Dose assessment of 2% chlorhexidine acetate for canine superficial pyoderma

The dose of 2% chlorhexidine acetate (2CA; Nolvasan^® Surgical Scrub; Fort Dodge Animal Health, Fort Dodge, IA, USA) for canine superficial pyoderma was evaluated. The first trial compared three doses (group 1, 57 mL/m² body surface area; group 2, 29 mL/m² body surface area; and group 3, 19 mL/m² body surface area) in a randomized, double‐blind, controlled fashion. Twenty‐seven dogs with superficial pyoderma were treated with 2CA at the allocated doses every 2 days for 1 week. The owners and investigators subjectively evaluated the dogs, and investigators scored skin lesions, including erythema, papules/pustules, alopecia and scales, on a 0–4 scale. There were no significant differences in response between the treatment groups. The second trial established a practical dose‐measuring method for 2CA. Sixty‐eight owners were asked to apply 2CA on their palm in an amount corresponding to a Japanese ¥500 coin, 26.5 mm in diameter. This yielded an average dose of 0.90 ± 0.40 mL. Mathematically, the doses used in groups 1, 2 and 3 can be represented as one coin per approximately one‐, two‐ and three‐hand‐sized lesions, respectively. The results therefore suggest that owners instructed to apply one coin of the product per two‐hand‐sized areas of superficial pyoderma would use the range of doses evaluated in this trial.     

The investigation of probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional Mongolian dairy products

The aims of this study were to investigate the diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from traditional Mongolian dairy products, and to estimate the probiotic potential of the isolated strains. We collected 66 samples of the traditional Mongolian dairy products tarag (n = 45), airag (n = 7), aaruul (n = 8), byasulag (n = 1) and eezgii (n = 5), from which 543 LAB strains were isolated and identified based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequence. The predominant species of those products were Lactobacillus (L.) delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, L. helveticus, L. fermentum, L. delbrueckii ssp. lactis and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis. However, we could not detect any LAB strains from eezgii. All LAB isolates were screened for tolerance to low pH and to bile acid, gas production from glucose, and adherence to Caco‐2 cells. In vitro, we found 10 strains possess probiotic properties, and almost identified them as L. plantarum or L. paracasei subspecies, based on 16S ribosomal DNA and carbohydrate fermentation pattern. These strains were differentiated from each other individually by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. Additionally, it was notable that 6/10 strains were isolated from camel milk tarag from the Dornogovi province.     

Effects of Ingesting Fucoidan Derived from Cladosiphon okamuranus Tokida on Human NK Cells: A Randomized,Double-Blind,Parallel-Group,Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ingesting fucoidan derived from Okinawa mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus) on natural killer (NK) cell activity and to assess its safety in healthy adults via a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled pilot study. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups—a placebo group (ingesting citric acid, sucralose, and caramel beverages; n = 20; 45.5 ± 7.8 years (mean ± standard deviation)) and a fucoidan group (3.0 g/day from beverages; n = 20; 47.0 ± 7.6 years); after 12 weeks, blood, biochemical, and immunological tests were performed. Clinically adverse events were not observed in any of the tests during the study period. In addition, adverse events due to the test food were not observed. In the immunological tests, NK cell activity was significantly enhanced at 8 weeks in the fucoidan group, compared to before ingestion (0 weeks). In addition, a significantly enhanced NK cell activity was observed in male subjects at 8 weeks, compared with the placebo group. These results confirm that Okinawa mozuku-derived fucoidan enhances NK cell activity and suggest that it is a safe food material.     

Broadcast application versus band application of polyolefin‐coated fertilizer on green peppers grown on andisol

Green pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) field experiments were conducted in Northeastern‐Japan in order to evaluate the effects of band and broadcast applications of a polyolefin‐coated fertilizer (POCF) on yield of green pepper grown on Andisol in comparison with conventional, rapidly available fertilizers (RAF). POCF broadcast treatment produced the best yield while POCF band treatment and RAF treatment gave similar results. At the POCF treatments similar or better nutrient uptake was observed than in the RAF treatment resulting similar or better fresh and dry matter productions and consequently similar or higher fruit yield. Thus, by using POCF, labor and energy costs and environmental loading can be reduced without any yield decrease. Among the relatively cold field conditions roots could not reach the POCF band quickly, that caused slower early plant development and eventually lower yield than in comparison with the broadcast application. The very low pH of the soil solutions, having taken from the POCF band throughout the growing period, provided a further possible explanation for the inferiority of band application method. According to these results for green peppers grown on Andisol in Northeastern Japan the broadcast application of POCF is a more effective fertilization method than the band application.     

Chemical species of Al in a gypsum-treated Kitakami Andosol

To examine the possibility that the Al₁₃ polymer ([A10₄Al₁₂(OH)24(H₂0)₁₂]⁷⁺) could be formed in soils after gypsum application, an analytical method using a cation exchange resin and ²⁷Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was applied to gypsum-treated Kitakami Andosol (fine, mixed, mesic, Andic Dystrochrept). The NMR spectra of the cation exchange resins which retained artificially synthesized hydroxy-AI, showed two broad peaks at 0 and 63 ppm. These results indicated that monomer and/or dimer Al and Al¹³ polymers adsorbed on the cation exchange resin could be detected with ²⁷Al NMR. The amount of polymer Al increased by gypsum application in the Kitakami soil. The NMR spectrum of this resin showed only one peak at 0 ppm indicating that the polymer Al formed in the gypsum treated Kitakami soil was not the Al¹³ polymer.     

Measurement of sea bottom surface backscattering strength by quantitative echo sounder

ABSTRACT:   Measurement theory and method of the bottom surface backscattering strength (SS) using a quantitative echo sounder (QES) are discussed and applied in the ocean near Java, Indonesia. The frequencies of the QES were 38, 70, and 120 kHz. The measurements of bottom echoes and sampling of bottom material by a dredge were done simultaneously. Bottom characterization was based on analysis of particle size distribution for bottom samples taken during the survey. The SS value increases with the increase of the mean diameter of the bottom particles. The SS decreased with increasing frequency. The effectiveness of QES for measurement of the SS along with observation of the depth topography were demonstrated.     

水稻短根突变体的农艺性状研究（英文）

 研究了短根突变体RM1、RM2及其原品种Ohchikara在水培和土培条件下的农艺性状。结果表明，用木村氏B溶液水培，从播种后14 d至成熟，突变体冠根的长度、鲜重和干重分别只有原品种的50%、50%和60%。从播后60 d至成熟，突变体的冠根数是原品种的1.2倍，在这之前它们之间无显著差异。在所有调查的地下部性状中，RM1和RM2之间无显著差异。在地上部的株高、分蘖数、地上部鲜重、干重及全株干重性状上，两个突变体与原品种之间、RM1和RM2之间无显著差异。突变体的全株鲜重为原品种的90%，这个差异是显著的。突变体的单株粒重只有原品种的60%，这是由于每穗总粒数和结实率下降所致。在大田土培条件下，所有调查过的地上部性状值，突变体都显著地小于原品种，而RM1和RM2之间除穗长外，均无显著差异。