干旱区制种玉米农田蒸散研究

在黑河流域中游的张掖绿洲区建立了大田环境下的制种玉米农田蒸散研究观测点,以气象观测资料为基础,采用波文比能量平衡法(BREB)和参考作物蒸散量作物系数法(ET0Kc)对制种玉米的蒸散进行了计算。结果表明,在一个完整的生长期内,利用波文比能量平衡法得到的蒸散量为513.2 mm,日均3.2 mm/d,用参考作物蒸散量作物系数法得到的作物蒸散量为486.2 mm,日均3.1 mm/d,2种计算方法得到的蒸散量总值差别小。利用波文比能量平衡法所得结果的分析表明,试验地在不同生长阶段,ET变化剧烈,生长初期、发育期、中期、末期分别为2.3、2.9、4.1和3.0 mm/d,其蒸散量分别约占全年蒸散总量的13%、22%、50%和16%。ET月变化显示,4月和5月维持在一个较低水平,平均为2.1-2.3 mm/d;6月剧烈增加到3.6 mm/d;7月达到最大,平均为4.6mm/d;8月蒸散有所降低,为3.3 mm/d;9月,随着作物进入生长末期,蒸散急剧减小到2.8 mm/d。     

Chilling-injury in cucumber fruits. I. Effects of storage temperature on symptoms and physiological changes

Cucumber fruits transferred to a warm temperature after chilling displayed various symptoms of chilling-injury. In cucumbers chilled to 0°C, vertical fine wrinkles and/or shallow pitting was observed, while after chilling to 5°C deep pitting and/or surface depressions were apparent. Moreover, in the 0°C fruit compared with 5°C fruit, a higher $\text{210}\text{264}$ mμ UV absorption ratio of leakage substances during chilling was observed. These results suggest that the causes of chilling-injury in the 0°C and 5°C fruit are distinct from one another. Weight loss after chilling, the amount of leakage substances, the exudate content from the cut surface of the fruit, redox potential, titratable acidity and respiratory activity were also checked after periods of chilling of 3 to 15 days.     

A note on the effect of temperature on true and apparent metabolisable energy values of a layer diet

The effect of ambient temperature on the true (TME) and apparent metabolisable energy (AME) values of a layer diet was examined using White Leghorn cockerels.

The TME value found at the cool temperature (5 to 15 °C) was significantly higher than those found at hot (25 to 35 °G) and control (22 °C) temperatures. AME values were not significantly affected.     

Canine CD20 gene

The human CD20 antigen, a 35kDa cell surface nonglycosylated hydrophobic phoshpoprotein is expressed consistently on almost all human B-cells, and its monoclonal antibody is used for the therapy on human B-cell lymphoma. In the present study, canine CD20 gene was cloned and sequenced, and the expression of CD20 mRNA was investigated in canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and lymph nodes from healthy dogs, and canine lymphoma cells. Using canine cDNA as a template, full-length of canine CD20 gene was sequenced by 5'-RACE and 3'-RACE methods. The full-length of the cDNA sequence of canine CD20 was 1239bp encoding 297 amino acids. The amino acid sequences of canine CD20 showed 73 and 68% sequence similarities with those of human and mouse, respectively. Canine CD20 was predicted to contain domains of amino acid sequences consisting of two extracellular domains (EM), four transmembrane domains (TM), and three intracellular domains (IC) as in human CD20. Canine CD20 mRNA was detected in PBMCs and lymph node from healthy dogs, and B-cells of canine lymphoma, but not in T-cell lymphoma cells and non-T and non-B-cell lymphoma cells by RT-PCR analysis. From these results, canine CD20 might be targeted for monoclonal antibody therapy against B-cell lymphoma of dogs.     

Expression of apoptosis-related gene mRNAs in feline T-cells infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)

In the present study, full length of feline bax, bcl-2, bcl-xL and caspase 3 genes were sequenced and the expression of these mRNAs were also investigated in FIV-infected lymphocytes. The full length cDNA sequence of bax (646 bp), bcl-2 (1423 bp), bcl-xL (1163 bp) and caspase 3 genes (1208 bp) contained a single open reading frame of 579 bp coding 193 amino acids, 708 bp coding 236 amino acids, 702 bp coding 234 amino acids and 834 bp coding 278 amino acids, respectively. Number of apoptotic Kumi-1 cells gradually increased after FIV infection and approximately 70% were apoptotic and 30% were viable in the cells infected with FIV after 8-day incubation, though approximately 80% were non-apoptotic and 20% were dead in non-infected cells. The expression of bcl-2 mRNA in lymphocytes of established cell line was increased by FIV. The amounts of mRNAs of bax, caspase 3 and bcl-xL in FIV-infected cells were not different from those in uninfected control cells.     

Carcinogenicity of biphenyl in mice by two years feeding

Carcinogenicity and chronic toxicity of biphenyl was examined in the male and female BDF1 mice fed a diet containing biphenyl at 667, 2,000 or 6,000 ppm for 2 years. There was no difference in survival rate between any biphenyl-containing diet-fed group of either sex and the respective control. Body weights of the males and females fed 6,000 ppm diet were significantly lower than the respective control. Incidences of hepatocellular carcinomas and hepatocellular adenomas in the females fed diets containing biphenyl were significantly increased in a dose-related manner, and exceeded a range of the historical control data in the Japan Bioassay Research Center. Incidences of basophilic cell foci in the liver were increased in the females fed 2,000 and 6,000 ppm diets. There was no increase in tumor or tumor-related lesion in the males fed diets containing biphenyl. Chronic toxicity of biphenyl was characterized by increased incidences of urothelial desquamation in the renal pelvis in males and females and mineralization in the inner stripe of renal outer medulla in females, as well as changes in serum levels of BUN, ALP and some electrolytes in males and females. In conclusion, the 2-year oral administration of biphenyl-containing diets induced pre-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions in the liver of females and non-neoplastic lesions in the kidney of males and females. Causative factors for the biphenyl-induced hepatocarcinogenicity were discussed in light of our published finding of peroxisome proliferation.     

Plasma steroid hormone concentrations and their relationships in Suffolk ewes during gestation and parturition

In this study, we measured plasma concentrations of progesterone, pregnenolone, estradiol, estrone, estrone sulfate, and cortisol and analyzed the correlations between these hormones during gestation in 13 Suffolk ewes, the main breed in Japan. Progesterone increased during gestation and decreased a few days before parturition; however, this pattern was different in samples with high progesterone concentrations (P4 spike samples). This P4 spike was associated with a high pregnenolone concentration. Apart from the P4 spike, the progesterone change was similar to that in other sheep breeds. Pregnenolone increased during gestation and decreased after parturition. A significant correlation between progesterone and pregnenolone was observed a few days before parturition. Estrone sulfate and estradiol concentrations increased during gestation, but estrone did not. They increased shortly before parturition, and then decreased immediately after parturition. At parturition, the correlation between estrone and estrone sulfate was significantly stronger. Moreover, a strong correlation between estrone sulfate and estradiol was observed after parturition. Cortisol did not change during gestation and increased shortly before parturition. The results showed steroid hormone dynamics in normal pregnant Suffolk ewes, which were mostly in line with those of other sheep breeds. It should be noted that high progesterone concentrations altered the typical patterns.