Effect of dietary supplementation of macadamia oil on the growth, immune function, physio-biochemical components and thyroid activity of growing rabbits.

The current research aimed to assess the effects of dietary macadamia oil (MO) on carcass traits, growth performance, physio-biochemical components, immune function, thyroid hormones and inflammation markers of growing rabbits. A total of 96 growing rabbits were randomly distributed into four treatments, with 24 rabbits in each group. The rabbits were fed a basal diet (control group) or a diet supplemented with MO at 0.5 (MO0.5), 1 (MO1.0) and 2 (MO2.0) mL/kg of diet for eight weeks. The daily body weight gain and feed conversion ratio showed a quadratic improvement with increasing levels of MO, and the optimal dose was 1.25 mL/kg of diet. Increasing levels of MO also had a quadratic effect on hepatic and renal functions. Dose-response curves revealed that the optimal doses of MO were 1.50, 1.75 and 1.25 mL/kg of diet for total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and creatinine respectively. A quadratic relationship was observed between the increased levels of MO and tumour necrosis factor-α (p = 0.038), interleukin-6 (p = 0.014) and immunoglobulins (p = 0.016 and IgM p = 0.026). Additionally, a linear relationship was observed between the increment in MO levels and both nitric oxide (p = 0.040) and interleukin-4 (p = 0.001). The activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase showed a linear increase with increasing dietary MO content, while xanthine oxidase showed a linear decrease. Total antioxidant capacity showed quadratic improvement (p = 0.035) with the dietary treatment, with the optimal dose observed at 1.25 mL/kg of diet. The inclusion of MO in the diet had a linear effect on the activity of thyroxine (p = 0.001). Therefore, supplementation of MO at a dose of 1 or 1.5 mL/kg of diet in growing rabbits' diets can improve growth and carcass traits, sustain thyroid function by supporting immunity, and reduce oxidative/inflammation pathways.

Does the marketing age impact growth performance, carcass traits, economic feasibility and hemato-biochemical properties of genetically-modified quails?

The meat of the quail is one of the most delicious types, as it is rich in minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin K, which is useful in treating nervous diseases. In the present investigation, based on their live body weight, 270 genetically-enhanced white quail chicks of mixed sex were randomly assigned to 3 groups, each with 90 chicks. The first group's birds were slaughtered at 28 d of age. The birds in the second group were slaughtered at 31 d, and the birds in the third group were slaughtered at 34 d. Results showed no significant difference between the various groups in the overall mortality rate index at the end of each fattening stage (P > 0.05). There were substantial variations (P ≤ 0.05) in the average live weight index between the first and both groups at each group's marketing age. With increasing marketing age, body weight increases. Quail chicks raised for 34 d received the lowest EPEF (28.90 points), followed by those raised for 31 d and 28 d, which received 33.37 and 37.32 points, respectively. The economic feasibility of the 3 groups, no significant differences in the profit index were observed at the age of 28 d. Compared to the marketing age of the other 2 groups, it was noted that the profit index decreased as the birds advanced in age. Delaying marketing to 31 d leads to a decrease in profit by 5.7%, and delaying marketing to 34 d reduces the profit index to 26.36% compared to marketing at 28 d. For blood hematology parameters, a significant increase in the studied indicators with the age of the birds was observed through the study of blood indicators. Still, it did not reach the significance level. It could be concluded that 28 d is the ideal marketing age for the enhanced white quails, as it yielded the highest economic return and the best performance.

The beneficial impacts of nano-propolis liposomes as an anti-stressor agent on broiler chickens kept under cyclic heat stress.

This research assessed the impacts of dietary nano-propolis liposomes (NPRL) inclusion on the growth, blood biochemical components, immune function, and oxidative status of broilers exposed to cyclic heat stress (HS). Birds were fed with a basal diet supplemented with various levels of NPRL at 0 (HS), 100 (NPRL100), 250 (NPRL250) and 400 (NPRL400) mg/kg diets. Diets supplemented with NPRL significantly improved the growth indices and feed utilization, hemoglobin and red blood cells (P < 0.01). White blood cells, lymphocytes and monocytes were significantly decreased by NPRL inclusion (P < 0.001). Dietary supplementation of 250 or 400 mg of NPRL /kg reduced the pathogenic bacteria counts (Salmonella, E. coli and Enterococci) (P < 0.01). The birds fed diets with NPRL (400 mg/kg diet) significantly downregulated the mRNA IFNγ gene (p < 0.001), while both groups (NPRL100 and NPRL250) had similar results (P > 0.05). The iNOS gene was significantly decreased by the dietary NPRL inclusion in a dose-dependent manner. Birds in NRPL groups had inferior levels of the mRNA of interleukin-4 and tumor necrosis factor genes. The lysosome activity was significantly reduced by dietary 250 or 400 mg of NPRL inclusion (P < 0.001). Birds in NPRL250 and NPRL100 had greater IgG (P < 0.05) than the other groups. Regarding oxidative-related biomarkers, dietary NPRL inclusion decreased myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde levels significantly compared to those with the HS group (P < 0.001). Broilers in the NPRL400 group had the lowest levels of total bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transferase. NPRL250 had the lowest values of urea compared with other groups (P < 0.001). Dietary NPRL inclusion improved the broiler's hepatic and intestinal architecture exposed to cyclic heat stress. These results indicate that employing NPRL in the diets of stressed broilers can enhance heat resistance by enhancing blood metabolites and immunity, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Production of biologically active non-woven textiles from recycled polyethylene terephthalate.

Recently, various studies have focused on the development of multifunctional non-woven polyethylene terephthalate (PT; polyester) textiles. Herein, we introduce multifunctional non-woven polyester fabrics by pad dry curing silver nitrate (AgNO3 ) and aniline monomer into plasma-pretreated non-woven PT textile. This creates a nanocomposite layer of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and polyaniline (PANi) on the fabric surface. In order to prepare a non-woven fibrous mat, we applied the melt-spinning technique on previously shredded recycled PT plastic waste. On the surface of the cloth, PANi was synthesized by REDOX polymerization of aniline. Due to the oxidative polymerization, the silver ions (Ag+ ) were converted to Ag0 NPs. PANi acted as a conductor while AgNPs inhibited the growth of microorganisms. Microwave-assisted curing with trimethoxyhexadecylsilane (TMHDS) gave PT textiles with superhydrophobic properties. The morphological studies were performed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The stiffness and breathability of finished non-woven PT textile materials were analyzed to establish their comfort levels. Both of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used to test the efficacy of the AgNPs-treated textiles as antimicrobial materials. Moreover, the processed polyester textiles showed excellent electrical conductivity and great ultraviolet-ray blocking.