BACKGROUND:The growing food-feed-fuel competition, declining availability of traditional feeds, higher prices, and the urgent need to provide long-term sustainability for animal production have all triggered global research into the optimum extraction of energy and nutrients from lignin-rich plant biomass. Recent studies have shown that the Pleurotus species of white rot fungus can selectively degrade lignin in lignin-rich plant biomass; however, its effectiveness in selectively degrading lignin depends on the type of substrate and species of fungus. This study was therefore designed to treat wheat straw, rice straw, and corn cob, with Pleurotus eryngii, P. ostreatus, and P. florida for 30 days under solid-state fermentation, to identify a promising fungus-substrate combination for the selective degradation of lignin and optimal improvement in the nutritional value and digestibility of each substrate. RESULTS:The type of fungus strongly influenced (P < 0.01) selectivity in lignin degradation, and the level of improvement in crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and in vitro gas production (IVGP), in wheat straw, rice straw, and corn cob. Fungus-substrate interaction data revealed that P. ostreatus caused maximum (P < 0.05) degradation of lignin, and greater (P < 0.05) improvement in CP, IVDMD, and IVGP in wheat straw and rice straw. The lowest (P < 0.05) degradation of lignin and improvement in CP, IVDMD, and IVGP was caused by P. eryngii in corn cob. Among the fungi, the maximum (P < 0.05) degradation of lignin, and greater (P < 0.05) improvement in CP, IVDMD, and IVGP were caused by P. florida as compared with those of P. ostreatus and P. eryngii. CONCLUSION:The results highlight significant influence of fungus-substrate combination for selective lignin degradability and the consequent improvement in the nutritional value of the substrates. Maximum selective lignin degradability and improvement in nutritional value and digestibility was caused by P. ostreatus in wheat straw and in rice straw, and by P. florida in corn cob.

Introduction: Ethics plays an elementary role in current medical practice. Recent advancement in medical technology and its implications have raised many ethical issues and dilemmas in clinical practice, requiring dire needs for incorporation of bioethics into medical curriculum. Aim: The objective of this study is to assess the base line knowledge and perception of medical students regarding bioethical issues in clinical practice based on exposure to formal bioethics teaching in their medical curriculum. Setting and design: This cross sectional study was conducted among medical students of a private and government medical college who were currently enrolled into third to fifth year MBBS. Methods and Material: A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data. A structured questionnaire consisting of 27 questions was used for this study. An Ethics Review Committee approval was taken. Analysis: Data analysis was done under SPSS version 17 and frequencies were calculated. Results: A total of 285 medical students, 145 from private and 140 from government medical college participated in this study. Private college medical students (57%) had slightly better knowledge of bioethics as compared to the government students 43%. Conclusion: The study clearly signifies the need of teaching bioethics in the both the medical colleges. Our findings provide strong evidence for major educational initiatives related to bioethics education in medical curriculum.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of drinking water quality on the milk production performance of Nili-Ravi buffaloes. Lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes (n = 12) of the same parity were randomly divided into three groups: A, B, and C (n = 4). Group A was offered turbine water, group B (the control) was kept on tap water, and group C was given canal water for drinking. Mean daily milk production was found significantly (P < 0.01) higher for group A as compared to the other groups. Dry matter intake (DMI) was lowest in group B followed by group A. Milk composition, including fat, solid not fat, and total solid percentages, was found statistically different (P < 0.001) among all groups. Feed efficiency was higher in the control (group B) followed by group C and group A. A significant (P < 0.001) difference for water intake was also observed among all groups. In conclusion, buffaloes kept on tap drinking water showed better milk production performance.

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The study was carried out to explore the effects of replacing wheat straw with fungal treated wheat straw as an ingredient of total mixed ration (TMR) on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in Nili Ravi buffalo male calves. Fungal treated wheat straw was prepared using Arachniotus sp. Four TMRs were formulated where wheat straw was replaced with 0 (TMR1), 33 (TMR2), 67 (TMR3), and 100% (TMR4) fungal treated wheat straw in TMR. All TMRs were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous. The experimental TMRs were randomly assigned to four groups of male calves (n = 6) according to completely randomized design and the experiment continued for four months. The calves fed TMR2 exhibited a significant improve in dry matter intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed economics compared to other groups. The same group also showed higher digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral-, and acid detergent fibers than those fed on other TMRs. It is concluded that TMR with 33% fungal-treated wheat straw replacement has a potential to give an enhanced growth performance and nutrient digestibility in male Nili Ravi buffalo calves.