X-ray fluorescence spectrometry of asteroid Itokawa by Hayabusa

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry of asteroid 25143 Itokawa was performed by the x-ray spectrometer onboard Hayabusa during the first touchdown on 19 November 2005. We selected those data observed during relatively enhanced solar activity and determined average elemental mass ratios of Mg/Si = 0.78 +/- 0.09 and Al/Si = 0.07 +/- 0.03. Our preliminary results suggest that Itokawa has a composition consistent with that of ordinary chondrites, but primitive achondrites cannot be ruled out. Among ordinary chondrites, LL- or L-chondrites appear to be more likely than H-chondrites. No substantial regional difference was found on the asteroid surface, indicating its homogeneity in composition.     

Establishment and biological characterization of canine histiocytic sarcoma cell lines

Seven novel cell lines from canine histiocytic sarcoma (HS), three of which were disseminated cutaneous HS and four of which were synovial HS, were established. All of the established cell lines had the same morphological (by light and electron microscopic findings), cytochemical (alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase-positive), and immunohistochemical (vimentin- and lysozyme-positive, and cyto-keratin-negative) characteristics as the original HS tumor cells. All of the established cell lines injected into nude mice subcutaneously produced solid tumors. Because the established cell lines also showed phagocytic and processing activities, the HS tumor cells appear to originate from the mononuclear phagocytic system cells, despite their differences in locations or organs.     

Effect of intravenous injection of acetate on the pancreas of sheep

The effect of an intravenous injection of acetate on plasma insulin and glucagon concentration was examined in conscious sheep. Sodium acetate (312 to 5000 mumol kg-1 bodyweight) injection increased plasma insulin concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Plasma glucagon concentration was not affected by doses up to 1250 mumol kg-1. Doses of 2500 and 5000 mumol kg-1 produced significant increases (P less than 0.05), but not in a dose related manner. The results of this study indicate that the receptive mechanism of the A cell in the sheep pancreas to acetate might be different from that of the B cell.     

Variation and Segregation for Rachis Fragility in Spelt Wheat, Triticum Spelta L.

Spelt wheat, Triticum spelta L., has been proved to be rich-sources of useful genes for tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, and grain quality. But this crop plant has some undesirable traits including glume tenacity and brittle rachis. Free-threshing and reduced fragility of rachis are very important traits for cultivation. The objectives in the present study were to investigate genetic variation of rachis fragility in a wide range of spelt accessions, to examine its genetic segregation pattern, and to clarify if rachis fragility is associated with dosage of chromosome 5A in aneuploid lines of bread wheat. The results demonstrated that spelt germplasm contains a wide range of rachis toughness, and thus selection of spelt wheat with desirable characteristics combined with an appropriate level of tough rachis would be possible. Spike morphology in the F₂ plants was segregated into the three types, square-headed, speltoid, and compactoid. The F₂ plants with compactoid spikes had the most brittle rachis, followed by the speltoid and square-headed spike F₂ plants. Rachis fragility in bread wheat also had genetic variation and was associated with dosage of chromosome 5A.     

Gene expressions of canine angiopoietin-1 and -2 in normal tissues and spontaneous tumours

The angiopoietin (Ang) family of proteins are central to the regulation of angiogenesis. The purposes of this study were to determine cDNA sequences of canine Ang-1 and Ang-2 and investigate their expressions in normal tissues and spontaneous tumours. The cDNA sequences of canine Ang-1 and Ang-2 were 1,494 and 1,488 bp, and the deduced amino acid sequences were 497 and 495 residues, respectively. The cDNA sequences of canine Ang-1 and Ang-2 showed high homology with those of the other mammalian species. Canine Ang-1 and Ang-2 mRNA were detectable in all 22 normal tissues and spontaneous tumours. Higher mRNA expression level of canine Ang-2 was demonstrated in mammary simple carcinomas, haemangiosarcoma and hepatocellular carcinoma in comparison with normal tissues.     

QTL analysis of panicle morphology response to irrigation regime in aerobic rice culture

In water-efficient rice production, grain yield is often constrained by panicle size. The objective of this study was to genetically dissect the response of panicle morphology to irrigation regimes in aerobic rice culture. We grew ‘Akihikari’ (a lowland japonica cultivar) × ‘IRAT109’ (an upland japonica cultivar) backcross inbred lines in aerobic soils with full or limited irrigation for 2 years, and examined 4 panicle traits—number of florets per panicle (FPP), number of primary branches per panicle (BPP), number of florets per primary branch (FPB), and frequency of pre-flowering floret abortion (%FA)—and grain yield. QTLs for BPP were detected in both the irrigation regimes but QTLs for FPB and %FA were detected mostly only in either of the irrigation regimes. The QTL for FPP on chromosome 2 (RM3421–RM213) coincided with that for yield under full irrigation, showing that this QTL is related to sink capacity and yield potential in aerobic rice culture. On the other hand, the QTL for FPB on chromosome 1 (RM3148–RM243) coincided with that for yield under limited irrigation, when water deficit was moderate. The QTL for root axis length at vegetative stage, previously identified in the same mapping population, was located near this region. This study unravelled the complicated genetic control on panicle morphology in aerobic rice culture, and suggested the positive roles of the dehydration avoidance mechanism by vigorous root growth on panicle size and yield under dry soil conditions.     

Cytoplasmic relatedness of apple landraces and cultivars: a molecular analysis

Summary Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity has been determined in apple landraces and cultivars, based upon restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) for several mitochondrial genes. Our analysis includes three cultivars, Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Delicious, which represent the various patterns of mtDNA polymorphisms previously described (Ishikawa et al., 1992). A total of five RFLPs were detected, allowing classification of the apple genotypes into four cytoplasmic groups: GroupI, Golden Delicious-type; GroupII, McIntosh-type; GroupIII, Delicious-type; and Group IV, Dolgo Crab-type. European landraces and cultivars were assigned to Groups I, II, and III, while chinese crab apples were placed in either Group III or IV.     

A new freeze-dried living virus vaccine against sheep-pox

A sheep-pox virus strain has been adapted and multiplied in primary lamb kidney cell cultures. The main characteristics of the strain have been verified in vitro after clones were isolated, and the results confirmed its identity. The safety and the potency of the strain have been investigated in sheep.

The inoculation of the strain to sheep was followed by a post-vaccinal reaction materialised by a nodule at the site of inoculation and an increase of temperature by about 1°C. No reactions adversely affecting pregnancy have been noted. Immunisation was demonstrated by an increase in the level of neutralising serous antibodies and protection against the pathogenic virus. The immunity tended to decrease during the second year after primovaccination and a yearly booster vaccination appeared to be necessary. Primovaccination of lambs over 2 months of age produced a better immunity, especially when the lambs were born from vaccinated ewes.

This strain forms the active principle of a freeze-dried vaccine containing no adjuvant of the immunity.     

GIS analysis of conjunctive water resource use in Nganjuk district, east Java, Indonesia

Water shortages during the dry season threaten sustainable agricultural production in Nganjuk District, East Java, Indonesia. To mitigate this problem, farmers adopted conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater, but the sustainability of this practice has not been investigated. This study temporally and spatially assessed water allocation in Nganjuk District when conjunctive irrigation was used. In particular, the land cover, water balance, and irrigation well density (IWD) were analyzed using time series GIS and remote sensing data to obtain their temporal and spatial distributions. First, the land cover was analyzed to determine cropping intensity, and the water balance was analyzed temporally and spatially. IWD was introduced to facilitate the water balance analysis. Second, the land cover, water balance, and IWD results were overlaid. Third, the effectiveness of the IWD method, the magnitude of water shortages, and the sustainability of groundwater resources were considered. Temporal and spatial water shortages in irrigation blocks were observed during the dry season. The change of storage showed a surplus during the wet and early dry seasons and a shortage during the late dry season. The annual water balances indicated that the southern part had a surplus, and the northern part experienced water shortages, especially downstream of the Widas River. Conjunctive use during the late dry season was predominant and concentrated in the southern part (83% of southern blocks). IWD was appropriate for examining groundwater use trends and was effective for expressing average withdrawal data (R ² = 0.87).