Reference ranges of hematology and lymphocyte subsets in healthy Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) and Holstein dairy cattle

There are no accurate reference ranges for hematology parameters and lymphocyte subsets in Korean native beef cattle (Hanwoo). This study was performed to establish reliable reference ranges of hematology and lymphocyte subsets using a large number of Hanwoo cattle (n = 350) and to compare differences between Hanwoo and Holstein dairy cattle (n = 334). Additionally, age‐related changes in lymphocyte subsets were studied. Bovine leukocyte subpopulation analysis was performed using mono or dual color flow cytometry. The leukocyte subpopulations investigated in healthy cattle included: CD2⁺ cells, sIgM⁺ cells, MHC class II⁺ cells, CD3⁺CD4⁺ cells, CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells, and WC1⁺ cells. Although Hanwoo and Holstein cattle are the same species, results showed several differences in hematology and lymphocyte subsets between Hanwoo and Holstein cattle. This study is the first report to establish reference ranges of hematology and lymphocyte subsets in adult Hanwoo cattle.     

Efficacy of silver ions against Sacbrood virus infection in the Eastern honey bee Apis cerana

Although silver is known to be a broad-spectrum biocidal agent, the effects of this metal against Sacbrood virus have not yet been investigated. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of silver ions against natural Korean sacbrood virus (KSBV) infection of Apis (A.) cerana. Ten KSBV-infected colonies containing A. cerana with similar strength and activity were selected from an apiary located in Bosung-gun (Korea). Among these, five colonies were randomly assigned to the treatment group that was fed sugar syrup containing 0.2 mg/L silver ions. The other colonies were assigned to the untreated control group in which bees were given syrup without the silver ions. To assess the efficacy of the silver ions, colony strength, colony activity, and the number of dead larvae per hive were measured. During the experimental period, the test group maintained its strength and activity until day 32 while those of bees in the control group decreased sharply after day 8 to 16. Survival duration of the test group was significantly longer (40 days) than that of the control group (21 days). These results strongly indicated that silver ions are effective against KSBV infection in A. cerana.     

Study on the effects of single fiber tensile properties on bundle tensile properties through estimation of HVI bundle modulus and toughness

The HVI properties and Mantis® single fiber tensile properties were analyzed to evaluate the relationship between fiber and bundle tensile properties. For this study, a new method has been developed for estimating the modulus and toughness of cotton fiber bundles directly from the HVI tenacity-elongation curves. The single fiber tensile properties were shown to be translated well into the bundle tensile properties. The single fiber breaking elongation was found to be the most significant contributing factor to bundle tensile properties. The bundle breaking elongation and toughness were shown to increase as the single fiber breaking elongation increased. The bundle modulus increased as the single fiber breaking elongation and/or standard deviation of single fiber breaking elongation decreased.     

Entorhinal cortex layer III input to the hippocampus is crucial for temporal association memory

Associating temporally discontinuous elements is crucial for the formation of episodic and working memories that depend on the hippocampal-entorhinal network. However, the neural circuits subserving these associations have remained unknown. The layer III inputs of the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus may contribute to this process. To test this hypothesis, we generated a transgenic mouse in which these inputs are specifically inhibited. The mutant mice displayed significant impairments in spatial working-memory tasks and in the encoding phase of trace fear-conditioning. These results indicate a critical role of the entorhinal cortex layer III inputs to the hippocampus in temporal association memory.     

Development of a dragonfly awareness trail in an African botanical garden

The IUCN/SSC Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan: Dragonflies calls for an increase in educating the public and increasing awareness of dragonflies (Odonata). Dragonflies are conspicuous and attractive, and can ‘stand in’ for other invertebrates in raising awareness of the necessity to conserve invertebrates. While reserves have been set aside for dragonfly awareness and conservation in the northern hemisphere, no such dragonfly reserves appear to exist in the southern hemisphere, despite its rich dragonfly fauna. This paper describes the development of a dragonfly-awareness trail in an established and well-visited botanical garden (The National Botanical Gardens, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa). Correlations between species and environmental variables were significantly high for six measured environmental variables: pH, percentage shade, vegetation (structural and compositional), ambient and water temperature, and water depth. Multivariate analyses of data, classified 20 a priori selected sampling units into four ecologically meaningful biotope types, each with a characteristic dragonfly assemblage. The four biotopes provided potential viewing points. To these were added a further three duplicate biotopes so as to link the trail into a circuit. Questionnaires assessed public awareness of dragonflies, and helped design a preliminary leaflet. A final trail design was drawn up along with an expanded booklet. The trail has now been implemented. Recommendations are made on the minimal scientific underpinning required for future trail design.     

Plant material as an alternative tool for management of aphid in country bean field

The aphids Aphis craccivora Koch attack country bean Lablab purpureus L. both in its vegetative and reproductive stages and cause severe damage. To develop an integrated management of aphid powders of black pepper, chili, turmeric, and coriander; oils of mahogany, neem, and eucalyptus; aqueous extracts of neem, basil, and garlic leaves; and water were evaluated in field conditions. The treatments were applied at 7?day intervals and aphid abundance per inflorescence was counted at 24, 48, and 72?h after treatment. All the plant materials reduced aphid abundance and flower infestation, ensuring a higher yield with larger and heavier pods. The neem oil treatment had the lowest abundance of aphid and consequently produced the highest marketable and gross yields. Predatory insects were abundant in the field, but their populations were lower in the treatments than the control. An economic analysis indicated that the highest gross return, net return, adjusted net return, and benefit-cost ratio were obtained from the mahogany oil treatment. The plant materials have insecticidal potential against aphids, and the oils of mahogany and neem showed better performances.     

A method of capability evaluation for upland soils

Utilizing the data and materials accumulated in the project “Observations on Soil Fertility Changes” organized by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and executed by 16 Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Stations throughout Japan, an attempt was made to derive a prediction equation for soil loss due to erosion.

Five Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Stations provided us with rainfall records from which monthly rainfalls by three intensity grades, under 2 mm/10 min (LE2R), 2-4 mm 10 min (MEDRi) and over 4 mm/10 min (GT4R), were read. Multiple regression of log-transformed soil loss upon these rainfall data gave the following regression equation

Log soil loss = -0.783 0.0185**GT4R+0.00597**LE2R -0.00763**MEDR for which multiple correlation coefficient (R) was 0.74. The units of measurement were kg are for soil loss mm/month for LE2R, MEDR, and GT4R.

In order to account for the contribution of slope and soil factors to soil loss, Hayashi's theory of quantification No. I was applied after coding the relevant data. R of log-transformed soil loss on GT4R, MEDR, LE2R, slope, bulk density (BD), and texture (TEXT), reached 0.80. GT4R had the highest partial correlation coefficient, followed successively by MEDR, slope, and LE2R. Bulk density (BD) and texture (TEXT) were taken from among the data available to represent characters relevant to erosion, but they had onlv low partial correlations with soil loss in this Particular study.

The method developed in this study appears to be promising only if properly collected data are available. Conditions that should be satisfied in the planning of experiments for the purpose derivation of a prediction equation have been put forward.     

Use of herbicide-resistant genic male sterility in hybrid rice seed production

One of the difficult problems in hybrid rice seed production is the low outcrossing frequency and requirement for much labor to produce hybrid seeds. In order to simplify the process of hybrid rice seed production, herbicide-resistant photoperiod sensitive genic male sterile (HRPGMS) rice was utilized in this study. The herbicide resistance gene bar was transferred into the photoperiod sensitive genic male sterile (PGMS) rice 920S by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and the HRPGMS line YA3530ms with good agronomic characteristics was bred by applying conventional pedigree breeding technique. The seeds of HRPGMS and pollen parent were mixed with the ratio of 4:1 in weight, and were sowed in seedling box. The mixed seedlings of HRPGMS and pollen parent grown for 30 days were transplanted by the small transplanting machine in the field. The herbicide glufosinate ammonium was sprayed at 7 days after flowering to kill all the plants of pollen parent, whereas hybrid seeds were harvested from the survived HRPGMS parent at maturity. The outcrossing frequency of HRPGMS line from two combinations in 2002 and from five combinations in 2004 were compared with a control cultivated by the conventional 2-line system. As the result, the mean outcrossing frequency in HRPGMS of the treatments were 10.6–24.5% compared with 5.5% in PGMS of the control in 2002, and that were 24.7–32.0% compared with 7.5% in the control in 2004. Consequently, using HRPGMS in two-line system was proved to be a new method that would simplify the process of hybrid rice seed production and to increase outcrossing frequency without any artificial supplementary pollination processes.     

Community forestry for poverty alleviation in China with reference to Huoshan County,Anhui Province

Increasing attention has been paid to the question of whether and how community forestry links with poverty reduction in the mountainous regions in developing countries. Household-based community forestry was first implemented in Yunnan and spread over other parts of China in the 1980s. In this forestry management system, rural households are the main actors. Household forestry is a form of small-scale community forestry and suits the rural areas of China, where social overhead capital and skilled human resources are lacking. Community forestry has played a remarkable role in guiding and facilitating rural poverty alleviation in Huoshan County, Anhui Province. This paper describes how the community forestry project in Huoshan County has helped the farmers improve their livelihoods through the creation of a forestry model involving science and technology demonstration households and independent farmers’ organisations. The sustainable poverty alleviation model developed in Huoshan has proved to be effective in poverty alleviation and environmental protection, featuring the participatory forestry components of the project, namely household forestry, science and technology demonstration households, and independent farmers’ organisations. With technological and financial aid from government, the local farmers were able and willing to establish this small-scale forestry management system, planting fast-growing multiple-use tree species with substantial economic benefits.