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.     

Time course of the incidence/multiplicity and histopathological features of murine colonic dysplasia,adenoma and adenocarcinoma induced by benzo[a]pyrene and dextran sulfate sodium

Benzo[a]pyrene (BP) is mutagenic but noncarcinogenic in the murine colon. Recently, we reported rapid induction of colonic tumors by treatment of CD2F₁ mice with BP (125 mg/kg for 5 days) followed by a colitis inducer, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) (4% in drinking water for 1 or 2 weeks). However, there are no reports on detailed time course and histopathological features of colonic proliferative lesions in this model. Here, we show the detailed time course of colonic dysplasia, adenoma and adenocarcinoma induced by treatment with BP, DSS, and a combination of the two (BP/DSS). In the colon of mice exposed to BP/DSS, 14.6 dysplastic foci per mouse were present one week after DSS treatment (week 4). The number of dysplastic foci decreased with time to 3.1 at week 9 and thereafter remained almost constant. At week 4, 1.5 adenocarcinomas were also observed, with a marked increase in numbers with time, reaching 29.3 at week 14. In contrast, the number of dysplastic foci induced by DSS alone showed a time course similar to that following BP/DSS treatment; however, only a few tumors appeared. Neither dysplastic foci nor neoplastic lesions were induced by BP only. In mice exposed to BP/DSS, β-catenin was demonstrated immunohistochemically in the nucleus and/or cytoplasm of the tumor cells, and this translocation from the cell membrane was evident in subsets of dysplastic foci. In dysplastic foci induced by DSS alone, β-catenin was absent in the nucleus/cytoplasm. These finding suggest that aberrant β-catenin accumulation in dysplastic foci is associated with tumor progression in this BP/DSS model.     

Strength properties of glued laminated timber made from edge-glued laminae II: bending,tensile, and compressive strength of glued laminated timber

The purpose of this study was to investigate the strength properties of glued laminated timber composed of edge-glued laminae and to investigate the influence of edge gluing on the strength properties. Glued laminated timber composed of multiple-grade laminae (symmetrical composition, strength grade E95-F270, 10 laminations) was produced from karamatsu (Larix kaempferi) edge-glued laminae according to the Japanese Agricultural Standard. The bending, tensile, and compressive strengths of the glued laminated timber were measured. The average bending, tensile, and compressive strengths were 33.4, 24.5, and 35.9 MPa, respectively, and these values are almost equal to those of glued laminated timber composed of karamatsu single-piece laminae. It was determined that finger-joints and knots in the edge-glued laminae played a significant role in the failure of specimens. However, the use of glued edge-joints did not appear to affect the failure of specimens.     

Mixing‐Recording Method for the Practical Determination of Physical Properties of Soy Protein Isolate

The mixing properties of soy protein isolate (SPI) were investigated. The electric current of a kitchen food processor was monitored during the mixing of SPIs to produce dough, and an identical mixing curve was obtained for each SPI. The obtained peak time and peak height of the electric current curve were correlated to the physical properties (solubility and gel strength) of each SPI. The peak time negatively correlated with solubility, and the peak height positively correlated with gel strength. Optical microscopic observations showed that the dough microstructure appeared to be related to the peak time. Moreover, some conditions such as the SPI storage conditions and the ionic strength of the mixing buffer affected the mixing properties. This mixing‐recording method is proposed as a practical tool that could simplify the evaluation of SPI characteristics.     

A comparative analysis of acceptance by Japanese females and price of goat milk from different sources

A sensory survey was carried out using 4 different types of whole goat milk among middle‐class females to investigate consumer acceptability of goat milk and whether there is an opportunity to expand the sale of goat milk products in Japan. Four different types of whole milk powder (domestic concentrate‐fed, domestic pasture‐fed, USA commercially canned, and New Zealand commercially canned) were used. Fresh cow milk was served as a control. Thirty‐one housewives evaluated the 5 liquid milk samples for smell, taste and overall characteristics on a scale of 1 (low) to 3 (high). Chi‐square analyses were carried out to detect significant differences between the milk types in each category. The goat milk from the USA was the most preferred goat milk with respect to smell and overall evaluation. Domestic pasture‐fed milk received the lowest grade in the evaluation for its ‘grassy and goaty’ smell. This result shows us that pasture intake affects the taste and smell of powdered milk which gives the lowest evaluation by the participants. If Japanese goat milk producers want to be successful in the domestic goat milk market and compete against goat milk products from other countries, they should improve production methods and flavor of their products.     

Effect of increased feeding of dietary α‐linolenic acid by grazing on formation of the cis9,trans11–18:2 isoform of conjugated linoleic acid in bovine milk

Feeding systems such as grazing affect the fatty acid profile of bovine milk fat. In addition, milk fat is formed as the product of fatty acid metabolism in cow bodies before being secreted into milk. However, how grazing influences milk fatty acid profile through the metabolism has not been completely characterized. When fatty acid concentrations in Holstein milk were compared between grazing and non‐grazing periods, α‐linolenic acid was significantly higher in the grazing period than in the non‐grazing period. This could be explained with an increase in α‐linolenic acid feeding with grazing. α‐linolenic acid had a linear positive correlation with conjugated linoleic acid (9c,11t‐18:2) (CLA) and vaccenic acid (VA) during the grazing period, whereas CLA had higher correlation with linoleic acid rather than with α‐linolenic acid during the non‐grazing period. These data indicate that the high content of dietary α‐linolenic acid affects CLA and VA formation in milk of grazing periods via α‐linolenic acid metabolism into VA.     

Partial characterization and ontogenetic development of pancreatic digestive enzymes in Japanese eel Anguilla japonica larvae

The pancreatic digestive enzymes, trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase and amylase were partially characterized, and changes in their activities were examined during the initial ontogeny of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica larvae from 5 to 34 days post-hatching (dph). The pH optima of the eel larval enzymes were narrower than those other fish species; trypsin activity was highest at pH 9, chymotrypsin and amylase activities were highest at pH 7 and 8, and lipase activity was highest at pH 8 and 9. In an analysis of thermal profiles, the larval pancreatic enzymes had a high optimal temperature and high thermal stability, which are typical of fish from the tropics. At 12 and 13 dph, lipase activity and gene expression levels of trypsin (-a and -b), lipase and amylase decreased markedly, suggesting a marked change in larval metabolism at that time. These data could be useful in the development of artificial larval diets in Japanese eel.     

Strength properties of laminated veneer lumber in compression perpendicular to its grain

Tests of compression perpendicular to the grain were carried out on laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and timber. The species tested were sugi, radiata pine, karamatsu, akamatsu, and dahurian larch; two sets of sugi specimens were tested, with the sugi LVL products being manufactured in different plants. The strength properties of the materials for different loading directions were compared for LVL and timber. At 5% compressive strain in the same materials, the average stress in the tangential direction of timber was larger than that in the radial direction for all species except for radiata pine, and the average stress in the edge-wise direction of LVL was larger than that in the flat-wise direction for all species except for radiata pine. When the stress at 5% strain was compared in the same direction, the average stress of LVL in the edge-wise direction was larger than that in timber in the tangential direction for all species, but there were no great differences between the average stress of LVL in the fl at-wise direction and that of timber in the radial direction for all species except for radiation pine. There was a close relationship between density and stress at 5% strain in LVL, especially in the edge-wise direction. For all results, radiata pine did not follow the trend of the other species; The large annual ring width of radiata pine was considered to have affected the results.     

Relationship between zooplankton abundance and the early marine life history of juvenile chum salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus keta</Emphasis> in eastern Hokkaido,Japan

Interannual variations in abundance, timing of outmigration from rivers, growth rate and condition of juvenile chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) were studied in the Nemuro Strait (eastern Hokkaido, Japan) during 1999–2002 to establish a possible relationship to zooplankton abundance. The otolith microstructure of juveniles was examined each year in late June to determine their time and size at sea entry (i.e., outmigration), and to estimate the early marine growth rates. Salmon outmigration peaked in mid- or late May, which coincided, in three of the four study years, with the peak release of juveniles into rivers within the study area. Abundance, growth rate and condition of fish were higher in 2001, when—compared to other years—smaller fish experienced higher growth rates, coinciding with greater zooplankton abundance for that year. Our results suggest that high zooplankton abundance positively influenced juvenile chum salmon growth and the condition of the fish during their early marine life despite their small size at sea entry.