Correlation of changes in seasonal distribution and catch of red sea bream Pagrus major with winter temperature in the eastern Seto Inland Sea,Japan (1972–2010)

Red sea bream Pagrus major is a commercially important fish in Japan. In eastern Seto Inland Sea (SIS), the catch has increased from 297 tons in 1972 to 2,039 tons in 2010. We examined the relationship, 1972–2010, between increase in catch and winter temperature, based on the catch in February and March and the lowest water temperature at 10 m depth. In 1972–1986, the lowest water temperatures in the inner SIS areas (Osaka Bay, Harima‐nada, and Bisan‐seto) were <8°C, which is physiologically unfavorable for red sea bream. However, in 1987–2010 temperatures were generally ≥8°C. In the inner areas, the catch during winter had been minimal until the early 1980s, presumably because most red sea breams moved to the Kuroshio‐influenced (warmer) Kii Channel area. However, the winter catch in the inner areas of SIS increased from the late 1980s with warm winters. In addition, the catch between April and June, the spawning season, increased in the inner areas from the 1990s, and the catch rate of the inner areas was more than twice higher in the 2000s than in the 1980s. The results suggest that expansion of the distribution area during winter due to warm winter and increase in egg production in the inner areas greatly contributes to the increasing in catch in the eastern SIS.     

Effects of utilization of local food by‐products as total mixed ration silage materials on fermentation quality and intake,digestibility, rumen condition and nitrogen availability in sheep

Four wethers were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment to evaluate in vivo digestibility of total mixed ration (TMR) silage with food by‐products for dairy cows, and the ruminal condition and nitrogen (N) balance were examined. Five by‐products (i.e. potato waste, noodle waste, soybean curd residue, soy sauce cake and green tea waste) were obtained. Four types of TMR silage were used: control (C) containing roughage and commercial concentrate, T1:20% and T1:40% containing the five by‐products replacing 20% and 40% of the commercial concentrate on a dry matter (DM) basis, respectively, and T2:40% containing three by‐products (potato waste, noodle waste and soybean curd residue) replacing 40% of the commercial concentrate on a DM basis. The ingredients were mixed and preserved in oil drum silos for 4 months. The TMR silages showed 4.02–4.44% and 1.75–2.19% for pH and lactic acid contents, respectively. The digestibility of DM and neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrient content were higher (P < 0.05) for T2:40% feeding than for C feeding. Urinary nitrogen excretion tended to be lower (P = 0.07) for T2:40% than for C. The results suggested 40% replacing of commercial concentrate by using the three food by‐products can be most suitable for TMR silage.     

Stereochemistry of matairesinol formation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphne</Emphasis> secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase

Secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase activity was detected for the first time from Daphne odora and Daphne genkwa (Thymelaeaceae), which are known to produce optically pure (+)-matairesinol. In sharp contrast, (–)-matairesinol was formed selectively over the (+)-antipode by the secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase preparation from both D. odora callus and D. genkwa shoots.     

New lignan, isoactifolin, fromChamaecyparis obtusa cv. Breviramea

A new lignan isoactifolin was isolated from young shoots (with leaves) ofChamaecyparis obtusa cv. Breviramea. The structure of the compound was determined based on spectroscopic evidence.Parts of this report were presented at the 44th lignin symposium, Gifu, October 1999     

Lignan production inDaphne odora cell cultures

Lignan production in callus and cell suspension cultures ofDaphne odora is reported for the first time. The cell suspension culture produced pinoresinol, lariciresinol, secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, and wikstromol. The production of matairesinol in the cell suspension culture was much higher than that inDaphne odora stem tissues.Part of this report was presented at the 51th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 2001     

The addition of calcium ion chelator,EGTA to thawing solution improves fertilizing ability in frozen–thawed boar sperm

In our previous study, seminal plasma effectively suppressed the induction of sperm to capacitation‐like status and acrosome loss during the thawing process. However, because boar seminal plasma is contaminated with various kinds of bacteria and/or viruses, it is necessary to develop a thawing solution without animal‐derived materials. In this study, we focused on the increase of intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) in sperm after thawing and the negative effects of sperm qualities. After thawing, the fluorescent intensity of [Ca²⁺]_i indicator, Fluo‐3/AM, and the level of phosphorylated tyrosine residue of protein were increased in the sperm. Next, we investigated whether the addition of Ca²⁺ chelators (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ethyleneglycoltetraacetic acid (EGTA)) improved post‐thawed sperm motility. When the frozen–thawed sperm were treated with 6 mmol/L EDTA + 6 mmol/L EGTA, sperm motility was significantly increased as compared with control (6 mmol/L EDTA alone) at all incubation periods (P < 0.05). The combinational treatment significantly suppressed the elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i and the tyrosine phosphorylation, which improved the acrosomal status and fertilizing ability in vitro. Furthermore, when the thawing method was applied for artificial insemination, the fertilization rate was significantly higher than control (P < 0.05, 33% vs. 82%). Thus, we conclude that the addition of EDTA + EGTA to thawing solution is a beneficial tool for artificial insemination using frozen–thawed boar sperm.     

The status of atmospheric concentrations of ammonia in an intensive dairy farming area in central Japan

(pp. 41–46)
Silicon availability in 36 commercial nursery bed soils was evaluated by four methods the phosphate buffer (pH 6.2, 40 mmol L⁻¹), incubation, supernatant and acetate buffer (pH 4.0, 1 mol L⁻¹) Methods. The influence of silicon availability in the nursery bed soils on the silicon uptake of rice Oryza sativa L. cv. Hitomebore seedlings and the effect of silicon fertilizer application were examined in a glass house in 2002.
The results revealed that the best correlation between silicon content in rice seedlings and available silicon in soils was obtained with the phosphate buffer-solution method ( r  = 0.86). More precise evaluation of available silicon was achieved by grouping soils based on these phosphate absorption coefficients (PAC). The correlation coefficients between silicon content in rice seedlings and available silicon in soils were 0.92 and 0.72 for volcanic soils (PAC > 1500) and non volcanic soils (PAC < 1500), respectively.
We concluded that the phosphate buffer method is the most easily adjusted method for estimation of silicon availability in nursery bed soils, and silicon fertilizers should be applied when silicon availability in non-volcanic nursery bed soils goes below 200 mg kg⁻¹, whereas the level is less than 350 mg kg⁻¹ in volcanic soils.     

Identification of a peptide in enzymatic hydrolyzate of cheese that inhibits ovalbumin permeation in Caco-2 cells

Because the first step in the triggering of food allergy is the permeation of the allergen through the intestine, enhancement of the intestinal barrier function is thought to be effective for preventing food allergy. In this study, a peptide that inhibits ovalbumin (OVA) permeation in an in vitro Caco-2 cell model was isolated from enzymatic hydrolyzate of cheese (EHC). Amino acid sequence analysis identified the active peptide as GPIVLNPWDQ, a sequence identical to amino acids 102-111 of alphas2-casein. The decapeptide significantly inhibited OVA permeation at a concentration of 10(-6) M. In addition, it was found that a pentapeptide half, NPWDQ, is essential for the inhibitory activity because NPWDQ but not GPIVL had nearly the same inhibitory activity as GPIVLNPWDQ. The possibility exists that EHC and/or peptides possessing the NPWDQ sequence can be practically applied to the prevention of food allergy.