Investigation into Differences in Palatability Among Festulolium Varieties as Haylage

In Japan, paddy fields that are no longer used for cultivation of rice are being converted to cultivation of forage crops. Therefore, grass with greater wet resistance and higher quality is required. Festulolium is an interspecific hybrid between the Lolium and Festuca species and combines the characteristics of high-quality ryegrass and resistance to hostile environments from fescues (Thomas & Humphreys, 1991). Among festulolium varieties, there is wide variation in environmental resistance and feeding value. One festulolium variety, Paulita, shows superior wet resistance to Evergreen and the total digestible nutrients of Evergreen was similar to that of cocksfoot (cv. Kitamidori) (Touno et al., 2004). In this study, we investigated palatability differences in festulolium varieties

Detection of Delaminations Located at Ceramic/Metal Jointed Interface by Scanning Acoustic Microscopy

Since ceramic/metal joints currently play an important role of the structural parts for applications in electrical, electronic or aerospace industries, techniques must be developed for evaluating the integrity of these joints. Such techniques as collimated X-ray beam radiography [1], indentation fracture, and laser speckle imaging have been developed with limited success. No truly nondestructive techniques for evaluating joint strength have been established to date. If a conventional C-scan mode apparatus could be applied directly for detecting a defect such as a delamination on a joint interface, it might be an attractive solution in terms of visualizing the defect as a first step in the evaluation. The shape of the standard specimen of the ceramic/metal joint is essentially a rectangular bar. When the C-scan mode apparatus is used to visualize the jointed interface, an acoustic wave is required to be incident from the ceramic side of the specimen. When considering the attenuation of an ultrasonic wave in the frequency range from 10 to 100 MHz and the thickness of the ceramic portion of the specimen, the wave may not reach the interface, or the wave reflected from the interface may not be detected. When using frequencies lower than 10 MHz, the interface may be imaged, but with limited resolution. Moreover, the contrast may be poor because of water diffusing into the crack in the surface of the specimen. When a conventional A-mode apparatus such as a digital oscilloscope is used to obtain quantitative data, reflected waveforms might be collected. However, the data might not be good enough to analyze details of a defect, such as caused by a fracturing process. Recent studies have shown that delaminations at a ceramic/metal joint, such as a Si3N4/Cu/Steel joint, originate along the periphery of the interface [2]

Optical conductivity of rattling phonons in type-I clathrate Ba8_8Ga16_{16}Ge30_{30}

A series of infrared-active optical phonons have been detected in type-I clathrate Ba$_8$Ga$_{16}$Ge$_{30}$ by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The conductivity spectra with the lowest-lying peaks at 1.15 and 1.80 THz are identified with so-called rattling phonons, i.e., optical modes of the guest ion Ba$^{2+}(2)$ with $T_{1u}$ symmetry in the oversized tetrakaidecahedral cage. The temperature dependence of the spectra from these modes are totally consistent with calculations based on a one-dimensional anharmonic potential model that, with decreasing temperature, the shape becomes asymmetrically sharp associated with a softening for the weight to shift to lower frequency. These temperature dependences are determined, without any interaction effects, by the Bose-factor for optical excitations of anharmonic phonons with the nonequally spaced energy levels.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Comparison of immune response to lipopolysaccharide of rabbit does selected for litter size at weaning or founded for reproductive longevity

To evaluate differences in maternal lines to the immune response of reproductive rabbit does, a total of 64 animals of two different lines: (1) founded for hyper-longevity and litter size criteria (LP) and (2) selected for litter size at weaning (V) were used. Females were subjected to three different reproductive efforts: post-partum (PP) mating at first lactation and 9 kits during the second; post-weaning (PW) mating at first lactation and 9 kits during the second; and PW mating at first lactation and 5 kits during the second. At second weaning (30 days PP), an acute response was induced by intravenous infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LP females seemed to be lower affected during the hyper-acute phase than V females, showing lower plasma glucose content at 1.5 h post infusion (pi) and rectal temperature at 6 h pi; and showed higher ulterior immune response, with higher levels of C-reactive protein at 48 h pi and haptoglobin in plasma from 24 h pi. Survival test conferred a higher risk of culling for V than for LP females during the first hours after challenge. These results may suggest that, regarding immune response to LPS challenge, foundation by hyper-longevity productive criteria lead to obtain a more robust population of rabbit does, characterized by improved response ability. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This study has been supported by the Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology (CICYT) from the Spanish Government. Grants Number: AGL2011-30170-C02-01; AGL2011-30170-C02-02), is gratefully acknowledged.Ferrian, S.; Blas Ferrer, E.; Larsen, T.; Sánchez Serrano, JP.; Friggens, NC.; Corpa, JM.; Baselga Izquierdo, M.... (2013). Comparison of immune response to lipopolysaccharide of rabbit does selected for litter size at weaning or founded for reproductive longevity. Research in Veterinary Science. 94(3):518-525. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.01.008S51852594

Dietary Lactoferrin Alleviates Age-Related Lacrimal Gland Dysfunction in Mice

BACKGROUND: Decrease in lacrimal gland secretory function is related to age-induced dry eye disease. Lactoferrin, the main glycoprotein component of tears, has multiple functions, including anti-inflammatory effects and the promotion of cell growth. We investigated how oral administration of lactoferrin affects age-related lacrimal dysfunction. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Twelve-month-old male C57BL/6Cr Slc mice were randomly divided into a control fed group and an oral lactoferrin treatment group. Tear function was measured at a 6-month time-point. After euthanasia, the lacrimal glands were subjected to histological examination with 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) antibodies, and serum concentrations of 8-OHdG and hexanoyl-lysine adduct (HEL) were evaluated. Additionally, monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression levels were determined by real-time PCR. The volume of tear secretion was significantly larger in the treated group than in the control. Lactoferrin administration reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and the MCP-1 and TNF-α expression levels. Serum concentrations of 8-OHdG and HEL in the lactoferrin group were lower than those in the control group and were associated with attenuated 8-OHdG immunostaining of the lacrimal glands. CONCLUSION: Oral lactoferrin administration preserves lacrimal gland function in aged mice by attenuating oxidative damage and suppressing subsequent gland inflammation