• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.379-385
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• 2015

We studied the effects of the proprietary prebiotic Immunogen$^{(R)}$ on the growth, hematology and gut microbiota of common carp fingerlings. A basal diet was formulated using common feed ingredients and supplemented with Immunogen$^{(R)}$ at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20 and $40g\;kg^{-1}$, each of which was tested experimentally on replicated groups of fish. The trials ran for 8 weeks. Common carp fingerlings with an initial weight of $4.82{\pm}0.05g$ were randomly distributed among the experimental tanks at a stocking density of 25 fish per tank. The experimental diets were provided thrice per day; on each occasion the fingerlings were given a weight of feed that amounted to 4% of fish biomass. At the end of the experimental period, we determined the growth performance, feed conversion ratio, hematological parameters, body composition and gut micro-flora parameters of the test fish. Inclusion of $5g\;kg^{-1}$Immunogen$^{(R)}$ in the diet significantly improved growth performance and feed utilization in comparison with controls. However, the whole-body composition of the fish was not significantly influenced by prebiotic inclusion. Inclusion of $5g\;kg^{-1}$ Immunogen$^{(R)}$ significantly increased the total bacterial and Lactobacillus counts in fish intestines, but these bacterial parameters were significantly negatively impacted by higher concentrations of the prebiotic. Red blood cells counts were increased by prebiotic dietary supplementation at concentrations of 5 and $10g\;kg^{-1}$ prebiotic. Glucose and cholesterol levels were elevated by administration of Immunogen$^{(R)}$. Thus, dietary supplementation with $5g\;kg^{-1}$ Immunogen$^{(R)}$ improved fingerling common carp growth performance and feed utilization, and beneficially influenced the gut microflora

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.38
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• pp.153-182
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• 2021

The Buddhist monk, Kim Ji-jang (金地藏), a native of Silla, is still revered as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in China. In Chinese Buddhism, Kim Ji-jang's becoming Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is unique in at least two ways. First, it is said that his becoming the bodhisattva originated not in Silla, but in China, a foreign country. Second, it is said that the historical person became regarded as a mythical being, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The process of Kim Ji-jang's becoming Bodhisattva can be divided into three periods. The first period is the period of entering and practicing at Mount Jiuhua in China, and this also includes the period wherein he was first revered as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The second period begins immediately after Kim Ji-jang's death and ends three years later. In this period he became regarded as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The third period spans three years after his death to the present age. His status as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva carries on at present. There are two main causes for Kim Ji-jang's transformation into the bodhisattva. The first is an internal bodhisattva process. According to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's main vow, Kim Ji-jang's practice and edification impressed the public. The second is an external bodhisattva process. The miracles that appeared at the time of his death or the manifestation of the incorruptible relics three years after his death played a decisive role in the process of Kim Ji-jang becoming a bodhisattva. In line with the public's devotion, the Chinese imperial family repaired and supported the temple that enshrined the relics of Kim Ji-jang. Various factors could be analyzed in the process of Kim Ji-jang's becoming Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, but more than anything else, it was Kim Ji-jang's severe ascetic practices and his virtuous edification of others.