Traits of shattering resistant buckwheat ‘W/SK86GF’

Seed shattering is a significant problem with buckwheat, especially at harvesting time. Several reports have shown that a green-flower mutant of buckwheat, such as W/SK86GF, has a strong pedicel. Although a strong pedicel may provide some resistance to shattering in the field, no study has thoroughly examined this issue. In this paper, we demonstrate that a W/SK86GF has shattering resistance by comparing the degrees of shattering of W/SK86GF and Kitawasesoba (leading variety of Hokkaido with non-green-flower traits) through a test for four years, including a typhoon hit year in the field. In a non-typhoon year, the shattering seed ratio (shattering seed weight/(yield + shattering seed weight) × 100) of W/SK86GF at maturing time +15 days (+15D) was lower than that of Kitawasesoba. In a typhoon hit year, the shattering seed ratios of Kitawasesoba at maturing time and +15D were surprisingly high, 14.4 and 21.1%, respectively. On the other hand, those of W/SK86GF were only 3.08% and 2.57%, respectively; indicating W/SK86GF is promising as a shattering resistant line even in a typhoon hit year. From these results, shattering resistance of W/SK86GF can be evaluated after maturing time such as +15D and pedicel strength would confer W/SK86GF a shattering resistant trait.     

Polymorphisms in the canine glutamate transporter-1 gene: identification and variation among five dog breeds

Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are important for terminating glutamatergic neurotransmission and protect central nervous system (CNS) neurons from glutamatergic excitotoxicity. We selected these genes as targets that may relate to canine behavioral traits. After screening four EAAT genes (glutamate transporter-1; GLT-1, excitatory amino acid transporter 4; EAAT4, excitatory amino acid carrier; EAAC1, glutamate/aspartate transporter; GLAST) for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we identified two silent SNPs (C129T and T471C) in the GLT-1 gene. We genotyped 193 dogs of 5 breeds and found significant variation among breeds in these two SNPs in GLT-1. The C129T polymorphism was not observed in Malteses and Miniature Schnauzers. These results suggest that polymorphisms in the GLT-1 gene may be useful markers for examining how the genetic background relates to the behavioral traits of dogs.     

The time course of lymph drainage from the peritoneal cavity in beagle dogs

Lymph drainage routes from the abdominal and pelvic cavities in beagle dogs were observed serially by following the time course of India ink administered intraperitoneally. Four systems of lymph drainage routes from the peritoneal cavity were observed in this study. The earliest drainage returned to the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes via the sternal lymph vessels; subsequently, the sternal lymph nodes located along the internal thoracic artery became involved. Then, a drainage route via the lymph vessel along the left vagus nerve was observed. The final drainage route flowed into the lateral lymph vessel through the thoracic duct located on the vertebra. These results show that India ink is absorbed from the peritoneal cavity, and that the lymph drainage first flows mainly towards the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes through the ventral lymphatic channels. Our serial observations suggest that, over time, the lymph drainage routes changed from the ventral abdominal to the dorsal thoracic lymphatic channels in the thorax.     

A comparison of the behavioral profiles of purebred dogs in Japan to profiles of those in the United States and the United Kingdom

To clarify the behavioral profiles of 56 pure breeds of dogs in Japan, 96 small-animal veterinarians participated in a questionnaire survey using the same criteria as in preceding studies conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom. We found significant differences among breeds in all behavioral traits examined. In addition, gender differences were revealed in terms of aggression to dogs, territorial defense, excitability, general activity, dominance over owner, destructiveness, watchdog barking, and snapping at children, which were all rated higher in males than females, whereas obedience training and housebreaking ease were rated higher in females. No gender differences were evident in playfulness, excessive barking, or affection demand. Using factor analyses, "aggressiveness", "reactivity", and "trainability" were determined to be consistent with results found in the US and UK surveys. On the basis of these factor scores, seven groups of breeds were determined by cluster analysis to compare to the US survey; 22 of the 38 breeds common with the US survey were categorized into the same groups as those in that survey. The results demonstrated differences in canine behavioral predisposition among breeds and between genders. The similarity in the results between our study and previous surveys, which involved distinct geographical locales, suggests that the genetic basis of breed-specific temperamental traits is manifested irrespective of the cultural or regional identities of the owners.     

Comparisons among MRI signs,apparent diffusion coefficient,and fractional anisotropy in dogs with a solitary intracranial meningioma or histiocytic sarcoma

Although MRI has become widely used in small animal practice, little is known about the validity of advanced MRI techniques such as diffusion‐weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging. The aim of this retrospective analytical observational study was to investigate the characteristics of diffusion parameters, that is the apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy, in dogs with a solitary intracranial meningioma or histiocytic sarcoma. Dogs were included based on the performance of diffusion MRI and histological confirmation. Statistical analyses were performed to compare apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy for the two types of tumor in the intra‐ and peritumoral regions. Eleven cases with meningioma and six with histiocytic sarcoma satisfied the inclusion criteria. Significant differences in apparent diffusion coefficient value (× 10^?3 mm²/s) between meningioma vs. histiocytic sarcoma were recognized in intratumoral small (1.07 vs. 0.76) and large (1.04 vs. 0.77) regions of interest, in the peritumoral margin (0.93 vs. 1.08), and in the T2 high region (1.21 vs. 1.41). Significant differences in fractional anisotropy values were found in the peritumoral margin (0.29 vs. 0.24) and the T2 high region (0.24 vs. 0.17). The current study identified differences in measurements of apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy for meningioma and histiocytic sarcoma in a small sample of dogs. In addition, we observed that all cases of intracranial histiocytic sarcoma showed leptomeningeal enhancement and/or mass formation invading into the sulci in the contrast study. Future studies are needed to determine the sensitivity of these imaging characteristics for differentiating between these tumor types.     

The muscle protein Dok-7 is essential for neuromuscular synaptogenesis

The formation of the neuromuscular synapse requires muscle-specific receptor kinase (MuSK) to orchestrate postsynaptic differentiation, including the clustering of receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Upon innervation, neural agrin activates MuSK to establish the postsynaptic apparatus, although agrin-independent formation of neuromuscular synapses can also occur experimentally in the absence of neurotransmission. Dok-7, a MuSK-interacting cytoplasmic protein, is essential for MuSK activation in cultured myotubes; in particular, the Dok-7 phosphotyrosine-binding domain and its target in MuSK are indispensable. Mice lacking Dok-7 formed neither acetylcholine receptor clusters nor neuromuscular synapses. Thus, Dok-7 is essential for neuromuscular synaptogenesis through its interaction with MuSK.     

Dystroglycan function requires xylosyl- and glucuronyltransferase activities of LARGE

Posttranslational modification of alpha-dystroglycan (α-DG) by the like-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (LARGE) is required for it to function as an extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor. Mutations in the LARGE gene have been identified in congenital muscular dystrophy patients with brain abnormalities. However, the precise function of LARGE remains unclear. Here we found that LARGE could act as a bifunctional glycosyltransferase, with both xylosyltransferase and glucuronyltransferase activities, which produced repeating units of [-3-xylose-α1,3-glucuronic acid-β1-]. This modification allowed α-DG to bind laminin-G domain-containing ECM ligands.     

东北坡耕地春季融雪侵蚀观测研究

为研究东北地区坡耕地的春季融雪侵蚀特征及其影响因素,选取吉林省吉兴小流域内坡耕地进行原位观测,通过分析融雪过程中径流量和含沙量的变化,以及融雪径流、土壤解冻深度等指标对融雪侵蚀的影响,探讨坡耕地融雪侵蚀过程及变化规律。结果表明,在日平均温度0~3.8℃的气象条件下,春季融雪侵蚀较为集中,径流与含沙量变化均先增加后减少。融雪径流与表层土壤解冻深度是影响融雪侵蚀的重要因素,初期融雪产流,土壤未解冻,径流急剧增加,径流量占融雪期总径流量的59.15%;中期积雪融化趋于稳定,土壤表层开始解冻,径流减少含沙量增加,侵蚀量达到最大且占融雪期总侵蚀量的41.74%;末期融雪产流停止,土壤解冻深度增加,含沙量达到最大(8.00kg/m~3)。坡耕地融雪侵蚀受垄作区域与集水洼地地形变化的影响,产流产沙具有较强规律性,二者峰值出现频次一致时,径流—泥沙呈"8"字循环滞后关系,反之呈复式循环滞后关系。     

配施硫基肥对夏玉米镉铅累积的阻控效应

该文以府河流域污灌区农田为研究对象,通过田间小区试验研究了5种施肥措施对土壤重金属镉(Cd)、铅(Pb)有效性以及夏玉米(Zea mays L.)对Cd、Pb富集和转运能力的影响。结果表明:与农民常规施肥(CK)相比,尿素、磷酸二铵和氯化钾配施(N-P-K)以及腐殖酸复合肥、尿素和磷酸二铵配施(HA-N-P)的表层土壤Cd、Pb有效性以及夏玉米对Cd、Pb的富集和迁移能力差异均不显著(P0.05)。然而,腐殖酸复合肥、硫酸铵和磷酸二铵配施(HA-S-P)以及硫酸铵、磷酸二铵和硫酸钾配施(S-P-K)2种施肥措施的表层土壤有效Cd含量分别比CK降低了10.60%和6.36%,表层土壤有效Pb含量分别比CK降低了11.49%和6.00%。此外,HA-S-P处理和S-P-K处理夏玉米Pb转运系数分别比CK降低了50.33%和77.10%,且夏玉米籽粒Pb含量分别比CK降低了59.75%和80.43%(P0.05),但各处理间夏玉米对Cd的转运和富集能力差异并不显著,这说明施用硫基肥可有效抑制夏玉米对Pb的富集和转运,但并未影响其对Cd的富集和转运。综上所述,该污灌区轻度Cd、Pb复合污染农田土壤种植夏玉米建议硫酸铵、磷酸二铵和硫酸钾配施,或者腐殖酸复合肥、硫酸铵和磷酸二铵配施。