Effects of Rumen Fermentation Characteristics on Stress-Related Hormones and Behavior in Sheep.

This study investigated the relationship between rumen fermentation, stress-related hormones, and behavior in sheep with the aim of providing insights for improving animal welfare and feed management practices. Eight lambs were assigned to either a high concentration or control group. Blood samples were collected for hormone analysis, and an open field test was conducted to observe behavioral stress responses. The results showed that diet composition may affect the behavior of ruminants in response to stressors and novel situations, as evidenced by the higher number of escape attempts in the high-concentration group. In addition, analyses of individual volatile fatty acids (VFAs) showed a significant positive correlation between the acetic acid/propionic acid ratio and sniffing behavior of the novel object (p < 0.05, ρ = -0.414). These findings have important implications for animal welfare and feed management practices. Overall, this study provides insights into the potential impact of diet composition on the behavior of ruminants in response to stressors and novel situations, highlighting the importance of improving animal welfare through feed management practices. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying the complex relationship between rumen fermentation, stress-related hormones, and behavior in ruminant animals.

Stability of masticatory movements after placement of implant-supported denture.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the stability of masticatory movement after placement of implant-supported denture. Fourteen patients (patient group) with mandibular implants denture and maxillary complete denture and 30 dentate adults (control group) were asked to chew a boiled fishpaste, and the masticatory movement was recorded using MKG. For the 10 cycles beginning with the 5th cycle of mastication, the parameters representing the stability of masticatory movement were calculated. Data collected at 1, 3, 6, 9 months and 1, 2, 3 years after insertion of implants denture were compared between sessions and also between the patient and control groups. The mean and standard deviation of the values in the patient group at 1 month after insertion of implants denture were large, but gradually decreased 6 to 9 months after insertion of implants denture. Each parameter maintained almost the same value from 1 to 3 years. The parameter values of the patient group were significantly larger than those of control group from 1 to 9 months after insertion of implants denture, but 1 year after insertion of implants denture, there was no significant difference between the two groups in 5 out of 7 parameters. From these results, it was suggested that a certain duration, about 9 months to 1 year, was necessary for patients with implants denture to adapt to the new masticatory function and that the timing of functional evaluation should be set to 1 year after insertion of implants denture.

The effect of daily calf stroking frequency during the postnatal period on the establishment of the human-calf relationship.

OBJECTIVE: Stroking calves during the postnatal period could effectively improve humancalf relationships. The objective of this study is to examine how daily calf stroking frequency during the postnatal period affects the establishment of human-calf relationships. METHODS: Six calves were stroked by a trainer for 6 minutes once daily for 5 days after birth (D1). Six calves were stroked by a trainer for 3 minutes twice daily for 5 days after birth (D2). A further four calves were stared at but not stroked as the control group. The overall stroking or staring duration was the same for all groups, at 6 min/d and 30 min over 5 days. The tests for reactions to the stationary trainer in an unfamiliar environment and avoidance distance measurements for an approaching trainer were conducted at 1 month and 3 months after the treatment. RESULTS: Calves in both stroking groups approached significantly closer to the stationary trainer, vocalized less, and looked at the trainer shorter than the control group at 1 month. However, at 3 months, there was no significant difference between the D1 and the control group, whereas the D2 approached significantly closer to the trainer and vocalized less, and looked at the trainer for a shorter time than the control group. For the avoidance distance, the trainer could approach closer to both stroking groups than the control at 1 month, however, there was no difference among groups at 3 months. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the difference in the calf stroking procedure affected the established human-calf relationships, even though the total stroking duration was the same for all stroked calves. It is likely to be more effective to stroke more frequently than intensively when the aim is to establish better human-calf relationships within limited labor time.

Dental implant care and trouble among dependent patients based on the questionnaire survey among Japanese dental practitioners.

BACKGROUND: Self-care and professional care of implants may prove difficult for elderly people who require nursing care. However, the actual state of care and problems remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the actual state of implant problems in elderly people living in their own home or in a nursing home who received visiting dental treatment. METHODS: We mailed questionnaire survey forms to 2339 representatives or specialists who were members of the Japanese Society of Oral Implantology, the Japanese Society of Gerodontology or the Japan Prosthodontic Society. We narrowed down the respondents to those who provided visiting dental treatment, and analyzed the actual state of implants observed during visiting dental treatment (type, care, problems, countermeasures, etc.). RESULTS: Of the 924 dentists who responded to the questionnaire survey, 291 (22%) provided visiting dental treatment. While the majority of implant types encountered in the previous 12 months were root-form implants, there were still a certain number of blade and subperiosteal implants. Daily implant care involved mostly cleaning with a toothbrush + auxiliary tools. The most frequent implant problems encountered in the past were difficulty in cleaning and peri-implantitis. Medication and antiphlogistic treatment were most frequently adopted as countermeasures to implant problems, followed by observation. When we classified the results into those for the dentists who provided implant treatment and those for the dentists who did not, we found that many of the dentists who did not provide implant treatment opted for observation or medication, while those who provided implant treatment also implemented removal of superstructure, retightening of screws, repair and so forth. CONCLUSIONS: We found that many of the implant troubles encountered by dentists who provided visiting dental care were difficulty in cleaning or peri-implantitis, and that the actions taken against these troubles varied depending on the experience of the dentist performing the implant treatment. Our study also revealed that dentists who provide visiting dental care need to acquire knowledge and skills of implant treatment, to have actions prepared in case they encounter such cases, or to closely coordinate with dentists who specialize in implants.

Soil erosion and radiocesium migration during the snowmelt period in grasslands and forested areas of Miyagi prefecture, Japan.

This study aimed to examine the influence of snowmelt on soil erosion processes in mountainous landscapes in the Miyagi prefecture of Japan. The investigated slopes had different expositions and were covered with grasslands and forests. The snowpack thickness, soil frost depth, volume of surface runoff, physicochemical properties of the soil and sediments, cesium composition of the snow and meltwater, and air dose rate were determined. In mid-February, snow cover reached its maximum thickness (100-179 cm). In the forest, the snow depth was always lower by 15-20 cm. The soil did not freeze in winter in any of the plots. Surface runoff was observed only in the grassland plots and depended on the slope aspect. The total volume of surface runoff ranged from 31 to 52 mm and snowmelt soil losses ranged from 2 to 9 kg ha-1 DM. Radiocesium concentrations in runoff samples ranged from 0.1 to 8.4 Bq L-1, below the standard limit for drinking water in Japan (10 Bq L-1). The average organic matter content of the sampled sediments was 0.4%, higher than that in the surface soil. The silt fraction in sediments became dominant for particle size distribution, and the activity concentration of total radiocesium was, on average, 250 Bq kg-1. The air dose rate was always lower than the maximum permissible level (0.2 µSv h-1) and varied from 0.02 to 0.09 µSv h-1 in winter, and from 0.08 to 0.13 µSv h-1 at times of the year without snow.

Respiratory rate is an inadequate parameter of ventilation in non-intubated sedation.

We compared the respiratory rate (RR) and transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure ([Formula: see text]) during intravenous sedation (IVS), to determine whether RR is a useful parameter for monitoring ventilation. This was a prospective cohort study. The study sample comprised dental patients who received IVS via propofol or midazolam administration at Nippon Dental University Hospital. We simultaneously measured RR (through capnography), [Formula: see text] (using the [Formula: see text] monitor), and percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2). RR was the predictor and the outcome variable was [Formula: see text]. Data were analyzed by Dunnett's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study sample consisted of 15 patients. No significant changes were identified in the RR and SpO2 measurements over time. However, [Formula: see text] values obtained from 20 to 40 min after induction of sedation were significantly higher than baseline values (P < 0.05). A correlation was found between RR and [Formula: see text] (P < 0.05), but the correlation coefficient was low (r = 0.22), indicating a weak correlation between these two factors. The results of this study suggest that RR is an inadequate parameter for monitoring ventilation during IVS; however, [Formula: see text] may be useful for monitoring.

Free Dietary Choice and Free-Range Rearing Improve the Product Quality, Gait Score, and Microbial Richness of Chickens.

Poultry welfare has been extensively studied; however, there is a lack of rigorous scientific knowledge relating to the different aspects of welfare factors and how this may contribute to the production quantity and product quality as well as the welfare of chickens. Therefore, we conducted an integrated study to compare welfare factors in chickens by providing free dietary choice under cage rearing, and further comparing cage rearing with free-range rearing. One hundred chickens each were allocated to a cage rearing group with conventional feeding (CC), a cage rearing group with free dietary choice of mealworms (FDM), a cage rearing group with free dietary choice of mealworms and fresh grass (FDMG), and a free-range rearing system group with free dietary choice of mealworms and fresh grass (FRMG). Results showed that under cage rearing, free dietary choice contributed to better meat quality and gait score, higher values of blood platelets, and a richer gut microbial composition, but poorer egg production than CC chickens. As compared to FDMG, FRMG chickens showed better meat quality, gait score, and feather conditions, as well as a richer gut microbial composition; however, they had poorer egg production and a poorer foot pad and foot feather condition. We conclude that free dietary choice and free-range rearing systems improve the product quality, gait score, and microbial richness of chickens.

A preliminary report on dental implant condition among dependent elderly based on the survey among Japanese dental practitioners.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to ascertain the situation relevant to implants, the status of oral self-care, the status of aftercare provided by the dentist who placed the implant, and the usage status of the implant card, in homebound or institutionalized older adults who are receiving home-visit dental care due to the inability to visit a dental clinic on their own. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was sent by post mail to 2339 people who are representative members or dental specialists belonging to any of the following three academic societies: Japanese Society of Oral Implantology, Japanese Society of Gerodontology, and Japan Prosthodontic Society. The survey questions asked were about provision/no provision of implant treatment, provision/no provision of home-visit dental care, the situation of patients after implant treatment, the situation of implants in the context of home-visit dental care, and the usage status and recognition of the implant card. RESULTS: No less than 30% of the dentists had patients who were admitted to the hospital or became homebound after receiving implant treatment at their clinic. Twenty-two percent of the dentists had been consulted about the implants. Dentists who continued to provide post-operative implant care through home-visit dental care accounted for approximately 80%. On the other hand, however, 40% of the dentists did not know the post-implantation status of their implant patients. Of the patients receiving home-visit dental care, approximately 3% had implants (identified mainly by visual inspection). It was found that more than 50% of the dentists offering implant treatment did not use the implant card, and even in cases where it was used, most of the cards were not in the standardized format. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitation of low response rate to the questionnaire in this preliminary study, we concluded that many of practitioners including specialists indicated the need of universal record of implant for dependent elderly cares.

Are Wireless Electronic Stethoscopes Useful for Respiratory Rate Monitoring During Intravenous Sedation?

PURPOSE: Wireless stethoscopes can measure respiratory rate noninvasively and continuously, but there are no reports of their use during dental treatment. This study evaluated the usefulness of wireless stethoscopes during dental procedures requiring intravenous sedation (IVS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a prospective cohort study. The study sample consisted of dental patients who received IVS by propofol or midazolam administration at the Nippon Dental University Hospital (Tokyo, Japan). The predictor was respiratory rate measured using the wireless stethoscope (BrRR), and the outcome variable was respiratory rate measured during capnography (RR). Pearson correlation coefficients and paired-samples t tests were used for data analysis. A P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 12 patients. BrRR and RR were significantly and positively correlated (r = 0.93, P < .01). The mean ± standard deviation of BrRR was 14.16 ± 2.67 and that of RR was 14.32 ± 2.77. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .27). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that wireless stethoscopes are suitable for monitoring respiratory rate during dental procedures requiring IVS because their use is as accurate as capnography.

Effect of Suckling Systems on Serum Oxytocin and Cortisol Concentrations and Behavior to a Novel Object in Beef Calves.

We investigated differences between effects of natural- and bucket-suckling methods on basal serum oxytocin (OT) and cortisol concentrations, and the effect of OT concentration on affiliative and investigative behavior of calves to a novel object. Ten Japanese Black calves, balanced with birth order, were allocated evenly to natural-suckling (NS) and bucket suckling (BS) groups. Blood samples were collected at the ages of 1 and 2 months (1 week after weaning) calves, and serum OT and cortisol concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and enzymeimmunoassay tests, respectively. Each calf at the age of 2 months (2 weeks after weaning) was released into an open-field with a calf decoy, and its investigative and affiliative behaviors were recorded for 20 minutes. In 1-month-old calves, the basal serum OT concentration (25.5±4.9 [mean±standard deviation, pg/mL]) of NS was significantly higher than that of BS (16.9±6.7) (p<0.05), whereas the basal cortisol concentration (5.8±2.5 [mean±standard deviation, ng/mL]) of NS was significantly lower than that in BS (10.0±2.8) (p<0.05). Additionally, a negative correlation was noted between serum OT and cortisol concentrations in 1-month-old calves (p = 0.06). Further, the higher serum OT concentration the calves had at 1 month old, the more investigative the calves were at 2 months old but not affiliative in the open-field with a calf decoy. Thus, we concluded that the natural suckling method from a dam elevates the basal serum OT concentration in calves, and high serum OT concentrations induce investigative behavior and attenuate cortisol concentrations.

Diiron amido-imido complex [(CpFe)2(mu2-NHPh)(mu2-NPh)]: synthesis and a net hydrogen atom abstraction reaction to form a bis(imido) complex.

A reaction between [CpFeCl]x and LiNHPh (1 equiv to Fe) produces a new paramagnetic Fe(II)-Fe(III) mu2-amido-mu2-imido complex [(CpFe)2(mu2-NHPh)(mu2-NPh)] (1), which, upon interaction with 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), undergoes a net N-H hydrogen atom abstraction reaction to give a diamagnetic Fe(III)-Fe(III) mu2-imido dimer [CpFe(mu2-NPh)]2 (2). The molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.