Application of acoustic Doppler current profiler combined with a scientific echo sounder for krill Euphausia pacifica density estimation

ABSTRACT:   An application of the acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP, 153.6 kHz) in combination with a scientific echo sounder (EK60, 38 and 200 kHz) was investigated to estimate the density of krill Euphausia pacifica . The acoustic backscattering strength from sound scattering layers was compared with biomass estimates from midwater trawls. Euphausia pacifica was targeted among mixed species populations in the sound scattering layer in the offshore Funka Bay area of Hokkaido, Japan. The frequency characteristics of acoustic backscattering by krill were calculated using a distorted wave Born approximation scattering model at three frequencies. Krill aggregations identified from the EK60 data were extracted as the mean volume backscattering strength difference between two frequencies. They were then used to identify similar aggregations in the ADCP data by matching observation times and depths for the two methods, which were applied simultaneously. Results from the comparison of the mean volume backscattering strength and the density calculated from the ADCP and EK60 showed that ADCP can be used to measure density and spatial–temporal distribution of krill aggregations. Current speed and direction at the study site were found to be 16.1 cm/s and 187.0°, respectively, and krill speed and direction (including the current component) were found to be 19.8 cm/s and 172.2°, respectively. Based on the ADCP data, the net speed and direction of the krill aggregations were found to be 5.9 cm/s and 128.0°, respectively.     

Leiomyosarcoma of urinary bladder in a Shih Tzu dog

A 10-year-old intact male Shih Tzu dog presented with hematuria. Double-contrast cystography revealed a polypoid filling defect at the apex of the urinary bladder. Ultrasonography revealed a heterogeneously hypoechoic intramural mass with minimal vascular flow beneath the submucosal layer. After partial cystectomy, a well-demarcated bladder leiomyosarcoma was diagnosed on histopathology. The patient was alive and well without any clinical signs, recurrence, or metastasis at the 29-month follow-up after the surgical removal of the bladder mass. Leiomyosarcoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis if mass-like lesions are observed in the urinary bladder, although this type of malignancy is rare in canines. Histopathological confirmation is important for predicting prognosis and determining further medical plans.     

Effects of warming, wetting and nitrogen addition on substrate-induced respiration and temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration in a temperate forest soil

Soil heterotrophic respiration and its temperature sensitivity are affected by various climatic and environmental factors.However,little is known about the combined effects of concurrent climatic and environmental changes,such as climatic warming,changing precipitation regimes,and increasing nitrogen(N)deposition.Therefore,in this study,we investigated the individual and combined effects of warming,wetting,and N addition on soil heterotrophic respiration and temperature sensitivity.We incubated soils collected from a temperate forest in South Korea for 60 d at two temperature levels(15 and 20℃,representing the annual mean temperature of the study site and 5℃warming,respectively),three moisture levels(10%,28%,and 50%water-filled pore space(WFPS),representing dry,moist,and wet conditions,respectively),and two N levels(without N and with N addition equivalent to 50 kg N ha^-1year^-1).On day 30,soils were distributed across five different temperatures(10,15,20,25,and 30℃)for 24 h to determine short-term changes in temperature sensitivity(Q₁₀,change in respiration with 10℃increase in temperature)of soil heterotrophic respiration.After completing the incubation on day 60,we measured substrate-induced respiration(SIR)by adding six labile substrates to the three types of treatments.Wetting treatment(increase from 28%to 50%WFPS)reduced SIR by 40.8%(3.77 to 2.23μg CO₂-C g^-1h^-1),but warming(increase from 15 to 20℃)and N addition increased SIR by 47.7%(3.77 to 5.57μg CO₂-C g^-1h^-1)and 42.0%(3.77 to 5.35μg CO₂-C g^-1h^-1),respectively.A combination of any two treatments did not affect SIR,but the combination of three treatments reduced SIR by 42.4%(3.70 to 2.20μg CO₂-C g^-1h^-1).Wetting treatment increased Q₁₀by 25.0%(2.4 to 3.0).However,warming and N addition reduced Q₁₀by 37.5%(2.4 to 1.5)and 16.7%(2.4 to 2.0),respectively.Warming coupled with wetting did not significantly change Q₁₀,while warming coupled with N addition reduced Q₁₀by 33.3%(2.4 to 1.6).The combination of three treatments increased Q₁₀by 12.5%(2.4 to 2.7).Our results demonstrated that among the three factors,soil moisture is the most important one controlling SIR and Q₁₀.The results suggest that the effect of warming on SIR and Q₁₀can be modified significantly by rainfall variability and elevated N availability.Therefore,this study emphasizes that concurrent climatic and environmental changes,such as increasing rainfall variability and N deposition,should be considered when predicting changes induced by warming in soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity.     

The use of the green fluorescent protein as a biomarker for sapstain fungi

To understand wood colonization by sapstain fungi and their potential biocontrol agents, it is necessary to differentiate these organisms directly on their natural substrates. In the present study the feasibility of transforming with the green fluorescent protein (GFP), the sapstain fungus Ophiostoma piceae and a potential biocontrol agent Cartapip^®, an Ophiostoma piliferum albino strain was assessed. Transformants of the two fungal species were screened by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analyses. The GFP was expressed in spores, synnemata and mycelia of the transformants grown in artificial media or wood. The growth, pigmentation and wood colonization of the transformants were similar to that of the non‐transformants, suggesting that the presence of the gfp gene had no negative effect on the biology of the transformants. Using fluorescence and confocal microscopy, the GFP‐expressing fungi were easily differentiated from the wild‐type strains and other fungal species in wood, even 4 months after inoculation. The results show that the use of the GFP system is feasible to monitor Ophiostoma fungi in wood.     

当北极不再是北极

北极在许多人心中意味着遥远、寒冷和神秘，是一个冰天雪地的童话世界。然而，近年来气候变暖和油气田开发对北极带来了很大冲击，当地特有的景观、传统和生活方式随着冰雪的消融在慢慢发生变化。     

Setaria digitata was the main cause of equine neurological ataxia in Korea: 50 cases (2015–2016)

This study was performed to examine and clarify the cause of hindlimb ataxia and neuropathy seen in the South Korean horse population. Fifty horses diagnosed with hindlimb ataxia and neuropathy were referred for this study. Neurological examination was performed on 47 horses while necropsy was performed in all 50 animals. The occurrence of neurological diseases increased rapidly in the summer and 47 out of 50 horses were referred after the end of July. The incidence of neurological diseases started from the southern part of Korea in July and proceeded northward in August and September. Although there was no correlation with age, Thoroughbred and Warmblood horses showed a higher incidence rate than Halla and Jeju horses. The incidence rate was 5 times higher in geldings than in mares and stallions. Of the 20 cases, 16 were diagnosed with eosinophilic meningoencephalomyelitis in 2015. The most common lesions observed in 2016 were parasitic meningoencephalomyelitis (10 cases, 33%) and eosinophilic meningomyelitis (7 cases, 23%). Histopathological analysis of the brain and spinal cord revealed nematodes of approximately 100–200 µm in diameter, microcavitation and infiltrates of eosinophils, and brown pigmented macrophage infiltrates. The nematodes were identified as Setaria digitata via DNA sequencing, performed subsequent to polymerase chain reaction using DNA isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of the spinal cord. These results show that aberrant migration of Setaria digitata larva in the brain and spinal cord was a major cause for neurological signs in horses.     

Supplemental iron and phosphorus increase dietary inclusion of cottonseed and soybean meal in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

A long‐term feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the use of cottonseed and soybean meal (CS) with iron and phosphorus supplements in diets for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Olive flounder with an initial average size of 28.5 ± 0.35 g (mean ± SD) were divided into 15 groups (three tanks per dietary treatment) and fed 480 g kg^?1 crude protein diets in which each of five isonitrogenous diets was formulated to contain different levels of cottonseed/soybean meal (1 : 1) to replace fish meal (FM) with iron and phosphorus supplementations. The five experimental diets were as follows: diet 1 (control), 0%CS; diet 2, 20%CS; diet 3, 30%CS; diet 4, 30%CS + Fe&P; and diet 5, 40%CS + Fe&P. After 26 weeks of feeding trial, no significant differences were observed in weight gain, feed utilization and survival among all the treatments. The total gossypol accumulation in liver of fish fed diets supplemented with iron was significantly lower than that of fish fed diets without supplementation of iron. The results indicate that the addition of iron in diets could prevent the absorption of free gossypol. The findings in this study suggest that dietary supplements of iron and phosphorus could increase the inclusion of cottonseed and soybean meal for FM replacement in diets for marine fish species.     

The effects of rates of nitrogen application on seven perennial ryegrass varieties

The dry matter and crude protein production of the perennial ryegrass varieties S24, S23, Premo, Houba, Barlenna, Melle and Sceempter Pasture at annual nitrogen application rates of 212, 425, 637 and 1062 kg ha^?1 were studied for the years 1972–74 inclusive. The DM and CP response curves for the variety Melle were steeper than those for other varieties tested and levelled off at a higher N application rate. The results suggest that Melle is a variety with a genotype capahle of utilizing N more efficiently at higher rates than the other varieties tested.     

Reestablishment of transzonal projections and growth of bovine oocytes in vitro

Transzonal projections (TZPs) that maintain bidirectional communication between oocytes and granulosa cells or cumulus cells are important structures for oocyte growth. However, whether TZPs develop between TZP-free oocytes and granulosa cells, and whether reestablished TZPs support oocyte growth, is unknown. We first examined changes in TZPs after denudation of bovine oocytes collected from early antral follicles (0.5–0.7 mm). Twenty-four hours after denudation, almost all the TZPs disappeared. We also examined the reestablishment of TZPs by coculturing TZP-free denuded oocytes (DOs) with mural granulosa cells (MGCs) collected from early antral follicles. In addition, to confirm if the reestablished TZPs were functional, the reconstructed complexes (DO+MGCs) were subjected to in vitro growth culture and found that the MGCs adhered to TZP-free DOs and TZPs were reestablished. During in vitro growth culture, DO+MGCs developed and formed antrum-like structures. After culture, the number of TZPs in DO+MGCs increased, and the oocytes grew fully and acquired meiotic competence. These results suggest that reestablished TZPs are able to support oocyte growth.