1,720,973 research outputs found
Incidence of gastrointestinal parasites in pigeons with an assessment of the nematocidal activity of chitosan nanoparticles against Ascaridia columbae
Full text linkIn this investigation, the incidence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites of domestic pigeons were evaluated, additionally, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of the antiparasitic activity of chitosan nanoparticles against the most predominant gut parasite. Therefore, 240 domestic pigeons (160 adults and 80 squabs) obtained from different localities in Giza governorate, Egypt, from February to July 2021, were subjected to parasitological and postmortem examination. The results revealed that 97% of pigeons were vulnerable to single or mixed gastrointestinal parasites. The detected helminths were identified as Capillaria columbae (C. columbae) with a total incidence of (12.5%), Ascaridia columbae (A. columbae) (83.3.%), Heterakis gallinarum (H. gallinarum) (18.7%), Raillietina cesticillus (R. cesticillus) (7.5%), Raillietina echinobothrida (R. echinobothrida) (29%), Choanotaenia infundibulum (C. infundibulum) (22.9%), Davainea proglottina (D. proglottina) (26.6%), and Cotugnia proglottina (C. proglottina) (14.5%). At the same time, the identified protozoan parasites were Trichomonas gallinae (T. gallinae), and Eimeria columbae (E. columbae), with a total incidence of 25 and 79%, respectively. Helminths and Eimeria infections were higher in adults than squabs, while T. gallinae infection was reported with a higher incidence in squabs (62.5%) than adults (6.2%). From our findings, A. columbae was the most predominant gut parasite in the examined pigeons. Thus, it was subjected to in vitro and in vivo treatment with chitosan nanoparticles. Serum and tissue samples were collected from the birds which have been used in the in vitro study to evaluate the oxidative stress markers as malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide levels and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin-1 beta activity also, chitosan nanoparticles- treated worm ultrastructure were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, we recommend periodic monitoring of pigeon's farm to detect the parasitic infestation, and from our results, we recommend chitosan nanoparticles as a potent nematocidal agent
Evaluation of dried tomato pomace as a non‐conventional feed: Its effect on growth, nutrients digestibility, digestive enzyme, blood chemistry and intestinal microbiota of growing quails
Full text linkThis work evaluated the effect of sun-dried tomato waste (SDTP) on growth, carcasses, digestibility of nutrients, digestive enzymes, blood chemistry and intestinal microbiota of 250 one-week-old growing Japanese quail. The birds were randomly distributed into 5 equal groups. Group 1 was fed on the basal diet (BD) (control), Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed on the BD containing 3, 6, 9 and 12% SDTP
respectively. SDTP significantly improved the body weights and gains at 3 weeks of age compared with control, and the 6% SDTP level seems to be the optimal level used throughout the first 3–5 weeks of age. With 6, 9 or 12% SDTP, the percentages of liver and giblets and the meat percentages of moisture and crude protein were improved significantly relative to control or 3%. In quail diets, the percentage of ether extract was reduced with increasing the SDTP. The studied levels of SDTP did not significantly change the digestibility of DM, OM, CP or
NFE. The highest levels of amylase and lipase enzymes were recorded in the 6% SDTP, opposite to control. SDTP at 9 and 12% significantly decreased the total cholesterol than all other treatments. The highest and the lowest HDL levels were shown in 12 and 9% SDTP respectively. The 12% SDTP showed the highest SOD, TAC, IgM, IgG and Complement 3 values among all groups. The different levels of SDTP significantly reduced the MDA content than control. The highest caecal E. coli and Salmonella spp counts were found in control and 6% inclusion level followed by 9% and finally 3 and 12% SDTP. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of SDTP can enhance the growth and health status of growing quails via improving the nutrient digestibility, digestive enzymes, and blood chemistry and reducing the intestinal pathogens
Dunaliella salina Microalga Restores the Metabolic Equilibrium and Ameliorates the Hepatic Inflammatory Response Induced by Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in Male Zebrafish
No full textMicroalgae are rich in bioactive compounds including pigments, proteins, lipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Due to their non-toxic and nutritious characteristics, these are suggested as important food for many aquatic animals. Dunaliella salina is a well-known microalga that accumulates valuable amounts of carotenoids. We investigated whether it could restore the metabolic equilibrium and mitigate the hepatic inflammation induced by zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using male zebrafish which were exposed to 1/5th 96 h-LC50 for 4 weeks, followed by dietary supplementation with D. salina at two concentrations (15% and 30%) for 2 weeks. Collectively, ZnO-NPs affected fish appetite, whole body composition, hepatic glycogen and lipid contents, intestinal bacterial and Aeromonas counts, as well as hepatic tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α). In addition, the mRNA expression of genes related to gluconeogenesis (pck1, gys2, and g6pc3), lipogenesis (srepf1, acaca, fasn, and cd36), and inflammatory response (tnf-α, tnf-β, nf-kb2) were modulated. D. salina reduced the body burden of zinc residues, restored the fish appetite and normal liver architecture, and mitigated the toxic impacts of ZnO-NPs on whole-body composition, intestinal bacteria, energy metabolism, and hepatic inflammatory markers. Our results revealed that the administration of D. salina might be effective in neutralizing the hepatotoxic effects of ZnO-NPs in the zebrafish model
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Eco-friendly zinc nanoparticles biosynthesized by Lactobacillus casei as alternative anticoccidial agent ameliorate Eimeria tenella infection in broiler chickens: Impact on oxidative stress, intestinal health, growth performance, and gut microbiota
Full text linkCoccidiosis, a parasitic infection caused by Eimeria species poses significant challenges to poultry farms worldwide. Despite extensive control efforts, the disease continues to impact poultry health and productivity. Recently, green-synthesized nanoparticles have emerged as a promising area in nanotechnology for combating infections. This study evaluates the potential of Lactobacillus casei EE12-mediated zinc nanoparticles (Lc-ZnNPs) as an alternative anticoccidial agent in Eimeria tenella-infected broiler chickens and assesses their effects on growth performance, oxidative status, immunity, gut microbiota, and inflammatory responses. Zinc nanoparticles fabricated by the Lactobacillus casei EE12 supernatant were spherical, 41 nm, -24.4 mV charged, and surrounded with active groups. A total of 360 broiler chickens were equally divided into 6 groups: C) the control received basal diet; T1-T3) received basal diet supported with Lc-ZnNPs at different concentrations (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg diet); T4) E. tenella-infected group were infected orally through a stomach tube, with 5 × 104 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella, and T5) E. tenella-infected broilers supplemented with Lc-ZnNPs (75 mg/kg diet). Adding Lc-ZnNPs to the broiler diet significantly improved growth performance markers, including body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) & feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control and infected groups. The Eimeria-infected broilers showed higher levels of AST, ALT, uric acid, total cholesterol, MDA, & LDL. Meanwhile, the addition of Lc-ZnNPs (75 mg/kg) mitigated the oxidative stress by lowering MDA and enhancing the activity of SOD, CAT, & GPx besides the immunity markers. Also, downregulating the intestinal, hepatic, & kidney proinflammatory markers (Mucin-1, OCCU & interleukin-6, & IL-1β) and proapoptotic (Bcl-2-associated protein x & Casp-3) markers. Lc-ZnNPs significantly (P < 0.05) reduced oocyst per gram (OPG) by 67 % and lesion score, recovering the typical structure of intestines. The E. tenella-infected broilers showed higher total bacterial count (TBC), total yeasts and molds count (TYMC), and Salmonella count; meanwhile, the Lc-ZnNPs-treated birds in T5 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced these counts and enhanced the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count compared to the T4 and control group. In conclusion, the findings indicated that Lc-ZnNPs could be a safe and potent anticoccidial agent against coccidiosis in broiler chickens
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) Suppress Fertility by Activating Autophagy, Apoptosis, and Oxidative Stress in the Developing Oocytes of Female Zebrafish
Full text linkIn vertebrates, the core mechanisms that control gametogenesis are largely multiple, complex, successive, and orchestrated by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. However, age, health status, and hormonal activity are important factors for good fertility; other intangible intracellular molecular mechanisms that manage oocyte development are still unclear. The present study was designed to elucidate the ultrastructure changes in the ovary in response to its exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and to explore the role of autophagy and apoptosis during egg maturation and ovulation on the fertility of female zebrafish. In our study, ZnO-NPs could induce cytotoxicity in the maturing oocyte by activating autophagy and apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner and could induce oxidative stress by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) that elevated the mutated ovarian tP53 protein. Simultaneously, necroptosis developed, mimicking the features of apoptosis and necrosis. Collectively, ZnO-NPs created a suitable necrotic environment that led to follicular developmental retardation that altered oocyte ovulation and reduced fecundity of female zebrafish
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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