Influence of death struggle on the structural changes in chub mackerel muscle during chilled storage

ABSTRACT: Chub mackerel (34–35 cm, approximately 500 g), which were caught by fishing with a rod and line at the Bungo Channel, Oita prefecture, were rested overnight in a fish preserve and either killed by decapitation (control group) or allowed to struggle in air for 30 min (struggled group). Muscle samples were excised every 4 h, and measurements on breaking strength and histological observations were done for both groups. The breaking strength of muscle in the control group was significantly higher than that in the struggled group, whereby a decrease in breaking strength was delayed for 12 h compared to the struggled group. Light microscopy showed space extension among muscle cells in association with a decrease in breaking strength. Especially in the struggled group, the extended area was larger and the difference in area was significant at the time when breaking strength showed a significant difference. Using electron microscopy, the extended area showed cut and/or disappeared collagen fibrils. From these results, it was demonstrated that struggling to death promoted the degradation of collagen fibrils and the weakening of connective tissue and, resultantly, led to the faster softening of muscle of chub mackerel.     

Application of acoustic Doppler current profiler combined with a scientific echo sounder for krill Euphausia pacifica density estimation

ABSTRACT:   An application of the acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP, 153.6 kHz) in combination with a scientific echo sounder (EK60, 38 and 200 kHz) was investigated to estimate the density of krill Euphausia pacifica . The acoustic backscattering strength from sound scattering layers was compared with biomass estimates from midwater trawls. Euphausia pacifica was targeted among mixed species populations in the sound scattering layer in the offshore Funka Bay area of Hokkaido, Japan. The frequency characteristics of acoustic backscattering by krill were calculated using a distorted wave Born approximation scattering model at three frequencies. Krill aggregations identified from the EK60 data were extracted as the mean volume backscattering strength difference between two frequencies. They were then used to identify similar aggregations in the ADCP data by matching observation times and depths for the two methods, which were applied simultaneously. Results from the comparison of the mean volume backscattering strength and the density calculated from the ADCP and EK60 showed that ADCP can be used to measure density and spatial–temporal distribution of krill aggregations. Current speed and direction at the study site were found to be 16.1 cm/s and 187.0°, respectively, and krill speed and direction (including the current component) were found to be 19.8 cm/s and 172.2°, respectively. Based on the ADCP data, the net speed and direction of the krill aggregations were found to be 5.9 cm/s and 128.0°, respectively.     

Evaluation of Five Most Commonly Grown Cotton Cultivars (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Under Mediterranean Conditions: Productivity and Fibre Quality

Studies were conducted in four regions of central Greece (Larisa, Karditsa, Livadia, Thiva), to evaluate the productivity and fibre properties (fibre strength and fibre length) of the five most commonly grown cotton cultivars in these regions. The experiments lasted for 6 years (1995–2000). All the characteristics tested were strongly influenced by the factors ‘year’, ‘cultivar’ and ‘region’. Significant cultivar × region, year × cultivar, region × year and cultivar × region × year interactions occurred for all the characteristics studied. The cultivar Alegria had the highest seed‐cotton and lint yield, while Aria had the lowest ones. Both cultivars gave the highest mean lint percentage but the lowest mean boll weight (MBW). Alegria had the lowest fibre strength, while Aria had the highest. The Acala‐type cultivars, Acala SJ2 and Zeta 2, had intermediate seed‐cotton and lint yield, while Vered 171 had high seed‐cotton and satisfactory lint yield. The three cultivars mentioned above had the highest MBW and very good fibre strength. Positive correlation was observed between fibre strength and length. In spite of the fact that mean fibre length was statistically the same in all cultivars, it was influenced by the factor ‘year’, as a result of different weather conditions. The year 1996 was the most unfavourable one for seed‐cotton yield and MBW, because it was characterized by lower than average air temperatures and rather dry conditions for all study sites. The factor ‘region’, a combination of different climatic conditions and cultural practices, influenced significantly all the parameters studied.     

室内型胶合板天然耐久性的初步研究

作为一项反映材料优劣的重要的评价指标,天然耐久性直接决定了材料的使用寿命.笔者通过对胶合板胶合强度性能连续14年的跟踪测定,讨论和分析了胶合板的天然耐久性.最后总结出了胶合板在使用过程中随时间迁移其胶合强度性能随外界变化的规律,以期为胶合板的生产制备、生产工艺的改进及其应用领域的拓宽等方面起到一定的指导作用.     

加热光纤法同步测定土壤水热参数误差分析

土壤水热参数是研究土壤水热传输的基本物理参数。当前热脉冲探针法（HPP）可同步测定土壤水热参数,但该方法仅限于在点尺度下测定。与其具有相同理论基础的加热光纤法（SPHP-DTS）,可将测定尺度增大至田间千米尺度,但其测定精度尚未得到有效验证。为了探知SPHP-DTS法的误差,本研究进行了SPHP-DTS法与HPP法测定土壤水热参数的对比试验。结果表明,以HPP为标准,加热光纤法测定热导率的精度RMSE为0.13 W?m-1?℃-1。SPHP-DTS法测定的热导率显著高于HPP法,主要原因在于加热光纤时产生的温度效应。通过热导率法测定土壤含水率时,在热导率测定误差的影响下,SPHP-DTS法的测定精度明显低于HPP法。SPHP-DTS法测定土壤水热参数的其他误差来源包括光纤与土壤之间多个界面的接触热阻、光纤的温度敏感性、噪音干扰以及温度梯度驱动下的水分迁移。本研究可为SPHP-DTS法提升土壤水热参数测定精度提供理论参考。     

川西粉质黏土-衬砌接触面冻结强度规律研究

为揭示川西灌渠粉质黏土-衬砌接触面间冻结强度规律,针对川西地区灌渠渠基土开展了冻结作用下冻结温度、冻结时间、初始含水率、法向荷载4种影响因素在不同条件下的剪切试验.结果 表明:接触面间峰值抗剪强度与冻结温度、初始含水率变化呈负相关,与冻结时间、法向荷载变化呈正相关.此外,利用正交分析,揭示了4种因素对峰值抗剪强度影响的...     

牛角瓜果实发育规律及纤维产量

为引进优质种质资源打下基础,阐明牛角瓜果实发育的规律,制定栽培管理措施,以实现品质的调控和果实产量的稳定。因此本试验通过对巴基斯坦瓜达尔港的牛角瓜果实外部特征、内部纤维发育过程的观察。确定了牛角瓜果实外部大小与内部纤维长度呈正相关,即果实越大,纤维长度越长。在座果后第1天至第6天为缓慢增长期,此时应采取保果措施;第7天至第19天为果实增长和纤维快速增长期,此时应给予足够的养分;在第20天至第30天为缓慢增长期,此时应侧重于病虫害的防治。     

杏棉间作复合系统对棉花产量及纤维品质的影响

以大田棉花为对照(CK),研究了环塔里木盆地杏、棉间作系统对棉花的产量和纤维品质特性的影响.结果表明:杏、棉间作下棉花的产量及其构成因素相比对照均有不同程度的减小,且随着距杏树垂直距离的增加,其变化呈偏态分布趋势;在杏、棉间作区,棉花的比强度、伸长率和马克隆值明显减少,而纤维长度、整齐度、黄度和纺纱指数则形成了明显的增...     

棉花纤维突变体胚珠发育过程中主要生化物质的积累特征

采用4种不同类型的棉花纤维突变体和一个正常对照TM-1,分析比较了胚珠发育过程中,纤维和种皮内纤维素,种仁内脂肪、可溶性糖和蛋白质等成份的积累特征及诸成份与纤维素含量的相关关系.结果表明,棉花纤维突变体的胚珠不仅生化物质动态变化有着较大的差异,而且其生化物质的组成差异也很大.纤维突变体的纤维素含量低,种仁蛋白质含量低,脂肪含量高.纤维素含量与种仁内脂肪含量呈显著或极显著正相关;与纤维可溶性糖,纤维蛋白质有显著的相关性,呈显著负相关.