Thermal behaviors and transitions of wood detected by temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry     

Tsunehisa Miki  Hiroyuki Sugimoto  Keisuke Kojiro  Yuzo Furuta  Kozo Kanayama 《Journal of Wood Science》2012,58(4):300-308

The thermal properties and transitions of solid and ground wood samples conditioned at different humidity conditions were investigated by temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry. A time-dependent transition was detected as an endothermic peak in the total and non-reversing heat flows and as a step change in the reversing heat flow during the first heating run of samples with moisture contents above 5?%, but it disappeared in the second heating run. These different thermal behaviors indicate that the effect of heat and moisture on the thermal properties of wood is history dependent. This step change in the reversing heat flow is considered to be a glass transition of moist wood. Other relaxation processes (e.g., enthalpy relaxation) occur simultaneously with this glass transition. The temperature ranges of the transition and the relaxation decreased drastically as the moisture content increased up to 11?%, while they remained almost constant at higher moisture contents. In addition, the transitions of the ground wood occurred at lower temperatures than those of the solid wood at similar moisture contents. Kissinger plots revealed that the apparent activation energy for the glass transition of the solid wood with a moisture content of 11?% was about 600?kJ/mol, whereas that of the ground wood was 220?kJ/mol.  相似文献   

Feed intake,digestibility, nitrogen utilization,ruminal condition and blood metabolites in wethers fed ground bamboo pellets cultured with white‐rot fungus (Ceriporiopsis subvermispora) and mixed with soybean curd residue and soy sauce cake     

Michimasa Oguri  Kanji Okano  Hajime Ieki  Masayuki Kitagawa  Osamu Tadokoro  Yoshinori Sano  Kazato Oishi  Hiroyuki Hirooka  Hajime Kumagai 《Animal Science Journal》2013,84(9):650-655

Three types of bamboo pellets as a ruminant feed: P1 (ground bamboo (GB) cultured with the fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora (CGB) : soybean curd residue (T) : soy sauce cake (S) in a 5:4:1 ratio on a dry matter (DM) basis); P2 (GB : T : S = 5:4:1 on a DM basis); and P3 (CGB : T : S = 5.5:0.8:3.7 on a DM basis) were prepared. Four wethers were assigned in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment to evaluate the applicability of the bamboo pellets. The experimental treatments were C (control): fed alfalfa hay cubes (AC) only, and T1, T2 and T3: fed P1, P2, and P3 with AC by 1:1 on a DM basis, respectively. The digestibility of the DM, organic matter and acid detergent fiber of P1 were significantly higher than those of P2 and P3 (P < 0.05). The total digestible nutrient (TDN) contents of AC, P1, P2 and P3 were 56.5%, 60.2%, 53.2% and 47.0%, respectively. No significant differences in nitrogen retention or ruminal pH and NH₃ were observed among the treatment groups. The results indicate that bamboo pellets cultured with C. subvermispora and mainly mixed with soybean curd residue improved nutritional quality of ground bamboo because of its high digestibility and TDN content.  相似文献   

Semiquantitative multi‐analysis of plasma obtained from Romney lambs (Ovis aries) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,and the classification according to feed type     

Fumihito Takahashi  Mariko Mochizuki  Touko Sato  Kinya Katayama  Paul R. Kenyon  Stephen T. Morris  Peter D. Kemp  Takeyuki Ozawa  Fukiko Ueda  Hiroyuki Tazaki 《Animal Science Journal》2013,84(6):496-501

The establishment of a classification system for domestic animals on consumed feed stuff is thought to be important from both a hygiene and market point of view. We collected plasma samples of Romney lambs (Ovis aries) which were fed one of the following: a herb‐clover mix (n = 10) which included chicory, red clover, white clover and plantain; a plant‐grass mix (n = 10) which included plantain, ryegrass and white clover; or a grass mix (n = 10) which included ryegrass and white clover. A total of 20 elements in plasma samples obtained from the lambs were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The data were then analyzed by principal component analysis. The lambs were divided into three groups on a score plot depending on the different feed conditions. Furthermore, discriminant analyses of the elements were examined, using linear discriminant analysis with forward stepwise regression. This discriminant function correctly classified the samples from each group. The accuracy of classification of each group, as shown by 10‐fold cross‐validation, proved the effectiveness of the established discriminant function. It is concluded that using linear discriminant analysis might be a useful tool for the validation of elements from plasma in lambs grown in different conditions.  相似文献   

Time dependence of Poisson’s effect in wood III: asymmetry of three-dimensional viscoelastic compliance matrix of Japanese cypress     

Kosei Ando  Mayu Mizutani  Yusuke Taniguchi  Hiroyuki Yamamoto 《Journal of Wood Science》2013,59(4):290-298

To understand the viscoelasticity of wood three dimensionally, matched samples of Japanese cypress were loaded in uniaxial tensile creep in the longitudinal (L), radial (R), and tangential (T) directions at approximately 9.7 % equilibrium moisture content. Longitudinal and transverse strains were measured for the determination of viscoelastic Poisson’s ratios and three-dimensional viscoelastic compliance tensors concerning the normal strain. The changes in the transverse strains showed the same tendencies as those in the longitudinal strains, in all directions of loading. That is, during creep, the absolute value of transverse strain continued to increase with the gradual reduction in the increase rate; immediately after the removal of the load, it recovered rapidly, after which it continued to recover slowly. The transverse strain increased most easily in the T direction, followed by R and L, during creep. All the viscoelastic Poisson’s ratios and the absolute values of all elements of the viscoelastic compliance increased logarithmically with creep time. The three-dimensional viscoelastic compliance matrix for Japanese cypress is concluded to be asymmetric.  相似文献   

Evaluation of Zona Pellucida Function for Sperm Penetration During In Vitro Fertilization in Pigs     

Fuminori TANIHARA  Michiko NAKAI  Hiroyuki KANEKO  Junko NOGUCHI  Takeshige OTOI  Kazuhiro KIKUCHI 《The Journal of reproduction and development》2013,59(4):385-392

In porcine oocytes, the function of the zona pellucida (ZP) with regard to sperm penetration or prevention of polyspermy is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the ZP on sperm penetration during in vitro fertilization (IVF). We collected in vitro-matured oocytes with a first polar body (ZP+ oocytes). Some of them were freed from the ZP (ZP− oocytes) by two treatments (pronase and mechanical pipetting), and the effects of these treatments on sperm penetration parameters (sperm penetration rate and numbers of penetrated sperm per oocyte) were evaluated. There was no evident difference in the parameters between the two groups. Secondly, we compared the sperm penetration parameters of ZP+ and ZP− oocytes using frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa from four boars. Sperm penetration into ZP+ oocytes was found to be accelerated relative to ZP− oocytes. Thirdly, we evaluated the sperm penetration of ZP+ and ZP− oocytes at 1−10 h after IVF (3 h gamete co-incubation). The proportions of oocytes penetrated by sperm increased significantly with time in both groups; however, the number of penetrated sperm per oocyte did not increase in ZP− oocytes. Finally, we performed IVF using ZP− oocytes divided into control (3 h) and prolonged gamete co-incubation (5 h) groups. Greater numbers of sperm penetrated in the 5 h group than in the control group. These results suggest that the ZP and oolemma are not competent factors for prevention of polyspermy in our present porcine IVF system. However, it appears that ZP removal is one of the possibilities for reducing polyspermic penetration in vitro in pigs.  相似文献   

Determination of antioxidant activity and characterization of antioxidant phenolics in the plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom (Prunus lannesiana)   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Matsuura R  Moriyama H  Takeda N  Yamamoto K  Morita Y  Shimamura T  Ukeda H 《Journal of agricultural and food chemistry》2008,56(2):544-549

Sakura-cha (salted cherry blossom tea) is a Japanese tea that is traditionally served at celebrations such as wedding ceremonies. The production of Sakura-cha includes the immersion of cherry blossom flowers in Japanese plum vinegar, and through this process, the byproduct (plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom) is obtained. In this study, the antioxidant activity of the plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom was examined. The plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom had a greater superoxide anion scavenging activity compared with red wine, which is a well-known strong antioxidant. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rutinoside, and caffeic acid were the major components in the phenolic extract prepared from plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom, and they possessed superoxide anion scavenging activity. Caffeic acid is mainly responsible for the scavenging activity of phenolic extract; the contributions of cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside were minor.  相似文献   

Anthocyanin composition and antioxidant activity of the Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) and other berries     

Ogawa K  Sakakibara H  Iwata R  Ishii T  Sato T  Goda T  Shimoi K  Kumazawa S 《Journal of agricultural and food chemistry》2008,56(12):4457-4462

The anthocyanin composition and antioxidant activity of the crowberry ( Empetrum nigrum) were studied. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with a diode array detector and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry were used for identification and quantification of individual anthocyanins. Freeze-dried crowberry powder was extracted with 80% methanol containing 0.5% acetic acid and subjected to HPLC. Thirteen kinds of anthocyanins were identified. The major anthocyanins were cyanidin-3-galactoside and delphinidin-3-galactoside, at 8.04 and 8.62 mg/g extract, respectively. The HPLC profile of crowberry extract was similar to bilberry and blueberry. The total content of anthocyanins in crowberry was 41.8 mg/g extract, higher than the other nine major berry species (2.5-38.8 mg/g extract). The antioxidant activity was also evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethybenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical quenching assays and the ferric reducing activity power assy. Crowberry extract exerted the strongest antioxidant activity. In conclusion, individual anthocyanins in crowberry were identified and then quantified in this study. Additionally, crowberry is suggested to be associated with a reduction in the risk of developing chronic diseases because of its strong antioxidant activity.  相似文献   

Affected homologous chromosome pairing and phosphorylation of testis specific histone, H2AX, in male meiosis under FKBP6 deficiency     

Noguchi J  Ozawa M  Nakai M  Somfai T  Kikuchi K  Kaneko H  Kunieda T 《The Journal of reproduction and development》2008,54(3):203-207

A gene for FK506 binding protein 6 (Fkbp6) expresses during a specific stage of male and female meiosis. Disruption of the gene influences male reproduction, i.e. arrests spermatogenesis, but not female reproduction. Using the mouse model (targeted disruption), the role of the gene in homologous chromosome pairing has been demonstrated in a previous study. For further understanding the function of Fkbp6 in chromosome synapsis, we evaluated chromosome pairings during male meiosis in the as/as rat, a spontaneous null mutation, and compared them with those of the mouse model. Electron microscopy of the pachytene nuclei unveiled several types of abnormal chromosome pairing in the rat model, as shown in the mouse previously. The frequencies of aberrant pairings in the knockout mice and mutant rats were 42 of 67 nuclei (62.7%) and 20 out of 74 nuclei (27.0%), respectively. In order to clarify the mechanism of male specific infertility in Fkbp6 deficiency, the localization of gammaH2AX, a marker protein of XY chromosome inactivation during male meiosis, was examined. Immunostaining of gammaH2AX unveiled normal localization of the molecule to XY chromosomes (XY body) in both models, showing the independency of FKBP6 in sex chromosome inactivation. Besides the XY body, focal localization of gammaH2AX was observed in accordance with the unsynapsed chromosomes in both types of null animal. These results indicate the fundamental role of Fkbp6 in homologous chromosome synapsis during male meiosis. In conclusion, male specific infertility under Fkbp6 deficiency remains unsolved.  相似文献   

Endocrine status and development of porcine testicular tissues in host mice     

Kaneko H  Kikuchi K  Nakai M  Noguchi J 《The Journal of reproduction and development》2008,54(6):480-485

Clarification of the endocrine status of host mice provides us with basic knowledge with which we can manipulate the growth and function of xenografted testicular tissues. We investigated the hormonal profiles of castrated mice grafted with porcine immature testicular tissues from 30 to 210 or more days after grafting (day 0=castration and grafting). The serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations of the host mice declined (P<0.05) from day 60 compared with those of the castrated, ungrafted mice. The serum inhibin and testosterone levels were higher (P<0.05) than those in the castrated, ungrafted mice from days 30 and 90 days, respectively. The inhibin levels further increased (P<0.05) from day 90, during which time the levels were higher (P<0.05) than those in the intact male mice. In the grafts, formation of lumens occurred in the seminiferous cords on day 90 and spermatozoa appeared in the lumens from day 120. However, spermatogenesis in the grafts did not reach the qualitatively normal levels observed in adult boars. The intensity of the immune reaction to inhibin alpha subunits in the Sertoli cells of the grafts decreased with differentiation of the seminiferous tubules. The present findings indicate that a feedback loop was established between the mouse hypothalamo-pituitary axis and the grafted porcine tissues from 60 days post-grafting. The results also indicate that the serum inhibin levels in the host mice remained high even after the appearance of lumens in the seminiferous tubules of the grafted tissues; this is strikingly different to the situation in normal male animals, in which the serum inhibin levels decline at around the time of tubular differentiation. The lack of efferent ducts in the tubules of the grafted tissues probably caused the accumulation of inhibin to be released into the lumens, resulting in high concentrations of circulating inhibin. These high levels of inhibin may directly affect spermatogenic activity and suppress FSH secretion.  相似文献   

Retrospective diagnosis of feline GM2 gangliosidosis variant 0 (Sandhoff-like disease) in Japan: possible spread of the mutant allele in the Japanese domestic cat population     

Yamato O  Hayashi D  Satoh H  Shoda T  Uchida K  Nakayama H  Sakai H  Masegi T  Murai A  Iida T  Hisada H  Hisada A  Yamasaki M  Maede Y  Arai T 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2008,70(8):813-818

GM2 gangliosidosis variant 0 (human Sandhoff disease) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by simultaneous deficiencies of acid beta-hexosaminidase (Hex) A and Hex B due to an abnormality of beta-subunit, a common component in these enzyme molecules, which is coded by the HEXB gene. In the present study, a retrospective diagnosis was performed in 2 previous suspected cases of feline Sandhoff-like disease using a DNA test to detect the causative mutation identified previously in 4 cats in 2 other families of Japanese domestic cats. Enzymic analysis was also performed using stored leukocytes and plasma collected from the subject families in order to investigate the usefulness of enzymic diagnosis and genotyping of carriers. The DNA test suggested that the 2 cases were homozygous recessive for the mutation. Consequently, 6 cats homozygous for the same mutation have been found in 4 separate locations of Japan, suggesting that this mutant allele may be spread widely in the Japanese domestic cat populations. In enzymic analysis, Hex A and Hex B activities in leukocytes and plasma measured using 4-methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide as a substrate were negligible in affected cats, compared with those in normal and carrier cats. However, there was a wide overlap in enzyme activity between normal and carrier cats. Therefore, it was concluded that enzymic analysis is useful for diagnosis of affected cats, but is not acceptable for genotyping of carriers.  相似文献