Effect of dietary supplementation of hemp (Cannabis sativa) and dill seed (Anethum graveolens) on performance,serum biochemicals and gut health of broiler chickens

The present study was carried out to study the effect of different doses of hemp seed alone or in combination with dill seed against antibiotic growth promoter on performance, serum biochemicals and gut health of broiler chickens over a period of 42 days. Total 192 broiler chicks were grouped randomly into six treatments and fed with basal diet (BD) along with different levels of seeds, viz., T₁ (BD), T₂ (BD + 0.2% HS), T₃ (BD + 0.2% HS + 0.3 DS), T₄ (BD + 0.3% HS) and T₅ (BD + 0.3% HS + 0.3 DS) and T₆ (BD + 0.025% Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate‐BMD). The performance traits like feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass traits like cut‐up parts, giblet and abdominal fat yield remained unaffected due to dietary treatments for overall trial period; however, the average feed intake in early phase (0–3 weeks) reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in treatment birds than both controls (T1 & T6). Serum protein concentration remained unchanged, whereas significant (p < 0.05) reduction in serum lipids like triglyceride, LDL and total cholesterol concentration was noticed due to dietary inclusion of seeds. Serum enzymes like AST and ALT concentrations depleted significantly (p < 0.05) treated groups, except at higher seed doses (T5); however, alkaline phosphatase levels were unaffected. Coliform count in caecum and jejunum reduced linearly (p < 0.01) due to seed inclusion, whereas dose‐dependent proliferation of lactobacilli was evident (p < 0.01) in caecum and jejunum of treated birds. No effect was observed on the villus height and crypt depth of the jejunal mucosa. To conclude, dietary supplementation of hemp and dill seed could not affect the growth performance and carcass traits; however, it positively altered the serum lipid profile of the birds and improved gut health as well, thereby enhanced overall performance of broiler chickens.     

Adsorptive Potential of 2-Mercaptobenzimidazole-Immobilized Organophilic Hydrotalcite for Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Phase and Its Kinetic and Equilibrium Profiles

An organophilic calcined hydrotalcite (OHTC) was prepared by treating calcined hydrotalcite (HTC) with sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (an anionic surfactant) to achieve a high loading of thiol functionality through the immobilization of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI) as a chelating agent. The adsorbent (MBI-OHTC) obtained was characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, TG/DTG, surface area analysis and potentiometric titration. The adsorption of MBI-OHTC to remove Hg(II) ions from aqueous solutions was studied as a function of pH, contact time, metal ion concentration, ionic strength and adsorbent dose. The optimum pH range for the maximum removal of Hg(II) was 6.0–8.0. The maximum value of Hg(II) adsorption was found to be 11.63 and 21.52 mg g^?1 for an initial concentration of 25 and 50 mg l^?1, respectively at pH 8.0. The equilibrium conditions were achieved within 3 h under the mixing conditions employed. A reversible pseudo-first-order used to test the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption mechanism consisted of external diffusion and intraparticle diffusion and the intraparticle mass transfer diffusion was predominated after 20 min of experiment. Extent of adsorption decreased with increase of ionic strength. The experimental isotherm was analyzed with two parameters (Langmuir and Freundlich) and three parameters (Redlich–Peterson) equations. The isotherm data were best modeled by the Freundlich isotherm equation. Complete removal (≈100%) of Hg(II) from 1.0 l of chlor-alkali industry wastewater containing 9.86 mg Hg(II) ions, was possible with 3 g of the adsorbent dose at pH 8.0. About 95.0% of Hg(II) can be recovered from the spent adsorbent using 0.1 M HCl.     

Evaluation of metallothionein and Ki-67 expression in chronic cholangiohepatitis in cats

Chronic cholangiohepatitis (CCH) is a common pathological condition in cats with a guarded prognosis and unknown etiology. Recently, in human medicine, there has been increased interest in enhancing liver defense mechanisms as an effective treatment strategy to control liver diseases that have a poor prognosis. Metallothionein (MT) is a ubiquitous protein, which has been widely researched for its role in liver defense through heavy metal detoxification, neutralization of reactive oxygen species, and liver regeneration. In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the role of MT in CCH and hepatocellular regeneration in 34 cats histologically diagnosed with this condition by assessing the correlation between hepatocellular MT and Ki-67 (marker for cellular proliferation) expression with histological parameters of CCH, such as inflammation, fibrosis, and bile duct proliferation. Statistical analysis was performed using the Spearman-rank correlation test. A significant positive correlation was observed between inflammation and the number of MT-positive hepatocytes (r = 0.36, P = 0.03) and MT labelling intensity (r = 0.37, P = 0.03). In 16 of 34 cases (47%) MT labelling intensity was noted to be pronounced towards the centrilobular zone and very weak or absent towards the portal zone. The results suggest that MT is induced in the liver during chronic inflammatory conditions, which could be speculated as a host defensive mechanism to protect the liver from inflammation-mediated liver injury. Therapeutic interventions utilizing MT, therefore, may have a positive effect on cats with chronic cholangiohepatitis.     

Almond (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus dulcis</Emphasis> L.) Protein Quality

Three marketing varieties of almonds; Carmel, Mission, and Nonpareil; were analyzed for proximate composition and protein nutritive quality. Moisture, lipids, protein, ash, sugars, and tannins ranges were 3.05-4.33%, 43.37-47.50%, 20.68-23.30%, 3.74-4.56%, 5.35-7.45%, and 0.12-0.18%, respectively. No detectable hemagglutinating and trypsin inhibitory activities were present in Carmel, Mission, and Nonpareil almonds. Amino acid analyses indicated the sulfur amino acids (methionine + cysteine), lysine, and threonine to be the first, second, and third limiting amino acids in almonds when compared to the recommended amino acid pattern for children 2-5-year old. However, compared to the recommended amino acid pattern for adults, sulfur amino acids were the only limiting amino acids in almonds tested. True Protein Digestibility (% TPD) values for Carmel, Mission, and Nonpareil were 88.55 +/- 1.26, 92.25 +/- 1.05, and 82.62 +/- 1.47, respectively. Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Scoring (PDCAAS) values suggested almond proteins to be of poor nutritional quality.     

Maize Proximate Composition and Physical Properties Correlations to Dry‐Grind Ethanol Concentrations

Dry‐grind ethanol plants incur economic losses because of seasonal variations in ethanol yields. One possible cause associated with ethanol yield variability is incoming grain quality. There is little published information on factors causing variation in dry‐grind ethanol concentrations. The objective of this study was to determine relationships between rapidly measurable corn quality attributes (physical parameters and chemical composition) and dry‐grind ethanol concentrations. Corn samples obtained from a Midwestern ethanol plant were analyzed for physical quality parameters (test weight, kernel weight, true density, percent stress cracks, and moisture content) and composition (starch, protein, oil, and soluble sugars contents) and then processed with a laboratory‐scale dry‐grind procedure. There were significant (P < 0.05) variations in corn quality parameters and ethanol concentrations. Correlation coefficients were significant (P < 0.05) but low (–0.50 < r < 0.50) between starch content and final ethanol concentrations (72 h) and total soluble sugar content and ethanol concentrations at 72 and 48 h. Ethanol concentrations (at 24, 48, and 72 h) were predicted as a function of a combination of grain quality factors using multiple regression methods; however, the R² values obtained were low. Variations in ethanol concentrations were not related to physical and chemical composition quality factors. Other factors, such as structural and physiologic attributes of corn grain, need to be evaluated.     

Deterioration of rhizospheric soil health due to elevated ultraviolet-B

Enhancements in ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) due to stratospheric ozone depletion affect biological forms directly and indirectly. To investigate how belowground processes are affected under increased UV-B, a field experiment with mung bean cultivars (HUM-1 and HUM-12) was conducted. The responses of selected soil enzymes (β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, polyphenol oxidase, glycine aminopeptidase, and phosphatase), microbial biomass C and N were assessed in rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric zones, along with measurements of phenol and flavanoid contents in roots and leaves. Test plants were exposed to two UV-B levels: (1) UVB, simulating 20% stratospheric O₃ depletion; and (2) UV0, the ambient UV-B. Elevated UV-B depressed shoot biomass by 24.8 and 15.9% and root biomass by 43.7 and 38.4% in cv. HUM-1 and HUM-12 compared with UV0. Although elevated UV-B caused an increase in phenol and flavonoid contents in leaves and roots, a reduction in the number of root nodules (32.4 and 24% in HUM-1 and HUM-2, respectively) and their fresh weight (27 and 23% in HUM-1 and HUM-2, respectively) was observed. Elevated UV-B caused microbial activity to shift from the rhizosphere to non-rhizosphere as indicated by increased microbial biomass N and soil enzyme activities in this zone.     

Suberin Biopolymer in Rice Root Exodermis Reinforces Preformed Barrier Against Meloidogyne graminicola Infection

Exploration of novel genetic resources against root-knot nematode (RKN) is necessary to strengthen the resistance breeding program in cultivated rice, and investigations on the role of genotype-specific root anatomy in conferring a structural barrier against nematode invasion are largely underexplored. Here, we reported a highly-resistant rice germplasm Phule Radha that conferred remarkably lower RKN parasitic fitness in terms of reduced penetration and delayed development and reproduction when compared with susceptible cultivar PB1121. Using histological and biochemical analyses, we demonstrated that an enhanced suberin deposition in the exodermal root tip tissue of Phule Radha compared to PB1121 can effectively form a penetrative barrier against RKN infection, and this preformed barrier in the control tissue did not necessarily alter to a greater extent when challenged with RKN stress. Using qRT-PCR analysis, we showed that a number of suberin biosynthesis genes were greatly expressed in the exodermis of Phule Radha compared to PB1121. In sum, the present study established the role of rice exodermal barrier system in defense against an important soil-borne pathogen.