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Conjugated linoleic acid was detected in rabbit caecotrophs, due to the presence of microbial lipid activity in rabbit cecum. However, the effect of CLA as a functional food in growing rabbit is not well established. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of CLA on production, meat quality, and its nutrigenomic effect on edible parts of rabbit carcass including skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue. Therefore, seventy five weaned V-Line male rabbits, 30 days old, were randomly allocated into three dietary treatments receiving either basal control diet, diet supplemented with 0.5% (CLAL), or 1% CLA (CLAH). Total experimental period (63 d) was segmented into 7 days adaptation and 56 days experimental period. Dietary supplementation of CLA did not alter growth performance, however, the fat percentage of longissimus lumborum muscle was decreased, with an increase in protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) percentage. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) and mono unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were not increased in CLA treated groups. There was tissue specific sensing of CLA, since subcutaneous adipose tissue gene expression of PPARA was downregulated, however, CPT1A tended to be upregulated in liver of CLAL group only (P = 0.09). In skeletal muscle, FASN and PPARG were upregulated in CLAH group only (P ≤0.01). Marked cytoplasmic vacuolation was noticed in liver of CLAH group without altering hepatocyte structure. Adipocyte size was decreased in CLA fed groups, in a dose dependent manner (P <0.01). Cell proliferation determined by PCNA was lower (P <0.01) in adipose tissue of CLA groups. Our data indicate that dietary supplementation of CLA (c9,t11-CLA and t10,c12- CLA) at a dose of 0.5% in growing rabbit diet produce rabbit meat rich in PUFA and lower fat % without altering growth performance and hepatocyte structure.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin notably produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract (BSFE) contains specific enzymes which hydrolyse OTA. This study evaluated the efficiency of BSFE in ameliorating the immunotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of OTA in broiler chickens.Day-old broiler chicks were divided equally into four groups of ten: control, OTA (0.5 mg/kg feed), BSFE product (1 mL/L water) and OTA + BSFE at the same concentrations. The chicks were vaccinated against avian influenza, Newcastle disease, and infectious bronchitis, and lymphoproliferation was induced in all birds by phytohaemagglutinin-P (PHA-P). Serum samples were taken before sacrifice and organ tissue samples were taken after, in which renal function biomarkers were assayed and the presence of OTA residue was evaluated by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Protein markers of apoptosis were determined by qPCR, and tissue lesions were examined histopathologically.Exposure to OTA significantly decreased the antibody response to the vaccines and the lymphoproliferative response to PHA-P, and significantly elevated the renal function indicators: serum urea, uric acid and creatinine. It also induced oxidative stress (reduced catalase activity and glutathione concentration), lipid peroxidation (increased malondialdehyde content), apoptosis (increased Bax and Caspase-3 and decreased Bcl-2 gene levels) and pathological lesions in kidney, bursa of Fabricius, spleen and thymus tissue. Residues of OTA were detected in the serum and tissue. BSFE mitigated most of these toxic effects.BSFE counters OTA-induced immunotoxicity and nephrotoxicity because of its content of carboxypeptidase and protease enzymes.

The goal of this study was to look into the effect of two probiotics as feed additives: Biosol (lipotropic factor containing probiotics) and/or Zemos, and to determine the best regimen for using both probiotics to improve growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters, and transcription of some growth and immunity-related genes in broiler chickens. A commercial hatchery provided 400 one-day-old Cobb broiler chicks. The chicks were divided into four equal groups at random, each with 100 birds. Group 1 served as a negative control. Group 2 was given Probiotic 1(Biosol) in drinking water at a dose of 120 g/10,000 chick each day. Group 3 received probiotic 2 (Zemos) at a dose of 0.25 mL/L of drinking water for 3 days/week. Group 4 was given combined probiotics (Biosol + Zemos), with the same weekly dose of each probiotic alternatively. During the experiment, all chickens were fed and hydrated ad libitum and exposed to 24 h of light. Our findings revealed that chicks fed on diets supplemented with Biosol and Biosol + Zemos showed an increase in body weight gain and lower feed conversion rates. Total protein levels were elevated while cholesterol and triglyceride levels dropped, whereas, no effect was detected in the uric acid levels among those groups. Furthermore, the carcass traits of Biosol and Biosol + Zemos increased as a result of the dietary supplementations, however, the weight of the drumstick showed no difference among the four groups. Both probiotics influenced the cecal count of lactobacilli, total aerobes, E. coli, and Enterococci in, as well as the transcript levels of the MTOR, SMYD, TLR-4, and NBN genes. It is possible to conclude that supplementing broilers with probiotics and Biosol, in particular, can increase their growth performance, and improve the biochemical characteristics of the blood and transcript levels of the genes under investigation. Highlights Supplementation of the broiler diet with probiotics is essential Biosol and Zemos increased the growth performance Both probiotics improved the biochemical blood parameters Biosol up-regulated growth and immunity related genes

The aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea was used as a biocatalyst for the reduction of Na2SeO3 to form Se-NPs that appeared red in color and showed maximum surface plasmon resonance at a wavelength of 266 nm, indicating the successful Phyto-fabrication of Se-NPs. A FT-IR chart clarified the role of plant metabolites such as proteins, carbohydrates, and amino acids in capping and stabilizing Se-NPs. TEM, SAED, and XRD analyses indicated the formation of spherical, well-arranged, and crystalline Se-NPs with sizes in the range of 2–22 nm. SEM-EDX mapping showed the maximum peaks of Se at 1.4, 11.3, and 12.4 KeV, with weight and atomic percentages of 36.49 and 30.39%, respectively. A zeta potential of −43.8 mV also indicated the high stability of the synthesized Se-NPs. The Phyto-synthesized Se-NPs showed varied biological activities in a dose-dependent manner, including promising activity against pathogenic bacteria and Candida species with varied MIC values in the range of 12.5−50 µg·mL−1. Moreover, the Se-NPs showed antiviral activity toward HAV and Cox-B4, with percentages of 70.26 and 62.58%, respectively. Interestingly, Se-NPs showed a target orientation to cancer cell lines (HepG2) with low IC50 concentration at 70.79 ± 2.2 µg·mL−1 compared to normal cell lines (WI−38) with IC50 at165.5 ± 5.4 µg·mL−1. Moreover, the as-formed Se-NPs showed high activity against various instar larvae I, II, III, and IV of Culex pipiens, with the highest mortality percentages of 89 ± 3.1, 73 ± 1.2, 68 ± 1.4, and 59 ± 1.0%, respectively, at 50 mg L−1. Thus, P. oleracea-based Se-NPs would be strong potential antimicrobial, anti-viral, anti-cancer, and anti-insect agents in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries.

This study focused on synthesizing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) utilizing glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinking agent and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanopowder with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanopowder to reduce or prevent the hydrophilic property of PVA. Integrating SiO2 and TiO2 into the PVA boosted the hydrophobicity, thermal properties, and self-cleaning of the PVA film. The characteristic properties of PVA/GA, PVA/SiO2/GA, and PVA/SiO2/TiO2/GA nanocomposites polymer membranes were investigated by gel content, swelling capacity, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and contact angle. The resulting PVA/5%SiO2/1%TiO2/GA nanocomposite exhibits much better physical properties than PVA/GA hydrogel (water absorbency from 3.1 g/g to 0.07 g/g and contact angel from 0° to 125°). In addition, the nanocomposite retains very low swelling properties. These prepared nanocomposites are promising in a variety of applications such as sand soil stabilizers, construction, and building works where they exhibit excellent water resistance performance. This study introduces a novel approach for creating hydrophobic polymeric membranes from hydrophilic polymeric materials to stabilize sandy soil effectively.

Dust accumulation on photovoltaic panels represents a major challenge for the operation of solar panels especially in the regions known by their high rate of dust and low frequency of rain. The objective of this study is to minimize dust accumulation on PV panels operating street light posts using dust shields. A novel dust shield having the same width of the panel, and subtending an angle of 120° with the panel, is proposed for dust mitigation. Numerical simulations are carried out to evaluate the influence of the dust shield on dust accumulation over the panel’s surface. It is found that using a dust shield decreases the dust deposition rate by more than 44%. Moreover, extending the panel’s surface at the lower edge with an extension plate together with the dust shield decreases the dust deposition rate better than using a dust shield only. Also, the effect of adding an air gap between the shield and the added extension plate is investigated, and it is found that the air gap induces air drafts over the panel’s surface, which acts as an air barrier that obstructs the approach of dust particles to the panel’s surface. These drafts get stronger as the air gap thickness increases, accordingly, less particles deposit on the panel. Finally, it is found that using a dust shield with a length smaller than the panel’s length in addition to an extension plate together and increasing the thickness of the air gap is an effective and efficient solution for dust mitigation, such that the percentage decrease in the dust deposition rate that might be more than 88%.

Background Gills monogenean infestation causes significant mortalities in cultured fishes as a result of respiratory manifestation. Medicinal plants are currently being heavily emphasized in aquaculture due to their great nutritional, therapeutic, antimicrobial activities, and financial value. Methods The current study is designed to assess the effect of garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa) extracts as a water treatment on the hematological profile, innate immunity, and immune cytokines expression besides histopathological features of gills of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus L.) infected with gills monogenetic trematodes ( Dactylogyrus sp .). Firstly, the 96-hour lethal concentration 50 (96 h-LC 50 ) of garlic extract (GE) and onion extract (OE) were estimated to be 0.4 g/ L and 3.54 g/ L for GE and OE, respectively. Moreover, the in- vitro anti-parasitic potential for (GE) was found between 0.02 and 0.18 mg/mL and 0.4 to 1.8 mg/mL for OE. For the therapeutic trial, fish ( n  = 120; body weight: 40–60 g) were randomly distributed into four groups in triplicates (30 fish/group, 10 fish/replicate) for 3 days. Group1 (G1) was not infected or treated and served as control. G2 was infected with Dactylogyrus spp . and not exposed to any treatment. G3, G4 were infected with Dactylogyrus sp . and treated with 1/ 10 and 1/ 5 of 96 h LC 50 of OE, respectively. G5, G6 were infected with Dactylogyrus sp . and treated with 1/ 10 and 1/ 5 of 96 h LC 50 of GE, respectively. Results No apparent signs or behaviors were noted in the control group. Dactylogyrus spp. infected group suffered from clinical signs as Pale color and damaged tissue. Dactylogyrus spp. infection induced lowering of the hematological (HB, MCH, MCHC and WBCs), and immunological variables (lysozyme, nitric oxide, serum Anti- protease activities, and complement 3). the expression of cytokine genes IL-ß and TNF-α were modulated and improved by treatment with A. sativum and A. cepa extracts. The obtained histopathological alterations of the gills of fish infected with ( Dactylogyrus spp .) were hyperplasia leading to fusion of the gill filament, lifting of epithelial tissue, aneurism and edema. The results indecated that G4 and G5 is more regenarated epithelium in compare with the control group. Conclusion A. sativum and A. cepa extracts enhance the blood profile and nonspecific immune parameters, and down-regulated the expression level of ( IL-1β and TNF-α ).

The conservation of medicinal plants, particularly endangered or endemic species, is of the utmost importance, especially in light of inevitable climate change and its consequences. Species inhabiting high altitudes adopt exceptional defense mechanisms in response to abiotic stresses as a survival strategy. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of altitudinal variations on secondary metabolite accumulation and antioxidant enzyme capacity in four plants (Cotoneaster orbicularis, Crataegus x sinaica, Echinops spinosissimus subsp. Spinosissimus, and Tanacetum sinaicum) growing naturally on the Sinai Peninsula’s high mountains. Plant leaves and soil samples were collected from three altitudes between 1500 and 2250 m a.s.l. to evaluate the adaptive responses of these species in relation to high-altitude oxidative stresses. The results showed that at higher altitudes, the electrical conductivity and the micronutrient contents of the soil decreased, which may be due to the prevalence of silt and clay decreasing at higher altitudes. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, ascorbic acid, and total soluble protein showed similar results in relation to higher altitudes for all species. On the other hand, proline, total soluble sugars, carotenoids, phenols, tannins, and flavonoids increased in response to high altitudes. The activity levels of catalase and ascorbic acid peroxidase showed a significant increase aligned with higher altitudes, while a significant decrease in activity levels was obtained for polyphenol oxidase. In conclusion, the present findings showed that Cotoneaster orbicularis exhibited the maximum response for coping with high-altitude stresses, followed by the remaining three species regarding the level of biochemical and physiological responses. The present work will help formulate conservation plans for important medicinal species.

Background The use of epidural analgesia for the management of postoperative pain has evolved as a critical component of multimodal approach to achieve the goal of adequate analgesia with improved outcome. The introduction of ultrasound technology for epidural insertion presents a novel challenge of acquiring new knowledge and skill set. As with acquiring any new skill, there will be initial challenges for both the novice and experienced anesthesiologist. From correlating anatomy with sonoanatomy and visualizing needles and fluid dynamics in real-time below the skin surface, ultrasound provides opportunities and unique challenges for vascular access and regional anesthesia. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of ultrasound in the process of epidural catheter inserion and whether it can replace the conventional loss-of-resistance (LOS) technique or at least help with better performance by the staff. Patients and methods A total of 30 patients scheduled for thoracotomy were randomly categorized by closed envelopes method into two equal groups (15 patients each): group I patients received epidural anesthesia with ultasound guidance, and group II patients received epidural anesthesia with the conventional palpation technique. We recorded time from first puncture till LOS, number of skin punctures till LOS, redirections, and bone contacts. Failure and complications were recorded as well. Patient satisfaction was assessed after catheter insertion and removal, which was 24 h postoperatively in the postanesthesia care unit. Results A significant increase in insertion time was recorded in group I (P<0.001). The number of skin punctures till LOS was significantly lower in group I (P=0.043), and needle redirections were also lower in group I (P=0.020). Vertebrae were less hit by the needle in group I (P=0.026). A case of epidural failure was recorded in group II, and also an accidental hemorrhagic tap was recorded in the same group. Patient satisfaction both after catheter insertion and removal was higher in group I (P=0.031 and 0.002, respectively). Conclusion From the primary endpoints assessed in this work, one can declare that usage of ultrasound had consumed time owing to lack of experience by the operator, yet it led to less puncture attempts, redirections, and bone contacts and reduced failure rates and complication rates, which led to increased satisfaction. The technique requires more practice and training to familiarize anesthesia staff with it to lower the procedure time.

Economic development and land use/land cover (LULC) changes are deeply connected. Egypt has started the National Road Project to add 7000 km new roads to the 23.500 km existing network. The present study aimed at assessing anthropogenic impacts of the establishment and development of one of the newly developed arterial roads (Wadi Al-Natroun Al-Alamin road) on the LULC of surrounding region in relation to climate change during the period from 1986 to 2019. Using RS (remote sensing) techniques and four satellite images from 1986, 1999, 2011, and 2019, five classes were identified (vegetation, urban, water, agriculturally affected soils, and bare soils). The study area was divided based on different human activities into six areas of interest (AOIs). Results showed that massive changes have occurred during the 33-year period along the six AOIs and the five identified classes. Four climatic variables (annual mean temperature, maximum temperature of the warmest month, annual precipitation, precipitation of the wettest month) have been used to investigate climatic conditions of the study area in 1986 and 2018 and link it to the continuous development in the study area. Results showed an average increase of 2°C in annual temperature and maximum temperature of the hottest month. In contrary, a significant decrease in the annual precipitation and precipitation of the wettest month has been documented. Statistical analysis results showed significant correlations between climatic conditions and economic development along the study area. Climate change and human development stress on both natural and artificial ecosystems of the study area have been discussed, and recommended measures for sustainable development and natural resources perseveration have been provided.