• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 1996

Water extract of Coix locrvmn seeds (Co-Ex) was separated into several components; dissolved with Tris-Cl buffer and the supernatant (WC 1), ammonium sulfate treatment supernatant (WC2) and the pellet nvc31,9AE column chromatography of WC 1 and the peak portions; WC4, WCS and WC6. Murine peritoneal macrophages in DMEM containing 10% heat-inactivated FCS were infected with tachyzoites of ToxopIQsmc gondii, RH strain, in uifo. By adding modulators such as Co-Ex, WC 1,2,3,4.5,6 and LPS or IFN-γ for 24 hrs . toxoplasmastatic activity of macrophages was examined in relation to nitrite production. Nitrite production of macrophages was enhanced especially in the series of WC2, WC1 and the combination sample (WC1 + WC2 + WC3) by order than other components or fractions (WC4, WC5, WC6) tested . Toxoplasmastatic actions such as percentage of the inacrophages infected by T. gonnii and fold increase of T gondii in macrophages showed retroverse relations with the amount of nitrite production; i.e. as nitric oxide (NO) increased the phagocytic index of macrophages and the fold increase of tachyzoites in macrophages decreased . Nitrite (NO-2) production was increased by adding IFN-γ in all cases together with enhancement of biostatic effects. Through the results obtained, it is speculated that some components other than the non-proteinous and defatted components in Coix lacrwmn seeds may contribute to activate macrophages through induction of NO for the biostatic activity.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-95
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• 2024

Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) have gained much attention as promising energy conversion devices due to their ability to utilize alcohol as a fuel source. In this regard, Molybdenum-based electrocatalysts (Mo-ECs) have emerged as a substitution for expensive Pt and Ru-based co-catalyst electrode materials in DAFCs, owing to their unique electrochemical properties useful for alcohol oxidation. The catalytic activity of Mo-ECs displays an increase in alcohol oxidation current density by several folds to 1000-2000 mA mg_Pt^-1, compared to commercial Pt and PtRu catalysts of 10-100 mA mg_Pt^-1. In addition, the methanol oxidation peak and onset potential have been significantly reduced by 100-200 mV and 0.5-0.6 V, respectively. The performance of Mo-ECs in both acidic and alkaline media has shown the potential to significantly reduce the Pt loading. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the bifunctional mechanism involved in the oxidation of alcohols and factors affecting the electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohol, such as synthesis method, structural properties, and catalytic support materials. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of Mo-ECs for DAFCs anode materials are discussed. This in-depth review serves as valuable insight toward enhancing the performance and efficiency of DAFC by employing Mo-ECs.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.196-201
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• 2003

The object of this study was to characterize Bacillus strains GB-017 and GB-0356, which produce antifungal substances, especially for plant pathogens. In addition, this study was undertaken to characterize the culture conditions required for the production of antifungal substances and to document some of the properties of the antifungal substance produced by these soil-isolated strains. Strains GB-0365 and GB-017 were found to be bacillus-shaped, gram-positive and motile, and to inhibit Botrytis cineria, Fusarium sp., Pythium sp., and Rhizoctonia solani. Antagonistic activity was maintained up to pH 9.0, and the antifungal activity was stable to heat at 80$^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. Antifungal substances were separated and purified using ion exchange and adsorption columns including WK-I0(H$\^$＋) (pH 7.0), HP20 column (pH 3.0) and IPA (pH 3.0). and IPA. Its UV absorption spectrum showed major peaks at 231 and 259 nm, corresponding to polyene and lactone. A fast atom bombardment mass spectrum (FAB MS) showed a highest peak at 441 m/z and major peaks at 192, 205, and 370 m/z.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the optimum conditions for efficient methane production through anaerobic digestion of pig waste slurry. The examined parameters were organic matter content of the pig slurry, the ratio of seed sludge to pig slurry, and stirring intensity of the digestion reactor. The effects of types of slurry produced from different purpose-based pigs fed with different feeds were also tested. The methane concentration in the produced biogas was 45% when the ratio of seed sludge to pig slurry was 50% and total solid (TS) concentration was 1%, and it increased in proportional to TS concentration increases from 3 to 7%. At 3 and 5% of TS concentration, increasing mixing velocity from 80 to 160 rpm resulted in higher biogas production amount. However, mixing amount of seed sludge did not cause any significant effect on biogas production. Overall, the most efficient biogas production was achieved at 3-5% TS concentration in combination with 50% seed sludge inoculation and mixing velocity at 120 rpm. Among pig slurry types, gestating sow waste slurry showed the highest biogas production probably due to higher the degradation rate than other types of pig waste slurry being affected by the feeds components.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

In this study, boron/silicon sol compounds were applied to wood for construction and durable materials, and fire risks were investigated in terms of smoke performance index (SPI), smoke growth index (SGI), and smoke intensity (SI). The compound was synthesized by reacting tetraethoxyorthosilicate with boric acid and boronic acid derivatives. Smoke characteristics were investigated using a cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1) equipment for cypress wood. The fire intensity fixed the external heat flux at 50 kW/㎡. The smoke performance index measured after the combustion reaction increased between 13.4% and 126.7% compared with cypress wood. The fire risk due to the smoke performance index decreased in the order of cypress, phenylboronic acid/silicon sol (PBA/Si), (2-methylpropyl) boronic acid/silicon sol (IBBA/Si), boric acid/silicon sol (BA/Si). The smoke growth index decreased between 12.0% and 57.5% compared to the base specimen. The risk of fire caused by the smoke growth index decreased in the order of cypress, PBA/Si, IBBA/Si, BA/Si. The fire risk due to smoke intensity decreased between 3.2% and 57.8%, and in the order of cypress, PBA/Si, IBBA/Si, BA/Si. CO_peak concentrations ranged between 85 and 93 ppm, and decreased between 37% and 43% compared to the base specimen. A comprehensive assessment of the fire risk on smoke hazards decreased in the order of cypress, PBA/Si, IBBA/Si, BA/Si.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.451-460
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• 2023

Objective: This program aimed to reveal the association of feed intrinsic molecular structure with nutrient supply to animals from canola feedstocks and co-products from bio-oil processing. The special objective of this study was to quantify the relationship between molecular spectral feature and nutrient availability and develop nutrient prediction equation with vibrational molecular structure spectral profiles. Methods: The samples of feedstock (canola oil seeds) and co-products (meals and pellets) from different bio-oil processing plants in Canada (CA) and China (CH) were submitted to this molecular spectroscopic technique and their protein and carbohydrate related molecular spectral features were associated with the nutritional results obtained through the conventional methods of analyses for chemical and nutrient profiles, rumen degradable and intestinal digestible parameters. Results: The results showed that the spectral structural carbohydrates spectral peak area (ca. 1,487.8 to 1,190.8 cm^-1) was the carbohydrate structure that was most significant when related to various carbohydrate parameters of canola meals (p<0.05, r>0.50). And spectral total carbohydrate area (ca. 1,198.5 to 934.3 cm^-1) was most significant when studying the various carbohydrate parameters of canola seeds (p<0.05, r>0.50). The spectral amide structures (ca. 1,721.2 to 1,480.1 cm^-1) were related to a few chemical and nutrient profiles, Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) fractions, truly absorbable nutrient supply based on the Dutch protein system (DVE/OEB), and NRC systems, and intestinal in vitro protein-related parameters in co-products (canola meals). Besides the spectral amide structures, α-helix height (ca. 1,650.8 to 1,643.1 cm^-1) and β-sheet height (ca. 1,633.4 to 1,625.7 cm^-1), and the ratio between them have shown to be related to many protein-related parameters in feedstock (canola oil seeds). Multi-regression analysis resulted in moderate to high R² values for some protein related equations for feedstock (canola seeds). Protein related equations for canola meals and carbohydrate related equations for canola meals and seeds resulted in weak R² and low p values (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy vibrational molecular spectroscopy can be a useful resource to predict carbohydrate and protein-relates nutritional aspects of canola seeds and meals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2020

Objective: The effects of Pleurotus ostreatus on the feed utilization of broad bean stalks (BBS), rape straw (RS), paddy straw (PS), and corn stalk (CS) was examined. Methods: The four roughages were co-cultured with Pleurotus ostreatus. The chemical composition; enzyme activities of laccase, carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) and xylanase; carbohydrate and protein fractions (based on The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System [CNCPS]) were assessed at different days after inoculation (7, 14, 21, 28 d) and un-inoculated roughages (control, 0 d). The digestibility of nutrient components and the gas production of roughage with various incubation times were monitored at 0, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h using an in vitro ruminal fermentation method. Results: A higher CMCase activity (0.1039 U/mL) and earlier time to peak (14 d) were detected in Pleurotus ostreatus cultured with CS (p<0.05). Significantly, the incubation length-dependent responses of cumulative gas production were observed from 24 to 72 hours post fermentation (p<0.05), and these incubation length-dependent effects on cumulative gas production of PS and CS appeared earlier (24 h) for PS and CS than those (48 h) for BBS and RS (p<0.05). The fast-degradable carbohydrate (CA) content for all four roughages significantly increased over time (p<0.05). Nonetheless, increased degradation efficiency for CA treated with Pleurotus ostreatus was detected at both 21 and 28 days of incubation (p<0.05). With the exception of PS (p<0.05), there were no significant difference among the roughages (p>0.05) in slowly-degradable carbohydrate (CB2) at different incubation times (p<0.05). Conclusion: Assessment of the alterations in chemical composition, CNCPS system fractions, and the fermentation kinetics after biological pretreatment may yield a valuable database for evaluating the biological pretreatment of Pleurotus ostreatus in ruminant feed.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 1978

Asp. oryzae D and H strains were cultured in the wheat bran and Czapek-Dox liquid media containing garlic powder in order to investigate the effect of garlic on the enzyme production and growth of Asp. oryzae. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Wheat bran media containing 0.5 to 2% garlic powder yielded increased in acid protease activity of the Asp. oryzae D strain while the best activity appeared at 2 to 6% in alkaline protease and 0.5% in neutral protease. 2. The protease activities of Asp. oryzae H strain was similar to that of the control in wheat bran media containing 0.5 to 8% garlic powder, but the peak appeared at the garlic powder concentration of 30%. 3. Garlic powder increased the $\alpha$-and Glucoamylase activities of Asp. oryzae H strain. 4. Garlic powder inhibited the both Asp. oryzae strains from the cellulase production. 5. Czapek-Dex liquid media containing 0.5 to 6% garlic powder yielded increase in dry mycerial weight in comparison with the control, and the increament was much more in case of the Asp. oryzae H strain. 6. As the amount of the garlic powder added to the Czapek-Dox liquid media increased, the pH of the cultured media of Asp. oryzae D strains was on the decrease while the media of H strain increased. 7. As the amount of the garlic powder added increased, the acidity of the cultured Czapek-Dex media increased. 8. The growth rate of the two Asp. oryzae strains were remarkably inhibited and no growth appeared in wheat bran and Czapek-Dox media containing garlic powder more over 10%. 9. The utility rate of reducing sugar was the highest in the Czapek-Dox liquid media containing 1 to 2% garlic powder.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1562-1569
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• 2004

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs)-enriched diet supplemented with different levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol on the activities of hepatic lipogenic-related enzymes and the contents of liver and plasma lipid fractions in laying Tsaiya ducks. A total of 180 30-wk-old laying Tsaiya ducks, at the beginning of peak production, were allotted into 6 treatments with 3 replicates each. Ducks were fed one of the 6 experimental diets, containing 4% tallow (control), and 4% fish oil supplemented with graded levels of $\alpha$-tocopheryl acetate ($\alpha$-tocopherol) at 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, for 6 wks. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period. The results indicated that the n-3 PUFAsenriched diet supplemented with different levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol did not affect (p>0.05) egg weight, feed intake, body weight change or liver and abdominal fat weights. Egg production, egg mass and feed efficiency significantly (p<0.05) improved as dietary $\alpha$-tocopherol levels increased. The activities of hepatic lipogenic-related enzymes including acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6. 2. 1. 3; ACC), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1. 1. 1. 49; G-6-PDH), ATP-citrate cleavage enzyme (EC 4. 1. 3. 8; CCE), NADP-malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.40; NADP-MDH) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) were higher (p<0.05) in birds fed with the tallow diet than in those fed with fish oil diets and increased with increasing dietary $\alpha$-tocopherol levels. None of the dietary treatments significantly affected the contents of triglyceride and total cholesterol in the liver, or total cholesterol, phospholipid and total lipid in the plasma. However, the contents of phospholipid and total lipid in the liver, and triglyceride in the plasma increased as dietary $\alpha$-tocopherol levels increased. Increasing dietary $\alpha$-tocopherol levels decreased the non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) content in the plasma and trended to decrease the cholesterol contents in the egg yolk. The lipid metabolism of laying Tsaiya ducks was influenced not only by the dietary fat but also by the supplementation levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.562-566
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the developmental relationship between fatty acid composition in different lipid fractions and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene expression in steer muscles during growth. Twenty Hanwoo steers were used at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 months of age. Fatty acid composition and SCD mRNA level were analyzed. In the total lipid fraction, developmental profiles of C18:1, as the product of SCD enzyme, and SCD mRNA level were significantly increased between 6 months and 12 months of age. During this period, the percentage of C18:1 increased from 31.9% to 49.5% in the total lipid. The increased C18:1 level was maintained until 30 months of age within the range of 44.8- 49.9%. In contrast, the C18:0 composition decreased with age and this decrease was compensated by the increase of the C18:1. However, the sum of C18:0 and C18:1 was changed before and after 12-month old by a 20% increase. Unlike the C18 fatty acids, the C16 fatty acids such as C16:0 and C16:1 did not show a consistent change with age in steers' muscle. On the other hand, C18:2 proportion as a major polyunsaturated fatty acid in muscle was significantly reduced from 21.1% at 6 months of age to 4.4% at 12-months old and then this reduced level was maintained until 30 months within the range of 7.4-11.4%. As in the C18:1 composition during early stages, a 2-fold significant increase was observed in the $\Delta^9$-desaturase index of C18 fatty acid as a measure of SCD activity, but not in that of C16 fatty acid. Also, the steady-state level of SCD mRNA reached a peak at 12 months of age. Thus, the positive relationship between the C18:1 composition and the $\Delta^9$-desaturase (SCD enzyme) index of C18 fatty acid or SCD mRNA level was demonstrated during growth, but the negative relationship between the C18:2 composition and the above three indices was demonstrated at the same time, indicating that the sharp induction of SCD mRNA may be closely related to the dramatic reduction of C18:2, which is known as a suppressor of SCD gene expression during growth.