Net Weight Research Articles

Effect of hospital nutrition program on growth of very low birth weight preterm babies.

Objective: To determine the effect of hospital nutrition program on growth of very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) babies. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Recep Tayyep Erdogan Hospital, Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. Period: February 2024 to July 2024. Methods: Inclusion criteria were preterm newborns weighing below 1500 grams, admitted in NICU and who received total parenteral nutrition (TPN). VLBW was labeled as birth weight between 1000-1499 grams, while ELBW as birth weight <1000 grams. Hospital nutrition program included TPN plus orogastric feed or nasogastric feeding plus micronutrients. Effect of hospital nutrition program was described as effective if the baby at the time of discharge added 17-20 g/kg/day according to ESPHGAN recommendation. Results: In a total of 131 newborns, 69 (52.7%) were boys. The mean gestational age, and birth weight were 29.68±1.87 weeks, and 1024.50±144.23 grams, respectively. The mean net daily weight gain at the time of discharge was 12.77±3.63 grams. The effective hospital nutrition program was noted in 23 (17.6%) babies. Effectiveness of hospital nutrition program was significantly associated with higher birth weight (1094.78±114.41 vs. 1009.54±145.93 grams, p=0.010), very low birth weight versus extremely low birth weight (87.0% vs. 13.0%, p<0.001), head circumference ≥30 cm (87.0% vs. 53.7%, p=0.003), and gestational age > 28 weeks (87.0% vs. 57.4%, p=0.008). Conclusion: The hospital nutrition program had limited effectiveness, with only 17.6% of VLBW and ELBW infants achieving the recommended weight gain by discharge.

Parallel Force Feedback Device Design With Constant Jacobian Matrix and Net Weight Fully Balanced

Abstract Force feedback devices offer realistic and intuitive feedback to operators, and achieving higher accuracy and transparency has been a prominent research focus in this field. However, errors in real-time force or position calculations are inevitable, which can have adverse effects on the accuracy of the equipment. This article presents the design of a parallel mechanism that incorporates a constant force and velocity mapping relationship based on the type synthesis of the constant Jacobian matrix. Specifically, the mechanism maintains a fixed direction of force applied to the operating platform by the drive pair, which is mounted on the fixed platform in each limb, irrespective of position changes. This unique feature enables the mechanism to achieve a complete net weight balance. The implementation method is detailed in this article, which involves adding appropriate counterweights to achieve a balance between the weight of the connecting rod and the overall gravity of the operating platform. Furthermore, the optimization of structural parameters helps to improve the performance of the developed prototype. The proposed design scheme not only addresses the fundamental reduction of errors caused by real-time force and position mapping solving but also enhances operational transparency. Finally, simulation and experimental tests are conducted to validate the proposed theory.

Utilization of Pili (Canarium ovatum) sawdust in bio-crude oil production and the identification of potential by-products through thermochemical conversion

This study aimed to utilize Pili sawdust in the production of bio-crude oil and identify its potential by-products through thermochemical conversion. To obtain all the essential data, this research sought to answer the questions: (1) How much bio-crude oil can be produced at constant factors such as temperature and amount of Pili (Canarium ovatum) sawdust? (2) What are the physical characteristics of the generated bio-crude oil after conducting thermochemical conversion? (a) Color, (b) Appearance, and (c) Viscosity (3) What other potential by-product can be generated out of Pili (Canarium ovatum) sawdust after conducting thermochemical conversion. (4) What are the physical characteristics of the generated by-products after conducting thermochemical conversion? (a) Color and (b) Appearance. Experimental-descriptive method was used in perceiving the physical properties of the by-products and its bio-crude oil production, presented in milliliters (mL) and to be expressed in percentage respectively. Based on the gathered observation record results, data revealed that 1000 g of Pili sawdust in 340 oC temperature, yields 30% or 300mL of brownish bio-crude oil in color, with a high degree of viscosity. Consequently, the generated by-products are biochar and synthesized biogas. The 242.2g of biochar which yields 24.52%, resulted being porous and coarse-grained in texture. While the synthesized biogas generated 433.4g of net weight yields 43.34%, resulted in having a high flammability. For the betterment of similar study, future researchers are encouraged to evaluate the agricultural potential of the generated biochar and to distillate bio-crude oil for possible commercial use.

Preparation and evaluation of soft gelatin capsules loaded with astaxanthin, niacin and garlic oil for removal of plague in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. In atherosclerosis, the arterial walls are characterized by plaque deposits on the inside of arteries. This study focuses on preparing a fill formulation to remove plaque in atherosclerosis, then analyse the pharmaceutical ingredients used and later produce soft gelatin capsules. Soft gelatin capsules are hermetically sealed, one-piece capsule which has a suspension or semi-solid as fill. Oxidative stress and inflammation are factors responsible for the development of atherosclerosis. Hence, the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) chosen for fill formulation need to possess effective anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A novel combination of APIs: Astaxanthin, Niacin and Garlic oil were chosen for the removal of plaque in atherosclerosis. Each of these APIs is known to possess a specific function in the control of plaque development. The fill formulation prepared was analysed for its recovery using various analytical techniques like UV spectrophotometry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). This fill formulation was encapsulated within the gelatin shell prepared to produce soft gelatin capsules. The encapsulated soft gelatin capsules were evaluated based on various parameters which include average net weight, disintegration test, loss on drying and dissolution.

Fermented By-Products of Banana Wine Production Improve Slaughter Performance, Meat Quality, and Flavor Fingerprint of Domestic Chicken.

This study aimed to compare the effects of incorporating fermented feed into daily diets on the slaughter performance, meat quality, and flavor compounds of 120 domestic chickens over a 140-day period. A total of five groups (n = 24), including the control group (CK) of the Guangxi Partridge chickens received a standard base diet. The other four groups were provided with pellets that had been added with 10% fermented banana peel (Pe-10), 20% fermented banana peel (Pe-20), 10% fermented banana pulp residue (Pu-10), and 20% fermented banana pulp residue (Pu-20). The flavor compounds in the meat samples of the chickens in these groups were determined using the gas chromatographic method. The results demonstrated that the chickens in the Pe-10, Pe-20, Pu-10, and Pu-20 groups exhibited pectoral muscle percentages, thigh muscle percentages, and total fatty acid content of chest meat that were higher than those observed in the CK group. The moisture content, meat color, carcass weight, total net weight, and abdominal fat percentage of the meat samples in these experimental groups exhibited no notable differences. The flavor compounds in the meat samples of the chickens fed with the two concentrations of fermented banana peel and banana residue were found to be significantly different from those in the control group, with p-values less than 0.05. As the quantity of fermented banana peel incorporated into the daily ration was increased from 10% to 20%, a notable alteration in the flavor compounds present in the chicken samples was observed. The chickens that were provided with fermented banana peels and pulps in their diets exhibited superior slaughter performance and meat quality, particularly in the case of the Pu-10 group, in comparison to the control chickens.

The class C(ω1) and countable net weight

Hart and Kunen in [5] and, independently, Ríos-Herrejón in [14] defined and studied the class C(ω1) of topological spaces X having the property that for every neighborhood assignment {U(y):y∈Y} with Y∈[X]ω1 there is Z∈[Y]ω1 such thatZ⊂⋂{U(z):z∈Z}. It is obvious that spaces of countable net weight, i.e. having a countable network, belong to this class. In this paper we present several independence results concerning the relationships of these two and several other natural classes that are sandwiched between them, thus clarifying some of the main problems that were raised in [14].In particular, we prove that the continuum hypothesis, in fact a weaker combinatorial principle called super stick, implies that every regular space in C(ω1) has countable net weight, answering a question that was raised by Hart and Kunen in both [5] and [6].

Brain natriuretic peptide as a predictor of 30-day mortality after return of spontaneous circulation in cardiac arrest patients

PurposeTo determine the predictive value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels for 30-day mortality after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in patients with cardiac arrest (CA) of presumed cardiac etiology. MethodsThis retrospective study included 260 patients with CA of presumed cardiac etiology who regained ROSC and was conducted between November 2013 and June 2022 at two tertiary comprehensive hospitals. Cox regression and nomogram models were used to demonstrate the value of BNP level in predicting 30-day mortality rates. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to compare the ability of the two models to predict 30-day mortality risk. ResultsBNP level was a predictive factor for 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.441; 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.198–1.734). The area under curves (AUCs) of BNP level alone and model 2 (male sex, age, non-shockable rhythm, epinephrine, and time to ROSC >30 min) for predicting 30-day mortality were similar(0.813 versus 0.834). Model 1 that included the variables in model 2 and BNP level showed good predictive value (area under curve = 0.887; 95 % CI = 0.836–0.939). Compared to Model 2, Model 1 showed improved comprehensive differentiation and net weight classification of mortality prediction, further demonstrating the predictive value of BNP for 30-day mortality (NRI = 0.451, 95 % CI = 0.267–0.577; IDI = 0.109, 95 % CI = 0.035–0.191). ConclusionBNP level was a predictive factor for 30-day mortality after ROSC in patients with CA of presumed cardiac etiology who regained ROSC. The nomogram model included BNP may provide a reference for predicting 30-day mortality.

Impact of Feeding Artemia franciscana Enriched with Various Oil Resources on Growth, Blood Biochemical and Behavioral Indices, and Survival of Oreochromis Niloticus

Abstract The main objective of the present trial was to examine the efficacy of feeding tilapia fry fish on Artemia franciscana diets supplemented with various oil emulsion resources in terms of performance, behavior indices, survival rate, blood biochemical parameters, and immunological response. Four hundred Nile tilapia fry (weighing 0.15±0.05 g and measuring 2.17±0.08 cm) were randomly allocated into four equal groups (each with five repetitions) and acclimatized for fifteen days. The first group served as the control and received unenriched Artemia franciscana (G0), while the remaining three groups were fed Artemia franciscana diets enriched with different oil resources (0.5 mL oil per liter for 6 hours): soybean oil (G1), sesame oil (G2), and rice bran oil (G3). Behavioral observations were recorded during the 45-day experimental period. At the end of the feeding trial, the chemical composition and fatty acid content of both Artemia and fingerlings were analyzed. Furthermore, the growth performance, survival, and immune response of the fingerlings were evaluated. The results indicated noticeable improvements in behavioral measurements (feeding, foraging and schooling), performance (final length, final weight, net weight gain, feed conversion ratio and specific growth rate), survival, and immune response among fry fish supplemented with enriched Artemia, particularly those enriched with soybean oil. Additionally, the chemical composition and fatty acid content of both Artemia and fish fry were significantly enhanced when oil emulsions are applied, with soybean oil demonstrating the most prominent improvements. Whereas, supplementing fry fish Artemia diets with oil resulted in lower liver enzyme activity and higher protein component levels in plasma in comparison to the control group. In brief, feeding Nile tilapia fry fish Artemia diets enriched with a soybean oil emulsion (0.5 mL/L) is recommended for promoting high performance, immunological activity, and survival throughout the early stage till fingerlings phase.

Analysis of Swallow Nest Nitrite Levels and Export Volume Projections: A Statistical Approach to Quality Improvement and Global Market Development

The global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is impacting public health and living systems. Edible Bird's Nest (EBN), one of the variants of Swallow's Nest (SBW), is recognized as a medicinal food. The potential of SBW as a therapeutic agent is gaining attention due to its ability to inhibit viral hemagglutination activity. This study provides information on the prediction of SBW demand in the coming year so that it can contribute to determining Indonesia's SBW export performance. Net weight data (tons) of SBW export time series were obtained for 10 years from 2012 to 2022 in 10 countries, namely: Hong Kong, China, Singapore, USA, Vietnam, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and Cambodia, combined with laboratory examination on nitrite levels conducted at the Surabaya Agricultural Quarantine Center, Indonesia. This study shows the minimum limit on nitrite levels in SBW exports and the need for SBW exports in the next four years. One of the requirements for SBW exports is the minimum limit of nitrite levels. The ARIMA method has been implemented to forecast SBW export demand in 10 countries for the next four years. SBW export demand in the next four years is expected to decline. The findings make a significant contribution as a source of information for decision-makers involved in SBW export activities.

The Relationship Between Weight Indices and Blood Levels of Immunosuppressive Drugs in Renal Transplant Recipients

Background: Calcineurin inhibitors and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors are essential for maintaining transplanted organs. However, determining the appropriate dosage and predicting blood concentrations of these drugs based solely on net body weight may be inadequate. Previous studies have presented contradictory results regarding the impact of obesity on drug concentrations and transplant success. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate various weight indices to identify the most reliable indicator of weight that correlates with the blood levels of drugs used in organ transplantation. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study included patients from nephrology clinics affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences who were taking calcineurin and/or mTOR inhibitor drugs. Data extracted from medical records included demographic and clinical information, such as height, weight, and various weight indices (total/ideal/adjusted body weight, lean body mass (LBM), Body Mass Index, and predicted normal weight), as well as blood levels of immunosuppressive drugs at each patient's visit. The dosages of each drug (mg/kg) were analyzed to determine which weight indices best correlated with the obtained blood concentrations, using the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model with logistic regression, an independent correlation matrix, and a binary distribution for data analysis. Results: The study analyzed the medical records of 71 patients. Trough (C0) concentrations of drugs were evaluated in relation to each weight index, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated for statistical comparison. All weight indices increased the likelihood of achieving appropriate concentrations for cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and sirolimus. Drug dosing based on LBM (OR: 1.028), ideal body weight (OR: 1.075), and total body weight (OR: 1.041) showed the strongest correlations with achieving proper blood levels for cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and sirolimus, respectively. Conclusions: Integrating various weight indices for calculating individualized doses (mg/kg) of each immunosuppressive drug increases the likelihood of achieving appropriate blood concentrations. However, the optimal weight index varies for each drug. Further studies, particularly those incorporating therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) plans in transplant centers, are warranted to validate and generalize these findings, providing a potential avenue for improving immunosuppressive therapy and enhancing transplant outcomes.

Impact of Various Dietary Protein Sources on Growth Performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings and on Water Quality

Aquaculture industry provides proteins and unsaturated fatty acids worldwide. Fresh water aquaculture is considered as the most prominent type of aquaculture in the world. Nile tilapia aquaculture is favored because it can adopt to wide range of environments and can tolerate various abiotic stresses. However, the success and profitability of aquaculture is significantly affected by type of feeds used in aquaculture system. An experiment was conducted to assess this important aspect of aquaculture. Nile tilapia fingerlings were fed on three different protein sources to assess the effects of these experimental diets on growth of fingerlings and on water quality. Three protein sources were freshwater shrimp meal (FSM), black soldier fly larvae (BSF) and soybean meal (SBM). Fingerlings were divided into groups based on their respective experimental diets and were arranged according to CRD with three replicates. Each replicate contained 30 fingerlings. Data was recorded for growth attributes of fingerlings and for water quality attributes. Analysis of data shows that BSF caused 32% increase in final weight of fingerlings followed by FSM, which caused 24% increase as compared to controlled. Net weight gain was also significantly enhanced by experimental diets. BSF caused 88% increase in weight gain as compared to controlled. BSF also increased 43% survival rate of Nile tilapia fingerlings as compared to fingerlings fed with controlled diet. Water quality was not much affected by all diets. Water quality parameters like DO, pH, temperature, ammonia and phosphorus all were in optimum range for tilapia culture. However, BSF provided 136% more phosphorus as compared to controlled. This study reveals the beneficial effects of BSF larvae protein source for Nile tilapia culture. So, from these findings, it can be suggested to partially replace fish meal with BSF larvae meal.

Impact of Various Dietary Protein Sources on Growth Performance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings and on Water Quality

Aquaculture industry provides proteins and unsaturated fatty acids worldwide. Fresh water aquaculture is considered as the most prominent type of aquaculture in the world. Nile tilapia aquaculture is favored because it can adopt to wide range of environments and can tolerate various abiotic stresses. However, the success and profitability of aquaculture is significantly affected by type of feeds used in aquaculture system. An experiment was conducted to assess this important aspect of aquaculture. Nile tilapia fingerlings were fed on three different protein sources to assess the effects of these experimental diets on growth of fingerlings and on water quality. Three protein sources were freshwater shrimp meal (FSM), black soldier fly larvae (BSF) and soybean meal (SBM). Fingerlings were divided into groups based on their respective experimental diets and were arranged according to CRD with three replicates. Each replicate contained 30 fingerlings. Data was recorded for growth attributes of fingerlings and for water quality attributes. Analysis of data shows that BSF caused 32% increase in final weight of fingerlings followed by FSM, which caused 24% increase as compared to controlled. Net weight gain was also significantly enhanced by experimental diets. BSF caused 88% increase in weight gain as compared to controlled. BSF also increased 43% survival rate of Nile tilapia fingerlings as compared to fingerlings fed with controlled diet. Water quality was not much affected by all diets. Water quality parameters like DO, pH, temperature, ammonia and phosphorus all were in optimum range for tilapia culture. However, BSF provided 136% more phosphorus as compared to controlled. This study reveals the beneficial effects of BSF larvae protein source for Nile tilapia culture. So, from these findings, it can be suggested to partially replace fish meal with BSF larvae meal.

Geopolymer-based insulated wall incorporating construction and demolition waste: Experimental assessment of thermo-physical behavior

The benefit of the application of geopolymers in the building sector is nowadays undisputed. In addition to good structural characteristics, these are characterized by interesting thermophysical properties, obtained through a production process, that reduces CO2 emissions and could incorporate recycled material, thus responding to environmental sustainability. However, it is noted the lack of studies regarding the in-field thermal performance. Thus, the aim of the present study is to investigate the thermal performance, under real conditions, of an innovative geopolymer-based insulated wall. It incorporates over 70% of net weight of Construction and Demolition Waste materials. The wall is conceived within the European project called “Green INSTRUCT” aimed to realize modular prefabricated building elements, for retrofitting and new construction of buildings. Two wall prototypes are analysed, which differ for the type of lightweight aggregate of geopolymer matrix, 3% by weight: expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene. The study refers to almost one year of continuous monitoring within a full-scale test room located in southern Italy. The method developed consists of 5 different phases and it involves also a normative-insulated reference wall. The results show higher insulation level of the proposed wall package, with a reduction of the heat flux of about 66% and more stable indoor thermal conditions, compared to the reference wall. Also the inertial properties are satisfactory, showing an experimental decrement factor equal to 0.05 and a time-shift of decrement factor higher than 6 h. All told, the experimental results can provide valuable insights into the real impact of innovative technology on energy efficiency and indoor thermal comfort.

Multi-modal fusion deep learning model for excavated soil heterogeneous data with efficient classification

Multimodal fusion, a cutting-edge method aiming to integrate heterogeneous data for prediction tasks, has received limited attention in geotechnical engineering. This study focuses on classifying excavated soils with large quantities rapidly and finely. By using an excavated soil information collecting system at the largest soil transferring platform in China, 3,243 groups of multi-source heterogenous data were created, including soil images, spatial series data of cone index curves, time series data of TDR waveforms, discrete net weight data, and textual descriptions of soil morphology. After data augmentation, a big dataset containing 23,122 sets with labels based on the Unified Soil Classification System, moisture content, and mineral composition was created. Multimodal deep learning models were trained using different fusion strategies: 7 early fusion, 3 intermediate fusion, and 2 late fusion cases. Performance metrics were evaluated, including loss, accuracy, F1 Score, precision, recall, specificity, NPV, FPR, and AUROC. Results showed that intermediate fusions performed best, while late fusions performed the poorest. The two-stage intermediate fusion with five modalities achieved the best results, achieving an accuracy above 0.99 on the test set. This multimodal fusion approach effectively explores the correlation between multi-source heterogeneous data of soils, leading to scientific and engineering value in geotechnics.

Combination between Composting and Vermicomposting of OFMSW: A Sicilian Case Study

In nature, earthworms process enormous quantities of plant debris, ingesting and converting them into vermicast, the final product of their digestion process. Vermicast is widely recognized as an organic fertilizer suitable for plants, usually obtained from the transformation of animal manure. Indeed, controlled vermicomposting of the organic fraction from municipal solid waste (OFMSW) has yielded contradictory results, limiting the extension of laboratory results to larger-scale initiatives. This study aims to analyze a combined composting–vermicomposting process using Eisenia fetida (also known as Californian red worm) for the treatment of OFMSW (containing different impurities, such as heavy metals), mixed with a suitable substrate for earthworms, consisting of a blend of animal bedding and pre-selected food scraps (SOM—pre-selected organic material). Different fractions from a municipal composting plant were tested for the biological process: raw OFMSW, pre-composted (PC, organic matrix that has completed the thermophilic biodegradation phase), and compost (C). Laboratory tests involved five different applications with varying mixing proportions, partly aided by the addition of OM. The physical–chemical parameters (e.g., pH, temperature, moisture) and worm growth rate in the different treatments were measured and compared. The results showed that the process improved the quality of the final product, especially for the selected matrices, and revealed a significant reduction in the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (lower than 14 in all tests) when vermicomposting was applied to the mixed matrices and SOM. Worms increased during the process in net weight and growth rate, even if there was an accumulation of heavy metals in the “worm tea”. Worm mass reached a little over double the initial value in all tests (from 200 g to more than 500 g in the SOM test), except for an increase of only 87% in the OFMSW test, while heavy metal content in the solid matrix was reduced in all tests compared to the starting content.

Valorization of refined sardine oil in canned Sardina pilchardus

This study aimed to use refined sardine oil as a covering juice in canned Sardina pilchardus. The oil’s fatty acid profile, acidity, peroxide value, and p-anisidine value were analyzed. The biochemical composition, histamine content, and bacteriological stability of the canned sardines were determined. The results showed that canned sardines contained 51.40 g of moisture, 27.87 g of fat, 17.91 g of protein, and 1.03 g of salt per 100 g net weight. The fatty acid composition included 10.35% polyunsaturated fatty acids, 8.86% saturated fatty acids, and 6.27% monounsaturated fatty acids, with the most abundant fatty acids being eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), palmitic acid, oleic acid, myristic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This recipe provided 8.88 g/100 g (net weight) of EPA and DHA. These findings support the interest in using refined fish oil to enrich foods with essential marine fatty acids, highly recommended for their health benefits and leading to encouraging prospects for sardine canneries to develop new and nutritious value products.

Valorization of refined sardine oil in canned Sardina pilchardus

This study aimed to use refined sardine oil as a covering juice in canned Sardina pilchardus. The oil’s fatty acid profile, acidity, peroxide value, and p-anisidine value were analyzed. The biochemical composition, histamine content, and bacteriological stability of the canned sardines were determined. The results showed that canned sardines contained 51.40 g of moisture, 27.87 g of fat, 17.91 g of protein, and 1.03 g of salt per 100 g net weight. The fatty acid composition included 10.35% polyunsaturated fatty acids, 8.86% saturated fatty acids, and 6.27% monounsaturated fatty acids, with the most abundant fatty acids being eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), palmitic acid, oleic acid, myristic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This recipe provided 8.88 g/100 g (net weight) of EPA and DHA. These findings support the interest in using refined fish oil to enrich foods with essential marine fatty acids, highly recommended for their health benefits and leading to encouraging prospects for sardine canneries to develop new and nutritious value products.

Effect of Different Sources of Concentrated Organic Inputs and Bio-Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Broccoli cv Calabrese

Broccoli, scientifically known as Brassica oleracea L. var. italica, is an important cool-season vegetable crops belonging to the family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae. Organic broccoli farming is an eco-friendly approach that ensures sustainable agricultural practices for consistent and resilient production by improving resistance against various pests and environmental challenges. Two consecutive years of field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 comprising of twenty-one treatments with different sources of concentrated organic inputs along with bio-fertilizers by cultivar calabrese laid out in two factorial Randomized Block Design replicated by three times. The treatment combinations were consisted of seven different organic inputs viz. T1- neem cake @ 1 t ha-1, T2-mustard cake @ 1 t ha-1, T3- neem cake @ 0.75 t ha-1, T4- mustard cake @ 0.75 t ha-1, T5- neem cake @ 0.5 t ha-1, T6- mustard cake @ 0.5 t ha-1 and T7-control and three different level of biofertilizers viz. B1- azotobactor @ 2 kg ha-1, B2- azospirillum @ 2 kg ha-1 and B3- PSB @ 2 kg ha-1. The exponential and significant improvement in plant height (31.68 cm), dry matter content (32.26%), gross head weight (615.18 g), net head weight (304.26 g) and projected yield (8.44 t ha-1) were influenced by integrated application of mustard cake @ 1t ha-1 with azospirillum @ 2 kg ha-1. The plant applied in different doses of mustard cake along with azospirillum responded better performance in most of the biochemical aspects viz. TSS (3.92 to 4.090 Brix), vit-C (99.71 to 101.77 mg 100 g-1 pulp) and crude protein (2.23 to 2.43%). Mustad cake @ 1t ha-1 along with azospirillium @ 2 kg ha-1 clearly demonstrated more accumulation of N (2.12%), P (1.20%) and K (1.78%) content in plant tissue and significantly improved the head quality.

Utilization of Pili (Canarium Ovatum) Sawdust in the Production of Bio-Crude Oil and Identification of its Potential Byproducts Using Thermochemical Conversion

This study aimed to utilize Pili sawdust in the production of bio-crude oil and identify its potential by-products through thermochemical conversion. To obtain all the essential data, this research sought to answer the questions: (1) how much bio-crude oil can be produced at constant factors such as temperature and amount of Pili (Canarium ovatum) sawdust. (2) What are the physical characteristics of the generated bio-crude oil after conducting thermochemical conversion? (a) Color, (b) Appearance, and (c) Viscosity (3) What other potential by-product can be generated out of Pili (Canarium ovatum) sawdust after conducting thermochemical conversion. (4) What are the physical characteristics of the generated by-products after conducting thermochemical conversion? (a) Color and (b) Appearance. Experimental-descriptive method was used in perceiving the physical properties of the by-products and its bio-crude oil production, presented in milliliters (mL) and to be expressed in percentage respectively. Based on the gathered observation record results, data revealed that 1000 g of Pili sawdust in 340-oC temperature yields 30% or 300mL of brownish bio-crude oil in color, with a high degree of viscosity. Consequently, the generated by-products are biochar and synthesized biogas. The 242.2g of biochar, which yields 24.52%, resulted being porous and coarse-grained in texture. While the synthesized biogas generated 433.4g of net weight yields 43.34%, resulted in having a high flammability. For the betterment of similar study, future researchers are encouraged to evaluate the agricultural potential of the generated biochar and to distillate bio-crude oil for possible commercial use.

Consumption of Different Artificial Diets by Apis mellifera L. Colonies During Dearth Period in Morena, M.P., India

Aims: The insufficient availability during the dearth periods poses considerable threat to the sustainability and productivity of Apis mellifera L. colonies. The present study was undertaken to determine how honey bee colonies consume various artificial diets treatments during the times when natural food sources are scarce in the study region. Study Site and Duration: The present experiment was carried out at apiary of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Morena and at beekeeper’s apiary in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh during 2022-23 and 2023-24. Methodology: Five different artificial diets were formulated and a weighted amount of diets, in the form of patties, were given to experimental colonies in three replicates by wrapping in the butter paper and placed on the top bar over the brood frames starting from October to December at weekly intervals during dearth periods. The net weight of diets consumed (fresh weight - weight of the remaining diet) was measured after each feeding at weekly intervals. Results: The results revealed that significant highest mean consumption was recorded from the colonies fed with Diet 4 with 34.39g/colony (2022-23) and 35.29g/colony (2023-24). The decreasing order of amount of consumption of the different diets was observed as follows: Diet 4 >Diet 1>Diet 3>Diet 2>Diet 5. Regardless of the diets, highest consumption was recorded on November 11th with 58.95g/colony (2022-23) and 61.41g/colony (2023-24) and the lowest consumption of 5.88g/colony (2022-23) and 5.55g/colony (2023-24) on 16th December with no further consumption recorded in any of the diets. Conclusion: The study concluded that Diet 4 exhibited the highest mean consumption indicating the most preferred diet, followed by Diets 1, 3, 2, and 5. Peak consumption was reported on November 11th, and the lowest on December 16th, with no further consumption thereafter.