Photoconductive coaxial nanotubes of molecularly connected electron donor and acceptor layers

Controlled self-assembly of a trinitrofluorenone-appended gemini-shaped amphiphilic hexabenzocoronene selectively formed nanotubes or microfibers with different photochemical properties. In these nanotubes, which are 16 nanometers in diameter and several micrometers long, a molecular layer of electron-accepting trinitrofluorenone laminates an electron-donating graphitic layer of pi-stacked hexabenzocoronene. The coaxial nanotubular structure allows photochemical generation of spatially separated charge carriers and a quick photoconductive response with a large on/off ratio greater than 10(4). In sharp contrast, the microfibers consist of a charge-transfer complex between the hexabenzocoronene and trinitrofluorenone parts and exhibit almost no photocurrent generation.     

Genome‐wide association study and genomic evaluation of feed efficiency traits in Japanese Black cattle using single‐step genomic best linear unbiased prediction method

The objectives of this study were to better understand the genetic architecture and the possibility of genomic evaluation for feed efficiency traits by (i) performing genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), and (ii) assessing the accuracy of genomic evaluation for feed efficiency traits, using single‐step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP)‐based methods. The analyses were performed in residual feed intake (RFI), residual body weight gain (RG), and residual intake and body weight gain (RIG) during three different fattening periods. The phenotypes from 4,578 Japanese Black steers, which were progenies of 362 progeny‐tested bulls and the genotypes from the bulls were used in this study. The results of GWAS showed that a total of 16, 8, and 12 gene ontology terms were related to RFI, RG, and RIG, respectively, and the candidate genes identified in RFI and RG were involved in olfactory transduction and the phosphatidylinositol signaling system, respectively. The realized reliabilities of genomic estimated breeding values were low to moderate in the feed efficiency traits. In conclusion, ssGBLUP‐based method can lead to understand some biological functions related to feed efficiency traits, even with small population with genotypes, however, an alternative strategy will be needed to enhance the reliability of genomic evaluation.     

The use of micro-beam X-ray diffraction for the characterization of starch crystal structure in rice mutant kernels of waxy, amylose extender, and sugary1

Micro-beam X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out on slices from wild-type rice and mutants. The method permitted the crystalline structure to be analyzed with less destruction of cells and fewer artificial effects that occur during the purification of starch from tissue and provided information concerning the localization and crystalline structure of starches distributed in the endosperm. The starch on kernel slices from the wild-type and waxy mutant, carrying a defect for the Granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) gene, displayed an A-type of diffraction pattern; no difference in the crystalline patterns between starches located in the inner and outer region in a kernel were observed. A double mutant of the waxy and amylose extender (ae) mutant carrying a defect for the Starch branching enzyme IIb gene accumulated amylose-free B-type starches. The kernel slice from the double mutant of waxy and sugary1, mutated on the Isoamylase I locus, displayed an A-type diffraction pattern in the outer region and was amorphous in the inner region. A chain-length distribution analysis of polyglucans in kernels from wild-type and mutants showed that ae amylopectin had more long chains and less short chains than the wild-type and waxy amylopectin. On the other hand, the water-soluble polysaccharide in the inner region of the sugary1 endosperm had more short chains than the amylopectin in the outer region counterparts. These results indicate that branch chain length in amylopectin is crucial in determining the formation of A- and B-type starches.     

Manipulation of tannins in oaks by galling cynipids

We measured the protein precipitation capacity of tannins in the tissues of Quercus crispula and Quercus serrata galls induced by a cynipid (Trigonaspis sp.) to examine the nutrition hypothesis on gall induction. The protein precipitation capacity was significantly lower in the nutritive tissues of galls, on which the cynipids feed, than in ungalled sound leaves and in the outer gall tissues. In addition, the protein precipitation capacities in the leaves and in the outer gall tissues were significantly larger in Q. crispula than in Q. serrata samples, whereas that of the nutritive tissues did not differ between these oak species. These results suggest that gall induction is one of the adaptations of galling cynipids to host–plant defensive compounds, and support the nutrition hypothesis.     

Antinephritis and radical scavenging activity of prenylflavonoids

Antinephritis activity of 5 prenylflavonoids similar to glabridin (1-5), isolated from Morus alba, Artocarpus communis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and G. inflata, was evaluated in mice with glomerular disease (Masugi-nephritis). Oral administrations of artonin E (2) or licochalcone A (4) for 10 days (30 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) reduced the amount of urinary protein excretion compared to nephritic mice. ESR spectroscopy demonstrated that morusin (1) and licorisoflavan A (5) increased the radical intensity of sodium ascorbate by about two times. Morusin, licoricidin (3), licochalcone A and licorisoflavan A showed weak scavenging activity against superoxide anion radical.     

Comparison of the effectiveness of high and low LET radiations for the proportion of survivals with liver tumors at every age in (C57BL/6N x C3H/HeN) F1 mice

To investigate the late effects of neutrons at the energy below 1 MeV on the liver carcinogenesis as a function of age, one-week old mice were exposed to 1.0 Gy monoenergetic neutrons (0.317, 0.525 and 1.026 MeV) or 137Cs gamma rays. Survival and carcinogenesis were examined by 18 months of age. Following radiation, tumor incidences in liver, Harderian gland, lung, ovary and pituitary gland were compared. The proportion of the lifespan with liver tumors exposed to neutrons to that exposed to gamma rays was calculated as a function of age. Survival rates among the three groups exposed to neutrons of different energies were not significantly different from one another but shorter than those treated with gamma rays for both sexes. With regard to liver tumor incidence evaluated at 18 months of age, the effectiveness of neutrons to gamma rays was 2.54 for females, and 2.08 for males by the factor. Levels of estrogen in the serum were similar between mice bearing liver tumors and those devoid of tumors. In conclusion, all three energies of neutrons induced similar effectiveness with respect to liver carcinogenicity. Proportions of the lifespan with liver tumors of neutron-exposed to gamma-exposed were shorter in females than males along with ages over 12 months. To obtain this factor at every age contributed for the evaluation of the biological effectiveness of radiations with the parameter of tumor incidence and latency simultaneously.     

Seroepidemiologic survey of Coxiella burnetii and attempt to detect Coxiella DNA in aged non-laying chickens in a prefecture of Japan where poultry farming prospers

The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) revealed seropositivity to Coxiella burnetii in aged non-laying chickens in poultry farms in a prefecture in the central part of Japan. Seropositivity was 7%, and antibody titers ranged from 16 to 64. No DNA fragment specific for C. burnetii was detected in the chickens by nested-PCR. The prevalence of C. burnetii infection in a prefecture of Japan in which poultry farming prospers was 7%.     

Fine mapping of foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani) resistance gene Raso1 in soybean and its effect on tolerance to Soybean dwarf virus transmitted by foxglove aphid

Soybean dwarf virus (SbDV) causes serious dwarfing, yellowing and sterility in soybean (Glycine max). The soybean cv. Adams is tolerant to SbDV infection in the field and exhibits antibiosis to foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani), which transmits SbDV. This antibiosis (termed “aphid resistance”) is required for tolerance to SbDV in the field in segregated progenies of Adams. A major quantitative trait locus, Raso1, is reported for foxglove aphid resistance. Our objectives were to fine map Raso1 and to reveal whether Raso1 alone is sufficient to confer both aphid resistance and SbDV tolerance. We introduced Raso1 into cv. Toyomusume by backcrossing and investigated the degree of aphid antibiosis to foxglove aphid and the degree of tolerance to SbDV in the field. All Raso1-introduced backcross lines showed aphid resistance. Interestingly, only one Raso1-introduced backcross line (TM-1386) showed tolerance to SbDV in the field. The results demonstrated Raso1 alone is sufficient to confer aphid resistance but insufficient for SbDV tolerance. Tolerance to SbDV was indicated to require additional gene(s) to Raso1. Additionally, Raso1 was mapped to a 63-kb interval on chromosome 3 of the Williams 82 sequence assembly (Glyma1). This interval includes a nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat encoding gene and two other genes in the Williams 82 soybean genome sequence.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolated from feces of wild cranes migrating to Kagoshima, Japan

Susceptibility to 13 antimicrobial agents was examined for 138 Escherichia coli isolates obtained from 192 fecal samples of wild cranes that migrated for wintering to the Izumi plain, Kagoshima prefecture in Japan. The numbers of isolates that were resistant to the antimicrobials used in this study are as follows: oxytetracycline (OTC), 22 isolates; minocycline, 7 isolates; ampicillin (ABPC), 4 isolates; nalidixic acid, 4 isolates; enrofloxacin, 2 isolates; kanamycin, one isolate. Multidrug resistant isolates exhibiting 2-4 drug resistances were obtained. All of the OTC-resistant isolates carried either the tet (A) or tet(B) gene. The bla(TEM) gene was found in all of the ABPC-resistant isolates.     

CONTRAST AGENT Gd‐EOB‐DTPA (EOB·Primovist®) FOR LOW‐FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF CANINE FOCAL LIVER LESIONS

Contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a new liver‐specific contrast agent gadolinium‐ethoxybenzyl‐diethylenetriamine penta‐acetic acid (Gd‐EOB‐DTPA; EOB·Primovist®) was studied in 14 normal beagles and 9 dogs with focal liver lesions. Gd‐EOB‐DTPA accumulates in normally functioning hepatocytes 20 min after injection. As with Gd‐DTPA, it is also possible to perform a dynamic multiphasic examination of the liver with Gd‐EOB‐DTPA, including an arterial phase and a portal venous phase. First, a reliable protocol was developed and the appropriate timings for the dynamic study and the parenchymal phase in normal dogs using Gd‐EOB‐DTPA were determined. Second, the patterns of these images were evaluated in patient dogs with hepatic masses. The optimal time of arterial imaging was from 15 s after injection, and the optimal time for portal venous imaging was from 40 s after injection. Meanwhile, the optimal time to observe changes during the hepatobiliary phase was from 20 min after injection. In patient dogs, 11 lesions were diagnosed as malignant tumors; all were hypointense to the surrounding normal liver parenchyma during the hepatobiliary phase. Even with a low‐field MR imaging unit, the sequences afforded images adequate to visualize the liver parenchyma and to detect tumors within an appropriate scan time. Contrast‐enhanced MR imaging with Gd‐EOB‐DTPA provides good demarcation on low‐field MR imaging for diagnosing canine focal liver lesions.