Orbital malignant schwannoma and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in rats caused by leakage of locally injected nickel subsulfide to the orbit

Nickel subsulfide (Ni₃S₂) is known to induce intraocular neoplasms when injected intravitreally into the eyes of rats. Here, we found two extraocular orbital neoplasms in two different rat strains, presumably due to the leakage of locally injected Ni₃S₂ to the extraocular orbital tissues. In the F344/DuCrlCrlj rat, an orbital mass arose at 30 weeks after injection, and invaded into the cranium. Histologically, the orbital mass was composed of areas arranged in parallel bundles formed by densely packed elongated or spindle-shaped cells with indistinct cytoplasmic borders, and of areas of hypocellular arrangement consisting of round cells in eosinophilic myxoid-like substances. Metastases were observed in the right submandibular and cervical lymph nodes. The neoplastic cells were immunopositive for S-100 protein and vimentin. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the neoplastic cells had cellular processes and pericytoplasmic basal laminae. In the RccHan^TM:WIST rat, an orbital mass arose at 36 weeks after injection. Histologically, the mass consisted of rhabdoid-like large round cells with proliferation of small round-to-polygonal cells, and these neoplastic cells infiltrated into the extraocular muscles. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for desmin and vimentin. Transmission electron microscopy detected immature myofibrils with Z-band structures in the cytoplasm of these neoplastic cells. Consequently, the tumors were diagnosed as an orbital malignant schwannoma in an F344/DuCrlCrlj rat and an orbital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in a RccHan^TM:WIST rat. The results of this case report suggest that leakage of Ni₃S₂ to the orbit caused the induction of orbital malignant schwannoma or rhabdomyosarcoma in rats.     

Diagnostic utility of measuring serum amyloid A with a latex agglutination turbidimetric immunoassay in bovine mastitis: Comparison with haptoglobin and alpha 1 acid glycoprotein

This study established the precision and accuracy of a modified latex agglutination turbidimetric immunoassay (LATIA) reagent, and evaluated the ability of the measurement of serum amyloid A (SAA) compared to haptoglobin and α1-acid glycoprotein, which are acute phase proteins (APPs), for diagnosis of clinical mastitis. Concentrations of APPs in cows with mastitis were significantly higher than those in healthy cow. Only the plasma SAA concentration in cows with clinical mastitis (44.90 mg/l; n=15) was significantly higher than that in those with subclinical mastitis (10.70 mg/l; n=16), enabling their diagnosis in contrast to other APPs. Thus, the SAA assay using a LATIA reagent is useful in assessing mastitis severity due to its higher sensitivity and specificity than other APP assays.     

Effect of a genetic polymorphism in SREBP1 on fatty acid composition and related gene expression in subcutaneous fat tissue of beef cattle breeds

Sterol regulatory element-binding factor 1 (SREBP1) plays an important role in the lipogenesis which affects fatty acid (FA) composition in backfat and consequently influences beef nutritional quality. This study analyzed the association of 84 bp-indel, both short (S) and long (L) alleles in intron 5 of SREBP1, with FA composition and gene expression of SREBP1 in backfat of northern Spanish beef breeds (Pirenaica, Salers and Holstein-Friesian). Phylogenetic analysis suggests that 84 bp-indel of ruminants is a highly conserved region compared with those in the full-length sequence of intron 5 or mRNA of SREBP1 among species. Overall, higher content of polyunsaturated FAs was observed in SL genotype compared to LL genotype of 84 bp-Indel (p < .05). In particular, in Pirenaica, SL genotype was associated with a higher content of stearic (18:0), α-linolenic (18:3n-3) acid, and total n-3 content (p < .05). However, the gene expression of SREBP1 did not differ among genotypes of 84 bp-Indel (p > .05).     

Low molecular weight compounds responsible for savory taste of Indonesian soy sauce

Indonesian soy sauce is made using only soybeans as the nitrogenous source. Moromi obtained from fermentation of yellow soybeans using Aspergillus sojae as the starter was investigated. The fraction with molecular weights of less than 500 Da obtained by stepwise ultrafiltration was then fractionated by several chromatographic procedures, including gel filtration chromatography and RP-HPLC. Several chemical analyses, CE profiles, and taste profiles were performed to obtain the most intense umami fraction. The main components eliciting or enhancing the umami taste present in the fraction were purified and identified by protein sequencing, ESI-MS, and (1)H NMR at 400 MHz. Besides free l-glutamic acid and aspartic acid, free aromatic amino acids such as l-phenylalanine and l-tyrosine may also play an important role in impressing savory or umami taste of Indonesian soy sauce at their subthreshold concentrations and in the presence of salt and free acidic amino acids. This is reported as a new phenomenon of the so-called bitter amino acids.     

Effect of water activity on the release characteristics and oxidative stability of D-limonene encapsulated by spray drying

The stability of encapsulated D-limonene, which was prepared by spray drying, was studied in view of the release characteristics and oxidation stability. Gum arabic, soybean water-soluble polysaccharide, or modified starch, blended with maltodextrin were used as the wall materials. The powders were stored under the conditions of 23-96% relative humidity at 50 degrees C. The release rate and the oxidation rate were closely related to the relative humidity. The relationship was not simple. Initially, the release rate and the oxidation rate increased with increasing water activity, but around the glass transition temperature, the rates decreased sharply to increase again at a further increase of water activity. The results could be explained by a change in the powder structure, where a glass capsule matrix was changed into rubbery state during storage.     

The phenotypic characteristics and relational database for Vietnamese native pig populations

Although there are a number of Vietnamese native pig (VnP) populations, some are on the verge of extinction, and therefore adequate management and conservation are necessary. In this study, we conducted a field survey of VnP populations and analyzed interrelationships among their characteristics. We also established a relational database for management of field data on these populations. For data collection, we conducted interviews with farmers and visual inspection of 32 VnP populations in 22 provinces of Vietnam, as well as taking photographs of individual animals. Data on the characteristics of VnP populations were subjected to multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). For establishment of the database, normalization and table partitioning were performed to eliminate redundancy and ensure consistency of the collected data items. Passport data, characteristics data, and image data were collected from a total of 1,918 VnPs and entered as a normalized table. Upon MCA, most of the populations were not separated from each other, but the Mong Cai, O Lam, and Chu Prong populations were separated from the other populations. Thus, we have constructed a relational database from comprehensive information on the characteristics of VnP populations.     

Effect of different droplet size on the knockdown efficacy of directly sprayed insecticides

BACKGROUND: Although insecticidal aerosols have been widely accepted for household use, the discharged amount should be maintained at minimum levels because they contain volatile organic compounds. Hence, it would be valuable to develop a technique whereby insecticide droplets adhere efficiently to an insect's body. The present study was undertaken in order to clarify how differences in the mode of adhesion to the insect body influence the knockdown effect. RESULTS: When the discharged volume of droplets with different diameters was the same, the adhesion volume of larger droplets was twice that of smaller droplets, resulting in a higher insect knockdown. In contrast, when the adhesion volume of the two droplet types was the same, a greater number of smaller droplets than larger droplets adhered, and the smaller droplets caused higher insect knockdown. The knockdown effect of both droplet types was lowered when the mesothoracic spiracles of cockroaches were blocked; however, the effect of larger droplets was lowered to a lesser degree. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that, the probability of adhesion to the more susceptible regions of an insect's body, i.e., areas surrounding the mesothoracic spiracles, was improved when a greater number of smaller droplets were adhered, resulting in higher knockdown. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparison of Iron Availability in Leaves of Barley and Rice

Iron (Fe) is an essential trace element in all eukaryotes. In higher plants, Fe deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis in young leaves. However, in barley and rice, both of which are "Strategy II" plants, the degree and the pattern of Fe-deficiency symptoms differ. In the present study, barley and rice plants were grown in the same container, i.e., by "coculturing," to compensate for the amount of mugineic acids in rice in the nutrient solution. We examined the differential availability of Fe for distribution and retranslocation in shoots between barley and rice without considering the difference in the iron acquisition ability, which is affected by the differential mugineic acid secretion between barley and rice. Although the Fe concentration of young barley leaves had decreased under the coculture conditions, the SPAD value was similar to that in monocultured barley. In contrast, although there was an increase in the Fe concentration of the young leaves of cocultured rice, the SPAD value decreased, as in the case of monocultured rice. Rice accumulated Fe in old leaves, whereas in barley Fe was efficiently distributed to young leaves. Therefore, the SPAD value of the second leaf in rice remained constantly high. The Fe concentration of the second leaf in barley decreased under Fe-deficient coculture conditions, the SPAD value decreased and the senescence of the second leaf become accelerated. ⁵⁹Fe pulse-labeling experiments suggested that in barley Fe was more efficiently retranslocated from old leaves to young leaves than that in rice. As a result, the level of Fe present in the fraction with a molecular weight lower than the 10,000/water-soluble Fe ratio was higher in the old leaves of barley than in the old leaves of rice under Fe-deficient conditions. Based on the results obtained, we suggest that the distribution and retranslocation characteristics of internal Fe in barley may be well adapted to Fe deficiency.     

Biocontrol of soil diseases and soil profile associated with rhizosphere of rice (Oryza sativa Subsp. Japonica) growing paddy fields in Kansai region,Japan

ABSTRACT

This research focused on in vitro and in vivo biocontrol of two major rice diseases, Bacterial Leaf Blight caused by Xanthomonus oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo) and Sheath Blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Furthermore, the soil of paddy fields in Kansai region, Japan was analysed for the presence of these pathogens, and their microbial communities were evaluated according to the location and management systems. For biocontrol, the rhizospheric bacteria were isolated and molecularly identified. The results indicated that DAR17225040 and DAR17225017 were 99% similar to Bacillus aryabhattai and Bacillus megaterium. The isolated bacteria were able to suppress Bacterial Leaf Blight and Sheath Blight disease 78% and 86% respectively, under greenhouse conditions. The 16S amplicon sequencing (Illumina MiSeq 250bp) was used to analyse the bacterial community in paddy fields of soil taken from five locations under conventional and organic systems. Xoo and R. solani were detected in sampled soil, however, no clear difference was noted, regarding systems. From amplicon sequencing data, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes were the dominant phyla of rice soil in Kansai region. The phylum Kazan-3B-28 was found more in organic system than conventional. The bacterial community was more affected by location and soil type than by management systems.     

Rainfall,Stemflow, and Throughfall Chemistry at Urban- and Mountain-facing Sites at Mt. Gokurakuji,Hiroshima, Western Japan

Rainfall, stemflow, and throughfall were collected from 1996 to 1999 at two types of forest sites: (1) forests near the traffic roads and urban areas and (2) forests away from the urban areas at Mt. Gokurakuji, Hiroshima, western Japan in order to estimatethe effects of anthropogenic activities on atmospheric deposition. Rainfall deposition for major ions showed small differences between the sites. The NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2-concentrations in stemflow were higher at the urban-facing slope than at the mountain-facing slope. Throughfall deposition of NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2- was also higher at urban-facing slopes. Net throughfall (NTF) deposition (throughfall minus rainfall) of NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2- accounted for 77 and50% of the total throughfall deposition on urban-facing slopes, respectively, while it accounted for 44 and 23% on themountain-facing slopes, respectively. These results indicated a higher contribution from dry deposition on urban-facing slopes compared to mountain-facing slopes. Atmospheric N (NO₃ ^- +NH₄ ⁺) deposition from throughfall was estimated to be around 17–26 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 on urban-facing slopes, which was greater than the threshold of N deposition that could cause nitrogen leaching in Europe and the United States. The highload of atmospheric N deposition may be one of the factors bringing about the decline of pine forests on urban-facing slopesof Mt. Gokurakuji.