed mass.A total of 672 one-d-old off-sex male Ross 308 broiler chickens were used across two 42-d performance trials in a 3×2 factorial arrangement of treatments with each diet replicated 8 times(14 birds per replicate).The experimental factors were 2 nutrient density levels(low[LD]and high[HD])and 3 digestible lysine-to-ME ratios(DLYS:ME;low,medium,and high).Low density diets had ME of 2,876 and 3,023 kcal/kg for starter and finisher,respectively,while values for HD diets were 3,169 and 3,315 kcal/kg with proportionally higher non-nitrogenated nutrients.Separate digestibility and apparent metaboliz-able energy(AME)assays were conducted at d 21 and 42.Digestibility assays at d 7 were conducted on birds used for performance trials.Regardless of the diet density,birds fed low DLYS:ME had a lower(P<0.01)feed intake(d 0 to 42)than medium and high DLYS:ME.Without interaction,birds fed low and medium DLYS:ME had a similar body weight gain being the heaviest while birds low DLYS:ME were the lightest.By an interaction(P<0.05),the highest overall FCR value was observed for birds fed LD×low DLYS:ME and improved linearly when DLYS:ME increased to the highest level reaching a limit for birds fed HD×medium DLYS:ME.Calorie conversion linearly decreased(P<0.001)with increments in DLYS:ME.Jejunal and ileal starch and protein digestibility were affected on d 21 and 42 but not on d 7 of age.Given the independence of response on BW and feed consumption,the use of BND as a flexible system in diet formulations has the potential to enable more accurate formulation for optimisation of growth performance of broiler chickens.

Importance of adapted digestion conditions to simulate in vitro lipid digestion of broilers in different life stages

In vitro digestion studies demonstrate large potential to gain more and quicker insights into the underlying mechanisms of feed additives,allowing the optimization of feed design.Unfortunately,current in vitro digestion models relevant for broiler chickens lack sufficient description in terms of protocols and standardisation used.Furthermore,no distinction is made between the different life phases of these animals(starter,grower,and finisher).Hence,our research aimed to establish adapted in vitro digestion conditions,corresponding to the 3 life phases in broilers,with specific focus on lipid digestion.The effect of 3 different bile salt concentrations of 2,10,and 20 mM,and 3 different lipase activities of 5,20,and 100 U/mL,on in vitro lipid digestion kinetics were evaluated using a full factorial design.These values were selected to represent starter,grower,and finisher birds,respectively.Our findings showed that the extent of lipid digestion was mainly influenced by lipase activity.The rate of lipid digestion was affected by an interplay between bile salt concentration and lipase activity,due to possible lipase inhibition at certain bile salt concentrations.Overall,this work resulted in 3 in vitro lipid digestion models representative for starter,grower,and finisher birds.In conclusion,this research showed the impact of adapted in vitro digestion conditions on lipid digestion kinetics and thus the need for these conditions relevant for each life phase of broilers.

New insights into the unfolded protein response(UPR)-anterior gradient 2(AGR2)pathway in the regulation of intestinal barrier function in weaned piglets

Sustained dysfunction of the intestinal barrier caused by early weaning is a major factor that induces postweaning diarrhea in weaned piglets.In both healthy and diseased states,the intestinal barrier is regulated by goblet cells.Alterations in the characteristics of goblet cells are linked to intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammatory conditions during pathogenic infections.In this review,we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms of the unfolded protein response(UPR)and anterior gradient2(AGR2)in maintaining intestinal barrier function and how modifications to these systems affect mucus barrier characteristics and goblet cell dysregulation.We highlight a novel mechanism underlying the UPR-AGR2 pathway,which affects goblet cell differentiation and maturation and the synthesis and secretion of mucin by regulating epidermal growth factor receptor and mucin 2.This study provides a theoretical basis and new insights into the regulation of intestinal health in weaned piglets.