Wood identification of JapaneseCyclobalanopsis species (Fagaceae) based on DNA polymorphism of the intergenic spacer betweentrnT andtrnL 5′ exon

DNA was extracted from wood samples of six representativeCyclobalanopsis species (Fagaceae) growing in Japan that cannot be distinguished from one another by conventional microscopy. A part of the intergenic spacer region betweentrnT andtrnT 5 exon was amplified and sequenced. The sequences obtained from wood samples were grouped into three DNA types by a single nucleotide polymorphism as reported previously in leaf samples: I (Quercus acuta, Q. sessilifolia, Q. salicina), II (Q. myrsinaefolia, Q. glauca), and III (Q. gilva). Thus,Q. gilva can be distinguished from the otherQuercus species, and the others are separated in two subgroups based on DNA polymorphism. The present findings support the possibility of wood identification based on DNA polymorphism.     

Establishment of a Method to Measure Length of the Ulnar Nerve and Standardize F-wave Values in Clinically Normal Beagles

We designed a new method of measuring the length of the ulnar nerve and determining standard values for F-wave parameters of the ulnar nerve in clinically normal beagles. Nerve length must be precisely measured to determine F-wave latency and conduction velocity. The length of the forelimb has served as the length of the ulnar nerve for F-wave assessments, but report indicates that F-wave latency is proportional to the length of the pathway traveled by nerve impulses. Therefore, we measured the surface distance from a stimulus point to the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (nerve length 1) and the anterior horn of the scapula (nerve length 2) as landmarks through the olecranon and the shoulder blade acromion. The correlation coefficients between the shortest F-wave latency and the length of nerves 1, 2 or the forelimb were 0.61, 0.7 and 0.58. Nerve length 2 generated the highest value. Furthermore, the anterior horn of the scapula was easily palpated in any dog regardless of well-fed body. We concluded that nerve length 2 was optimal for measuring the length of the ulnar nerve.     

Geographical variation of skull morphology and its functional significances in the red-cheeked squirrel

Skulls of the red-cheeked squirrel (Dremomys rufigenis) from various geographical locations: Malaysia (peninsular area), Vietnam (south district)-Laos, and Thailand (north district) were osteometrically examined. The skull size of the squirrels in the southern (Malaysia) population was fundamentally larger than that in the northern (Vietnam, Laos and Thailand) populations. The proportion indices indicated that the splanchnocranium was relatively longer in the Malaysia population, and that the interorbital space was narrower in Vietnam-Laos, and Thailand populations. We suggest that the long nose and laterally-oriented orbits in the skull may be better adapted for terrestrial-insectivorous life in the Malaysia population and the binocular sense facilitated by rostrally-oriented eyes contributes to the arboreal-fruit eating behavior in the two northern populations. The Malaysia population was clearly distinguished from the other populations by the principal component analysis. We suggest that the geographical barrier of the Isthmus of Kra influences the morphological variation of the skull among the squirrel populations.     

Aloe ring spot,a new disease of aloe caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haematonectria haematococca</Emphasis> (Berk. &; Broome) Samuels &; Nirenberg (anamorph: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> sp.)

A ring spot disease of Aloe vera was found on leaves of potted seedlings of Aloe vera in Hachijojima and Chichijima Islands, Tokyo. From tissue of ring spot lesions, a fungus producing Fusarium-type conidia was consistently isolated. After 1 month, reddish perithecia of nectriaceous fungus had formed on the colonies of this isolate on PDA. These nectriaceous and Fusarium fungi were identified as Haematonectria haematococca and Fusarium sp., respectively. From a single ascospore isolation, the former was confirmed to be the teleomorph of the Fusarium sp. Typical ring spot lesions were reproduced by artificial inoculations using single ascospore and single conidium isolates. Inoculations of five species of genus Aloe revealed that they were highly susceptible except for A. arborescens. This is the first report of a disease on Aloe caused by H. haematococca (anamorph: Fusarium sp.) in Japan, and it was named aloe ring spot.     

Characterization and genetic mapping of eceriferum-ym (cer-ym), a cutin deficient barley mutant with impaired leaf water retention capacity

The cuticle covers the aerial parts of land plants, where it serves many important functions, including water retention. Here, a recessive cuticle mutant, eceriferum-ym (cer-ym), of Hordeum vulgare L. (barley) showed abnormally glossy spikes, sheaths, and leaves. The cer-ym mutant plant detached from its root system was hypersensitive to desiccation treatment compared with wild type plants, and detached leaves of mutant lost 41.8% of their initial weight after 1 h of dehydration under laboratory conditions, while that of the wild type plants lost only 7.1%. Stomata function was not affected by the mutation, but the mutant leaves showed increased cuticular permeability to water, suggesting a defective leaf cuticle, which was confirmed by toluidine blue staining. The mutant leaves showed a substantial reduction in the amounts of the major cutin monomers and a slight increase in the main wax component, suggesting that the enhanced cuticle permeability was a consequence of cutin deficiency. cer-ym was mapped within a 0.8 cM interval between EST marker {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AK370363","term_id":"326489160","term_text":"AK370363"}}AK370363 and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"AK251484","term_id":"151420132","term_text":"AK251484"}}AK251484, a pericentromeric region on chromosome 4H. The results indicate that the desiccation sensitivity of cer-ym is caused by a defect in leaf cutin, and that cer-ym is located in a chromosome 4H pericentromeric region.     

Expression cDNA cloning of the KGF receptor by creation of a transforming autocrine loop.

An expression cloning strategy was devised to isolate the keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) receptor complementary DNA. NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, which secrete this epithelial cell-specific mitogen, were transfected with a keratinocyte expression complementary DNA library. Among several transformed foci identified, one demonstrated the acquisition of specific high-affinity KGF binding sites. The pattern of binding competition by related fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) indicated that this receptor had high affinity for acidic FGF as well as KGF. The rescued 4.2-kilobase complementary DNA was shown to encode a predicted membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase related to but distinct from the basic FGF receptor. This expression cloning approach may be generally applicable to the isolation of genes that constitute limiting steps in mitogenic signaling pathways.     

A rubberlike stretchable active matrix using elastic conductors

By using an ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, we uniformly dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as chemically stable dopants in a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer matrix to form a composite film. We found that the SWNT content can be increased up to 20 weight percent without reducing the mechanical flexibility or softness of the copolymer. The SWNT composite film was coated with dimethyl-siloxane-based rubber, which exhibited a conductivity of 57 siemens per centimeter and a stretchability of 134%. Further, the elastic conductor was integrated with printed organic transistors to fabricate a rubberlike active matrix with an effective area of 20 by 20 square centimeters. The active matrix sheet can be uniaxially and biaxially stretched by 70% without mechanical or electrical damage. The elastic conductor allows for the construction of electronic integrated circuits, which can be mounted anywhere, including arbitrary curved surfaces and movable parts, such as the joints of a robot's arm.