Identification and sensory evaluation of volatile compounds in oxidized porcine liver

Headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was used to isolate the off-flavor volatile compounds, which are formed during the oxidation of porcine liver induced by iron. Poly(dimethylsiloxane)/divinylbenzene fiber was used in the HS-SPME. Changes in the volatile compounds of oxidized porcine liver and unsaturated fatty acids induced by iron were examined. Results showed that 1-octen-3-one (metallic), hexanol (weak metallic), 1-octen-3-ol (mushroomlike), (E)-2-nonenal (cardboardlike), and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (fatty, oily) were the main contributors to the overall off-flavor of porcine liver. The results of the sensory evaluation revealed that oxidized arachidonic acid has a major impact on metallic and liverlike off-flavor and that when liverlike off-flavor is perceived, metallic is also included. Oxidized linolenic acid was the most important contributor to the objectionable fishy off-flavor. Oxidized porcine liver exhibited distinct metallic, liverlike, and weak fishy background notes. Liverlike flavor had a high correlation coefficient with odor characteristics such as metallic (0.839) and fishy (0.777). In this study, it was clearly observed that the stronger the metallic and fishy off-flavor the higher the perception of liverlike off-flavor.     

Histamine behavior during the fermentation process in the manufacture of fish sauce.

The behavior of histamine in fish sauce making was investigated using fresh and spoiled fish with or without histidine added during fermentation. The histamine content in the 2% histidine added fresh fish mixture did not change significantly even after a lapse of 4 months incubation. However, when histidine was added to spoiled fish, the histamine content rose to a high level but decreased continuously with incubation time. This decrease may suggest the presence of histamine-decomposing bacteria in the samples. Eight of the 10 commercial fish sauces analyzed contained histamine levels below the "decomposition level" of 50 mg/kg set by the FDA. The increase in histamine at the initial stage and the decrease in histidine might suggest that histidine was converted to histamine by a microorganism possessing the enzyme histidine decarboxylase.     

Lymphocyte blastogenic responses to inciting food allergens in dogs with food hypersensitivity

Lymphocyte blastogenic responses against food allergens in dogs with food hypersensitivity were evaluated in this study. Eleven dogs with food hypersensitivity, based on food elimination and oral food provocation tests and allergic responses to food allergens, were examined by various tests such as intradermal testing, antigen-specific IgE testing, and lymphocyte blastogenic responses. The number and kinds of food allergens identified as positive by these tests were compared with the offending food allergens that were found in an oral food provocation test. In 9 (82%) of the 11 dogs with food hypersensitivity, there was close agreement for positive allergens between the results of lymphocyte blastogenic responses and oral food provocation test; however, there was little agreement for intradermal and IgE testing of the positive allergens with those of the oral food provocation test (11% and 31%, respectively). In the 9 dogs, the stimulation indices of lymphocyte blastogenic responses increased to 2.0-10.1 upon food provocation but decreased significantly to 0.7-1.4 upon feeding the elimination diet until clinical signs disappeared. These results indicate that lymphocyte blastogenic responses may fluctuate because of exposure to offending food allergens in dogs with food hypersensitivity. Lymphocytes reactive to food allergens may play an important role in the pathogenesis of food hypersensitivity in dogs.     

Identification of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide sequences that induce IFN-gamma production in canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Oligodeoxynucleotides containing the cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) motif (CpG-ODNs) have been shown to induce T(H)1 immune responses in animals. Since the sequences of CpG-ODNs that induce T(H)1 responses are considered to vary among animal species, it is necessary to identify effective CpG-ODNs in each animal. In order to identify the sequences of CpG-ODNs that induce T(H)1 responses in dogs, mRNA expression and protein production of IFN-gamma were examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy dogs treated with 11 kinds of synthetic CpG-ODNs. One of the 11 CpG-ODNs (No. 2 CpG-ODN, 5'-GGTGCATCGATGCAGGGGGG-3') was shown to significantly increase mRNA expression and protein production of IFN-gamma in canine PBMCs in a manner dependent on the sequence of the CpG motif. This CpG-ODN also enhanced the expression of IL-12 p40 mRNA in canine PBMCs, whereas expression of IL-12 p35, IL-18, and IL-4 mRNAs was not induced by this CpG-ODN. These results indicate that this CpG-ODN was able to produce IFN-gamma by induction of T(H)1-skewed immune response in dogs. CpG-ODNs may be useful for inducing prophylactic and therapeutic immunity against allergic diseases, viral infection, and tumors in dogs.     

Prevalence of Borna disease virus antibodies in healthy Japanese black cattle in Kyushu

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that asymptomatic infection of Borna disease virus (BDV) is found in various species of animals in Japan. Recent reports have also revealed that neurological diseases caused by this virus could exist in horses, cattle, a dog, and cats in this country. In this study, we investigated seroprevalence of BDV antibodies in Japanese black cows reared in Kyushu, the southernmost main island of Japan, using ELISA and Western-immunoblotting. Of 101 serum samples, 11 (10.9%) and 21(20.7%) sera were identified as having antibodies to the BDV N and P antigens, respectively. Among the positive sera, three cows (2.9%) were seropositive for both of the antigens. Furthermore, interestingly, only female cows showed antibodies to P, whereas N antibodies were detected in male and female cows with a comparative ratio. Together with previous studies, our results indicate that BDV might be widely spread in cattle raised in Japan. Furthermore, this is the first report to show that beef cattle, Japanese black cattle, have antibodies against a possible zoonotic pathogen, BDV.     

Eucalyptus camaldulensis density and fiber length estimated by near-infrared spectroscopy

Density and fiber length belong to the parameters that are used by the pulping industry as indicators of wood quality for different industrial processes and final paper products. The feasibility of Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy for the non-destructive evaluation of fiber length and air-dry density of fast-growing E. camaldulensis from Thailand was investigated using 50 samples. NIR spectra taken from solid wood and air-dry density as well as fiber length were used for partial least squares (PLS) regression analyses. It is the first time that the fiber length of E. camaldulensis solid wood could be predicted with high accuracy and precision and that the ratios of performance to deviation (RPD) obtained are the first that fully fulfill the requirements of AACC Method 39-00 (AACC 1999) for screening in breeding programs (RPD?≥?2.5). The RPDs for cross-validation (test set validation) of the NIR-PLS-R models of 3.3 (3.8) for air-dry density and 3.5 (3.9) for fiber length allow drawing the conclusion that the models are at least applicable for screening in breeding programs as they lie in-between screening (RPD?≥?2.5) and quality control (RPD?≥?5). Even when 40% of the samples were removed in cross-validation of the air-dry density model, the RPD is 3.2, which confirms that the model is robust, stable, and well qualified for prediction. The good model statistics obtained in this study might be due to the fact that measurement sites for the measurement of NIR spectra, air-dry density, and fiber lengths were strictly coincided.     

Age Difference in Morphology and Immunohistology inthe Thymus and Spleen in Crl:CD (SD) Rats

We investigated chronological changes in immunohistochemical phenotyping in the thymus and spleen in Crl:CD rats up to the age of about one year. In the thymus, T cells increased markedly from 3 to 4 weeks of age. Proliferating cells also increased markedly at these points. B cells tended towards an increase with age. In the spleen, white pulp increased until 9 weeks of age and remained fairly stable thereafter. In the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath and marginal zone, T cells gradually increased until 9 weeks of age and became almost flat thereafter. In the lymph follicle, T cells increased with age. B cells tended towards an increase with age in all areas of the spleen. It was concluded that development of the thymus was most marked from 3 to 4 weeks of age and that both the thymus and spleen had matured by 9 weeks of age.     

Effects of late sowing on soybean yields and yield components in southwestern Japan

ABSTRACT

Soybean production in southwestern Japan tends to be unstable owing to wet soils during the rainy season. Although late sowing after the rainy season can avoid excess water, information on its yield potential is limited. The objective of this study was to reveal the effect of late sowing on yields and yield components of new soybean cultivars developed for warm regions. The experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan. Upland fields converted from paddy fields with a subirrigation system were planted in June (normal) or July (late sparse or late dense). Lodging was prevented with a net. The effects of late sowing and dense treatment were analyzed in relation to solar radiation use. In 2016, differences in yield among cultivars and among environments were not significant. In 2017, yield was significantly reduced following late sparse sowing. The total aboveground dry matter at maturity was correlated with total solar radiation intercepted (r = 0.76) but not with radiation use efficiency (r = 0.47). Late sowing increased harvest index (HI) significantly from 0.464 to 0.571 in 2016 and from 0.524 to 0.585 in 2017, but density had no significant effect. The changes in HI were correlated with stem dry weight (r = ?0.80 in 2016 and r = ?0.79 in 2017) rather than seed yield (r = 0.08, n.s. in 2016 and r = 0.19, n.s. in 2017). Thus, under irrigation, late dense sowing might stabilize yield in southwestern Japan because of higher HI.

Abbreviations: DM: dry matter; FOEAS: farm-oriented enhancing aquatic system; HI: harvest index; RUE: radiation use efficiency     

Effects of maturity genes E2 and E3 on yield formation in soybean cultivar Enrei in warm region,Fukuyama in Japan

ABSTRACT

Understanding how maturity genes affect soybean yield formation will provide important information for crop management decisions. This study aimed to reveal how maturity genes E2 and E3 in the soybean cultivar ‘Enrei’ affect yields and yield formation in warm regions of Japan. ‘Enrei’ (e2e3) and three near-isogenic lines of ‘Enrei’ (e2E3, E2e3, and E2E3) were cultivated in 2016 and 2017 in Fukuyama, Japan (34°30′N, 133°23′E). Two sowing dates were set in each year (June sowing and July sowing). E2 extended the period from emergence to R1 and also the period from R1 to R7, whereas E3 extended only the period from emergence to R1. Interaction between E2 and E3 did not affect duration of the period from emergence to R1, but did affect the period from R1 to R7. Although seed yield did not differ between genotypes in the June sowings, the effects of E2 and E3 on seed yield in July sowing were both significant and interaction between E2 and E3 also observed. The total number of nodes increased in E3 genotypes in both sowing dates, especially in E2E3. Pod-set ratio was lower in E2 and E3 genotypes than in e2 and e3 genotypes in the June sowings, but did not differ between genotypes in the July sowings. The high yield of E2E3 genotypes in the July sowings was attributed to increased number of nodes and flower production while maintaining pod-set ratio. Appropriate choice of sowing date is suggested to be essential when using E3 genotypes.Abbreviations: HI: harvest index; NIL: near-isogenic line; RUE: radiation use efficiency; TDM: total above-ground dry matter; TRI: total solar radiation intercepted