Identification of ommastrephid squid paralarvae collected in northern Hawaiian waters and phylogenetic implications for the family Ommastrephidae using mtDNA analysis

ABSTRACT:   A total of 110 adult individuals from four ommastrephid (family Ommastrephidae) squid species ( Ommastrephes bartramii, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis, Eucleoteuthis luminosa, and Hyaloteuthis pelagica ) were used to obtain diagnostic DNA markers for species identification. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a partial segment (855 bp) of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed that the restriction profiles of two endonucleases ( Alu  I and Tsp 509 I) were diagnostic for species identification. The restriction assay partially supplemented with nucleotide sequence analysis successfully assigned 69 damaged and morphologically equivocal ommastrephid paralarvae collected in northern Hawaiian waters, identifying 60 O. bartramii , eight S. oualaniensis , and one E. luminosa . The family Ommastrephidae appears to be monophyletic. Although the phylogenetic relationships among genera were not resolved well due to apparent homoplasy and large genetic divergence between species, COI sequence data without transitions provided support for subfamily level relationships.     

Peripartum back fat thickness of multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with displacement of the abomasum or ketosis

To establish a method to predict postpartum diseases using prepartum back fat thickness (BFT), the peripartum BFTs of 54 healthy multiparous cows before calving, which were diagnosed with postpartum displacement of the abomasum (DA), clinical ketosis or subclinical ketosis were compared with those of healthy cows from 8 weeks before the expected calving date to 8 weeks after calving. The peripartum BFTs of the cows with DA or clinical ketosis were significantly higher than those of healthy cows. The peripartum BFTs of the cows with subclinical ketosis were not significantly higher than those of the healthy cows.     

Time-dependent changes in protein phosphorylation patterns in rat brain synaptosomes caused by deltamethrin

Effects of deltamethrin, a powerful pyrethroid insecticide, on the protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation processes during depolarization in rat brain synaptosomes were studied by using [³²P]phosphoric acid as a starting radiotracer and high external concentration of potassium ions or veratridine (10^?-5 M) as depolarizing agents. At the onset of depolarization there was a quick rise in phosphorylation in various synaptic proteins for about 15–30 s followed by a gradual decline in levels of phosphorylation. The effect of deltamethrin (10^?-7 M) on this system was found to be dependent on the length of preincubation of the synaptosome with the pesticide prior to depolarization. At an early stage (0–3 min preincubation period) it caused a modest suppression of protein phosphorylation activities. When the period of deltamethrin preincubation was extended to 5–20 min, however, it caused a significant increase in protein phosphorylation throughout the depolarization period. At the later stage of the action of deltamethrin (e.g. preincubation period of 30–40 min), deltamethrin-treated synaptosomes no longer responded to the depolarization signal to raise the level of phosphorylation on many proteins. These results indicate that deltamethrin's actions on the synaptic process are complex. Depending on the length of exposure, its effects on protein phosphorylation responses in intact synaptosomes could be either stimulatory or inhibitory. To study the cause of deltamethrin-induced synaptic block at the later stage, effects of deltamethrin on protein kinases were studied by using lysed synaptic membranes with [gamma-³²P]ATP. Deltamethrin was shown to inhibit calcium–calmodulin-dependent protein phosphorylation activities at 10^?-7 M when given directly to the enzyme source 10 min prior to the addition of [³²P]ATP. Such an observation helps to explain the inhibitory action of deltamethrin on protein phosphorylation which occurs at the late stage of its action (i.e. preincubation time > 20 min).     

Relationship between the first ovulation within three weeks postpartum and subsequent ovarian cycles and fertility in high producing dairy cows

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the first ovulation within 3 weeks postpartum and subsequent ovarian cycles and fertility in high producing dairy cattle in Hokkaido, Japan. In Experiment 1, 110 cows (44 primiparous and 66 multiparous) were used to determine the effects of the first ovulation within 3 weeks postpartum on subsequent ovarian cycles. Milk samples were collected twice weekly from 7 to 100 days postpartum. The first ovulation was identified by an increase in milk progesterone (P4) to more than 1 ng/ml within 3 weeks postpartum. The numbers of cows showing ovulation and anovulation within 3 weeks postpartum were 31 (70.5%) and 13 (29.5%) in the primiparous cows and 35 (53.0%) and 31 (47.0%) in the multiparous cows, respectively. The patterns of ovarian resumption after calving were classified into two types (normal ovarian cycles and abnormal ovarian cycles) on the basis of milk P4 concentrations. Initiation of normal ovarian function in cows ovulated within 3 weeks postpartum occurred earlier than in anovulated cows regardless of the number of calvings (primiparous, 27.8 days vs. 44.4 days; multiparous, 30.6 days vs. 55.7 days; P<0.01). Out of the multiparous cows that ovulated within 3 weeks postpartum, initiation of normal ovarian function followed by a normal luteal phase was earlier than when it was followed by an abnormal luteal phase (25.5 days vs. 40.4 days; P<0.05). Milk P4 concentrations after the first ovulation were lower than those after the second ovulation in both the primiparous and multiparous cows (P<0.05). In Experiment 2, 22 multiparous cows were used to determine the effects of the first ovulation within 3 weeks postpartum on subsequent fertility. Blood samples were collected once a week from 0 to 3 weeks postpartum. The interval from parturition to first service in ovulated cows was shorter than in anovulated cows (68.4 days vs. 94.8 days; P<0.05). The conception rate by 100 days after calving tended to be higher in ovulated cows than in anovulated cows (50.0% vs. 16.7%, P=0.09). In conclusion, our data strongly suggests that ovulation within 3 weeks postpartum is a crucial phenomenon for subsequent resumption of ovarian function and conception, and thus it can be used as an index of subsequent reproductive performance.     

Suppression of the SOS-inducing activity of mutagenic heterocyclic amine, Trp-P-1, by triterpenoid from Uncaria sinensis in the Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 Umu test

The methanol extract from Uncaria sinensis showed a suppressive effect on umu gene expression of the SOS response in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 against the mutagen 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3b]indole (Trp-P-1), which requires liver metabolizing enzymes. The methanol extract from U. sinensis was re-extracted with hexane, CH2Cl2, BuOH, and water, respectively. CH2Cl2 extract showed a suppressive effect. A suppressive compound 1 in CH2Cl2 extract was isolated by SiO2 column chromatography. Compound 1 was identified as ursolic acid by IR, electron ionization EI-MS, and NMR spectroscopy. Suppressive effects of ursolic acid (1) and its derivatives, methyl ursolate (1M), acetylursolic acid (1A), and methyl acetylursolate (1MA), were determined in the umu test. These compounds suppressed 61.3, 37.7, 71.5, and 37.8% of the Trp-P-1-induced SOS response at a concentration of 0.4 micromol/mL, respectively. The ID50 values of compounds 1 and 1A were 0.17 and 0.20 micromol/mL. In addition, these compounds were assayed with the activated Trp-P-1. Suppressive effects on activated Trp-P-1 were decreased as compared with those of Trp-P-1.     

Microbial distribution and function across wheat rhizosphere with oxamide and ammonium sulfate as N sources

Analysis of the effect of slow-releasing N fertilizers on microbial parameters of the rhizosphere soil is essential for their effective use. This investigation revealed the comparative effects of oxamide and ammonium sulfate as different N sources on some selected microbial parameters as well as the pH in the rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Nourin No. 61). The study was conducted on a Japanese upland alluvial soil using a rhizobox system. In the central compartment (CC) of the rhizoboxes treated with oxamide and ammonium sulfate, four wheat seedlings were grown for 53 d. In either of the treatments, the pH of the rhizosphere soil increased with the increase in the distance from the CC. In contrast, nitrate production, bacterial and fungal numbers, microbial biomass nitrogen, and β-acetylglucosaminidase activity decreased with the increase in the distance, with the highest values of the respective parameters being recorded in the CC. However, remarkable changes of these microbial parameters were found within a distance of 1–2 mm from the CC to the distant compartments. Thus the results indicated that pH, bacterial number, and nitrate production were high in the oxamide treatment. In contrast, higher fungal number, microbial biomass N, and .B-acetylglucosaminidase activity were associated with the ammonium sulfate treatment. It was assumed that the significant (p<O.05) effect of the rhizosphere on microbial activities varied with the treatments.     

Relationship between <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs concentration and potassium content in stem wood of Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>)

To utilize forest resources in areas affected by fallout from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, it is important to understand the mechanisms of ¹³⁷Cs movement through the stem wood of contaminated trees. Understanding the mechanism of absorption and migration of ¹³⁷Cs to stem wood is necessary for clues to the future prediction of the transition of ¹³⁷Cs to xylem. In the present study, radial variations in ¹³⁷Cs concentration were investigated in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) trees collected 1 year and 10 months after the accident. Additionally, the relationship between ¹³⁷Cs concentration and potassium (K) content was established. Trees with a higher moisture content and lower lightness value in heartwood tended to have a higher ¹³⁷Cs concentration in the heartwood. In these trees, ¹³⁷Cs concentration peaked at the heartwood–sapwood boundary and gradually decreased toward the pith. By contrast, K content within the heartwood remained nearly constant along the radial direction. The heartwood-to-sapwood ratio of ¹³⁷Cs concentration was significantly positively correlated with that of K content. Based on these results, we suggest that ¹³⁷Cs movement from sapwood to heartwood might be related to the K content ratio of heartwood and sapwood.     

Condensation reactions of phenolic resins III: self-condensations of 2,4-dihydroxymethylphenol and 2,4,6-trihydroxymethylphenol (1)

This study reexamined the kinetics of the condensation reactions of hydroxymethylphenols with the purpose of elucidating the reaction mechanisms. This report discusses experimental results on the self-condensations of 2,4-dihydroxymethylphenols (2,4-DHMP) and 2,4,6-trihydroxymethylphenol (THMP), focusing on the order of reaction. The relations between the initial rates of reaction and the initial concentrations of reactants were investigated. Results quite different from those of previous reports were obtained. The order of reaction of the selfcondensation of 2,4-DHMP was found to be 1.1, which did not change with the alkali/2,4-DHMP molar ratio. The order of reaction of the self-condensation of THMP was found to vary with both the concentration of THMP and the alkali/THMP molar ratio. In the region of THMP concentrations above 1.5mol/l, the order of reaction was confirmed to be 2.0, which did not change with the alkali/THMP molar ratio. In the region of THMP concentrations below 1.0mol/l, the order of reaction varied with the alkali/THMP molar ratio, showing fractional numbers of 1.2–1.6. These results indicate that unimolecular reaction(s) and bimolecular reaction(s) take place simultaneously as the ratedetermining step in the condensation reactions of 2,4-DHMP and THMP and that the reaction mechanism changes with the species of reactant and, in some cases, with the reaction conditions.Part of this study was presented at the Wood Adhesives 2000 symposium, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA, June 2000     

Condensation reactions of phenolic resins V: cure-acceleration effects of propylene carbonate

Propylene carbonate (PC) is known as one of the cure accelerators for alkaline phenol–formaldehyde resins. To elucidate the cure-acceleration mechanisms, the effects of PC on the condensation reactions of monomeric hydroxymethylphenols (HMPs) were investigated and compared with those of PC hydrolysate, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and ethyl formate. Immediately after the reaction started, PC, decomposing itself simultaneously, accelerated the formation of the ortho-para methylene-bonded dimer of 2,4,6-trihydroxymethylphenol. This effect of PC was very similar to that of ethyl formate. To the contrary, PC hydrolysate accelerated the formation of the para-para methylene-bonded dimer throughout the course of the reaction. This effect of PC hydrolysate was identical to that of NaHCO₃. These results indicate that PC increases the reactivity of the ortho-hydroxymethyl group, presumably through transesterification. On the other hand, NaHCO₃ is formed by the hydrolysis of PC or decomposition of the transesterified HMPs and it increases the reactivity of the para-hydroxymethyl group.