Salmon gonadotropes secrete free form alpha (α)-subunit: quantitative analysis by the sandwich cell immunoblot assay

The sandwich cell immunoblot assay confirmed that salmon LH-cells secreted the free form α-subunit along with the dimeric LH, but lower in amounts than the LH.     

Determination of primary structure of amberjack myosin heavy chain and its relationship with structural stability of various fish myosin rods

The structural stability of fish myosin depends upon species and temperatures of water in which fish live. Primary, secondary, and quaternary structures of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) from three species of fish living at different temperature ranges have been compared with those of rabbit MyHC in order to investigate the differences in stability. Primary structure of MyHC, although being accessible for warm-water and cold-water fish (carp and walleye pollack), was not available in previous for tropical-water fish literature; so in this study primary structure of MyHC of the tropical-water fish amberjack has been determined by cloning and sequencing its cDNA. The MyHC has 1938 amino acid residues (AA), which are almost as much as as those of carp and walleye pollack. The amberjack MyHC is 91–95% homologous with other fish and rabbit MyHCs. There is a discernible difference between animal species with stable myosin rod (amberjack, carp, and rabbit) and walleye pollack with unstable rod. Stable rod species have a high probability of forming coiled-coil around the COOH-terminal end of the rod, while the pollack has a low coiled-coil formation probability. In addition, the average scores of the coiled-coil for myosin rod were rabbit (1.738) > amberjack (1.691) > carp (1.680) > walleye pollack (1.674) which correlated exactly with the observed stability. The results suggest that coiled-coil forming ability, particularly around the COOH-terminal end, directs structural stability of fish myosin rod.     

Comparison of N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and three cardiac biomarkers for discriminatory ability of clinical stage in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

Plasma N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP) concentration increases with progression of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs. This multicentre, prospective study compared plasma NT-proANP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), ANP, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in dogs with MMVD for their characteristics and discriminatory ability to detect cardiac dilatation and congestive heart failure (CHF). Thirty-six healthy dogs and 69 dogs with MMVD were included. Clinical variables were obtained via physical examination, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. The discriminatory ability of each cardiac biomarker (CB) to determine the presence or absence of cardiac dilatation (event 1) and CHF (event 2) was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curves. Plasma NT-proANP, NT-proBNP, and ANP concentrations showed a significant association with the left atrium/aorta ratio (P<0.01). The area under the curve of plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations were 0.72 and 0.75, respectively in event1 and 0.72 and 0.76, respectively in event2. Plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations showed sensitivity 80.0 and 80.0%; specificity 67.6 and 64.7% in event1 (cutoff value; 8,497.81 pg/ml and 1,453.00 pmol/l, respectively) and sensitivity 85.7 and 81.0%; specificity 60.4 and 64.6% in event2 (cutoff value; 8,684.33 pg/ml and 1,772.00 pmol/l, respectively). In dogs with MMVD, plasma NT-proANP, NT-proBNP, and ANP concentrations increase with left atrial enlargement. Particularly, plasma NT-proANP and NT-proBNP concentrations appeared to be equally useful in the discriminatory ability to detect cardiac dilatation and CHF.     

A survey of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from wild sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Japan

We examined the antimicrobial susceptibility of 848 Escherichia coli isolates from 237 feces samples of wild sika deer (Cervus nippon) captured between 2016 and 2019 in 39 of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Five of the 237 wild sika deer (2.1%) carried E. coli with resistance to at least one antimicrobial, and all the resistant isolates showed resistance to tetracycline. The resistant isolates contained antimicrobial resistance genes that were similar to those in E. coli derived from humans and farm animals. Although wild sika deer are not currently likely to be a source for the transmission of antimicrobial resistance in Japan, they can potentially mediate antimicrobial resistance spread by coming into contact with humans, animals, and their surroundings.     

The Use of Bacillus Licheniformis HA1 To Accelerate Composting of Organic Wastes

The effect of Bacillus licheniformis HA1 cell density on the acceleration of organic waste composting was tested in a bench-scale composting system utilizing a process limit temperature of 60°C. Variables measured during composting were CO₂ evolution rate, conversion of substrate carbon and pH. When an initial cell density of 2.0×10⁴ cfu/g-dry solid was used, the strain HA1 increased in number and prevented the decrease in pH during the early stage of composting. This resulted in enhanced populations of other thermophiles and increased the rate of organic matter decomposition. By contrast, no effect was observed at a lower cell density of HA1. It was found that the minimum cell density of HA1 to accelerate organic decomposition was around 10⁴-10⁵ cfu/g dry solid of raw material.     

Studies on the effect of humic acid on availability of phosphorus

It is believed that some organic compounds form complexes with iron and aluminum and prevent the fixation of phosphate applied to soils.     

Foliar absorption of nutrients IV

Active surface agents are often added to spray solutions to facilitate the uniform wetting and coveringg of the leaf surfaces^1),2). Some have reported that the addition of active surface agents increased the absorption of nutrients, but others have reported different results.     

Nucleic acids in the culture fluids of Rhodopseudomonas capsulatus and other heterotrophic bacteria

In previous papers (1,2), it was reported that in cultures of R. capsulatus mixed with other heterotrophic bacteria nitrogen fixation is accelerated and there is some production of slime substances (3), exchange of pyruvic acid (4–6), amino acids, carbohydrates (7) and others in these mixed systems. There is also symbiotic association between R. capsulatus and other heterotrophic bacteria (Azotobacter) in nature (8).     

ABSTRACTS of the Articles Printed in Journal of the Science of Soil and Manure,Japan

In the preceding paper (1), it was reported that even under aerobic shaking conditions, if R. capsulatus were mixed with Bacillus megaterium, the bacterial growth of both and nitrogen fixation were accelerated remarkably.