ABSTRACT
Objective: To isolate and characterize cellulolytic rumen bacteria from the rumen of Sahiwal cattle using rumen bacterial inoculum to increase the nutritional value of rice bran used as broiler feed. Materials and Methods: The ruminal liquid was kept at an optimal pH of 6.9 and a redox potential of less than -300 mV while being incubated anaerobically at 39°C in a medium containing rumen fluid glucose cellobiose agar. By using the Hungate technique, the organisms were detected based on their morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular testing. Results: The findings revealed that the isolated Ruminococcus albus, and Ruminococcus flavifaciens were obligate anaerobic, generally Gram-positive, nonmotile cocci or rod, single or pair, occasionally short chain, producing yellow pigment when grown on cellulose, and having a clear zone around the colonies. Both isolate fermented sugars such as cellobiose, glucose, and lactose, as well as decomposed xylan. The results also showed that the isolates recognized as Ruminococcus spp., a cellulolytic rumen bacterium, were catalase-negative, indole-negative, and gelatin liquefaction-positive. Conclusion: Isolation and characterization of Ruminococcus spp. may be helpful for Bangladesh in reducing the cost of producing poultry feed and circumventing restrictions on rice bran use. We can also develop more efficient and long-lasting plans to enhance poultry performance and feed efficiency, as well as increase the nutritional value of rice bran used as broiler feed, by understanding how various Ruminococcus spp. function in this process.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The universities of Bangladesh are closed for more than seventeen months due to the covid-19 pandemic. This prolonged detachment has psychological consequences among the students. This study assessed the anxiety level and its determinants among the undergraduate students of Bangladesh, along with constraints faced by them during e-learning. METHODS: A web-based cross-sectional survey among 206 undergraduate students was conducted using a well-structured questionnaire. Their anxiety level was estimated using Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and determinates were identified by employing a Tobit model. The problem confrontation index (PCI) was used to rank the constraints. RESULTS: About 82.5% of the undergraduate students in Bangladesh are experiencing mild to extreme anxiety, while 14.08% are experiencing extreme anxiety. Students' gender, father's year of schooling, family size, residential area, academic year, current accommodation, and access to high-speed internet affect their level of anxiety. Learning alone at home, lacking access to learning resources and inaccessibility to other e-learning platforms are the top three constraints students faced during e-learning. LIMITATIONS: Self-reported data, socio-demographic variables and online survey. CONCLUSION: Covid-19 has been causing anxiety among the students. This study recommends providing better internet services for facilitating e-learning along with access to different e-learning platforms.
