Estimating the economic damage caused by jellyfish to fisheries in Korea

Jellyfish cause a range of problems: they sting beach vacationers in the summer, block nuclear power plant intakes (thus disrupting the supply of electricity), decrease fishery catches, cause fishing activities to be delayed, decrease product value, and damage fishing gear. This study gauged the types and amount of damage directly caused by jellyfish. Using jellyfish monitoring data, the decreases in catch and product value for each fishery type as well as the estimated damage to each fishery type caused by jellyfish were evaluated. The results showed that the decrease in catch ranged between 6.5 and 33.7?%, and the decrease in product value ranged between 6.8 and 25.3?%, depending on fishery type. The annual direct damage caused by jellyfish was estimated to be between US$ 68.2 million and US$ 204.6 million. This corresponds to a minimum of 2.1?% and a maximum of 25?% of the annual production value, demonstrating that jellyfish cause considerable damage to the fishing industry.     

Development of elite breeding lines conferring Bph18 gene-derived resistance to brown planthopper (BPH) by marker-assisted selection and genome-wide background analysis in japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Brown planthopper (BPH) is a serious threat to rice production. In this study, we have used the novel resistance gene Bph18 derived from Oryza australiensis and incorporated it into an elite japonica cultivar, Junambyeo, which is highly susceptible to BPH. The Bph18 gene was introduced by marker-assisted backcross (MAB) breeding into Junambyeo. The backcrossed progenies were evaluated for desirable agronomic and grain quality traits and the selection of improved breeding lines while simultaneously evaluating BPH resistance by bioassays in the greenhouse and foreground selection. Of the 26 advanced backcross breeding lines (ABL), four lines showed agronomic traits similar to those of the recurrent parent, with strong resistance to BPH. Molecular genotyping of the four ABL revealed the conversion of genotypes closely resembling the genotype of Junambyeo. The percentage of donor chromosome segments in ABL decreased from 12.3% in the BC₂ to 9.4%, 8.4% and 5.3% in BC₃, BC₄ and BC₅ generations, respectively. ABL retained small sizes of the donor chromosome segments on chromosomes 1, 2, 10, 11 and 12 but the genomes of ABL2, ABL3 and ABL4 were homosequential to the recurrent parent on chromosomes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 without donor chromosome segment introgression. The ABL1 and ABL2 retained only some small segments of the donor genome on chromosomes 9 and 8, respectively. Fine structure analysis of the Bph18 flanking region between RM511 and RM1584 markers on chromosome 12 showed a progressive elimination of donor-derived chromosome segments from BC₂ to BC₅ generations. The percentage of O. australiensis derived chromosome segment substitution in the recurrent parent background decreased from 28% of the donor parent to 6.7%, 3.9%, 3.4% and 3.4% in BC₂, BC₃, BC₄ and BC₅ generations, respectively. However, it was revealed that the O. australiensis-derived chromosome segment (1320 kb) in ABL containing the Bph18 gene was consistently maintained irrespective of advances in backcross generations. BPH resistant elite breeding lines with agronomic and grain quality traits similar to those of the recurrent parent were successfully developed by foreground and background analysis in japonica background without linkage drag.     

Armoured scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) intercepted at the ports of entry in the Republic of Korea over the last 20 years

A total of 88 species of armoured scale insects from 40 different countries were intercepted by quarantine inspectors in the Republic of Korea on consignments of plants and plant products at the ports of entry in the Republic of Korea from 1996 to 2015. A list of all the species identified, along with a dichotomous key to the 88 intercepted species of armoured scale insects, is provided to help in the detection and identification of species of this important group of plant pests.     

Serodiagnosis of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection with the use of glycoprotein 5 antigens

Glycoprotein 5 (GP5) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been studied extensively as a target for vaccine development. This study evaluated the serodiagnostic application of PRRSV GP5 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two immunodominant peptides (VR #1 and VR #2) and two neutralizing ectodomain-containing peptides (Ecto #1 and Ecto #2), as well as recombinant GP5 (rGP5) as a control, were prepared. Serum from unvaccinated pigs was screened for the antibodies that bind to these peptide and protein antigens. The results were compared with those from a commercially available diagnostic ELISA kit (HerdChek), which uses the nucleocapsid (N) protein as an antigen. Only VR #1+#2 showed a result statistically similar to that of N protein. Ecto #1 and Ecto #2 had a lower sensitivity than VR #1+#2 and rGP5. The peptides and rGP5 showed significant associations with the N protein (P < 0.05 or 0.01), which suggests that GP5 may also be a candidate serodiagnostic antigen. Since antibodies against GP5 persist much longer than those against the N protein, GP5 itself and some of its fragments are thought to be good targets for serodiagnosis. In addition, the presence of antibodies against the PRRSV structural antigens showed significant antigen-dependent differences.     

Hydrolysable tannins depress cardiac papillary muscle contraction and propranolol-induced negative inotropism

We studied effects of hydrolysable tannins on rat papillary muscle contractions induced by propranolol. The developed force of papillary muscle was measured isometrically with an inductive force transducer. The IC₅₀ values for digallic acid, gallic acid, germin D, praecoxin A and 1-desgalloyl rugosin F were 4.2 × 10^− 5 M, 1.3 × 10^− 4 M, 1,4 × 10^− 4 M, 1.5 × 10^− 4 and 1.7 × 10^− 4 M, respectively. Incubation with tannins significantly attenuated the propranolol-induced negative inotropic contractile response. These results show that hydrolysable tannins depress muscle contractions and potentiate the activities of β-adrenergic blocker.     

Plant material as an alternative tool for management of aphid in country bean field

The aphids Aphis craccivora Koch attack country bean Lablab purpureus L. both in its vegetative and reproductive stages and cause severe damage. To develop an integrated management of aphid powders of black pepper, chili, turmeric, and coriander; oils of mahogany, neem, and eucalyptus; aqueous extracts of neem, basil, and garlic leaves; and water were evaluated in field conditions. The treatments were applied at 7?day intervals and aphid abundance per inflorescence was counted at 24, 48, and 72?h after treatment. All the plant materials reduced aphid abundance and flower infestation, ensuring a higher yield with larger and heavier pods. The neem oil treatment had the lowest abundance of aphid and consequently produced the highest marketable and gross yields. Predatory insects were abundant in the field, but their populations were lower in the treatments than the control. An economic analysis indicated that the highest gross return, net return, adjusted net return, and benefit-cost ratio were obtained from the mahogany oil treatment. The plant materials have insecticidal potential against aphids, and the oils of mahogany and neem showed better performances.     

A method of capability evaluation for upland soils

Utilizing the data and materials accumulated in the project “Observations on Soil Fertility Changes” organized by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and executed by 16 Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Stations throughout Japan, an attempt was made to derive a prediction equation for soil loss due to erosion.

Five Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Stations provided us with rainfall records from which monthly rainfalls by three intensity grades, under 2 mm/10 min (LE2R), 2-4 mm 10 min (MEDRi) and over 4 mm/10 min (GT4R), were read. Multiple regression of log-transformed soil loss upon these rainfall data gave the following regression equation

Log soil loss = -0.783 0.0185**GT4R+0.00597**LE2R -0.00763**MEDR for which multiple correlation coefficient (R) was 0.74. The units of measurement were kg are for soil loss mm/month for LE2R, MEDR, and GT4R.

In order to account for the contribution of slope and soil factors to soil loss, Hayashi's theory of quantification No. I was applied after coding the relevant data. R of log-transformed soil loss on GT4R, MEDR, LE2R, slope, bulk density (BD), and texture (TEXT), reached 0.80. GT4R had the highest partial correlation coefficient, followed successively by MEDR, slope, and LE2R. Bulk density (BD) and texture (TEXT) were taken from among the data available to represent characters relevant to erosion, but they had onlv low partial correlations with soil loss in this Particular study.

The method developed in this study appears to be promising only if properly collected data are available. Conditions that should be satisfied in the planning of experiments for the purpose derivation of a prediction equation have been put forward.     

Sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine reduces early postoperative pain behavior and biochemical stress response after laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy in dogs

This study investigated the use of sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine to relieve postoperative pain behavior and biochemical stress response after laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy (LOVH) in dogs. Sixteen sexually intact female dogs were randomly assigned to two groups. The sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine (SIB) group received 4.4 mg/kg of sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine diluted to 0.25% with an equivalent volume of saline after pneumoperitoneum. The control group received 1.76 mL/kg of saline in a similar fashion. Both groups received preoperative periportal 5% bupivacaine (1 mL) before incision. Postoperative pain was measured using the short form of the Glasgow composite measures pain scale (CMPS-SF, 0-24). Serum cortisol and glucose concentrations were measured preoperatively and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24h postoperatively. The SIB group had significantly lower CMPS-SF compared to the control group 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12h after the operation. Cortisol concentrations were significantly increased from preoperative concentrations in the control group at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4h post operation and at 0.5 and 1h post operation in the SIB group. No significant differences were seen in serum glucose within each group. This report suggests that the use of sprayed intraperitoneal bupivacaine can be used as part of a multimodal approach for pain management after LOVH in dogs.     

Use of canine small intestinal submucosa allograft for treating perineal hernias in two dogs

Here, we describe two dogs in which canine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) was implanted as a biomaterial scaffold during perineal herniorrhaphy. Both dogs had developed severe muscle weakness, unilaterally herniated rectal protrusions, and heart problems with potential anesthetic risks. Areas affected by the perineal hernia (PH) located between the internal obturator and external anal sphincter muscles were reconstructed with naïve canine SIS sheets. In 12 months, post-operative complications such as wound infections, sciatic paralysis, rectal prolapse, or recurrence of the hernia were not observed. Symptoms of defecatory tenesmus also improved. Neither case showed any signs of rejection or specific immune responses as determined by complete and differential cell counts. Our findings demonstrate that canine SIS can be used as a biomaterial scaffold for PH repair in dogs.     

Cloning of avian G(0)/G(1) switch gene 2 genes and developmental and nutritional regulation of G(0)/G(1) switch gene 2 in chicken adipose tissue

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), a newly identified lipase, is a rate-limiting enzyme for triglyceride hydrolysis in adipocytes. The regulatory proteins involved in ATGL-mediated lipolysis in fat tissue are not fully identified and understood. The G(0)/G(1) switch gene 2 (G0S2) is an inhibitor of ATGL activity by interacting with ATGL through the hydrophobic domain of G0S2. Here, for the first time, we have cloned the coding sequence of G0S2 cDNA for the chicken, turkey, and quail. Sequence comparisons with mammals revealed that the avian G0S2 also have a conserved hydrophobic domain. Avian G0S2 is predominantly expressed in adipose tissues relative to other tested tissues. Within the adipose tissue, G0S2 is expressed 20-fold greater in the adipocyte than in the stromal-vascular (SV) fraction (P < 0.001). Expression of G0S2 mRNA gradually increased during differentiation of chicken adipocytes in culture (P < 0.05). However, there is G0S2 expression in embryonic adipose tissue, SV fraction, and primary preadipocytes before confluence that generally have an increased capacity of cell proliferation, which indicates it has an important role in adipocyte differentiation rather than proliferation. For a better understanding of how G0S2 responds to environmental stimuli, chickens were fasted for 24 h and then refed. Expression of G0S2 in adipose tissue was dramatically decreased (P < 0.05) in the chickens and quail after a 24-h fasting period, and increased to the control level after refeeding. In contrast to G0S2 expression, ATGL expression was induced (P < 0.05) after the 24-h fasting period and rapidly returned to the control level during the refeeding period. These data indicate that changes in lipolytic activities of adipose tissue in vivo can be regulated by G0S2 expression, as an inhibitor of ATGL.