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The inadequate thermal insulation of the building envelope contributes significantly to the high power consumption of air conditioners in houses. A crucial factor in raising a building’s energy efficiency involves utilizing bricks with high thermal resistance. This issue is accompanied by another critical challenge: recycling and disposing of waste in a way that is both economically and environmentally beneficial, including using it to fuel industrial growth, in order to reduce the harmful effects of waste on the environment as waste generation in our societies grows. To this end, the current study sought to assess whether integrating a specific amount of eggshell waste as CaCO 3 filler within bricks consistently produces fired clay bricks with desirable thermal insulation capabilities. By systematically investigating the physicochemical and thermal characteristics of bricks doped with varying eggshell content, this work demonstrates how waste materials can be repurposed to produce sustainable construction materials with superior performance. The results highlight significant improvements in thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and effusivity, alongside favorable changes in porosity, bulk density, and mechanical strength. The XRD analysis revealed that once the firing temperature rises, a high insulation feature arises due to siliceous melt formation. EDX analysis gave important insights into the impact of eggshell dopants on the physicochemical parameters of burnt clay bricks. Compared to pristine brick, CEs7% brick constructed with clay and 7 wt% eggshell exhibited a 38.7% loss on dry shrinkage, an enhancement on average pore size of 78.8%, an apparent porosity of 52.7%, a bulk density of 8.3%, and a compressive strength of 57.5%. The reduced shrinkage enhances stability, while increased pore size and porosity improve thermal insulation, making the bricks more durable and energy-efficient. In this regard, the brick containing 10% eggshell that was fired at 1100°C possessed the greatest drop in heat conductivity (i.e., 50%), thermal diffusivity (30%), and thermal effusivity (30%) as compared to the pure one. Given the aforementioned findings, these additions hold the potential to reduce the energy required for both heating and cooling buildings. This brings us to the conclusion that combining eggshell waste to create calcium silicate makes it feasible to be utilized as a thermal insulation material, paving the way for improved construction materials’ performance and sustainability.

The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between eggshell thickness and other eggshell characteristics in eggs produced in litter housing system and enriched cages. Eggs were collected from 200 birds of ISA Brown genotype at 40-42 weeks of age. Half of the birds were housed in enriched cages (750 cm 2 /hen, 10 hens/cage) and the other half were housed in littered pens (9 hens/m 2 , 10 hens/pen). Eggs in each housing system were split into three categories varying in shell thickness: the first category (thin shells 0.28-0.30 mm), the second category (medium shells 0.33-0.36 mm) and the third category (thick shells 0.39-0.41 mm). Results indicated that eggshell parameters differ significantly according to eggshell thickness. Significant interaction of shell category and housing system were observed in eggshell strength. As expected, the eggshell strength was increased with eggshells becoming thicker. Moreover, eggs with the thickest shells from enriched cages had significantly stronger shells than those from litter system. Eggshell weight was significantly increased in the thick eggshell category being higher in enriched cages (7.23 g) than in litter system (5.14 g). The Pearson's correlation coefficients showed a positive correlation between eggshell parameters and eggshell thickness in both housing systems. Moreover, the correlation between eggshell thickness and eggshell strength was higher on litter (0.64, p < 0.001) in comparison with enriched cages (0.48, p < 0.001). Results of the present study indicated that in thin shells, housing system plays an important role in determining the eggshell strength.

Eggshell quality is one of the most significant factors affecting poultry industry; it economically influences egg production and hatchability. Eggshell consists of shell membranes and the true shell that includes mammillary layer, palisade layer, and cuticle. Measurements of eggshell quality include eggshell weight, shell percentage, breaking strength, thickness, and density. Mainly eggshell thickness and strength are affected by the time of egg components passage through the shell gland (uterus), eggshell ultra-structure (deposition of major units), and micro-structure (crystals size and orientation). Shell quality is affected by several internal and external factors. Major factors determining the quality or structure of eggshell are oviposition time, age, genotype, and housing system. Eggshell quality can be improved through optimization of genotype, housing system, and mineral nutrition.

Eggshell thickness can be an indicator of environmental pollution in wild birds and shell quality in wild and domestic birds, but it is difficult to measure calcite eggshell thickness due to the presence of the adherent outer eggshell membrane. Eggshells of 13 waterbird species were divided in half longitudinally and the outer membrane was removed from one of the halves. Subsequently, we measured eggshell thickness, both with and without the outer eggshell membrane, using a Hall-effect thickness gauge to the nearest 0.001 mm along the equator of each eggshell half. Outer eggshell membrane thicknesses ranged from 0.014 to 0.073 mm. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and California Gull (Larus californicus) had the thickest eggshell membranes (0.056 and 0.073 mm, respectively), and Green Heron (Butorides virescens) and Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) had the thinnest membranes (0.014 and 0.022 mm, respectively). The eggshell membrane, as a percent of the total eggshell and membrane thickness, varied among the 13 species and ranged among species from 7.9% to 20.6%. The outer membrane comprised a greater percent of the total eggshell and membrane thickness for Black Skimmer (19.3%; Rynchops niger), California Gull (20.5%), and Forster's Tern (20.6%; Sterna forsteri) than for Green Heron (7.9%), Double-crested Cormorant (10.4%; Phalacrocorax auritus), and Western Grebe (10.6%; Aechmophorus occidentalis). Within species, the outer membrane thickness was not correlated with egg morphometrics but, for a subset of species, there was some indication that the calcite eggshell thickness decreases with embryo development (age). We discuss several reasons for conducting future eggshell thickness measurements without removing the membrane. El grosor de la cáscara de huevo puede ser indicador de la contaminación ambiental en aves silvestres y de calidad de la cáscara tanto en aves silvestres como domésticas, pero es difícil medir el grosor de la calcita de la cáscara de huevo por la presencia de la membrana externa adherente. Cáscaras de huevos de 13 especies de aves acuáticas fueron divididas en mitades longitudinales y la membrana externa fue removida de una de las dos mitades. Luego medimos el grosor de las cáscaras de huevo, tanto con como sin membrana externa, usando calibrador de grosor de efecto Hall con al 0.001 mm más cercano, próximo al ecuador de cada mitad de la cáscara de huevo. El grosor de la membrana externa varió entre 0.014 to 0.073 mm. El charrán Hydroprogne caspia y la gaviota Larus californicus tuvieron las membranas más gruesas (0.056 and 0.073 mm, respectivamente), mientras que la garcita verde (Butorides virescens) y el chorlo Charadrius vociferus tuvieron las membranas más delgadas (0.014 y 0.022 mm, respectivamente). La membrana del cascarón como porcentaje de la suma del grosor del cascarón y de la membrana, varió entre las 13 especies de 7.9% a 20.6%. La membrana externa representó un mayor porcentaje del grosor total de cáscara de huevo y membrana para rayador Rynchops niger (19.3%), la gaviota (20.5%) y el charrán Sterna forsteri (0.6%) que para la garcita verde (7.9%), cormorán Phalacrocorax auritus (10.4%) y archichilique Aechmophorus occidentalis (10.6%). Dentro de las especies, el grosor de la membrana externa no estaba correlacionado con la morfometría del huevo pero, para un subconjunto de especies, hubo algunos indicios de que el grosor de la calcita de la cáscara de huevo disminuyó con el desarrollo del embrión (edad). Discutimos varias razones para llevar a cabo mediciones futuras de grosor de cáscara de huevo sin remover la membrana. Palabras clave: medida de cáscara de huevo, membrana de cáscara de huevo, grosor de cáscara de huevo, calibrador de grosor de efecto Hall.

Hunter-gatherer exchange networks dampen subsistence and reproductive risks by building relationships of mutual support outside local groups that are underwritten by symbolic gift exchange. Hxaro, the system of delayed reciprocity between Ju/’hoãn individuals in southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert, is the best-known such example and the basis for most analogies and models of hunter-gatherer exchange in prehistory. However, its antiquity, drivers, and development remain unclear, as they do for long-distance exchanges among African foragers more broadly. Here we show through strontium isotope analyses of ostrich eggshell beads from highland Lesotho, and associated strontium isoscape development, that such practices stretch back into the late Middle Stone Age. We argue that these exchange items originated beyond the macroband from groups occupying the more water-stressed subcontinental interior. Tracking the emergence and persistence of macroscale, transbiome social networks helps illuminate the evolution of social strategies needed to thrive in stochastic environments, strategies that in our case study show persistence over more than 33,000 y.

A technique to produce bio-cementation in sandy soil using the microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) process and calcium ions generated from eggshell is presented in this research. This research also focused on the application of S. pasteurii bacteria and L. fusiformis bacteria along with eggshell and calcium chloride cementing chemicals on the strength properties of sand. The experimental variables maintained in this research are bacteria type ( S. pasteurii and L. fusiformis ), cementing chemical type (eggshell and calcium chloride) and molarity of the cementing chemical (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0). The engineering behaviour of bacteria treated sand was estimated by executing the unconfined compression test and permeability test in the laboratory. From the experimental findings, it is identified that the unconfined compressive strength of sand is enhanced and the value is in the range of 650 kPa. In addition to that, the permeability of sand is minimized in the order of two from 6.3 × E −3 to 3.2 × E −5  cm/s. The best improvement of Young’s modulus and calcium carbonate content estimated in this research are 28.9 MPa and 17.9% when the sand is treated with S. pasteurii along 0.50 molarity of eggshell cementing chemical. The experimental findings are validated with the help of microstructural studies of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). This research showed that bio-cementation technology in the form of S. pasteurii and eggshell can be effectively adopted to enhance the engineering characteristics of sand.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the eggshell color parameters and its mineral composition as well as the internal quality of eggs derived from various breeds of hens, varied by eggshell color: seledine from Araucana, brown from Marans, and white from Leghorn. The sample consisted of 180 eggs (60/group) The eggshell color was measured using CIE L*a*b* system. The quality evaluation included traits of whole egg (weight, specific gravity, proportions of elements, shape index), yolk (weight, color, index, pH), albumen (weight, height, pH), and shell (color, strength, weight, thickness, density). The mineral composition of eggshells was analyzed. The eggs origin affected the quality characteristics of particular egg elements (p < 0.001). However, the impact of analyzed colors on the egg quality traits varied, and in the case of whole egg and albumen traits the most favorable was the white color (p ≤ 0.05), while in the case of the strength of shell or its thickness it was the dark brown color (p ≤ 0.05). The eggshell color influenced variations in its mineral composition (p < 0.001) except potassium and sodium content, while the proportion of particular mineral elements in shell was correlated with the L*a*b* color space coordinates (p ≤ 0.05).

Eggshell waste is among the most abundant waste materials coming from food processing technologies. Despite the unique properties that both its components (eggshell, ES, and eggshell membrane, ESM) possess, it is very often discarded without further use. This review article aims to summarize the recent reports utilizing eggshell waste for very diverse purposes, stressing the need to use a mechanochemical approach to broaden its applications. The most studied field with regards to the potential use of eggshell waste is catalysis. Upon proper treatment, it can be used for turning waste oils into biodiesel and moreover, the catalytic effect of eggshell-based material in organic synthesis is also very beneficial. In inorganic chemistry, the eggshell membrane is very often used as a templating agent for nanoparticles production. Such composites are suitable for application in photocatalysis. These bionanocomposites are also capable of heavy metal ions reduction and can be also used for the ozonation process. The eggshell and its membrane are applicable in electrochemistry as well. Due to the high protein content and the presence of functional groups on the surface, ESM can be easily converted to a high-performance electrode material. Finally, both ES and ESM are suitable for medical applications, as the former can be used as an inexpensive Ca 2+ source for the development of medications, particles for drug delivery, organic matrix/mineral nanocomposites as potential tissue scaffolds, food supplements and the latter for the treatment of joint diseases, in reparative medicine and vascular graft producing. For the majority of the above-mentioned applications, the pretreatment of the eggshell waste is necessary. Among other options, the mechanochemical pretreatment has found an inevitable place. Since the publication of the last review paper devoted to the mechanochemical treatment of eggshell waste, a few new works have appeared, which are reviewed here to underline the sustainable character of the proposed methodology. The mechanochemical treatment of eggshell is capable of producing the nanoscale material which can be further used for bioceramics synthesis, dehalogenation processes, wastewater treatment, preparation of hydrophobic filters, lithium-ion batteries, dental materials, and in the building industry as cement.

Background Toward the late phase of laying, the production performance of laying hens decreases, egg quality deteriorates, lipid metabolism weakens, and hepatic lipid accumulation is exacerbated. Probiotics as an alternative to antimicrobials have been employed in poultry-related industries. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is currently the most researched and clinically validated probiotic, showing promising effects in multiple application areas. However, few studies have been conducted on livestock (including poultry) production. Results Compared with the CON group, the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01) declined significantly in the LGG group. Eggshell strength (P < 0.001) and eggshell thickness (P < 0.001) were significantly increased by supplementation with LGG in the diet. The height (P < 0.001) and proportion (P < 0.05) of the effective layer and the mammillary knob density (P < 0.01) in the eggshell ultrastructure of the LGG group increased significantly, while the mammillary layer (P < 0.05) and knob width (P < 0.01) decreased significantly. The LGG-treated hens had significantly lower serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (P < 0.05), free fatty acids (P < 0.01), and liver triglyceride (P < 0.05) levels than those in the CON group. Conclusions LGG supplementation significantly decreases the feed conversion ratio, improves eggshell quality by altering the ultrastructure, and improves lipid metabolism in the late laying period.

Background The strength of duck eggshells is essential for their storage, transportation, and processing, with various studies indicating a correlation between eggshell color and strength. Results Our research has demonstrated that green-shelled duck eggs exhibit higher eggshell strength compared to white-shelled eggs in the M2 Line Pekin Duck population. To this end, we established mRNA transcriptome profiles of 10 eggshell gland tissues and 10 liver tissues and constructed gene expression networks in the two tissues. RNA-Seq analysis suggests that genes associated with ion transport, transmembrane transport, and liver cell proliferation and differentiation in the eggshell gland could play important roles in eggshell formation. The liver of green shell duck has stronger cell proliferation ability to maintain its homeostasis, and the eggshell gland has stronger ability to secrete eggshell matrix protein, which may be the reason why the eggshell is stronger than that of white shell duck. Through Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), three related modules were found in eggshell gland and liver, respectively, and three key genes were screened in each tissue (eggshell gland: FKBP10 , PPARG , MAP3K5 , liver: PHLDA1 , FLT3 , CACNB4 ). They have important regulatory effects on eggshell color and eggshell strength respectively. Conclusions Through transcriptome analysis, we identified key genes associated with eggshell color (ESB) (Gland: ABCG2 , SLC51B ; Liver: COX1 , DIO3 , RBPJ ) and eggshell strength (ESS) (Gland: MAP3K5 , PPARG , FKBP10 ; Liver: PHLDA1 , FLT3 , CACNB4 ). We propose that these genes regulate ESB and ESS by modulating antioxidant capacity and bile acid synthesis in the liver and shell gland, leading to enhanced biliverdin deposition and stronger eggshells in green-shelled ducks. Additionally, the upregulation of ion transport, transmembrane transport, and liver cell proliferation-related genes in green-shelled ducks further supports the observed superiority in eggshell strength.