Measurement of suspended sediment for model experiments using general-purpose optical sensors

A specialized measurement system for measuring suspended sediment concentration in model experiments was developed; it utilizes general-purpose optical sensors to perform measurements. A photoelectric sensor was used for measuring the transmitted light, and a fiber optic sensor was used for measuring the backscattered light. The values of the light absorbance and intensity of backscattered light for turbid standard solutions measured with these sensors show a linear relationship with the turbidity. The calibration lines for sand particles with a large settling velocity were established by using a calibration tank containing upwelling water. The vertical profiles of the sediment concentration measured with the photoelectric sensor corresponded well to those of the sediment concentration measured with a water sampler in an artificial channel. This result suggests that the measurement system using a photoelectric sensor functions satisfactorily. The sediment concentrations measured using the fiber optic sensor correlate well with the concentrations measured through siphon sampling; however, the values measured with the fiber optic sensor are approximately 25% larger than those measured with the siphon. This disagreement may result from the differences in the optical conditions between the calibration tank and the actual channel. Thus, it may be possible to utilize fiber optic sensors calibrated on the basis of siphon sampling for the measurement of sediment concentration.     

Effects of intravenous ghrelin injection on plasma growth hormone,insulin and glucose concentrations in calves at weaning

Ghrelin action, which stimulates growth hormone (GH) secretion, may alter during the weaning period in calves. Our objective was to compare the effects of intravenous ghrelin injection on plasma GH, insulin and glucose concentrations in calves around the weaning period. Four Holstein bull calves were fed whole milk and allowed free access to solid feeds, and weaned at 7 weeks of age. Measurements were performed at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 13, when calves were intravenously injected with ghrelin (1.0 μg/kg body weight (BW)) through a catheter, and jugular blood samples were obtained temporally relative to the injection time. Estimated digestible energy intake per metabolic BW transiently decreased at week 7 because of low solid intake immediately after weaning, and thereafter gradually increased. Plasma insulin and glucose concentrations were not affected by ghrelin injection at all ages. In contrast, plasma GH concentrations increased with ghrelin injection at all ages. The incremental area of GH at week 7 was greatest and significantly higher compared with weeks 2, 4, 6 and 9. This result suggests that nutrient insufficiency immediately after weaning enhances GH responsiveness to ghrelin.     

Modeling of Solute Transport with Bioremediation Processes using Sawdust as a Matrix

Hg and As are widespread contaminants globally and particularly in Asia. We conducted a field study in Baiyangdian Lake, the largest lake in the North China Plain, to investigate bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of potentially toxic metals (total mercury and arsenic) in sites differing in proximity from the major point sources of nutrients and metals. Hg concentrations in fish and As concentrations in water are above critical threshold levels (US Environmental Protection Agency based) considered to pose some risk to humans and wildlife. Hg concentrations in biota are within the range of concentrations in lakes in the Northeast US despite the high levels of Hg emission and deposition in China whereas As concentrations are much higher. Dissolved concentrations of both Hg and As decrease with increasing chlorophyll concentrations suggesting that there is significant uptake of metal from water by algae. These results provide evidence for algal blooms controlling dissolved metal concentrations and potentially mitigating the trophic transfer of Hg to fish. This study also underscores the need for further investigation into this contaminated ecosystem and others like it in China that are an important source of fish and drinking water for consumption by local human populations.     

东亚和南亚固有绵羊群体X-蛋白等位基因特有频率分布的研究

本研究利用单向水平板淀粉凝胶电泳以我国5个固有地方绵羊品种包括湖羊（Hu）、同羊（Tong）、滩羊（Tan）、小尾寒羊（Han）、洼地羊（WD）为研究对象对X-蛋白遗传多样性进行了检测,并引用我国周边国家、地区绵羊品种为分析背景。结果表明以喜马拉雅山脉为界的亚洲东部和南部的北部群体和南部群体在编码的X（＋）型的显性等位基因X频率上存在极显著差异（P〈0．01）。北部检测的群体中X等位基因频率范围为0～0．18,平均值为0．0878,包括属于藏羊和蒙古羊系统的小尾寒羊（Han）、不丹羊（Bhutan）、同羊（Tong）、湖羊（Hu）、滩羊（Tan）、洼地绵羊（WD）、Bhyanglung绵羊（Bhy）、Baruwal绵羊（Bar）、云南绵羊（Yunnan）、哈拉和林绵羊（Kh）和乌兰巴托绵羊（Ub）。南部检测的群体中X等位基因频率范围为0．2037～0．4655,平均值为0．3082,包括属于印度绵羊系统的孟加拉国绵羊（Ban）、Kagi绵羊（Kagi）、Lampuchhre绵羊（Lamp）、越南占部落绵羊（Cham）和缅甸绵羊（Mya）。本研究揭示X等位基因可作印度绵羊的标记,在绵羊群体尤其是亚洲东部和南部绵羊系统形成的研究中具有潜在的重要作用。     

Improvement mechanism of bondability in UF-bonded reed and wheat straw boards by silane coupling agent and extraction treatments

The effects of silane coupling agents and extractives on the wettability of reed and wheat straws were investigated. The inherent wettability of these materials was low but could be significantly improved by treating with silane coupling agents. The degree of improvement achieved by each silane coupling agent was different: Vinyl silane had almost no effect on wettability, epoxide silane was found to be more effective for reed straw, and amino silane was better for wheat straw. The wettability of these materials could also be improved by ethanol-benzene extraction, which resulted in more improvement in wheat straw than reed straw. The analyses of untreated reed and wheat straws by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) revealed that there was much silicon on both the outer and inner surfaces of the former but only on the outer surface of the latter. The influence of hot-water extractives and silane coupling agents on the gelation time and pH of urea formaldehyde (UF) resin was also examined. The addition of extractives was found to increase the gelation time. Amino silane greatly retarded the gelation of OF resin, whereas epoxide and vinyl silanes had no influence on resin gelation. This retardation was found to be due to an increase in the pH of the resin.     

Genetic variation in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) germplasm from Pakistan using morphological traits and RAPDs

Genetic diversity of 30 radish (Raphanus sativus L.) accessions was investigated at the phenotypic level with morphological characters and at the DNA level using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Thirty-six morpho-physiological traits were recorded from seedling stage to harvest. The 31 primers used generated 202 RAPD bands, of which 158 (78.2%) were polymorphic. Multivariate procedures were used to classify the germplasm on the basis of phenotypic traits and RAPD fragments. Dendrograms were generated for the Euclidean distance from the morphological data and the Nei's genetic distance from the RAPD markers. Phenotypically, all the accessions were classified into four major groups corresponding to the different forms of cultivated radish. The morphological diversity existing within each of these groups suggested that they should be discriminated into the three botanical convarieties, sativusT (large-rooted), caudatus (pod-type) and oleifer (oilseed-type). Clustering of the accessions did not show any pattern of association between the morphological characters and the collection sites. Instead, landrace groups were associated with their morphological similarities and horticultural uses. On the other hand, the intra-specific genetic relationships of several accessions based on RAPD analysis were related primarily to their collection sites rather than to their phenotypic affinities. The level of polymorphism exhibited by the various convarieties could be exploited in genetic mapping populations to tag economically important traits. These genotypes also could serve as a useful germplasm source for root, leaf, pod and seed. This preliminary study of traditional radish landraces from Pakistan provides useful information regarding their horticultural potential.     

Soybean meal can partially replace enzyme-treated fish meal in the diet of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus orientalis</Emphasis>

This study was carried out to investigate whether expensive enzyme-treated fish meal (EFM) can be partially replaced by soybean meal (SM) or enzyme-treated SM (ESM) without compromising the growth of captive-raised Pacific bluefin tuna (PBT) juveniles. Five fish diets were tested: EFM (control) and EFM in which 10 or 20% of the EFM was replaced with either ESM or SM (ESM₁₀, ESM₂₀, SM₁₀ and SM₂₀, respectively). The respective diets were provided to 28-day-old PBT juveniles (mean body weight approx. 0.38 g) stocked randomly in 15-m³ tanks (276 juveniles per tank; two tanks per treatment) for 12 days. The final mean body weight of PBT juveniles on diets EFM, SM₁₀, and SM₂₀ was significantly higher than that of juveniles on diet ESM₂₀. Although daily feeding rate was significantly higher in the ESM and SM groups, feed efficiency (FE) was significantly higher in the EFM group; there was no significant difference between juveniles fed diets EFM and SM₁₀. Protein and phosphorus retention efficiency were significantly lower in the ESM₂₀, and ESM₂₀ and EFM groups, respectively. Phosphorus discharge was significantly lower in the SM groups. The results demonstrate that 10% SM (11% EFM replacement) can be included in EFM without compromising the growth performance of PBT juveniles.     

Estimation of kelp forest, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laminaria</Emphasis> spp., distributions in coastal waters of the Shiretoko Peninsula,Hokkaido, Japan,using echosounder and geostatistical analysis

Sustainable management of the kelp forests of the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage site, is necessary due to kelp’s ecological and economic importance. The objectives of this study were to estimate the area of kelp forests and to clarify their spatial characteristics in coastal waters of the Shiretoko Peninsula. Data on the presence/absence and thickness of kelp forests were collected via acoustic observation on transects over about 80 km using an echosounder at 200 kHz. Acoustic data were geostatistically interpolated, and the areas covered by kelp forests were estimated. Differences in kelp distribution between the eastern and western sides of the peninsula were compared. The total area of kelp forest was 3.88 km² (eastern area: 3.49 km²; western area: 0.39 km²). The range of thickness of the kelp forests was 34–91 cm. Many kelp forests in the eastern area were thick (>78 cm) and distributed continuously, while kelp forests in the western area were sparsely distributed.     

Effect of dietary fish oil on enhanced inflammation and disturbed lipophagy in white adipose tissue caused by a high fat diet

Fisheries Science - Fish oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) attenuates chronic inflammation found in obesity, leading to a reduction in insulin resistance. The effect of fish...