• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.289-300
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• 2008

The use of metric trial functions to represent the real stress field in what is called the unsymmetric finite element formulation is an effective way to improve predictions from distorted finite elements. This approach works surprisingly well because the use of parametric functions for the test functions satisfies the continuity conditions while the use of metric (Cartesian) shape functions for the trial functions attempts to ensure that the stress representation during finite element computation can retrieve in a best-fit manner, the actual variation of stress in the metric space. However, the issue of how to handle situations where there is locking along with mesh distortion has never been addressed. In this paper, we show that the use of a consistent definition of the constrained strain field in the metric space can ensure a lock-free solution even when there is mesh distortion. The three-noded Timoshenko beam element is used to illustrate the principles. Some significant conclusions are drawn regarding the optimal strategy for finite element modelling where distortion effects and field-consistency requirements have to be reconciled simultaneously.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.63-74
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• 2023

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding active dry yeast (ADY) and yeast culture (YC) on fecal bacterial community in finishing bulls fed high-concentrate diets in the same experimental environment. Methods: Forty-five healthy finishing cattle (Simmental×Chinese Luxi yellow bulls; 24 months; 505±29 kg) were randomly divided into three groups: i) CON group (control group, only fed basal diet), ii) ADY group (fed basal diet + active dry yeast), and iii) YC group (fed basal diet + yeast culture). At the end of the trial, nine rectum fecal samples were randomly selected from each group for bacterial DNA sequencing. Results: There was no difference among groups about alpha diversity indices (all p>0.05), including ACE, Chao 1, Shannon, and Simpson indices. Principal component analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed a high similarity among three groups. Compared with CON group, ADY and YC groups had greater relative abundance of c_Clostridia, o_Oscillospirales, and f_Oscillospiraceae, but lesser relative abundance of g_Megasphaera, and s_Megasphaera_elsdenii (all p<0.01). And, the relative abundances of p_Firmicutes (p = 0.03), s_Prevotella_sp (p = 0.03), o_Clostridiales (p<0.01), g_Clostridium (p<0.01), f_Caloramatoraceae (p<0.01), and f_Ruminococcaceae (p = 0.04) were increased in the ADY group. The PICRUSt2 prediction results showed that the metabolic pathways had no significant differences among groups (p>0.05). Besides, the relative abundance of c_Clostridia (r = 0.42), and f_Oscillospiraceae (r = 0.40) were positively correlated to average daily gain of finishing bulls (p<0.05). Conclusion: Both of ADY and YC had no effect on diversity of fecal bacteria in finishing bulls, but the supplementation of ADY and YC can improve the large intestinal function in finishing bulls by increasing the abundance of cellulolytic bacteria and altering the abundance of lactic acid-utilizing bacteria.