• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.1744-1751
• /
• 2022

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) administration on egg production, reproductive hormones, serum lipids and adipokines of hens at the late cycle of reproduction. Methods: Four treatments included control (basal diet) and XOS addition at 2.0 (XOS-2), 4.0 (XOS-4), or 6.0 (XOS-6) g/kg of diet using 288 commercial Hy-Line brown hens from 73 to 84 wk of age. Egg production, body fat deposition, reproductive tract and hormones, lipid metabolism and adipokines were determined. Results: At 84 wk, compared to the control, XOS supplementation at the three doses increased (p<0.001) egg-laying rates by 13.2% averagely, which led to a higher egg mass by 131 g/hen throughout the whole trial period. Abdominal fat and skinfold of XOS treatments were decreased (p<0.001) by 26.1% and 18.6%, respectively; large follicles and ovary weight were increased (p<0.001) by 0.73 follicle/hen and 18.6%, respectively. For serum parameters, cholesterol and triglyceride were decreased (p<0.001) by 17.5% and 29.2%, respectively; luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and progesterone were increased (p≤0.001) by 16%, 31%, 29%, respectively; adiponectin and visfatin were increased (p<0.001) by 34% and 44%, respectively; but chemerin and leptin were decreased (p≤0.001) by 22% and 14%, respectively. With the increased XOS doses, linear decreases (p<0.05) were found on abdominal skinfold and serum triglyceride. Conclusion: The obtained data indicate that XOS can be used as an additive to improve fecundity by beneficially modulating fat deposition, lipid metabolism, reproductive hormones, and adipokines of hens at the late cycle of reproduction.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.295-306
• /
• 2023

Objective: Inhibiting the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway delays differentiation and increases proliferation of muscle stem cells in most species. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of p38 inhibitor (p38i) treatment on the proliferation and differentiation of chicken muscle stem cells. Methods: Chicken muscle stem cells were collected from the muscle tissues of Hy-line Brown chicken embryos at embryonic day 18, then isolated by the preplating method. Cells were cultured for 4 days in growth medium supplemented with dimethyl sulfoxide or 1, 10, 20 μM of p38i, then subcultured for up to 4 passages. Differentiation was induced for 3 days with differentiation medium. Each treatment was replicated 3 times. Results: The proliferation and mRNA expression of paired box 7 gene and myogenic factor 5 gene, as well as the mRNA expression of myogenic differentiation marker gene myogenin were significantly higher in p38i-treated cultures than in control (p<0.05), but immunofluorescence staining and mRNA expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) were not significantly different between the two groups. Oil red O staining of accumulated lipid droplets in differentiated cell cultures revealed a higher lipid density in p38i-treated cultures than in control; however, the expression of the adipogenic marker gene peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: p38 inhibition in chicken muscle stem cells improves cell proliferation, but the effects on myogenic differentiation and lipid accumulation require additional analysis. Further studies are needed on the chicken p38-MAPK pathway to understand the muscle and fat development mechanism.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.471-483
• /
• 2023

This paper presents an analytical hyperbolic theory based on the refined shear deformation theory for mechanical stability analysis of the simply supported advanced composites plates (exponentially, sigmoidal and power-law graded) under triangular, trapezoidal and uniform uniaxial and biaxial loading. The developed model ensures the boundary condition of the zero transverse stresses at the top and bottom surfaces without using the correction factor as first order shear deformation theory. The mathematical formulation of displacement contains only four unknowns in which the transverse deflection is divided to shear and bending components. The current study includes the effect of the geometric imperfection of the material. The modeling of the micro-void presence in the structure is based on the both true and apparent density formulas in which the porosity will be dense in the mid-plane and zero in the upper and lower surfaces (free surface) according to a logarithmic function. The analytical solutions of the uniaxial and biaxial critical buckling load are determined by solving the differential equilibrium equations of the system with the help of the Navier's method. The correctness and the effectiveness of the proposed HyRPT is confirmed by comparing the results with those found in the open literature which shows the high performance of this model to predict the stability characteristics of the FG structures employed in various fields. Several parametric analyses are performed to extract the most influenced parameters on the mechanical stability of this type of advanced composites plates.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.19-29
• /
• 2022

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of single-sex or mixed rearing on the growth and laying performance, blood parameters, egg quality, and feather scores of laying hens in an aviary system. A total of 2,928 (females, 2,856; males, 72), Hy-Line Brown chickens at 20 weeks were evenly assigned to two treatments: termed here the single-sex (only female) and mixed-sex (female to male 20 : 1) conditions. They were allowed an ad libitum diet for 20 weeks in an aviary system. There were eight replicates of each treatment, each consisting of 12.42 m²·birds^-1 (n=183), respectively. The body weight and uniformity in the mixed-sex condition were higher than those in the single-sex condition, but egg production did not show any significant differences between the two types of treatment for 20 weeks. The mixed-sex group showed an effect through stress parameters (corticosterone), whereas the feather score on the back was low at the end of the experiment. These results suggest that the presence of males affect corticosterone level for mating but can reduce the vigilance and aggressive behavior of laying hens.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.381-387
• /
• 2023

The risk assessment (safety assessment) must be performed to verify the risks during operation and installation of the hydrogen system and to ensure safe design and operation. Among them, hazard and operability study (HAZOP), a qualitative risk assessment, is most often used to discover risk factors and secure safety. However, in HAZOP performance, there is a difference in the level of evaluation results depending on the level and experience of the evaluator, and there is a high possibility that subjective results will be derived. This study aims to develop a risk factor library that can list and provide information on potential risk factors in order to solve these problems when performing HAZOP, reduce risk factors that are omitted or overlooked.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.61 no.2
• /
• pp.278-286
• /
• 2023

The present work evaluated the production of biohydrogen under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions through dark fermentation of palm oil mill effluent (POME) in batch mode using the design of experiment methodology. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to investigate the influence of the two significant parameters, POME concentration as substrate (5, 12.5, and 20 g/l), and volumetric substrate to inoculum ratio (1:1, 1:1.5, and 1:2, v/v.%), with inoculum concentration of 14.3 g VSS/l. All the experiments were analyzed at 37 ℃ and 55 ℃ at an incubation time of 24 h. The highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, hydrogen content (H₂%), and hydrogen yield (HY) at a substrate concentration of 12.5 g COD/l and S:I ratio of 1:1.5 in mesophilic and thermophilic conditions were obtained (27.3, 24.2%), (57.92, 66.24%), and (6.43, 12.27 ml H₂/g COD_rem), respectively. The results show that thermophilic temperature in terms of COD removal was more effective for higher COD concentrations than for lower concentrations. Optimum parameters projected by RSM with S:I ratio of 1:1.6 and POME concentration of 14.3 g COD/l showed higher results in both temperatures. It is recognized how RSM and optimization processes can predict and affect the process performance under different operational conditions.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.1408-1417
• /
• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, HI) larvae oil (HILO) could serve as an alternative fat source to soybean oil (SBO) in laying hen diets. Methods: We randomly assigned 25-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens (n = 144) to receive (n = 6 hens/group; eight replicates) a control or an experimental diet in which SBO was replaced with 50% (50HILO) or 100% HILO (100HILO). Results: Dietary HILO did not negatively affect body weight or productive performance during the study. The eggs also had similar quality parameters, proximate composition, and cholesterol levels. However, the yolk color index was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the 100HILO than in the other groups. Dietary HILO significantly altered the composition of fatty acids (FAs) in abdominal fat and eggs. Total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and total polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) were significantly increased and decreased in the 50HILO and 100HILO groups, respectively, compared with those in the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Specifically, the medium-chain FAs lauric and myristic acids were remarkably increased in the abdominal fat of laying hens fed HILO (p<0.0001), whereas only myristic acid increased in eggs (p<0.0001). Undesirable heavy metal (aluminum, fluorine, arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium) concentrations were below permissible limits in eggs. Conclusion: We considered that HILO could be an alternative dietary fat to SBO for laying hens with maintained productive performance and good egg quality.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.1426-1433
• /
• 2022

Objective: The present research was conducted to evaluate the interactive effect of dietary concentration of calcium (Ca) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25OHD3) on the performance, blood composition and digestibility of laying hens. Methods: A total of 540 Hy-line brown laying hens aged 61 to 70 weeks were randomly allotted in a 3×3 factorial arrangement, consisting of three levels of 25OHD3 (0, 25, and 50 ㎍/kg) and three levels of Ca (3.5%, 4.0%, and 4.5%). All diets had basal concentration of 3,000 IU/kg of vitamin D3 including the 2,800 kcal/kg of metabolic energy and 16% of crude protein. Results: The results showed that interactive effect (p<0.05) between Ca and 25OHD3 was such that dietary 25OHD3 linearly increased interleukin-6 at all levels of Ca inclusion. Interaction (p<0.05) occurred with the highest parathyroid hormone in laying hens that received dietary concentration of Ca (3.5%) with 25OHD3 (50 ㎍/kg), and Ca (4.0%) with 25OHD3 (50 ㎍/kg). Egg production and egg weight significantly (p<0.05) increased in the 4.5% Ca group compared to the 3.5% to 4.0% Ca groups. Egg shell thickness and tibia bone length also increased (p<0.05) in groups fed a high-Ca diet (4.0% to 4.5%). Phosphorus digestibility significantly (p<0.05) increased along with dietary Ca level. Among the tested 25OHD3 groups, higher (p<0.05) egg production and tibia thickness were present in hens fed 50 ㎍/kg of 25OHD3. Furthermore, Ca digestibility serum Ca and 25OHD3 were significantly increased in group offered 50 ㎍/kg of 25OHD3. Conclusion: The results gathered in this study indicate that dietary concentrations of 4.0% to 4.5% Ca and 50 ㎍/kg 25OHD3 improve the performance of hens from 61 to 70 weeks of age.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.153-163
• /
• 2017

This study is aimed at researching on psychopathological characteristics of agriculture-specialized college students, in a specific educational environment, consulting some students who show maladjusted characteristics, verifying its effects and providing basic data for college life instructions. The complete survey MMPI was conducted for 676 freshmen and juniors attending K agriculture-specialized college located in Jeollabuk-do. To analyze the results, basic statistics, bivariate correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were implemented. The results of this study are as follows; First, the level of overall clinical scale was lower than 50 points, standard point, and freshmen showed higher depression (D), hysteria (Hy) and psychasthenia (Pt) in general. Such results are different from the other study results. It is considered an anxiety in early stage, resulted from a living in a dormitory. For the juniors who came back from one-year practice, anxiety about employment seems little because they are already employed. Second, The effects of personal consultation for maladjusted students were proved (p<.01). The students who got consultation showed improvement effect from 'very bad condition' to 'considerable depression', which is low score. This study has a meaning in preventing from any accident, by screening maladjusted students who are supposed to learn in a specific situation, by relieving their symptoms through consultation and letting them concentrate on learning.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.11
• /
• pp.1727-1737
• /
• 2023

Objective: The poultry industry is a primary source of animal protein worldwide. The gut microbiota of poultry birds, such as chickens and ducks, is critical in maintaining their health, growth, and productivity. This study aimed to identify longitudinal changes in the gut microbiota of laying hens from birth to the pre-laying stage. Methods: From a total of 80 Hy-Line Brown laying hens, birds were selected based on weight at equal intervals to collect feces (n = 20 per growth) and ileal contents (n = 10 per growth) for each growth stage (days 10, 21, 58, and 101). The V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified after extracting DNA from feces and ileal contents. Amplicon sequencing was performed using Illumina, followed by analysis. Results: Microbial diversity increased with growth stages, regardless of sampling sites. Microbial community analysis indicated that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in the feces and ileal. The abundance of Lactobacillus was highest on day 10, and that of Escherichia-shigella was higher on day 21 than those at the other stages at the genus level (for the feces and ileal contents; p<0.05). Furthermore, Turicibacter was the most abundant genus after changing feed (for the feces and ileal contents; p<0.05). The fecal Ruminococcus torques and ileal Lysinibacillus were negatively correlated with the body weights of chickens (p<0.05). Conclusion: The gut microbiota of laying hens changes during the four growth stages, and interactions between microbiota and feed may be present. Our findings provide valuable data for understanding the gut microbiota of laying hens at various growth stages and future applied studies.