Cargill (Netherlands)

<title>Abstract</title> Foam Additive Manufacturing (FAM) couples gas-assisted foaming with material extrusion to produce lightweight PLA components, yet the combined influence of solubilization and extrusion variables remains poorly quantified. We analyze 528 experiments on PLA foamed with CO₂ and model strand density (ρ) as a function of six controllable parameters (Pₐ, tₐ, t_d, Tₑ, Sₑ, Dₙ). We compare six regressors (polynomial, PCA + polynomial, SVR-RBF, Random Forest, RF-distilled polynomial surrogate, and MLP) using an identical 80/20 held-out test partition and a standardized map-generation protocol. The Bayesian-regularized MLP attains the highest nominal accuracy(MAE = 0.0925 g/cm³, RMSE = 0.1216 g/cm³, R² = 0.832),while the Random Forest provides the most reliable non-neural baseline(R² = 0.41, RMSE = 0.141 g/cm³). To reconcile accuracy and interpretability, we distill the Random Forest into a degree-2 polynomial surrogate that yields a closed-form, differentiable mapping with competitive error and enables analytic process maps and gradient-based optimization. The resulting maps quantify interactions among Tₑ and Sₑ at fixed (Pₐ, tₐ, t_d), revealing physically consistent trends (density decreases with increasing Sₑ; mild increase with Tₑ). This study delivers a hybrid framework—ensemble accuracy plus polynomial transparency—for predictive design and multivariable control in FAM, and establishes reproducible benchmarks and artifacts (code, splits, figures) to support deployment in digital twins and closed-loop process planning.

The study was conducted to assess the effects of a postbiotic, Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) and a commercial phytogenic feed additive (PFA) as alternative to antibiotic growth promoter(AGP) on growth performance, gut microbiota, intestinal morphology, and immune response of commercial broiler chickens at a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) classified sector 3 commercial poultry farm. One-day-old mixed sex Vencobb 430 Y chicks (n=4800) were randomly divided into four dietary treatment groups for 35 days experimentation encompassingT1 (positive control, PC) basal diet supplemented with bacitracin methylene disalicylate as an AGP at 500 g/MT; T2 (negative control, NC) basal diet without a growth promoter; T3 basal diet supplemented with commercial PFA at 500 g/MT; T4 basal diet supplemented with SCFP at 1.25 kg/MT.At day 35, ADG and FCR were significantly improved in PFA and SCFP groups compared to the NC group. The levels of blood glucose, total protein, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, and uric acid in serum showed no significant variation across different dietary treatments. From day 21 of the study, log cfu count and DNA concentration of pathogens (Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Salmonella) decreased significantly in the AGP, PFA, and SCFP groups compared to the NC group. Whereas the log cfu count and average DNA concentration of Lactobacillus was significantly increased in PFA and SCFP groups, but not in AGP group. Increased Lactobacillus concentration in PFA and SCFP groups downregulated the virulence gene expression of pathogens (Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and Salmonella). The duodenal and jejunal villi height was significantly higher in PFA and SCFP groups, although ratio of villi height to crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum did not show significant differences among the groups. On day 28, antibody titers against the IBDV and NDV were significantly higher in SCFP groups than other groups. The present study did not identify any modulation of the cell mediated immune response in the chickens. In conclusion, addition of SCFP at 1.25 kg/MT or PFA at 500 g/MT in diet could produce better nutrient utilization ability, reduction of pathogens and their virulence gene expression, increased Lactobacillus count, but incorporation of SCFP increased antibody titre against two fatal viral infections such as NDV and IBDV which was not detected with PFA.

We compared the effects of high-intensity interval eccentric (EC) versus concentric cycling (CC) training on aerobic capacity, muscle function and morphology. Healthy men (19-56y) performed EC (n = 9) or CC (n = 8) training twice a week for 8weeks. The training progressed from 5 × 2-min intervals with 1-min rest to 7 × 2-min intervals with 30-s rest. EC and CC were matched for perceived effort, and progressed from 30 to 36% of concentric peak power output (PPO10s) for CC and from 45 to 70% PPO10s for EC. Changes in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), incremental concentric PPO (PPOinc), 6-min walking distance (6MW), 10s concentric PPO (PPO10s), maximal voluntary isometric contraction knee extensor strength (MVC), countermovement (CMJ) and squat jump height (SJ), quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA), and fascicle length (FL) and pennation angle (PA) of vastus lateralis were compared between EC and CC. Greater (P < 0.05) changes in PPO10s (EC: 26.9 ± 10.5% vs. CC: 8.9 ± 8.0%, Hedges'g = 2.03), CMJ (3.9 ± 1.8 vs. -3.3 ± 7.4%, g = 1.46), SJ (7.4 ± 4.7% vs. -2.3 ± 4.4%, g = 2.26), and CSA (6.1 ± 4.7 vs. 0.1 ± 3.8%, g = 1.48) were observed after EC than CC. No significant differences between EC and CC were found for changes in VO2peak (3.7 ± 3.9 vs. 6.6 ± 6.9%, g = -0.55), PPOinc (6.0 ± 4.2 vs. 6.4 ± 4.6%, g = -0.11), 6MW (6.0 ± 4.2 vs. 6.4 ± 4.6%, g = -1.03) and MVC (12.5 ± 13.3 vs. 6.2 ± 8.3%, g = 0.59). FL and PA did not show significant changes after EC and CC. EC was more effective than CC for improving several markers of muscle function. High-intensity interval eccentric cycling appears to be suitable for simultaneously improving strength and endurance.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the metabolic changes and immune responses in Jersey dairy cows under heat stress (HS). The focus was on understanding HS-induced alterations in metabolism and immunity compared to HS-free cows.MethodsProton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based metabolomics was performed on rumen fluid, serum, and milk samples which were collected through single sampling from HS-free (n = 9) and HS-exposed (n = 8) Jersey cows. Immune cell proportions and functions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed to identify heat-sensitive immunological changes. Correlation analysis was conducted to link immune indicators with serum metabolites.ResultsMetabolomics revealed potential HS biomarkers in biofluids: nicotinate and phenylacetate in rumen fluid; isopropanol in serum; and glycine and trehalose in milk. HS increased B cell and CD4+ T cell populations, as well as Th17 cells and IL-17A expression in PBMCs. Twenty-three metabolites correlated strongly with five immune indicators, with nine metabolites exhibiting a positive correlation and fourteen a negative correlation.ConclusionHS alters the both metabolism and immune cell function in Jersey dairy cows. These findings provide key information for the development of diagnostic methods for HS and nutritional intervention strategies to mitigate HS for dairy cows.

Abstract Heterotaxy (HTX) is frequently caused by deleterious variants in the gene encoding Matrix metallopeptidase 21 (MMP21). However, the underlying pathomechanism has not been ascertained. In this study, we report on a novel HTX-associated MMP21 knockout allele in humans and investigate the peptidase’s role during laterality development using Xenopus embryos as animal model. The targeted inactivation of mmp21 in f0 mutant Xenopus successfully phenocopied the human HTX condition, yet the cilia-driven leftward fluid flow, which initiates asymmetric gene activity at the left-right organizer (LRO), was unaltered in mmp21 null frogs. Instead, our analysis of downstream events revealed that flow response, the left-sided repression of dand5, could not take place. Remarkably, gain-of-function experiments demonstrated that Mmp21 spreads over LRO cells and triggers flow response. Additionally, Mmp21 functions upstream of Cirop, another metallopeptidase, which we found specifically localized to LRO cilia. Thus, our findings suggest that Mmp21 may be the long-sought morphogen, which is actively transported by the leftward fluid flow to Cirop-laden cilia, in order to specify the left side of the embryo.

Corn wet milling (CWM) and corn starch flash drying processing conditions reduce undesirable microorganisms, such as Salmonella. Finished products are historically safe, with intrinsic properties such as low water activity inhibiting microbial growth. Corn processors could use quantified levels of reduction in this study of Salmonella surrogate Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) to update their food safety plans. Industry-relevant conditions for CWM processes were recreated at pilot or lab scale for 3 unit operations: (1) steeping treatment in sulfur dioxide (SO2) with low (750ppm SO2, 20h, 43.3°C), medium (1,500ppm SO2, 30h, 48.9°C), and high (2,200ppm SO2, 40h, 53.3°C) treatment conditions; (2) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment tested on bench scale with a factorial design (pH 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5), H2O2 concentrations (0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% (w/w)), and temperatures (32, 38, and 46°C) for 3 and 6h; (3) flash drying treatment at 4 different temperatures (149, 177, 204, and 232°C) with 2 different inoculation methods. E. faecium was reduced during each of these unit operations. By the end of each steeping treatment, E. faecium was consistently below the limit of quantitation (LOQ), meaning >6.5 log CFU/mL reduction in steep water, and >3.7 log CFU/g reduction in ground corn. The peroxide step had a reduction range from 0.03 log CFU/mL in the control group (0% H2O2 added) to >6 log CFU/mL observed in the high-intensity treatment of corn starch slurry. Flash drying had a reduction range from 1.7 to 2.7 log CFU/g. There was also no biologically meaningful change (<1 log CFU/g reduction) of E. faecium counts during an 8-week survival study of the dried final product. This hurdle approach study shows that existing CWM conditions are effective for Salmonella surrogate reduction through processing into finished starch and provides quantified E. faecium reductions for use in food safety plans.

ObjectiveIn this study, we investigated the effects of heat stress (HS) on rumen fermentation, blood parameters, and ruminal microbial communities in mid-lactating Holstein dairy cows in Korea.MethodsOur study involved 12 mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows aged 55.54 months with 2.5±0.65 parities and 100 to 200 days in milking (DIM), fed a total mixed ratio diet. Samples were collected during HS (temperature-humidity index [THI] = 81.69) and recovery (RC) period (THI 69.84). The samples were analyzed for rumen fermentation, blood parameters, heat shock proteins, and microbial communities in dairy cows.ResultsThe milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, and milk urea nitrogen levels differed significantly between two-time points (p<0.05). Rumen pH and volatile fatty acid concentrations, the pH was not significantly different (p = 0.619) between HS and RC periods; however, the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) levels increased during HS period ), however, there was no significant difference (p>0.05). Blood total protein significantly increased during HS period compared with that during RC period (p<0.05), while no significant differences were observed in other parameters between the two periods. HSP27, HSP70, and HSP90 increased in dairy cows under HS conditions compared with those during the RC period. Taxonomic classification revealed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated the bacterial community. PERMANOVA and PERMDISP showed significant differences in rumen bacterial diversity between HS and RC periods, based on Unifrac metrics (p = 0.044 and p = 0.015, respectively), indicating taxonomic variations. Microbial networks with correlations of >0.8 (p<0.05) showed a complex structure with equal positive and negative connections, indicating Anaerohabdus furcosa and Ruminiclostridium cellobioparum as key species during the HS and RC periods respectively.ConclusionHS significantly impacts Holstein dairy cows’ physiological and metabolic processes, altering rumen fermentation, blood biochemistry, and gut microbiota during mid-lactation.

Microbiome-directed dietary interventions such as microbiota-directed fibers (MDFs) have a proven track record in eliciting responses in beneficial gut microbes and are increasingly being promoted as an effective strategy to improve animal production systems. Here we used initial metataxonomic data on fish gut microbiomes as well as a wealth of a priori mammalian microbiome knowledge on α-mannooligosaccharides (MOS) and β-mannan-derived MDFs to study effects of such feed supplements in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and their impact on its gut microbiome composition and functionalities. Our multi-omic analysis revealed that the investigated MDFs (two α-mannans and an acetylated β-galactoglucomannan), at a dose of 0.2% in the diet, had negligible effects on both host gene expression, and gut microbiome structure and function under the studied conditions. While a subsequent trial using a higher (4%) dietary inclusion of β-mannan significantly shifted the gut microbiome composition, there were still no biologically relevant effects on salmon metabolism and physiology. Only a single Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia (BCP) population demonstrated consistent and significant abundance shifts across both feeding trials, although with no evidence of β-mannan utilization capabilities or changes in gene transcripts for producing metabolites beneficial to the host. In light of these findings, we revisited our omics data to predict and outline previously unreported and potentially beneficial endogenous lactic acid bacteria that should be targeted with future, conceivably more suitable, MDF strategies for salmon.

This study compared carcass yield and cutout value of conventional beef and dairy cattle to high-yielding (HY) and low-yielding (LY) crossbred beef × dairy cattle and identified the contribution of carcass regions to carcass yield andcutout value among beef × dairy crossbreds. Carcasses of conventional beef, beef × dairy crossbred, and dairy cattle were selected according to industry-average slaughter endpoints for their cattle type. Carcasses were fabricated at a commercial processing facility, and weights of carcass components were obtained. Post hoc subsampling was used to segregate HY and LY beef × dairy crossbreds based on subprimal yield. Multiple linear regression was used to assess carcass yield and sub-primal cutout value between the 4 cattle types (n=21 to 26 per cattle type). Beef cattle and HY crossbreds produced 1.59 to 3.04 percentage units greater (P&amp;lt;0.05) subprimal yield than LY crossbreds and dairy cattle. Dairy cattle produced at least 1.16 percentage units more (P&amp;lt;0.05) bone than any other cattle type. Subprimal to bone was not different (P&amp;gt;0.05) between HY crossbreds and beef cattle, and subprimal to fat was lesser (P&amp;lt;0.05) in HY crossbreds than beef cattle. Subprimal cutout value was more than 5 US dollars (USD)/45.4 kg different (P&amp;lt;0.05) between cattle types, which were ranked HY crossbreds &amp;gt; beef cattle &amp;gt; LY crossbreds &amp;gt; dairy cattle. In beef × dairy cattle, subprimal to bone in the round contributed most greatly to an increase (P=0.02), by 3.79 USD/45.4 kg, in subprimal cutout value. Together, these results suggested carcass value of beef × dairy cattle may be maximized when cattle are harvested at a lesser overall fatness than conventional beef cattle and when considerable muscling, especially in the round, is achieved.