Influence of Dietary Probiotic and Alpha-Monolaurin on Performance, Egg Quality, Blood Constituents, and Egg Fatty Acids' Profile in Laying Hens.

This work was designed to evaluate the advantages of using multi-strain probiotics feed (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Clostridium butyricum) (PRO) and alpha-monolaurin (AML) on laying performance, criteria of egg quality, blood parameters, and yolk fatty acids' profile in laying hens. One hundred forty of Bovans brown laying hens at 45 weeks old (25th week of egg production) were randomly allocated into four groups, with seven replicates of five birds each in a complete randomized design. The first group was fed a basal diet without feed additives (0 g/kg diet), and the second, third, and fourth groups received diets containing 1 g PRO, 1 g AML, and 1 g PRO + 1 g AML/kg diet, respectively. No significant impacts of PRO, AML, or their mixture on body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), or egg weight. Egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were enhanced by 1 g PRO/kg and /or 1 g AML/kg supplementation in laying hen diets. Furthermore, egg shape index, eggshell thickness, and yolk color were statistically higher by PRO and AML supplementation at 55 weeks. However, oviduct, infundibulum, and uterus weights were significantly decreased by 1 g PRO or/and 1 g AML. Additionally, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), glucose, and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) levels were decreased by PRO and AML supplementation. In conclusion, it seems that dietary inclusion with 1 g PRO/kg, 1 g of AML/kg, and 1 g PRO + 1 g AML improved egg production, egg mass, FCR, and yolk fatty acids profile and lowered total cholesterol and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in laying hens.

Application of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers in the Analysis of Waters and Wastewaters.

The increase of the global population and shortage of renewable water resources urges the development of possible remedies to improve the quality and reusability of waste and contaminated water supplies. Different water pollutants, such as heavy metals, dyes, pesticides, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), and pharmaceuticals, are produced through continuous technical and industrial developments that are emerging with the increasing population. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) represent a class of synthetic receptors that can be produced from different types of polymerization reactions between a target template and functional monomer(s), having functional groups specifically interacting with the template; such interactions can be tailored according to the purpose of designing the polymer and based on the nature of the target compounds. The removal of the template using suitable knocking out agents renders a recognition cavity that can specifically rebind to the target template which is the main mechanism of the applicability of MIPs in electrochemical sensors and as solid phase extraction sorbents. MIPs have unique properties in terms of stability, selectivity, and resistance to acids and bases besides being of low cost and simple to prepare; thus, they are excellent materials to be used for water analysis. The current review represents the different applications of MIPs in the past five years for the detection of different classes of water and wastewater contaminants and possible approaches for future applications.

Effect of Thermo-Mechanical Aging and Repressing on Fracture Resistance of Lithium Disilicate Crowns / Efeito do envelhecimento termomecânico e reprensagem na resistência à fratura de coroas de dissilicato de lítio

Objective: The recycling of heat pressed lithium disilicate glass-ceramic leftover material has been reported to be done by dental laboratories. The effect of this procedure on the fracture resistance of single crowns is unknown, especially when it is functioning inside the oral cavity with subsequent exposure to temperature changes and cycles of mastication. Material and Methods: A total of 28 lithium disilicate glass-ceramic crowns (IPS emax Press) were constructed and randomly assigned into two groups (n = 14); Group (P): Included crowns fabricated from new e.max ingots. Group (R): Included crowns fabricated from repressed e.max buttons. Specimens of each group were divided into two equal subgroups (n = 7) according to whether the aging of specimens will be performed or not before fracture resistance testing. Subgroup (N), samples were subjected to fracture resistance without thermo-mechanical aging, while subgroup (A), samples were subjected to thermo-cycling and cyclic loading before being subjected to fracture strength testing. Different methods; SEM, XRD, EDAX were used to characterize the properties of lithium disilicate glass-ceramics before and after repressing. Results: The highest statistically significant fracture resistance value was recorded for the subgroup (RN) repressed/non-aged, followed by the subgroup repressed/aged (RA), while the lowest statistically significant mean value was recorded for the subgroup pressed/aged (PA). There was no significant difference between pressed/non-aged (PN) and repressed/aged (RA) subgroups. Conclusion: Repressing of leftover buttons may increase the fracture resistance of IPS emax Press crowns. Thermo-mechanical aging may negatively affect the fracture resistance of IPS emax Press crowns, yet Repressing may decrease this effect. Clinical implications:This is a novel approach that targets a point of research that has not been investigated before. It elaborates how repressing may decrease the effect of aging and increase the fracture resistance of lithium disilicate crowns. Thus, recycling of lithium disilicate glass ceramics might decrease its failure and prolong their serviceability (AU)

Objetivo: A reutilização de material residual de vitrocerâmicas de dissilicato de lítio prensadas a quente tem sido realizada pelos laboratórios de prótese. O efeito deste procedimento na resistência à fratura de coroas unitárias é desconhecido, especialmente quando estão em função na cavidade oral com subsequente exposição às variações de temperatura e ciclos mastigatórios. Material e Métodos: Vinte e oito coroas de dissilicato de lítio (IPS e.max Press) foram confeccionadas e divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos (n = 14); Grupo (P): Incluiu coroas fabricadas de pastilhas novas de e.max; Grupo (R): Incluiu coroas fabricadas de e.max reprensado. As amostras de cada grupo foram divididas em dois subgrupos iguais (n = 7) de acordo com a realização de envelhecimento dos espécimes antes do teste de resistência à fratura. As amostras do subgrupo (N) foram submetidas ao teste de resistência à fratura sem envelhecimento termomecânico, enquanto as amostras do subgrupo (A) foram submetidas ao envelhecimento termomecânico antes do teste de resistência à fratura. Diferentes métodos (MEV, DRX e EDS) foram usados para caracterizar as propriedades da cerâmica de dissilicato de lítio antes e depois da reprensagem. Resultados: O maior valor de resistência à fratura estatisticamente significativo foi do subgrupo (RN) reprensado/não envelhecido, seguido pelo subgrupo reprensado/envelhecido (RA), enquanto o menor valor médio estatisticamente significativo foi do subgrupo prensado/envelhecido (PA). Não houve diferença estatística entre os subgrupos prensado/não envelhecido (PN) e reprensado/envelhecido (RA). Conclusão: A reprensagem de material residual pode aumentar a resistência à fratura de coroas de IPS e.max Press. O envelhecimento termomecânico pode afetar negativamente na resistência à fratura deste material, enquanto a reprensagem pode diminuir este efeito. Relevância clínica: Esta é uma nova abordagem que busca estudar um tema que não havia sido investigado anteriormente. Este estudo demonstrou como a reprensagem pode diminuir o efeito do envelhecimento e aumentar a resistência à fratura de coroas de dissilicato de lítio. Assim, a reutilização de vitrocerâmicas de dissilicato de lítio pode diminuir o risco à falha e aumentar o tempo de vida útil (AU)