Tightening slip knots in raw and degummed silk to increase toughness without losing strength

NMP is supported by the European Research Council (ERC StG Ideas 2011 BIHSNAM n. 279985 on “Bio-Inspired hierarchical super-nanomaterials”, ERC PoC 2013-1 REPLICA2 n. 619448 on “Large-area replication of biological anti-adhesive nanosurfaces”, ERC PoC 2013-2 KNOTOUGH n. 632277 on “Super-tough knotted fibres”), by the European Commission under the Graphene Flagship (WP10 “Nanocomposites”, n. 604391) and by the Provincia Autonoma di Trento (“Graphene Nanocomposites”, n. S116/2012-242637 and reg.delib. n. 2266)

Effects of sweet potato meal on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler finisher birds

Three hundred and five (305) five weeks old broilers (Anak strain) were used in a four-week experiment to determine the effect of dietary substitution of processed sweet potato meal for maize grain on the carcass quality of broilers at the finisher phase. Graded levels of processed sweet potato meal (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50%) substituted corresponding levels of maize grain in five treatments (A, B, C, D and E) respectively, which were further replicated five times in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum to the experimental birds, while vaccinations and necessary medications were promptly administered tosustain good health and immunity. Carcass evaluations in weights were measured weekly in all the treatments. The average weights of the broilers at four weeks were 1400, 1210, 1106, 1000 and 786 gm for treatments A, B, C, D and E respectively. Results showed that treatment C had significantly (p<0.05) improved body weight, shank length, wing length, body height, body length, thigh length, leg length, daily feed intake, heart weight and crop weight. Processed sweet potato meal can replace maize grain in finisher broiler rations without deleterious effect.Keywords: Broiler, sweet potato meal, maize, performance, carcass evaluation, poultr

Effects of Graded Levels of Pigeon Pea Meal on Growth Performance and Organ Characteristics of Finisher Broilers

Two hundred (200) five weeks old broiler birds of Anak breed from a commercial hatchery were used to investigate the effects of replacing soybean meal with pigeon pea meal in finisher broilers. The birds were fed on 0, 50, 75 and 100% dietary inclusions of toasted pigeon pea as replacement for soybean in a 28 day feeding trial.  Significant interaction between dietary levels of pigeon pea and soybean were observed on feed efficiency and weight gain (p<0.05). Increase in dietary levels of pigeon pea reduced feed transit time in gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) (p<0.05), while supplementary soybean had the opposite effect (p<0.05). There were significant differences (p<0.05) between birds in various internal organ characteristics, with birds on the control diet having significantly (p<0.05) lower values than birds on T2, T3 and T4 in all the parameters measured. It was concluded that broiler birds could tolerate up to 75% dietary levels of pigeon pea without detrimental effects on performance and nutrient retention