Endothelin-1 enhances the melanogenesis via MITF-GPNMB pathway

Ping Zhang,Wei Liu,Xiaoying Yuan,Dong Guang Li,We Ijie Gu,Tian Wen Gao 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2013 BMB Reports Vol.46 No.7

Intestinal Structure and Function of Broiler Chickens on Wheat-Based Diets Supplemented With a Microbial Enzyme

Iji, P.A.,Hughes, R.J.,Choct, M.,Tivey, D.R. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2001 Animal Bioscience Vol.14 No.1

A study was conducted to assess the nutritive value of two diets based on a low-energy variety of wheat, RAC C1 and their effects on intestinal mucosal structure and function in broiler chickens. The diets were fed with or without microbial enzyme supplement to male and female broiler chickens. The digesta viscosity was reduced (p<0.001) through supplementation with a microbial enzyme in male and female chicks. Enzyme supplementation also improved the dietary apparent metabolizable energy content (p<0.001) and had slight but non-significant positive effects on chick growth and feed conversion ratio. Intestinal mucosal structure and enzyme function were not affected by microbial enzyme supplement. Male chicks consumed more feeds (p<0.001), attained higher final body weight (p<0.001) and were more efficient at feed utilization (p<0.01) than the female chicks. Except for duodenal villus surface area and ileal protein content, intestinal mucosal structure and enzyme activities were similar between the two sexes and dietary treatment groups. The study showed an improvement in the nutritive value of the diets in the presence of the microbial enzyme supplement.

Effects of Seeding Rates and Phosphorus Levels on the Productivity of Atylosia scarabeoides (Benth.)

Iji, P.A.,Kolawole, O.A.,Bawa, G.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1997 Animal Bioscience Vol.10 No.2

Glasshouse investigations were carried out to investigate the development and yield of Atylosia scarabeoides on soils of the northern guinea savanah zone of Nigeria. Seeds were sown at four rates 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg/ha. Single superphosphate (SSP) fertilizer was applied at sowing at four rates 0, 60, 90 and 120 kg/ha. Seeding (plant) population at one month and at harvest was significantly (p < 0.01) influenced by seeding rate but not fertilizer level. Fresh herbage yield was strongly (p < 0.01) dependent on fertilizer level, with the highest (not significant) dry matter yield at 90 kg SSP/ha. Seeding rate had no significant effects on herbage yield. The crude protein content of herbage rose with increase in fertilizer level although there were no significant differences between the various seeding and phosphorus rates. No significant interactions were observed between seeding rate and phosphorus lever. The yields were generally high, indicating good prospects for pasture development with A. scarabeoides in the zone, although field trials would be of benefit.

Effects of Xylanase on Growth and Gut Development of Broiler Chickens Given a Wheat-based Diet

Yang, Y.,Iji, P.A.,Kocher, A.,Mikkelsen, L.L.,Choct, M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.11

To study the working mechanisms for non-starch polysaccharidases to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens, a 21-day feeding trial was conducted. Two dietary treatments were included: 1) wheat diet (the control); 2) wheat+xylanase diet (xylanase, Allzyme PT, Alltech, Kentucky, USA). There were 8 replicates with 8 birds each for each treatment and the experimental diets were given to birds from hatch. Feed intake and body weight were measured on days 7 and 21. At the same ages, samples were taken for the determination of selected groups of luminal and mucosa-associated bacteria, mucosal morphology, brush-border membrane (BBM) bound enzyme activity and ileal nutrient digestibility. The xylanase supplement increased (p<0.05) body weight gain (BWG) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) at the end of the experiment but protein and starch digestibilities were not affected (p>0.05) by xylanase. Up to day 7, xylanase increased the counts of C. perfringens in the ileum and total anaerobic bacteria (TAB) in the caeca (p<0.05, p=0.07, respectively). By day 21, the counts of ileal lactobacilli (p<0.05) and TAB (p=0.07) were lower in birds given the xylanase-supplemented diet than in those on the control diet. No significant differences were observed in the counts of mucosa-associated lactobacilli and coliforms between xylanase treatment and the control at both ages. Villus height at the jejunum was not affected (p>0.05) by the supplement but crypt depth at the same site was reduced at day 7. Also, xylanase tended to increase the concentration of BBM protein (p = 0.09) and the specific activity of sucrase (p = 0.07) at day 21.

Failure analysis of tubes under multiaxial proportional and non-proportional loading paths

Mohammad Hossein Iji,Ali Nayebi 국제구조공학회 2023 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.47 No.2

The failure of a thin-walled tube was studied in this paper based on three failure models. Both proportional and nonproportional loading paths were applied. Proportional loading consisted of combined tension-torsion. Cyclic non-proportional loading was also applied. It was a circular out-of-phase axial-shear stress loading path. The third loading path was a combination of a constant internal pressure and a bending moment. The failure models under study were equivalent plastic strain, modified Mohr-Coulomb (Bai-Wierzbicki) and Tearing parameter models. The elasto-plastic analysis was conducted using J2 criterion and nonlinear kinematic hardening. The return mapping algorithm was employed to numerically solve the plastic flow relations. The effects of the hydrostatic stress on the plastic flow and the stress triaxiality parameter on the failure were discussed. Each failure model under study was utilized to predict failure. The failure loads obtained from each model were compared with each other. The equivalent plastic strain model was independent from the stress triaxiality parameter, and it predicted the highest failure load in the bending problem. The modified Mohr-Coulomb failure model predicted the lowest failure load for the range of the stress triaxiality parameter and Lode’s angle.

Effects of Different Dietary Levels of Mannanoligosaccharide on Growth Performance and Gut Development of Broiler Chickens

Yang, Y.,Iji, P.A.,Choct, M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.7

Different levels of dietary mannanoligosaccharide (Bio-MOS, Alltech Inc.) were evaluated for their efficacy on performance and gut development of broiler chickens during a 6-week experimental period. Experimental diets contained (g MOS/kg diet) a low (0.5 g during the entire period), medium (1 g during the entire period), high (2 g during the entire period), or step down (2 g in the first week; 1 g in the second and third week; 0.5 g in the last three weeks) level of MOS. Control diets included a negative and a positive control (zinc bacitracin, ZnB, 50 ppm and 30 ppm in the first and last three weeks, respectively). MOS supplementation improved the growth performance of young birds and the effects became less when the birds got older. The growth response of birds was more obvious at the high dosage level of MOS treatment than the other MOS treatments and the growth performance of birds fed on the high MOS diet was comparable to that of birds fed on the ZnB diet. Depending on the dosage level and the age of birds, MOS seemed to reduce the size of the liver and the relative length of the small intestine but did not affect the relative weight of the other visceral organs (proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, bursa and spleen) and that of the small intestine. A numerical increase in the small intestine digestibility of nutrients was noticed in the young birds fed on the MOS diet(s), but not in the older ones. Medium and/or high MOS treatment also increased the villus height of the small intestine of birds at different ages. Similar results were observed on the ZnB treatment. However, MOS and ZnB affected caecal VFA profile in different ways. MOS increased, or tended to increase, whereas ZnB reduced individual VFA concentrations in the caeca.

Fructans from Renga Renga Lily (Arthropodium cirratum) Extract and Frutafit as Prebiotics for Broilers: Their Effects on Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility

Vidanarachchi, J.K.,Iji, P.A.,Mikkelsen, L.L.,Choct, M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.5

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary water-soluble carbohydrate extract from Renga renga lily (Arthropodium cirratum) and a commercial product, $Frutafit^{{\circledR}}$ (both fructans) on the performance, organ weights, ileal digestibility and gut morphology of male Cobb broiler chickens. There were six treatment groups: a negative control with no supplements, a positive control supplemented with 45 ppm Zn-bacitracin, and four test diets each supplemented with Renga renga lily extract or Frutafit at 5 or 10 g/kg diet. Supplementation with low levels of Renga renga lily extract and Frutafit in the diet did not affect productive parameters, whereas the inclusion of a high level of Frutafit had a negative effect on BWG and FI compared with birds fed the negative control diet. The addition of an antibiotic to the diet significantly improved (p<0.05) the BWG and FCR of broilers. Apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, starch, protein and fat was not affected (p>0.05) by supplementation with both levels of lily extract and the low level of Frutafit. The apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter, protein and fat was decreased (p<0.05) by the high level of Frutafit. The apparent metabolisable energy (AME) of the diets fed the high level of Frutafit was approximately 0.2 MJ/kg DM lower than that of the negative control group. The addition of Zn-bacitracin increased (p<0.05) the apparent ileal digestibility of fat. The relative weight of the liver was higher (p<0.05) in broilers supplemented with the high level of Frutafit than for negative control birds at 14 and 35 d of age. Feeding Renga renga lily extract or Frutafit had no effect on the gut morphology of birds on d 14 and 35. It can be concluded that dietary inclusion of fructans from the two sources used in this study affected broiler performance differently and in a dose-dependent manner.

Energy Value of Cassava Products in Broiler Chicken Diets with or without Enzyme Supplementation

Bhuiyan, M.M.,Iji, P.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.9

This study investigated the metabolizable energy (ME) intake, net energy of production (NEp), heat production (HP), efficiencies of ME use for energy, lipid and protein retention as well as the performance of broiler chickens fed diets based on cassava chips or pellets with or without supplementation with an enzyme product containing xylanase, amylase, protease and phytase. The two products, cassava chips and pellets, were analysed for nutrient composition prior to feed formulation. The cassava chips and pellets contained 2.2% and 2.1% crude protein; 1.2% and 1.5% crude fat; and 75.1% and 67.8% starch, respectively. Lysine and methionine were 0.077%, 0.075%, and 0.017%, 0.020% protein material, respectively, while calculated ME was 12.6 and 11.7 MJ/kg, respectively. Feed intake to day 21 was lower (p<0.01) on the diet containing cassava chips compared to diets with cassava pellets. Enzyme supplementation increased (p<0.01) feed intake on all diets. Live weight at day 21 was significantly (p<0.01) reduced on the diet based on cassava chips compared to pellets, but an improvement (p<0.01) was noticed with the enzyme supplementation. Metabolizable energy intake was reduced (p<0.01) by both cassava chips and pellets, but was increased (p<0.01) on all diets by enzyme supplementation. The NEp was higher (p<0.01) in the maize-based diets than the diets containing cassava. Enzyme supplementation improved (p<0.01) NEp in all the diets. Heat production was highest (p<0.01) on diets containing cassava pellets than on cassava chips. It is possible to use cassava pellets in diets for broiler chickens at a level close to 50% of the diet to reduce cost of production, and the nutritive value of such diets can be improved through supplementation of enzyme products containing carbohydrases, protease, and phytase.

Apparent and standardized ileal nutrient digestibility of broiler diets containing varying levels of raw full-fat soybean and microbial protease

Erdaw, Mammo M.,Perez-Maldonado, Rider A.,Iji, Paul A. Korean Society of Animal Sciences and Technology 2017 한국축산학회지 Vol.59 No.10

Background: Although soybean meal (SBM) is excellent source of protein in diets for poultry, it is sometimes inaccessible, costly and fluctuates in supply. The SBM can partially be replaced by full-fat SBM, but the meals prepared from raw full-fat soybean contain antinutritional factors. To avoid the risk of antinutritional factors, heat treatment is always advisable, but either excessive or under heating the soybean could negatively affect the quality. However, the potential for further improvement of SBM by supplementing with microbial enzymes has been suggested by many researchers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and ileal nutrient digestibility of birds fed on diets containing raw soybeans and supplemented with microbial protease. Methods: A $3{\times}2$ factorial, involving 3 levels of raw full-fat soybean (RFFS; 0, 45 or 75 g/kg of diet) and 2 levels of protease (0 or 15,000 PROT/kg) was used. The birds were raised in a climate-controlled room. A nitrogen-free diet was also offered to a reference group from day 19 to 24 to determine protein and amino acid flow at the terminal ileum and calculate the standardized ileal digestibility of nutrients. On days 10, 24 and 35, body weight and feed leftover were recorded to calculate the body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). On day 24, samples of ileal digesta were collected at least from two birds per replicate. Results: When RFFS was increased from 0 to 75 g/kg of diet, the content of trypsin inhibitors was increased from 1747 to 10,193 trypsin inhibitors unit (TIU)/g of diets, and feed consumption of birds was also reduced (P < 0.05). Increasing RFFS level reduced the BWG from hatch 0 to 10 d (P < 0.01) and hatch to 24 d (P < 0.05). The BWG of birds from hatch to 35 was not significantly (P = 0.07) affected. Feed intake was also reduced (P < 0.05) during 0 to 35 d. However, protease supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the BWG and FCR during 0 to 24 d. Rising levels of RFFS increased the weight of pancreas (P < 0.001) and small intestine (P < 0.001) at day 24. Except for methionine, apparent and the corresponding standardized ileal digestibility of CP and AA were reduced (P < 0.01) by increasing levels of RFFS in diets. Conclusion: This study showed that some commercial SBM could be replaced by RFFS in broiler diets, without markedly compromising productivity. The AID and SID of CP and lysine were slightly improved by dietary supplementation of microbial protease.

Response of broiler chickens to diets containing different levels of sodium with or without microbial phytase supplementation

( Marjina Akter ),( Hadden Graham ),( Paul Ade Iji ) 한국축산학회(구 한국동물자원과학회) 2019 한국축산학회지 Vol.61 No.2

Phytate induced excessive mineral excretion through poultry litter leads to poor performance and environmental pollution. Exogenous microbial phytase supplementation to poultry diets reduce the environmental excretion of nutrient and improve bird’s performance. However, excessive dietary sodium (Na) level may hinder the phytase-mediated phytate hydrolysis and negate the beneficial effects of phytase. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different concentration dietary Na on phytase activity and subsequent impact on broiler performance, bone mineralisation and nutrient utilisation. In this study, six experimental diets, consisting of three different levels of Na (1.5, 2.5, or 3.5 g/kg) and two levels of microbial phytase (0 or 500 U/kg) were formulated by using 3 × 2 factorial design. The six experimental diets were offered to 360 day-old Ross 306 male chicks for 35 days, where, each experimental diet consisted of 6 replicates groups with 10 birds. Along with growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal enzyme activity, dry matter (DM) content of litter and mineral status in bone were analysed. Dietary Na and phytase had no effect on bode weight gain and feed intake. Birds on the low Na diet showed higher (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the mid-Na diets. High dietary Na adversely affected (p < 0.001) excreta DM content. Phytase supplementation to the high-Na diet increased (p < 0.01) the litter ammonia content. High dietary Na with phytase supplementation improved (Na × phytase, p < 0.05) the AME value and ileal digestibility of Ca and Mg. The total tract retention of Ca, P, and Mg was reduced with high Na diet, which was counteracted by phytase supplementation (Na × phytase, p < 0.001). The diets containing mid-level of Na improved (p < 0.001) the function of Na-KATPase and Mg-ATPase in the jejunum. The overall results indicate that high dietary Na did not affect phytase activity but influenced the nutrient utilization of birds, which was not reflected in bird overall performance.