The adverse influences of elevated ambient temperatures during the summer season on the rabbit industry have received increased global attention. Therefore, this study intended to compare the ...potential effects of nano-selenium (nano-Se) synthesized by biological (BIO) and chemical (CH) methods on growth performance, carcass variables, serum metabolites, and inflammatory cytokines responses of growing rabbits in the summer season. Two hundred and fifty weaned rabbits (males, 35 days of age) were randomly divided into five treatment groups of 50 rabbits each (each group had five replicates with ten male rabbits). Treatment groups were fed a control diet and four controlled diets supplemented with nano-Se synthesized by biological method (BIO25 and BIO50, with a 25 and 50 mg of nano-Se/kg diet, respectively) and chemical method (CH25 and CH50, with a 25 and 50 mg of nano-Se/kg diet, respectively) for eight weeks. During 11 to 13 weeks of age, a gradual enhancement in live body weight (LBW), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was noticed with BIO25 and BIO50 treatments compared to those in the other groups. The carcass percentage was significantly higher (
< 0.01) for animals fed with BIO25 than the other groups. The other organ functions were significantly higher (
< 0.01) in heat-stressed groups compared to that of nano-Se groups. Increasing the level of only BIO from a 25 to a 50 mg/kg diet gave more improvement in the studied parameters. Additionally, the concentrations of serum urea, triglycerides (TG), and glutamyl transferase (GGT) were lower (
< 0.01) in both treated and untreated groups. Likewise, the supplementation with nano-Se (BIO25, BIO50, or CH25) significantly improved the antioxidant indices and inflammatory cytokines responses as indicated from serum metabolites. Based on the study results, nano-Se especially synthesized by the biological method at diet levels of 25 or 50 mg/kg improved the growth performance, kidney and liver functions, carcass traits, antioxidants indices, and inflammatory cytokines of growing rabbits during thermal stress.
Fig. a - The set-up for biogas production.
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This work aimed to co-digest various wastes to assess the best combination of all mixing ratio, also at choosing the best ratio between ...untreated primary sludge (UPS) singly from two sources, (South valley University (SUPS) and Abu tesht wastewater station (AUPS) and raw chicken manure (RCM) and comparing the results in either case. The co-digestions of untreated primary sludge from Abu tesht wastewater treatment stations with different levels of raw chicken manure (0:100, 10:90, 30:70, 50:50, 90:10, and 100:0) to obtain the best mixtures. Also, co-digestion of untreated primary sludge from south valley university with different levels of raw chicken manure at the same ratios, to obtain the best mixtures. Batch digestion tests were applied in 2.5 L digester with a working volume of 2.0 L. The samples in triplicates were separately loaded into the digesters locally fabricated and kept for 20 days as a retention period and diluted with the same amount of water. Mesophilic under 35 °C was adopted for untreated primary sludge as well as mixtures with raw chicken manure based on total solids (TS) and volatile solid (VS) proportions. The average biogas yields from AUPS/RCM mixture obtained ranged from 8570 to 5600 ml, by the following descending order, 10: 90 > 90:10 and so on >100:0, and the average biogas yields from SUPS/RCM obtained ranged from 6330 to 5635 ml, in the order of 90: 10 > 10:90 and so on >100:0. The results showed highest biogas yield from AUPS/RCM and SUPS/RCM mixtures with mixing ratio of 10:90 and 90:10, respectively, however, the lowest biogas production detected in separate digestion of AUPS and SUPS. The results indicated that co-digestion between the sludge and raw chicken manure could increase total biogas production volume, enhance sludge treatment process, and produce eco-friendly sludge because of co-digestion process than separate processing of each feedstock.
Date fruit drying is a process that consumes a significant amount of energy due to the long duration required for drying. To better understand how moisture flows through the fruit during drying and ...to speed up this process, drying studies must be conducted in conjunction with mathematical modeling, energy analysis, and environmental economic analysis. In this study, twelve thin-layer mathematical models were designed utilizing experimental data for three different date fruit varieties (Sakkoti, Malkabii, and Gondaila) and two solar drying systems (automated solar dryer and open-air dryer). These models were then validated using statistical analysis. The drying period for the date fruit varieties varied between 9 and 10 days for the automated solar dryer and 14 to 15 days for open-air drying. The moisture diffusivity coefficient values, determined using Fick’s second law of diffusion model, ranged from 7.14 × 10−12 m2/s to 2.17 × 10−11 m2/s. Among the twelve thin-layer mathematical models, we chose the best thin drying model based on a higher R2 and lower χ2 and RMSE. The Two-term and Modified Page III models delivered the best moisture ratio projections for date fruit dried in an open-air dryer. For date fruit dried in an automated solar dryer, the Two-term Exponential, Newton (Lewis), Approximation diffusion or Diffusion Method, and Two-term Exponential modeling provided the best moisture ratio projections. The energy and environmental study found that the particular amount of energy used varied from 17.936 to 22.746 kWh/kg, the energy payback time was 7.54 to 7.71 years, and the net CO2 mitigation throughout the lifespan ranged from 8.55 to 8.80 tons. Furthermore, economic research showed that the automated solar dryer’s payback period would be 2.476 years.
This study presents a design method of power system stabilisers (PSSs) to damp system oscillations. The design is based on fuzzy logic and linear matrix inequality (LMI) techniques. The design ...guarantees a robust pole placement in a desired region in the complex plane for different loading conditions. Due to system non-linearity and load dependency, the whole wide range of operating condition is divided into three subregions. For each subregion, a norm-bounded uncertainty linear model is developed and a robust LMI-based pole placer is designed considering controller constraint. Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy model is used to guarantee smoothly switching between the LMI-based controllers of the three subregions. The proposed technique avoids solving many LMIs as in the polytypic approach and avoids the infeasibility problem that might arise from solving the LMIs for the complete region of operation. In addition, the proposed fuzzy logic switching controller has reduced drastically the fuzzy rules due to the use of two-dimensional (2D) membership functions. Particle swarm optimisation is used to tune the proposed 2D membership functions to guarantee smooth switching of the controllers while maintaining the desired constraints. The simulation results of both single-machine and multi-machine power systems confirm the effectiveness of the proposed PSS design.
This study investigates the impact of low-cost barium carbonate and barium silicate nanoparticles (NBC and NBS, respectively) on the performance and phase composition of cement mortar (CM). The ...results reveal that the individual addition of NBC and NBS causes setting times shortening and mechanical properties increment. Nevertheless, the NBS exhibits the higher efficiency at all addition levels (1, 2, and 3% by weight of cement). The incorporation of NBC results in the consumption of sulfate within cement matrix and the formation of insoluble barite (BaSO4) and calcium monocarboaluminate phases. Although the NBS also represents high efficiency in the uptake of sulfate, the reactive silicate within NBS plays a significant role in the formation of additional calcium silicate hydrate content through the consumption of portlandite (resulted from cement hydration). This could enhance the successful application of cement-NBS mixtures as super sulfate resistant cements.
•Barium carbonate and silicate nanoparticles were incorporated within cement mortar.•Nano-barium silicate exhibited higher efficiency compared to nano-barium carbonate.•Each nano-material has high ability in the retardation of ettringite formation.•Amorphous silicate within nano-barium silicate induced pozzolanic reaction.
Lighting regimes are possibly used as a strategy to improve rabbit production in tropical regions; on this background, this study was conducted to assess the possible role of different light (L):dark ...(D) regimes in improving growing New Zealand white rabbit’s performance. Sixty-four growing rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Rabbits of the first group (C) were exposed to 12 h of light (from 10.00 to 22.00 h). Rabbits of the second group (T1) were exposed to 12 h of light (from 22.00 to 10.00 h). The third group (T2) was exposed to 8 h of light (from 10.00 to 18.00 h), while the fourth group (T3) was exposed to 8 h of light (from 22.00 to 06.00 h). Temperature-humidity index values ranged between 27.00 and 28.87, indicating exposure of growing rabbits to very severe heat stress. Body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed consumption (FC), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass traits, blood parameters, and some physiological (rectum temperature, respiration rate) and health aspects (morbidity, mortality, and health risks %) were investigated. Rabbits of T1 showed the highest (
P
< 0.05) averages of BW and BWG in comparison with their counterparts. There were no significant differences in FC; however, rabbits of T1 had the lowest value of FCR at marketing. The percentages of dressed carcass, liver, and kidney in T1 and T3 were the highest. Non-significant changes were observed among the groups in most of the metabolic and hematology parameters of blood, except for ALT and N/L ratio. Further, rabbits of T1 showed the lowest rectal temperature and respiration rate in comparison with their counterparts. Conclusively, the utilization of photoperiod of afternoon program for over a short period of time in rabbitry brought in beneficial effects on growth performance and other productive and physiological parameters of growing rabbits.
The effect of a machine feeding rate (FR; 1, 1.5 and 2 Mg/h) and/or three levels of selected fineness degree (FD; 3, 5 and 7 mm) on machine performance, pellet physical parameters, required energy ...and production cost of three main types of broilers diets were examined in this experiment. The examined broiler diets were formulated to meet the Ross 308 strain requirements. A complete factorial design (3×3×3) was used to identify the effects of studied factors on the pellet mill machine and pellet production. The obtained results indicated tliat the pellet mill productivity significantly (p<0.001) improved through increased pellet mill feeding rate level. In addition, the machine pelleting efficiency was found to be significantly affected by all studied variables and their interactions. While the total power consumption of the machine showed no variations under the impact of the tested factors or with any of their combinations. Regarding the pellet physical quality indices, all broiler diets with all selected FD and lower FR had the maximum durability and bulk density levels. Furthermore, lower feeding rates were associated with higher hardness degrees. The lowest production costs were substantially correlated with high FR and intennediate FD (5 mm). Furthennore, production costs were detennined to be reduced in finisher broiler diets under different feeding rates. Moreover, manufacturing costs of finisher broiler meals were observed to decrease in several feeding rates. Overall, these findings indicate the capabilities of producing high-quality pellets and reducing the needed production costs by optimizing feeding rates to 2 Mg/h and 2 mm fineness in broiler diets.
Abstract Objective To assess whether immediate (0 h), intermediate (after 6 h) or delayed (after 24 h) removal of an indwelling urinary catheter after uncomplicated abdominal hysterectomy can affect ...the rate of re-catheterization due to urinary retention, rate of urinary tract infection, ambulation time and length of hospital stay. Study design Prospective randomized controlled trial conducted at Suez Canal University Hospital, Egypt. Two hundred and twenty-one women underwent total abdominal hysterectomy for benign gynecological diseases and were randomly allocated into three groups. Women in group A (73 patients) had their urinary catheter removed immediately after surgery. Group B (81 patients) had the catheter removed 6 h post-operatively while in group C (67 patients) the catheter was removed after 24 h. The main outcome measures were the frequency of urinary retention, urinary tract infections, ambulation time and length of hospital stay. Results There was a significantly higher number of urinary retention episodes requiring re-catheterization in the immediate removal group compared to the intermediate and delayed removal groups (16.4% versus 2.5% and 0% respectively). Delayed urinary catheter removal was associated with a higher incidence of urinary tract infections (15%), delayed ambulation time (10.3 h) and longer hospital stay (5.6 days) compared to the early (1.4%, 4.1 h and 3.2 days respectively) and intermediate (3.7%, 6.8 h and 3.4 days respectively) removal groups. Conclusions Removal of the urinary catheter 6 h postoperatively appears to be more advantageous than early or late removal in cases of uncomplicated total abdominal hysterectomy.
The current study aimed to design and test the accuracy of a variable-rate control metering mechanism (VRCMM) and a remote smart monitoring system (RSMS) for a precision sugarcane transplanter based ...on IoT technology. The VRCMM is used to operate the seedling metering device at different speeds using a stepper motor based on the travel speed, and the RSMS was employed to evaluate of the three basic parameters of seedling amount, optimum rate, and missed rate. Two types of sensors were used for detecting the sugarcane seedling (SS) and travel speed, including one ultrasonic sensor and one infrared RPM sensor. The study was performed at five travel speeds and four transplant spacings. The findings of laboratory tests showed that the mean record of the relative error between the desired stepper motor speed of the VRCMM and the real value was 3.39%, and it increased with increasing the travel speed. as Additionally, the speed regulation performance was in agreement with the transplanting index. The change in RSMS accuracy is obvious when the travel speed is high and the transplant spacing is small. The RSMS accuracy drops sharply, revealing a leaping change. In conclusion, the smart and intelligent designed sugarcane transplanter would be very useful in sugarcane production.
We aimed to evaluate the outcome of different treatment modalities for extremity venous thrombosis (VT) in neonates and infants, highlighting the current debate on their best tool of management. This ...retrospective study took place over a 9-year period from January 2009 to December 2017. All treated patients were referred to the vascular and pediatric surgery departments from the neonatal intensive care unit. All patients underwent a thorough history-taking as well as general clinical and local examination of the affected limb. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group I included those who underwent a conservative treated with the sole administration of unfractionated heparin (UFH), whereas group II included those who were treated with UFH plus warfarin. Sixty-three patients were included in this study. They were 36 males and 27 females. Their age ranged from 3 to 302 days. Forty-one (65%) patients had VT in the upper limb, whereas the remaining 22 (35%) had lower extremity VT. The success rate of the nonsurgical treatment was accomplished in 81% of patients. The remaining 19% underwent limb severing, due to established gangrene. The Kaplan-Meier survival method revealed a highly significant increase in both mean and median survival times in those groups treated with heparin and warfarin compared to heparin-only group (P < .001). Nonoperative treatment with anticoagulation or observation (ie, wait-and-see policy) alone may be an easily applicable, effective, and a safe modality for management of VT in neonates and infants, especially in developing countries with poor or highly challenged resource settings.
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