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Mulberry (Morus alba) leaves contain a high amount of digestible carbohydrates, protein and minerals, making it an attractive, natural, low-cost feed ingredient in rabbit rations. The present study evaluated the effect of stepwise replacement of a concentrate diet with wilted M. alba leaves on growth performance and meat quality of rabbits. Sixty indigenous rabbits (age, 36 ± 2 days) were assigned to 5 diets (12 rabbits per diet). The 5 diets consisted of a commercial concentrate diet (control; WML0), and stepwise replacement of the concentrate with 25% (WML25), 50% (WML50), 75% (WML75), and 100% (WML100) wilted M. alba leaves. Final body weight (1238 g/rabbit), and total (904.1 g/rabbit) and daily (18.8 g/day/rabbit) weight gains were higher (P < 0.05) in rabbits fed with WML50. The WML50 also supported the best (P < 0.05) feed to gain ratio (4.50). Moreover, higher (P < 0.05) reference carcass weight (571.7 g) and a higher dressing percentage (55.8%) were recorded for WML50. Composition of the diets did not alter (P > 0.05) meat pH, water release and cooking loss. In conclusion, M. alba successfully replaced 50% of concentrate in rabbit diet and supported a higher growth performance and carcass yield without negative effects on meat quality

Spent silkworm pupa is a valuable source of alternative protein in poultry production. Usually the spent silkworm pupae are wasted and may cause environmental pollution and off smell. This feeding experiment was performed to determine the gradual increase of silkworm substitution of soybean on the egg production performance, serum biochemistry and intestinal histological features of White Leghorns laying hens. For this purpose, a total of 250 White Leghorn laying hens were allocated to five experimental treatments. Rations were prepared in which soybean meal was replaced with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% substitution with silkworm meal. The outcomes of the study indicated that performance was not significantly (P .05) different among the experimental groups. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotrasferase (ALT), uric acid and creatinin concentration did not significantly (P .05) alter among the groups during the experimental period. Similarly, height and thickness of intestinal villi, surface of intestinal villi, number of goblet cells did not change between the control and experimental groups. It was concluded that substitution of silkworm meal with soybean meal had no hostile effect on production performance, intestinal histomorphology and blood biochemical functions of liver and kidney in White Leghorn hens.

Network-on-chip (NoC) is evolving as a better substitute for incorporating a large number of cores on a single system-on-chip (SoC). The dependency on multi-core systems to accomplish the high-performance constraints of composite embedded applications is on the rise. This leads to the realization of efficient mapping approaches for such complex applications. The significance of efficient application mapping approaches has increased ever since the embedded applications have become more complex and performance-oriented. This paper presents the detailed comparative analysis and categorization of application mapping approaches with current trends in NoC design implementation. These approaches target to improve the performance of the whole system by optimizing communication cost, energy, power consumption, and latency. Apart from the categorization of the discussed approaches, comparison of communication cost, power, energy, and latency of the NoC system carried out on real applications like VOPD and MPEG4. Moreover, the best technique identified in each category based on the evaluation of performance results.

The present study was designed to study the effects of conventional and free range systems on egg quality attributes, fatty acid profile, and cholesterol contents of laying hen. Two hundred and forty R1 cross of Rhode Island Red (RIR) × Fyoumi (F) layers during the peak production were divided into two groups and reared in two different housing systems (free range vs. conventional systems). The statistical analysis of the results revealed that the housing system (modification of diet) significantly (p

Insects farming is a unique and alternate approach to produce protein rich food and feed. Insects convert organic wastes into biomass, which was successfully used to produce poultry and animal feed.Among the insects,meal worm due to its easy production and high nutritive worth is the best choices to be used as food and feed. This diverse beetle mainlyutilizes different feed products and byproducts, and generally habitatein barns, store, flour mills and grains etc. Its life cycle consists of four developmental stages: the eggs, larva, pupa and at last mature mealworm. The egg to new beetle may take up to 120 days; however, environmental conditions, like temperature, humidity and available diet have been found to reduce its developmental time.Mealworms are omnivorous and canconsumealltypesof animalbyproductssuch as meat and feathers aswellas plantmaterials. Theyusuallyfed on different cereals like wheat, maiz and oats and its bran or flour supplemented withfreshvegetablelike potatoes,carrots, lettuce,and other fruits for moisturecontent with protein supplementation like skimmed milk powder, yeast, or soybean flour. According to FAO data mealworms have high protein content (13.68 to 22.32 gram per portion of 100 gram) and a significant amount of fatty acids (8.90 to19.94 gram per edible 100-gram portion). Mealworms are also graded as rich source of zinc and magnesium. Due to its high nutritional worth meal worm has successfully used as animal, poultry and fish feed, immunity enhancer, probiotic and waste degrader. Present review concluded that sustainable meal worm production will be the low cost, easy and environment friendly method to produce cheap but high-quality poultry and fish feed and feed supplements in future. Meal worm farming will be the best choice of rural women livelihood besides its support to poultry and fish feed industry in coming days.

Plant based materials are considered to have broad applications in the remediation of toxic materials. In this report, we present an environmental friendly and economic Cicer arietinum, named as (CP) supported for the synthesis of Ni nanoparticles (NPs) designated as Ni@CP. The in situ Ni@CP NPs were obtained using aqueous medium in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing agent. The prepared catalysts were applied for the hydrogenation/degradation of p-nitrophenol (PNP), o-nitrophenol (ONP), and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), as well as congo red (CR), methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RB) dyes. The amount of total metal ions adsorbed onto the CP was evaluated by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The Ni@CP catalyst was characterized through PXRD, FTIR, FESEM and EDX analyses.

Mercury speciation analysis in produced water (PW) was achieved by optical multipath cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. One sample aliquot was treated with SnCl2, producing Hg0 that was carried out to the optical detection cell to be determined. Another aliquot was exposed to UV, promoting oxidation of CH3Hg+ to Hg2+, and then determined after chemical reduction with SnCl2. The CH3Hg+ content was the difference of the results achieved for both aliquots. Matrix effects imposed by oil and salt were studied and although intensity of the mercury time profile was affected, quantification was successfully achieved by using matrix-matched standards containing adjusted NaCl and total oil content. Both conductivity (to estimate salt content) and turbidimetry (to estimate oil content) measurements were made for the PW samples in order to adjust sample to the matrix matched standards. Analyte addition was also used and limit of quantification was 12 ng L−1 with satisfactory recoveries for both Hg2+ and CH3Hg+.

Photochemical derivatization (at 253 nm) of varenicline in alkaline medium (in NaOH 0.64 mol L−1) was successfully achieved aiming to induce strong fluorescence for quantitative purposes. The intense fluorescence from the produced photo-derivative covered a linear range of three orders of magnitude (10−8–10−6 mol L−1 range) allowing the spectrofluorimetric determination of the analyte in pharmaceutical formulations. For urine, the UV exposed sample was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography using borate buffer (0.01 mol L−1, pH 10.0). Separations were made using a C18 column with borate buffer (0.01 mol L−1, pH 10)/methanol (30:70% v/v) in isocratic elution. Detection limit was 2.5 × 10−7 mol L−1 for determination using HPLC. Measurement uncertainty was estimated and both methods were applied for the determination of varenicline in a pharmaceutical preparation and urine samples with acceptable recoveries using no expensive and toxic derivatization dyes.

Detergents are water-soluble chemical cleaning agents which remove impurities and dust, and are made up of major chemical components i.e. surfactants, builders and additives. Detergents have emerged as major water pollutants that enter water bodies and food chain and therefore, can be hazardous to humans and other organisms. Detergent residues in water bodies come from residential areas (household detergents), runoff water of agricultural areas (herbicides and insecticides) and industrial effluents. The fundamentals on pretreatment and analysis of surfactants using various analytical approaches are discussed in detail in this chapter. In addition, levels of concentration of detergents and their degradation pathways in river, streams and lakes are also reviewed. It can be concluded that detergents are hazardous water pollutants and their components readily interfere with biological processes and therefore represents a highly toxic group of pollutants posing considerable toxicity to all aquatic organisms. It is, therefore, essential to develop accurate analytical procedures for qualitative and quantitative determination of detergents and their primary components and consequently their impact on organisms in the biosphere.

Fresh water resources in Pakistan are under immense duress due to uncontrolled pollution from industries, municipalities and agriculture runoffs. Microbial and chemical pollutants released into water bodies have intensified with an increase in anthropogenic activities rendering the water unfit for drinking. Of the chemical pollutants heavy metals are the most toxic and persistent contaminants that are ubiquitously disseminated in the freshwater resources throughout the country. Fresh water lakes and rivers are the most vulnerable to contamination with metal pollutants such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel, emanating from untreated industrial, municipal and domestic waste. Heavy metals in concentrations above permissible limits severely alter water quality and serve as toxins with severe implications for human health. These pollutants are of major environmental concerns due to their persistence in the environment and high potential to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms, plants, animals and human tissues posing a serious threat to the entire biosphere. The abundant occurrence of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems is also deleterious for the biodiversity of aquatic organisms causing a severe decline in the population and diversity of freshwater fish and other aquatic species. In aquatic organisms, particularly fish, heavy metals bioaccumulate over a million-fold in metabolically active organs such as gills, liver, skin, kidneys and muscles and consequently become part of the food chain. Frequent consumption of contaminated plant-based food, freshwater fish and other seafood has endangered lives of the consumers. Data extracted from research studies conducted in the last two decades has revealed critical increase in heavy metal pollution in freshwater ecosystems particularly in rivers largely due to unabated human interventions. In addition to acute water scarcity, continuous disposal of pollutants in water bodies has further worsened the water crisis in Pakistan. Consequently, the majority of the population dependent on freshwater resources for their livelihood and drinking water needs is deprived of access to reliable, safe and clean drinking water. This chapter summarises the current levels of heavy metal concentrations in freshwater resources i.e. rivers and lakes in Pakistan with special emphasis on the impact of major pollutants and subsequent effects on fish, agriculture and human health.

Arsenic (As) is a serious pollutant of water bodies. Its presence in water can cause severe health problems in humans and may also induce serious toxicological effects in aquatic organisms. Euglena gracilis, a unicellular freshwater flagellate, is considered very sensitive to environmental pollutants. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the responses of different parameters in E. gracilis toward arsenite (As-III) toxicity and to assess As-III removal potential of E. gracilis from water by calculating bio-concentration factor (BCF). Under the optimized experimental conditions (0.1 to 10 mg L−1 of As-III, (pH 6.8) 7-day exposure), various parameters of E. gracilis like cell growth, motility, cell velocity (speed), cell shape, gravitactic orientation, biochemical parameters, and oxidative-stress markers were measured as endpoints. The experimental results showed that cell growth and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and total carotenoids) were significantly affected at higher concentrations of As-III, while slight stimulation was observed in motility, orientation, and cell compactness of E. gracilis. Similarly, an increase was observed in total soluble protein and sugar content which can be regarded as a protective strategy in response of As-III stress. The adverse effects of As-III in E. gracilis can be attributed to oxidative stress as revealed by the results for oxidative markers. E. gracilis removed 13.3% of As-III from the medium with a calculated 0.27 mg As-III g−1 DW of E. gracilis. The calculated BCF, an index of the potential of accumulating metal/metalloids, in this study was 27 showing E. gracilis as accumulator but not hyper-accumulator of As-III. It is concluded that cell growth and photosynthetic pigments in E. gracilis were adversely affected by As-III and can be used as indicators of the adverse effects of As-III to aquatic autotrophs. E. gracilis can be recommended as accumulator (but not hyper-accumulator) for removal of As-III from water.

Network-on-chip (NoC) is an emerging alternative to address the communication problem in embedded system-on-chip designs. One of the key and major issues is the optimized mapping of the embedded applications on the underlined NoC platform. In this paper, we propose the bandwidth-constrained multi-objective segmented brute-force mapping (SBMAP) algorithm, which minimizes the communication energy consumption and reduces the computational complexity of the NoC designs. The algorithm generates efficient mapping of the embedded applications on the processing elements of the NoC system by segregating the application into multiple segments. It utilizes the property of modular systematic search, which produces high-performance results with optimized simulation time. We compared the SBMAP algorithm with the state-of-the-art mapping techniques, such as branch and bound (BB), near-optimal mapping (NMAP), and random mapping algorithms for mapping real-world application workloads. The experimental results validated the efficiency of the proposed algorithm against its competitors for most of the performance parameters of the NoC designs. The improvement in energy consumption of the SBMAP algorithm is up to 53% for 2-D mesh and 62% for torus topology as compared with the NMAP, BB, and random algorithms for video object plane decoder, picture in picture, Wi-Fi receiver, and multimedia system real-time application benchmarks.

Network-on-chip (NoC) has appeared to be an impending substitute for the communication paradigm in modern very large scale integration embedded systems. Apart from many design challenges, application mapping on the NoC system is one of the most intractable and challenging optimization problems. In this paper, we propose a hybrid, branch & bound (BB)-based exact mapping (BEMAP) algorithm, for mapping real-time embedded applications on the NoC architecture. The BEMAP optimizes the latency and throughput of the NoC system and minimizes power consumption under the bandwidth constraint. This method utilizes the modular exact and systematic search optimization techniques to obtain a multi-objective optimized solution to the mapping problem of the NoC designs. The proposed algorithm exploits the state-of-the-art BB algorithm, in order to obtain optimized results against its competitors. Experimental results under the benchmarks of several real-time embedded applications show that the proposed algorithm achieves up to 19.93% savings in power consumption and 61.10% improvement in network latency for two dimension mesh and torus topologies.

Network-on-chip (NoC) is a reliable and scalable communication paradigm deemed as an alternative to classic bus systems in modern systems-on-chip designs. Consequently, one can observe extensive multidimensional research related to the design and implementation of NoC-based systems. A basic requirement for most of these activities is the availability of NoC simulators that enable the study and comparison of different technologies. This study targets the analysis of different NoC simulators and highlights its contributions towards NoC research. Various NoC tools such as NoCTweak, Noxim, Nirgam, Nostrum, BookSim, WormSim, NOCMAP and ORION are evaluated and their strengths and weaknesses are highlighted. The comparative analysis includes methods for estimation of latency, throughput and energy consumption. Further, the exemplary real world application, video object plane decoder is mapped on a 2D mesh NoC using different mapping algorithms under NOCMAP and NoCTweak simulators for comparative analysis of the NoC simulators and their embedded mapping algorithms.

Thiomersal is employed as preservative in vaccines, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products due to its capacity to inhibit bacterial growth. Thiomersal contains 49.55% of mercury in its composition and its highly toxic ethylmercury degradation product has been linked to neurological disorders. The photo-degradation of thiomersal has been achieved by visible light using graphene quantum dots as catalysts. The generated mercury cold vapor (using adjusted experimental conditions) was detected by multipath atomic absorption spectrometry allowing the quantification of thiomersal at values as low as 20 ng L− 1 even in complex samples as aqueous effluents of pharmaceutical industry and urine. A kinetic study (pseudo-first order with k = 0.11 min− 1) and insights on the photo-degradation process are presented.

Summary This study was conducted to evaluate the comparative effect of maggot meal, silkworm meal and mealworm as dietary protein source on the production performance and some aspects of meat quality in broilers. In this regard, maggot meal was reared on chicken offal and poultry waste. Silkworm meal was obtained from silk industry, while mealworm was developed through beetles rearing. A total of 120-day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups where soya bean meal (M0) was replaced with maggot meal (M1), silkworm meal (M2) and mealworm (M3) respectively. Each group was further divided into three replicates. The study was carried out for a period of 5 weeks. Diets containing mealworm significantly reduced overall feed consumption and resulted into higher weight gain (p

In this work, the photoluminescence of aqueous dispersion of amino-functionalized graphene quantum dots (GQDs-amino), with average size of 28 nm, was studied in the presence of histamine when interaction was mediated by different metal ions. Stronger and selective interaction towards histamine occurred in the presence of Eu 3 + , Fe 3 + and Cu 2 + . The sensibility of the normalized photoluminescence suppression curves ( K s ) indicated a ten time stronger interaction of histamine with the surface of the GQDs in the presence of Fe 3 + . The linear response observed in the GQDs-amino-Fe 3 + (luminescence at 345/435 nm) covered the histamine concentration from 4.3 × 10 − 7 mol L − 1 (limit of quantification) to 3.2 × 10 − 5 mol L − 1 . The GQDs-amino-Fe 3 + was applied as a probe in the analysis of tuna fish samples after cationic solid phase extraction. Analytical results were statistically similar to the ones achieved with a reference HPLC-fluorescence (after chemical derivatization) based method. The proposed method for determination of histamine is simple, does not involve the use of toxic labeling reagents and can easily be adapted for routine quality control analysis of fish and related foodstuffs.

Kanamycin is an antibiotic from the aminoglycoside class used to treat a myriad of infections. Aminoglycosides enhanced the photoluminescence of the thioglycolic acid modified CdTe quantum dots (TGA-CdTe QDs) following a Langmuir binding isotherm model. Binding constants were calculated indicating strong interactions between surface of nanoparticles and aminoglycosides. For kanamycin, the equilibrium binding constant was of 5.6 × 10 7 L mol −1 . Based on this, a sensitive and selective method was developed for kanamycin determination based on the enhanced photoluminescence of TGA-CdTe QDs. Solid phase extraction with a new molecularly imprinted polymer, made using kanamycin as a template, provided high selectivity towards aminoglycosides. Under adjusted conditions, the two orders of magnitude analytical curve (linearized Langmuir binding isotherm) was constructed from 1.4 × 10 −8 mol L −1 (limit of quantification) to 1.6 × 10 −6 mol L −1 (8.1–92.8 ng mL −1 ) of kanamycin sulphate. The proposed procedure was tested for the determination of kanamycin in milk and yellow fever vaccine with recoveries between 86.6 and 93.7%. In addition, the kanamycin effect on TGA-CdTe QDs was also demonstrated under capillary electrophoresis regime, indicating another possibility for selective sensing.

This study presents an efficient and scalable networks-on-chip (NoC) topology termed as cross-by-pass-mesh (CBP-Mesh). The proposed architecture is derived from the traditional mesh topology by addition of cross-by-pass links in the network. The design and impact of adding cross-by-pass links on the topology is analysed in detail with the help of synthetic, hotspot as well as embedded traffic traces. The advantages of proposed CBP-Mesh as compared with its competitor topologies include reduction in the network diameter, increase in bisection bandwidth, reduction in average numbers of hops, improvement in symmetry and regularity of the network. The synthetic traffic traces and some real embedded system workloads are applied on the proposed CBP-Mesh and its competitor two-dimensional-based NoC topologies. The comparison of analytical results in terms of performance and costs for different network dimensions indicate that the proposed CBP-Mesh offers short latency, high throughput and good scalability at small increase in power and energy.

•Thioglycolic acid modified CdTe QDs were used to determine histamine.•The method was applied in the determination of histamine in tuna fish.•Selectivity was improved by using cationic solid phase extraction.•Mechanism of interaction between histamine and QDs was studied.

The determination of captopril was performed by measuring the photoluminescence quenching of pH sensitive mercaptopropanoic acid capped CdTe quantum dots. Under optimum conditions, the calibration model (log F0/F as a function of the concentration of captopril) was linear up to 8 × 10–6 mol/L (1.7 μg/mL) and the limit of detection (xb – 3sb) was 2.7 × 10–7 mol/L (18 ng/mL). A possible mechanism for quenching is proposed. The method was applied in the determination of captopril in two commercial pharmaceutical formulations, indicating that it can be used for simple and fast quantitative control of commercial medicines or pharmaceutical preparations.

Intramuscular fat is the an important factor that defines meat quality; however, enhancing its deposition without increasing the other three adipose depots (subcutaneous, visceral, and intermuscular fat) is a challenge for animal science and the meat industry. The TORC1 is a key regulator of adipogenesis and its regulation in bovine intramuscular preadipocytes has not been studied. The TORC1 is a member of the gene family that codes for a binding proteins which regulate transcription of cAMP which, is a key regulator of adipogenesis. In the present study, expression and sub-cellular localization of the TORC1 gene was analyzed in bovine preadipocytes. Bioinformatics tools were applied to characterize TORC1. To investigate the molecular mechanism of bovine TORC1 gene regulation, we cloned a 1008 bp of the 5’UTR regulatory region into a luciferase reporter vector. Different fragments were amplified using 5’UTR unidirectional deletion of the TORC1 promoter. Site directed mutation, dual luciferase reporter assay, RNAi interference and DNA-protein interaction (EMSA) were used to validate the regulatory roles of Smad3 and NRF1 in the regulation of TORC1 gene in bovine preadipocytes. The core promoter region of the TORC1 gene was identified at a location −410 to −155 bp upstream of transcription start site. Different vectors were constructed through serial deletion of the 5’UTR flanking region and in combination with site directed mutations and transcription interference through siRNA or shRNA, two transcription factors of NRF1 and Smad3 were found to be repressors in the promoter of the TORC1 gene. These findings were further confirmed through Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) within nuclear extracts of bovine adipocytes. The core promoter region of the TORC1 gene, spanning from −410 to −155 bp upstream of the transcription start site was specified in this study and this information will provide opportunity for the improvement of intramuscular fat in cattle.

Spirulina has been used as a food source from many years for human and animals because of its superior profile of nutrition. Spirulina (SPA) having antiviral activities can boost immune system, and better nutritional profile can increase growth performance by improving gut morphology. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of spirulina supplementation in ration on the humoral and cellular immune response, gut histomorphology, and economics of broiler production. A total of 120 day-old chicks were assigned to 4 dietary treatment; SPA0, SPA1, SPA2, and SPA3, each with 3 replicates having 10 birds in each replicate until 42 days of age. Treatment SPA0 was kept as control, and the birds were fed on basal ration, while the other treatments SPA1, SPA2, and SPA3 were supplemented with 1, 1.5, and 2 g spirulina/kg feed, respectively. Dietary supplementation of SPA3 significantly (P