Conversion Coefficients Research Articles

Laser-synthesized plasmonic HfN-based nanoparticles as a novel multifunctional agent for photothermal therapy.

Hafnium nitride nanoparticles (HfN NPs) can offer appealing plasmonic properties at the nanoscale, but the fabrication of stable water-dispersible solutions of non-toxic HfN NPs exhibiting plasmonic features in the window of relative biological transparency presents a great challenge. Here, we demonstrate a solution to this problem by employing ultrashort (femtosecond) laser ablation from a HfN target in organic solutions, followed by a coating of the formed NPs with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and subsequent dispersion in water. We show that the fabricated NPs exhibit plasmonic absorption bands with maxima around 590 nm, 620 nm, and 650 nm, depending on the synthesis environment (ethanol, acetone, and acetonitrile, respectively), which are largely red-shifted compared to what is expected from pure HfN NPs. The observed shift is explained by including nitrogen-deficient hafnium nitride and hafnium oxynitride phases inside the core and oxynitride coating of NPs, as follows from a series of structural characterization studies. We then show that the NPs can provide a strong photothermal effect under 808 nm excitation with a photothermal conversion coefficient of about 62%, which is comparable to the best values reported for plasmonic NPs. MTT and clonogenic assays evidenced very low cytotoxicity of PEG-coated HfN NPs to cancer cells from different tissues up to 100 μg mL-1 concentrations. We finally report a strong photothermal therapeutic effect of HfN NPs, as shown by 100% cell death under 808 nm light irradiation at NP concentrations lower than 25 μg mL-1. Combined with additional X-ray theranostic functionalities (CT scan and photon capture therapy) profiting from the high atomic number (Z = 72) of Hf, plasmonic HfN NPs promise the development of synergetically enhanced modalities for cancer treatment.

Optimal conversion coefficient from easily measurable dose to effective dose with consideration to radiation quality for posterior–anterior chest radiography

Effective dose is sometimes used to compare medical radiation exposure to patients and natural radiation for providing explanations about radiation exposure to patients, but its calculation is lengthy and requires dedicated measuring devices. The purpose of this study was to identify the most suitable conversion coefficient for conversion of easily measurable dose to effective dose in posterior–anterior chest radiography, and to evaluate its accuracy by direct measurement. We constructed an examination environment using Monte Carlo simulation, and evaluated the variation in conversion coefficients from incident air kerma (IAK), entrance-surface air kerma (ESAK), and air kerma-area product (KAP) to effective dose when the irradiation field size and radiation quality were changed. Effective doses were also measured directly using thermoluminescence dosimeters and compared with the effective dose obtained from conversion coefficients. The KAP conversion coefficient most effectively suppressed the effect of irradiation field size, and was then used to set conversion coefficients for various half-value layers. The optimal conversion coefficient was 0.00023 [mSv/(mGy·cm2)] at 120 kVp (half-value layer = 5.5 mmAl). Evaluation of the direct measurements obtained with various radiation qualities revealed that the accuracy of the conversion coefficient was maintained at ≤ 11%. The proposed conversion coefficient can be easily calculated even in facilities that do not have equipment for measuring effective dose, and might enable the use of effective dose for providing explanations about radiation exposure to patients.

Structure Research of Resistance Shunt Type Piezoelectric Composite and Underwater Sound Absorption Performance Analysis

The high-efficiency sound absorption of underwater sound-absorbing materials under "low frequency" and "wide frequency" conditions has become a hot topic in current research. Underwater semi-active sound absorption can help to improve low frequency sound absorption performance by designing the structure of the piezoelectric composite and the shunt circuits, and it is also advantageous due to its simplicity, compactness, ease of installation, low cost, and high stability. In this paper, a kind of resistance shunt type piezoelectric composite is designed, and its underwater sound absorption performance is analyzed. Theoretical analytical formulas and finite element numerical calculation are used to calculate the electro-elastic constants of the piezoelectric composite. The theoretical model based on the Mason equivalent circuit and transfer matrix theory is used to calculate the sound absorption coefficient. Through the study of 0-3 and 1-3 composites used in the existing research work, it was found that the piezoelectric composite which is suitable for resistance shunt type underwater semi-active sound absorption should have a low longitudinal wave velocity and high electromechanical conversion coefficient. According to this design objective, the structure of the piezoelectric composite has been gradually modified, and finally it is determined that the sparse oblique 2-1-3 composite is an appropriate type of piezoelectric composite. Theoretical calculations and simulation experimental measurement verifies that when the inclination angle is 21 deg and the shunt resistance is 10 kOhm or the inclination angle is 24 deg and the shunt resistance is 10 kOhm, the sound absorption coefficient within the low frequency band 1--3~kHz can be significantly improved.

Investigation of diffusion behavior, stability of testing ions, interconversion feasibility and microstructures of iodide and chloride in concrete

In coastal areas, the interiors of reinforced concrete (RC) structures are often contaminated or eroded by chloride intrusion. The natural chloride diffusion test method does not accurately assess the service performance status of these structures in terms of their resistance to chloride penetration during maintenance or repair of RC structures. By conducting natural chloride diffusion test and natural iodide diffusion test, the stability of iodide in different environments was analyzed, and the diffusing depth, ion content and diffusing coefficient of chloride and iodide (D(chloride) and D(iodide)) in concrete at different water-cement ratios (w/c) (0.38, 0.47 and 0.53) were determined. The ion-binding capacity of the two ions at different w/c was also analyzed, and the relationship between w/c and D(chloride) and D(iodide) was analyzed by data regression method (DRA), and the accuracy and applicability of the natural iodide diffusion test method were discussed. The microscopic morphology, pore characteristics and chemical phase of matrix were also studied using SEM-EDS, MIP and XRD techniques. The findings show that natural iodide diffusion testing should be performed in dark and airtight conditions to ensure a minimum decrease in iodide concentration. The diffusion behavior of both chloride and iodide in concrete is in accordance with Fick Ⅱ pattern, and both bonding and free ions show an obvious linear relationship. Besides, with the increase of w/c, the content of free chloride and iodide in concrete gradually decreased, while the content of bonding ions gradually increased. However, at the same w/c, the concentration of iodide was relatively higher than that of chloride at the same concrete depth due to the higher molar mass of iodide. As both ions diffuse and migrate in the concrete, this also leads to the generation of two complex salts inside the concrete, 3CaO·Al2O3·CaCl2·10H2O and 3CaO•Al2O3•CaI2•8H2O, and with the w/c decreasing, there is a smaller porosity in matrix and the proportion of macropores gradually increases. Besides, the concept of D(chloride) and D(iodide) conversion coefficient was introduced, and a linear relationship between D(chloride) and D(iodide) was obtained using DRA, and the conversion coefficient also was obtained, and a better quadratic parabolic function relationship was found between the w/c adjustment coefficients. Overall, this study proposes a new natural iodide diffusion test method for the performance assessment of RC structures in some remote islands or marine areas to minimize the test error of ion penetration, and provides a new reference index for the structural design and reinforcement or repair of coastal RC structures.

Health-related quality of life in Thai patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) significantly impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but remains underexplored in the Thai population. Health state utilities (HSU) are indicators reflecting HRQoL which serve as fundamental inputs for economic evaluation analyses. This study aimed at assessing differences in HRQoL across five CHB stages in Thai patients, including non-cirrhotic CHB, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, early-/intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and advanced-/terminal-stage HCC. We conducted a cross-sectional study to collect HRQoL data from patients with CHB at five stages. The study included patients with CHB who were followed up at a super-tertiary care centre between March 2021 and February 2022. The participants completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire and provided demographic data. Disease stage and relevant data were obtained from medical records. HSU and Euroqol-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) scores, calculated using Thai-specific conversion coefficients, were assessed. Among 422 patients, 236 did not have cirrhosis, 92 had compensated cirrhosis, 13 had decompensated cirrhosis, 55 had early-/intermediate-stage HCC, and 26 had advanced-/terminal-stage HCC. The HSU scores for non-cirrhotic, compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, early-/intermediate-stage HCC and advanced-/terminal-stage HCC were 0.95 ± 0.08, 0.89 ± 0.16, 0.79 ± 0.19, 0.89 ± 0.12 and 0.52 ± 0.39, respectively. Similarly, the EQ-VAS scores for various CHB stages were 83.56 ± 12.90, 80.48 ± 13.03, 68.76 ± 17.40, 79.00 ± 14.38 and 62.92 ± 20.62, respectively. A significant correlation (r = 0.469, P < 0.001) was observed between the HSU and EQ-VAS scores. The disease progression led to a notable HSU decline, particularly in the advanced-/terminal-stage HCC group (regression coefficient: -0.436, P < 0.001). The EQ-VAS scores indicated reduced quality of life in advanced liver disease. Later CHB stages compromise the HRQoL. Decompensated cirrhosis and advanced-/terminal-stage HCC profoundly affect physical health and quality of life, whereas patients with compensated cirrhosis and early-/intermediate-stage HCC report better HRQoL.

A Compatible Estimation Method for Biomass Factors Based on Allometric Relationship: A Case Study on Pinus densata Natural Forest in Yunnan Province of Southwest China

Using various biomass factors, such as biomass expansion factor (BEF) and biomass conversion and expansion factor (BCEF), yields different results for estimating forest biomass. Therefore, ensuring compatibility between total biomass and its components when employing different biomass factors is crucial for developing a set of rapid and efficient models for large-scale biomass calculation. In this study, allometric equations were utilized to construct independent models and the proportional values (root-to-shoot ratio (Rra), crown-to-stem ratio (Rcs), bark-to-wood ratio (Rbw), foliage-to-bark ratio (Rfb), and wood biomass-to-wood volume (ρ)) by using the mean height (Hm) and the mean diameter at breast height (Dg) of 98 Pinus densata plots in Shangri-La, Yunnan province, China. The compatible methods were applied to reveal the compatibility between the total biomass and each component’s biomass. The results showed the following: (1) Both the independent model and compatible model had a higher accuracy. The values were greater than 0.7 overall, but the foliage biomass accuracy was only 0.2. The total biomass and the component biomass showed compatibility. (2) The accuracy of BEF and BCEF exceeded 0.87 and the total error was less than 0.1 for most components. (3) The mean BEF (1.6) was greater than that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (M = 1.3), and the mean BCEF was smaller than that of the IPCC; the values were 0.6 and 0.7, respectively. The range of BEF (1.4–2.1) and BCEF (0.44–0.89) were all within the range of the IPCC (1.15–3.2, 0.4–1.0). This study provides a more convenient and accurate method for calculating conversion coefficients (BEF and BCEF), especially when only Rcs data is available.

Research on Heating Chicken Meat Process in Mechanical and Thermal Operations Using Model Bodies

The research concerns the assessment of mineral materials applicability as a model body for the heating process description of chicken minced meat. A man developes a model body with the same physical structure as chicken meat, similar rheological and thermophysical characteristics. The heating processes of minced chicken and the model body during cutting are identical due to the temperature limit of 12 °C, at which the protein does not undergo changes in the conformational structure and there are no mass transfer processes. The temperature conversion coefficient in the range of 5–12 ° C is 0.94. The authors gained data on the temperature change for the model body converted to minced chicken depending on the mode cutting parameters. The heating processes of the materials under the study during heat treatment differ: the product center from the model body demonstrates a rapid increase in temperature at the initial stage with a gradual decrease in the heating rate in the future; in turn, the minced chicken has a slow growth at the initial stage with a steady heating rate. For the subcortical layer, thermometric curves involve different values with the identical geometry. Different moisture bond nature in the materials causes observed differences. For the surface heating process, the final temperatures for the material sectors under the study are close, the deviation does not exceed 5 %; there are close values of the temperature difference and the limit temperature difference. This is due to the fact that the crust is a dry substance, mass transfer and physico-chemical changes are completed at the initial stage. Thus, the developed model body is applicable for thermal changes studies of minced chicken during mechanical operations at a maximum temperature of 12 °C; is not appropriate for the heating process studies of the inner layers of minced chicken products during heat treatment; and is suitable for the final temperature distribution assessment over the product surface.

Assessment of effective doses for fluoroscopy-guided balloon dilatation of benign esophageal strictures in pediatric medicine

Interventional examinations are associated with high levels of patient exposure per examination, which makes it particularly important to monitor individual patient doses and to assess radiation risks. The aim of this study was the assessment of effective doses for fluoroscopy-guided balloon dilatation of benign esophageal strictures, whichwasperformedonpediatricpatientsaged 1 to 2 yearsatthe Departmentof Radiosurgical Methodsof Diagnosis and Treatment of St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University. Patient exposure patterns were basedonourowndatacollection. Thecalculationofeffectiveandorgandosesofpatientsnormalizedbythevalue of the dose area product measured during the study was carried out using PCXMC 2.0 software. The conversion coefficients from the dose area product to the effective dose were calculated using tissue weighting coefficients from the ICRP Publications 60 and 103 their values were 10.7 and 11.7 µSv/cGy cm2, respectively. The results of verification of the method indicated that the use of inappropriate conversion coefficients leads to an almost double underestimation of children’s effective doses. Differences in the values of conversion coefficients are significant and are explained by differences in voltage, source to image distance, and irradiation field size. A simplified model of patient exposure was proposed, which is described by a single irradiation field. The assessment of effective doses using multi-field and single-field irradiation model shows comparable results, which allows using the differentiated approach to the assessment of radiation doses of patients.

The influence of Monte Carlo radiation transport codes and hadron physics models on stray neutron dose estimations in proton therapy: An extended intercomparison

PurposeSelecting a Monte Carlo (MC) radiation transport code and nuclear physics model affects the simulation of secondary neutron fluence energy spectra and the estimation of the neutron dose equivalent in proton therapy. This study compares the MC codes FLUKA, MCNPX and GEANT4 from previous work with two additional MC codes, TOPAS (with either the Binary Intra-nuclear Cascade (BIC) or the Bertini intra-nuclear cascade model (Bert)) and PHITS (with either the Intra-Nuclear Cascade of Liege (INCL) or the Bert model), to facilitate a more comprehensive comparison. Material and methodsSecondary neutron fluence energy spectra were scored at different locations inside a water phantom, exposed to a 10 × 10 cm2 parallel mono-energetic proton beam with energies of 110 MeV, 150 MeV, 180 MeV and 210 MeV. The neutron dose equivalent was estimated by applying fluence-to-dose equivalent conversion coefficients. ResultsDiscrepancies between MC codes and physics models reach 90 % for the total neutron fluence. Differences are most pronounced in the forward direction of the beam due to a notable presence of high-energy neutrons and the higher uncertainty on the neutron cross-section data for these neutrons. Nuclear model selection within PHITS (INCL or Bert) and TOPAS (BIC or Bert) shows a worse agreement for the Bert model than for the other MC codes and nuclear models. The discrepancies in the neutron spectrum simulations propagate into differences in the estimated neutron dose equivalents. They are more prominent for distal positions (up to a factor of 3) than for lateral positions (up to a factor of 2) and decrease at higher proton energies. ConclusionsThis study shows considerable differences in the out-of-field neutron fluence energy spectra calculated by different MC codes and nuclear physics models. Differences in the neutron dose equivalent reach a factor of 3. The discrepancies are most apparent in distal positions and at lower proton energies.

The study of ornamental features of feijoa (&lt;i&gt;Acca sellowiana&lt;/i&gt; (O.Berg) Burret) in the conditions of Abkhazia

The results of assessing the decorative features of the feijoa (Acca sellowiana (O.Berg) Burret) culture in the conditions of the Republic of Abkhazia. A. sellowiana has a high nutritional, medicinal and decorative value. A. sellowiana culture is promising for growing on agricultural lands. The objects of research are species plants of F A. sellowiana of seed origin. The yield and sanitary condition of A. sellowiana plants in 2022 are worse than in 2021 due to heavy spring rainfall. Data on the crown architectonics, flowering duration, fruit ornamentality, and leaf roundness index are presented. The most valuable feature is the architectonics of the crown of plants, the least valuable feature is the fruit characteristics (shape, size, evenness). All studied A. sellowiana plants have a semi-bush form with a wide spreading crown. Most of the studied A. sellowiana plants (11 pcs.) had a height of 4.6 to 5,1 m. Most of the studied A. sellowiana plants by the duration of flowering in 2021 (16 pcs.) and in 2022 (14 pcs.) is in the range of 27-28 days, while the 4 samples in 2021 and 1 sample in 2022 had a longest flowering (31-32 days). A scoring system for the characteristics of A. sellowiana is been developed taking into account the conversion coefficient. A. sellowiana plants № 2 and № 25 have the highest indicators for decorative traits (87 points each) and are promising for further study.

Estimation of Carbon Stocks of Birch Forests on Abandoned Arable Lands in the Cis-Ural Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Mounted LiDAR Camera

Currently, studies investigating the carbon balance in forest ecosystems are particularly relevant due to the global increase in CO2 content in the atmosphere. Due to natural reforestation over the past 25–30 years, birch (Betula pendula Roth.) forests were extensively grown and established on abandoned agricultural lands in Bashkir Cis-Ural (Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia). The significant positive aspect of reforestation on fallow lands is the carbon sequestration that takes place in the tree phytomass, especially at the growth stage of stand formation. The aim of this article is to test the approach of using a UAV-mounted LiDAR camera to estimate the phytomass and carbon stocks in different-aged birch forests growing on abandoned arable lands in Bashkir Cis-Ural. The methodology was developed using 28 sample plots, where the LiDAR survey was performed using a DJI Matrice 300 RTK UAV. Simultaneously, the stand characteristics and phytomass of stem wood were also estimated, using traditional methods in the field of forest science. The regression equations of phytomass dependence on stand characteristics at different stages of reforestation were constructed using data obtained from LiDAR imagery. It was shown that the above-ground tree biomass could be precisely estimated using the index obtained by multiplying the number of trees and their average height. A comparison of the data obtained using traditional and LiDAR survey methods found that the accuracy of the latter increased in conjunction with stand density. The accuracy of estimation ranged from 0.2 to 6.8% in birch forests aged 20 years and over. To calculate carbon stocks of the above-ground tree stands, the use of regional conversion coefficients is suggested, which could also be applied for the estimation of carbon content in trunk wood and leaves. An equation for the calculation of above-ground biomass carbon stocks of birch forests on abandoned arable lands is proposed.

Measurement of energy and directional distribution of neutron ambient dose equivalent for the [formula omitted]Li(p,n)[formula omitted]Be reaction

Double differential neutron fluence distributions were measured in the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction for proton beam energies 7, 9 and 12 MeV. Seven liquid scintillator based detectors were employed to measure neutron fluence distributions using the Time of Flight technique. Neutron ambient dose equivalents were determined from the measured fluence distribution using ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) recommended fluence to dose equivalent conversion coefficients. Neutron dose equivalents were also measured using a conventional BF3 detector based REM counter. Ambient dose equivalent measured by the REM counter is found to be in agreement with that determined from the neutron fluence spectra within their uncertainties. Angular distributions of the ambient dose equivalents were also determined from the measured fluence distributions at different angles.

The Effect of Iraqi Jasmine Leaf (Lonicera Japonica) Aqueous and Alcoholic Extract on the Productive Performance of Broiler Ross 308 Chickens

This study was carried out at Al-Anwar Poultry Company in the Babil Governorate of Iraq. The objective of the study was to investigate the results of adding an aqueous and alcoholic extract of Iraqi jasmine leaves (Lonicera Japonica L.) to the drinking water of broiler chickens in order to see what kind of effects it would have. There were a total of seven different treatments, and each replication had three copies of ten birds. The following experimental procedures were carried out on the birds while they were being observed in the floor rising hall for a period of 35 days: In treatments 2–4, the aqueous extract of Iraqi jasmine leaves was added to the drinking water at a dose of 10 ml/litre, with concentrations of 15%, 30%, and 45%, respectively. In treatments 5–7, the alcohol extract of Iraqi jasmine leaves was added to the drinking water at a dose of 10 ml/litre, with concentrations of 15%, 30%, and 45%, respectively. Where it was determined that the seventh treatment was statistically (p0.05) superior to the first treatment (control) in terms of average live body weight in week five and total weight gain, and where it was determined that the second and seventh treatments recorded the best food conversion coefficient relative to the first treatment. While neither the aqueous nor the alcoholic extract of Iraqi jasmine leaves had any effect on the feed intake of grilled chickens, the flavour of the chicken was significantly altered.

Efficient Acceleration of Electrons by Moderate-Power Femtosecond Laser Pulses

The relativistic self-trapping of a laser pulse is an efficient mechanism for the acceleration of electrons, which allows one to achieve an extreme charge of a high-energy particle beam and the corresponding conversion coefficient of laser energy. It has been shown that the compression of the femtosecond laser pulse in this regime using the innovative compression after compressor approach (CafCA) [E.A. Khazanov, S.Yu. Mironov, and G. Mourou, Phys. Usp. 62, 1096 (2019)] to extremely short durations keeping the energy of the laser beam significantly increases the efficiency of particle acceleration. This effect has been illustrated on the example of the Multitera laser facility for the project implemented at the Russian National Center for Physics and Mathematics.

Physiological Changes Caused by Dietary Proanthocyanidin Supplementation at Varying Doses in Laying Hens

The research was carried out at the college of Agriculture/Al-Qasim Green University’s Department of Animal Production farm. Beginning on March 19, 2022, and ending on July 2, 2022, the experimental field trial lasted a total of 16 weeks (four intervals of four weeks each). The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of supplementing chicken diets with varying concentrations of the Proanthocyanidin chemical on egg production, quality, and oxidation markers. During the experiment’s breeding phase, which lasted for 50 weeks, 105 Lohmann brown laying hens were split into four groups: those aged 57-60 weeks, 61-64” weeks, and 65-68 weeks. A total of 21 birds were randomly assigned to one of five experimental treatments, with three replicates per 7 birds in each treatment (as per the standard standards outlined in the Lohmann Brown Layer Managements Guide). This is what we found to work in our clinical trials: The initial procedure: a no-additions control group. Second, 100 milligrammes of proanthocyanidin per kilogramme of feed was given to a standard diet. Third, we have a standard diet with 200 milligrammes of proanthocyanidin per kilogramme of feed. Fourthly, a standard diet with 300 milligrammes of Proanthocyanidin per kilogramme of feed was used. In the sixth treatment, 400 milligrammes of proanthocyanidin per kilogramme of feed is given to a standard diet. The study found mostly these results: Compared to the control group, the third, fourth, and fifth treatments significantly increased (p≤0.05) egg production rate, total eggs laid, egg weight, egg mass, and feed conversion coefficient. - The shell’s relative weight and thickness were found to be optimal for treatments three, four, and five, while albumin height (mm) and hu units improved significantly (p≤0.05) for treatments four and five compared to the control treatment.

The Effect Different Levels of Protein, with Two Sources of the Synthetic and Herbal for Methionine and Lysine and Synethetic Threonine on Serum Biochemical Parameters Egg Quality Traits and Chemical Composition of the Eggs

This study aimed to determine effect of various levels of protein, with two formulations and herbal sources of methionine and lysine. and synthetic threonine on serum biochemical properties, egg quality traits and egg chemical composition of 160 45-week-old Lyman Brown hens. It was randomly distributed to 8 treatments with five replications in (cages in the battery system), each repetition containing four birds, and the food treatments were, T1: basal diet (control) that contained 16.32% Cruz Protein (CP) with Synthetic 0.41% Methionine (S. T3: Basic Diet (16.18% CP) with (0.42% S.Mthionine), (0.05% Herbal Lysine: HL) and (0.106% S.Therionine) T4: Basic diet (16.18% CP) with (0.42% H.methionine), (0.05% lysine) and (0.106% threonine), T5: Basic diet (15.45% CP) with (o.42% S.methionine), 0.12% S.Lysine) and (0.116% S. threonine) T6: basic diet (15.46% CP) with (0.42% H.methionine), (0.045% H.Lysine and S. threonine), T7: diet Basal Diet (15.12% C.P) with (0.148% S.methionine, (0.150% S.lysine) and (0.130% S.thrionine), T8: Basal Diet (15.12% CP) with (0.148% H.methionine), (0.150% H.lysine) and (0.130% S.thrionine). The results of the statistical analysis in this experiment showed that there were no significant differences in the rate of egg production, the rate of egg mass, and the feed conversion coefficient, while significant differences were found in the rate of egg weight, the rate of feed consumption, and the rate of conversion of each of Protein, methionine, lysine and threonine.

Use of Azolla Plant in Broiler Diets and its Effect on Productive Performance

This study was conducted in the poultry farm, the Department of the Animal Production / University of Mosul. The aim was to partially replace Azolla in the diet of broiler chickens as a nutritional management method to include it as an available local feed ingredient and to study its effect on productive traits, economic implications and carcass traits. The duration of experiment lasted 42 days, and the experiment included four treatments by adding different percentages of dried Azolla with three replicates for each treatment: T1 (control): a diet free of Azolla T2: a diet containing dried Azolla at a rate of 4.5%. T3: a diet containing dried Azolla at a rate of 9%. T4: a diet containing 13.5% of dried Azolla. The results of the statistical analysis were: There were no significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between the treatments of Azolla added to the diet compared with the control in the average live body weight, weight gain, relative growth rate, feed consumption and feed conversion coefficient, and increase in the value of economic indicators, coefficient, production index and productivity yield kg/ m2 With a significant decrease in the percentage of total mortality for a period of five and six weeks.

Effect of Adding Different Levels of Proanthocyanidin in Laying Hens Diet on Productive Performance

The research was carried out at the college of Agriculture/Al-Qasim Green University’s Department of Animal Production farm. The experimental field trial ran for 16 weeks, from March 19, 2022, to July 2, 2022 (divided into four 4-week phases). The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of supplementing chicken diets with varying concentrations of the Proanthocyanidin chemical on egg production, quality, and oxidation markers. During the experiment’s breeding phase, which was split into four experimental periods (ages 53–56 weeks, 57–60 weeks, 61–64 weeks, and 65–68 weeks), 105 Lohmann brown laying hens were used.15 pens were set up with 5 experimental treatments for each treatment of 21 birds, and each treatment contained 3 duplicates per 7 birds, all fed according to the standards outlined in the Lohmann Brown Layer Managements Guide. The following procedures were used in the pilot programme:In the first phase, a non-experimental group served as a control. Second, 100 milligrammes of proanthocyanidin per kilogramme of feed was given to a standard diet. Third, we have a standard diet with 200 milligrammes of proanthocyanidin per kilogramme of feed. Fourthly, a standard diet with 300 milligrammes of Proanthocyanidin per kilogramme of feed was used. Fifthly, we have a standard diet with 400 milligrammes of proanthocyanidin per kilogramme of feed. Key findings from the research include: Compared to the control group, the third, fourth, and fifth treatments significantly increased (p0.05) egg production rate, cumulative number of eggs, egg weight, egg mass, and feed conversion coefficient. - Shell thickness (in millimetres) and relative weight (in percent) were best for treatments three through five. In contrast, albumin height (in millimetres) and hu units improved significantly (p 0.05) for treatments four and five compared to the control therapy (treatment one).

Evaluation of the Addition of Different Percentages of Gum Arabic Powder (Acacia Senegal) to Diets on the Productive Performance of Ross 308 Broilers

Over the course of 35 days (“from 11/21/2021 to 12/25/2021”), 150 day-old, unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks were used in an experiment conducted in the poultry field of the College of Agriculture at the University of Karbala to determine the effects of varying percentages of gum arabic powder (Acacia Senegal) added to the diet of broiler chickens on certain productive characteristics. Five treatments were used, with three replicates of ten chicks per treatment, and gum arabic was included in the diet beginning on day one. T1 = No-addition therapy control, T2: gum arabic added at a rate of 2.5 gm per kilogram of feed, T3: 4.5 gm per kilogram of feed, T4: 6.5 gm per kilogram of feed, and T5: 8.5 gm per kilogram of feed. Food conversion coefficient improved for different weeks in the experiment compared to the remainder of the experimental and control coefficients, and average body weight and weight gain increased considerably (P<0.05) under the treatment of adding 6.5 mg of gum arabic / kg feed.

Impact of Adding Aqueous Extract of Mentha Pulegium and Lemon and its Mixture to Drinking Water on some Growth Performance and Intestine Organs of Broiler Chicken

The research was conducted to detect some of growth and gastrointestinal performance of broiler chickens fed with aqueous extract of mentha pulegium or lemon, which are alternative growth stimulants. In the study 324 day-old chicks (Ross 308) were used. There were 4 feed treatments each consisting of 3 replicates (27 chicks per iteration). The control group ( C ) was fed on basal diet without adding, while the other three groups were fed on basic ration with the addition of (0.5%) aqueous extract of mentha pulegium (AEM) and (0.5%) aqueous extract of lemon (AEL) and (0.2.5%) aqueous extract of mentha pulegium plus (0.2.5%) aqueous extract of lemon (AEM+AEL) in drinking water, respectively. Feed intake and body weight were measured every week. At the age of 35 days, four birds were slaughtered for each replicate, the relative weights of edible internal organs, intestines, relative length of intestines and abdominal fat were calculated. Results showed that from 1 to 35 days of age, body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion coefficient were higher (p < 0.05) in broiler chickens fed on the aqueous extract of mentha pulegium compared to the control. Lemon treatment and the mix has no obvious effect on productive characteristics compared to control group. The prorated weights of internal organs (edible), intestines and the prorated length of the intestines were impacted by the contents of mentha pulegium. The use of mentha pulegium and lemon alone or in combination reduces the weight of abdominal fat compared to the control group. Thus, mentha pulegium and lemon have an extensive range of investigation and future studies and need to take advantage of their potential benefits in order to develop animal production, particular the poultry industry.