Effect of Production System and Age on Egg Quality Parameters: A Case of Niğde Province Çamardı District, Turkey

This study compared egg quality parameters in layers under free-range system with prefabricated pens and backyard while emphasizing hen age. A total of 300 eggs collected from prefabricated pens and backyard farming families in the Çamardı District of Niğde Province were used as study materials. The assessed external and internal egg quality characteristics included egg weight, shape index, shell thickness, shell breaking strength, albumen index, Haugh unit, yolk index, and yolk colour. The effect of production system on albumen index, Haugh unit, and yolk colour score was found statistically significant. There was a significant effect of age on shape index, shell thickness, shell breaking strength, albumen index, Haugh Unit, yolk index, and yolk colour score. The effect of interaction between age and production system was statistically significant for shape index, shell thickness, yolk index, Haugh Unit, and yolk colour score. It was determined that the egg`s meat and blood spots percentages from the free-range and backyard systems were 10.6% and 15.3%, respectively. It was concluded that while eggs produced from free-range system are superior in terms of egg weight, shape index, and Haugh unit those obtained from backyard hens are higher in eggshell thickness, eggshell breaking strength, and egg yolk colour.

Japon Bıldırcınlarında Canlı Ağırlık ile Bazı Yumurta Kalite Özellikleri Arasındaki İlişkiler

The study aims to investigate the effects of changes in body weight of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japanica) on some external and internal quality characteristics of their eggs and the correlations between them. In the experiment, totally 30 female quails raised in individual cages and 180 eggs obtained from them were utilized. According to the body weight, 30 quails were divided into 5 different groups and body weight averages were 238.0, 216.0, 202.3, 191.3 and 174.0 g for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th groups, respectively. The examined eggs were individually collected from the quails and evaluated under live weight groups of quails. According to the results, egg weight, shell weight, shell thickness, shell ratio, albumen weight, albumen ratio, yolk weight, yolk diameter, and yolk ratio were significantly affected from body weight. There were found significant positive correlations of live weight with egg weight, albumen weight and yolk weight (respectively, 0.28, 0.24, and 0.25) and significant positive correlations with shape index and shell weight (respectively, 0.17 and 0.15).

Acoustic Radiation of Axially Stepped-Thickness Piezoelectric Cylindrical Shells

In this work, a new design method is proposed to intensify the focused acoustic field generated inside a circular cylindrical piezoelectric transducer. The proposed design incorporates a stepped-thickness piezoelectric transducer which has thickness variations along the length. The location of these steps are identified based on the mode shape analysis of a uniform-thickness tube. Once the step locations are identified, two cases are considered with internal and external steps. Acoustic radiation characteristics and mode shapes are compared with the uniform-thickness shell. All the investigations are performed using ANSYS. An increase in the sound pressure level is obtained utilizing the stepped-thickness tube at the same input power.

ANALISIS KAPASITAS DAN KEKUATAN KONSTRUKSI BLADDER TANK PADA SIRKULASI AIR PANAS SISTEM ORC SOLAR KOLEKTOR R-134a

<p>This study focused on component in the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), Bladder Tank. The calculation<br />method is based on the calculation stage of plate thickness to withstand the pressure caused by the<br />circulation of the ORC system. The material used is SA 106 with 12mm thickness, Shell length 600mm,<br />270mm inner diameter and 95mm Head length. From the calculation results obtained maximum<br />pressure on Shell = 253,8385 psi (17,7 bar g) and pressure at Head equal to = 249,6983 psi (17,2 bar<br />g). Bladder Tank Capacity of 38055622,5 mm³ (38,0556 Liter). From result of Pressure Drop simulation<br />got Head loss equal to = 0,00000066 m.</p>

Effect of storage period on internal and external parameters of Deshi Chicken fowl

The fresh eggs were collected and evaluated to effect of storage periods on internal and external characteristics in local chicken eggs. The mean value of the egg weight, egg width, shape index, albumin height, albumen weight, albumen percentage, albumin index, yolk height, yolk weight, yolk percentage, yolk index, shell thickness, shell weight, shell %, albumin pH, albumin protein and Haugh Unit are 58.60±0.84 g, 4.08±0.02 cm, 76.39±1.02, 5.40±0.16 mm, 33.67±0.37g, 58.07±0.55%, 6.76±0.49, 18.20±0.29 mm, 18.33±0.43 g, 44.27±0.91%, 44.27±0.91%, 0.29±0.02, 6.06±0.22, 10.39±0.25, 7.82±0.02, 11.77±0.07 and 72.63±1.34 in local chicken eggs. The data from current study indicates that with increase in storage period, a significant (P<0.01) decline was observed in various parameters like percentage weight loss, albumen height, yolk height, egg width, albumen index, yolk index, Haugh unit, albumen %, albumen weight, shell thickness and albumen protein. Contrary to this, albumen pH (P<0.01) was found to escalate with increase in storage period. Egg length, shell %and yolk % have significantly differed at (P<0.01) level. Shape index and shell weight showed no significant differences.

Association between shell morphology of micro-land snails (genus Plectostoma) and their predator’s predatory behaviour

Predator-prey interactions are among the main ecological interactions that shape the diversity of biological form. In many cases, the evolution of the mollusc shell form is presumably driven by predation. However, the adaptive significance of several uncommon, yet striking, shell traits of land snails are still poorly known. These include the distorted coiled “tuba” and the protruded radial ribs that can be found in micro-landsnails of the genus Plectostoma. Here, we experimentally tested whether these shell traits may act as defensive adaptations against predators. First, we identified the predators, namely, Atopos slugs and Pteroptyx beetle larvae, and their predatory strategies towards Plectostoma snails. Then, we characterised and quantified the possible anti-predation behaviour and shell traits of Plectostoma snails both in terms of their properties and efficiencies in defending against the Atopos slug predatory strategies, namely, shell-apertural entry and shell-drilling. The results showed that Atopos slugs would first attack the snail by shell-apertural entry, and, should this fail, shift to the energetically more costly shell-drilling strategy. We found that the shell tuba of Plectostoma snails is an effective defensive trait against shell-apertural entry attack. None of the snail traits, such as resting behaviour, shell thickness, shell tuba shape, shell rib density and intensity can protect the snail from the slug’s shell-drilling attack. However, these traits could increase the predation costs to the slug. Further analysis on the shell traits revealed that the lack of effectiveness these anti-predation shell traits may be caused by a functional trade-off between shell traits under selection of two different predatory strategies. Lastly, we discuss our results in the framework of Red Queen predator-prey coevolution and escalation, and propose several key elements for future study.

Association between shell morphology of micro-land snails (genus Plectostoma) and their predator’s predatory behaviour

Predator-prey interactions are among the main ecological interactions that shape the diversity of biological form. In many cases, the evolution of the mollusc shell form is presumably driven by predation. However, the adaptive significance of several uncommon, yet striking, shell traits of land snails are still poorly known. These include the distorted coiled “tuba” and the protruded radial ribs that can be found in micro-landsnails of the genus Plectostoma. Here, we experimentally tested whether these shell traits may act as defensive adaptations against predators. First, we identified the predators, namely, Atopos slugs and Pteroptyx beetle larvae, and their predatory strategies towards Plectostoma snails. Then, we characterised and quantified the possible anti-predation behaviour and shell traits of Plectostoma snails both in terms of their properties and efficiencies in defending against the Atopos slug predatory strategies, namely, shell-apertural entry and shell-drilling. The results showed that Atopos slugs would first attack the snail by shell-apertural entry, and, should this fail, shift to the energetically more costly shell-drilling strategy. We found that the shell tuba of Plectostoma snails is an effective defensive trait against shell-apertural entry attack. None of the snail traits, such as resting behaviour, shell thickness, shell tuba shape, shell rib density and intensity can protect the snail from the slug’s shell-drilling attack. However, these traits could increase the predation costs to the slug. Further analysis on the shell traits revealed that the lack of effectiveness these anti-predation shell traits may be caused by a functional trade-off between shell traits under selection of two different predatory strategies. Lastly, we discuss our results in the framework of Red Queen predator-prey coevolution and escalation, and propose several key elements for future study.