• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.388-395
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• 2009

The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of early feed restriction (FR, 8 to 14 d of age) on growth performance and immune function in broiler chickens. Birds were fed corresponding diets from 3 to 35 d of age, which consisted of three phases: starter (3 to 7 d of age), FR (8 to 14 d of age) and re-alimentation (15 to 35 d of age) phases. During the FR period, each group of birds was fed the basal diet ad libitum (CON), 85% (EN85) and 70% (EN70) of lower calorie diet ad libitum (qualitative FR), and 85% (FI85) and 70% (FI70) of voluntary intake on a daily basis (quantitative FR). As a result, there was no statistical difference in weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio between the CON and quantitative or qualitative FR groups during the entire (3 to 35 d) periods. In particular, the EN85 group resulted in a significant (p<0.05) increase in weight gain compared with the EN70, FI85 and FI70 groups. Plasma total protein and albumin at 14 d of age (during FR) were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the quantitative and qualitative FR groups, but these parameters at 35 d of age (after re-alimentation) were higher (p<0.05) in the EN85 and EN70 groups than in the CON group. Plasma IgG level was unaffected by dietary FR procedure. In cytokines, there was no significant difference in the expression of lymphocytic IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ at 14 d of age between the FR and the CON groups, whereas lymphocytic IL-6 and iNOS expression were significantly (p<0.05) lower in FI85 and FI70 groups. Moreover, lymphocytic iNOS was also significantly (p<0.05) lower in birds fed qualitative and quantitative diets compared with those fed ad libitum. In the thymus, IL-4 expression was higher (p<0.05) in FI85 and FI70 groups, whereas IL-6 expression was lower (p<0.05) in the FI85 and FI70 groups than in the CON group. Thymic iNOS was significantly (p<0.05) lower in birds fed qualitatively and quantitatively restricted diets compared with those fed ad libitum. At 35 d of age, there was no difference in the expression of IL-4, IL-6 and IFN-${\gamma}$ of lymphocytes and thymus between the FR and CON groups. In conclusion, 85% of quantitative and qualitative FR would have a beneficial effect on the expression of some cytokines including IL-4 and iNOS without change in growth performance of birds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 1999

The effect of a chronic inflammation (cell-mediated immune response) on energy metabolism and growth performance was assessed in weanling piglets. Twenty four barrows of 4 wk of age were assigned to one of two immunization treatments : Control group [CON: immunized with Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (lFA)] or Immunization group [IMMU: immunized with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)]. On d0, piglets were weaned and subcutaneously immunized at the medial side of the femur with 2 ml of IFA or CFA, respectively. Energy and nitrogen balances were measured per group during 13-d balance period, and total $(HP_{tot})$, activity-related ($(HP_{act})$) and non-activity-related $(HP_{cor})$ heat production were determined every 9-min by indirect calorimetry. Ig total titers to Mycobacterium butyricum, which is present in CFA, were higher (p<0.01) in IMMU than in CON on d13 (2.5 vs 1.8) and d20 (2.9 vs 1.8) after immunization. There were no differences (p>0.10) between treatments in rectal temperature, performance, feed intake, and availability and partitioning of energy during the balance period. Average daily feed intake was numerically higher in IMMU than in CON (0.34 vs 0.32 kg/d), but there was no difference (p>0.10) in metabolizability of the dietary energy between treatments. $HP_{act}/HP_{tot}$ was 16.24 and 16.89%, and retained energy was 251 and 268 $268\;kJ{\cdot}kg^{0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ for CON and IMMU, respectively. Numerically, maintenance requirement of IMMU was even lower than that of CON $(419\;vs\;427\;kJ{\cdot}kg^{0.75}{\cdot}d^{-1})$. The present study suggests that a chronic inflammation has no effect on energy metabolism and growth performance, in spite of the difference in systemic antibody responses. The reason was considered to be due to locally induced immune response, resulting from the possible encapsulation at the site of injection, and/or to a low systemic immune stress which is within a functionally acceptable physiological range for the piglets.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1047-1053
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Korean red pine bark extract as an antibiotic replacement on cecum microflora, immune functions, blood lipids, carcass characteristics, and growth performance in broiler chickens. There were four treatment groups: a control group, an antibiotic group, and two treatment groups receiving 65 and 80 ppm Korean red pine bark extract. Growth performance, carcass weight, dressing percentage, and breast and thigh muscle weight of the broiler chickens fed 80 ppm of red pine bark extract was higher than the broilers of the control group and the antibiotic group. Abdominal fat was lower in both groups of broiler chickens fed red pine bark extract, but the growth of immune organs such as the thymus, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius was significantly higher in the group that received a diet supplemented with 80 ppm red pine bark extract than in the control group and antibiotic group. Concentrations of triacylglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly lower in both groups that received red pine bark extract when compared to the control group and the antibiotic group. The concentration of serum IgG was significantly higher in the 80 ppm red pine bark extract group than in the control group and the antibiotic group. The numbers of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the cecum digesta were significantly increased, while the numbers of Escherichia coli and Salmonella were significantly reduced in the group that received 80 ppm red pine bark extract when compared to the control group and the antibiotic group. These results suggest that the a diet with 80 ppm Korean red pine bark extract as a replacement for antibiotics improve the cecum microflora, immune functions, blood lipids, carcass characteristics and growth performance of broiler chickens.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.1314-1327
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• 2021

Bacillus is characterized by the formation of spores in harsh environments, which makes it suitable for use as a probiotic for feed because of thermostability and high survival rate, even under long-term storage. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Bacillus-based probiotics on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, immune response, and intestinal microbiota of weaned pigs. A total of 40 weaned pigs (7.01 ± 0.86 kg body weight [BW]; 28 d old) were randomly assigned to two treatments (4 pigs/pen; 5 replicates/treatment) in a randomized complete block design (block = BW and sex). The dietary treatment was either a typical nursery diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) or CON supplemented with 0.01% probiotics containing a mixture of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis (PRO). Fecal samples were collected daily by rectal palpation for the last 3 days after a 4-day adaptation. Blood, ileal digesta, and intestinal tissue samples were collected from one pig in each pen at the respective time points. The PRO group did not affect the feed efficiency, but the average daily gain was significantly improved (p < 0.05). The PRO group showed a trend of improved crude protein digestibility (p < 0.10). The serum transforming growth factor-β1 level tended to be higher (p < 0.10) in the PRO group on days 7 and 14. There was no difference in phylum level of the intestinal microbiota, but there were differences in genus composition and proportions. However, β-diversity analysis showed no statistical differences between the CON and the PRO groups. Taken together, Bacillus-based probiotics had beneficial effects on the growth performance, immune system, and intestinal microbiota of weaned pigs, suggesting that Bacillus can be utilized as a functional probiotic for weaned pigs.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.642-653
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate effects of β-glucan with vitamin E supplementation on the growth performance, blood profiles, immune response, fecal microbiota, fecal score, and nutrient digestibility in weaning pigs. Methods: A total of 200 weaning pigs with an average body weight (BW) of 7.64±0.741 kg were allotted to five treatment groups and were divided based on sex and initial BW in four replicates with ten pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. The experimental diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with or without 0.1% or 0.2% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E. The pigs were fed the diets for 6 weeks. A total of 15 barrows were used to evaluate the nutrient digestibility by the total collection method. The BW and feed intake were measured at the end of each phase. Blood samples were collected at the end of each phase, and fecal samples were collected at the end of the experiment. Results: The addition of β-glucan with vitamin E to weaning pig feed increased BW, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake. A significant decrease in yeast and mold and Proteobacteria and a tendency for Lactobacillus to increase compared to the control was shown when 0.1% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E were added. The fecal score in weaning pigs was lower in the treatments supplemented with 0.1% or 0.2% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E compared to the control. In addition, vitamin E was better supplied to weaning pigs by increasing the concentration of α-tocopherol in the blood of weaning pigs when 0.02% vitamin E was supplemented. However, there was no significant difference in either the immune response or nutrient digestibility. Conclusion: Inclusion of 0.1% β-Glucan with 0.02% vitamin E in a weaning pig's diet were beneficial to the growth performance of weaning pigs by improving intestinal microbiota and reducing the incidence of diarrhea.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.481-490
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• 2007

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of MOS, lectin and organic acid mixture(Organic acid F, Organic acid G) on the egg production, egg quality, profile of leukocytes and erythrocytes, small intestinal microflora and immune response in laying hens. A total of 900 Hy-line BrownⓇ laying hens of 48 wks old were assigned to one of the following 6 dietary treatments:control(C), C+AvillamycinⓇ 6ppm, C+MOS 250ppm, C+lectin 12.5ppm, C+Organic acid F(formic acid 35.4%, formate 34.6%, potassium 30.0%) 0.3% and C+0rgarnic acid G(fumaric acid 23%, calcium formate 14%, potassium sorbate 5%, calcium propionate 7%) 0.06%. Each treatment was replicated five times with thirty birds per replicate, housed in 2 bird cages. Feeding trial lasted for 6 wks under 16 hours lighting regimen. All supplemental groups were higher than the control in 6 wks hen-day and hen-housed egg production showing the highest with MOS treatment(P<0.05). Soft & broken egg productions were lower in supplemental groups than in the control except lectin treatment(P<0.05). Eggyolk color of supplemental groups was higher than that of the control except Organic acid G treatment(P<0.05). The values of RBC, HB, MCHC were highest in lectin treatment and lowest in MOS treatment(P<0.05). The numbers of intestinal microflora were not significantly different among the treatments. Serum IgG levels of all supplemental groups were higher than those of the control(P<0.05). In conclusion, for supplementation of antibiotics, immune modulators and organic acid mixture improved production parameters in general. Among the supplements, MOS showed the best performance in egg production and eggyolk color.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2019

The study investigated the dietary effects of medicinal herbs extract and multiple probiotics mixture on the growth performance, innate immune response and antibacterial activity of nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Tilapia were divided in four groups. The first is a fish group fed a basal diet added with 40% medicinal herbs extract (MHE). The second is a fish group fed a basal diet supplied with $2{\times}10^8CFU/g$ of 2 Bacillus sp, 2 Lactobacillus sp and 2 Yeast sp, respectively (PB). The third group was fed with a mixture of probiotics (2 Bacillus sp, 2 Lactobacillus sp and 2 Yeast sp) with the medicinal herbs extract added in basal diet (MHE+PB). The fourth group was fed only a basal diet (C). In a non-specific immune parameters analysis, respiratory burst activity, lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity (PA), alternative complement pathway activity ($ACH_{50}$) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the group MHE+PB compared to other groups. Both PB and MHE groups showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in respiratory burst activity, lysozyme activity compared to the control C group, whereas no significant differences were observed in PA, $ACH_{50}$ and SOD activity compared to the control group. In challenging test, fish were administered with Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) on 30 days after feeding with each experimental diet and viable E. tarda cell reduction was checked over 21 days post injection. MHE+PB group showed a significantly (p<0.05) reduced E. tarda cells compared to other groups. No significant antibacterial difference (p>0.05) was observed between PB and MHE only treated group. Compared to the control, a significant antibacterial difference (p<0.05) appeared in PB but not in MHE (p>0.05). The results suggest that the probiotics and MHE mixture could be utilized as an alternative to antibiotics in the control of fish diseases caused by E. tarda.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2021

One year has passed since the pandemic of COVID-19, which occurred in Wuhan, China, in November 2019 began. Worldwide, as of January 2021, more than 95 million people have been infected, and the death toll is higher than 2 million. In Korea, there are 74,262 infected and 1,328 dead, and government policies such as social distancing to prevent infection are being implemented. Accordingly, many inconveniences occurred in the physical activity environment, such as the closure of various sports facilities. It was necessary to consider physical activities to maintain healthy life while cooperating with the national policy while preventing infection. This study investigated the benefits of physical activity to reduce the risk of trichomoniasis and diabetes, improve bone mineral density, prolong healthy lifespan, maintain activity performance with aging, and improve psychological anxiety and depression. In addition, the physiological changes that may occur in the situation of stopping exercise due to social distancing to prevent COVID-19 infection were reviewed. In addition, moderate-intensity exercise that helps strengthen immune function by activating natural killer cells, neutrophils, and antibody responses was investigated. In addition, it reduces the level and function of blood B-cells, T-cells, and natural killer cells for several hours, decreases phagocytosis of neutrophils in the nasal cavity, increases inflammatory cytokines, decreases immune function, and increases infection. High-intensity exercise was considered. Therefore, in the age of COVID-19, long-term high-intensity exercise such as marathon, which causes impaired immune function, should be refrained from. And you should do moderate-intensity regular aerobic exercise such as fast walking to help prevent infection. It is also recommended to participate in resistance exercises to prevent loss of muscle mass.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.577-596
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• 2007

Recent development of fiber optic sensor technology has provided an excellent choice for civil engineers for performance monitoring of civil infrastructures. Fiber optic sensors have the advantages of small dimensions, good resolution and accuracy, as well as excellent ability to transmit signal at long distances. They are also immune to electromagnetic and radio frequency interference and may incorporate a series of interrogated sensors multiplexed along a single fiber. These advantages make fiber optic sensors a better method than traditional damage detection methods and devices to some extent. This paper provides a review of recent developments in fiber optic sensor technology as well as some applications of fiber optic sensors to the performance monitoring of civil infrastructures such as buildings, bridges, pavements, dams, pipelines, tunnels, piles, etc. Existing problems of fiber optic sensors with their applications to civil structural performance monitoring are also discussed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.785-792
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• 2013

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary nucleotides (NT) on the growth performance, hematological parameters, and innate immune responses of red seabream Pagrus major. In Expt I, six experimental diets were formulated: a control, four that contained each NT at a level of 0.15% (inosine monophosphate, IMP; adenosine monophosphate, AMP; guanosine monophosphate, GMP; and uridine monophosphate, UMP), and one with a 1:1:1:1 mixture of NTs (IMP, AMP, GMP, and UMP). In Expt II, five experimental diets were formulated that contained 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 1.0% IMP (commercial product). Triplicate groups of juvenile (initial body weight 33.1 g) and growing (initial body weight 120 g) red seabream were fed one of the experimental diets to apparent satiation for 8 weeks in Expt I and 12 weeks in Expt II. In Expt I, fish fed diets with NT had higher growth performance than the control group. The nitroblue tetrazolium and lysozyme activities were higher in fish fed the mixed-NT diet, and lowest in the control group. In Expt II, the final body weight and feed utilization of fish fed the 0.1% IMP diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed the control or 1.0% IMP diets. Diet palatability was improved significantly when 0.1% IMP was added. The lysozyme activity was higher in fish fed diets with 0.4-1.0% than in the control group. These results suggest that supplementation of 0.15% IMP and Mixed-NTs in diet can enhance the growth and immune responses in juvenile red seabream. The optimum IMP level appears to be 0.2% in practical feed formulation for growing red seabream.