Probiotics and plant-derived compounds as eco-friendly agents to inhibit microbial toxins in poultry feed: a comprehensive review

Some of pathogenic bacteria and fungi have the ability to produce fetal toxins which may be the direct causes of cytotoxicity or cellular dysfunction in the colonization site. Biological and non-biological environmental factors, challenge and microbes influence the effect of toxins on these pathogens. Modern research mentions that many natural materials can reduce the production of toxins in pathogenic microbes. However, researches that explain the mechanical theories of their effects are meager. This review aimed to discuss the ameliorative potential role of plant-derived compounds and probiotics to reduce the toxin production of food-borne microbes either in poultry bodies or poultry feedstuff. Moreover, studies that highlight their own toxicological mechanisms have been discussed. Adding natural additives to feed has a clear positive effect on the enzymatic and microbiological appearance of the small intestine without any adverse effect on the liver. Studies in this respect were proposed to clarify the effects of these natural additives for feed. In conclusion, it could be suggested that the incorporation of probiotics, herbal extracts, and herbs in the poultry diets has some beneficial effects on productive performance, without a positive impact on economic efficiency. In addition, the use of these natural additives in feed has a useful impact on the microbiological appearance of the small intestine and do not have any adverse impacts on intestinal absorption or liver activity as evidenced by histological examination.     

Does the application of silicon and Moringa seed extract reduce heavy metals toxicity in potato tubers treated with phosphate fertilizers?

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Two field trials were carried out in two successive agricultural seasons to study the possibility of using silicon (Si) and Moringa seed extract (MSE)...     

Mediterranean forests,land use and climate change: a social-ecological perspective

Regional Environmental Change - Mediterranean forests are found in the Mediterranean basin, California, the South African Cape Province, South and southwestern Australia and parts of Central Chile....     

Managing Mediterranean soil resources under global change: expected trends and mitigation strategies

Regional Environmental Change - The soils of the Mediterranean Basin are the products of soil processes that have been governed by a unique convergence of highly differentiated natural and...     

Critical success factors of sustainable manufacturing practices in Malaysian automotive industry

The purpose of this study is to examine the critical success factors of sustainable manufacturing practices (SMPs) in Malaysian automotive industry. The questionnaires were designed and distributed to the 50 respondents. The pilot study sample consists of 26 respondents from 50 questionnaires, with an average response rate of 52%. The results of reliability analysis show that social responsibility is critical factor influencing the direct SMPs implementation success. By implementing SMPs in Malaysian automotive industry, it can assist company to improve the quality of management. Thus, this study recommends that the future research explore the influence of SMPs on sustainable performance in Malaysian automotive industry.     

Characterization and adsorption capacity of modified 3D porous aerogel from grapefruit peels for removal of oils and organic solvents

With the rapid industrialization, especially offshore oil exploitation, frequent leakage incidents of oils/organic solvents have adversely affected ecological systems and environmental resources. Therefore, great interest has been shown in developing new materials to eliminate these organic pollutants, which have become worldwide problems. In this study, a cost-effective, environmentally friendly porous aerogel with three-dimensional (3D) structure was prepared from grapefruit peel by a facile hydrothermal method as the adsorbent of oils/organic solvents. The as-prepared modified grapefruit peel aerogel (M-GPA) showed mesoporous structure with high specific surface area of 36.42 m²/g and large pore volume of 0.0371 cm³/g. The excellent hydrophobicity of M-GPA with a water contact angle of 141.2° indicated a strong potential for adsorption of oils and organic solvents. The high adsorption capacity of M-GPA for a series of oils and organic solvents was 8 to 52 times as much as its own weight. Moreover, the M-GPA was easily regenerated and a high adsorption capacity recovery above 97% was maintained after five adsorption–regeneration cycles. Therefore, the M-GPA is a promising recyclable adsorbent for the removal of oils/organic solvents from polluted water.

     

Bifenthrin exerts proatherogenic effects via arterial accumulation of native and oxidized LDL in rats: the beneficial role of vitamin E and selenium

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The purpose of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the effects of Bifenthrin (Bif) chronic exposure on plasmatic and aortic lipid...     

Preparation of lactic acid modified cellulose nanoparticles by microwave heating for preconcentration of copper from blood and food samples

In this study, nano-sized cellulose modified with lactic acid (MW-Ce-LA) was prepared with the assistant of microwave then used for the adsorption of Cu²⁺ from real samples. This modified cellulose was characterized by means of FTIR, TEM, XRD, and elemental analysis. ICP-OES was used for determination of Cu²⁺. The effect of pH, adsorption times, temperature, sorbent dose, and initial adsorbate concentration were studied to detect the ideal adsorption condition. Langmuir model proved to be the best to fit the adsorption isotherm experiments with maximum adsorption capacity of 90.3 mg g^?1 Cu²⁺. Calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG° and ΔH°) for adsorption of Cu²⁺ on MW-Ce-LA suggested exothermic and nonspontaneous character of the adsorption process. The reusability tests indicated regeneration of the prepared adsorbent simply using 1 mol L^?1 of HCl. The examined method was used effectively to preconcentrate Cu²⁺ from water, blood, and food samples.

     

A hydrological modeling framework for defining achievable performance standards for pesticides

This paper proposes a hydrological modeling framework to define achievable performance standards (APSs) for pesticides that could be attained after implementation of recommended management actions, agricultural practices, and available technologies (i.e., beneficial management practices [BMPs]). An integrated hydrological modeling system, Gestion Intégrée des Bassins versants à l'aide d'un Système Informatisé, was used to quantify APSs for six Canadian watersheds for eight pesticides: atrazine, carbofuran, dicamba, glyphosate, MCPB, MCPA, metolachlor, and 2,4-D. Outputs from simulation runs to predict pesticide concentration under current conditions and in response to implementation of two types of beneficial management practices (reduced pesticide application rate and 1- to 10-m-wide edge-of-field and/or riparian buffer strips, implemented singly or in combination) showed that APS values for scenarios with BMPs were less than those for current conditions. Moreover, APS values at the outlet of watersheds were usually less than ecological thresholds of good condition, when available. Upstream river reaches were at greater risk of having concentrations above a given ecological thresholds because of limited stream flows and overland loads of pesticides. Our integrated approach of "hydrological modeling-APS estimation-ecotoxicological significance" provides the most effective interpretation possible, for management and education purposes, of the potential biological impact of predicted pesticide concentrations in rivers.     

Market basket analysis of crash data from large jurisdictions and its potential as a decision support tool

Data mining applications are becoming increasingly popular for many applications across a set of very divergent fields. Analysis of crash data is no exception. There are many data mining methodologies that have been applied to crash data in the recent past. However, one particular application conspicuously missing from the traffic safety literature until recently is association analysis or market basket analysis. The methodology is used by retailers all over the world to determine which items are purchased together. In this study, crashes are analyzed as supermarket transactions to detect interdependence among crash characteristics. The results from the analysis include simple rules that indicate which crash characteristics are associated with each other. The application is demonstrated using non-intersection crash data from the state of Florida for the year 2004. In the proposed methodology no variable needs to be assigned as dependent variable. Hence, it is useful in identifying previously unknown patterns in the data obtained from large jurisdictions (such as the State of Florida) as opposed to the data from a single roadway or intersection. Based on the association rules discovered from the analysis, it was concluded that there is a significant correlation between lack of illumination and high severity of crashes. Furthermore, it was found that under rainy conditions straight sections with vertical curves are particularly crash prone. Results are consistent with the understanding of crash characteristics and point to the potential of this methodology for the analysis of crash data collected by the state and federal agencies. The potential of this technique may be realized in the form of a decision support tool for the traffic safety administrators.