We experimentally examined whether the sub-group of female cattle could be separated from its large group and be guided differently by each of two kinds of music. Six Japanese Black breeding female ...cattle divided into two groups (three animals each), were trained to be guided by the one of two different music using concentrate feed as reward. As a result, auditory guidance was conducted successfully under the both training conditions : 1) each group was trained independently, and 2) two groups were mixed and trained together using each different correct answer corresponding to each of two different music. At the latter condition, however, many trials (140-240 trial) was needed for its success, and the interruption of the subordinate's access to feed bunk by the dominant was observed. The further research on auditory discrimination guidance such as using negative reinforcement seems to be necessary for applying the result to practical situations.
Planetary rovers play a significant role in surface explorations on the Moon and/or Mars. However, because of wheel slippage, the wheels of planetary rovers can get stuck in loose soil, and the ...exploration mission may fail because of this situation. To avoid slippage and increase the wheels' drawbar pull, the wheels of planetary rovers typically have parallel fins called lugs on their surface. In this study, we conducted experiments using two-wheeled testbeds in a sandbox to provide a quantitative confirmation of the influence of lugs on the traversability of planetary rovers. In this paper, we report the results of the experiments, and discuss the influence of lugs on the traversability of planetary rovers.
The species composition of the small mammal fauna in pastures and its relationship with pasture characteristics were investigated in the northern part of Tochigi, Japan. Small mammals were captured ...using the Sherman trap in the spring, summer, and autumn of 2001. Sixty-seven animals of 6 species (Apademua speciosus, Micromys minutus, Microtus montebelli, Crocidura dsinezumi, Urotrichus talpoides, and A. argenteus) and 466 animals of 6 species were caught at pastures and woodlands. The number of captured animals in woodlands was seven times larger than that in pastures. Species richness is high in tall-grass pastures and shows significantly negative correlations with grazing intensity. In order to raise livestock in pastures while sustaining high species richness of small mammal fauna, it is important that grazing management is designed in consideration of the woodland-pasture combination and tall-grass type pasture maintained by partial grazing regulations.
To examine the long-term effect of intense physical training on exercise capacity of patients with myocardial infarction(MI), multiphasic treadmill stress test(MTST) with modified Bruce protocol was ...performed repeatedly in 10 patients with training(Ex) and in 6 without training(C). In C, heart rate(HR), systolic blood pressure(SBP), or pressure rate product (PRP: HR X SBP/10(-2)) at any stage of MTST was unchanged for 3 years after MI. In Ex, these indices were unchanged at rest, but at stage 4 of MTST decreased significantly as follows: HR 119 +/- 20.4 to 108.6 +/- 16.0/min(p less than 0.05), SBP 151.6 +/- 24.0 to 137.0 +/- 17.5 mmHg(p less than 0.05), PRP 181.9 +/- 49.5 to 153.3 +/- 29.7(p less than 0.05). These indices at maximal exercise increased significantly after one year of training. One year of training in asymptomatic patients with MI reduced of myocardial oxygen consumption index during exercise at given work rate and increased maximal exercise capacity. With continued training these beneficial effects can be maintained for additional 2 years.
An experiment to study the relation between rumen temperature and grazing behavior was conducted using three rumen-fistulated Holstein steers numbered 706, 708, and 709. These animals were grazed in ...a 1-ha pasture in which orchardgrass was dominant. For the thermometry, a data logger with a thermistor sensor was used. The average rumen temperature was 38.7degC (min. 33.1degC-max. 39.2degC) in No. 706 ;38.8degC (min. 34.2degC-max. 39.3degC) in No. 708;and 38.6degC (min. 32.6degC-max39.2degC) in No. 709. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between the average rumen
It is known that the strength of FRP laminates decreases due to the delamination caused by impact loading. Although a CAI (=Compression After Impact) test is often performed to evaluate the impact ...damage of FRP laminates, it requires a relatively large-sized test specimen and a complicated test jig. The objective of the present study is to search a simple method alternative to the CAI test for evaluating impact damage of FRP laminates. For this purpose, we measured the interlaminar shearing strength (=ILSS) by means of a short beam three-point bending test and the bending strength by means of a conventional three-point bending test after impact damage is given to three kinds of FRPs using an air gun type test apparatus. The test results show that a short beam three-point bending test after impact is a promising method for evaluating the impact damage of FRP laminates.
Chronic toxicity of clobetasone-17-butyrate, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, was investigated in rats. Subcutaneous administration with the drug at dose of 0.003, 0.0l and 0.03 mg/kg/day for ...three and six months induced no significant changes in the rats. At 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg/day, however, some dose-dependent symptoms such as suppression of body weight gain, emaciation, regressive changes in adrenals, lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues, decrease in circulating white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, which have been known as toxic effects of synthetic corticosteroids, were induced. The results indicates that the maximum non-toxic dose of clobetasone -17 butyrate was 0.03 mg/kg/day on this experimental condition. In the recovery test for two months no significant differences in the treated rats from controls were found, suggesting that the toxic effects were reversible in the animals treated at 0.3 mg/kg/day and lower than that.
Acute and subacute toxicities of clobetasone-17-butyrate, a new anti-inflammatory corticosteriod, were studied in mice and rats. In the acute toxicity tests intraperitoneal LD50 values of the drug ...were estimated to be around 5 g/kg for both sexes of mice, 1.51 g/kg for male and 1.66g/kg for female rats. Subcutaneous and oral administration induced no fatal cases at dose of 3.6 (mice, s.c.), 2.6 (rats, s.c.) and 6.0 g/kg (mice and rats, p.o.). As for the toxic signs in both mice and rats after the i.p. and s.c. administrations, emaciation was marked, and atrophy of thymus, spleen and adrenals were observed. No marked symptoms, however, were induced in animals administered orally. In the subacute toxicity tests male and female rats were subcutaneously administered with the drug at daily, doses of 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 1.0, 10 and 100 mg/kg for one month. Dose dependent symptoms such as suppression in body weight, gain, emaciation, regressive changes in adrenal, lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues, decrease in circulating white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, and increase in total cholesterol level of serum were induced in the rats administered at 0.1 mg/kg/day and more than that, indicating that the maximum nontoxic dose in this experimental condition was 0.03 mg/kg/day. In recovery tests it was observed that the rats, which had been administered with the drug at 1.0 mg/kg/day for one month, were almost normal two months after the final administration.
The spontaneously occurring pulmonary foam cells were detected in 97 of 989 Fischer 344 rats of both sexes ranging in age from 13 to 150 weeks. The cells were first detected in the lungs of 52 weeks ...old rats. An increase in number of the lungs with foam cells and degrees of pulmonary accumulation of the cells were associated with age, the highest incidence (28.8%) being observed in rats over 120 weeks of age. The foam cells, being most frequent in the alveoli, were generally round and had an abundant, foamy cytoplasm and a relatively small nucleus. The cells contained various lipids in their cytoplasm. The plasma cholesterol levels increased with advancing age, seemingly correlated with the incidence of the pulmonary foam cells.
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