Attachment and growth of vegetative propagules of Chondria crassicaulis Harvey (Ceramiales,Rhodophyta) under various culture conditions

The red alga Chondria crassicaulis has a wide‐ranging bioactive chemical composition and is used as a local foodstuff, representing a potentially new cultivar in Korea. The cultivation techniques were developed by examining the monthly changes in frond weight in a field population of C. crassicaulis from November 2016 to October 2017. For seedling production, temperature and irradiance effects on the attachment and growth of vegetative propagules of C. crassicaulis were evaluated. In addition, effects of day length and salinity on the propagule growth were examined. C. crassicaulis is a year‐round species with a maximum frond wet weight of 817 mg observed in July 2017, as seawater temperature increases to 20°C. The attachment of vegetative propagules was significantly affected by temperature and irradiance, with maximal values detected at 20–25°C and 60 µmol photons m^?2 s^?1. The relative growth rates of vegetative propagules of C. crassicaulis were the highest at 20–25°C, 60 µmol photons m^?2 s^?1, and a salinity of 25 psu. In conclusion, due to its tremendous tolerance under variable environmental conditions, the vegetative propagules of C. crassicaulis can be used as seedlings for mass cultivation.     

Effects of soil moisture content on CO2 triggered soil physicochemical properties in a near-surface environment

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been frequently discussed as a strategy for meeting CO2 emission reduction and its targets. However, some critical issues have...     

Sporophytic photosynthesis and gametophytic growth of the kelp Ecklonia stolonifera affected by ocean acidification and warming

Juvenile sporophytes and gametophytes of Ecklonia stolonifera were incubated in combinations of three pCO₂ levels (360, 720 and 980 ppmv) and two temperatures (10 and 15°C for sporophytes; 15 and 20°C for gametophytes) to examine potential effects of climate change on photosynthesis and growth. Sporophytes had significantly higher maximum quantum yields (F_v/F_m) and maximum relative electron transport rates (rETR_max) at 720 ppmv than 360 and 980 ppmv. Also, these parameters were significantly lower at higher temperature of 15°C than at 10°C. Growth of female gametophytes was maximal at 360 ppmv rather than enriched pCO₂ levels. Female gametophytes had significantly lower growth at higher temperature of 20°C than at 15°C. These results indicate effects of elevated pCO₂ varied between generations: stimulating sporophytic photosynthesis and inhibiting gametophytic growth. Ocean acidification and warming would constitute a grave threat to seedling cultivation of E. stolonifera caused by growth inhibition of gametophytes at high pCO₂ levels and temperatures.     

Replacement of fish meal with two fermented soybean meals in diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The present study investigated the effect of fish meal (FM) replacement with fermented soybean meal (FSM) on growth and feed utilization of rainbow trout. Two FSM products, FSM1 (more fermentation with more small peptide and acid than FSM2) and FSM2 were used to replace 20%, 40% and 60% of FM in control diet (250 g/kg FM), respectively (FSM1‐20, FSM1‐40, FSM1‐60, FSM2‐20, FSM2‐40 and FSM2‐60). Then the seven diets were fed to rainbow trout (18.1 g) for 8 weeks. Weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and digestibility of crude protein and dry matter showed no significant difference among the groups of FSM1‐20, FSM1‐40, FSM2‐20, FSM2‐40 and the control, but WG significantly decreased and FCR increased when 60% FM was replaced by both FSMs (p < .05). The replacement of 40%, 60% FM resulted in lower villus height than the control (p < .05), and intestinal protease activity was lower in FSM2‐40, FSM2‐60 and FSM1‐60 groups than the control group (p < .05). In addition, the activity of alkaline phosphatase and superoxide dismutase increased with increasing levels of FSM (p < .05). In conclusion, dietary fish meal could be replaced by 40% with both FSMs without adverse effects on growth and feed utilization of rainbow trout based on an eight weeks feeding trial.     

Isolation and characterization of nanocrystalline cellulose from different precursor materials

Nanocrytalline cellulose (NCC) was isolated using cellulose extracted from two different precursor materials: Eucalyptus globulus and rice straw. The two ground precursor materials were autoclaved with a 10 % NaOH solution at 120 °C for 3 h. The alkali-treated precursor materials were bleached using sodium chlorite/acetic acid and sodium hypochlorite. The bleached precursor materials were acid-hydrolyzed in 65 % (w/w) sulfuric acid at 45 °C for 30-120 min. The changes in the chemical composition of the two precursor materials were studied before and after bleaching by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy according to the NREL report and TAPPI standards. Hydrolyzates were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetric analysis, Zeta-potential analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that the physical properties of NCC were strongly dependent on the acid-hydrolysis time.     

Preparation and properties of solid polymer electrolyte based on imidazolium-based ionic liquids for structural capacitors

We prepared solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) composed of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether acrylate (1A9OMe) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([EMIm][OTF]) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide ([EMIm][TFSI]) as the ionic liquid. The SPEs formed by appropriately adding ionic liquids in the 1A9OMe prior to thermal cure. The ratio of 1A9OMe and ionic liquid was 1:9, 3:7, and 5:5, respectively. The characterization of solid polymer electrolytes were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and glavanostatic charge-discharge test. The highest ionic conductivity of SPEs was found to be 4.90×10^?4 S/cm in a 1A9OMe/[EMIm][OTF] of 3:7. As IL contents were increased, the specific capacitance of supercapacitor was increased. The specific capacitance of supercapacitor for ionic liquid with large ion size was lower than that for ionic liquid with smaller ion size.     

Cellular Localization of Rice SUMO/SUMO Conjugates and in vitro Sumoylation Using Rice Components

正Many proteins are regulated by post-translational modifications,such as the reversible covalent attachment of ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins in eukaryotes(Kerscher et al, 2006). Post-translational modification of proteins by the SUMO protein family is involved in diverse cellular processes, including development, hormonal responses, and biotic and abiotic stress signaling(Park et al, 2011). SUMO modification can modulate protein-protein interactions, intracellular localization or the activities of the protein(Gareau and Lima, 2010).     

STRAIN ELASTOGRAPHY USING DOBUTAMINE‐INDUCED CAROTID ARTERY PULSATION IN CANINE THYROID GLAND

Thyroid disease is common in dogs and conventional ultrasonography is a standard diagnostic test for diagnosis and treatment planning. Strain elastography can provide additional information about tissue stiffness noninvasively after applying external or internal compression. However, natural carotid artery pulsations in the canine thyroid gland are too weak to maintain sufficient internal compression force. The objective of the present study was to describe the feasibility of strain elastography for evaluating the canine thyroid gland and the repeatability of dobutamine‐induced carotid artery pulsation as an internal compression method. In seven healthy Beagle dogs, strain on each thyroid lobe was induced by external compression using the ultrasound probe and internal compression using carotid artery pulsation after dobutamine infusion. The thyroid appeared homogeneously green and the subcutaneous fat superficial to the thyroid lobe appeared blue. Strain values and strain ratios did not differ among dogs or between the left and right lobes. Interobserver repeatability was excellent for both compression methods. Intraobserver repeatability of the strain ratio measured using the carotid artery pulsation method (intraclass coefficient correlation = 0.933) was higher than that measured using the external compression method (0.760). Mean strain values of thyroid lobes for the external compression method (142.93 ± 6.67) differed from the internal method (147.31 ± 8.24; P < 0.05). Strain ratios between the two methods did not differ. Strain elastography was feasible for estimating thyroid stiffness in dogs. Carotid artery pulsation induced by dobutamine infusion can be used for canine thyroid strain elastography with excellent repeatability.     

Computed tomographic bronchioarterial ratio for brachycephalic dogs without pulmonary disease

The bronchoarterial (BA) ratio measured with computed tomography is widely used in human medicine to diagnose bronchial dilation or collapse. Although use of the BA ratio in veterinary medicine has been recently studied, this has not been evaluated in brachycephalic dogs predisposed to bronchial diseases including bronchial collapse. The purpose of this study was to establish BA ratios for brachycephalic dogs and compare the values with those of non-brachycephalic dogs. Twenty-three brachycephalic dogs and 15 non-brachycephalic dogs without clinical pulmonary disease were evaluated. The BA ratio of the lobar bronchi in the left and right cranial as well as the right middle, left, and right caudal lung lobes was measured. No significant difference in mean BA ratio was observed between lung lobes or the individual animals (p = 0.148). The mean BA ratio was 1.08 ± 0.10 (99% CI = 0.98~1.18) for brachycephalic dogs and 1.51 ± 0.05 (99% CI = 1.46~1.56) for the non-brachycephalic group. There was a significant difference between the mean BA ratios of the brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic groups (p = 0.00). Defining the normal limit of the BA ratio for brachycephalic breeds may be helpful for diagnosing bronchial disease in brachycephalic dogs.     

Quantitative CT assessment of bone mineral density in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism

Canine hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) is one of the most common causes of general osteopenia. In this study, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) was used to compare the bone mineral densities (BMD) between 39 normal dogs and 8 dogs with HAC (6 pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism [PDH]; pituitary dependent hyperadrenocorticism, 2 adrenal hyperadrenocorticism [ADH]; adrenal dependent hyperadrenocorticism) diagnosed through hormonal assay. A computed tomogaraphy scan of the 12th thoracic to 7th lumbar vertebra was performed and the region of interest was drawn in each trabecular and cortical bone. Mean Hounsfield unit values were converted to equivalent BMD with bone-density phantom by linear regression analysis. The converted mean trabecular BMDs were significantly lower than those of normal dogs. ADH dogs showed significantly lower BMDs at cortical bone than normal dogs. Mean trabecular BMDs of dogs with PDH using QCT were significantly lower than those of normal dogs, and both mean trabecular and cortical BMDs in dogs with ADH were significantly lower than those of normal dogs. Taken together, these findings indicate that QCT is useful to assess BMD in dogs with HAC.