Biomedical subjects

E M Decuypere

Publications and source records attributed to E M Decuypere.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The influence of line and laying period on the relationship between different eggshell and membrane strength parameters.

We investigated the correlations between different eggshell and membrane strength parameters and their changes over time. Eggshell and membrane characteristics were measured for 2 different lines of laying hens, Hisex Brown and Bovans Brown, from wk 33 up to wk 78. Several parameters were investigated: 2 parameters concerning total eggshell strength (static and dynamic stiffness), 1 structural parameter (i.e., eggshell thickness), 2 parameters describing the material characteristics of the shell [dynamic Young's modulus (EM) and nitrogen content], and 3 parameters to measure the membrane characteristics (attachment force breaking strength and nitrogen content). This study shows that the correlations among parameters change during the laying period and among lines. The EM of the eggshell increased during the laying period for the Hisex line. No difference was observed in case of the Bovans line. In general, a negative correlation was obtained between eggshell thickness and the EM. The correlation between static and dynamic stiffness increased during lay. Finally, the attachment force and breaking strength of the membranes declined during the laying period.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Dirt detection on brown eggs by means of color computer vision.

In the last 20 yr, different methods for detecting defects in eggs were developed. Until now, no satisfying technique existed to sort and quantify dirt on eggshells. The work presented here focuses on the design of an off-line computer vision system to differentiate and quantify the presence of different dirt stains on brown eggs: dark (feces), white (uric acid), blood, and yolk stains. A system that provides uniform light exposure around the egg was designed. In this uniform light, pictures of dirty and clean eggs were taken, stored, and analyzed. The classification was based on a few standard logical operators, allowing for a quick implementation in an online set-up. In an experiment, 100 clean and 100 dirty eggs were used to validate the classification algorithm. The designed vision system showed an accuracy of 99% for the detection of dirt stains. Two percent of the clean eggs had a light-colored eggshell and were subsequently mistaken for showing large white stains. The accuracy of differentiation of the different kinds of dirt stains was 91%. Of the eggs with dark stains, 10.81% were mistaken for having bloodstains, and 33.33% of eggs with bloodstains were mistaken for having dark stains. The developed system is possibly a first step toward an on line dirt evaluation technique for brown eggs.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Changing albumen-membrane adhesive forces during early embryonic development.

Using acoustic resonance analysis, it is possible to detect embryonic development. In fertile eggs, the resonant frequency suddenly decreases after about 100 h of incubation. Previous research has shown that this decrease coincides with changing mechanical properties of the albumen near the shell, caused by the formation of subembryonic fluid (SEF). In the present experiment, the adhesive forces between the shell, the membranes, and the albumen were measured before and after the decrease in the resonant frequency. The adhesive forces between shell and outer membrane and between the 2 membranes remained constant, whereas the adhesive force between the inner membrane and the albumen, indirectly measured by a Kjeldahl analysis, increased significantly. Whether the decrease in resonant frequency is caused by the increase of adhesive force between albumen and inner membrane or by the changed properties of the membranes (both of which are altered by dehydration of the albumen) is still open for discussion.

Adhesiveness↗

PubMed2002

Detection of early embryonic development in chicken eggs using visible light transmission.

1. In two separate experiments, the possibility of detecting embryonic development in chicken eggs was assessed using the same spectrophotometric method used to detect blood in Table eggs, using a combination of two wavelengths (577 and 610 nm) of the transmission spectrum. 2. In the first experiment, during the first 10 d of incubation, transmission spectra of 30 Hisex White eggs and 30 Hybro eggs were measured daily. 3. In the second experiment, 292 Hisex White eggs were incubated. Seven groups were randomly assigned. Six received an injection of sodium azide (NaN3) at different times during incubation in order to stop embryonic development, and during the first 12 d of incubation the transmission spectrum was measured daily. The acoustic resonance analysis method was also used on a group of uninjected eggs. 4. In the first experiment, it was possible to detect embryonic development from 120 h of incubation onwards in fertile eggs. In the second experiment changes in light transmission due to embryonic development were detected from 108 h of incubation. Detection of embryonic development using the acoustic resonance analysis method in the second experiment was possible only from 120 h of incubation. 5. It was concluded that the detection of embryonic development using visible light transmission is not directly linked with the formation of blood, but with the formation of sub-embryonic fluid, which takes place from 72 h of incubation onwards. This fluid makes the yolk sac translucent so that absorption of light at 577 nm can be detected.

Absorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Monitoring embryo development in chicken eggs using acoustic resonance analysis.

Early embryonic development was monitored using acoustic resonance frequency analysis. Based on the course of the resonance frequency (RF) of a chicken egg during incubation, detection of viable and infertile eggs or eggs in which the embryo died during the first days of incubation was possible at the beginning of day 5. A sudden decrease of the RF of viable eggs was noticed after 96-104 h of incubation, whereas infertile eggs or eggs in which the embryo died during the first days of incubation showed a smooth, continuous increase of RF during the entire period of observation. Furthermore, the interruption of the embryonic development by cold storage after 24 or 84 h of incubation delayed the moment of decreasing RF. This proves that the sudden decrease of RF corresponds to a certain stage of development. This application of acoustic resonance frequency analysis offers the potential of early, automatic detection of inviable embryo's in eggs during incubation.

Animals↗