Utilization of macroalgal biomass through the anaerobic digestion (AD) system can overcome algal pollution while providing alternative and renewable energy as fuel scarcity increases. To achieve this objective, Sargassum fulvellum biomass was used as the feedstock for the batch AD process. Original-sized algal biomass (So) of 106 µm–4.75 mm particle size, reduced-sized biomass of 75–850 µm (mechanically pretreated, Sr), chemically pretreated reduced-sized wet biomass with 40 mL/L (Sac1), 20 mL/L (Sac2) of 2 M HCl and with 10 mL/L (Sal1) and 5 mL/L (Sal2) of 6 N NaOH, and biologically pretreated original particle size biomass (Se) with 1 mL/L of cellulase enzyme were employed as feedstocks for digestion. Mechanical pretreatment of Sargassum fulvellum (Sr) without chemical addition resulted in 142.91 ± 0.004 mL CH₄/gVS, which is higher than chemically pretreated reduced-sized macroalgae in So, Sac1, Sac2, Sal1, and Sal2 by 52.34%, 9.83%, 15.89%, 12.73%, and 18.26%, respectively. Biological treatment reduced methane yield in Se by 9.49% than the original-sized algal biomass (So). In addition, the rate of hydrolysis and maximum biomethane production potential improved after mechanical pretreatment by a maximum of 45.60% and 48.71%, respectively. This study indicates that the utilization of marine biomass as an alternative resource for biomethane production can be achieved, with an optimum methane production from mechanically pretreated macroalgae without chemical addition.

The employment of macroalgal biomass in anaerobic digestion (AD) systems could provide an alternative and renewable energy source and overcome the concern of algal influx. Sargassum fulvellum macroalgae was applied in the batch digesters as raw algal biomass (M_raw), enzymatically treated biomass (M_enz), reduced-sized biomass (M_red), chemically pretreated reduced-sized biomass with 0.36 mL g⁻¹ VS (M_acid1) and 0.18 mL g⁻¹ VS (M_acid2) of 2 M HCl and with 0.09 mL g⁻¹ VS (M_alkali1) and 0.04 mL g⁻¹ VS (M_alkali2) of 6 M NaOH. The results of this study indicated that the biologically treated digester (M_enz) enhanced the methane yield to 186.60 mL g⁻¹VS, which corresponds to 116.64% and 33.48% increases over those in the M_red and M_raw, respectively. Additionally, chemical pre-treatments of Sargassum fulvellum enhanced the methane outcome by 15.11%, 6.53%, 45.65%, and 37.01% for M_acid1, M_acid2, M_alkali1, and M_alkali2, respectively, compared with the M_red. This study emphasized that the utilization of raw untreated Sargassum fulvellum macroalgae through the thermophilic AD system was better than chemical and mechanical pre-treated feedstocks, which verified the eco-benefits and sustainable biomass management approach. The gas recovery of raw macroalgae can be further improved through the supplementation with a cellulase enzyme.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a sustainable technology that combines biogas production with proper waste management. However, the operation of an anaerobic reactor under the stress of nanoparticles (NPs) is unknown. Therefore, this study assessed the disadvantages and advantages of adding two NPs to 11 L semi-continuous stirred-biodigesters and examined their contributions to biogas generation. Iron oxide NPs (INPs) and titanium oxide NPs (TNPs) were mixed daily with manure from dairy cattle and added to the biodigesters daily at concentrations of 100 mg/L (D1) and 500 mg/L (D2), respectively. In addition, a control with no NP supplementation was studied (D0). The results revealed that the generation rates of biogas and CH₄ increased by 25.43 and 62.43%, respectively, for D1 during the first 7-day retention time, as compared with the D0. Conversely, TNP addition reduced the generation rates by 28.76 and 56.92%, respectively, during the same period. Overall, for D1, the biogas and CH₄ yields over the study period increased by 5.48 and 12.35%, respectively, whereas for D2, the rates were reduced by 11.36 and 18.58%, respectively. Therefore, the presence of INPs had a stimulatory influence while that of the TNPs had an inhibitory effect.

Intensification of the livestock industry has become environmentally problematic due to the uncontrolled treatment of large amounts of watery manure. One solution is the adoption of biogas plants (BGPs). Hokkaido, Japan, has significant potential for BGP adoption, however, the large financial investments and lack of grid space for selling electricity are barriers. We investigated the relationship between the willingness of farmers to adopt BGPs and their current farming situations. Using a questionnaire survey and multivariate analyses, the results showed that large-scale farmers, particularly those with more than 100 mature cows, were clearly willing to adopt BGPs and expand their businesses in the future, while farmers who planned to downsize their businesses did not exhibit strong willingness to adopt BGPs. In addition, farmers willing to adopt BGPs thought the plants would help solve problems with manure treatment. BGPs might be more accepted by dairy farmers if there were greater incentives for installation given the role BGPs can play in providing stable energy and revitalizing local economies.

Improving the quality and quantity of biogas usually requires pre-treatment to maximize methane yields and/or post-treatment to remove H₂S, which involves considerable energy consumption and higher costs. Therefore, this study proposes a cost-effective method for the enhanced anaerobic digestion (AD) of dairy manure (DM) without pre/post-treatment by directly adding waste iron powder (WIP) and iron oxide nanoparticles (INPs) to batch digesters. The results showed that the addition of iron in the form of microscale WIP (generated from the laser cutting of iron and steel) at concentrations of 100 mg/L, 500 mg/L, and 1000 mg/L improved methane yields by 36.99%, 39.36%, and 56.89%, respectively. In comparison, the equivalent dosages of INPs improved yields by 19.74%, 18.14%, and 21.11%, respectively. Additionally, the highest WIP dose (1000 mg/L) achieved the maximum improvement in the rate of hydrolysis (k), which was 1.25 times higher than in control reactions, and a maximum biomethane production rate (R_max) of 0.045 L/gVS/d according to kinetic analysis models (i.e., first-order and the Gompertz kinetic models). The rate of H₂S production was also significantly reduced (by 45.20%, 58.16%, and 77.24%) using the three WIP concentrations in comparison with INPs (which achieved reductions of 33.59%, 46.30%, and 53.52%, respectively). Therefore, the direct mixing of WIP with cattle manure is proposed as a practical and economical means of addressing complex and high-cost pre- and post-treatments that are otherwise required in the digestion process.

The incidence of Salmonella species was determined in 1050 eggs including balady hen’s eggs, farm
hen’s eggs and duck’s eggs (350 eggs each represented by 70 samples as every 5 eggs constitute one
sample) and in 90 samples of egg-based products including mayonnaise, cream cake and custard (30
each) were collected from different localities in Assiut city, Egypt. Salmonella was recovered from 8.58,
5.72% of balady hen’s egg shells using Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) agar and Salmonella Shigella
(SS) agar, respectively and could be isolated from egg content in a percentage of 1.43% by XLD agar.
Different serotypes of Salmonella were isolated from shells of balady hen’s eggs including S. typhimurium,
S. anatum, S. infantis, S. kentucky while, S. enteritidis was the only serotype that recovered
from both shell and content. In case of farm hen’s eggs, S. kentucky and S. infantis could be identified
from positive shell and content samples, respectively at same percentage of 1.43% by using XLD agar.
On the other hand, Salmonella could not be detected on SS agar from both shell and content of all examined
samples. Concerning duck’s eggs 4.29 and 1.43% of shell samples were contaminated with Salmonella
by using XLD and SS, respectively. While, 2.86 and 1.43% of examined egg content samples
were positive using XLD and SS agar, respectively and S. typhimurium was the predominant serotype
which isolated from both shell and content samples. While, S. infantis was recovered from shell only
and S. kentucky was isolated from content only. Salmonella species were existed in 2 (6.66%) and 1 sample
(3.33%) of the examined cream cake using XLD and SS agar, respectively while, none of the examined
custard and mayonnaise samples were positive for Salmonella on both media. S. kentucky, S. shubra
and S. enteritidis were isolated from the positive cream cake samples with an equal incidence of 3.33 %
for each. Although XLD agar was found to be comparatively better in recovering Salmonella species
than SS agar, the two media were found to be complementary to each other for recovering different
Salmonella serotypes. Detection of common invA gene in all isolated Salmonella serotypes by PCR assay
showed positive amplification of 284 bp fragment specific for the invA gene with total percentage of
100%. Screening of 12 isolates of S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis, which were the most prevalent
serotypes in the positive samples for stn, hilA and fimH virulence genes by multiplex PCR revealed varying
distribution pattern. The public health hazards and the recommended measures required to prevent
contamination of eggs and its based products by Salmonella were discussed.

The aim was to elucidate the effects of short-term, high protein diet on ovarian activity and metabolic status in synchronized Ossimi ewes. Fourteen Ossimi ewes divided into a high protein (HPG; n = 7) and a control group (CG; n = 7). Estrous synchronized using two doses of Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) that were administered 10 days apart. For the five days before the second dose of PGF2-α, a high protein diet consisting of 20% crude protein was fed to the HPG and the CG was provided a maintenance diet. The estrus period was significantly longer and the ovulation rate was significantly higher in the HPG as compared to the CG (P < 0.05). A significantly longer ovulation time and larger diameter ovulatory follicles were observed in the HPG (P < 0.05). A high protein diet had a significant effect on the number of recruited follicles and the diameter of the ovulatory follicle (P < 0.05). Significantly higher levels of estradiaol-17β, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, blood urea, and glucose detected in the HPG as compared to CG ewes (P < 0.05). It is concluded that short-term, high protein flushing may improve estrus expression, ovarian activity, and metabolic status in PGF2α analog synchronized Ossimi ewes.

This study was conducted to investigate the impact of dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal
(MLM) as a substitution for soybean meal on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, rumen enzyme
activity, blood metabolites, growth-related hormones, and growth performance of buffalo calves. Thirty
buffalo calves eight to nine months of age with an average body weight of approximately 153.7 ± 0.97 kg
were randomly distributed through three dietary treatments (ten calves/treatment). MLM inclusion rates
were 15% (M15) and 20% (M20), replacing soybean meal by 50 and 75% in the concentrate mixture,
respectively. The results indicated that, digestibility of dry matter, organic matter (OM), and crude fiber
(CF) increased significantly (p < 0.05) with MLM inclusion, while the digestibility of crude protein (CP)
and ether extract (EE) reduced significantly (p < 0.05) with MLM addition. Dietary supplementation with
MLM significantly affected (p < 0.001) rumen fermentation by reducing ruminal enzymes, ruminal
ammonia-N, total protozoa, and acetate/propionate ratio and increasing acetic, propionic, and butyric
acids and total volatile fatty acid concentrations (p < 0.001). Furthermore, dietary inclusion of 15%
MLM significantly improved (p < 0.001) final body weight, dry matter intake of feed, daily weight gain,
feed conversion efficiency, blood metabolites, and plasma insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I). It can be concluded
that MLM is a multi-purpose protein supplement that provides some nutritional and therapeutic
advantages when replacing 50% of soybean meal. Dietary supplementation of 15% MLM improved rumen
fermentation, growth performance, blood metabolites, plasma IGF-I and mitigated ammonia and
methane without any adverse effects in growing buffalo calves.

Background: Diseases of the central nervous system are a well-recognized cause of morbidity and mortality in equine. Collection and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) give information about the type and stage of degenerative and inflammatory diseases in central nervous system (CNS). The present research aimed to assess the clinical complications of CSF collections and to establish range values of cytological and biochemical parameters of CSF in adult healthy donkeys (Equus asinus). The CSF samples were collected from fifty healthy donkeys at the lumbosacral (LS) and atlanto-occipital (AO) sites.

Results: Hypothermia, tachycardia, ataxia and recumbency may develop post-puncture. Erythrocytes were noticed in 35 of 50 CSF samples. Total nucleated cell counts ranged from 0 to 6 cells/µL, and lymphocytes predominated the cells (61%). The concentration of glucose (1.2 to 5.3 mmol/L) was lower than that of serum (P<0.05). The CSF sodium concentration (123 to 160 mmol/L) was approximately like that of serum, but potassium (1.5 – 3 mmol/L) was lower than that of serum (P<0.01). Urea concentrations (1.1 – 2.9 mmol/L) were markedly lower than serum (P<0.001). Concentrations of CSF total proteins, and albumin ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 gm/dL, and from 0.002 to 0.013 g/dL, respectively. The albumin quotient ranged from 0.06 to 0.56.

Conclusions: Transient hypothermia, tachycardia, ataxia and recumbency may develop as clinical complications of CSF puncture procedures. The collection site has no impact on the constituents in CSF. Furthermore, the present study presented the range values for normal cytological and biochemical constituents of CSF in donkeys (Equus asinus) that can provide a basis in comparison when evaluating CSF from donkeys with neurologic diseases.

Many studies have been carried out to investigate the occurrence and distribution of telocytes (TCs) in many
organs. However, their morphological development is still unclear. This study was performed to demonstrate
the morphological development of TCs in rabbits' lung from fetal to postnatal life using light-, electronmicroscopy,
immunohistochemistry, morphometrical and statistical analysis. During the fetal life, these cells
formed an extensive network of telopodes (Tps) which were in close contact with developing alveoli,
bronchioles, stem cells and many other interstitial components. In addition, the TCs' number was significantly
increased around the neocapillaries in fetal lung. In the fetal life, TCs were stellate in shape and characterized by
large cell bodies and many short Tps that contained abundant rER, mitochondria, and ribosomes. By gradual
increasing of ages, TCs were spindle in shape with two Tps contained a massive amount of secretory structures
(exosomes, ectosomes, and multivesicular bodies). Moreover, TCs in postnatal lung showed a significant
decrease in number and diameter of their cell bodies and a significant increase in the length of Tps compared
with those in fetal life. The TCs contributed with pneumocytes and endothelium in the formation of air-blood
barrier. The TCs' immunohistochemical profiles for CD34, vimentin, c-kit, connexin 43, vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF), and neuron- specific enolase (NSE) differed between ages during the lung development.
This study provided an evidence that TCs contributed to angiogenesis, the formation of the air-blood barrier,
lung organization, and development.