Low Inclusion Levels Research Articles

Assessment of macroalgae and macroalgal extracts as a source of minerals in need of fine-tuning in multiple livestock production systems

This study evaluates the levels of macrominerals (Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, S), essential trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Zn) and potentially toxic trace elements (Cd, Hg, Pb, As (inorganic and organic)) in seven species of macroalgae and in their extracts. The potential maximum levels of inclusion of macroalgal biomass and extracts in feed were assessed in multiple livestock (swine, ruminant, poultry, leporine and pisciculture). Overall, macroalgae contained high levels of I, reaching its highest levels in S. latissima (4131mg/kg DM) and L. ochroleuca (2780mg/kg DM). Arsenic concentrations ranged from 4.10mg/kg DM in Ulva spp. to 68.9mg/kg DM in S. latissima. Arsenic was mainly present as arsenosugars, of relatively low toxicity. Extracts had higher macrominerals and I levels, and lower essential and toxic trace elements levels compared to the biomass. Macroalgal biomass and extracts can be added to feed at 1-5% to fulfill the physiological needs of multiple livestock, being I contents the main factor limiting highest inclusion rates. Inclusion of S. latissima and L. ochroleuca should be limited to 0.72 and 0.66%, respectively. Maximum level of inclusion of different macroalgal products, as dried biomass or extracts, must be finely tuned. Low levels of inclusion of macroalgae and/or extracts in feed can be considered as an efficient and natural strategy to fulfill the macrominerals and iodine needs of multiple livestock.

Effects of deoxynivalenol contaminated corn distiller's dried grains with solubles on growth performance, body composition, immunological response, and gastrointestinal health in young pullets

Mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), are common contaminants in feed ingredients such as corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and pose significant risks to poultry health. This study investigated the effects of feeding naturally DON contaminated DDGS on growth performance, body composition, immunological response, and gastrointestinal health in young pullets. A total of 360, 4-week-old Hy-Line W36 pullets were randomly assigned to diets with increasing levels of naturally DON contaminated DDGS (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) over 28 days, resulting in dietary DON concentrations ranging from below the limit of quantification to 15.4 ppm. Diets with DON concentration exceeding 8.9 ppm, corresponding to 15% and 20% DDGS inclusion, resulted in significantly lower body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) from experimental day 14 to day 28 compared to DON concentration below 5.9 ppm (0, 5 and 10% DDGS groups; P = 0.024 and P = 0.007, respectively). Body composition analysis showed a higher tissue fat percentage in the 20% DDGS group (15.4 ppm DON) by day 28 compared to lower inclusion levels (P = 0.021). Immunologically, a significant increase in the CD4+:CD8+ ratio in spleen was observed in the 20% DDGS group compared to the 0% DDGS group (P = 0.013), whereas both 15 and 20% DDGS inclusion levels significantly increased the ratio in cecal tonsil (P < 0.001). Additionally, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) expression significantly increased in the cecal tonsil by day 28 with 15 and 20% DDGS inclusions (P = 0.002). Gut health was compromised as gut permeability increased linearly with increasing DDGS inclusion (linear, P = 0.043), aligning with significant alterations in the expression of the tight junction protein occludin (OCLN; P = 0.007). Antioxidant responses in the liver showed increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in early exposure (day 13, P = 0.038), followed by decreased SOD activity (P = 0.001) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels (P < 0.001) by day 28. In conclusion, feeding DON-contaminated DDGS at higher inclusion levels (15% and 20%) with final diet DON concentrations exceeding 8.9 ppm over 28 days adversely affects growth performance, immune function, and gut integrity in young pullets.

The Impact of Marketing Tools on the Recyclables Circulation in the Circular Economy

Increasing the efficiency of the recyclables circulation is a generally recognized necessity in view of the worsening of environmental problems. In this context, marketing plays an important role as an effective stimulus for the transition to a circular economy. The aim of the study is to determine marketing tools capable of influencing the improvement of the efficiency of the recyclables circulation, in accordance with the determined aspects of green growth. The work used the methods of correlation, regression, and statistical analysis, as well as case studies. The conducted research proved the correlation between the waste recycling rate and all dimensions of green growth. These include increasing the efficiency of resource use, protecting natural capital, developing a green economy, and increasing social inclusion. The regression analysis, where the level of waste recycling was the dependent variable, found a statistically significant effect of social inclusion. This gave grounds to propose a list of marketing tools that could be useful for increasing the efficiency of the recyclables circulation for each of the studied aspects of green growth. This can be useful for developing strategies and approaches depending on specific needs. It is appropriate to use marketing tools determined for this specific direction (information campaigns, etc.), in particular, in case of insufficient efficiency of the recyclables circulation caused by a low level of social inclusion.

Chlorella and vegetable oil inclusion in diets for growing rabbits: effects on growth, digestibility, plasma metabolites, and caecal fermentations and microbiota

The inclusion of microalgae in livestock diets has been shown to enhance animal productivity, immune response, and meat quality. However, the role of chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris) in growing rabbit nutrition has been scarcely explored, with available studies focusing on low inclusion levels (<1%) and their effects on rabbit growth and immune response. This study evaluated the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, plasma metabolites, caecal fermentative activity, and caecal microbiota composition of growing rabbits fed diets with different inclusion levels of chlorella and crude fat. A total of 648 mixed-sex Grimaud crossbred rabbits (33 d of age; 841 ± 140 g live weight) were fed 6 experimental diets (96 rabbits per diet for the growth trial) based on a bifactorial design with three dietary inclusion levels of chlorella (0%, 1%, and 2%) and two levels of crude fat (3% and 5%) obtained by the inclusion of soybean oil (1% and 3%, respectively). The trial lasted 38 days until slaughter. From 47 to 51 days of age, 72 rabbits (12 per diet) were submitted to a digestibility trial. At 51 days of age, samples of plasma and caecal content were collected from 36 rabbits (6 rabbit per diet) to analyse plasma metabolites, caecal fermentations, and caecal microbiota. Rabbit live weight at 71 days of age (2 700 g, on average), weight gain (48.8 g/d) and feed conversion ratio (3.27) were unaffected by chlorella inclusion, while feed conversion ratio improved (−5%; P < 0.001) with an increase of crude fat from 3% to 5%. The digestibility of ADF (23.2% vs. 20.9%; P < 0.05) and crude fat (83.8% vs. 85.6%; P < 0.01) improved with the inclusion of chlorella at 2%, as well as the digestibility of crude fat (82.4% vs. 86.9%; P < 0.001) and gross energy (57.3% vs. 58.7%; P < 0.001) with crude fat inclusion at 5%. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids decreased (−19%; P < 0.05) in diets with 5% crude fat. Neither chlorella nor crude fat inclusion levels affected other plasma metabolites, caecal fermentations, or caecal microbiota. Overall, the inclusion of chlorella up to 2% in diets for growing rabbits did not significantly affect diet nutritional value, animal performance, or caecal activity. On the other hand, increasing crude fat to 5% improved the overall feed efficiency.

Evaluating the Potential of Legume-Based Wort for Brewing Applications

The study aims to enhance sustainability in the brewing industry by exploring the use of legumes as eco-friendly substitutes for barley, given their lower greenhouse gas emissions. The physicochemical properties of Congress wort made from both raw and malted forms of five legumes were investigated: red lentil, beluga lentil, green peas, fava bean, and mung bean. These legumes were tested at inclusion levels of 10, 30, 50, and 100% in the mashing process. The effect of adding exogenous enzymes to improve extract yield and filtration efficiency was also tested. Malting the legumes increased extract yield and free amino nitrogen (FAN) concentration while decreasing polyphenol and protein content compared to raw legumes. The malted legumes also had higher concentrations of volatile aroma compounds compared to their raw counterparts. Worts with mung bean had the most distinct aroma profile compared to other legume wort. At lower inclusion levels (10–30%), adding malted legumes did not negatively affect wort quality. However, at a 50% inclusion level, the use of exogenous enzymes improved wort characteristics with more pronounced effects in malted legumes. These findings highlight the potential of locally sourced legumes as sustainable barley alternatives in brewing, even at high inclusion levels. However, the environmental impact of the whole supply chain needs to be clarified in future studies.

In at the Deep End: Innovative approaches to engaging underserved communities in Northern England

Abstract Background People living in socio-economically deprived communities have greater health needs, but worse access and outcomes from care. A growing international movement of Deep End (DE) general practice networks established to promote health equity, address challenges posed by the inverse care law and advocate for increased research involvement. Researchers, community members and practitioners in the North of England are exploring ways of engaging with underserved communities and addressing low levels of inclusion in research. Methods DE research i) co-designing the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) DE network with practitioners to prioritise service investment, research activities and initiatives for local communities; ii) Deep End Research Alliance Yorkshire and Humber (DERA-YH) and Participatory Action Research to increase research capacity and reflect upon the evolution of a novel primary care Community Research Link Worker role (CRLWs). Results Prioritisation activities in the NENC DE network, uncovered the volume and complexity of clinical and social need, leading to the co-design and evaluation of initiatives to improve mental health care, increase childhood immunisations, tailor deprescribing, support training, and increase patient inclusion in research. In the DERA-YH, the CRLW model increased participation in research from ethnic minority communities regarding prostate cancer, lung health, dementia, and contraceptive services. Community leaders stated that sharing resources and power in the research process builds trust and interest in research in their communities. Conclusions DE networks in Northern England have driven innovative approaches to engage underserved communities in research, fostering empowering and enduring relationships to address health and care inequalities. Co-design methodologies and CRLWs integration into research teams had a transformative impact on the accessibility of research for communities and for the researchers’ positionality. Key messages • Deep End networks are advancing approaches to meaningful engagement and partnership working with underserved communities, to address health, care and research participation inequalities. • We recommend co-design by default and CRLW models to build capacity and embed reflective practice, mutual respect, and power sharing across the research team.

Economic impact of inclusion of black soldier fly products in broiler diets: A comparison between conventional and higher animal welfare production systems in the Netherlands

The primary objectives of this study were to analyze economic feasibility of incorporating black soldier fly products in broiler feed and to compare the viability of alive (alive grown larvae (AGL)) or processed (defatted larvae meal (DLM) and insect oil) insect inclusion into the two Dutch broiler welfare systems: conventional and better life one star (BLS).An existing simulation model for insect production was adapted to build an economic model for the insect-fed broiler breast meat supply chain. Amounts, full costs, and breakeven prices of different production setups were compared and the impacts of specific input parameters were tested by sensitivity and breakeven analyses.Results indicated a hypothetical demand of 2.15 million tons wet matter of raw substrate to meet the total Dutch breast meat production (BLS broilers and 10% AGL inclusion). In case of 10% processed insect inclusion, the conventional broiler breast meat price increased from 3,947 to 6,069 €/t (53.7%) and the BLS breast meat price from 6,493 to 9,662 €/t (48.8%). Alive insect inclusion resulted in a smaller cost increase (42.2%) by skipping the costly processing step. To become price competitive, DLM or AGL must cost 618 or 801 €/ton dry matter (tDM), respectively, requiring a raw substrate mix price of −109 €/tDM.High input amounts and costs currently hinder the widespread adoption of insect products in Dutch mass poultry feed. However, in the long run, using negative value substrates or targeting niche markets for broiler welfare with low AGL inclusion levels could become viable business models.Research is needed on the impact of negative value substrates on insect production performance and contamination risks. Furthermore, the impact of varying AGL composition requires special attention.

Business Model of Insurance Technology Company in Indonesia (Case Study on Premiro.com)

The rapid increase in internet usage in Indonesia has fueled the rise of Insurtech, addressing low literacy, inclusion, and insurance penetration levels. Insurtech companies are pivotal in offering digital-based insurance services to increase insurance users. This research examines the business models employed by Indonesian Insurtech firms, focusing on a case study of Premiro.com. The study also aims to identify the strengths that provide these companies with competitive advantages. Utilizing a descriptive research methodology and a qualitative approach, the research includes interviews and secondary data collection through literature reviews and company information. The analysis employs the Business Model Canvas and Value Design Model frameworks. The study details Premiro's business model elements: customer segments, value proposition, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships, and cost structure. It also examines value drivers, nodes, exchanges, and extracts. Findings reveal Premiro's strength lies in its lean and efficient cost structure. The study offers practical recommendations for Premiro to enhance operational effectiveness, expand market share, and boost competitiveness.

Financial inclusion and financial crisis: Arguments, stylized facts and evidence

AbstractThe literature has examined the relationship between financial inclusion and financial stability, but no studies have examined the relationship between financial inclusion and financial crisis. This study examines the effect of financial inclusion on financial crisis using data from 28 countries from 2006 to 2017. Three stylised facts were established based on real‐world observation. One, the level of financial inclusion, in terms of number of bank depositors, decreases during domestic financial crisis. Two, the level of financial inclusion, in terms of ATM penetration, does not decrease during global and domestic financial crises. Three, the level of financial inclusion, in terms of number of bank branch, decreases during global and domestic financial crises and the contraction is stronger during a domestic financial crisis. Using the panel regression, logit and probit regression estimation methods, the empirical results show that low levels of financial inclusion, measured by fewer bank depositors and fewer bank branches, increase the likelihood that a financial crisis will occur. Low levels of financial inclusion, measured by fewer bank depositors, increase the likelihood that a financial crisis will occur in low financial‐inclusion countries. In contrast, greater ATM penetration increases the likelihood that a financial crisis will occur in low financial‐inclusion countries. The interaction analyses show that all indices of financial inclusion have a joint positive impact on financial crisis, implying that high levels of financial inclusion increases the likelihood that a financial crisis will occur.

The impact of citrus pulp inclusion on milk performance of dairy cows: A meta-analysis

Considering sustainability and circular economy, citrus pulp could become a common dairy feedstuff. Yet, there is no clear indication of the amount of citrus pulp that can be fed without compromising milk performance or that could deliver benefits. In our meta-analysis, we investigated the impact of varying citrus pulp inclusion levels, i.e., no (0 %), low (>0–10 %), medium (>10–20 %), and high (>20 %), on milk performance variables. Replacing cereal grains with citrus pulp increased pectins and sugars while decreasing starch. At the low inclusion level, citrus pulp increased milk yield without affecting feed intake. At higher inclusion levels, citrus pulp reduced feed intake and milk yield but with higher fat contents, the milk energy content was similar to no inclusion. Concluding, citrus pulp is a good energy source with lipogenic properties in dairy cows. We encourage research to fill in the existing gap of knowledge at the rumen and systemic levels.

Wettability of anatase TiO2 surface: Effect of niobium doping

The effect of niobium doping on the hydrophilic behavior of anatase TiO2 surface was demonstrated on a series of x-Nb-TiO2 nanocoatings with dopant concentrations in the range of 0.0 - 1.0 at.% Nb. Thin films prepared on glass substrates from sols by dip-coating were characterized by tensiometric, work function and isoelectric point measurements along with FT-IR spectroscopy in situ method. Using macroscopic and microscopic techniques, it was found that, at low doping level, it is the functionalization of the anatase surface with niobium ions that leads to a drastic change in its surface acid-base as well as electronic properties and, as a consequence, to a sharp increase in the initial surface hydrophilicity. The rearrangement in the hydroxyl‑hydrated layer with the formation of additional hydroxyl groups as a result of surface functionalization has an increased effect on wettability only at low levels of niobium inclusion, whereas with increasing dopant content the electronic factor plays a significant role on the properties of titanium dioxide, including its wettability. The kinetic dependencies of the photoinduced superhydrophilic conversion for all Nb-doped titanium dioxide surfaces were obtained and discussed in terms of proposed mechanism. Both the initial hydrophilic state and the initial rate of photoinduced hydrophilic conversion depend on the Nb concentration in titanium dioxide, while the final UV-induced superhydrophilic state is achieved for all Nb-doped TiO2 regardless of the dopant content.

Analisis Pengaruh Literasi Keuangan Islam terhadap Inklusi Keuangan Syariah pada Generasi Milenial

Currently, there are still heated discussions regarding the low level of sharia financial literacy and inclusion, which causes a lack of competitiveness. At the same time, Indonesia is entering an era of demographic bonus, which can be seen from the large number of millennial generations and a Muslim population of 237.56 million people (86.7% of the total population). This research uses a quantitative approach with survey methods to collect data from a sample of the millennial generation in Indonesia. The research instrument is a questionnaire designed to measure the level of Islamic financial literacy and use of Islamic financial products and services. Data analysis was carried out using the SmartPLS tool to test the relationship between Islamic financial literacy and Islamic financial inclusion. The validity and reliability of the instrument were tested before data collection to ensure the accuracy of the research results. The research results show that there is a positive and significant relationship between Islamic financial literacy and Islamic financial inclusion. Millennials with a high level of Islamic financial literacy tend to be more active in using sharia financial products and services. This research has important implications for stakeholders, including governments, financial institutions, and educational organizations, to strengthen Islamic financial literacy programs to encourage wider participation in the Islamic financial system.

Genome-scale exon perturbation screens uncover exons critical for cell fitness

CRISPR-Cas technology has transformed functional genomics, yet understanding of how individual exons differentially shape cellular phenotypes remains limited. Here, we optimized and conducted massively parallel exon deletion and splice-site mutation screens in human cell lines to identify exons that regulate cellular fitness. Fitness-promoting exons are prevalent in essential and highly expressed genes and commonly overlap with protein domains and interaction interfaces. Conversely, fitness-suppressing exons are enriched in nonessential genes, exhibiting lower inclusion levels, and overlap with intrinsically disordered regions and disease-associated mutations. In-depth mechanistic investigation of the screen-hit TAF5 alternative exon-8 revealed that its inclusion is required for assembly of the TFIID general transcription initiation complex, thereby regulating global gene expression output. Collectively, our orthogonal exon perturbation screens established a comprehensive repository of phenotypically important exons and uncovered regulatory mechanisms governing cellular fitness and gene expression.

‘Life would have been harder, harder and more in chaos, if there wasn’t internet’: digital inclusion among newly arrived refugees in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Digital technologies are transforming almost every aspect of people’s lives, with COVID-19 accelerating this transition. For refugees, access and familiarity with these technologies is critical to wider aims of social integration. This article explores digital inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic, using data from studies conducted in 2020 and 2021 with refugees recently resettled in Australia. Inclusion was mapped against three domains – access, affordability, and literacy – from the annual Australian Digital Inclusion Index. Our study found that many respondents reported comparatively high digital inclusion. However, certain characteristics, such as gender, age, presence of children and country of birth, correlated with lower levels of inclusion within some refugee sub-groups. Our research makes three contributions: it examines levels of digital inclusion among recently arrived refugees during COVID-19; it explores how these levels relate to social links and bonds; and it discusses sample differences according to gender, age, language group and type of digital inclusion.

Financial Inclusion and Human Development: Evidence from African Countries

Africa is a continent that has experienced significant economic and developmental challenges, including high levels of poverty, income inequality, and limited access to financial services. According to a report by the World Bank in 2020, Africa has the lowest rate of financial inclusion in the world. Financial inclusion is important in that it contributes to the achievement of 7 out of 17 sustainable development goals provided by the United Nations. Apart from having low levels of financial inclusion, African countries are also ranked lowest in terms of human development. There is a growing consensus that financial inclusion is essential for economic growth and human development. This study examined the effect of financial inclusion on human development in African countries. To achieve the research objective, the study employed a panel longitudinal research design that involved collecting secondary data for the period between 2011 and 2020 on an annual basis for each of the 54 African countries. Findings indicate that financial inclusion, measured by bank branches, ATMs, deposit accounts, and loan accounts, has a positive and significant effect on human development in African countries. The study concludes that fostering financial inclusion is crucial for promoting human development in African countries. Policy implications include the need to enhance access to banking services, along with developing supportive regulatory frameworks. The study also emphasizes the need for policymakers to prioritize inclusive finance and implement targeted interventions to address the specific challenges and opportunities within each context.

PSI-4 Evaluation of chemical mitigants when soybean meal was inoculated with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory virus, and Seneca Valley virus 1

Abstract Chemical mitigants have been found to decrease virus concentrations in feed and ingredient matrices. Continued research is needed to identify the appropriate inclusion levels and application time for different viruses in these matrices. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate different inclusion levels of two different chemical mitigants when applied either before or after inoculation of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Seneca Valley virus 1 (SVV1) to soybean meal. The experiment was designed in a 2×2×2 factorial with two chemical mitigants, a formaldehyde-based product (Termin-8, Anitox Corp. Lawrenceville, GA) and a product containing Synergistic blend of phytochemicals and carboxylic acids (Finio, Anitox Corp. Lawrenceville, GA), two applications times, before virus inoculation (prevention) and after virus inoculation (mitigation), and either a low or high inclusion level (Termin-8: 2 or 3 kg/MT; Finio: 1.75 or 2.75 kg/MT). On d 1, samples of the respective matrices were weighed in 50 g aliquots and added to 500 mL bottles. Chemical mitigants were applied to the prevention samples at their respective inclusion levels and 50 µL each of 1×107 TCID50/mL PEDV, 1×108 TCID50/mL PRRSV, and 1×108 TCID50/mL SVV1 were added to the mitigation samples. All bottles were shaken and allowed to sit at room temperature for 24 h. On d 2, virus was added to the prevention samples and chemical mitigants were added to the mitigation bottles, samples incubated at room temperature for 1 h before 200 mL of phosphate buffer solution was added, and bottles incubated at 4°C for 18 h. After incubation, liquid from the samples was centrifuged and the supernatant analyzed via triplex PCR at Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Cycle threshold and proportion PCR positive were analyzed using SAS GLIMMIX v 9.4 (SAS, Inc., Cary, NC) with each virus and matrix combination analyzed individually. A chemical mitigant×application time×inclusion level interaction was not observed (P &amp;gt; 0.05) for any virus. A chemical mitigant×application time interaction was observed (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in all three viruses, where less viral RNA was detected (P &amp;lt; 0.05) when either Termin-8 or Finio were applied after inoculation (mitigation) than when applied prior to inoculation or to the positive controls. An application time×inclusion level interaction was noticed (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for SVV1 and PEDV in soybean meal. Chemical mitigants applied at either the low or high inclusion level after inoculation (mitigation) had less detectable RNA (P &amp;lt; 0.05) than their prevention counterparts. Overall, Termin-8 and Finio can reduce detectable RNA immediately in contaminated soybean meal, with ongoing research evaluating the effect of extended contact times between the mitigants and soybean meal.

The pediatric palliative care of neurosurgical patients: condition and perspectives as exemplified by the Central Federal Okrug of Russia

Actually, there was active development of children palliative care service is expressed in increasing of the number of both corresponding departments in medical organizations and children seeking palliative care. The survey of parents of children with palliative status permitted to identify desired organizational forms of medical care of this contingent, their content and aspects of social care. Such problems as shortcomings in infrastructural and material support of departments, personnel deficiency, low level of inclusion of non-medical specialists in multidisciplinary team, need for additional training of physicians and nurses in specifics of palliative medical care and need for sufficient number of pediatric palliative care centers are identified.

Growth performance, Haematological and Serum biochemistry of broilers fed diets containing Vitex doniana leaf meal

This experiment was conducted to investigate the growth performance, haematological and serum biochemistry indices of broilers fed diets containing Vitex doniana leaf meal (VDLM). A total of 120 unsexed broilers were allocated to four treatments of T1, T2, T3 and T4 and replicated three times with ten birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. The birds in each treatment were fed with diets containing 0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% VDLM respectively. Growth performances, packed cell volume, red blood cell count, haemoglobin, white blood cell count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, platelet count, aspartate amino transaminase, alanine amino transaminase, alkaline phosphate, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, cholesterol, albumin, globulin, urea, glucose, total protein and creatinine were evaluated. Growth performance results showed that there were significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in all the measured parameters except feed cost. The result of the experiment showed that there were significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in all the heamatological and serum biochemistry parameters at starter and finisher phases, except for haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration which were not significantly different (P&gt;0.05) at the starter phase. Growth performances of broilers fed control diets were better than the other treatment diets. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin, platelet count and low density lipoprotein decreased progressively while mean corpuscular volume, neutrophils, alanine amino transaminase, aspartate amino transaminase and creatinine increased progressively with increase in the inclusion of VDLM at the finisher phase. At the finisher phase, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and glucose decreased progressively while high density lipoprotein increased progressively with increase in VDLM. The results show that VDLM reduced the growth performance but improved the heamatological and serum biochemistry of broiler at lower levels of inclusion.

Gender diversity and injustice among supply chain executives: exploring outcomes that advance social justice

PurposeThis study investigates whether the underrepresentation of women in executive-level roles within the supply chain management (SCM) field is justified or the result of gender injustices. The analysis examines if there is a gender compensation gap within executive-level SCM roles and whether performance differences or other observable factors explain disparities.Design/methodology/approachPublicly reported executive compensation and financial data are merged to empirically test if gender differences exist and investigate whether the underrepresentation of women in executive-level SCM roles is unjust.FindingsWomen occupy only 6.29% of the positions in the sample of 447 SCM executives. Unlike prior studies, we find that women executives receive higher compensation. The analysis does not identify observable factors explaining the limited inclusion of women in top-level roles, suggesting that gender injustices are prevalent in SCM.Research limitations/implicationsThis study only considers observable factors and cannot conclusively determine if discrimination is occurring. The low level of inclusion of women in executive roles suggests that gender injustice is intrinsic within the SCM profession. These findings will hopefully motivate firms to undertake transformative actions that result in outcomes that advance gender equity, ultimately leading to social justice for female SCM executives.Originality/valueThe use of social justice and feminist theories, a focus on SCM roles, and an empirical methodology utilizing objective measures represents a novel approach to investigating gender discrimination in SCM organizations, complementing prior survey-based studies.

Effect of replacing corn with three fibre sources on growth performance and carcass quality of broiler chicken

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with three dietary fibre sources on the growth performance and carcass quality of broiler chicken. One hundred and forty four one-day old broiler chickens were used for the experiment. The birds were brooded for two weeks on commercial starter diet after which they were subjected to four experimental diets or treatments. The birds were randomly distributed into four treatments with three replicates, each replicate consisting of 12 birds. All birds in each treatment were fed with different diet and weighed at the end of every week. The experimental design used was a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments were designated as treatment T1, T2, T3, T4 while T1 was tagged as a control diet without any source of dietary fibre, T2 as a diet with wheat bran as a source of dietary fibre, T3 as a diet with rice bran as a source of dietary fibre, T4 as a diet with brewers dried grain (BDG) as a source of dietary fibre. There was no significant (p&gt;0.05) difference in the initial weight of the birds across the treatments, but there was a significant (p&lt;0.05) difference in the final weight and body weight gain of the birds where T2 had the highest body weight gain and T3 has the lowest body weight gain. This trend was also observed in the carcass. Based on the result of this experiment wheat bran can be used as a source of dietary fibre for better growth performance of broiler chicken at a low inclusion level.