Background: The poultry industry experiences genetic losses due to recurring infectious diseases, necessitating effective preservation strategies. Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in male reproduction, and optimal NO (nitric oxide) levels may enhance sperm viability. This study investigated the effects of SNAP (S-nitroso-Nacetylpenicillamine) on the longevity of rooster sperm. Methods: Semen was diluted with Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender-I containing 0 or 25 μM SNAP and stored at 10°C. Sperm motility and acrosome integrity were assessed at 1, 3, and 7 days. NO levels were quantified by DAF-FM diacetate and AI trials were evaluated by fertility and hatchability. Results: On day 1, sperm motility in the SNAP 25 μM-treated group was significantly higher than in the control. NO quantification confirmed that SNAP-treated semen exhibited higher NO levels. For fertilization and hatchability assessment, hens were divided into two groups based on the presumed duration sperm resided in sperm storage tubules. Before artificial insemination, the sperm was preserved at low temperature (10°C) to maintain viability. Fertilization rates were significantly higher in the SNAP-treated group in both short-term and long-term SST storage conditions. However, hatchability was only significantly improved in the SNAP-treated group when fertilization occurred after extended storage. Conclusions: These findings suggest that NO enhances sperm viability and fertility in poultry semen stored at low temperatures. SNAP 25 μM enhances AI efficiency by maintaining sperm viability and extending fertilization potential. Further research is needed to refine NO-based fertility enhancement strategies for avian species.

In this study, we examined the antagonistic effects of sprout-borne lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. This antagonism is promoted as a means of controlling contamination during sprout production and provides additional LAB for consumers. We isolated a total of 24 LAB isolates in nine species and five genera from seven popular vegetable sprouts: alfalfa (Medicago sativa), clover (Trifolium pratense), broccoli (Brassica oleracea ssp. italica), vitamin (B. rapa ssp. narinosa), red radish (Raphanus sativus), red kohlrabi (B. oleracea var. gongylodes), and Kimchi cabbage (B. campestris var. pekinensis). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the LAB species were identified as Enterococcus casseliflavus, E. faecium, E. gallinarum, E. mundtii, Lactococcus taiwanensis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Weissella cibaria, and W. confusa. A total of 16 LAB isolates in seven species including E. faecium, E. gallinarum, E. mundtii, L. taiwanensis, L. mesenteroides, P. pentosaceus, and W. cibaria showed antagonistic activity toward S. enterica. The growth inhibition of sprout LAB on S. enterica was confirmed by co-culture. Unexpectedly, sprout LAB failed to suppress the growth of S. enterica in alfalfa sprouts, whereas all LAB strains stimulate S. enterica growth even if it is not significant in some strains. The findings of this study indicate that S. enterica-antagonistic LAB are detrimental to food hygiene and will contribute to further LAB research and improved vegetable sprout production.

This study was aimed to isolate bacterial inoculants producing chitinase and evaluate their application effects on corn silage. Four corn silages were collected from four beef cattle farms to serve as the sources of bacterial inoculants. All isolates were tested against Fusarium graminearum head blight fungus MHGNU F132 to confirm their antifungal effects. The enzyme activities (carboxylesterase and chitinase) were also measured to isolate the bacterial inoculant. Based on the activities of anti-head blight fungus, carboxylesterase, and chitinase, L. buchneri L11-1 and L. paracasei L9-3 were subjected to silage production. Corn forage (cv. Gwangpyeongok) was ensiled into a 10 L mini silo (5 kg) in quadruplication for 90 days. A 2 × 2 factorial design consists of F. graminearum contamination at 1.0104 cfu/g (UCT (no contamination) vs. CT (contamination)) and inoculant application at 2.1 × 105 cfu/g (CON (no inoculant) vs. INO (inoculant)) used in this study. After 90 days of ensiling, the contents of CP, NDF, and ADF increased (p<0.05) by F. graminearum contamination, while IVDMD, acetate, and aerobic stability decreased (p<0.05). Meanwhile, aerobic stability decreased (p<0.05) by inoculant application. There were interaction effects (p<0.05) on IVNDFD, NH3-N, LAB, and yeast, which were highest in UCT-INO, UCT-CON, CT-INO, and CT-CON & INO, respectively. In conclusion, this study found that mold contamination could negatively impact silage quality, but isolated inoculants had limited effects on IVNDFD and yeast.

Winter phenology (diapause and activity) of insects is expected to change more greatly compared with those of other seasons, because the temperature in winter increased higher than those in other seasons in the temperate regions. However, studies on changes of insect winter phenology due to climate warming are rare. It is expected that winter flights of flies (Diptera) will increase as climate warms. This study is aimed to predict the increase of fly winter flight according to temperature increase using the relationship between the flight and temperature. The survey on flies and weather (temperature and rainfall) was carried out in the Hongneung arboretum in Seoul. Flies were collected weekly from December 2012 to February 2013 using sweeping and Malaise trap. In the survey, 106 flies belonging to 28 morpho-species and 17 families were collected. Richness and abundance of flies were positively correlated with temperature. The increase of fly winter flight (richness and abundance) was projected according to temperature rise using the regression models for relationships between the fly flights and temperature.

This study investigated the effects of changes to the pulsation factor of pulsed direct currents on wound healing. Patients with a pressure ulcer at a care hospital for the elderly were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1 involved the application of 100㎲ in pulse duration, 10 ㎳ in pulse period, 100 pps in a pulsation factor, 15 ㎃ in pulse amplitude, and polarity red+ by using pulsed direct currents; Group 2 involved a change of pulse period to 8 ms; and Group 3 received general wound management. Although there were no statistically significant differences in the changing stages of pressure ulcers among the groups, all the groups dropped in numerical stages. In the two groups to which pulsed direct currents were applied, there was a statistically significant reduction in the stages of pressure ulcers from the initial assessment to the 12-week assessment (p<.05). Even though there were no statistically significant differences in changes to the area of pressure ulcers among the groups, a statistically significant decrease was found in pulsed direct current group 2 whose pulse period was shortened (p<.05). There was no difference in the healing rate of pressure ulcers among the groups, but it made a numerical increase in pulsed direct current group 1 and group 2 and a numerical decrease in group 3. There were no significant differences in the characteristics of those who had a full recovery among the groups. Those findings indicate that pulsed direct currents have positive effects on the wound healing of patients with a pressure ulcer and that a treatment with pulsed direct currents whose pulsation factor is raised by reducing the pulse duration is especially effective.