• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.1011-1018
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• 2011

Aflatoxin-contaminated feed cause mortality, suppression of the immune system, reduced growth rates and losses in feed efficiency. This research study was planned to investigate the immunomodulatory and growth promoting effect of milk thistle as feed additive against aflatoxin $B_1$ in broiler chicks at NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan. Two hundred and forty (240) day old broilers chicks were randomly assigned into four major groups AfF, aflatoxin free feed; Aflatoxin $B_1$ was present in the feed at the levels of 80-520 ${\mu}g/kg$ of the feed in the remaining three groups. Aflatoxin contaminated feed was provided for 5 weeks. Group AfB was supplemented with toxin binder "Mycoad" at 3 g/kg of feed and group AfT was supplemented with milk thistle at10 g/kg of feed. Each group was further sub divided into two sub-groups, vaccinated against ND (Newcastle disease), IB (Infectious bronchitis) and IBD (Infectious bursal diseases) according to recommended schedule of vaccination or non vaccinated. Each sub group carried three replicates with 10 chicks per replicate. Chicks were reared in pens in an open sided house. Supplementary heat was provided to all the chicks during brooding period. Mean body weight gain and dressing percentage were significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, followed by AfT, AfB and Af. Weight gain and dressing percentage was the same in group AfB and AfT, while it was significantly lower in group Af. Feed intake, breast, thigh and leg weight were found significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, followed by AfB, AfT and Af. Significantly lower (better) FCR value was recorded in group AfT. Water intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfT and AfF as compared to other groups. Mortality was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group Af. Mean bursa and thymus weights were found significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfF, AfB and AfT followed by Af, while higher spleen weight was recorded in group AfT. Mean antibody titer against ND, IB and IBD was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group AfT, as compared to other groups. It is concluded that milk thistle at 10 g/kg of feed could effectively be utilized as immunostimulant and growth promotant in the presence of immunosuppressant aflatoxin $B_1$ in the feed.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.19-25
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• 1998

High temperature thermal behaviors of EAF dust by coke at initial reaction stage were studied to obtain the fundamental data of EAF dust treatment process, that is Extended Arc Plasma Furnace System called RAPID system. In this study thermal behaviors including calcination of limestone, devolatilization of EAF dust itself, and reduction & devolatilization of mixture(EAF dust : coke : limestone = 80 : 10 : 10 wt.%) were investigated as functions of reaction temperature (1000~1300$^{\circ}C$) and reaction time (3~12 min), considering the 180% equivalence of carbon reduction and 1.7 bacisity for optimum reduction and melting of EAF dust in the RAPID system. Size of sample was about below 0.1 mm for these experiments. Limestone was completely calcined at above 1100$^{\circ}C$ within 1 minutes. In the case of devolatilization of EAF dust itself, weight loss of EAF dust was about 14% at 1300$^{\circ}C$ and 12 minutes, and partial sintering and melting were found in part of sample. Weight loss of mixtures increased with increasing reaction temperature and time, about 46% weight loss in it was occurred at 1300$^{\circ}C$ and 12 minutes. From these weight losses showing devolatilization and reduction of EAF dust, the treatment time of EAF dust inside.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.440-446
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• 1986

The physiological reaction of two soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) cultivars tolerant and susceptible to rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd.) was studied at the AVRDC in Taiwan, ROC. The rust epidemic on the susceptible cultivar began earlier and progressed more rapidly than on the tolerant cultivar. The defoliation by rust infection increased rapidly after the latter half of pod filling. The reduction of LA! by rust in the susceptible cultivar occurred earlier than in the tolerant cultivar. The differences in the chlorophyll content between the rust-free and rust-infected plants was 2.04% in the tolerant, and 16.43% in the susceptible cultivar. The shoot dry weight increased at each growth stage in the fungicide protected plots, but decreased in the non-fungicide protected plots after the R6 growth stage onward and the tendency to decrease was more severe in the susceptible than in the tolerant cultivar. The pod and seed dry weight of the suscep-tible cultivar in the fungicide-protected plot increased dramatically from the R6 growth stage, but in the non-fungicide plot, there was almost no increase in pod and seed dry weight from R6 growth stage, due to rust. The number of empty pods and imperfect grains were increased by rust infection, but the protein content was not afftected. There were reductions of oil content, seed length, seed width, seed thickness, pod thickness, number of pods and seeds, 100 seed weight, and yield due to rust infection. The yield losses by rust infection were 22.3%in the tolerant and 68.7% in the susceptible cultivar.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2013

This study was carried to provide basic data for the research of the effect of PEG impregnation on preventing wood from cracking during heat treatment. Three popular softwood species were selected for investigating the PEG penetration rate and retention depending on PEG molecular weight, PEG retention after heat treatment and their EMCs. The average retentions of PEG400 were reversely proportional to the basic densities of three species and those of the other PEGs showed similar behaviour as well. It is obvious that PEG retention decreased as PEG molecular weight increased with a species. PEG impregnation increased or decreased the moisture contents of the specimens within 2%, and increased their basic densities by 16.8% as a maximum. The Weight Percentage Losses of PEG400 during heat treatment were the largest among three PEG levels, which implied that lower molecular weight PEG leached more than the highers. There was less difference in EMC between PEG impregnated and control specimens at low RH, but their difference increased at high RH.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.207-218
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• 2020

Ashwagandha is an important ancient medicinal crops, being affected with many diseases, among which leaf blight caused by Alternaria alternata has become the constraint resulting in huge yield losses. Continuous usage of chemical methods leads to environment, soil and water pollution. Whereas biological control of diseases is long lasting, inexpensive, eco-friendly and harmless to target organisms. In this context, it is aimed to evaluate five Trichoderma strains viz. Trichoderma virens IMI-392430, T. pseudokoningii IMI-392431, T. harzianum IMI-392432, T. harzianum IMI-392433 and T. harzianum IMI-392434 as bio-control efficacy against A. alternata and growth promoting effect in Ashwagandha. All the Trichoderma strains had varied antagonistic effects against the pathogen. In dual culture technique, the strain T. harzianum IMI-392433 showed maximum percentage inhibition of mycelial growth (54.89%) followed by T. harzianum IMI-392432 (53.83%), T. harzianum IMI-392434 (48.94%) and T. virens IMI-392430, (43.62%) against the pathogen, while the least inhibition percentage was observed with the T. pseudokoningii IMI-392431 (36.60%). The culture filtrate of the Trichoderma strain, T. harzianum IMI-392433 recorded highest inhibition on the mycelial growth (39.05%) and spore germination (80.77%) of pathogen and the lowest was recorded in T. pseudokoningii IMI-392431 (20.45 and 50%). Moreover, seeds treated with spore suspension of the strain T. harzianum IMI-392433 reduced the percentages of disease severity index significantly. The strain T. harzianum IMI-392433 also significantly increased seed germination %, seedling vigor and growth of Ashwagandha. The correlation matrix showed that root yield per plant of Ashwagandha had significant and positive correlation with plant height (r=0.726^⁎⁎), number of leaf (r=0.514^⁎⁎), number of primary branch (r=0.820^⁎⁎), number of secondary branch (r=0.829^⁎⁎), fresh plant weight (r=0.887^⁎⁎), plant dry weight (r=0.613^⁎⁎), root length (r=0.824^⁎⁎), root diameter (r=0.786^⁎⁎), root dry weight (r=0.739^⁎⁎) and fresh root weight (r=0.731^⁎⁎). The significant and negative correlation (r=-0.336^⁎⁎) was observed with the root yield and percentages of disease severity index. The study recognized that the T. harzianum IMI-392433 strain performed well in inhibiting the mycelial growth and reduced the percentages of disease severity index of pathogen as well as increased the plant growth in Ashwagandha.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.166-173
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• 2005

Effect of thermal aging on the weight loss and water absorption of epoxy adhesives was investigated in the presence of three types of different hardeners, such as D-230, G-5022, and HN-2200. Thermal and mechanical properties of the cured epoxy resins were also studied througth the glass transition temperature and shear adhesion strength measurements. Weight losses of DGEBA/D-230 and DGEBA/HN- 2200 systems were not varied. However, the weight of DGEBA/G-5022 system was significantly decreased with increasing the thermal aging time. The water absorption of the specimens was increased as the thermal aging time increased except that using G-5022. DEGBA/HN-2200 system showed higher $T_g$ value than those of other systems, due to the formation of the fine three-dimensional network structure containing aliphatic ring. Shear adhesion strength of all systems was increased with increasing the thermal aging tine, which is attributed to increased degree of cure and fine three-dimensional network structure formation. And $T_g$ values and shear adhesion strength of all specimens exposed to water was decreased as the immersion time increased.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.725-731
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• 2008

The principal objective of this study was to assess the effects of low-calorie diets(LCD) for 8 weeks of medical nutrition therapy in individuals with BMI in excess of $23\;kg/m^2$. 41 over-weight or obese individuals (male=14, female=27, age $28.6{\pm}8.9\;yrs$), none of whom were diagnosed with a medical disease, were administered MNT 4 times over the study period. Approximately $1,100{\sim}1,300\;kcal/day$ were prescribed by a dietitian, via individualized counseling. Anthropometric parameters, daily nutrient intake, and blood levels of leptin, insulin, and lipid profiles were measured prior to and after the 8 weeks of the intervention period. We noted significant reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal skin-fold thickness, and waist circumference in both men and women. The mean body weight losses in men and women were $3.2{\pm}0.6\;kg$/8 weeks and $2.8{\pm}0.6\;kg$/8 weeks, respectively. However, the % of lean body mass (LBM) in men and women was shown to increase significantly (p<0.05). The daily intake of calorie, fat, protein, vitamin E, folate, and iron were significantly reduced during the LCD period. Blood levels of lipids and glucose were in normal range, and evidenced no changes after LCD. However, the serum levels of leptin in female subjects were significantly reduced (p<0.00l) from $8.9{\pm}4.8\;ng/mL$ to $6.9{\pm}4.8\;ng/mL$. In conclusion, 8 weeks of LCD with individualized counseling by a dietitian effectively reduced body fat and visceral fat in both men and women with BMI in excess of $23\;kg/m^2$.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.68-87
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• 1993

Data acquisition system and computer program developed in this study could be well used in engine vibration analysis. The system and program developed were also operated to be able to control measuring interval, number of channels, number of data. The flywheel was specially studied to provide the proper weight with rubber damper for the engine design at low level of vibration. This study was conducted to obtain basic data which affect the engine vibration. The experiment of this study was performed on original weight flywheel, weight-reduced flywheel, weight-reduced and rubber-coated flywheel, weight-reduced and damper-attached flywheel. Avarage of peak value, maximum vibration, power spectrum density based on FFT analysis are major factors of this experiment. Results were obtained as follows : 1. When rubber was inserted in the flywheel rim of which weight was reduced from 32.2kgf to 24.4kgf, maximum vibration of the engine was decreased 48.3% at X axis, 35.5% at Y axis and 34.6% at Z axis in comparison with the flywheel of original weight. 2. When the flywheel of rubber damper was compared with the original flywheel, the average of absolute vibration for rubber damped flywheel was decreased at X, Y, Z axis and especially its decreasing rate was so high at X-axis comparing with the other flywheel, which implied that rubber damper was very useful to reducing the vibration of the engine at X axis. 3. Hysteresis losses of X, Y, Z axis were greatly decreased in the flywheel with rubber damper on rim. 4. Damped oscillation effect on X and Y axis vibration above average peak vibration by the flywheel of rubber damper on rim was larger than those by the other flywheels. 5. Power spectrums of vibration at real and imaginery part were bi-mode type. The vibration frequency of rubber dampered flywheel which weight is decreased was slightly increased as compared with original flywheel.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 1975

Since the importance of casing in fruit body formation of Agaricus bisporus has been emphasized, physico-chemical characteristics of casing materials were discussed by many workers and a mixture of peat and mineral soil as proper casing material has been adopted in many of mushroom growing countries. Because of limited resources of peat in Korea, it is necessary to find practical performance and substitutional materials for casing. The effect of casing on mycelial growth and mushroom yield of A. bisporus varied with materials, its combination and practices etc. The experiments to be discussed in this paper are concerned with pH and Ca of casing material which influence A bisporus, and changes of physico-chemical characteristics with mixing ratio of casing materials and its effect on A. bisporus. The optimum range of moisture content of each material, management of watering and application of physico-chemical characteristics casing materials was also investigated and re-use of weathered spent compost for casing material was described. 1. The effect of calcium on mycelial growth of A. bisporus at various pH in Halbschalentest showed different results with calcium sources. Best results were obtained around neutrality and fresh weight of fruit bodies grown in the range of pH 7 to 8 was highest among the tested levels. 2. Available moisture, pore space, organic matter, cation exchangeable capacity and exchangeable cation was increased by an increase of mixing ratio of peat in casing materials, while an adverse effect was obtained by addition of sand. 3. Mycelial growth on clay loam was more rapid at a lower bulk density of 0.75g/cc and at 20% moisture content on a dry weight basis at the same bulk density. 4. Mixing ratio of casing materials, 60 to 80 per cent by volume of peat mixed with 20 to 40 per cent of clay loam produced the highest yield of fresh fruit bodies and sand the lowest. However, per cent of open cap was highest in peat and lowest in sand. 5. Days required for fruit body initiation was shortened in mixtures of peat and clay loam by one to three days compared with other materials and the formation of flushes was clear. 6. The effect of some physico-chemical characteristics of casing materials on the fresh weight of fruit bodies were estimated by a multiple regression equation; Y=-923.86+$8.18X_1+8.04X_2+7.90X_3+0.12X_4+2.03X_5-0.82X_6-0.54X_7$ where $X_1,X_2,X_3,X_4,X_5,X_6,X_7$ are sand, silt, clay, available moistuer, porosity, organic matter and exchangeable cation respectively. The productivity of certain casing material could be predicted from this equation. 7. Fresh weight of fruit bodies was positively correlated with porosity exchangeable cation, organic matter, available moisture, silt and clay of materials; while sand was negatively correlated. On the contrary, sand was the unique factor reducing per cent of open cap. 8. Distribution of three phases of high productive casing material was concentrated in the range of 10 to 30 per cent solids, 15 to 30 per cent liquids, and 50 to 60 per cent in air volume. 9. Fresh weight of fruit bodies from peat was not affected with heavy watering but in clay loam and sandy loam severe crop losses occurred. Fresh weight of individual fruit was increased and open caps were decreased with heavy watering but light watering resulted in adverse effects: its effect was especially great in peat. 10. Optimum range of moisture content by weight on a dry basis was different with each casing material. To maintain optimum moisture content concerned with yield of fruit bodies and open cap, sandy loam and peat mixtures required daily watering of 0.6, 0.6 to 1. 2 and 1.2 to 2.4 liters per $3.3m^2$ of bed area, respectively. 11. Maximum yield of fruit body was recorded in the range of pF 2. 0 to 2. 5 of casing materials if organic matter content was below 4.2 per cent and in pF 1. 3 to 1.8 if above 7.1%. 12. pF curve of a certain casing material could be draws from moisture content at various pF values by multiple regression equations provided texture, organic matter and calcium of the casing material are given. Optimum moisture range of the casing materials also could be estimated by the equation. 13. It was possible to improve the phyico-chemical characteristics of clay loam and sandy loam by addition of weathered spent compost although the effect was less than in the case of peat. Fresh weight of fruit bodies wsa increased by addition of weathered spent compost but its effect was not as remarkable as peat. Accordingly, further studies will be required.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.317-325
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• 2011

Bacterial pustule of soybean (Glycine max) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines is one of the most prevalent bacterial diseases of soybean in Korea, where it causes considerable yield loss. This study was carried out to develop yield prediction model for bacterial pustule by analyzing correlation between the percentage of diseased leaf area and yield. The severe disease incidence of soybean bacterial pustule caused yield losses by 19.8% in 2006 and 16.8% in 2007, respectively. Severity of bacterial pustule greatly affected on 100 seed weight and yield, but did not on stem length, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant. On the other hand, correlation coefficients between diseased leaf area and yield were $-0.93^*$('06) and $-0.77^*$('07), respectively. The regression equation obtained by analyzing correlation between the percentage of diseased leaf area and yield loss in 2006 and in 2007 was y = -3.2914x + 348.19($R^2$ = 0.8603) and y = -2.9671x + 302.08($R^2$ = 0.9411), respectively. These results will be helpful in estimating losses on a field-scale and thereby predicting the production of soybean.