Effects of acrosomal conditions of frozen-thawed spermatozoa on the results of artificial insemination in Japanese Black cattle

The purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between male artificial insemination (AI) fertility and sperm acrosomal conditions assessed by new and conventional staining techniques and to identify possible reproductive dysfunctions causing low conception rates in AI using frozen-thawed spermatozoa with poor acrosomal conditions in Japanese Black bulls. We investigated individual differences among bulls in the results concerning (1) acrosomal conditions of frozen-thawed spermatozoa as assessed by not merely peanut agglutinin-lectin staining (a conventional staining technique) but also immunostaining of acrosomal tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins (a new staining technique), (2) routine AI using frozen-thawed spermatozoa as assessed by pregnancy diagnosis, (3) in vivo fertilization of frozen-thawed spermatozoa and early development of fertilized eggs as assessed by superovulation/AI-embryo collection tests and (4) in vitro fertilization of frozen-thawed spermatozoa with oocytes. The percentages of frozen-thawed spermatozoa with normal acrosomal conditions assessed by the abovementioned staining techniques were significantly correlated with the conception rates of routine AI, rates of transferable embryos in superovulation/AI-embryo collection tests and in vitro fertilization rates. These results are consistent with new suggestions that the distribution of acrosomal tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins as well as the acrosomal morphology of frozen-thawed spermatozoa are AI fertility-associated markers that are valid for the prediction of AI results and that low conception rates in AI using frozen-thawed spermatozoa with poor acrosomal conditions result from reproductive dysfunctions in the processes between sperm insemination into females and early embryo development, probably failed fertilization of frozen-thawed spermatozoa with oocytes.     

Comparison of bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide concentrations in the blood,ovarian follicular fluid and uterine fluid: a clinical case of bovine metritis

We investigated the concentration of the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the blood, ovarian follicular fluid and uterine fluid of a clinical case of bovine metritis. A 2-year-old lactating Holstein cow exhibited continuous fever >39.5°C for more than 2 weeks after normal calving. The cow produced a fetid, watery, red-brown uterine discharge from the vagina and was diagnosed with metritis. The LPS concentrations in plasma and uterine fluid were 0.94 and 6.34 endotoxin units (EU)/ml, respectively. One of seven follicles showed an extremely high level of LPS (12.40 EU/ml) compared to the other follicles (0.62–0.97 EU/ml). These results might suggest the presence of high concentration of LPS in follicles in cows with postpartum metritis.     

Genetic mapping of AFLP markers in Japanese bunching onion (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium fistulosum</Emphasis>)

Summary The first genetic linkage map of Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum) based primarily on AFLP markers was constructed using reciprocally backcrossed progenies. They were 120 plants each of (P₁)BC₁ and (P₂)BC₁ populations derived from a cross between single plants of two inbred lines: D1s-15s-22 (P₁) and J1s-14s-20 (P₂). Based on the (P₂)BC₁ population, a linkage map of P₁ was constructed. It comprises 164 markers – 149 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), 2 cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPSs), and 12 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) from Japanese bunching onion, and 1 SSR from bulb onion (A. cepa) – on 15 linkage groups covering 947 centiMorgans (cM). The linkage map of P₂ was constructed with the (P₁)BC₁ population and composed of 120 loci – 105 AFLPs, 1 CAPS, and 13 SSRs developed from Japanese bunching onion and 1 SSR from bulb onion – on 14 linkage groups covering 775 cM. Both maps were not saturated but were considered to cover the majority of the genome. Nine linkage groups in P₂ map were connected with their counterparts in P₁ map using co-dominant anchor markers, 13 SSRs and 1 CAPS.     

Allometric model of the Reineke equation for Japanese cypress (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaecyparis obtusa</Emphasis>) and red pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus densiflora</Emphasis>) stands

An allometric model that explains the mechanism of the difference in the slope of the Reineke equation (A) among species was proposed based on the allometric relationships of mean tree height (H) to quadratic mean diameter D (H ∝ D ^θ ) and stand density N (H ∝ N ^δ ), i.e., A = θ/δ. The proposed model was fitted to Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) and red pine (Pinus densiflora) stands. The allometric exponents θ and δ were, respectively, 0.8995 and −0.5000 for cypress and 0.8612 and −0.6619 for pine. The difference between cypress and pine was significant for δ but not for θ. Inserting the exponents into the model resulted in predicted slopes of −1.7991 for cypress and −1.3011 for pine. The difference in the slope of the Reineke equation between the two species was produced by characteristics related to the tree crown, rather than characteristics related to stem slenderness. The proposed model enables us to estimate the slope of the Reineke equation from commonly measured stand attributes, such as mean tree height and quadratic mean diameter. Therefore, the proposed model is expected to be practical and convenient for estimating the slope of the Reineke equation and for explaining the mechanism of its variation among species. The model should be also accepted as a generalized model of the stand density versus quadratic mean diameter relationship, whereas the original Reineke equation should be seen as a specific case of this model.     

Allometric model of the height–diameter curve for even-aged pure stands of Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>)

We derived an allometric model of the height–diameter curve for even-aged pure stands, which was a modification of the earlier model proposed by Inoue (2000a). An individual-dependent allometric equation was used as the height–diameter curve. Using the discriminant analysis method, all trees composed of a stand were stratified into upper and lower trees. It was assumed that both relationships between mean tree height H _m and upper tree height H _u and between mean DBH D _m and mean DBH of upper trees D _u could be described by the time-dependent allometric power equations. The height–diameter curve showed an average relationship between tree height and DBH of a given stand at a given time, and hence it could be assumed that the height–diameter curve contained two points (D _m , H _m ) and (D _u , H _u ). With these assumptions, we derived an allometirc model of height–diameter curve, which allowed the coefficients of the curve to be estimated from mean tree height and mean DBH. The proposed model was fitted to Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) data. The error ratio of the allometric model ranged from 2.254% to 13.412% (mean = 6.785%), which was significantly smaller than that of the earlier model. When the error of mean tree height was ±1.0 m or less, the effect of the error of mean tree height on the error ratio was comparatively small. This suggested that the error of ±1.0 m in mean tree height could be accepted in the estimation of height–diameter curve using the allometric model. These features enable us to combine the allometric model with Hirata’s vertical angle-count sampling or growth models. In conclusion, the allometric model would be one of the most practical and convenient approaches for estimating the height–diameter relationship of even-aged pure stands.     

Plywood frame corner joints with glued-in hardwood dowels

This paper presents research on plywood frame corners jointed to glulam beams and columns by means of glued-in hardwood dowels. The frame corner was made of a solid block of ordinary plywood of the same width as the glulam beams and with plies parallel to the plane of the frame to avoid splitting due to stress perpendicular to the grain. Hardwood dowels with a diameter of 12mm and a maximum glued-in length of 120mm were glued into drilled holes in the plywood corner and glulam beam ends parallel to the grain direction of the beams to form a momentresisting joint. Static bending tests were conducted of frame corners with 100 X 200mm² and 120 X 420mm² beam cross sections. Bending capacities of the joints corresponding to a modulus of rupture of the jointed glulam beams of about 30MPa were obtained for both closing and opening moments for the small cross sections, and about 22MPa was obtained for the large cross sections. Simple design models for calculation of joint strength and rotational stiffness are also presented.     

The effect of compression and incision on wood veneer and plywood physical and mechanical properties

ABSTRACT

Drying takes the largest share of energy in plywood production, and varying moisture content of veneers necessitates re-drying that often leads to over-dry veneers with deactivated surfaces, which may promote imperfect bonding. In order to decrease the drying time, reduce the need for re-drying of veneers, and improve the quality of plywood, birch and spruce veneers were subjected to pre-treatment by cold compression, incision, or a combination of the two. The effects of pre-treatment on the veneer and plywood quality were assessed by standard tests. Compression had a beneficial effect on water removal of the wettest veneers (spruce sapwood (SW) and birch), but some thickness reduction was observed in the veneers as well as the finished birch plywood. Compression led to thickness reduction of spruce veneers, but had no effect on SW plywood thickness likely due to higher viscoelasticity. Both compression and the combination of incising and compression levelled the moisture variation within the compressed stacks. Incision improved the modulus of elasticity of birch plywood, shear strength of SW plywood, and both bending and shear strengths of heartwood plywood. Higher surface pressure decreased the drying time of spruce SW in both plain compression and combined incision and compression pre-treatment.     

Tree size dependence of litter production, and above-ground net production in a young Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) stand

The study was carried out in a 9-year-old hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa (Sieb. et Zucc.) Endl.), stand over a span of three years from July 1992 to June 1995, primarily to predict litter production from exteral tree dimensions by combining open-top clothtrap and clipping methods. Litter production was virtually concentrated in October and November. Stem cross-sectional area at the crown base was proved to be the reliable predictor of litter production, and that single regression model was evolved irrespective of year. The regression model had proportional constants of 2.696 × 10⁻² and 3.540 × 10⁻² kg cm⁻² year⁻¹ for leaf litter and total litter production, respectively. Utilizing the model, leaf litter production of the stand was assessed to be 5.04, 5.12, and 4.99, and total litter production to be 6.48, 6.58, and 6.40 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for the first, second and third year, respectively. Biomass increment was 6.67, 7.80, and 7.70, tree mortality was 0.15, 0.13, and 0.41, and insect grazing was 0.09, 0.05, and 0.002 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for the first, second and third year, respectively. Above-groud net production was therefore 13.39, 14.55, and 14.51, Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and biomass accumulation ratio (biomass/net production) was 1.86, 2.21, and 2.76 year for the first, second and third year, respectively. Considering data from earlier studies and the results of this study, biomass accumulation ratio,BAR (year), of hinoki stands was best related to above-ground biomass,y (Mg ha⁻¹), using the power function:BAR=0.112y ^0.936. Excluding seedling stands, leaf efficiency (above-ground net production per unit leaf mass) of hinoki stands was 0.91±0.02 (SE) Mg Mg⁻¹ year⁻¹, irrespective of stand biomass or age.