Effect of timing and type of supplementary grain on herbage intake,nitrogen utilization and milk production in dairy cows grazed on perennial ryegrass pasture from evening to morning

The present study aimed to clarify the effect of timing and type of supplementary grain in grazing dairy cows on herbage dry matter intake (HDMI), nitrogen utilization and milk production. Eight lactating cows were allowed to graze from evening to morning during three seasonal periods (spring, summer, autumn). They were randomly allocated to four treatments (timing: pre‐ (Pre) or post‐grazing (Post), for large grain allotments consisting of 75% of daily grain offered; grain type: barley or corn) in 4 × 4 Latin square designs in each period. In the spring period, HDMI was greater for cows fed corn than those fed barley (P = 0.005), whereas cows in the Pre treatment had a similar HDMI, higher (P = 0.049) urinary purine derivative concentration and greater (P = 0.004) milk yield compared with cows in the Post treatment. In the summer and autumn periods, timing treatments did not affect HDMI, nitrogen utilization or milk production, but cows supplemented with barley had higher urinary purine derivatives concentration (P < 0.05) and milk yield (P < 0.05) compared with those supplemented with corn. The results indicate that large grain allotments immediately before evening grazing during early grazing seasons increased ruminal microbial protein synthesis and milk production without reducing HDMI regardless of grain type.     

Involvement of circadian clock in crowing of red jungle fowls (Gallus gallus)

The rhythmic locomotor behavior of flies and mice provides a phenotype for the identification of clock genes, and the underlying molecular mechanism is well studied. However, interestingly, when examining locomotor rhythm in the wild, several key laboratory‐based assumptions on circadian behavior are not supported in natural conditions. The rooster crowing ‘cock‐a‐doodle‐doo’ is a symbol of the break of dawn in many countries. Previously, we used domestic inbred roosters and showed that the timing of roosters' crowing is regulated by the circadian clock under laboratory conditions. However, it is still unknown whether the regulation of crowing by circadian clock is observed under natural conditions. Therefore, here we used red jungle fowls and first confirmed that similar crowing rhythms with domesticated chickens are observed in red jungle fowls under the laboratory conditions. Red jungle fowls show predawn crowing before light onset under 12:12 light : dim light conditions and the free‐running rhythm of crowing under total dim light conditions. We next examined the crowing rhythms under semi‐wild conditions. Although the crowing of red jungle fowls changed seasonally under semi‐wild conditions, predawn crowing was observed before sunrise in all seasons. This evidence suggests that seasonally changed crowing of red jungle fowls is under the control of a circadian clock.     

Utilization of sweet sorghum bagasse and citric acid for manufacturing of particleboard II: influences of pressing temperature and time on particleboard properties

Development of environmentally friendly particleboard made from sweet sorghum bagasse and citric acid has recently attracted attention. In this study, we investigated the effects of pressing temperature and time on physical properties, such as dry bending (DB), internal bond strength (IB), and thickness swelling (TS) of particleboard. Wet bending (WB), screw-holding power (SH), biological durability, and formaldehyde emission of particleboard manufactured under effective pressing temperature and time were also evaluated. Particleboards bonded with phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin and polymeric 4,4′-methylenediphenyl isocyanate (pMDI) were manufactured as references. Effective pressing temperature and time were 200?°C and 10 min, respectively. It was clarified that DB, IB, and TS satisfied the type 18 requirements of the JIS A 5908 (2003), and were comparable to those of particleboard bonded with PF and pMDI. The WB and SH of particleboard did not satisfy type 18 of JIS. Particleboard manufactured under effective pressing conditions had good biological durability and low formaldehyde emission. Based on the results of infrared spectra measurement, the degree of ester linkages increased with increased pressing temperature and time.     

Winter nitrate uptake by the temperate deciduous tree <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus serrata</Emphasis>

Winter nitrogen use in deciduous species is largely uncharacterized. We investigated nitrate uptake in the fine roots of a deciduous oak (Quercus serrata Thunb. ex. Murray). We conducted a ¹⁵N-labeling experiment using saplings of Q. serrata in the winter. During three weeks of labeled nitrate application, the concentration of ¹⁵N in the fine roots increased significantly. The amount of nitrogen absorbed, as nitrate, was 1.16 ± 1.02 mg N g DW⁻¹, equivalent to 7.6 ± 5.8% of the total nitrogen content. Our results indicate that Q. serrata saplings have significant potential for nitrate uptake in the fine roots in midwinter (i.e., in the absence of leaves). Although a significant amount of nitrogen applied as nitrate was accumulated, nitrate concentration in the fine roots remained low during the labeling period. Furthermore, significant nitrate reductase activity was detected. These data suggest that Q. serrata saplings can assimilate nitrate in the fine roots in midwinter.     

Identification of bitterness-masking compounds from cheese

Bitterness-masking compounds were identified in a natural white mold cheese. The oily fraction of the cheese was extracted and further fractionated by using silica gel column chromatography. The four fractions obtained were characterized by thin-layer chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The fatty acid-containing fraction was found to have the highest bitterness-masking activity against quinine hydrochloride. Bitterness-masking activity was quantitated using a method based on subjective equivalents. At 0.5 mM, the fatty acid mixture, which had a composition similar to that of cheese, suppressed the bitterness of 0.008% quinine hydrochloride to be equivalent to that of 0.0049-0.0060% and 0.5 mM oleic acid to that of 0.0032-0.0038% solution. The binding potential between oleic acid and the bitter compounds was estimated by isothermal titration calorimetry. These results suggest that oleic acid masked bitterness by forming a complex with the bitter compounds.     

Molecular changes associated with adaptation of equine influenza H3N8 virus in embryonated chicken eggs

Embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs) are routinely used to isolate equine influenza virus. Propagation of the virus in ECEs results in selection of variants. In the present study, we determined nucleotide sequences of entire coding regions of parent A/equine/Tottori/1/07 (H3N8) and its derivatives that have different passage histories in ECE. After 12 passages, nucleotide sequence analysis predicted 3 amino acid substitutions in hemagglutinin (HA; 2 in HA1 and 1 in HA2). The two amino acid substitutions in HA1 were located in the vicinity of the cell receptor-binding site. Three other amino acid substitutions were predicted in internal proteins, 1 in the M1, 1 in the NP and 1 in the PA. This is the first report showing mutations in the internal protein genes of equine influenza virus associated with adaptation to ECE.     

Triterpenoids isolated from Zizyphus jujuba inhibit foam cell formation in macrophages

Because foam cell formation in macrophages is believed to play an essential role in the progression of early atherosclerotic lesions in vivo, prevention of foam cell formation is considered to be one of the major targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The present study examined the inhibitory effect of 50 crude plant extracts on foam cell formation. Among those crude extracts, Zizyphi Fructus (ZF) and Zizyphi Semen (ZS) extracts significantly inhibited the foam cell formation induced by acetylated LDL. Furthermore, triterpenoids such as oleanonic acid, pomolic acid, and pomonic acid were the major active compounds, and triterpenoids containing a carboxylic acid at C-28 play an important role in the inhibitory effect on foam cell formation in human macrophages. These data suggest that triterpenoids in Zizyphus jujuba , the plant source of ZF and ZS, may therefore be useful for the prevention of atherosclerosis.     

The plasma membrane intactness of root-tip cells is a primary factor for Al-tolerance in cultivars of five species

We investigated the role of the cell wall and plasma membrane (PM) of root-tip cells in Al tolerance in Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive cultivars of five plant species (rice, maize, pea, wheat, and sorghum). No correlation was found between the differences in Al tolerance and the cation exchange capacity of cell walls isolated from root-tips (0–1 em). Preliminary exposure to Al for 1 h was sufficient to inhibit subsequent root re-elongation in an Al-free solution, and the inhibitory effect was more pronounced in the Al-sensitive cultivars than in the Al-tolerant ones. Together with the inhibition of root re-elongation, the PM of the root-tip cells of all the Al-sensitive cultivars was more permeabilized than that of the Al-tolerant cultivars, based on the FDA-PI fluorescence staining technique. Exposure for 30 min to Al treatment at 100 µM significantly increased the PM permeability of protoplasts isolated from the root-tips for the Al-sensitive pea cultivar placed in a moderately hypotonic medium. Protoplasts from root-tip portions of all the Al-sensitive cultivars took up more Al than those of the Al-tolerant ones when treated with 100 pM Al under isotonic conditions for 30 min. The co-existence of DNP or hypotonic conditions led to a larger increase of Al uptake by the protoplasts from Al-sensitive maize cultivars. These results suggest that Al ions rapidly alter the PM of the root-tip portion in the Al-sensitive cultivars, irrespective of plant species, resulting in an increase of the PM permeability.     

A novel control strategy for dry-wood termite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Incisitermes minor</Emphasis> infestation using a bait system

Three types of experiments were designed to evaluate the performance of a bait system intended to control Incisitermes minor (Hagen). In the first type of experiment, Type I, the effectiveness of the bait in a small wood specimen was evaluated. In the second type, Type II, the bait effectiveness was evaluated in a larger wood specimen. Feeding arena lumber with artificial galleries was prepared for the Type III experiment so that the response of the insects to the gel could be observed. In general, the average percentage of termites that died after being exposed to the gel formulation in all three types of experiment was more than 60%, and in the gel control the average percentage of live termites was more than 95% in Types I and III, and more than 75% in Type II. These results suggest that the gel bait system used in this study has the potential to eliminate I. minor colonies. Further investigation will be necessary to increase the reliability of the bait system as a control measure against dry-wood termites.