Weight Production Research Articles

N-doped carbon dots/g-C3N4 photoexcitation simultaneously enhanced the microbial degradation of nitrate and oxytetracycline in a low C/N ratio aquaculture wastewater

The low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio in aquaculture wastewater presents challenges for biological treatments, particularly regarding combined pollution, such as nitrate and oxytetracycline. Herein, this study introduces a synergistic system that integrates photocatalysts (N-doped carbon dots/g-C3N4) with a domesticated microbial community. In artificial wastewater at a C/N ratio of 2, the synergistic system removed completely nitrate and degraded 91.2 % of oxytetracycline simultaneously at 24 h. Moreover, within this system, the accumulation of nitrite was effectively eliminated and the nitrogen production ratio was increased to 82.6 %. Noticeably, oxytetracycline was transformed efficiently into low molecular weight products. In the synergistic treatment process, photocatalysis serves a role in enhancing biodegradation. The generated photoelectrons are efficiently transported through the biofilms, boosting microbial metabolic activity. This increase in microbial activity leads to improved removal of both nitrate and oxytetracycline. The synergistic system was also operated in actual aquaculture wastewater environment to evaluate its practical application potential. The Synergistic system exhibited removal efficiencies for nitrate and oxytetracycline that were 2.1 and 1.8 times higher, respectively, compared to biodegradation treatments. The proposed synergistic system offers a promising strategy to simultaneously tackle nitrate-oxytetracycline pollution, particularly in wastewater characterized by a low C/N ratio, without limiting its applicability to aquaculture wastewater.

Harnessing waste glycerol to mitigate salinity constraints in freshwater microalgae cultivation for enhanced biodiesel recovery

The current study investigated the synergistic effect of waste glycerol and salinity on Scenedesmus obliquus cultivation for enhanced biomass and biodiesel production. Optimal glycerol concentration was identified at 0.08 M supplementation, resulting in 23.1% significant increase in biomass productivity. However, higher glycerol concentrations resulted in growth retardation. Salinity of +200 % NaCl showed positive impact on the growth, with the highest recorded dry weight of 1.76 g/L and biomass productivity of 0.206 g/L.day. However, further increases in salinity resulted in 53.4 % reduction in biomass yield at +800 % NaCl compared to +200 % NaCl. The combined treatment of the optimum glycerol concentration at different salinities (Glyc + Salin) showed superior growth performance up to +600 % NaCl, which confirmed mitigation of salinity inhibitory effects. Glyc + Salin exhibited the highest recorded nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies (98.1 % and 96.6 %, respectively at day 8), dry weight (2.02 g/L), and biomass productivity (0.231 g/L.day). Notably, lipid content increased to 240.4 mg/g dw, and lipid productivity reached 56.0 mg/L.day, representing 76.1 % improvement over the control. Biodiesel characteristics, including cetane numbers and iodine values, showed also improvement, confirming the potential of Glyc + Salin for sustainable microalgal cultivation and biodiesel production.

Multiplicative arithmetic functions and the generalized Ewens measure

AbstractRandom integers, sampled uniformly from [1, x], share similarities with random permutations, sampled uniformly from Sn. These similarities include the Erdős–Kac theorem on the distribution of the number of prime factors of a random integer, and Billingsley’s theorem on the largest prime factors of a random integer. In this paper we extend this analogy to non-uniform distributions.Given a multiplicative function α: ℕ → ℝ≥0, one may associate with it a measure on the integers in [1, x], where n is sampled with probability proportional to the value α(n). Analogously, given a sequence {θi}i≥1 of non-negative reals, one may associate with it a measure on Sn that assigns to a permutation a probability proportional to a product of weights over the cycles of the permutation. This measure is known as the generalized Ewens measure.We study the case where the mean value of α over primes tends to some positive θ, as well as the weights α(p) ≈ (log p)γ. In both cases, we obtain results in the integer setting which are in agreement with those in the permutation setting.

Does jasmonic acid mitigate the adverse effects of salt stress on wheat through the enhancement of ascorbate biosynthesis and the induction of glutamate dehydrogenase activity?

AbstractBackgroundSalt stress is one of the most common abiotic stresses, reducing plant growth and productivity. Thus, the development of suitable management practices to minimize the deleterious effects of salt stress has become necessary.AimsThis study was conducted to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying salt tolerance conferred by jasmonic acid (JA).MethodsSalt‐stressed wheat seedlings were supplemented with 1 mM JA and/or 1 mM ibuprofen (IBU), an inhibitor of endogenous JA biosynthesis, in the culture medium.ResultsThe obtained results showed that salt stress significantly decreased shoot and root dry weight production and relative water contents. This was associated with a noteworthy reduction in leaf and root ascorbate (AsA) concentrations, as well as glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities. Exogenously supplied JA did not affect GS and GOGAT activities in leaves and roots of salt‐treated seedlings. However, noticeable enhancements were observed in growth, AsA concentrations, as well as GDH activities. Likewise, the inhibition of JA biosynthesis by IBU application was accompanied by a significant decrease in seedlings’ growth associated with a noticeable reduction in AsA concentrations and GDH activities. The decreases in growth and GDH activities were also obtained following inhibition of AsA biosynthesis by lycorine (Lyc) application. By contrast, increased GDH activities and enhanced growth were obtained following exogenous AsA supplementation, with or without JA biosynthesis inhibition.ConclusionsThe findings implied that exogenous JA enhanced AsA biosynthesis and induced GDH activity, which further promoted the growth of wheat seedlings in salt‐stressed conditions. Therefore, the stimulation of AsA biosynthesis and GDH activity through JA application in the rhizosphere may be suggested as a vital strategy for strengthening the salt tolerance of wheat plants, at least at the seedling stage.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield and Quality of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Instructional farm, DCAAS College Rampur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, during the Rabi season of 2022-2023 to evaluate the performance of potato under different integrated nutrient management (INM) options. The experiment was placed in randomised block design (RBD) with five nutrient management options. Various parameters related to plant growth, tuber formation, and tuber weight and yield were examined across different treatment conditions. The results revealed that T5 (Vermicompost + Urea + FYM + Neemcake), representing an integrated nutrient management approach, consistently exhibited the highest plant weight (23.633cm) at different growth stages (30 DAS, 60 DAS, 90 DAS), indicating a positive effect on plant growth. Additionally, T3 (Urea) displayed superior performance regarding the number of tubers in different weight categories (0-25g, 25-50g, 50-75g, and 75g), suggesting enhanced tuber formation. However, the most significant outcome was the consistent superiority of T5 in terms of tuber weight and yield. T5 consistently produced the highest weight of tubers in all weight categories and achieved the highest tuber yield per plot (9.243q h-1). These findings underscore the positive impact of integrated nutrient management practices on tuber weight and overall crop productivity in potatoes. It is important to note that specific details regarding the nutrient management practices used were not provided, necessitating further research to identify the particular combination and types of nutrients employed in T5. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of implementing integrated nutrient management strategies to enhance the growth and yield of potato crops, encouraging further investigation into the optimization of plant growth and tuber yield through nutrient management practices.

The effect of the probiotic drug "Ecoflor" on the proteolytic activity of the sterlet intestine

The effect of the probiotic preparation "Ecoflor" on proteolytic activity of the intestinal mucosa and chyme of sterlet was studied. This probiotic is a consortium of strains of lacto- and bifidobacteria: B. bifidum, B. longum and L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. plantarum, immobilized on carbon-mineral sorbent SUMS-1. For the experiment, fish were divided into 4 groups: control and three experimental groups. Experimental groups of fish were given feed with probiotic in the amount of 2, 4, 6 g/kg of feed. Sampling was carried out before the beginning of the experiment, on 7, 14, and 21 days. Material for the study was taken from 5 individuals from each group. To obtain enzymatically active preparations, fish intestines were freed from fat and dried on ice bath glass. After incision, the chyme was collected with a spatula and scraper, then the mucous membrane was removed. The total proteinase activity was calculated by the ratio of the difference between the spectrophotometer readings of the sample with substrate and the blank sample to the product of the intestinal weight (g) by the incubation time (min) EA = ΔE425/(g×min). Determinations were performed in three repetitions. Data analysis showed the stimulating effect of the preparation on proteolytic activity. The maximum increase in enzymatic activity in the experimental groups compared to the control group was recorded on the 7th day of the experiment. A more significant increase in proteolytic activity of the intestinal mucosa compared to chyme was found. At the beginning of feeding, the stimulating effect of the preparation was found in all experimental groups compared to the control. In further observation periods the effectiveness of the probiotic significantly decreased.

A universal method for preparing biomass derived topologically defective carbons with superior catalytic performance in cationic radical polymerization

This study aims to develop a universal preparation method for biomass-derived topologically defective carbons and reveal the catalytic mechanism of such carbons for cationic radical polymerization. Firstly, bamboo fiber-derived topologically defective carbon (BFTC) is prepared by an ammonia-assisted heat treatment method. BFTC can significantly promote the chemical oxidative polymerization of 3-aminophenylboronic acid (a typical cationic radical polymerization process) and obtain high molecular weight products, which is mainly attributed to the rich topological defect structure of BFTC. Secondly, the ammonia-assisted heat treatment method is applied to two other biomasses, and the derived carbons have similar microstructure and chemical composition to BFTC, indicating the universality of this method at the material preparation level; meanwhile, these derived carbons also exhibit excellent catalytic properties when they promote 3-aminophenylboronic acid (ABA) polymerization, which further confirms the universality of this method from the perspective of material properties. Finally, research on the catalytic mechanism shows that there is an interaction based on partial electron transfer between the topological defects of the carbon catalyst and ABA or ABA-derived radical. This effect promotes the rapid derivatization of ABA into cationic radical, and also improves the stability of the radical, thereby achieving efficient polymerization of ABA around the topological defect active center. Therefore, this study confirms the universality of the ammonia-assisted heat treatment method to prepare biomass-derived topologically defective carbon, and such defective carbons are likely to serve as catalysts for cationic radical polymerization.

Impact of urea fertilization rates on nitrogen losses, productivity and profitability in East African sugarcane plantations

AbstractFertilizer‐intensive sugarcane plantations are expanding in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) amidst increased groundwater pollution and carbon footprint concerns. Yet, the impact of nitrogen (N) levels on N losses, productivity and profitability in these plantations remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a completely randomized design experiment in a Ugandan sugarcane plantation using three N fertilization rates (low, standard and high) as treatments. N leaching under the different treatments was determined using the average drainage fluxes across a 1‐m‐layered profile which we estimated with a suite of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) and leachate N concentrations from suction cup lysimeters. Soil nitrous oxide fluxes were determined using static vented chamber bases and gas chromatography. Partial factor crop productivity was estimated from the average field fresh weight under each treatment and the amount of N fertilizer applied, while the return on investment was determined from the factory price of the field fresh weight and the market price of fertilizers. Our findings indicate that three out of five PTFs effectively estimated soil hydraulic properties at our test site, based on the close match between measured and predicted soil matric potential values. Notably, N leaching at low and standard N rates were comparable but significantly lower than at higher‐than‐standard N rates. Additionally, we measured comparable soil nitrous oxide emissions and field fresh weight but partial factor productivity and return on investment declined along the fertilizer intensification gradient. In conclusion, the study demonstrates the promising application of certain PTFs in N‐leaching modelling in the data‐scarce SSA. Furthermore, obtaining comparable field fresh weight with minimal N losses at lower‐than‐standard N rates presents an opportunity to mitigate groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the potential impact of the switch from standard to low N rates on soil organic carbon stocks and sugarcane yields warrants further investigation.

Design, Analysis and Optimization of Composite Propeller Shaft

Most of the automobiles have Rear wheel drive and front engine installation consists of a transmission shaft. Substitution of conventional metallic (SM45C) Propeller Drive Shaft with the composite (CFRP) structure has many advantages. Composite materials have acquired prominence in the engineering industry due to their remarkable strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and adaptability. This paper explores the multifaceted process of designing, analysing, and optimizing composite propeller shafts, with a primary focus on their application in marine and automotive industries, aiming to maximize performance while reducing weight. The design phase initiates by establishing precise requirements, encompassing torque loads, rotational speeds, environmental conditions, and safety factors. Material selection is a pivotal decision point, considering factors like fiber type, resin matrix, and layup orientation. Advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) technologies are used to simulate the mechanical behaviour of composite propeller shafts under a variety of operational scenarios, assisting in the identification of stress concentrations. Deformations, as well as key failure modes. The design process is iterative. The feedback from these simulations is used to improve the basic design. The analysis phase stress distribution, torsional vibrations, and dynamic behaviour of the composite propeller shaft. A comprehensive study of various layup configurations and boundary conditions is conducted to assess their impact on structural performance and reliability. Additionally, manufacturing considerations, encompassing fabrication techniques, quality control, and cost-effectiveness, are addressed to ensure practical feasibility. The goal of the optimization phase is to lower the weight of the composite propeller shaft while retaining structural integrity and operational reliability. The optimisation outcomes provide information on the best material mix, layup sequence, and geometric factors that achieve the best balance of weight reduction, greater performance and productivity. The findings from this study contribute substantially to the advancement of composite propeller shaft technology, offering engineers valuable insights into the intricacies of design, analysis, and optimization processes. By harnessing the ability of composite materials effectively, industries can realize significant benefits, including reduced fuel consumption, improved efficiency, and enhanced overall system performance, resulting in more sustainable and competitive products for the maritime and automotive sectors.

Effects of dietary supplementation of polysaccharide from Agaricus blazei Murr on productive performance, egg quality, blood metabolites, intestinal morphology and microbiota of Korean quail.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Agaricus blazei polysaccharide (ABP) at varying concentrations on the performance, egg quality, blood biochemistry, intestinal morphology, and microflora of quail. The study involved a total of 2,700 Korean quails, which were randomly divided into three groups. The measured variables encompassed productive performance, egg parameters, carcass parameters, serum metabolites, immune response parameters, antioxidative properties, and gut microbiome. The addition of ABP did not have a significant effect on average daily feed intake. However, it was found to increase the average daily egg weight and egg production rate, reduce the feed-egg ratio. There were no significant impacts on egg quality measures such as egg shape index, egg yolk index and color, egg yolk and protein content. However, ABP supplementation significantly increased the Hough Unit (HU) (p<0.01) and decreased the rate of unqualified eggs(p<0.01). Regarding serum parameters, the inclusion led to an increase in total protein concentration(p<0.05) and a reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p<0.05). There were no significant effects observed on immune indicators such as immune globulin A (IgA) and immune globulin M (IgM). ABP supplementation increased the levels of serum antioxidant indicators, including glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) (p<0.05), and total antioxidant capacity colorimeter (T-AOC) (p<0.05). Furthermore, ABP supplementation significantly elevated the intramuscular fatty acid content in quail meat. Additionally, ABP supplementation demonstrated a significant improvement in the diversity of gut microbiota and induced alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota. The findings of this study indicate that dietary supplementation of ABP enhanced production performance and antioxidant capacity while increasing the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in quail muscle.

Cage aquaculture of Indian pompano for livelihood diversification of artisanal fishers: Insights from Andhra Pradesh, India

Artisanal fishers fishing in nearshore coastal waters off Visakhapatnam using motorisedcrafts and in estuaries of Krishna using non-motorised crafts were selected for the study.Their annual net operating income varied between US$ 469.63 (₹39,040) and US$ 2698.42(₹2,24,320), respectively. Inspired by the potential of cage farming from the frontlinedemonstrations in marine and estuarine waters and after acquiring appropriate skills,15 individuals from the Traditional Fishermen’s Co-operative Society, Visakhapatnamand 76 individuals from Yanadri Girijana Matsya Sakhara Sangam, Krishna embarked oncage aquaculture of Indian pompano in 15 and 70 cages, respectively. Marine cages werecircular (6 m diameter) and estuarine cages were square (5 m X 5 m), and were stockedwith hatchery-produced Indian pompano (Trachinotus mookalee) fingerlings of 22.6 gweight @ 2500 and 1500 numbers respectively, and were fed with floating pellets at 8-3% ofbiomass. Average body weight, survival and biomass production from marine and estuarinecages after eight months of culture were 843 and 666 g, 96.28 and 91.47% and 2029.0 and913.85 kg respectively. Deducting all capital and operational expenses, annual net operatingincome per unit ranged from US$ 1247.44 (₹1,03,700) to US$ 2632.02 (₹2,18,800); whichrepresented a substantial increase from that of capture fishery. Cluster-cage farming, asadopted, did not adversely impact the water and sediment quality. The current researchoffers novel insights into the bio-growth and economic factors pertinent to commercial cagefarming of Indian pompano. Cage farming in marine and estuarine conditions holds a greatpromise as an alternative source of livelihood for artisanal fishers, thereby bolstering theireconomic sustainability. Keywords:Cage farming, Gross revenue, Indian Pompano, Netoperating income, Small scale fishers

Integrated Selection of Permanent Teacher Appointments Recommended MCDM-AHP and WASPAS Methods

The teacher's role is very important in improving the national learning system. Many honorary teachers are empowered in curriculum development in a number of schools who want to collaborate in improving the quality of their students. The purpose of this research is to provide rewards to honorary teachers who have long served for the progress of the nation in the world of education to be appointed as permanent teachers. The selection method was carried out through a criteria weighting technique with the MCDM-AHP method which was integrated with the WASPAS method. The technique of developing the MCDM-AHP method as an eigenvector measurement concept with proof of optimization through mathematical algebra matrices that is correlated with the Expert Choice application to get optimal values. The result optimization value is integrated with the WASPAS method as a determinant of the ranking system for permanent teacher candidates. This method is a unification of the concepts of the weight product model and weight sum model methods, so that it has special stages to support decision making with the WASPAS method. The results of selecting twelve honorary teachers for appointment as permanent teachers can be seen from the acquisition of the Qi optimization value as a ranking. The results of support for decision making for permanent teacher appointments with the highest optimization value were given to TC04 with a weight of 0.878; followed by a significant difference in the next rank. The findings of this study provide evidence that the integration of the MCDM-AHP and WASPAS methods provides continuous optimization results for decision-making support.

Enzyme production by the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae and their application in the control of nematodes (Haemonchus spp. and Meloidogyne incognita) in vitro

Brazil is affected by the infection of gastrointestinal nematodes (Haemonchus spp.) because it causes subclinical diseases in small ruminants that directly affect weight and milk production and, in turn, generate a health risk for the animals. In the same way root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) is a serious disease, which parasitize the roots of tomato plants causing damage such as poor nutrient absorption leading to significant yield losses. In order to minimize the economic impact of these nematodes, it is important to establish new control strategies. Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are two main mycoinsecticides used to control many orders of insects, such as Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. These fungi have the ability to produce extracellular enzymes, which play an important role to control in the pest infection process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of proteases and chitinases by the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana and M. anisopliae on different solid and liquid culture media and their application in vitro to the control of Haemonchus spp and Meloidogyne incognita. To achieve this goal, enzymes were produced under solid and liquid fermentation conditions to determine the highest chitinolytic and proteolytic activity of commercial two strain of B. bassiana (IBCB 66 and ESALQ PL63) and M. anisopliae (IBCB 425 and ESALQ E9) in liquid media: SDY broth, YPG culture medium, synthetic, and soluble starch with yeast extract. The solid media tested were: rice supplemented with whey and chrysalis flour mixed with rice. In addition, the nematicidal action of their extracts (containing concentrated enzymes and without fungal cells) was measured. The results showed that the best culture medium (p< 0.01) for protease was solid serum rice medium, with a value for M. anisopliae IBCB 425 of 52 U/mg, and for B. bassiana ESALQ PL63 the value was 36 U/mg, compared to all the tested media. On the other hand, for chitinase of M. anisopliae strain IBCB 425, the activity value was close to 0.60 U/mg. In contrast, for B. bassiana isolate ESALQ PL63, SDY medium was the best inducer for chitinase production, with a value of 0.90 U/mg. Regarding the nematicidal activity of the crude extracts, the reduction percentages were 58% for ESALQ PL63 and 100% for IBCB 425 in the case of animal parasites. For plant parasites, the reduction percentages were 19% for ESALQ PL63 and 71% for IBCB 425. Thus, the use of enzyme-rich crude extracts presents promising control options for pest control.

Analysis comparison model of ROC-TOPSIS, ROC-WP, and ROC-Electre methods for supporting the funding decision to micro-enterprises Indonesia

Micro-business is an essential business unit that supports the economies of countries in the world, including Indonesia. Unfortunately, micro-entrepreneurs often find difficulties to obtain financial assistance from government to develop their businesses. In Indonesia, the smallest number of micro industries can be found in West Papua Province, where one of the underdeveloped areas in the province is the Sorong City. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the application of decision support methods in selecting micro-enterprises in Sorong that are eligible for business funding. The decision support method chosen is the collaboration between the Rank-Order Centroid (ROC) method, Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), Weight Product (WP), and Elimination Et Choix Traduisant la Realite (Electre). With the analysis conducted on 10 samples of micro-enterprises in Sorong City, it was found that the micro-enterprises that were most eligible to receive assistance is Raya Helm based on ROC-TOPSIS, ROC-WP, and ROC-Electre. Then, sensitivity analysis results the ROC-Electre as the best method with the highest sensitivity percentage. Therefore, the implementation of these methods for supporting the funding decision to micro-enterprises in Sorong was successfully carried out with the output being the micro-enterprise rating results.

Feed additive “Reasil® Humic Vet” and its use in egg poultry farming

One of the ways to solve the problem of increasing the effi ciency of poultry farming is the use of biologically active additives of natural origin in poultry feeding, determining the optimal doses of their use, as well as their eff ect on the egg production of laying hens, the commercial quality of eggs, the digestibility of nutrients and economic effi ciency. The purpose of the work was to determine the optimal level of introduction of the liquid feed additive Reasil® Humic Vet into drinking water for laying hens. Experimental groups of laying hens were formed taking into account age, live weight and egg production. In total, 7 experimental groups were formed per 21 heads in each, which housed in separate cages of 7 heads. The duration of the experiment was 12 weeks. During the experiment, laying hens of the control group received the main diet. The use of the feed additive Reasil® Humic Vet was carried out in two stages. The liquid feed additive Reasil® Humic Vet was given to laying hens in the experimental groups with drinking water, at the first stage: 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the amount of 0,25 ml, 0,50 and 0,75 ml per 1 liter water according to the group number, and at the second stage: 4th, 5th and 6th in the amount of 3,0 ml, 6,0 and 10,0 ml per 100 kg of live weight. As the period of feeding the additive increased, egg production in laying hens of the experimental groups gradually increased. As a result, the weekly egg production of laying hens in the 1st experimental group was 6,5 pcs. more compared to control group (p &lt; 0,01). A further twofold increase in the amount of additive solution contributed to an even greater increase in egg production by 8,5 pcs. eggs in the 2nd experimental group (p &lt; 0,01). However, increasing the additive to 0,75 ml/l of water increased egg production by 6,3 pieces, which was higher compared to the control group (p &lt; 0,01), but less than in the 1st and 2nd experimental groups. Similar results were obtained at the second stage of the experiment. The laying hens of the 5th experimental group had the best performance. The positive eff ect of the liquid feed additive Reasil® Humic Vet on a number of hematological parameters has been established. The most eff ective dose of the test drug was 0,50 ml/l of water and 6,0 ml per 100 kg of live weight.

Alginate and Chitosan-Based Delivery Systems for Improving the Bioavailability and Therapeutic Efficacy of Curcumin.

One of the major challenges in harnessing the therapeutic benefits of curcumin (an active ingredient from turmeric) is its poor bioavailability due to its short biological half-life. In this regard, nanoformulations have shown tremendous hope for improving the pharmacokinetic and therapeutic behavior of curcumin by altering its biological stability and bioavailability. Biopolymers, especially alginate and chitosan, have received special attention as excipients to prepare nanoformulations of curcumin due to their abundant availability, biocompatibility, and amicability to form different types of self-assembled structures and ease of undergoing chemical modifications. However, there are certain challenges, such as poor water solubility under physiological conditions and heterogeneity with regard to molecular weight and large-scale production of well-preserved nanostructures. Substantial advancement has been achieved towards overcoming these challenges by developing newer derivatives through a chemical modifications approach, and this has ascertained the suitability of alginate and chitosan as excipients for drug delivery systems (DDS). The present minireview briefly discusses curcumin and its limitation as a drug molecule, carbohydrates as DDS, and the recent developments related to the alginate and chitosan-based nanoformulations of curcumin. Special emphasis has been given to highlighting the impact of alginate and chitosan-based nanoformulations in improving the therapeutic efficacy and bioavailability of curcumin.

Quality and Quantity of Hydroponic Rice Forage Ciherang and IR64 Varieties at Different Harvest Ages

The purpose of this study is to determine how different harvest ages and varieties affect the quantity and quality of fodder produced by hydroponically cultivated rice plants. The study design was a 2 x 3 factorial, completely randomized design (CRD) experiment with five replications. Tiller count, plant height, plant weight, and graph power were among the characteristics that were observed. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and any differences were found using Duncan’s multiple area test. The plant height, number of tillers, plant weight, and dry matter production were all significantly impacted by the harvest age factor, according to the data. The variety factor is significantly influenced by the observation variables. The interaction between the parameters at 60 days of yield after planting (DYAP) has a significant impact on the variables plant height, plant weight, number of tillers, and dry matter production. The IR64 variety outperformed the Ciherang variety, according to the results of the proximate analysis, and the best harvest age in terms of crude protein, crude fiber, and crude fat content was at 40 days after planting, while the best TDN was at 60 DYAP. The IR64 cultivar produced the most biomass at a harvest age of 60 DYAP. In summary, the study’s findings suggest that hydroponically grown paddy forage has great promise in terms of the nutrients it can produce, yet biomass output is still lower than that of cutter grass, while dry matter production is higher than that of fodder.

Pengaruh Volume Media Tumbuh Dan EC Nutrisi Terhadap Produktivitas Tanaman Melon (Cucumis melo L.) pada Hidroponik Sumbu

The aim of the research was to study the effect of the volume of growth media and nutrient EC (Electrical Conductivity) on the yield and productivity of melon plants (Cucumis melo L.), using a hydroponic wick system. This study employed a Randomized Complete Design (RCBD) with a factorial arrangement consisting of 2 factors. First factor consisted of a 3 level growth medium volume per pot namely 5 liters (M1), 14 liters (M2), and 34 liters (M3). The second factor was a 4 level nutrient EC, including 1.5 mS/cm (P1), 2.5 mS/cm (P2), 3.5 mS/cm (P3), and 4.5 mS/cm (P4). Each treatment combination used 3 replicates to achieve 36 experimental units. The results showed that the treatment of the 34-liter growth media (M3) yielded high fruit weight of 1.40 kg and the highest water productivity of 37.90 kg/m³. The planting media volume treatment (M) significantly affected parameters namely stem diameter, fruit weight, sweetness level, fruit circumference, and water productivity, but not for other parameters. Meanwhile, the fertilizer EC treatment (P) significantly affected plant height, sweetness level, and fruit circumference, but not for other parameters. If fruit weight is used as the criterion, the optimum choice was M3P1 (34 liter media volume and 1.5 mS/cm EC). Keywords: Electrical Conductivity, Hydroponics, Melon, Rice Husk Charcoal, Wick System.

Effects of AM/PM Diets on Laying Performance, Egg Quality, and Nutrient Utilisation in Free-Range Laying Hens

Laying hen nutrient requirements change throughout the day, due to the cyclic nature of egg formation. Generally, more energy and protein are required in the morning when the albumen is deposited around the yolk, and more calcium is required in the evening when the eggshell is formed. The aim of this study was to determine if feeding laying hens diets tailored to their specific nutritional and physiological requirements throughout the day, by feeding higher levels of protein and energy in the morning and higher levels of calcium in the evening, is more beneficial than feeding one diet all day. Hy-Line Brown laying hens (n = 360) were housed in free-range floor pens (18 pens with 20 hens/pen) from 34 to 53 weeks of age (WOA). Half of the birds (n = 180, nine replicate pens) were fed a conventional layer hen diet all day (control) and the remaining birds (n = 180, nine replicate pens) were fed an AM diet from 08:00 h to 16:00 h and PM diet from 16:00 h to 08:00 h (AM/PM). From 39 WOA, hens were given access to an outdoor range from 09:00 h to 18:00 h via pop holes. Egg weight and hen-day egg production were measured daily, and feed consumption and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured weekly. Hen weight and egg size uniformity were determined at 43 and 53 WOA, and egg quality was measured at 53 WOA. A total of 72 hens (4 hens/pen, 36 hens/treatment) were euthanised at 53 WOA to determine ileal apparent energy and nitrogen digestibility. A cost–benefit analysis for the study period, based on feed costs and egg mass, was calculated. Overall, the results showed that the AM/PM treatment increased egg mass by 2.15% (60.4 vs. 59.1 g/hen/day, p = 0.086) and improved feed efficiency by 8.34% (2.231 vs. 2.436 kg feed/kg egg, p = 0.030) compared with the control. A higher yolk colour score was observed in eggs from hens on the AM/PM treatment (p = 0.002), but no other significant effects of the treatments on egg quality were observed. Ileal digestible energy and digestible nitrogen coefficient were lower in hens on the AM/PM treatment compared with the control treatment (both p &lt; 0.001). However, the AM/PM treatment was attributed to a lower feed cost to egg mass compared with the control treatment (p &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, using an AM/PM feeding strategy was found to be economically beneficial.

Оценка на живото тегло и вълнодайната продуктивност на овце от Карнобатска тънкорунна порода

In order to evaluate the levels of some main productive traits in sheep of the Karnobat Fine Fleece breed, raised in the flock of the Institute of Agriculture - Karnobat, a study was conducted for the live weight and wool productivity of animals born in the period 2013 - 2019. Some main productive traits of 316 sheep were controlled: live weight from weaning to 4.5 years of age, wool yield and staple length up to 4.5 years of age, clean wool yield and clean fiber at 1.5 and 2.5 years. It was established that the sheep of the Karnobat Fine Fleece breed at 2.5 years weigh an average of 59,090 kg live weight and give an average of 6,540 kg of wool with an average staple length of 11.43 cm, an average clean wool yield of 64.42 % and clean fiber – 4,220. The levels of all studied productive traits depended on environmental factors and the year of birth had a significant effect. Linear affiliation gave a significant effect on wool yield and the amount of clean fiber obtained by sheep at 2.5 years. The results obtained for the wool productivity traits are higher than the breed standards and show a good evenness in the flock and by ages. Live weight data are within the norm and confirm the early sexual maturity of the Karnobat fine fleece sheep breed.