• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 2015

Eggs are an important source of protein for the human diet. Consumers want fresher, more delicious and more sanitary eggs. In Korea, the Shell Egg Grading system (EGS) was employed in 2001. The portion of graded shell eggs has increased every year, but graded shell eggs account for only 6% of all eggs. The EGS should satisfy producers, distributors and consumers. However, the EGS does not have an official function because of many problems. Consumers cannot select various graded shell eggs in the market, and producers do not receive enough profit even though they produce top-quality graded shell eggs. There are few studies on the EGS, Therefore, this study was performed to improve the EGS. We surveyed the EGS, GP Centers and farmers. Large companies (farmers) are more satisfied than small companies with the EGS. There was a high tendency for the companies (farmers) that are not involved with the EGS to think that graded and ungraded shell eggs are similar, in contrast to the companies (farmers) connected to the EGS. We should have to change the grading system of grade shell eggs, establish of the cold chain system, change of the law for the school meals, minimize payment for the grading shell eggs for developing EGS. Based on this study, the egg industry can benefit through the improvement of the EGS.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.202-215
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the spawning preference of the Acheilognathinae fishes in relation to the shell size of host mussels after identifying the species of eggs and fries in the host mussel using our recently developed RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) molecular marker at four sites [Hongcheon Naechoncheon (HN) and Deokchicheon (HD) from the North Han River basin and Jeongseon Goljicheon (JG) and Joyanggang (JJ) from the South Han River] in South Korea during May in each year between 2015 and 2018. The Acheilognathinae fish observed in the studied sites included one species (Acheilognathus signifer) in HN and JG, three species (Rhodeus uyekii, A. signifer, and Acheilognathus yamatsutae) in HD, and two species (A. signifer and Acheilognathus yamatsutae) in JJ, and we collected 982 host mussels (Unio douglasiae sinuolatus) that inhabited in all four sites. Using the RFLP molecular marker, we confirmed 46 eggs and fry of the Acheilognathinae fish (454 A. signifer, 43 Acheilognathus yamatsutae, and 149 Acheilognathus yamatsutae) in Unio douglasiae sinuolatus (N=163; 16.6%). We compare the average shell length, shell height, and shell width of mussels with [presence] eggs/fry and mussels without [absence] eggs/fry to examine the spawning preference according to the size of host mussels in each site. The results show that the shell length (1.98 mm), shell height (0.85 mm), and shell width (0.73 mm) of mussels with the eggs/fry were significantly larger (Mann-Whitney U test, P=0.002; difference=1.98 mm) than those of mussel without eggs/fry in HD where three species cohabitated. Although the shell length, shell height, and shell width of mussels with the eggs/fry were larger also in the other three sites, the difference was not statistically significant. In addition, we analyzed the mean number of spawned eggs and fry of each species and found $9.31{\pm}5.94$ R. uyekii, $2.86{\pm}2.45$ A.signifer, and $2.50{\pm}1.32$ A. yamatsutae. R. uyekii spawned 6.45-6.81 more eggs than A.signifer and A. yamatsutae on average per mussel, and it was statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis test, P < 0.001). These findings indicate that the three species of Acheilognathinae fish tend to prefer larger mussels as their spawning hosts, and this tendency increases when the number of cohabitating bitterling fish species increases. Moreover, A.signifer and A. yamatsutae spawned a smaller number of eggs evenly in more host mussels while R. uyekii spawned many eggs on relatively fewer mussels. We found mussels (N=4) having the eggs/fry of two coexisting species, A. signifier and A. yamatsutae in HD and JJ where more than two bitterling fish species occurred. It suggests the interspecific competition taking place between the Acheilognathinae fishes for utilizing the same resource of mussels for spawning when two or more species cohabitate. This study is expected help to understand better the spawning patterns and reproductive ecology of the Acheilognathinae fishes, which will provide insightful information for advancing our understanding of their ecological relationships - mutualism or host-parasitism - with host mussels.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.438-448
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the effects of storage time and temperature and their interaction on the hygienic quality parameters of shell eggs. Methods: Eggs from 40-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens were sampled immediately after being laid and subjected to storage periods of four weeks at a refrigerated temperature ($4-5^{\circ}C$) or room temperature ($13.0-19.7^{\circ}C$). Interior/exterior qualities were examined every one week. Results: Weight loss was 2.4-3.1%. The initial specific gravity of the eggs was maintained until one week at both temperatures. Air cell size exceeded 4 mm when stored for one week at room temperature, and two weeks at refrigerated temperature. Albumen index and Haugh unit were significantly decreased at both temperatures after one week (p<0.001). Rapidly increased pH of the albumen with one week of storage was observed, regardless of temperature (p<0.001). Extension of the storage for up to four weeks at room temperature resulted in remarkable deterioration of eggshell quality and instrumental color as redness (a). Air cell size, albumen and yolk indices, Haugh unit, pH of albumen and yolk were found to be influenced by storage time and temperature (p<0.001). Interaction effects between storage time and temperature were also significant for air cell size, pH of albumen and yolk (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that air cell size and pH of albumen and yolk were important parameters influenced by storage time and temperature in shell eggs. Storage time was more influential for air cell size, and temperature for the pH of yolk. Both variables almost equally influenced the pH of albumen.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2009

The egg shell of the tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta is formed from the substances secreted by the follicular epithelium during the late vitellogenic stage. TEM study reveals the inner travecular and outer lamellar layer of chorion. The travecular layer is composed of the innermost wax layer, inner and outer chorionic layer. The inner and outer chorionic layers are connected to each other by vertical pillers forming of cavities. The lamellar layer is perforated by the aeropyles. SEM study reveals the differentiation of an anterior surface of the egg shell into four zones-micropylar, edge, aeropyles crown and disc zone. In the mycosis infected eggs the aeropyles and egg-shell surface are fully packed with the hyphae of the fungus, Aspergillus sydowi blocking of plastron respiration and causing the death of developing embryo so that mycosis infected eggs become sterile.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 1985

These studies were carried out to obtain the materials for the establish ment of marketing standard of eggs. The data for these studies were collected from 8 collection traders, 16 whole sale traders, 12 retail stores and 6 supermarkets located at the suburbs of Seoul, Daejon, Kwangju and Busan. The weight grading of eggs was operated by egg producers and the price differences were 2-3 won by marketing channels. Most jumbo and extra-large eggs were sold for table e99s, large eggs were sold for restaurant and table eggs and medium and small eggs were sold for restaurants. Egg consumers prefer the brown shell eggs to white shell eggs in spite of higher prices by 1.5 won and most consumers trusted the egg gradings. The purchasing unit of eggs at retail store was 30 eggs, and consumers wanted 10 eggs packing. The average packing cost per 10 eggs was 10-20 won and 55-64% of consumers hoped packed eggs and most of eggs were sold within 7 days after they arrived at retail stores.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.233-238
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• 1995

A computer vision system was built to generate images of a single, stationary egg. This system includes a CGD camera, a frame grabber, and incandescent back lighting system. Image processing algorithms were developed to inspect egg shell and to sort eggs. Those values of both gray level and area of dark spots in the egg image were used as criteria to detect holes in egg and those values of both area and roundness of dark spots in the egg image were used to detect cracks in egg. For a sample of 300 eggs, this system was able to correctly analyze an egg for the presence of a defect 97.5% of the time. The weights of eggs were found to be linear to both the projected area and the perimeter of eggs viewed from above. Those two values were used as criteria to sort eggs. The coefficients of determination(r$^2$) for the regression equations between weights and those two values were 0.967 and 0.972 in the two sets of experiment. Accuracies in grading were found to be 95.6% and 96.7% as compared with results from sizing by electronic weight scale.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.260-265
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• 2000

To determine the quality change of the irradiated eggs during storage, fresh shell eggs were irradiated using $^{60}Co$ at 0, 1, 5, 10, 30 kGy and stored for 30 days. The york index, color, pH, viscosity, egg weight, and SDS-PAGE profile of the irradiated eggs were examined. During storage, york index values of the irradiated eggs and the control were decreased and the increase of dose decreased yolk index. However, the yolk index values were increased temporarily at 10 kGy and 30 kGy. The yolk color had a bright yellow with increases in dose level and there was no significant change during storage. The albumen viscosities were decreased with increases in dosage and were decreased during storage. Also, the albumen pH values of the irradiated eggs were higher than that of the control and were increased during storage. The weight losses of eggs were increased during storage and there were no significant changes by dose level. SDS-PAGE profile of the egg white proteins of the shell eggs showed the change in molecular weight distribution and had aggregation pattern as well as degradation. CD and fluorescence spectroscopy study showed changes in the secondary and tertiary structure of egg white proteins by ${\gamma}-irradiation$. Therefore, this study clearly indicates that irradiation dose of eggs should be appropriate to prevent the loss of egg qualities.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.277-283
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• 1993

In the present study, observations were made on the life-history of Lymnaea viridis under laboratory conditions, involving incubation period of the eggs and their hatching rate, shell length of the newly hatched snails, sexual maturity, size of the snails when the snail produced the first egg-mass, the number of eggs in each egg-mass, egg-laying, ovipostion, growth rate of the snails, and longevity of the snail. At temperatures between $19.8^{\circ}C$ to $22.5^{\circ}C$, incubation period of the eggs occupied 10~12 days, and after beginning of hatching, all young snails emerged completely from the egg-mass within 5 days. The hatching rate was 88%. The average shell length of the newly hatched snails was about 0.064cm. The rate of growth was extraordinarily rapid under good laboratory conditions. When two snails were reared in one culture vessel($20{\times}15{\times}5cm$) with blue-green algae at about $22^{\circ}C$, snail growth was optimal, taking 37 days to reach 1.2cm in shell length. Sexual maturity reached in about 19 days. The size of the snails at sexual maturity was $0.78{\pm}0.05cm$ in length and $0.47{\pm}0.04cm$ in width. The first egg-masses produced were $0.59{\pm}0.22cm$ in length and $0.34{\pm}0.08cm$ in width, and contained 7~38 eggs. The eggs are usually laid in water. The egg-laying was affected by food and temperature. Snails fed with blue-green algae at about $22^{\circ}C$ produced larger egg-masses than the snails fed with fish food at about $26^{\circ}C$. Under conditions of continuous activity and growth, the maximum expectation of life appears to be 109~350(mean 230) days. And the shell length of snails at death were 1.39~1.64cm.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1997

A nondestructive quality inspection technique using acoustic impulse response method was studied to investigate the feasibility of egg shell inspection. An experimental system was built to generate impact force, to measure the response signal and to analyze the frequency spectrum. This system includes an impulse generating unit, an egg holding seat, a microphone with preamplifier, and a digital oscilloscope connected to Personal Computer by RS-232C interface. The factors such as impulse generating method, egg holding method, and sensor location were evaluated by analyzing the power spectrum density of the measured signal. The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1. From the sampled eggs, the proper conditions for detecting damaged eggs were found as followings; ceramic for the impact ball material, rubber for egg seat material, 20 degrees for an impact angle of pendulum, 10mm for the distance between egg and sensor, the sharp side for impacting part, and 180 degrees for the location of sensor. 2. Examination of the Fourier transformed analysis in beth normal and damaged eggs revealed that those factors such as the resonant frequency, a number of peak frequencies and the magnitude of power spectrum were important to detect damaged eggs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of age of laying hens and grade of shell abnormality on internal egg quality. At each week, 1,000 eggs were randomly selected from 21,000 eggs laid by Hy-Line hens (100,000 birds) aged from 56 to 62 wk. The samples were divided into normal and externally abnormal eggs by an official egg grader. Then, egg quality including egg weight, egg white height, Haugh unit and yolk color was evaluated from each normal and abnormal eggs. The production rate of externally normal and abnormal eggs was 81.22 and 18.78%, respectively. No difference found in the production rate by the increase of hen's age, but Haugh unit of eggs from hens of 60-wk-old was higher (p<0.05) than that of 56-wk-old. When the same age groups were compared, egg white height and Haugh unit were lower in eggs which were externally abnormal. When the grade of abnormality increased, egg white height and Haugh unit were decreased further (p<0.05). Among the externally abnormal eggs, malformation showed the lowest Haugh unit. In conclusion, the shell abnormality of eggs laid by hens aged 56 to 62 wk was closely related with internal egg quality. Therefore, the grading external egg quality in the present egg grading system is directly related with the internal egg freshness.