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ABSTRACT Reducing the mortality rate is of a great economic importance for pig farming. Therefore, it is necessary to define the conditions in the farrowing unit based on the performance of the piglets, and specific hematological and biochemical parameters. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine the importance of using skin moisture absorbent and its influence in preventing hypothermia, which causes great economic losses in pig production. The experiment was set up on a commercial farm in Serbia and included 92 pigs divided into the experimental and control group. Body temperature values, body weight and blood parameters were monitored. The obtained values indicate that there is a significantly positive correlation of body temperature change and body weight values, and body temperature showed a significantly higher increase in the experimental group compared to the control group. The results obtained from hematological and biochemical parameters provide a clearer picture of the metabolic processes in piglets in the farrowing unit and can be used to further improve pig production and as a complement to genetic enhancement.

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The objectives were to evaluate effects of adding alfalfa hay (AH) as moisture absorbent to corn forage upon ensiling on silage fermentation, effluent production and performance of late lactating Holstein cows. Corn forage with the initial dry matter content of 22%, left untreated or ensiled with 5 and 10% AH, on a fresh weight basis, for 90 days. Silage DM linearly increased, while effluent production, pH, NDF and water-soluble carbohydrates concentration linearly decreased as AH inclusion rate increased (P<0.05). An incomplete 2×3 Latin square experiment with nine late lactating Holstein cows consuming the above-mentioned silages showed similar nutrient intake and milk production and composition while a linear increase in organic matter digestibility with AH inclusion (P<0.05). Total chwing and eating times were unaffected, however, chewing and ruminating time spent /kg DM linearly decreased as AH inclusion rate increased (P<0.05). Ruminal pH and concentrations of VFA were similar across treatments. Results showed a strong effect of AH on reducing effluent from immature corn silage without having an adverse effect on silage fermentation and dairy cows' performance. Using AH for controlling of effluent from corn silage is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of China Textile Leader is the property of China Textile Information Center and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Entomopathogenic fungi are promising pest-control agents but their industrial applicability is limited by their thermosusceptibility. With an aim to increase the thermotolerance of Isaria fumosorosea SFP-198, moisture absorbents were added to dried conidial powder, and the relationship between its water potential and thermotolerance was investigated. Mycotized rice grains were dried at 10°C, 20°C, 30°C, and 40°C and the drying effect of each temperature for 24, 48, 96, and 140 hr was determined. Drying for 48 hr at 10°C and 20°C reduced the moisture content to < 5% without any significant loss of conidial thermotolerance, but drying at 30°C and 40°C reduced both moisture content and conidial thermotolerance. To maintain thermotolerance during storage, moisture absorbents, such as calcium chloride, silica gel, magnesium sulfate, white carbon, and sodium sulfate were individually added to previously dried-conidial powder at 10% (w/w). These mixtures was then stored at room temperature for 30 days and subjected to 50°C for 2 hr. The white carbon mixture had the highest conidial thermotolerance, followed by silica gel, magnesium sulfate, and then the other absorbents. A significant correlation between the water potential and conidial thermotolerance was observed in all conidia-absorbent mixtures tested in this study (r = -0.945). Conidial thermotolerance in wet conditions was evaluated by adding moisturized white carbon (0∼20% H2O) to conidia to mimic wet conditions. Notably, the conidia still maintained their thermotolerance under these conditions. Thus, it is evident that conidial thermotolerance can be maintained by drying mycotized rice grains at low temperatures and adding a moisture absorbent, such as white carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels were chemically cross-linked with/without different cross-linkers such as glutaraldehyde and epichlorohydrin, in the presence of a catalyst, or activator (potassium hydroxide) to produce three types of hydrogels. The structures of PVA and the prepared gel types were determined by FTIR spectroscopy, the mechanical and thermal properties, of these hydrogels were examined. The effects of different pH values and temperatures on the swelling properties of the prepared gels were examined. From the obtained results, it was found that, the low concentration of the cross-linker produced hydrogel with moderate properties, but in absence of the cross-linker, the obtained hydrogel exhibited good properties and can be used as friendly environmentally moisture absorbents from the organic solvents. The insolubility and swelling properties of gels were tested in these solvents. The results indicated that these hydrogels can be used as moisture absorbents and solvent dryers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, electrical resistances of different fabrics were indirectly tested on a purpose-built apparatus so as to investigate the effects of fiber materials, moisture regain, testing distances, and electrolyte concentration on the electrical resistance of textiles. Fabrics made from different fiber materials show different values of electrical resistance. Regression analysis shows the electrical resistance to be linearly related to the reciprocal of the moisture regain of fabric. The electrical resistance rises linearly with the increase of testing distance on fabric. Regression analysis also suggests the electrical resistance of fabrics is exponentially related to the electrolyte concentration. In this way, the relationship between electrical properties and moisture of textiles is analysed, which not only provides a theoretical analysis of moisture testing techniques, but also is helpful in exploring electrical-moisture textile apparatus and the designing of moisture absorbent and perspiration textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In humid and rainy regions, such as tropical and subtropical areas, forage crops have a high moisture content and are difficult to wilt after harvest, which can easily cause poor fermentation and effluent production of silage. In the present study, the best product, with a high moisture-absorbing capacity (MAC) and stable structure, was selected from 12 types of agricultural and sideline products and the effects of its addition to high-moisture Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silage at 0%, 3%, 6%, or 9% of fresh grass weight were studied. The results showed that dried soybean curd residue (SR) not only had the strongest MAC but also had the most stable structure at different pH levels. Adding SR even at 3% significantly improved fermentation quality and reduced protein degradation and effluent production (38.3 vs. 107.5 ml kg−1 FM) during ensiling compared with those in the control (P < 0.01). The effluent production of control silage significantly increased in the first 30 days of ensiling (P < 0.01) and, thereafter, did not increase (P > 0.05). The dry matter and crude protein losses from the effluent in the control silage significantly increased (P < 0.01) during early ensiling (3–15 d), and there were no significant changes (30–60 d, P > 0.05). The addition of 6% SR completely prevented the production of effluent from the silage. These results demonstrate that SR is a promising and efficient moisture absorbent for cleaner production of high-quality silages without effluent. • The dried soybean curd residue (SR) is of great moisture-absorbing capacity. • The structure of SR is very stable under various pH conditions. • SR significantly improves the fermentation and nutrition quality of silage. • SR significantly limits protein degradation and effluent production of silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Fermentation and chemical composition of elephant grass silage was evaluated with 0, 10, 20 and 30% castor been hull based on the natural matter. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replications. Silos were weighed out during manufacture, and reweighed before and after the opening after storage for 30 days. We determined the chemical composition, specific mass and effluent and gas losses, dry matter recovery, pH and ammonia nitrogen of the silage. The specific mass, pH, dry matter content, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, total carbohydrates and cellulose increased linearly (P

Entomopathogenic fungi are promising pest-control agents but their industrial applicability is limited by their thermosusceptibility. With an aim to increase the thermotolerance of Isaria fumosorosea SFP-198, moisture absorbents were added to dried conidial powder, and the relationship between its water potential and thermotolerance was investigated. Mycotized rice grains were dried at 10℃, 20℃, 30℃, and 40℃ and the drying effect of each temperature for 24, 48, 96, and 140 hr was determined. Drying for 48 hr at 10℃ and 20℃ reduced the moisture content to < 5% without any significant loss of conidial thermotolerance, but drying at 30℃ and 40℃ reduced both moisture content and conidial thermotolerance. To maintain thermotolerance during storage, moisture absorbents, such as calcium chloride, silica gel, magnesium sulfate, white carbon, and sodium sulfate were individually added to previously dried-conidial powder at 10% (w/w). These mixtures was then stored at room temperature for 30 days and subjected to 50℃ for 2 hr. The white carbon mixture had the highest conidial thermotolerance, followed by silica gel, magnesium sulfate, and then the other absorbents. A significant correlation between the water potential and conidial thermotolerance was observed in all conidia-absorbent mixtures tested in this study (r = -0.945). Conidial thermotolerance in wet conditions was evaluated by adding moisturized white carbon (0~20% H2O) to conidia to mimic wet conditions. Notably, the conidia still maintained their thermotolerance under these conditions. Thus, it is evident that conidial thermotolerance can be maintained by drying mycotized rice grains at low temperatures and adding a moisture absorbent, such as white carbon.