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The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of sodium butyrate on the ruminal villus morphology, mRNA expression associated with nutrient metabolism and inflammation in the ruminal epithelium, and plasma concentrations of metabolites and hormones in non-lactating cows fed a high-fiber diet. Four Holstein cows with a rumen cannula were assigned to two treatments in a crossover design. The treatments were ruminal administration of sodium butyrate premix or control premix before feeding to cows fed the same total mixed ration mainly composed of glass silage once a day. Sodium butyrate was provided at a butyrate dose of 0.04% per kg body weight. The control premix was made by replacing sodium-butyrate with wheat bran. The plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentration increased 3 to 6 h after the butyrate premix administration but returned to a concentration similar to that of the control before feeding. After continuous administration, increases in the ruminal villus height and plasma concentration of glucagon-like peptide-2, and lower gene expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and TLR-2 in the rumen epithelium were observed in cows supplied with the butyrate premix. These results showed that sodium butyrate affects rumen epithelial morphology and plasma concentrations of hormones even under a low fermentable diet.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ruminal pH and milk de novo fatty acid (DNFA) concentrations determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Data were collected from 18 multiparous Holstein cows fitted with a rumen cannula and fed 1 of the experimental diets differing in starch content (22.1 vs. 28.3%) with or without supplementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product in a previous study. Milk was sampled on d 7 and 21 after calving, and concentrations of milk fat, DNFA (C6 to C14), mixed-origin fatty acids (FA; C16:0 and C16:1), and preformed FA (≥C18) were estimated using Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry. Ruminal pH was recorded in the ventral sac every 30 s continuously for 72 h on d 7 to 9 and 21 to 23 after calving. Daily maximum, nadir, and mean ruminal pH as well as duration and area below pH 5.8 were determined for each period. Milk DNFA (g/100 g of FA) was positively related to nadir (r = 0.428) and mean (r = 0.471) ruminal pH and negatively related to duration (r = −0.511) and area (r = −0.520) below pH 5.8. Milk fat content did not have a relationship with ruminal pH variables in this study. The regression lines for d 7 and 21 were similar, likely because plasma free FA concentrations were not different between d 7 and 21 (513 vs. 534 µEq/L) for the current data set. The coefficients of determination between DNFA and ruminal pH were greater for DNFA in total milk FA (g/100 g of FA) than in milk (g/100 g of milk), suggesting that DNFA in milk fat (g/100 g of FA) is an appropriate measurement variable that relates to ruminal pH even for cows in early lactation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a newly designed on-farm blood testing system (OFBTS) for monitoring blood concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) in dairy cows. Blood samples from 230 Holstein dairy cows between −86 and 343 days in milk were collected. A drop of whole blood was used to determine NEFA and BHBA using the OFBTS. Plasma from the remaining blood was used to determine both analytes using a commercial kit (gold standard). In the repeatability of the OFBTS, the intra-assay CV for NEFA and BHBA were 1.3% and 4.5%, and the inter-assay CV were 1.8% and 2.9%, respectively. The slope and coefficient of determination of OFBTS analysis of NEFA compared to the gold standard were 0.92 and 0.94. Those for BHBA were 0.94 and 0.98. Mean of the difference between the gold standard laboratory assays and OFBTS of NEFA and BHBA were 0.021 and 0.019, respectively. However, the bias became substantial for NEFA in the higher concentration ranges (>1.2 mEq/L). The sensitivity and specificity of NEFA were 93.2% and 99.4% at a cutpoint of 0.4 mEq/L, and 87.9% and 100% at 0.6 mEq/L. Those of BHBA were 86.2% and 99.0% at a cutpoint of 1.0 mM, and 94.7% and 99.5% at 1.2 mM. The reaction time for the NEFA to reach 0.6 mEq/L was 7 min. The BHBA reaction reached 1.2 mM within 2 min. In conclusion, the OFBTS has excellent performance for evaluating blood NEFA or BHBA concentrations.

This study established the precision and accuracy of a modified latex agglutination turbidimetric immunoassay (LATIA) reagent, and evaluated the ability of the measurement of serum amyloid A (SAA) compared to haptoglobin and α1-acid glycoprotein, which are acute phase proteins (APPs), for diagnosis of clinical mastitis. Concentrations of APPs in cows with mastitis were significantly higher than those in healthy cow. Only the plasma SAA concentration in cows with clinical mastitis (44.90 mg/l; n=15) was significantly higher than that in those with subclinical mastitis (10.70 mg/l; n=16), enabling their diagnosis in contrast to other APPs. Thus, the SAA assay using a LATIA reagent is useful in assessing mastitis severity due to its higher sensitivity and specificity than other APP assays.

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of butyrate supplementation on plasma concentration of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), apparent total-tract digestibility, and responses to a grain challenge of lactating dairy cows fed diets differing in starch content. Eight Holstein cows averaging 58.6 ± 9.96 d in milk (4 primiparous cows fitted with rumen cannula and 4 multiparous intact cows) were blocked by parity and assigned to one of two 4 × 4 Latin squares balanced for carryover effects with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments were dietary starch content [20.6 vs. 27.5%, respectively, for low starch (LS) and high starch (HS)] and butyrate supplementation (butyrate vs. control) with 21-d periods. Butyrate was provided as Gustor BP70 WS (Norel, S.A., Madrid, Spain), containing 70% sodium butyrate and 30% fatty acid mixture, at 2% of dietary dry matter (providing butyrate at 1.1% of dietary dry matter), and control premix contained 70% wheat bran and 30% fatty acid mixture. Feeds, orts, and fecal samples were collected from d 17 to 19 to determine apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility. Blood and rumen fluid samples were collected on d 19. The baseline of dry matter intake (DMI) was determined as average DMI from d 17 to 19 for each cow, and cows were feed-restricted at 60% of the baseline DMI on d 20, and a grain challenge was conducted by providing steam-flaked corn grain at 0.6% of body weight, on an as-fed basis, in addition to each treatment diet on d 21, and blood and ruminal fluid samples were collected. The interaction of dietary starch content by butyrate supplementation was significant for plasma GLP-2 concentration, being greater for cows fed butyrate with the HS diet than those fed the other 3 diets. Cows fed butyrate increased n-butyrate concentration in the ruminal fluid and tended to increase dry matter and organic matter digestibility compared with the control. During the grain challenge, rumen endotoxin concentration increased over time and was higher for cows fed the HS diets compared with those fed LS diets. However, response variables related to inflammation were not affected by the grain challenge. However, serum haptoglobin, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and serum amyloid-A concentrations were greater for cows fed butyrate with the LS diet, but not for those fed the HS diet. These results indicate that butyrate supplementation may increase plasma GLP-2 concentration for cows fed HS diets, and total-tract digestibility regardless of dietary starch content. However, butyrate supplementation did not mitigate inflammation in this study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of sodium-butyrate supplementation on gastrointestinal function and the inflammatory response to ruminal acidosis (RA) challenge in cows. Four nonlactating cows with a rumen cannula were assigned to two treatments in a crossover design. Treatments were ruminal administration of sodium-butyrate (BUT) or control (CON). Sodium-butyrate was provided as Gustor BP70 and administered at a butyrate dose of 0.04% per kg body weight. The CON premix was made by replacing sodium-butyrate with wheat bran. Experimental periods were 28 days long with 21-day washout period separating the treatments. On Day 25 of each period, corn starch was ruminally administered at 0.7% per kg body weight as RA challenge. After RA challenge, ruminal pH was lower, and endotoxin concentration was higher for cows provided with BUT than those with CON, but the increase in fecal starch and the decrease in fecal pH were attenuated by BUT. The effect of butyrate supplementation on serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein after RA challenge was not found. From these findings, butyrate supplementation mitigated rectal acidosis by reducing the flux of fermentable carbohydrate into the large intestine. An anti-inflammatory effect of butyrate was not observed, possibly due to lower pH and higher endotoxin concentration in the rumen.

Coastal areas along the Pacific Ocean suffered extensive damage owing to the 2011 tsunami due to the Tohoku earthquake. Hence, reinforcement methods against tsunamis need to be developed for existing caisson type breakwaters. This study proposes installing a row of piles behind the caisson using backfilling, with rubble in the space between, as reinforcement against tsunamis. To determine the cross-section and embedment length of the pile used in this structure, understanding the load condition acting on the pile is necessary. Model experiments were conducted based on bending moment distribution to estimate the external force acting as distributed load on the pile’s offshore side. The subgrade reaction acting on the pile from the onshore side was assumed by correcting the coefficient of the subgrade reaction and its depth direction in the Winkler–Spring type subgrade reaction model. There are insufficient points in the external force distribution estimated in this method owing to insufficient evaluation of the subgrade reaction. The impact of the subgrade reaction on a pile’s horizontal resistance characteristics depends on its deformation mode. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the subgrade reaction in the pile deformation mode under distributed load along the perpendicular pile axis direction. This study conducted loading experiments on the piles using different ground conditions and loading methods to examine the difference in horizontal resistance of the piles. The deformation mode of the piles was found to cause changes in the coefficient value of the subgrade reaction and its changing behavior along the depth direction.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of butyrate supplementation on the dry matter intake (DMI), milk production, and blood metabolites of lactating dairy cows fed diets differing in starch content. Eight Holstein cows after peak lactation (58.6 ± 9.96 d in milk; mean ± SD) were blocked by parity and assigned to 1 of 2 Latin squares (4 × 4) balanced for carryover effects with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments differed by dietary starch content (20.6 vs. 27.5%) and butyrate supplementation (butyrate vs. control) with 21-d periods. Experimental diets contained 36 and 30% corn silage, 18 and 15% grass silage, and 46 and 55% concentrates, respectively, for low starch and high starch diets, on a dry matter (DM) basis. Butyrate was provided as Gustor BP70 WS (Norel S.A., Madrid, Spain), containing 70% sodium butyrate and 30% fatty acid mixture, at 2% of dietary DM (providing butyrate at 1.1% of dietary DM), and control premix contained 70% wheat bran and 30% fatty acid mixture. Interaction effects between dietary starch content and butyrate supplementation were not observed for primary response variables, and milk yield was not affected by treatment. Butyrate supplementation increased serum β-hydroxybutyrate concentration compared with control (0.706 vs. 0.930 mM), but did not exceed 1.2 mM, a commonly accepted value for subclinical ketosis, and DMI was not affected. Cows fed butyrate had increased milk fat content (4.58 vs. 4.37%) and milk fat yield (1.51 vs. 1.42 kg/d), tended to have increased 4% fat-corrected milk yield (35.9 vs. 34.3 kg/d) and feed efficiency (1.56 vs. 1.50; 4% fat-corrected milk yield/DMI), and had decreased milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration (10.8 vs. 11.7 mg/dL) compared with control. Cows fed high starch diets tended to have increased DMI (23.3 vs. 22.5 kg/d), increased milk protein yield (1.13 vs. 1.05 kg/d), and decreased MUN concentration (10.3 vs. 12.2 mg/dL). Inclusion of butyrate at 1.1% of dietary DM increased milk fat production and decreased MUN concentration without affecting DMI or increasing the risk of subclinical ketosis, regardless of dietary starch content.

Peripartum disorders in dairy cows negatively influence their productivity and reproductive performance. However, only a few reports have clearly indicated the influence of such disorders on the productivity and reproductive performance at a local-area or cow-level in Japan. This study aimed to elucidate the influence of diseases occurring within 60 days after calving on subsequent productivity and reproductive performance. Accordingly, a wide-area database on dairy production was used for epidemiological analysis; subsequently, multivariable analysis was performed to investigate the association of such diseases with productivity or reproductive performance in 6,545 cows from 178 farms in Fukuoka. We used 305-day energy-corrected milk (305 ECM) as an index of productivity and conception and culling as indices of reproductive performance. With regard to causality, mixed-effects model was used for analyzing the association between disease and productivity, and Cox proportional hazard model was used for analyzing the association between disease and reproductive performance. Compared to the disease absence group, the disease presence group demonstrated significantly lower 305 ECM [−154 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI), −229 to −79] and risk of pregnancy [hazard ratio (HR), 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80–0.91] and higher risk of culling (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.17–1.59). These results indicate that, in Fukuoka, dairy cows affected by diseases within 60 days after calving exhibit lower productivity and reproductive performance. Therefore, proper dairy cow management during the peripartum period to prevent diseases during early lactation may maintain or improve productivity.

The purpose of this study is to compare the assessment of pre- and postpartum oxidative stress-related causal indicators and other metabolites in cows with postpartum subclinical ketosis (SCK). The prepartum serum malondialdehyde concentration and body condition score (BCS) were elevated in the SCK cows (n=17) compared to healthy controls (n=12), while the insulin sensitivity check index was lower in the SCK cows than in the controls. Oxidative stress is enhanced in cows with prepartum higher BCS, causing decreased insulin sensitivity, and may be associated with onset of postpartum SCK. However, paraoxonase alone might be insufficient to assess the antioxidant state because of no difference in pre- and postpartum activities between the two groups.

Background Ketosis is one of the most critical metabolic disorders that occur in dairy cows after parturition due to negative energy balance around calving. Aim The study evaluated a specific therapeutic regimen of ketosis in Holstein dairy cattle by using the combination therapy including hormones, corticosteroids, propylene glycol, and vitamin B12 as well as the use of milk yield rates, insulin, insulin sensitivity, and abomasal functions monitors as diagnostic biomarkers for the recovery of ketotic cows either pre-therapy (0 days) or post-therapy (7 and 14 days). Methods This study was conducted on ketotic cattle (n = 20) belonged to different dairy farms in Cairo and Giza governorates, Egypt. The diseased cows were undergoing clinical and biochemical investigations for the estimation of serum insulin. Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (RQUICKI) and abomasal functions monitor mainly serum levels of gastrin, pepsinogen, and chloride. Results The milk production rates, cost: benefit analysis ratio, and benefit of the dairy farm in ketotic animals were significantly increased post-treatment. An improvement of insulin sensitivity was stated as serum insulin, and RQUICKI were remarkably increased in post-therapeutic ketotic cows. Monitors of the abomasal function revealed abomasal functions improvement through the significant elevation of blood gastrin and a substantial reduction in serum pepsinogen due to treatment. Conclusion The study revealed high efficacy of the applied therapeutic strategy regime. It led to a high recovery rate and a very low relapse rate for ketosis. An improvement in milk yield rates, insulin sensitivity, and abomasal function monitors was reported. Hypoinsulinaemia was still reported, however, serum insulin was improved.

The study aimed to describe the changes in clinical findings and serum levels of gastrin, pepsinogen and chloride (Cl) in dairy cattle with displacement of the abomasum (DA) from day 0 until day 30 after surgery and to evaluate their diagnostic and prognostic value in evaluation of the abomasal func-tion. The study was conducted on DA cattle (n=25) belonging to dairy farms in Hokkaido area, Japan. Cows were examined and sampled at days 0 (surgery), 7 and 30. Based on blood β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) at day 0, DA cows were classified into three categories; DA only (

Serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in close-up dairy cattle were compared in relation to parity. Data were obtained from 37 nulli/primiparous (NP) and 24 multiparous (MU, parity: 2-7) cows between 14 days and 1 day prepartum. A positive correlation (r=0.684, P

The seasquirt Ciona robusta and its co-generic Ciona savignyi , are two long-divergent species, sharing the same habitat and competing for the same spaces and resources. Their very similar morphology has been responsible for the misidentification of the two organisms, and, consequently, for the underestimation of their geographic distributions and new areas of co-occurrence. In spite of the large amount of knowledge built up by developmental biologists, few data are available regarding the morpho-physiology of the two sea squirts. The comparison of morphological and physiological features carried out in the present study (i.e. length-body weight correlation, tunic/organ ratio, tissue-specific retained water and metabolic rate), highlighted slight, but significant, differences strongly supporting the hypothesis of different ecological strategies for the two species. More precisely, C. savignyi invests more energy in growing faster and taller, likely to improve the quality and concentration of the filtered food, and sustains a faster metabolic/growth rate. Conversely, C. robusta invests more into tunic thickness, reducing the risk of predation, even if this likely means a slower metabolic/growth rate. In addition it was noted that in both species, the tunic absorbs more water than the other tissues, a peculiarity that may allow them to better counteract sudden fluctuations in environmental salinity.

The study aimed to describe the pattern of changes in clinical findings and lipid metabolism profiles in dairy cattle with displacement of the abomasum (DA) from day 0 until day 30 after operation. The study was conducted on DA cattle (n= 25) belonged to dairy farms in Hokkaido area, Japan. Cows were examined and sampled at days 0 (operation), 7 and 30. They were clinically and biochemically examined to estimate BCS and many serum biochemical constituents such as lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100), β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and aspartate amino transferase (AST). Based on blood BHBA at day 0, DA cows were classified into three categories; DA only (

The aim of this study was to characterize peripartum metabolic profiles, including the insulin sensitivity index, in cows diagnosed with subclinical ketosis (SCK) in the early stage of lactation. Cows that calved from January 2011 through December 2014 on a dairy farm with alarm level prevalence of SCK in Hokkaido, Japan (L’objectif de la présente étude était de caractériser les profils métaboliques péri-partum, incluant l’index de sensibilité à l’insuline, chez des vaches avec un diagnostic d’acétonémie subclinique (ASC) tôt en début de lactation. Les vaches qui ont mis bas entre janvier 2011 et décembre 2014 sur une ferme laitière avec une prévalence d’ASC à un degré d’alarme à Hokkaido, Japon (n = 175) ont été utilisées. Du sang et les pointages de condition corporelle (PCC) ont été obtenus au moment d’examens de santé réguliers lors de deux périodes consécutives, la première entre 14 et 2 j avant la parturition, et la seconde entre 3 et 14 j après la parturition. Les animaux ont été divisés en trois groupes lors de l’échantillonnage post-partum : un groupe ASC avec 35 vaches pluripares et 15 vaches primipares ayant des concentrations de β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) ≥ 1,2 mM sans signe clinique, un groupe malade avec 36 vaches pluripares et 9 vaches primipares qui ont reçu un traitement entre le moment de la parturition et la prise d’échantillon post-partum, et un groupe témoin composé de 49 vaches multipares et 31 vaches primipares avec des concentrations de BHA1,2 mM. L’indice quantitatif de sensibilité à l’insuline révisé pré-partum était significativement plus bas dans les groupes de vaches multipares ASC et vaches malades que dans le groupe témoin, démontrant ainsi une diminution de la sensibilité à l’insuline chez ces vaches mais pas chez les vaches primipares. L’ASC pré-partum était significativement plus élevé seulement dans les groupes ASC multipares et malade. La concentration pré-partum d’apolipoprotéine B-100 (ApoB-100) était significativement diminuée chez les vaches multipares du groupe malade, suggérant une lipidose hépatique. Inversement, les vaches primipares avaient une concentration plus élevée d’ApoB-100. La sensibilité à l’insuline diminuée en pré-partum chez les vaches ASC multipares et vaches malades était considérée pour faciliter la progression d’ASC à la suite de la mise-bas.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

This study aimed to identify the diagnostic characteristics associated with poor prognosis and mortality in dairy cows with acute clinical Escherichia coli mastitis. On 17 dairy farms, 24 dairy cows with acute E. coli mastitis that had received therapeutic treatment were categorized into 2 groups by outcome: 17 cows that recovered (survivors) and 7 cows that died or were euthanized (non-survivors). Two days after onset of acute E. coli mastitis, dysstasia was observed in non-survivors, but not in survivors. Compared with survivors, significantly increased hematocrit (HCT) values and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations, and significantly decreased antithrombin activity and platelet counts were found in non-survivors on days 2 and 3 after therapy. Dysstasia, associated with decreased antithrombin activity and platelet counts, and with increased HCT and NEFA concentrations, was considered to be the major prognostic indicator associated with high mortality after therapeutic treatment in acute E. coli mastitis.

We formulated a species distribution model (SDM) for the amphidromous fish Sicyopterus japonicus on the basis of presence/absence data and confirmed its performance at various population densities. The best-fit SDM selected several environmental factors, including water depth and velocity, and performed validated prediction of presence/absence of various densities. The predicted probability of occurrence was positively correlated with the observed density. The density was positively related to habitat occupancy, suggesting that this species occupied a wide range of habitats under high densities, but only optimal habitat under low densities. Therefore, the threshold value for predicting presence/absence increased with decreasing densities.

In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of isoprothiolane in preventing fatty liver in dairy cows. Eight pregnant Holstein cows with high body condition scores were studied. Four cows were administered isoprothiolane via feed at 10 g/day/head from 21 days before delivery (treated group), while the remaining four cows received no treatment (non-treated group). Liver samples from both groups were obtained 21 days before delivery and 2 days following delivery. No accumulation of lipid droplets in hepatocytes was observed in any cows prior to delivery. Following delivery, the accumulation of lipid droplets in hepatocytes was significantly reduced in the treated group compared to the non-treated group. The number of mitochondria per unit area was also significantly smaller in the treated group than in the non-treated group. Blood and biochemical test results from cows in the treated group showed an increase in mGOT levels and stable intrahepatic ATP production. These results suggest that isoprothiolane treatment intensified beta-oxidation in liver mitochondria, thereby activating the TCA cycle and maintaining intrahepatic ATP production.

The objective of the present study was to analyse the apoptotic process of liver cells in dairy cows with fatty infiltration of the liver using indicators of DNA damage and immunohistochemistry. For this purpose, sixteen dairy cows with fatty liver were examined. On clinical examination, the physical condition of the animals was fair in nine and poor in seven cows. The most dominant clinical signs were reduced ruminal motility, inappetance and/or anorexia and recumbency. Postmortem examination, in seven cases, revealed enlarged liver (18-33 kg), icteric carcasses and distended gallbladder. Laboratory results included neutrophilia, hypochloraemia, decreased concentrations of total bilirubin and increased concentrations of β-hydroxy butyric acid, non-esterified fatty acids and insulin. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were high. Histopathological examination of hepatic specimen showed lipid drops in cytosol with indistinct cellular membranes. In control hepatic cells, the DNA was tightly compressed and maintained the circular disposition of the normal nucleus. However, in the diseased cows, the damaged DNA migrated from the core toward the anode, forming a tail of a comet. Compared to controls, numerous ssDNA and caspase-3-positive cells were detected in the liver. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to document accelerated apoptosis of hepatocytes in dairy cows with fatty infiltration of the liver.

The Kuroshio Current transports various marine organisms, including tropical and subtropical fishes, from the southern regions to the northern Pacific coast of Japan (Senou et al. 2006; Matsuura 2012). The demersal fishes, including brackish water gobies, are transported during the pelagic larval phase (Senou et al. 2006; Maeda et al. 2007; Matsuura 2012). However, the path of the current shows various changes along the Japanese archipelago at various time periods, from days to decades (Kawabe 1995; Yamashiro and Kawabe 1996; Nagano and Kawabe 2004). Thus, it is possible that the path changes of the Kuroshio Current influence the presence/absence of fishes along the coastal areas of the archipelago. In this study, we examined the relationships between the path of the Kuroshio Current and the presence of several gobies by conducting a decadelong monitoring of the northeastern region of the Kyushu Island (Fig. 1a). Data on the presence/absence of fishes were collected from 1999 to 2011 in the brackish water area of the Kita River, Gokase River system, located at the northeastern region of the Kyushu Island and flowing into the Nobeoka Bay (Fig. 1b). Monitoring was conducted in an artificial backwater zone, ‘‘Wando-pool,’’ located approximately 4 km upstream of the river mouth (Nakajima et al. 2008). Since many gobioid species were shown to inhabit the artificial backwater zone in our previous study (Eguchi et al. 2008), we selected gobies as the target species for analysis. The survey was conducted 2–5 times each year, and annual surveys were conducted during July and November in 2002, 2004, and 2007–2011. Therefore, for this analysis, we used only the data collected from July to November. The surveys in 2000 and 2003 were excluded from this analysis because no data were collected in these months during both years. Most individuals collected during the surveys were estimated to be of the age class 0, because we used a small seine net with 1.5-mm mesh size, which is often used to capture juveniles and immature fishes. Because the sampling site had brackish water during all tides (Nakajima et al. 2008), we analyzed 24 gobioid species (see Table 1) whose adults and juveniles inhabited brackish water areas (Eguchi et al. 2008). Data on the Kuroshio axis were gathered from a public database (Japan Meteorological Agency 2011). Using analysis maps of the current axis on the 20th of every month, we measured the shortest distance from the Nobeoka Bay to the axis (Fig. 1a). Because we did not estimate the length of stay of the gobies since their arrival from the southern regions, we prepared two data sets with different periods: one covering each survey month up to a year ago (12 months) and the other covering each survey month up to half a year ago (6 months). In addition, location of the current axis indicated irregular changes (Fig. 1c). Therefore, we prepared average and minimum distances for each period. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (Metz 1978) was generated to illustrate the relationship between the presence/absence of each goby species and the current path of the Kuroshio Current. The presence/absence of N. Onikura (&) S. Oikawa Fishery Research Laboratory, Kyushu University, 4-46-24 Tsuyazaki, Fukutsu, Fukuoka 811-3304, Japan e-mail: onikura@agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp

The objective of the present study was to analyze the apoptotic process in peripheral blood mono - nuclear cells (PBMC) and polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMN) in cows clinically affected with lym - phosarcoma. Thirteen cows were studied. Of them, eight, that were referred because of inappetance, loss of body condition, diarrhoea, constipation, protrusion of third eyelid, and exophthalmia, were seropositive for bovine leukemia virus (BLV) based on a serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Other animals were apparently healthy and were used as controls. DNA damage of PBMC and PMN was assessed using the Comet assay. The results obtained showed a statistically significant difference in DNA damage between the PBMC and PMN iso

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate cattle and buffaloes with respiratory disorders, determine the extent of the lesions, and assess prognosis. The results were compared with the findings determined following physical examination and at slaughter. Animals were referred to Veterinary Teaching Hospitals because of inappetance, loss of body condition, cough, dyspnea, and nasal discharges. Ultrasonographically, it was possible to detect bronchopneumonia, consolidation, pleural effusion, pulmonary emphysema, and pleuritis. It was not possible to visualize lesions located deeper within the lungs where peripheral tissue was not affected. Laboratory findings included a neutrophilic leukocytosis, γ-globulinemia, and increased activity of aspartate aminotransferase. A diagnosis of respiratory disease was made on the basis of clinical and ultrasonographic findings and confirmed in 25 cases at slaughter. Bovine ultrasonography appears to be suitable as a screening tool for detection of pathologic lung processes near the pleura. Thoracic ultrasonography allows assessment of the extent and severity of pulmonary changes so that further evaluations can be considered.

We aim to understand the relationships between physical conditions and characteristics of the immature-fish community in surf zones of sandy beaches. Therefore, we obtained fish samples between March 2007 and February 2008 and analyzed certain physical conditions in the surf zones of 21 sandy beaches on the coastline of the northwestern Kyushu Island, Japan. We collected a total of 83 species and 6458 immature individuals. In a BIO-ENV analysis, the highest correlation was observed between fish assemblage and S20 (i.e., the slope from the shoreline to the sites where the depth was 20 m) and current velocity (CV) values. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the number of species and individuals decrease with an increase in the S20 and CV values. These results show that species richness and the abundance of immature-fish increase under shelving and calm conditions. Thus, immature-fish assemblages are strongly influenced by the prevailing physical conditions. Moreover, in six of the 10 dominant species, a negative correlation was observed between CV and abundance. On the other hand, S20 was found to be the explanatory variable only in the case of the most dominant species, i.e., Gymnogobius breunigii. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between S1 (i.e., the slope from the shoreline to the sites where the depth was 1.0 m at the mean tidal level) and median particle size (i.e., MPS of the sediments) and the abundances of Sillago japonica and Favonigobius gymnauchen, respectively, and a negative correlation with salinity, in the case of Acanthogobius lactipes. We conclude that the characteristics of the fish community in surf zones on sandy beaches are determined by not only the shelving and calm conditions, which influence fish assemblages and abundances, but also the habitat diversity, which influences the diversity of fish species.

We examined the spawning sites of several gobiid fishes in the subtidal zone of a small temperate estuary and determined the relationship of the nest abundance of each species with several environmental conditions, including water temperature, salinity, median particle size, proportion of silt and clay, current width, maximum water depth, distance from each site to the river mouth, and density of objects (boulders, cobbles, empty oyster shells, and empty clam shells) in the water. During this study, we found 115 nests belonging to the following six species: Favonigobius gymnauchen, Tridentiger obscurus, Leucopsarion petersii, Acanthogobius lactipes, Rhinogobius giurinus, and Tridentiger trigonocephalus. Stepwise multiple regression analysis, which was used to determine the best model for the nest abundance of all species, revealed that the nest abundance of each species clearly increased with an increase in the density of spawning substrates, such as cobbles and bivalve shells. These results show that the density of spawning substrates is a crucial factor affecting the selection of spawning habitats by each species.

Concentrations of serum lipid components, lipid peroxide (LPO) and alpha-tocopherol and electrophoretic patterns of lipoproteins in serum samples obtained from captive marine mammals and terrestrial mammals were compared. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, free fatty acid, and phospholipid in fish-eating animals were significantly higher than those in manatees and cows. Serum LPO and alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the fish-eating animals were also significantly higher than those in manatees, cows and dogs. Different patterns of densitometric scans of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and a significantly lower percentage of LDL were demonstrated in the dolphins compared with the seals, cow and dogs. The concentration of LPO was significantly correlated with triglyceride and phospholipid concentrations in serum from the dolphins. These results suggest that triglyceride and phospholipid are susceptible to oxidative reaction in fish-eating animals. Evaluation of serum lipids, LPO and alpha-tocopherol concentrations is needed for nutritional husbandry for fish-eating animals.

Habitat selection of the pike gudgeon Pseudogobio esocinus esocinus (Cyprinidae) was examined in the Nakagawa River in northern Kyushu, Japan. The study area was 80 m long with two meanders comprising three riffles and two pools, located 20 km upstream from the river mouth. The pike gudgeon were visually counted underwater. Larvae and juveniles were observed in the shallow and slow-flowing water near the shores. Simultaneously, young and adult individuals were observed to inhabit the river bed. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were applied to estimate the microhabitat selections of the larvae, juveniles and other individuals by using four variables (water depth, current velocity, particle size of substrate and amount of organic matter). The larvae and juveniles inhabited the shallow (

From 2002 to 2006, the fish fauna associated with sea weeds drifting in the Chikuzen Sea, northern Kyushu, Japan, was examined. The total numbers of species and individuals collected were 51 and 5475, respectively. The five dominant species, accounting for approximately 80% of the total individuals, were Rudarius ercodes, Stephanolepis cirrhifer, Petroscirtes breviceps, Sebastes thompsoni and Paramonacanthus japonicus. The number of species and individuals increased significantly with the increase in water temperature, reaching maxima during early summer and autumn, respectively. Combining the present and previous data (∼50 years ago), the appearance patterns of the fishes associated with drifting sea weed were classified into the following four types: (i) long periods (continuously for 3 months or more) and autumn (LA); (ii) spring (SP); (iii) summer (SU); and (iv) rare (R). In more than half of the species, there were no changes in the appearance patterns between the present and previous studies. However, in the present study, the appearance patterns of several species changed from LA to R (Oplegnathus punctatus and Kyphosus cinerascens) and from R to LA and SU (Abudefduf vaigiensis and Hyperoglyphe japonica, respectively).

Body size is one of the most important axes to understand a large biodiversity. An amazing diversity in body mass of lives ranges over about 21 orders of magnitude, from a tiny bacteria such as Mycoplasma weighing 10-13g to a giant Sequoia tree weighing 109g. As a consequence of this variation, nearly all the structures and functions of organisms are constrained with body size, from the molecular, cellular and whole-organism levels to the ecological and evolutionary dynamics. These relationships are well described by the allometric equation. In this note, we introduce backgrounds to focus on some important correlates and consequences of body size, in particular on energy metabolism at the level of individual organism. Metabolism of an individual organism reflects the energy and material transformations that are used for both the maintenance of existing structure and the production of new biomass. Although body size is a primary determinant for metabolic rates, metabolism-body size relationships, in particular within species, i.e., the ontogenetic changes of metabolism with growth have not been well established in many species. The metabolic scaling in biology still keeps an intriguing and enduring problems.

The presence and populations of freshwater fishes and the revetment conditions in creeks were investigated at 48 sampling sites around the Sea of Ariake in northwestern Kyushu, Japan. Each creek studied in this survey was classified into one of the three following types in terms of revetment conditions: Type-1, the creeks have earthen revetments except when crossing roads; Type-2, although there are concrete revetments in the creeks, these revetments are short, and agricultural water flows over the revetments and reaches bank vegetations or earthen banks except during the agricultural off-season; Type-3, there are high concrete revetments around the creeks, and agricultural water does not flow over the revetments during any season. The amount of Hemigrammocypris rasborella present was affected by the revetment conditions, and the amount present in Type-3 was significantly lower than those in Type-1 and Type-2. The populations of H. rasborella, Rhodeus ocellatus kurumeus, and Pseudorasbora parva were affected by the revetment conditions. For H. rasborella and R. ocellatus kurumeus, the populations in Type-3 were significantly lower than those in Type-1 and Type-2. For P. parva, the population in Type-3 was significantly lower than that in Type-1.

"Persistence" is needed for facilities that lied on the coast, since the coastal areas of Tohoku have been extensive damaged by the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Mw9.0). For existing gravity-type breakwaters, the authors propose a new reinforcement method in which a steel pipe pile wall is placed behind a caisson and the space between the caisson and wall is filled with rubble. By the laterally loading experiment, the proposed method shows the persistent feature that the resistance increases with increasing caisson displacement. Next, analyzing FEM simulation for the experiment, it is discussed how the force of the tsunami is transferred from a caisson to a seabed layer by steel pipe pile wall and filling. This is unique point because the proposed method can utilize the soil resistance of the seabed layer, and this is the reason that the proposed method can show persistence.

Hyperlipemia in horses is a disorder of lipid metabolism peculiar to ponies. This study reports changes of blood biochemical values from the acute to the postconvalescent phases in 3 Shetland ponies with hyperlipemia in Japan. Diseased ponies (all 7 to 9 years old, in late pregnancy, and obese) were fed in the same farm. The periods of their hospitalizations ranged from 30 to 45 days. Twelve well-conditioned ponies (3 to 13 years old) around parturition were used to establish baseline values for blood test results. Main clinical findings in the affected ponies were depression, dysphagia, anorexia, ventral edema and milky-appearing plasma. Hypertriglyceridemia (40- to 70-fold rise of controls) was found in the acute phase of the disease in the affected ponies, and was derived from increased very-low density lipoproteins. Aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinin concentrations were increased in acute ponies compared to controls, suggesting impairment of liver and kidney functions. However, these values gradually recovered until the end of postconvalescent phase. Hyperinsulinemia was observed in the acute phase of the hyperlipemia of all affected ponies. And an exaggerated insulin response to intravenous glucose was observed in the 2 ponies given intravenous glucose tolerance tests. These findings suggest decreased insulin sensitivity in hyperlipemic ponies.