Lower Breaking Strength Research Articles

Investigating the Variation between Lignin Content and the Fracture Characteristics in Capsicum annuum Mutant Stems

The cultivation of horticultural plants in controlled greenhouse environments is a pivotal practice in modern agriculture, offering the potential to enhance crop productivity and mitigate climate change effects. This study investigates the biomechanical properties and lignin content of various Capsicum annuum mutant lines—‘fragile-plant’ (frx), ‘tortuous internodi’ (tti), and ‘puffy-structured stem’ (pfi)—in comparison to a commercially established variety, ‘Garai Fehér’. We employed the acetyl bromide method to quantify lignin content and conducted three-point bending tests to assess rigidity in three distinct regions of the stem. Gene expression analysis of key lignin biosynthetic pathway genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, CCoAOMT, CAD) was performed using qRT-PCR. The results revealed significant differences in lignin content and breaking force among the genotypes and stem regions. The tti mutants exhibited similar lignin content to the control but lower breaking strength, likely due to elongated internodes. The frx mutants showed uniformly reduced lignin content, correlating with their fragile stems. The pfi mutants displayed abnormally high lignin content in the top region yet demonstrated the lowest stem rigidity in every region. Overexpression of CAD and CCoAOMT was detected in the mutants in specific regions of the stem, suggesting alterations in lignin biosynthesis; however, we could not confirm the correlation between them. Our findings indicate that while lignin content generally correlates with stem rigidity, this trait is complex and influenced by more factors.

Physical Properties of Cellulose Derivative-Based Edible Films Elaborated with Liposomes Encapsulating Grape Seed Tannins.

Combined use of edible films (EF) with nanoencapsulation systems could be an effective alternative for improving the films' physical properties and maintaining bioactive compounds' stability. This research work focuses on the combined use of EF of cellulose-derived biopolymers enriched with liposomes that encapsulate grape seed tannins and on the subsequent evaluation of the physical properties and wettability. Tannin-containing liposomal suspensions (TLS) showed 570.8 ± 6.0 nm particle size and 99% encapsulation efficiency. In vitro studies showed that the release of tannins from liposomes was slower than that of free tannins, reaching a maximum release of catechin of 0.13 ± 0.01%, epicatechin of 0.57 ± 0.01%, and gallic acid of 3.90 ± 0.001% over a 144 h period. Adding liposomes to biopolymer matrices resulted in significant decrease (p < 0.05) of density, surface tension, tensile strength, elongation percentage, and elastic modulus in comparison to the control, obtaining films with greater flexibility and lower breaking strength. Incorporating TLS into EF formulations resulted in partially wetting the hydrophobic surface, reducing adhesion and cohesion compared to EF without liposomes. Results indicate that the presence of liposomes improves films' physical and wettability properties, causing them to extend and not contract when applied to hydrophobic food surfaces.

Modelling the impact of cabbage stem flea beetle larval feeding on oilseed rape lodging risk.

Cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB, Psylliodes chrysocephala L.) is a major pest of oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus L.) in the UK and low availability of effective chemical control has increased the need for integrated pest management approaches. The risk of OSR to lodging is strongly related to stem strength, however, the impact of CSFB larval tunnelling on stem strength and subsequent risk to stem lodging is unknown. The study investigated this by applying the Generalised Crop Lodging Model to conventionally grown OSR crops scored for varying levels of CSFB larval tunnelling. Lodging risk mitigation strategies including plant growth regulators (PGR) and varying nitrogen regimes were tested under high CSFB larval pressure. Stems of OSR plants were categorised by the proportion of visual damage (< 5%; 5-25%; 26-50%; 51-75%; 75-100%). Stems of 26-50% damage had significantly lower breaking strengths and diameters compared to plants that scored < 5%, with the associated reduction in stem failure windspeed equivalent to an order of magnitude increase in the risk of a lodging event occurring in the UK. PGR use reduced plant height and subsequently lodging risk variably across the sites. Estimating the proportion of stem tunnelling alongside larval pressure may be a useful tool in considering the contribution of CSFB pressure to lodging risk. The research demonstrates that the use of canopy management principles to optimise canopy size through nitrogen management and PGR use may help offset increased lodging risk caused by CSFB tunnelling. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluating bag storage technologies for physical characteristics, loss reduction and economic viability in pulses

Meticulous selection of storage bags is vital to optimize grain preservation, mitigate losses, and improve rural income. A comprehensive comparative evaluation of four different commercial pulse storage bag technologies (Jute bag, Woven polypropylene bag (WPP), Purdue Improved crop storage bag (PICS), and Grainpro bag) was conducted alongside novel polypropylene reinforced Jute storage bag (PPRJ). The storage bags were examined for their physical properties (unit weight, coefficient of friction, breaking strength), water vapour transmission rate (WVTR), and effectiveness in preserving pulse (Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum, Var. Swetha ICCV -2)) quality and quantity during storage. Unit weight was highest for jute bags (0.14 ± 0.080 g/cm2), which reduced by 35.9 % after reinforcement with polypropylene, and lowest for Grainpro bags (0.03 ± 0.002 g/cm2). Jute bag exhibited the highest breaking strength (181.0 ± 1.06 kgf), which decreased by 23.7 % after reinforcement. Synthetic fiber bags had lower breaking strength and coefficient of friction, limiting their stacking ability. WVTR of the jute bag reduced by 39.2 % after reinforcement. The PICS bag offered the highest protection to stored Bengal gram. Weight loss was more than 25% and 10% of the initial grain weight in Jute and WPP, respectively, due to inefficient barrier properties, whereas the PPRJ bag was similarly effective as hermetic bags. The benefit-cost ratio ranged between 0.219 and 0.297 for the three profit-yielding bags (PICS, Grainpro, and PPRJ). Polypropylene-reinforced jute bags represent a promising advancement in sustainable grain storage practices. The significance of establishing hermetic conditions to suppress insect populations and safeguard grain quality was reaffirmed in the study.

Hauling Snow Crab Traps in Eastern Canada: A Study Documenting Tension in Ropes

Entanglement in commercial fishing gear is one of the main factors inhibiting the recovery of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Installing low-breaking-strength (LBS) components in the buoy lines and main lines of stationary fishing gear may be a viable solution for some fisheries. But is it an effective solution for deep-water trap fisheries? This study quantified in-line rope tensions observed during fishing operations for snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. We conducted a controlled fishing experiment in which we documented the loads experienced while hauling fleets of traps. The results showed that several factors contributed to the loads observed, including the components of the traps, the presence of crabs, and environmental conditions such as wind direction and wave height. According to the statistical models, the maximum tension from the estimated marginal means was 477.53 kgf in the buoy line and 987.99 kgf in the main line for the baited hauls, which exceeds the safe working load (154 kgf) of the proposed low-breaking-strength components. Our results suggest that LBS components are not a viable solution for this deep-water fishery.

Decreased eggshell strength caused by impairment of uterine calcium transport coincide with higher bone minerals and quality in aged laying hens

BackgroundDeteriorations in eggshell and bone quality are major challenges in aged laying hens. This study compared the differences of eggshell quality, bone parameters and their correlations as well as uterine physiological characteristics and the bone remodeling processes of hens laying eggs of different eggshell breaking strength to explore the mechanism of eggshell and bone quality reduction and their interaction. A total of 240 74-week-old Hy-line Brown laying hens were selected and allocated to a high (HBS, 44.83 ± 1.31 N) or low (LBS, 24.43 ± 0.57 N) eggshell breaking strength group.ResultsA decreased thickness, weight and weight ratio of eggshells were observed in the LBS, accompanied with ultrastructural deterioration and total Ca reduction. Bone quality was negatively correlated with eggshell quality, marked with enhanced structures and increased components in the LBS. In the LBS, the mammillary knobs and effective layer grew slowly. At the initiation stage of eggshell calcification, a total of 130 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 122 upregulated and 8 downregulated) were identified in the uterus of hens in the LBS relative to those in the HBS. These DEGs were relevant to apoptosis due to the cellular Ca overload. Higher values of p62 protein level, caspase-8 activity, Bax protein expression and lower values of Bcl protein expression and Bcl/Bax ratio were seen in the LBS. TUNEL assay and hematoxylin-eosin staining showed a significant increase in TUNEL-positive cells and tissue damages in the uterus of the LBS. Although few DEGs were identified at the growth stage, similar uterine tissue damages were also observed in the LBS. The expressions of runt-related transcription factor 2 and osteocalcin were upregulated in humeri of the LBS. Enlarged diameter and more structural damages of endocortical bones and decreased ash were observed in femurs of the HBS.ConclusionThe lower eggshell breaking strength may be attributed to a declined Ca transport due to uterine tissue damages, which could affect eggshell calcification and lead to a weak ultrastructure. Impaired uterine Ca transport may result in reduced femoral bone resorption and increased humeral bone formation to maintain a higher mineral and bone quality in the LBS.Graphical

Correlations between organic matrix and eggshell properties of 3 kinds of eggshells in Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata)

In order to analyze the relationship between organic matrix and eggshell properties in Muscovy duck eggshells with different qualities, the organic matrices in the eggshells of normal, pimpled, and striped eggs of white-feathered Muscovy ducks were extracted and separated into acid-insoluble, water-insoluble, and facultative-soluble matrix (both acid- and water-soluble). There was no significant difference in calcified shell thickness between normal and pimpled eggs. However, the percentages of acid-insoluble matrix and total matrix were significantly higher, and the breaking strength was significantly lower in pimpled eggs than those in normal eggs. In striped eggs, the percentages of acid-insoluble matrix, facultative-soluble matrix, and total matrix, calcified shell weight, calcified shell thickness, and breaking strength were significantly lower than those in normal eggs. The amount and percentage of 3 organic matrices (water-insoluble matrix, facultative-soluble matrix, and total matrix) were significantly positively correlated with calcified shell thickness in normal eggs rather than striped and pimpled eggs. Our results also demonstrated that there was no linear correlation between the organic components in the 3 Muscovy duck eggshells and the mechanical properties of the eggshells. The lower breaking strength of pimpled eggshells might be due to the unbalanced enrichment of certain proteins, whereas the striped eggs might mainly result from thinner calcified shells and poor balance between different sedimentary layers.

A finite element analysis of auxetic composite fabric with rotating square structure

The auxetic property of macro-porous rotating square structure has been investigated by many using either experimental or numerical approaches. Given the low breaking strength of the typical rotating square structure, it was proposed to employ an elastic base material to the cellular auxetic structure to improve its strength while maintaining its auxetic behavior in our previous study. Despite the experimental studies conducted, a numerical analysis is needed to explain the auxetic effect found in the produced laminated fabrics. In this paper, the auxetic properties of the 2-layer laminated system were simulated using the finite element approach and the effects of the modulus difference between the frame and the base were discussed. The main findings are (1) the simulated results based on a simplified model are broadly consistent with experimental ones under low tensile strain ranges; (2) the initial modulus of the frame material in the stretched direction and that of the base material in the lateral direction are critical to the generation of auxetic effect in the laminated system; (3) at least a 10-time difference of the modulus between the frame and the base materials is required to generate an auxetic effect in the 2-layer laminated structure and the overall auxetic property is increased by enlarging difference of the modulus within a tolerance. It is expected that this research could provide an instructive reference for the future design of auxetic materials.

Coordination of Density and Nitrogen Fertilization Improves Stalk Lodging Resistance of Strip-Intercropped Maize with Soybeans by Affecting Stalk Quality Traits

To ensure yield in strip-intercropped maize with soybeans (SM), it is crucial to plant at a density comparable to that of monoculture maize (MM). This requires reducing spacing by more than half, increasing intraspecific competition, and altering stalk lodging resistance traits compared with MM. Nitrogen fertilization can effectively mediate stalk lodging resistance. However, it is still unclear how nitrogen rates influence SM’s stalk lodging resistance under high-density conditions and how that resistance compares to MM. The experiment involved four N fertilizer treatments with two planting densities: medium density (60,000 plants/ha) and high density (75,000 plants/ha). Additionally, different planting patterns of strip-cropped (S) and monoculture (M) were implemented. The N fertilizer application rates were N0 (0 kg/ha), N225 (225 kg/ha), N300 (300 kg/ha), and N375 (375 kg/ha). The stalk lodging resistance was represented by the breaking strength of the third basal internode. The study revealed that, at the same planting density, the third basal internode of the stalk exhibited consistent results in terms of its diameter, crushing strength, total number and area of vascular bundles, and N content. Notably, all these traits exhibited a significant positive relationship with breaking strength. The highest values for these parameters and yield were observed under N225 and N300 fertilization rates for medium-density monoculture and strip-cropped maize, respectively. In contrast, the high-density monoculture and strip-cropped maize showed peak performance under N300 and N375 fertilization rates. At both medium and high planting densities, the strip-cropped maize exhibited 8.9% and 10.9% lower breaking strength than the monoculture maize under N225 treatment. However, increasing the N fertilizer application resulted in comparable lodging resistance between the strip-cropped maize and the maximum values of the monoculture maize, at N300 treatment for medium density and N375 treatment for high density. Hence, strip-cropped maize planted at high density (75,000 plants/ha) with a lower nitrogen rate had lower lodging resistance than monoculture maize, but it can be improved to match the monoculture maize by increasing the nitrogen rate.

Morphological, mechanical, and color strength properties of infrared dyed pineapple leaf fibers

The enormous number of pineapple plantations in Malaysia are dominated by small to large agronomists governed by the Malaysian Pineapple Industrial Board, which addresses almost all pineapple industry-related issues. In Malaysia, more than 147,000 hectares of land are utilized for pineapple plantations, which create 65 tons of residue per hectare. Consequently, the waste production comes from the long leaves of the harvested mother plants of pineapples that are cut off to allow the young sucker to grow freely, which then can be found abundantly. However, the handling practice for pineapple leaf waste in Malaysia is still poorly managed. Realizing the importance of this issue, as an alternative to reduce waste, fibers from pineapple leaves were extracted and dyed to improve the aesthetic value and marketability of pineapple leaf fiber by adding dyeing substrates using a low energy consumption dyeing approach. Two different techniques of dyeing were used to investigate the morphological, mechanical, color strength, and colorfastness properties of dyed pineapple leaf fibers. The dyeing of pineapple leaf fibers was investigated using C.I. reactive blue 5, C.I reactive red 11, and C.I Reactive yellow 86 at different concentrations. As a result, the characterization of dyed pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) showed that the dyeing process modified the original structure of PALF but no significant differences were observed on dyed PALF in the comparison of each dyeing technique. In addition, under optimized conditions of two dyeing techniques dyed PALF presented lower breaking strength, whereas comparable breaking strength value was gained with each technique. Fibers of both dyeing techniques displayed interesting color findings with excellent colorfastness to washing, lightfastness, and good colorfastness to perspiration. The infrared dyeing method resulted in similar and better dyeing behavior compared to exhaustion dyeing techniques. This method could further be refined by considering the production of textile materials, which can provide alternative to the usage of highly expensive silk fibers in the songket making industry.

Broccoli sprouts as a novel food ingredient: Nutritional, functional and sensory aspects of sprouts enriched pasta

The presented study aimed to investigate the suitability of using broccoli sprouts powder (BsP) as novel food ingredient for improvement of nutritional and bioactive profile of conventional pasta while maintaining desirable cooking, textural and sensory properties. Three spaghetti formulations containing 5, 10, and 15g/100 g of BsP were produced (labelled as: 5BS, 10BS, and 15BS) and analysed. The content of protein, lipids and mineral increased with increasing level of BsP in pasta formulation, while carbohydrates were reduced. BsP also increased the content of glucosinolates, synapic acid derivatives, total phenolics and antioxidant activity in uncooked pasta. Although cooking slightly decreased sinapic acid derivatives and total phenolic content, their content were significantly higher in enriched pasta samples. For glucosinolates there was observed a significant loss (p < 0.05) during pasta cooking, which resulted in their total loss. Textural analysis showed that uncooked enriched pasta was less flexible with lower breaking strength, while after cooking was less firm in comparison to the control. Incorporation of BsP increased pasta bitterness, however no significant differences were observed in overall pasta quality or in overall liking. Results suggest that BsP is promising food ingredient that can be used for production of functional pasta without compromising its acceptance.

Some Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials with Chopped Wheat Straw Reinforcer and Hybrid Matrix.

Modern agriculture produces a very large amount of agricultural waste that remains unused. The use as a reinforcer of these renewable resources for the realization of composite materials, and the finding of useful industrial applications, constitutes or provokes the groups of researchers in this field. The study conducted in this article falls in this direction. Composites were fabricated with the chopped wheat straw reinforcement and epoxy resin matrix or hybrid resins with 50% and 70% Dammar volume proportions. Some mechanical properties of this type of composite materials were studied based on tensile strength, SEM analysis, water absorption/loss, vibration behavior and compression strength. The strength–strain and strain–strain diagrams, the modulus of elasticity, the breaking strength and the elongation at break were obtained. Compared to the epoxy resin composition, those with 50 and 70% Dammar, respectively, have a 47 and 55% lower breaking strength and a 30 and 84% higher damping factor, respectively. Because the values of these mechanical properties were limited, and in practice superior properties are needed, sandwich composites were manufactured, with the core of previously studied compositions, to which the outer faces of linen fabric were applied. These composites were applied to the bend (in three points), obtaining the force–deformation diagrams. The obtained properties show that they can be used in construction (paneling, shells, etc.), or in the furniture industry.

Influence of replacement of wheat flour by rice flour on rheo-structural changes, in vitro starch digestibility and consumer acceptability of low-gluten pretzels

This study aimed to access the influence of rice flour incorporation on various quality attributes of low-gluten wheat-based pretzels viz., functional, rheological, starch digestibility, color, textural and sensorial properties. Significant increase in swelling power (18.33 ± 0.51) and bulk density (0.58 ± 0.04) was observed in flour blend upon incorporation of rice flour, whereas, significant decrease in oil absorption capacity (0.62 ± 0.09), solubility index (6.72 ± 0.17), foaming capacity (9.67 ± 0.34), and foaming stability (3.39 ± 0.15) was recorded. Pasting properties of samples were studied using a Rapid Visco Analyser which indicated that all the pasting properties increased with an increase in rice flour incorporation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies revealed no difference in the basic functional groups of flour blend upon the incorporation of rice flour, however, it had a pronounced effect on elastic modulus (G′) of flour blend. In vitro starch digestion characteristics revealed 7.23% surge in slowly digestible starch and 13.36% reduction in rapidly digestible starch of developed low-gluten pretzels upon the incorporation of rice flour. Apparent amylose content (27.3 ± 1.45) and resistant starch content (6.12 ± 0.97) increased and starch digestibility index (69.87 ± 1.72) decreased in developed low-gluten pretzels. In conclusion, the developed low-gluten pretzels had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mineral profile and lightness (L*) and lower breaking strength in addition to having better overall acceptability. This study indicated that substituting wheat flour with rice flour up to a level of 35% affected the quality attributes of developed low-gluten pretzels.Graphical abstract

Some Insights on Chemical Treatment of 3D Printed Parts

The substantial increase in the use of the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) process for the production of plastic parts in ever wider fields has led to the search for methods to improve the quality of the printed parts. In the case of ABS parts (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), one of the most common and used methods to improve surface quality is the process of acetone steam treatment, but the application of this method also brings more or less negative effects on the part. The main side effects when applying this method is the low breaking strength and loss of part details on the sharp edges. This paper presents a set of contributions on the relationship between surface quality and the level of detail of parts subjected to acetone steam treatment. In order to analyze the influence of the treatment on the details of the parts, a reverse engineering method was used in which a polyarticular arm FARO Edge 7.5 was used to scan the parts and reconstruct them. The study was performed on parts with 20% infill, grid tipe.

Changes in Blood Metabolites, Intestinal Microbiota Composition and Gene Expression of 95 Weeks Old Laying Hens Differing in Egg Production and Egg Breaking Strength.

Simple SummaryThe average cycle of laying hens is prolonged by improving one or more aspects, including genetics, nutrition, and management. Yet, this prolongation needs to go hand-in-hand with laying hens staying vital. Our objective was to explore hen vitality at an age of 95 weeks in association with performance parameters (egg production and breaking strength). To this end, we measured metabolism and disease indicators in blood, microbiota composition and diversity in different gut segments, and the biological activity of the small intestine. We observed that 12% of the hens developed certain aberrations. Additionally, five metabolites were significantly associated to these aberrations, and two metabolites to the performance parameters. In the small intestine we observed that in the production groups the physical barrier function was affected, whereas in the breaking strength group the immune function was affected. Taken together, these data show that hen vitality at later ages can still be improved and we provided data on a molecular level that could be used in future endeavors to improve animal health and welfare.Herein, we investigated to what extent molecular phenotypes of the systemic level (blood) and local (intestine) are associated with the performance of laying hens at 95 weeks of age. After the trial had run for 95 weeks, two performance groups were generated, i.e., egg production (PROD) and egg breaking strength (BS). A subset of 21 cages, 116 hens, was measured to indicate the metabolism and disease status. Additionally, a focus group (four cages) was made to perform molecular phenotyping in the intestine. A notifiable observation made during the post-mortem dissection was that approximately 12% of the birds at 95 weeks had developed certain aberrations and/or impairments (denoted as organ morbidity). At the systemic level, we observed five metabolites (γGT, triglycerides, HDL, glucose, and cholesterol) significantly associated to organ morbidity, and only two metabolites (urea and aspartate aminotransferase) to the performance phenotypes. At the local level, when comparing high PROD vs. low PROD, we observed differentially expressed genes involved in cell cycle processes and the extracellular matrix. When comparing high BS vs. low BS differentially, expressed genes were observed mainly involved in immune and cell cycle-related processes. This knowledge is crucial for developing novel strategies of keeping laying hens vital.

Influence of phytate and phytase on performance, bone, and blood parameters of broilers at 42 days old

The objective was to evaluate the effect of diets containing various levels of phytate and phytase on broilers from 1 to 42 days old. The treatments consisted of a combination of diets containing high (HP), medium (MP) and low (LP) phytate with positive control diet (PC) and a negative control diet (NC) that was similar to the PC in energy and protein but with less calcium and phosphorus. Three additional diets, based on the NC were supplemented with 500, 1000, or 1500 FTU kg-1 of phytase. Broilers that received the NC diet exhibited the lowest weight gain (WG), whereas those supplemented with 1000 FTU kg-1 obtained 2.84% higher WG compared with PC. Broilers that received NC had the lowest breaking strength and dry matter. Birds fed HP diets that received NC and NC + 500 FTU kg-1 had a higher concentration of serum Ca and P than birds fed LP diets. Broilers fed the NC and NC + 500 and 1000 FTU kg−1 had lower tibia Ca levels compared with birds fed the PC. Broilers fed HP diets had higher tibia Ca content than MP. Phytase supplementation had a positive response in diets with reduced Ca and P. Based on regression analysis the optimum inclusion of phytase to improve broiler performance parameters was calculated as 952 FTU kg-1.

A Dwarfing Gene sd1-d (Dee-geo-woo-gen dwarf) on Lodging Resistance and Related Traits in Rice

A dwarfing allele at the sd1 locus on chromosome 1 in rice, sd1-d, has been playing important role for developing lodging-resistant and high-yielding indica varieties IR8 and IR36. The dominant allele SD1 for long culm at the locus is differentiated into SD1-in and SD1-ja that are harbored in indica and japonica subspecies, respectively. The sd1-d of IR36 was substituted with SD1-in or SD1-ja by 17 backcrosses with IR36, and two isogenic tall lines were developed by using an indica variety IR5867 and a japonica one ‘Koshihikari’ as donors, which were denoted by “5867-36” and “Koshi-36’’, respectively. The present study was conducted to examine the effect of dwarfing gene sd1-d on lodging resistance and related traits, compared with SD1-in and SD1-ja. Two isogenic lines and IR36 were cultivated in the field of the Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Japan during 2017. Regarding index of lodging (g·cm/g × 100), genotypes were in the order: 5867-36 (97.4) &gt; Koshi-36 (74.1) &gt; IR36 (46.0) on the 21st-day after 80%-heading, and they were in the same order on 10th-day after 80%-heading. The 4th-panicle length (cm) was in the order: 5867-36 (118.7) &gt; Koshi-36 (97.6) &gt; IR36 (78.6). Similarly, the 4th-top weight (g) was in the order: 5867-36 (12.2) &gt; Koshi-36 (10.2) &gt; IR36 (9.6). The highest breaking strength (g) was recorded in IR36 (1649) followed by 5867-36 (1493) whereas the lowest breaking strength (g) was recorded in Koshi-36 (1360). Consequently, it is inferred that sd1-d enhances lodging resistance due to the decreases in the length and weight above the 4th-internode as well as the increase of breaking strength. The effect of SD1-in on lodging resistance is lower than that of SD1-ja.

Replacement of Crab Meal for Fish Meal on Performance and Egg Quality Characteristics of Laying Hens

A 12-week experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of crab meal replacement for fish meal on laying performance and egg quality characteristics. Two hundred laying hens at twelve weeks of laying life were used for the experiment. The laying hens were divided into five groups. Five dietary treatment were formulated to form T1, T2, T3 and T4 and crab meal was incorporated in the diet to replace fish meal at 0%, 25% 50% 75 and 100% levels respectively. Each group of laying hens was randomly assigned to one of the treatment diets in a completely randomized design. Each group was further divided into four (4) replicates of ten (10) birds each. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Results showed that the treatment diets did not have significant (P&gt;0.05) influence on final weight, body weight changes, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of the laying birds. On egg quality characteristics, there was significant difference (P&lt;0.05) on egg shell weight, shell thickness, egg weight, and egg breaking strength of the laying hens. Laying hens fed diet containing 100%, 75% crab meal replacement for fish meal recorded significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher values for the afore-mentioned parameters. These results showed that replacement of fish meal with crab meal can be recommended to poultry farmers that are into commercial egg and breeder production whose target is shell thickness, egg breaking strength to reduce egg loss due to low shell thickness and egg breaking strength.

Effects of soy flour types and extrusion-cooking conditions on physicochemical, microstructural and sensory characteristics of puffed rice snack base

AbstractThe physicochemical properties of puffed rice snack base (PRSB) prepared via extrusion cooking under various feed moisture contents and screw speeds were investigated. The moisture content, screw speed, and soy flour type significantly (p &lt; 0.05) affected the physicochemical properties of PRSB viz; size, density, porosity, color, breaking strength, crystallinity, water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI). While, a slight effect on pasting properties was observed between PRSB added with defatted and full-fat soy flour, respectively. Soy flour lipids significantly (p &lt; 0.05) influenced extrusion cooking conditions especially at high screw speed and feed moisture content. The result revealed that extrusion cooking with addition of full-fatty soy flour can be exploited as a viable method to produce PRS with a high expansion ratio and low breaking strength at recommended extrusion conditions of feed moisture content of 19 % and screw speed of 300 rpm.

Functionalized PP fiber to improve compressive strength and solidification/stabilization performance of cement with heavy metals

To deal with the increasing amount of hazardous solid wastes, a functionalized PP (AM-PP) fiber was prepared and used with cement to solidify these wastes. PP fiber was firstly functionalized with amine groups and then characterized by SEM, FT-IR and XPS analyses. Mechanical property tests indicated that, compared with unmodified PP, AM-PP exhibited lower breaking strength while possessed a higher elongation at break no matter in dry or wet state, as the modification imparted AM-PP lower crystallinity and more amorphous phase. Compressive strength of cement samples containing heavy metals was evidently improved when AM-PP was added, which was owing to the adsorption and bonding of metal ions onto AM-PP and thus reduced the adverse effect of heavy metals on cement hydration. Hydration heat and thermogravimetry analyses also confirmed more hydration products were generated when AM-PP was added, especially in early age. Leaching test showed the amount of Cu2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ leached from cement samples with heavy metals and AM-PP added was much lower than that from samples without AM-PP. Therefore, the prepared AM-PP fiber could effectively contribute to waste reutilization and environmental sustainability.