Zinc Supplementation against Eimeria acervulina-Induced Oxidative Damage in Broiler Chickens

This study was undertaken to determine the dietary supplements of Zn containing diet on the antioxidant status in chickens experimentally infected with Eimeria acervulina. The antioxidant status was monitored via determination of MDA concentrations and erythrocyte SOD and CAT activities, as well as vitamin E, vitamin C, Cu, and Zn in liver, muscle, and serum. The results showed increased MDA (P < .05), CAT (P < .001), and decreased SOD (P < .001) in the infected birds. Significant changes in Cu and Zn concentrations and dramatically reduction of vitamin C and E concentrations in the infected chickens were found. The observed deviations in the studied enzymes and nonenzymatic parameters evidence the occurrence of oxidative stress following the infection and impaired antioxidant status of chickens, infected with Eimeria acervulina. Our results proved the ameliorating role of CuZn(OH)3Cl (0.170 g per kg food) against Eimeria acervulina-induced oxidative damage in infected chickens

Study on the host-guest interactions during caffeine encapsulation into zeolite

The objective of this study was to investigate the equilibrium and kinetics behavior, sorption mechanism and host-guest interactions during caffeine (CAF) encapsulation in natural zeolite. The chemical, spectral and morphological properties of the newly obtained drug-carrier system were analyzed. Zeolite surface chemistry and morphology were characterized by determination of pH of zero charge, FT-IR and digital microscopy analyses. Equilibrium and kinetic sorption experiments and modeling were conducted to assess zeolite potential. Satisfactory extend of CAF encapsulation in the zeolite matrix (E 36.4%) was obtained. The probable host-quest interactions include Van der Waals interactions, H-bonds and chemical interactions between CAF functional groups and zeolite silanol groups, as well as parallel intraparticle diffusion of drug molecules in the mesopores of the mineral particles. The analyses of the experimental results indicated that natural zeolite could be successfully applied for encapsulating CAF

INVESTIGATIONS ON THE RESISTANCE OF SOME BULGARIAN COMMON BEAN GENOTYPES TOWARDS BEAN WEEVIL (ACANTHOSCELIDES OBTECTUS SAY)

The most effective, environmentally sound and safety way to fight pests with biological means is the use of resistant varieties to them. In the present study were indicated the reactions of 30 Bulgarian common bean genotypes to the most economically important enemy – bean weevil (Acanthoscelidis obtectus Say). For this purpose, the following indicators were traced – seed damages and young adult insects, which largely characterized the response of different common bean genotypes to that biological pest enemy. The results of this investigation present a sensitive response to the sustainability of different genotypes to the bean weevil. The Bulgarian common bean varieties Plovdiv 11M, Abritus, Crystal and Bulgari can be used in breeding programs as donors of resistance to the bean weevil

Linear and Nonlinear Regression Methods for Equilibrium Modelling of p-Nitrophenol Biosorption by Rhizopus oryzae: Comparison of Error Analysis Criteria

The study assessed the applicability of Rhizopus oryzae dead fungi as a biosorbent medium for p-nitrophenol (p-NP) removal from aqueous phase. The extent of biosorption was measured through five equilibrium sorption isotherms represented by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, multilayer and Fritz-Schlunder models. Linear and nonlinear regression methods were compared to determine the best-fitting equilibrium model to the experimental data. A detailed error analysis was undertaken to investigate the effect of applying seven error criteria for the determination of the single-component isotherm parameters. According to the comparison of the error functions and to the estimation of the corrected Akaike information criterion (), the Freundlich equation was ranked as the first and the Fritz-Schlunder as the second best-fitting models describing the experimental data. The present investigations proved the high efficiency (94%) of Rhizopus Oryzae as an alternative adsorbent for p-NP removal from aqueous phase and revealed the mechanism of the separation process