• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2013

Puberty is the developmental period which animals obtain the ability of reproducing sexually for the first time in life. In commercially important aquaculture fish species, the onset of puberty is a matter of major interest due to controlling of sexual maturation to improve broodstock management. To investigate pubertal characteristics of female longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), specimens were classified into three groups by the bodyweight, including 1, 2, and 3 kg group. Thereafter, we focused on ovarian development and level changes of endocrine regulation factors (GnRH, GTHs, steroid hormone). In the non-breeding season (April), the levels of endocrine regulation factors showed increasing trends in accordance with bodyweight gaining; nevertheless, the oocytes were growth phase belongs to almost peri-nucleous stages in all groups. In the breeding season (June), the levels of endocrine regulation factors were fluctuated that decreases in levels of sbGnRH and $FSH{\beta}$ mRNA expressions along with serum $E_2$ concentrations in 3 kg of group. However, $LH{\beta}$ mRNA expression levels sustained increasing trends by the bodyweight. Moreover, the oocytes developed that 2 kg and 3 kg groups obtained plentiful vitellogenic oocytes while 1 kg group was still composed with greater part of pre-vitellogenic oocytes. Especially, the oocytes of 3 kg group reached over 450 ${\mu}m$ of diameters that indicating possibility to enter the final maturations. These results suggest that the progress of pubertal development in female E. bruneus could be classify into three phases via bodyweight, including pre-puberty (1 kg), early-puberty (2 kg) and puberty (3 kg).

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2019

Living beings are formed of advanced biological and mechanical systems which exist for millions of years. It is known that various animals and insects right from small ants to huge whales have different weight carrying capacities, which is generally expressed as a ratio of their own bodyweights i.e., Strength to Bodyweight Ratio (SBR). The puzzle is that when a rhinoceros beetle (scientific name: Dynastinae) can carry 850 times its own bodyweight, why a man cannot accomplish the same feat. There are intrinsic biological and mechanical reasons related to their capacities, as per biomechanics. Yet, there are underlining principles of engineering and structural mechanics which tend to solve this puzzle. The paper attempts to give a plausible answer for this puzzle through structural mechanics and experimental modeling techniques. It is based on the fact that smaller an animal or creature, it has larger value of weight lifting by self-weight ratio. The simple example of steel prism model discussed in this paper, show that smaller the physical model size, larger is its SBR value. To normalize this, the basic length of the model need to be considered and when multiplied with SBR, a constant is arrived. Hence, the aim of the research presented is to derive this constant on a pan-living being spectrum through size/scaling effect.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.236-239
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• 2002

The goal of this study was to evaluate the antidiarrheal efficacy of $Lacteol^{TM}$-loperamide combination against the mouse model of secretory diarrhea. Secretory dirrhea was induced in mice by p.o. administration of castor oil (0.3 ml). Antidirrheal effects of $Lacteol^{TM}$-loperamide combination were compared with each individual component. $Lacteol^{TM}$-loperamide combination was the most potent among these agents, eliminating diarrhea in 100% of mice at a dose 1360/4 mg/kg (Lacteol/loperamide, respectively). In this study, we also measured changes of bodyweight as another indicator of the dirrhea, based on the assumption that lower bodyweight loss represented reduced fecal passage. The bodyweight loss of $Lacteol^{TM}$-loperamide combination administered group was 4 times lower than that of vehicle control. These findings indicate that $Lacteol^{TM}$-loperamide combination may be more potent than individual component in its antidiarrheal action, so we are going to challenge this combination for further study and clinical evaluation.

• Journal of Sport and Applied Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Purpose: Sarcopenia is defined as a decrease in muscle mass, strength, and function with age that affects overall body function. We aimed to investigate the effect of combined training on body composition, balance, and muscle function in sarcopenia elderly. Research design, data, and methodology: Twenty-eight sarcopenia elderly (age 74.9±4.5 years) were randomly assigned to an exercise, EG (n=14), or a control, CG (n=14), group. The EG performed an intervention consisting of combined exercise training (60-75 min) for a total of 12 weeks, three times a week. The CG maintained their usual daily lifestyle during the intervention period. We measured body weight, body mass index (BMI), % body fat, free fat mass, balance ability, peak torque in shoulder, knee, and lumbar joints normalized for bodyweight in one second. Results: The EG showed improved body composition (i.e., BMI, fat-free body mass, fat mass; all p < 0.031, η² > 0.179), balance (i.e., right and left of static and dynamic balance and fast 10 m walk; all p < 0.049, η² > 0.152), and muscular function (i.e., 90°/sec and 180°/sec peak power per kg bodyweight, 90°/sec average power per kg bodyweight, 180°/sec total work, and 180°/sec endurance ratio; all p < 0.045, η² > 0.158). Conclusions: Combined exercise training improves muscle mass and strength, body composition, balance, and muscle function in sarcopenia elderly.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.241-244
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• 1991

An experiment was conducted to investigate the nutritional and economic effects of complete replacement of maize with sun-dried cassava (SDC) in the diet of broiler chickens raised from one day of age to seven weeks. The complete replacement of maize by SDC resulted in a 10 percent reduction (p<0.05) in final bodyweights (1.91 vs 1.72 kg); and a 5 percent reduction (p>0.05) in average feed intake (4.01 vs 3.81 kg). Feed efficiency was not affected (p > 0.05). Cost per kilogramme of feed was reduced by nearly 30 percent and cost per kilogramme of bodyweight gain lowered by about 26 percent by using SDC diet. Relative profit return after accounting for cost of feed and cost of day old chick was higher by 11 percent on the SDC diet. It was concluded that despite the reduction in final bodyweight, the attractive economic return obtained from using SDC, a locally produced ingredient, may be justified in place of maize which is imported.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4609-4615
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• 2014

Background: To investigate tumor inhibition effects and mechanisms of Angelica sinensis and Sophorae flavescentis ait decoction (ASSF) combined with diamine-dichloroplatinum (DDP). Materials and Methods: Bodyweight, tumor inhibition rate and q value were calculated for single ASSF or ASSF combined with DDP on H22 carcinoma xenograft KM mice. Biochemical methods for serum LDH, AST, ALT, and AKP, ELISA method for serum HIF-$1{\alpha}$, pathological assessemnt of thymus, immunohistochemistry detection of tumor tissue caspase3 and mutant p53 protein, and qRT-PCR detection of bax/ bcl-2 mRNA were applied. Results: Compared with DDP control group, the bodyweight increased in ASSF-DDP group (p<0.01). Tumor inhibition rates for DDP, ASSF, ASSF-DDP were 62.7%. 43.7% and 71.0% respectively, with a q value of 0.90. Compared with other groups, thymus of DDP control group had obvious pathological injury (p<0.01), serum LDH, AST, ALT, AKP increased significantly in DDP control group (p<0.01), while serum HIF-$1{\alpha}$ was increased in the model control group. Compared with this latter, the expression of mutant p53 protein and bcl-2 mRNA were decreased in all treatment groups (p<0.01), but there were no statistical difference between DDP control p and ASSF-DDP groups. The expression of caspase3 protein and bax mRNA was increased in all treatment groups, with statistical differences between the DDP and ASSF-DDP groups (p<0.01). Conclusions: ASSF can inhibit bodyweight decrease caused by DDP, can inhibit tumor growth synergistically with DDP mainly through increasing serum HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and pro-apoptotic molecules such as caspase 3 and bax, rather than through decreasing anti-apoptotic mutant p53 and bcl-2. ASSF can reduce DDP toxicity due to decreasing the release of LDH, AST, ALT, AKP into blood and enhancing thymus protection.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2017

Background: The wall squat is considered an effective exercise because it can reduce the knee load and prevent excessive lumbar movement. However, the relationship between wall squat performance and strength of knee extensors and hip extensors remained unclear. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the strengths of the knee extensors and hip extensors between groups with low and high wall squat performance. Method: Nineteen males (low performance group: 9 subjects, high performance group: 10 subjects) participated in this study and performed wall squats. The subjects who were performing less than 30% of the average wall squat count were classified into the low wall squat performance group (less than or equal to 4 times) and the subjects who performed more than 30% of the average wall squat count were classified into the high wall squat performance group (greater than or equal to 8 times). Knee extensor and hip extensor strength were measured with a strength measurement system. An independent t-test was used to compare the strengths of the knee extensors and hip extensors between the groups with low and high wall squat performance. Results: The ratios of knee extensor and hip extensor strength to bodyweight were greater in the high wall squat performance group than in the low wall squat performance group (knee extensors: p<.001; hip extensors: p=.03). In the high- and low-performance groups, the ratios of knee extensor strength to bodyweight were $42.74{\pm}5.72$ and $30.76{\pm}8.54$, respectively, and the ratios of hip extensor strength to bodyweight were $31.95{\pm}10.61$ and $20.66{\pm}11.25$, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that knee extensor and hip extensor strength are needed for high wall squat performance. Thus, exercise to increase the knee and hip extensors strength can be recommended to improve squat performance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.599-603
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• 2020

In the present study, we examined the effects of interleukin (IL)-10 expression-inducing bacteria Bifidobacterium adolescentis HP1, Lactobacillus mucosae HP2, and Weissella cibaria HP3 on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and liver steatosis in mice. Oral gavage of HP1, HP2, and HP3 reduced HFD-induced bodyweight gain, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels in the blood and liver. They also suppressed HFD-induced colitis and the fecal δ,γ-Proteobacteria population. Of the tested bacteria, HP2, which most potently inhibited IL-10 expression, also suppressed HFD-induced bodyweight gain, liver steatosis, and colitis most effectively. These findings suggest that IL-10 expression-inducing gut bacteria can suppress obesity and liver steatosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1192-1199
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• 1999

Two cultivars of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), "Dinninup" and "Seaton Park" were sown at Shenton Park Field Station, Western Australia, in May 1992 and 1993. The characteristics of Dinninup related to animal production were compared with Seaton Park under grazing conditions with herbage utilization efficiencies of 60% in 1992 and 65% in 1993. The results showed that Dinninup and Seaton Park had similar dry matter digestibility (77-78%) and dry matter production (1,290 kg/ha in 1992; 930 kg/ha in 1993) before flowering initiation even though Dinninup had more (p<0.05) branches, leaves and petioles per plant. After flowering, the herbage on offer of Dinninup was higher (p<0.05) and dry matter digestibility was lower (p<0.05) than that of Seaton Park while the sward structure was similar for both cultivars. The variation in nutritive value among plant parts increased with maturation. Leaf was more digestible than stem and petiole with a higher nitrogen content, and stem had the lowest dry matter digesitibility and nitrogen content in late of the season. Sheep did not show any preference for Seaton Park over Dinninup. The predicted bodyweight gain of sheep grazing pure Seaton Park and Dinninup swards using Grazfed software indicated that sheep grazing Dinninup were predicted to have a similar bodyweight gain in early growing stage and a significantly lower gain after flowering compared with those grazing Seaton Park.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1004-1012
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• 2016

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary energy levels on the physiological parameters and reproductive performance of gestating first parity sows. A total of 52 F1 gilts ($Yorkshire{\times}Landrace$) were allocated to 4 dietary treatments using a completely randomized design. Each treatment contained diets with 3,100, 3,200, 3,300, or 3,400 kcal of metabolizable energy (ME)/kg, and the daily energy intake of the gestating gilts in each treatment were 6,200, 6,400, 6,600, and 6,800 kcal of ME, respectively. During gestation, the body weight (p = 0.04) and weight gain (p = 0.01) of gilts linearly increased with increasing dietary energy levels. Backfat thickness was not affected at d110 of gestation by dietary treatments, but increased linearly (p = 0.05) from breeding to d 110 of gestation. There were no significant differences on the litter size or litter birth weight. During lactation, the voluntary feed intake of sows tended to decrease when the dietary energy levels increased (p = 0.08). No difference was observed in backfat thickness of the sows within treatments; increasing energy levels linearly decreased the body weight of sows (p<0.05) at d 21 of lactation and body weight gain during lactation (p<0.01). No significant differences were observed in the chemical compositions of colostrum and milk. Therefore, these results indicated that high-energy diets influenced the bodyweight and backfat thickness of sows during gestation and lactation. NRC (2012) suggested that the energy requirement of the gestation gilt should be between 6,678 and 7,932 kcal of ME/d. Similarly, our results suggested that 3,100 kcal of ME/kg is not enough to maintain the reproductive performance for gilts during gestation with 2 kg feed daily. Gilts in the treatment 3,400 kcal of ME/kg have a higher weaning number of piglets, but bodyweight and backfat loss were higher than other treatments during lactation. But bodyweight and backfat loss were higher than other treatments during lactation. Consequently, an adequate energy requirement of gestating gilts is 6,400 kcal of ME/d.