The aim of this study was to identify the metabolic changes that have occurred in Holstein-Friesian cows in Japan over the past 2 decades, based on long-term metabolic profiles. From 1987 to 2004, ...metabolic profile tests were conducted in 1,700 dairy herds containing ~50,000 cows. The cows were divided into 5 lactation stage groups: early (calving to 49 d in milk, DIM), peak (50–109 DIM), mid (110–209 DIM), and late (210 to dry-off) lactation and the dry period. Principal component analysis was applied to the metabolic profiles at each lactation stage separately to investigate changes in metabolic profiles across the multiyear periods 1987–1992, 1993–1998, and 1999–2004. We determined that cows have probably experienced increasing negative energy balance, energy deficiency, and liver dysfunction during the past 2 decades in Japan.
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) with its high glass transition temperature, low friction coefficient, high heat resistance and good machinability is a promising material to meet the growing demand for ...lightweight, durable components.
In this study, radial PEEK bearings were produced by lathe machining and their rolling contact fatigue behavior under dry condition was investigated. Under low (<80N) and high (>100N) radial loads PEEK bearings failed under 5×105 cycles by adhesion and seizure, respectively, however under medium loads, the bearings achieved relatively long lives, as well as a unique feature of self-lubrication. An optimum load range to assure the longest possible service life of PEEK components was established.
► For this research we produced PEEK (polyether ether ketone) polymer radial bearing by lathe machining. ► We performed rolling contact fatigue tests under dry conditions. ► We found that PEEK self-lubrication occurs during bearing work in contact with alumina balls. ► PEEK bearings achieved long bearing life through self-lubrication. ► We managed to determine the optimal load range for PEEK polymer radial bearing work.
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease and is associated with the cancer stem cell (CSC), basal-like, and BRCA1 function deficient (BRCAness) subtypes. We examined these 3 ...subtypes in TNBC and compared their chemosensitivity against anthracycline or taxane with a special attention to BRCAness.
Sixty-six TNBC cases were obtained from a randomized phase II trial comparing TCx6 (TC6) with FEC-Docetaxel (FEC-D) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The core needle specimens before chemotherapy were used for subtyping. The basal-like and CSC subtypes were identified by immunohistochemistry; CK5/6 and EGFR staining for the basal-like subtype and ALDH1 staining for the CSC subtype. The BRCAness subtype was examined by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA). Correlations between subgroups and pCR rates according to each regimen and subtype were examined.
The basal-like and BRCAness subtypes were significantly associated (p = 0.010) with the other subtypes, but not the CSC subtype. The pCR rates were higher with FEC-D than with TC6 in the basal-like (54.5% vs 14.3%, p = 0.081) and BRCAness (56.2% vs 16.7%, p = 0.030) subtypes. Both were not effective in the CSC subtype (18.2% vs 11.8%, p = 1.00).
BRCAness identified by MLPA was practically useful for treatment selection for avoiding taxane. ALDH1 may be considered as a marker for the CSC subtype requiring novel agents.
This study was conducted to estimate the effects of kisspeptin-10 on blood concentrations of LH and GH in prepubertal dairy heifers. Heifers received a single injection of 1 mg kisspeptin-10 (n=5) or ...saline (n=5) intravenously, and serial blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals to analyze the response curves of both LH and GH after injection. Peak-shaped responses were observed for concentrations of LH and GH, and the peaks were observed at 27+/-3 and 75+/-9 min, respectively, after injection, only in heifers injected with kisspeptin-10. These data suggest various possible important links among kisspeptin, the reproductive axis, and also the somatotropic axis in prepubertal Holstein heifers.
Tests were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of collagen peptides in the hydrolysate of sea bream scales on the activity of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE, EC3.4.15.1). The scales ...were hydrolyzed using an alkaline protease treatment by which 92% of the peptides were degraded to form hydrolysate. The 50% inhibitory concentration of the peptides was as high as 0.57 mg ml
−1. In addition, using spontaneously hypertensive rats, oral administration of 300 mg of the peptides (kg of body weight)
−1 d
−1 was shown to decrease blood pressure significantly (
P<0.05). Four peptides that demonstrated high ACE inhibitory activities were isolated from the hydrolysate of the scales using chromatographic methods. The ACE inhibitory activities of the isolated peptides were 5–20 times higher than that of the unpurified hydrolysate. The amino acid sequences of inhibitory peptides were determined to be Gly–Tyr, Val–Tyr, Gly–Phe and Val–Ile–Tyr.
Electrochemical oxidation of formic acid has been studied on the stepped and kinked-stepped surfaces of Pd in 0.1
M HClO
4 containing 0.1
M formic acid with the use of voltammetry. The surfaces ...examined are Pd(S)-
n(1
0
0)
×
(1
1
0), Pd(S)-
n(1
1
1)
×
(1
0
0) and Pd(S)-
n(1
1
1)
×
(1
1
1) series (
n
=
2–9). The results are compared with those of Pd(S)-
n(1
0
0)
×
(1
1
1) series reported previously. All the electrodes give maximum currents of formic acid oxidation
j
P between 0.5 and 0.8
V (RHE). The values of
j
P plotted against the density of step (kink) atoms
d
S depend on the surface structure remarkably. Pd(S)-
n(1
1
1)
×
(1
0
0) surfaces provide maximum of
j
P at
n
=
5, whereas Pd(S)-
n(1
0
0)
×
(1
1
0) and Pd(S)-
n(1
1
1)
×
(1
1
1) do not give maximum of
j
P. The values of
j
P have the following order: Pd(S)-
n(1
1
1)
×
(1
1
1)
<
Pd(S)-
n(1
1
1)
×
(1
0
0)
<
Pd(S)-
n(1
0
0)
×
(1
1
0)
<
Pd(S)-
n(1
0
0)
×
(1
1
1). The anodic current at more negative potential 0.20
V (RHE) shows different activity series: Pd(1
1
1) and Pd(1
1
0) have the highest rate for formic acid oxidation at 0.20
V (RHE).
A case-control investigation.
The objective of this study was to quantitatively study impaired ability to appropriately adjust pinch strength while holding a small object in patients with cervical ...spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).
Kochi Medical School Hospital, Japan.
The subjects consisted of 19 CSM patients who had frequent episodes of failing to grasp and hold small objects in their daily life (Group A), 13 CSM patients who did not experience such episodes (Group B) and 16 healthy subjects (Control Group). We continuously measured the dynamic internal pressure of a pneumatic rubber object called a blower pinched by the subject, following two different sets of instructions: (1) pinching with eyes open and with the minimal strength required to prevent dropping; and (2) maintaining a constant pinch strength at given levels with eyes closed.
Compared with the other two groups, Group A subjects used a significantly (P<0.01) greater pinch strength to avoid dropping the blower held with eyes open and showed a significantly (P<0.01) greater deviation in pinch strength from the baseline values with eyes closed. These tendencies in Group A showed a significant correlation with the tactile perception threshold of the digits (P<0.01) but not with impairment of rapid repetitive movements of the digits that reflects spasticity.
Our technique applied to CSM patients helps assess functional integrity primarily, if not exclusively, of the fasciculus cuneatus mediating the feedback signals from proprioceptive and cutaneous receptors in the digits, which are otherwise difficult to evaluate quantitatively.
The size and distribution of non-metallic inclusions are strongly related to rolling contact fatigue (RCF) life. SUJ2 steel is manufactured as a round bar, and is cooled from the surface during ...casting. This indicates that the inclusions may be distributed non-uniformly in the center direction. The objective of this study is a clarification of the difference of the inclusion distribution in the SUJ2 round bar. It was found that the distribution of inclusions in SUJ2 was distributed uniformly in a transverse direction.
Induction heating is used as one of surface hardening methods. Induction heating can control the depth of the heat affected zone. In this work, we prepared two kinds of induction heated bar ...specimens: one had a shallower heat affected zone; and the other had a thick heat affected zone. After the rotating bending fatigue tests, we observed the fracture surfaces and measured the value of retained austenite. We found that the depth of heat affect zone and the amount of retained austenite relate the fatigue strength.
Flaking failure in rolling contact fatigue (RCF) of hardened bearing steel under well controlled lubrication is known to originate primarily from non-metallic inclusions. Among several different ...types of defects inevitably present in steels, the influence of sulphides on the RCF performance of steel is an issue that still raises many questions and controversies. In the present study, our objective is to investigate this matter by observing cracks initiating from sulphides after RCF testing. To accelerate bearing failure, high Hertzian stresses of 5·3 GPa were used. It was found that cracks initiated from the elongated tips of sulphides and propagated to a direction parallel to the direction of load movement. This rule was true regardless of the relationship between the direction of load movement and the elongation direction of sulphides. We concluded that sulphides could be a dominant factor in RCF life when the harmful oxide effect was excluded.
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