Soybean meal can partially replace enzyme-treated fish meal in the diet of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus orientalis</Emphasis>

This study was carried out to investigate whether expensive enzyme-treated fish meal (EFM) can be partially replaced by soybean meal (SM) or enzyme-treated SM (ESM) without compromising the growth of captive-raised Pacific bluefin tuna (PBT) juveniles. Five fish diets were tested: EFM (control) and EFM in which 10 or 20% of the EFM was replaced with either ESM or SM (ESM₁₀, ESM₂₀, SM₁₀ and SM₂₀, respectively). The respective diets were provided to 28-day-old PBT juveniles (mean body weight approx. 0.38 g) stocked randomly in 15-m³ tanks (276 juveniles per tank; two tanks per treatment) for 12 days. The final mean body weight of PBT juveniles on diets EFM, SM₁₀, and SM₂₀ was significantly higher than that of juveniles on diet ESM₂₀. Although daily feeding rate was significantly higher in the ESM and SM groups, feed efficiency (FE) was significantly higher in the EFM group; there was no significant difference between juveniles fed diets EFM and SM₁₀. Protein and phosphorus retention efficiency were significantly lower in the ESM₂₀, and ESM₂₀ and EFM groups, respectively. Phosphorus discharge was significantly lower in the SM groups. The results demonstrate that 10% SM (11% EFM replacement) can be included in EFM without compromising the growth performance of PBT juveniles.     

Relationships among the chalkiness,kernel size and endosperm cell morphology of rice kernels at different spikelet positions within a panicle

The occurrence of chalky kernels in rice is causally related to kernel size and endosperm morphology. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of chalky kernels by analyzing kernel size, and the number and area of endosperm cells. Spikelets were sampled from upper and middle primary branches and lower secondary branches in a panicle, and divided into four categories: upper, middle, and lower perfect (PF) kernels and lower milky-white (MW) kernels. On the lower secondary branches, there was a higher percentage of chalky kernels, with smaller kernel lengths, widths and thicknesses, than the kernels on the upper and middle primary branches. MW kernels were smaller in size than PF kernels even on the same lower secondary branches. Regardless of grain appearance quality traits, the total areas of endosperm cross sections in lower kernels were significantly smaller than in upper kernels owing to the decreased cell area, and there was a significant negative correlation between the number of cells and average cell area. When the numbers and the areas of cells were analyzed using angular 30° intervals from the line connecting the center point and the dorsal vascular bundle, the MW kernels had significantly less cells than PF kernels near the ventral side at 120–180°. Thus, the decrease in the number of cells near the ventral side was a main causal factor in the decrease in MW kernel widths compared with PF kernel widths, and this suggested that cell division in MW kernels was inhibited at the early grain-filling stage.     

Development and introduction of detection dogs in surveying for scats of small Indian mongoose as invasive alien species

The small Indian mongoose was introduced to the island of Okinawa in 1910 to control rats and snakes, however, it poses a threat to many endemic species in the Yambaru forest region in Okinawa Island. An important concern in eradication is that, as much as possible, capture should be carried out without affecting native species. To protect endemic species in the Yambaru region of Okinawa Island, we trained and used detection dogs to search for mongoose scats that indicated that mongoose were present in the area. We confirmed the ability of the dogs to detect scats in positive and negative control tests in the Yambaru forest region after basic, obedience, and mongoose-scat-detection specific training. In 30 trials, the dogs found 60 of 65 scats samples. For the trained alert, the dogs carried out 59 trained alerts for the 60 scats found. In the positive and negative control tests, the dogs showed no reaction to 129 of 130 negative controls. We then surveyed the forest in the Yambaru region for mongoose scats using the detection dogs. In this study, the detection dogs found 79 scats in a survey of a 69.0-km area. We divided the survey area into 43 grids and calculated the rate of detection in each grid. The rate of detection of scats was higher in the southern part of the Yambaru region. These result showed that our mongoose scat detection dogs can be useful tools to assist in determining the presence of mongoose in the Yambaru region of Okinawa Island.     

Hepatic AA amyloidosis in a cat: cytologic and histologic identification of AA amyloid in macrophages

A 3‐year‐old, spayed female, Domestic Shorthair cat presented with anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, probable hemoabdomen, and multiple masses on the right lateral liver lobe. Clinicopathologic and imaging abnormalities included anemia, azotemia, icterus, and hepatomegaly with hypoechoic masses. On cytologic evaluation of a fine‐needle aspiration of a liver mass there was abundant extracellular pink‐ to purple‐colored material between hepatocytes. The amorphous material was stained with direct fast scarlet (DFS), and green birefringent areas were observed under polarized light, confirming the presence of amyloid. A unique finding on the cytologic smear were macrophages containing amorphous and fibrillar amyloid‐like protein. Histopathologic examination using H&E and Congo red staining confirmed amyloid deposits within the space of Disse, along the sinusoids, portal tracts, blood vessel walls, and within the cytoplasm of macrophages. Immunohistochemical staining with anti‐AA amyloid antibodies further confirmed the presence of AA amyloid. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of the cytologic finding of AA amyloid protein within macrophages and DFS stain detection of amyloid on a cytologic smear.     

Preliminary study on homing,site fidelity,and diel movement of black rockfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sebastes inermis</Emphasis> measured by acoustic telemetry

Several species of fish exhibit strong homing ability and distinct site fidelity to their original habitats and spawning sites. We have studied the homing ability, site fidelity, and diel movement patterns of three nocturnal black rockfish Sebastes inermis. The patterns were studied by radio-linked acoustic positioning system (VRAP) and fixed monitoring receivers (VR2) in Maizuru Bay, Japan from June to July 2004. All tagged fish were displaced by 80–120 m, but they returned to their respective captured sites at dusk, regardless of the time of release. The fish tagged with a depth sensor transmitter displayed active vertical movement just after the release, and subsequently swam near the bottom depth around the captured site. After homing, they displayed small home ranges [average 815 ± 265 m² (SD)] around a single rocky area with one or two core areas (average 64 ± 30 m²). One core area was utilized during the daylight and dark periods, whereas the other was used primarily during the dark period. The depth-tagged fish primarily used the depth of the rock crevice during the daylight, and it spent its dark period between the surface and the deeper bottom depth.     

小麦干燥机理的研究——干燥过程的理论解析

本研究在已取得的小麦薄层干燥特性曲线的基础上,探讨指数模型,分析小麦的干燥机理,建立小麦的平衡含水率,干燥常数的计算公式。按照物料、气流间的水分传递规律,建立并推导了质平衡方程,获得了反映小麦干燥过程的多项无因次及有因次计算公式。     

Expression of P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein in three cases of canine lymphoma showing drug resistance

In canine lymphoma, drug resistance is the major factor hindering treatment. In this study, we performed immunohistochemical examination of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), which are considered as transporters related to multidrug resistance in three recurrent canine lymphomas. All cases were negative for both transporters before anticancer drug administration, but became positive after this administration. The expression was confirmed in capillary endothelial cells, such as in brain capillaries acting as the blood-brain barrier (BBB). It is suggested that both transporters expressed on capillary endothelial cells in lymphoma tissue may inhibit the spread of anticancer drugs into tumor tissues from blood, the same as the BBB. Therefore, capillary endothelial cells could act as a blood-tumor barrier, which might be involved in drug resistance in canine lymphoma.     

Effect of the strain combination of the donor and recipient on the production efficiency of W‐bearing sperm in mixed‐sex germline chimeric chickens

Effect of the strain combination of the donor and recipient on production efficiency of W‐bearing sperm in mixed‐sex chimeric testes was analyzed. The combinations of the donors and recipients were White Leghorn (WL) and Rhode Island Red (RIR), and vice versa. Generated mixed‐sex chimeras that had the male phenotype at sexual maturity were classified into four groups: (1) a female WL donor and a male RIR recipient; (2) a male WL donor and a female RIR recipient; (3) a female RIR donor and a male WL recipient; (4) a male RIR donor and a female WL recipient. The mean number of W‐bearing sperm detected by in situ hybridization among 10 000 sperm observed were 147, 165, 30 and 45 in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The numbers in groups 1 and 2 were both significantly higher than those of groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). The combination of a WL donor and a RIR recipient produced W‐bearing sperm more efficiently than the reverse combination.     

A case of canine cutaneous clear cell adnexal carcinoma with prominent expression of smooth muscle actin

Cutaneous clear cell adnexal carcinoma was found in the right lip of a 14-year-old male castrated Shih Tzu. Histologically, the tumor mostly consisted of neoplastic cells with clear or vacuolated cytoplasms and contained frequent tubular structures. Neoplastic cells showed coexpression of pan-cytokeratin (CK) and vimentin by double-labeled immunofluorescence staining. In addition, immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells were positive for pan-CK (AE1/AE3, KL1, CAM 5.2), CK-7, CK-8, CK-14, CK-15, CK-18, vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) with varied intensity and positivity. Among these marker proteins, SMA was positive in 75% of the tumor cells. On the other hand, CK-15, which is a specific marker of follicular stem cells, was expressed in less than 1% of the tumor cells. Based on these findings, the tumor showed diverse differentiation in apocrine sweat glands and the inner and outer root sheaths of hair follicles, indicating the follicular stem cell to be the origin of this tumor.     

Development of a new selective medium for isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

A new selective medium containing cephem antibiotics was developed for isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA colonies on a medium containing ceftazidime (CAZ) were most easily identifiable and a medium containing cefoperazone (CPZ) was superior in suppressing the growth of other bacteria. With the medium containing a couple of CAZ and CPZ, MRSA and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) were detected from 2 and 1 of 15 chicken meat samples respectively. The MRSA and MRCNS recovery test showed that the medium was effective for MRSA isolation, suppressing the growth of other bacteria efficiently. These results suggested that the medium containing a couple of CAZ and CPZ was useful for MRSA detection from foods and animals.