Highly metastatic ovarian yolk sac carcinoma in a rat

We investigated a highly metastatic ovarian yolk sac carcinoma in a 52-week-old female Crl:CD(SD) rat. Macroscopically, the present case had severe ascites, bilateral ovarian masses and numerous nodules in the abdominal and thoracic cavities. Histopathologically, these masses and nodules were generally composed of two types of cells mimicking a parietal and visceral yolk sac. The parietal cells were round to polygonal, contained eosinophilic droplets and were arranged in nests and cords in the eosinophilic matrix. Both the intracytoplasmic droplets and the matrix were stained positively with PAS. The visceral cells were cylindriform, and proliferated in papillary and tubular patterns and occasionally formed Shiller-Duval body-like structures. In the dissemination sites, the neoplastic cells proliferated on the surface of the various tissues and often infiltrated into deeper parts of the tissues. Immunohistochemically, both neoplastic cells were positive for α-fetoprotein and keratin, and the eosinophilic matrix was positive for laminin. Ultrastructurally, the parietal cells had dilated rough endoplasmic reticulums, which were filled with electron-lucent laminated structures. The visceral cells had poorly to moderately developed intracytoplasmic organelles and were interconnected with desmosomes. Taken together, the present tumor was diagnosed as yolk sac carcinoma arising from the ovary and was characterized by not only high metastasis but also invasive infiltration with biphasic proliferation of the parietal and visceral cells.     

Classification of the genus Bacillus based on MALDI-TOF MS analysis of ribosomal proteins coded in S10 and spc operons

A rapid bacterial identification method by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) using ribosomal proteins coded in S10 and spc operons as biomarkers, named the S10-GERMS (the S10-spc-alpha operon gene encoded ribosomal protein mass spectrum) method, was applied for the genus Bacillus a Gram-positive bacterium. The S10-GERMS method could successfully distinguish the difference between B. subtilis subsp. subtilis NBRC 13719(T) and B. subtilis subsp. spizizenii NBRC 101239(T) because of the mass difference of 2 ribosomal subunit proteins, despite the difference of only 2 bases in the 16S rRNA gene between them. The 8 selected reliable and reproducible ribosomal subunit proteins without disturbance of S/N level on MALDI-TOF MS analysis, S10, S14, S19, L18, L22, L24, L29, and L30, coded in S10 and spc operons were significantly useful biomarkers for rapid bacterial classification at species and strain levels by the S10-GERMS method of genus Bacillus strains without purification of ribosomal proteins.     

Crystalline clay minerals of the soils derived from recent volcanic ashes in Hokkaido,Japan

For the past ten years much work has been carried out on clay minerals of volcanic ash soils. Most investigators have reported that allophane is dominant among clay minerals of volcanic ash soils and crystallizes to halloysite or meta-halloysite with the advance of weathering (1–8). On the other hand, UCHIYAMA, MASUI and ONIKURA (1960) found that montmorillonite predominates in the clay fraction of volcanic ash soil in Kawatabi (9). Furthermore, MASUI, SHOJI and UCHIYAMA (1966) showed that the major crystalline clay minerals of volcanic ash soils in the Tohoku district are montmorillonite, vermiculite, intergradient montmorillonite-vermiculite and chlorite (10). They also showed that these minerals increase with the advance of weathering and that kaolin minerals are minor constituents.     

Analysis of regulation site and manner of abundant nodulation in a soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivar,kitantusunte, using grafting techniques

To characterize the regulation site and manner of the abundant nodulation in the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cv. Kitamusume, three grafting eperiments were carried out as follows: reciprocal wedge grafting and inter-cultivar approach grafting between Kitamusume and a normal nodulating cultivar, Toyosuzu, as well as wedge grafting of scions of the supernodulating mutant En6500 onto either Kitamusume or Toyosuzu rootstock. In the reciprocal wedge grafting, the number of nodules per shoot dry weight and average weight per nodule in the grafted plants were consistent with those exhibited by the genotype of their rootstocks. Approach grafting did not affect the number of nodules per shoot dry weight on either side of the inter-cultivar approachgrafted plant. Although grafting of the mutant scion resulted in the loss of the autoregulatory response from the roots of both cultivars, difference in the number of nodules per g shoot dry weight still remained between the two cultivars. These results suggested that the abundant nodulation in Kitamusume is controlled by the root in a non-systemic manner and is independent of the autoregulation mechanism.     

Quantitative evaluation of the degree of sprout leaf bending of rice cultivars using P-type Fourier descriptors and principal component analysis

For decades, seedling peaches have been used as the standard rootstock in California almond orchards. Vigorous, deep rooted trees are needed in almond orchards for maximum yields and to withstand the annual tree-shaking at harvest. Currently, researchers are actively evaluating rootstocks for almonds in field trials and in various screening protocols. In this study, seedling rootstocks, obtained from male-sterile advanced generation peach-almond (PEAL) hybrid mother trees, were compared with ‘Nemaguard’ peach seedlings for emergence in the nursery row, trunk caliper at propagation time, and end of season dormant above ground tree weight. Seedling emergence was affected significantly (P ≤ 0.05) by seed source, as was trunk caliper and end of season dormant above ground tree weight. Trunk caliper and dormant above ground tree weight were also affected significantly (P ≤ 0.05) by planting year. Results obtained in this study demonstrate the enhanced first year growth from seedlings of advanced generation PEAL hybrids, as compared to ‘Nemaguard’ seedlings. Seedling emergence in the rootstock bed was not affected significantly by planting year. Advanced generation PEAL hybrid seedlings were ready for June-budding at an earlier date compared to ‘Nemaguard’ seedlings, providing the potential for larger-sized finished nursery stock by the end of the growing season. Due to the male-sterile status of the advanced generation PEAL mother trees, bloom periods of several root-knot nematode resistant rootstock cultivars were examined for their degree of synchronicity with the mother trees. The examined rootstocks and mother trees varied in both chill hour and post-chill heat requirements necessary to effect bloom. ‘Flordaguard’ peach rootstock began bloom in advance of the male-sterile mother trees, whereas the bloom period of ‘Tsukuba No. 4’ occurred well after, suggesting they would not be effective synchronous pollenizers for consistent hybrid seed production. Based on more limited flowering period data, better bloom synchronicity was achieved with a Tsukuba No. 4 X Flordaguard hybrid.     

Recreational fishery as a conservation tool for endemic Dolly Varden <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus malma miyabei</Emphasis> in Lake Shikaribetsu,Japan

Recreational angling is a popular leisure activity globally and can be a threat or useful conservation tool depending on the management strategy. Miyabe charr Salvelinus malma miyabei is an endemic fish that inhabits Lake Shikaribetsu, and a management program was established to harmonise recreational fishery and conservation. To examine the suitability of this program, population assessment was conducted with the cooperation of anglers. The population size in 2014 as assessed by tag-and-release angling was estimated to be 105,300 [95% confidence interval (CI) 37,300–178,600], much higher than the reported estimate in 1995. Further, angling mortality was estimated to be quite low. Moreover, no decreasing population trend was detected on analysing 8 years of anglers’ catch data. Consequently, angling has facilitated stock assessments of Miyabe charr under the current program. This case is a good example of recreational angling acting as a conservation tool under appropriate management.     

Effects of rumen‐protected methionine on milk production in early lactation dairy cattle fed with a diet containing 14.5% crude protein

We evaluated the influence on milk production of feeding early lactation cows a diet that included 14.5% crude protein (CP) and that did not meet methionine (Met) requirements or that met them by supplying rumen‐protected Met (RPMet). Thirty‐nine multiparous Holstein cows were allocated into two groups. For 15 weeks after calving, each group was fed one of the two total mixed rations, Control (n = 20) or Treatment (n = 19). The Treatment group received added RPMet at 0.034% (8 g/day) of the Control diet on dry matter basis. The adequacies of Met for the Control and Treatment groups were 96% and 106%, respectively, and for other amino acids, >110%. The CP level (14.5%) was 1 percentage point lower than that recommended by the Japanese Feeding Standard (2006). No between‐group differences were found in milk yield (40 kg/day), milk composition, plasma profile, rumen fermentation, nitrogen balance, or cow health. Met intake and the amount of rumen‐undegradable feed Met were higher in the Treatment group (p < 0.05). Microbial Met and total metabolizable Met did not differ between groups. Supplying RPMet in a 14.5% CP diet during early lactation did not dramatically affect milk production, because the amount of total metabolizable Met was unchanged.     

Dairy cattle behavior classifications based on decision tree learning using 3‐axis neck‐mounted accelerometers

Demand has been increasing recently for an automated monitoring system of animal behavior as a tool for the management of livestock animals. This study investigated the association between the behavior of dairy cattle and the acceleration data collected using three‐axis neck‐mounted accelerometers, as well as the feasibility of improving the precision of behavior classifications through machine learning. In total 38 Holstein dairy cows were used, and kept in four different farms. A logger was mounted to each collar to obtain acceleration data for calculating the activity level and variations. At the same time the behavior of the cattle was observed visually. Characteristic acceleration waves were recorded for eating, rumination, and lying, respectively; and the activity level and variations were significantly different among these behaviors (p < 0.01). Decision tree learning was performed on the data set from Farm A and validated its precision; which proved to be 99.2% in cross‐validation, and 100% in test data sets from Farms B to D. This study showed that highly precise classifications for eating, rumination, and lying is possible by using decision tree learning to calculate the activity level and variations of cattle based on the data obtained by three‐axis accelerometers mounted to a collar.