Relationship between reservoir size and genetic differentiation of the stream caddisfly Stenopsyche marmorata

Reservoirs have the potential to block the gene flow of stream macroinvertebrates along a channel, which takes place via larval drift and adult flight, resulting in genetic differentiation above and below the reservoirs. Gene flow across the reservoirs may be strongly obstructed if the area of standing water is larger. Using random amplified polymorphic DNA markers, we investigated the genetic structure of Stenopsyche marmorata (Stenopsychidae: Trichoptera) populations found above and below the reservoirs, and the reference stream of six reservoirs with small to large water surface area ranging from 0.12 km² to 6.00 km². As a result, the two largest reservoirs with a standing water area larger than 3.27 km² showed significant differences in pairwise θ between fragmented and reference streams, whereas the other four reservoirs with a standing water area smaller than 1.64 km² showed insignificant differences. The genetic differentiations in the two largest reservoirs did not result in the reduction of genetic diversities in the fragments. Based on the significant correlation between relative population size and mean expected heterozygosity, we concluded that local genetic diversities were constrained in smaller populations due to the effect of genetic drift.     

Synthesis of morphiceptin (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH(2)) by dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV derived from Aspergillus oryzae

Morphiceptin (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH(2)), tetrapeptide, was synthesized using dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (DP IV, EC 3.4.14.5) derived from Aspergillus oryzae RIB 915 as a catalyst. Tyr-Pro-OEt was incubated with Phe-Pro-NH(2) in the presence of DP IV under various conditions of temperature, concentrations of ethylene glycol, pH, reaction time, and others. Morphiceptin was obtained at 40% yield under the optimal reaction conditions: substrate, 4 mM Tyr-Pro-OEt.HCl and 20 mM Phe-Pro-NH(2).HCl; enzyme, DP IV, 0.275 nkat; solvent, 60% ethylene glycol containing 20 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.0; amine, 4.2 mM diisopropylamine at 4 degrees C for 24 h. Amino group protection was unnecessary for synthesis of morphiceptin by DP IV.     

基于三维激光扫描技术的粮食储量监测系统的设计与试验

为实现仓储粮储量在线实时监测,该研究开发了一种基于三维激光扫描技术的粮食储量在线监测系统。采用自主研制的倒置式粮仓专用型三维激光扫描仪对储粮进行扫描,通过上位机通讯、采集点云数据并控制扫描仪的工作过程,应用粮食体积计算软件实时计算储粮体积和数量,从而解决了仓储粮储量快速高精度监测的问题。使用该系统在中储粮某直属库进行系统验证试验,结果表明,测量得到的粮食体积满足最大误差不超过1%的技术指标,且经过多次试验检验,系统具有较好的稳定性、测量精度高、操作简便等优点,能够满足仓储粮储量监测的要求。该研究为实现仓储粮储量的快速实时在线监测提供了有效的方法。     

Herbivore-induced volatiles from tea (Camellia sinensis) plants and their involvement in intraplant communication and changes in endogenous nonvolatile metabolites

As a defense response to attacks by herbivores such as the smaller tea tortrix ( Adoxophyes honmai Yasuda), tea ( Camellia sinensis ) leaves emit numerous volatiles such as (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, linalool, α-farnesene, benzyl nitrile, indole, nerolidol, and ocimenes in higher concentration. Attack of Kanzawa spider mites ( Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida), another major pest insect of tea crops, induced the emission of α-farnesene and ocimenes from tea leaves. The exogenous application of jasmonic acid to tea leaves induced a volatile blend that was similar, although not identical, to that induced by the smaller tea tortrix. Most of these herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPV) were not stored in the tea leaves but emitted after the herbivore attack. Both the adaxial and abaxial epidermal layers of tea leaves emitted blends of similar composition. Furthermore, HIPV such as α-farnesene were emitted mostly from damaged but not from undamaged leaf regions. A principal component analysis of metabolites (m/z 70-1000) in undamaged tea leaves exposed or not to HIPV suggests that external signaling via HIPV may lead to more drastic changes in the metabolite spectrum of tea leaves than internal signaling via vascular connections, although total catechin contents were slightly but not significantly increased in the external signaling via HIPV.     

Goat milk acceptance and promotion methods in Japan: The questionnaire survey to middle class households

A consumer questionnaire conducted with the purpose of ascertaining the acceptability of goat milk and related products in Japan was carried out on 345 guarantees of Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University in December 2006. 275 effective responses (79%) representing middle class urban households were returned. The results revealed that (1) 30% of respondents have experienced drinking goat milk and only 10% are aware of the current retail situation of goat milk and related products; (2) over 70% of goat milk drinkers raised goats by hand at some point in their past and their first experience drinking goat milk was in infancy; (3) those with experience in drinking goat milk expressed a vague evaluation and minimal understanding of drinking goat milk; (4) respondents who were inexperienced goat milk drinkers expressed a strong desire to taste and a weak desire to purchase goat milk; (5) respondents expressed low recognition regarding retailed goat milk products, but those who had already purchased goat milk products expressed a high evaluation and strong desire to purchase these products again; and (6) recognition of goat milk characteristics is low, but those with high recognition also rate goat milk highly. Goats are perceived as being 'mild and familiar.' It is necessary for those who manage goat husbandry to present goat milk and related product tasting opportunities to consumers. The key point is to make the functional differences between cow and goat milk clear and present the advantages of goat milk at the fore of this promotion. Goat milk should not be promoted merely as a drink that is similar to cow milk, but must be positioned as a functional drink or health food in order to expand the Japanese goat milk market.     

Novel SNP in 5' flanking region of EDG1 associated with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle

Marbling, defined by the amount and distribution of intramuscular fat, is an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. The endothelial differentiation , sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor , 1 ( EDG1 ) gene has been considered as a positional functional candidate for the gene responsible for marbling. We have recently reported that 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), c.-312A > G in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and c.*446G > A in the 3' UTR in EDG1 were associated with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle, but this was not functional and a causal mutation for marbling. In the present study, we detected 2 novel SNPs, referred to as g.1475435G > A and g.1471620G > T , in the 5' flanking region of the EDG1 between low-marbled and high-marbled steer groups, which were previously shown to have EDG1 expression differences in musculus longissimus muscle. The g.1475435G > A SNP seemed not to segregate in Japanese Black beef cattle. The g.1471620G > T SNP was associated with the predicted breeding value for beef marbling standard number by the analyses using Japanese Black beef cattle population. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the g.1471620G > T SNP might have an impact on EDG1 expression and also marbling.     

Genetic variability and stock structure of red tilefish Branchiostegus japonicus inferred from mtDNA sequence analysis

Sequence analysis based on the anterior part of the mitochondrial DNA control region was carried out to reveal the genetic diversity, stock structure, and historical demography of the red tilefish. Nucleotide sequences of 388 bp in length were determined for 280 individuals taken from eight localities. The molecular diversity, haplotype diversity, and nucleotide diversity were relatively high (average h = 0.929 ± 0.011; average π = 0.008 ± 0.005). The mismatch distribution was not significantly different from the expected distribution for a rapidly expanding population (P = 0.453). The minimum spanning network connecting with full-sequence haplotypes contained star-like topologies derived from multiple ancient lineages, supporting the mismatch distribution analysis. No significant genetic differentiation was observed among eight localities (maximum pairwise F _ST = 0.023, reduced-sequence data set). Our results suggest a large panmictic population of the red tilefish along the coast of Honshu to the East China Sea.