CAGE test

Since keratinase is a versatile protease that digests all kinds of proteins, it is possible that supplementation of the enzyme in feed may improve the feed digestibility. In 2001 keratinase was tested as a feed additive. The first test in young chicks was positive, and reproduced by many more experiments 0.1% of crude keratinase in a regular corn-soy diet improved the body weight gain, the feed conversion ratio (FCR), or feed efficiency in broiler chickens. Numerous experiments included the cage tests of chicks to 3-4 weeks of age (Odetellah et al., 2003), pen trials on a research farm to 6 week market age (Odetellah et al, 2005), and the commercial tests conducted by private com-... 

But notably for all (of many thousands) of the cages tested, only the (favorable) first or second answers have resulted. In fact, such a favorable response has been obtained for all molecular graphs we have tested, including those selected because of their presumed difficulty. 

Gretenkord, C. and Drescher, W. (1993). Development of a cage test method for the evaluation of pesticide hazards to the bumble bee Bombus terrestris L. In Proceedings of the Vth International Symposium on The Hazards of Pesticides to Bees (Harrison, E.G., Ed.). Oct. 26-28, 1993, Wageningen, Netherlands, Appendix 20, pp. 151-154. 

We selected CBA/J mice as test subjects because, of the 28 inbred strains of mice that were tested, members of this strain proved to be the most sensitive to the boar sex-pheromone, androstenone (5 -androst-16-en-3-one Voznessenskaya, Parfyonova Wysocki., 1995). For comparison, results of tests with NZB/BINJ mice were made (these mice were selected because they were among the many lines that were insensitive to androstenone). Animals were kept under standard vivarium conditions, e.g., 12 12 light.dark cycle, with controlled temperature (typically 25°C) and humidity, in plastic cages, one animal per cage. Tests were performed both in Philadelphia, at the Monell Center, and in Moscow, at the A.N. Severtzov Institute of Ecology Evolution. Behavioral and biochemical analyses were undertaken to evaluate the effects of exposure to androstenone on threshold sensitivity to androstenone and potential biochemical correlates within the olfactory and vomeronasal sensory epithelia. 

In the new and home cage tests, the animals were quickly hand captured and placed in a 60 x 30 x 30 cm glass aquarium with a mesh screen cover. 

J. G. Logan et al. Arm-in-cage testing of natural human-derived mosquito repellents. Mai J, 9,239, 2010. 

Scientific Name Common Name Cage Test (Minutes) Tent Test (Minutes) Field Test (Minutes)... 

Cage test results using Aedes aegypti. 

Most of the information used to make such product claims will be derived from data obtained from either cage tests or controlled field trials. In reality, the user will be subjected to a range of environmental conditions that will greatly modify the efficacy and all that one can say with some certainty is that it is reasonable to expect a lowering of the number of bites compared to the situation if no repellent had been used. Principally these variables are as follows ... 

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