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.     

Design and pilot production of a “spiral-winder” for the manufacture of cylindrical laminated veneer lumber

A new spiral-winder was developed for continuous manufacturing of cylindrical laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and a suitable resin adhesive for this cylindrical LVL manufacturing system was investigated. This phase was followed by trial manufacturing and evaluation of cylindrical LVL with the optimum resin adhesive identified. The results are summarized as follows. (1) The shortest gelation time was recorded with a mixture of two commercial resorcinol based resins (DF-1000 and D-33) at a weight ratio of 2575. (2) Bath temperature had a remarkable effect on the gelation time of the adhesive mix. (3) High bonding strength was recorded by 2575 DF-1000/D-33 adhesive mix at a high press temperature despite a short pressing duration. Based on the results of items (1) to (3), 2575 DF-1000/ D-33 is recommended for use in the new spiral-winder. (4) The mechanical properties of cylindrical LVL could be improved by using 2575 DF-1000/D-33 with wider veneer width and longer pressing time. (5) The mechanical properties, especially the modulus of rupture, of the cylindrical LVL manufactured require further improvement for practical structural application.     

Compression behaviors of acetylated wood in organic liquids. Part I. Compression in equilibrium conditions

The radial compression behaviors of acetylated cedar wood were measured in various liquids. The compressive Young’s modulus (E) of acetylated wood was reduced by soaking in water, toluene, and acetone, but it was always greater than that of water-swollen unmodified wood at the same swelling level. The behaviors of acetone-swollen unmodified wood were similar to those of acetylated wood rather than those of water-swollen unmodified wood. These results indicated that the swelling of hydrophobic wood components had a lesser influence on the E of wood than the water-swelling of unmodified hydrophilic components. After large compression (ε > 45%), a part of the strain remained unrecovered because of irreversible mechanical deformation. Since the remaining strain was smaller in the wood specimens indicating greater stress relaxation, it was assumed that the viscoelastic deformation of amorphous matrix components is important for lesser irreversible deformation and effective shape recovery of wood. In contrast with water-swollen unmodified wood, the acetylated wood and acetone-swollen unmodified wood exhibited greater shape recovery despite their relatively higher E. This suggested that the swelling of hydrophobic wood components reduced the viscosity of the matrix rather than its elasticity, resulting in more effective shape recovery with lesser softening.     

Bending characteristics of bamboo (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllostachys pubescens</Emphasis>) with respect to its fiber–foam composite structure

The bending properties of split bamboo culm were compared with those of spruce and beech wood specimens. The bamboo allowed large flexural deformation since its outer layer retains the tensile stress while the softer inner layer undergoes large compressive deformation. The results suggested that the combination of the fiber-rich outer part and the compressible inner part was responsible for the flexural ductility of split bamboo. To clarify the compressible nature of the inner part of bamboo, the longitudinal surfaces of the bamboo and wood specimens were microscopically observed before and after a large longitudinal compression. Although the wood specimens showed serious and localized buckling, the inner part of the bamboo specimens showed no such visible buckling. In the latter case, the foam-like parenchyma cells absorbed the large compressive deformation by their microscopic buckling and simultaneously, the alignment of sclerenchyma fibers was maintained by the surrounding parenchyma matrix. The flexural elasticity of the bamboo was compared to that of the wood in respect of remaining strain during cyclic bending tests. No clear difference was recognized between their remaining strains. This fact indicated that the bamboo was not so flexible elastically, although its fiber–foam combination and intelligent fiber distribution improve flexural ductility.     

Kinetics of molecular encapsulation of 1-methylcyclopropene into alpha-cyclodextrin

1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an ethylene inhibiting regulator, is commercially available in the form of an inclusion complex with alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD). In this study, molecular encapsulation of gaseous 1-MCP into aqueous alpha-CD was investigated in a closed, agitated vessel with a flat gas-liquid interface. Molecular encapsulation of gaseous 1-MCP by alpha-CD is a simultaneous two-step reaction which involves the aqueous dissolution of gaseous 1-MCP and the encapsulation of the dissolved molecules by alpha-CD. The kinetics and mechanism of molecular encapsulation were analyzed based on the depletion rate of 1-MCP in the headspace of the vessel. The encapsulation rates could be explained quantitatively by the gas absorption theory with a pseudo-first-order reaction between 1-MCP and alpha-CD. The negative value of the calculated apparent activation energy of encapsulation (-24.4 kJ/mol) implied the significant effect of exothermic aqueous dissolution of 1-MCP. An encapsulation temperature of 15 degrees C was optimal; at this temperature, the highest 1-MCP yield and best inclusion ratio of inclusion complex were obtained. Changes in the X-ray diffraction pattern suggested that the crystal lattice structure of alpha-CD was altered upon inclusion of 1-MCP.     

Improvement of antifungal activity of 10-undecyn-1-ol by inclusion complexation with cyclodextrin derivatives

The inclusion complexation behavior between 10-undecyn-1-ol and cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives, namely, randomly methylated beta-CD (RM-beta-CD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-CD (HP-beta-CD), was studied in terms of solubility improvement, apparent stability constant, and the inclusion ratios of the resultant inclusion complexes. The aqueous solubility of 10-undecyn-1-ol was greatly improved through complexation with the CD derivatives. RM-beta-CD is comparatively more efficient in solubilizing 10-undecyn-1-ol with an apparent stability constant outstripping that of HP-beta-CD by about an order of magnitude. Comparative in vitro evaluations of the growth inhibition effects of inclusion complex solutions toward Rosellinia necatrix, a phytopathogenic fungus, were performed. In comparison with the positive control, appreciable improvements of the antifungal activity of 10-undecyn-1-ol through the addition of CD derivatives were observed visually. The improvement was evaluated in terms of area covered by the mycelia of Rosellinia necatrix and their growth rate. RM-beta-CD was proven to be more effective compared to HP-beta-CD with regard to the reduction of both fungal mycelium-covered area and growth rate constant, presumably owing to greater solubility enhancement by RM-beta-CD and thus the bioavailability of 10-undecyn-1-ol. Inclusion complexation of 10-undecyn-1-ol with CD derivatives suggests a potential means for production of an environmentally friendly 10-undecyn-1-ol-based fungicide to counteract R. necatrix.     

Molecular and antigenic similarities of the fimbrial major components between Porphyromonas gulae and P. gingivalis

Porphyromonas gulae is black-pigmented anaerobic bacteria associated with canine periodontitis. There is little information available about the specific identify and relative occurrence of pigmented anaerobes in companion animals. Our aim was to clarify the factor involved in the adherence and colonization of the organism in the oral cavity. Fimbrial protein was purified from P. gulae ATCC 51700. The molecular mass of this protein was approximately 41kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE. An antibody against 41-kDa fimbrial protein from P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 reacted with fimbrillin of P. gulae ATCC 51700. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed that the anti-41kDa fimbrial serum bound to fimbria on the cell surface of P. gulae ATCC 51700. Thus, fimbrial protein of P. gulae ATCC 51700 had the same size and antigenicity as 41-kDa fimbriae of P. gingivalis ATCC 33277. The nucleotide sequence of the fimA gene from P. gulae ATCC 51700 showed 94% homology with that of P. gingivalis ATCC 33277. Moreover, the deduced amino acid sequences have 96.8% identity. P. gulae has adherent ability to gingival epithelial cells. The properties of P. gulae fimbriae are similar to those of P. gingivalis fimbriae. We suggest that the surface structure of P. gulae may play a role in the colonization of this organism in periodontal pockets in companion animals.     

兰州市南北两山造林树种的生长过程解析

兰州市南北两山的绿化是为当地居民营造良好居住环境的重要工作,该地区造林树种生长规律更是植被恢复中树种选择和抚育管理的依据。以2005年在兰州市甲子坪1号和2号试验地以及2006年在皋兰山试验地栽植的侧柏和山杏为对象,通过树高和胸径调查以及树干解析,对其生长特性进行研究。结果表明:在2014年调查时,甲子坪1号和2号试验地以及皋兰山试验地的侧柏平均树高分别为3.0 m、3.7 m和3.0 m,平均胸径分别为3.5 cm、5.2 cm和3.0 cm,侧柏的存活率为80%~88%,山杏的存活率达到80%以上。2008—2014年的3次调查结果表明,侧柏的树高平均增长量为0.15~0.18 m·a~(-1),山杏的树高平均增长量为0.17~0.20 m·a~(-1)。对侧柏优势木(树高4.5 m)、平均木(树高3.5 m)和劣势木(树高2.8 m)的树干解析得出,侧柏苗期(栽植后3 a)的高生长速率为0.3~0.4 m·a~(-1),个体间没有显著差异,但造林3 a后优势木的高生长速率为0.2~0.4 m·a~(-1)、平均木为0.2 m·a~(-1)、劣势木为0.1~0.2 m·a~(-1),个体间差异显著。     

A novel method for the reinforcement of harp soundboard

The effects of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) overlay on the wooden soundboard of a harp were compared to those of conventional veneer reinforcement with respect to the vibrational properties and bending strength. CFRP reinforcement has a minimal effect on the vibrational properties of the soundboard in its width direction, whereas conventional veneer reinforcement significantly reduces the acoustic conversion efficiency of the soundboard. The CFRP-reinforced soundboard also has sufficient bending strength in its longitudinal direction. These results indicate that CFRP is a promising material for the reinforcement of the wooden soundboards of harps to minimize the reduction of the sound amplitude.     

Purulent Necrotic Dislocation of the Hip Joint Associated with Umbilical Infection in a Foal

A 42-day-old heavy draft horse fell into sudden astasia. Significant swelling and heat sensation of the left femoral region were observed. Because of a friction sound in the left hip, we supposed that the hip joint was dislocated or the hip bone was fractured. Computed Tomography (CT) examination showed that the left hip joint was dislocated and the left femoral head was disjunct. We carried out a pathological autopsy, and made a diagnosis of the foal as fracture of the hip bone and femoral head with suppurative umbilical arteritis. Pathologic changes in the umbilical artery and hind leg were completely unilateral, suggesting that left umbilical arteritis spread to the blood circulation, causing arthritis and dislocation of the hip bone.