Dietary phosphorus restriction affects bone metabolism,vitamin D metabolism and rumen fermentation traits in sheep

Homeostasis of calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P_i) is maintained by a concerted interplay of absorption and reabsorption via the gastrointestinal tract and the kidney and by storage and mobilization from the bone regulated mainly by parathyroid hormone (PTH), 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and calcitonin. The present study aimed at characterizing the effects of dietary P restriction on bone, vitamin D metabolism and rumen fermentation traits reflecting the endogenous P cycle maintaining the ruminal P supply for microbial metabolism. The experiments were done in eleven female, non-pregnant, non-lactating four- to nine-year-old Black Headed Mutton sheep allotted to two feeding groups: "P-restricted" (0.11% P/kg DM and 0.88% Ca/kg DM) and "Control" (0.38% P/kg DM and 0.88% Ca/kg DM). Dietary P restriction did not lead to hypophosphataemia, probably due to a compensation by bone mobilization, demonstrated by increased serum concentrations of a resorption marker and altered gene expression in bone tissue. In addition, the RNA expression of fibroblast growth factor 23, a bone-derived factor involved in the regulation of vitamin D metabolism, was significantly reduced with dietary P restriction. Furthermore, several genes related to vitamin D metabolism and plasma concentrations of 1,25-(OH)₂D were associated with serum concentrations of phosphate (P_i). In the parotid gland, the expression of the P_i transporter NaPi2b was negatively associated with serum P_i and positively with parathyroid PTH expression. Although P_i concentrations in saliva and the gastrointestinal tract were significantly reduced, we found no adverse effects of the P-restricted ration on the production of short chain fatty acids, but slight differences in the production of butyrate as well as its relationship to rumen P_i and ammonia concentrations that might indicate an impact on ruminal fermentation.     

High molecular weight glutenin subunits of current bread wheats grown in Iran

Variation of high molecular weight gluteninsubunits (HMW-GS) at the Glu-1 lociwas studied using SDS-PAGE method in 43advanced lines or cultivars commonly grownin Iran. Fourteen alleles and 21 alleliccompositions were detected. Among the 43bread wheats analysed only five showed aunique HMW-GS composition. The mostfrequent HMW-GS patterns were 2^*, 7+8,2+12 and 2^*, 17+18, 2+12 which wereobserved in 13 and six cultivars,respectively. In the remainings, each twoto three lines or cultivars showed a commonHMW-GS pattern. Therefore, allelicvariation at Glu-1 loci is of limitedvalue for cultivar identification comparedwith loci controlling gliadins. Sevencultivars were observed to consist of twoto three biotypes with different alleles.In cultivar Mahdavi a biotype showedinactivity at the Glu-B1 locus. Analready reported rare subunit pair'2^***+12' at Glu-D1locus was found in cultivar Kavir. Theresults of scoring cultivars for theirquality based on the HMW-GS compositionswith an average score of eight, wasgenerally good. Cultivars Inia, Tajan, andadvanced lines N-75-11 and N-75-15 showedquality score equal to 10, whereas Alamootand C-75-5 showed quality scores equal tofive. The quality of former and latterlines and cultivars were considered highestand lowest, respectively. The resultsobtained in this study are useful inbreeding programs to improve bread makingquality, developing uniformity andimproving heterogeneous cultivars by meansof selection of the best genotypes.     

Influence of multi-enzyme preparation supplemented with sodium butyrate on growth performance blood profiles and economic benefit of growing rabbits

The present study was carried out to explore the impacts of dietary supplementation of enzyme mixture with sodium butyrate on the growth performance, carcass traits, blood profile and economic benefit in two breeds of weanling rabbits adapted to survive in Egypt (New Zealand White and Rex). One-hundred and twenty weaned male rabbits (New Zealand White and Rex) of 6 weeks of age and 770.5 ± 20 g body weight were allotted randomly into four groups in a factorial arrangement. The obtained results indicated that there were non-significant differences in all growth performance traits, blood profile and economic parameters due to the breed effect. However, there were significant differences in most of carcass traits due to the breed effect except total giblets and New Zealand White breed showed the highest value of these parameters including dressing % (p < .01), forequarter and loin % (p < .001) and hindquarter % (p < .003) compared with Rex breed counterparts. The effect of the treatment and its interaction with the breed significantly (p < .05) improved body weight gain, feed consumption and carcass traits (percentage of dressing, forequarter, hind quarter and lion). However, final body weight and feed conversion ratio were not significantly influenced. Supplementing a diet with treatment significantly decreased blood triglycerides, cholesterol and the ratio between albumin and globulin (A/G ratio), while increased blood total protein and globulin. Although higher feed cost and total costs in treated groups than control ones in each breed, they showed higher total return and net return. Rex non-treated rabbit breed showed the lowest profitability measures compared with other groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of multi-enzyme with sodium butyrate is highly recommended in growing rabbits due to their beneficial effects on the growth performance and profitability.     

Serum biochemical characteristics of Beluga, Huso huso (L.), in response to blood sampling after clove powder solution exposure

In order to investigate the effect of anesthesia on serum parameters, Beluga, Huso huso (L.) were blood-sampled immediately without anesthesia (control) or subjected to following anesthesia procedure: 40, 120, and 240 s exposure to 3,000, 700, and 500 mg l⁻¹ clove solution, respectively. Blood samples were collected after these periods, when fish were immobile and reached stage 4 anesthesia. Results showed that cortisol and glucose levels were significantly high in 700 and 500 but not 3,000 mg l⁻¹ group compared to control. Serum lactate levels were significantly high in 500 mg l⁻¹ group compared to control group. Lactate levels were not significantly differed between control, 3,000, and 700 mg l⁻¹ groups. There were no significant differences in serum levels of cholesterol, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, Na⁺, Cl⁻, K⁺, and Ca²⁺. Results suggest that rapid anesthesia with higher dose is better than slow anesthesia with lower dose for blood sampling in Beluga.     

The evaluation of the thermal and mechanical properties of aramid/semi-carbon fibers hybrid composites

In this research work, aramid and semi-carbon fibers (SCFs) were hybridized in the form of interlayer or layer by layer into epoxy matrix by hand lay-up method. Afterward, the effect of hybridization on the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy composites was characterized by thermal analysis; horizontal burning; tensile and bending tests. Based on the results of the mechanical tests, increasing SCFs to aramid fibers ratio decreased tensile strength, elastic and flexural modulus. But with increasing this ratio to 53 % failure strain reduced, whereas in the ratios of more than 53 %, the failure strain enhanced. The results of thermal analysis curves indicated that there are three stage mass loss at the temperature ranges of 100-220, 270-470 and 500-620 °C. It was also found that with increasing the SCFs to aramid fibers ratio decreased the third-stage of the mass loss. The results of horizontal burning showed that increasing the SCFs to aramid fibers ratio decreased the rate of burning.     

Potassium Fixation and Release in Some Calcareous Soils under Orange Cultivation

Eurasian Soil Science - Arid and semiarid soils of southern Iran may fix a large content of applied potassium (K), but the fixed K may be gradually supplied to plants. Sixteen representative soils...     

Co-application of sugarcane bagasse biochar,farmyard manure and mineral nitrogen improved growth indices of corn grown in alkaline calcareous soil

Abstract

Soil quality and crop productivity can be improved by the combined soil application of organic amendments and synthetic fertilizers. We evaluated the sole and combined effects of sugarcane-bagasse biochar (SBB), farmyard manure (FYM) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on soil properties and corn yield traits. Three N fertilizer rates (0, 50 and 100% of recommended) were used with or without the organic amendments. We observed significant increases in soil nitrate-N (at vegetative and reproductive phases), ammonical-N and microbial-biomass-N contents in responses to a co-application of 0.5% SBB, 0.5% FYM and 100% N fertilizer (p?≤?0.05). While the same co-application also resulted in the most significant soil organic carbon value, the maximum soil microbial biomass carbon was observed when 0.5% SBB and 0.5% FYM combination was applied along with 50% N fertilizer (p?≤?0.05). Plant growth indices—shoot length and, fresh and dry weights of shoot and root were also recorded to be the highest where the same organic amendments were applied in addition to a 50% or 100% mineral N fertilizer (p?≤?0.05). Combined application of the organic amendments effectively improved soil CEC compared to those in responses to individual applications of SBB and FYM (p?≤?0.05). Conclusively, for increasing the corn yield and improving the soil quality, the co-application of 0.5% SBB and 0.5% FYM was more effective than any of the individual 1% applications; Additions of 50% and 100% mineral N to the organic combination were equally useful for increasing the grain yield.     

托木尔峰自然保护区地衣的地理成分及垂直分布

对托木尔峰自然保护区内的地衣物种进行了实地调查,并结合前人的研究资料,对该保护区地衣植被的地理成分及垂直分布进行了分析。在托木尔峰自然保护区共记录到地衣120种、11个变种和4个变型,分别隶属于23科49属。托木尔峰自然保护区地衣地理成分有世界广布成分、环北极成分、泛热带成分、东亚成分、两极—西太平洋成分、温带成分、北欧—喜马拉雅—北美成分、地中海—西亚—中亚成分、两极分布成分、东欧—北亚成分、中国特有成分等11种,其中环北极成分占优势。垂直分布地带有荒漠带、山地荒漠草原带、亚高山与山地草原带、亚高山草甸带、高山草甸带及高山垫状植被地衣带等6个自然地带。     

Potential application of Fe-methionine as a feed supplement on improving the quality of broilers breast meat

A total of 250 one-day-old Ross 308 male chicks were used to investigate the effects of Fe-methionine (Fe-met) and iron sulfate (FeSO₄.7H₂O) on performance, mineral concentration, meat quality, and oxidative stability of breast. The feeding experiment was performed with five dietary groups including group I (basal diet [BD] + 80 mg/kg FeSO₄), group II (BD + 60 mg/kg FeSO₄ + 20 mg/kg Fe-met), group III (BD + 40 mg/kg FeSO₄ + 40 mg/kg Fe-met), group IV (BD + 20 mg/kg FeSO₄ + 60 mg/kg Fe-met), and group V (BD + 80 mg/kg Fe-met). The results showed that Fe and Cu content in the breast muscle increased by dietary supplementation of organic and inorganic iron from II to V groups. Dietary groups of II, IV, and V increased L* value and b* value of breast meat. Additionally, redness of breast meat enhanced linearly and quadratically by dietary supplementation of 80 mg/kg Fe as FeSO₄. In addition, dietary supplementation Fe from II to V groups led to a significant increase in pHu at 24-h postmortem while it was negatively correlated with L* value of breast muscle. This study demonstrates that replacing FeSO₄ with Fe-Met could improve breast meat yield of broilers. Although 80 mg of Fe-Met improved the iron content of meat, it showed detrimental effects on the lipid oxidation of breast meat.