Variation in heading date conceals quantitative trait loci for other traits of importance in breeding selection of rice

To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the primary target traits for selection in practical rice breeding programs, backcross inbred lines (BILs) derived from crosses between temperate japonica rice cultivars Nipponbare and Koshihikari were evaluated for 50 agronomic traits at six experimental fields located throughout Japan. Thirty-three of the 50 traits were significantly correlated with heading date. Using a linkage map including 647 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), a total of 122 QTLs for 38 traits were mapped on all rice chromosomes except chromosomes 5 and 9. Fifty-eight of the 122 QTLs were detected near the heading date QTLs Hd16 and Hd17 and the remaining 64 QTLs were found in other chromosome regions. QTL analysis of 51 BILs having homozygous for the Koshihikari chromosome segments around Hd16 and Hd17 allowed us to detect 40 QTLs associated with 27 traits; 23 of these QTLs had not been detected in the original analysis. Among the 97 QTLs for the 30 traits measured in multiple environments, the genotype-by-environment interaction was significant for 44 QTLs and not significant for 53 QTLs. These results led us to propose a new selection strategy to improve agronomic performance in temperate japonica rice cultivars.     

The oral administration of thermophile-fermented compost extract and its influence on stillbirths and growth rate of pre-weaning piglets

Food produced via fermentation with mesophilic bacteria has been used to confer health benefits. In contrast, mammalian physiological responses to the intake of thermophile-fermented products have not been thoroughly investigated. We examined the effects of administering a compost extract consisting of fermented marine animals with thermophiles, including Bacillaceae, to pregnant sows and piglets. Retrospective studies were performed on two different swine farms (n=330-1050 sows). The rate of stillbirth was markedly lower in all parities of the compost extract-fed group compared to those of the control group (p≦0.001). Additionally, the birth to weaning period of newborns was significantly shorter (p<0.0001), while the ratio of weanlings per liveborn piglets was increased by more than 6.5% in the compost extract-fed group. Thus thermophiles and their products in the compost extract might promote growth and reduce stillbirths of piglets during the birth to weaning period.     

Efficacy of a single intravenous dose of the neuraminidase inhibitor peramivir in the treatment of equine influenza

Equine influenza A virus (EIV) of the H3N8 subtype is an important pathogen causing acute respiratory disease in horses. Peramivir is a selective inhibitor of the influenza virus neuraminidase (NA). The characteristics of peramivir are not only its capacity for parenteral administration, but also its strong affinity for NA and slow off-rate from the NA-peramivir complex, suggesting that it could lead to a prolonged inhibitory effect and thus allow a lower dosing frequency. The aims of this study were to evaluate the inhibitory efficacy of peramivir against the NA activities of EIV in vitro and the treatment efficacy of a single intravenous dose of peramivir in horses experimentally infected with EIV. Peramivir inhibited the activities of NA from the seven contemporary EIV strains in vitro, with 50% inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.10 to 0.20nmol/L. Horses treated with a single IV dose of peramivir (3000mg/600mL/animal, 7.8-9.3mg/kg of bodyweight) showed significantly milder clinical signs (pyrexia, nasal discharge and cough) with a shorter duration than control horses injected with normal saline. Moreover, the mean duration of virus shedding for the horses treated with peramivir was significantly shorter than for the control horses. These findings suggested that a single IV administration of peramivir had good potential for the treatment of equine influenza, and may help to limit the spread of the disease in the horse population.     

Development of wood and wood ash-based hydroxyapatite composites and their fire-retarding properties

For making efficient use of waste wood ash emitted from wood biomass plant, the wood and wood ash-based hydroxyapatite (HAp) composite was produced and their flammability characterization was studied by thermogravimetric (DTA-TG) analysis, oxygen index (OI) measurement and cone calorimeter test. The results show that the exothermic and weight loss peaks in DTA-TG combustion profiles due to their significant thermal decomposition were weakened by the HAp agent impregnation. In addition, the OI value of HAp composites was increased by the HAp combining and the OI showed a correlation with the HAp contents. Also, the cone calorimeter study revealed that the heat release rates were decreased with increasing amount of HAp injection and accordingly their total heat release has an inverse relationship to the HAp contents. These results indicate that the treatment with wood ash-based HAp agents can enhance the flame retardancy of the treated woods.     

Feed intake,digestibility, nitrogen utilization,ruminal condition and blood metabolites in wethers fed ground bamboo pellets cultured with white‐rot fungus (Ceriporiopsis subvermispora) and mixed with soybean curd residue and soy sauce cake

Three types of bamboo pellets as a ruminant feed: P1 (ground bamboo (GB) cultured with the fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora (CGB) : soybean curd residue (T) : soy sauce cake (S) in a 5:4:1 ratio on a dry matter (DM) basis); P2 (GB : T : S = 5:4:1 on a DM basis); and P3 (CGB : T : S = 5.5:0.8:3.7 on a DM basis) were prepared. Four wethers were assigned in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment to evaluate the applicability of the bamboo pellets. The experimental treatments were C (control): fed alfalfa hay cubes (AC) only, and T1, T2 and T3: fed P1, P2, and P3 with AC by 1:1 on a DM basis, respectively. The digestibility of the DM, organic matter and acid detergent fiber of P1 were significantly higher than those of P2 and P3 (P < 0.05). The total digestible nutrient (TDN) contents of AC, P1, P2 and P3 were 56.5%, 60.2%, 53.2% and 47.0%, respectively. No significant differences in nitrogen retention or ruminal pH and NH₃ were observed among the treatment groups. The results indicate that bamboo pellets cultured with C. subvermispora and mainly mixed with soybean curd residue improved nutritional quality of ground bamboo because of its high digestibility and TDN content.     

Vertical soil–air CO2 dynamics at the Takayama deciduous broadleaved forest AsiaFlux site

At the Takayama deciduous broadleaved forest Asiaflux site in Japan, the ecosystem carbon dynamics have been studied for more than two decades. In 2005, we installed non-dispersive infrared CO₂ sensors in the soil below the site’s flux tower to systematically study vertical soil–air CO₂ dynamics and explain the behavior of soil surface CO₂ efflux. Soil–air CO₂ concentrations measured from June 2005 through May 2006 showed sinusoidal variation, with maxima in July and minima in winter, similar to the soil CO₂ effluxes measured simultaneously using open-flow chambers. Soil–air CO₂ concentrations increased with soil depth from 5 to 50 cm: from 2,000 to 8,000 ppm in the summer and from 2,000 to 3,000 ppm in the winter under snow. Summer soil–air CO₂ concentrations were positively correlated with soil moisture on daily and weekly scales, indicating that the Oi, Oe, and A horizons, where decomposition is accelerated by high-moisture conditions, contributed substantially to CO₂ emissions. This result is consistent with the short residence time (about 2 h) of CO₂ in the soil and larger emissions in shallow soil layers based on our diffusion model. We revealed for the first time that soil–air CO₂ concentrations in winter were correlated with both snow depth and wind speed. CO₂ transfer through the snow was hundreds of times the gas diffusion rates in the soil. Our estimate of the CO₂ efflux during the snow-cover season was larger than previous estimates at TKY, and confirmed the important contribution of the snow-cover season to the site’s carbon dynamics.     

Characterization of canine filaggrin: gene structure and protein expression in dog skin

Background – Filaggrin (FLG) is a key protein for skin barrier formation and hydration of the stratum corneum. In humans, a strong association between FLG gene mutations and atopic dermatitis has been reported. Although similar pathogenesis and clinical manifestation have been argued in canine atopic dermatitis, our understanding of canine FLG is limited. Hypothesis/Objectives – The aim of this study was to determine the structure of the canine FLG gene and to raise anti‐dog FLG antibodies, which will be useful to detect FLG protein in dog skin. Methods – The structure of the canine FLG gene was determined by analysing the publicly available canine genome DNA sequence. Polyclonal anti‐dog FLG antibodies were raised based on the canine FLG sequence analysis and used for defining the FLG expression pattern in dog skin by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results – Genomic DNA sequence analysis revealed that canine FLG contained four units of repeated sequences corresponding to FLG monomer protein. Western blots probed with anti‐dog FLG monomer detected two bands at 59 and 54 kDa, which were estimated sizes. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that canine FLG was expressed in the stratum granulosum of the epidermis as a granular staining pattern in the cytoplasmic region. Conclusions and clinical importance – This study revealed the unique gene structure of canine FLG that results in production of FLG monomers larger than those of humans or mice. The anti‐dog FLG antibodies raised in this study identified FLG in dog skin. These antibodies will enable us to screen FLG‐deficient dogs with canine atopic dermatitis or ichthyosis.     

Flood damage assessment on rice crop in the Stung Sen River Basin of Cambodia

Paddy and Water Environment - In Cambodia, rice production is important for the majority of rural populations as the main source of income. However, historical extreme flood events, especially the...