Variation among individual beef cattle in methane-to-carbon dioxide ratio measured under on-farm conditions using the sniffer method.

This study proposed a method for measuring the methane (CH )/carbon dioxide (CO ) ratio from individual beef cattle under on-farm conditions and estimated the variance components of the CH /CO ratio. Gas measurements were conducted using 166 Japanese Black cattle group-housed in pens equipped with individual feed bins. The gas containing the animal's breath was measured individually after concentrate feeding by covering the feed bin with a sheet with sampling inlets.

Effects of fermentative quality of corn silage on lactation, blood metabolites, and rumen fermentation in dairy cows.

We investigated the effect of fermentation quality of corn silage on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, ruminal fermentation, methane (CH ) emissions, and plasma metabolites in lactating cows. Six lactating Holstein cows were used in a 2 × 2 crossover design with two dietary treatments containing high quality corn silage with lower pH (high group) or low quality corn silage with higher pH (low group). The cows were fed partial mixed ration (PMR containing 50%DM of each corn silage) ad libitum plus 0.

Prediction of methane emissions from fattening cattle using the methane-to-carbon dioxide ratio.

This study aimed to develop a prediction equation for methane (CH ) emissions from fattening cattle based on the CH /carbon dioxide (CO ) ratio and validate the predictive ability of the developed equation. The prediction equation was developed using the CH /CO ratio combined with oxygen consumption and respiratory quotient estimations that were theoretically calculated from the relation between gas emissions and energy metabolism. To validate the prediction equation, gas measurements in the headboxes were conducted using eight Japanese Black steers.

Measurement of Volatile Fatty Acids in Silage through Odors with Nanomechanical Sensors.

The measurement of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is of great importance in the fields of food and agriculture. There are various methods to measure VFAs, but most methods require specific equipment, making on-site measurements difficult. In this work, we demonstrate the measurements of VFAs in a model sample, silage, through its vapor using an array of nanomechanical sensors-Membrane-type Surface stress Sensors (MSS).

The influence of breath concentration in the gas sample on the accuracy of methane to carbon dioxide ratio using the sniffer method in dairy cows.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the carbon dioxide (CO ) concentration in the sampled gas to avoid low concentration of breath while measuring the methane (CH )/CO ratio using the sniffer method. This study also assessed the effect of selective elimination by applying the threshold of CO concentration to the CH /CO ratio. The gas measurement in the automatic milking system was conducted with 26 multiparous Holstein cows using an electric fan to manipulate the CO concentration in the sampled gas.

Prediction of enteric methane emissions from lactating cows using methane to carbon dioxide ratio in the breath.

The aim of this study was to develop prediction equations for methane (CH ) emissions from lactating cows using the CH /carbon dioxide (CO ) ratio in the breath measured in the automatic milking system (AMS) and to evaluate the predicted values and factors affecting the CH /CO ratio. The model development was conducted using a dataset determined in respiration chambers or head boxes (n = 121). Then, gas measurements in the AMS as well as in the head box were carried out with six lactating cows fed one of three different levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, following a 3 × 3 Latin square experimental design.

Effects of rice conservation methods on lactation, blood metabolites, and rumen fermentation in dairy cows.

We investigated the effect of rice grain conservation methods on feed intake, milk production, blood metabolites, and rumen fermentation in dairy cows. Raw rice grain was dried before crushing (DRY), ensiled after crushing (ENS-A), or ensiled before crushing (ENS-B). Twelve multiparous Holstein cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with three dietary treatments comprising ad libitum access to one of three total mixed rations (TMRs; containing DRY, ENS-A, or ENS-B at 17% of dietary dry matter) plus a standard allowance of 2.

Effect of different methods for conserving rice grain on in situ ruminal degradation and in vivo nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation in steers.

We investigated the effects of different rice conservation techniques on in situ ruminal degradation and in vivo nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation in steers. Raw rice grain was dried before crushing (DRY), ensiled after crushing (ENS-A), or ensiled before crushing (ENS-B). Six ruminally cannulated steers were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with three dietary treatments: diets containing DRY, ENS-A, or ENS-B at 36% of the dietary dry matter.

[The efficacy of intravenous alendronate for osteoporosis in patients with severe motor intellectual disabilities].

Objective: Bone fractures in patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMIDs) have become an important problem to be solved. These fractures may result from disuse osteoporosis. Bisphosphonate administration is generally the most established treatment for patients with osteoporosis.

Effect of feeding sweet-potato condensed distillers solubles on intake and urinary excretion of minerals in Japanese Black steers.

Four Japanese Black steers (16 months of age) were assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to investigate the effect of graded levels of sweet-potato condensed distillers solubles (SCDS) in their diets on intake and urinary excretion of minerals. The four diets consisted of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% (dry matter (DM) basis) SCDS, with SCDS replacing commercial concentrate (CC). Intake of K, Cl, S, P and Mg increased linearly with increasing SCDS content.

6p subtelomere deletion with congenital glaucoma, severe mental retardation, and growth impairment.

Submicroscopic deletion of the 6p subtelomere has recently been recognized as a clinically identifiable syndrome. A distinct phenotype has emerged consisting of developmental delay/mental retardation, language impairment, hearing loss, and ophthalmologic, cardiac, and craniofacial abnormalities, including hypertelorism, midface hypoplasia, small nose, and high arched palate. We describe here a patient with 6p subtelomere deletion associated with congenital glaucoma, severe mental retardation, and growth impairment.

Effects of high ambient temperature on urea-nitrogen recycling in lactating dairy cows.

Effects of exposure to hot environment on urea metabolism were studied in lactating Holstein cows. Four cows were fed ad libitum a total mixed ration and housed in a temperature-controlled chamber at constant moderate (18°C) or high (28°C) ambient temperatures in a cross-over design. Urea nitrogen (N) kinetics was measured by determining urea isotopomer in urine after single injection of [(15) N(2) ]urea into the jugular vein.

Changes in oxidative status in periparturient dairy cows in hot conditions.

We investigated the changes in the plasma concentrations of oxidative stress markers in periparturient dairy cows in hot conditions. This study was performed on 10 cows from day -5 to day 10 after parturition. The experimental duration was divided into three periods: period 1 (5 days before parturition); period 2 (5 days after parturition); and period 3 (from day 6 to day 10 after parturition).

Effect of citrus pulp silage feeding on concentration of beta-cryptoxanthin in plasma and milk of dairy cows.

Citrus pulp is known to contain a functional molecule of beta-cryptoxanthin which is one of the carotenoids showing anti-oxidative capacity. Influences of citrus pulp silage feeding to dairy cows on beta-cryptoxanthin concentration in plasma, other blood properties and milking performances were investigated. Four Holstein cows were fed total mixed ration (TMR) containing citrus pulp silage 20% dry matter (DM) for 2 weeks with free access to the TMR.

[A case of recurrent paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia with antibodies to GluR epsilon 2 causally related to ganglioneuroma].

Acute cerebellar ataxia (ACA) in childhood following viral infection is a self-limited disease. We present a boy with recurrent episodes of paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia associated with a ganglioneuroma. A 20-month-old boy developed the first episode of cerebellar ataxia after nonspecific respiratory tract infections.

The effect of high ambient temperature on Ca, P and Mg balance and bone turnover in high-yielding dairy cows.

We investigated the effect of heat stress on Ca, P and Mg balance and bone turnover in lactating cows. In a 2 x 2 crossover design, four multiparous lactating Holstein cows were kept in a chamber and subjected to a constant moderate (18 degrees C) ambient temperature (MT) or high (28 degrees C) ambient temperature (HT). The cows were fed total mixed ration (Ca, 0.

Effects of feeding level of milk replacer on body growth, plasma metabolite and insulin concentrations, and visceral organ growth of suckling calves.

The objective was to evaluate effects of feeding level of milk replacer on body growth, plasma metabolite and insulin concentrations, and allometric growth of visceral organs in suckling calves. Holstein bull calves (n = 8; 3-4 days of age) were fed either a low amount (average 0.63 kgDM/day, LM) or high amount (average 1.

[Case of severe motor and intellectual disabilities presenting with partial central diabetes insipidus triggered by infection].

We report a 42-year-old woman with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) who showed partial central diabetes insipidus during severe pneumonia. Serum sodium levels were previously within the upper normal range from 140 to 147 mEq/L. During pneumonia, however, serum sodium rose rapidly to reach 185 mEq/L.