Effects of supplementing an active dry yeast product on rumen microbial community composition and on subsequent rumen fermentation of lactating cows in the mid-to-late lactation period.

The effects of supplementing feed of cows in mid-to-late lactation with an active yeast product (Actisaf Sc 47) were evaluated using 15 Holstein cows in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. The animals were fed a mixed ration with 33% neutral detergent fiber, consisting of timothy hay (29.8%), a commercial concentrate (70.

Observation of polarized luminescence from Jahn-Teller split states of self-trapped excitons in PbWO4 by time-resolved spectroscopy.

Time-resolved luminescence spectra of oriented PbWO(4) crystals have been measured for polarizations with the electric vector parallel to the crystallographic c axis (E is parallel to c) and perpendicular to it (E is perpendicular to c). All the three emission bands (I, II and III) due to the Jahn-Teller split states of a self-trapped exciton (STE) located on the (WO(4))(2-) complex anion are found to exhibit significant polarizations in the ac plane. The main band II peaking at 425 nm is polarized with E is parallel to c at low temperatures (T<100 K), but changes its polarization from E is parallel to c to E is perpendicular to c at T>150 K.

Infrared absorption change in single-walled carbon nanotubes observed by combination spectroscopy of synchrotron radiation and laser.

The Drude tail due to photo-excited carriers in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been observed in the mid-infrared region by using combination spectroscopy of synchrotron radiation and Ti:sapphire laser. It is found that the density of photo-excited carriers increases as the sample temperature is raised from 12 to 300 K, and their lifetime is of the order of minutes at 300 K. These facts suggest that the movement of photo-excited carriers is largely affected by some extrinsic defect, thus resulting in the long-lasting Drude reflection in SWNTs.

Self-assembly patterning of colloidal crystals constructed from opal structure or NaCl structure.

We developed a novel self-assembly process to fabricate an orderly array of particle wires constructed from a close-packed colloidal crystal without preparation of patterned templates. A substrate was immersed vertically into a SiO2 colloidal solution, and the liquid surface moved downward upon evaporation of solution. Particles formed a mono-/multiparticle layer, which was cut by the periodic drop-off of solution.

Two-photon spectroscopy of core excitons in barium fluoride using synchrotron radiation and laser light.

We have conducted two-photon spectroscopy of core excitons in BaF(2). Synchrotron radiation and laser light were used for 5p core-electron excitation and Auger-free luminescence was detected as the signal. Two-photon excitation enables access to f and p orbitals that cannot be reached by one-photon excitation of electrons in p orbitals.

Time-resolved Auger decay in CsBr using high harmonics.

The temperature-dependent decay dynamics of innershell holes in CsBr was measured by using high harmonics. The measured lifetime was as short as 1.5 ps at 340 K due to increasing the Auger-allowed final state density in the Urbach exciton tail, whereas it is 1.

Effects of running exercise with increasing loads on tibialis anterior muscle fibres in mice.

Cross-sectional areas and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities of type identified fibres in the deep, middle and superficial regions of the tibialis anterior muscle in mice were examined after 4 weeks of voluntary running exercise with increasing loads. Nineteen-week-old male mice were assigned randomly to either a control or exercise group. The mean cross-sectional areas of all types (IIa, IIx and IIb) of fibres in the superficial region of the muscle were greater in the exercise group than in the control group.

Secular trends in physique and physical fitness in Japanese students during the last 20 years.

The secular trend of increase in physical size of children has often been reported. Children today are bigger than before, but there is a question whether their physical fitness has improved as well. Methodological differences make it difficult to compare older and newer data.