Effects of one-hour daily outdoor access on milk yield and composition and behaviors of tethered dairy cows.

Objective: We investigated the effects of outdoor access for one-hour per day (ODA) on milk yield and composition and behaviors of tethered dairy cows.

Methods: Eleven all-day tethered dairy cows were treated with ODA for two weeks. To evaluate the effect of ODA on milk yield, we first calculated the average daily milk yield of each cow for three days during two weeks before the ODA, three days before the ODA, three days at the end of the ODA, and three days during two weeks after the ODA.

Dwell Time Prolongation and Identification of Single Nucleotides Passing through a Solid-State Nanopore by Using Ammonium Sulfate Aqueous Solution.

The ionic current blockades when poly(dT) or dNTPs passed through SiN nanopores in an aqueous solution containing (NH)SO were investigated. The dwell time of poly(dT) in the nanopores in an aqueous solution containing (NH)SO was significantly longer compared to that in an aqueous solution that did not contain (NH)SO. This dwell time prolongation effect due to the aqueous solution containing (NH)SO was also confirmed when dCTP passed through the nanopores.

Effects of one hour daily outdoor access on lying and sleeping postures, and immune traits of tethered cows.

Objective: We investigated the effects of outdoor access for 1 h per day on the animal welfare (AW) of tethered cows, in terms of lying and sleeping postures, and immune function.

Methods: A total of five dry cows were tethered all day indoors (tethering) for 30 days and then tethered indoors with 1 h daily outdoor access (ODA-1h) for 30 days. To analyze the effects of ODA-1h, we calculated the total duration and bout frequency per day, and bout duration of lying and sleeping postures during the last five days of each treatment period.

Meat the challenge: Segmentation and profiling of Japanese beef mince and its substitutes consumers.

Shifts in protein production methods are an emerging challenge toward realizing a sustainable society. This paper aims to examine preferences among Japanese consumers regarding attributes of beef mince and its substitutes, to develop consumer segments based on these preferences, and to explore the segment with higher acceptance of replacement from conventional products. This paper also aims to explain intersegment differences from consumer heterogeneity in human values, scientific literacy, and sociodemographic viewpoints for a deeper understanding of consumer behavior in each segment.

Effect of different cow floor mat on the pressure in anterior knees of Holstein dry cows determined using pressure measurement sheet.

To analyze limb pain in tethered dairy cows, we compared three cow floor mat materials (pasture mat® [PM], KKM rubber mat® [RM], and woodchip [WC]) with soil ground considering the pressure applied to the anterior knee of Holstein cows. Three Holstein dry cows (791.3 ± 44.

Effects of starvation-induced negative energy balance on endoplasmic reticulum stress in the liver of cows.

Objective: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress engages the unfolded protein response (UPR) that serves as an important mechanism for modulating hepatic fatty acid oxidation and lipogenesis. Chronic fasting in mice induced the UPR activation to regulate lipid metabolism. However, there is no direct evidence of whether negative energy balance (NEB) induces ER stress in the liver of cows.

Sub-10-nm-thick SiN nanopore membranes fabricated using the SiOsacrificial layer process.

In our previous studies, ultrathin SiN membranes down to 3 nm in thickness were fabricated using the poly-Si sacrificial layer process, and nanopores were formed in those membranes. The region of the SiN membrane fabricated using this process was small, and the poly-Si sacrificial layer remained throughout the other region. On the other hand, to reduce the noise of the current through the nanopore, it is preferable to reduce the capacitance of the nanopore chip by replacing the poly-Si layer with an insulator with low permittivity, such as SiO.

Effects of adding a commercial capsaicin fertilizer on the feeding behavior of sika deer (Cervus nippon).

We investigated the inhibitory effect of capsaicin fertilizer on feeding in deer. We tested four captive adult female deer. In Experiment 1, in addition to the treatment (intact) containing only a solid feed (HC), we mixed the fertilizer not containing capsaicin (F) or the capsaicin fertilizer (CF) in the solid feed.

Low-frequency noise induced by cation exchange fluctuation on the wall of silicon nitride nanopore.

Nanopore-based biosensors have attracted attention as highly sensitive microscopes for detecting single molecules in aqueous solutions. However, the ionic current noise through a nanopore degrades the measurement accuracy. In this study, the magnitude of the low-frequency noise in the ionic current through a silicon nitride nanopore was found to change depending on the metal ion species in the aqueous solution.

Stable fabrication of a large nanopore by controlled dielectric breakdown in a high-pH solution for the detection of various-sized molecules.

For nanopore sensing of various-sized molecules with high sensitivity, the size of the nanopore should be adjusted according to the size of each target molecule. For solid-state nanopores, a simple and inexpensive nanopore fabrication method utilizing dielectric breakdown of a membrane is widely used. This method is suitable for fabricating a small nanopore.

Solid-state nanopores towards single-molecule DNA sequencing.

Nanopore DNA sequencing offers a new paradigm owing to its extensive potential for long-read, high-throughput detection of nucleotide modification and direct RNA sequencing. Given the remarkable advances in protein nanopore sequencing technology, there is still a strong enthusiasm in exploring alternative nanopore-sequencing techniques, particularly those based on a solid-state nanopore using a semiconductor material. Since solid-state nanopores provide superior material robustness and large-scale integrability with on-chip electronics, they have the potential to surpass the limitations of their biological counterparts.

Silicon nitride nanopore created by dielectric breakdown with a divalent cation: deceleration of translocation speed and identification of single nucleotides.

Nanopore DNA sequencing with a solid-state nanopore requires deceleration of the ultrafast translocation speed of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). We report an unexpected phenomenon: controlled dielectric breakdown (CBD) with a divalent metal cation, especially Ca2+, provides a silicon nitride nanopore with the ability to decelerate ssDNA speed to 100 μs per base even after solution replacement. This speed is two orders of magnitude slower than that for CBD with a conventional monovalent metal cation.

Identification of four single-stranded DNA homopolymers with a solid-state nanopore in alkaline CsCl solution.

DNA sequencing via solid-state nanopores is a promising technique with the potential to surpass the performance of conventional sequencers. However, the identification of all four nucleotide homopolymers with a typical SiN nanopore is yet to be clearly demonstrated because a guanine homopolymer rapidly forms a G-quadruplex in a typical KCl aqueous solution. To address this issue, we introduced an alkaline CsCl aqueous solution, which denatures the G-quadruplex into a single-stranded structure by disrupting the hydrogen-bonding network between the guanines and preventing the binding of the K+ ion to G-quartets.

Two-step breakdown of a SiN membrane for nanopore fabrication: Formation of thin portion and penetration.

For the nanopore sensing of various large molecules, such as probe-labelled DNA and antigen-antibody complexes, the nanopore size has to be customized for each target molecule. The recently developed nanopore fabrication method utilizing dielectric breakdown of a membrane is simple and quite inexpensive, but it is somewhat unsuitable for the stable fabrication of a single large nanopore due to the risk of generating multiple nanopores. To overcome this bottleneck, we propose a new technique called "two-step breakdown" (TSB).

Effect of the proportion of roughage fed as rolled and baled hay on repressing wool-biting behavior in housed sheep.

Wool-biting behavior in housed sheep is a serious animal welfare problem and is difficult to control. Since we have found that sheep fed on rolled hay performed less post-feeding wool-biting than those fed on baled hay, here we mixed these two kinds of hay in four different proportions (0%, 33%, 67% and 100% of rolled hay) to test the effect of rolled hay on repressing wool-biting behavior. We also measured the pulling force needed to remove a piece of rolled hay, baled hay, wool and fresh grass.

Discrimination of three types of homopolymers in single-stranded DNA with solid-state nanopores through external control of the DNA motion.

To achieve DNA sequencing with solid-state nanopores, the speed of the DNA in the nanopore must be controlled to obtain sequence-specific signals. In this study, we fabricated a nanopore-sensing system equipped with a DNA motion controller. DNA strands were immobilized on a Si probe, and approach of this probe to the nanopore vicinity could be controlled using a piezo actuator and stepper motor.

Integrated solid-state nanopore platform for nanopore fabrication via dielectric breakdown, DNA-speed deceleration and noise reduction.

The practical use of solid-state nanopores for DNA sequencing requires easy fabrication of the nanopores, reduction of the DNA movement speed and reduction of the ionic current noise. Here, we report an integrated nanopore platform with a nanobead structure that decelerates DNA movement and an insulating polyimide layer that reduces noise. To enable rapid nanopore fabrication, we introduced a controlled dielectric breakdown (CDB) process into our system.

Influence of feed type and its effect on repressing wool-biting behavior in housed sheep.

Sheep sometimes develop an abnormal behavior termed as wool-biting when kept in an indoor system; however, little is known about this behavior. As the provided feed type may affect the foraging behavior and repress abnormal behavior in animals, we tested the effect of feed type on repressing wool-biting behavior in this study. We used hay prepared in three forms, that is hay bales, rolls and cubes.

Multichannel detection of ionic currents through two nanopores fabricated on integrated Si3N4 membranes.

Integration of solid-state nanopores and multichannel detection of signals from each nanopore are effective measures for realizing high-throughput nanopore sensors. In the present study, we demonstrated fabrication of Si3N4 membrane arrays and the simultaneous measurement of ionic currents through two nanopores formed in two adjacent membranes. Membranes with thicknesses as low as 6.

Prevention of Dielectric Breakdown of Nanopore Membranes by Charge Neutralization.

To achieve DNA sequencing using a solid-state nanopore, it is necessary to reduce the electric noise current. The noise current can be decreased by reducing the capacitance (C) of the nanopore device. However, we found that an electric-charge difference (ΔQ) between the electrolyte in one chamber and the electrolyte in another chamber occurred.

Deceleration of single-stranded DNA passing through a nanopore using a nanometre-sized bead structure.

DNA sequencing with a solid-state nanopore requires a reduction of the translocation speeds of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) over 10 μs/base. In this study, we report that a nanometre-sized bead structure constructed around a nanopore can reduce the moving speed of ssDNA to 270 μs/base by adjusting the diameter of the bead and its surface chemical group. This decelerating effect originates from the strong interaction between ssDNA and the chemical group on the surface of the bead.

Fabrication of 3-nm-thick Si3N4 membranes for solid-state nanopores using the poly-Si sacrificial layer process.

To improve the spatial resolution of solid-state nanopores, thinning the membrane is a very important issue. The most commonly used membrane material for solid-state nanopores is silicon nitride (Si3N4). However, until now, stable wafer-scale fabrication of Si3N4 membranes with a thickness of less than 5 nm has not been reported, although a further reduction in thickness is desired to improve spatial resolution.

Fabricating nanopores with diameters of sub-1 nm to 3 nm using multilevel pulse-voltage injection.

To date, solid-state nanopores have been fabricated primarily through a focused-electronic beam via TEM. For mass production, however, a TEM beam is not suitable and an alternative fabrication method is required. Recently, a simple method for fabricating solid-state nanopores was reported by Kwok, H.

Distribution of radioactive cesium in edible parts of cattle.

After the disastrous incident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, various agricultural, livestock and fishery products have been inspected for radioactive contamination with cesium in Japan. In this study, radioactive cesium was measured in various edible parts of cattle to verify the current inspection method for cattle, in which the neck tissues are generally used as samples. Radioactive cesium concentration in the short plate, diaphragm, liver, lung, omasum, abomasum and small intestine were lower and sirloin, tenderloin, top round meat and tongue were higher than that in the neck.