Care, management, and use of ferrets in biomedical research

Ravindran Kumar Pramod,Pravin Kumar Atul,Mamta Pandey,S. Anbazhagan,Suhas T. Mhaske,R. Barathidasan 한국실험동물학회 2024 Laboratory Animal Research Vol.40 No.1

The ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is a small domesticated species of the family Mustelidae within the order Carnivora. The present article reviews and discusses the current state of knowledge about housing, care, breeding, and biomedical uses of ferrets. The management and breeding procedures of ferrets resemble those used for other carnivores. Understanding its behavior helps in the use of environmental enrichment and social housing, which promote behaviors typical of the species. Ferrets have been used in research since the beginning of the twentieth century. It is a suitable non-rodent model in biomedical research because of its hardy nature, social behavior, diet and other habits, small size, and thus the requirement of a relatively low amount of test compounds and early sexual maturity compared with dogs and non-human primates. Ferrets and humans have numerous similar anatomical, metabolic, and physiological characteristics, including the endocrine, respiratory, auditory, gastrointestinal, and immunological systems. It is one of the emerging animal models used in studies such as influenza and other infectious respiratory diseases, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, cardiac research, gastrointestinal disorders, neuroscience, and toxicological studies. Ferrets are vulnerable to many human pathogenic organisms, like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), because air transmission of this virus between them has been observed in the laboratory. Ferrets draw the attention of the medical community compared to rodents because they occupy a distinct niche in biomedical studies, although they possess a small representation in laboratory research.

FEED RESOURCE AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION IN SMALLHOLDER PIG FARMS IN SRI LANKA

Ravindran, V.,Cyril, H.W.,Nadesalingam, P.,Gunawardene, D.D. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1995 Animal Bioscience Vol.8 No.4

Data on available feed resources, feeding practices and nutrient adequacy of rations under small farm conditions in Sri Lanka were obtained in a baseline survey involving 104 pig farms. The results showed that a wide range of non-conventional feedstuffs are used for pig feeding under typical small farm conditions and that dietary protein quality is a major factor limiting productivity. Following the survey, two on-farm trials were conducted to evaluate cheaper, alternative feeding strategies. In trial 1, a test diet was formulated using several non-conventional feedstuffs and compared with a commercial feed that is normally fed in the farms. In trial 2, the possibility of improving growth rates by amino acid supplementation was evaluated. The results demonstrated that feed costs can be considerably lowered through these packages. Some problems inherent to on-farm livestock trials are highlighted.

Advances and Future Directions in Poultry Nutrition: An Overview

Ravindran, Velmurugu The Korean Society of Poultry Science 2012 韓國家禽學會誌 Vol.39 No.1

In the past, poultry nutrition has focussed on increasing the production efficiency to meet the progress achieved in the genetic potential of broilers and layers. Future directions in poultry nutrition will be driven by not only by the need to maximise biological and economic performance of birds, but also by societal issues (environment, antibiotic growth promoters, welfare, traceability and use of genetically modified ingredients). Key advances in poultry nutrition are discussed and future directions, which can be expected, are highlighted. Given the tightening supply and ever-increasing cost of raw materials, there will be more pressure to extract every unit of energy and nutrients from feed ingredients. In this context, a number of feed additives are expected to play an increasingly significant role. Feed enzymes and crystalline amino acids, in particular, will have a profound effect on future sustainability of the poultry industry. Future nutritional research need to focus on identifying the barriers to effective digestion and utilisation of nutrients and, to achieve this objective, nutritionists must combine their expertise with those of specialising in other biological sciences, including immunology, microbiology, histology and molecular biology.

UTILIZATION OF NON-CONVENTIONAL FEED RESOURCES IN POULTRY PRODUCTION: RESULTS OF ON-FARM TRIALS

Ravindran, V.,Cyril, H.W. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1995 Animal Bioscience Vol.8 No.4

Though a variety of non-conventional feedstuffs have been successfully evaluated in research stations in Asian countries, there had been little adoption of these technologies at the small farm level. The methodology and results of three separate on-farm trials evaluation the possible use of some non-conventional feedstuffs in broiler diets under small farm conditions in Sri Lanka are reported in this paper. In all trials, the commercial mash, that in normally used in the farms, served as the control. In trials 1 and 2, 5 and 10% cassava leaf meal, respectively, was substituted (w/w) for the commercial mash and fed to broilers for six weeks. In trial 3, several non-conventional feedstuffs (cassava leaf meal, rubber seed meal, ipil ipil leaf meal and died poultry manure) were substituted (w/w) for the commercial mash at levels of 15-20%. The results demonstrated that these non-conventional feed resources can be used in broiler diets under small farm conditions, with no adverse effects on performance. The salient features of on-farm animal research are highlighted.

GaAs based long-wavelength microring resonator optical switches utilising bias assisted carrier-injection induced refractive index change.

Ravindran, Sooraj,Datta, Arnab,Alameh, Kamal,Lee, Yong Tak Optical Society of America 2012 Optics express Vol.20 No.14

<P>We propose and analyse a GaAs-based optical switch having a ring resonator configuration which can switch optical telecommunication signals over the 1300 nm and 1500 nm bands, using bias assisted carrier injection as the switching mechanism. The switching is achieved through variation in the refractive index of the ring resonator produced by changing the injected carrier density through the application of bias voltage. Detail analysis of the switching characteristics reveals that the amount of switching depends on the refractive index change, which indeed is a strong function of injected carrier density and applied bias voltage. An isolation of 25 dB can be achieved during the ON state, while more than 40 dB isolation is realised during the OFF state. More importantly, our analysis shows that the proposed GaAs-based switch can operate over the 1300 nm and 1500 nm optical telecommunication bands, that are much farther from the bandgap of the GaAs material, without the need for 'conventional' Indium based ternary and quaternary semiconductor materials. It therefore extends the usable wavelength of GaAs based optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, we have presented detail calculations to quantify power-delay metric of the proposed device. The proposed optical switch maintains a smaller footprint as when compared to Mach-Zehnder Interferometer or Directional Coupler based switches therefore, making it suitable for large scale integration and implementing next generation optical interconnects, optical communication and computing.</P>

Democracy, Elections and Print Media in India

Ravindran Gopoalan 한국방송학회 2016 한국방송학회 학술대회 논문집 Vol.2016 No.4

Development of an Orthodontic Wire Bending Robot

Ravindran Sajan Kumar,Jongchan Park,Youngwoo Kim 제어로봇시스템학회 2023 제어로봇시스템학회 국내학술대회 논문집 Vol.2023 No.6

Influence of biochar on physico-chemical and microbial community during swine manure composting process

Ravindran, Balasubramani,Nguyen, Dinh Duc,Chaudhary, Dhiraj Kumar,Chang, Soon Woong,Kim, Jaisoo,Lee, Sang Ryong,Shin, JoungDu,Jeon, Byong-Hun,Chung, SeokJoo,Lee, JaeJoung Elsevier 2019 Journal of environmental management Vol.232 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Excessive nutrients and toxic gas emissions from animal manure management are of great global concern, with negative environmental and economic consequences worldwide. Due to biochar recalcitrance and sorption properties, this study investigated the effect of the biochar(BC) derived from bamboo, amendment on swine manure(SM) composting efficiency through physical, physio-chemical, gaseous emissions, microbiological, and phytotoxic analysis during the 56 day process of in-vessel composting. The treatments were set-up from different ratios of biochar to swine manure mixed with sawdust(SD)(i.e. SM + SD + 3%BC(T1), SM:SD + 5 %BC(T2) and SM:SD + 10 %BC (T3)), while treatment without biochar amendment was used as a control, SM:SD(C). The results showed that, compared to the control, biochar amended compost mixtures had significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05) bulk density, organic matter(OM), C:N ratio, NH<SUB>3</SUB> emission, pathogenic microorganisms, and phytotoxicity effect (Cress seed, <I>Lepidium sativum</I> Linn.). On the other hand, biochar amendment mixtures had increased total porosity, water holding capacity, rapid thermophilic temperature, and nitrate nitrogen. However, with the most prominent effects in terms of the nutrient quality and degradation rate of compost mixtures, the amendment of 10% biochar is recommended for swine manure management through the composting process.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Biochar was used as amendments for swine manure composting. </LI> <LI> 10% Biochar addition enhanced organic matter degradation. </LI> <LI> 10% Biochar amendment reduced C: N ratio, NH<SUB>3</SUB> emission and pathogenic microorganisms. </LI> <LI> 10% Biochar amendment reduced the phytotoxicity and improved the compost quality. </LI> </UL> </P>

Phyto-nutrient Efficiency of Goat Manure Discharged from Farms in South Korea

( B. Ravindran ),( Wo-mo Cho ),( Jung-kon Kim ),( Kwang-hwa Jeonng ),( Dong-jun Lee ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2016 한국폐기물자원순환학회 춘계학술발표논문집 Vol.2016 No.-

The study was conducted to evaluate the phytonutrient efficiency of goat manure discharged from farms in South Korea. Goat manure (GM) was collected from six different regions in South Korea, namely, Chupungnyeong (T1), Hoengseong (T2), Goesan (T3), Sancheong (T4), Jangsu (T5) and Namwon (T6). The major phytonutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P, K) were recorded variably in six different region manures. However, goesan and sancheong manure N % (2.55 and 2.31) and P % (2.06 and 2.68) values were recorded maximum than other four manures. The minimum of the values of N, P, K(%) was recorded as 0.67, 0.82 and 0.64 respectively in namwon farm goat manure. Phytotoxicity of collected goat manure was also assessed by means of the analysis of germination index (GI) using commercial crops, radish (Raphanus sativus) and cabbage (Brassica rapa). In our studies, GI (%) was recorded in the range of radish: 107.9-167.3 and cabbage: 29.9-68.8 from the six different farm goat manure(T1-T6). Each crop seed GI (%) was recorded significantly differently (p ≤ 0.05) in between the treatments manure extracts. Overall results also revealed that radish crops successfully shown excellent and non phytotoxic results in all manure extracts compared to the cabbage crop.

Experimental Investigation on Room Temperature Vulcanised Silicone rubber and Epoxy resin coated porcelain outdoor insulators located at highly polluted environment

M. Ravindran,S. Senthil Kumar,N. Karuppiah,M. Asokan 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2020 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.21 No.1

Insulators flashover is one of the major problem that confronts all around the world, particularly in austere weather conditionsand highly polluted areas. Any failure in the acceptable performance of high voltage insulators result in intrerruption ofelectrical power that leads to loss of capital. Flashover voltage (FOV) is directly related to the severity of pollution on thesurface of insulator. Generally, anti-pollution flashover coating is considered as one of the most effective means to prevent andreduce flashover. This paper investigates and compares the results on application of Epoxy Resin and Room TemperatureVulcanized (RTV) Silicone Rubber for improving the performance of outdoor (near coastal thermal plant area) insulators of12 KV rating. The flash over voltage of the insulators is optimized for a polluted environment by applying the protectivecoating and tested experimentally. The experimental results are compared with simulated results using Artificial NeuralNetwork.