Length of lags in responses of milk yield and somatic cell score on test day to heat stress in Holsteins

We used daily records from provincial Japanese weather stations and monthly test‐day records of milk production to investigate the length of the lags in the responses of cows’ milk yield and somatic cell score (SCS) to heat stress (HS). We also investigated the HS thresholds in milk yield and SCS. Data were a total of 17,245,709 test‐day records for milk and SCS in Holstein cows that had calved for the first time between 2000 and 2015, along with weather records from 60 weather stations. Temperature–humidity index (THI) values were estimated by using average daily temperature and average daily relative humidity. Adjusted THI values were calculated by using temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. The model contained herd, calving year, month of test day, age group, days in milk, and THI as a fixed effect. THIs for each day from 14 days before the test day until the test day were used to represent the HS effects. The HS occurring 3 days, and between 8 and 10 days, before the test day had the greatest effect on the milk yield and SCS, respectively. The threshold THI values for the HS effect were about 60–65 for both traits.     

The α2A‐adrenoceptor subtype plays a key role in the analgesic and sedative effects of xylazine

Xylazine, the classical α₂‐adrenoceptor (α₂‐AR) agonist, is still used as an analgesic and sedative in veterinary medicine, despite its low potency and affinity for α₂‐ARs. Previous pharmacological studies suggested that the α_2A‐AR subtype plays a role in mediating the clinical effects of xylazine; however, these studies were hampered by the poor subtype‐selectivity of the antagonists used and a lack of knowledge of their bioavailability in vivo. Here, we attempted to elucidate the role of the α_2A‐AR subtype in mediating the clinical effects of xylazine by comparing the analgesic and sedative effects of this drug in wild‐type mice with those in α_2A‐AR functional knockout mice using the hot‐plate and open field tests, respectively. Hippocampal noradrenaline turnover in both mice was also measured to evaluate the contribution of α_2A‐AR subtype to the inhibitory effect of xylazine on presynaptic noradrenaline release. In wild‐type mice, xylazine (10 or 30 mg/kg) increased the hot‐plate latency. Furthermore, xylazine (3 or 10 mg/kg) inhibited the open field locomotor activity and decreased hippocampal noradrenaline turnover. By contrast, all of these effects were abolished in α_2A‐AR functional knockout mice. These results indicate that the α_2A‐AR subtype is mainly responsible for the clinical effects of xylazine.     

Detection of DNA closely related to 'Candidatus Rickettsia principis' in Haemaphysalis danieli recovered from cattle in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Area, China

Tick DNA samples from cattle in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Area, China, were examined for Rickettsia infection by citrate synthase gene-based PCR and sequencing. Four positive samples were detected from Haemaphysalis danieli and high levels of similarity were found with recently detected 'Candidatus Rickettsia principis.'     

Influence of surface charge on viscosity behavior of cellulose microcrystal suspension

Microcrystalline cellulose with minimal surface charge was prepared from softwood kraft pulp via hydrolysis by 4N hydrochloric acid instead of sulfuric acid. To this material, sulfate ester groups as surface charge were introduced by treating with 55% (w/w) sulfuric acid. A treatment at 60°C for 2h gave nearly the same level of surface charge as that of the H₂SO₄ -hydrolyzed microcrystal. The number of sulfate groups were controlled by changing the H₂SO₄ treatment conditions. Although the microscopic size and shape of the microcrystalline particles were the same irrespective of the preparation method, the introduction of surface charge drastically reduced the viscosity and removed its time dependence. These changes in viscosity behavior are considered to result from charge-induced dispersion of loose aggregates existing in the initial charge-free microcrystals prepared by HCl hydrolysis.Part of this report was presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Shizuoka, April 1998     

Spatial distribution pattern of attack of the oak borer,Platypus quercivorus (Murayama) (Coleoptera: Platypodidae), and scolytid ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) on fresh logs

The spatial distribution patterns of the attack on fresh logs ofPasania edulis was studied for the oak borer,Platypus quercivorus (Murayama), and two species of Scolytid ambrosia beetles,Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) andXyleborus attenuatus Blanford, in 1994 and 1995. On the logs where onlyP. quercivorus attacked, the entry holes were distributed uniformly when attack intensity was low. However, the distribution pattern became more aggregated with the increase in attack intensity. On logs where bothP. quercivorus and the two Scolytid species attacked, there was a negative association between the spatial distribution of the entry holes ofP. quercivorus and that of scolytids. Simultaneous attack of two scolytids also increased the degree of aggregation of the entry holes ofP. quercivorus. The entry holes of scolytids were distributed in groups irrespective of the attack intensity of scolytids andP. quercivorus. These results suggest an asymmetrical interspecific relationship betweenP. quercivorus and scolytids. Concentration of the entry holes ofP. quercivorus in a small area may cause a considerable decline in the reproductive success in the galleries constructed there.     

Rheological Properties of White Salted Noodles with Different Amylose Content at Small and Large Deformation

The rheological properties of cooked white salted noodles made from eight wheat cultivars with varied amylose content were analyzed at small and large deformation. Their dynamic shear viscoelasticity was measured using a rheometer with parallel plate geometry. Compressive force and creep‐recovery curves were measured using various probes and sample shapes. Noodles with lower amylose content showed a lower storage shear modulus (G′) and a higher frequency dependence of G′. The G′ values of noodles were highly correlated with amylose content in wheat flour and with G′ values of 30 and 40% starch gels. Remarkable differences in the characteristics of creep‐recovery curves were observed between cultivars. The difference in amylose content in wheat flour reflected the creep‐recovery properties of noodles. A negative correlation was demonstrated between amylose content and both maximum creep and recovery compliance. The compressive force required for 20, 50, 80, and 95% strains was compared. At 20 and 50% strain, noodles made from lower amylose wheat flour showed lower compressive force. Noodles of waxy wheat had a higher compressive force than nonwaxy noodles when the strain was >80%, indicating the waxy wheat noodles are soft but difficult to completely cut through.     

Vitamin contents of eggs that produce larvae showing a high survival rate in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

This paper describes the relationship between the egg vitamin concentrations and the egg quality in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica . No notable relation was found between any vitamin and the fertilization rate. Hatching and survival rates of larvae, however, significantly increased with an elevated level of egg vitamin C (VC). In contrast to VC, the relation between vitamins E (VE) and A (VA) concentrations and survival rate showed a clear peak, with a reduced survival rate at both higher and lower vitamin concentrations. The ratio of VE to lipid or highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) in eggs positively correlated with hatching and survival rates of larvae. High-quality (HQ) eggs were determined as eggs that produced larvae having a survival rate higher than 80% at 8 days post hatch, and low-quality (LQ) eggs were determined as eggs that did not hatch. The level of VC of HQ was significantly higher than LQ. The results of this study suggest that HQ eggs, which produce larvae having a high survival rate, must have high levels of VC and VE/HUFA ratio and contain optimum levels of VA and VE in Japanese eel.     

Effect of Amylose Content on Gelatinization,Retrogradation, and Pasting Properties of Starches from Waxy and Nonwaxy Wheat and Their F1 Seeds

We studied the effect of amylose content on the gelatinization, retrogradation, and pasting properties of starch using wheat starches differing in amylose content. Starches were isolated from waxy and nonwaxy wheat and reciprocal F1 seeds by crossing waxy and nonwaxy wheat. Mixing waxy and nonwaxy wheat starch produced a mixed starch with the same amylose content as F1 seeds for comparison. The amylose content of F1 seeds ranged between waxy and nonwaxy wheat. Nonwaxy‐waxy wheat had a higher amylose content than waxy‐nonwaxy wheat. Endothermic enthalpy and final gelatinization temperature measured by differential scanning calorimetry correlated negatively with amylose content. Gelatinization onset and peak temperature clearly differed between F1 and mixed starches with the same amylose content as F1 starches. Enthalpy for melting recrystallized starches correlated negatively with amylose content. Rapid Visco Analyser measurement showed that F1 starches had a higher peak viscosity than waxy and nonwaxy wheat starches. Mixed starches showed characteristic profiles with two low peaks. Setback and final viscosity correlated highly with amylose content. Some of gelatinization and pasting properties differed between F1 starches and mixed starches.     

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...