The influences of weaning age and weight on carcass traits and meat quality of pigs

The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of weaning age and weight on pigs, and their interaction with carcass traits and meat quality. A total of 468 piglets were obtained from 57 sows and four boars and grouped by age at weaning (D21, 18–24 days; D28, 25–32 days). Each weaning group was subdivided into three weight groups (L, M and H) according to weaning weight. The D28 group had heavier carcass weight, redness and yellowness, but had lower marbling scores and less drip loss than the D21 group (P < 0.05). The pigs with a light weight at weaning had higher carcass weights and lower yellowness than did pigs with a medium or heavy weight at weaning (P < 0.05). Weaning age was found to have a negative correlation with drip loss, while weaning weight was negatively correlated with carcass weight and drip loss (P < 0.05). We concluded that carcass and meat quality traits in pigs were significantly related to their age and weight at weaning. Therefore, we find that piglet weaning age and weight are no less important than post‐weaning growth performance and behavior, with regard to carcass traits and meat quality.     

猪苓的人工培养条件研究

猪苓的白色长菌丝在PDA培养基上能够形成厚实可剥的菌丝块。猪苓生长菌丝可形成锁状联结、顶端膨大,菌丝真径0.95～2.80um,适宜生长条件为20℃、pH4。振荡培养下,形成15～20um大小的菌丝块,颜色如潜伏其菌核的灰黄色。在6种生长原木上,猪苓形成菌丝块大小为3～5um。在PDA培养基上猪苓与蜜环菌混合培养比单独培养的菌丝粗,菌丝密度大,在原木上,猪苓菌丝与蜜环菌菌丝形成共生联结,同时在与蜜环菌紧连的菌丝块边缘,有多点状的自我防御结构。木质素降解活性检测表明,4个菌株中的A、B、C使澳酚蓝脱色后的吸光度为0.0635～0.0902,而菌株D的活性可以忽略。     

Constitutive equations for dilute bubble suspensions and rheological behavior in simple shear and uniaxial elongational flow fields

A theoretical model is proposed in order to investigate rheological behavior of bubble suspension with large deformation. Theoretical constitutive equations for dilute bubble suspensions are derived by applying a deformation theory of ellipsoidal droplet [1] to a phenomenological suspension theory [2]. The rate of deformation tensor within the bubble and the time evolution of interface tensor are predicted by applying the proposed constitutive equations, which have two free fitting parameters. The transient and steady rheological properties of dilute bubble suspensions are studied for several capillary numbers (Ca) under simple shear flow and uniaxial elongational flow fields. The retraction force of the bubble caused by the interfacial tension increases as bubbles undergo deformation. The transient and steady relative viscosity decreases asCa increases. The normal stress difference (NSD) under the simple shear has the largest value whenCa is around 1 and the ratio of the first NSD to the second NSD has the value of 3/4 for largeCa but 2 for smallCa. In the uniaxial elongational flow, the elongational viscosity is three times as large as the shear viscosity like the Newtonian fluid.     

Prediction and measurement of residual stresses in injection molded parts

Residual stresses were predicted by a flow analysis in the mold cavity and residual stress distribution in the injection molded product was measured. Flow field was analyzed by the hybrid FEM/FDM method, using the Hele Shaw approximation. The Modified Cross model was used to determine the dependence of the viscosity on the temperature and the shear rate. The specific volume of the polymer melt which varies with the pressure and temperature fields was calculated by the Tait’s state equation. Flow analysis results such as pressure, temperature, and the location of the liquid-solid interface were used as the input of the stress analysis. In order to calculate more accurate gap-wise temperature field, a coordinate transformation technique was used. The residual stress distribution in the gap-wise direction was predicted in two cases, the free quenching and the constrained quenching, under the assumption that the shrinkage of the injection molded product occurs within the mold cavity and that the solid polymer is elastic. Effects of the initial flow rate, packing pressure, and mold temperature on the residual stress distribution was discussed. Experimental results were also obtained by the layer removal method for molded polypropylene.     

Confocal microscopy measurement of the fiber orientation in short fiber reinforced plastics

To determine three-dimensional fiber orientation states in injection-molded short fiber composites a CLSM (Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope) is used. Since the CLSM optically sections the composites, more than two cross-sections either on or below the surface of the composite can be obtained. Three dimensional fiber orientation states can be determined with geometric parameters of fibers on two parallel cross-sections. For experiment, carbon fiber reinforced polystyrene is examined by the CLSM. Geometric parameters of fibers are measured by image analysis. In order to compactly describe fiber orientation states, orientation tensors are used. Orientation tensors are determined at different positions of the prepared specimen. Three dimensional orientation states are obtained without the difficulty in determining the out-of-plane angles by utilizing images on two parallel planes acquired by the CLSM. Orientation states are different at different positions and show the shell-core structure along the thickness of the specimen.     

Construction of high-resolution linkage map of the Ms locus, a restorer-of-fertility gene in onion (Allium cepa L.)

For the purpose of developing closely-linked molecular markers to the Ms locus, a restorer-of-fertility gene in onions (Allium cepa L.), bulked segregant analysis and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses were utilized. Five RAPD markers polymorphic between male-fertile and male-sterile bulks were identified. These RAPD markers were converted into a simple PCR marker or cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers after sequencing the RAPD products and obtaining flanking sequences of the RAPD markers by genome walking. A linkage map was constructed with the Ms locus and flanking markers using a F₂ population. There was no recombinant between the Ms locus and two CAPS markers, jnurf05 and jnurf17. To increase resolution among these closely linked molecular markers and the Ms locus, a total of 1,346 F_2:3 and 2,927 F_2:4 plants were analyzed with two flanking markers for detection of recombinants. Segregation of male-fertility phenotypes in large-sized populations confirmed allelic segregation distortion in favor of the recessive Ms allele. Analysis of the recombinants with closely linked markers revealed only two recombinants between the Ms locus and the jnurf05 markers among 4,273 segregating plants, showing very tight linkage between the two loci. However, linkage disequilibrium between the two loci was not too strong among the breeding lines. Despite weak linkage disequilibrium, these tightly linked markers are useful in accurate marker-assisted selection of the Ms alleles and ultimate isolation of the Ms gene by map-based cloning approach.     

Preferences of urban dwellers on urban forest recreational services in South Korea

This paper aims to investigate the preferences of urban dwellers for various attributes of urban forests, with an emphasis on forest recreational services. A choice experiment was conducted using face-to-face interviews with 823 urban dwellers in 2010. Urban forest attributes such as trails, slope, biodiversity, environmental education programs and entrance fees were found to influence Korean citizens’ preferences regarding urban forests. Among the six urban forest attributes, biodiversity was the most influential among Korean urban dwellers in their choice of urban forest recreation. Three latent groups with relatively homogeneous preferences over various urban forest attributes were identified. Residential area, family composition and the purpose of their visit determined group membership. It was notable that the preferences of urban forest recreationists differ from the general preferences of visitors to forests located in remote areas. Urban forest planning and management should consider the attributes of urban forests and the preferences of citizens visiting urban forests to improve urban dwellers’ welfare.     

Effect of N fertilizer top-dressing on N accumulation and N2 fixation of supernodulating soybean mutant

Increased application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer top-dressing during growth is an effective option for enhancing N supply to soybean plants. SS2-2 was characterized by the superior ability of symbiotic N₂ fixation at the level of 30 kg N ha⁻¹. But, the response of nitrogen fixation ability of supernodulating soybean mutant, SS2-2, to N fertilizer application rate remains unclear. The objective of this experiment was to compare the response of N fertilizer top-dressing on N accumulation and N₂ fixation between supernodulating mutant, SS2-2, and wild-type, Sinpaldalkong 2. The effect of N fertilizer top-dressing (0.6 g N pot⁻¹ top-dressing) on the nitrogen accumulation and redistribution were compared between SS2-2 and Sinpaldalkong 2. N fertilizer top-dressing at R1 stage increase in plant dry weight, relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), nitrogen harvest index (NHI), and N redistribution (NR). SS2-2 showed highest N concentration, 65.0 mg N g DW⁻¹, followed by Sinpaldalkong 2 and En1282, and the N content per plant did not show a significant difference between SS2-2 and Sinpaldalkong 2. The N₂ fixation rate was significantly reduced by N top-dressing, but the amount of N₂ fixation was not changed due to an improved dry weight without changes of N concentration. In addition, SS2-2 showed higher NHI, NR and NRE than Sinpaldalkong 2. These results suggested that supernodulating soybean mutants, SS2-2, could be characterized by high N concentration and N₂ fixation regardless of N fertilizer top-dressing due to a higher nitrate tolerance of supernodulating mutants than that of wild-type.     

Effect of Roscovitine‐Treated Donor Cells on Development of Porcine Cloned Embryos

Synchronization of the donor cell cycle is an important factor for successful animal cloning by nuclear transfer. To improve the efficiency of porcine cloning, in the present report, we evaluated effects of contact inhibition, serum starvation and roscovitine treatment of donor cells on in vitro and in vivo developmental potency of cloned porcine embryos. Fibroblasts derived from a porcine foetus at day 30 of gestation were isolated and cultured to 70% confluency. Then, cells were either cultured to 100% confluency for contact inhibition, or cultured in 0.5% serum for 72 h for serum starvation or with 15 μm roscovitine for 24 h. Cells were most effectively synchronized at G0/G1 in the serum starvation group (87.5%) compared with the contact inhibition and roscovitine treatment groups (76.3% and 79.9% respectively p < 0.05). However, after somatic cell nuclear transfer followed by in vitro culture, the serum starvation group showed a significantly lower blastocyst formation rate (5.6%) compared with the contact inhibition and roscovitine treatment groups (11.6% and 20.0% respectively). Differential expression of apoptosis‐related genes and the level of apoptosis in each treatment group explain the variation in developmental competence among the groups. Significantly higher level of apoptosis was observed in the serum starvation group. On the other hand, the roscovitine treatment group shows the lowest level of apoptosis and the best in vitro development among the groups. Cloned embryos derived from roscovitine‐treated donor cells were transferred to surrogate pigs. Three healthy live piglets were produced. In conclusion, we suggest that roscovitine treatment of donor cells improves development of cloned porcine embryos and can raise the efficiency of cloned piglet production.     

Clinical,Ultrasonographic and Pathological Findings in a Bull with Segmental Aplasia of the Mesonephric Duct

On assessment for use in an AI stud, a 12‐month‐old bull was found to produce low volume ejaculates with 41% of the sperm having morphological abnormalities. No left epididymal tail was palpable and the head of the epididymis on the left was twice the size compared with the right. Ultrasound examination showed the left testis to contain a large central area of decreased echogenicity, which could be followed proximally to a 15‐mm echolucent lesion at the site of the epididymal head. Postmortem examination revealed a 15‐mm diameter cyst in the region of the left epididymal head, and absence of the body and tail of the epididymis. The mediastinum testis of the left testis was dilated, corresponding to the area of decreased echogenicity observed on ultrasonography. No left seminal vesicle was present and the ampulla was significantly smaller than the same structure on the right. Histological examination revealed incomplete or absent spermatogenesis involving the majority of seminiferous tubules in the left testis, and a small proportion of those of the right testis. The cystic structure at the site of the left epididymal head was lined by irregular, sometimes attenuated, epithelium and contained sparse spermatozoa. This case demonstrates the adverse impact, which segmental aplasia of the mesonephric duct had on the testicular and epididymal function of a bull, and highlights the importance of careful clinical assessment in its diagnosis.