• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.1-19
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities and mechanisms of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) herbal acupuncture. Methods : Anti-diabetic and anti-steatotic activity of the AS herbal acupuncture was investigated on C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. After random grouping at the age of 9 weeks, the herbal acupuncture groups were injected subcutaneously at the left and right Gansu (BL18) corresponding acupuncture points alternately on exactly the same time every day with 0.1ml of either 400 mg/kg or 800 mg/kg of AS (AS400 and AS800) for 8-week period. As a positive control, metformin was administrated at a dose of 300 mg/kg (MT300). Body weights were measured weekly, and on every other week blood was collected for blood glucose analysis. At the end of study, blood was also collected for determination of plasma insulin and lipid levels, after which they were killed and periepidydimal fat, liver, muscle, and pancreas were immediately removed. The removed tissues were instantly soaked in liquid nitrogen and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ for morphological examination and mRNA analysis. Results : The AS herbal acupuncture significantly prevented weight gain on C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. The AS herbal acupuncture lowered blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. The increase of insulin response during the OGTT was inhibited by the AS herbal acupuncture. Insulin sensitivity of skeletal tissue was enhanced. Plasma lipid levels were significantly improved in the AS herbal acupuncture groups. The AS herbal acupuncture decreased hepatic lipogenesis and hepatic triglyceride production, and increased fatty acid (FA) transporter that involves in FA uptake. The AS herbal acupuncture inhibited the increase of liver mass by prevention of the accumulation of TG but did not inhibit weight gain of fat tissue on C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. Conclusion : In summary, we have demonstrated several unique properties of the AS herbal acupuncture in decreasing body weight, and reversing insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. This AS herbal acupuncture acts as an insulin sensitizer and specifically decreases circulating glucose and lipids, and suppresses hepatic lipogenesis.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제24권7호
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• pp.260-275
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• 2021

Aquaponics is a cultivation system that combines aquaculture and agricultural hydroponics. This study investigated the productivity of leafy vegetables cultivated in the hybrid biofloc technology-aquaponics (HBFT-AP) using Japanese eel fed two kinds of diets (Mash, commercial powdered feed and extruded pellet [EP]) and hydroponics (HP).The mash was fed to the fish in a type of a dough mixed with water for 6 weeks (Exp1) and switched to the EP containing 2.7% monobasic potassium phosphate (MKP) for subsequent 6 weeks (Exp2). Leafy vegetables of 8 cultivar were employed in the experiment and water quality [dissolved oxygen (DO, mg/L), pH, water temperature (℃), electrical conductivity (EC; ㎲/cm), turbidity (NTU), TAN (NH₃ + NH₄⁺) (mg /L), NO₂-N (mg/L), NO₃-N (mg/L) and PO₄-P (mg/L)] was measured 6 times a week. Leafy vegetable productivity (HBFT-AP vs HP) was compared in respective experiment, which was similar or somewhat higher in HBFT-AP. During the 12-week feeding trial, concentrations of nitrite (NO₂-N) and phosphorus (PO₄-P) were kept low in variability while total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and NO₃-N levels increased with time in HBFT-AP. At the end of two feeding trials, values of weight gain (WG, %), feed efficiency (FE, %), specific growth rate (SGR, %) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were higher in Exp2 than in Exp1. As well, higher values in hematocrit (PCV, %), plasma K (mEq/L) and inorganic phosphorus (mg/dL) were found (p < 0.05) in Exp2 where fish were fed the EP (EP: 38.60%, 2.80 mEq/L and 7.04 g/dL; Mash: 33.20%, 1.95 mEq/L and 5.50 g/dL). Leafy vegetables in HBFT-AP using Japanese eel fed the EP with MKP 2.7% had a productivity similar (4 kinds of cultivar) or somewhat higher (4 kinds of cultivar) compared to those in HP. Also, Japanese eel fed the EP showed higher values of Pi (m/dL) and K (mEq/L) in plasma compared to those fed commercial powder diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.766-773
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• 2011

The objective of the present study was to examine whether yaks possess any adaptive mechanisms of nitrogen (N) metabolism to survive in the harsh foraging environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A grazing experiment on native alpine meadows was conducted to determine availability of herbage biomass and body weight (BW) change of yaks over the year, followed by two indoor feeding trials to investigate adaptation mechanisms of N metabolism in yaks fed at similar intake level to grazing conditions. Three castrated males of each of three genotypes; yak (Bos grunniens), indigenous cattle (Bos taurus) and their crossbred - cattleyak (Bos taurus male${\times}$Bos grunniens female), were used in the housed trials. Results showed that: i) Monthly herbage biomass production and daily grazing intakes by yaks over the year ranged from 220 to 4,664 kg DM per ha, and 1.90 to 8.50 kg DM, respectively. For about seven months each year, yaks suffer from malnutrition as a result of inadequate pasture conditions; ii) Urinary N excretion and N retention by yaks were significantly affected by feeding level, and yaks had a lower (p<0.05) average daily urinary N excretion (0.39 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$) and a greater (p<0.05) N retention (-0.09 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$) than indigenous cattle (0.47 and -0.16 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$, respectively). Fasting daily urinary N excretion was greater (p<0.05) for indigenous cattle than yaks (353 vs. 248 mg/kg $BW^{0.75}$). Purine derivative N excretion and purine derivative N index (PNI) increased with increasing feeding level, while the value of PNI was greater (p<0.05) for yaks and cattleyak (0.11 and 0.12, respectively) than for indigenous cattle (0.09) during the feeding trials. These results suggest that yaks could rely, in part, on the recycling of N to adapt to the harsh forage environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.), were used in the housed trials. Results showed that: i) Monthly herbage biomass production and daily grazing intakes by yaks over the year ranged from 220 to 4,664 kg DM per ha, and 1.90 to 8.50 kg DM, respectively. For about seven months each year, yaks suffer from malnutrition as a result of inadequate pasture conditions; ii) Urinary N excretion and N retention by yaks were significantly affected by feeding level, and yaks had a lower (p<0.05) average daily urinary N excretion (0.39 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$) and a greater (p<0.05) N retention (-0.09 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$) than indigenous cattle (0.47 and -0.16 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$, respectively). Fasting daily urinary N excretion was greater (p<0.05) for indigenous cattle than yaks (353 vs. 248 mg/kg $BW^{0.75}$). Purine derivative N excretion and purine derivative N index (PNI) increased with increasing feeding level, while the value of PNI was greater (p<0.05) for yaks and cattleyak (0.11 and 0.12, respectively) than for indigenous cattle (0.09) during the feeding trials. These results suggest that yaks could rely, in part, on the recycling of N to adapt to the harsh forage environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

• 한국표면공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국표면공학회 2009년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.111-112
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• 2009

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) is a convenient term to indicate the compositions of the various forms of amorphous carbon (a-C), tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C), hydrogenated amorphous carbon and tetrahedral amorphous carbon (a-C:H and ta-C:H). The a-C film with disordered graphitic ordering, such as soot, chars, glassy carbon, and evaporated a-C, is shown in the lower left hand corner. If the fraction of sp3 bonding reaches a high degree, such an a-C is denoted as tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C), in order to distinguish it from sp2 a-C [2]. Two hydrocarbon polymers, that is, polyethylene (CH2)n and polyacetylene (CH)n, define the limits of the triangle in the right hand corner beyond which interconnecting C-C networks do not form, and only strait-chain molecules are formed. The DLC films, i.e. a-C, ta-C, a-C:H and ta-C:H, have some extreme properties similar to diamond, such as hardness, elastic modulus and chemical inertness. These films are great advantages for many applications. One of the most important applications of the carbon-based films is the coating for magnetic hard disk recording. The second successful application is wear protective and antireflective films for IR windows. The third application is wear protection of bearings and sliding friction parts. The fourth is precision gages for the automotive industry. Recently, exciting ongoing study [1] tries to deposit a carbon-based protective film on engine parts (e.g. engine cylinders and pistons) taking into account not only low friction and wear, but also self lubricating properties. Reduction of the oil consumption is expected. Currently, for an additional application field, the carbon-based films are extensively studied as excellent candidates for biocompatible films on biomedical implants. The carbon-based films consist of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, which are biologically harmless as well as the main elements of human body. Some in vitro and limited in vivo studies on the biological effects of carbon-based films have been studied [$2{\sim}5$].The carbon-based films have great potentials in many fields. However, a few technological issues for carbon-based film are still needed to be studied to improve the applicability. Aisenberg and Chabot [3] firstly prepared an amorphous carbon film on substrates remained at room temperature using a beam of carbon ions produced using argon plasma. Spencer et al. [4] had subsequently developed this field. Many deposition techniques for DLC films have been developed to increase the fraction of sp3 bonding in the films. The a-C films have been prepared by a variety of deposition methods such as ion plating, DC or RF sputtering, RF or DC plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition (ECR-CVD), ion implantation, ablation, pulsed laser deposition and cathodic arc deposition, from a variety of carbon target or gaseous sources materials [5]. Sputtering is the most common deposition method for a-C film. Deposited films by these plasma methods, such as plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) [6], are ranged into the interior of the triangle. Application fields of DLC films investigated from papers. Many papers purposed to apply for tribology due to the carbon-based films of low friction and wear resistance. Figure 1 shows the percentage of DLC research interest for application field. The biggest portion is tribology field. It is occupied 57%. Second, biomedical field hold 14%. Nowadays, biomedical field is took notice in many countries and significantly increased the research papers. DLC films actually applied to many industries in 2005 as shown figure 2. The most applied fields are mold and machinery industries. It took over 50%. The automobile industry is more and more increase application parts. In the near future, automobile industry is expected a big market for DLC coating. Figure 1 Research interests of carbon-based filmsFigure 2 Demand ratio of DLC coating for industry in 2005. In this presentation, I will introduce a trend of carbon-based coating research and applications.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• 제16권E호
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• pp.39-46
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• 2000

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are considered as the precursors of atmospheric ozone and photochemical smog formation. In particular, chemical plants have produced a lot of VOCs and thus they have been forced to reduce or remove air emissions from the on-site chemical facilities. For the effective removal of VOCs produced in the chemical plants, the authors employed a titanium oxide(TiO$_2$) mediated photo-catalytic oxidation method. The initiation methods employed in this study to produce oxygen radicals for th photo-catalytic oxidation of the VOCs were Ultra-Violet(UV), Non-Thermal Plasma(NTS), and a combination of Uv and NTP. This study focused on a comparison of the removal efficiencies of VOCs as a function of the initiation method such as NTP and/or UV techniques. Removal efficiency change of VOCs as was investigated as a function of the wavelength of the UV lamp(254, 302, and 365 nm) and the degree of TiO$_2$ coating (10 and 30%). In this study, it was identified that removal efficiencies if the VOCs under the normal air environment were much better than those under the nitrogen gas environment containing small amount of oxygen. Removal efficiency by NTP technique was much better than the UV or the combination of UV and NTP techniques. In a comparison if UV wavelengths employed, it was found that shorter wavelength showed better removal efficiency, compared with longer ones. When the removal efficiencies of VOCs were compared in terms of the degree of TiO$_2$ coating, the higher TiO$_2$coating showed better removal efficiency that the lower TiO$_2$ coating

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.668-676
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• 2001

Two growth performance experiments were undertaken in order to compare the nutritional benefit of micronized dehulled barley (MDB) with wheat and maize. In the first experiment, ninety-six 24 d old Cotswold pigs with an average body weight of 9.5 kg were randomly allotted into one of four dietary treatments. The wheat and MDB ratio in the four complex diets were 100% wheat, 75% wheat+25% MDB, 50% wheat+50% MDB and 100% MDB; cereal was about 47% of the whole diet and varied by using different ratios of wheat and MDB. Starter phase was started at a bodyweight 9.9 kg; grower phase continued at liveweight 37.1 kg and finished at 74.0 kg. The ADFI, ADG and feed efficiency (F/G) were not affected (p>0.05) by the level of MDB in the diet from 9.9 to 37.1 kg live weight. However, ADFI was (p<0.05) less (14%) for the pigs fed the 75 or 100% of MDB based diets without affecting F/G during the second phase (37.1 to 74.0 kg live weight). Pigs fed the MDB based diet had a lower (p<0.05) plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentration than the pigs fed the wheat-based diet. In the second experiment, the trial started at 9.9 kg body weight and ended at market weight (107.6 kg), with three different phases in the trial. One hundred and twenty Cotswold pigs were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments. The maize and MDB ratio in the three diets were 100% maize, 50% maize+50% MDB and 100% MDB. Diet treatments did not affect (p>0.05) growth performance, PUN level, carcass characteristics and organ size, except for an improvement (p<0.05) in ADG for the pigs in the starter phase fed 50% and 100% MDB based diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.178-184
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• 1997

Purified diets containing five graded levels of lysine were fed to a total of 125 growing chicks (25 chicks per treatment) to evaluate lysine requirements for growth and maintenance. A model was developed to separate lysine requirement for maintenance from requirement for growth. Based on weight gain response, the daily lysine requirement for growth was 12.06 mg/g gain and the daily lysine requirement for maintenance was 0.332 times metabolic body size ($W^{0.75}$). Similarly, the lysine requirement for growth was 0.457 mg/mg nitrogen gain and the daily lysine requirement for maintenance was 0.344 times metabolic body size. The plateau of plasma lysine concentration was reached at 354.75 mg intake/day. The total lysine requirement was 414.27 mg/day or 1.0% of the diet, 420.11 mg/day or 1.01% of the diet based on weight gain response and N gain response, respectively. Previous lysine requirements for growing chicks of 1-28 days old were in close agreement with these estimates. As a percentage of protein, lysine requirement was calculated to be 7.3% and the reported lysine content of chick muscle crude protein of 7.46% was closely related.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.372-378
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of an oral drench of propylene glycol (PG) on milk production, serum metabolites and reproductive performance during the transition period of animals. Twenty-four 2-3 multiparous Holstein cows (average body weight 565 kg, body condition score about 3.6, at the $9^{th}$ month of gestation) were selected, blocked, and then randomly assigned into a PG and a control group. The control and the PG group cows were orally drenched with water or 50 ml sugarcane molasses mixed with 500 ml PG from 7 days pre-partum to 30 days post-partum, respectively. Experimental results indicated that the oral drench PG had no effect on dry matter intake (DMI). The milk yield of the PG group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05), whereas milk fat content, milk protein and somatic cell counts (SCC) were not significantly different between groups. Concentration of plasma glucose in the PG group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). Conversely, the concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the PG group were lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). Concentrations of insulin and ketone bodies were not significantly difference between groups. Body condition score (BCS) in the PG group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). In reproductive performance there was no difference between groups. The experimental results indicate that supplementation of PG during the transition period of dairy cows can supply energy rapidly, resulting in reduced catabolism of body tissue and increased milk yield.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.45-55
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• 2011

A feeding trial was conducted to study the replacement value of concentrates with Barhar (Artocarpus lakocha) leaves on growth performance of kids fed a mixed jungle grass-based diet. Fifteen Sikkim local kids, about 4 months of age and body weight ranging from 5.8 to 9.2 kg, were randomly distributed into three groups of five. Kids were stall fed ad lib with mixed jungle grass collected from the nearby forest and native scrubland. The kids in group I received supplementary concentrate (Maize 35%, mustard cake 32%, rice bran 30%, mineral mixture 2% and common salt 1%) at approximately 2% of BW. For groups II and III, 25 and 50% of the concentrate was replaced with Barhar (Artocarpus lakocha) leaves, respectively. Total dry matter intake (DMI) was not significantly different among groups. Digestibility of CP decreased (p<0.05) and that of NDF increased (p<0.01) with increasing level of Barhar leaves in the diet. Digestibility of ADF (p<0.01), hemi cellulose (p<0.05) and cellulose (p<0.01) was higher in groups II and III than in group I. Ruminal pH and TVFA concentration were not significantly different among groups. Rumen ammonia-N concentration decreased (p<0.01) with increased level of Barhar leaves in the diet. Similarly, plasma urea nitrogen and blood glucose levels were reduced (p<0.05) with increasing level of Barhar leaves in the diet. Replacement of concentrate with Barhar resulted in reduced Hb and lower serum iron concentration. Levels of other serum metabolites including minerals were not altered by the replacement. Average daily gain (ADG) was 53.3, 54.4 and 41.8 g/d in groups I, II and III, respectively. ADG was not adversely affected when the level of replacement was restricted to 25%. However, at 50% of replacement ADG was significantly lower than the control (p<0.05). Thus, it was concluded that Barhar leaves might replace 25% of the supplemental concentrate for growing Sikkim local kids fed on a mixed jungle grass-based diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제19권11호
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• pp.1623-1631
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of protein and energy on goats fed oil palm fronds (OPF) as roughages. Twenty-four male Saanen goats aged between 7 and 8 months and weighing $23.4{\pm}1.6kg$ were used in a $2{\times}3$ factorial design. Factors were three levels of urea (3%, 4% or 5%) and two levels of energy (low energy (LE) or high energy (HE)). On average, all parameters measured, including dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient digestibility, digestible nutrient intakes, ruminal ammonia-N ($NH_3$-N), ruminal total volatile fatty acid (total VFA) and individual VFA concentrations (mM/L), microbial N supply, P/E ratio and N retention were higher for HE compared to LE diets. Significant (p<0.05) interactions were found between levels of urea and energy for nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) and energy (DE) digestibilities, ruminal $NH_3$-N and total VFA concentrations. HE diets had higher N absorption and retention than LE diets. Interactions between urea and energy for plasma urea nitrogen (PUN), heat production (HP), and urine and faeces N excretion were significantly lower (p<0.05) for the HE diets than those recorded for the LE diets. The results indicated that supplementation of energy enhanced utilization of urea and resulted in higher animal performance as a consequence of improved ruminal fermentation, microbial yield and N balance. However, the optimal level of urea supplementation remained at 3% in the HE diet.