Partitioning Factor Research Articles

Impact of Ground Flaxseed on Methane Reduction and their Influence on Nutrient Digestibility In-vitro

The current study was carried out during the period of October, 2018 to March, 2019 at the Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India to assess the effect of the Ground flaxseed supplemented at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of TMR on DM basis on in-vitro gas output and fiber degradation. Regardless of the levels of ground flaxseed, the net gas production (NGP) in flaxseed supplemented groups (5–20% level) was lower than control. The partitioning factor (PF) of flaxseed supplemented groups was significantly greater in relation to reference group. The NDF digestibility remained unaffected at supplementation levels ranging from 5% to 15% flaxseed compared to the control. However, it dropped significantly (p<0.01) with flaxseed supplementation at the 20% level. Although, ME availability was not affected by flaxseed supplementation. Significantly (p<0.01) high levels of acetate were observed in control than flaxseed supplemented groups at 15% and 20% levels. Relative proportions of butyrate and fermentable carbon dioxide varied significantly at 5% and 15% levels of flaxseed supplementations. Regardless of the level of flaxseed, methane percent of NGP, methane 100 mg-1 DDM and methane 100 mg-1 DOM depicted a significant reduction (p<0.01) relative to the control. Ammonia nitrogen levels remained unchanged across all levels of flaxseed supplementation. In conclusion, flaxseed supplementation mitigated the methane production and improved the digestibility without affecting ME availability.

Mathematical modelling of essential oil supercritical carbon dioxide extraction from chamomile flowers

AbstractThis study investigates the supercritical extraction process of essential oil from chamomile flowers. Essential oils of chamomile are used extensively for medicinal purposes. Many different chamomile products have been developed, the most popular of which is herbal tea. In this study, a mathematical model is formulated that describes the governing mass transfer phenomena in a solid–fluid environment under supercritical conditions using carbon dioxide. The concept of quasi‐one‐dimensional flow is applied to reduce the number of spatial dimensions. The flow of carbon dioxide is assumed to be uniform across any cross‐section, although the area available for the fluid phase can vary along the extractor. The physical properties of the solvent are estimated based on the Peng–Robinson equation of state. Model parameters, including the partition factor, internal diffusion coefficient, and decaying factor, were determined through maximum likelihood estimation based on experimental data assuming normally distributed errors. The model parameters were combined to obtain a set of correlations. The generalized process model is capable of reproducing the dataset with satisfactory accuracy.

Synergistic Effects of Mannan Oligosaccharides and Onion Peels on In Vitro Batch Culture Fermentation of High Concentrate and Forage Diets.

The current study evaluated the effect of combining mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and onion peel (OP) on ruminal in vitro total gas (GP), greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter and fiber fraction digestibility, partitioning factor (PF24; mg degradable DM per mL gas), microbial mass, and volatile fatty acids using two dietary substrates: high forage (HF) and high concentrate (HC) diets. The study was arranged as a 2 × 2 × 6 factorial design with two dietary substrates, two time points (6 and 24 h), and six treatments. The treatments included a control group with no MOS or OP administration and groups administered with 2% of a mixture containing MOS and OP in the following ratios: 1:0 (MOS), 0:1 (OP), 1:1 (MOS:OP), 1:2 (MOS:2OP), and 1:3 (MOS:3OP). No significant diet × treatment interactions were observed for any of the measured parameters. However, treatments decreased (p < 0.05) the undegraded portion of HC, and treatment × substrate interactions were significant (p < 0.05) for PF24 and microbial mass. The treatments in the HC diet produced higher GP (p < 0.001) at 6 h compared to the treatments in the HF diet. Administration of MOS:2OP to the HC diet increased GP at 24 h of incubation, while the lowest GP was observed with the OP in the HF diet. The administration of MOS, OP, and MOS:2OP to the HC diet decreased methane production at 24 h of incubation. Additionally, MOS:2OP and MOS:3OP increased (p < 0.001) degradable acid detergent fiber (dADF) in the HC diet at 6 h of incubation. Both OP and MOS:3OP decreased the degradability of acid detergent lignin in the HC diet (p < 0.001). The OP also resulted in the lowest DM disappearance (p < 0.001) at 24 h of incubation in the HF diet, while the MOS:3OP had the highest dADF. At the end of incubation, the highest productions of total volatile fatty acids and acetate were observed (p = 0.002) with the MOS:OP administration in the HC diet, whereas the lowest values were observed with MOS and OP administration to the HF diet. The inclusion of mannan oligosaccharide and onion peel combinations as additives improved substrate (HC and HF) fermentation, leading to higher GP and volatile fatty production, and modulated fiber degradability by improving the breakdown of acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin.

A Dimensionless Framework for the Partitioning of Fluvial Inorganic Carbon

AbstractRivers are pivotal in the global carbon cycle, transporting terrestrial carbon to the ocean while emitting significant amount of to the atmosphere. However, the partitioning of fluvial inorganic carbon (IC) between downstream transport and atmospheric evasion remains uncertain due to intricate hydrodynamic and biogeochemical processes. Inspired by Budyko's hydrological work, this study introduces a dimensionless framework to identify critical factors in fluvial IC partitioning: the IC fraction in equilibrium with the atmosphere and the ratio of advection to evasion timescales. River catchment analyses and modeling reveal that the equilibrium ratio determines the fraction of IC stably transported downstream. The hydrodynamic‐driven timescale ratio determines the fate of out‐of‐equilibrium IC, with low‐order streams favoring atmospheric evasion and higher‐order streams promoting downstream transport. This framework provides a simple yet robust approach to predicting river carbon dynamics, with implications for land‐to‐ocean transport, fluvial emissions, and climate mitigation strategies such as enhanced weathering.

An improved finite set model predictive control of SRM drive based on a voltage vectors strategy for low torque ripple

The robust rotor structure and fault-tolerance characteristics of the Switched Reluctance Motors (SRMs) are the best choice for next-generation Electric Vehicle (EV) applications. This machine has few restraints like high torque and flux ripples. However, the existing Model Predictive Control (MPC) using multiple control objectives and maximum sectors in the switching table results in high torque ripples due to the improper sector partition, Voltage Vectors (VVs) and weight factor (K1) selection. This paper proposes a Finite Set-Model Predictive Control (FS-MPC) for an analytical model of a non-linearity SRM machine to analyze the torque ripple performance. The proposed VVs are derived using sector partition based on the rotor position. The control is designed as a single cost function with the weighting factor contributing to smooth torque by selecting optimal control signals. Simulation studies and experiments with a four-phase 8/6 SRM drive verifies the enhanced FS-MPC for real-time implementation. The dynamic speed and ripple values of SRM Drives are measured using a mixed signal oscilloscope and the sensor probes. The laboratory outcomes calculate the analytical equations to validate the findings. The calculated value of torque ripple is 9 % through this FS-MPC. The study reveals that the proposed method is well suited for torque ripple reduction than flux ripples.

Fermentation and Nutritive Value of Pineapple Stubble Silage Supplemented with Leucaena Hay

The increase in pineapple production has generated a large amount of waste, which, when incorporated into the soil, can lead to contamination and environmental degradation. In this context, this study highlights the innovative combination of pineapple waste and Leucaena hay, offering benefits for animal nutrition while reducing input costs. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional value of silage from ‘Pérola’ pineapple waste (PS) with different levels of Leucaena hay. A completely randomized design was adopted with six treatments (pre-wilted PS and PS with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% inclusion of Leucaena hay (LH)). The dry matter content of the silage, crude protein, lignin, and pH increased linearly (p &lt; 0.05) as a function of the inclusion of Leucaena hay, while buffering capacity, soluble carbohydrate content, and effluent losses showed an inverse relationship. As LH levels increased, ruminal DM disappearance decreased. Wilting the pineapple plant did not alter the in vitro gas production, in vitro digestibility of organic matter, partition factor (PF), and methane production when compared to the silages added with Leucaena hay. It is recommended to add 20% Leucaena hay in PS silage.

Two Perspectives on Amplified Warming over Tropical Land Examined in CMIP6 Models

Abstract Climate change projections show amplified warming associated with dry conditions over tropical land. We compare two perspectives explaining this amplified warming: one based on tropical atmospheric dynamics and the other focusing on soil moisture and surface fluxes. We first compare the full spatiotemporal distribution of changes in key variables in the two perspectives under a quadrupling of CO2 using daily output from the CMIP6 simulations. Both perspectives center around the partitioning of the total energy/energy flux into the temperature and humidity components. We examine the contribution of this temperature/humidity partitioning in the base climate and its change under warming to rising temperatures by deriving a diagnostic linearized perturbation model that relates the magnitude of warming to 1) changes in the total energy/energy flux, 2) the base-climate temperature/humidity partitioning, and 3) changes in the partitioning under warming. We show that the spatiotemporal structure of warming in CMIP6 models is well predicted by the inverse of the base-climate partition factor, which we term the base-climate sensitivity: conditions that are drier in the base climate have a higher base-climate sensitivity and experience more warming. On top of this relationship, changes in the partition factor under intermediate (between wet and dry) surface conditions further enhance or dampen the warming. We discuss the mechanistic link between the two perspectives by illustrating the strong relationships between lower-tropospheric temperature lapse rates, a key variable for the atmospheric perspective, and surface fluxes, a key component of the land surface perspective. Significance Statement Understanding what conditions give rise to the largest magnitude of warming in response to rising CO2 concentrations is not only scientifically important but also critical from a climate impact standpoint. Two main perspectives, one focusing on atmospheric dynamics and the other focusing on land surface processes, have been proposed to explain the stronger warming associated with drier conditions in the tropics. Here, we compare and contrast these two perspectives. We demonstrate that amplified warming in CMIP6 models can largely be predicted from base-climate dryness alone in both perspectives but is further modified based on changes in the partitioning of energy between temperature and moisture. We highlight the spatiotemporal conditions where assumptions in the two perspectives hold and where deviations occur within CMIP6 climate models.

The root strategy of the C4 grasses tends to be ‘do-it-yourself’

Root resource acquisition strategies play a crucial role in understanding plant water uptake and drought adaptation. However, the interrelationships among mycorrhizal associations, root hair development, and fine root strategies, as well as the disparities between C3 and C4 grasses, remain largely unknown. A pot experiment was conducted to determine leaf gas exchange, root morphology, root hair, mycorrhizal fungi, and biomass allocation of three C4 grasses and four C3 grasses, common species of grasslands in Northeast China, under the control and drought conditions. Compared to the C3 grasses, the C4 grasses increased specific surface area by decreasing tissue density, yet exhibited root hair factor at only 21 % of the C3 grasses. Under the drought conditions, the C4 grasses exhibited more intense and extensive adjustments in root traits, characterized by shifts toward a more conservative morphology with increased root diameter and tissue density, as well as reduced mycorrhizal colonization rates. These adaptations led to a decrease in root absorptive function, which was compensated in the C4 grasses by greater root biomass partitioning and root hair factor. Variances in root strategies between plants functional groups were closely related to leaf photosynthetic rate, water and nitrogen use efficiency. We observed that the C4 grasses prefer direct acquisition of soil resources through the fine root pathway over the root hair or mycorrhizal pathway, suggesting a ‘do-it-yourself’ approach. These findings provide valuable insights into how plant communities of different photosynthetic types might respond to future climate change.

Effect of Iodoform in Maize and Clover Grass Silages: An In Vitro Study

Iodoform has been shown to be an enteric methane-reducing agent. This study aimed to investigate if iodoform differentially affected maize (MS) and clover grass silage (GS). These substrates were used in four 22 h in vitro gas production fermentations with and without 0.032 mg/g of dry matter substrate of 0.064% iodoform in zeolite (IZ). The results of organic matter degradation (dOM, g/g), volatile fatty acids (VFAs, mMol/L), partitioning factor (PF, mg/mL), total gas production (TGP, mL/g OM), and periodic hydrogen and methane yield (mL/g OM) were evaluated. The interaction between substrate and IZ for dOM was significant with significantly less in GS. The interaction between substrate and additive was continuously significant for TGP. The additive in GS numerically decreased the TGP, but significantly increased TGP in MS. The interaction between substrate and additive was sporadically significant with methane, increasing the yield when IZ was added to MS, but a consistent, non-significant, decrease in yield was found when IZ was added to GS. Total VFA production and propionate content increased in both substrates with the addition of IZ, but only significantly in GS. Iodoform significantly decreased the efficiency of microbial conversion (PF) in both substates. Differential effects of iodoform on GS and MS were evident. More research is needed to determine the modes of action of iodoform.

Efficacy of Salvia officinalis Shrub as a Sustainable Feed Additive for Reducing Ruminal Methane Production and Enhancing Fermentation in Ruminants.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of dried Salvia officinalis (SO) shrub leaves on nutrient degradability, ruminal in vitro fermentation, gas production (GP), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) productions. Dried and ground SO shrub leaves were included at 0% (control), 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% DM of a diet consisting of (per kg DM) 500 g concentrate feed mixture, 400 g berseem hay, and 100 g rice straw. The diet was incubated for 48 h. The asymptotic GP and the rate of GP changed linearly and quadratically (p < 0.01), with the highest GP observed at 1% inclusion of SO and then decreasing thereafter with greater inclusion (i.e., 1.5% and 2%), while CH4 production and its rate decreased linearly (p < 0.01) with all levels of SO inclusion. A linear increase in CO2 production and its rate was also found with an increasing level of SO inclusion in the diet (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the degradability of DM, NDF, and the concentration of total short-chain fatty acids and acetate changed linearly and quadratically, with the greatest being found at 1% SO inclusion and then steadily declining after (p < 0.01) with the 1.5% and 2% inclusion levels. Meanwhile, the propionate, NH3-N, and microbial crude protein levels showed similar trends, with the plateau found at 1% inclusion of SO, where there was no change in butyrate concentration. Moreover, the pH, metabolizable energy, and partitioning factor (PF24) also changed linearly and quadratically (p < 0.05), where the pH and PF24 were considerably reduced and ME increased with a 1% inclusion of SO (p < 0.05). In summary, SO at 1% inclusion in the diet showed the potential to improve gas production kinetics, nutrient degradability, and the ruminal fermentation profile, with a more significant reduction in ruminal CH4 production suggesting that SO at 1% could be included in the ruminant diet to reduce their carbon footprint and increase the production performance.

Effects of Different Essential Oil Blends and Fumaric Acid on In Vitro Fermentation, Greenhouse Gases, Nutrient Degradability, and Total and Molar Proportions of Volatile Fatty Acid Production in a Total Mixed Ration for Dairy Cattle

The present study evaluated the inclusion of fumaric acid and essential oil blends (EOBs) containing anise, cedarwood, clove, cumin, eucalyptus, garlic, ginger, lavender, lemongrass, nutmeg, oregano, and peppermint at different proportions on in vitro dry matter (DM) disappearance (DMD), fiber fraction disappearance, the efficiency of microbial production, and the total volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Ten treatments without (control treatment) or with different EOB/fumaric combinations were used in the study with eight replicates. The EOB inclusion level was 200 μL/g of feed (total mixed ration, (TMR)) while fumaric acid was administered at 3% of the TMR (DM basis). The highest DMD, in vitro true degradable DM, partitioning factor (PF24), and in vitro apparent degradable DM were recorded for the fumaric only treatment and the control. Neutral detergent fiber disappearance was reduced with the inclusion of EOB/fumaric combinations. The production of microbial mass and undegraded DM were higher (p &lt; 0.001) for all EOBs and EOB and fumaric treatments. The inclusion of EOB and fumaric combinations reduced (p &lt; 0.001) the total gas production, methane, and ammonia, with a higher PF24 value noted for EOB3 treatment. The inclusion of individual EOB1 containing garlic, lemongrass, cumin, lavender, and nutmeg in a ratio of 4:2:2:1:1 or combined with fumaric acid yielded the highest propionate concentration across all treatments. We concluded that EOBs decreased methane production and nutrient degradability with better results with the individual EOB1 or EOB1/fumaric combination, which showed a potential enhancement in energy production.

Efeito de um aditivo fúngico multiespécie no perfil de fermentação ruminal, de-gradabilidade e cinética de produção de gases

Two experiments evaluated the effect of a multispecies fungal complex (BP, BIOPREMIX MX®, Ruminal Fermentation Tech, Uruguay). In Experiment 1 (E1), the impact of adding BP to a total mixed ration (TMR) on ruminal fermentation profile and TMR in situ degradation kinetics was assessed. In Experiment 2 (E2), the effect of adding BP to various substrates on in vitro fermentability was examined. In E1, 4 Holstein cows with rumen cannulas were randomly assigned to Control (TMR with forage:concentrate ratio 75:25) or Control + 120 g/cow/d of BP (BP) and received ad libitum TMR for 30 days. Samples of TMR were ruminally incubated to estimate in situ degradation kinetic. Ruminal pH, ammonia, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations were measured just before feeding, 4 h and 8 h post feeding. In E2, a factorial arrangement included two BP levels (0 -Control or 6.5 g BP per kg dry matter incubated-WBP) and 8 substrates. In vitro gas production kinetics (GPk), dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), methanogenic potential (CH4), partitioning factor (PF), VFA, and microbial crude protein (MCP) were estimated. The BP increased proportion of propionate (P ≤ 0.05) and reduced ketogenic:glucogenic ratio and Lag phase of NDF (P ≤ 0.05). WBP tended to increase IVDMD, and substrate affected GPk, IVDMD, CH4, PF, VFA and MCP (P ≤ 0.01). Overall, BP improved ruminal metabolism favoring a more glucogenic profile, a shortening Lag phase in NDF degradation, and increasing IVDMD.

Diel activity patterns of a canopy-inhibiting beetle community (Coleoptera) in a Neotropical rainforest

Diel activity is one main feature of animal‘s behavior and is often an intrinsic trait characterizing distinct taxonomic groups. Abiotic conditions such as temperature may influence the diel activity patterns of arthropod communities associated with a particular ecosystem or habitat. Similarly, biotic factors, such as resource availability, affect arthropod activity. In addition, diel activity is thought to be an important factor in niche partitioning of arthropod communities. As part of a larger beetle survey in a lowland tropical rainforest in southern Venezuela, I analyzed the diel activity of an arboreal beetle community collected from 23 canopy-tree species over a cumulative year. Diel activity was observed in 535 beetle species, comprising 5,948 individuals, using a canopy crane installed in the study area. Of the 535 beetle species, 198 (37%) showed diurnal activity, and 281 (52.5%) showed nocturnal activity. In contrast, the proportions of nocturnal (n = 2,024, 34%) and diurnal (n = 1,983, 33.3%) individuals were balanced. Most of the observed beetles occurred only during the activity phase in their host trees. This particularly applies to extrafloral nectary- and flower-visiting beetle species. Flowering trees attracted different proportions of diurnal and nocturnal species according to flowering syndrome, whereas extrafloral nectaries were mainly visited at night. Thus, the beetle communities associated with single tree species showed distinct compositions of nocturnal and diurnal species.

Effects of replacing of alfalfa hay with Plantago lanceolata hay on digestibility, methane production and microbial protein production of total mixed diet

The aim of current experiment was to determine the effect of replacement of alfalfa hay with ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) hay in ruminant diets on the fermentation parameters such as gas production, methane (CH4) production, true digestible dry matter (TDDM), true digestibility (TD), partitioning factor, microbial protein, and efficiency of microbial protein using in vitro gas production technique. The alfalfa hay was replaced with P. lanceolata hay in a diets isocaloric (2650 kcal/kg DM) and nitrogenic (17% CP kg DM) at the ratio of 0, 5, 10 and 15%. Partial substitution of alfalfa hay with P. lanceolata hay had no significant effect on gas and methane (ml/incubated substrate or %) production whereas the partial substitution had a significant effect on TDDM, TD, gas (ml/digested DM), CH4 (ml ml/digested DM) and microbial MP of diets. The replacement of alfalfa hay with ribwort plantain hay shifted the fermentation pattern from gas and methane production to microbial protein production. Therefore alfalfa hay can be replaced with ribwort plantain hay with high digestibility and anti-methanogenic potential in ruminant diets up to 15% to decrease methane production and improve microbial protein production. However further in vivo experiments are required to determine the effect of replacement on feed intake and animal production.

New insight into the mechanism of biofouling-resistant thiazole-linked covalent organic frameworks for selective uranium capture from seawater

The extraction of uranium from seawater is crucial for the sustainable production of nuclear fuel. Traditional amidoxime-functionalized adsorbents suffer from competitive adsorption of vanadium ion and biofouling. These challenges motivate the development of novel adsorbents for selective uranium extraction from seawater. Herein, four kinds of thiazole-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were investigated to harvest uranium from seawater. The selectivity and anti-biofouling performance were systematically investigated through the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Driven by the pore size sieving effect and electrostatic interaction, the Ca2UO2(CO3)3 complex and vanadate anions were selectively separated by different COFs in special areas. On one hand, benefits from the small steric partition factor, the Ca2UO2(CO3)3 complex can stick on the surface of COFs. On the other hand, the dispersive negatively and positively charged areas of studied COFs work as potential binding sites for the Ca2UO2(CO3)3 complex and vanadate anions, respectively. Moreover, an analysis of pulling force and desorption time between uranium and vanadium ions further confirmed the selectivity of various thiazole-linked COFs. The anti-biofouling property was comparatively investigated by dynamic trajectory and solvent accessible surface area. Our outcomes illustrate that the hydroxyl and zwitterionic groups in the thiazole-linked COFs endow their strong surface hydrations to resist marine biofouling. In particular, the TpBdsaPa is identified as a promising candidate due to charge dispersed zwitterionic group as well as remarkable anti-biofouling ability. The present study sheds an atomic-level understanding of the thiazole-linked COFs for selective uranium uptaking from seawater, which will provide aid to design novel adsorbent with highly selective uranium extraction capacity and strong anti-biofouling property.

Throughput and delay analysis of cognitive M2M communications

In this paper, we analyze throughput and delay performance of clustered Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices which access an eNodeB utilizing a primary spectrum in underlay mode. We assume that the MTC devices form two clusters and there is an optimal preamble allocation between the two clusters to maximize the throughput. We further investigate the impact of the tolerable interference threshold on throughput, successful preamble decoding probability, and delay. Then, the impact of the preamble partition factor and the access barring factor on throughput and delay is analyzed. Finally, we evaluate the impact of the number of devices, retransmission requests, and preamble partitions on the delay.

Potential feeding value, feed quality, microbial protein production, and antimethanogenic properties of tree leaves admixed with Italian ryegrass at different ratios using &lt;i&gt;in vitro&lt;/i&gt; gas production

The purpose of this study was to use the in vitro gas production (IVGP) method to assess the relative feeding value, feed quality, and anti- methanogenic capabilities of tree leaves added to Italian ryegrass forage at various proportions. With the addition of 2% and 4% willow leaf (Salix alba), 2% and 4% vine leaf (Vitis vinifera), 2% and 4% plane leaf (Platanus orientalis), and a control group devoid of these supplements, a total of 21 forage samples were created. The data were subjected to analysis of variance after nutritional composition, energy content, feeding value, and feed quality were determined using the in vitro gas generation method. The effect of the addition of tree leaves to forage on crude ash, IVGP, methane, metabolizable energy, net energy lactation, organic matter digestion, true digestible dry matter, partitioning factor, microbial protein, microbial protein synthesising efficiency, degree of true digestion, NDF digestion, total digestible nutrients, and relative feed quality was substantial. With the addition of 2% willow leaves, the digestibility, metabolic energy, net energy lactation value, organic matter digestion, microbial protein value, and relative feed quality all improved. The findings showed that tree leaves can be utilized as an alternate feed source for ruminants. Tannin content should be taken into account when preparing rations utilizing tannin-containing tree leaves.

Fennel seeds dietary inclusion as a sustainable approach to reduce methane production and improve nutrient utilization and ruminal fermentation.

Ruminants are considered a major producer of methane (CH4 ). Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the ability of dry fennel seeds to affect in vitro gas production and fermentation. Fennel seeds were included at 0% (Control), 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% DM of a diet containing per kg DM: 500 g concentrate feed mixture, 400 g berseem hay, and 100 g of rice straw. The incubations lasted 48 h. Fennel seeds increased (P< 0.001) the asymptotic gas production and decreased its rate, while decreasing the production and proportion of CH4 (P< 0.05) and increased its rate. Moreover, fennel seed increased DM and neutral detergent fiber (P< 0.01) degradability, and increased total production of short-chain fatty acids, acetate, and propionate (P< 0.05). Compared to the control, fennel seeds increased (P< 0.01) metabolizable energy, partitioning factor, and microbial crude protein production. Overall, fennel seeds can be included up to 2% DM in ruminant diets as an environmentally friendly product in animal farming due to its ability to improve feed utilization, ruminal fermentation and while reducing CH4 production.

Assessment of Nutritional Potential and Methane Mitigation Efficacy of Napier Grass Cultivars

Napier grass is cultivated as a high-yielding forage crop and widely utilized in the nutrition of grazing animals such as cattle and goats due to its rapid growth rate, expansive leaf surface, and ability to thrive even in low-quality soils, making it a valuable animal feed option. In this study, the chemical compositions, in vitro gas (GP) and methane (CH4) production, metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD), true digestible dry matter (TDDM), microbial protein (MP), partitioning factor (PF), microbial protein synthesis efficiency (MPSE, and relative feed values (RFV) of the grasses Packhong1 (Penisetum purpureum x Penisetum americanum), Chinese Pennisetum (Penisetum purpureum x Penisetum alopecurides), and Dwarf Elephant (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) were investigated. Significant differences were found in the chemical contents of napier varieties used in the study (p

Side-Stream Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (S2EBPR) enables effective phosphorus removal in a pilot-scale A-B stage shortcut nitrogen removal system for mainstream municipal wastewater treatment

While the adsorption/bio-oxidation (A/B) process has been widely studied for carbon capture and shortcut nitrogen (N) removal, its integration with enhanced biological phosphorus (P) removal (EBPR) has been considered challenging and thus unexplored. Here, full-scale pilot testing with an integrated system combining A-stage high-rate activated sludge with B-stage partial (de)nitrification/anammox and side-stream EBPR (HRAS-P(D)N/A-S2EBPR) was conducted treating real municipal wastewater. The results demonstrated that, despite the relatively low influent carbon load, the B-stage P(D)N-S2EBPR system could achieve effective P removal performance, with the carbon supplement and redirection of the A-stage sludge fermentate to the S2EBPR. The novel process configuration design enabled a system shift in carbon flux and distribution for efficient EBPR, and provided unique selective factors for ecological niche partitioning among different key functionally relevant microorganisms including polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) and glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs). The combined nitrite from B-stage to S2EBPR and aerobic-anoxic conditions in our HRAS-P(D)N/A-S2EBPR system promoted DPAOs for simultaneous internal carbon-driven denitrification via nitrite and P removal. 16S rRNA gene-based oligotyping analysis revealed high phylogenetic microdiversity within the Accumulibacter population and discovered coexistence of certain oligotypes of Accumulibacter and Competibacter correlated with efficient P removal. Single-cell Raman micro-spectroscopy-based phenotypic profiling showed high phenotypic microdiversity in the active PAO community and the involvement of unidentified PAOs and internal carbon-accumulating organisms that potentially played an important role in system performance. This is the first pilot study to demonstrate that the P(D)N-S2EBPR system could achieve shortcut N removal and influent carbon-independent EBPR simultaneously, and the results provided insights into the effects of incorporating S2EBPR into A/B process on metabolic activities, microbial ecology, and resulted system performance.