Role of functional fatty acids in modulation of reproductive potential in livestock

Fatty acids are not only widely known as energy sources,but also play important roles in many metabolic pathways.The significance of fatty acids in modulating the reproductive potential of livestock has received greater recognition in recent years.Functional fatty acids and their metabolites improve follicular development,oocyte maturation and embryo development,as well as endometrial receptivity and placental vascular development,through enhancing energy supply and precursors for the synthesis of their productive hormones,such as steroid hormones and prosta-glandins.However,many studies are focused on the impacts of individual functional fatty acids in the reproductive cycle,lacking studies involved in deeper mechanisms and optimal fatty acid requirements for specific physiological stages.Therefore,an overall consideration of the combination and synergy of functional fatty acids and the establish-ment of optimal fatty acid requirement for specific stages is needed to improve reproductive potential in livestock.

Net energy of corn,soybean meal and rapeseed meal in growing pigs

Background: Two experiments were conducted to estimate the net energy(NE) of corn, soybean meal, expel er-pressed rapeseed meal(EP-RSM) and solvent-extracted rapeseed meal(SE-RSM) using indirect calorimetry and to validate the NE of these four ingredients using pig growth performance.Methods: In Exp.1, 24 barrows(initial BW = 36.4 ± 1.6 kg) were allotted to 1 of 4 diets which included a corn basal diet,a corn-soybean meal basal diet and two rapeseed meal diets containing 20% EP-RSM(9.5% ether extract) or SE-RSM(1.1% ether extract) substituted for corn and soybean meal. The design allowed the calculation of NE values of corn,soybean meal and rapeseed meals according to the difference method. In Exp.2, 175 growing pigs(initial BW = 36.0± 5.2 kg) were fed 1 of 5 diets for 28 d, with five pigs per pen and seven replications(pens) per treatment in order to validate the measured energy values. Diets were a corn-soybean meal diet and four diets including 10% or 20% EP-RSM and 10% or 20% SE-RSM.Results: The NE of corn, soybean meal, EP-RSM and SE-RSM were 12.46, 11.34, 11.71 and 8.83 MJ/kg DM, respectively. The NE to ME ratio of corn(78%) was similar to tabular values, however, the NE to ME ratios of soybean meal(70%) and rapeseed meal(76%) were greater than tabular values. The greater NE value in EP-RSM than in SE-RSM is consistent with its higher EE content. Increasing EP-RSM or SE-RSM did not affect the growth performance of pigs and the caloric efficiency of NE was comparable for al diets.Conclusions: The NE of EP-RSM was similar to soybean meal, and both were greater than SE-RSM. The DE, ME and NE values measured in Exp.1 are confirmed by results of Exp. 2 with comparable caloric efficiencies of DE, ME or NE for all diets.

Methodologies on estimating the energy requirements for maintenance and determining the net energy contents of feed ingredients in swine:a review of recent work

In the past two decades, a considerable amount of research has focused on the determination of the digestible(DE) and metabolizable energy(ME) contents of feed ingredients fed to swine. Compared with the DE and ME systems, the net energy(NE) system is assumed to be the most accurate estimate of the energy actually available to the animal. However, published data pertaining to the measured NE content of ingredients fed to growing pigs are limited. Therefore, the Feed Data Group at the Ministry of Agricultural Feed Industry Centre(MAFIC) located at China Agricultural University has evaluated the NE content of many ingredients using indirect calorimetry. The present review summarizes the NE research works conducted at MAFIC and compares these results with those from other research groups on methodological aspect. These research projects mainly focus on estimating the energy requirements for maintenance and its impact on the determination, prediction, and validation of the NE content of several ingredients fed to swine. The estimation of maintenance energy is affected by methodology, growth stage,and previous feeding level. The fasting heat production method and the curvilinear regression method were used in MAFIC to estimate the NE requirement for maintenance. The NE contents of different feedstuffs were determined using indirect calorimetry through standard experimental procedure in MAFIC. Previously generated NE equations can also be used to predict NE in situations where calorimeters are not available. Although popular, the caloric efficiency is not a generally accepted method to validate the energy content of individual feedstuffs. In the future,more accurate and dynamic NE prediction equations aiming at specific ingredients should be established, and more practical validation approaches need to be developed.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone regulates the redox status in vitro and in vivo of weaned pigs via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

Background:Oxidative stress is a main cause of piglet gut damage and diarrhea.Pyrroloquinoline quinone(PQQ),is a novel redox cofactor with antioxidant properties.However,the effect and mechanism that PQQ supplementation decreases oxidative injury in weaned pigs is not understood.Therefore,the aim of this study is to confirm the effect of PQQ on regulating redox status in weaned pigs and the mechanism for antioxidant function by porcine intestinal epithelial cell line(IPEC-J2)challenged with H_(2)O_(2).Results:Experiment 1,144 Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire pigs(weaned at 28 d)were allocated to four groups:received a basal diet(control)and diets supplemented with 0.15%,0.30%and 0.45%PQQ,respectively.On d 28,growth performance,diarrhea incidence and redox factors were measured.Experiment 2,IPEC-J2 were treated with or without PQQ in the presence or absence of H_(2)O_(2)for indicated time points.Experiment 3,IPEC-J2 were transfected with or without Nrf2 siRNA,then treated according to Experiment 2.The cell viability,redox factors,protein of tight junctions and Nrf2 pathway were determined.In vivo,PQQ supplementation demonstrated dose-related improvements in average daily gain,and gain to feed ratio(Linear P<0.05).During d 0–28,compared to controls,0.45%PQQ supplementation for pigs decreased diarrhea incidence and MDA content in liver and jejunum,and increased concentration of SOD in liver;0.3%PQQ supplementation decreased ileal and liver MDA concentration;and 0.15%PQQ supplementation decreased ileal MDA concentration(P<0.05).In vitro,compared to cells cultured with H_(2)O_(2),pre-treatment with PQQ increased cell viability,tight junction proteins expression including ZO-1,ZO-2,Occludin and Claudin-1;and decreased ROS concentration and level of Caspase-3(P<0.05);as well as upregulated the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax and protein expression of nuclear Nrf2,HO-1.Notably,Nrf2 knockdown by transfection with Nrf2 siRNA largely abrogated the positive effects of PQQ pretreatment on H_(2)O_(2)-induced intracellular changes.Conclusions:PQQ administration attenuated oxidative stress in weaned pigs which is associated with activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Effects of dietary fiber content and different fiber-rich ingredients on endogenous loss of fat and fatty acids in growing pigs

Background: Determination of the endogenous loss of fat(ELF) is used to adjust for the estimation of true total tract digestibility(TTTD) of fat in diets and ingredients.Any factor which affected ELF may further affect the digestibility of fat,including sources and concentrations of fat and fiber in the diet.There are some reports of determining the ELF using regression methods based on different levels of fat intake,while reports on effects of dietary fiber content and different fiber-rich ingredients in pig diets on ELF are very limited.Therefore,the objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary fiber content and different fiber-rich ingredients on endogenous losses of fat and fatty acids at the end of ileum and throughout the entire intestinal tract in growing pigs.Methods: In Exp.1,the effect of fiber content on endogenous loss of fat was determined using six growing pigs(Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire;27.6 ± 2.4 kg),fitted with a T-cannula at the end of ileum.The experimental design was a 6 × 6 complete Latin square design with six periods of feeding and six diets.The six experimental fat-free diets were formulated to include graded levels of neutral detergent fiber(NDF)(0,40,80,120,160 and 200 g/kg) and soybean hull(SH) was the only fiber source,providing 0,75,150,225,300 and 375 g/kg,respectively.Chromic oxide was included at4 g/kg in all diets as an indigestible marker.In Exp.2,six crossbred growing barrows(27.6 ± 1.6 kg) were used and the experimental design was the same as for Exp.1.The six fat-free diets were formulated to include six common fiber-rich ingredients and the concentration of NDF was 100 g/kg.The six fiber-rich ingredients were defatted rice bran(DRB),sugar beet pulp(SBP),rice hull(RH),corn germ meal(CGM),SH and wheat bran(WB) and they were fed at represented250,270,145,250,170 and 280 g/kg in the diet,respectively.Results: In Exp.1,the endogenous loss of fatty acids profile did not change as dietary NDF increased in growing pigs.The endogenous losses of fat,C16:0,C18:0,C18:1,C18:2,total unsaturated fatty acids(UFA) and total saturated fatty acids(SFA) in growing pigs at the end of ileum and throughout the entire intestinal tract increased linearly as NDF content of diets increased.The endogenous losses of fat,as well as C16:0 and C18:0 throughout the entire intestinal tract also increased quadratically as NDF content of diets increased.The ELF increased from 0.71 to 3.14 g/kg of dry matter intake(DMI) and 0.56 to 8.21 g/kg DMI at the end of ileum and throughout the entire intestinal tract in growing pigs,respectively.The ELF occurred in the hindgut except for the growing pigs fed 0 and 4% NDF in their diets.The endogenous losses of C16:0 and UFA occurred primarily in the upper regions of the gut and the greatest endogenous losses of C18:0 occurred in the hindgut.The endogenous losses of fat,individual SFA and total SFA throughout the entire intestinal tract were much greater than that at the end of ileum.However,the endogenous losses of individual UFA and total UFA were less throughout the intestinal tract than at the end of ileum.In Exp.2,the endogenous losses of fat at the end of ileum were greater in growing pigs fed CGM or WB diets.The endogenous loss of fatty acids profile changed to a slight degree at the end of ileum that the endogenous loss of UFA(particularly C18:1 and C18:2) in growing pigs fed CGM or WB diets were greater(P < 0.01) than that for the other four diets.The greatest(P < 0.01) endogenous loss of SFA(particularly C18:0) was in growing pigs fed the RH diet.The endogenous losses of fat,C16:0,C18:0 and SFA over the entire intestinal tract were much greater in growing pigs fed CGM or WB diets,whereas the lowest values were in growing pigs fed DRB diet.The ELF at the end of ileum in growing pigs fed CGM or WB diets were 3.50 or 4.17 g/kg DMI,respectively,and the ELF over the entire intestinal tract was 7.23 or 7.38 g/kg DMI.The contribution in percentage of ELF in the upper gut was greater than that in the hindgut of growing pigs fed DRB and RH diets,while the ELF in the upper gut and hindgut were equal in growing pigs fed SBP,CGM and WB diets.On the whole,the endogenous losses of C18:1 and C18:2 throughout the entire intestinal tract in growing pigs fed the six fiber-rich ingredients diets were less than losses at the end of ileum,whereas the endogenous loss of fat,C16:0,C18:0 and SFA were greater throughout the intestinal tract than at the end of ileum.Conclusion: The profile of loss in endogenous fatty acids did not change as dietary NDF increased in growing pigs and the endogenous losses of fatty acids(C16:0,C18:0,C18:1 and C18:2) fat,UFA and SFA increased linearly as NDF content increased in the diets of pigs.The endogenous losses of fat or fatty acids at the end of ileum were greater in growing pigs fed RH,CGM or WB diets.The endogenous losses of fat,fatty acids(C16:0 and C18:0) and SFA were greater over the entire intestinal tract in pigs fed CGM or WB diet,while these values were the lowest in growing pigs fed the DRB diet.The contribution in percentage losses of fat in the upper gut were greater than in the hindgut of growing pigs fed DRB and RH diets,while the contribution of losses of fat in the upper gut and hindgut were equal in growing pigs fed SBP,CGM and WB diets.In addition,the endogenous loss of individual or total UFA was less over the entire intestinal tract of growing pigs fed fiber diets than that at the end of ileum,and the greatest endogenous losses of fat,individual or total SFA were over the entire intestinal tract.Therefore,differences in fiber content and the nature of fiber-rich ingredients in diets of pigs have different effects to the endogenous losses of fat or fatty acids.Considering the requirement of fat or fatty acids of pigs,careful attention must be paid that the endogenous losses of fat and fatty acids when fiber ingredients are used in diets of pigs.

Effects of dietary ratio of n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on immunoglobulins, cytokines, fatty acid composition, and performance of lactating sows and suckling piglets

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary ratios of n-6：n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids （PUFA） on the performance of lactating sows and their piglets. Thirty pregnant Landrace sows were assigned to one of three treatments from d 108 of gestation until weaning （26-29 d） and were fed diets containing different ratios of n-6：n-3 PUFA including 3：1,9：1 and 13：1. The effects on sow and litter production traits were examined together with an assessment of sow body condition. No differences were detected among the treatments for the daily feed intake of sows or changes in sow weight and back-fat levels during lactation （P 〉 0.05）. Litter size at d 14 and d 21 were tended to increase in 3：1 treatment compared with 9：1 and 13：1 treatments （P 〈 0.10）. Litter weight gain （1.77 kg/d） from d 0 to d 14 was tended to increase in 9：1 groups compared with the other two treatments （P 〈 0.10）. A significant difference was observed for the content of a -linolenic acid, total n-3 PUFA, and the ratio of n-6：n-3 PUFA in the colostrum, milk, and piglets plasma （P 〈 0.01）. The effects of different ratios of n-6：n-3 PUFA in sow diets on colostrum, milk and piglet plasma immunoglobulin concentrations are studied. No difference was observed among treatments in the concentrations of IgM, and IgA in colostrum （P 〉 0.05）. A great significant difference for IgG concentration was observed among 3 group in colostrum. A great significant difference for IgA, and IgM （P〈 0.01） concentrations in piglet plasma at d14 and a significant difference for IgG（P 〈 0.05） was observed at d14. Furthermore, at d 21 of lactation, piglet plasma IgG and IgA concentration were greater in 3：1 compared with 13：1 group （P 〈 0.01）. In summary, the current study demonstrated that altering the ratio of n-6：n-3 PUFA in lactating sow diet had an effect on the immune component including immunoglobulin and cytokines, and it tended to increase the litter average daily gain and improve the immune status of piglets when dietary ratio of n-6：n-3 PUFA was 9：1.

Integrative analysis of indirect calorimetry and metabolomics profiling reveals alterations in energy metabolism between fed and fasted pigs

Background: Fasting is a simple metabolic strategy that is used to estimate the maintenance energy requirement where the energy supply for basic physiological functions is provided by the mobilization of body reserves.However, the underlying metabolic components of maintenance energy expenditure are not clear. This study investigated the differences in heat production(HP), respiratory quotient(RQ) and plasma metabolites in pigs in the fed and fasted state, using the techniques of indirect calorimetry and metabolomics.Methods: Nine barrows(45.2 ± 1.7 kg BW) were fed corn-soybean based meal diets and were kept in metabolism crates for a period of 14 d. After 7 d adaptation, pigs were transferred to respiratory chambers to determine HP and RQ based on indirect calorimetry. Pigs were fed the diet at 2,400 k J ME/(kg BW0.6·d) during d 8 to 12. The last 2 d were divided into 24 h fasting and 48 h fasting treatment, respectively. Plasma samples of each pig were collected from the anterior vena cava during the last 3 d(1 d while pigs were fed and 2 d during which they were fasted).The metabolites of plasma were determined by high-resolution mass spectrometry using a metabolomics approach.Results: Indirect calorimetry analysis revealed that HP and RQ were no significant difference between 24 h fasting and 48 h fasting, which were lower than those of fed state(P < 0.01). The nitrogen concentration of urine tended to decrease with fasting(P = 0.054). Metabolomics analysis between the fed and fasted state revealed differences in15 compounds, most of which were not significantly different between 24 h fasting and 48 h fasting. Identified compounds were enriched in metabolic pathways related to linoleic acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism,sphingolipid metabolism, and pantothenate and Co A biosynthesis.Conclusion: These results suggest that the decreases in HP and RQ of growing pigs under fasting conditions were associated with the alterations of linoleic acid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. The integrative analysis also revealed that growing pigs under a 24-h fasting were more appropriate than a 48-h fasting to investigate the metabolic components of maintenance energy expenditure.

Recent advances in immunoassays and biosensors for mycotoxins detection in feedstuffs and foods

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungus.Many mycotoxin species are highly toxic and are frequently found in cereals and feedstuffs.So,powerful detection methods are vital and effective ways to prevent feed contamination.Traditional detection methods can no longer meet the needs of massive,real-time,simple,and fast mycotoxin monitoring.Rapid detection methods based on advanced material and sensor technology are the future trend.In this review,we highlight recent progress of mycotoxin rapid detection strategies in feedstuffs and foods,especially for simultaneous multiplex mycotoxin determination.Immunoassays,biosensors,and the prominent roles of nanomaterials are introduced.The principles of different types of recognition and signal transduction are explained,and the merits and pitfalls of these methods are compared.Furthermore,limitations and challenges of existing rapid sensing strategies and perspectives of future research are discussed.

Effects of the Ratio of n-6∶n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Maternal Diet on Immunoglobulins,Fatty Acid Composition,and Performance of Lactating Sows and Suckling Piglets under Conditions of Low Maternal Energy Intake

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different ratios of n-6 ∶ n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids （PUFA） in sow diets on the performance of lactating sows and their piglets at low digestible energy intakes. Twenty-one pregnant Landrace sows were assigned to one of three diets from day 108 of gestation until weaning （26 to 29 d） ,containing n-6∶n-3 PUFA ratios of 3 ∶1,8 ∶1 and 11 ∶1. The effects on sow and litter production traits and on sow body condition were examined. There were no differences among treatments in daily feed intakes or in changes in sow weight and back-fat levels during lactation. Litter size,litter weight at birth and weaning and litter average daily weight gain were also unaffected by treatment. As expected, large differences were observed in n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in the colostrum and plasma of sows and piglets （P 〈 0. 01） . The ratio of n6 ∶ n-3 PUFA the diet was positively correlated with those in colostrum,sow plasma and piglet plasma （R 2= 0. 55,0. 80 and 0. 80,respectively） . Sow plasma insulin and IGF-I levels at weaning were unaffected by the treatments. Plasma leptin （P 〈 0. 05） concentrations were increased in sows fed the diet with a n-6∶n-3 ratio of 8 ∶ 1. Immunoglobulin concentrations in colostrum were not altered by dietary treatment. Plasma IgG concentrations at d 14 were highest in piglets from sows fed the 8 ∶ 1 ratio of n-6∶n-3. Furthermore,this group had the highest IgA concentrations at day 21 of lactation compared with the other two groups （P 〈 0. 05） . In summary,our study demonstrated that at low digestible energy levels,altering the ratio of n-6 ∶ n-3 PUFA in the diets for lactating sows affected immune components and the fatty acid composition of lactating sows and their piglets. Further studies are needed to examine whether higher levels of fat supplementation than those used in the present study （1. 5%） can successfully enhance performance.

Diets enriched with finely ground wheat bran alter digesta passage rate and composition of the gut microbiome in sows

We investigated the effects of finely ground wheat bran on the nutrient digestibility, digesta passage rate,and gut microbiota structure in sows. A 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 test periods and 3 experimental diets was used. Six non-pregnant sows(parity: 5 to 7) were randomly assigned to 3 experimental diets with 2 replicates per treatment in each period. Each period lasted 19 d(12 d for adaptation and 7 d for experiment). The experimental diets included(a) a basal corn and soybean meal diet(CON),(b) a basal diet with 20% coarse wheat bran(CWB;particle size: 605 μm), and(c) a basal diet with 20% fine wheat bran(FWB;particle size: 438 μm). The results demonstrated that the apparent total tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and energy were reduced(P < 0.05) in the FWB and CWB groups compared with those in the CON group. Viscosity of digesta increased(P < 0.001) in FWB-fed sows. The passage rate of digesta from the mouth to the ileum decreased(P < 0.001) in FWB-fed sows. Peptide YY(PYY) concentration increased(P = 0.01) in FWB-fed sows after 30 min of feeding.In the FWB group, the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae at the family level increased(P < 0.05) in the ileal digesta. At the class level, the relative abundance of Clostridia in feces decreased(P < 0.05) in FWB-fed sows. FWB enhanced the concentration of butyrate in feces compared with CON and CWB(P = 0.04). These results suggest that dietary supplementation with finely ground wheat bran reduces the passage rate of digesta, increases the abundance of beneficial microorganisms, and elevates the concentration of short-chain fatty acids and PYY in sows. These findings indicate that the addition of finelyground wheat bran to the diets of sows is more effective than using coarse wheat bran for improving their satiety and intestinal microbial composition.

Dietary supplementation with pyrroloquinoline quinone promotes growth,relieves weaning stress,and regulates metabolism of piglets compared with adding zinc oxide

Hindered growth often occurs because of psychological and environmental stress during the weaning period of piglets.This study aimed to compare the effects of growth performance,diarrhea indices,digestibility of nutrients,antioxidant capacity,neurotransmitters levels and metabolism of weaned pigs fed diets supplemented with pyrroloquinoline quinone(PQQ)and zinc oxide(ZnO).Pigs weaned at d 28(n=108)were fed with three different diets including:the basal diet(CTRL group),the basal diet supplemented with 3.0 mg/kg PQQ(PQQ group)and the basal diet containing 1,600 mg/kg ZnO(ZNO group).During the first 14 d,weaned pigs fed the diet supplemented with PQQ and ZnO decreased feed to gain ratio and diarrhea rate(P<0.01).Compared with the CTRL group,average daily gain was increased in weaned pigs in the PQQ group from d 15 to 28(P=0.03).Compared with the CTRL group,pigs fed PQQ and ZnO supplemented diets showed improved apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of nutrients(P≤0.05).During the overall experimental period,the concentration of malondialdehyde was decreased in plasma of pigs in the PQQ and ZNO groups compared with the CTRL group(P<0.05).At d 28,the concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)and calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)was lower in plasma of weaned pigs in the PQQ and ZNO groups compared with the CTRL group(P<0.05).There was no difference between the PQQ and ZNO group in growth performance,ATTD of nutrition,antioxidant capacity and neurotransmitters levels.PQQ increased 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelate(P<0.05)compared with the CTRL group.According to metabolomic analysis,erucamide,formononetin and 3-methyl-L-histidine were up-regulated in the PQQ group(P<0.05).Compared with the CTRL group,aloesin and dibutyl adipate were down-regulated in the PQQ group(P<0.05).In conclusion,similar to ZnO,PQQ improves growth performance,digestibility of nutrients,antioxidant capacity,neuromodulation and metabolism of weaned pigs.Thus,like ZnO,PQQ can be effectively applied in weaned pigs.

Wheat bran inclusion level impacts its net energy by shaping gut microbiota and regulating heat production in gestating sows

An accurate estimation of net energy(NE)of wheat bran is essential for precision feeding of sows.However,the effects of inclusion level on NE of wheat bran have not been reported.Inclusion level was hypothesized to impact NE of wheat bran by regulating gut microbiota and partitioning of heat production.Therefore,twelve multiparous sows(Yorkshire×Landrace;2 to 4 parity)were assigned to a replicated 3×6 Youden square with 3 successive periods and 6 diets in each square.The experiment included a corn-soybean meal diet(WB0)and five diets including 9.8%(WB10),19.5%(WB20),29.2%(WB30),39.0%(WB40)and 48.7%wheat bran(WB50),respectively.Each period included 6 d of adaptation to diets followed by 6 d for heat production measurement using open-circuit respiration chambers.Compared with other groups,WB30,WB40,and WB50 enriched different fiber-degrading bacteria genera(P<0.05).Apparent total tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of wheat bran were greater in WB30 and WB40(P<0.05).Physical activity(standing and sitting)decreased as inclusion level increased(P=0.04),which tended to decrease related heat production(P=0.07).Thermic effect of feeding(TEF)was higher in WB50 than other treatments(P<0.01).Metabolizable energy of wheat bran was similar among treatment groups(except for WB10).NE of wheat bran conformed to a quadratic regression equation with inclusion level(R^(2)=0.99,P<0.01)and peaked at an inclusion level of 35.3%.In conclusion,increasing inclusion level decreased energy expenditure of sows on physical activity and promoted growth of fiber-degrading bacteria,which improved energy utilization of fiber.Fermentation of wheat bran fiber by Prevotellaceae_UCG-003 and norank_f_Paludibacteraceae might increase TEF.Consequently,sows utilized energy in wheat bran most efficiently at an inclusion level of 35.3%.

Motion-based analysis for construction workers using biomechanical methods

Sustaining awkward postures and overexertion are common factors in construction industry that result in work-related injuries of workers. To address there safety and health issues, conventional observational methods on the external causes are tedious and subjective, while the direct measurement on the internal causes is intrusive leading to productivity reduction. Therefore, it is essential to construct an effective approach that maps the external and internal causes to realize the non-intrusive identification of safety and health risks. This research proposes a theoretical method to analyze the postures tracked by videos with biomechanical models. Through the biomechanical skeleton representation of human body, the workload and joint torques are rapidly and accurately evaluated based on the rotation angles of joints. The method is then demonstrated by two case studies about(1) plastering and(2) carrying. The experiment results illustrate the changing intramuscular torques across the construction activities in essence, validating the proposed approach to be effective in theory.