Effects of aromatic ring type on reactions subsequent to the <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-4 bond cleavage of non-phenolic lignin model compounds under alkaline pulping conditions

The reaction products of an alkaline treatment of non-phenolic β-O-4-type lignin model compounds (C₆–C₂-type) consisting of p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), and/or syringyl (S) nuclei were identified and quantified. This was performed to examine how the type of H, G, or S nucleus affect the reaction product profiles. The major identified and quantified reaction products were phenol derivatives that were liberated from the aryl sides of the β-O-4 ether bonds of the lignin model compounds. Other products included derivatives of phenylethane-1,2-diol (glycol-type), benzaldehyde, and acetophenone, which originated from the alkyl sides of the β-O-4 ether bonds of the lignin model compounds. Although the type of aromatic nucleus of the aryl side of the β-O-4 ether bond of the lignin model compounds did not significantly affect the profile of the reaction products, the type of the alkyl side nucleus was influential. The glycol-type compound was the exclusive major reaction product when the S nucleus was on the alkyl side of the β-O-4 ether bond. On the other hand, when the H or G nucleus was present, a benzaldehyde derivative was the other major reaction product.     

Growth and maturation in sterlet <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acipenser ruthenus</Emphasis> under high concentrations of dissolved oxygen

This study investigates the effect of high dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO) on sterlet Acipenser ruthenus maturation. Two groups, each comprising 246 individuals of 8-month-old juvenile sterlets, were reared for 37 months under high DO (group H, mean DO of 11.2 mg/L) or normal DO (group C, mean DO of 7.3 mg/L). Significant differences in body weight were observed between group H (638.7?±?191.9 g) and group C (572.2?±?151.9 g) in 12 months (P?<?0.05). Growth until 12 months occurred at a specific growth rate of 0.6%/day for group H and at 0.5%/day for group C. The food conversion rate of groups H and C was 5.2 and 5.8, respectively. The gonadosomatic index of group H was 3.1?±?1.1 for females and 3.1?±?9.7 for males, and showed no significant difference with group C (3.0?±?0.7 for females and 2.8?±?8.9 for males, P?>?0.05) in 24 months. Significant differences in follicle diameter in mature females were also observed. Group H included 68 mature females, with an average follicle diameter of 2318.0?±?175.3 µm, whereas group C included 56 mature females, with a smaller average follicle diameter of 2152.3?±?287.0 µm (P?<?0.001). However, the polarization index in group H (0.194?±?0.049) was higher than that in group C (0.178?±?0.042) (P?<?0.05). These results suggest that, for sterlet, rearing conditions with high DO can affect growth of both the body and follicle diameter of fish compared to normal rearing conditions.     

Effect of tributyltin oxide exposure on the F<Subscript>0</Subscript> and F<Subscript>1</Subscript> generations of a marine teleost,the mummichog <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fundulus heteroclitus</Emphasis>

The effects of organotin compounds on marine organisms, especially on their reproduction, are a continuing source of concern. We performed full-life-cycle exposure tests of tributyltin oxide (TBTO) at sub-lethal concentrations (0.13, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 μg/l) using a marine fish, the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus, and studied the toxic effects of exposure to TBTO at various life-cycle stages of the fish. The effect of TBTO was initially studied on sex differentiation and then on spermatogenesis in maturing fish. A mating experiment was performed to determine the effects of exposure on the fecundity of female fish, fertilization success, and the hatch of the F₁ generation. In all experimental groups, TBTO exposure resulted in a tendency toward a male-biased sex ratio and caused a significant increase in the frequency at which apoptotic cells appeared in the testes. Exposure to 1.0 μg/l TBTO resulted in a significant decrease in fecundity, but no significant effect was found on the fertilization ratio. Time to hatch and hatchability of the F₁ generation were markedly affected in some exposure groups. These results indicate that long-term exposure of the mummichog to TBTO affects not only gonadal sex differentiation and spermatogenesis but also spawning and egg quality.     

Effects of temperature,food availability,and body size on daily growth rate of Japanese anchovy <Emphasis Type="Italic">Engraulis japonicus</Emphasis> larvae in Hiuchi-nada

With data sampled from 2003 to 2006, this study presents the effects of temperature, food availability (C), and body size on the somatic growth rate [^(g)] \hat{g} (mm day⁻¹) and on the size-specific growth rates [^(G)] \hat{G} (day⁻¹) of larval Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus caught in Hiuchi-nada, Seto Inland Sea, Japan, a semi-enclosed narrow sea. C was calculated using an individual-based model, which is an encounter model between copepods and anchovy where the anchovy resulted in a successful capture of the copepod. [^(g)] \hat{g} decreased with increasing anchovy length, but increased with increasing C. No significant relationship was found between [^(g)] \hat{g} and temperature. [^(G)] \hat{G} decreased with increasing temperature, but anchovy weight, on the other hand, increased with increasing C. In the literature, the mechanism of growth determination for larvae of pelagic fish species is considered to be primarily determined by sea temperature and secondarily by food availability. However, [^(g)] \hat{g} and [^(G)] \hat{G} were found to be dependent on C rather than temperature. [^(G)] \hat{G} was dependent on anchovy weight rather than C and temperature. For forecasting the number of days required for development from an arbitrary pre-recruitment size to the recruitment size, we address not only temperature but also food availability and the size effect when considering the mechanism of growth determination for larvae.     

Identification and characterization of hens transmitting avian leukosis virus (ALV) to their embryos by ELISAs for detecting infectious ALV, ALV antigens and antibodies to ALV.

A total of 72 White Leghorn grandparent hens was examined by ELISA for avian leukosis virus (ALV), ALV antigens and anti-ALV antibodies to identify and characterize the hens transmitting ALV to their embryos (transmitters) by using fertilized eggs. These hens were divided into 3 groups as no antibody and non-viremic (NANV) (49 hens), antibody-positive and non-viremic (APNV) (21 hens) and no antibody and viremic (NAV) (2 hens) by testing the sera for the presence of ALV and anti-ALV antibody. Egg albumen and embryos were tested for the presence of ALV and ALV antigens. As a result, no ALV was detected in both albumen and embryos in the NANV group. On the other hand, all albumen samples collected repeatedly from 3 hens of the APNV group and 2 hens of the NAV group contained infectious ALV, although the infectivity differed with the individual. Also, these 5 hens produced infected embryos at varying frequencies. However, on AP hen which shed neither ALV nor ALV antigens into the albumen produced an infected embryo at a lower rate. These results indicate that testing for infectious ALV in albumen from a newly laid egg per hen is effective to identify the transmitters to some extent. When virus titers in each of 8 tissue samples from the 6 transmitting hens were determined, the highest virus titers were found in washing from the ampulla of the oviducts in most of the shedders, suggesting that embryo infection is closely correlated with ALV produced at the oviduct, but not with ALV transferred from the other parts of the body.     

Isolation of Chuzan virus, a new member of the Palyam subgroup of the genus Orbivirus, from cattle and Culicoides oxystoma in Japan

Five virus strains with identical antigenic properties were isolated from 3 RBC suspensions obtained from 2 healthy sentinel calves and from 2 pools of Culicoides oxystoma in cultures of a hamster lung cell line (HmLu-1). The virus was tentatively named Chuzan virus. The Chuzan virus was classified as a new member of the Palyam subgroup of the genus Orbivirus on the basis of its physicochemical, morphologic, and antigenic properties.     

Serologic evidence for the etiologic role of Chuzan virus in an epizootic of congenital abnormalities with hydranencephaly-cerebellar hypoplasia syndrome of calves in Japan

An epizootic of congenital abnormalities of calves was observed in the Kyushu district of Japan from November 1985 through April 1986. The main clinical signs of the disease were impairment of mobility and signs of impairment of the nervous system. Opisthotonos was pronounced, and almost all calves were unable to suckle by themselves. The main macroscopic pathologic changes were hydranencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia. Although an etiologic agent was not isolated from the calves, serotest results of precolostral serum samples indicated that 128 of 139 (92%) abnormal calves had antibody for Chuzan virus, a new virus belonging to the Palyam subgroup of the Orbivirus genus; 34 healthy calves in the epizootiologic area did not have antibody for the virus. The presence of Chuzan virus in Kyushu in 1985 was confirmed serologically.