Dairy cattle behavior classifications based on decision tree learning using 3‐axis neck‐mounted accelerometers

Demand has been increasing recently for an automated monitoring system of animal behavior as a tool for the management of livestock animals. This study investigated the association between the behavior of dairy cattle and the acceleration data collected using three‐axis neck‐mounted accelerometers, as well as the feasibility of improving the precision of behavior classifications through machine learning. In total 38 Holstein dairy cows were used, and kept in four different farms. A logger was mounted to each collar to obtain acceleration data for calculating the activity level and variations. At the same time the behavior of the cattle was observed visually. Characteristic acceleration waves were recorded for eating, rumination, and lying, respectively; and the activity level and variations were significantly different among these behaviors (p < 0.01). Decision tree learning was performed on the data set from Farm A and validated its precision; which proved to be 99.2% in cross‐validation, and 100% in test data sets from Farms B to D. This study showed that highly precise classifications for eating, rumination, and lying is possible by using decision tree learning to calculate the activity level and variations of cattle based on the data obtained by three‐axis accelerometers mounted to a collar.     

Expression of a tumor-associated antigen, RCAS1, in canine mammary tumors

Receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells (RCAS1), one of novel cancer cell-surface antigens, is strongly expressed in invasive cancers. RCAS1 inhibits the in vitro growth of lymphocytes such as T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, and induces apoptotic cell death. We investigated the expression of RCAS1 in canine mammary tumor cell lines and tumor cells by immunohistochemistry, and also in situ deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. All canine mammary tumor cell lines expressed RCAS1 at both the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein level. Immunohistochemically, RCAS1 was negative in 100% of normal mammary glands, but was expressed in 100% of malignant tumors examined. In most malignant mammary tumors, RCAS1 was localized in the cytoplasm with no polarity of expression. In benign mammary tumors, it was detected on the luminal surface of the tumor cell. RCAS1 expression or localization was significantly correlated with malignancy. In situ DNA fragmentation of CD3-positive TILs was observed in RCAS1-expressing tumors. RCAS1-expressing tumors, indicating a possible induction of apoptotic cell death in TILs through RCAS1 expression. These observations suggest that RCAS1 probably plays an important role in tumor progression and escape from immune surveillance in canine mammary tumors.     

Theileria-free grazing of dairy heifers on grassland in Kyushu,Japan where T. orientalis was epidemic before a 7-year vacancy

This study aimed to produce a Theileria-free grazing system for Holstein heifers reared on a dairy farm in the Hita area, Kyushu, Japan. In the grazing area, spreading of T. orientalis infection was confirmed in 2009. To eradicate the T. orientalis infection, four measures were conducted: 1) 7-year deferred grazing; 2) grazing only T. orientalis-uninfected heifers; 3) anemia check by red blood cell parameters at least once per month; and 4) protecting heifers from blood-sucking T. orientalis-infected ticks. Grazing was restarted in 2017 in the same area and continued to 2021. During last 2 years of pasturing (2020–2021) all of the 129 heifers were confirmed to be T. orientalis-free. In summary, it is possible to establish a T. orientalis-free grazing system by conducting appropriate measures.     

Bacterial community in plant residues in a Japanese paddy field estimated by RFLP and DGGE analyses

Plant residues (PRs) are “hot spots” of microbial activities in soil. PRs with the size more than 0.5 mm were collected from a Japanese paddy field during rice cultivation period (from May to September) and fractionated into four categories by size (>4, 2-4, 1-2, and 0.5-1 mm) using sieves. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) patterns were compared among the fractions after DNA extraction from the PRs and PCR amplification. The total amount of PRs with the size over 0.5 mm decreased in the field with the first-order kinetics (r²=0.810, p<0.01) with time from rice transplanting to harvest. RFLP analysis showed that the bacterial community structure in PRs with the 0.5-2 mm fraction was different from that in PRs with the >2 mm fraction and the latter community structure changed after the midseason drainage. In contrast, the DGGE patterns of the bacterial community in the PRs indicated the succession from June to September during rice cultivation forming three major groups irrespective of the fraction size. Sequence analysis of DGGE bands showed that Firmicutes (clostridia), α-, γ-, δ-Proteobacteria (myxobacteria), Nitrospira, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia and Spirochaetes were predominant members in the PRs irrespective of fraction size.     

Characterization of DAX‐8 adsorbed soil fulvic acid fractions by various types of analyses

We investigated the optical absorption properties (A ₄₀₀/C and A ₆₀₀/C values), elemental composition, weight-averaged molecular weight (Mw), and liquid-state carbon-13 (¹³C) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of DAX-8 adsorbed fulvic acid fractions (DAX-8 FAs) in various soils (n?=?36) to establish the general trends in their chemical characteristics. We also compared our results with those of humic acids (HAs) obtained from the same soils used in this study and other published data to discuss the differences between them. Our results clearly indicate that DAX-8 FAs with high carboxyl C content have small Mw and low hydrogen to carbon (H/C) ratio. In addition, DAX-8 FAs with high carbonyl C and alkyl C content have high A ₄₀₀/C values and H/C ratios, respectively. These results strongly suggest that DAX-8 FAs with high aliphatic chemical properties have low carboxyl C content, large Mw and high H/C ratio. There are significant differences in chemical characteristics among the various soil types in almost all data; e.g., DAX-8 FAs from Podzols showed significantly higher A ₄₀₀/C values, larger Mw, higher carbonyl C and O-aryl C content than those obtained from Andosols. However, these two C functional groups are relatively low values in the total C content among all soil types, suggesting that DAX-8 FAs may exhibit only small differences in chemical properties among the various soil types. The comparison with published data regarding soil HAs shows that DAX-8 FAs are characterized by smaller Mw; lower C, H, and nitrogen (N); higher oxygen (O) content; higher O/C; lower O/H ratios; higher carboxyl C content; and lower aryl C content in total C.     

Ion channel mRNA distribution and expression in the sinoatrial node and right atrium of dogs and monkeys

There are limited data on the gene expression profiles of ion channels in the sinoatrial node (SAN) of dogs and monkeys. In this study, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles of various ion channels in the SAN of naïve dogs and monkeys were examined using RNAscope^®in situ hybridization and compared with those in the surrounding right atrium (RA) of each species. Regional-specific Cav1.3 and HCN4 expression was observed in the SAN of dogs and monkeys. Additionally, HCN1 in dogs was only expressed in the SAN. The expression profiles of Cav3.1 and Cav3.2 in the SAN and RA were completely different between dogs and monkeys. Dog hearts only expressed Cav3.2; however, Cav3.1 was detected only in monkeys, and the expression score in the SAN was slightly higher than that in the RA. Although Kir3.1 and NCX1 in dogs were equally expressed in both the SAN and RA, the expression scores of these genes in the SAN of monkeys were slightly higher than those in the RA. The Kir3.4 expression score in the SAN of dogs and monkeys was also slightly higher than that in the RA. The mRNA expression scores of Kv11.1/ERG and KvLQT1 were equally observed in both the SAN and RA of dogs and monkeys. HCN2 was not detected in dogs and monkeys. In summary, we used RNAscope to demonstrate the SAN-specific gene expression patterns of ion channels, which may be useful in explaining the effect of pacemaking and/or hemodynamic effects in nonclinical studies.     

Unveiling a voluntary farmland registration program to secure open space for risk reduction and post-disaster restoration from earthquakes: lessons learned from practices in Chukyo and Kinki,Japan

Paddy and Water Environment - Because of rapid urbanization, urban agriculture’s capacity to reduce the risks associated with natural disasters has been receiving broad attention. Asian...