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Sultan AM Saghir,1 Naif A AlGabri,2,3 Mahmoud M Alagawany,4 Youssef A Attia,5,6 Salem R Alyileili,7 Shaaban S Elnesr,8 Manal E Shafi,9 Omar YA Al-shargi,10 Nader Al-balagi,11 Abdullah S Alwajeeh,12 Omar SA Alsalahi,13 Amlan K Patra,14 Asmaa F Khafaga,15 Ahmed Negida,16,17 Ahmed Noreldin,18 Wesam Al-Amarat,19 Amer A Almaiman,20 Khaled A El-Tarabily,21,22 Mohamed E Abd El-Hack4 1Department of Medical Analysis, Princess Aisha Bint Al-Hussein College of Nursing and Medical Sciences, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma’an, 71111, Jordan; 2Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen; 3Laboratory of Regional Djibouti Livestock Quarantine, Abu Yasar International Est. 1999, Djibouti, Djibouti; 4Department of Poultry, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt; 5Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt; 7Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 8Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, 63514, Egypt; 9Department of Biological Sciences, Zoology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 10Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 11Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 12Anti-DopingLab, Doha, Qatar; 13Department of Medical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hodeidah University, Al Hodaidah, Yemen; 14Department of Animal Nutrition, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Belgachia, Kolkata, India; 15Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina, 22758, Egypt; 16School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK; 17Zagazig University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 18Histology and Cytology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511, Egypt; 19Department of Medical Support, Al-Karak University College, Al-Balqa’ Applied University, Salt, Jordan; 20Department of Applied Medical Sciences, Community College of Uniazah, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51431, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 21Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 22Biosecurity and One Health Research Centre, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, AustraliaCorrespondence: Youssef A Attia; Khaled A El-Tarabily Email yaattia@kau.edu.sa; ktarabily@uaeu.ac.aeAbstract: In December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) that began in China had infected so far more than 109,217,366 million individuals worldwide and accounted for more than 2,413,912 fatalities. With the dawn of this novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), there was a requirement to select potential therapies that might effectively kill the virus, accelerate the recovery, or decrease the case fatality rate. Besides the currently available antiviral medications for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), the chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (CQ/HCQ) regimen with or without azithromycin has been repurposed in China and was recommended by the National Health Commission, China in mid-February 2020. By this time, the selection of this regimen was based on its efficacy against the previous SARS-CoV-1 virus and its potential to inhibit viral replication of the SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. There was a shortage of robust clinical proof about the effectiveness of this regimen against the novel SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, extensive research effort has been made by several researchers worldwide to investigate whether this regimen is safe and effective for the management of COVID-19. In this review, we provided a comprehensive overview of the CQ/HCQ regimen, summarizing data from in vitro studies and clinical trials for the protection against or the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Despite the initial promising results from the in vitro studies and the widespread use of CQ/HCQ in clinical settings during the 1st wave of COVID-19, current data from well-designed randomized controlled trials showed no evidence of benefit from CQ/HCQ supplementation for the treatment or prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Particularly, the two largest randomized controlled trials to date (RECOVERY and WHO SOLIDARITY trials), both confirmed that CQ/HCQ regimen does not provide any clinical benefit for COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of this regimen in COVID-19 patients outside the context of clinical trials.Keywords: antiviral drugs, chloroquine, COVID-19, drug safety, hydroxychloroquine, SARS-CoV-2, treatments

Smart photochromic and fluorescent textile refers to garments that alter their colorimetric properties in response to external light stimulus. Cotton fibers have been reported as a main resource for many textile and non-textile industries, such as automobiles, medical devices, and furniture applications. Cotton is a natural fiber that is distinguished with breathability, softness, cheapness, and highly absorbent. However, there have been growing demands to find other resources for cotton textiles at high quality and low cost for various applications, such as sensor for harmful ultraviolet radiation. Herein, we present a novel method toward luminescent and photochromic nonwoven textiles from recycled cotton waste. Using the screen-printing technology, a cotton fabric that is both photochromic and fluorescent was developed using aqueous inorganic phosphor nanoparticles (10-18 nm)-containing printing paste. Both CIE Lab color coordinates and photoluminescence spectra showed that the transparent film printed on the nonwoven fabric develops a reversible green emission (519 nm) under ultraviolet light (365 nm), even at low pigment concentration (2%) in the printing paste. Colorfastness of printed fabrics showed high durability and photostability., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ) is an attractive semiconductor. Thus, bandgap engineering toward photoelectronic applications is appealing yet not well studied. Here, we report the incorporation of sulfur atoms into MoO 3 , using sulfur powder as a source of sulfur, via a self-developed hydrothermal synthesis approach. The formation of Mo-S bonds in the MoO 3 material with the synergistic effect of sulfur doping and oxygen vacancies (designated as S-MoO 3-x ) is confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The bandgap is tuned from 2.68 eV to 2.57 eV upon sulfur doping, as confirmed by UV-VIS DRS spectra. Some MoS 2 phase is identified with sulfur doping by referring to the photoluminescence (PL) spectra and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), allowing significantly improved charge carrier separation and electron transfer efficiency. Therefore, the as-prepared S-MoO 3-x delivers a sensitive photocurrent response and splendid cycling stability. This study on the synergistic effect of sulfur doping and oxygen vacancies provides key insights into the impact of doping strategies on MoO 3 performance, paving new pathways for its optimization and development in relevant fields.

One hundred and twenty New Zealand White rabbits (NZW) (5-week-old; 735.27 ± 27.23 g) were kept in an open-sided house during the summer season. The experiment aims to evaluate the impacts of dried tomato pomace powder (DTPP) supplementation on rabbits' performance, blood metabolites, carcass traits, meat quality, and lipid and health indices of NZW rabbits during 5-13 weeks of age. The four treatments were a standard rabbit feed (control) and the control diet supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% DTPP, respectively. Rabbits fed a diet containing 1.5% DTPP showed the highest growth rate through weeks 9-13 of age despite having the lowest feed intake spanning 5-13 weeks. The best feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded in rabbits fed with 1.5% DTPP-supplemented diet for 5-13 weeks. Diets supplemented with 0.5 or 1.0% DTPP enhanced markedly dressing %, total edible flesh, saturated (SFAs), monounsaturated (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) contents, as well as the ∑n - 6/∑n - 3 ratio and the total n - 6 of meat. Dietary supplementation with DTPP decreased kidney, abdominal, and back fat. Diets supplemented with DTTP decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein (vLDL) concentrations. The greatest levels of linoleic acid, arachidonic and water-holding capacity in meat were observed in rabbits fed 1.5% DTPP-supplemented diets. Diets containing 1 and 1.5% DTPP improved meats' atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, meat lipid quality desired fatty acids/undesired fatty acids ratio, and meat health index. Conclusively, DTPP up to 1.5% maintained the growth performance of rabbits, boosted meat quality through increasing vitamin E, reduced fat deposition, modified fatty acid composition, and improved atherogenic, thrombogenic, and hypocholesterolemic indices of rabbit meat., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The potential of aqueous extract of Christ's thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) leaves (SLAE) to reduce the negative impacts of heat stress on production performance and physiological traits was investigated in dual-purpose layers under subtropical farming., Methods: A total of 200, 25-week-old laying hens (Inshas strain) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments including SLAE at 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mL/kg, respectively. The average temperature-humidity index value was 26.69 during the experimental period. The SLAE contained saponin (0.045%), total flavonoid content of 17.9 mg of quercetin equivalent/ 100 g and overall antioxidant capacity concentration of 17.9 mg of ascorbic acid equivalent/100 g., Results: The maximum final body weight (BW), BW gain, egg weight, number, and mass occurred at the level of SLAE7.5 inclusion. The egg quality was significantly higher in SLAE groups than in control, and overall, SLAE7.5 had the most favorable influence at 28 and 32 weeks. Liver and kidney function, as well as lipids profile, improved significantly by SLAE inclusion; the lowest concentrations of these parameters were in SLAE7.5 hens. Treatment with SLAE7.5 increased total antioxidant capacity and endogenous antioxidant enzymes compared to control, whereas no effect on superoxide dismutase was noticed., Conclusion: The addition of SLAE at 7.5 mL/kg diet improved egg laying performance and quality, metabolic profiles, and antioxidant status during hyperthermia conditions.

Flaxseed cake contains high levels of phenolic compounds, which have numerous biological activities, as well as a considerable amount of omega-3 fatty acids, such as α-linolenic acid, which remains after oil extraction. In this study, we examined the effects of flaxseed cake meal (FSCM) on the antioxidative status, lipid metabolism, egg fatty acid profile, and egg health index of white-egg laying hens. A total of 63 Hisex White laying hens were divided into three experimental treatment groups and fed diets containing 0, 5, or 10% FSCM from 48 to 58 weeks of age. Feeding with 5 and 10% FSCM did not significantly ( p >0.05) influence total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations, or the high-/low-density lipoprotein ratio in the serum and egg yolk; however, 10% FSCM significantly (P<0.05) increased serum high-density lipoprotein. Dietary FSCM also did not affect (P>0.05) antioxidant markers in the eggs and blood plasma. Notably, dietary inclusion of FSCM significantly increased (P<0.05) total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), α-linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid levels in egg yolk, whereas the n -6: n -3 PUFAs ratio was markedly (P<0.05) decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, including 5-10% FSCM improved (P<0.05) egg health indices, with 10% being the most beneficial. Together, these findings indicated that the inclusion of up to 10% FSCM in laying hen diets improved egg yolk lipid and fatty acid profiles, as well as egg quality and nutritional and metabolic indices., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (2024 Japan Poultry Science Association.)

A total of 245 hens and 35 cocks (32 weeks age) were assigned to seven treatment groups (five replicates with seven hens and one cock) to investigate the effect of dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) and arginine to lysine ratio (Arg/Lys) on birds' physiological and biochemical traits under cyclic heat stress (CHS) condition. Birds were housed in an environmentally controlled facility having four sectors. The first group (positive control, PC) was kept under thermoneutral conditions and fed diet with DEB of 180 mEq and Arg/Lys of 1.25, whereas the other six treatments were kept in the second sector under CHS and fed diet with DEB and Arg/Lys equal to: 180 mEq and 1.25 (negative control, NC); 250 mEq and 1.25; 320 mEq and 1.25; 180 mEq and 1.37; 250 mEq and 1.37; 320 mEq and 1.37, respectively. Hens on NC group had significantly decreased red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and its fractions. The groups fed different DEB and Arg/Lys in diet significantly enhanced the blood parameters and plasma lipid profile compared NC group. Hens under CHS fed on 250 and 320 DEB with 1.37 Arg/Lys recorded the lowest concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared with the other groups. Triiodothyronine (T 3 ) activity was not differed among groups, while T4 activity in layer exposed to CHS (NC group) recorded the highest activity compared to PC. From findings, it can be concluded that laying hens fed a diet having DEB 250 mEq with 1.37 Arg/Lys could be successfully applied to counteract the adverse effect of CHS and to improve blood hematological and biochemical traits, antioxidants, and immunity response., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This is to confirm that “The authors declare no conflict of interest”., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Diabetic wound healing is sluggish, often ending in amputations. This study tested a novel, two-punch therapy in mice-Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)-to boost healing. First, a mouse model of diabetes was created. Then, Se NPs were crafted for their impressive antioxidant and antimicrobial powers. PRP, packed with growth factors, was extracted from the mice's blood. Wound healing was tracked for 28 days through photos, scoring tools, and tissue analysis. Se NPs alone spurred healing, and PRP added extra fuel. Furthermore, when used in combination with PRP, the healing process was accelerated due to the higher concentration of growth factors in PRP. Notably, the combination of Se NPs and PRP exhibited a synergistic effect, significantly enhancing wound healing in diabetic mice. These findings hold promise for the treatment of diabetic wounds and have the potential to reduce the need for lower limb amputations associated with diabetic foot ulcers. The innovative combination therapy using Se NPs and PRP shows great potential in expediting the healing process and addressing the challenges of impaired wound healing in individuals with diabetes. This exciting finding suggests this therapy could change diabetic wound management, potentially saving limbs and improving lives., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) semiconductors was synthesized via a thermal condensation method. Subsequently, Ag/AgBr nanoparticles with varying ratios were decorated onto the g-C 3 N 4 surface using the water/oil emulsion method. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized using XRD for phase identification and structural analysis, HR-TEM and SEM&EDAX for morphological structure, particle size, and elemental composition analysis, and XPS for investigating the chemical state and electronic structure. The impact of Ag/AgBr content on the optical properties of g-C 3 N 4 were also studied such as (optical bandgap (E g ), refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k), optical conductivity (σ opt ) and dielectric function (ε*)), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), PL spectroscopy and Chrono-amperometric investigations were conducted to assess the charge transfer capabilities and long-term durability of the prepared nanocomposites. The results revealed a reduction in Ag/AgBr particle size with an increase in g-C 3 N 4 content, accompanied by a decrease in the optical bandgap from 2.444 eV to 2.393 eV. Furthermore, the nanocomposites exhibited enhanced degradation efficiencies of RhB dye, with the highest tested content of Ag/AgBr achieving 100% degradation after 120 min of irradiation. However, the challenge of catalyst separation after the degradation process remained. To address this issue, we developed a novel approach by impregnating Ag/AgBr@g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst onto a floating porous sponge using a simple sugar-template technique, offering potential as a reusable photocatalyst material. Furthermore, the 3D PDMS - Ag/AgBr@g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst was evaluated and found to maintain nearly the same photocatalytic efficiency for up to 5 consecutive cycles., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The present study explored the neurotoxic impacts of lead (Pb) and the potential alleviating effect of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) in Japanese quails. About 360 adult Japanese quails (8 weeks old) were used. Quails were randomly distributed to six groups with 4 replicates each: the control group (fed basal diet, BD), the BD + YSE1 and BD + YSE2 groups (BD + 100 and 200 mg/kg diet of YSE, respectively), the Pb group (BD + 100 mg/kg Pb), and the Pb + YSE1 and Pb + YSE2 groups (BD + Pb + 100 and 200 mg/kg YSE, respectively). This feeding trial lasted for 8 weeks. The exposure to Pb in the diet induced oxidative damage stress in the brain of exposed quails reflected by the significant increase in the oxidative markers including malonaldehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) and the significant reduction in the activities of antioxidants including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the reduced glutathione (GSH). Brain neurochemistry and enzyme activities were also altered following Pb exposure. Pb significantly reduced serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, GABA, Ach, and Na + /K + -ATPase activities. Pb dietary intoxication markedly increased brain inflammatory biomarkers, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), myeloperoxidase, and nitric oxide. Peripherally, Pb toxicity decreased the amino acid neurotransmitters (glutamic acid, glycine, and aspartic acid) in the serum of birds. At the transcriptomic level, Pb exposure upregulated the transcription patterns of CASP3, TNF-α, HSP70, and IL-1β. The single effect of YSE maintained that all the assessed parameters were not changed compared to the control. Interestingly, the YSE co-supplementation with Pb alleviated the Pb-induced neuro-oxidative damages by lowering the lipid, protein, and DNA damage, and the inflammatory biomarkers., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Nowadays, there is a global shortage in feed supply for animal nutrition; however, there are a considerable amount of agro-industrial co- and by-products that may offer a reasonable solution. Flaxseed cake (FSC) is a by-product of flaxseed for oil extraction rich in n-3 α-linolenic acid (ALA). Thus, the dietary inclusion of FSC on laying performance, egg quality, and serum and egg trace elements (Se, Zn, and Fe) was evaluated using Hisex White hens. The hens were distributed to three equal experimental treatments and provided diets including 0%, 5%, or 10% FSC from 48 to 58 weeks of age. Findings clarified that up to 10% FSC in the laying hen diet had no detrimental effect on laying rate, egg mass, and feed utilization. It was found that FSC resulted in a valuable source of protein, energy, macro- (Ca and P), micro- (Se, Zn and Fe) elements, and essential amino acids, with arginine being the highest. Dietary FSC did not negatively influence the egg quality traits, as well as egg sensory attributes. Including 5% or 10% FSC in diet did not significantly affect serum total protein and renal function in terms of creatinine, uric acid, and uric acid-to-creatinine ratio. Different FSC levels did not influence the chemical composition of eggs and trace elements in serum and eggs. It could be concluded that FSC is a valuable feedstuff that can provide a good source of energy, protein, amino acids, and macro- and micro-elements for hens' nutrition. The inclusion of up to 10% of FSC in hens diet did not adversely influence egg laying performance, egg quality of both fresh and stored eggs, sensory attributes, and nutritional composition, as well as Se, Zn, and Fe in serum and eggs due to balanced nutrient profile of FSC., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Particulate matters (PMs) pose significant risks to human health and the environment, necessitating research to enhance air purification filters and reduce harmful emissions. This study focuses on the preparation of carbon nanomaterials, including graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C3N4 NSs), reduced graphene oxide (r-GO), and carbon nanotubes (CNT), for modifying filters in air particle monitoring devices. The objective is to investigate the impact of these nanomaterials on enhancing PM adsorption efficiency. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the modified filters' adsorption efficiency towards PMs are performed using spectroscopic techniques such as Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The results reveal that CNT-modified filters exhibit superior adsorption efficiency compared to the control, g-C3N4, and r-GO-modified filters. The exceptional performance of CNTs is attributed to their large specific surface area and pore volume. Additionally, LIBS demonstrates its capability to detect heavy metals like Cd, which remain undetected by EDX and ICP. The technique proves sensitive for heavy metal monitoring. This novel approach is expected to garner significant attention and contribute to the development of improved air purification technologies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The impacts of different dietary levels of rice gluten meal (RGM) on growth performance, digestibility, carcass characteristics, and blood traits of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were studied. One hundred and twenty, 6 weeks old weaned male rabbits (body weight; 682 [g] ± 23) were randomly allotted into four groups. The control diet contained 160 [g/kg] soybean meal (SBM), while the other three diets were obtained by replacing 40, 80, and 120 [g/kg] SBM with RGM (RGM40, RGM80, and RGM120, respectively). The results showed that RGM contained higher levels of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), ash, and gross energy than SBM. RGM contained a high level of arginine followed by leucine and valine as essential amino acids and high levels of glutamic, aspartic acid, and alanine as non-essential amino acids. The obtained results showed that the final body weight of rabbits fed diets containing 40, 80, and 120 [g/kg] RGM was higher than those fed the control diet. The daily weight gain of rabbits fed RGM diets increased ( p  < 0.05) by 10.50%, 6.50%, and 10.00%, respectively, compared to the control group. Rabbits fed RGM80 showed the highest ( p  < 0.05) digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), EE, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and acid detergent fibre (ADF) compared to the other tested levels. Rabbits fed RGM120 had the highest ( p  < 0.05) digestible energy (DE) and digestible crude protein (DCP) values. RGM inclusion levels of 40 and 80 [g/kg] increased ( p  < 0.05) plasma total protein and albumin compared to the control group. Rabbits fed a diet containing RGM40 had the highest ( p  < 0.05) globulin level. The highest ( p  < 0.05) plasma urea concentration level was measured in the rabbit group fed the RGM120 diet. Conclusively, RGM could be a valuable ingredient for growing rabbits, as at all the tested levels improved growth performance, digestibility, and nutritional values.

Jatropha is a large, multipurpose, drought-tolerant plant with many traits and great potential as a biofuel crop. It originates from Central America but is now distributed throughout the tropics, including Africa and Asia. The study determines whether the dietary inclusion of raw Jatropha cucas meal (RJM, 3.5%) had negative impacts on the reproductive and productive performances of male Japanese quail as well as whether these impacts could be mitigated by heating the jatropha meal at 100°C for 24 or 48 h (JH 24 or JH 48 respectively). One hundred twenty healthy mature male quails at the age of 12 wk were assigned randomly to 4 treatments. Every treatment had 6 replicates, with 5 birds per replicate. The RJM caused a considerable decline in fertility and a high mortality rate in quail, whereas heat-treated jatropha meal (JH 24 or JH 48 ) decreased these unwanted effects. The RJM significantly increased triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), while reducing total protein and albumin. These values returned to normal in the JH 24 and JH 48 groups. The RJM significantly reduced the testosterone and increased estradiol and hepatic content of vitellogenin (Vtg) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) while they were normal in JH 48 group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and the reduced glutathione (GSH) content in testicular tissues were significantly reduced in the RJM group when compared to control. Protein carbonyl (PC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy 2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were significantly increased in the RJM group when compared to control. Heating of JM for 48 h reduced the 8-OHdG and MDA levels toward the control level better than JH24 and restored PC to normal. Based on the obtained results, The toxic components in JM could be eliminated through heat treatment, and extending the treatment duration to 48 h is recommended for transforming the potentially harmful jatropha meal into an alternative protein source for livestock nutrition., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the dietary addition of Spirulina platensis (SP) and/or garlic powder (GP) on heat-stressed broiler chickens. For this purpose, 600 Ross-308 broiler chicks were allocated at 22 days of age into five groups (G1-G5), each comprising six groups of 20 birds each. Chickens kept in G1 (negative control) were fed a basal diet and raised at 26 ± 1 °C. Chickens kept in G2 to G5 were exposed to periodic heat stress (35 ± 1 °C for 9 h/day) from 22 to 35 days old. Chickens in G2 (positive control) were provided a basal diet, while G3, G4, and G5 were fed a basal diet enriched with SP (1 g/kg diet), GP (200 mg/kg diet), or SP/GP (1 g SP/kg + 200 mg GP/kg diet), respectively. The assessment parameters included the chickens' performance, malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity, blood biochemistry, intestinal morphology, and modulation of lactobacilli and total coliforms in the intestinal microbiota. Our findings demonstrated that supplementing heat-stressed chickens with SP and/or GP significantly mitigated the negative effects on the European production efficiency index (EPEF), survival rate, cholesterol profile, and oxidative stress markers. Chickens supplemented with GP and/or SP exhibited significantly better EPEF and survivability rates. Heat stress had a significant impact on both the gut structure and gut microbiota. However, SP and/or GP supplementation improved the gut morphology, significantly increased the intestinal lactobacilli, and reduced the coliform contents. It was also found that the simultaneous feeding of SP and GP led to even higher recovery levels with improved lipid metabolites, immunity, and oxidative status. Overall, supplementing chickens with SP and/or GP can alleviate the negative effects of heat stress.

The lighting regime significantly impacts poultry production, reproductive performance, health and welfare. This study aimed to test the effect of the intermittent light (IL) regime on reproductive organs and hormones, semen quality, and behavioral performance. Thus, 270 Rhode Island Red hens aged 20 weeks were distributed among three groups of six replicates and 15 birds each, housed in floor pens. The first group was used as a control (C) and was exposed to constant light for 16 h d - 1 , while birds in other groups were exposed to IL for 20 min h - 1 (T20) and 40 min h - 1 (T40) during the 16 h light period. The outcomes were that follicle number was higher for T20 compared to T40 but not the controls, while T40 is different from T20 but not the controls. The same is true for testosterone. The sperm concentration is lower for T40 compared to the controls, with no difference between T20 and the controls. Body temperature was not different among groups. Conversely, differences were not noticed for leg alterations; plumage conditions; and relative ovary, oviduct, and/or testes weight and hatchability. Thus, the IL T20 program should be further investigated as a lighting regimen for managing Rhode Island Red laying hens for stimulating follicle number and testosterone without negatively impacting the physiological response and health traits. From a practical point of view, the IL schedule of 20 min h - 1 during 20-36 weeks of age can be economically viable due to saving 66 % of the light cost., Competing Interests: The contact author has declared that none of the authors has any competing interests., (Copyright: © 2023 Mohamed F. A. Farghly et al.)

Background: An association between serum uric acid (UA) and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients has not been well studied. We describe RA patients with high and normal UA and study its association with RA activity., Methods: Adult RA patients from the Kuwait Registry for Rheumatic Diseases (KRRD) were studied from February 2012 through March 2022. Patients with documented UA levels were included. UA of >357 µmol/L (6mg/dL) was considered high. Statistical comparison and correlation were made using multivariate logistic regression., Results: Overall, 1054 patients with documented UA. A total of 158 patients (15%) had high UA level with a mean of 409± 44.4µmol/L. The mean age for the high UA group and low UA group were 59.3 ± 10.7 years and 54.5 ± 12.4 years, respectively ( p <0.001). 49.4% were female in high UA group, and 62.2% were female in low UA group, respectively ( p <0.05). Logistic analysis showed an inverse relation between DAS28 and UA, as lower DAS28 score was associated with higher UA level ( p =0.032) OR 1.39. There was a direct relation with HAQ, creatinine and UA. A higher HAQ is associated with a higher UA level ( p =0.019) OR 0.78. High creatinine level is also associated with high UA level ( p <0.001) OR 0.24. The use of antirheumatic drugs was similar among patients with high and normal UA., Conclusion: RA patients with a higher UA had a lower disease activity despite using similar antirheumatic drugs. The reasons behind this association need to be further studied., Competing Interests: This is an investigator study from Kuwait Registry for Rheumatic Diseases (KRRD). The KRRD registry is supported by an unrestricted grant from Pfizer. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2023 Alkhudir et al.)

Microalgae have the potential to become the primary source of biodiesel, catering to a wide range of essential applications such as transportation. This would allow for a significant reduction in dependence on conventional petroleum diesel. This study investigates the effect of biostimulation techniques utilizing nanoparticles of Magnesium oxide MgO, Calcium hydroxyapatite Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 , and Zinc oxide ZnO to enhance the biodiesel production of Chlorella sorokiniana. By enhancing cell activity, these nanoparticles have demonstrated the ability to improve oil production and subsequently increase biodiesel production. Experimentally, each nanomaterial was introduced at a concentration of 15 mg L -1 . The results have shown that MgO nanoparticles yielded the highest biodiesel production, with a recorded yield of 61.5 mg L -1 . Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, on the other hand, facilitated lipid accumulation. ZnO nanoparticles showcased a multifaceted advantage by enhancing both growth and lipid content. Thus, it is suggested that these nanoparticles can be used effectively to increase the lipid content of microalgae. These findings highlight the potential of biostimulation strategies utilizing MgO, hydroxyapatite, and zinc oxide nanoparticles to bolster biodiesel production., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Global production of the two major poultry products, meat and eggs, has increased quickly. This, in turn, indicates both the relatively low cost and the customers' desire for these secure and high-quality products. Natural feed additives have become increasingly popular to preserve and enhance the health and productivity of poultry and livestock. We consume a lot of polyphenols, which are a kind of micronutrient. These are phytochemicals with positive effects on cardiovascular, cognitive, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, anti-tumor, anti-pathogen, a catalyst for growth, and immunomodulating functions, among extra health advantages. Furthermore, high quantities of polyphenols have unknown and occasionally unfavorable impacts on the digestive tract health, nutrient assimilation, the activity of digestive enzymes, vitamin and mineral assimilation, the performance of the laying hens, and the quality of the eggs. This review clarifies the numerous sources, categories, biological functions, potential limitations on usage, and effects of polyphenols on poultry performance, egg composition, exterior and interior quality traits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest that could inappropriately influence this manuscript., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mature Japanese quails (n. 180), aged 8 wk, were divided into 6 groups to evaluate the influence of dietary Astragalus membranaceus powder on laying and reproductive performances, quality of egg, and blood metabolites. A completely randomized design experiment was performed including 6 groups. The first group of quails was served as control (basal diet). While, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th group of quails fed a basal diet supplemented with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 g of AM powder/kg diet, respectively. Egg number (EN), weight (EW), and mass (EM) were not significantly influenced by dietary Astragalus membranaceus at all tested levels. The hatchability percentage was quadratically improved by dietary supplementation of A. membranaceus. Dietary supplementation of A. membranaceus positively affects (linear and quadratic) liver and kidney functions. Plasma total cholesterol (TC; P < 0.001) and Triglyceride (TG; P < 0.001) were linearly and quadratically decreased by dietary A. membranaceus increasing level. Blood urea level decreased with increasing A. membranaceus levels in the quail diet. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) were higher than the control at all A. membranaceus levels. In conclusion, feeding quail breeders with Astragalus membranaceus at 1 g/kg diet has beneficial effects on feed conversion ratio; on production at 2 g/kg diet; on hatchability and immunity at 5 g/kg diet; and on total cholesterol at 3 g/kg diet and on shell quality at 4 g/kg diet. A. membranaceus products are expected to be novel valuable dietary supplements for poultry production, depending on the target trait., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although antibiotics growth promoters (AGPs), including zinc-bacitracin (ZnB), can threaten human health due to developing antimicrobial resistance, as well as drug residue in animal and poultry products, ZnB is still widely used, particularly in developing countries, for the sustainability of poultry farming. The present investigation aims to assess the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus acidophilus, with or without a prebiotic (mannooligosaccharide, MOS), as alternatives to ZnB. For this reason, 150 one-day-old chicks were grouped into six groups, designated negative control, LA, SC, ZnB, SA + MOS, and LA + MOS (5 replicates of 5 chicks for each group). Chicks kept in the control group were fed the basal diet. Chickens kept in LA and SC groups received L. acidophilus, S. cerevisiae at a 1 g/kg diet and 2 g/Kg, respectively. Chickens kept in ZnB received ZnB at 0.5 g/kg. Chicks kept in the SC + MOS and LA + MOS were fed a basal diet containing 2 g S. cerevisiae  + 1 g MOS/kg or 1 g L. acidophilus  + 1 g MOS /kg, respectively. The efficacy was assessed based on the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemistry composition during the entire trial 1-36 days of age. Results showed that chicks kept in the SC group had greater BW than the control ( p  < 0.05). Chicks kept in the SC, LA, SC + MOS, and LA + MOS consumed less feed than the control and Zn-B groups ( p  < 0.05). Supplementation with S. cerevisiae resulted in a better ( p  < 0.05) feed conversion rate (FCR) than the control group. Supplementation with L. acidophilus  + MOS significantly increased ( p  < 0.05) the relative liver weight compared to those supplemented with ZnB, S. cerevisiae , and L. acidophilus . In addition, supplementation with ZnB-induced spleen hypertrophy compared to S. cerevisiae and L. acidophilus -supplemented groups ( p  < 0.05). Plasma, meat, and liver cholesterol, as well as the cholesterol-to-lipid ratio of meat and liver, were significantly decreased ( p  < 0.05) in both SC and LA groups compared to the control group. Our research indicates that adding 2 g/kg of S. cerevisiae to broiler feed can effectively replace ZnB and enhance productive performance and economic profits, making it a viable and sustainable option for broiler farming., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Attia, Basiouni, Abdulsalam, Bovera, Aboshok, Shehata and Hafez.)

Cisplatin (Cis) is a treatment for testicular germ-cell tumors (TGCTs). Unfortunately, it causes testicular toxicity due to releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) causing damage to testicular cells and chromosomes. The current study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) against cisplatin testicular toxicity in male rats by assessment of body weight, testis weight, oxidative stress markers in testis homogenates as (malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione reduced (GSH), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH ∼ PX) and Catalase (CAT)), gene expression, testosterone concentration (T), sperm characteristics (count, motility and abnormality) and testicular histopathology. Methods: Thirty adult male rats divided equally into four groups; a single dose intraperitoneally injection of cisplatin (10 mg/kg) and selenium nanoparticles (2 mg/kg/day) were administrated alone or in combination. Cis group showed a decrease in body weight, testis weight, antioxidant activities (SOD, GSH, GSH ∼ PX and CAT), T concentration and steroidogenetic expression, the data recorded an increase in MDA levels and sperm abnormality, meanwhile histopathology of testis sections showed degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules. The co-administration of selenium nanoparticles ameliorated the harmful effects of cisplatin. In conclusion; SeNPs through its antioxidant potential may be useful to prevent the testicular toxicity induced by cisplatin to the rat testis by reducing oxidative stress., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors are declaring and signing when submitting papers for publication, and they agree for publish paper in this journal. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

One hundred and twenty, one-day-old male broiler chicks were used to investigate the effects of supplementation with different dietary protein sources on their performance and immune systems. Chicks were randomly divided into four equal experimental groups (six replicates, each of five chicks). The first group served as a control and was fed a standard corn-soybean meal diet. The second, third, and fourth groups were fed diets in which the soybean meal (SBM) was partly replaced by fish meal (FM), black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), and black soldier fly prepupae (BSFP), respectively. Throughout 1-14 and 15-42 days of age, FM, BSFL, and BSFP were added at 3 and 5%, respectively. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the FM group was the best among the tested groups. Feeding BSFP decreased final body weight (BW), BW gain, feed intake, and impaired the FCR compared to the other treatments for the entire experimental period. The BSFP group had significantly lower cecal Salmonella counts compared to the control group and lower total bacterial counts compared to the other groups except for BSFL. BSFL can be fed to broiler chickens at 3% during the starter period and 5% during the grower-finisher periods without negative influences on growth performance, red blood cell characteristics, blood lipid profiles, and nutrient excretion, while BSFP can improve the chickens' gut ecosystem.

The effects of Moringa peregrina seed meal (MPSM), autoclaving, and/or enzyme cocktail addition on performance, profitability, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood lipids of broilers between 1 and 35 d of age were investigated. Seven experimental diets were employed: the control 0% MPSM, 10% raw MPSM, 10% autoclaved MPSM (at a temperature of 120°C and 1 kg/cm 2 pressure for 30 min), 10% raw MPSM supplemented with enzymes at 0.1 or 0.2 g/kg feed, and 10% autoclaved MPSM supplemented with the same previous enzymes and doses. Each diet was fed to 8 replicates with 5 broilers in each. At the end of the experiment, 3 broilers from each replicate were randomLy chosen to determine carcass traits, meat quality, and blood lipids. Findings at 35 d of age indicated that all 10% raw MPSM treatments with or without enzymes addition impaired growth, feed conversion (FCR), and profitability ( p  < 0.05), but increased feed intake ( p  < 0.05) and did not affect mortality when compared with the control group. The 10% autoclaved MPSM treatments with or without enzymes addition increased feed intake ( p  < 0.05) when compared with the control group, inducing growth equal to the control group ( p  > 0.05), and improving FCR and profitability. Enzymes addition to raw MPSM did not produce positive effects ( p  < 0.05), and no additive effect was observed when autoclaving and enzymes addition were combined ( p  > 0.05) as compared to the autoclaving group. Carcass traits, meat quality, and blood lipids were not significantly affected by MPSM, autoclaving, and enzymes addition. However, intestine, cecum, and gizzard percentages increased ( p  < 0.05) with all 10% raw MPSM treatments, while all 10% autoclaved MPSM treatments could return these values ( p  > 0.05) to the control group, except with gizzard, which exhibited less improvement. Additionally, all autoclaved groups had lower meat pH measured 24 h postmortem ( p < 0.05) compared to the control group. In conclusion, autoclaved MPSM can be included in broilers' diets at a 10% level without negative effects on performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood lipids. This indicates that autoclaving alone is adequate., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Al-Harthi, Attia, Elgandy and Bovera.)

The impact of dietary rice bran with or without feed additives on the performance, carcasses, and blood profiles of chickens was examined. A total of 245 unsexed one-week-old broiler chicks were divided into seven groups, with seven replications of five chicks each. The treatments were: (1) control, (2) 5% rice bran, (3) 5% rice bran + 0.5 g/kg of Liposorb ® , (4) 5% rice bran + 1 g/kg of vitamin E-Se, (5) 10% rice bran, (6) 10% rice bran + 0.5 g/kg Liposorb ® , and (7) 10% rice bran + 1 g/kg of vitamin E-selenium. Considering the entire experimental period, it did not affect the in vivo performance of the broilers. However, all the experimental diets decreased dressing % compared with the control ( p < 0.01) and the worst values were obtained for the 10% RB groups (75.7, 75.9, and 75.8%, respectively, for 10%RB, 10%RB + Liposorb, and 10%RB + Vit. E-Se groups). All the experimental diets decreased ( p < 0.01) the albumin/globulin ratio due to an increased level of serum globulins. Differences in lipid profiles, antioxidants, and immunity parameters in plasma were not related to dietary treatments. In conclusion, the use of rice bran up to 10% in diets had no harmful effect on the overall growth performance of the broilers from 1 to 5 weeks of age. Still, carcass characteristics were negatively affected, except for heart percentage. In addition, the supplementation of Liposorb ® or vitamin E-Se to rice bran diets did not recover these harmful effects. Thus, rice bran could be utilized at 10% in broiler diets when growth performance was considered; further research is required.

The design of reactors based on high performance photocatalysts is an important research in catalytic hydrogenation. In this work, modification of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) was achieved by preparation of Pt/TiO 2 nanocomposites (NCs) through photo-deposition method. Both nanocatalysts were used for the photocatalytic removal of SOx from the flue gas at room temperature in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, water, and nitroacetanilide derivatives under visible light irradiation. In this approach, chemical deSOx was achieved along with protection of the nanocatalyst from sulfur poising through the interaction of the released SOx from SOx-Pt/TiO 2 surface with p-nitroacetanilide derivatives to produce simultaneous aromatic sulfonic acids. Pt/TiO 2 NCs have a bandgap of 2.64 eV in visible light range, which is lower than the bandgap of TiO 2 NPs, whereas TiO 2 NPs have a mean size of 4 nm and a high specific surface area of 226 m 2 /g. Pt/TiO 2 NCs showed high photocatalytic sulfonation of some phenolic compounds using SO 2 as a sulfonating agent along with the existence of p-nitroactanilide derivatives. The conversion of p-nitroacetanilide followed the combination processes of adsorption and catalytic oxidation-reduction reactions. Construction of an online continuous flow reactor-high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry system had been investigated, realizing real-time and automatic monitoring of completion the reaction. 4-nitroacetanilide derivatives (1a-1e) was converted to its corresponding sulfamic acid derivatives (2a-2e) in 93-99% isolated yields of within 60 s. It is expected to offer a great opportunity for ultrafast detection of pharmacophores., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Environmental issues are brought up concerning the production of Portland cement. As a result, biocement serves as a reliable substitute for Portland cement in green construction projects. This study created a brand-new technique to create high-quality biocement from agricultural wastes. The technique is based on nanomaterials that improve and accelerate the "Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP)" process, which improves the quality of the biocement produced. The mixture was further mixed with the addition of 5 mg/l of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C 3 N 4 NSs), alumina nanoparticles (Al 2 O 3 NPs), or silica nanoparticles (SiO 2 NPs). The cement: sand ratio was 1:3, the ash: cement ratio was 1:9, and water: cement ratio was 1:2. Cubes molds were prepared, and then cast and compacted. Subsequent de-molding, all specimens were cured in nutrient broth-urea (NBU) media until testing at 28 days. The medium was replenished at an interval of 7 days. The results show that the addition of 5 mg/l of g-C 3 N 4 NSs with corncob ash delivered the highest "Compressive Strength" and the highest "Flexural Strength" of biocement mortar cubes of 18 and 7.6 megapascal (MPa), respectively; and an acceptable "Water Absorption" (5.42%) compared to all other treatments. This treatment delivered a "Compressive Strength", "Flexural Strength", and "Water Absorption" reduction of 1.67, 1.26, and 1.21 times the control (standard Portland cement). It was concluded that adding 5 mg/l of g-C 3 N 4 NSs to the cementitious mixture enhances its properties, where the resulting biocement is a promising substitute for conventional Portland cement. Adding nanomaterials to cement reduces its permeability to ions, increasing its strength and durability. The use of these nanomaterials can enhance the performance of concrete infrastructures. The use of nanoparticles is an effective solution to reduce the environmental impact associated with concrete production., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The response to amino acid (AAs) supplementation on broiler production, carcass and meat traits and nitrogen in the excreta during the early growth period was evaluated. Two experiments were performed during 1-28 d (245 birds, experiment 1) and 1-21 d of age (455 birds, experiment 2). In both experiments, the positive control (PC) diet had 22.5% crude protein (CP) and the negative control group (NC) diet had around 18% CP with the same methionine (Met) plus lysine (Lys) concentration as the PC diet. In experiment 1, the NC diet was fed to the other five groups supplemented with synthetic amino acids, such as L-arginine (Arg), L-threonine (Thr), L-valine (Val), L-isoleucine (Ile) or all these AAs, respectively. In experiment 2, the NC diet was formulated to contain 18% CP with either corn-soybean meal and animal protein or with only vegetable protein. Both NC diets were offered to the other ten groups with synthetic amino acids such as L-Arg, L-Thr, L-Val, L-tryptophan (Trp) or a combination of all these AAs plus L-isoleucine (Ile), respectively. In conclusion, broilers fed 18% CP supplemented with DL-Met plus L-Lys showed lower performance and a European production efficiency value (EPEV); Arg, Thr and Val addition improved growth, the feed conversion ratio and EPEV of the diets containing animal protein only, but broiler performance and EPEV was lower than with PC, indicating that DL-Met, L-Lys, L-Arg, L-Thr and L-Val supplementation may be limited in low-protein diets. Furthermore, a low-protein diet supplemented with amino acids did not affect the survivability of broilers up to 28 days of age.

The chemical composition, antioxidant activity, tannic acid content, mineral, fatty acid, and amino acid profiles of oil-extracted Moringa peregrina seed meal (OEMPSM) were determined. Apparent (AME) and true (AMEn) metabolizable energy and apparent (AAAU) and true (TAAU) amino acid utilization were evaluated using a precision feeding trial. The protein (CP) quality was evaluated by a total efficiency analysis method. The antioxidant activity, gauged by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), was 237, 353, and 15.2 mg/mL for the water and ethanol extracts, and ascorbic acid, respectively. Tannic acids were 131.4 mg/100 g dry weight. The OEMPSM had 27.2% CP and 22.4, 15.1, and 15.8 MJ/kg of gross energy, AME and AMEn, respectively. The neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and hemicellulose were 40.2, 29.7, and 10.5% DM, respectively. The 15.41% of total fatty acids were saturated and 84.57% unsaturated. The AAAU and TAAU of OEMPSM were 30.92% and 61.06%, respectively. From findings, OEMPSM comprises a valuable level of bioactive substances, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and energy; it can provide up to 1.12% of the requirements of total amino acids of chickens (1-21 days); however, the quality of its protein was found to be 44.6% less than that of protein of soybean meal.

One hundred twenty, 12 weeks old laying Japanese quails (JQ) were equally divided into 4 groups (6 replicates of 5 birds/group). The control group (CON) fed a corn-soybean diet; TML1.4, TML2.8, and TML5.6 groups fed a diet where a Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TML) was included at 1.4, 2.8, and 5.6%, respectively. The trial lasted 54 days. The villi height (VH) and the crypt depth (CD) linearly decreased from the control to the TML5.6 group (P < 0.01) in the duodenum, while an opposite trend was observed for the Ab+ mucous cells count (P < 0.01). The highest VH/CD ratio was found in the TML1.4 group (P < 0.01). In the jejunum a lower VH was observed in the TML1.4 compared to the CON group; the Ab+ mucous cells increased (P < 0.01) according to the increase of the TM inclusion in the diet, while the highest VH/CD ratio (P < 0.01) was recorded in the TML2.8 group. In the duodenum only the L-ANP has been affected by TML (P < 0.001), with a quadratic and linear effect. The L-ANP is affected by the dietary treatment in the jejunum (P < 0.05), where showed a quadratic effect with the highest value in TML2.8. The % of butyric acid is maximized (P < 0.05) with the TML1.4 diet and that of the isobutyrate and valeric acids increased (P < 0.01) from TML1.4 to TML5.6. The use of TML at 1.4% in laying quail diets can be considered as a way to improve the intestinal health of the birds., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This research aimed to study the impact of supplementation of three multi-enzyme levels (0, 0.1, and 0.2% of feed) and two levels of dietary treatments [standard diet (SD) and low-density diet (LDD)] on growth performance, carcass traits, digestibility, and meat quality of broilers from 1 to 38 days of age. A total of 216 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned to a factorial experiment (2 × 3) comprising six dietary treatments, each with six replicates and each replicate with six chickens. The results showed that the LDD significantly reduced body weight gain by 5.0%, compared with the SD. Multi-enzymes significantly improved body weight gain and the production index (PI) relative to the SD. The feed conversion ratio was significantly enhanced with increased multi-enzymes from 1 to 21 days. A significant relation between the multi-enzyme concentration and type of dietary treatment was observed in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio from 1 to 21 days of age. Nitrogen-free extract digestibility was significantly increased by using the SD diet compared with using the LDD. Multi-enzyme supplementation improved the digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract in the LDD. A significant relationship was found between the multi-enzyme concentration and type of dietary treatment on the pancreas, liver, and intestinal length percentages. The meat dry matter concentration was significantly higher in the LDD group than in the SD group. The low-density diet significantly reduced the total revenue compared with the SD, whereas broilers fed the SD recorded significantly higher total revenue and economic efficiency than those fed the LDD. The low-density diet significantly increased economic efficiency compared with the SD. Multi-enzymes significantly increased the total revenue, net revenue, and economic efficiency than the standard set. In conclusion, using multi-enzymes in broiler diets improved body weight gain. The LDD with multi-enzymes showed enhanced body weight gain compared with the SD without multi-enzymes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Attia, Al-Khalaifah, Alqhtani, Abd El-Hamid, Alyileili, El-Hamid, Bovera and El-Shafey.)

COVID-19 pandemic influenced the environment, animal health, and food security. Due to reduced human mobility, the air and water quality increased. Other environmental consequences were the personal protective types of equipment and their haphazard disposal. Atmospheric pollution could be a cofactor leading to an increased COVID-19 mortality rate. Lockdown, however, caused a reduction in air and water pollution. Noise pollution affects the health of individuals and communities in terms of cardiovascular disorders and sleeping problems. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 lockdown controls human activities that reduce noise pollution. Municipal waste affects the environment. Recycling has been reduced in some countries but not in Saudi Arabia. COVID-19 had a drastic effect on livestock production on national, regional, and global levels, affecting countries' capacities to prevent and control diseases of animals and increasing global poverty, becoming a threat to the sustainability of global food security and safety. Many lessons have been learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is wise to study and analyze the previous lessons and shed some light on past pandemics such as the Spanish flu to understand the readings and earn experiences. This paper is focused on the interaction between the pandemic and environmental health from the public health concern rather than other health classifications., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is currently spreading worldwide. The pandemic has already had significant adverse effects on human civilization, the environment, and the ecosystem at national and global levels. Moreover, the various sectors of the food production chain, particularly agriculture and livestock, have also been significantly affected in terms of production sustainability and economic losses. The global pandemic has already resulted in a sharp drop in meat, milk, and egg production. Restrictions of movement at national and international levels, implemented as a part of control strategies by public health sectors, have negatively impacted business related to the supply of raw materials for livestock farmers and farm outputs, veterinary services, farmworkers, and animal welfare. This review highlights the significant impacts of COVID-19 on the sustainability of livestock performance, welfare on a global scale, and strategies for mitigating these adverse effects., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) interact with the microbes and host immune system to protect against diseases. Fertile broiler eggs ( n = 900) were allotted to six groups: un-injected control, sham (sterile water), AgNPs (50 μg), AgNPs+Amino acids (Methionine-10 mg + Arginine-25 mg), AgNPs+Vitamins (Vit B1-72μg + Vit B6-140μg), and AgNPs+Trace Elements (Zn-80 μg and Se-0.3 μg) and incubated for 18 days. On 18th embryonic day, 0.6 ml test solution was injected at the broad end of egg using 25 mm needle and transferred to hatcher. Post-hatch, half of the chicks from each group were vaccinated with Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine, and the other half were kept as unvaccinated unit and reared for 42 d with standard management practices. Hatchability, 1st and 42nd d body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were similar between treatment groups in both vaccinated and unvaccinated units. The relative weight of bursa Fabricius and thymus was similar, but spleen weight was higher ( P ≤ 0.05) in AgNPs, AgNPs+Vits, and AgNPs+TEs chicks than control group. Cellular immune response (against mitogen phytohemagglutinin-P) was higher ( P ≤ 0.05) in AgNPs+TEs chicks, whereas HA titer against sheep red blood cells antigen, serum IgG, IgM, and HI titer against ND vaccine was apparently higher in AgNPs+Vits group chicks than control. No clinical symptoms were observed in the vaccinated groups except for a few control birds 6 days postchallenge (PC). Three days PC, unvaccinated birds show depression, off feed, greenish diarrhea, and nasal discharge and the control group started dying. The highest cumulative infection (CI) was observed in sham (79.17%) and un-injected control (75%), but lowest in AgNPs+AAs birds (58.33%) on 3rd dpi. The CI reached 100% on 5th dpi in control groups and AgNPs, and 91.67% and 93.75% in AgNPs+TEs and AgNPs+AAs group, respectively. The AgNPs+TEs and AgNPs+AAs group birds lived for more than 90 h compared to 75 h in control groups and also had higher IL-6 and IL-2 gene expressions at 24 h PC. It was concluded that 50 μg/egg AgNPs with vitamins (B1 and B6) and trace elements (Zn and Se) improved performance, but AgNPs with trace elements and amino acids enhanced immune response and resistance against vND virus challenge in broilers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Bhanja, Rath, Goel, Mehra, Dhara, Paswan, Attia, Alqhtani, Ali and Shehata.)

Banning antibiotic growth promoters has negatively impacted poultry production and sustainability, which led to exploring efficient alternatives such as probiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics. Effect of in ovo injection of Bacillus subtilis , raffinose, and their synbiotics on growth performance, cecal microbial population and volatile fatty acid concentration, ileal histomorphology, and ileal gene expression was investigated in broilers ( Gallus gallus ) raised for 21 days. On 300 h of incubation, a total of 1,500 embryonated eggs were equally allotted into 10 groups. The first was non-injected (NC) and the remaining in ovo injected with sterile distilled water (PC), B. subtilis 4 × 10 5 and 4 × 10 6 CFU (BS1 and BS2), Raffinose 2 and 3 mg (R1 and R2), B. subtilis 4 × 10 5 CFU + raffinose 2 mg (BS1R1), B. subtilis 4 × 10 5 CFU + raffinose 3 mg (BS1R2), B. subtilis 4 × 10 6 CFU + raffinose 2 mg (BS2R1), and B. subtilis 4 × 10 6 CFU + raffinose 3 mg (BS2R2). At hatch, 60 chicks from each group were randomly chosen, divided into groups of 6 replicates (10 birds/replicate), and fed with a corn-soybean-based diet. In ovo inoculation of B. subtilis and raffinose alone or combinations significantly improved body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of 21-day-old broilers compared to NC. Cecal concentrations of butyric, pentanoic, propionic, and isobutyric acids were significantly elevated in R1, R2, BS2R1, and BS2R2, whereas isovaleric and acetic acids were significantly increased in R1 and BS2R1 compared to NC. Cecal microbial population was significantly altered in treated groups. Ileal villus height was increased ( p < 0.001) in BS1, R2, and BS2R2 compared to NC. The mRNA expression of mucin-2 was upregulated ( p < 0.05) in synbiotic groups except for BS1R1. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was increased ( p < 0.05) in BS2, R1, BS1R1, and BS1R2 compared to NC. SGLT-1 expression was upregulated ( p < 0.05) in all treated birds except those of R1 group compared to NC. The mRNA expressions of interleukin (IL)-2 and toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 were downregulated ( p < 0.05) in BS2 and R1 for IL-2 and BS1R1 and BS2R2 for TLR-4. It was concluded that in ovo B. subtilis , raffinose, and synbiotics positively affected growth performance, cecal microbiota, gut health, immune responses, and thus the sustainability of production in 21-day-old broilers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Shehata, Paswan, Attia, Abougabal, Khamis, Alqosaibi, Alnamshan, Elmazoudy, Abaza, Salama, El-Saadony, Saad and Abdel-Moneim.)

Agricultural and agro-industrial wastes (e.g., potato peel waste) are causing severe environmental problems. The processes of pretreatment, saccharification, and fermentation are the major obstacles in bioethanol production from wastes and must be overcome by efficient novel techniques. The effect of exposing the fungi (yeast) Saccharomyces cerevisiae to laser source with the addition of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C 3 N 4 ) with different concentrations on bioethanol production was investigated through the implementation of a batch anaerobic system and using potato peel waste (PPW). Dichromate test was implemented as quantitative analysis for quantification of the bioethanol yield. The benefits of this test were the appearance of green color indicating the identification of ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH) by bare eye and the ease to calculate the bioethanol yield through UV-visible spectrophotometry. The control sample (0.0 ppm of g-C 3 N 4 ) showed only a 4% yield of bioethanol; however, by adding 150 ppm to PPW medium, 22.61% of ethanol was produced. Besides, laser irradiations (blue and red) as influencing parameters were studied with and without the addition of g-C 3 N 4 nanomaterials aiming to increase the bioethanol. It was determined that the laser irradiation can trigger the bioethanol production (in case of red: 13.13% and in case of blue: 16.14% yields, respectively) compared to the control sample (in absence of g-C 3 N 4 ). However, by adding different concentrations of g-C 3 N 4 nanomaterials from 5 to 150 ppm, the bioethanol yield was increased as follows: in case of red: 56.11% and, in case of blue: 56.77%, respectively. It was found that using fungi and exposing it to the blue laser diode source having a wavelength of 450 nm and a power of 250 mW for a duration of 30 min with the addition of 150 mg L -1 of g-C 3 N 4 nanomaterials delivered the highest bioethanol yield from PPW., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This research investigated the impact of aluminum sulfate (AS) as amendment to different types of litter (new, reused, and mixed litters) for reducing ammonia emission and improving productive performance of local dual-purpose breeding hens. A total of 450 hens and 60 cocks from the Inshas strain were randomly assigned to six groups (five replicates each of 15 hens + 2 cocks) raised in pen floor furnished with a wheat straw litter. The groups included: (1) new, (2) reused, (3) mixed (50% new + 50% reused) litter; the other groups (4, 5 and 6) were respectively housed on the same litter as groups 1, 2 and 3 but with the addition of 495 g of AS/m 2 litter. The feed conversion ratio was better for layers raised on new litter with or without AS than other groups. Different kinds of litter had different moisture (p < 0.05) and pH (p < 0.05) values. Birds raised on litter types treated with AS significantly (p < 0.05) decreased intestinal pH and decreased total bacterial count compared to the same litter types without AS at the end of the experiment. Birds raised on new litter supplemented with AS had the highest plasma T3, total protein, globulin, Hgb, and PCV% and the lowest levels of uric acid and cholesterol at the end of the experimental period. Therefore, litter amendment with AS, also the mixed or reused one, could be recommended to reduce ammonia and, in turn, increasing plasma T3 and decreasing total bacterial count, leading to increasing bird's performance., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Poultry farming is a significant source of revenue generation for small farmers in developing countries. It plays a vital role in fulfilling the daily protein requirements of humans through meat and eggs consumption. The recently emerged pandemic Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) impacts the poultry production sector. Although the whole world is affected, these impacts may be more severe in developing countries due to their dependency on exporting necessary supplies such as feed, vaccines, drugs, and utensils. In this review, we have discussed poultry production in developing countries under the COVID-19 crisis and measures to regain the loss in the poultry industries. Generally, due to the lockdown, trade limitations have negatively impacted poultry industries, which might exacerbate global poverty. Coordinated activities have to be taken at the private and government levels to arrange soft loans so that these farms can restore their production and marketing to normal levels. In addition, here, we have focused on the supply of farm input, feed, other raw materials, management system, improved breeding efficiency, veterinary services, and marketing of egg and meat, which have to be ensured to secure a sustainable poultry production chain.

Probiotics, such as active yeasts, are widely used to enhance poultry production and reduce feeding costs. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and immune responses of broilers to different concentrations of active Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) when supplemented to two types of diets. A total of 216 1-day-old Arbor Acres unsexed chicks were used in a factorial design, involving two feeds (regular- versus low-density diet) and three concentrations of SC (0%, 0.02% and 0.04%). The results revealed that the low-density diet reduced the body weight and production index of broilers. The addition of SC improved the production index more than the control diet. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and eosinophils were significantly higher in response to the regular-density diet than the low-density diet; however, phagocytic activity (PA), lymphocyte and lysozyme activity (LYS) were lower. Saccharomyces cerevisiae reduced ALT, AST, malondialdehyde (MAD) and TAC more than the standard set, but improved packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hgb), red blood cells (RBCs), lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils, phagocytic index (PI) and the immune response to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and avian influenza (AI). In conclusion, supplementation of a regular- or low-density diet with SC at a concentration of 0.02% or 0.04% improved the antioxidant parameters, immune status and production index of broilers against stress and infectious agents.

The gut microbiota has been designated as a hidden metabolic 'organ' because of its enormous impact on host metabolism, physiology, nutrition, and immune function. The connection between the intestinal microbiota and their respective host animals is dynamic and, in general, mutually beneficial. This complicated interaction is seen as a determinant of health and disease; thus, intestinal dysbiosis is linked with several metabolic diseases. Therefore, tractable strategies targeting the regulation of intestinal microbiota can control several diseases that are closely related to inflammatory and metabolic disorders. As a result, animal health and performance are improved. One of these strategies is related to dietary supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics, and phytogenic substances. These supplements exert their effects indirectly through manipulation of gut microbiota quality and improvement in intestinal epithelial barrier. Several phytogenic substances, such as berberine, resveratrol, curcumin, carvacrol, thymol, isoflavones and hydrolyzed fibers, have been identified as potential supplements that may also act as welcome means to reduce the usage of antibiotics in feedstock, including poultry farming, through manipulation of the gut microbiome. In addition, these compounds may improve the integrity of tight junctions by controlling tight junction-related proteins and inflammatory signaling pathways in the host animals. In this review, we discuss the role of probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenic substances in optimizing gut function in poultry.

In December 2019, the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in China with serious impacts on global health and economy that is still ongoing. Although interspecies transmission of coronaviruses is common and well documented, each coronavirus has a narrowly restricted host range. Coronaviruses utilize different receptors to mediate membrane fusion and replication in the cell cytoplasm. The interplay between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of coronaviruses and their coevolution are determinants for host susceptibility. The recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has also been reported in domestic and wild animals, raising the question about the responsibility of animals in virus evolution. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic might also substantially have an impact on animal production for a long time. In the present review, we discussed the diversity of coronaviruses in animals and thus the diversity of their receptors. Moreover, the determinants of the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 in several animals, with special reference to the current evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in animals, were highlighted. Finally, we shed light on the urgent demand for the implementation of the One Health concept as a collaborative global approach to mitigate the threat for both humans and animals.

COVID-19 pandemic has passed to the front all the contradictions of the beekeeping sector: the valuable role of bee products as immune enhancers and antiviral agents and the impact that unsustainability of human activities has on bees' health and survival. The COVID-19 emergency led several countries to adopt severe restriction measures to contrast the infection. The lowering of industrial and commercial activities, transports, and the general lockdown had immediate consequences on the air quality, significantly improving environmental conditions. This had a positive impact on honeybees' life's quality. On the other hand, the bee and beehive transportation limitations threaten to hit food production by affecting the pollinator service, and this is particularly true in large, food-exporting countries like the USA and China where due to the few numbers of local bees, beekeepers import them by other countries and convey by truck hives for thousands of kilometers to pollinate crops. Furthermore, honeybee products, focusing on their natural pharmacological properties, can play an essential role as a potential natural contrast to the virus by enhancing the immunity defenses of both humans and animals, and their demand by consumers is expected to increase. Several researchers in the last months focused their attention on bee products to evaluate their effect in the cure of COVID-19 patients to ameliorate the symptoms or to contrast the coronavirus directly. This review reports these preliminary results., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In order to improve the economic feasibility and environmental sustainability of microalgal bioethanol production, a nontoxic, copious agricultural waste, sugarcane bagasse aqueous extract (SBAE) was used for cultivating Nannochloropsis oculata microalga (NNO-1 UTEX Culture LB 2164) as potential sources of substitutes for traditional nutrition to reduce the costs in cultivation through acid digestion and enzymatic treatment before being fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NRRLY-2034). The primary target of this research was to find out the ethanol from hydrolysate of the defatted biomass of N. oculata grown mixotrophically on SBAE and CO 2 as carbon sources. For acid hydrolysis (AH), the highest carbohydrate yield 252.84 mg/g DW has been obtained with 5.0% (v/v) H 2 SO 4 at 121 °C for 15 min for defatted biomass cultivated mixotrophically on sugarcane bagasse aqueous extract (SBAE) regarding 207.41 mg/g DW for defatted biomass cultivated autotrophically (control treatment). Whereas, the highest levels of reducing sugars has been obtained with 4.0% (v/v) H 2 SO 4 157.47±1.60 mg/g DW for defatted biomass cultivated mixotrophically compared with 135.30 mg/g DW for the defatted control treatment. The combination of acid hydrolysis 2.0% (v/v) H 2 SO 4 followed by enzymatic treatment (AEH) increased the carbohydrate yields to 268.53 mg/g DW for defatted biomass cultivated mixotrophically on SBAE regarding 177.73 mg/g DW for the defatted control treatment. However, the highest levels of reducing sugars have been obtained with 3.0% (v/v) H 2 SO 4 followed by enzyme treatment that gave 232.39±1.77 for defatted biomass cultivated mixotrophically on SBAE and 150.75 mg/g DW for the defatted control treatment. The sugar composition of the polysaccharides showed that glucose was the principal polysaccharide sugar (60.7-62.49%) of N. oculata defatted biomass. Fermentation of the hydrolysates by Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the acid pretreated defatted biomass samples gave ethanol yield of 0.86 g/L (0.062 g/g sugar consumed) for control and 1.17 g/L (0.069 g/g sugar consumed) for SBAE mixotrophic. Whereas, the maximum ethanol yield of 6.17±0.47 g/L (0.26±0.11 g/g sugar consumed) has been obtained with samples from defatted biomass grown mixotrophically (SBAE mixotrophic) pretreated with acid coupled enzyme hydrolysis., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Contamination of aquatic systems with heavy metals (HM) is of great concern owing to their deleterious impact on living organism. The current research is focused on application of silica particles with new functionalized properties (magnetic silica; SiMag or Nanoporous silica; SiNPs) and their efficacy to mitigate lead (pb) toxicity in Nile tilapia. One thousand fingerlings were distributed: two control groups (negative; without pb toxicity (NC) positive (with pb toxicity) and other four groups received two silica sources (SiMag or SiNPs) with two levels (400 and 600 mg/kg diet) for 56 days then exposed to pb for 30 days. Before toxicity exposure, maximum growth, and most improved feed conversion ratio and biochemical parameters were noticed with higher SiMag or SiNPs levels. Serum antioxidant enzymes and their transcriptional levels in muscle and liver were boosted in groups received SiMag or SiNPs. After toxicity exposure, hematological and antioxidants biomarkers maintained at adequate levels in SiMag or SiNPs. Prominent reduction of residual pb in gills, liver, kidney, and muscle was observed in SiNPs then SiMag groups. Interestingly, the maximum down-regulation of P450, caspase-3 and HSP-70 and MT were observed in groups received 600 mg/kg diet of SiMag or SiNPs. The higher level of P53 in liver and gills was detected in PC, inversely reduced in SiMag or SiNPs. Severity of the histopathological alterations in examined organs greatly reduced in groups received SiMag or SiNPs, unlike it were induced in PC group. In conclusion, higher SiMag or SiNPs levels not only mitigate negatives impact of pb toxicity in fish but also ensure its safety for human consumption., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)