• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.151-162
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• 2012

Analysis for back fat thickness (BFAT) and daily body weight gains from birth to the end of a performance test were conducted to find an optimal method for estimation of weaning age effects and to ascertain impacts of weaning age on the growth performance of purebred Berkshire pigs from a closed population in Korea. Individual body weights were measured at birth (B), at weaning (W: mean, 22.9 d), at the beginning of the performance test (P: mean, 72.7 d), and at the end of the performance test (T: mean, 152.4 d). Further, the average daily gains in body weight (ADG) of 3,713 pigs were analyzed for the following periods: B to W (DGBW), W to P (DGWP), P to T (DGPT), B to P (DGBP), B to T (DGBT), and W to T (DGWT). Weaning ages ranged from 17 to 34 d, and were treated as fixed (WF), random with (WC) and random without (WU) consideration of an empirical relationship between weaning ages in the models. WF and WC produced the lowest AIC (Akaike Information Criterion) and least fractions of error variance components in multi-traits analysis, respectively. The fractions of variances due to diverse weaning age and the weaning age correlations among ADGs of different stages (when no overlapping allowed) by WC ranged from 0.09 to 0.35 and from -0.03 to 0.44, respectively. The maximum weaning age effects and optimal back fat thicknesses were attained at weaning ages of 27 to 32 d. With the exception of DGBW, the effects of weaning age on the ADGs increased (ranging from 1.50 g/d to 7.14 g/d) with increased weaning age. In addition, BFAT was reduced by 0.106 mm per increased day in weaning age. In conclusion, WC produced reasonable weaning age correlations, and improved the fitness of the model. Weaning age was one of crucial factors (comparable with heritability) influencing growth performance in Berkshire pigs. Further, these studies suggest that increasing weaning age up to 32 d can be an effective management strategy to improve growth performance. However, additional investigations of the costs and losses related to extension of the suckling period and on the extended range of weaning age are necessary to determine the productivity and safety of this practice in a commercial herd and production system.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.30-43
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• 2012

Patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis are at risk for protein-energy malnutrition because of nutrient losses during dialysis. This study determined the nutritional status of patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Forty-four patients receiving CAPD were divided into two groups according to dialysis period. We investigated the nutritional status of the patients by measuring anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as food intake, self-appetite, dietary habits, a subjective global assessment, and a total nutritional status assessment. Group I subjects (7 males, 13 females) had received dialysis for < 2 years, whereas the group II subjects (18 males, 6 females) received dialysis for ${\geq}$ 2 years. Energy intake with added dextrose in the dialysate per kg of body weight was $30.3{\pm}5.8$ kcal in group I and $29.0{\pm}8.1$ kcal in group II. The average protein intake per kg of weight was $1.0{\pm}0.3$ g in group I and $1.0{\pm}0.4$ g in group II, which were less than the recommended protein intake for patients undergoing CAPD (1.2-1.5 g/kg). Mean serum albumin level was significantly lower in group II than that in group I (p < 0.05). A recent self-appetite score was significantly higher in group II than that in group I (p < 0.01). The dietary habits score was significantly lower in group II than that in group I (p < 0.05). The subjective global assessment was significantly higher in group I (85.0%) than that in group II (54.2%) under normal nutrition status (p < 0.05). The dialysis period was significantly and negatively correlated with the subjective global assessment (r = -0.502, p < 0.01) and the total nutritional status assessment (r = -0.575, p < 0.01). These results demonstrated that patients undergoing CAPD for ${\geq}$ 2 years had worse nutritional status than those who had been undergoing dialysis for < 2 years. Good nutritional status can predict the long-term survival of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Additionally, the exact evaluation of nutritional status before 2 years will be important to maintain long-term dialysis therapy in patients undergoing CAPD.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.15-21
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• 2006

Composite materials were prepared by impregnating water glass into the wood, followed by soaking in solutions of boric acid or phosphoric acid. The effects of these treatments on the physical and mechanical properties of the specimens and especially on its heat resistance were investigated. 1) Weight Percent Gain (WPG)s increased with increase of concentrations of water glass. However, there was little relationship between treatment temperatures and WPG. Generally, WPGs of double treated specimens were higher than single treated ones. 2) Percent shrinkages in each directions of the specimens treated with water glass had higher value than other specimens. Percent shrinkages of the specimens treated with boric acid or phosphoric acid were decreased as compared with untreated specimen. However, the specimens treated with water glass or phosphoric acid showed very high hygroscopicity. 3) The bending strengths of all specimens treated inorganic substances were slightly decreased. However, the values of compressive strength and hardness of most specimens treated with inorganic substances increased or similar to that of untreated specimen except for a phosphoric acid treated specimens. 4) The specimens had good heat resistance. Weight losses of all specimens treated inorganic substances were about 50~70%. In particular, the specimens treated at $300^{\circ}C$ and $400^{\circ}C$ almost kept their shapes.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2007

Quality changes in winter Chinese cabbages were evaluated during low temperature storage. Flesh and salt-treated Chinese cabbages were put into (a) polyethylene (PE) film sacks (size: $40cm{\times}60cm$, thickness: 0.03 mm, with four perforations each 8 mm in diameter), (b) plastic containers or (c) polypropylene (PP) nets and stored at $0^{\circ}C$. Also, Cabbages were also wrapped in newspapers and stored underground where the average temperature was $2.7^{\circ}C$. The weight loss rates of Chinese cabbages stored in PP nets and plastic containers were greater than those of cabbages stored with PE or wrapped in newspaper. Chinese cabbages wrapped in newspaper and stored underground needed much greater trimming compared to cabbages stored in other ways. The firmness and the soluble solid contents of Chinese cabbages were not affected by the various storage treatments. A better appearance was retained when Chinese cabbages were stored in PE film sacks. Chinese cabbages in PE film sacks stored at $0^{\circ}C$ showed delayed weight loss, less trimming loss, and less change in appearance. The quality changes in salted Chinese cabbages (desalting losses, pH changes, osmolarities, and crude fiber content) were not significantly different after the various treatments. No storage treatment was effective in maintaining a high quality of salted winter Chinese cabbage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1749-1754
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• 2003

The study was undertaken to see the effect of elevated feeding during pre-partum or pre- as well as post-partum period on the productive and reproductive performance of crossbred cows. The experiment lasted for 60 d pre-partum to 120 d post-partum. Eighteen dry pregnant crossbred cows divided into three equal groups were fed either as per NRC feeding standard (C) or 20% above NRC during 60 d pre-partum ($T_1$) or fed 20% above NRC during both 60 d pre-partum to 120 d post-partum ($T_2$) period. During prepartum period body weight gain was significantly ($p{\leq}0.05$) higher in $T_1$ and $T_2$ groups than that of control group. The animals fed at higher plane of nutrition ($T_1$ and $T_2$) took significantly lesser time for complete relaxation of pelvic muscles, act of calving and for expulsion of placenta than that of control group. Moreover, such cows delivered 2 to 3 kg heavier calves as compared to normal fed dams. During post-partum period, the average daily milk yield was significantly higher in $T_2$ group than that in $T_1$ and control groups. The peak yield was significantly higher in $T_2$ group, it took longer time to reach peak production but it was more persistent in this group as compared to $T_1$ and control groups. Average milk fat, solids-not-fat (SNF) and total solids were significantly higher in $T_1$ and $T_2$ groups as compared to control group. Body weight losses incurred during early lactation were not even compensated by end of 4th month of lactation in C and $T_1$ groups whereas the animals in $T_2$ group gained 2.0 kg. The 1st post-partum estrus and conception rate were better in high fed groups ($T_1$ and $T_2$) than that of control group. The returns over feed cost of milk production were higher in $T_2$ group followed by $T_1$ and control groups indicating the advantage of elevated feeding during pre- and post-partum periods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1437-1449
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• 2006

Thirty six pre-weaned Barbari kids at 4 months age were reared on four rations computed using coarse cereal grains and by-products of pulses and oil seeds with Crude Protein (CP) and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) of 12 and 55% (Low protein Low energy); 12 and 60% (Low protein High energy); 14 and 55% (High protein Low energy); and 14 and 60% (High protein High energy), respectively. After 180 days on feed, male animals ($4{\times}5=20$) were slaughtered to study the effect of diet on carcass characteristics and meat quality. To asses the effect, if any, of such diet on product quality, meat balls were prepared and evaluated for quality changes when fresh as well as during storage ($-20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$). Feeding a ration with CP12 and TDN 60% (LH) to kids produced animals with highest slaughter weight (20.3 kg) yielding higher carcass weight and dressing percentage, lean (65.6%) and fat (6.6%) contents with low bone and trim losses. Although total variety meat yield was markedly higher in HL, the non-carcass fat deposition was relatively higher in LH carcasses. The water activity ($a_w$) of fresh goat meat ranged from 0.994-0.995 and total cholesterol 72.8-90.5 mg/100 g meat. The pH was high in HL and HH meat resulting in decreased ($p{\leq}0.05$) extract release volume (ERV). Meat balls were prepared using meat obtained from goats fed different rations (treatments) and stored at $-20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. They were evaluated on day 0 and months 1, 2, 3, 4 for physicochemical, microbiological and organoleptic changes. Overall moisture (%), $a_w$, TBA number and pH value were 67.9, 0.987, 0.17, 6.6 respectively and were not affected by treatments except pH that was significantly ($p{\leq}0.01$) lower on LH. As the storage period advanced moisture, pH, $a_w$ and TBA number increased irrespective of treatments. Feeding various diets had no marked effect on microbial load of meat balls but with increasing storage period Standard Plate Count (SPC) and psychrotrophs declined ($p{\leq}0.01$). Treatment LL and LH produced meat balls with better flavour.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.438-444
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• 2006

This study was carried out to obtain fundamental data such as peeling efficiency and quality of potatoes and sweet potatoes peeled by hand, machine and alkali(NaOH). The weight loss by peeling was influenced by peeling methods. Weight losses by rotational brushing-type peeler showed the lowest value, 7.9% in potato, and 7.3% in sweet potato. Any significant differences in moisture content were not found in potatoes and sweet potatoes by peeling methods. The pH of potatoes and sweet potatoes just after peeling were 5.8-6.8 and 6.23-6.63, and decreased somewhat until 3 hrs after peeling. Hardness of potatoes and sweet potatoes peeled by hand with fruit knife were better than that of others. Depending upon the peeling method used the color and color differences undergo some changes in their color and browning. Color difference value of peeled potatoes by hand with a technical tools, and by mechanical peeler such as rotational cutting-type peeler and rotational brushing-type peeler showed just slightly. In particular, changes of rotor differences value of potatoes and sweet potatoes peeled by dipping with 10% NaOH solution at $100^{\circ}C$ was the highest in the samples peeled by NaOH.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.424-430
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• 2012

In this study, laccase activity, rate of weight loss and degree of lignin degradation of pine wood chips were determined during the liquid and solid state incubation with Polyporus brumalis. The results showed that laccase enzyme activity at untreated wood chip was gradually decreased after 20 days, but enzyme activity with wood chip treatment showed 10 times higher than untreated ones at 60 incubation days. Rate of weight losses of pine chip and rate of lignin loss were 23.4% and 6.3% by P. brumalis during 80 incubation days. Gene expression of pblac1 from P. brumalis was 3 times increased under pine chip treatment at 40 incubation days. Consequently, laccase activity of white rot fungi, P. brumalis, was increased at incubation with wood chip and pblac1 gene was important factor of lignin degradation. Therefore, to regulate lignin degrading enzyme gene expression by using the tools of biotechnology will be able to develop superior strains and it will be useful for pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass at bioethanol production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.424-431
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of short road transportation in an open truck during hot season on live weight shrink, physiological responses, and carcass and meat quality of Omani sheep at 6 and 12 months of age. Thirty-six male sheep, 18 of each age group, were used. Age groups were assigned randomly to transported and not-transported groups. The transported group was transported to the slaughterhouse the day of slaughter in an open truck covering a distance of approximately 100 km. The average temperature during transportation was $37^{\circ}C$. The not-transported group was kept in a lairage of a commercial slaughterhouse with ad libitum feed and water for 48 h prior to slaughter. Blood samples were collected from sheep before loading and prior to slaughter via jugular venipuncture to assess their physiological response to transport in relation to hormonal levels. Animals were weighed just before loading onto a truck and after transport to assess shrinkage. Muscle ultimate pH, expressed juice, cooking loss percentage, WB-shear force value, sarcomere length and colour L*, a*, b* were measured on samples from longissimus dorsi, biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles collected at 24 h postmortem at $1-3^{\circ}C$. Live weight shrinkage losses were 1.09 and 1.52 kg for 6 and 12 month transported sheep, respectively. The transported sheep had significantly (p<0.05) higher cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine concentration levels prior to slaughter at both ages than the not-transported sheep. Transportation significantly influenced meat quality characteristics of three muscles. Muscle ultimate pH and shear force values were significantly higher, while CIE L*, a*, b*, expressed juice and cooking loss were lower in transported than not-transported sheep. Age had a significant effect on meat quality characteristics of Omani sheep. These results indicated that short-term pre-slaughter transport at high ambient temperatures can cause noticeable changes in physiological and muscle metabolism responses in sheep.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

This paper proposes a new indexing mechanism for MPEG-7 visual descriptors, especially Dominant Color and Contour Shape descriptors, that guarantees an efficient similarity search for the multimedia database whose visual meta-data are represented with MPEG-7. Since the similarity metric used in the Dominant Color descriptor is based on Gaussian mixture model, the descriptor itself could be transform into a color histogram in which the distribution of the color values follows the Gauss distribution. Then, the transformed Dominant Color descriptor (i.e., the color histogram) is indexed in the proposed indexing mechanism. For the indexing of Contour Shape descriptor, we have used a two-pass algorithm. That is, in the first pass, since the similarity of two shapes could be roughly measured with the global parameters such as eccentricity and circularity used in Contour shape descriptor, the dissimilar image objects could be excluded with these global parameters first. Then, the similarities between the query and remaining image objects are measured with the peak parameters of Contour Shape descriptor. This two-pass approach helps to reduce the computational resources to measure the similarity of image objects using Contour Shape descriptor. This paper also proposes two integration schemes of visual descriptors for an efficient retrieval of multimedia database. The one is to use the weight of descriptor as a yardstick to determine the number of selected similar image objects with respect to that descriptor, and the other is to use the weight as the degree of importance of the descriptor in the global similarity measurement. Experimental results show that the proposed indexing and integration schemes produce a remarkable speed-up comparing to the exact similarity search, although there are some losses in the accuracy because of the approximated computation in indexing. The proposed schemes could be used to build a multimedia database represented in MPEG-7 that guarantees an efficient retrieval.