Genetic Diversity and Evolutionary Tendency Detected by Isozyme, RFLP and RAPD Markers in the Wild and Cultivated Soybean in China

A large numbers of samples of wild soybean accessions and cultivated soybean landraces from various areas in China were analyzed by isozyrme, cytoplasmic DNA RFLP and nuclear DNA RAPD markers in order to reveal their genetic diversity. Greater comprehensive genetic diversity was detected in wild soybean than in cultivated soybean. The genetic plentifulness and the genetic dispersion of wild soybean were 180 (95. 2％) and 0. 2891 while those of cultivated soybean were 154(81.5％) and 0. 2091,respectively. On the most loci, especially on isozyme loci Idh1, Aph, Idh2,and Dia, cytoplasmic DNA RFLP loci cp Ⅰ , cp Ⅲ, mt Ⅳ a and mt Ⅳ b, and nuclear RAPD loci OPAP4-8, OPAP5-1, OPAP9-8 and OPAP20-8, the wild soybeans djffered remarkably from the cultivated ones in allele frequency. These markers could be used in further study on the evolution and origin of the cultivated soybean.     

Traumatic urethral avulsion at the preputial fornix in a cat

A cat with pelvic fractures from being hit by a car had voided no urine in 13 hours despite iv administration of fluids. Abdominal radiography had revealed the pelvic fractures and apparently intact urinary bladder. Urine did not flow from a urethral catheter, and contrast radiography revealed the catheter to be extra-urethral within the penis. Intravenous pyelography revealed intact ureters and urinary bladder; celiotomy confirmed intact urinary bladder. Cystotomy and normograde urethral catheterization allowed localization of the ruptured urethra within the deep subcutaneous tissues of the caudal portion of the abdomen. After closure of the cystotomy and celiotomy incisions, perineal urethrostomy was performed.     

Gastrointestinal helminth fauna of Japanese moles, Mogera spp

One trematode, Echinostoma macrorchis, 2 cestodes, Hymenolepis diminuta and Choanotaenia spasskii and 5 nematodes, Parastrongyloides winchesi, Tricholinstowia talpae, Heterakis spumosa, Trichuris sp. and Capillaria soricis were obtained from 129 Mogera wogura, 233 M. kobeae and 28 M. tokudae, which were collected from almost all over Japan. All present cases were new host and locality records. The discovery of T. talpae in Japan shows the wide distribution of this species from Japan to Europe.     

Software development for estimating the concentration of radioactive cesium in the skeletal muscles of cattle from blood samples

The 2011 earthquake severely damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP), resulting in the release of large quantities of radioactive material into the environment. The deposition of these radionuclides in rice straw as livestock feed led to the circulation of contaminated beef in the market. Based on the safety concern of the consumers, a reliable method for estimating concentrations of radioactive cesium in muscle tissue is needed. In this study, we analyzed the concentrations of radioactive cesium in the blood and skeletal muscle of 88 cattle, and detected a linear correlation between them. We then developed software that can be used to estimate radioactive cesium concentrations in muscle tissue from blood samples. Distribution of this software to the livestock production field would allow us to easily identify high‐risk cattle, which would be beyond the safety regulation, before shipping out to the market. This software is planned to be released as freeware. This software would contribute to food safety, and aid the recovery of the livestock industry from the damage creacted by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.     

Physiological and behavioural effects of an intracerebroventricular injection of corticotropin releasing hormone in goats

This study investigated the effects of an intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) on physiological and behavioural responses in goats. In Experiment 1, saline (control) or saline plus 25 microg of ovine CRH was injected into the third ventricle of castrated male goats. CRH increased plasma cortisol (Cor) levels markedly within 15 min, but had little effect on plasma glucose (Glu). Compared with saline injected goats, CRH decreased the total duration of lying behaviour but increased its frequency, and suppressed rumination and self-grooming. In Experiment 2, the effects of an intravenous (IV) injection of human adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (1-24) (0.1mg) were examined and an IV injection of saline was used as control. ACTH increased plasma Cor levels markedly, but did not change any behaviour compared with controls. It was concluded that CRH mediated the response of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and behaviour following stress in goats, although the CRH-induced behavioural changes were independent of the HPA axis and seemed to be the result of direct action within the central nervous system.     

Nitrogen use by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus densiflora</Emphasis> trees growing on a Mt. Fuji lava flow

To quantify the nitrogen (N) use by Pinus densiflora trees growing on an infertile lava surface, N pools, N requirement and N uptake through fine roots and N deposition from the atmosphere were estimated. The N requirement and the N uptake of fine roots were 55.5kgNha^–1year^–1 and 39.7kgNha^–1, respectively. Thus, the ratio of N uptake to N requirement of the fine roots was 71.5%. Including fine-root contribution, the total N requirement of the P. densiflora trees was 98.6kgNha^–1year^–1, and the total N uptake was 64.2kgNha^–1year^–1. Thus, the N uptake of the P. densiflora trees was 64.1% of the N requirement, indicating that P. densiflora trees growing on an infertile lava surface obtain some of their N from below-ground organic material layers every year and the contribution of N storage in trees for their growth is not any higher than indicated in previous reports that excluded fine-roots contribution. The wet N deposition of our research forest was only 5.8% of the N requirement of the P. densiflora trees and only 8.9% of the N uptake. Movement of the below-ground organic material layer N concentrations in the F- and L-layers coincides with needle development and fine-root growth, suggesting the possibility that P. densiflora trees extract N from the organic N of those layers for growth.     

Temporal water deficit and wood formation in Cryptomeria japonica

Cell behavior in the cambium and developing xylem of 3-year-old Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don.) trees, during and after an 11-day suspension of irrigation, was analyzed. Leaf xylem pressure potential and tangential strain of the stem surface were monitored throughout the experiment. Anatomical features and numbers of developing tracheids and cambial cells were observed in four trees, sampled on Days 0, 4, 8 and 11 after irrigation was suspended. Daytime xylem pressure potential decreased to -1.9 MPa on Day 7 and remained the same until irrigation was resumed on Day 11. The transverse dimensions of the tracheids, which began to form secondary walls, began to decrease on Day 4. The number of cells in the cambial zone and cell expansion zone decreased abruptly on Day 8. Tangentially aligned developing tracheids with collapsed cell walls were observed in samples harvested on Days 8 and 11. Secondary wall formation was recognized in these tracheids. After the resumption of irrigation, xylem pressure potential recovered rapidly to the same value as before the suspension of irrigation. Tangential strain increased within 30 min after the resumption of irrigation, and continued to increase until the onset of light the next day. Eighteen days after the resumption of irrigation, anatomical features of cells in the cambium and cell-expansion zone were similar to those observed before suspension of irrigation.     

Mechanical interaction between cellulose microfibril and matrix substance in wood cell wall determined by X-ray diffraction

We investigated mechanical interactions between the cellulose microfibril and the matrix substance in wood cell walls. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the peak positions of (200) and (004) from cellulose crystals in wood cell walls tended to shift lower and higher toward 2θ, respectively, during water desorption in wood. From our simulations, it is shown that the peak shift of (200) during water desorption is not due to changes in the scattering pattern of the amorphous substance or to lateral expansion of the cellulose crystals due to the Poisson effect in the cellulose microfibril, which is compressed in the molecular chain direction as the amorphous substance shrinks. This suggests that the cellulose microfibril expands transversely during water desorption in the wood cell wall, and that there is a mechanical interaction between the cellulose microfibril and the matrix substance.