Effects of active egg white product/ Clostridium butyricum Miyairi 588 additive on peripheral leukocyte populations in periparturient dairy cows

The leukocyte populations of periparturient dairy cows were analyzed after administration of active egg white/Clostridium butyricum Miyairi additive. Sixty-eight Holstein milking cows were divided into 3 groups. Group A was administered active egg white product (AEWP)/Clostridium butyricum Miyairi 588 (Miyairi 588) additive (n=23). Group B was administered Miyairi 588 only (n=23), and Group C was the control group (n=22). The challenged groups were administered 100 g of AEWP + Miyairi 588, or Miyairi 588 alone, daily for 60 days from 1 month before until 1 month after paturition. Blood samples were collected from all groups three times (1 month before, 1 week after and 1 month after parturition) for analysis of the peripheral leukocyte population. The results showed significantly higher numbers of CD4+ cells in Group A compared with Group C 1 week after paturition. AEWP/Miyairi 588 additive may enhance the number of CD4+ T cells in periparturient dairy cows.     

Biomarkers for the activation of calcium metabolism in dairy cows: elevation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity by lowering dietary cation-anion difference is associated with the prevention of milk fever

In our previous study, it was demonstrated that the administration of anion salts, which slightly lower the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD), in the prepartum period is safe and effective for preventing milk fever in multiparous cows. In the present study, several biomarkers, which might show activation of Ca metabolism, were analyzed using stored samples in the previous study to investigate the mechanism of the preventive effect on milk fever by lowering DCAD. Changes in bone-specific alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin and insulin-like growth factor I concentrations in serum were almost the same among the three groups of multiparous cows with or without the oral administration of anion salts, while the levels of these serum biomarkers in the group of primiparous cows (heifer group) were much higher compared with those in the three multiparous groups throughout the experimental period. Urinary deoxypyridinoline excretion was not a useful biomarker for dairy cows because it hardly changed during the peripartum period in all groups. However, serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, which is known as a biomarker of osteoclast activity, was well associated with the administration of anion salts lowering DCAD because among the three multiparous groups, only the group of multiparous cows fed the anion salts (anion group) showed an increased level, which rose to the level in the heifer group, and was markedly higher than those in the other control groups of multiparous cows. The increased activity of serum TRAP in the anion group suggested that Ca in the plasma pool was mobilized smoothly from bone-bound Ca via mature osteoclasts at parturition, which might be due to prior activation under mild acidosis induced by slightly lowering DCAD. Therefore, TRAP was the best biomarker to monitor the activation of Ca metabolism in dairy cows fed anion salts.     

Construction of an infectious full-length cDNA clone of Chrysanthemum virus B

An infectious full-length cDNA clone of Chrysanthemum virus B (CVB, genus Carlavirus), was constructed. Four cDNA fragments covering the whole genome of CVB-S were cloned between the Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter and the nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator. Chrysanthemum and garland chrysanthemum were inoculated with the constructed plasmid, named pCVB, using a gene gun system. As is the case in wild-type, CVB-infected plants, no visible symptoms were observed on plants inoculated with pCVB; however, western blotting and electron microscopy indicated the presence of the progeny virus of pCVB. pCVB could be a useful tool for analyzing the functions of carlaviral proteins.     

New cylindrocladium diseases of strawberry and coral bells caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cylindrocladium canadense</Emphasis>

Based on inoculation experiments and morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies, Cylindrocladium damping-off of strawberry and Cylindrocladium blight of coral bells in Japan were demonstrated to be caused by Cylindrocladium canadense. This is the first report of a disease on strawberry and coral bells caused by this fungus.     

Soil changes induced by Acacia mangium plantation establishment: Comparison with secondary forest and Imperata cylindrica grassland soils in South Sumatra,Indonesia

Acacia plantation establishment might cause soil acidification in strongly weathered soils in the wet tropics because the base cations in the soil are translocated rapidly to plant biomass during Acacia growth. We examined whether soils under an Acacia plantation were acidified, as well as the factors causing soil acidification. We compared soils from 10 stands of 8-year-old Acacia mangium plantations with soils from 10 secondary forests and eight Imperata cylindrica grasslands, which were transformed into Acacia plantations. Soil samples were collected every 5–30 cm in depth, and pH and related soil properties were analyzed. Soil pH was significantly lower in Acacia plantations and secondary forests than in Imperata grasslands at every soil depth. The difference was about 1.0 pH unit at 0–5 cm and 0.5 pH unit at 25–30 cm. A significant positive correlation between pH and base saturation at 0–20 cm depth indicated that the low pH under forest vegetation was associated with exchangeable cation status. Using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with clay content as the covariate, exchangeable Ca (Ex-Ca) and Mg (Ex-Mg) stocks were significantly lower in forested areas than in Imperata grasslands at any clay content which was strongly related to exchangeable cation stock. The adjusted average Ex-Ca stock calculated by ANCOVA was 249 kg ha⁻¹ in Acacia plantations, 200 kg ha⁻¹ in secondary forests, and 756 kg ha⁻¹ in Imperata grasslands at 0–30 cm. Based on a comparison of estimated nutrient stocks in biomass and soil among the vegetation types, the translocation of base cations from soil to plant biomass might cause a decrease in exchangeable cations and soil acidification in Acacia plantations.     

Effect of density on growth and feed consumption of the abalones Haliotis discus discus, H. gigantea, H. madaka and their hybrids

Effect of stocking density was studied in three abalone species Haliotis discus discus (HDD), H. gigantea (HG), and H. madaka (HM) and their hybrids [HDD × HM, HM × HG and HG × HM, mother first] by rearing individually marked abalones for 217 days at low (22 % of available surface area; LD), medium (53 %; MD), and high (126 %; HD) densities. Feeding rate (FR) and feed conversion rate were observed by measuring the amount of feed ingested at an interval of 2–3 days. Reduction of growth rate with the increment of density was found in all three species [Specific growth rate in weight (G _W ) HDD, LD: 0.121, MD: 0.093, HD: 0.069; HM: 0.12, 0.082, 0.061; HG: 0.254, 0.222, and 0.131] and the hybrids HDD × HM (0.18, 0.109, 0.108). The medium density produced the highest growth rates in HM × HG and HG × HM hybrids (0.284, 0.342, 0.28). A growth spurt was observed in all three species and hybrids in the last 44 days of rearing. FR varied from 0.72 to 7.97 % body weight and decreased with the increase in density in all species and hybrids. The results indicate differences in density thresholds for the three abalone species and their hybrids suggesting requirement of different aquaculture management strategies for them.     

Uptake of dissolved free amino acids by spiny lobster <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panulirus japonicus</Emphasis> phyllosoma larvae

This study examined the ability of late stage (instar XXVI) Japanese spiny lobster Panulirus japonicus phyllosoma larvae to uptake seven l-type amino acids (AAs; aspartic acid, Asp; threonine, Thr; glutamic acid, Glu; glycine, Gly; alanine, Ala; valine, Val; and methionine, Met) from the rearing medium. The time course uptake during incubation for 5 h in solutions containing 1, 2, 5, 10, or 20 μM of each AA was determined using high performance liquid chromatography. There was considerable individual variation in uptake rates and even occasional release of AAs, but larvae showed net uptakes of all seven AAs. Two polar acidic AAs (Glu and Asp) were readily taken up whereas neutral AAs, including three considered as essential for crustaceans (Val, Met, and Thr), had lower uptake rates. Transient releases of AAs by the larvae were common for the AAs with the lowest uptake rates at 1–2 h of incubation. Uptake rates increased with increasing AA concentration but less so for those taken up in larger amounts. Larvae took up AAs to a total of 16.4 μmol/g/h for incubation in the 20 μM solution. The ability to uptake nutrients directly from the medium may be important for the well-being of the larvae.     

稀释对CO掺氢混合燃料燃烧与排放性能的影响

在一台转速固定的火花点火发动机上进行了CO2稀释对CO掺氢混合燃料的燃烧及排放性能影响的试验研究.结果表明,氢气较快的燃烧速度弥补了由于其热值较低造成的对平均有效压力的影响,使得在每个当量比条件下平均有效压力基本保持不变.同时,掺氢对提升热效率及燃烧稳定性、改善CO以及NOx排放都有显著作用.适当的CO2稀释对平均有效压力和热效率的影响均不明显,而NOx排放水平则显著下降.但是过高的稀释率会导致部分燃烧,造成平均有效压力、热效率及CO排放的恶化.     

The behavior of deuterium-labeled monolignol and monolignol glucosides in lignin biosynthesis in angiosperms

To examine the behavior of monolignol and monolignol glucosides in lignin biosynthesis, pentadeutero[9-D(2), 3-OCD(3)]coniferyl alcohol and pentadeutero[9-D(2), 3-OCD(3)]coniferin were synthesized and fed to growing Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Magnolia kobus. The differences in the incorporation patterns of these labeled precursors were studied using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Both precursors were incorporated into lignin, but the labeled coniferyl alcohol was incorporated more directly, resulting in a high proportion of pentadeutero-labeled guaiacyl and syringyl units in newly formed xylem, while labeled coniferin tended to be incorporated in lignin as tetradeutero units, especially in syringyl lignin in both trees. However, the incorporation efficiencies of the precursors into syringyl lignin were higher in Magnolia than in Eucalyptus, and the ratios of tetradeutero to pentadeutero in guaiacyl lignin were lower in Magnolia than in Eucalyptus when the trees were fed coniferin.     

Effect of light on oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion in Haliotis discus discus, H. gigantea, H. madaka and their hybrids

Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates of three abalone species, Haliotis discus discus, H. gigantea, H. madaka and their hybrids were measured at 20 °C by incubating for 3 h under dark and light (N = 9–13 for each species and hybrid). Animals were fasted before and during the experiment and measurements were made first under dark followed by light on the next day. The rates increased with the increase in body weight and were higher under light than dark. On average, H. discus discus had higher oxygen consumption (DD; dark = 0.039, light = 0.04 ml/g/h) than H. gigantea (G; D = 0.033, L = 0.036) and H. madaka (M; D = 0.034, L = 0.035); the hybrids had varied patterns with respect to their parental species [DD × M (D = 0.032, L = 0.038); M × DD (D = 0.03, L = 0.038); G × DD (D = 0.035, L = 0.04) and DD × G (D = 0.03, L = 0.034), mother first]. M (0.261, 0.298 μmol/g/h) had the highest ammonia excretion rate while G (0.162; 0.264) and DD (0.229; 0.232) had the lowest under dark and light, respectively. The hybrids had varied patterns in comparison with their parents (DD × M = 0.247, 0.32;M × DD= 0.177, 0.28; DD × G = 0.249, 0.364 and G × DD = 0.116, 0.155). The O/N ratios under both conditions in all species and hybrids indicated that they had carbohydrate dominated metabolism. Results demonstrated physiological variability among the species and hybrids indicating necessity of different strategies for their management and aquaculture.