Cytologic,histologic, and immunohistochemical features of maxillofacial alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in a juvenile dog

Abstract: A 15‐month‐old castrated male dog with a history of intermittent epistaxis and sneezing was admitted for the examination of a maxillofacial mass. An impression smear of a biopsy sample from the cauliflower‐shaped gingival mass contained numerous round cells, 5–25 μm in diameter, which contained a moderate amount of clear to pale blue cytoplasm and resembled lymphoid cells. Mitotic figures were frequently observed. The mass was diagnosed as malignant round cell neoplasia. On histologic examination the tumor was composed of diffusely arranged, small, atypical round cells with a small amount of fibrovascular stroma. Immunohistochemically, the cells were negative for CD3, CD18, CD20, CD79α, cytokeratin, melan‐A, chromogranin A, α‐smooth muscle actin, and myoglobin but positive for vimentin and desmin. The cells also had strong positive nuclear staining for myogenin and MyoD1. A diagnosis of solid‐pattern alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma was made on the basis of morphologic and immunohistochemical results. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors in juvenile dogs, especially when cytologic findings reveal round, undifferentiated cells.     

Reputational damage and the Fukushima disaster: an analysis of seafood in Japan

As the levels of radioactivity in seafood have fallen back into the safe range, Fukushima fisheries are considering reopening. However, even if seafood from the Fukushima area were sufficiently safe to distribute to seafood markets, its value may be undermined because of the damage done to its reputation by the Fukushima disaster. We quantified consumers’ preferences for seafood from Fukushima and adjacent prefectures to examine the extent of the reputational damage to Fukushima seafood. We conducted a choice experiment to measure consumers’ willingness to pay for seafood from the Fukushima area. We also measured the impact of displaying ecolabels [Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Marine Eco-label Japan (MEL)] on Fukushima products. The results indicated that Fukushima products are considerably discounted compared with products displayed as domestic; even products from adjacent prefectures are substantially discounted. By contrast, consumers positively evaluated locally labeled products. We also found that demersal fish are discounted more than pelagic fish that inhabit the ocean surface off the shore of Fukushima.     

Molecular phylogenetic relationship of Tetraodon pufferfish based on mitochondrial DNA analysis

Pufferfishes belonging to the genus Tetraodon form one of the largest groups in the family Tetraodontidae. This group consists of more than 20 species distributed across freshwater, as well as brackish and coastal waters, of Africa and Southeast Asia. However, their phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships are still ambiguous. In the present study, mitochondrial genes encoding 16S rRNA and cytochrome b were sequenced for 17 Tetraodon species collected from various areas mentioned above. Supermatrix analysis based on the complete sequences of the two genes from Tetraodon species was performed using a tree with 50 tetraodontid species (including 7 Tetraodon species) as a backbone. The obtained phylogenetic tree classified Tetraodon species into three groups, correlating well with their habitats, such as Asian freshwater, Asian brackish water, and African freshwater. We also showed that salinity tolerance of Asian freshwater species T. cochinchinensis was apparently lower than that of Asian brackish water species T. nigroviridis, suggesting that the speciation of Tetraodon species in the Asian freshwater group was caused by the molecular evolution associated with osmotic regulation.     

Organ-specific allocation pattern of acquired phosphorus and dry matter in two rice genotypes with contrasting tolerance to phosphorus deficiency

ABSTRACT

Our earlier study demonstrated that the landrace of Japonica rice, Akamai exhibits low-P (phosphorous) tolerance mechanisms compared to the conventional type cultivar, Koshihikari. The present study examined the genotypic difference of yield, plasticity of root growth, and internal utilization of acquired P (allocation pattern of biomass and P among different vegetative and reproductive organs) of two contrasting cultivars in response to P-deficiency. Each cultivar was grown until maturity with (+P) and without (–P) P supply in pots (two plants per pot) filled with 15 kg of Regosol soil. Grain yield and yield components were determined along with biomass and P accumulation in different vegetative and reproductive organs. To assess the plasticity of root growth, the soil column in the pot was divided into two equal portions (upper and lower soil layers) in which the root dry weight and length were measured separately. Among the investigated yield components, the number of filled grains per panicle was the key parameter determining genotypic differences of grain yield of two cultivars. P-deficiency had a marked influence on grain filling of Koshihikari where the filled grain percentage under –P condition was reduced by 29% compared to that under +P condition. However, the respective reduction for Akamai was only 11%. Low-P tolerance ability of Akamai imparts a yield advantage over Koshihikari under P-deficient conditions because of the production of the higher number of filled grains per panicle. Akamai explored both upper and lower soil layers of the pot more efficiently in search of P through greater root biomass and length. Akamai grown under P-deficient conditions had remarkably lower P concentrations in less active vegetative tissues (partly and fully senesced leaves) than those of Koshihikari; whereas, more active organs (green leaves and panicles) contained a greater amount of P. Akamai’s higher plasticity to external P availability can be a genetic resource for developing low-P tolerant, high-yielding rice genotypes suitable for predicted future P-limited environments.     

基于烧失量指数评估滨海沉积物中有机质特征

Understanding organic matter characteristics(e.g., amount and state) of sediments is necessary for evaluating both the sediment and water environments; however, methods that have been proposed to investigate these characteristics are relatively expensive. This study attempted to evaluate the organic matter characteristics of littoral sediments by employing solely the loss on ignition(LOI)method, which is the most economical and accessible method in developing countries. Different types of sediments were first oven dried at 100℃ and then continuously burned at 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600℃ for 4 h at each temperature. The mass LOI at each temperature was calculated and compared with the 100℃ oven-dried weight. Our results suggested that the mass LOI across the temperature range of 200–300℃(LOI_(200-300)):mass LOI at 600℃(LOI_(600)) ratio(LOI_(200-300)/LOI_(600)) could represent different types of sediments as well as the organic matter:organic C ratio. Compared with the sediments unaffected by wastewater, the sediments that were more influenced by the inflow of domestic wastewater had a higher LOI_(200-300)/LOI_(600). Interestingly, LOI_(200-300)/LOI_(600) could also represent changes in the organic matter characteristics as a function of organic matter decomposition in sediments. In conclusion, the organic matter characteristics of littoral sediments could be evaluated using solely the LOI method, particularly with LOI_(200-300)/LOI_(600).     

A new spore precipitator with polarized dielectric insulators for physical control of tomato powdery mildew

ABSTRACT In an attempt to physically protect greenhouse tomato plants from the powdery mildew fungus Oidium neolycopersici, we developed a new electrostatic spore precipitator in which a copper wire conductor is linked to an electrostatic generator and covered with a transparent acrylic cylinder (insulator). The conductor was negatively charged by the generator, and the electrostatic field created by the conductor was used to dielectrically polarize the insulator cylinder. The dielectrically polarized cylinder also produced an electrostatic force without a spark discharge. This force was directly proportional to the potential applied to the conductor and was used to attract conidia of the pathogen. The efficacy of this spore precipitator in protecting hydroponically cultured tomato plants from powdery mildew was evaluated in the greenhouse. The hydroponic culture troughs were covered with a cubic frame installed with the spore precipitator, and the disease progress on precipitator-guarded and unguarded seedlings was traced after the conidia were disseminated mechanically from inoculum on tomato plants. Seedlings in the guarded troughs remained uninfected during the entire experiment, in spite of rapid spread of the disease to all leaves of the unguarded seedlings.