Measurement of true ileal calcium digestibility of feed ingredients for broiler chickens : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science at Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Science (IVABS), Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Listed in 2017 Dean's List of Exceptional ThesesThe recent interest towards the use of digestible phosphorus (P) in poultry feed formulations necessitates the measurement of true calcium (Ca) digestibility of feed ingredients because of the close relationship between these two minerals for their absorption and post absorptive utilisation. When this thesis research was initiated, no published data were available on Ca digestibility of feed ingredients for broiler chickens. The major objective of the studies reported in this thesis was to determine the true Ca digestibility of feed ingredients for broiler chickens. In total, nine studies were conducted. The first study (Chapter 4) was conducted to determine the effect of methodology on ileal endogenous Ca losses. Three methods, namely feeding a Ca- and P-free diet, maize gluten meal based diet and egg albumen based diet, were used. Ileal endogenous Ca losses differed among different methodologies. The highest ileal endogenous losses of 125 mg/kg dry matter intake (DMI) were recorded on the Ca- and P-free diet, followed by 77 and 43 mg/kg DMI on maize gluten meal and egg albumen diets, respectively. In the second and third studies (Chapters 5 and 6), regression and direct methods, respectively, were used to determine the true Ca digestibility of meat and bone meal (MBM). The true Ca digestibility coefficient of MBM samples were ranged from 0.41 to 0.60. No difference was observed between true Ca digestibility coefficients of MBM determined by regression and direct methods. Since the direct method is less laborious and cost effective compared to regression method, this method was used in subsequent studies (Chapters 7 to 10) to determine the true Ca digestibility of a range of Ca sources. In fourth and fifth studies (Chapters 7 and 8), the influence of dietary P, particle size and Ca to non-phytate P ratio was investigated on the true Ca digestibility of limestone for broiler chickens. The true Ca digestibility of three limestone samples varied from 0.56 to 0.62. Supplementation with recommended dietary P (4.5 g/kg) increased the true Ca digestibility of limestone when compared to diets without P. An increase in particle size from <0.5 to 1-2mm improved the true ileal Ca digestibility of limestone. Widening the Ca to non-phytate P ratio reduced the true Ca digestibility of limestone for broiler chickens. The sixth study (Chapter 9) was conducted to determine the effect of Ca source and particle size on the true Ca digestibility and total tract retention. Limestone and oyster shell were used as Ca sources. No difference was observed between the true Ca digestibility of limestone and oyster shell. An increase in particle size from <0.5 to 1-2 mm increased both the Ca digestibility and retention of both Ca sources, and increased the Ca concentration of gizzard contents. The study reported in Chapter 10 was conducted to determine the true Ca digestibility of dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP), canola meal, poultry by-product meal and fish meal, and to compare the effect of dietary adaptation length on true Ca digestibility of DCP and MCP. The true Ca digestibility coefficients of these feed ingredients were lower than MBM, limestone and oyster shell, and ranged from 0.24 to 0.33. It was speculated that the length of adaption to the assay diets may be responsible for the lower than expected estimates. The effect of dietary adaptation length (24, 48 or 72 hrs) was subsequently examined, but had no effect on true Ca digestibility of DCP and MCP. In the final study (Chapter 11), the true Ca digestibility of DCP was determined using different methodologies (regression, difference and direct methods). The true Ca digestibility coefficients of DCP were 0.34 and 0.21 with direct and different methods, respectively. A very low digestibility coefficient of 0.13 was determined by the regression method. In conclusion, the true Ca digestibility coefficient of major Ca sources (limestone, oyster shell and MBM) is not high and varied from 0.40 to 0.70. Particle size of limestone and oyster shell influenced Ca digestibility, with coarser particles having higher digestibility. The direct method appears to be suitable for the determination of true Ca digestibility of limestone, oyster shell and MBM, but may not be appropriate for other Ca sources with intrinsic imbalance of Ca and P

Decision support system for the selection of an ITE or a BTE hearing aid

The purpose of this research is to mine a large set of heterogeneous audiology data to create a decision support system (DSS) to choose between two hearing aid types (ITE and BTE aid). This research is based on the data analysis of audiology data using various statistical and data mining techniques. It uses the data of a large NHS (National Health Services, UK) facility. It uses 180,000 records (covering more than 23,000 different patients) from a hearing aid clinic. The developed system uses an unconventional method to predict hearing aid type for a patient and it can be used as a second opinion by audiologists for complex cases. After modifying the system to take account of the feedback from a professional audiologist, the success rates obtained were in the ranges 63 to 66 percent. In this research an automatic system was developed to choose between an ITE or a BTE hearing aid type with an explanation facility that can be used as a second opinion by audiologist in cases where the choice of an ITE or a BTE hearing aid is not clear cut. This analysis of audiology data and DSS will provide supplementary information for audiology experts and hearing aid dispensers. This type of system may also be of interest to manufacturers of hearing technologies in using as a ready means for their telephone customer services staff to check data, discovering data in audiology records will also be good for general awareness about the suitability of hearing aid type

ظاهرة الحال فی النحو العربی: The case” appears in Arabic grammar

Case the term indicates the movement andshift and change along with the time Ante it and that everything is moving from his place and moves such as walking and what happened that stream called the intended time of the event Kalexae Ihchy him to wear his owner, and if the thing described and if eternity cashed, and the case nickname rights which it of good and evil as he indicated to the actor and object to rude or meaning may come as single and sentence clause. This study aimed to statement and clarify the difference between grammarians in the case also aimed also to clarify the difference between the case and Mouncobac other Kelsafh and discrimination, and study followed inductive approach, and reached results of that case when many grammarians regular and pitched her cases with treated her and the owner can make it and that delayed him and Juba and passport. Study recommended the development of rules as to expand the horizon and thought present and future generations

Is devaluation contractionary? empirical evidence for Pakistan

The paper investigates the effect of real devaluation on economic growth. In the empirical model we also include other theoretically justified variables in the case of Pakistan, such as foreign remittances, money supply, and government spending. The paper implements the ADF method to test check the stationarity of the series; and the ARDL bounds testing approach to cointegration to establish a long run relationship. The findings affirm cointegration among the series. Real devaluation exerts contractionary effect on economic growth. The results from variance decomposition and impulse response-function show unidirectional causality from foreign remittances to economic growth; and bidirectional causality between money supply and foreign remittances. Furthermore, money supply Granger causes government spending; while devaluation Granger causes economic growth, albeit, weakly. The results should help in formulating a comprehensive trade policy including the use of competitive devaluation as a tool to correct balance of payments problems.Devaluation, Contractionary, Cointegration

Analogues of BH4 and nitric oxide synthase activators

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is an enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO)from L-arginine. There are three kinds of nitric oxide synthase enzymes: neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS). Nitric oxide is a biological messenger molecule and a potent vasodilator which controls many biological processes, such as hypertension, stroke, memory, learning disorders and many more. The Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was granted for the discovery and identification of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor as nitric oxide. 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor of nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) and presumably is present in every cell or tissue of higher organisms. Oxidation of BH4, in diabetes and in different chronic vasoinflammatory diseases can produce cofactor deficiency. This decreased level of BH4 can result in uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase where this enzyme produces superoxide and thus nitric oxide production is suppressed. BH4 in its active, reduced form is highly unstable and therefore not suitable for oral administration. BH4 does not readily pass across the blood brain barrier; also it cannot be utilized to improve the central neurotransmitter insufficiency in case of BH4 deficiency. This defect of BH4 owes to its hydrophilic nature; however, lipophilic particles can readily pass this brain barrier. If we can have a molecule that is not easily oxidized, and is more lipophilic so that it can cross the blood brain barrier and is also a nitric oxide synthase activator, we can treat all diseases which are caused due to deficiency of nitric oxide especially in old age, when the body starts producing less of nitric oxide. In other words, we can find a cure for diseases which are caused by nitric oxide deficiency. When I started my PhD, Prof Suckling group has already discovered an active pteridine called as WSG1002 1.2 which is more stable to oxidation and has greater solubility than BH41.1. It was an improvement but still not an ideal molecule; both stability and solubility needed to improve. We worked to develop an oxidatively stable and lipophilic pteridine molecule which can act as a cofactor for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and can correct BH4 deficiency in selected diseases. The following substitutions at WSG1002 (1.2) were considered for my research project. i) N8-deaza ii) C6-unsubstituted iii) 2H at C7 instead of methyl groups. iv) At C6 methyl, hydroxymethyl, acetoxymethyl, acetyl and 1, 2-dihydroxypropyl. This research project provided 8-alkyl and 8-deaza analogues for for nitric oxide synthase enzyme essay, the biological assays for these compounds will be discussed Chapter 3. The investigation of these compounds also made possible studies of the mechanism of action of NOS. Chapter 1 describes nitric oxide and how it is formed from NOS enzymes along with NOS structures and mechanism. It also describes the role of BH4 and its drawbacks. The stucture of the cofactor plays an important role for binding and NOS activity which has been discussed with examples along with requirements for a better molecule. Chapter 2 is about synthesis of important molecules which can help us to understand the mechanism of NO formation and the possibility of finding an ideal drug with better medicinal properties. Although the reactions were challenging, we have prepared many new molecules, many them have been evaluated, and some of them were found to be active and oxidatively stable which is one of the problems with these molecules. 8-Alkyl and 8-deaza analogues have been successfully synthesized. Chapter 3 describes biological results of our compounds which were screened for nitric oxide synthase assays in collaboration with Dr. Simon Daff at the University of Edinburgh. In addition to NOS activity, a number of molecues were also submitted for antibacterial and microbial activity in SIPBS and some of them were found to be active. Chapter 4 describes the experiments for the synthesis of our desired compounds. The methods for the preparation and their characterisation have been given in detail. The last Chapter lists the references.Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is an enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO)from L-arginine. There are three kinds of nitric oxide synthase enzymes: neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS). Nitric oxide is a biological messenger molecule and a potent vasodilator which controls many biological processes, such as hypertension, stroke, memory, learning disorders and many more. The Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was granted for the discovery and identification of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor as nitric oxide. 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor of nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) and presumably is present in every cell or tissue of higher organisms. Oxidation of BH4, in diabetes and in different chronic vasoinflammatory diseases can produce cofactor deficiency. This decreased level of BH4 can result in uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase where this enzyme produces superoxide and thus nitric oxide production is suppressed. BH4 in its active, reduced form is highly unstable and therefore not suitable for oral administration. BH4 does not readily pass across the blood brain barrier; also it cannot be utilized to improve the central neurotransmitter insufficiency in case of BH4 deficiency. This defect of BH4 owes to its hydrophilic nature; however, lipophilic particles can readily pass this brain barrier. If we can have a molecule that is not easily oxidized, and is more lipophilic so that it can cross the blood brain barrier and is also a nitric oxide synthase activator, we can treat all diseases which are caused due to deficiency of nitric oxide especially in old age, when the body starts producing less of nitric oxide. In other words, we can find a cure for diseases which are caused by nitric oxide deficiency. When I started my PhD, Prof Suckling group has already discovered an active pteridine called as WSG1002 1.2 which is more stable to oxidation and has greater solubility than BH41.1. It was an improvement but still not an ideal molecule; both stability and solubility needed to improve. We worked to develop an oxidatively stable and lipophilic pteridine molecule which can act as a cofactor for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and can correct BH4 deficiency in selected diseases. The following substitutions at WSG1002 (1.2) were considered for my research project. i) N8-deaza ii) C6-unsubstituted iii) 2H at C7 instead of methyl groups. iv) At C6 methyl, hydroxymethyl, acetoxymethyl, acetyl and 1, 2-dihydroxypropyl. This research project provided 8-alkyl and 8-deaza analogues for for nitric oxide synthase enzyme essay, the biological assays for these compounds will be discussed Chapter 3. The investigation of these compounds also made possible studies of the mechanism of action of NOS. Chapter 1 describes nitric oxide and how it is formed from NOS enzymes along with NOS structures and mechanism. It also describes the role of BH4 and its drawbacks. The stucture of the cofactor plays an important role for binding and NOS activity which has been discussed with examples along with requirements for a better molecule. Chapter 2 is about synthesis of important molecules which can help us to understand the mechanism of NO formation and the possibility of finding an ideal drug with better medicinal properties. Although the reactions were challenging, we have prepared many new molecules, many them have been evaluated, and some of them were found to be active and oxidatively stable which is one of the problems with these molecules. 8-Alkyl and 8-deaza analogues have been successfully synthesized. Chapter 3 describes biological results of our compounds which were screened for nitric oxide synthase assays in collaboration with Dr. Simon Daff at the University of Edinburgh. In addition to NOS activity, a number of molecues were also submitted for antibacterial and microbial activity in SIPBS and some of them were found to be active. Chapter 4 describes the experiments for the synthesis of our desired compounds. The methods for the preparation and their characterisation have been given in detail. The last Chapter lists the references

Barriers to the implementation of quality management system in media organizations in pakistan: an empirical study

Quality management system has played pivotal role in establishing organizational functions and processes in the very right perspective of a very well knitted system of documentation, training and implementation. Media organizations are so close in their very existence and social structure and they are more than needed to stream line their processes as their impact on social life is significant and considerable. This study encompasses the top news channels in Pakistan and recorded the views of their top management with respect to their feelings pertaining to QMS. This study is very first one of its kinds in Pakistan and it is hoped that it may open more doors for future research avenues in this very area