Stress responses in neonatal meat and layer Nagoya chicks

We reported that meat chicks have either a greater capability to acclimatize to novel environments, or a blunted hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal response to novel environments compared with layer chicks in a commercial base. The present study compared the differences in behavior and plasma corticosterone concentrations under isolation‐induced stress between neonatal meat and layer Nagoya chicks which had been separated from the same population. Both types of neonatal chicks reared in groups were individually separated and their spontaneous activity and distress‐induced vocalizations were monitored for 10 min. The responses of the two types were remarkably different, with the meat chicks being less active than the layer chicks. Distress‐induced vocalizations were fewer in the meat than in the layer chicks. The meat chicks spent more time in a sleeping posture during isolation‐induced stress. Plasma corticosterone concentrations measured at the end of the test tended to be higher in the layer chicks than in meat ones, but not significantly. In conclusion, the selection of Nagoya chickens for meat and layer may have trends similar to those observed in commercial chickens in relation to stress susceptibility.     

Comparative effectiveness of two alkylammonium compounds as wood preservatives

This study describes a laboratory evaluation of the efficacy of two alkylammonium compounds [didecyldimethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (DBF) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC)] when applied via vacuum impregnation or superficial treatment. Treated wood specimens were tested for their termite and microbial resistance under controlled laboratory conditions. The higher chemical retentions were needed to suppress the feeding by Coptotermes formosanus ≦3% mass loss in the multichoice test than in the no-choice test. The DBF and DDAC retention levels necessary to meet the performance requirement ≦3% mass loss after 12-week fungal exposure varied with wood species. The retention level of 3 kg/m³ for DBF and DDAC was generally high to keep the nondurable wood species free of decay. Although there was no difference between DBF and DDAC in the efficacy against decay and termite attack, the former slightly outperformed the latter as an antimold and antisapstain agent.     

Molecular cloning and sequences of interleukin-10 in the Djungarian (Phodopus sungorus), Chinese (Cricetulus griseus), and Syrian (Mesocricetus auratus) hamster

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) genes of Djungarian, Chinese, and Syrian hamsters were cloned. The clones of IL-10 consisted of 537 bp nucleotides and 178 amino acids in full length, and the nucleotide and amino acid sequences exhibited a high degree of homology with those of the mouse and human. Since the number and position of signal sequences, N-glycosylations and cysteine sites in the IL-10 amino acid sequences of the hamsters were the same as those of the mouse, we suggest that the IL-10 molecular structures of the hamster are closer to that of the mouse than human.     

Evaluation of Intestinal Absorption of Dietary Halocynthiaxanthin,a Carotenoid from the Sea Squirt Halocynthia roretzi

Halocynthiaxanthin is an acetylenic carotenoid mainly found in Halocynthia roretzi. To date, several bioactivities of halocynthiaxanthin have been reported, but its mechanism of digestion and absorption in mammals has not been studied yet. In this study, we evaluated the intestinal absorption of halocynthiaxanthin in mice. The halocynthiaxanthin-rich fraction was prepared from the tunicate Halocynthia roretzi. Mice were orally administered the fraction at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. The halocynthiaxanthin levels in the plasma, liver, and small intestine, were quantified using HPLC-PDA, 1, 3, 6, and 9 h after ingestion. The halocynthiaxanthin-rich fraction mainly consisted of the all-trans form and a small amount of cis forms. These three isomers were detected in the plasma of mice 3 h after ingestion. Time-course changes after the ingestion of this fraction were found, with cis isomers being more abundant than the all-trans isomer in the mouse plasma and liver. In the small intestine, however, the all-trans isomer was primarily detected. The possibility that cis isomers might be absorbed rapidly from the small intestine cannot be denied, but our results suggest that dietary all-trans-halocynthiaxanthin might be isomerized to the cis isomer after intestinal absorption.     

Water absorption of boron-treated and heat-modified wood

Heat treatments change the chemical and physical properties of wood and dimensional stability and hygroscopicity are affected as a result of modifications of wood cell components. This study evaluated the water absorption of wood specimens treated with boron compounds followed by heat treatment. Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) sapwood specimens treated with either boric acid (BA) or disodium octoborate tetrahydrate (DOT) solutions were heat-modified at either 180° or 220°C for 2 or 4 h. Carbohydrate composition and water absorption of the specimens were then measured and compared with those of untreated and unheated specimens. Wood carbohydrates were significantly degraded in the specimens after heat treatment. The heat treatment evidently decreased the water absorption and the heat-modified specimens absorbed less water than unheated specimens. The higher the treatment temperature and the longer the treatment time, the lower the amount of absorbed water. The boron-treated and heat-modified specimens, however, showed increased water absorption due to the hygroscopic properties of BA and DOT.     

Bioremediation of CCA-treated wood by brown-rot fungi <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fomitopsis palustris</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coniophora puteana</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laetiporus sulphureus</Emphasis>

This study evaluated oxalic acid accumulation and bioremediation of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood by three brown-rot fungi Fomitopsis palustris, Coniophora puteana, and Laetiporus sulphureus. The fungi were first cultivated in a fermentation broth to accumulate oxalic acid. Bioremediation of CCA-treated wood was then carried out by leaching of heavy metals with oxalic acid over a 10-day fermentation period. Higher amounts of oxalic acid were produced by F. palustris and L. sulphureus compared with C. puteana. After 10-day fermentation, oxalic acid accumulation reached 4.2 g/l and 3.2 g/l for these fungi, respectively. Fomitopsis palustris and L. sulphureus exposed to CCA-treated sawdust for 10 days showed a decrease in arsenic of 100% and 85%, respectively; however, C. puteana remediation removed only 18% arsenic from CCA-treated sawdust. Likewise, chromium removal in F. palustris and L. sulphureus remediation processes was higher than those for C. puteana. This was attributed to low oxalic acid accumulation. These results suggest that F. palustris and L. sulphureus remediation processes can remove inorganic metal compounds via oxalic acid production by increasing the acidity of the substrate and increasing the solubility of the metals.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Physiological difference between free and triglyceride-type conjugated linoleic acid on the immune function of C57BL/6N mice

Previous studies have shown the physiological significance of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in various experimental animals and in human beings. One of the important problems to better elucidate is the difference between triglyceride (TG) and free (FFA) dietary CLA. Here, using splenocytes, this study assesses how TG- and FFA-CLA modulate immunoglobulin and various cytokine productions. In this study, C57BL/6N mice were fed an experimental diet containing 0% CLA, 0.1 or 1% FFA-CLA, or 0.1 or 1% TG-CLA for 3 weeks. The production of immunoglobulin tended to be up-regulated by 1% FFA-CLA. As a result of protein array analysis using the supernatant from splenocytes cultured with no CLA, 1% FFA-CLA, and TG-CLA, some cytokine production was shown to be remarkably regulated by dietary FFA- and TG-CLA. A total of 32 cytokines were examined, and 11-14 produced cytokines that were 2-fold up-regulated as compared with control for FFA- or TG-CLA, respectively. Especially, the production of IL-9 and MCP-5 and other cytokines was remarkably up-regulated by both FFA- and TG-CLA. In addition, seven cytokines were 2-fold down-regulated by TG-CLA. These data show that there is a slight but significant difference between the functionalities of FFA- and TG-CLA.     

Synergistic effect of heartwood extractives and quaternary ammonium compounds on termite resistance of treated wood

This study evaluates the synergistic effect of wood extractives and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) on the resistance to termites of several treated wood species. Wood specimens from different natural durability classes were extracted with either hot water alone or hot water + ethanol/benzene. The extracted and unextracted wood specimens were treated with either didecyldimethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (DBF) or commercial didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) solutions and then exposed to subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, for 3 weeks under laboratory conditions. The results showed that extractives of the heartwood portions of the wood species contributed to increased resistance against termite attack in the presence of either DBF or DDAC wood preservatives. The synergistic effect of wood extractives and DBF was much clearer with Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco and Tsuga heterophylla Sarg wood samples. Further studies are needed for a better understanding of the synergism between wood extractives and either DBF or DDAC using both the sapwood and heartwood portions of the same wood species.     

Emerging pests and diseases of South‐east Asian cassava: a comprehensive evaluation of geographic priorities,management options and research needs

Cassava is a major staple, bio‐energy and industrial crop in many parts of the developing world. In Southeast Asia, cassava is grown on >4 million ha by nearly 8 million (small‐scale) farming households, under (climatic, biophysical) conditions that often prove unsuitable for many other crops. While SE Asian cassava has been virtually free of phytosanitary constraints for most of its history, a complex of invasive arthropod pests and plant diseases has recently come to affect local crops. We describe results from a region‐wide monitoring effort in the 2014 dry season, covering 429 fields across five countries. We present geographic distribution and field‐level incidence of the most prominent pest and disease invaders, introduce readily‐available management options and research needs. Monitoring work reveals that several exotic mealybug and (red) mite species have effectively colonised SE Asia's main cassava‐growing areas, occurring in respectively 70% and 54% of fields, at average field‐level incidence of 27 ± 2% and 16 ± 2%. Cassava witches broom (CWB), a systemic phytoplasma disease, was reported from 64% of plots, at incidence levels of 32 ± 2%. Although all main pests and diseases are non‐natives, we hypothesise that accelerating intensification of cropping systems, increased climate change and variability, and deficient crop husbandry are aggravating both organism activity and crop susceptibility. Future efforts need to consolidate local capacity to tackle current (and future) pest invaders, boost detection capacity, devise locally‐appropriate integrated pest management (IPM) tactics, and transfer key concepts and technologies to SE Asia's cassava growers. Urgent action is needed to mobilise regional as well as international scientific support, to effectively tackle this phytosanitary emergency and thus safeguard the sustainability and profitability of one of Asia's key agricultural commodities. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry