Marbling defined by the amount and distribution of intramuscular fat is regarded as an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. The pancreatic lipase gene (PNLIP) is located within the genomic region of a...Marbling defined by the amount and distribution of intramuscular fat is regarded as an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. The pancreatic lipase gene (PNLIP) is located within the genomic region of a bovine marbling quantitative trait locus. The rat homologue of PNLIP has been previously shown to be regarded as a possible candidate for the gene responsible for intramuscular fat content. These findings suggested that PNLIP was a positional and functional candidate for the marbling gene. In this study, we detected a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), g.37288470A > G, at 1917 bp upstream of the PNLIP transcription initiation site between Holstein steers and somatic nuclear-derived cloned steers from a Japanese Black sire with a very high estimated breeding value for marbling by sequencing analysis. Further, we found statistically significant difference in the allelic distribution of the SNP between 17 Japanese Black unrelated sires with extremely high predicted breeding values for marbling and 17 sires with extremely low ones (P = 0.0332). Our findings suggest that g.37288470A > G SNP in the promoter region of PNLIP might be associated with marbling by altering its gene expression, and be useful for effective marker-assisted selection to increase the levels of marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle.展开更多
Clonal organisms are particularly useful to investigate the contribution of epigenetics to phenotypic plasticity,because confounding effects of genetic variation are negligible.In the last decade,the apomictic parthen...Clonal organisms are particularly useful to investigate the contribution of epigenetics to phenotypic plasticity,because confounding effects of genetic variation are negligible.In the last decade,the apomictic parthenogenetic marbled crayfish,Procambarus virginalis,has been developed as a model to investigate the relationships between phenotypic plasticity and genetic and epigenetic diversity in detail.This crayfish originated about 30 years ago by autotriploidy from a single slough crayfish Procambarus fallax.As the result of human releases and active spreading,marbled crayfish has established numerous populations in very diverse habitats in 22 countries from the tropics to cold temperate regions.Studies in the laboratory and field revealed considerable plasticity in coloration,spination,morphometric parameters,growth,food preference,population structure,trophic position,and niche width.Illumina and PacBio whole-genome sequencing of marbled crayfish from representatives of 19 populations in Europe and Madagascar demonstrated extremely low genetic diversity within and among populations,indicating that the observed phenotypic diversity and ability to live in strikingly different environments are not due to adaptation by selection on genetic variation.In contrast,considerable differences were found between populations in the DNA methylation patterns of hundreds of genes,suggesting that the environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity is mediated by epigenetic mechanisms and corresponding changes in gene expression.Specific DNA methylation fingerprints persisted in local populations over successive years indicating the existence of epigenetic ecotypes,but there is presently no information as to whether these epigenetic signatures are transgenerationally inherited or established anew in each generation and whether the recorded phenotypic plasticity is adaptive or nonadaptive.展开更多
An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal dietary protein level for juvenile marbled flounder.Five semi-purified test diets were formulated to contain different protein levels(CP)including 42.7%,4...An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal dietary protein level for juvenile marbled flounder.Five semi-purified test diets were formulated to contain different protein levels(CP)including 42.7%,47.4%,53.3%,58.8%,and 64.5%(dry matter),named as CP42.7,CP47.4,CP53.3,CP58.8,and CP64.5,respectively.Five hundred and twenty-five juveniles(6.0±0.1 g)were randomly distributed into 15 tanks(300 L tanks),resulting in 35 fish per tank(n-3 tanks).Fish were fed the test diets 5 times per day until satiation.The CP58.8 resulted in the highest gain in weight and the best efficiency in feed utilization among the tested protein levels(P<0.05).Fish fed the CP58.8 diet showed significantly higher whole-body protein and lipid contents than the fish that were fed the other diets(P<0.05).Fish fed the CP53.3,CP58.8,and CP64.5 diets showed a significantly higher dorsal-muscle lipid content than the fish that were fed the CP42.7 and CP47.4 diets(P<0.05).The one-slope straight broken-line regression analysis on the results of the thermal growth coefficient and feed conversion ratio indicated that the estimated optimum dietary protein level was 58.8%.Taken together,it is suggested that the dietary protein level of 58.8%is optimal for better growth and high efficiency in feed utilization for the juvenile marbled flounder.展开更多
Over the past few decades,genetic selection and refined nutritional management have extensively been used to increase the growth rate and lean meat production of livestock.However,the rapid growth rates of modern bree...Over the past few decades,genetic selection and refined nutritional management have extensively been used to increase the growth rate and lean meat production of livestock.However,the rapid growth rates of modern breeds are often accompanied by a reduction in intramuscular fat deposition and increased occurrences of muscle abnor‑malities,impairing meat quality and processing functionality.Early stages of animal development set the long‑term growth trajectory of offspring.However,due to the seasonal reproductive cycles of ruminant livestock,gestational nutrient deficiencies caused by seasonal variations,frequent droughts,and unfavorable geological locations nega‑tively affect fetal development and their subsequent production efficiency and meat quality.Therefore,enrolling live‑stock in nutritional intervention strategies during gestation is effective for improving the body composition and meat quality of the offspring at harvest.These crucial early developmental stages include embryonic,fetal,and postnatal stages,which have stage‑specific effects on subsequent offspring development,body composition,and meat quality.This review summarizes contemporary research in the embryonic,fetal,and neonatal development,and the impacts of maternal nutrition on the early development and programming effects on the long‑term growth performance of livestock.Understanding the developmental and metabolic characteristics of skeletal muscle,adipose,and fibrotic tissues will facilitate the development of stage‑specific nutritional management strategies to optimize production efficiency and meat quality.展开更多
Marble is widely used in construction industry mainly in interior & exterior design of buildings due to its resilient physical, chemical & mechanical properties. The diverse geology of Gilgit Baltistan has nat...Marble is widely used in construction industry mainly in interior & exterior design of buildings due to its resilient physical, chemical & mechanical properties. The diverse geology of Gilgit Baltistan has naturally endowed this region with different varieties of marble deposits. These marble deposits need proper characterization to ensure their proper use in the construction industry. This research aims to conduct a preliminary study for the characterization of the Nasir Abad Hunza marble deposit. Samples from said deposit were subjected to different tests to study its chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Results of XRF analysis reveal that the deposit under study is dolomitic. The comparison of different physical properties of deposits with standard values confirms its originality. However, high variation in the strength of core samples was observed, which could result from incomplete crystallization by metamorphism. This variation in the strength of samples suggests strength-based definitions of deposit domains to propose the use of each domain separately.展开更多
Marble is a metamorphic rock, which is one of the 3 basic rock types (magmatic, sedimentary, metamorphic) forming the earth’s crust. The major characteristic sought after in a rock mass in the field for it to be expo...Marble is a metamorphic rock, which is one of the 3 basic rock types (magmatic, sedimentary, metamorphic) forming the earth’s crust. The major characteristic sought after in a rock mass in the field for it to be exportable and usable as marble is its suitability to be cut in blocks. In the process of producing marble slabs from marble blocks, the blocks are expected not to contain potentially problematic hard or weak zones and their geomechanical and chemical properties should conform to the relevant standards. Ignoring of the geological properties of the rock in the process of deciding for marble production at a marble site and determination of production location, direction and method is the most important parameter that would increase production loss. In order to reduce losses by determination of geological properties of marble, many academic studies have been conducted on the effects of water saturation, temperature, freezing and thawing on its mechanical and fracture properties. There are further studies on crack propagation in marble under stress. However, even those marble blocks that are obtained based on geological parameters may suffer serious cracks or fractures due to stresses caused by their weight and geometry. Therefore, cutting direction is of critical importance in order to minimize marble waste in the process of cutting a marble block which is brought to the inventory or processing site with cracks, cavities or fractures. Certain studies exist within such context, where the geometry of the discontinuity within a block is determined using non-destructive methods, such as ultrasonic testing, in order to determine the appropriate cutting direction. Such studies made use of ultrasonic waves to determine the physical and chemical structures of magmatic and sedimentary rocks by measuring the progress velocity of sonic waves in the rock. Said studies, however, mostly worked on sedimentary and magmatic rock specimens, focusing less on metamorphic rocks such as marble due to their anisotropic properties. Understanding the academic literature studies on marble would provide significant contribution to the reduction of production losses during the processing marble blocks in processing plants and the achievement of production efficiency levels that are within economic limits. Within such scope, this study has reviewed the past academic studies on marble, classified them under 6 categories, and comprehensively analyzed each category based on materials, testing setups, test specimens, test parameters and research techniques.展开更多
Eclogite lenses in marbles from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane are deeply subducted meta-sedimentary rocks. Zircons in these rocks have been used to constrain the ages of prograde and UHP metamorphi...Eclogite lenses in marbles from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane are deeply subducted meta-sedimentary rocks. Zircons in these rocks have been used to constrain the ages of prograde and UHP metamorphism during subduction, and later retrograde metamorphism during exhumation. Inherited (detrital) and metamorphic zircons were distinguished on the basis of transmitted light microscopy, cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, trace element contents and mineral inclusions. The distribution of mineral inclusions combined with CL imaging of the metamorphic zircon make it possible to relate zircon zones (domains) to different metamorphic stages. Domain 1 consists of rounded, oblong and spindly cores with dark-luminescent images, and contains quartz eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under high-pressure (HP) metamorphic conditions of T = 571-668℃ and P =1.7-2.02 GPa. Domain 2 always surrounds domain 1 or occurs as rounded and spindly cores with white-luminescent images. It contains coesite eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under UHP metamorphic conditions of T = 782-849℃ and P 〉 5.5 GPa. Domain 3, with gray-luminescent images, always surrounds domain 2 and occurs as the outermost zircon rim. It is characterized by low-pressure mineral inclusion assemblages, which are related to regional amphibolite facies retrograde metamorphism of T = 600- 710℃ and P = 0.7-1.2 GPa. The three metamorphic zircon domains have distinct ages; sample H1 from the Dabie terrane yielded SHRIMP ages of 245 ± 4 Ma for domain 1, 235 ± 3 Ma for domain 2 and 215± 6 Ma for domain 3, whereas sample H2 from the Sulu terrane yielded similar ages of 244 ± 4 Ma, 233 ± 4 Ma and 214 ± 5 Ma for Domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The mean ages of these zones suggest that subduction to UHP depths took place over 10-11 Ma and exhumation of the rocks occurred over a period of 19-20 Ma. Thus, subduction from - 55 km to 〉 160 km deep mantle depth took place at rates of approximately 9.5-10.5 km/Ma and exhumation from depths 〉160 km to the base of the crust at -30 km occurred at approximately 6.5 km/Ma. We propose a model for these rocks involving deep subduction of continental margin lithosphere followed by ultrafast exhumation driven by buoyancy forces after break-off of the UHP slab deep within the mantle.展开更多
Background: Marbling, or intramuscular fat, is an important factor contributing to the palatability of beef. Vitamin A, through its active metabolite, retinoic acid, promotes the formation of new fat cells(adipogenesi...Background: Marbling, or intramuscular fat, is an important factor contributing to the palatability of beef. Vitamin A, through its active metabolite, retinoic acid, promotes the formation of new fat cells(adipogenesis). As intramuscular adipogenesis is active during the neonatal stage, we hypothesized that vitamin A administration during the neonatal stage would enhance intramuscular adipogenesis and marbling.Methods: Angus steer calves(n = 30), in a completely randomized design, were randomly allotted to three treatment groups at birth, receiving 0, 150,000, or 300,000 IU of vitamin A at both birth and one month of age.A biopsy of the biceps femoris muscle was collected at two months of age. After weaning at 210 d of age, steers were fed a backgrounding diet in a feedlot until 308 d of age, when they were transitioned to a high concentrate finishing diet and implanted with trenbolone/estradiol/tylosin mixture. Steers were harvested at an average of 438 d of age. All diets were formulated to meet nutrient requirements.Results: Weaning weight and weight during the backgrounding phase were linearly increased(P < 0.05) by vitamin A level, though no difference in body weight was observed at harvest. Intramuscular fat of steers at 308 d of age, measured by ultrasound, quadratically increased(P < 0.05) with vitamin A level from 4.0±0.26 % to 4.9±0.26 %.Similarly, carcass marbling score in the ribeye quadratically increased(P < 0.05).Conclusion: Administration of vitamin A at birth increased weaning weight and enhanced marbling fat development.Thus, vitamin A administration provides a practical method for increasing marbling and early growth of beef cattle.展开更多
The Tashisayi nephrite deposit is located in South Altyn Tagh.in Qiemo County,Xinjiang Province,northwest China.It is a recent discovery in the vast,well-known Kunlun-Altyn nephrite belt distributed along the south of...The Tashisayi nephrite deposit is located in South Altyn Tagh.in Qiemo County,Xinjiang Province,northwest China.It is a recent discovery in the vast,well-known Kunlun-Altyn nephrite belt distributed along the south of the Tarim Basin,producing more than half of the nephrite from the whole belt in 2017.Field investigations revealed that it is a dolomitic marble-related(D-type)nephrite deposit,but little is known about its age of formation and relationships between the granites and marble.Here we report field investigations,petrography of the neph rite,as well as petrography,geochemistry,geochronology of the zoisite-quartz altered intrusive rock and adjacent granites.An A-type granite is identified with a SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age of 926±7 Ma,suggesting it was emplaced in an extensional tectonic environment at that time.The altered intrusive rock has a cluster of U-Pb zircon age of 433±10 Ma.with similar trace element features to the A-type granite,suggesting it was formed in an extensional regime at this later time.Nephrite formed because of the metasomatism of dolomite marble by hydrothermal fluids.It is inferred that Ca^2+was released from the dolomitic marble by metasomatism forming Ca-rich fluids,which caused alteration of both the intrusive rocks(6.00-8.22 wt.%CaO)and granite(1.76-3.68 wt.%CaO)near the nephrite ore bodies.It is also inferred that Fe^2+from the granite migrated towards the dolomite marble.The fluids gave rise to the formation of Ca-minerals.such as zoisite,in the nephrite and altered intrusive rock,and epidote in the granite.Based on the contact relationships.similarity in hydrothermal processes,and consumption of Ca^2+,the Tashisayi nephrite is considered to have formed at the same time as the alteration of the intrusive rocks,i.e.~433 Ma.The geochronological similarity(~926 Ma.433 Ma)of South Altyn and North Qaidam may suggest that tectonically they belong to one single complex in the past,which was offset by the Altyn Tagh fault(ATF).The similar formation ages of the nephrites from Altyn Tagh(433 Ma)and the previously studied areas of West Kunlun(378-441 Ma)and East Kunlun(416 Ma)indicate that these nephrites formed during the closure of Proto-Tethys and in the accompanving post-collisional.extensional environment.展开更多
Acid mine drainage (AMD) with high concentrations of sulfates and metals is generated by the oxidation of sulfide beating wastes. CaCO3-rich marble cutting waste is a residual material produced by the cutting and po...Acid mine drainage (AMD) with high concentrations of sulfates and metals is generated by the oxidation of sulfide beating wastes. CaCO3-rich marble cutting waste is a residual material produced by the cutting and polishing of marble stone. In this study, the feasibility of using the marble cutting waste as an acid-neutralizing agent to inhibit AMD and immobilize heavy metals from copper flotation tailings (sul- fide-beating wastes) was investigated. Continuous-stirring shake-flask tests were conducted for 40 d, and the pH value, sulfate content, and dissolved metal content of the leachate were analyzed every 10 d to determine the effectiveness of the marble cutting waste as an acid neu- tralizer. For comparison, CaCO3 was also used as a neutralizing agent. The average pH value of the leachate was 2.1 at the beginning of the experiment (t = 0). In the experiment employing the marble cutting waste, the pH value of the leachate changed from 6.5 to 7.8, and the sul- fate and iron concentrations decreased from 4558 to 838 mg/L and from 536 to 0.01 mg/L, respectively, after 40 d. The marble cutting waste also removed more than 80wt% of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) from AMD generated by copper flotation tailings.展开更多
Four 16.7 km-long tunnels with diameters ranging from 12.4 to 14.6 m are now under construction at Jinping II hydropower station along the Yalong River.The tunnels pass through Triassic rocks below Jinping Mountain.Th...Four 16.7 km-long tunnels with diameters ranging from 12.4 to 14.6 m are now under construction at Jinping II hydropower station along the Yalong River.The tunnels pass through Triassic rocks below Jinping Mountain.The tunnels are characterized with high overburden,long alignment and complex geological conditions.Brittle failure in marble and squeezing in schist are the primary problems in tunnelling.This paper introduces the studies of laboratory tests on Jinping II marble as well as numerical prediction of excavation damaged zone (EDZ) of tunnel section in brittle marble and determination of reinforced concrete lining thickness for restraining time-dependent deformation in the schist tunnel section.Laboratory tests indicate that Jinping II marble presents a complex brittle-ductile-plastic transition behavior of post-peak response with increasing confining pressure.Such behavior can be described numerically with the Hoek-Brown model.The EDZ was calibrated and predicted using both fast Lagrangian analysis of continua (FLAC) and particle flow code (PFC).The predicted result of EDZ in sections with different qualities of rock mass under various overburden pressures is quite helpful in understanding EDZ characterization and support design.A power-law creep model was used to support the lining design,especially in determining the lining thickness.Field convergence measurement data over 19 months were used to calibrate the creep model properties,followed by a sensibility analysis of reinforced concrete lining thickness that was launched to present the maximum lining compressive stress.展开更多
Dynamic strength parameters are extensively used in mining engineering and rock mechanics.However,there are no widely accepted dynamic failure models for rocks.In this study,the dynamic punching shear strength,uniaxia...Dynamic strength parameters are extensively used in mining engineering and rock mechanics.However,there are no widely accepted dynamic failure models for rocks.In this study,the dynamic punching shear strength,uniaxial compressive strength(UCS) and tensile strength of fine-grained Fangshan marble(FM)are first measured by using a split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB) system.The pulse-shaping technique is then implemented to maintain the dynamic force balance in SHPB tests.Experimental results show that the dynamic punching shear strength,UCS and tensile strength increase with the loading rate.A recently developed dynamic Mohr-Coulomb theory is then used to interpret the testing data.In this model,the angle of internal friction φ is assumed to be independent of loading rate and is obtained using the static strength values.According to the dynamic Mohr-Coulomb theory,the dynamic UCS and the dynamic tensile strength are predicted from the dynamic punching shear strength.Furthermore,based on this dynamic theory,the dynamic UCS is predicted from the dynamic tensile strength.The consistency between the predicted and measured dynamic strengths demonstrates that the dynamic Mohr-Coulomb theory is applicable to FM.展开更多
The mechanical behaviors of rocks affected by high temperature and stress are generally believed to be significant for the stability of certain projects involving rocks, such as nuclear waste storage and geothermal re...The mechanical behaviors of rocks affected by high temperature and stress are generally believed to be significant for the stability of certain projects involving rocks, such as nuclear waste storage and geothermal resource exploitation. In this paper, veined marble specimens were treated to high temperature treatment and then used in conventional triaxial compression tests to investigate the effect of temperature, confining pressure, and vein angle on strength and deformation behaviors. The results show that the strength and deformation parameters of the veined marble specimens changed with the temperature, presenting a critical temperature of 600 . The triaxial compression strength of a horizontal vein () is obviously larger than that of a vertical vein (). The triaxial compression strength, elasticity modulus, and secant modulus have an approximately linear relation to the confining pressure. Finally, Mohr-Coulomb and Hoek-Brown criteria were respectively used to analyze the effect of confining pressure on triaxial compression strength.展开更多
In th is study, th e m eso-failure m ech an ism an d fracture surface o f Jinping m arble w ere investigated bym ean s o f scanning electro n m icroscope (SEM) w ith ben d in g loading system and laser-scanner equip...In th is study, th e m eso-failure m ech an ism an d fracture surface o f Jinping m arble w ere investigated bym ean s o f scanning electro n m icroscope (SEM) w ith ben d in g loading system and laser-scanner equipment. The Y antang an d B aishan m arbles specim ens from Jinping II hyd ro p o w er sta tio n w ere used. Testresu lts show th a t th e fracture to u g h n ess and m echanical behaviors o f Y antang m arble w ere basicallyh ig h er th a n th o se o f Baishan m arble. This is m ainly d u e to th e fact th a t Baishan m arble co n tain s a largep ercen tag e o f d o lom ite an d m in o r mica. Crack pro p ag atio n p a th and fracture m orphology in d icated th a tth e d irection o f ten sile stress has a significant effect on th e m echanical behaviors an d fracture toughnesso f B aishan m arble. For Yantang an d B aishan m arbles, a large n u m b e r o f m icrocracks a ro u n d th e m aincrack tip w ere observed w h e n th e directio n o f ten sile stress w as parallel to th e bed d in g plane.C onversely, few m icrocracks o ccurred w h e n th e directio n o f ten sile stress w as p erp en d icu lar to th ebed d in g plane. The presen ce o f a large n u m b e r o f m icrocracks a t th e m ain crack tip d ecreased th e globalfracture to u g h n ess o f m arble. The results o f th re e -p o in t ben d in g te sts show ed th a t th e average bearingcapacity o f intact m arble is 3.4 tim es th e notch ed m arble, b u t th e ductility p ro p e rty o f th e defectivem arble afte r p eak load is b e tte r th a n th a t o f th e intact m arble. H ence, large d efo rm atio n m ay beg en erated before failure o f in tact m arbles a t Jinping II h y d ro p o w er station. The fractal d im en sio n o ffracture surface w as also calculated by th e cube covering m eth o d . O bservational resu lt show ed th a t th elargest fractal dim en sio n o f Y antang m arble is cap tu red w h e n th e directio n o f ten sile stress is parallel toth e bedding plane. H ow ever, th e fractal d im en sio n o f fracture surface o f Yantang an d Baishan m arblesw ith ten sile stress vertical to th e bed d in g plane is relatively sm all. The fractal d im en sio n can also be usedto characterize th e ro ughness o f fracture surface o f rock m aterials.展开更多
The shear failure of rocks under both a static triaxial stress and a dynamic disturbance is common in deep underground engineering and it is therefore essential for the design of underground engineering to quantitivel...The shear failure of rocks under both a static triaxial stress and a dynamic disturbance is common in deep underground engineering and it is therefore essential for the design of underground engineering to quantitively estimate the dynamic ModeⅡfracture toughness KⅡCof rocks under a triaxial stress state.However,the method for determining the dynamic KⅡCof rocks under a triaxial stress has not been developed yet.With an optimal sample preparation,the short core in compression(SCC)method was designed and verified in this study to measure the dynamic KⅡCof Fangshan marble(FM)subjected to different hydrostatic pressures through a triaxial dynamic testing system.The formula for calculating the dynamic KⅡCof the rock SCC specimen under hydrostatic pressures was obtained by using the finite element method in combination with secondary cracks.The experimental results indicate that the failure mode of the rock SCC specimen under a hydrostatic pressure is the shear fracture and the KⅡCof FM increases as the loading rate.In addition,at a given loading rate the dynamic rock KⅡCis barely affected by hydrostatic pressures.Another important observation is that the dynamic fracture energy of FM enhances with loading rates and hydrostatic pressures.展开更多
A new meso-mechanical testing scheme based on SEM was developed to carry out the experiment of microfracturing process of rocks. The microfracturing process of the pre-crack marble sample on surrounding rock in the im...A new meso-mechanical testing scheme based on SEM was developed to carry out the experiment of microfracturing process of rocks. The microfracturing process of the pre-crack marble sample on surrounding rock in the immerged Long-big tunnel in Jinping Cascade II Hydropower Station under uniaxial compression was recorded by using the testing scheme. According to the stereology theory, the propagation and coalescent of cracks at meso-scale were quantitatively investigated with digital technology. Therefore, the basic geometric information of rock microcracks such as area, angle, length, width, perimeter, was obtained from binary images after segmentation. The failure mechanism of specimen under uniaxial compression with the quantitative information was studied from macro and microscopic point of view. The results show that the image of microfracturing process of the specimen can be observed and recorded digitally. During the damage of the specimen, the distribution of microcracks in the specimen is still subjected to exponential distribution with some microcracks concentrated in certain regions. Finally, the change law of the fractal dimension of the local element in marble sample under different external load conditions is obtained by means of the statistical calculation of the fractal dimension.展开更多
文摘Marbling defined by the amount and distribution of intramuscular fat is regarded as an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. The pancreatic lipase gene (PNLIP) is located within the genomic region of a bovine marbling quantitative trait locus. The rat homologue of PNLIP has been previously shown to be regarded as a possible candidate for the gene responsible for intramuscular fat content. These findings suggested that PNLIP was a positional and functional candidate for the marbling gene. In this study, we detected a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), g.37288470A > G, at 1917 bp upstream of the PNLIP transcription initiation site between Holstein steers and somatic nuclear-derived cloned steers from a Japanese Black sire with a very high estimated breeding value for marbling by sequencing analysis. Further, we found statistically significant difference in the allelic distribution of the SNP between 17 Japanese Black unrelated sires with extremely high predicted breeding values for marbling and 17 sires with extremely low ones (P = 0.0332). Our findings suggest that g.37288470A > G SNP in the promoter region of PNLIP might be associated with marbling by altering its gene expression, and be useful for effective marker-assisted selection to increase the levels of marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle.
文摘Clonal organisms are particularly useful to investigate the contribution of epigenetics to phenotypic plasticity,because confounding effects of genetic variation are negligible.In the last decade,the apomictic parthenogenetic marbled crayfish,Procambarus virginalis,has been developed as a model to investigate the relationships between phenotypic plasticity and genetic and epigenetic diversity in detail.This crayfish originated about 30 years ago by autotriploidy from a single slough crayfish Procambarus fallax.As the result of human releases and active spreading,marbled crayfish has established numerous populations in very diverse habitats in 22 countries from the tropics to cold temperate regions.Studies in the laboratory and field revealed considerable plasticity in coloration,spination,morphometric parameters,growth,food preference,population structure,trophic position,and niche width.Illumina and PacBio whole-genome sequencing of marbled crayfish from representatives of 19 populations in Europe and Madagascar demonstrated extremely low genetic diversity within and among populations,indicating that the observed phenotypic diversity and ability to live in strikingly different environments are not due to adaptation by selection on genetic variation.In contrast,considerable differences were found between populations in the DNA methylation patterns of hundreds of genes,suggesting that the environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity is mediated by epigenetic mechanisms and corresponding changes in gene expression.Specific DNA methylation fingerprints persisted in local populations over successive years indicating the existence of epigenetic ecotypes,but there is presently no information as to whether these epigenetic signatures are transgenerationally inherited or established anew in each generation and whether the recorded phenotypic plasticity is adaptive or nonadaptive.
基金This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Fisheries Science(R2021040).
文摘An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal dietary protein level for juvenile marbled flounder.Five semi-purified test diets were formulated to contain different protein levels(CP)including 42.7%,47.4%,53.3%,58.8%,and 64.5%(dry matter),named as CP42.7,CP47.4,CP53.3,CP58.8,and CP64.5,respectively.Five hundred and twenty-five juveniles(6.0±0.1 g)were randomly distributed into 15 tanks(300 L tanks),resulting in 35 fish per tank(n-3 tanks).Fish were fed the test diets 5 times per day until satiation.The CP58.8 resulted in the highest gain in weight and the best efficiency in feed utilization among the tested protein levels(P<0.05).Fish fed the CP58.8 diet showed significantly higher whole-body protein and lipid contents than the fish that were fed the other diets(P<0.05).Fish fed the CP53.3,CP58.8,and CP64.5 diets showed a significantly higher dorsal-muscle lipid content than the fish that were fed the CP42.7 and CP47.4 diets(P<0.05).The one-slope straight broken-line regression analysis on the results of the thermal growth coefficient and feed conversion ratio indicated that the estimated optimum dietary protein level was 58.8%.Taken together,it is suggested that the dietary protein level of 58.8%is optimal for better growth and high efficiency in feed utilization for the juvenile marbled flounder.
基金supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants(No.2015-67015-23219 and 2016-68006-24634)from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
文摘Over the past few decades,genetic selection and refined nutritional management have extensively been used to increase the growth rate and lean meat production of livestock.However,the rapid growth rates of modern breeds are often accompanied by a reduction in intramuscular fat deposition and increased occurrences of muscle abnor‑malities,impairing meat quality and processing functionality.Early stages of animal development set the long‑term growth trajectory of offspring.However,due to the seasonal reproductive cycles of ruminant livestock,gestational nutrient deficiencies caused by seasonal variations,frequent droughts,and unfavorable geological locations nega‑tively affect fetal development and their subsequent production efficiency and meat quality.Therefore,enrolling live‑stock in nutritional intervention strategies during gestation is effective for improving the body composition and meat quality of the offspring at harvest.These crucial early developmental stages include embryonic,fetal,and postnatal stages,which have stage‑specific effects on subsequent offspring development,body composition,and meat quality.This review summarizes contemporary research in the embryonic,fetal,and neonatal development,and the impacts of maternal nutrition on the early development and programming effects on the long‑term growth performance of livestock.Understanding the developmental and metabolic characteristics of skeletal muscle,adipose,and fibrotic tissues will facilitate the development of stage‑specific nutritional management strategies to optimize production efficiency and meat quality.
文摘Marble is widely used in construction industry mainly in interior & exterior design of buildings due to its resilient physical, chemical & mechanical properties. The diverse geology of Gilgit Baltistan has naturally endowed this region with different varieties of marble deposits. These marble deposits need proper characterization to ensure their proper use in the construction industry. This research aims to conduct a preliminary study for the characterization of the Nasir Abad Hunza marble deposit. Samples from said deposit were subjected to different tests to study its chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Results of XRF analysis reveal that the deposit under study is dolomitic. The comparison of different physical properties of deposits with standard values confirms its originality. However, high variation in the strength of core samples was observed, which could result from incomplete crystallization by metamorphism. This variation in the strength of samples suggests strength-based definitions of deposit domains to propose the use of each domain separately.
文摘Marble is a metamorphic rock, which is one of the 3 basic rock types (magmatic, sedimentary, metamorphic) forming the earth’s crust. The major characteristic sought after in a rock mass in the field for it to be exportable and usable as marble is its suitability to be cut in blocks. In the process of producing marble slabs from marble blocks, the blocks are expected not to contain potentially problematic hard or weak zones and their geomechanical and chemical properties should conform to the relevant standards. Ignoring of the geological properties of the rock in the process of deciding for marble production at a marble site and determination of production location, direction and method is the most important parameter that would increase production loss. In order to reduce losses by determination of geological properties of marble, many academic studies have been conducted on the effects of water saturation, temperature, freezing and thawing on its mechanical and fracture properties. There are further studies on crack propagation in marble under stress. However, even those marble blocks that are obtained based on geological parameters may suffer serious cracks or fractures due to stresses caused by their weight and geometry. Therefore, cutting direction is of critical importance in order to minimize marble waste in the process of cutting a marble block which is brought to the inventory or processing site with cracks, cavities or fractures. Certain studies exist within such context, where the geometry of the discontinuity within a block is determined using non-destructive methods, such as ultrasonic testing, in order to determine the appropriate cutting direction. Such studies made use of ultrasonic waves to determine the physical and chemical structures of magmatic and sedimentary rocks by measuring the progress velocity of sonic waves in the rock. Said studies, however, mostly worked on sedimentary and magmatic rock specimens, focusing less on metamorphic rocks such as marble due to their anisotropic properties. Understanding the academic literature studies on marble would provide significant contribution to the reduction of production losses during the processing marble blocks in processing plants and the achievement of production efficiency levels that are within economic limits. Within such scope, this study has reviewed the past academic studies on marble, classified them under 6 categories, and comprehensively analyzed each category based on materials, testing setups, test specimens, test parameters and research techniques.
基金the National 973 Project of Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant No. 2003CB716502) the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40399143) +1 种基金 the German Science Foundation (DFG grant No. GE 1152/2-2 , WE2850/3- 1).
文摘Eclogite lenses in marbles from the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane are deeply subducted meta-sedimentary rocks. Zircons in these rocks have been used to constrain the ages of prograde and UHP metamorphism during subduction, and later retrograde metamorphism during exhumation. Inherited (detrital) and metamorphic zircons were distinguished on the basis of transmitted light microscopy, cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, trace element contents and mineral inclusions. The distribution of mineral inclusions combined with CL imaging of the metamorphic zircon make it possible to relate zircon zones (domains) to different metamorphic stages. Domain 1 consists of rounded, oblong and spindly cores with dark-luminescent images, and contains quartz eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under high-pressure (HP) metamorphic conditions of T = 571-668℃ and P =1.7-2.02 GPa. Domain 2 always surrounds domain 1 or occurs as rounded and spindly cores with white-luminescent images. It contains coesite eclogite facies mineral inclusion assemblages, indicating formation under UHP metamorphic conditions of T = 782-849℃ and P 〉 5.5 GPa. Domain 3, with gray-luminescent images, always surrounds domain 2 and occurs as the outermost zircon rim. It is characterized by low-pressure mineral inclusion assemblages, which are related to regional amphibolite facies retrograde metamorphism of T = 600- 710℃ and P = 0.7-1.2 GPa. The three metamorphic zircon domains have distinct ages; sample H1 from the Dabie terrane yielded SHRIMP ages of 245 ± 4 Ma for domain 1, 235 ± 3 Ma for domain 2 and 215± 6 Ma for domain 3, whereas sample H2 from the Sulu terrane yielded similar ages of 244 ± 4 Ma, 233 ± 4 Ma and 214 ± 5 Ma for Domains 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The mean ages of these zones suggest that subduction to UHP depths took place over 10-11 Ma and exhumation of the rocks occurred over a period of 19-20 Ma. Thus, subduction from - 55 km to 〉 160 km deep mantle depth took place at rates of approximately 9.5-10.5 km/Ma and exhumation from depths 〉160 km to the base of the crust at -30 km occurred at approximately 6.5 km/Ma. We propose a model for these rocks involving deep subduction of continental margin lithosphere followed by ultrafast exhumation driven by buoyancy forces after break-off of the UHP slab deep within the mantle.
基金supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants no.2015–67015-23219 and 2016–68006-24634 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
文摘Background: Marbling, or intramuscular fat, is an important factor contributing to the palatability of beef. Vitamin A, through its active metabolite, retinoic acid, promotes the formation of new fat cells(adipogenesis). As intramuscular adipogenesis is active during the neonatal stage, we hypothesized that vitamin A administration during the neonatal stage would enhance intramuscular adipogenesis and marbling.Methods: Angus steer calves(n = 30), in a completely randomized design, were randomly allotted to three treatment groups at birth, receiving 0, 150,000, or 300,000 IU of vitamin A at both birth and one month of age.A biopsy of the biceps femoris muscle was collected at two months of age. After weaning at 210 d of age, steers were fed a backgrounding diet in a feedlot until 308 d of age, when they were transitioned to a high concentrate finishing diet and implanted with trenbolone/estradiol/tylosin mixture. Steers were harvested at an average of 438 d of age. All diets were formulated to meet nutrient requirements.Results: Weaning weight and weight during the backgrounding phase were linearly increased(P < 0.05) by vitamin A level, though no difference in body weight was observed at harvest. Intramuscular fat of steers at 308 d of age, measured by ultrasound, quadratically increased(P < 0.05) with vitamin A level from 4.0±0.26 % to 4.9±0.26 %.Similarly, carcass marbling score in the ribeye quadratically increased(P < 0.05).Conclusion: Administration of vitamin A at birth increased weaning weight and enhanced marbling fat development.Thus, vitamin A administration provides a practical method for increasing marbling and early growth of beef cattle.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA20070304)the National Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41373055)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.2652016126)
文摘The Tashisayi nephrite deposit is located in South Altyn Tagh.in Qiemo County,Xinjiang Province,northwest China.It is a recent discovery in the vast,well-known Kunlun-Altyn nephrite belt distributed along the south of the Tarim Basin,producing more than half of the nephrite from the whole belt in 2017.Field investigations revealed that it is a dolomitic marble-related(D-type)nephrite deposit,but little is known about its age of formation and relationships between the granites and marble.Here we report field investigations,petrography of the neph rite,as well as petrography,geochemistry,geochronology of the zoisite-quartz altered intrusive rock and adjacent granites.An A-type granite is identified with a SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age of 926±7 Ma,suggesting it was emplaced in an extensional tectonic environment at that time.The altered intrusive rock has a cluster of U-Pb zircon age of 433±10 Ma.with similar trace element features to the A-type granite,suggesting it was formed in an extensional regime at this later time.Nephrite formed because of the metasomatism of dolomite marble by hydrothermal fluids.It is inferred that Ca^2+was released from the dolomitic marble by metasomatism forming Ca-rich fluids,which caused alteration of both the intrusive rocks(6.00-8.22 wt.%CaO)and granite(1.76-3.68 wt.%CaO)near the nephrite ore bodies.It is also inferred that Fe^2+from the granite migrated towards the dolomite marble.The fluids gave rise to the formation of Ca-minerals.such as zoisite,in the nephrite and altered intrusive rock,and epidote in the granite.Based on the contact relationships.similarity in hydrothermal processes,and consumption of Ca^2+,the Tashisayi nephrite is considered to have formed at the same time as the alteration of the intrusive rocks,i.e.~433 Ma.The geochronological similarity(~926 Ma.433 Ma)of South Altyn and North Qaidam may suggest that tectonically they belong to one single complex in the past,which was offset by the Altyn Tagh fault(ATF).The similar formation ages of the nephrites from Altyn Tagh(433 Ma)and the previously studied areas of West Kunlun(378-441 Ma)and East Kunlun(416 Ma)indicate that these nephrites formed during the closure of Proto-Tethys and in the accompanving post-collisional.extensional environment.
文摘Acid mine drainage (AMD) with high concentrations of sulfates and metals is generated by the oxidation of sulfide beating wastes. CaCO3-rich marble cutting waste is a residual material produced by the cutting and polishing of marble stone. In this study, the feasibility of using the marble cutting waste as an acid-neutralizing agent to inhibit AMD and immobilize heavy metals from copper flotation tailings (sul- fide-beating wastes) was investigated. Continuous-stirring shake-flask tests were conducted for 40 d, and the pH value, sulfate content, and dissolved metal content of the leachate were analyzed every 10 d to determine the effectiveness of the marble cutting waste as an acid neu- tralizer. For comparison, CaCO3 was also used as a neutralizing agent. The average pH value of the leachate was 2.1 at the beginning of the experiment (t = 0). In the experiment employing the marble cutting waste, the pH value of the leachate changed from 6.5 to 7.8, and the sul- fate and iron concentrations decreased from 4558 to 838 mg/L and from 536 to 0.01 mg/L, respectively, after 40 d. The marble cutting waste also removed more than 80wt% of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) from AMD generated by copper flotation tailings.
基金Support by the China Postdoctor Fund (20100471757)
文摘Four 16.7 km-long tunnels with diameters ranging from 12.4 to 14.6 m are now under construction at Jinping II hydropower station along the Yalong River.The tunnels pass through Triassic rocks below Jinping Mountain.The tunnels are characterized with high overburden,long alignment and complex geological conditions.Brittle failure in marble and squeezing in schist are the primary problems in tunnelling.This paper introduces the studies of laboratory tests on Jinping II marble as well as numerical prediction of excavation damaged zone (EDZ) of tunnel section in brittle marble and determination of reinforced concrete lining thickness for restraining time-dependent deformation in the schist tunnel section.Laboratory tests indicate that Jinping II marble presents a complex brittle-ductile-plastic transition behavior of post-peak response with increasing confining pressure.Such behavior can be described numerically with the Hoek-Brown model.The EDZ was calibrated and predicted using both fast Lagrangian analysis of continua (FLAC) and particle flow code (PFC).The predicted result of EDZ in sections with different qualities of rock mass under various overburden pressures is quite helpful in understanding EDZ characterization and support design.A power-law creep model was used to support the lining design,especially in determining the lining thickness.Field convergence measurement data over 19 months were used to calibrate the creep model properties,followed by a sensibility analysis of reinforced concrete lining thickness that was launched to present the maximum lining compressive stress.
基金provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)through the Discovery Grant No.72031326
文摘Dynamic strength parameters are extensively used in mining engineering and rock mechanics.However,there are no widely accepted dynamic failure models for rocks.In this study,the dynamic punching shear strength,uniaxial compressive strength(UCS) and tensile strength of fine-grained Fangshan marble(FM)are first measured by using a split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB) system.The pulse-shaping technique is then implemented to maintain the dynamic force balance in SHPB tests.Experimental results show that the dynamic punching shear strength,UCS and tensile strength increase with the loading rate.A recently developed dynamic Mohr-Coulomb theory is then used to interpret the testing data.In this model,the angle of internal friction φ is assumed to be independent of loading rate and is obtained using the static strength values.According to the dynamic Mohr-Coulomb theory,the dynamic UCS and the dynamic tensile strength are predicted from the dynamic punching shear strength.Furthermore,based on this dynamic theory,the dynamic UCS is predicted from the dynamic tensile strength.The consistency between the predicted and measured dynamic strengths demonstrates that the dynamic Mohr-Coulomb theory is applicable to FM.
基金supported by the National Basic Research 973 Program of China (Grant 2013CB036003)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 51579239, 51323004, and 41572263)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant 2016M590518)
文摘The mechanical behaviors of rocks affected by high temperature and stress are generally believed to be significant for the stability of certain projects involving rocks, such as nuclear waste storage and geothermal resource exploitation. In this paper, veined marble specimens were treated to high temperature treatment and then used in conventional triaxial compression tests to investigate the effect of temperature, confining pressure, and vein angle on strength and deformation behaviors. The results show that the strength and deformation parameters of the veined marble specimens changed with the temperature, presenting a critical temperature of 600 . The triaxial compression strength of a horizontal vein () is obviously larger than that of a vertical vein (). The triaxial compression strength, elasticity modulus, and secant modulus have an approximately linear relation to the confining pressure. Finally, Mohr-Coulomb and Hoek-Brown criteria were respectively used to analyze the effect of confining pressure on triaxial compression strength.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51374215)Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation (No. 142018)+1 种基金Beijing Major Scientific and Technological Achievements into Ground Cultivation Project, the 111 Project (B14006)the National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of China (No. 201030)
文摘In th is study, th e m eso-failure m ech an ism an d fracture surface o f Jinping m arble w ere investigated bym ean s o f scanning electro n m icroscope (SEM) w ith ben d in g loading system and laser-scanner equipment. The Y antang an d B aishan m arbles specim ens from Jinping II hyd ro p o w er sta tio n w ere used. Testresu lts show th a t th e fracture to u g h n ess and m echanical behaviors o f Y antang m arble w ere basicallyh ig h er th a n th o se o f Baishan m arble. This is m ainly d u e to th e fact th a t Baishan m arble co n tain s a largep ercen tag e o f d o lom ite an d m in o r mica. Crack pro p ag atio n p a th and fracture m orphology in d icated th a tth e d irection o f ten sile stress has a significant effect on th e m echanical behaviors an d fracture toughnesso f B aishan m arble. For Yantang an d B aishan m arbles, a large n u m b e r o f m icrocracks a ro u n d th e m aincrack tip w ere observed w h e n th e directio n o f ten sile stress w as parallel to th e bed d in g plane.C onversely, few m icrocracks o ccurred w h e n th e directio n o f ten sile stress w as p erp en d icu lar to th ebed d in g plane. The presen ce o f a large n u m b e r o f m icrocracks a t th e m ain crack tip d ecreased th e globalfracture to u g h n ess o f m arble. The results o f th re e -p o in t ben d in g te sts show ed th a t th e average bearingcapacity o f intact m arble is 3.4 tim es th e notch ed m arble, b u t th e ductility p ro p e rty o f th e defectivem arble afte r p eak load is b e tte r th a n th a t o f th e intact m arble. H ence, large d efo rm atio n m ay beg en erated before failure o f in tact m arbles a t Jinping II h y d ro p o w er station. The fractal d im en sio n o ffracture surface w as also calculated by th e cube covering m eth o d . O bservational resu lt show ed th a t th elargest fractal dim en sio n o f Y antang m arble is cap tu red w h e n th e directio n o f ten sile stress is parallel toth e bedding plane. H ow ever, th e fractal d im en sio n o f fracture surface o f Yantang an d Baishan m arblesw ith ten sile stress vertical to th e bed d in g plane is relatively sm all. The fractal d im en sio n can also be usedto characterize th e ro ughness o f fracture surface o f rock m aterials.
基金supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)(No.72031326)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52079091)+2 种基金supported by Academy of Finland under Grant No.322518supported by the opening project of State Key Laboratory of Explosion Science and Technology(Beijing Institute of Technology)The opening project number is KFJJ20-01M。
文摘The shear failure of rocks under both a static triaxial stress and a dynamic disturbance is common in deep underground engineering and it is therefore essential for the design of underground engineering to quantitively estimate the dynamic ModeⅡfracture toughness KⅡCof rocks under a triaxial stress state.However,the method for determining the dynamic KⅡCof rocks under a triaxial stress has not been developed yet.With an optimal sample preparation,the short core in compression(SCC)method was designed and verified in this study to measure the dynamic KⅡCof Fangshan marble(FM)subjected to different hydrostatic pressures through a triaxial dynamic testing system.The formula for calculating the dynamic KⅡCof the rock SCC specimen under hydrostatic pressures was obtained by using the finite element method in combination with secondary cracks.The experimental results indicate that the failure mode of the rock SCC specimen under a hydrostatic pressure is the shear fracture and the KⅡCof FM increases as the loading rate.In addition,at a given loading rate the dynamic rock KⅡCis barely affected by hydrostatic pressures.Another important observation is that the dynamic fracture energy of FM enhances with loading rates and hydrostatic pressures.
基金Projects(50674040, 50539090) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(CX07B_128z) supported by the Cultivate Creative Postgraduate Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China
文摘A new meso-mechanical testing scheme based on SEM was developed to carry out the experiment of microfracturing process of rocks. The microfracturing process of the pre-crack marble sample on surrounding rock in the immerged Long-big tunnel in Jinping Cascade II Hydropower Station under uniaxial compression was recorded by using the testing scheme. According to the stereology theory, the propagation and coalescent of cracks at meso-scale were quantitatively investigated with digital technology. Therefore, the basic geometric information of rock microcracks such as area, angle, length, width, perimeter, was obtained from binary images after segmentation. The failure mechanism of specimen under uniaxial compression with the quantitative information was studied from macro and microscopic point of view. The results show that the image of microfracturing process of the specimen can be observed and recorded digitally. During the damage of the specimen, the distribution of microcracks in the specimen is still subjected to exponential distribution with some microcracks concentrated in certain regions. Finally, the change law of the fractal dimension of the local element in marble sample under different external load conditions is obtained by means of the statistical calculation of the fractal dimension.