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Chirality-dependent propagation of transverse wall along a nanowire was investigated using a Y-junction with spin-valve structure. It was found that the Y-junction can be used for convenient and effective electric detection of transverse domain wall chirality, especially in a nanowire with sub-200 nm width, where it is difficult to electrically detect chirality using conventional artificial defect, such as a notch, due to small resistance change. Domain wall propagation path in the Y-junction was found to be determined by the wall chirality, whether clockwise or counterclockwise. Using the Y-junction nanowire, characteristics of domain wall chirality that was nucleated in a nucleation pad, attached at the end of a nanowire, were studied and found to be in good agreement with the results of theoretical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A positive magnetostrictive single layer (CoFe) and top-pinned spin-valve structure with positive magnetostrictive free (NiFe) and pinned (CoFe) layers were deposited on flexible polyethylene terephthalate film to investigate the changes in the magnetic properties in flexible environments, especially with a repetitive bending process. It was found that the stress, applied by repetitive bending, changes significantly the magnetic anisotropy of both layers in a single and spin-valve structure depending on the direction of applied stress. The changes in magnetic anisotropy were understood in terms of the inverse magnetostriction effect (the Villari effect) and the elastic recovery force from the flexibility of the polymer substrate. Repetitive bending with tensile stress transverse (or parallel) to the magnetic easy axis was found to enhance (or reduce) the magnetic anisotropy and, consequently, the magnetoresistance ratio of a spin-valve. The observed effects of bending stress in this study should be considered for the practical applications of electro-magnetic devices, especially magneto-striction sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of eighty 21-day-olds (1.1±0.01kg) ROSS 308 broilers were randomly allocated into 4 groups, with 20 replicates per group and 1 chicken per replicate per cage. Three experimental groups (CAR, THY, ORE group) were given oral administration of 200μL essential oils (carvacrol, thyme and oregano) at 18:00h every day. The results showed no significant differences on blood metabolites among each group (P>0.05). The villus height of the small intestines in the CAR group increased significantly (P<0.05) from 1360.10 to 1552.54μm as compared to the control group, the goblet cell counts in the THY and ORE groups significantly increased by 20.91% (P<0.05) and 31.82% (P<0.05), respectively, compared to the control group. The E.coli and Salmonella in ORE group significantly decreased by 11.16% (P<0.05) and 9.54% (P<0.05), respectively, compared to the control group. The Redness (a*) values of the muscles of the CAR and ORE groups were observed to increase significantly (P<0.05) from 3.58 to 7.95 and 6.86, respectively, compared to the control group. In conclusion, oral administration of the essential oils carvacrol, thyme and oregano promoted intestinal development, improved the intestinal environment and the meat quality of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsatilla koreana Nakai, or pasque flower has been used as a medicinal plant for the treatment of amoebic dysentery, malaria, and internal haemorrhoids. The extract of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai, itself, has not been yet investigated for potential antiobesity effects. In this study, the antiobesity effect was evaluated on preadipocyte differentiation of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai extracted by 70 % ethanol in 3T3-L1 cells. Pulsatilla koreana Nakai ethanol extract at doses of 20 µg/ml significantly decreased lipid droplet accumulation, the expression of transcription factors, including CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α, µ, δ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and mRNA levels of fatty acid synthase. Moreover, Pulsatilla koreana Nakai ethanol extract also activated the phosphorylation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase α. In conclusion, Pulsatilla koreana Nakai ethanol extract suppressed preadipocyte differentiation via down-regulation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and fatty acid synthase by phosphorylation of 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase α in adipocytes. This data suggested that Pulsatilla koreana Nakai ethanol extract be further explored as a new preventive and therapeutic agent against obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding by-product feed (BF)-based silage on the performance, blood metabolite parameters, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. The BF-based silage was composed of 50% spent mushroom substrate, 21% recycled poultry bedding, 15% cut ryegrass straw, 10.8% rice bran, 2% molasses, 0.6% bentonite, and 0.6% microbial additive (on a wet basis), and ensiled for over 5 d. Fifteen steers were allocated to three diets during the growing and fattening periods (3.1 and 9.8 months, respectively): a control diet (concentrate mix and free access to rice straw), a 50% BF-based silage diet (control diet+50% of maximum BF-based silage intake), and a 100% BF-based silage diet (the same amount of concentrate mix and ad libitum BF-based silage). The BF-based silage was fed during the growing and fattening periods, and was replaced with larger particles of rice straw during the finishing period. After 19.6 months of the whole period all the steers were slaughtered. Compared with feeding rice straw, feeding BF-based silage tended (p = 0.10) to increase the average daily gain (27%) and feed efficiency (18%) of the growing steers, caused by increased voluntary feed intake. Feeding BF-based silage had little effect on serum constituents, electrolytes, enzymes, or the blood cell profiles of fattening steers, except for low serum Ca and high blood urea concentrations (p<0.05). Feeding BF-based silage did not affect cold carcass weight, yield traits such as back fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, yield index or yield grade, or quality traits such as meat color, fat color, texture, maturity, marbling score, or quality grade. However, it improved good quality grade (1+ and 1++) appearance rates (60% for the control group vs 100% for the BF-based silage-fed groups). In conclusion, cheap BF-based silage could be successfully used as a good quality roughage source for beef cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]