Year-round gelation characteristic of bassy chub Kyphosus lembus meat

ABSTRACT:   Year-round change in gelation of bassy chub ( Kyphosus lembus ) meat, collected from October 2001 to September 2002 off the coast of Nagasaki, was investigated. The fish meat exhibited a similar high gel-forming ability for all seasons, including pre- and post-spawning seasons. Freshwater washing of the meat did not improve its gel-forming ability. It was concluded that bassy chub meat could be used for thermal gel production in all seasons.     

Retrospective surveillance of metabolic parameters affecting reproductive performance of Japanese Black breeding cows

This retrospective study was conducted to confirm the relationship between pre- and postpartum metabolic parameters and postpartum reproductive performance and to clarify seasonal characteristics of the metabolic parameters by using our metabolic profile test (MPT) database of Japanese Black breeding herds. In evaluation 1, MPT databases of blood samples from multiparous cows collected prepartum and postpartum were divided into two groups according to calving interval, and each MPT parameter was compared. In evaluation 2, the same MPT databases used in evaluation 1 were divided into two groups according to the sampling period. Significant differences were found in the prepartal total protein and postpartal γ-glutamyltransferase in evaluation 1. In evaluation 2, significant differences were found in the prepartal and postpartal total protein, albumin/globulin ratio, and glucose. Clear seasonal differences in MPT results emphasized the usefulness of the MPT in breeding cattle herds fed home-pasture roughage and suggest that unsatisfactory reproductive performance during hot periods reflects inadequate nutritional content of the diet and possible reduced feed intake due to heat stress.     

Binding effect of cellulose nanofibers in wood flour board

Wood-based materials are extensively used for residual construction worldwide, especially in Japan. Most wood-based materials are fabricated using adhesives, some of which are not environmentally friendly. As an alternative to chemical adhesives, we explored this issue using nanofiber technology, especially the use of cellulose nanofibers (CNF), as reinforcement in wood flour (WF) board to replace chemical adhesives. We found that CNF could be easily made by pulverization in a ball mill. The physical and mechanical properties of WF board were improved by the three-dimensional binding effects of the CNF.     

A novel NF-κB inhibitor improves glucocorticoid sensitivity of canine neoplastic lymphoid cells by up-regulating expression of glucocorticoid receptors

Lymphoid neoplasms including lymphoma and leukemia are one of the most life-threatening disorders in dogs. Many lymphoid malignancies are well-treated with glucocorticoid (GC); however, GC resistance sometimes develops and its mechanism remains uncertain. Since constitutive activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) has been reported to play roles in lymphoid malignancies, we examined whether inhibition of NF-κB activity with a synthetic inhibitor IMD-0354 affected GC sensitivity of canine neoplastic lymphoid cells, CL-1 and GL-1. Dexamethasone failed to inhibit proliferation of these cells, in which low expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) was identified. In the presence of IMD-0354, GR expressions in CL-1 and GL-1 were increased, consequently dexamethasone inhibited their proliferation. These results indicated that GR expression might be down-regulated by spontaneous activation of NF-κB, resulting in GC resistance. Taken together, interference of NF-κB activity may have the synergistic effect in combination chemotherapy with GC for treatment against lymphoid malignancies.     

日本高灌蓝莓采收最适线锯振动速度（摘选）

高灌蓝莓的成熟期不一致,在3～4周时间内需要有选择地采收3～5次。现在日本的蓝莓收获方式是采用一种具有5个速度调节挡的18mm线锯对树枝进行变速振动。为了能够找到采收效率最高且采收效果最好的振动速度,利用高速摄像机对蓝莓采收过程进行记录。之后利用数据统计,回放分析采收过程中的细节,以确定最佳振动速度和振动时间。通过对5种速度的分析,发现Ⅱ挡即频率为1670次min,在果枝周围振动2s是采收的最佳方式。在这种条件下,与3个高速挡同样可以分离87%成熟的蓝莓。同时仅分离了24%未成熟的蓝莓,该结果与Ⅰ挡无显著差异。     

Genetic structure of the exotic hard clam <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mercenaria mercenaria</Emphasis> in Tokyo Bay,determined using mitochondrial DNA

The hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria was unintentionally introduced into Tokyo Bay during the 1990s. We analysed 528 bp of partial mitochondrial DNA of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene extracted from 135 specimens collected from populations at five sites in Tokyo Bay to determine the genetic structure of this species. Mercenaria mercenaria populations in Tokyo Bay were dominated by haplotype 1, as in the native area. Haplotype 3, which is absent in the populations north of Cape Hatteras (North Carolina, USA) was detected at all five sites. The haplotype diversity in Tokyo Bay was as high as that in the native area, except at two canal sites, while the nucleotide diversity was lower. Thirty-five new haplotypes were found that displayed only a few nucleotide differences. Pairwise F _ST values were not significantly different between any sites in the Tokyo Bay and the east coast of America, with values for all sites in Tokyo Bay clustering near the Florida populations. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) results also support this result. This study revealed that M. mercenaria populations in Tokyo Bay have a high haplotype diversity and that populations around Florida may be the source region.     

Effect of cooled and chlorinated chiller water on Campylobacter and coliform counts on broiler carcasses during chilling at a middle-size poultry processing plant

To evaluate the effect of cooled and chlorinated chill water for Campylobacter and coliforms at a middle-size processing plant which was considered to be difficult for eliminate pathogenic bacteria on carcasses, following three conditions were examined; keeping temperature at < 20, < 10 and < 10°C, and chlorine concentration at < 50, < 50 and 50 to 70 ppm during processing in experiment 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Fifteen prechill and 15 postchill carcasses were examined in each experiment. In lower temperature of experiment 2, decreasing rate (%) of coliforms was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that in experiment 1. In higher chlorination of experiment 3, no Campylobacter was detected from all postchill carcasses.