Azzawi Dates (Phoenix dactylifera) as a Substitute for Corn as an Energy Source in Sheep Diet: In vitro Gas Production and Fermentation

In vitro gas production technique was used in the current study to evaluate Azzawi date (AD) as a substitute for corn grain (CG). The AD was used to replace corn grain at graded levels in the proportion: 0:100 (CG), 25:75 (AD25), 50:50 (AD50), 75:25 (AD75), and 100:0 (AD100). Gas production (GP) was continuously measured by incubating samples in buffered rumen fluid from cannulated sheep and it was recorded at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48 and 72h of incubation. Cumulative GP, kinetics of GP (a, b and c), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations were determined, while metabolizable energy (ME), net energy (NE), organic matter digestibility (OMD), microbial protein (MP) were estimated. The gas volume was increased (P<0.05) at 12h with increasing the substitution levels of AD in the feed, the values ranged between 31.3 and 44.7 ml/200 mg DM. However, it was found to be decreased (P<0.05) at 48 and 72h with increasing substitution levels of AD. There were no differences in the gas production found at 24h. Data of VFA, NE, OMD and MP were similar (P>0.05) among the feeds. The energy (ME; MJ/kg DM) value of AD25 (10.4) and AD50 (10.3) were comparable to that of CG (10.5); however it was reduced (P<0.05) with AD75 and AD100. Data demonstrated that, Azzawi date at the level of 50 g/100g of substrate (i.e., AD50) may have similar energy contents as of corn grain, and it can be used as a source of energy in ruminant diets either alone or in combination with corn grain

Beyond the pandemic : COVID-19 pandemic changed the face of life

Funding Information: This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council Vetenskapsr?det (VR grant 2016?05885). Funding Information: Acknowledgments: H.R. El-Seedi is very grateful to the Swedish Research links grant VR 2016– 05885 and the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Wenner-Grens Institute, Stockholm University, Sweden, for the financial support. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the au-thors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious challenge for societies around the globe as entire populations have fallen victim to the infectious spread and have taken up social distancing. In many countries, people have had to self-isolate and to be confined to their homes for several weeks to months to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing measures have had both negative and positive impacts on various aspects of economies, lifestyles, education, transportation, food supply, health, social life, and mental wellbeing. On other hands, due to reduced population movements and the decline in human activities, gas emissions decreased and the ozone layer improved; this had a positive impact on Earth’s weather and environment. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has negative effects on human activities and positive impacts on nature. This study discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different life aspects including the economy, social life, health, education, and the environment.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Penetration of a Small Caliber Projectile into Single and Multi-layered Targets

The normal penetration of armor-piercing projectiles into single and multi-layered steel plates has been investigated. An experimental program has been conducted to study the effect of spaced and in-contact layered targets on their ballistic resistance. Armor piercing projectiles with caliber of 7.62 mm were fired against a series of single and multi-layered steel targets. The projectile impact velocities were ranged from 300-600 m/s, whereas the total thicknesses of the tested single, spaced and in-contact layered steel targets were 3 mm. The penetration process of different tested target configurations has been simulated using Autodayn-2D hydrocode. The experimental measurements of the present work were used to discuss the effect of impact velocity, target configurations and number of layers of different spaced and in-contact layered steel targets on their ballistic resistance. In addition, the post-firing examination of the tested targets over the used impact velocity range showed that the single and each layer of spaced and in-contact laminated steel targets were failed by petalling. Finally, the obtained experimental measurements were compared with the corresponding numerical results of Autodyn-2D hydrocode, good agreement was generally obtained

Effects of urea supplementation on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilisation and rumen fermentation in sheep fed diets containing dates

Summary: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of increasing levels of urea (i.e., 0 (U0); 10 (U10); and 15 (U15) g kg–1 of concentrate) in sheep fed diets containing dates (local name: Azzawi), on nutrient intake and digestibility, N utilisation and ruminal fermentation. To maintain iso-nitrogenous and iso-metabolisable energy diets, the dates were added with increasing levels of urea. Sheep were fed a 400:600 (dry matter (DM) basis) concentrate:berseem hay (Trifolium alexandrinum) diet. Twelve Barki sheep (53.871.95 kg body weight) with three/diet were used in a randomised block design to determine digestibility and N balance, while four ruminally cannulated Barki sheep (56.672.15 kg body weight) were used in a 3 3 Latin square design to determine rumen function. Experimental periods were 22 days with the first 15 days for adaptation. The calculated metabolisable energy (MJ kg–1 DM) and actual crude protein (CP; g kg–1 DM) contents were 12.17 and 156.1, 12.69 and 158.2 and 12.60 and 154.8, for the U0, U10 and U15 diets, respectively. Increased urea feeding increased (Po0.05) digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and CP. Rumen ammonia N concentrations, allantoin in urine and the resultant microbial N supply increased linearly (Po0.05), as did the total ruminal volatile fatty acid concentrations. Results suggest that urea supplementation to sheep diets containing dates improved DM, OM and CP digestibility and substantially increased rumen microbial growth as well as ruminal fermentation function