Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Lingsen Zeng, Xuefeng Shi, Lin Xuan, Jiangxia Zheng
Summary: This study compared the glycoproteins between the eggshell cuticle layer (ECL) and eggshell mineralized layer (EML). It found that EML contained more glycoproteins and showed different functional characteristics compared to ECL. Glycoproteins in EML may be involved in mineralization regulation, while those in ECL may contribute to molecular adhesion and defense against microbial invasion.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jun Isoe, Carter J. Simington, Max E. Oscherwitz, Alyssa J. Peterson, Alberto A. Rascon, Brooke B. Massani, Roger L. Miesfeld, Michael A. Riehle
Summary: This study identified several essential proteins for eggshell formation in Aedes aegypti and characterized their roles through molecular and biochemical approaches. These proteins, along with additional secreted eggshell enzymes, provide potential targets for future mosquito control strategies. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which these proteins regulate eggshell formation and melanization.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yannicke Dauphin, Daniel Werner, Rene Corado, Alberto Perez-Huerta
Summary: The mineral composition of bird eggshells has been considered a conserved phylogenetic feature, but a recent study found an exception in passerine bird eggshells, which are composed of aragonite rather than calcite like those of other bird species. Using a combination of in situ microscopy and chemical techniques, the research confirmed the unique mineral composition of passerine bird eggshells and reinforced their phylogenetic placement with other avian species.
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Pei-Lin Chiang, Yu-Chien Tseng, Hsiao-Jou Wu, Shu-Han Tsao, Shang-Ping Wu, Wei-Cheng Wang, Hsin- Hsieh, Jia-Yang Juang
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive investigation into the elastic moduli and structure-function relationships of avian eggshells based on 700 freshly-laid eggs collected over a period of seven years. The research reveals that different species have varying degrees of crystal orientation and texture in their eggshells, and the mineral content is positively correlated with the elastic modulus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel J. Buss, Natalie Reznikov, Marc D. Mckee
Summary: This study reveals the attachment mechanism between organic fibers and mineral in bird eggshells using multiscale imaging techniques, demonstrating the crucial role of the reciprocal anchorage system at two different length scales for the integrity of avian eggshells.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lin Xuan, Xuefeng Shi, Guiyun Xu, Jiangxia Zheng
Summary: This study used micro-CT technology to investigate the 3-dimensional microstructure of eggshells and found that the ratio of pore volume to mastoid space volume and the morphological characteristics of the pores have an impact on eggshell translucency. The porosity of the eggshell is also related to translucency.
Article
Ornithology
Josh Nightingale, Jennifer A. Gill, Tomas G. Gunnarsson, Afonso D. Rocha, Ruth A. Howison, Jos C. E. W. Hooijmeijer, Theunis Piersma, Jose A. Alves
Summary: Breeding phenology of bird species is affected by climate warming, but for migratory birds breeding at high latitudes, their ability to breed earlier may be constrained by the time available between arrival and nesting. This could have consequences for breeding success and productivity. Investigating the influence of migratory arrival timing on subsequent breeding timing and whether late-arriving individuals can catch up with early-arriving individuals is crucial to understand migratory breeding patterns.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Qun Huang, Xiang Huang, Lan Liu, Guoze Wang, Hongbo Song, Fang Geng, Peng Luo
Summary: The addition of moderate amount of NEC enhances the gel strength and surface hydrophobicity of myosin, while excessive addition weakens its structural properties. NEC induces the unfolding of myosin and promotes conformational transition, facilitating the formation of a homogeneous and dense three-dimensional network structure in myosin gel.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Sani Mohammed Adams, Eguakhide Atikpo, Victor Sunday Aigbodion, Romanus Njoku, Longinus Ifeanyichi Odo
Summary: This study aimed to utilize eggshells as a source of CaCO3 to improve the hardness and wear behavior of composite coating on mild steel. The results showed that the Zn-CaCO3-derived eggshell particles composite coatings successfully improved hardness values and exhibited lower friction coefficients. The study suggests that the Zn-20 g CaCO3-derived eggshell particles composite coating can be used in applications where wear and roller body are important considerations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Cristina Benavides-Reyes, Elisa Folegatti, Nazaret Dominguez-Gasca, Gilberto Litta, Estefania Sanchez-Rodriguez, Alejandro B. Rodriguez-Navarro, Murtala Umar Faruk
Summary: The study found that as hens age, the thickness and quality of eggshells decrease, resulting in lower breaking strength. This reduction in strength can be attributed to changes in ultrastructure characteristics, such as decreased mammillary density and increased crystal size, which negatively impact mechanical properties and resistance against impacts. Additionally, the decrease in cuticle and internal egg quality parameters with hen age could have a negative impact on egg safety and quality.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Poonam Shekhawat, Gunwant Sharma, Rao Martand Singh
Summary: The morphological and microstructural evolution of flyash (FA), eggshell powder (ESP), and soft soil (S) geo-polymer was studied. The effects of different synthesis parameters on the geopolymerization process were explained. The results showed the coexistence of calcium aluminate silicate hydrate gel and the highest cementitious product. The geopolymeric gel structure filled the voids between soft soil particles and reinforced the whole matrix.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Sagar Paruthi, Afzal Husain Khan, Ashish Kumar, Fanish Kumar, Mohd Abul Hasan, Hassan M. Magbool, Mohammad Saood Manzar
Summary: Despite being classified as hazardous, using eggshell powder as a replacement for cement is beneficial for waste reduction and sustainability. Eggshell powder contains high levels of calcium, making it suitable for replacing cement in concrete manufacturing. It improves concrete permeability and accelerates cement hydration. This study examines the production process, properties, and application of eggshell powder in engineering. The Artificial Neural Network approach accurately predicts the strength of eggshell powder concrete, suggesting its potential to improve concrete properties and reduce cement usage.
CASE STUDIES IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Krzysztof Damaziak, Marta Musielak, Cezary Musielak, Julia Riedel, Dariusz Gozdowski, Weronika Grzybek
Summary: This study compared the influence of battery cages and aviary system on parent-stock laying-type chicken breeding and reproduction, finding that aviary rearing may lead to lower feed intake and higher chick mortality. Additionally, during reproduction, aviary system may increase egg and hatching egg production but decrease water and chick production efficiency.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ibrahim Y. Hakeem, Mohamed Amin, Ibrahim Saad Agwa, Mahmoud H. Abd-Elrahman, Omar Mohamed Omar Ibrahim, Mohamed Samy
Summary: Egypt is the largest producer of rice straw, but the disposal of this waste in landfills and open fields has caused environmental damage. Moreover, eggshells used in bakeries, restaurants, and poultry farms are usually discarded in landfills, posing health hazards. However, grinding eggshells into nanoparticles, known as nano eggshell powder (NEP), can increase its activity. This study examined the characteristics of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) produced using eco-friendly components, rice straw ash (RSA) and NEP, as partial cement substitutes. The results showed that using RSA and NEP as pozzolanic materials improved concrete characteristics, reduced cement content, and reduced environmental contamination.
CASE STUDIES IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Mohamed Amin, Mohammed M. Attia, Ibrahim Saad Agwa, Yara Elsakhawy, Khaled Abu El-hassan, Bassam Abdelsalam Abdelsalam
Summary: Besides causing air pollution, the cement industry also faces many other problems. This study investigates the addition of sugarcane bagasse ash and nano eggshell powder to reduce cement contents in concrete and evaluates their effects on the properties of high-strength concrete. The experimental results demonstrate that the addition of these materials can improve the performance of concrete.
CASE STUDIES IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Chen-Yang Liu, Juha Merilae, Yang Liu, Lei Lv
Summary: Global climate change has had a widespread impact on the reproductive phenology of many wild organisms. In this study, the relationship between breeding timing and spring temperatures was explored using data from hair-crested drongos in the wild. It was found that low night temperatures delay breeding time, likely due to the physiological constraints on egg-laying caused by the need for thermoregulation. However, the timing of breeding showed no trend over the study period.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lei Lv, Martijn van de Pol, Helen L. Osmond, Yang Liu, Andrew Cockburn, Loeske E. B. Kruuk
Summary: Climate change can affect animal population dynamics by influencing reproduction and mortality. This study found that adult mortality in Australian superb fairy-wrens increased during the nonbreeding season and was associated with lower minimum winter temperatures, higher maximum winter temperatures, and higher summer heat wave intensity. Increases in summer heat waves and winter maximum temperatures accounted for 62.6% of the overall increase in mortality observed over a 27-year period. These findings suggest that climate warming in both summer and winter can have detrimental effects on survival and potentially significant population consequences.
Article
Ornithology
Jude Janitha Niroshan, Yang Liu, Jonathan Martinez, Pinjia Que, Chentao Wei, Sanjaya Weerakkody, Gayomini Panagoda, Jagathpriya Weerasena, Thasun A. A. Amarasinghe, Tamas Szekely, Alexander L. Bond, Sampath S. Seneviratne
Summary: This study focuses on the population of Kentish Plovers in South Asia and suggests that they should be considered as a distinct species called "Hanuman Plover" based on their phenotypic and genetic differences from other closely related species.
Review
Ornithology
Wenyi Zhou, Rebecca T. Kimball, Yang Liu, Scott K. Robinson
Summary: This article reviews four hypothesized functions of elongated tails in birds: sexual selection, aerodynamic enhancement, anti-predation signaling, and perch balancing. Our current knowledge of avian elongated tails is not comprehensive, and further research is needed to explore other functions and consider the possibility of multiple functions.
Review
Biology
Rebecca T. Kimball, Edward L. Braun, Yang Liu, Liping Zhou, Eben Goodale, Wenyi Zhou, Scott K. Robinson
Summary: One of the fundamental goals of modern biology is to understand the origin and maintenance of biodiversity. In mixed-species animal societies, there is evidence of phenotypic trait matching, which may drive diversification and speciation. This article reviews evidence of convergent evolution and mimicry in mixed-species bird flocks in southwestern China.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Donglai Li, Yu Bai, Weipan Lei, Pinjia Que, Yang Liu, Emilio Pagani-Nunez, Huw Lloyd, Zhengwang Zhang
Summary: Protected areas serve as important habitats for wildlife by conserving natural habitats and reducing human disturbance. However, the effect of strict land management in protected areas on breeding birds vulnerable to nest predation is unclear. In this study, we compared the nesting performance of Kentish plovers in a protected area (PA) and a non-protected area (non-PA) and identified the environmental factors influencing nest survival rate. The results showed that the PA had a lower nest survival rate compared to the non-PA, indicating that the protected area may not provide safe nesting sites for Kentish plovers due to abundant nest predators. Nonetheless, the PA still contributed to a higher number of successful nests, benefiting the conservation of the species. Further research is needed to understand the differences in nest predator communities between the PA and non-PA.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dan Liang, Tong Mu, Ziyou Yang, Xingli Giam, Yudi Wang, Jing Li, Shangxiao Cai, Xuelian Zhang, Yixiao Wang, Yang Liu, David S. Wilcove
Summary: This study examines the conflict between razor clam aquaculture and declining shorebirds in southeastern China. It finds that the use of nets in razor clam farms leads to significant mortality of shorebirds, potentially impacting their populations. The study suggests the removal of nets after harvest to prevent bird entanglement and calls for government regulations or economic incentives to address the issue.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiachen Sun, Yachang Cheng, Zitan Song, Shisheng Ma, Lingling Xing, Kai Wang, Chenjing Huang, Donglai Li, Jiansong Chu, Yang Liu
Summary: Emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are becoming more widely used, while older PFAS such as PFOS are still pervasive in the environment. Assessing wildlife exposure to both emerging and older PFAS is crucial for effective biomonitoring and early warning of regional contamination patterns. We studied the levels and profiles of PFAS in eggs of two closely-related shorebird species in China. The highest concentrations of PFAS were found in two Kentish plover populations from the Bohai Sea, with PFOA dominating the overall PFAS profile. The PFAS profile in the white-faced plover population at the South China Sea coast was dominated by PFOS, while PFNA and PFOS dominated the PFAS concentrations in Kentish plovers from Qinghai Lake.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jason Hill, Erik D. Enbody, Huijuan Bi, Sangeet Lamichhaney, Weipan Lei, Juexin Chen, Chentao Wei, Yang Liu, Doreen Schwochow, Shady Younis, Fredrik Widemo, Leif Andersson
Summary: A paradox in evolutionary biology is how supergenes can maintain high fitness despite reduced effective population size, the suppression of recombination, and the expected accumulation of mutational load. The ruff supergene involves 2 rare inversion haplotypes (satellite and faeder). These are recessive lethals but with dominant effects on male mating strategies, plumage, and body size. Sequence divergence to the wild-type (independent) haplotype indicates that the inversion could be as old as 4 million years. Here, we have constructed a highly contiguous genome assembly of the inversion region for both the independent and satellite haplotypes. Based on the new data, we estimate that the recombination event(s) creating the satellite haplotype occurred only about 70,000 yr ago. Contrary to expectations for supergenes, we find no substantial expansion of repeats and only a modest mutation load on the satellite and faeder haplotypes despite high sequence divergence to the non-inverted haplotype (1.46%). The essential centromere protein N (CENPN) gene is disrupted by the inversion and is as well conserved on the inversion haplotypes as on the noninversion haplotype. These results suggest that the inversion may be much younger than previously thought. The low mutation load, despite recessive lethality, may be explained by the introgression of the inversion from a now extinct lineage.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Yiqing Chen, Xi Lin, Zitan Song, Yang Liu
Summary: Socially monogamous birds may break up their partnership by a so-called 'divorce' behavior. Divorce rates vary immensely across avian taxa that have a predominantly monogamous social mating system. Factors associated with divorce are still contentious, and the influence of sexual roles in divorce remains to be investigated.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Peng Ding, Zitan Song, Yang Liu, Naerhulan Halimubieke, Tamas Szekely, Lei Shi
Summary: Understanding the ecological factors of shorebird nesting habitats is crucial for their protection and habitat management. This study collected data on nesting sites and ecological factors, and used the MaxEnt model to assess the suitability of nesting habitats for Kentish plovers. The results identified several key factors influencing nesting habitat selection, including distance from water, vegetation index, temperature, slope, and land use. The study also highlighted the low proportion of protected nesting habitat for Kentish plovers in the area, emphasizing the need for stronger conservation and management measures.
Article
Ornithology
Zhijun Ma, Chi-Yeung Choi, Xiaojing Gan, Jing Li, Yang Liu, David S. Melville, Tong Mu, Theunis Piersma, Zhengwang Zhang
Summary: This article reviews the conservation measures taken to protect waterbirds in China's coastal wetlands and provides recommendations for future actions. While progress has been made with the implementation of conservation legislation and regulations, there are still critical issues related to habitat conservation and management. Protecting natural tidal wetlands and improving habitat quality are emphasized as crucial for the conservation of coastal waterbirds.
