Comparative Expression Profiling of Lactogenic Hormone Receptor and It’s Signaling Molecules of Bovine Mammary Glands during lactation

Milk synthesis is known to be modulated by peptide hormones such as prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Previous studies suggested that PRL and IGF-I acted directly on mammary epithelial cells and were involved in lactation. Meanwhile, GH is thought to be indirectly involved in lactation by stimulating the secretion of IGF-I. It is controversial as growth hormone receptors (GHR) is expressed in the mammary epithelial cells. In order to clarify whether GH acted directly on mammary gland tissue, we investigated the prolactin receptors (PRLR), IGF-I receptors (IGF-IR), and GHR as well as the gene expression levels of the downstream signaling molecule for each receptor in the mammary gland tissue of Holstein cows during different stages of lactation. The results revealed that the mRNA expressions of PRLR and IGF-IR were highest during early lactation, and the mRNA expression of the GHR was highest during mid-lactation. We also found that the expression profiling of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) genes was similar to that of the GHR gene. On the other hand, the expression profiling of the PRLR gene was similar to that of the SHP2 gene. These results suggest that GH acts on the mammary glands directly, milk synthesis and secretion are chiefly stimulated in mid-lactation, and the timing of the action is different for PRL and IGF-I.

Cultivation of <i>Flammulina velutipes</i>on Modified Substrate Using Fermented Apple Pomace

In present study, a cultivation experiment was performed on modified substrates for the Flammulina velutipes, which contains 0% (control group), 4.8% (S group), 9.6% (M group) and 14.4% (L group) of fermented apple pomace (FAP) substituting corncob on a dry matter basis. The pH of all substrates was maintained at the required level, although the pH of FAP was low (3.9). Addition of FAP affected the mycelial growth and full colonizing in test groups to a minor degree, but extended the period by one day in L group. The initiations of fruit bodies were extended in all FAP groups by one day, but there was a little difference in terms of total cultivation time duration among groups due to FAP groups showing raise of growth rates in later phase. The effect of FAP on fruit bodies yield was observed clearly: the yield has the positive correlation with increasing levels of FAP. Fruit bodies showed little difference concerning Brix degree, proximate composition, and organic acid profile among groups. In conclusion, it is suggested that FAP can be used as an alternative to corncobs as a F. velutipes substrates raw material.

Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Nucleate Pool Boiling in Saturated Liquid

A thermal lattice Boltzmann method(LBM)for two-phase fluid flows in nucleate pool boiling process is proposed.In the present method,a new function for heat transfer is introduced to the isothermal LBM for two-phase immiscible fluids with large density differences.The calculated temperature is substituted into the pressure tensor,which is used for the calculation of an order parameter representing two phases so that bubbles can be formed by nucleate boiling.By using this method,twodimensional simulations of nucleate pool boiling by a heat source on a solid wall are carried out with the boundary condition for a constant heat flux.The flow characteristics and temperature distribution in the nucleate pool boiling process are obtained.It is seen that a bubble nucleation is formed at first and then the bubble grows and leaves the wall,finally going up with deformation by the buoyant effect.In addition,the effects of the gravity and the surface wettability on the bubble diameter at departure are numerically investigated.The calculated results are in qualitative agreement with other theoretical predictions with available experimental data.

Three-Dimensional Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Two-Phase Flow Containing a Deformable Body with a Viscoelastic Membrane

The lattice Boltzmann method(LBM)with an elastic model is applied to the simulation of two-phase flows containing a deformable body with a viscoelastic membrane.The numerical method is based on the LBM for incompressible two-phase fluid flows with the same density.The body has an internal fluid covered by a viscoelastic membrane of a finite thickness.An elastic model is introduced to the LBM in order to determine the elastic forces acting on the viscoelastic membrane of the body.In the present method,we take account of changes in surface area of the membrane and in total volume of the body as well as shear deformation of the membrane.By using this method,we calculate two problems,the behavior of an initially spherical body under shear flow and the motion of a body with initially spherical or biconcave discoidal shape in square pipe flow.Calculated deformations of the body(the Taylor shape parameter)for various shear rates are in good agreement with other numerical results.Moreover,tank-treading motion,which is a characteristic motion of viscoelastic bodies in shear flows,is simulated by the present method.