This study was conducted to appraise the effects on egg quality and production performance of laying hens when drinking water was supplemented with calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). A total of 384 (64-week-old) Hy-line Brown laying hens were assigned at random to four treatments, which consisted of CON: unsupplemented drinking water; T1: drinking water + 2 mg/L Ca + 250 mg/L Mg; T2: drinking water + 4 mg/L Ca + 510 mg/L Mg /10 L; and T3: drinking water + 5 mg/L Ca and 760 mg/L Mg. The experiment lasted six weeks. Water intake increased linearly in week 1 with the rising levels of Ca and Mg in the drinking water. Increasing the Ca and Mg levels improved eggshell strength (week 2 (P =0.01), week 5 (P =0.01), and week 6 (P = 0.03), and eggshell thickness (week 6) (P =0.02) and reduced the rate at which eggs were broken (week 4) (P =0.01). The supplemental Ca and Mg did not affect egg production, egg weight, Haugh unit, albumen height, eggshell colour, and yolk colour compared with CON. Nor did they influence the Haugh unit and albumen height after storing for 1, 5, 10 and 15 days. In conclusion, adding Ca and Mg to the drinking water increased the thickness and strength of the eggshells.

ABSTRACT Heat stress induces oxidative stress, and reduces body antioxidant metabolite levels, which can affect poultry production performance. Dietary antioxidants protect birds against the adverse effects of heat stress. The effects of increasing concentrations of dietary curcumin on the antioxidant parameters of layers maintained under high-temperature conditions for nine weeks were evaluated. Roman laying hens (n = 336, 22 weeks old, 1420 g BW) were divided into three treatment groups. The first group served as a thermoneutral control (kept at 25 ± 1 °C). The second group was exposed to high temperatures (32 ± 1 °C, 6 h/d), given a basal diet. The third group was further divided into five treatment groups (100, 150, 200, 250, 300 mg/kg Curcumin) fed a basal diet (treatments H1, H2, H3, H4, H5) under high temperatures conditions (32 ± 1 °C, 6 hours/day). As a result of this study, total superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher in H2 and H3 groups, and total antioxidant capacity was higher in H2, H3, and H5 groups. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher in the H3 group. Malondialdehyde concentration was lowered in curcumin supplemented hens compared with control groups hens. Laying hens in all curcumin treatment groups had slightly higher activities of CAT, SOD, GSH-Px, and T-AOC in the liver, heart, and lungs, compared with heat stressed control group. It was concluded that dietary curcumin given to laying hens under heat stress may enhance their antioxidant status, and alleviate the detrimental effects of stressful environmental conditions.

An induction coil was designed successfully to heat a work roll online for hot or warm strip rolling. The surface temperature of the work roll was investigated through embedding a developed program into finite element (FE) software. A new model to describe the convective heat transfer coefficient between air and the work roll was proposed and the coefficient was obtained as a function of ambient and surface temperature. The influences of working frequency, source current density, air gap length, and coil distance on the mean and variance value of the surface temperature were investigated using the simulation results. The work roll surface temperature was significantly higher than that of the centre due to the skin effect. A longer induction heating time was beneficial for a more uniform temperature distribution on the work roll surface. The mean temperature increased exponentially with increased working frequency and coil distance. However, the mean temperature decreased with increased air gap between the coil and work roll surface. The mean value increased following a power function with increases in source current density, and increased linearly with induction heating time after the initial heating stage. A new formula was proposed and implemented to predict the mean work roll temperature based on induction heating parameters in order to control the surface temperature. The results predicted by the model agree well with measured values and the model proposed is reliable. Furthermore, the proposed equation is beneficial for calculating and controlling the value of any one influencing parameter, if the other three parameters and the ideal mean temperature of induced heating are known.

The aim of this study was to discuss the safety and efficacy of regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) on continuous blood purification (CBP) during the treatment of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Thirty-five patients with MODS were divided into two groups: the local citrate anticoagulation (RCA) group, and the heparin-free blood purification (hfBP) group. The MODS severity was assessed according to Marshall’s MODS score criteria. Blood coagulation indicators, blood pressure, filter lifespan, filter replacement frequency, anticoagulation indicators, and main metabolic and electrolyte indicators were analyzed and compared between RCA and hfBP groups. RCA resulted in lower blood pressure than hfBP. The filter efficacy in RCA treatment was longer than in the hfBP group. The blood clearance of creatine, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid was better in the RCA group. RCA also led to higher pH than hfBP. Neither treatment resulted in severe bleeding events. In addition, MODS score was positively correlated with prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time but negatively correlated with platelet concentration. RCA is a safer and more effective method in CBP treatment; however, it could also lead to low blood pressure and blood alkalosis.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia triggers the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and can cause acute lung injury (ALI). The high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein plays an important role as a late mediator of sepsis and ALI. Galantamine (GAL) is a central acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that inhibits the expression of HMGB1. This study evaluated the effects of GAL by measuring levels of inflammatory mediators and observing histopathological features associated with LPS-induced ALI. Sixty 8-10 week old male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-240 g) were randomized into three groups as follows: control group, LPS group (7.5 mg/kg LPS), and LPS+GAL group (5 mg/kg GAL before LPS administration). Histopathological examination of lung specimens obtained 12 h after LPS administration was performed to analyze changes in wet-to-dry (W/D) weight ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and HMGB1 expression level. Additionally, plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and HMGB1 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 0 (baseline), 3, 6, 9, and 12 h after LPS administration. Mortality in the three groups was recorded at 72 h. LPS-induced ALI was characterized by distortion of pulmonary architecture and elevation of MPO activity, W/D weight ratio, and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and HMGB1. Pretreatment with GAL significantly reduced the LPS-induced lung pathological changes, W/D weight ratio, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and MPO activity (ANOVA). Moreover, GAL treatment significantly decreased the mortality rate (ANOVA). In conclusion, we demonstrated that GAL exerted a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI in rats.

ABSTRACTThis experiment was conducted to evaluate the combination effect of low dietary non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) concentrations, phytase (PHY) levels, and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) levels on the growth performance and meat quality of broilers. Two levels of NPP, two levels of PHY, and two levels of 25-OH-D3 resulted in a 2�2�2 factorial arrangements, with eight treatments (TRT). The birds on TRT 1-4 were fed diet 1 (NRC NPP was reduced by 0.1) and the birds on TRT 5-8 were fed with diet 2 (NRC NPP was reduced by 0.2). Each diet was mixed with different levels PHY and 25-OH-D3. Performance and meat quality parameters were measured. Results showed that during entire experiment the most advantageous effects were obtained with TRT 3 (NRC NPP reduced by 0.1 + 600 U/kg phytase + 34.5�g/kg 25-OH-D3) and TRT 4 (NRC NPP reduced by 0.1 + 600 U/kg phytase + 69�g/kg 25-OH-D3). The lowest body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake(FI) were observed with TRT 5 (NRC NPP reduced by 0.2 + 300 U/kg phytase + 34.5�g/kg 25-OH-D3). Lowering NRC NPP by 0.1 to 0.2 significantly reduced weight gain (WG) (p< 0.05) and FI (p< 0.05) during the starter phase (ST), while during grower phase (GF) lowering NRC NPP by 0.1 to 0.2 did not affect WG (p>0.05) and produced small decrease in FI. BWG, FI and feed conversion ratio were not influenced (p>0.05) by different PHY or 25-OH-D3 levels. In addition, the meat color, pH, and shear force were not affected by the different NPP, PHY or 25-OH-D3levels.

This paper presents a study of the amidoxime/Europium (ІІІ)-chelated complex (AECC) fibers which can be used as functional fibers for technical textiles such as decorations, protections and medical textiles etc. First, the EuCl3solution were prepared and reacted with amidoxime fibers using optimized process conditions at 50 °C, 5 hours. Subsequently, the morphology, element analysis, fluorescence and mechanical properties of the AECC fibers were systematically investigated. Finally, the effects of different pH values and temperature on the content of Eu (III) complexes fiber were studied, respectively. The results showed that the AECC fibers possess enhanced fluorescence intensity and good mechanical properties. The results also illustrated that coordination reaction was identified between Eu (III) ions and amidoxime fiber and the electronic energy of C1s, O1s, N1s and Eu (III) ions in amidoxime fibers has significant changes compared to original fibers. The fluorescence emission bands of the AECC fibers were observed when the excitation wavelength λ equal to 380 nm. In conclusion, this study provided a theoretical basis for the preparation and practical application of fluorescent fibers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the plow pan on the production of spring corn. We evaluated SPAD values and chloroplast ultrastructure in premature ear leaves of spring maize at the grain-filling stage. The maize plants were grown in simulated plow pan or simulated subsoiling treatments. Plants in the simulated plow pan treatment showed irreversible damage to chloroplasts, including changes in chloroplast shape, disintegration and rupture of chloroplast membranes, and blurriness and cloudiness of grana lamellae. The chlorophyll content decreased, which is a typical characteristic of senescence. Subsoiling cultivation practices resulted in chloroplasts with a more stable ultrastructure in maize leaves. This extended the functional period of leaves after flowering, avoiding premature senescence of spring maize and increasing yields.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la compactación del suelo debido a la labranza en la producciòn de maíz de primavera. Evaluamos los valores de SPAD y la estructura del cloroplasto en hojas prematuras de maíz de primavera en la fase fenológica de llenado de grano. Las plantas de maíz crecieron en condiciones simuladas de compactación de suelo o de rotura de dicha compactación. Las plantas que crecieron en condiciones de suelo compactado mostraron daño irreversible en la estructura de los cloroplastos, cambios en la forma de los cloroplastos, desintegración y ruptura de la membrana de los cloroplastos, y reducción de la visibilidad en la lamela de las granas. El contenido de clorofila se redujo, lo cual es una característica tìpica de la senescencia. Las prácticas de cultivo que rompieron la compactación del suelo mostraron cloroplastos con una estructura más estable en hojas de maíz. Esto prolongó el período de actividad de las hojas luego de la floración, evitando una senescencia prematura e incrementando los rendimientos en maíz de primavera.

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is widely used as an effective medium to integrate physical world and information world of Internet of Things (IOT). While keeping energy consumption at a minimal level, WSN requires reliable communication. Multicasting is a general operation performed by the Base Station, where data is to be transmitted to a set of destination nodes. Generally, the packets are routed in a multi-hop approach, where some intermediate nodes are also used for packet forwarding. This problem can be reduced to the well-known Steiner tree problem, which has proven to be NP-complete for deterministic link descriptors and cost functions. In this paper, we propose a novel multicast protocol, named heuristic algorithms for the solution of the Quality of Service (QoS) constrained multicast routing problem, with incomplete information in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). As information aggregation or randomly fluctuating traffic loads, link measures are considered to be random variables. Simulation results show that the Hop Neural Networks (HNN) based heuristics with a properly chosen additive measures can yield to a good solution for this traditionally NP complex problem, when compared to the best multicast algorithms known.

In this study, soil physicochemical properties, microbial community structure and nematode assemblages were investigated to assess the soil qualities of an in situ phosphate mine after up to 10 years of revegetation with the nurse plant Alnus nepalensis. Our results showed that A. nepalensis cultivation significantly decreased the total P concentration, suggesting the high remediation potential. Moreover, A. nepalensis improved the levels of soil-available N and K and promoted the growth of microorganisms, as suggested by the 1.45- and even 3.26 fold increase in microbial carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), respectively, after 10 years of remediation. Soil enzyme activities relating to C (β-glucosidase), N (urease) and P (acid phosphatase) were also stimulated. The sum of the indicator phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and the Gram-positive and -negative bacteria also increased significantly after restoration. The nematode density increased gradually from zero in untreated soils to 2.3 g-1 of soil after 10 years of restoration, at which time the highest percentage of plant parasites was observed. Cluster analysis produced three clusters: cultivation for 0 and 1 years in cluster 1; 2, 3 and 4 years in cluster 2; and 5 and 10 years in cluster 3. These results showed that both the nutrient pools and the stability of the soil ecosystems in the revegetated soils were gradually reestablished and that the enzyme activities (β-glucosidase and urease), the microbial community (sum of PLFAs, G+: G-) and the nematode assemblage (density and plant parasite percentage) might be used as valid bioindicators for soil heath after contamination remediation.