Search

China has about 107 local chicken breeds and is considered one of the richest countries in terms of genetic resources. This diversity is a source of richness natural resources across the globe and is regarded as an excellent material for genetic improvement of breeds or breeding new breeds around the world. The present review highlights the recent evidence and studies of chicken origin and domestication in China and Southeast Asia. The evidence of molecular genetics and archeological results supported that multiple regions and event were contributed to the creation of chicken evolution from Red Jungle fowl and the findings proposed that one of events happened in domestication of chicken 8000 BP in Southeast of Asia. Several researchers confirmed that China was declared as most important of the world as a first centers for the chicken’s domestication and these chickens have remained in many archaeological sites in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To protect the surface of A Ti-Al alloy, a new method was used: laser shock peening (LSP). LSP has its own advantages: no contact, no heat affected zone (HAZ), easy to change the processing path and efficient. To check the new method by testing the surface morphology, the diffraction pattern and the surface hardness was investigated. The results showed that the new method could successfully make a coating layer on the substrate. The coating layer not only covered the substrate surface but also embedded in the substrate. Due to its advantages, the substrate material didn't grow new phases. In conclusion, the new method not only make a surface coating layer but also have the advantages of LSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The scientific problems concerning Quaternary soil water content and the water cycle have not been researched. This study examined the soil water content and depth of distribution of gravitational water in the south Loess Plateau during development of the first palaeosol layer (S1) by methods such as field investigation, electron microscopy, energy spectrum analysis, chemical analysis, and so on. The purpose was to reveal the climate, water balance and vegetation type at the time when S1 developed. The depth of migration of CaCO3 and Sr were 4.2 m below the upper boundary of the S1 palaeosol, and the depth of weathered loess beneath the argillic horizon was 4.0 m. Ferri‐argillans developed well in the argillic horizon and their depth of migration was 1 m below the argillic horizon. These findings suggest that the climate during the last interglacial was subtropical and humid, and the soil‐water balance was positive. Gravitational water was present to a depth of least 4.2 m from the top of S1, and the water content was adequate for tree growth. The chemical weathering index showed that this palaeosol has been moderately weathered. Highlights: We studied the palaeo-water content index during development of the first palaeosol. Soil water balance during development of S1 palaeosol in the south Loess plateau was positive. Available water content was 14% during development of S1 palaeosol. We suggest that a subtropical climate and forest vegetation prevailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of source (corn DDGS, rice bran, or soybean) or form of oil (extracted or intact) on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and true total tract digestibility (TTTD) of acid-hydrolyzed ether extract (AEE) and fatty acids. The study determined and compared the ATTD or TTTD of AEE and fatty acids in extracted corn oil, rice oil, and soybean oil with intact oil in corn DDGS, full-fat rice bran, and full-fat soybean. Seventy-eight barrows (initial BW = 47.2 ± 3.9 kg; Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire) were allotted to 1 of 13 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 6 barrows in each dietary treatment. The 13 experimental diets included 1 cornstarch-soybean meal basal diet (AEE, 0.56%) and 3 diets containing 6% extracted oils (corn oil, rice oil, and soybean oil) and 9 diets supplemented with 3 levels of corn DDGS (17%, 34%, and 51%), full-fat rice bran (14%, 28%, and 42%), and full-fat soybean (12%, 24%, and 36%). These diets provided about 2%, 4%, and 6% intact oil, respectively. The barrows were housed in individual metabolism crates and were fed the assigned test diets at 4% of initial BW per day. A 5-d total collection of feces followed a 7-d diet adaptation period. The ATTD of AEE were calculated for each diet. The endogenous flow of AEE associated with each ingredient and values for TTTD were calculated using regression methods. The ATTD of AEE were greater (P < 0.05) for extracted oil than for intact oil. Compared to extracted oil, intact oil had lower (P < 0.01) ATTD of palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), and linolenic acid (C18:3). However, a source by form interaction (P < 0.01) was observed for ATTD of C18:0, C18:2, and C18:3. The ATTD of C18:0, C18:2, and C18:3 in extracted corn and rice oil were greater compared with intact corn DDGS and rice oil (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference for the ATTD of C18:0, C18:2, and C18:3 between extracted soybean oil and intact oil in full-fat soybean. In conclusion, lipids that are extracted have a greater digestibility compared with intact lipids, and this is especially true regarding saturated fatty acids. The ATTD of AEE in 2 forms of rice oil (intact oil and extracted oil) was less than the values in corn oil and soybean oil. The TTTD of AEE in corn DDGS and full-fat soybeans were greater than in full-fat rice bran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distribution state estimation (DSE) is becoming more and more important in distribution control center considering deregulation and introduction of renewable sources based distributed generations (REDGs). To realize the real-time estimation of the load and REDGs output values with limited monitoring devices in a distribution network, this paper presents a novel DSE approach by introducing a Modified Quantum-Inspired Evolutionary Algorithm (mQIEA) combining a QIEA with Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedures (GRASP). Thirteen knapsack problems, which are well-known as NP-hard ones, with various items are used to compare mQIEA with four QIEA variants. IEEE34 and IEEE70 test systems with REDGs are applied to conduct DSE experiments. Results show that mQIEA outperforms four QIEA variants in terms of the solution quality and that mQIEA obtains better estimation results than eight optimization algorithms reported in the recent literature with respect to the maximally relative error, maximally absolute error, and estimation precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A SUGAR model, which was established to predict the partitioning of carbon into sucrose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol in fruit mesocarp of peach cultivars (Prunus persica (L.) Batch) with normal glucose: fructose ratio (G:F) of 0·8–1·5, was evaluated and extended for peach cultivars with a high G:F ratio of 1·5–7·8. The extended model (SUGARb) is more generic and assumes a high G:F ratio to be due to preferential transformation of sorbitol into glucose, preferential utilization of fructose or preferential conversion of fructose into glucose. The simulated seasonal variations in sugars via the SUGARb-model-matched experimental data for three normal and three high G:F cultivars well, and accurately exhibited G:F ratio characteristics. The relative rates of sucrose transformation into glucose and fructose differed according to cultivar but not according to G:F status. Compared with hexosephosphate interconversion, a lower production rate of fructose than glucose from sorbitol, and/or a higher utilization rate of fructose than that of glucose might be preferential alternatives for forming high G:F ratios in the high G:F cultivars studied in the present study, which is discussed in the light of recent results on enzyme activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims: Poor butanol tolerance of solventogenic stains directly limits their butanol production during industrial-scale fermentation process. This study was performed to search for micro-organisms possessing elevated tolerance to butanol. Methods and Results: Two strains, which displayed higher butanol tolerance compared to commonly used solventogenic Clostridium acetobutylicum, were isolated by evolution and screening strategies. Both strains were identified as lactic acid bacteria (LAB). On this basis, a LAB culture collection was tested for butanol tolerance, and 60% of the strains could grow at a butanol concentration of 2·5% (v/v). In addition, an isolated strain with superior butanol tolerance was transformed using a certain plasmid. Conclusions: The results indicate that many strains of LAB possessed inherent tolerance of butanol. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study suggests that LAB strains may be capable of producing butanol to elevated levels following suitable genetic manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which described the remodeling of the zero-stress state of the femoral artery in flow overload. Definition of residual strain in reference to zero-stress state; Materials and methods; Results of the study.

Flow characteristics in straight tubes with and without a lateral circular protrusion had been investigated using Particle Image Velocimetry over a range of Reynolds numbers from 400 to 1400, and at Womersley number of 65. The practical interest of the flows considered lies mainly in blood flows through arteries with saccular aneurysm. Both steady and pulsating flow experiments had been conducted. It was found that under the steady flow conditions, a recirculating vortex would be formed inside the circular protrusion. The maximum strength of the vortex would be as low as 10% of the bulk mean velocity in the main tube at the highest Reynolds number tested (i.e. at 1400). Under the pulsating flow conditions, the vortex appeared and disappeared at different phase of a cycle. The sequence was only punctuated by quasi-inviscid flow behavior. The steady flow results only resembled those of the pulsating ones for about 1 10 of the time at each cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]