Resistance to Rhizoctonia solani AG‐2‐2 (IIIB) in creeping bentgrass plants transformed with pepper esterase gene PepEST

A pepper esterase (PepEST) gene was introduced into creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) by Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. Purified recombinant PepEST proteins were sufficient to inhibit the growth of the fungal pathogens Rhizoctonia solani AG2‐2 (IIIB) (causing brown patch) and Sclerotinia homoeocarpa (dollar spot), but not the oomycete responsible for pythium blight, Pythium aphanidermatum. PepEST proteins were most effective against R. solani. After genetic transformation of creeping bentgrass with PepEST, the genomic integration of transgenes bar and PepEST was confirmed by Southern blot analysis, and their expression was also validated by northern blot and western blot analyses. Disease severity on R. solani‐inoculated leaves of transgenic plants was <10% compared to ca. 50% in non‐transgenic plants. Microscopic observation of infected leaves indicated that PepEST inhibited the growth of hyphae upon fungal infection.     

Resveratrol in raw and baked blueberries and bilberries

Resveratrol in the fruits of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), the lowbush "wild" blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton), the rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade), and the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) were measured using a new assay based on high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The LC-MS/MS assay provided lower limits of detection than previous methods for resveratrol measurement, 90 fmol of trans-resveratrol injected on-column, and a linear standard curve spanning >3 orders of magnitude. The recoveries of resveratrol from blueberries spiked with 1.8, 3.6, or 36 ng/g were 91.5 +/- 4.5, 95.6 +/- 6.5, and 88.0 +/- 3.6%, respectively. trans-Resveratrol but not cis-resveratrol was detected in both blueberry and bilberry samples. The highest levels of trans-resvertatrol in these specimens were 140.0 +/- 29.9 pmol/g in highbush blueberries from Michigan and 71.0 +/- 15.0 pmol/g in bilberries from Poland. However, considerable regional variation was observed; highbush blueberries from British Columbia contained no detectable resveratrol. Because blueberries and bilberries are often consumed after cooking, the effect of baking on resveratrol content was investigated. After 18 min of heating at 190 degrees C, between 17 and 46% of the resveratrol had degraded in the various Vaccinium species. Therefore, the resveratrol content of baked or heat-processed blueberries or bilberries should be expected to be lower than in the raw fruit. Although blueberries and bilberries were found to contain resveratrol, the level of this chemoprotective compound in these fruits was <10% that reported for grapes. Furthermore, cooking or heat processing of these berries will contribute to the degradation of resveratrol.     

Demonstration of Complement Fixing Antibody in the Sera of Cattle Vaccinated with Combined Living Blackleg-anthrax Vaccine

Complement fixing antibodies could be detected in the sera of cattle vaccinated with combined living blackleg-anthrax vaccine by modified complement fixation tests. Conventional direct complement fixation tests with bovine antibody-antigen systems often caused false negative reactions; however, in the modified test, when guinea pig complement was supplemented with fresh unheated normal rabbit serum, positive reactions were obtained and the sensitivity of the test was increased without loss of specificity.     

Preparation and properties of solid polymer electrolyte based on imidazolium-based ionic liquids for structural capacitors

We prepared solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) composed of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether acrylate (1A9OMe) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([EMIm][OTF]) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide ([EMIm][TFSI]) as the ionic liquid. The SPEs formed by appropriately adding ionic liquids in the 1A9OMe prior to thermal cure. The ratio of 1A9OMe and ionic liquid was 1:9, 3:7, and 5:5, respectively. The characterization of solid polymer electrolytes were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and glavanostatic charge-discharge test. The highest ionic conductivity of SPEs was found to be 4.90×10^?4 S/cm in a 1A9OMe/[EMIm][OTF] of 3:7. As IL contents were increased, the specific capacitance of supercapacitor was increased. The specific capacitance of supercapacitor for ionic liquid with large ion size was lower than that for ionic liquid with smaller ion size.     

Effects of three-dimensional spheroid culture on equine mesenchymal stem cell plasticity

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are useful candidates for tissue engineering and cell therapy fields. We optimize culture conditions of equine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (eAD-MSCs) for treatment of horse fractures. To investigate enhancing properties of three-dimensional (3D) culture system in eAD-MSCs, we performed various sized spheroid formation and determined changes in gene expression levels to obtain different sized spheroid for cell therapy. eAD-MSCs were successfully isolated from horse tailhead. Using hanging drop method, spheroid formation was generated for three days. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to analyze gene expression. As results, expression levels of pluripotent markers were increased depending on spheroid size and the production of PGE₂ was increased in spheroid formation compared to that in monolayer. Ki-67 showed a remarkable increase in the spheroid formed with 2.0?×?10⁵ cells/drop as compared to that in the monolayer. Expression levels of angiogenesis-inducing factors such as VEGF, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18 were significantly increased in spheroid formation compared to those in the monolayer. Expression levels of bone morphogenesis-inducing factors such as Cox-2 and TGF-β1 were also significantly increased in spheroid formation compared to those in the monolayer. Expression levels of osteocyte-specific markers such as RUNX2, osteocalcin, and differentiation potential were also significantly increased in spheroid formation compared to those in the monolayer. Therefore, spheroid formation of eAD-MSCs through the hanging drop method can increases the expression of angiogenesis-inducing and bone morphogenesis-inducing factors under optimal culture conditions.     

Ultrasonic measurement of fetal parameters for estimation of gestational age in Korean black goats

The objective of this study was to determine relationship of gestational age with measurement of diameter of head, orbit, trunk, long and short axis of heart, aorta, placentome, umbilical cord and umbilical vein in Korean black goats. In this study, ten pregnant Korean black goats (Capra hircus aegagrus) were used. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed with a 5 MHz linear transducer and ultrasonographic scan were performed at 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 and 135 days after mating with a 4-9 MHz convex transducer. For accurate measurement, all fetal organs were measured at least 3 times. The diameter of head, orbit, trunk, long and short axis of heart, aorta, placentome, umbilical cord and umbilical vein were significantly increased with the gestational age (p<0.05). Of these parameters, trunk (r=0.8876; p<0.001), long axis of heart (r=0.9168; p<0.001) and short axis of heart (r=0.8819; p<0.001) proved to be the more effective measurements than other parameters, as it correlated well with gestational age. Results indicate that ultrasonic measurements of these parameters were useful methods to estimate gestational age in Korean black goat.     

Perianal malignant melanoma in a dog

Melanocytic tumors are relatively common in dogs and most often occur in the oral cavity, lip, skin, digit, and eye. There are notable differences in the behavior of these tumors, depending on their anatomical location. The majority of oral melanomas and two-thirds of melanomas arising from the digit are malignant, whereas most of melanomas originating from the haired skin are benign. The anus and perianal areas are very uncommon sites for melanocytic tumors in domestic animals except horses, and most of those tumors in horses are malignant. To our knowledge, perianal malignant melanoma has not been reported in the dog and its prognosis is unknown.     

A review of diet formulation strategies and feeding systems to reduce excretory and feed wastes in aquaculture

Significant efforts should be devoted to reducing waste outputs from aquaculture operations in order to lower the environmental impacts of aquaculture in many parts of the world. Since most aquaculture wastes are ultimately from dietary origin, reduction of waste outputs should first be through improvements of diet formulation and feeding strategies. The first step in the production of feeds producing less solid waste is to eliminate poorly digestible ingredients (such as whole grain or grain by-products used as binders and fillers in the feed formulae) and to use highly digestible ingredients with good binding properties. Further reduction of solid waste can then be achieved through careful selection of the ingredients to improve apparent digestibility and the nutrient balance of the feed. Nitrogen waste outputs can be reduced through the reduction of the digestible protein to digestible energy (DP/DE) ratio of the diet. Phosphorus waste outputs can be reduced through careful selection of the ingredients and optimization of the digestible phosphorus content of the diet to meet the requirement of the fish but avoid greatly exceeding this required level. Finally, feeding practices that minimize feed wastage should be adopted since feed wastage can have a very significant impact on waste outputs from fish culture operations.