Endo-xylanase hydrolysis of xylan releases xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), which act as prebiotics in poultry by stimulating fibre-fermenting bacteria and enhancing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the caeca. This study hypothesized that a carbohydrase preparation would generate XOS in a substrate-dependent manner, and that in vitro release and in vivo caecal fermentation responses could be linked. Two broiler diets (wheat-soy or maize-soy) were tested ± a mixture of xylanase (560 TXU/kg) and β-glucanase (250 TGU/kg; Natugrain® TS, BASF SE, Germany) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in vitro and in vivo. in vitro, diets were subjected to a two-step digestion (gastric and intestinal) to quantify XOS release (degree of polymerisation 2 – 5). in vivo, each treatment had eight replicates of 12 birds. Overall (d 0-35) growth performance was recorded, and caecal SCFA were measured at d 21 from four birds per replicate pen. in vitro, a diet × enzyme interaction was observed where enzyme addition increased XOS2 (P = 0.049) and XOS3 (P = 0.010) release in the wheat-soy diet but not in the maize-soy diet. XOS4 and XOS5 were absent in the maize-soy diet, whereas both increased with enzyme addition in the wheat-soy diet (P = 0.042 and 0.001, respectively; independent t-test), highlighting that wheat has more enzyme-susceptible xylans and more potential for enzyme-mediated prebiotic XOS generation. in vivo, an interaction was observed for d35 body weight (P = 0.013), with a greater enzymes response in birds fed the maizesoy diet than the wheat-soy diet. Enzyme supplementation improved overall FCR (P < 0.001) by 9.3 points in the wheat-soy diet and 6.8 points in the maize-soy diet. The wheat-soy diet led to greater total caecal SCFA level (P = 0.013) than those fed the maize-soy diet. Enzyme increased caecal butyric acid (P = 0.039) and tended to increase total SCFA (P = 0.082). In the wheat-soy diet, in vitro XOS2-XOS5 levels positively correlated with in vivo caecal SCFA production (P < 0.045), with XOS5 showing the strongest link (r = 0.523, P = 0.018). In conclusion, enzyme supplementation improved feed efficiency in both diets. Enhanced XOS release and caecal fermentation were more pronounced with the wheat-soy diet. Further research is needed to fully clarify how enzymemediated XOS release consistently translates into improved gut function and bird performance.

Supply chain Management (SCM) is an evolving business area in developing and developed countries, with technological advancements including Artificial intelligence (AI), 3-D printing, Internet of Things (IoT), and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). IOT-based RFID systems can help industries in their supply chain (SC) operations by assisting with accurate RMG identification and tracking, and potentially improving their availability efficiently in real-time via wireless communication. AI can leverage this RFID data to analyse patterns, predict disruptions, and optimise decision-making processes. Integrating AI and RFID technology can revolutionise supply chain efficiency by streamlining inventory management, identifying counterfeit products, enhancing shipping accuracy, and reducing manual errors in the ready-made garment (RMG) industries. This paper outlines the design and development of real-time IOT-cloud-based AI-RFID in RMG’s SCM system (ARRSCMS) application to streamline the RMG SC processes and enhance SC efficiency.

Micro and small startups are often viewed as vulnerable due to factors like limited funding, skills, resources, and ineffective marketing and planning. The small-sized firms also hinder their ability to adapt to market changes. This vulnerability is often heightened in women-led micro and small enterprises, especially those from South Asian ethnic backgrounds, which face additional cross-sectional disadvantages. However, digital entrepreneurship offers new opportunities for agile women-led MSEs. Despite these benefits, digital platforms pose unique challenges that are not well-covered in current research. Many women from South Asian backgrounds enter entrepreneurship primarily through social media and informal social capital, sometimes unaware of the full range of emerging opportunities and threats. This paper highlights insights from 10 Bangladeshi female entrepreneurs to explore current and future opportunities and challenges, providing implications for digital entrepreneurs and managers of MSEs.