Effects of dried sugar beet root based concentrates level on wholesale cuts and eye muscle characteristics in Tagger male kids

Twelve Tagger males at 6 month old were used to study the effects of dried sugar beet root (DSBR) based concentrates level on animals performance, carcass and wholesale cuts characteristics. They were weighed and divided into 3 groups, each with 4 animals. They were housed in individual pens with feed and water troughs and allocated at random to the diets. They were weighed weekly for 8 weeks with a two weeks preliminary period. They were fed groundnut haulm (GNH) ad lib. in two equal meals at 8 am and 4  pm and different levels of DSBR based concentrates (0 (control), 150g and 300g) in two equal parts before GNH meals. The concentrates contained 68% DSBR,15% GNH cakes, 15% sunflower cake, 1% salt and 1% oyster shell. The animals were slaughtered, skinned and carcass characteristics were studied. The left side was divided into wholesale cuts and were weighed and dissected into muscle, fat and bone. The rib section (10th – 12th) was removed and the characteristics and meat composition were determined. Percentages of best end of neck, breast and leg and chump, neck and loin generally increased with concentrates level. Concentrates level had no significant (P>0.05) effect on wholesale cuts percentages. Meat DM, CP, EE and ash were 32.82%, 17.3%, 2.15% and 3.0% at 0 concentrates, 37.5%, 17.9%, 2.35% and 2.65, respectively at 150g concentrates and 35.5%, 18.2%, 2.4% and 2.95%, respectively at 300g concentrates. Overall meat composition was 35.28%, 17.8%, 2.3% and 2.87%, respectively. Meat DM and CP varied significantly (P<0.05) with concentrates level. Animals fed no concentrates had the least DM, CP and EE and the highest ash. Animals fed 300g had the highest CP and EE. Supplementing GNH with DSBR based concentrates generally improved Tagger kids wholesale cuts percentages and meat composition. It is recommended to use DSBR based concentrates in fattening Tagger kids.         حفز ارتفاع الطلب وأسعار اللحوم في السودان على تحسين لحوم الماعز لارتفاع أعدادها وارتفاع العضلات والقيمة الغذائية وانخفاض الكولسترول والأحماض الدهنية المشبعة.  تعتبر التقر سلالة واعدة لإنتاج اللحوم لجودة القوام ونوعية اللحم. إنتاج اللحوم عامة تقليدي مع انخفاض الاستثمار والعائدات. التغذية من أهم المعوقات لتدهور المراعي والتباين الموسمي في كمية ونوعية العلف وغلاء العلائق المركزة . أدخل بنجر السكر لولاية الجزيرة وهو علف واعد خاصة الجذر لارتفاع الطاقة. لا تتوفر معلومات عن استخدام جذر البنجر الجاف لجديان التقر.  ولذلك أجريت هذه الدراسة لاختبار اثر مستويات عليقة مركزة ترتكز على جذر البنجر الجاف على الأداء وصفات الذبيحة وتركيب اللحم في جديان التقر. وضعت 12 من ذكور جديان التقر بعمر 6  أشهر في حظائر فردية بها أوعية للعلف والماء وأعطيت عشوائيا الأعلاف  المختبرة. وزنت الحيوانات أسبوعيا لمدة 8 أسابيع منها أسبوعين فترة إعدادية. أعلفت الحيوانات تبن الفول السوداني حسب الرغبة في وجبتين متساويتين عند الثامنة صباحا والرابعة مساء ووزن العلف المتبقي. أعلفت الحيوانات مستويات مختلفة من عليقة مركزة ترتكز على جذور البنجر الجاف (صفر ( الشاهد)  150 و300جم ( في جزئين قبل وجبات تبن الفول السوداني . احتوت العليقة المركزة على 68% جذور البنجر الجاف و15%  امباز فول سوداني و15%  أمباز زهرة الشمس و1% ملح و 1% صدف.  حفظت عينات من تبن الفول السوداني و جذور البنجر الجاف والتبن المتبقي والعليقة المركزة للتحليل المعملي . ذبحت الحيوانات وسلخت  وفصلت مكونات الجسم الثانوية ووزنت لوحدها. وزنت الذبيحة وحسبت صفات الذبيحة.  قسم الجزء الأيسر من الذبيحة إلى قطع إجمالية ووزنت ثم شرحت كل منها.  فصلت العضلة العينية (الضلع 10-12 ) وعينت الصفات والتركيب .. قُسمت الذبائح لخمسة قطع تجارية ولم تُلاحظ فروق معنوية بين مستويات العلائق المركزة. عند التحليل الكيميائي للحوم كانت النسب المئوية للمادة الجافة و البروتين الخام والدهون الخام والرماد %32.82  و %17.3 و %2.15 و3.0  % للمجموعة القياسية و %37.5 و %17.9 و %2.35 و2.65 %عند 150 جم عليقة مركزة و  %35.5 و %18.2 و 2.4  2.95 % عند 300 جم عليقة مركزة ، علي التوالي. وكان المتوسط العام لتركيب اللحم %35.28 و %17.8 و2.3  %و %2.87 ، علي التوالي وكانت الفروق بين مستويات العليقة المركزة معنوية للمادة الجافة والبروتين الخام (P<0.05) . كان للمجموعة القياسية أقل مادة جافة وبروتين خام ودهون وأعلي نسبة رماد.  بينما نالت المجموعة المغذاة علي 300 جم عليقة مركزة أعلي بروتين خام ودهون.  عامة ساهمت إضافة تبن الفول السوداني والعلائق المركزة المعتمدة علي جذور بنجر السكر في تحسين نسب القطع التجارية وتركيب اللحم.  نوصي استخدام علائق بنجر السكر لتسمين جديان التق

Effects of sugar beet root based concentrates level on carcass characteristics and body components in Tagger male kids

     Twelve Tagger male kids at 6 month old were used to study the effects of dried sugar beet root (DSBR) based concentrates level on the performance and carcass characteristics in the Gezira State, Sudan. They were weighed, divided into 3 groups according to body weight (BW) and allocated at random to the 3 experimental diets. They were  housed in individual pens and weighed weekly before the morning meal for 8 weeks with a two weeks preliminary period. They were fed groundnut haulm (GNH) ad lib. in two equal meals at 8 am and 4 pm and different levels of DSBR based concentrates (0 (control), 150g and 300g) in two equal parts before GNH meals. The animals were slaughtered and body components and carcass characteristics were studied. Slaughter weight, hot carcass weight (9.62- 12.69 kg), EBW (7.39-10.1kg), dressing percentages (37.26-41.67), muscle (65.75-68.0%), fat (7.75-12.25%), muscle: bone (2.49:1- 3.58:1) and muscle: fat (8.79:1-10.6:1) increased and bone (26.50 -19.75%) decreased with concentrates level. Body components weight and percentages on live BW varied among and within concentrate levels and were mostly the heaviest in animals fed 300g concentrates. Body components weights and percentages were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by concentrates level, except kidneys and renal fat, mesentery and omentum. The highest percentages were higher in the control and least in animals fed 150g concentrates. It is recommended to use DSBR based concentrates in fattening Tagger kids.     استخدم 12 ذكر جديان من  التقر بعمر 6 أشهر لدراسة أثر مستويات عليقة مركزة تحتوي على جذور بنجر السكر الجافة على  صفات الذبيحة و مكونات الجسم الثانوية في ولاية الجزيرة بالسودان.  تم وزن الحيوانات وتقسيمها الى 3 مجموعات على أساس الوزن ووزعت عشوائيا على اعلاف الدراسة الثلاث. وضعت الحيوانات في حظائر فردية ووزنت أسبوعياً قبل وجبة الصباح لمدة 8 أسابيع منها أسبوعين فترة إعدادية.  أعلفت الحيوانات تبن الفول السوداني حسب الرغبة في وجبتين متساويتين عند الثامنة صباحا والرابعة مساء و مستويات مختلفة من عليقة مركزة ترتكز على جذور بنجر السكر الجافة  (صفر (الشاهد) 150و و300جم ( في جزئين قبل وجبات تبن الفول السوداني.  ذبحت الحيوانات وقيست مكونات الجسم الثانوية وصفات الذبيحة. أظهرت الدراسة ازدياد وزن الذبح والذبيحة الحارة(9.62- 12.69  كجم ) ووزن الجسم الفارغ (7.39-10.1  كجم) ونسبة التصافي (37.26 %– (%41. 67  علي أساس الوزن الحي و  42.875-52.15%  علي أساس الوزن الفارغ ونسب العضلات (65.75  %- 68.00%) والدهون (7.75%-12.25%) ونسبة العضلات للعظام ( %2.49- %3.58 ) والعضلات للدهون 8.79%-10.6 (% و تقل نسب العظام (19.75%-26.50% (مع زيادة مستوي العليقة المركزة بدون فروق معنوية .  تباينت أوزان مكونات الجسم الثانوية ونسبها على أساس وزن الجسم بين وداخل مستويات العليقة المركزة وكانت أعلي في الحيوانات المغذاة علي 300 جم عليقة مركزة وأقلها في  مجموعة الشاهد . لم تكن الفروقات في أوزان ونسب مكونات الجسم الثانوية معنوية عدا الكلي ودهنها والمساريقا ودهن الأحشاء. كان عدد النسب المئوية الأعلى أكبر في مجموعة الشاهد واقل في التي أعلفت 150 جم عليقة مركزة. يوصي باستخدام علائق تحتوي على  جذور بنجر السكر الجافة لتسمين جديان ماعز التقر                                                                                           &nbsp

Effects of different levels of sugar beet roots based concentrates on the performance of Tagger male kids

    High meat demand in the Sudan enhanced improvement of goat meat production. Tagger is a promising meat breed due to good conformation and high meat quality. Nutrition is a main constraint for goat meat production. Sugar beet is introduced into the Gezira State with no information on effects of dried sugar beet roots (DSBR) based concentrates level on Tagger kids performance, carcass characteristics and meat composition. Twelve Tagger males of 6 months old were housed in individual pens, divided into 3 groups, each with 4 animals and allocated at random to the experimental diets. They were weighed weekly for 8 weeks with a two weeks preliminary period. They were fed groundnut haulm (GNH) ad lib. in two equal meals at 8.0 am and 4.0 pm and refusals were collected and weighed daily. The animals were fed different levels of DSBR based concentrates: 0 (control), 150g and 300g, in two equal parts before GNH meals. The concentrates contained 68% DSBR,15% groundnut cakes, 15% sunflower cakes, 1% salt and 1% oyster shell. Samples of feeds and refusals were stored for laboratory analysis.  Resultd showed that groundnut haulm (30% CP, 8.8% CF, 4.8% ash and 48.2% NFE) had better proximate analysis than refusals which generally improved with concentrates levels. Dried sugar beet had 12.9% CP, 11.0% CF and 59.25% NFE and the concentrates had 42.25% CP, 2.0% CF and 49.5% NFE. Overall mean BW generally increased with concentrates level (10.78, 10.9 and 12.19kg at 0, 150 and 300g, respectively), but  not significantly different. Overall mean daily feed intakes varied with concentrates level and were 1550.89, 1187.46 and 1545.67g at 0, 150 and 300g concentrates, respectively, and were significantly least in animals fed 150g concentrates. Weekly weight gain generally increased with concentrates level in all weeks and was highest in animals fed 150g concentrates with no significant effects for concentrates level. It was 0.55, 0.68 and 0.60 kg at 0, 150 and 300g concentrates, respectively. It is recommended to use DSBR based concentrates in fattening Tagger kids.     حفز ارتفاع الطلب  على اللحوم وأسعارها في السودان تحسين لحوم الماعز. تعتبر التقر سلالة واعدة لإنتاج اللحوم لجودة القوام ونوعية اللحم.  إلا أن التغذية من المعوقات الرئيسة لإنتاج لحوم الماعز.  أدخل بنجر السكر لولاية الجزيرة ولا تتوفر معلومات عن أثر مستوى جذر البنجر الجاف) ج ب ج (على أداء جديان التقر وصفات الذبيحة  وتركيب اللحم.  وضعت 12 من ذكور جديان التقر بعمر 6 أشهر في حظائر فردية  وقسمت الى 3 مجموعات بكل منها 4 حيوانات  ووزعت عشوائيا على أعلاف الدراسة. وزنت الحيوانات أسبوعيا لمدة 8 أسابيع منها أسبوعين فترة إعدادية. أعلفت الحيوانات تبن الفول السوداني )ت ف س) حسب الرغبة في وجبتين متساويتين عند الثامنة صباحا والرابعة مساء وجمع ووزن العلف المتبقي.  كما أعلفت الحيوانات مستويات مختلفة من عليقة مركزة ترتكز على )ج ب ج  (عند صفر( الشاهد), 150 و300جم في جزئين متساويين  قبل وجبتي ت ف س. احتوت العليقة المركزة على 68% ج ب ج و15%  امباز فول سوداني و15%  تبن زهرة الشمس و1% ملح و 1% صدف  حفظت عينات من  الأعلاف والعلف المتبقي للتحليل المعملي.  حُللت المعلومات إحصائيا باستخدام تحليل التباين واستخدم اختبار دنكن لفصل اختلافات المتوسطات. كان  ت ف س (  30% بروتين خام ، 8.85 ألياف خام، 4.8% رماد و 48.2% جزء خالي من النتروجين) أحسن في التحليل التقريبي من المتبق.والذي تحسنت نوعيته بارتفاع مستوى العليقة المركزة. كان تركيب  ج ب ج 12.95 % بروتين خام ، 11% الياف خام و 59.25% جزء خالي من النتروجين .وتركيب العليقة المركزة  42.25 % بروتين خام ، 2% ألياف خام و 49.5% جزء خالي من النتروجين .  زاد متوسط الوزن الكلى مع زيادة العليقة المركزة (10.78 ،  10.9 و 12.19عند صفر و 150 و 300 جم عليقة مركزة على التوالي بدون فروقات معنوية . (P>.05)  تباين متوسط المتناول من العلف تبعاً لمستوي المركزات وكان 1550.89 و 1187.46 و 1545.67 جم عند صفر و 150 و300 جم عليقة مركزة ، علي التوالي وكان أقل معنوياً للحيوانات التي غُذيت علي  150عليقة مركزة.  تباينت زيادة الوزن الأسبوعي بزيادة مستوي العليقة المركزة في كل الأسابيع وكانت الأعلى للحيوانات عند 150 جم بدون زيادة معنوية. وكانت 0.55 و0.68 و 0.60 كجم عند صفر و 150 و300 جم عليقة مركزة، علي التوالي. يوصي باستخدام علائق جذور بنجر السكر المجففة لتسمين جديان التقر

Multivariable regression analysis in Schistosoma mansoni-infected individuals in the Sudan reveals unique immunoepidemiological profiles in uninfected, egg+ and non-egg+ infected individuals

Background: In the Sudan, Schistosoma mansoni infections are a major cause of morbidity in schoolaged children and infection rates are associated with available clean water sources. During infection, immune responses pass through a Th1 followed by Th2 and Treg phases and patterns can relate to different stages of infection or immunity. Methodology: This retrospective study evaluated immunoepidemiological aspects in 234 individuals(range 4–85 years old) from Kassala and Khartoum states in 2011. Systemic immune profiles(cytokines and immunoglobulins) and epidemiological parameters were surveyed in n = 110 persons presenting patent S. mansoni infections (egg+), n = 63 individuals positive for S. mansoni via PCR in sera but egg negative (SmPCR+) and n = 61 people who were infection-free (Sm uninf). Immunoepidemiological findings were further investigated using two binary multivariable regression analysis. Principal Findings: Nearly all egg+ individuals had no access to latrines and over 90% obtained water via the canal stemming from the Atbara River. With regards to age, infection and an egg+ status was linked to young and adolescent groups. In terms of immunology, S. mansoni infection per se was strongly associated with increased SEA-specific IgG4 but not IgE levels. IL-6, IL-13 and IL-10 were significantly elevated in patently-infected individuals and positively correlated with egg load. In contrast, IL-2 and IL-1β were significantly lower in SmPCR+ individuals when compared to Sm uninf and egg+ groups which was further confirmed during multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions/Significance: Schistosomiasis remains an important public health problem in the Sudan with a high number of patent individuals. In addition, SmPCR diagnostics revealed another cohort of infected individuals with a unique immunological profile and provides an avenue for future studies on non-patent infection states. Future studies should investigate the downstream signalling pathways/mechanisms of IL-2 and IL-1β as potential diagnostic markers in order to distinguish patent from non-patent individuals

Enhancement of stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants constitutively expressing AtIpk2β, an inositol polyphosphate 6-/3-kinase from Arabidopsis thaliana

Inositol phosphates (IPs) and their turnover products have been implicated to play important roles in stress signaling in eukaryotic cells. In higher plants genes encoding inositol polyphosphate kinases have been identified previously, but their physiological functions have not been fully resolved. Here we expressed Arabidopsis inositol polyphosphate 6-/3-kinase (AtIpk2β) in two heterologous systems, i.e. the yeast Saccharomycescerevisiae and in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), and tested the effect on abiotic stress tolerance. Expression of AtIpk2β rescued the salt-, osmotic- and temperature-sensitive growth defects of a yeast mutant strain (arg82Δ) that lacks inositol polyphosphate multikinase activity encoded by the ARG82/IPK2 gene. Transgenic tobacco plants constitutively expressing AtIpk2β under the control of the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter were generated and found to exhibit improved tolerance to diverse abiotic stresses when compared to wild type plants. Expression patterns of various stress responsive genes were enhanced, and the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes were elevated in transgenic plants, suggesting a possible involvement of AtIpk2β in plant stress responses

Diacylglycerol-Stimulated Endocytosis of Transferrin in Trypanosomatids Is Dependent on Tyrosine Kinase Activity

Small molecule regulation of cell function is an understudied area of trypanosomatid biology. In Trypanosoma brucei diacylglycerol (DAG) stimulates endocytosis of transferrin (Tf). However, it is not known whether other trypanosomatidae respond similarly to the lipid. Further, the biochemical pathways involved in DAG signaling to the endocytic system in T. brucei are unknown, as the parasite genome does not encode canonical DAG receptors (e.g. C1-domains). We established that DAG stimulates endocytosis of Tf in Leishmania major, and we evaluated possible effector enzymes in the pathway with multiple approaches. First, a heterologously expressed glycosylphosphatidylinositol phospholipase C (GPI-PLC) activated endocytosis of Tf 300% in L. major. Second, exogenous phorbol ester and DAGs promoted Tf endocytosis in L. major. In search of possible effectors of DAG signaling, we discovered a novel C1-like domain (i.e. C1_5) in trypanosomatids, and we identified protein Tyr kinases (PTKs) linked with C1_5 domains in T. brucei, T. cruzi, and L. major. Consequently, we hypothesized that trypanosome PTKs might be effector enzymes for DAG signaling. General uptake of Tf was reduced by inhibitors of either Ser/Thr or Tyr kinases. However, DAG-stimulated endocytosis of Tf was blocked only by an inhibitor of PTKs, in both T. brucei and L. major. We conclude that (i) DAG activates Tf endocytosis in L. major, and that (ii) PTKs are effectors of DAG-stimulated endocytosis of Tf in trypanosomatids. DAG-stimulated endocytosis of Tf may be a T. brucei adaptation to compete effectively with host cells for vertebrate Tf in blood, since DAG does not enhance endocytosis of Tf in human cells

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2–4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Green process innovation: Where we are and where we are going

Environmental pollution has worsened in the past few decades, and increasing pressure is being put on firms by different regulatory bodies, customer groups, NGOs and other media outlets to adopt green process innovations (GPcIs), which include clean technologies and end-of-pipe solutions. Although considerable studies have been published on GPcI, the literature is disjointed, and as such, a comprehensive understanding of the issues, challenges and gaps is lacking. A systematic literature review (SLR) involving 80 relevant studies was conducted to extract seven themes: strategic response, organisational learning, institutional pressures, structural issues, outcomes, barriers and methodological choices. The review thus highlights the various gaps in the GPcI literature and illuminates the pathways for future research by proposing a series of potential research questions. This study is of vital importance to business strategy as it provides a comprehensive framework to help firms understand the various contours of GPcI. Likewise, policymakers can use the findings of this study to fill in the loopholes in the existing regulations that firms are exploiting to circumvent taxes and other penalties by locating their operations to emerging economies with less stringent environmental regulations.publishedVersio