Identification and preservation of the parathyroid gland during total thyroidectomy in dogs with bilateral thyroid carcinoma: a report of six cases

Simultaneous removal of bilateral thyroid tumors was performed while preserving the parathyroid gland in six dogs. At least one external parathyroid gland was identified in all dogs. In five cases, the external parathyroid gland and its blood supply were preserved intact. In one dog, the vessels supplying the external parathyroid gland had been invaded by the tumor, and the gland was thus removed and reimplanted into the sternohyoid muscle. That dog required postoperative treatment with oral calcium gluconate and vitamin D₃. Local tumor recurrence was not observed in any of the cases. The mean survival time was 920 days. We found that the external parathyroid gland could be identified and preserved in most dogs undergoing total thyroidectomy.     

根癌农杆菌介导的转录因子DREB1A基因在地被菊花中的遗传转化

以地被菊花（Dendranthema grandiflomm cv．White Snow）无菌苗叶片为外植体，在附加不同浓度植物生长调节剂的MS基础培养基上诱导培养，通过器官直接发生途径获得再生植株。结果表明，2．0mg/L 6-BA和0．2mg/L NAA组合可获得93．8％的再生芽。将含拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）逆境诱导转录因子DREB1A基因的植物表达载体pBI-DREB1A导入根癌农杆菌（Agrobacterium tumefaciens）LBA4404，农杆菌介导法遗传转化地被菊花White Snow叶盘，经PCR和PCR—Southem检测，DREB1A基因已整合到转化植株的基因组中。遗传转化过程中，预培养2d后，将OD600=0．5～0．7的根癌农杆菌稀释30倍后侵染叶盘10min，再共培养2d，有利于获得最高遗传转化效率。     

Springiness of Pancake and Its Relation to Binding of Prime Starch to Tailings in Stored Wheat Flour

Wheat flours were stored at room temperature (15–25°C), 40, 60, 80, and 100°C for various times. The baking performance of these flours was then evaluated in terms of the springiness of pancakes (recovery from crushing). Baking performance improved with increased storage time at each temperature. Brabender Amylograph tests of the flours indicated that the onset temperature in viscosity decreased with increased storage time at each temperature. When the flours were fractionated by acetic acid (pH 3.5) with mortar and pestle, recoveries of the water-solubles and gluten fractions were unchanged, but recoveries of prime starch and tailings fractions changed remarkably with increased storage time. On the other hand, those changes were not observed when flours were fractionated with a Waring blender. The binding of prime starch to tailings was correlated significantly with baking performance.     

Efficiency of planting hybrid larch F1 ( Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi ) at different planting densities and using seedlings or rooted cuttings

The efficiency of planting a hybrid larch F₁ at two planting densities and of using seedlings of hybrid larch F₁ or rooted cuttings of Gream, the registered variety, was investigated. Significantly more time was required to move from one planting spot to the next in plots with 625 seedlings/ha than in plots with 1,333 seedlings/ha, but there was no significant difference between seedlings and rooted cuttings. Approximately 18% more time was needed to plant a single planting stock at the low planting density than at the high density. The need to prune roots or enlarge a planting hole occurred more often for rooted cuttings than for seedlings, and 17% more time was needed to plant rooted cuttings of Gream than seedlings.     

Ontogenetic changes of learning capability under reward conditioning in striped knifejaw Oplegnathus fasciatus juveniles

ABSTRACT:   To elucidate the ontogenetic changes in learning capability of the striped knifejaw Oplegnathus fasciatus , which is a common rocky-shore member in Japan, 28 individuals (2–10 cm standard length [SL]) of laboratory-reared fish under reward conditioning were trained. A single fish was first conditioned to go to one end of two arms of a Y-maze by being given a reward (food pellets), and once the fish has cleared the original problem, the rewarded side was reversed. All fish cleared at least the original problem, although fish at 2–4 cm SL showed lower scores because they learned more slowly or did not clear the reversal problem. Fish showed better learning capability as they grew. Fish of ca. 7 cm SL showed the highest score with quick learning of both the original and reversal problems. Their learning curve (relationship between SL and individual score) was approximated by a quadratic curve with the maximum score at approximately 7 cm SL. It was speculated that fish at its recruitment stage requires a high learning capability to adapt to the new environment of the rocky shore, which is composed of more complex microhabitats compared to their previous pelagic habitat.     

Synthesis of isoacteoside, a dihydroxyphenylethyl glycoside

The total chemical synthesis of isoacteoside (1), 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl 6-O-caffeoyl-3-O-(-l-rhamnopyranosyl)--d-glucopyranoside, is described. An acteoside acetate with benzyl groups at the catechols (3: 2-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)ethyl 2,6-di-O-acetyl-4-O-[3,4-bis(O-benzyl)caffeoyl]-3-O-(-l-rhamnopyranosyl)--d-glucopyranoside) was treated with a solution of methy-lamine in methanol (MeNH₂ in MeOH) to perform both deacetylation and caffeoyl migration, affording an isoacteoside derivative with benzyl groups at the catechols4b: 2-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)ethyl 6-O-[3,4-bis(O-benzyl) caffeoyl] -3-O-(-l-rhamnopyranosyl)--d-glucopyranoside —in 34% yield. Debenzylation of4b was successfully accomplished by catalytic transfer hydrogenation using 1,4-cyclohexadiene to give the target compound isoacteoside (1) in 54% yield.¹H and¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data of the synthesized isoacteoside (1) were identical with those of the natural isoacteoside isolated fromPaulownia tomentosa (Thumb.) Steud.Part of this research was presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 2001     

Application of the coastal ecosystem complex concept toward integrated management for sustainable coastal fisheries under oligotrophication

Harmonizing coastal fisheries with water-quality improvement has become an essential factor for the sustainable use of coastal ecosystem services. Here, we present the scope of our study based on an interdisciplinary approach including ecological actions, socio-economic actions and socio-psychological actions. We chose to focus on the interaction between oyster aquaculture and seagrass vegetation as a typical ecological action using the coastal ecosystem complex (CEC) concept. Coastal organisms have adapted their traits to the environment over a long period of time, so that restoration of the CEC represents reconstruction of the original process of coastal production. Subtidal seagrass vegetation with intertidal oyster reefs is the original CEC in Japan, which would be expected to enhance coastal production by improving the production efficiency without adding nutrients. A simple field experiment examining carbon and nitrogen contents and stable isotope ratios revealed that oyster spats cultivated on a tidal flat adjacent to seagrass beds had higher nitrogen contents and higher δ¹³C ratios than spats cultivated in an offshore area using only pelagic production. This result suggests that utilization of the CEC, which enables oysters to use both pelagic and benthic production, has potential to sustain a food provisioning service for humans, even in oligotrophic conditions.     

Comparative analysis of the relationship between Cs and K in soil and plant parts toward control of Cs accumulation in rice

The effect of soil exchangeable potassium (K) and cesium (Cs) levels on Cs uptake and accumulation in different parts of rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were examined using paddy soils with diverse exchangeable K and Cs in pot experiments. Aboveground Cs uptake decreased with higher exchangeable K and was linearly correlated with exchangeable Cs/K ratios, indicating competitive absorption of these elements by roots. Variation in Cs concentration in brown rice among soils was also related to the exchangeable Cs/K ratio. The exchangeable Cs/K ratio was positively reflected in the Cs/K concentration ratio in each plant part, with a specific slope, suggesting that Cs transport was coordinated with K transport and that there were regulated discriminations of Cs against K in the translocation process among parts. The Cs/K ratio was higher in brown rice and dead leaves than in active leaves, stems and husks. The distribution of Cs accumulation in brown rice was 14.5% on average, but it was variable and negatively related to K concentration in the stem. The Cs distribution in aboveground plant parts also decreased with higher K concentration in the root. These results imply the importance of the competitiveness with K in the root absorption and translocation of Cs within the plant. Based on the observed relationship between Cs and K, effective K management and other measures to control Cs accumulation in plant parts are discussed.     

Stock structure and resource management of hairtail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichiurus japonicus</Emphasis> based on seasonal broods around the Bungo Channel,Japan

Declines in landings of the hairtail Trichiurus japonicas indicate the need for more effective management of this species. Hairtail spawning peaks occur twice yearly in the Bungo Channel, in spring and autumn. Relationships between hairtail stock and brood seasonality were examined to determine if an association between either and a decline in landings existed. Stock assessments show that the biomass of both spring and autumn hairtail broods from within and around the Bungo Channel are decreasing, with a rapid reduction in spring-brood stock abundance after 2007 largely responsible for decreased landings. Yield and spawning per recruitment analyses indicate current fishing pressure to be higher than several reference points. We suggest that fishing pressure needs to be reduced by at least 20% of the current level for this fishery to remain sustainable, as the projected stock abundance and catch demonstrate that the current fishing pressure is unsustainable. Analysis of time-series data of recruits per spawning revealed spring-brood recruitment to have been strong in year classes 2003 and 2005. Of various options available for improved management of this fishery, we propose that fishing pressure should be reduced in the years following the appearance of strong year classes to increase future biomasses and landings.