The Anhui Wanxi Feather & DownCorporation is situated in Luan City, AnhuiProvince, with an area of 66,670 sqm, includingconstruction area of 18,000 sqm. It has fixedassets of RMB50 million, floating capital of 7mi...The Anhui Wanxi Feather & DownCorporation is situated in Luan City, AnhuiProvince, with an area of 66,670 sqm, includingconstruction area of 18,000 sqm. It has fixedassets of RMB50 million, floating capital of 7million. The main production equipment includetwo feather & down production lines importedfrom Germany, with an annual capacity of 2,000-ton standard feather or 500-ton watered down. The Feather & Down Products Factoryunder its administration has 150 electric high-speed sewing machines and some specialequipment, with an annual capacity of 200,000pieces.展开更多
Insufficient interfacial activity and poor wettability between fibers and matrix are the two main factors limiting the improvement of mechanical properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics(CFRP).Owl feathers are kn...Insufficient interfacial activity and poor wettability between fibers and matrix are the two main factors limiting the improvement of mechanical properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics(CFRP).Owl feathers are known for their unique compact structure;they are not only lightweight but also strong.In this study,an in-depth look at owl feathers was made and it found that owl feathers not only have the macro branches structure between feather shafts and branches but also have fine feather structures on the branches.The presence of these fine feather structures increases the specific surface area of the plume branches and allows neighboring plume branches to hook up with each other,forming an effective mechanical interlocking structure.These structures bring owl feathers excellent mechanical properties.Inspired by the natural structure of owl feathers,a weaving technique and a sizing process were combined to prepare bionic Carbon Fiber(CF)fabrics and then to fabricate the bionic CFRP with structural characteristics similar to owl feathers.To evaluate the effect of the fine feather structure on the mechanical properties of CFRP,a mechanical property study on CFRP with and without the fine feather imitation structure were conducted.The experimental results show that the introduction of the fine feather branch structure enhance the mechanical properties of CFRP significantly.Specifically,the tensile strength of the composites increased by 6.42%and 13.06%and the flexural strength increased by 8.02%and 16.87%in the 0°and 90°sample directions,respectively.These results provide a new design idea for the improvement of the mechanical properties of the CFRP,promoting the application of CFRP in engineering fields,such as automotive transportation,rail transit,aerospace,and construction.展开更多
Powered fight in birds is reliant on feathers forming an aerodynamic surface that resists air pressures.Many basic aspects of feather functionality are unknown,which hampers our understanding of wing function in birds...Powered fight in birds is reliant on feathers forming an aerodynamic surface that resists air pressures.Many basic aspects of feather functionality are unknown,which hampers our understanding of wing function in birds.This study measured the dimensions of primary and secondaryfight feathers of 19 species of parrots.The maximum force the feathers could withstand from below was also measured to mimic the pressuresexperienced during a downstroke.The analysis tested whether:(1)feather dimensions differed along the wing and among secondary and primary remiges;(2)the force that feathers could withstand varied among the remiges;and(3)there would be isometric relationships with bodymass for feather characteristics.The results show that body mass signifcantly affected vane width,rachis thickness,maximum force,and ultimate bending moment,but the relationship for feather length only approached signifcance.Many of the proximal secondary feathers showedsignifcantly lower values relative to the frst primary,whereas for distal primaries the values were greater.There were isometric relationships forforce measurements of primary and secondary feathers with body mass,but there was positive allometry for feather lengths and vane widths.The forces feathers can withstand vary along the wing may be a proxy for the aerodynamic properties of the feathers in situ.Broader taxonomicstudies that explore these topics are required for other species representing a range of different orders.A better understanding of the functionality of feathers will improve our understanding of how avian fight works particularly considering the variety in fight style and wing shape in birds.展开更多
Taking a widely contaminated yet abundant waste,such as poultry feathers,and extracting keratin from this struc-ture appears to be a real challenge whenever the preservation of the secondary structure of the protein i...Taking a widely contaminated yet abundant waste,such as poultry feathers,and extracting keratin from this struc-ture appears to be a real challenge whenever the preservation of the secondary structure of the protein is desired.This process would allow exploiting it in ways(e.g.,in the biomedicalfield)that are inspired by a structure that is primarily designed forflight,therefore capable specifically of withstandingflexure and lateral buckling,also with very low thicknesses.The preservation of the structure is based on disulfide crosslinks,and it is offered with pre-ference by some chemical treatments,mainly those based on ionic liquid and on a reduction process.However,the degree of preservation cannot always be precisely assessed;however,beyond chemical characterization,the forma-tion of homogeneous gels can also suggest that the process was successful in this sense.An extraction respectful of nature’s intentions,considering that the secondary structure builds up according to the very function of the feath-ers in the animal,can be deemed to be biomimetic.In particular,biomimetic extractions comply with the very characteristics the protein was designed for to serve in the specific environmental and mechanical situation in which it is inserted.This review tries to elucidate in which cases this aim is achieved and for which specific appli-cations a chicken feather keratin that has preserved its secondary structure can be suited.展开更多
Background Poor feather growth not only affects the appearance of the organism but also decreases the feed efficiency.Methionine(Met)is an essential amino acid required for feather follicle development;yet the exact m...Background Poor feather growth not only affects the appearance of the organism but also decreases the feed efficiency.Methionine(Met)is an essential amino acid required for feather follicle development;yet the exact mechanism involved remains insufficiently understood.Methods A total of 1801-day-old broilers were selected and randomly divided into 3 treatments:control group(0.45%Met),Met-deficiency group(0.25%Met),and Met-rescue group(0.45%Met in the pre-trial period and 0.25%Met in the post-trial period).The experimental period lasted for 56 d,with a pre-trial period of 1–28 d and a post-trial period of 29–56 d.In addition,Met-deficiency and Met-rescue models were constructed in feather follicle epidermal stem cell by controlling the supply of Met in the culture medium.Results Dietary Met-deficiency significantly(P<0.05)reduced the ADG,ADFI and F/G,and inhibited feather follicle development.Met supplementation significantly(P<0.05)improved growth performance and the feather growth in broilers.Met-rescue may promote feather growth in broilers by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway(GSK-3β,CK1,Axin1,β-catenin,Activeβ-catenin,TCF4,and Cyclin D1).Compared with Met-deficiency group,Met-rescue significantly(P<0.05)increased the activity of feather follicle epidermal stem cell and mitochondrial membrane potential,activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,and decreased the content of reactive oxygen species(P<0.05).CO-IP confirmed that mitochondrial protein PGAM5 interacted with Axin1,the scaffold protein of the disruption complex of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,and directly mediated Met regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and feather follicle development.Conclusions PGAM5 binding to Axin1 mediates the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,and promotes feather follicle development and feather growth of broiler chickens through Met supplementation.These results provide theoretical support for the improvement of economic value and production efficiency of broiler chickens.展开更多
Flight feathers represent a hallmark innovation of avian evolution.Recent comparative genomic analyses identified a 284 bp avian-specific highly conserved element(ASHCE)located within the eighth intron of the SIM bHLH...Flight feathers represent a hallmark innovation of avian evolution.Recent comparative genomic analyses identified a 284 bp avian-specific highly conserved element(ASHCE)located within the eighth intron of the SIM bHLH transcription factor 1(Sim1)gene,postulated to act as a cis-regulatory element governing flight feather morphogenesis.To investigate its functional significance,genome-edited(GE)primordial germ cell(PGC)lines carrying targeted ASHCE deletions were generated using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing,with germline chimeric males subsequently mated with wild-type(WT)hens to obtain GE progeny.The resulting GE chickens harbored 257-260 bp deletions,excising approximately half of the Sim1-ASHCE sequence.Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)analysis showed an average 0.32-fold reduction in Sim1 expression in the forelimbs of GE embryos at day 8(E8)compared to WT counterparts.Despite this,GE chickens developed structurally normal flight and tail feathers.In situ hybridization localized Sim1 expression to the posterior mesenchyme surrounding flight feather buds in E8 WT embryos,but not within the buds themselves.These results suggest that partial deletion of Sim1-ASHCE,despite diminishing Sim1 expression,does not disrupt flight feather formation.The excised region appears to possess enhancer activity toward Sim1 but is dispensable for flight feather development.Complete ablation of the ASHCE will be necessary to fully resolve the regulatory role of Sim1 in avian feather morphogenesis.展开更多
[Objective]This study aimed to explore the inheritance pattem of feather color in hybrid offspring of Texan pigeon and American Silver King pigeon, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of feather colo...[Objective]This study aimed to explore the inheritance pattem of feather color in hybrid offspring of Texan pigeon and American Silver King pigeon, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of feather color auto-sexing strains. [Method]The segregation situation of feather color in the male and female offspring of Texan pigeon （♂）×American Silver King pigeon （♀）（TKYW） and American Silver King pigeon （♂） ×Texan pigeon （♀） （YWTK） was analyzed. [Result]The feather color of TKYW offspring was all slate gray. Among the offspring of YWTK, the feather color of the males was all slate gray, while the feather color of the females was all silver gray; and the ratio between different colors was 1：1 （P 〉 0.05）. The F1 generation of YWTK was subjected to selfing, and the feather color of the male and female F2 generation was analyzed. It was found that the ratio of silver gray （male） to slate gray （male） to silver gray （female） to slate gray （female） was 1：1：1：1 （P 〉 0.05）. On the basis of the above results, it could be preliminarily predicated that the feather color control genes of Texan pigeon are Z^BZB and Z^BW and those of American Silver King pigeon are Z^bZ^b and Z^bW. There is a cumulative effect on B which is dominant for b. [Conclusion] This study will better solve the problem of male and female identification of pigeon in the early period.展开更多
Bird flight is a remarkable adaption that has allowed thousands of species to colonize all terrestrial habitats. A golden eagle has impressive flying abilities, such as hovering, perching, preying and attacking. To re...Bird flight is a remarkable adaption that has allowed thousands of species to colonize all terrestrial habitats. A golden eagle has impressive flying abilities, such as hovering, perching, preying and attacking. To reveal the flying abilities, avian geometry of a golden eagle was extracted based on noncontact surface measurements using a ROMBER three-dimensional laser scanner. Distributions of a camber line, thickness and a secondary feather line of the extracted point cloud were fitted using convenient analytical expressions. A traditional airfoil was established with the camber line and thickness, then a combined airfoil was constructed by combining the traditional airfoil with a secondary feather. Oscillations of an airfoil as well as rapid pitch up were simplified as a sine wave around the quarter chord axis. Thereafter, both steady and unsteady aerodynamic performances of the airfoil are computed, the influences of the secondary feather on the steady and unsteady aerodynamics were further studied.展开更多
Bacillus sp. JM7, a strain isolated from the deep-sea of the South China Sea, was found to efficiently degrade 79.4% native chicken feather within 30 h. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that JM7 strain cou...Bacillus sp. JM7, a strain isolated from the deep-sea of the South China Sea, was found to efficiently degrade 79.4% native chicken feather within 30 h. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that JM7 strain could gradually degrade feather by modifying the microstructure of feather keratin. A total of 25 protease genes were predicted from the draft genome of JM7 strain, among which a predicted subtilisin-like serine protease(designated as Ker02562) was further characterized for its keratinolytic activity. The recombinant Ker02562 functioned at a wide range of temperatures from 30℃ to 60℃, with an optimum at 40–50℃. Ker02562 was highly active at various pHs ranging from 5.0 to 13.0, with a maximum activity observed at pH 7.0–9.0. Remarkably, recombinant Ker02562 was stable in extreme alkaline environments(pH 10–13), which was much better than most other reported keratinases. Collectively, these favorable properties could make Bacillus sp. JM7 and Ker02562 attractive to be applied in the detergent formulation and feather bioconversion.展开更多
A two-stage system was developed which combines the biological degradation of keratin-rich waste with the production of biogas. Chicken feather waste was treated biologically with a recombinant Bacillus megaterium str...A two-stage system was developed which combines the biological degradation of keratin-rich waste with the production of biogas. Chicken feather waste was treated biologically with a recombinant Bacillus megaterium strain showing keratinase activity prior to biogas production. Chopped, autoclaved chicken feathers （4%, W/V） were completely degraded, resulting in a yellowish fermentation broth with a level of 0.51 mg/mL soluble proteins after 8 days of cultivation of the recombinant strain. During the subsequent anaerobic batch digestion experiments, methane production of 0.35 Nm3/kg dry feathers （i.e., 0.4 Nm3/kg volatile solids of feathers）, corresponding to 80% of the theoretical value on proteins, was achieved from the feather hydrolyzates, independently of the pre- hydrolysis time period of 1, 2 or 8 days. Cultivation with a native keratinase producing strain, Bacillus licheniformis resulted in only 0.25 mg/mL soluble proteins in the feather hydrolyzate, which then was digested achieving a maximum accumulated methane production of 0.31 Nm3/kg dry feathers. Feather hydrolyzates treated with the wild type B. megaterium produced 0.21 Nm3 CH4/kg dry feathers as maximum yield.展开更多
Ultra-micro structure of eggshell was observed and compositions of eggshell and feather were analyzed. The results showed that the structure of eggshell has special characters besides common structure. The content of ...Ultra-micro structure of eggshell was observed and compositions of eggshell and feather were analyzed. The results showed that the structure of eggshell has special characters besides common structure. The content of poisonous elements in wild great bustard(Otis talda) eggshell and feather is significant lower than that in eggshell of crested foes(Nipponis nippon) and in feather of red crown crane(Grus japonesis) because of less disturbance by people. The contents of 14 elements of female’s feather all are higher than those of male’s.展开更多
Feather, as a by-product of the poultry industry, has long been treated as a solid waste, which causes environ- mental and economic problems. In this work, the hydrolyzed feather keratin （HFK） was extracted from the...Feather, as a by-product of the poultry industry, has long been treated as a solid waste, which causes environ- mental and economic problems. In this work, the hydrolyzed feather keratin （HFK） was extracted from the chicken feather using a cost-effective method of alkali-extraction and acid-precipitation by applying urea and sodium sulfide. The aim was development and characterization of the eco-friendly films based on the HFK with variable glycerol contents by a thermoplastic process. The thermal analysis showed that high temperature and high pres- sure improved the compatibility between the glycerol and the HFI（ molecules. Also it was shown that the addi- tion of water is necessary in the hot-pressing process of films, The FT-IR analysis indicated that the formation of the new hydrogen bonds between HFK and glycerol. By increasing the glycerol content, the film tensile strength （orb ） decreases from 10,5 MPa to 5.7 MPa and the solubility increases from 15.3% to 20.9%, while the elongation at break （εb） achieves the maximum value of 63,8% for the film with 35% glycerol. The swelling was just below 16.9% at 25 ℃ for 24 h, suggesting a good stability of the films in water. The water vapor permeability （WVP） varied between 3.02 x 10 ^10g. m 2. s-1 . pa-1 and 4.11 x 10-10g · m-2 · s-1 · Pa-1 for the films with 20%and 40% glycerol, respectively. The HFK film was uniform, translucent and tough, which could be used in packaging and agricultural field.展开更多
Two consecutive growth experiments with meat-type chickens (Ross 308) were conducted in order to quantify the age-dependent amino acid (AA) content in the whole body protein of male and female birds based on experimen...Two consecutive growth experiments with meat-type chickens (Ross 308) were conducted in order to quantify the age-dependent amino acid (AA) content in the whole body protein of male and female birds based on experimental data of the feather and feather-free body protein fractions. Birds were reared under uniform housing and feeding conditions (floor pens, 15 pens per gender, 5 birds per pen) during the starter (day 1 to 22) and grower period (day 22 to 36). Both the starter and grower diet based on corn, wheat, soybean meal, soybean protein concentrate and feed amino acids was formulated to ensure an equal feed protein quality close to the ideal amino acid ratio by adjusting a constant mixture of the feed proteins. At start of the experiment and further on weekly up to the end of the 5th week, 15 birds per gender (each 3 pens of 5 birds) were selected and fasted for 24 h, to emptying of gastro-intestinal tract, respectively. Subsequently, birds were euthanized and the feathers were manually removed. Nitrogen (N) and AA content were determined both in the feather and feather-free body fraction. The concentration of individual AAs in both of body protein fraction is varying considerably. Explicitly higher Cys, Ser and Pro but importantly lower Met, Lys and His concentrations were found in the feather protein. Furthermore, significant differences (p for nearly all AAs of the studied body protein fractions and the whole empty body protein dependent on age of birds were observed. Especially high deviations were obtained during the first week of age and at the end of the experiment. According to this observed variation of AA concentrations must be concluded that the body AA composition of meat-type chickens during growth is not constant. The detected gender-specific differences for several AAs in the feather and body protein of male and female birds were rather low and with very low variation.展开更多
The objective of this research was to update current results about the nutrient composition of broiler chickens during the growth period up to market age. Two growth experiments were conducted for assessing the nutrie...The objective of this research was to update current results about the nutrient composition of broiler chickens during the growth period up to market age. Two growth experiments were conducted for assessing the nutrient content of feathers and feather-free body of meat-type chickens (Ross 308). Both male and female birds were reared under uniform management conditions (floor pens;15 pens per gender;5 birds per pen). Experimental diets both for the starter (day 1 to 22) and the grower period (day 22 to 36) were based on corn, wheat, soybean meal, soybean protein concentrate and well balanced with feed amino acids. The feed protein quality was adapted to the ideal amino acid ratio and equated within both of the feeding periods by adjusting a constant mixture of the feed proteins. Each 15 birds per gender (3 pens of 5 birds) were selected and subsequently fasted for 24 h before quantitative de-feathering both at start of the experiment and further on weekly up to the end of the 5th week. Nutrient content was determined in representative samples of the feather and feather-free body fraction. In the feather dry matter (DM) very high crude protein (CP) concentrations (>96%) with low age-dependent and insignificant gender-specific differences were observed. In spite, a relatively high variation of CP content in the DM of feather-free body was found. Depending on age, the body CP significantly decreased with increasing age, but male birds yielded higher (p < 0.001) CP content. The crude lipid content of the feather-free and whole empty body significantly increased with age and was higher in female as compared to male birds (p < 0.001). Depending on age and gender, the crude ash content both in feathers and feather-free body of modern fast-growing chickens was rather low and with very low variation.展开更多
Beak and feather disease virus(BFDV) is an infectious agent responsible for feather degeneration and beak deformation in birds. In March 2017, an epidemic of psittacine beak and feather disease(PBFD) struck a farm in ...Beak and feather disease virus(BFDV) is an infectious agent responsible for feather degeneration and beak deformation in birds. In March 2017, an epidemic of psittacine beak and feather disease(PBFD) struck a farm in Fuzhou in the Fujian Province of southeast China, resulting in the death of 51 parrots. In this study, the disease was diagnosed and the pathogen was identified by PCR and whole genome sequencing. A distinct BFDV strain was identified and named as the FZ strain.This BFDV strain caused severe disease symptoms and pathological changes characteristic of typical PBFD in parrots, for example, loss of feathers and deformities of the beak and claws, and severe pathological changes in multiple organs of the infected birds. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the FZ strain was more closely related to the strain circulating in New Caledonia than the strains previously reported in China. Nucleotide homology between the FZ strain and other 43 strains of BFDV ranged from 80.0% to 92.0%. Blind passage experiment showed that this strain had limited replication capability in SPF Chicken Embryos and DF-1 Cells. Furthermore, the capsid(Cap) gene of this FZ strain was cloned into the p GEX-4 T-1 expression vector to prepare the polyclonal anti-Cap antibody. Western blotting analysis using the anti-Cap antibody further confirmed that the diseased parrots were infected with BFDV. In this study, a PBFD and its pathogen was identified for the first time in Fujian Province of China, suggesting that future surveillance of BFDV should be performed.展开更多
Background:Most of long-distance migratory raptors suspend moult during migration but detailed information is patchy for most of the Palearctic species.The aim of this research is to verify if active moulting in migra...Background:Most of long-distance migratory raptors suspend moult during migration but detailed information is patchy for most of the Palearctic species.The aim of this research is to verify if active moulting in migrating Western Marsh Harriers occurs and to quantify the extent of moulting along the season focusing on primary feathers.Methods:During a whole post-breeding migration at the Strait of Messina in Southern Italy,we gathered information about symmetrical flight feather moult from 221 adults by taking pictures of raptors passing at close range.Results:We found active moulting primaries during autumn migration in 48.4% of our samples.Slight differences on the extension and timing among sex classes were recorded during the season,with adult females showing a more advanced moult stage than adult males.Conclusion:The finding that the extension of the suspended moult was already defined in migratory individuals might be explained as an adaptation to minimize the energy required for moulting during migration.展开更多
The present research was conducted to extract keratin protein from chicken feathers. Protein is an important nutrient needed by our body to maintain body structures and is an important ingredient for cosmetic products...The present research was conducted to extract keratin protein from chicken feathers. Protein is an important nutrient needed by our body to maintain body structures and is an important ingredient for cosmetic products. Chicken feathers have high level of keratin protein content and can become a suitable protein source. The main processes involved are first dissolving chicken feathers using different reducing agents and later on separating the protein from chemicals. Reducing agents used are potassium cyanide, thioglycolic acid and sodium sulphide. Once the feathers are dissolved using reducing agents, ammonium sulfate solution is added to the solution for the precipitation of protein. The precipitated protein is washed with water several times and sodium hydroxide solution is used to obtain protein back in the solution form. Out of three different reducing agents used, sodium sulfide gives the highest efficiency in dissolving chicken feathers since the feathers are dissolved in a very short period of time. The percentage of keratin protein is evaluated by means of biuret test and FTIR analysis. The analysis by FTIR confirmed the presence of carboxyl acid and amino groups in the protein solution. The biuret test helps in determining the concentration of protein obtained from different methods. Thus these two tests confirm the presence of protein in the solution. From this research, it can be concluded that protein can be extracted from chicken feathers. The keratin protein solution can be used for several purposes such as anti-aging cream, shampoo, and conditioner and for medical purposes such as bone replacement and bone graft.展开更多
文摘The Anhui Wanxi Feather & DownCorporation is situated in Luan City, AnhuiProvince, with an area of 66,670 sqm, includingconstruction area of 18,000 sqm. It has fixedassets of RMB50 million, floating capital of 7million. The main production equipment includetwo feather & down production lines importedfrom Germany, with an annual capacity of 2,000-ton standard feather or 500-ton watered down. The Feather & Down Products Factoryunder its administration has 150 electric high-speed sewing machines and some specialequipment, with an annual capacity of 200,000pieces.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Development Program of Jilin Province(No.20240101122JC)and(No.20240101143JC)the Key Scientific and Technological Research and Development Projects of Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Department(Grant Number 20230201108GX)。
文摘Insufficient interfacial activity and poor wettability between fibers and matrix are the two main factors limiting the improvement of mechanical properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics(CFRP).Owl feathers are known for their unique compact structure;they are not only lightweight but also strong.In this study,an in-depth look at owl feathers was made and it found that owl feathers not only have the macro branches structure between feather shafts and branches but also have fine feather structures on the branches.The presence of these fine feather structures increases the specific surface area of the plume branches and allows neighboring plume branches to hook up with each other,forming an effective mechanical interlocking structure.These structures bring owl feathers excellent mechanical properties.Inspired by the natural structure of owl feathers,a weaving technique and a sizing process were combined to prepare bionic Carbon Fiber(CF)fabrics and then to fabricate the bionic CFRP with structural characteristics similar to owl feathers.To evaluate the effect of the fine feather structure on the mechanical properties of CFRP,a mechanical property study on CFRP with and without the fine feather imitation structure were conducted.The experimental results show that the introduction of the fine feather branch structure enhance the mechanical properties of CFRP significantly.Specifically,the tensile strength of the composites increased by 6.42%and 13.06%and the flexural strength increased by 8.02%and 16.87%in the 0°and 90°sample directions,respectively.These results provide a new design idea for the improvement of the mechanical properties of the CFRP,promoting the application of CFRP in engineering fields,such as automotive transportation,rail transit,aerospace,and construction.
文摘Powered fight in birds is reliant on feathers forming an aerodynamic surface that resists air pressures.Many basic aspects of feather functionality are unknown,which hampers our understanding of wing function in birds.This study measured the dimensions of primary and secondaryfight feathers of 19 species of parrots.The maximum force the feathers could withstand from below was also measured to mimic the pressuresexperienced during a downstroke.The analysis tested whether:(1)feather dimensions differed along the wing and among secondary and primary remiges;(2)the force that feathers could withstand varied among the remiges;and(3)there would be isometric relationships with bodymass for feather characteristics.The results show that body mass signifcantly affected vane width,rachis thickness,maximum force,and ultimate bending moment,but the relationship for feather length only approached signifcance.Many of the proximal secondary feathers showedsignifcantly lower values relative to the frst primary,whereas for distal primaries the values were greater.There were isometric relationships forforce measurements of primary and secondary feathers with body mass,but there was positive allometry for feather lengths and vane widths.The forces feathers can withstand vary along the wing may be a proxy for the aerodynamic properties of the feathers in situ.Broader taxonomicstudies that explore these topics are required for other species representing a range of different orders.A better understanding of the functionality of feathers will improve our understanding of how avian fight works particularly considering the variety in fight style and wing shape in birds.
文摘Taking a widely contaminated yet abundant waste,such as poultry feathers,and extracting keratin from this struc-ture appears to be a real challenge whenever the preservation of the secondary structure of the protein is desired.This process would allow exploiting it in ways(e.g.,in the biomedicalfield)that are inspired by a structure that is primarily designed forflight,therefore capable specifically of withstandingflexure and lateral buckling,also with very low thicknesses.The preservation of the structure is based on disulfide crosslinks,and it is offered with pre-ference by some chemical treatments,mainly those based on ionic liquid and on a reduction process.However,the degree of preservation cannot always be precisely assessed;however,beyond chemical characterization,the forma-tion of homogeneous gels can also suggest that the process was successful in this sense.An extraction respectful of nature’s intentions,considering that the secondary structure builds up according to the very function of the feath-ers in the animal,can be deemed to be biomimetic.In particular,biomimetic extractions comply with the very characteristics the protein was designed for to serve in the specific environmental and mechanical situation in which it is inserted.This review tries to elucidate in which cases this aim is achieved and for which specific appli-cations a chicken feather keratin that has preserved its secondary structure can be suited.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372902)Guangdong Special Support Program for Young Talents(NYQN2024007)。
文摘Background Poor feather growth not only affects the appearance of the organism but also decreases the feed efficiency.Methionine(Met)is an essential amino acid required for feather follicle development;yet the exact mechanism involved remains insufficiently understood.Methods A total of 1801-day-old broilers were selected and randomly divided into 3 treatments:control group(0.45%Met),Met-deficiency group(0.25%Met),and Met-rescue group(0.45%Met in the pre-trial period and 0.25%Met in the post-trial period).The experimental period lasted for 56 d,with a pre-trial period of 1–28 d and a post-trial period of 29–56 d.In addition,Met-deficiency and Met-rescue models were constructed in feather follicle epidermal stem cell by controlling the supply of Met in the culture medium.Results Dietary Met-deficiency significantly(P<0.05)reduced the ADG,ADFI and F/G,and inhibited feather follicle development.Met supplementation significantly(P<0.05)improved growth performance and the feather growth in broilers.Met-rescue may promote feather growth in broilers by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway(GSK-3β,CK1,Axin1,β-catenin,Activeβ-catenin,TCF4,and Cyclin D1).Compared with Met-deficiency group,Met-rescue significantly(P<0.05)increased the activity of feather follicle epidermal stem cell and mitochondrial membrane potential,activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,and decreased the content of reactive oxygen species(P<0.05).CO-IP confirmed that mitochondrial protein PGAM5 interacted with Axin1,the scaffold protein of the disruption complex of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,and directly mediated Met regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and feather follicle development.Conclusions PGAM5 binding to Axin1 mediates the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,and promotes feather follicle development and feather growth of broiler chickens through Met supplementation.These results provide theoretical support for the improvement of economic value and production efficiency of broiler chickens.
基金supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China(125A0607)Department of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province(XDYC-KJLJ-2022-0004)。
文摘Flight feathers represent a hallmark innovation of avian evolution.Recent comparative genomic analyses identified a 284 bp avian-specific highly conserved element(ASHCE)located within the eighth intron of the SIM bHLH transcription factor 1(Sim1)gene,postulated to act as a cis-regulatory element governing flight feather morphogenesis.To investigate its functional significance,genome-edited(GE)primordial germ cell(PGC)lines carrying targeted ASHCE deletions were generated using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing,with germline chimeric males subsequently mated with wild-type(WT)hens to obtain GE progeny.The resulting GE chickens harbored 257-260 bp deletions,excising approximately half of the Sim1-ASHCE sequence.Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)analysis showed an average 0.32-fold reduction in Sim1 expression in the forelimbs of GE embryos at day 8(E8)compared to WT counterparts.Despite this,GE chickens developed structurally normal flight and tail feathers.In situ hybridization localized Sim1 expression to the posterior mesenchyme surrounding flight feather buds in E8 WT embryos,but not within the buds themselves.These results suggest that partial deletion of Sim1-ASHCE,despite diminishing Sim1 expression,does not disrupt flight feather formation.The excised region appears to possess enhancer activity toward Sim1 but is dispensable for flight feather development.Complete ablation of the ASHCE will be necessary to fully resolve the regulatory role of Sim1 in avian feather morphogenesis.
基金Supported by Key Research and Development Program of Jiangsu Province(Modern Agriculture)(BE2017348)~~
文摘[Objective]This study aimed to explore the inheritance pattem of feather color in hybrid offspring of Texan pigeon and American Silver King pigeon, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of feather color auto-sexing strains. [Method]The segregation situation of feather color in the male and female offspring of Texan pigeon （♂）×American Silver King pigeon （♀）（TKYW） and American Silver King pigeon （♂） ×Texan pigeon （♀） （YWTK） was analyzed. [Result]The feather color of TKYW offspring was all slate gray. Among the offspring of YWTK, the feather color of the males was all slate gray, while the feather color of the females was all silver gray; and the ratio between different colors was 1：1 （P 〉 0.05）. The F1 generation of YWTK was subjected to selfing, and the feather color of the male and female F2 generation was analyzed. It was found that the ratio of silver gray （male） to slate gray （male） to silver gray （female） to slate gray （female） was 1：1：1：1 （P 〉 0.05）. On the basis of the above results, it could be preliminarily predicated that the feather color control genes of Texan pigeon are Z^BZB and Z^BW and those of American Silver King pigeon are Z^bZ^b and Z^bW. There is a cumulative effect on B which is dominant for b. [Conclusion] This study will better solve the problem of male and female identification of pigeon in the early period.
文摘Bird flight is a remarkable adaption that has allowed thousands of species to colonize all terrestrial habitats. A golden eagle has impressive flying abilities, such as hovering, perching, preying and attacking. To reveal the flying abilities, avian geometry of a golden eagle was extracted based on noncontact surface measurements using a ROMBER three-dimensional laser scanner. Distributions of a camber line, thickness and a secondary feather line of the extracted point cloud were fitted using convenient analytical expressions. A traditional airfoil was established with the camber line and thickness, then a combined airfoil was constructed by combining the traditional airfoil with a secondary feather. Oscillations of an airfoil as well as rapid pitch up were simplified as a sine wave around the quarter chord axis. Thereafter, both steady and unsteady aerodynamic performances of the airfoil are computed, the influences of the secondary feather on the steady and unsteady aerodynamics were further studied.
基金The Scientific Research Foundation of Third Institute of Oceanography,Ministry of Natural Resources under contract No.2015019the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41606144the Science Foundation of the Fujian Province,China under contract No.2016J05098
文摘Bacillus sp. JM7, a strain isolated from the deep-sea of the South China Sea, was found to efficiently degrade 79.4% native chicken feather within 30 h. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that JM7 strain could gradually degrade feather by modifying the microstructure of feather keratin. A total of 25 protease genes were predicted from the draft genome of JM7 strain, among which a predicted subtilisin-like serine protease(designated as Ker02562) was further characterized for its keratinolytic activity. The recombinant Ker02562 functioned at a wide range of temperatures from 30℃ to 60℃, with an optimum at 40–50℃. Ker02562 was highly active at various pHs ranging from 5.0 to 13.0, with a maximum activity observed at pH 7.0–9.0. Remarkably, recombinant Ker02562 was stable in extreme alkaline environments(pH 10–13), which was much better than most other reported keratinases. Collectively, these favorable properties could make Bacillus sp. JM7 and Ker02562 attractive to be applied in the detergent formulation and feather bioconversion.
基金supported by the Swedish Excellence Center Waste Refinery
文摘A two-stage system was developed which combines the biological degradation of keratin-rich waste with the production of biogas. Chicken feather waste was treated biologically with a recombinant Bacillus megaterium strain showing keratinase activity prior to biogas production. Chopped, autoclaved chicken feathers （4%, W/V） were completely degraded, resulting in a yellowish fermentation broth with a level of 0.51 mg/mL soluble proteins after 8 days of cultivation of the recombinant strain. During the subsequent anaerobic batch digestion experiments, methane production of 0.35 Nm3/kg dry feathers （i.e., 0.4 Nm3/kg volatile solids of feathers）, corresponding to 80% of the theoretical value on proteins, was achieved from the feather hydrolyzates, independently of the pre- hydrolysis time period of 1, 2 or 8 days. Cultivation with a native keratinase producing strain, Bacillus licheniformis resulted in only 0.25 mg/mL soluble proteins in the feather hydrolyzate, which then was digested achieving a maximum accumulated methane production of 0.31 Nm3/kg dry feathers. Feather hydrolyzates treated with the wild type B. megaterium produced 0.21 Nm3 CH4/kg dry feathers as maximum yield.
文摘Ultra-micro structure of eggshell was observed and compositions of eggshell and feather were analyzed. The results showed that the structure of eggshell has special characters besides common structure. The content of poisonous elements in wild great bustard(Otis talda) eggshell and feather is significant lower than that in eggshell of crested foes(Nipponis nippon) and in feather of red crown crane(Grus japonesis) because of less disturbance by people. The contents of 14 elements of female’s feather all are higher than those of male’s.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21176269,31371880,31401526)Higher School Science and Technology Innovation Project of Guangdong Province(2013KJCX0102)Science and Technology Plan Project of Guangdong Province(2013B010403029)
文摘Feather, as a by-product of the poultry industry, has long been treated as a solid waste, which causes environ- mental and economic problems. In this work, the hydrolyzed feather keratin （HFK） was extracted from the chicken feather using a cost-effective method of alkali-extraction and acid-precipitation by applying urea and sodium sulfide. The aim was development and characterization of the eco-friendly films based on the HFK with variable glycerol contents by a thermoplastic process. The thermal analysis showed that high temperature and high pres- sure improved the compatibility between the glycerol and the HFI（ molecules. Also it was shown that the addi- tion of water is necessary in the hot-pressing process of films, The FT-IR analysis indicated that the formation of the new hydrogen bonds between HFK and glycerol. By increasing the glycerol content, the film tensile strength （orb ） decreases from 10,5 MPa to 5.7 MPa and the solubility increases from 15.3% to 20.9%, while the elongation at break （εb） achieves the maximum value of 63,8% for the film with 35% glycerol. The swelling was just below 16.9% at 25 ℃ for 24 h, suggesting a good stability of the films in water. The water vapor permeability （WVP） varied between 3.02 x 10 ^10g. m 2. s-1 . pa-1 and 4.11 x 10-10g · m-2 · s-1 · Pa-1 for the films with 20%and 40% glycerol, respectively. The HFK film was uniform, translucent and tough, which could be used in packaging and agricultural field.
文摘Two consecutive growth experiments with meat-type chickens (Ross 308) were conducted in order to quantify the age-dependent amino acid (AA) content in the whole body protein of male and female birds based on experimental data of the feather and feather-free body protein fractions. Birds were reared under uniform housing and feeding conditions (floor pens, 15 pens per gender, 5 birds per pen) during the starter (day 1 to 22) and grower period (day 22 to 36). Both the starter and grower diet based on corn, wheat, soybean meal, soybean protein concentrate and feed amino acids was formulated to ensure an equal feed protein quality close to the ideal amino acid ratio by adjusting a constant mixture of the feed proteins. At start of the experiment and further on weekly up to the end of the 5th week, 15 birds per gender (each 3 pens of 5 birds) were selected and fasted for 24 h, to emptying of gastro-intestinal tract, respectively. Subsequently, birds were euthanized and the feathers were manually removed. Nitrogen (N) and AA content were determined both in the feather and feather-free body fraction. The concentration of individual AAs in both of body protein fraction is varying considerably. Explicitly higher Cys, Ser and Pro but importantly lower Met, Lys and His concentrations were found in the feather protein. Furthermore, significant differences (p for nearly all AAs of the studied body protein fractions and the whole empty body protein dependent on age of birds were observed. Especially high deviations were obtained during the first week of age and at the end of the experiment. According to this observed variation of AA concentrations must be concluded that the body AA composition of meat-type chickens during growth is not constant. The detected gender-specific differences for several AAs in the feather and body protein of male and female birds were rather low and with very low variation.
文摘The objective of this research was to update current results about the nutrient composition of broiler chickens during the growth period up to market age. Two growth experiments were conducted for assessing the nutrient content of feathers and feather-free body of meat-type chickens (Ross 308). Both male and female birds were reared under uniform management conditions (floor pens;15 pens per gender;5 birds per pen). Experimental diets both for the starter (day 1 to 22) and the grower period (day 22 to 36) were based on corn, wheat, soybean meal, soybean protein concentrate and well balanced with feed amino acids. The feed protein quality was adapted to the ideal amino acid ratio and equated within both of the feeding periods by adjusting a constant mixture of the feed proteins. Each 15 birds per gender (3 pens of 5 birds) were selected and subsequently fasted for 24 h before quantitative de-feathering both at start of the experiment and further on weekly up to the end of the 5th week. Nutrient content was determined in representative samples of the feather and feather-free body fraction. In the feather dry matter (DM) very high crude protein (CP) concentrations (>96%) with low age-dependent and insignificant gender-specific differences were observed. In spite, a relatively high variation of CP content in the DM of feather-free body was found. Depending on age, the body CP significantly decreased with increasing age, but male birds yielded higher (p < 0.001) CP content. The crude lipid content of the feather-free and whole empty body significantly increased with age and was higher in female as compared to male birds (p < 0.001). Depending on age and gender, the crude ash content both in feathers and feather-free body of modern fast-growing chickens was rather low and with very low variation.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFD0500100,2016YFD0500205)Discipline Development Grant from College of Animal Sciences FAFU(2018DK003)+3 种基金Natural Science Foundation of China(31602046)National Basic Research Program(973)of China(2015CB910502)Program for Fujian University Outstanding Youth Scientific Research,Science and Technology Innovation Special Foundation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University(KFA17229A)Collaborative Innovation Center of Animal Health and Food Safety Application Technology in Fujian,Fujian Vocational College of Agriculture(Kla17H01A).
文摘Beak and feather disease virus(BFDV) is an infectious agent responsible for feather degeneration and beak deformation in birds. In March 2017, an epidemic of psittacine beak and feather disease(PBFD) struck a farm in Fuzhou in the Fujian Province of southeast China, resulting in the death of 51 parrots. In this study, the disease was diagnosed and the pathogen was identified by PCR and whole genome sequencing. A distinct BFDV strain was identified and named as the FZ strain.This BFDV strain caused severe disease symptoms and pathological changes characteristic of typical PBFD in parrots, for example, loss of feathers and deformities of the beak and claws, and severe pathological changes in multiple organs of the infected birds. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the FZ strain was more closely related to the strain circulating in New Caledonia than the strains previously reported in China. Nucleotide homology between the FZ strain and other 43 strains of BFDV ranged from 80.0% to 92.0%. Blind passage experiment showed that this strain had limited replication capability in SPF Chicken Embryos and DF-1 Cells. Furthermore, the capsid(Cap) gene of this FZ strain was cloned into the p GEX-4 T-1 expression vector to prepare the polyclonal anti-Cap antibody. Western blotting analysis using the anti-Cap antibody further confirmed that the diseased parrots were infected with BFDV. In this study, a PBFD and its pathogen was identified for the first time in Fujian Province of China, suggesting that future surveillance of BFDV should be performed.
文摘Background:Most of long-distance migratory raptors suspend moult during migration but detailed information is patchy for most of the Palearctic species.The aim of this research is to verify if active moulting in migrating Western Marsh Harriers occurs and to quantify the extent of moulting along the season focusing on primary feathers.Methods:During a whole post-breeding migration at the Strait of Messina in Southern Italy,we gathered information about symmetrical flight feather moult from 221 adults by taking pictures of raptors passing at close range.Results:We found active moulting primaries during autumn migration in 48.4% of our samples.Slight differences on the extension and timing among sex classes were recorded during the season,with adult females showing a more advanced moult stage than adult males.Conclusion:The finding that the extension of the suspended moult was already defined in migratory individuals might be explained as an adaptation to minimize the energy required for moulting during migration.
文摘The present research was conducted to extract keratin protein from chicken feathers. Protein is an important nutrient needed by our body to maintain body structures and is an important ingredient for cosmetic products. Chicken feathers have high level of keratin protein content and can become a suitable protein source. The main processes involved are first dissolving chicken feathers using different reducing agents and later on separating the protein from chemicals. Reducing agents used are potassium cyanide, thioglycolic acid and sodium sulphide. Once the feathers are dissolved using reducing agents, ammonium sulfate solution is added to the solution for the precipitation of protein. The precipitated protein is washed with water several times and sodium hydroxide solution is used to obtain protein back in the solution form. Out of three different reducing agents used, sodium sulfide gives the highest efficiency in dissolving chicken feathers since the feathers are dissolved in a very short period of time. The percentage of keratin protein is evaluated by means of biuret test and FTIR analysis. The analysis by FTIR confirmed the presence of carboxyl acid and amino groups in the protein solution. The biuret test helps in determining the concentration of protein obtained from different methods. Thus these two tests confirm the presence of protein in the solution. From this research, it can be concluded that protein can be extracted from chicken feathers. The keratin protein solution can be used for several purposes such as anti-aging cream, shampoo, and conditioner and for medical purposes such as bone replacement and bone graft.
