Search

The present investigation aimed to assess the impact of substituting soybean meal (SBM) with Musca domestica larvae meal (HMM) in the diet of broilers (Ross 308, n=1000) during the initial 1–28 d of their growth period. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous broiler rations were formulated, including a control group (Mag-0) with 100 % SBM and 0 % HMM, diet 2 (Mag-10) with 90 % SBM and 10 % HMM, diet 3 (Mag-20) with 80 % SBM and 20 % HMM, and diet 4 (Mag-30) with 70 % SBM and 30 % HMM. The analysis of amino acid concentrations in diets revealed slight increases in most essential and nonessential amino acids, except for phenylalanine, arginine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and serine, with increasing levels of SBM substitution with HMM. Digestibility of nutrients, including dry matter, nitrogen-free extract, crude protein ether extract, ash and crude fiber, was not significantly affected across different substituted diets. Similarly, amino acid digestibility did not differ among various diets of SBM substituted with house fly larvae meal. Weekly and overall body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratios were similar across all birds fed different replacement diets. Apparent metabolizable energy, protein efficiency ratio, dressing percentage and antibody titre also showed no significant differences among the substituted diets and the control group. Similarly, hematological and organoleptic studies exhibited statistically similar effects. Overall, the study concludes that substituting up to 30 % of SBM with HMM in broiler rations does not adversely affect health or performance in broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution is a big problem not only for humans but also for captive animals. The current study was conducted to monitor the heavy metal pollution in a non-invasive way and to investigate the DNA damage, particularly due to heavy metals contamination in the environment of captive Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) kept at different geographical regions of Punjab (Jallo Wildlife Park Lahore, Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar and Wildlife Park Murree). For that purpose, Surface soil, deep soil, water, fecal and feed samples were collected as indicators to estimate the heavy metals pollution in the environment of captive P. cristatus. Cr. Pb, Ni, Co and Mn were identified through atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The highest accumulation of heavy metals was found in feed samples followed by fecal matter as compared to water and soil samples in all the sites. Cr was found highly abundant in all sites than other metals. The highest heavy metal pollution was observed in Wildlife Park Murree followed by Jallo Wildlife Park Lahore and least in Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar. Blood samples of P. cristatus were collected from all sites to assess the DNA damage by single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. P. cristatus kept at Wildlife Park Murree and Jallo Wildlife Park Lahore had almost same and greater DNA damage than the birds kept at Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar. Heavy metal concentrations and variation in DNA damage were correlated. Only Cr and Mn concentrations were directly associated with the LHead and LComet variations. This study concluded that heavy metals contamination exposure could be detected by a noinvasive way and Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar is most suitable for captivity with the least heavy metal contamination and genotoxicants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Complete heart block (CHB) is a relatively common complication in post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Data on the incidence and consequences of CHB in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are limited. Besides serving as an indicator of widespread myocardial injury, the development of CHB in STEMI is also associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiac death. Although there has been an observed increase in the incidence of CHB complicating STEMI over the past few decades, attributed to improved reporting and timely diagnosis, the absolute or true incidence of CHB in STEMI patients receiving current management is underestimated. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of complete heart block in patients presenting with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction (AWMI). Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted in the Cardiology Department of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, from February to July 2020. All patients (N=244) presenting with acute Anterior Wall ST-segment elevation Myocardial Infarction were included, with ages ranging from 20 to 80 years and both genders (males and females) considered. Results: The mean age of the patients was 55.98±12.224, ranging from 20 to 80 years, out of a total of 244 patients. In terms of gender distribution, there were 160 (65.6%) males and 84 (34.4%) females. Regarding the frequency of smokers, 63 (25.8%) were smokers, and 181 (74.2%) were nonsmokers. The frequency of complete heart block was 8 (3.3%), while 236 (96.7%) did not have acute anterior wall myocardial infarction-associated heart block. Conclusion: Patients admitted with inferior wall MI and right ventricular (RV) infarction were at an increased risk of mortality. The high incidence of heart block in AWMI suggests that underlying infarction and tissue damage may be extensive, leading to increased mortality secondary to complete cardiac failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perpetually intensifying soil contamination is an anthropogenic phenomena, which is a global environmental concern. An important tool for the evaluation of contamination levels and ecosystem health is the assessment of soil quality, which can be used to evaluate prospective ecological threats to both organisms and the environment. The aim of this study was to quantify the soil heavy metal pollution levels to assess the site quality of three wildlife parks in different climatic zones of Punjab, Pakistan, where several wild animals were housed for the purpose of conservation. A robust method for calculation, absolute deviation from median (median ± (2 × MAD)), was used to compute geochemical background value of each heavy metal. Single (geoaccumulation index – Igeo and enrichment factor – EF) and complex (pollution load index (PLI)) indices were used to recognize whether the detected heavy metals Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd, Co, Mn and Ni levels in the soil are consequences of anthropogenic or natural sources. In comparison between sites, the heavy metal enrichment for Pb, Cr, Cd and Zn was recorded high at Jallo Forest and Wildlife Park succeeded by Murree Wildlife Park and Bahawalnagar Wildlife Park. Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr showed high EF values at Jallo Forest and Wildlife Park while Igeo values of Pb, Cr, Cd, Mn and Zn were greater at Murree Wildlife Park indicating high heavy metal geoaccumulation. The highest heavy metal contamination site with reference to soil quality was Murree Wildlife Park (PLI = 1.12), which was followed by Jallo Forest and Wildlife Park and Bahawalnagar Wildlife Park with PLI values 1.05 and 0.80, respectively. Analysis by hierarchical clustering (HCA) showed high degree of variation between heavy metal concentrations at all sites with the exception of Pb and Zn. As documented from the present study, significant levels of enrichment and contamination with heavy metals were recorded for soils of selected sites. Further assessment is mandatory because the chosen study sites were situated in climatically diverse areas with reference to environmental factors, topography, climatic condition and their impact on the accumulation patterns in soil as well as in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a tool assessing employees' organizational commitment levels and their perceptions of specific human resource policies influencing this commitment. Methods: • Participants: 706 individuals (580 men, 126 women). • Questionnaire Structure: Two parts - ad hoc section (pertaining to policy perceptions) and an adjusted section (based on Porter's Organizational Commitment O.C.Q.). • Analysis Techniques: o Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. o Internal consistency measured via Cronbach's alpha. Results: The model, derived from the questionnaire, encompasses five key factors: management style, organizational commitment, professional training, corporate communication and recognition and compensation. Both the overall questionnaire and its components demonstrated strong internal consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focused on evaluating blood mineral levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of oxidative stress before and after giving birth in Achai and Holstein Friesian (HF) dairy cows. Blood samples were obtained from a total of 50 cows representing both breeds on the third, second, and first week prior to calving, as well as on the day of calving (day 0). Subsequently, samples were collected on the 1–3 weeks postpartum to allow a comprehensive evaluation of blood parameters throughout the peripartum period. Results showed a significant (p <.01) decrease in serum zinc (Zn) levels on the day of parturition in both breeds. Additionally, HF cows exhibited higher (p <.01) Zn levels on week 2 before giving birth. Interestingly, blood selenium (Se) concentration increased (p <.01) in HF cows on weeks 2 and 3 after calving. In contrast, Achai cows showed a rise (p <.01) in blood Se on week 3 of parturition. Blood copper (Cu) levels were higher (p <.01) on weeks 2 and 3 after parturition in HF cows and on third week before parturition compared to Achai cows, where serum Cu remained high on week 1 of parturition. The findings indicated that blood magnesium (Mg) was higher (p <.01) on third week before parturition in Achai cows and on weeks 2 and 3 after parturition. Serum calcium (Ca) was higher (p <.01) in both HF and Achai cows on weeks 2 and 3 after parturition, and lower (p <.01) on third week before giving birth in both breeds. The mean blood MDA levels in Achai cows were lower (p <.01) on weeks 1 to 3 postpartum or 3 weeks before giving birth. In HF cows, serum MDA increased (p <.01) just before 2 weeks of parturition and remained elevated until 3 weeks of parturition. Thus, both breeds exhibited a similar pattern of mineral fluctuations; yet, Achai cows demonstrated greater resilience to oxidative stress compared to HF cows during the transition period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed for biomonitoring of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and cobalt (Co) at three selected wildlife parks of Punjab. Soil, water and feed samples analysis revealed the high heavy metals contents in feed (21.59 ± 27.39 and 12.67 ± 23.13) followed by soil (11.80 ± 25.84 and 4.96 ± 10.95) and water (2.93 ± 4.48 and 1.11 ± 1.23) samples at Jallo Wildlife Park and Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar, respectively. At Wildlife Park Murree, heavy metals contamination was recorded highest in feed (10.45 ± 16.35), followed by water (6.26 ± 11.35) and soil samples (5.75 ± 9.54). Feathers samples at all sites showed the highest levels of heavy metals concentrations as 12.21 ± 25.69 at Jallo Wildlife Park, 11.50 ± 25.63 at Wildlife Park Bahawalnagar and 3.35 ± 4.81 at Wildlife Park Murree. Interspecific variation of heavy metals among samples and sites was recorded at P < 0.01, and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the feathers of captive birds was found in high concentration, making them a good indicator of biomonitoring. In captivity, the birds feeding on homogenous diets and particular environmental conditions can better allow us to understand the bioaccumulation of polymetallic contamination, which can further be generalized to predict the risk of these toxic pollutants on public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) toxicity on embryonic and larval development of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Ctenopharyngodon idella was determined. Different concentrations (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mg/l) of Cd and Ni were administered in separate trials to the fish after spawning to 168 h post-hatching (hph) period. Cd was more toxic to the embryos of both fish, as highest embryonic mortality (%) of H. molitrix and C. idella was observed. However, Ni was found to be more toxic to the larvae of H. molitrix and C. Idella with highest larval mortality at 168 hph. However, Ni was found to be more toxic to the larvae of H. molitrix and C. idella with highest larval mortality at 168 hph. The study found a significant effect of heavy metal and metal concentration for causing deformities in H. molitrix. However, in C. idella only the effect of metal concentration on fish deformities was significant. Furthermore, Ni was found to cause more deformities as compared to Cd in H. molitrix. While Cd was found to cause more deformities as compared to Ni in C. idella. In conclusion, the study suggests that Cd and Ni may cause serious deformities in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]