Alterations in ruminal bacterial populations at induction and recovery from diet-induced milk fat depression in dairy cows

Ten ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were used in a crossover design that investigated changes in ruminal bacterial populations in response to induction and recovery from diet-induced milk fat depression (MFD). Further, the effect on the ruminal microbiota of the cows with diet-induced milk fat depression inoculated with rumen contents from non-milk fat-depressed donor cows was evaluated. Milk fat depression was induced during the first 10 d of each period by feeding a low-fiber, high-starch, and high-polyunsaturated fatty acid diet (26.1% neutral detergent fiber, 28.1% starch, 5.8% total fatty acids, and 1.9% C18:2), resulting in a 30% decrease in milk fat yield. Induction was followed by a recovery phase, where all cows were switched to a high-fiber, low-starch, and low-polyunsaturated fatty acid diet (31.8% neutral detergent fiber, 23% starch, 4.2% total fatty acids, and 1.2% C18:2) and were allocated to (1) control (no inoculation) or (2) ruminal inoculation with donor cow digesta (8 kg/d for 6 d). Ruminal samples were collected at the end of induction (d 10) and during recovery (d 13, 16, and 28), separated to solid and liquid fractions, extracted for DNA, PCR- amplified for the V1-V2 region of the 16S rRNA gene, and analyzed for bacterial diversity. Results indicated that bacterial communities were different between fractions. In each fraction, differences were significant between the induction (d 10) and recovery (d 13, 16, and 28) periods; however, differences were less apparent with time during the recovery period. The MFD (d 10) was typified by a reduction in the relative sequence abundance of Bacteroidetes and an increase in the relative sequence abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria across both fractions. At the genus level, relative sequence abundance of unclassified Lachnospiraceae, Butyrivibrio, Bulleidia, and Coriobacteriaceae were higher on d 10 and were positively correlated with trans-10,cis-12 CLA and the trans-10 isomer, suggesting their potential role in altered biohydrogenation reactions. A switch to the recovery diet resulted in a sharp increase in the Bacteroidetes lineages and a decrease in Firmicutes members on d 13; however, this shift appears to stabilize by d 28, indicating the restoration process for ruminal bacteria from an altered state is gradual and complex. Inoculation of 10% of rumen contents from non-MFD donor cows to MFD cows revealed this procedure had transient effects on only a few bacterial populations, and such effects disappeared after d 16 following cessation of inoculation. It can be concluded that alterations in milk FA profiles at induction are preceded by microbial alterations in the rumen driven by dietary changes.     

Stated preference models of contact decision behavior in academia

A general framework is presented for communication behavior where contact decisions play an important role. The contact decision component of the conceptual framework is analyzed in detail and empirically tested using stated preference models of contact decision behavior. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in six universities representing classical schools, business schools, and technological schools in Austria and Switzerland. The empirical results indicate the importance of the contact decision context variables in general, and in particular the perceived attractiveness of specific contact places in different cultural regions, cost, and language skills of the potential contact partner.     

Gold(I)‐Catalysed Cyclisation of Alkynoic Acids: Towards an Efficient and Eco‐Friendly Synthesis of γ‐, δ‐ and ϵ‐Lactones

The improved synthesis of γ‐, δ‐ and ϵ‐lactones using a dinuclear N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐gold(I) catalyst is reported. This solvent‐free process provides access to γ‐ and δ‐lactones in high regio‐ and stereoselectivity. Reactions were performed at low catalyst loadings and without the need for any additives. The use of a digold pre‐catalyst provides a new synthetic route to functionalised ϵ‐lactones, poorly accessible using previous methodologies.

     

Islam,Heritage, and Preservation: An Untidy Tradition

Abstract

In this article I argue that the study of cultural heritage preservation practices in the context of Muslim societies has been constructed—and obstructed—through specific historical trajectories and challenges. These originate within the field of cultural heritage preservation, through its own history and principles which have complicated the interplay between heritage and religious values and uses. As a result, situated studies of preservation practices in and by Muslim communities are in their infancy. In this article I revisit the points of contact between the emergence of a Eurocentric preservation dogma and its encounter with different articulations and practices related to Islam that are now approached as part of heritage assemblages and debates. I consider specific biases inherent in these discourses and propose, as a result, to approach the study of Islam and heritage in its own terms—rather than as an alternative to Western preservation paradigms.     

Forest fuel treatment detection using multi-temporal airborne lidar data and high-resolution aerial imagery: a case study in the Sierra Nevada Mountains,California

Treatments to reduce forest fuels are often performed in forests to enhance forest health, regulate stand density, and reduce the risk of wildfires. Although commonly employed, there are concerns that these forest fuel treatments (FTs) may have negative impacts on certain wildlife species. Often FTs are planned across large landscapes, but the actual treatment extents can differ from the planned extents due to operational constraints and protection of resources (e.g. perennial streams, cultural resources, wildlife habitats). Identifying the actual extent of the treated areas is of primary importance to understand the environmental influence of FTs. Light detection and ranging (lidar) is a powerful remote-sensing tool that can provide accurate measurements of forest structures and has great potential for monitoring forest changes. This study used the canopy height model (CHM) and canopy cover (CC) products derived from multi-temporal airborne laser scanning (ALS) data to monitor forest changes following the implementation of landscape-scale FT projects. Our approach involved the combination of a pixel-wise thresholding method and an object-of-interest (OBI) segmentation method. We also investigated forest change using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and standardized principal component analysis from multi-temporal high-resolution aerial imagery. The same FT detection routine was then applied to compare the capability of ALS data and aerial imagery for FT detection. Our results demonstrate that the FT detection using ALS-derived CC products produced both the highest total accuracy (93.5%) and kappa coefficient (κ) (0.70), and was more robust in identifying areas with light FTs. The accuracy using ALS-derived CHM products (the total accuracy was 91.6%, and the κ was 0.59) was significantly lower than that using ALS-derived CC, but was still higher than using aerial imagery. Moreover, we also developed and tested a method to recognize the intensity of FTs directly from pre- and post-treatment ALS point clouds.     

Behavior of a periodic chromatic test with an achromatic Ronchi grating as a background

The aim of this article is to study the influence of an achromatic Ronchi grating (white and black stripes) used as a background, over a periodic chromatic test (red or green). Depending on the grating frequency, two parameters were used to study this influence: modulation ratio and grating contrast. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2012     

A comparative study on the antioxidative and anti‐allergic activities of fresh and aged black garlic extracts

The antioxidative and anti‐allergic activities of fresh and aged black garlic extracts were investigated. The garlic samples were extracted with 70% ethanol (v/v) and the total phenolic content was measured. The antioxidant capacity of extracts was assessed by determining the scavenging activities on 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radicals, ferricyanide reducing power, ferrous ion‐chelating ability and inhibitory effect on linoleic acid peroxidation. The anti‐allergic activity of extracts was analysed by measuring their inhibitory effects against β‐hexosaminidase release. The aged black garlic exhibited significantly higher phenolic content and greater antioxidative activity than fresh garlic. Both garlic extracts showed strong antioxidant capacity in a dose‐dependent manner. On the other hand, a considerably higher suppression of β‐hexosaminidase release was found in fresh garlic extract at lower concentration compared with that of the black garlic. Results of this study illustrate that ageing of garlic could enhance its antioxidant capacity, but could decrease its anti‐allergic activity.