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Since waste materials are used to identify, individualize, and evaluate evidence like fingerprints, palmprints, footprints, etc. that are found at a crime scene, they have a substantial impact on the field of forensic science. Many waste powders have recently been employed in fingerprint recognition. Nanosheets made up of eggshells have been put forward as an application in friction ridge development. Eggshell is a biochemical substance made up of chemical compounds like calcium carbonate, which is considered as a waste product. For the formation of an eggshell nanosheet (ESN), shells are dried and crushed into a fine powder and to get this powder in the form of a nanosheet, the Ball milling technique is used. The synthesis of pure ESN is confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The size of nanosheets ranged from 30 to 90 nm as shown in SEM images. Developed powder is then used for the application of fingerprint development and it provides excellent results on all porous, non‐porous, and semi‐porous surfaces. Thus, this newly synthesized ESN powder can be used as a significant powder method in latent fingerprint technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The given document is a compilation of various scientific articles and studies related to the reproduction and care of turtles and tortoises. The articles cover topics such as egg development, incubation, hatching behavior, nutrition, and conservation efforts. The information provided can be useful for researchers and individuals interested in understanding the reproductive biology and management of these reptiles. [Extracted from the article]

This study aimed to verify the potential of calcium lactate for the performance, blood index, shinbone quality, jejunal immunity, and egg quality of aged laying hens. A total of 360 62-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly divided into four treatments, with six replicates and 15 chickens per replicate. Experimental groups were fed with 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0% calcium lactate to substitute limestone in the control group (maintaining the same amount of calcium). The feeding trial lasted for 12 weeks. The laying rate and daily egg mass of laying hens fed the diets supplemented with calcium lactate was increased relative to those of the control group. The dietary addition of calcium lactate for laying hens enhanced the eggshell ratio, eggshell thickness, eggshell strength, and albumen height of eggs, and the addition level of 0.5% had the best effect. Dietary calcium lactate increased the number of red blood cells, corpuscular hemoglobin, mononuclear leucocytes and basophilic granulocytes, and decreased heterophils in the blood of laying hens. The activities of serum alanine transaminase and creatine kinase in laying hens was reduced by the dietary addition of calcium lactate. Calcium lactate supplementation in diets increased the serum calcium and phosphorus contents of laying hens. The dietary inclusion of calcium lactate increased the contents of IgA, IgG, lysozyme, and sIgA in the jejunal mucosa, and the 0.5% addition level worked best, but the IL-2 content decreased. The addition of 0.5% calcium lactate to the diet reduced the maximal force of the shinbone and increased the work required for shinbone rupture in laying hens. In conclusion, the dietary addition of calcium lactate improved the performance and egg quality of laying hens, probably by its positive effects on body health, intestinal digestible ability, calcium bioavailability, and jejunal mucosal immunity. The optimum amount of calcium lactate in the diet of laying hens is recommended to be 0.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonwovens and thermochromic ink were used as raw materials to prepare reversible thermochromic nonwovens by screen printing. The chang of micromorphology and chemical structure of samples before and after screen printing were studied and analyzed. The effects of screen printing times on the thickness, mechanical property, color changing property and soaping color fastness of reversible thermochromic nonwovens were discussed. Red and blue composite ink was used for nonwovens finishing. The visual discoloration effect of reversible thermochromic nonwovens under human body temperature was studied and analyzed. The results showed that with the increase of printing times, the thickness, breaking strength and breaking elongation of nonwovens after finishing were increased, the initial hue was deepened, the complete discoloration time was prolongated, and the GS rating of soaping color fastness was improved. The experimental results of human finger touch showed that the thermochromic nonwovens prepared could change color rapidly within 3 s and had sensitive and reversible thermochromic property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) were successfully synthesized from eggshell waste by microwave-assisted (MW) as well as conventional heating precipitation methods and a green template i.e., Azadirachta indica (AI) (neem) leaf extract. The synthesized HANPs were characterized by different analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for determining their functionality, shape, size, crystallinity, phase purity, and thermal stability. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the pure hydroxyapatite phase with no other impurities. SEM and TEM analyses confirmed that HANPs displayed uniform distribution with less agglomeration by the MW method in the presence of AI when compared to the conventional heating method and without AI. TEM analyses revealed that the average size of HANPs from both methods without AI was 30–31 nm in width and 53–55 nm in length while in the presence of AI, it was 27–28 nm in width and 44–46 nm in length. XRD analysis indicated the formation of the pure crystalline structure of nanoparticles. The synthesized HANPs were thermally very stable and had a lower Ca/P ratio (1.81) from the MW method compared to the conventional heating method, which is 1.95. Thus, this study revealed that HANPs synthesized by the MW method in the presence of AI with a smaller crystallite size and less agglomerated particles have great potential to be used in the biomedical fields as well as different fields such as cosmetics, wastewater treatment, and food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing new pathways to transform biological wastes into value-added products is inevitable in order to mitigate environmental pollution and providing sustainability. Utilisation of eggshell as a substrate, a naturally abandoned organic-inorganic waste, was explored in this study. Herein, Au/Co/Zn/eggshell nanocomposites were synthesised by utilizing waste eggshell as substrate. At the experimental stage, different metal combinations namely unary, binary and ternary combination of Co, Zn and Au and different ratios ranges from %10 to %50 were tested. The catalytic activity of the synthesised materials were investigated in terms of hydrogen production from NaBH 4 methanolysis. The catalyst fabricated with the addition of %40 Co + %40 Zn + 3 ppm Au showed the best catalytic activity and the reaction completion time was as low as 2.4 min. The results revealed that the fabricated catalyst showed a superior catalytic activity with the maximum hydrogen production rate of 4394.6 mL/min/gcat. The obtained maximum hydrogen production rate is highly compatible with the existing literature. Different NaBH 4 concentrations and catalyst concentrations were also tested to investigate the fabricated catalyst behaviour. The fabricated catalyst was also experimented in different temperatures range from 30 °C to 60 °C to determine the Arrhenius kinetics and subsequently activation energy. The activation energy was calculated to be 13.25 kJ/mol. SEM-EDX, BET, XRD and FT-IR analysis were finally performed to determine morphological and structural characterization of the superior catalyst. [Display omitted] • A novel Au/Co/Zn/eggshell catalyst was synthesised for H 2 generation from NaBH 4. • The maximum HPR of the synthesised catalyst was found to be 4394.6 mL/min/gcat. • The activation energy was calculated to be 13.25 kJ/mol. • Unary, binary and ternary combination of Co, Zn and Au were studied thoroughly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteins are the most stable of the macromolecules that carry genetic information over long periods of time. Closed systems are more likely to retain endogenous proteins or their degradation products. Amino acid racemisation data in experimental and subfossil material suggests that mollusc shell and avian eggshell calcite crystals can demonstrate closed system behaviour, retaining endogenous amino acids. Here, Late Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) Argentine titanosaurian sauropod eggshells show dark, organic stains under light microscopy/photography and fluorescence imaging. Raman spectroscopy can yield bands consistent with various organic molecules, possibly including N-bearing molecules or geopolymers. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry reveals pyrolysates consistent with amino acids as well as aliphatic hydrocarbon homologues that are not present in modern eggshell, consistent with kerogen formation deriving from eggshell lipids. High-performance liquid chromatography reveals that their intra-crystalline fraction can be enriched in some of the most stable amino acids (Glx, Gly, Ala, and possibly Val) and are fully racemic (despite being some of the slowest racemising amino acids), indicating ancient origin. This preservation varies across localities, but similar ancient amino acid profiles were also observed in Late Cretaceous Spanish titanosaurians from several localities and Chinese putative hadrosaurid eggshell. These amino acid results are consistent with previous studies on degradation trends deduced from modern, thermally matured, sub-fossil, and ∼3.8–6.5 Ma avian eggshell, as well as ∼30 Ma calcitic mollusc opercula. Selective preservation of certain fully racemic amino acids, which do not racemise in-chain, and the concentration of free amino acids suggests likely complete hydrolysis of original peptides. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry supports this hypothesis by failing to detect any non-contamination peptide sequences from the Mesozoic eggshell. These closed-system amino acids are possibly the most thoroughly supported non-avian dinosaur endogenous protein-derived constituents, at least those that have not undergone oxidative condensation with other classes of biomolecules. Biocrystal matrices can help preserve mobile organic molecules by trapping them (perhaps with the assistance of resistant organic polymers), but trapped organics are nevertheless prone to diagenetic degradation, even if such reactions might be slowed in exceptional circumstances. Future work should survey fossil biocalcite to determine variability in amino acid preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we investigated the enduring impacts of perch provision timing on the musculoskeletal health of laying hens. A total of 810 pullets experienced different housing conditions: continuous access to multi-tier perches from 0 to 40 weeks (CP), no perch access (NP), early access during the rearing phase from 0 to 17 weeks (EP), or solely during the laying phase from 17 to 40 weeks (LP). Monitoring from week 24 to 40 included individual activity levels, blood sample collection for bone demineralization markers, and euthanasia for computed tomography scans at 40 weeks. Results showed that hens with continuous perch access demonstrated higher overall activity at 24 weeks and improved musculoskeletal health at 40 weeks compared to those with no access. Late perch access also positively affected activity, muscle deposition, and bone strength. Conversely, early access did not yield long-term impacts on activity or musculoskeletal health except for intermediate responses in bone demineralization. These findings highlight the importance of timing in perch provision, emphasizing that continuous or late access enhances the well-being and musculoskeletal health of laying hens in comparison to no access at all. Early access to perches did not have a long-term beneficial effect on the activity or musculoskeletal health of laying hens. The study suggests that optimizing perch exposure timing can contribute to sustained improvements in the physical condition of laying hens throughout their reproductive lifespan. Laying hens can experience a progressive increase in bone fragility due to the ongoing mobilization of calcium from bones for eggshell formation. Over time, this escalates their susceptibility to bone fracture, which can reduce their mobility and cause pain. The provision of perches as an exercise opportunity could potentially enhance bone strength, but the timing of exposure to perches during the birds' development may modulate its impact. The objective of this study was to investigate the enduring impacts of perch provision timing on the musculoskeletal health of laying hens. A total of 812 pullets were kept in different housing conditions (seven pens/treatment, 29 birds/pen) with either continuous access to multi-tier perches from 0 to 40 weeks of age (CP), no access to perches (NP), early access to perches during the rearing phase from 0 to 17 weeks of age (EP), or solely during the laying phase from 17 to 40 weeks of age (LP). At weeks 24, 36, and 40 of age (n = 84 birds/week), three birds per pen were monitored for individual activity level, and blood samples were collected from a separate set of three birds per pen to analyze serum levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) as markers of bone demineralization. At 40 weeks of age, three birds per pen (n = 84) were euthanized for computed tomography scans to obtain tibial bone mineral density (BMD) and cross-sectional area (CSA) with further analysis including muscle deposition, tibial breaking strength, and tibial ash percent. During week 24, hens from CP, EP, and LP pens had the highest overall activity compared to hens from NP pens (p < 0.05) with no differences between treatments for overall activity level during weeks 36 or 40 (p > 0.05). During weeks 24, 36, and 40, hens from CP and LP pens showed greater vertical and less horizontal activity compared to hens from EP and NP pens (p < 0.05). TRACP-5b and CTX-I concentrations did not differ between treatments at week 24 of age (p > 0.05). Hens from CP pens had the lowest TRACP-5b and CTX-I concentrations at 36 weeks of age with EP and LP hens showing intermediate responses and NP hens having the highest concentration (p < 0.05). At 40 weeks of age, CP hens had the lowest TRACP-5b and CTX-I concentrations compared to NP hens (p < 0.05). Total bone CSA did not differ between treatments (p > 0.05), but CP had greater total BMD than NP (p < 0.05) with no differences between EP and LP treatments. CP and LP hens had larger biceps brachii, pectoralis major, and leg muscle groups as well as greater tibial breaking strengths than EP and NP treatments (p < 0.05). CP hens had higher tibial ash percentages compared to EP, LP, and NP (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that providing continuous perch access improves the musculoskeletal health and activity of laying hens at 40 weeks of age compared to no access and that late access to perches has a beneficial impact on activity, muscle deposition, and bone strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to find out the effects of diets with different levels of metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) administered during the pre-lay period on the subsequent productive performances of the Lohmann Brown hybrid. A low ME diet (2,690 kcal/kg) and a high ME diet (2,820 kcal/kg were prepared, each one with two variants of CP levels: low (15%) and high (17%). These diets were applied from 15 to 22 weeks of age. From 23 weeks of age, all birds were fed a diet containing 2,700 kcal/kg and 15.6% protein. Egg rate was significantly higher in the high-proteinhigh-ME fed group. In the same group, the intensity of the yolk colour decreased and the level of total protein concentration in the albumen was higher. Other researched productive parameters (feed intake, egg mass, feed conversion rate) and egg properties (eggshell colour, eggshell breaking strength, Haugh units) were found not significantly modified by the experimental pre-lay feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of compound plant essential oils on the production performance and egg quality of laying hens. A total of 13 664 Dawu Jinfeng laying hens with similar body weight and late laying period (362~368 days of age ) were randomly divided into two groups, a control group and a compound plant essential oil group, with four replicates in each group and 1 708 laying hens in each replicate. The laying hens in the control group were fed a basal diet, and the laying hens in the compound plant essential oils group were fed a basal diet supplemented with compound plant essential oils. The trial period was 14 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the laying rate of laying hens in the compound plant essential oils group was significantly increased (P<0.05), the average egg weight showed an increasing trend (P>0.05), the sand shell egg rate was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the feed to egg ratio was decreased (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the egg yolk ratio of the compound plant essential oils group was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the eggshell intensity had a rising trend. The egg yolk color, hardness, and wetness in the compound plant essential oils group were significantly increased (P<0.05). The study indicates that adding compound plant essential oils to the diet can increase the production performance and egg quality of laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (WBPH), is an important pest of rice. Its high fertility makes the control of this pest particularly challenging. RNA interference (RNAi) is an important pest management method for reducing pest fertility. However, the specific targets regulating WBPH fertility are still being discovered. Eggshell formation, the final stage of oogenesis, plays a critical role in insect reproduction. Thus, this study aims to identify key molecular targets involved in regulating eggshell formation in WBPH. In this study, we identified five subunits of the Tip60 complex that regulate eggshell formation in WBPH. Silencing the subunits resulted in thinner eggshells, increased eggshell permeability, and abnormalities in egg morphology. In addition, silencing any of these subunits inhibited the expression of the follicular cell protein gene Fcp3C, ultimately impairing eggshell formation. This suggests that the Tip60 complex may promote eggshell formation by activating the expression of Fcp3C. Notably, silencing TiP60 or Fcp3C using nanocarriermediated RNAi resulted in a 99% reduction in WBPH fertility and a significant decrease in WBPH-induced rice seedling damage. Our research provides the first evidence of the regulatory role of the chromatin remodeling factor Tip60 complex in insect eggshell formation, enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in WBPH eggshell formation. Furthermore, it offers promising molecular targets for the development of RNAi-mediated control methods for this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to measure the influence of some herbal extracts on performance, egg quality, intestinal histology, and some biochemical measurements in layer local quails. 162 quails, including males and females in their 48 weeks of age were divided equally into 18 separate cages, and where placed different levels of the herbal extract mixture (1 ml/l and 2 ml/l) were placed in drinking water for five weeks. Egg production was monitored daily, performance and egg quality were measured weekly, and intestinal histology and serum biochemical parameters were measured at the end of the experiment. In the results, herbal treatments, age, and interaction significantly improved the body weight, egg mass, egg weight uniformity %, feed conversion ratio, and egg production. However, the egg weight was significantly affected by interaction and age. The egg quality parameters including shape index, shell percentage, yolk height, albumin height, albumin percentage, yolk color, and Haugh unit, were significantly affected by the herbal treatment levels, age, and interaction between them. Although the levels of herbal extracts didn’t affect the shell thickness, yolk width, albumin width, and yolk percentage, these were significantly affected by age and interaction. All of the studied serum biochemical and intestinal histology measurements except the AST enzyme were significantly changed in the treated groups compared to the control group. The present results conclude that the administration of selected herbal extracts improved most of the studied parameters in laying local quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of food infections caused by consumption of egg and egg products are caused by Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis. In this study, the inhibitory effect against S. Enteritidis was determined by dipping the eggshell into Salmonella-specific bacteriophage SE-P47 and levulinic acid (LVA) plus sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions (0.5% LVA+0.05% SDS, 1% LVA+0.05% SDS and 2% LVA+0.5% SDS) separately for 10 minutes. The treatments of phage and 2% LVA+0.5% SDS reduced S. Enteritidis below the detectable level on eggshell (at 2.76, 3.22, 4.48 and 5.30 log CFU/cm2 inoculum levels). After the treatment of 1% LVA+0.05% SDS, 1.94 and 0.89 log reductions were obtained at 4.48 and 5.30 log CFU/cm2 inoculum levels, respectively, while S. Enteritidis decreased below the detectable number at 2.76, 3.22 log CFU/cm2 inoculum levels. Although the lowest antibacterial activity was observed in the treatment of 0.5% LVA+%0.05 SDS, the decrease in the number of S. Enteritidis detected in all samples except 5.30 log CFU/cm2 inoculum level was found to be significant compared to the control sample. The results indicated that the combination of LVA and SDS, and especially SE-P47 phage alone had good potential efficacy for Salmonella decontamination on eggshell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, different sizes (25, 50, and 75 µm) and volume fractions (1, 2, and 3 wt%) of calcined eggshell particles were utilized to strengthen the Al-Si-Mg alloy. Several experimental runs were conducted to assess the impact of particle size and concentration on both physical properties (density, corrosion, and thermal conductivity) and mechanical properties (hardness, yield strength, impact energy, and modulus of elasticity). The findings revealed significant enhancements in hardness (21 %), yield strength (61 %), modulus of elasticity (43 %), and thermal conductivity (34 %). Conversely, a reduction of 62 % in impact strength and 8 % in density was observed. The corrosion rate displayed an increase from 0 to 16.67 mpy. Analysis using XRD and XRF techniques identified CaO and Al2O3 as the primary constituents of the eggshell. Optical micrographs consistently showed cored (segregated) dendritic structures typical of castings cooled under normal conditions in the Al-Si-Mg composite. SEM micrographs, EDS spectra, and area analyses confirmed a uniform distribution of Calcined Eggshell Particles (CEP) within the composite films. Additionally, an optimal calcination condition for the eggshell particles was determined to be 900 °C for 2.5 h, resulting in a CaO yield of 99.62 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cementitious composites' performance degrades in extreme conditions, making it more important to enhance its resilience. To further the adaptability of eco-friendly construction, waste materials are increasingly being repurposed. Cementitious composites deteriorate in both direct and indirect ways due to the facilitation of hostile ion transport by water. The effects of using eggshell and glass powder as partial substitutes for cement and sand in mortar on the water-absorption capacity were investigated using machine learning (ML) modeling techniques such as Gene Expression Programming (GEP) and Multi Expression Programming (MEP). To further assess the importance of inputs, sensitivity analysis and interaction research were carried out. The water absorption property of cementitious composites was precisely estimated by the generated ML models. It was noted that the MEP model, with an R2 of 0.90, and the GEP model, with an R2 of 0.88, accurately predicted results. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the absorption capacity of the mortar was most affected by the presence of eggshell powder, sand, and glass powder. GEP and MEP model's significance lies in the fact that they offer one-of-a-kind mathematical formulas that can be applied to the prediction of features in another database. The mathematical models resulting from this study can help scientists and engineers rapidly assess, enhance, and rationalize mixture proportioning. The built models can theoretically compute the water absorption of cement mortar made from eggshell powder and glass powder based on varied input parameters, resulting in cost and time savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main emphasis of this study is to assess the status of daily released effluent before and after treatment with both Corn Cobs Activated Carbon (CCAC) and eggshells, with a focus on raising its pH to acceptable levels for agricultural irrigation. The physical properties of CCAC revealed that, it contained 5.82 % ash and had a point zero charge of 5.35. Before and after each treatment, the Electrical Conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids ranged from (248.3 ± 0.9) µS/cm to (285.3 ± 0.7) µS/cm and (124.00 ± 0.56) mg/L to (142.33 ± 0.34) mg/L, respectively; the pH of 6.98 ± 0.03, was found to be within the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) allowable limits for irrigation purposes. The average mean concentrations analysis of trace metal elements with Inductively Coupled plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry ranged from (0.000 ± 0.000) mg/L to (0.76 ± 0.02) mg/L for untreated and treated wastewater. After the final treatment, the concentrations of Fe2+ ions were lower than those of Zn2+, Cu2+, and Mn2+, but they were all within the FAO's permissible limits. Similarly, the mean values for the removal efficiency of trace metal elements revealed that, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Mn2+ ions are 100 % decontaminated, whereas only 84.33 % Fe2+ ions are removed with 500 grams of eggshells. There are both positive and negative correlations between physicochemical parameters and trace metal elements. The Principal Component Analysis results of two latent factors explain 61.95 % and 29.14 % of the total variance into three groups, with all trace metal elements forming a single group. The one-way ANOVA revealed a highly significant difference between parameters and treatments at p 0.05. These findings suggest that, CCAC and eggshells have shown promising applications for industrial wastewater treatment and can be easily adopted by analytical laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In China, the large eggs of the Chinese oak silkworm (COS), Antheraea pernyi, have been extensively utilized as beneficial factitious hosts for the mass rearing of parasitoid wasps and in the biological control of agricultural and forestry pests. Furthermore, the eri silkworm (ES), Samia cynthia ricini, has a widely distributed large egg that has the potential for use in the mass rearing of Trichogramma parasitoids. This study investigates the role of T. chilonis as a dominant Trichogramma species in lepidopteran pest control for agricultural and forestry production. It offers a comparative analysis of T. chilonis parasitism and suitability with respect to the large eggs from two factitious hosts, the ES and COS. The results reveal the feasibility of mass producing T. chilonis using ES eggs and provide insights into this species' parasitism of both COS and ES eggs. These findings are crucial for developing a cost-effective strategy for large-scale Trichogramma rearing using ES eggs, contributing to efficient biological pest control in agricultural and forestry contexts. Trichogramma, an effective biological control agent, demonstrates promise in environmentally sustainable pest management through its parasitic action toward insect eggs. This study evaluates the parasitism fitness and ability of T. chilonis with regard to two factitious host eggs, aiming to develop a cost-effective biological control program. While T. chilonis demonstrated the ability to parasitize both host eggs, the results indicate a preference for ES eggs over COS eggs. The parasitism and emergence rates of T. chilonis regarding ES eggs (parasitism: 89.3%; emergence: 82.6%) surpassed those for COS eggs (parasitism: 74.7%; emergence: 68.8%), with a notable increase in the number of emergence holes observed in the ES eggs compared to the COS eggs. Moreover, the developmental time of T. chilonis for ES eggs (10.8 days) was shorter than that for COS eggs (12.5 days), resulting in a lower number of dead wasps produced. Notably, no significant difference was observed in the female ratios between the two species. A comprehensive analysis was conducted, comparing the size and shell thickness of the two factitious hosts. The ES eggs exhibited smaller dimensions (length: 1721.5 μm; width: 1178.9 μm) in comparison to the COS eggs (length: 2908.8 μm; width: 2574.4 μm), with the ES eggshells being thinner (33.8 μm) compared to the COS eggshells (47.3 μm). The different host species had an effect on the body length of the reared parasitoids, with T. chilonis reared on COS hosts exhibiting a larger body length (female: 626.9 µm; male: 556.7 µm) than those reared on ES hosts (female: 578.8 µm; male: 438.4 µm). Conclusively, the results indicate that ES eggs present a viable alternative to COS eggs for the mass production of Trichogramma species in biological control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The poultry industry is increasingly seeking natural, safe, and cost-effective feed additives, due to the ban on antibiotics and rising production demands. Curcumin, a natural plant extract, has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in feed additive studies. However, the mechanism by which curcumin supplementation improves the performance and health status of laying hens needs to be more thoroughly investigated. In this study, our results showed that a 200 mg/kg curcumin supplementation significantly enhanced egg quality by targeting and regulating oviduct expansion glycoprotein gene expression. Additionally, curcumin improved hepatic lipid metabolism in laying hens by regulating hepatic fatty acid synthesis genes. These findings provide a basis for considering curcumin as a valuable feed additive in the laying hen industry. Curcumin, the major active compound of turmeric, has shown potential benefits for poultry health and production in various studies. However, its specific role in enhancing the egg quality and liver health of laying hens, as well as its underlying mechanisms, have yet to be determined. Here, a total of 600 Su Qin No.1 Laying hens, aged 55 weeks and with similar laying rates, were randomly placed into five groups, with 10 replicates of 12 hens each. Curcumin doses of 0, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg were added to the basal diet to form the experimental groups. After an 8-week feeding period, no significant changes were observed in the production performance of laying hens due to curcumin supplementation. However, additional tests revealed that a 200 mg/kg curcumin supplementation improved albumen height, yolk color, Haugh unit, and eggshell thickness, while reducing the thin albumen's weight and proportion. This was accompanied by a significant down-regulation of the mRNA expression level of the Prolactin Receptor (Prlr) in the oviduct magnum. Furthermore, the number of hepatic lipid droplets and the hepatic triglyceride (TG) content, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly reduced, indicating improved hepatic lipid metabolism and oxidative status. This was accompanied by a significant reduction in the expressions of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 gene (Srebp-1), fatty acid synthase gene (Fasn), as well as fatty acid synthase (FASN), which are closely related to fatty acid synthesis in the liver. Overall, these findings suggest that curcumin supplementation at a dosage of 200 mg/kg could lead to significant improvements in egg quality and hepatic lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen derived from the eggshell membrane, is an increasingly popular functional material. Native chicken is one of the leading local commodities whose industrial waste has the potential to be used as collagen raw material. This study aimed to evaluate the nutrients and morphology of the eggshell membrane of native chicken eggs as raw material for collagen production. The parameters observed were morphology using electron scanning microscopy, mineral composition, and collagen nutrient content (water and protein). SEM observations showed that the eggshell membrane of native chicken eggs was fibrous. The meshed fiber form represents the extracellular matrix present in collagen proteins. The eggshell membrane contains Cl, K, Ca, P, and Mg macrominerals at 1.696%, 1.796%, 14.30%, 0.437%, and 0.146%, respectively. Microminerals I and Mo were also found at 0.00034% and 0.00014%, respectively. The moisture content of the superior native chicken eggshell membrane decreased by 13.05% after the collagen extraction (p<0.05), with a crude protein content of 25.32% after the extraction. It was concluded that the eggshell membrane of native chicken eggs produces fibrous morphological characteristics that are meshed and contain high minerals so that they have the potential to be used as raw materials for collagen production in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of dietary supplementation with Agaricus bisporus mushrooms powder (ABP) from byproducts on the development, egg production, egg quality, and antioxidant yolk capacity of Japanese laying quail was assessed. A total of 100 female quails 20-week-old were allotted to 5 treatments (5 replications, 4 females each) and received a basal diet supplemented with six graded levels of ABP (0 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, 5.0 g/kg, 7.5 g/kg and 10.0 g/kg) according to ABP0, ABP25, ABP50, ABP75, and ABP100 groups for 70 days. The results indicated no adverse impact (P>0.05) of dietary ABP on production performance and egg internal quality. A quadratic effect was described for egg-breaking strength (P<0.05) and eggshell thickness (P<0.01), showing the highest values at a dose of 7.5 g/kg ABP. Compared to the control, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) yolk reduction was higher (quadratic) in the 5.0 g/kg ABP diet (P<0.001), while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased linearly in all groups fed with ABP (P<0.001) as compared to the control group. The results suggest that the eggs from ABP quails could have an added value that would improve their marketability. The favourable findings of the current research demonstrate that including mushroom by-products in animal feed could reduce animal feed costs and reduce environmental damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic calcium carbonates are appealing sources for the creation of bioresponsive calcium phosphates because they intrinsically accommodate ions that are helpful for bone implantations. The current research investigates the novel hydroxyapatite formation cultivated from eggshells in reinforcement with barium titanate (BaTiO3) for application in bone tissue engineering. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of indigenously produced eggshell-derived hydroxyapatite (EHA) in bone healing and concurrently comparing the materials properties with that of synthetic hydroxyapatite (SHA). By adopting the piezoelectric capabilities of BaTiO3, the study attempted to enhance the biocompatibility and mechanical properties of HA. Pure HA was extracted from eggshells via thermal and chemical processes, accompanied by a BaTiO3 consolidation procedure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques were used to assess the structural, morphological, and compositional attributes of the composite. The in vitro cytocompatibility and bioactivity tests of EHA nano-composite resulted in improved mechanical stability, enhanced osseointegration, and higher hydrophilicity in comparison to SHA composite. Moreover, the ongoing research introduces a sustainable method for managing eggshell waste in addition to a revolutionary technique for producing superior biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominant cementitious materials based on fly ash are attracting attention in the global research community because of their properties that affect their performance such durability, mechanical properties, physical–chemical properties and reduction of carbon dioxide. The present study relates to an economical and environmentally method, capable of being implemented in 2 simple steps. Method of preparing new green cementitious material based on eggshells rich in calcium (Ca) and sand dune (southern of Algeria) rich in silica (SiO2). The first step of preparing SiO2 from sand include sand obtained with size less than 100 microns by washing with an alkali and hydrochloric acid (HCl) followed by washing with distilled water. The sand particles are then dried at room temperature. Further, the second step includes a preparation of fly ash of eggshells with particles size in a range of 100–120 microns. The method includes mixing the silicon dioxide and fly ash particles in predefined ratio, heating the mixture at a temperature for predefined time. Cementitious material was finally obtained. The optimal mix has a compressive strength of 49.71 Mpa, is the most flexible (E = 2.63 GPa and ductile (εr = 65.42%).The chemical and physical properties of the prepared cementitious material were analyzed by several technics such as XRF, XRD and SEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inorganic component of bone matrix, hydroxyapatite (HAp) (with formula Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2), can be obtained from inexpensive waste resources that serve as excellent calcium precursors. In the present study, HAp nano-powder was synthesized from eggshells (ES) and crab shells (CS) by wet chemical precipitation method. Also, a hybrid sample was considered which is a mixture of HAp nano-powder synthesized from eggshells (25%) and crab shells (75%) (EC). The presence of phosphate, carbonate, and hydroxyl groups in the synthesized powder was confirmed through FTIR analysis. The phase composition was determined using XRD, and elemental analysis revealed a Ca/P ratio ranging from 1.5 to 1.8, confirming the HAp nature of the nano-powder, which ranged in size from 73 to 375 nm. Importantly, preliminary in vitro tests were conducted using mouse preosteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of the synthesized HAp. The results indicated excellent biocompatibility. Moreover, sample EC exhibited a significantly higher proliferation on days 3, 6, 9, and 12. EC demonstrated promising antimicrobial properties by exhibiting a significantly higher inhibitory effect against the bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Escherichia coli, and the fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Additionally, EC displayed notable antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 271.543 µg/ml and 407.764 µg/ml in DPPH and H2O2 assays, respectively. Furthermore, it showed strong anti-inflammatory properties, with a dose-dependent inhibition against protein denaturation. Given these findings, the synthesized HAp holds promise as a potential bone filler and could be beneficial for bone remodeling applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement is among the important contributors to carbon dioxide emissions in modern society. Researchers are studying solutions to reduce the cement content in concrete to minimize the negative impact on the environment. Among these solutions is replacing cement with other materials, such as waste, which also poses environmental damage and requires landfill areas for disposal. Among these wastes are eggshell powder ash (ESPA) and wheat straw ash (WSA), which were utilized as cement substitutes in green mortar production. Thirteen mixtures were cast, one as a reference without replacement and twelve others that included replacing ESPA and WSA (single and combined) with cement in 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% proportions of cement's weight. The mechanical (compressive and flexural strength), microstructural (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA) properties of all mixtures were examined. The results showed a remarkable improvement in mechanical properties, and the best improvement was recorded for the (4%ESPA+4%WSA) mixture, which reached 73.3% in compressive strength and 56% in flexural strength, superior to the reference mixture. Furthermore, SEM analyses showed a dense and compact microstructure for the ESPA and WSA-based mortars. Therefore, the WSA and ESPA wastes can be recycled and utilized as a substitute for cement to produce an eco-friendly binder that significantly improves the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of mortar. In addition, combining the two materials also presents a viable option for creating a sustainable ternary blended binder (with cement) that boasts superior properties compared to using the WSA or ESPA individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study reports the synthesis of sustainable nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) using a wet chemical precipitation approach. The materials used in the green synthesis of nHAp were obtained from environmental biowastes such as HAp from eggshells and pectin from banana peels. The physicochemical characterization of obtained nHAp was carried out using different techniques. For instance, X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and FTIR spectroscopy were used to study the crystallinity and synthesis of nHAp respectively. In addition, the morphology and elemental composition of nHAP were studied using FESEM equipped with EDX. HRTEM showed the internal structure of nHAP and calculated its grain size which was 64 nm. Furthermore, the prepared nHAp was explored for its antibacterial and antibiofilm activity which has received less attention previously. The obtained results showed the potential of pectin-bound nHAp as an antibacterial agent for various biomedical and healthcare applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, AA6061 aluminum alloy composites reinforced with industrial wastes, i.e., eggshell particles are fabricated. The stir casting technique was used to fabricate the Al6061 metal matrix composites. The AA6061 matrix contains 3, 5, and 7 wt.% eggshell particles as reinforcement. Mechanical characterization i.e., hardness, toughness, and tensile strength was examined of the eggshell particle-reinforced composites. According to the experimental findings, adding eggshell particles significantly increased the material's hardness, tensile strength, and toughness. Moreover, the sliding wear resistance improved by adding eggshell particles as reinforcement. ANNOVA results predict that sliding velocity and load are the dominant factors for the sliding wear of composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) often requires further treatment before it can be safely reused. Lime is a common and affordable material used for this purpose, but its production can generate significant environmental impacts. This study developed an eco-friendly and effective lime substitute from eggshell waste for wastewater treatment. First, pre-treated wastewater effluent from WWTP El Jadida, Morocco, was collected and characterized. It was found that COD, BOD5, and TSS values showed non-conformity from Moroccan discharge standards, as well as high concentrations of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), silver (Ag), beryllium (Be), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co). These pollutants represent a potential risk to human health and the environmental ecosystem. To reduce this pollution, the optimal mass of lime powder obtained by thermal treatment of eggshell waste was determined by testing a concentration series of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 g·L-1. The findings confirmed that the addition of the optimal dose of prepared lime (24 g·L-1) resulted in a significant reduction in pollution parameters, with abatement rates of 77% for BOD5, 63% for COD and 66% for TSS, respectively. Furthermore, the eco-friendly lime substitute also showed promise in reducing the colorization rate for dyes by 84% and removing heavy metals through precipitation. However, the generated by-product loaded with toxic pollutants should be encapsulated in eco-materials to ensure safe operation and contribute to a sustainable management strategy for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of egg collections of different ecological groups of birds and various literature sources, a summary of scientific studies on morphological adaptations related to the color of eggshells in birds is given. Eggshell color in birds is a morphological adaptation with a masking function that depends on nesting conditions. The article examines egg collections of birds with an open nesting type: Eurasian skylark (ground-nesting), Eurasian chaffinch (crown-nesting), and Red-backed shrike (bush-nesting). The study confirmed the high variability of eggshell color in birds with an open nesting type, which allows clutches to be invisible which contributes to successful nesting. The correlation between the location of the nest and the color of the eggshells of the studied bird species was analyzed, and the peculiarities of this correlation were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was conducted to observe the quality of table eggs collected from three different housing systems, including conventional cage systems, floor space-free ranges, and limited floor space systems, at Mr. Janazaib Arain farm in Nasarpur, Sindh. In this experiment, the Playmouth chicken breed was kept under the housing system. It was observed that the various table egg quality characteristics-egg weight, eggshell cleanness, eggshell hardness, breaking strength, shape index, egg yolk color, and egg albumin height were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the cage system as compared with free range, limited, and free floor space. The result for egg mass was also found to be significantly higher in the cage housing system as compared with other housing systems. It was concluded that a better-quality table egg with a higher egg weight, a hard eggshell, and other internal quality characteristics can be produced in the cage housing system from Playmuoth Rock chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the structural‐function hypothesis, the eggshell pigment protoporphyrin, deposited at weak spots, can strengthen the shell structure when calcium is lacking in avian species. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in species that produce pigmented eggs of uniform ground colour without spotting patterns. We tested the structural‐function hypothesis using 435 eggs produced on seven calcium diets (0.2–4.5%) given to Common Pheasants Phasianus colchicus, a species that produces a large number of eggs on a low‐calcium diet with unspotted eggshells composed of a uniform ground colour of mainly protoporphyrin. We found that pheasants on the lowest calcium diet (0.2%), which had thinner eggshells, produced eggs containing more protoporphyrin‐based coloration than four of six other diets, suggesting this species employs pigmentation as ground colour to strengthen eggshells when available calcium is low. Our results provide the first, at least partial support for a structural function for eggshell pigments producing ground colour without spotting in a species that is often calcium‐limited. This pattern may be more widespread in other ground‐nesting taxa that also produce large numbers of eggs with protoporphyrin‐based ground colour and are potentially limited by calcium during breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the development and characterization of novel composite scaffolds, made of an alginate‐chitosan hydrogel matrix containing eggshell (ES) particles, for bone tissue engineering applications. Scaffolds with ES particles, either untreated or treated with phosphoric acid to create a nanotextured particle surface, were compared to scaffolds without particles. Results indicate that the nanotexturing process exposed occluded ES proteins orthologous to those in human bone extracellular matrix. Scaffolds with ES or nanotextured ES (NTES) particles had a higher porosity (81 ± 4% and 89 ± 5%, respectively) than scaffolds without particles (59 ± 5%) (p =.002 and p <.001, respectively). Scaffolds with NTES particles had a larger median pore size (113 μm [interquartile range [IQ]: 88–140 μm]) than scaffolds with ES particles (94 μm [IQ: 75–112 μm]) and scaffolds without particles (99 μm [IQ: 74–135 μm]) (p <.001 and p =.011, respectively). The compressive modulus of the scaffolds with ES or NTES particles remained low (3.69 ± 0.70 and 3.14 ± 0.62 kPa, respectively), but these scaffolds were more resistant to deformation following maximum compression than those without particles. Finally, scaffolds with ES or NTES particles allowed better retention of human mesenchymal stem cells during seeding (53 ± 12% and 57 ± 8%, respectively, vs. 17 ± 5% for scaffolds without particles; p <.001 in both cases), as well as higher cell viability up to 21 days of culture (67 ± 17% and 61 ± 11%, respectively, vs. 15 ± 7% for scaffolds without particles; p <.001 in both cases). In addition, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity increased up to 558 ± 164% on day 21 in the scaffolds with ES particles, and up to 567 ± 217% on day 14 in the scaffolds with NTES particles (p =.006 and p =.002, respectively, relative to day 0). Overall, this study shows that the physicochemical properties of the alginate‐chitosan hydrogel scaffolds with ES or NTES particles are similar to those of cancellous bone. In addition, scaffolds with particles supported early osteogenic differentiation and therefore represent a promising new bone substitute, especially for non‐load bearing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Nanoparticles are considered new antibacterial agents with a potential broad range of applications. Recently, the synthesis of bio-nanoparticles (NPs) from natural sources such as coral, Ostrea shell, and eggshell, has attracted considerable attention. Eggshells are organic waste, rich in calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and it is an easy method to reduce it into powder of nano size. Utilization of waste materials as a precursor for NPs synthesis makes the entire process cheaper, greener, and more sustainable. Waste chicken eggshells were collected from the Specific Pathogen Free farm in Egypt. Eggshells were rinsed, dried, and finely ground to powder. The sol-gel chemical method was used for the synthesis of CaO-NPs from eggshell powder. The characteristics of eggshell NPs were visualized using a scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentration was applied to test the antibacterial efficacy of CaO-NPs at 1.00, 0.50, 0.25, 0.12, and 0.06% concentrations on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enteritidis. The results of the characterization confirmed the conversion of CaCO3 to CaO-NPs with an average diameter of 27.7 nm. Zones of inhibition started to appear from 0.25% concentration for B. cereus, 0.50% for MRSA and E. coli, and 1.0% for S. enteritidis. The concentration of CaO-NPs solution strongly correlated with the resulting zone of inhibition (r= 0.86 to 0.90). CaO-NPs showed a potent efficacy against gram-positive bacteria. Hence, eggshell wastes from poultry production could be a feasible organic source for the biosynthesis of CaO-NPs with promising efficient antibacterial properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic reactivity performance is a significant challenge for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) technologies. Copper-impregnated eggshells (x%Cu@ES) were tested as a potential new low-cost catalyst to improve the CWPO process for the toxic dyes Congo Red (CR) and Crystal Violet (CV). The structure, morphology, and chemical composition of the x%Cu@ES catalyst were analyzed using FTIR, XRD, and SEM-EDX. Oxidative degradation of both dyes is enhanced by the presence of x%Cu@ES, which generates hydroxyl radicals in the reaction medium after contact with hydrogen peroxide. Decolorization rates according to the Box Behnken design are in the order of 99.88 % and 99.99 % for CR and CV respectively under the optimum conditions of 1 % copper content, 0.074 M H2O2 concentration, 60 mg L−1 dye concentration, and 2 g L−1 catalyst dose. After several regeneration cycles, the catalytic system's low metal release and constant catalytic activity proved the durability, stability, and viability of the 1%Cu@ES catalyst for dye degradation in CWPO. In addition to being environmentally friendly, the 1%Cu@ES catalyst material is highly economical for industrial application, costing around 0.061$ L−1 for the oxidation process in water.

This study synthesised eggshell waste, an agricultural by-product, into a calcinated porous material modified by salicylic acid as a new and effective adsorbent for remediation of Cu(II) from an aqueous solution. The impregnation of salicylic acid onto the surface of calcinated egg-shell improved the adsorption property of the eggshell. Furthermore, it was found that the salicylic acid-modified egg-shell; (SAL-E) has a highly developed functionalised surface and rich pore property compared to that of calcinated egg-shell investigated by FTIR and BET surface analysis, respectively. Moreover, the surface area of the SAL-E composite was found to be 6.65 m2g−1 which is six times more than the calcinated eggshell; (E-500). The salicylic acid procreated calcinated egg-shell showed the superior adsorption property towards copper heavy metal compared to that of calcinated eggshell and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid-modified eggshell; (DHB-E). The results of the study showed that the Langmuir adsorption of salicylic acid procreated egg-shell was up to 177.74 mgg−1 which is four times more than the calcinated egg-shell; (E-500). The maximum adsorption showed by salicylic acid-modified eggshell; (SAL-E) occurred at pH 7. The efficiency of modified egg-shell for the removal of copper from wastewater is directly related to pH, temperature, and contact time. FTIR spectroscopy study affirmed that the vital functional groups engaged in the uptake of Cu(II) onto the surface of modified – eggshell wastes, were hydroxyl group, carboxyl, carbonyl, and C = C of aromatic ring via Cu(II)−π interaction. FTIR, Raman, and UV – DRS evaluations proclaimed the introduction of functional groups that can be rendered more emplacements for binding of Cu (II). The results of this study displayed that the adsorption accept, the pseudo-second-order, Langmuir isotherm, and intraparticle diffusion, indicating that the adsorption mechanism is a chemical adsorption process and physisorption to some extent. The thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG0, ΔH0, and ΔS0 were estimated for all the porous adsorbent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it is aimed to produce wood plastic composite material with eggshell additives and to investigate the mechanical properties of these materials. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength and modulus of elasticity, elongation at break, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity and impact resistance of new materials produced by adding eggshell to wood plastic composite at different rates were investigated. It was determined that tensile strength values gradually decreased due to the increase in the amount of eggshell in the composites produced. The modulus of elasticity of the composite material in tensile strength increases with the increase in the amount of eggshell in the mixture. With the increase of the eggshell ratio used, the elongation values of the plastic composite at break are reduced. The eggshell material used in wood plastic composite reduces the bending strength of the material. The eggshell reduces the modulus of elasticity of the composite material in bending. The eggshell composite material did not cause a significant change in impact resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Changshun green-shell laying hens are unique to the Guizhou Province, China, and have high egg quality but relatively low yield. Egg production traits are regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Thus, we conducted RNA sequencing of hypothalamic and pituitary tissues from low- and high-yielding Changshun green-shell laying hens to identify critical pathways and candidate genes involved in controlling the egg production rate. Results: More than 39 million clean reads per sample were obtained, and more than 82% were mapped to the Gallus gallus genome. Further analysis identified 1,817 and 1,171 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus and pituitary, respectively. Nineteen DEGs were upregulated in both the hypothalamus and pituitary of high-yielding chickens. The functions of these DEGs were mainly associated with ion transport or signal transduction. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the pathways enriched in the hypothalamus were mainly associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, neurotransmitter release, and circadian rhythms. The pathways enriched in the pituitary were mainly associated with GnRH secretion, energy metabolism, and signal transduction. Five and four DEGs in the hypothalamus and pituitary, respectively, were selected randomly for qRT-PCR analysis. The expression trends determined via qRT-PCR were consistent with the RNA-seq results. Conclusions: The current study identified 19 DEGs upregulated in both the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which could provide an important reference for further studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying egg production in Changshun green-shell laying hens. In addition, enrichment analysis showed that GnRH secretion and signal transduction, especially neurotransmitter release, play crucial roles in the regulation of egg production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to study the effect of two different Chinese Herbal-probiotics compounds on the production performance and ovarian function of laying hens. A total of 450 fifty-week-old Hyline brown laying hens with similar 1aying rates and body weights were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates in each group and 15 chickens in each replicate. The laying hens in the control group (CK group) were fed a basal diet, and the F1-1 group and F1-2 group were supplemented with 1‰ and 2‰ Chinese herbal-probiotics compound 1 (F1, composed of Astragalus, Radix Isatidis, Epimedium, etc. and probiotics) in the basal diet. The F2-1 group and F2-2 group were supplemented with 1‰ and 2‰ Chinese herbal-probiotics compound 2 (F2, composed of Angelica, Rehmannia, motherwort, etc. and probiotics) in the basal diet, respectively. The pre-test period was 7 days, and the formal test period was 21 days. The results showed that the feed to egg ratio of the F1-2 group was significantly lower than that of the CK group ( P<0.05), and the Huff unit, egg shape index, and eggshell thickness of eggs have all been improved. Compared with the CK group, the serum levels of progesterone (P4) and luteinizing hormone (LH) of laying hens in the F1-2 group increased by 77.20% and 58.02%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the CK group, the serum IL-2 content of laying hens in the F1-2 group, F2-1 group and F2-2 group was decreased by 24.54%, 29.88% and 27.25% (P<0.05), and the serum IgG content of laying hens in the F1-2 group was increased by 19.64% (P<0.05). The study indicates that two different Chinese herbal-probiotics compounds can improve the production performance and egg quality of laying hens, promote the secretion of ovarian reproductive hormones, improve the ovarian function, reduce the inflammatory reaction in laying hens, and improve immunity, and the effect of adding 2‰ Chinese herbalprobiotics compound 1 is better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cold stress is considered an environmental stress and is an important managemental factor in regions where winter temperatures drop below 18 °C. Although a low temperature lowered the productive performance of laying hens, there are still unanswered questions as to the physiological changes that occur when they are exposed to low temperature, especially changes in antioxidants and stress indicators, which prompted us to set up the current study. Laying hens reared at low temperature (12 ± 4.5 °C) showed impaired laying performance compared with laying hens reared at normal temperature (24 ± 3 °C). However, eggshell color was intensified in laying hens exposed to low temperature. During the early stage of exposure to low-temperature stress, malondialdehyde levels in the egg yolk increased in laying hens raised at low temperature vs. normal temperature. However, yolk corticosterone, an indicator of stress responses, remained unchanged. Low temperature had an impact on total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum increases in laying hens reared at low temperature. In essence, low temperature in laying hens altered antioxidant systems and lipid metabolism without inducing stress responses. The present study investigated the effect of low temperature on laying performance, egg quality, body temperature, yolk malondialdehyde, yolk corticosterone, and serum biochemistry in laying hens. A total of 40 laying hens (Hy-Line Brown) aged 36 weeks were housed in one of two environmental chambers kept at 12 ± 4.5 °C (low temperature) or 24 ± 3 °C (normal temperature) for 4 weeks. Low vs. normal temperature significantly increased (p < 0.05) live body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio in laying hens. Skin surface temperature, but not rectal temperature, was decreased in laying hens exposed to low vs. normal temperature. Hens exposed to low temperature laid an intense eggshell color compared with those raised in a normal temperature. Malondialdehyde concentrations in yolk were increased in low-temperature-exposed laying hens compared with those at normal temperature conditions, but this effect was only noted on day 7, post the low-temperature exposure (p = 0.04). Finally, low vs. normal temperature increased the concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum. Collectively, this study indicates that exposure to low temperature in laying hens initially disrupted antioxidant system and altered lipid metabolism in laying hens without inducing stress responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egg quality and nutritional value are becoming increasingly important to consumers, offering a new direction for the development of high-quality eggs. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of egg quality and nutrient profiles in native breeds at different ages, integrating pedigree data. Our results reveal dynamic changes in egg qualities, stronger associations among eggshell-related traits, and the effect of onset production and body weight on egg qualities. The heritability of different traits was estimated, ranging from 0.05 to 0.62. Subsequently, we elucidated that the moisture and nutritional content in the egg yolk were not influenced by the percentage of yolk but were indeed subject to age regulation. There was a notable decrease in moisture, an elevation in crude fat, and an increase in the diversity of fatty acids of yolk with advancing age. In summary, investigating the trends and interrelationships in egg quality, nutrient content, and heritability across the whole laying cycle offers valuable insights for breeders to optimize feeding management strategies and aids consumers in meeting their expectations of egg quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the physical and chemical changes in egg whites during storage, assisting in the evaluation of differences in egg freshness between various chicken breeds, we chose 240 blue-shelled eggs (Blue group) and 240 commercial brown-shelled eggs (Brown group) that 28-week-old hens had laid. In this study, all eggs were stored at 25 °C. The egg weight, egg components' weight and proportion, Haugh Unit value and the contents of S-ovalbumin, ovomucin and lysozyme in the thick albumen (KA) and thin albumen (NA) were measured at eight time points every 3 days until the 21st day of storage. The eggshell, yolk and KA proportions in the Brown group were significantly lower, whereas the NA proportion was significantly higher than that in the Blue group (p < 0.001). The Haugh Unit value and S-ovalbumin in the Brown group were significantly higher, whereas KA ovomucin and NA lysozyme were significantly lower than those in the Blue group (p < 0.001). There existed significant negative correlations between the KA and NA, irrespective of weight or proportion. The Haugh Unit value was significantly positively correlated with lysozyme and ovomucin, but significantly negatively correlated with S-ovalbumin. During storage, the KA weight (proportion), Haugh Unit value, lysozyme and ovomucin decreased, whereas the NA weight (proportion) and S-ovalbumin increased. At each time point, the NA lysozyme in the Brown group was lower than that in the Blue group (p < 0.05). After storage for 6 days, the KA ovomucin in the Brown group began to be lower than that in the Blue group (p < 0.05). The study showed that the weight (proportion) differences in egg components between blue-shelled eggs and commercial brown-shelled eggs are mainly due to the NA. The Haugh Unit value and albumin protein indexes of blue-shelled eggs were better than those of brown-shelled eggs, and showed mild changes during storage, indicating the better storage performance of blue-shelled eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the thermal behaviour and synergistic effect of co-pyrolysis of coconut copra (CC) with eggshell (ES) for biofuels production using thermogravimetric analysis and a lab-scale tubular fixed-bed pyrolyzer at various CC:ES ratios. The TGA-DTG curves revealed that a CC:ES ratio of 1:1 had the highest total weight loss of 96 wt% and a degradation peak of 22 wt%/min. The co-pyrolysis of CC and ES using a tubular fix-bed reactor at temperatures between 350 °C and 600 °C showed that a maximum bio-oil of 74 wt% was produced from CC:ES ratio of 1:1 at 450 °C.I It was observed that as the mass of ES was greater than CC, the bio-oil yield decreased while biochar and pyrolysis gas yields increased. The synergistic effect of higher volatile matter in CC and higher ash content in ES had significantly altered the pyrolysis reactions and yielded different amount of pyrolysis products at different ratios of CC:ES. The presence of high metal content dominated by Ca in ES influenced the devolatilization behaviour of the feedstocks resulting in the increase of bio-oil yield at the suitable ratio of CC:ES. These findings also revealed that the main targeted pyrolysis products can be finetuned with the ratio of CC:ES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven isolated eggshell fragments and six eggshell impressions were collected from the Okurodani Formation (Hauterivian to Barremian) in Shokawa, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. To date, these specimens represent the oldest fossil eggshells in the country. Microscopic observations classified the eggshells into Testudoolithidae indet., Ramoprismatoolithus okurai oogen. et oosp. nov. and indeterminate type. For Testudoolithidae indet., the eggshell microstructure and estimated egg size suggest that they could be laid by any of the cryptodiran turtles reported by skeletal remains from the formation: Trionychoidea, Xinjiangchelyidae and Sinemydidae. Ramoprismatoolithus okurai bears prismatic microstructure and ramifying ridges on the outer surface, the combination of which is unusual for prismatoolithid eggshells. Based on morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses, Ramoprismatoolithus was ascribed to troodontid or closely related non-avian maniraptorans. The remaining specimens consist of eggshell surface impressions without original fragments, for which oospecies and taxonomic affinity are indeterminate. These findings demonstrate that eggshell fragments shed light on small-bodied taxa that are poorly represented by skeletal remains in the region. While the fossil record of small maniraptoran species from the early Early Cretaceous is relatively scarce worldwide, Ramoprismatoolithus adds to this record and extends the confirmed geographic range of this clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eggshell of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a useful model for understanding the synthesis of a complex extracellular matrix. The eggshell is synthesized during mid-to-late oogenesis by the somatic follicle cells that surround the developing oocyte. We previously reported that female flies mutant for the gene drop-dead (drd) are sterile, but the underlying cause of the sterility remained unknown. In this study, we examined the role of drd in eggshell synthesis. We show that eggs laid by drd mutant females are fertilized but arrest early in embryogenesis, and that the innermost layer of the eggshell, the vitelline membrane, is abnormally permeable to dye in these eggs. In addition, the major vitelline membrane proteins fail to become crosslinked by nonreducible bonds, a process that normally occurs during egg activation following ovulation, as evidenced by their solubility and detection by Western blot in laid eggs. In contrast, the Cp36 protein, which is found in the outer chorion layers of the eggshell, becomes crosslinked normally. To link the drd expression pattern with these phenotypes, we show that drd is expressed in the ovarian follicle cells beginning in mid-oogenesis, and, importantly, that all drd mutant eggshell phenotypes could be recapitulated by selective knockdown of drd expression in the follicle cells. To determine whether drd expression was required for the crosslinking itself, we performed in vitro activation and crosslinking experiments. The vitelline membranes of control egg chambers could become crosslinked either by incubation in hyperosmotic medium, which activates the egg chambers, or by exogenous peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. In contrast, neither treatment resulted in the crosslinking of the vitelline membrane in drd mutant egg chambers. These results indicate that drd expression in the follicle cells is necessary for vitelline membrane proteins to serve as substrates for peroxidase-mediated cross-linking at the end of oogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, we explored the characteristics and causes of freckle formation. We collected 15 normal and freckled eggs each for eggshell index testing and hypothesized that the structure and function of the uterus would have a direct effect on freckled egg production given that eggshells are formed in the uterus. To test this hypothesis, we collected uterine tissue from laying hens (418 days of age) that laid normal (Group C, n = 13) and freckled (Group T, n = 16) eggs for 7 consecutive days. Results: When we examined the eggshell quality, we found that the L value was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the freckled site group of freckled eggs compared to the normal egg group during the detection of blunt pole, equator, and sharp pole of the eggshell color. The a-values of the three positions were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the freckled site group of freckled eggs, and the a-values of the blunt pole were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the background site group of freckled eggs, compared to the normal egg group. The b-values were significantly higher (P < 0.05) at three locations in the freckled site group of freckled eggs compared to the normal egg group. During the detection of eggshell thickness, the blunt pole was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the freckled egg site group of freckled eggs compared to the normal egg group, and there was no significant difference between the other groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the eggs in each group.We then performed histopathology and transcriptome analyses on the collected tissue. When compared with group C, uterine junctional epithelial cells in group T showed significant defects and cilia loss, and epithelial tissue was poorly intact. From transcriptomics, genes that met (|log2FC|) ≥ 1 and P < 0.05 criteria were screened as differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We identified a total of 136 DEGs, with 101 up- and 35 down-regulated genes from our RNA-seq data. DEGs identified by enrichment analyses, which were potentially associated with freckled egg production were: IFI6, CCL19, AvBD10, AvBD11, S100A12, POMC, and UCN3. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses showed that pathways were associated with immunoreaction and stress stimulation, e.g., complement activation, interleukin-1 cell reactions, viral responses, cell reactions stimulated by corticotropin releasing hormone, steroid hormone mediated signaling pathways, staphylococcal infections, B cell receptor signaling pathways, and natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity. Conclusions: From these data, freckled areas deepen freckled eggshell color, but background areas are not affected. At the same time,we reasoned that freckle eggs may result from abnormal immune responses and impaired uterine functions induced by stress. Therefore, the uterus of laying hens in a state of stress and abnormal immune function can cause the appearance of freckled eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]