Nutritional evaluation of rotifers in rearing tanks without water exchange during seed production of amberjack <Emphasis Type="Italic">Seriola dumerili</Emphasis>

We evaluated the nutrient contents of rotifers sampled from larval-rearing tanks (tank rotifers) without water exchange during the seed production of amberjack Seriola dumerili at three facilities (Kamiura, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki) and compared them with the nutrient contents of freshly enriched rotifers. Compared to the enriched rotifers, the lipid contents, especially neutral lipids and proportion of 22:6n-3, tended to decrease in the tank rotifers. These trends were clearer at Miyazaki where the tank rotifers were sampled before daily supplementation of microalgae (Nannochloropsis). Crude protein content of the tank rotifers did not decrease markedly although the proportion of lysine tended to decrease. Vitamin C and E contents of the tank rotifers decreased significantly only at Miyazaki. Calcium content of the tank rotifers increased at Kamiura and Miyazaki, and the increases in iron and manganese contents of the tank rotifers at Miyazaki and zinc content at Kagoshima were pronounced. These results suggest that the nutritional value of rotifers in larval-rearing tanks without water exchange can be maintained by appropriate supplementation of microalgae. The effect of certain minerals that became high in tank rotifers on subsequent larval development requires further investigation.     

Erratum to: Regulation effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllostachys pubescens</Emphasis> methanol extractives on growth of seed plants

Due to a processing error, first author's name is missing in the HTML version of this article abstract page. The correct authors are given below: Jun Mu, Tohru Uehara, Takeshi Furuno The online version of the original article can be found at     

Distinct kinetic changes in neurotransmitter release after SNARE protein cleavage

Neurotransmitter release is triggered by calcium ions and depends critically on the correct function of three types of SNARE [soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein (SNAP) receptor] proteins. With use of the large calyx of Held presynaptic terminal from rats, we found that cleavage of different SNARE proteins by clostridial neurotoxins caused distinct kinetic changes in neurotransmitter release. When elevating calcium ion concentration directly at the presynaptic terminal with the use of caged calcium, cleavage of SNAP-25 by botulinum toxin A (BoNT/A) produced a strong reduction in the calcium sensitivity for release, whereas cleavage of syntaxin using BoNT/C1 and synaptobrevin using tetanus toxin (TeNT) produced an all-or-nothing block without changing the kinetics of remaining vesicles. When stimulating release by calcium influx through channels, a difference between BoNT/C1 and TeNT emerged, which suggests that cleavage of synaptobrevin modifies the coupling between channels and release-competent vesicles.     

Detection of DNA closely related to 'Candidatus Rickettsia principis' in Haemaphysalis danieli recovered from cattle in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Area, China

Tick DNA samples from cattle in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Area, China, were examined for Rickettsia infection by citrate synthase gene-based PCR and sequencing. Four positive samples were detected from Haemaphysalis danieli and high levels of similarity were found with recently detected 'Candidatus Rickettsia principis.'     

风对林木的影响

风除对森林造成了危害外,还对树木的生长、形态以及森林生态等产生影响。随着全球气候变化的发展,更多和更强的暴风出现的危险性日益增加。为了更好地理解风害对树木、林分和森林生态系统的影响,为森林经营管理提供依据,本文对近10年来国际上有关风对林木影响内容进行归纳总结。结果表明,风对林木影响的研究主要在以下几个方面取得了重要的进展：1)风与林木的空气动力学关系;2)树木在风力荷载下其适应性的生长机理;3)树木对风的生理响应：4)森林风害的危险评估。所有这些研究大都在人工用材林中进行的。此外,本文还介绍了该研究领域需要开展的其它研究,如1)天然林或天然次生林的风害研究;2)风害形成的林窗和森林动态研究;3)风害对森林生态主要过程的影响研究;4)．风害与森林管理研究。图3参61。     

Susceptibility of Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) to Neospora caninum infection

Djungarian hamsters were examined for the susceptibility to Neospora caninum infection. After 29 Djungarian hamsters were intraperitoneally inoculated with 5 x 10(6) N. caninum tachyzoites of JPA1 strain, some animals showed symptoms such as ataxia, and many tissue cysts were detected in the brain and a cyst in the muscular tunics of stomach. Especially, more than 100 cysts per head were observed after 5 weeks post inoculation. It is suggested that the Djungarian hamster is a model useful to examine neosporosis.     

Origin identification method by multiple trace elemental analysis of intermuscular bones in grilled eel products produced in Japan, China, and Taiwan

Trace elemental composition in intermuscular bones of grilled eel fillets was analyzed to discriminate the geographic origin of eel products derived from Japan, China, and Taiwan. The intermuscular bones were decomposed with nitric acid-hydrogen peroxide, and twelve elements (Li, Ti, V, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Rb, Sr, Ba, Pb, and U) were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Trace elemental composition including six elements: V, Co, Sr, Ba, Pb, and U, in intermusucular bones were significantly different between Japanese domestic eels and imported eels from China and Taiwan. The average content of lead in Japanese eels was 1/4 to 1/6 that in eels imported from China and Taiwan. The data of elemental content in intermuscular bones were used for linear discriminant analysis, and two discriminant models were constructed. In the Japan–China discriminant model, the discriminant probabilities between Japanese origin and Chinese origin were 82.5 and 93.3 %, respectively. In the Japan–Taiwan discriminant model, the discriminant probabilities between Japanese origin and Taiwanese origin were 87.5 and 87.0 %, respectively. Therefore, trace elemental analysis is effective for country-of-origin identification of eels processed as grilled eel fillets.     

Effect of Amylose Content on Gelatinization,Retrogradation, and Pasting Properties of Starches from Waxy and Nonwaxy Wheat and Their F1 Seeds

We studied the effect of amylose content on the gelatinization, retrogradation, and pasting properties of starch using wheat starches differing in amylose content. Starches were isolated from waxy and nonwaxy wheat and reciprocal F1 seeds by crossing waxy and nonwaxy wheat. Mixing waxy and nonwaxy wheat starch produced a mixed starch with the same amylose content as F1 seeds for comparison. The amylose content of F1 seeds ranged between waxy and nonwaxy wheat. Nonwaxy‐waxy wheat had a higher amylose content than waxy‐nonwaxy wheat. Endothermic enthalpy and final gelatinization temperature measured by differential scanning calorimetry correlated negatively with amylose content. Gelatinization onset and peak temperature clearly differed between F1 and mixed starches with the same amylose content as F1 starches. Enthalpy for melting recrystallized starches correlated negatively with amylose content. Rapid Visco Analyser measurement showed that F1 starches had a higher peak viscosity than waxy and nonwaxy wheat starches. Mixed starches showed characteristic profiles with two low peaks. Setback and final viscosity correlated highly with amylose content. Some of gelatinization and pasting properties differed between F1 starches and mixed starches.     

Localization of inhibin alpha-, betaA- and betaB-subunits and aromatase in ovarian follicles with granulosa theca cell tumor (GTCT) in 6 mares

To clarify the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics in mares with granulosa theca cell tumor (GTCT), the localization of inhibin subunits (alpha, betaA, betaB) and aromatase in the granulosa cell layers and theca layers in the ovarian follicles were determined by immunohistochemical staining. The follicles were obtained from the ovaries of 6 mares with GTCT and 4 normal mares as controls. Immunohistochemically, inhibin alpha-subunit was localized in the granulosa cells of all follicles showing different sizes in all GTCT cases and betaA- subunit was localized in two GTCT cases in all sized follicles. But inhibin betaB- subunit and aromatase were not localized in GTCT cases. On the other hand, inhibin alpha-, betaA-, and betaB-subunits and aromatase were localized in the large and medium sized follicles, but inhibin betaA- and betaB-subunits and aromatase were not stained in the small sized follicles in normal cases. These findings suggest that some mares with GTCT can secrete dimeric inhibin (inhibin A), but all GTCT cases cannot secrete inhibin B. By the results of aromatase staining it is clear that testosterone is not converted into estradiol due to the lack of aromatase in the GTCT follicles.