• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1540-1544
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• 2003

This study chiefly aimed to ascertain the effect of age at weaning on caecal content characteristics, post-weaning performance and health of rabbits. A secondary aim was to study the effect of dietary restriction on performance and health of rabbits. After delivery, 30 litters of 8 pups each, were housed in separate cages. Fifteen litters were weaned 24 days from birth (group W 24) while the other 15 were weaned at 28 days (group W28). After weaning, 53 rabbits of group W24 and 56 of group W28 were fed ad libitum (group LIB), while 53 rabbits of group W24 and 57 of group W28 were restricted (group RES). All the rabbits were kept in individual cages. Fourteen other rabbits of groups W24 (7 fed ad libitum and 7 restricted) and 7 of group W28 were sacrificed to obtain data regarding caecum weight and caecal content. Age at weaning affected neither the state of health nor the final live weight. In comparison with those of group W28, the rabbits weaned at 24 days had a lower daily gain until 35 days of age but gain was higher subsequently. From the 28th day, however, the feed intake and the feed conversion ratio of the group W24 rabbits were always better than those of W28. The restricted diet until 42 days resulted in a lower weight both at 42 days (1,078 vs. 1,164 g) and at 70 days (2,192 vs. 2,294 g). Indeed, from the 42nd day, despite receiving feed ad libitum the rabbits of the restricted group continued to ingest less feed (120.8 vs. 127.2 g) than those of the ad libitum group, and had a slightly lower daily gain (39.8 vs. 40.3 g). The measurements carried out on the caecum highlighted significant differences among the groups in caecal content (33.1 vs. 31.7 vs. 25.3 g respectively for groups W24LIB, W28 and W24RES), for total volatile fatty acids (53.2 vs. 50.6 vs. 44.5 mmol/l respectively for groups W24LIB, W28and W24RES) for ammonia (7.0 vs. 7.2vs 8.8 mmol/l respectively for groups W24LIB, W28 and W24RES), for propionate (5.7 vs. 6.3 vs. 8.1% respectively for groups W24LIB, W28 and W24RES) and for propionate/butyrate (0.33 vs. 0.36 vs. 0.49 respectively for groups W24LIB, W28 and W24RES).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.351-356
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• 2018

L-Serine dehydratase (LSD) is an iron-sulfur containing enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-serine to pyruvate and ammonia. Among the bacterial amino acid dehydratases, it appears that only the L-serine specific enzymes utilize an iron-sulfur cluster at their catalytic site. Moreover, bacterial LSDs are classified into four types based on structural characteristics and domain arrangement. To date, only the LSD enzymes from a few bacterial strains have been studied, but more detailed investigations are required to understand the catalytic mechanism of various bacterial LSDs. In this study, LSD type II from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtLSD) H37Rv was expressed and purified to elucidate the biochemical and catalytic properties using the enzyme kinetic method. The L-serine saturation curve of MtLSD exhibited a typically sigmoid character, indicating an allosteric cooperativity. The values of $K_m$ and $k_{cat}$ were estimated to be $59.35{\pm}1.23mM$ and $18.12{\pm}0.20s^{-1}$, respectively. Moreover, the plot of initial velocity versus D-serine concentration at fixed L-serine concentrations showed a non-linear hyperbola decay shape and exhibited a competitive inhibition for D-serine with an apparent $K_i$ value of $30.46{\pm}5.93mM$ and with no change in the $k_{cat}$ value. These results provide insightful biochemical information regarding the catalytic properties and the substrate specificity of MtLSD.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.721-730
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• 1993

Various catalysts of $Cu_xH_3-{_{2x}}PMo_{12}O_{40}{\cdot}_nH_2O$ with different x-values have been prepared and characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, BET surface-area measurement, electron microscopy, and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia. The properties of these catalysts in acrolein oxidation have been investigated in a continuous-flow fixed-bed reactor. The catalysts lost their water of crystallization at about $200^{\circ}C$ and their constitutional water between 300 and $400^{\circ}C$. The Keggin structure of the catalysts was identified by infrared spectroscopy. The decomposition of Keggin anion, $(PMo_{12}O_{40})^{3-}$, was increased with the increase of substituted copper content and identifiable $MoO_3$ and $P_2O_5$ as decomposition products were observed. The conversion of acrolein decreased with the increase of x probably due to the decrease of specific surface area and of total amount of acid sites. But specific reaction rate and selectivity to acrylic acid were maximized at x=1.0, and it showed specific acid site distributions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2017

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of yeast with bacteriocin and Lactobacillus cultures (mixture of Lactobacillus agilis BCRC 10436 and Lactobacillus reuteri BCRC 17476) supplements, alone or in combination, on broiler chicken performance. Methods: A total of 300, 1-d-old healthy broiler chickens were randomly divided into five treatment groups: i) basal diet (control), ii) basal diet+0.25% yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (YC), iii) basal diet+0.25% yeast with bacteriocin (BA), iv) basal diet+Lactobacillus cultures (LAB), and v) basal diet +0.25% yeast with bacteriocin+Lactobacillus cultures (BA+LAB). Growth performance, cecal microbiota, cecal fermentation products, and blood biochemistry parameters were determined when chickens were 21 and 35 d old. Results: The supplementation of YC, BA, and BA+LAB resulted in a significantly better feed conversion rate (FCR) than that of the control group during 1 to 21 d (p<0.05). The LAB supplementation had a significant effect on the presence of Lactobacillus in the ceca at 35 d. None of the supplements had an effect on relative numbers of L. agilis and L. reuter at 21 d, but the BA supplementation resulted in the decrease of both Lactobacillus strains at 35 d. The BA+LAB supplementation resulted in higher short chain fatty acid (SCFA) in the ceca, but LAB supplementation significantly decreased the SCFA at 35 d (p<0.05). All treatments tended to decrease ammonia concentration in the ceca at 21 d, especially in the LAB treatment group. The BA supplementation alone decreased the triacylglycerol (TG) concentration significantly at 21 d (p<0.05), but the synergistic effect of BA and LAB supplementation was required to reduce the TG concentration at 35 d. The YC supplementation tended to increase the plasma cholesterol at 21 d and 35 d. However, the BA supplementation significantly decreased the cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol level at 35 d. In conclusion, the BA+LAB supplementation was beneficial to body weight gain and FCR of broiler chickens. Conclusion: The effect of BA and LAB supplementation may be a result of the growth of lactic acid bacteria enhancement and physiological characterization of bacteriocin, and it suggests that the BA and LAB supplementation level or Lactobacillus strain selection should be integrated in future supplementation designs.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2006

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of complex probiotics and enzyme on air quality in finishing pig building and the performance of finishing pigs. A total 117 crossbred $[(Landrace{\times}Yorkshire){\times}Duroc]$ pigs were randomly arranged into nine groups and assigned to three treatments. Pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.1% level of probiotics and 0.1% level of complex probiotics and enzyme until the market weight for 42 days of the experimental period. Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations in the finishing pig building were significantly (p<0.05) decreased by dietary supplementation of complex probiotics and enzyme compared with those of control, however, indoor carbon dioxide concentration was not affected by dietary supplementation of probiotics or complex probiotics and enzyme. Average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly improved (p<0.05) with dietary supplementation of 0.1% complex probiotics and enzyme; however, average daily gain was not affected by dietary supplementation of probiotics or complex probiotics and enzyme. In conclusion, the results obtained from this experiment suggest that the dietary supplementation of complex probiotics and enzyme for finishing pigs may improve air quality in the finishing pig building and the performance.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 2010

A fundamental study was carried out to develop a process for recycling tungsten and cobalt from WC-Co hardmetal sludge generated in the manufacturing process of hardmetal tools. The complete extraction of cobalt and simultaneous formation of tungstic was achieved by treating the sludge using aqua regia. The effect of aqua regia concentration, reaction temperature and time, pulp density on cobalt leaching and tungstic acid formation was investigated. The complete leaching of cobalt was attained at the optimum conditions: 100 vol.% aqua regia concentration, $100^{\circ}C$ temperature, 60 min. reaction time and 400 g/L pulp density. A complete conversion of tungsten carbide of the sludge to tungstic acid was however, obtained at the pulp densities lower than 150 g/L under the above condition. The progress of reaction during the aqua regia treatment of the sludge was monitored through the XRD phase identification of the residue. The metallic impurities in the tungstic acid so produced could be further removed as insoluble residues by dissolving the tungsten values in ammonia solution. The ammonium paratungstate($(NH_4)_{10}{\cdot}H_2W_{12}O_{42}{\cdot}4H_2O$) of 99.85% purity was prepared from the ammonium polytungstate solution by the evaporation crystallization method.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.331-339
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• 2010

Shrimp farming is the most important mariculture industry on the west coast of South Korea. However, it has suffered from mass mortality due to viral disease outbreaks and coastal pollution due to water discharge. This study developed an intensive shrimp culture method for outdoor ponds, without water exchange, which minimizes the chance of viral transmission from the environment, reduces coastal pollution by water discharge and enhances shrimp production. A culture trial was conducted in two high-density polyethylene (HDPE)-lined ponds with a $550\;m^2$ surface area. The ponds were stocked with postlarvae of Litopenaeus vannamei, the major farmed shrimp species in Korea, on July 10, 2007, and cultured for 90 days with no water exchange. The stocking density of the postlarvae (B.W. 0.0015 g) was $272\;ind./m^2$, which is eight times higher than in traditional pond culture in Korea. At harvest, the total production of ponds 1 and 2 was 1,362kg ($2.48\;kg/m^2$) and 1,282 kg ($2.33\;kg/m^2$), respectively. This is 20~22 times higher than the mean farmed shrimp production ($0.112\;kg/m^2$) in Korea and about eight times higher than in traditional ponds with a good harvest. Although there was no water exchange throughout the culture period, the mean concentrations of unionized ammonia and nitrite-nitrogen were as low as 0.038 and 6.0 mg/L, respectively. The feed conversion rate (FCR) was 1.38, which is 20~45% lower than that of traditional pond cultures. The high efficiency of the diet in this study is thought to be due to a well-managed feeding strategy and well-developed bioflocs used as diet additions for the shrimp. The final body weight of the shrimp at harvest was low (12.2~12.5 g), compared with that of traditional pond culture. This may have resulted from the combination of a short culture period, high density of shrimp, and low temperature. This study suggests that a super-intensive shrimp pond culture method using biofloc technology with no water exchange can minimize viral transmission via water exchange, reduce coastal pollution, and enhance shrimp production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.371-377
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• 2009

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of different dietary ratios of whole-crop corn silage and alfalfa hay on nitrogen (N) digestion, duodenal flow and metabolism across the portal-drained viscera (PDV) of growing beef steers, and to elucidate their relationships. Four steers (236${\pm}$7 kg BW) fitted with duodenal cannulae and chronic indwelling catheters into the portal and mesenteric veins and abdominal aorta were used in a 4${\times}$4 Latin square design. Animals were fed (at 12-h intervals) the 4 diets consisting of whole-crop corn silage (C) and alfalfa hay (A) in 80:20 (C8A2), 60:40 (C6A4), 40:60 (C4A6) and 20:80 (C2A8) ratios of which dietary crude protein (CP) was 10.5, 12.0, 13.5 and 15.0% of dry matter (DM), respectively. Feeding level was restricted to 95% of ad libitum intake to measure N digestion, blood flow and net flux of N across the PDV. Digestibility of DM and neutral detergent fiber and digestible energy intake linearly increased as the ratio of alfalfa hay increased. The N intake, duodenal flow and intestinal disappearance increased linearly with increasing alfalfa hay. Arterial and portal concentrations of ${\alpha}$-amino N showed a quadratic response to increasing levels of alfalfa hay and were the highest in steers fed the C6A4 diet. The net PDV release of ${\alpha}$-amino N and ammonia N increased linearly with increasing alfalfa hay, but urea N uptake by PDV did not differ among diets. As a percentage of apparently digested N in the total gut, net PDV release of ${\alpha}$-amino N linearly decreased from 66 to 48% with increasing alfalfa hay. Conversely, net PDV recovery of ${\alpha}$-amino N to intestinal N disappearance varied with increasing alfalfa hay accounting for 49, 50, 58 and 61% on C8A2, C6A4, C4A6 and C2A8 diets, respectively. Net PDV uptake of urea N, relative to apparently digested N, linearly decreased from 81 to 25% as alfalfa hay increased from 20 to 80% of DM intake. Considering PDV uptake of urea N, microbial efficiency and conversion of total tract digested N to PDV ${\alpha}$-amino N net supply, a diet consisting of 80% whole-crop corn silage and 20% alfalfa hay (10.5% CP) was the best, while considering the quantities of intestinal N disappearance and ${\alpha}$-amino N absorption, a diet of 20% whole-crop corn silage and 80% alfalfa hay (15% CP) would be preferred. The proportion of ${\alpha}$-amino N recovered by PDV relative to the intestinal N disappearance may vary with energy intake level of mixed forage diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.230-235
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• 2020

Objective: This study was realized to evaluate the nutritional value of rice grains as a replacement for corn grains in the diet of growing Hanwoo steers. Methods: Two experimental diets were prepared: i) Corn total mixed ration (TMR) consisting of 20% corn grains and ii) Rice TMR consisting of 20% rice grains, in a dry matter (DM) basis. These treatments were used for in vitro rumen fermentation and in vivo growth trials. In the rumen fermentation experiment, the in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro crude protein digestibility (IVCPD), in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility, pH, ammonia nitrogen, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were estimated at 48 h, and the gas production was measured at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Twenty four growing Hanwoo steers (9 months old; body weight [BW]: 259±13 kg) were randomly divided into two treatment groups and the BW, dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. Results: The in vitro experiment showed that the IVDMD, IVCPD, and VFA production of the Rice TMR were higher than those of the Corn TMR (p<0.05). The growth trial showed no differences (p>0.05) in the final BW, ADG, DMI, and FCR between the two TMRs. Conclusion: The use of rice grains instead of corn grains did not exhibit any negative effects on the rumen fermentation or growth performance, thereby rice grains with a DM of less than 20% could be used as a starch source in the diet of growing steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.246-252
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• 2010

In order to improve the availability of phytase and probiotics together, a phytase gene from Aspergillus ficuum has been expressed in Lactobacillus. In this study, the transformed Lactobacillus with phytase gene was fed to pigs to determine its effect on pig production, feed conversion and gut microbes. Forty eight, 60-day-old, castrated pigs (Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Pietrain) were assigned to 6 groups, 8 pigs for each group. Group 1 was the control, group 2 was added with chlortetracycline (500 mg/kg), group 3 was added with the transformed Lactobacillus (500 mg/kg) with 20% (w/w) of calcium monohydrogen phosphate (CMP, $CaHPO_{4}$) removed, group 4 was added with the natural Lactobacillus (500 mg/kg) with 20% (w/w) of CMP removed, group 5 was added with the transformed Lactobacillus (500 mg/kg) with 40% (w/w) of CMP removed, group 6 was added with phytase (500 mg/kg) with 40% (w/w) of CMP removed. The results showed: i) the average daily gain (ADG) was improved in groups 2, 3 and 4 (p<0.05); ii) the diarrhea rates in the groups added with Lactobacillus were lower than in the other groups (p<0.05), in which the transformed Lactobacillus had more effect on reducing digestive disease; iii) the transformed Lactobacillus was most effective in improving the digestibilities of crude protein (CP), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), compared with the other groups (p<0.05); iv) Lactobacillus could increase lactic acid bacterium number and ammonia concentrations, and decrease pH values and E. coli number in pig feces (p<0.05); v) the phytase activity in the feces of pigs fed with the transformed Lactobacillus was 133.32 U/g, which was higher than in group 4 (9.58 U/g, p<0.05), and was almost the same as group 6 (135.94 U/g); vi) the transformed Lactobacillus could increase serum concentrations of IgA, triglyceride, and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity (p<0.05), and had no significant effect on other serum indexes (p>0.05).