Changes in the plasma levels of several bone markers in newborn calves during the first two days of life

The fluctuations in the plasma levels of several bone markers were investigated in newborn calves. Experiment1 monitored the postnatal changes in the plasma levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b(TRAP5b), total alkaline phosphatase (t-ALP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in four calves.These markers increased significantly from 9−20 hr after the first colostrum-suckling compared with the valuesimmediately after birth. Experiment 2 evaluated changes in the plasma TRAP5b, t-ALP, BAP and type I collagencross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx) levels within 2 days post-birth in five calves with successful passiveimmunization via colostrum (non-deficient group) and five others with poor colostrum intake (deficient group).The non-deficient group had significantly higher plasma levels of the four parameters around 12 hr of lifecompared with the deficient group. The results suggest that the increase in plasma bone markers in calves inthe first day of life is related to the colostrum intake.     

Neuropathological observation of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) affected with raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) larva migrans in Japan

Larvae of the raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis (B. procyonis) are a known cause of cerebrospinal larva migrans in animals and humans. The present paper described details of the central nervous lesion in the rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) affected with B. procyonis larva migrans in Japan. Clinically affected animals showed neurological signs including circling, torticollis, tremor of head, or ataxic gait. The most characteristic pathological alterations were large malacic lesions associated with an activated astroglial proliferation which was seen at the corpus medullare in the cerebellum including the cerebellar peduncle. Moreover, focal malacic lesions with perivascular cuffing and infiltration by lymphocytes and heterophiles were scattered everywhere throughout the brain. In these lesions or normal-appearing areas away from obvious lesions, ascarid larvae, about a maximum 65-75 micro m in diameter, were recognized. Other prominent features were minute lesions (we call them migration tract-like lesions) composed of lymphocytes, hemosiderin-laden macrophages and reactive astrocytes scattering throughout the cerebrum. In this study, we demonstrated ascarid larvae in only eight out of 23 animals diagnosed as B. procyonis larva migrans. Since it is not always possible to detect the larvae, the possibility of B. procyonis larva migrans must be given serious consideration to the characteristic lesions described above.     

Microsatellite Markers Revealed the Genetic Diversity of an Old Japanese Rice Landrace ‘Echizen’

Landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.) are valuable sources of genetic variation that have been lost in advanced cultivars. Seeds of a rice landrace stored for almost 100 years were found on Sado Island in Niigata prefecture, Japan. This report aims to present basic data on the genetic variation of this landrace, which was known as ‘Echizen’. Five samples of ‘Echizen’, consisting of two old samples, one sample maintained on farm, and two lines regenerated from old seeds were compared with other advanced cultivars and landraces using 19 microsatellite markers. Among the five samples of Echizen, the two stored samples showed greater diversity than the other samples. Cluster analysis based on the UPGMA method also showed that old Echizen was a diverse landrace that could cover the genetic diversity of most Japanese rice cultivars.     

Breed differences in macrophage infiltration and senescence state in adipose tissues of Wagyu and Holsteins

Obesity stimulates the macrophage infiltration and senescence state in adipose tissues of humans and rodents. The adipogenesis capacity of Japanese Black cattle (Wagyu) is higher than that of Holsteins. We hypothesized that breed differences between Wagyu and Holsteins may affect the level of macrophage infiltration and senescence state in adipose tissues. The macrophage infiltration, senescence marker gene expression and activity of senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase (SA‐βgal) in visceral and intramuscular adipose tissue of Wagyu were higher than those of Holsteins. In contrast, there were no differences in macrophage infiltration, senescence marker gene expression and activity of SA‐βgal in subcutaneous adipose tissue between the breeds. Expression of p53 gene, the master regulator of macrophage infiltration and senescence state, in visceral and intramuscular adipose tissue of Wagyu was higher than that of Holsteins. In contrast, there was no difference in the expression of p53 gene in subcutaneous adipose tissue between the breeds. These results suggest that breed differences in macrophage infiltration and senescence state in adipose tissues of Wagyu and Holsteins are affected by p53 expression.     

Fat depot‐specific effects of body fat distribution and adipocyte size on intramuscular fat accumulation in Wagyu cattle

Ectopic fats have been recognized as a new risk factor for metabolic syndrome. In obese humans, ectopic fat accumulations are affected by body fat distribution. Intramuscular adipose tissue is categorized as one of the ectopic fats. Japanese black cattle (Wagyu) are characterized by the ability to accumulate high amounts of intramuscular adipose tissue. In Japan, the marbling level is indicated by the beef marbling standard number (BMS No.), which reflects the intramuscular fat content of longissimus muscle. We hypothesized that the intramuscular fat accumulation is affected by the body fat distribution in Wagyu cattle. In this study, we showed that the BMS No. was not correlated with the subcutaneous and visceral adipocyte diameter. In contrast, the BMS No. was positively correlated with intramuscular adipocyte diameter. These results indicate that the intramuscular adipocyte diameter of Wagyu is hypertrophied with an increase in the intramuscular fat accumulation. In addition, we showed that the BMS No. was positively correlated with the subcutaneous fat percentage. In contrast, the BMS No. was negatively correlated with the visceral fat percentage. These results indicate that highly marbled Wagyu cattle have a higher percentage of subcutaneous fat and a lower percentage of visceral fat.     

Search for low-mass exoplanets by gravitational microlensing at high magnification

Observations of the gravitational microlensing event MOA 2003-BLG-32/OGLE 2003-BLG-219 are presented, for which the peak magnification was over 500, the highest yet reported. Continuous observations around the peak enabled a sensitive search for planets orbiting the lens star. No planets were detected. Planets 1.3 times heavier than Earth were excluded from more than 50% of the projected annular region from approximately 2.3 to 3.6 astronomical units surrounding the lens star, Uranus-mass planets were excluded from 0.9 to 8.7 astronomical units, and planets 1.3 times heavier than Saturn were excluded from 0.2 to 60 astronomical units. These are the largest regions of sensitivity yet achieved in searches for extrasolar planets orbiting any star.     

Thin-film transistor fabricated in single-crystalline transparent oxide semiconductor

We report the fabrication of transparent field-effect transistors using a single-crystalline thin-film transparent oxide semiconductor, InGaO3(ZnO)5, as an electron channel and amorphous hafnium oxide as a gate insulator. The device exhibits an on-to-off current ratio of approximately 106 and a field-effect mobility of approximately 80 square centimeters per volt per second at room temperature, with operation insensitive to visible light irradiation. The result provides a step toward the realization of transparent electronics for next-generation optoelectronics.     

Seeds of doubt: Re‐assessing the impact of grain P concentrations on seedling vigor

Interest in developing crop varieties with low grain phosphorus (P) in order to minimize the removal of P from fields in harvested grain has been limited due to the view that a low‐P grain trait may impair subsequent seedling vigor. This perception is based on relatively few studies, which typically investigated seedling growth on infertile soils, and used seed that may have differed in attributes other than P concentration. To investigate whether these anomalies cast sufficient doubt to warrant renewed research in this field, we compared the growth of rice seedlings from seed low in P obtained from P‐starved plants (P‐starved seed) vs. high‐P seeds (obtained from P‐fertilized plants) in P‐deficient and P‐replete soils. While plants from high‐P seed were superior in the P‐deficient soil, plants grown from P‐starved seed overcame an initial lull in early vigor to obtain similar biomass at maturity as plants grown from high‐P seed. Subsequent experiments were undertaken using high‐P seed vs. seed low in P from a range of rice genotypes that was not obtained from P‐stressed plants (low‐P seed): There was no reduction in seedling vigor or biomass and grain yields at maturity of plants from low‐P seeds in low‐P soil compared to plants from high‐P seed, though responses were genotype‐specific. The results suggest that multiple factors can confound the results of seed P × seedling vigor studies, and that a renewed research effort to define the minimum P levels in seeds required for adequate seedling growth across a range of environments is warranted.     

Clone identification in Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus subgenus Cerasus) cultivars using nuclear SSR markers

Numerous cultivars of Japanese flowering cherry (Prunus subgenus Cerasus) are recognized, but in many cases they are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Therefore, we evaluated the clonal status of 215 designated cultivars using 17 SSR markers. More than half the cultivars were morphologically distinct and had unique genotypes. However, 22 cultivars were found to consist of multiple clones, which probably originate from the chance seedlings, suggesting that their unique characteristics have not been maintained through propagation by grafting alone. We also identified 23 groups consisting of two or more cultivars with identical genotypes. Most members of these groups were putatively synonymously related and morphologically identical. However, some of them were probably derived from bud sport mutants and had distinct morphologies. SSR marker analysis provided useful insights into the clonal status of the examined Japanese flowering cherry cultivars and proved to be a useful tool for cultivar characterization.     

Molecular cloning of insulin-like growth factor-I complimentary DNA and promoter region in the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos)*

Complementary DNA (cDNA) and the flanking region of insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) of domesticated duck were cloned. The nucleotide sequence analysis of the cDNA showed seven and eight bases different, respectively, from chicken and turkey IGF‐I cDNA within the coding region. The amino acid sequence of prepro IGF‐I differed by one and two amino acids from those observed in chicken and turkey, respectively. However, no amino acid substitution was observed in the mature IGF‐I region. Sequence analysis of the promoter region and exon 1 of the duck IGF‐I revealed a high degree of similarity to that of the chicken IGF‐I gene. These results suggest that the mechanisms which regulate expression of the IGF‐I gene may be widely conserved in avian species.