A method for obtaining the relationship between the amount of DNA and the fine root weight from mixtures of fine roots and soil particles

Fine root biomass can be estimated from the quantity of DNA of a target plant extracted from fine root samples using regression analysis. However, the application of this method to fine root samples mixed with soil particles (mixed samples) is difficult due to the high DNA adsorption capacity of some clay minerals. Our aim in this study was to clarify the enhancement level of the DNA extraction efficiency of an improved method, and to obtain a regression line between the amount of DNA and the root biomass from a mixed sample with similar reliability as for fine roots alone (pure root sample). We examined the amount of DNA extracted from a mixture of Zea mays L. fine roots and highly adsorbent Kanuma soil using various concentrations of a skim milk solution, which acts as an adsorption competitor for the soil particles during the DNA extraction process. The amount of DNA of Zea mays extracted from the mixed sample using 0% skim milk was lower than from the pure root sample. However, the amount of DNA extracted from the mixed sample increased with increasing concentrations of skim milk, reaching the same level as for the pure root samples and resulting in a regression line that was similar to the pure root samples. Optimal DNA extraction levels were obtained with the addition of 20?µL of a 20% skim milk solution to 30?mg of a mixed sample. We also discuss the applicability of this method to other plant species and soil types.     

Spin disorder on a triangular lattice

As liquids crystallize into solids on cooling, spins in magnets generally form periodic order. However, three decades ago, it was theoretically proposed that spins on a triangular lattice form a liquidlike disordered state at low temperatures. Whether or not a spin liquid is stabilized by geometrical frustration has remained an active point of inquiry ever since. Our thermodynamic and neutron measurements on NiGa2S4, a rare example of a two-dimensional triangular lattice antiferromagnet, demonstrate that geometrical frustration stabilizes a low-temperature spin-disordered state with coherence beyond the two-spin correlation length. Spin liquid formation may be an origin of such behavior.     

Sustainable meat consumption in China

Sustainable meat consumption is critical to achieve a sustainable food system because meat products are among the most energy-intensive, ecological y burdensome, and ethical y concerned foods. This pap...     

Bending resistance of repaired column members and shear resistance of opening frames with repaired columns of conventional Japanese wooden houses

When it is necessary to repair conventional Japanese wooden houses, the decayed lower parts of columns should be replaced with new wood material. The bending resistance of columns repaired by four methods and the shear resistance of opening frames with those repaired columns were investigated in this study. Bending tests of the repaired columns showed differences in initial bending stiffness and maximum bending moment related to the repair methods and loading direction. Racking tests were conducted on door opening frames with conventional door head members or upper partial walls sheathed with 12-mmthick plywood. The conventional frame specimens broke at door head-column joints with no obvious bending deformation of the columns, resulting in little difference in load-shear deformation curves among the repair methods. The columns of plywood-sheathed specimens, on the other hand, clearly were bent after the nails at the plywood-to-wood frame joints started to pull off. The load-shear deformation curves of the plywood-sheathed specimens did not vary regardless of the repair methods when shear deformations were small but were affected by repair methods as shear deformation increased.     

Metabolism of the herbicides chlorotoluron, diuron, linuron, simazine, and atrazine by CYP1A9 and CYP1C1 from Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica)

Through the use of a number of bioconversion experiments we demonstrated that P450 proteins (CYP1A9 and CYP1C1) from Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) metabolized a number of herbicides and the drug phenacetin. We performed bioconversion experiments in which substrates were added directly to incubation medium. The resulting metabolites were extracted and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Proteins CYP1A9 and CYP1C1 metabolized 50 nmol of the drug phenacetin to yield 12.1 and 1.1 nmol of product (acetaminophen), respectively. Further incubation of CYP1A9 with 50 nmol of the herbicides chlorotoluron, diuron, linuron, simazine, or atrazine yielded 16.5, 18.5, 7.3, 1.6, or 0.8 nmol of product, respectively. CYP1C1 also metabolized linuron, diuron, and simazine yield 5.4, 4.6, or 0.7 nmol of product, respectively. Next, polyclonal antibody was isolated by immunizing with two conjugated-peptides (amino acid residues 272–290 and 294–310) of CYP1A9. This antibody did not recognize human CYP1A2 or CYP1C1. Western blotting using the antibody revealed one band in the livers of Japanese eel and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Theses results suggest that CYP1A9 and CYP1C1 metabolize herbicides, and that CYP1A9 is an useful biomarker of contamination when detected with this antibody.     

First report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Impatiens necrotic spot virus</Emphasis> infecting chrysanthemum (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysanthemum morifolium</Emphasis>) in Japan

In 2009, chlorotic mottle and necrosis were observed on chrysanthemums (cv. Jimba) in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. A virus was isolated from the chrysanthemum plants by serial local-lesion transfer. The symptoms exhibited by the test plants, the particle morphology, the features of the protein and the potential for transmission by thrips were similar to those for Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV). The partial nucleotide sequences of the nucleocapsid protein gene and the 3′-untranslated sequence of the S RNA shared 99% identity with that of an INSV isolate. This report is the first of INSV infection of chrysanthemums in Japan.     

Increase of cells expressing PD-L1 in bovine leukemia virus infection and enhancement of anti-viral immune responses in vitro via PD-L1 blockade

ABSTRACT: The inhibitory receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) are involved in immune evasion mechanisms for several pathogens causing chronic infections. Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway restores anti-virus immune responses, with concomitant reduction in viral load. In a previous report, we showed that, in bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection, the expression of bovine PD-1 is closely associated with disease progression. However, the functions of bovine PD-L1 are still unknown. To investigate the role of PD-L1 in BLV infection, we identified the bovine PD-L1 gene, and examined PD-L1 expression in BLV-infected cattle in comparison with uninfected cattle. The deduced amino acid sequence of bovine PD-L1 shows high homology to the human and mouse PD-L1. The proportion of PD-L1 positive cells, especially among B cells, was upregulated in cattle with the late stage of the disease compared to cattle at the aleukemic infection stage or uninfected cattle. The proportion of PD-L1 positive cells correlated positively with prediction markers for the progression of the disease such as leukocyte number, virus load and virus titer whilst on the contrary, it inversely correlated with the degree of interferon-gamma expression. Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in vitro by PD-L1-specific antibody upregulated the production of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma, and correspondingly, downregulated the BLV provirus load and the proportion of BLV-gp51 expressing cells. These data suggest that PD-L1 induces immunoinhibition in disease progressed cattle during chronic BLV infection. Therefore, PD-L1 would be a potential target for developing immunotherapies against BLV infection.     

Growth and survival of eel leptocephali (Anguilla japonica) in low-salinity water

We investigated the effects of low-salinity water on the growth, survival, and activity of artificially reared Japanese eel larvae (Anguilla japonica), proceeding from the assumption that such water quality saves energy due to lower cost for osmoregulation. We reared 5-day-old larvae in 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% seawater (SW) with or without diet for 13 days. All larvae reared in 0% and 10% SW died within 6 days, while larvae in 70% and 100% SW survived until 9 days. Larvae in 30% and 50% SW further survived until 13 days without diet. Significant growth in body depth was observed in 30% and 50% SW after 7 days rearing with diet (0.65 ± 0.02 and 0.62 ± 0.02 mm, respectively) as compared with the initial size (0.49 ± 0.03 mm), while no significant growth was observed under the other salinity conditions examined. Larvae swam actively in the light (about 2000 lx) in 50%, 70%, and 100% SW, while they were apparently inactive in 0%, 10%, and 30% SW. The long-term rearing trial showed a 2.2-fold higher 2-month cumulative survival rate in 50% SW (18.2%) than in 100% SW (8.2%). The body depth of larvae in 50% SW (1.58 ± 0.47 mm) was also significantly larger than in 100% SW (1.32 ± 0.35 mm). These findings indicate that the intermediate salinity can result in better growth and survival performance in Japanese eel larvae.