Comparison of Protein and Energy Intake, Passage Rate and Roughage Value Index of a Common Reed (\u3cem\u3ePhragmites communis\u3c/em\u3e Trin.) Silage-Based Diet with Those of a Hay-Based Diet in Ewes at Maintenance

The international demand for hay has increased due to the rising needs of newly industrializing countries and the unstable production of feed caused by abnormal weather all over the world. The price of imported hay has thus risen sharply, resulting in problems at beef and dairy farms in Japan. The use of domestic hay has the potential to solve these issues. The common reed (Phragmites communis Trin.) is a wild grass distributed widely in abandoned paddy fields and riverside sites throughout Japan. Common reed has an annual dry matter (DM) yield of 10t ha–1 and is approx. 20% crude protein (CP) and 50% total digestible nutrients (TDN) on a DM basis (Asano et al., 2015). Common reed could be made into high-quality silage with the use of acemonium cellulase and lactic acid bacteria at ensiling (Asano et al., 2013). In the present experiment, we compared the protein and energy intake, passage rate and roughage value index (RVI) of a common reed silage-based diet with those of a hay-based diet to examine the potential of common reed silage as a diet for maintenance ewes

Effect of Adding Functional Lactic Acid Bacteria at Ensiling on the Fermentation Quality and Nutritive Value of Oat Silage

Livestock are exposed to stressors from the environment such as temperature, humidity and intensive feeding. Strong stress can cause animals to perform an atypical behavior and/or result in lower productivity, and livestock weanlings, which do not have as strong a body as the adult livestock, are more severely affected by stress. Functional silage that increases the stress tolerance of livestock may thus be beneficial. Some lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in human food were found to have a probiotic effect to ease stress, but it has not been established whether these LAB can affect the qualities of silage fermentation. Here we used a small-scale system of silage fermentation to examine the effects of adding functional LAB at ensiling on the fermentation quality and nutritive value of oat silage

Effect of Using Additives at Ensiling on the Fermentation Quality of Common Reed (\u3cem\u3ePhragmites communis\u3c/em\u3e Trin.) Silage

The common reed (Phragmites communis Trin.) is a wild grass species widely distributed throughout Japan and the world, growing in thousands of abandoned paddy fields and riverside sites. Most of the common reed in Japan is burned or left to become a weed that grows thickly in canals and reclaimed lands, becoming breeding places for diseases and pests (Holm et al. 1977). The biodiversity of plants can be disrupted by an expanding community of common reed whose sward height is 1.5–4.0 m (Ailstock et al. 2001). The common reed should be controlled and made use of if possible, and a role for common reed as feed may solve a number of issues regarding this species. The common reed grown in marsh can be harvested as round baled silage using a chopping whole crop harvester (WB1030DX, Takakita Co., Mie, Japan) and a self-propelled bale wrapper (SW1110W, Takakita Co., Mie, Japan). However, few studies have been conducted on methods of preparing high-quality silage out of common reed. Here we conducted several trials using a small-scale system to determine the effects of adding glucose, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acremonium cellulase at ensiling on the fermentation quality of common reed silage

The Nutritional Status of Japanese Black Breeding Cows Grazed in a Larger Abandoned Paddy Field

Because rice consumption has decreased in Japan, the number of abandoned paddy fields has increased. Some of the abandoned paddy fields are being used for livestock grazing, effectively using the abandoned fields and reducing the production costs on livestock farms. Such grazing may use an integrated grazing system of scattered small pastures where each of the small abandoned paddy fields scattered in a given agriculture area is defined as one grazing yard, and a herd consisting of two or three head of cattle is moved from one grazing yard to another. However, because the number of abandoned paddy fields has increased, it may be possible to have cattle grazing in larger fields made by combining multiple abandoned paddy fields (Shindo and Tejima 2006). Here we examined the nutritional status of Japanese Black breeding cows that stayed in larger-sized abandoned paddy fields to graze from spring to autumn

Risk of higher dose methotrexate for renal impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Renal impairment is a major concern in patients taking high-dose methotrexate (MTX) for malignancy, but it has not been fully explored in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients taking low-dose MTX. This study aimed to elucidate the dose-dependent effects of MTX on the renal function of patients with RA. We retrospectively reviewed 502 consecutive RA patients who were prescribed MTX for >= 1 year at Okayama University Hospital between 2006 and 2018. The primary outcome was the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over 1 year. The association between MTX dosage (= 12 mg/week) and the change in eGFR was evaluated using multiple linear regression analysis with adjustment for possible confounding factors including age, sex, disease duration, body weight, comorbidity, baseline eGFR, concomitant treatment, and disease activity. Mean patient age was 63 years; 394 (78%) were female. Median disease duration was 77 months, while mean MTX dosage was 8.6 mg/week. The last 1-year change of eGFR (mean +/- SD) in patients treated with MTX= 12 mg/week (n=97) decreased by 0.2 +/- 7.3, 0.6 +/- 8.6, and 4.5 +/- 7.9 mL/min/1.73 m(2)/year, respectively (p= 12 mg/week was still correlated with a decrease in 1-year eGFR (beta-coefficient:-2.5; 95% confidence interval,-4.3 to-0.6; p=0.0089) in contrast to MTX 8-12 mg/week. Careful monitoring of renal function is required in patients with MTX >= 12 mg/week over the course of RA treatment regardless of disease duration

Association of explanatory histological findings and urinary protein and serum creatinine levels at renal biopsy in lupus nephritis: a cross-sectional study

Background The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the histology of active and chronic lesions and urinary protein and serum creatinine (SCr) levels, as common clinical endpoints in clinical trials for lupus nephritis (LN). Methods In total, 119 patients diagnosed with LN class III, IV, and V, as defined by the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society, between 1990 and 2015, were enrolled in the present study. Multiple regression analysis was performed to explore semi-quantitative histological variables associated with urinary protein and SCr levels. Results The mean age of the enrolled patients was 45 years, and 79% were female. The mean SCr and mean urinary protein levels at the time of renal biopsy were 0.87 mg/dl and 3.00 g/gCr, respectively. Class IV (71%) was the most common type of LN followed by class III (17%), and class V (13%). Multicollinearity was confirmed between monocellular infiltration (variance inflation factor [VIF] = 10.22) and interstitial fibrosis (VIF = 10.29), and between karyorrhexis (VIF = 4.14) and fibrinoid necrosis (VIF = 4.29). Fibrinoid necrosis and monocellular infiltration were subsequently excluded, and multiple regression analysis revealed that only the urinary protein level was correlated with wire loop lesions (β-coefficient [β]: 1.09 and confidence interval [CI]: 0.35 to 1.83), and that the SCr level was correlated with glomerular sclerosis (β: 1.08 and CI: 0.43 to 1.74). Conclusion As urinary protein and SCr levels were not quantitatively associated with active lesions, they may not accurately reflect the response to remission induction therapy in patients with LN

Risk Factors for Chronic Damage Accumulation Across Different Onset Eras in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Cross-sectional Analysis of a Lupus Registry of Nationwide Institutions (LUNA)

Chronic damage accumulation affects not only mortality but also quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Risk factors for chronic damage were explored in SLE through different onset eras. Two hundred forty-five patients at Okayama University Hospital and Showa University Hospital were divided into three groups based on the onset era: a past-onset group (onset before 1995; n=83), middle-onset group (1996-2009; n=88), and recent-onset group (after 2010; n=74). The mean Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) score as an index of chronic damage was 1.93, 1.24, and 0.53 in the past-, middle-, and recent-onset groups, respectively. In the pastonset group, the total SDI score was significantly associated with glucocorticoid monotherapy by linear regression analysis (β-coefficient [β]=0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21-1.05) and C-reactive protein levels (β=0.67; 95% CI, 0.27-1.07). In the middle-onset group, the total SDI score was significantly associated with the SLE Disease Activity Index at registration (β=0.09; 95% CI, 0.03-0.12). Reducing the accumulation of chronic damage in SLE patients might be possible with the concomitant use of immunosuppressants and tight control of disease activity

Association of glucocorticoid doses and emotional health in lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS): a cross-sectional study

Background While survival of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has improved substantially, problems remain in the management of their emotional health. Medium to high-dose glucocorticoid doses are known to worsen emotional health; the effect is unclear among patients receiving relatively low-dose glucocorticoids. This study aims to investigate the association between low glucocorticoid doses and emotional health in lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS). Methods This cross-sectional study drew on data from SLE patients in 10 Japanese institutions. The participants were adult patients with SLE duration of >= 1 year who met LLDAS criteria at the study visit from April 2018 through September 2019. The exposure was the daily glucocorticoid dose (mg oral prednisolone). The outcome was the emotional health score of the lupus patient-reported outcome scale (range: 0 to 100). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with adjustment for confounders including disease-related damage, activity, and psychotropic drug use. Results Of 192 patients enrolled, 175 were included in the analysis. Their characteristics were as follows: female, 89.7%; median age, 47 years (interquartile range (IQR): 37.0, 61.0). Median glucocorticoid dose was 4.0 mg (IQR 2.0, 5.0), and median emotional health score 79.2 (IQR 58.3, 91.7). Multiple linear regression analysis showed daily glucocorticoid doses to be associated with worse emotional health (beta coefficient = - 2.54 [95% confidence interval - 4.48 to - 0.60], P = 0.01). Conclusions Daily glucocorticoid doses were inversely associated with emotional health among SLE patients in LLDAS. Further studies are needed to determine whether glucocorticoid tapering leads to clinically significant improvements in emotional health

Future-proofing geotechnics workflows: accelerating problem-solving with large language models

The integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT into the workflows of geotechnical engineering has a high potential to transform how the discipline approaches problem-solving and decision-making. This paper delves into the innovative application of LLMs in geotechnical engineering, as explored in a hands-on workshop held in Tokyo, Japan. The event brought together a diverse group of 20 participants, including students, researchers, and professionals from academia, industry, and government sectors, to investigate practical uses of LLMs in addressing specific geotechnical challenges. The workshop facilitated the creation of solutions for four different practical geotechnical problems as illustrative examples, culminating in the development of an academic paper. The paper discusses the potential of LLMs to transform geotechnical engineering practices, highlighting their proficiency in handling a range of tasks from basic data analysis to complex, multimodal problem-solving. It also addresses the challenges in implementing LLMs, particularly in achieving high precision and accuracy in specialized tasks, and underscores the need for expert oversight. The findings demonstrate LLMs' effectiveness in enhancing efficiency, data processing, and decision-making in geotechnical engineering, suggesting a paradigm shift towards more integrated, data-driven approaches in this field. This study not only showcases the potential of LLMs in a specific engineering domain, but also sets a precedent for their broader application in interdisciplinary research and practice, where the synergy of human expertise and artificial intelligence redefines the boundaries of problem-solving.Comment: Supplementary information will be available upon reques

MafB is a critical regulator of complement component C1q

The transcription factor MafB is expressed by monocytes and macrophages. Efferocytosis (apoptotic cell uptake) by macrophages is important for inhibiting the development of autoimmune diseases, and is greatly reduced in Mafb-deficient macrophages. Here, we show the expression of the first protein in the classical complement pathway C1q is important for mediating efferocytosis and is reduced in Mafb-deficient macrophages. The efferocytosis defect in Mafb-deficient macrophages can be rescued by adding serum from wild-type mice, but not by adding serum from C1q-deficient mice. By hemolysis assay we also show that activation of the classical complement pathway is decreased in Mafb-deficient mice. In addition, MafB overexpression induces C1q-dependent gene expression and signals that induce C1q genes are less effective in the absence of MafB. We also show that Mafb-deficiency can increase glomerular autoimmunity, including anti-nuclear antibody deposition. These results show that MafB is an important regulator of C1q