Evaluating environmental impacts of the Japanese beef cow–calf system by the life cycle assessment method

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the environmental impacts of a beef cow–calf system using a life cycle assessment (LCA) method and to investigate the effects of scenarios to reduce environmental impacts on the LCA results. The functional unit was defined as one marketed beef calf, and the processes associated with the cow–calf life cycle, such as feed production, feed transport, animal management, the biological activity of the animal and the treatment of cattle waste were included in the system boundary. The present results showed that the total contributions of one beef calf throughout its life cycle to global warming, acidification, eutrophication and energy consumption were 4550 kg of CO₂ equivalents, 40.1 kg of SO₂ equivalents, 7.0 kg of phosphate (PO₄) equivalents and 16.1 GJ, respectively. The contribution of each process to the total environmental impact in each environmental impact category showed a similar tendency to the contribution of each process in each environmental category reported in the case of the beef fattening system as a whole. The results from this analysis showed that shortening calving intervals by 1 month reduced environmental impacts by 5.7–5.8% in all the environmental impact categories examined in the current study, and increasing the number of calves per cow also reduced environmental impacts in all the categories, although the effects were smaller.     

Feeding Solanum glaucophyllum to preparturient multiparous cows prevents postparturient hypocalcemia

Solanum glaucophyllum (SG) contains 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25‐(OH)₂D₃) glycosides. We investigated the effect of SG on hypocalcemia in cows. Serum levels of 1,25‐(OH)₂D₃, total calcium and phosphorus dose‐relatedly increased after feeding with SG, while serum magnesium and chloride levels fell (P < 0.05). We also performed an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) infusion to induce artificial hypocalcemia. Cows that had been fed 4.0 mg/kg body weight of SG daily for 2 weeks had a higher serum concentration of total calcium at the end of EDTA infusion than those not fed SG (P < 0.05). In a field trial, multiparous cows were assigned to one of four groups: (1) no SG, (2) 1.3 g or (3) 2.6 g of SG daily from 14 days before the estimated calving day until 3 days after calving, or (4) a single feed of 35.75 g SG at 3 days before the estimated calving day. The concentrations of serum total calcium after the calving in each treatment group were (1) 7.4, (2) 7.9, (3) 8.0 and (4) 8.9 mg/dL and higher for (4) than for (1) (P < 0.05). The data suggests that feeding a high dose of SG before the calving may maintain higher concentrations of serum calcium after the calving.     

Mitigation of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from swine wastewater treatment in an aerobic bioreactor packed with carbon fibers

Mitigation of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from swine wastewater treatment was demonstrated in an aerobic bioreactor packed with carbon fibers (CF reactor). The CF reactor had a demonstrated advantage in mitigating N₂O emission and avoiding NOx (NO₃ + NO₂) accumulation. The N₂O emission factor was 0.0003 g N₂O‐N/gTN‐load in the CF bioreactor compared to 0.03 gN₂O‐N/gTN‐load in an activated sludge reactor (AS reactor). N₂O and CH₄ emissions from the CF reactor were 42 g‐CO₂ eq/m³/day, while those from the AS reactor were 725 g‐CO₂ eq/m³/day. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in the CF reactor removed an average of 156 mg/L of the NH₄‐N, and accumulated an average of 14 mg/L of the NO₃‐N. In contrast, the DIN in the AS reactor removed an average 144 mg/L of the NH₄‐N and accumulated an average 183 mg/L of the NO₃‐N. NO₂‐N was almost undetectable in both reactors.     

Seasonal variations in the incidence of pine wilt and infestation by its vector, Monochamus alternatus, near the northern limit of the disease in Japan

During the last few decades, pine wilt disease has spread to cool-climate regions in Japan and, more recently, the potential risk of it spreading into the European midwest has also become a concern. In a coastal pine stand (84.7?ha) in Akita, near the northern limit of pine wilt disease in Japan, we investigated seasonal variations in the incidence of damage caused by the disease to trees and oviposition by the disease’s insect vector, Monochamus alternatus, during a two-year period. Foliage discoloration occurred throughout each year, and its seasonal variation showed a bimodal pattern in Pinus thunbergii (a higher peak in May–June and a smaller peak in October) and a clear peak in June in P. densiflora, which differed from the patterns in seasonal variation seen for warm-climate regions. Oviposition scars by M. alternatus were found in 40–45% of the trees damaged each year. The percentage of trees that had oviposition scars was higher in P. thunbergii than in P. densiflora. This appeared to reflect the difference in seasonal discoloration pattern between the two species. Analysis of the oviposition risk showed that trees that exhibited discoloration starting between July and October had a significantly higher risk or significantly higher oviposition scar densities, particularly for those that became discolored between August and September (2.5–14.6-fold higher risk than during other months). Oviposition scar densities per damaged tree were similar within the period of higher oviposition risk. Considering both oviposition risks and scar densities, we concluded that trees with discoloration that become apparent between July and October are important targets for preventing the spread of pine wilt disease in Akita.     

Development of a monoclonal antibody for the detection of anti-canine CD20 chimeric antigen receptor expression on canine CD20 chimeric antigen receptor-transduced T cells

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) CAR-T cell therapy targeting CD20 can be a novel adoptive cell therapy for canine patients with B-cell malignancy. After injection of the CAR-T cells in vivo, monitoring circulating CAR-T cells is essential to prove in vivo persistence of CAR-T cells. In this study, we developed a novel monoclonal antibody against canine CD20 CAR, whose single-chain variable fragment was derived from the our previously reported anti-canine CD20 therapeutic antibody. Furthermore, we proved that this monoclonal antibody can detect therapeutic anti-canine CD20 chimeric antibody in the serum from healthy beagle dogs injected with the therapeutic antibody for safety study. This monoclonal antibody is a useful tool for monitoring both canine CD20-CAR-T cells and anti-canine CD20 therapeutic antibody for canine lymphoma.     

Classification of the genus Bacillus based on MALDI-TOF MS analysis of ribosomal proteins coded in S10 and spc operons

A rapid bacterial identification method by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) using ribosomal proteins coded in S10 and spc operons as biomarkers, named the S10-GERMS (the S10-spc-alpha operon gene encoded ribosomal protein mass spectrum) method, was applied for the genus Bacillus a Gram-positive bacterium. The S10-GERMS method could successfully distinguish the difference between B. subtilis subsp. subtilis NBRC 13719(T) and B. subtilis subsp. spizizenii NBRC 101239(T) because of the mass difference of 2 ribosomal subunit proteins, despite the difference of only 2 bases in the 16S rRNA gene between them. The 8 selected reliable and reproducible ribosomal subunit proteins without disturbance of S/N level on MALDI-TOF MS analysis, S10, S14, S19, L18, L22, L24, L29, and L30, coded in S10 and spc operons were significantly useful biomarkers for rapid bacterial classification at species and strain levels by the S10-GERMS method of genus Bacillus strains without purification of ribosomal proteins.     

Establishment of ES cells from inbred strain mice by dual inhibition (2i)

A number of mouse ES cells from inbred strains have been established to date, but efficiency varies across the different strains. The 129 strain mouse is efficient to establish, whereas C57BL/6 and BALB/c strains are not. It is possible that their genetic backgrounds account for the difference in their ability to establish ES cell lines. In this study, we attempted to establish C57BL/6J and BALB/c Cr ES cells by dual inhibition (2i) using two inhibitors (PD0325901 and CHIR99021) of extracellular signal regulated-kinase (ERK) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), which promote ES cell differentiation. The results revealed that the establishment efficiencies of C57BL/6J and BALB/c Cr ES cells were remarkably increased by 2i. These ES cells stably expressed pluripotent markers and generated high-contribution chimeras with germline transmission. Furthermore, we generated germline chimeras from C57BL/6J ES cells through the method of gene modification. These findings indicate that 2i is a powerful tool for establishing C57BL/6J and BALB/c Cr ES cells with the ability to generate germline chimeras.     

The effect of lighting conditions on the rhythmicity of growth hormone secretion in Holstein steers

Growth hormone (GH) secretion regularity and the effects of lighting condition and GH‐releasing hormone (GHRH) on GH release were determined in steers. First, steers were kept under 12:12 L : D conditions (light: 06.00–18.00 hours). The animals were then subjected to a 1‐h advancement in lighting on/off conditions (05.00 and 17.00 hours, respectively). Blood was sampled for 24 h at 1‐h interval on the seventh day of each condition. Second, GHRH was injected intravenously (IV) at 12.00 and 00.00 hours under 12:12 L : D and blood was sampled at 15‐min interval for 4‐h (1 h before and 3 h after the injection). Plasma GH concentrations were measured by a radioimmunoassay. Periodicity of GH secretory profile was calculated by power spectrum analysis using the maximum entropy method. Plasma GH concentrations showed a characteristic pattern consisting of four distinct peaks. Mean periodicity of GH secretory profile was 5.7 h, and it was not altered by any change in lighting conditions. IV injection of GHRH increased GH secretion during the day and night. The increase in GH secretory volume after GHRH injection during the night was equal to that during the day. The present results suggest that GH secreted from the anterior pituitary have regularity in steers.     

Changes in collagen fiber content and hepatic stellate cell distribution in the liver of chick embryos and growing chickens

The content of collagen and the distribution of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were studied to elucidate the occurrence of sex‐dependent variations in the liver of developing embryos and growing chickens. Chick embryos from embryonic days (e) 12 to e20 and chicks at 1, 4 and 8 weeks were analyzed. Liver tissue was processed using NaOH maceration and freeze‐dried to obtain the collagen fiber specimens. HSCs were identified by double fluorescent immunohistochemistry for desmin and vimentin. There were no sex‐dependent variations in the percentage of collagen fiber per liver weight and HSC area during embryonic stages. However, the content of collagen fiber increased during embryonic development in both sexes. On the other hand, the area of HSCs significantly increased in growing males but did not show any change in females. Importantly, sex differences were observed in both collagen fiber content and HSC area in the liver at 8 weeks. These results indicate that the occurrence of collagen content variations takes place at 8 weeks in chicken liver, suggesting that a sex‐dependent hormone may play an important role on the collagen production of HSCs in the growing chicken liver.