• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2009

Esterase EM2L8 gene isolated from deep sea sediment was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and the esterase activity of the cell-free extract was assayed using p-nitrophenyl butyrate-spectrophotometric method. Its optimum temperature was $40-45^{\circ}C$ and 45% activity of the maximum activity was retained at $15^{\circ}C$. The activation energy at $15-45^{\circ}C$ was calculated to be 4.9 kcal/mol showing that esterase EM2L8 was a typical cold-adapted enzyme. Enzyme activity was maintained for 6 h and 4 weeks at $30^{\circ}C$ and $4^{\circ}C$, respectively. When each ethanol, methanol, and acetone was added to the reaction mixture to 15% concentration, enzyme activity was maintained. In the case of DMSO, enzyme activity was kept up to 40% concentration. (S)-4-Chloro-3-hydroxy butyric acid is a chiral intermediate for the synthesis of Atorvastatin, a hyperlipemia drug. When esterase EM2L8 (40 U) was added to buffer solution (1.2 mL, pH 9.0) containing ethyl-(R,S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate (38 mM), it was hydrolyzed into 4-chloro-3-hydroxy butyric acid with a rate of $6.8\;{\mu}mole/h$. The enzyme hydrolyzed (S)-substrate more rapidly than (R)-substrate. When conversion yield was 80%, e.e.s value was 40%. When DMSO was added, hydrolysis rate increased to $10.4\;{\mu}mole/h$. The plots of conversion yield vs e.e.s in the presence or absence of DMSO were almost same, implying that the reaction enantioselectivity was not changed by the addition of DMSO. Taken together, esterase EM2L8 had high activity and stability at low temperatures as well as in various organic solvents/aqueous solutions. These properties suggested that it could be used as a biocatalyst in the synthesis of useful pharmaceuticals.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.79-93
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• 2013

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding herbaceous peat on growth performance and meat quality of Holstein beef cattle. Total of 20 Holstein beef cattle (18~20 month of age, $657{\pm}31kg$ body weight) were conventionally and separately fed a concentrate diet and rice straw for 134 days. The dietary treatments were randomly assigned by complete block design into four treatments, each of which were five heads in early fattening stage. The treatments in this study were the control group fed basal diet, feeding herbaceous peat group (5%/diet, T1), feeding coated vitamin C group (20g/head, T2) and feeding mixture of herbaceous peat and coated vitamin C group (5%/diet+20g/head, T3). The initial body weights between the groups of control, T1, T2 and T3 were similar showing with $689{\pm}31$, $661{\pm}24$, $659{\pm}32$ and $622{\pm}19kg$. The daily body weight gain was higher in T3 by 8.3% than that in the control (p<0.05). Glucose concentration in control group was the highest among treatments (p<0.05), but there was no significant differences between treatments on AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase), BUN and total protein concentrations of blood. The fat content of sirloin in the T2 was significantly higher than control and T1 group (p<0.05). Meat color (CIE) values in T2 was the highest among treatments (p<0.05), and other treatments also increased those values. In overall, the feeding herbaceous peat and vitamin C to the Holstein beef cattle was considered to have positive effects on the growth performance of Holstein beef cattle. In addition, the effects on the performances of animals were more improved when fed herbaceous peat and vitamin C concurrently.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.901-916
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• 2017

This study was conducted to evaluate natural plant extracts for methane gas reduction in ruminants. Rumen fluid was collected from cannulated Hanwoo cow ($450{\pm}30kg$) consuming 400 g/kg concentrate and 600 g/kg timothy. The 15 ml of mixture comparing McDougall's buffer and rumen fluid in the ratio 2 to 1, was dispensed anaerobically into 50 ml serum bottles. Rumen fluid contents were collected and in vitro fermentation prepared control (timothy, 300 mg), ginseng, balloon flower, yucca plant, camellia, tea plant and ogapi extracts were added at the level of 5% against 300 mg of timothy as a substrate (v/w) and incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. In vitro pH values range 6.55~7.41, this range include rumen titration. The dry matter digestibility was not differ between all treatments and control. Total gas emission was significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng and balloon flower treatments on 24 h than in control. Carbon dioxide emission was not differ all treatments on 9 h than in control and significantly higher (p<0.05) yucca plant, camellia and tea plant treatments on 12 h than control. Methane emission was not differ all treatments on 6 h than in control. The rumen microbial growth rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng, balloon flower on 12 h and significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng, yucca plant, tea plant and ogapi treatments on 24 h than in control. Total VFA was significantly higher (p<0.05) in tea plant and ogapi treatments on 12 h than in control and significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng, balloon flower treatments on 48 h than in control. Acetic acid was significantly lower (p<0.05) in ginseng and balloon flower treatments on 24 h than in control. Propionic acid was significantly higher (p<0.05) in ginseng and balloon flower treatments on 48 h than in control. As a results, sixth natural plant extracts had no significant effect dry matter digestibility and negative on rumen fermentation, but not effect methane reduction.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.620-626
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• 2015

$Ho^{3+}$ doped $SrAl_2O_4$ upconversion phosphor powders were synthesized by spray pyrolysis, and the crystallographic properties and luminescence characteristics were examined by varying activator concentrations and heattreatment temperatures. The effect of organic additives on the crystal structure and luminescent properties was also investigated. $SrAl_2O_4:Ho^{3+}$ powders showed intensive green emission due to the $^5F_4/^5S_2{\rightarrow}^5I_8$ transition of $Ho^{3+}$. The optimal $Ho^{3+}$ concentration in order to achieve the highest luminescence was 0.1%. Over this concentration, emission intensities were largely diminished via a concentration quenching due to dipole-dipole interaction between activator ions. According to the dependence of emission intensity on the pumping power of a laser diode, it was clear that the upconversion of $SrAl_2O_4:Ho^{3+}$ occurred via the ground state absorption-excited state absorption processes involving two near-IR photons. Synthesized powders were monoclinic as a major phase, having some hexagonal phase. The increase of heat-treatment temperatures from $1000^{\circ}C$ to $1350^{\circ}C$ led to crystallinity enhancement of monoclinic phase, reducing hexagonal phase. The hexagonal phase, however, did not disappear even at $1350^{\circ}C$. When both citric acid (CA) and ethylene glycol (EG) were added to the spray solution, the resulting powders had pure monoclinic phase without forming hexagonal phase, and led to largely enhancement of crystallinity. Also, N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) addition to the spray solution containing both CA and EG made it possible to effectively reduce the surface area of $SrAl_2O_4:Ho^{3+}$ powders. Consequently, the $SrAl_2O_4:Ho^{3+}$ powders prepared by using the spray solution containing CA/EG/DMF mixture as the organic additives showed about 168% improved luminescence compared to the phosphor prepared without organic additives. It was concluded that both the increased crystallinity of high-purity monoclinic phase and the decrease of surface area were attributed to the large enhancement of upconversion luminescence.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1562-1570
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to develop fertilizer which promotes plant growth as well as suppressing pathogenic fungi. The fertilizer was made from the mixture of Ju-Back (Korean rice wine cake) and indigenous rhizosphere-bacterium. The main ingredients of Ju-Back were investigated as 6.04% total nitrogen, 42.59% total carbohydrate, 1.01% available phosphate, 73.42% organic matter, 7.72% potassium oxide, 1.35% calcium oxide, 0.53% magnesium oxide. The enzyme activities of Ju-Back were estimated to be 980 units/g for ${\alpha}-amylase$, 300 units/g for glucoamylase, and 1800 units/g for acid pretense. Indigenous rhizosphere bacteria which produced antifungal agent were isolated from soil, and was selected KMU-13 strain which can antagonize against various plant pathogenic fungi (Botrytis cinerea KACC 40573, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum KACC 41065, Fusairum oxysporum KACC 40052, Pythium aphanidermatum KACC 40156, Phytophthora capsici KACC 40476 and Glomerella cingulata KACC 40299). KMU-13 strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis KMU-13 by biochemical and 16s rDNA analysis. The organic fertilizer was made as prototype which was composed 20% Ju-Back, 70% carrier, 9.7% microorganism cultivated solution, 0.3% trace-element. We also investigated an application of fertilizer using Ju-Back for cultivating lettuce (Lactuca sativar) which were grown in three soil conditions that had chemical fertilizer, barnyard manure, lime power, urea, potassium chloride and superphosphate as a control, the whole quantity (80 kg/10a) of posted fertilizer with the control and the half quantity (40 kg/10a) with the control. The growth characteristics were examined and analysed with several weeks interval from 3 weeks to 8 weeks on head length (cm), head width (cm/head), number of leaf and fresh weight (g/plant). The results are summarized as follows. The head width and fresh weight of lettuce were the highest at posted fertilizer 1 (whole quantity) was applied chemical, organic matter (Ju-Back) and carrier. The head length was the highest at posted fertilizer 2 (whole quantity) was applied Ju-Back only.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.761-773
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• 2000

Eighteen growing male Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves were divided into three groups consisting of six animals each and fed three urea ammoniated wheat straw (UAS) -based rations supplemented with concentrate mixtures (roughage: concentrate ratio 58:42) containing deoiled ground nut cake, GNC (8%), formaldehyde treated GNC (8%) or fish meal (8%) to undertake comparative evaluation of these rations in terms of their $CH_4$ production and growth (285 d duration) potential. A digestibility trial (10 d duration) was followed by a comparative calorimetric study in respiration chamber. Dry matter (DM) intake (84.3 to $89.3g/kg\;W^{0.75}d^{-1}$) did not differ between treatments. The digestibility coefficient of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral and acid detergent fiber did not differ significantly in different diets. Urinary energy loss as a percent of gross energy (GE) was not affected by diets. Average values of $CH_4$ production were 84.3, 77.6 and 99.1 g/d and $CH_4$ energy losses as percent of gross energy were 5.7, 5.2 and 6.1 percent on .GNC, formaldehyde treated GNC and fishmeal, respectively, and did not differ significantly. When expressed per unit of digestible OM intake, $CH_4$ production (g) was lower (p<0.05) on formaldehyde treated GNC (30.6) than on untreated GNC (30.6) and fish meal (31.9). Total ME intake and heat production were similar and hence the energy balances on different diets were similar. Nutritive value of rations in terms of digestible CP and ME were similar. Average daily gain calculated on the basis of regression of fortnights on cumulative liveweight gain in calves fed on concentrate containing unprotected GNC, protected GNC and fish meal were 437.1, 483.9 and 481.6 g, respectively. This indicated that the intake of energy was sufficient to meet the requirement of calves growing at 400 g per d. However, CP intake was around 150% of the stipulated standard (Kearl, 1982). Feed conversion ratios on unprotected GNC, protected GNC and fish meal were 11.60, 11.10 and 10.4 respectively. It was concluded that because significantly (p<0.05) low $CH_4$ is produced on protected GNC (8%), it is very good and sustainable protein source in comparison to poor quality fish meal and untreated GNC to be used in concentrate mixture for supplementing UAS-based diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of eucalyptus (E. Camaldulensis) crude oils (EuO) supplementation on voluntary feed intake and rumen fermentation characteristics in swamp buffaloes. Four rumen fistulated swamp buffaloes, body weight (BW) of $420{\pm}15.0$ kg, were randomly assigned according to a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The dietary treatments were untreated rice straw (RS) without EuO (T1) and with EuO (T2) supplementation, and 3% urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) without EuO (T3) and with EuO (T4) supplementation. The EuO was supplemented at 2 mL/h/d in respective treatment. Experimental animals were kept in individual pens and concentrate mixture was offered at 3 g/kg BW while roughage was fed ad libitum. Total dry matter and roughage intake, and apparent digestibilites of organic matter and neutral detergent fiber were improved (p<0.01) by UTRS. There was no effect of EuO supplementation on feed intake and nutrient digestibility. Ruminal pH and temperature were not (p>0.05) affected by either roughage sources or EuO supplementation. However, buffaloes fed UTRS had higher ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen as compared with RS. Total volatile fatty acid and butyrate proportion were similar among treatments, whereas acetate was decreased and propionate molar proportion was increased by EuO supplementation. Feeding UTRS resulted in lower acetate and higher propionate concentration compared to RS. Moreover, supplementation of EuO reduced methane production especially in UTRS treatment. Protozoa populations were reduced by EuO supplementation while fungi zoospores remained the same. Total, amylolytic and cellulolytic bacterial populations were increased (p<0.01) by UTRS; However, EuO supplementation did not affect viable bacteria. Nitrogen intake and in feces were found higher in buffaloes fed UTRS. A positive nitrogen balance (absorption and retention) was in buffaloes fed UTRS. Supplementation of EuO did not affect nitrogen utilization. Both allantoin excretion and absorption and microbial nitrogen supply were increased by UTRS whereas efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was similar in all treatments. Findings of present study suggested that EuO could be used as a feed additive to modify the rumen fermentation in reducing methane production both in RS and UTRS. Feeding UTRS could improve feed intake and efficiency of rumen fermentation in swamp buffaloes. However, more research is warranted to determine the effect of EuO supplementation in production animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.486-494
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• 2017

Objective: An experiment was conducted to determine the nutrient intake, digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, haemato-biochemical attributes, immune response and growth performance of Gaddi kids fed with oat fodder based basal diet supplemented with either tea seed or tea seed saponin (TSS) extract. Methods: Eighteen male kids, $7.03{\pm}0.16$ months of age and $19.72{\pm}0.64kg$ body weight, were distributed into three groups, $T_0$ (control), $T_1$, and $T_2$, consisting of 6 animals each in a completely randomized design. The kids were fed a basal diet consisting of concentrate mixture and oat fodder (50:50). Animals in group III ($T_2$) were supplemented with TSS at 0.4% of dry matter intake (DMI), and group II ($T_1$) were supplemented with tea seed at 2.6% of DMI to provide equivalent dose of TSS as in $T_2$. Two metabolism trials were conducted, 1st after 21 days and 2nd after 90 days of feeding to evaluate the short term and long term effects of supplementation. Results: The tea seed ($T_1$) or TSS ($T_2$) supplementation did not affect DMI as well as the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre. Nutritive value of diet and plane of nutrition were also comparable for both the periods. However, the average daily gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were improved (p<0.05) for $T_1$ and $T_2$ as compared to $T_0$. The microbial protein supply was also higher (p<0.05) for $T_1$ and $T_2$ for both the periods. There was no effect of supplementation on most blood parameters. However, the triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased (p<0.05) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level increased (p<0.05) in $T_2$ as compared with $T_0$ and $T_1$. Supplementation also did not affect the cell mediated and humoral immune response in goats. Conclusion: Tea seed at 2.6% of DMI and TSS at 0.4% DMI can be fed to Gaddi goats to improve growth rate, FCR and microbial protein synthesis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1422-1428
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• 2006

In order to investigate the effect of different levels of niacin supplementation on growth, nutrient utilization, their balance and blood biochemical profile, 15 male buffalo calves (9-10 months of age, $88.4{\pm}4.37kg$ average body weight) were divided into 3 equal groups each of 5 calves, following a completely randomized design, and fed individually for 120 days with wheat straw and concentrate mixture to meet their nutrient requirements. In addition calves were supplemented with 0 ppm (control, group I), 100 ppm (group II) and 200 ppm (group III) niacin. After 90 days of experimental feeding a metabolism trial was conducted to estimate the digestibility of nutrients and their balance. Fortnightly body weights were recorded to assess their growth rate and blood was collected from the jugular vein at day 0 and subsequently at 30-day intervals from all the experimental buffalo calves to study blood biochemical parameters. Results showed that intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, total carbohydrates, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, cellulose and hemicelluloses were statistically similar in the 3 groups. Buffalo calves in all three groups were in positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance, without showing any significant effect of the treatments. Dry matter, crude protein, digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrient intake ($g/d/kgW^{0.75}$) were similar in the control and niacin supplemented groups. Digestible crude protein (%) and total digestible nutrients (%) in the ration of the 3 groups were 8.07, 7.99, 7.92 and 56.70, 56.63, 56.74, respectively, and were comparable among the groups. The average daily gain (g) in-group II (567.50) was not significantly (p>0.05) higher than group I (500.0) and group III (510.0). Blood biochemical constituents (glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea-N, insulin) showed no significant effect of niacin supplementation. However, serum cholesterol (mg/100 ml) was significantly (p<0.01) lower in the 200 ppm niacin-supplemented group than in the control and 100 ppm niacin-supplemented groups. It can be concluded that supplementation of niacin at 100 and 200 ppm in the diet of buffalo calves had no significant beneficial effect on their growth and nutrient utilization.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.368-372
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• 2008

Composting is a good strategy for management of livestock manure. However, it leads to large ammonia emissions and has a potential phosphorus runoff due to high content of soluble phosphorus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of alum on reducing ammonia emissions and stabilizing phosphorus during composting of pig manure. For this study, alum was applied at rates of 0 (No-Alum), 1.0 (Alum-L), and 3.0 (Alum-H) g Al $kg^{-1}$ pig manure and sawdust mixture (fresh matter basis). The thermophilic stage was quickly achieved in Alum-L and No-alum treatment, but it was delayed to 5 days in Alum-H treatment. The thermophilic stage was maintained for 2 weeks in all treatment. The pH of compost treated with alum remained below 8.0 for the 35 d but it was above 8.0 in No-Alum treatment. For the first 15 days of composting process, 93, 87, and 58% of total ammonia emissions were occurred in No-Alum-L and Alum-H, respectively. The Alum-H and Alum-L treatments reduced $NH_3$ volatilization by 31 and 78% compared with No-Alum treatment. Alum treatments shifted manure P form $H_2O$ and $NaHCO_3$ extractable P into NaOH extractable P which is very stable under acid and alkaline condition. Therefore, alum is a good chemical amendment for reducing ammonia emission during composting and potential losses of P following compost applications.