鹌鹑同工酶多型性的研究

采用水平板淀粉凝胶电泳法 ,对中国目前大规模饲养的 2个蛋用品系鹌鹑的脏器、肌肉中 1 0个酶基因座多型进行检测 ,结果表明 :朝鲜龙城系和德国红鸟系鹌鹑在 Adh、Es-D、Es、Pgi、6-Pgi、Mpi- 6个基因座位均发现多态 ,在Mdh- 、Mdh- 、Mpi- 、α-Gpd 4个基因座位均为单态。引用国外研究结果 ,对国内外 2 1个鹌鹑群体进行聚类分析 ,结果表明 :野生鹌鹑群紧密聚为一类 ,家养鹌鹑群聚为一类 ,商品用鹌鹑和实验用鹌鹑无明显分化 ,而大体重鹌鹑与一般体重鹌鹑分化较大 ,可能是由于进行体重选择的群体偶然携带了不同于原种群的特定基因     

Detection of near-atmospheric concentrations of CO2 by an olfactory subsystem in the mouse

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important environmental cue for many organisms but is odorless to humans. It remains unclear whether the mammalian olfactory system can detect CO2 at concentrations around the average atmospheric level (0.038%). We demonstrated the expression of carbonic anhydrase type II (CAII), an enzyme that catabolizes CO2, in a subset of mouse olfactory neurons that express guanylyl cyclase D (GC-D+ neurons) and project axons to necklace glomeruli in the olfactory bulb. Exposure to CO2 activated these GC-D+ neurons, and exposure of a mouse to CO2 activated bulbar neurons associated with necklace glomeruli. Behavioral tests revealed CO2 detection thresholds of approximately 0.066%, and this sensitive CO2 detection required CAII activity. We conclude that mice detect CO2 at near-atmospheric concentrations through the olfactory subsystem of GC-D+ neurons.     

Magmatic dike resonances inferred from very-long-period seismic signals

Very-long-period (VLP) signals showing simple decaying harmonic oscillations with periods near 10 seconds and lasting for about 300 seconds were observed in association with an earthquake swarm that occurred beneath Hachijo Island, Japan. Results from the source-mechanism analysis and waveform simulation based on a fluid-filled crack model consistently point to the resonance of a dike filled with a basaltic magma as the source of the VLP signals. Thus, VLP signals can be used to probe the state of the fluid and dynamic processes within a volcanic system.     

Effect of ensiled hop (Humulus lupulus L.) residues on plasma acetate turnover rate in sheep

An isotope dilution method using [1‐¹³C]sodium acetate was applied to determine the effect of feeding ensiled hop (Humulus lupulus L.) residues on plasma acetate turnover rate in six adult crossbred sheep. The sheep were fed 63 g/kg body weight (BW)^0.75/day of either mixed hay of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) and round bale silage at 3:1 ratio (Hay‐diet), or another where round bale silage was replaced by ensiled hop residues (Hop‐diet) with a crossover design each of a 3‐week period. The isotope dilution method was performed on day 21 of each dietary treatment. Dry matter digestibility was similar between diets, and nitrogen (N) digestibility was lower (P = 0.001) for Hop‐diet than Hay‐diet. However, N retention did not differ between diets. Plasma acetate concentration was lower (P = 0.04) for Hop‐diet than Hay‐diet, and the turnover rate of plasma acetate did not differ between diets. Plasma concentration of lactate and non‐esterified fatty acids were similar between diets. Hop‐diet was found almost comparable to Hay‐diet on plasma acetate turnover rate in the present experimental conditions. Therefore, it could be concluded that hop residues partially could be used as an alternative to traditionally used round bale silage for rearing sheep.     

Study on Advanced Treatment of Secondary Effluent Using Fixed-Bed Filled with Bone Char

The adsorption of a fixed bed filled with bone char was investigated in terms of its efficiency and capacity by determining operational conditions for the purpose of further reduction of organic matter and removal of phosphorus using a continuous flow of real secondary effluent. Simultaneous removals of phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were sufficiently achieved by this fixed-bed method. Stable performance was maintained even at a linear flow velocity (abbreviated as LV) of 1.5 m h^–1. Appropriate backwashing and regeneration were required to operate the system continuously for a long period of time. During the regeneration, the use of treated water including Ca²⁺ ion was so effective that phosphorus removal efficiency increased from about 50 to 80%, and afterwards maintained over 65%, until inflow water of the volume up to 150 times as large as the volume of bone char had passed through. Even when the inflow water of the volume rose up to 200 times, the phosphorus removal efficiency could be maintained over 50%. During this operation, the adsorptions of phosphorus and COD onto the bone char surface were observed to be over 6.7 and 35 gL^–1, respectively.     

Antiallergic tea catechin, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)-gallate,suppresses FcepsilonRI expression in human basophilic KU812 cells

We previously found that the O-methylated derivative of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCg), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)-gallate (EGCG' '3Me), has potent antiallergic activity. The high-affinity IgE receptor, FcepsilonRI, is found at high levels on basophils and mast cells and plays a key role in a series of acute and chronic human allergic reactions. To understand the mechanism of action for the antiallergic EGCG' '3Me, the effect of EGCG' '3Me on the cell surface expression of FcepsilonRI in human basophilic KU812 cells was examined. Flow cytometric analysis showed that EGCG' '3Me was able to decrease the cell surface expression of FcepsilonRI. Moreover, immunoblot analysis revealed that total cellular expression of the FcepsilonRI alpha chain decreased upon treatment with EGCG' '3Me. FcepsilonRI is a tetrameric structure comprising one alpha chain, one beta chain, and two gamma chains. The level of mRNA production of each subunit in KU812 cells was investigated. EGCG' '3Me reduced FcepsilonRI alpha and gamma mRNA levels. The cross-linkage of FcepsilonRI causes the activation of basophils, which leads to the secretion of inflammatory mediators including histamine. EGCG' '3Me treatment inhibited the FcepsilonRI cross-linking-induced histamine release. These results suggested that EGCG' '3Me can negatively regulate basophil activation through the suppression of FcepsilonRI expression.     

Aggregates and gel network structure of globin hydrolysates

A gel with excellent functional properties was prepared successfully using the hydrolysates of globin. In the present study, the structures of intermediate aggregates and gel network were observed directly with an electronic microscope. It was shown clearly that the intermediate aggregates were in a thin rod shape with a length of 130--140 nm, which was in good accordance with the results of the light scattering obtained in a previous study. The diameter of intermediate aggregates was 4--5 nm. Each unit of the intermediate aggregate was composed of beta-chain and peptide beta-1 in a ratio of 1:1. Its molecular weight was 26922 Da, and it had a diameter of 4.1 nm. The thin rod-shaped aggregates were formed with units through the hydrophobic interaction. The length of intermediate aggregate was >30--33 times the diameter. Furthermore, the cross-linked structure formed by peptide alpha-1 and the thin rod-shaped aggregates was also confirmed by the photography of the electronic microscope. These results supported the model proposed in previous papers as proper to depict exactly the formation and structure of the gel network of globin hydrolysates.     

Adsorption behavior of heavy metals on biomaterials

We have investigated adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) at pH 2-6.7 onto the biomaterials chitosan, coffee, green tea, tea, yuzu, aloe, and Japanese coarse tea, and onto the inorganic adsorbents, activated carbon and zeolite. High adsorptive capabilities were observed for all of the biomaterials at pH 4 and 6.7. In the adsorption of Cd(II), blend coffee, tea, green tea, and coarse tea have comparable loading capacities to activated carbon and zeolite. Although activated carbon, zeolite, and chitosan are utilized in a variety of fields such as wastewater treatment, chemical and metallurgical engineering, and analytical chemistry, these adsorbents are costly. On the other hand, processing of the test biomaterials was inexpensive, and all the biomaterials except for chitosan were able to adsorb large amounts of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions after a convenient pretreatment of washing with water followed by drying. The high adsorption capability of the biomaterials prepared from plant materials is promising in the development of a novel, low-cost adsorbent. From these results, it is concluded that heavy metal removal using biomaterials would be an effective method for the economic treatment of wastewater. The proposed adsorption method was applied to the determination of amounts of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in water samples.     

Effects of discontinuity on heritabilities and phenotypic correlations for classified type characteristics in Japanese black heifers

The data on classified type-characteristics of 1692 Japanese Black breeding heifers were analyzed to investigate the effects of discontinuity and to estimate the heritabilities and phenotypic correlations in the underlying continuous scale. The parameters in an outward scale were computed with the equally-spaced scoring, employing mixed-model least squares procedures, and then those were adjusted for the effects of discontinuity.The effects of discontinuity for the classified type characteristics were generally minor in this applied work.