Evaluation of maturity of poultry manure compost by phospholipid fatty acids analysis

To study the influence of the physical properties of compost feedstock on some characteristics associated with maturity, two types of compost were made from poultry manure, rice husk, and rice bran. The bulk density of one type (PMC) was always higher than that of another type (NMC) during composting. In the case of PMC, the change in temperature, decrease in NH₄⁺, appearance of NO₃^–, and increase in germination indices (GI) with Japanese Komatsuna (Brassica campestris cv. Osome) were all more delayed than in NMC. As the composting process progressed, the proportion of branched (iso-, anteiso-, 10Me-) and saturated phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) [BRANCHED FAMES (fatty acid methyl esters), biomarkers for gram-positive bacteria] gradually increased, then reached plateau. The high proportion of BRANCHED FAMES was maintained over a long storage period. The straight hydroxyl and saturated PLFAs (SOH-FAMES) initially increased, then disappeared with the progress of composting. The increase in BRANCHED FAMES and the decrease in SOH-FAMES were more delayed in PMC than NMC. The day on which the proportion of BRANCHED FAMES reached plateau and the proportion of SOH-FAMES dipped below 2 mol% coincided with the maturity stage based on the changes of physicochemical characteristics and GI. The composition of BRANCHED FAMES showed highly positive and negative correlation with GI and NH₄⁺, respectively. In the case of SOH-FAMES, inverse correlations were observed. This indicates that the proportion of BRANCHED FAMES and/or SOH-FAMES can be used as a tool for evaluating the maturity of poultry manure compost.     

Effects of early high nutrition related to metabolic imprinting events on growth,carcass characteristics,and meat quality of grass-fed Wagyu (Japanese Black cattle)

The study was conducted to clarify how early high plane of nutrition related to metabolic imprinting affected growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of grass-fed Wagyu (Japanese Black cattle). Wagyu steers were allocated randomly into 2 dietary groups: (1) steers fed milk replacer (crude protein 26.0%, crude fat 25.5%; maximum intake 0.6 kg/d) until 3 mo of age and then fed roughage (orchard grass hay) ad libitum from 4 to 10 mo of age (roughage group, RG; n = 11); (2) steers fed milk replacer (maximum intake of 1.8 kg/d) until 3 mo of age and then fed a high-concentrate diet from 4 to 10 mo of age (early high nutrition, EHN; n = 12). After 11 mo of age, all steers were fed roughage ad libitum until 31 mo of age and then slaughtered. Growth performance, carcass traits, longissimus muscle (LM) meat quality and intramuscular fat (IMF) content, plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentration, and bone mineral density were measured. Body weight was greater in EHN steers (571 kg) than RG steers (520 kg; P < 0.01). Plasma IGF-I levels were higher in EHN steers than in RG steers at 3, 10, and 14 mo of age (P < 0.01, P < 0.005, P < 0.001, respectively); however, plasma IGF-I levels were lower in EHN steers compared with RG steers at 30 mo of age (P < 0.01). The total weight of the muscles and bones of the left half of the carcass was not different between the 2 groups (P = 0.065). Five of the 19 muscles investigated (semimembranosus, P = 0.036; infraspinatus, P = 0.024; supraspinatus, P = 0.0019; serratus ventralis cervicis, P = 0.032; serratus ventralis thoracis, P = 0.027) were heavier in EHN steers. Total fat weight in the left half of the carcass was 30% greater (P = 0.025) in HNE carcasses. Subcutaneous and perirenal fat weights were 53% and 84% greater (P = 0.008, P = 0.002, respectively) in EHN carcasses. The LM IMF content was greater in EHN loins (13.2%) compared with RG loins (9.4%) at 31 mo of age (P = 0.038); however, no differences were found for shear force, tenderness, and cook loss. These results suggested early high-nutrition affected the growth and meat quality of livestock.     

Notes on the Occurrence of Pathogenic Races of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas oryzae </Emphasis>pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzae </Emphasis>Found in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1999

The pathogenic race of 59 cultures of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, a pathogen of bacterial leaf blight of rice, isolated from six locations in the inland mountainous area of Hiroshima Prefecture in 1999, were determined by a set of traditional differentials. Four races—I, II, V and VII—were found across the area; however, we noticed the composition of the races as well as the dominant race in each location different. All races were avirulent on differential cultivar Te-tep. Races V and VII were new to Hiroshima. The rice cultivars infected with bacterial leaf blight in Hiroshima are thought to be grouped into the Kinmaze group, which does not have any resistance genes. Apparently, a variety of races occurred unexpectedly on the cultivars contrary to stabilizing selection theory. Received 25 February 2000/ Accepted in revised form 13 July 2000     

Effect of Feeding Frequency, Water Temperature, and Stocking Density on the Growth of Tiger Puffer, Takifugu rubripes

Effects of daily feeding frequency, water temperature, and stocking density on the growth of tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes, fry were examined to develop effective techniques to produce tiger puffer in a closed recirculation system. Fish of 4, 14, and 180 g in initial body weight were fed commercial pellet diets once to five times a day to apparent satiation each by hand for 8 or 12 wk at 20 C. Daily feeding frequency did not affect the growth of 14‐ and 180‐g‐size fish. However, the daily feed consumption and weight gain of the 4‐g‐size fish fed three and five times daily were significantly higher than those of fish fed once daily (P < 0.05). Fish of 4 and 50 g in initial body weight were reared with the pellet diet at 15–30 C for 8 wk. The weight gain of fish increased with increasing water temperature up to 25 C and decreased drastically at 30 C for both sizes. Similar trends were observed for feed efficiency, although 4‐g fish had highest efficiency at 20 C. Effects of stocking density on growth were examined with fish of 8, 13, and 100 g in initial body weight. Fish were reared with the pellet diet for 8 or 16 wk at 20 C. Fish were placed in floating net cages in the culture tank, and the stocking density was determined based on the total weight of fish and volume of the net cage. Fish of 8 g in body weight grew up to 35–36 g during the 8‐wk rearing period independent of the stocking density of 8, 15, and 31 kg/m³ at the end of rearing. Final biomass per cage reached 32, 60, and 115 kg/m³ for 13‐g‐size fish, and 10, 18, and 35 kg/m³ for 100‐g‐size fish, and the growth of the fish tended to decrease with increasing stocking density for both sizes.     

Topographic variation of soil nitrogen mineralization and microbial biomass in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) stands at Myougodani watershed,Toyama, Japan

The spatial variability of nitrogen (N) mineralization, nitrification, and microbial biomass was investigated using surface soils from various topographic positions at a relatively small watershed with Japanese cedar (Crgptomeria japonica D. Don) plantations. The watershed topography was characterized using a topographic index derived from GIS analysis. The topographic index reasonably reflected the spatial variability of the soil water conditions, total soil carbon (C) and N contents, and exchangeable base concentrations. However, this index was not significantly correlated with the spatial variability of net N mineralization and microbial biomass. Topographic index and soil properties (total soil C and N contents, C / N ratio, exchangeable base concentrations, and clay content) were subjected to principal component analysis to eliminate multiple-collinearity among the variables, and express the variables as new orthogonal variables. Principal component analysis showed that the soil properties could be divided into two groups: PC1 (soil nutrient pools) and PC2 (soil clay content). The topographic index was closely correlated with PC1 and not significantly correlated with PC2. Regression of PC scores on net N mineralization and microbial biomass indicated the relatively high contribution of PC2 to the variability in N mineralization and microbial biomass. This result suggested that not only topographic factors but also the clay content exerted an important influence on the spatial pattern of N mineralization and microbial biomass within a watershed with single species forests.     

Molecular epidemiological survey of Theileria orientalis in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam

Theileria orientalis is a benign bovine protozoan parasite that occasionally causes serious economic loss in the livestock industry. We report the findings of a molecular epidemiological survey of T. orientalis in 94 Vietnamese yellow cattle, 43 water buffaloes, 21 sheep, 21 goats and 85 blood-sucking ticks of cattle in the Thua Thien Hue province of Vietnam. The major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene of T. orientalis was detected using polymerase chain reaction from 13 cattle (13.8%), 11 water buffaloes (25.6%), 1 sheep (4.8%) and 9 ticks (10.6%). Phylogenetic analysis using MPSP gene sequences showed the presence of seven genotypes, four previously categorized genotypes (Types 1, 3, 5 and 7) and three new genotypes (Types N-1, N-2 and N-3).     

Effects of copper on survival and growth of larval false clown anemonefish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amphiprion ocellaris</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   Larval false clown anemonefish of about 12 h after hatching were fed newly-hatched brine shrimp nauplii in natural (control) and copper-added seawater (40–640 µg–Cu/L) at 26.5 ± 0.5°C for 14 days. Survival rate of the fish increased with increasing copper concentrations up to 160 µg–Cu/L. The rates at 80 and 160 µg–Cu/L were 65 and 80%, respectively, and were significantly higher than that of the control (30%). A positive effect of copper addition on the survival rate was also observed in the other rearing experiment with the fish from seven different spawning chances. Growth rate of the survival fish was not affected by copper concentrations. The copper concentration of the survived fish increased with increasing copper concentrations in the rearing water.     

Oxidative Stress Produced by Xanthine Oxidase Induces Apoptosis in Human Extravillous Trophoblast Cells

Oxidative stress has been recognized as an important factor in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. It has been reported that the expression of xanthine oxidase (XO) in the cytotrophoblast and plasma hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) level are significantly higher in preeclamptics than in control women. The aim of this study was to clarify the biological influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by XO on extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells. TCL1 cells, a human immortalized EVT cell line, were incubated with xanthine and XO (X/XO). We then measured the cell number, urate level of the culture media and the apoptotic cell ratio. Similar experiments were performed with additional administration of allopurinol, catalase, L-NAME or D-NAME, and with administration of H₂O₂ in substitution for X/XO. We assessed the effects of H₂O₂ on invasion ability, tube-like formation and protein expression of HIF1A and ITGAV of TCL1. Finally, the apoptotic cell ratio using primary cultured trophoblasts was measured following exposure to H₂O₂. X/XO decreased the relative cell number and increased the urate level and apoptotic cell ratio significantly. Elevation of the urate level and apoptotic cell ratio was attenuated by allopurinol and catalase, respectively. L-NAME and D-NAME had no influence on these effects. H₂O₂ also decreased the relative cell number. Pretreatment with H₂O₂ significantly inhibited the invasion ability, tube-like formation and HIF1A and ITGAV of TCL1. H₂O₂ also induced apoptosis in primary cultured trophoblasts. In conclusion, ROS produced by XO induced apoptosis and affected EVT function including invasion and differentiation.     

A wind tunnel experiment of self-starting capability for straight-bladed vertical axis wind turbine

In this study, wind tunnel experiment has carried out to investigate the self staring capability for straight bladed vertical axis wind turbine. The flow visualization has also been performed at the rest of the rotor. The effect of the azimuthal angle of blade position relative to wind direction on the self starting capability was discussed based on the results of flow visualization. The torque and the centripetal force of the rotor when the self starting behavior starts were roughly calculated by using the result of flow visualization of the rotor. It was suggested that there exist the condition of wind speed and configuration of the blade position of the rotor at the rest of rotor to the reach to situational rotation number.     

Panama disease of banana occurred in Miyakojima Island,Okinawa, Japan

In 2016, in Miyakojima, Okinawa, Japan, banana plants (Musa?×?paradisiaca) ‘Shima-banana’ developed yellowing and wilt associated with vascular discoloration of the pseudostems. Fusarium oxysporum, identified based on morphological characters, was frequently isolated from the vascular tissue of the infected plant and reproduced the original symptoms on ‘Shima-banana’ after drench inoculation with a spore suspension. Thereby, we determined that the disease is Panama disease caused by F. oxysporum. This is the first official report of Panama disease (Panama-byo in Japanese) of banana in Japan.