The change of dry matter intake, milk yield and bone turnover in primiparous cows compared to multiparous cows during early lactation

Data from six primiparous and nine multiparous Holstein cows were used to clarify the difference of Ca and P mobilization between primiparous and multiparous cows during early lactation. The dry matter intake (DMI) of primiparous cows was lower (P < 0.01) than those of multiparous cows. Milk yield was lower in primiparous cows at 7, 14, 21 (P < 0.01), and 28 days (P < 0.05) after parturition. There was no significant difference in milk Ca and P concentrations between primiparous and multiparous cows. There were no significant differences in plasma Ca and P concentrations between primiparous and multiparous cows. The plasma P level at 7 days postpartum in primiparous cows was lower (P < 0.05) than 28 days postpartum. The concentration of plasma osteocalcin (OC) measured as bone formation marker of primiparous cows was significantly higher than multiparous cows (P < 0.01) at 21 and 28 days postpartum. The urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) as bone resorption marker of primiparous cows tended to be higher (P < 0.10) than multiparous cows at 21 days after parturition and decreased to the same level as that of multiparae toward the peak lactation. These results show that Ca and P mobilization of primiparous cows are more active than multiparous cows.     

Questionnaire-based study on consumer requirements for beef quality in Japan

A questionnaire study examining Japanese consumers’ requirements for beef quality was carried out in April 2002 in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Answers from 532 participants were used for the statistical analysis. Twenty questions about sensory properties, appearance, safety and freshness, production area, price, and other properties were prepared. The answers were applied to principal component analysis. Five principal components were obtained and defined, and the principle component scores were used to classify participants. The panels were classified into four groups profiled as ‘specific quality orientated’, ‘Wagyu (Japanese beef) orientated’, ‘safety and freshness orientated’ and ‘overall high quality orientated’. In addition, gender and age characteristics were different among the groups. Sensory properties did not affect the classification of respondents.     

Generation and alteration of norlignans in a transition zone during the drying of a Cryptomeria japonica log

Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) produces secondary metabolite norlignans in xylem. Several norlignans are involved in the coloration of heartwood and defense of sapwood against microbial invasion. Their biosynthetic process should be well understood so that their properties can be exploited to improve the quality and utility of C. japonica wood. Unfortunately, information on the norlignan biosynthesis is limited because norlignans are mainly synthesized in a particular season in the transition zone (TZ) along with the heartwood formation, and is difficult to study. Although the generation of two norlignans of C. japonica, agatharesinol and (E)-hinokiresinol, has been reported, systems for producing other norlignans are not yet known. To establish a novel norlignan generating system, we examined the changes occurring in norlignans in a TZ during the process of drying a C. japonica log. On the day of felling, the TZ contained agatharesinol and (E)-hinokiresinol, which increased until they reached a maximum on day 40 after felling. Sequirin-C appeared on day 40 and increased to day 70. The generation of sequirin-C in the TZ can be used to investigate the biosynthetic process of heartwood norlignans. This study describes for the first time the changes that occur in the composition of norlignan during the drying of the TZ.     

The sex determining gene of medaka: a Y-specific DM domain gene (DMY) is required for male development

Although the sex-determining gene Sry has been identified in mammals, no comparable genes have been found in non-mammalian vertebrates. To clone positionally the sex-determining region of the medaka, Oryzias latipes, we generated a Y congenic strain to highlight the genetic differences between the X and Y chromosomes from inbred strains of medaka. We used recombinant breakpoint analysis and deletion analysis of the Y chromosome of a congenic XY female to restrict the sex-determining region to 250-kb stretch of the Y chromosome. Shotgun sequencing of this region predicted 27 genes. Three of these genes were expressed during sexual differentiation. However, only one gene was Y specific. The full-length cDNA sequence of this gene encodes a putative protein of 267 amino acids, including the highly conserved DM domain. We thus named it DMY. To establish a role for DMY during sexual differentiation, we screened wild medaka populations for naturally occurring DMY mutants. Two XY females with distinct mutations in DMY were found in separate populations. The first heritable mutant – a single insertion in exon 3 and the subsequent truncation of DMY – resulted in all XY female offspring. Similarly, the second XY mutant female showed reduced DMY expression with a high proportion of XY female offspring. Furthermore, during normal development, DMY is expressed only in somatic cells of XY gonads. These findings strongly suggest that the sex-specific DMY is required for normal testicular development and is a prime candidate for the medaka sex-determining gene.     

You cannot conserve a species that has not been found: The case of the marine sponge Axinella polypoides in Liguria,Italy

1. Detailed knowledge about the distribution of species in need of protection is required for the management of Marine Protected Areas, a major tool to reduce marine biodiversity loss. Such knowledge is deficient for most marine invertebrates.
2. Axinella polypoides is a marine sponge included on the list of protected species by the Barcelona Convention (1976) and the Bern Convention (1987). This large and erect species has an important ecological role in habitat forming and benthic–pelagic coupling.
3. Bathymetrical, geographical and ecological data over the last 60 years were collated from publications and reports, together with new surveys to assess the distribution and protection status in Liguria of A. polypoides. It identified a more widespread distribution than previously thought, which points at a general need for dedicated investigations on the occurrence of species that require protection.
4. Bathymetrical distribution was trimodal, with peaks corresponding to different geomorphological settings: coastal cliff bases (around 38 m depth), inner shelf shoals (52 m) and rocks amidst coarse sediment on the outer shelf (79 m). Density was significantly greater at the shallowest depths. The species was mostly found in the coralligenous biocoenosis, in association with other characteristic species or forming a monospecific facies.
5. On (sub)vertical cliffs, A. polypoides often exhibited an unusual cane shape, rather than the typical bushy morphology, thus causing confusion with the congeneric A. cannabina, a more southern species. Records of the latter in the Ligurian Sea therefore need confirmation.
6. Only a minority (22.6%) of A. polypoides records were in Marine Protected Areas, the remainder being located in areas with no current environmental protection plans in place. While the occurrence of this species in MPAs remained stable over the decades, the only quantitative historical data available indicated that populations in non-protected areas were declining owing to anthropogenic impacts (fishing and anchoring).

     

Moisture distribution in rice grains used for sake brewing analyzed by magnetic resonance imaging

Water absorption in individual white-core and non-white-core grains of rice varieties used in sake brewing was observed during soaking by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Water was absorbed faster in white-core grains than in non-white-core grains and was pooled in the core. Moisture distributions were compared using the line profiles of nuclear magnetic resonance signal intensities (SI profiles) generated from magnetic resonance images of grains soaked for 2 h. SI profiles of white-core and non-white-core grains overlapped despite slight differences in the central and intermediate regions of the grains. A white-core-like structure with loosely packed starch granules was found to exist in the endosperm of non-white-core grains. SI profiles of grains polished to 70% of the yield weight of brown rice were similar in shape to those of grains polished to 90% of the yield, but their overall moisture content was higher after the removal of the hydrophobic grain periphery. A varietal difference in the thickness of the intermediate region, which may affect fissuring resistance in the polishing process, was detected in SI profiles. Differences in water absorbability between parents and their offspring were also apparent from their SI profiles. MRI enabled the detection of variety-specific water-absorption properties in grains.