An all-solid-state battery (ASSB) with a new structure based on glass-ceramic that forms Na
FeP
O
(NFP) crystals, which functions as an active cathode material, is fabricated by integrating it with a ...β″-alumina solid electrolyte. Two important factors that influence the rate capability of this ASSB were optimised. First, the particle size of the precursor glass powder from which the NFP crystals are formed was decreased. Consequently, the onset temperature of crystallisation shifts to a lower temperature, which enables the softening of NFP crystals and their integration with β″-alumina at a low temperature, without the interdiffusion of different crystal phases or atoms. Second, the interface between the β″-alumina solid electrolyte and cathode active materials which consisted of the NFP-crystallised glass and acetylene black used as a conductive additive, is increased to increase the insertion/release of ions and electrons from the active material during charge/discharge processes. Thus, the internal resistance of the battery is reduced considerably to 120 Ω. Thus, an ASSB capable of rapid charge/discharge that can operate not only at room temperature (30 °C) but also at -20 °C is obtained. This technology is an innovative breakthrough in oxide-based ASSBs, considering that the internal resistance of liquid electrolyte-based Li-ion batteries and sulphide-based ASSBs is ~10 Ω.
The shape of the white line of the hoof is closely related to the shape of the notch on the dorsal distal bearing border of the distal phalanx (P3). In this study, a radiographic survey of the P3 of ...both forelimbs of 163 Thoroughbred yearling horses was conducted. The correlation of the depth and width of the notch were analyzed with the toe white line separation grades (0 to 3). As a result, the toe white line separation grade increased, the depth and the width of the notch also increased significantly. Radiographic examination of the P3 of the forelimbs might be useful for deciding whether to implement hoof care to prevent onset of toe white line separation.
Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), a common cause of cervical spinal cord compression, is a neurological disease characterized by general proprioceptive ataxia and weakness of hindlimbs ...that tends to develop in young adult Thoroughbred horses. Although male horses seem to be at increased risk for CVSM, the mechanism for the occurrence of sex differences in the prevalence of CVSM is still poorly understood. Hence, we hypothesized that sex differences in the development of cervical spinal cord and spinal canal would affect the development of CVSM. This study aimed to evaluate sex differences in the development of cervical spinal cord and spinal canal in Thoroughbred horses. A total of 29 Thoroughbred horses underwent computed tomographic myelography. Thereafter, the volumes of cervical spinal cord and spinal canal were calculated. Accordingly, male horses had significantly lager cervical spinal cord volume and cervical spinal cord-to-spinal canal volume ratio than those of female horses (P<0.05). Sex differences in the cervical spinal cord-to-spinal canal volume ratio gradually decreased until around 1,400 days of age. Younger male horses have narrower interspace between the cervical spinal cord and spinal canal than younger female horses, suggesting that an imbalanced cervical spinal cord and spinal canal growth is one of the causes of CVSM.
Abstract
Anthropogenic marine debris is a threat to marine organisms. Understanding how this debris spatially distributes at sea and may become associated with marine wildlife are key steps to tackle ...this current issue. Using bird-borne GPS- and video-loggers on 13 black-footed albatrosses
Phoebastria nigripes
breeding in Torishima, Japan, we examined the distribution of large floating debris in the Kuroshio Current area, western North Pacific. A total of 16 floating debris, including styrofoam (n = 4), plastic pieces (n = 3), plastic sheet (n = 1), fishery-related items (rope or netting, n = 4), and unidentified debris (n = 4), were recorded across the 9003 km covered by nine birds. The debris was concentrated in the southern area of the Kuroshio Current, where the surface current was weak, and the albatrosses were foraging. The albatrosses displayed changes in flight direction towards the debris when at a mean distance of 4.9 km, similarly to when approaching prey, and one bird was observed pecking at a plastic sheet; indicating that albatrosses actively interacted with the debris. This paper shows the usefulness of studying wide-ranging marine predators through the use of combined biologging tools, and highlights areas with increased risk of debris exposure and behavioral responses to debris items.
The demand for broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) is increasing for use as fresh produce and for use in the processing industry. Therefore, growth prediction technology is required for its ...stable production. In this study, several cultivations of experiments were conducted to clarify the critical characteristics of the parameters needed to predict the growth of broccoli in a dry matter production model. The extinction coefficient was determined based on the leaf area index and intercepted solar radiation rate. Radiation-use efficiency was demonstrated using a linear function of the accumulated solar radiation intercepted amount and the total dry weight above-ground. The distribution of dry matter to the head and stem was indicated by the sigmoid function of the accumulated average temperature. The dry matter percentage of the leaf, dry matter percentage of the head and stem, and the ratio of leaf area to the fresh weight of the leaf were represented by a power function with dry weight above-ground. The fresh weight above-ground (R2 = 0.92) and the fresh weight of the head and stem (R2 = 0.98) were highly correlated with the estimated and observed values. Verification was performed using the developed growth model. As a result, the error between the harvest date and the predicted harvest date could be forecasted to within 4 days and the error in the fresh weight of the head could be predicted with an accuracy of −0.3 ~ +7.7 g·plant−1.
This study investigated age-related radiographic changes in the distal parts of the forelimbs by radiographic evaluation and identified the radiographic changes associated with diseases specific to ...foals. The hoof angle (HA), distal phalanx angle (P3A), distal phalanx palmer angle (P3PA), distal interphalangeal joint angle (DIPJA), and metacarpophalangeal joint angle (MPJA) on lateromedial radiographs of forelimbs were measured on the day after birth (Day 1); at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age; and then at monthly intervals until 12 months of age. HA and P3A significantly increased from 1 day to 4 weeks and 4 weeks to 3 months of age. The P3PA increased dramatically from 1 day to 1 week, 1 week to 2 weeks, and 2 weeks to 8 weeks of age, and then decreased after 3 months of age. DIPJA significantly decreased from 1 day to 2 weeks of age before increasing from 3 to 5 months of age. MPJA increased with age until 4 weeks, slightly decreased from 2 to 4 months of age, and then gradually decreased from 4 to 6 months of age. The findings indicate that foals’ forelimbs typically show flexion of the fetlock and a broken backward hoof–pastern axis just after birth, an upright fetlock until 4 months of age, and a change to a mature conformation after 6 months of age. Physiological variants were correlated with the occurrence of common foal diseases during the radiographic evaluation periods.
•Daily intake levels of total and inorganic As, Pb and Al of the Japanese were estimated based on dulicated diet data.•Inter-individual variation in the daily intake levels by gender, age grade, ...districts, and type of community.•Daily intake of total As varied according to age grade, districts and types of community, probably reflecting fish and seaweed consumption.•Variation in daily intakes due to gender was confounded by food consumption amount.
Daily intakes of total (TAs) and inorganic arsenic (iAs), lead (Pb) and aluminum (Al) of the Japanese were estimated by the analysis of duplicated diet samples. The samples were collected for 3 consecutive days from 319 subjects (total number: 949) living in Japan during 2006–2010 by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. TAs, Pb and Al concentrations in duplicated diet samples, determined by ICP mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) preceded by a microwave acid digestion, and iAs was by liquid chromatography-ICP-MS preceded by an acidic extraction, were used for this study. Median 3-days average intake was calculated to be 2.31, 0.260, 0.0928, and 41.1 μg/kg/day, for TAs, iAs, Pb and Al, respectively (138, 15.3, 5.40, and 2363 μg/person/day). The daily intake levels were found to vary according to subjects’ gender (TAs, Pb, and Al), but this was explained by variation in the amount of daily food consumption. Daily TAs intake was found to vary with age grade, districts where community is located and types (urban/farming/fishing) of community, probably reflecting fish/seaweed consumption.
Background
Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is an endocrine disorder the clinical signs of which include infertility, but few reports have examined the relationship between PPID and ...reproductive performance in broodmares.
Hypothesis/Objective
Broodmares with infertility of unknown etiology were screened for PPID using baseline endogenous plasma ACTH concentrations, and its relationship with subsequent reproductive performance was analyzed.
Animals
Sixty‐seven Thoroughbred broodmares.
Methods
Adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations were measured in autumn. The broodmares were divided into 3 groups based on endogenous plasma ACTH concentration (low, <50 pg/mL; intermediate 50‐100 pg/mL; and high >100 pg/mL) as recommended by the Equine Endocrinology Group. We compared these results with those of other blood tests, clinical examinations, subsequent conception, and frequency of normal delivery.
Results
The numbers of horses per group (percentage) were 22 (32.8%), 20 (29.9%), and 25 (37.3%). The mean ± SD ages (years) were 11.1 ± 3.4, 12.1 ± 4.5, and 13.0 ± 4.3, with no significant difference among groups. Mean ± SD plasma cortisol concentrations (μg/dL) were 4.0 ± 1.6, 7.1 ± 1.4, and 7.6 ± 1.9, with the intermediate and high ACTH groups having significantly higher results than the low ACTH group (P < .001). Conception rates were 77.3%, 89.5%, and 56.5% and normal delivery rates were 77.2%, 84.2%, and 43.5% with the percentage of each significantly lower in the high ACTH group (P = .02, P = .008, respectively).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
The study group of infertile broodmares may include horses with PPID. The reproductive performance of the high ACTH group was significantly lower than the other groups. Early diagnosis and treatment of infertile broodmares by screening plasma ACTH concentrations could help improve reproductive performance.
Thoroughbred horses appear to be particularly predisposed to cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), also known as wobbler syndrome. We hypothesized that variations in the cervical vertebral ...volumes can affect the dynamic instability of the cervical vertebrae. This observational study aimed to clarify whether cervical vertebral volume could be considered as a contributing factor in CVSM in Thoroughbred horses. Computed tomography (CT) was used to investigate a total of 21 male Thoroughbred horses (age range, 217–1,002 days; mean, 542.3 days). The study population comprised 17 CVSM horses (age range, 217–1,002 days; mean, 549.8 days) and 4 non-CVSM horses (age range, 244–682 days; mean, 510.5 days). The cervical vertebral volumes of three-dimensional CT were measured using the image-processing software. A significant difference in the variation of cervical vertebral volumes among C2 to C4 and C3 to C5 was identified in the CVSM group (P<0.05). While no significant differences were found in the variation in cervical vertebral volumes among C4 to C6. C3 demonstrated a significantly smaller cervical vertebral volume than C2 and C4 (P<0.05). In the non-CVSM group, no significant differences were found in the variation of cervical vertebral volume among C2 to C4, C3 to C5, and C4 to C6. Our findings suggest that variations in cranial cervical vertebral volume in CVSM male horses can be considered as an important contributing factor in CVSM development.
PDF
