Lens formation in the absence of optic cup in rat embryos irradiated with soft X-ray

In order to investigate the effect of soft X-ray irradiation on ocular development, pregnant rats were exposed to a single 12.5 Gy irradiation on embryonic day 9 (ED 9). The embryos obtained by laparotomy on ED 12 and 21 were examined for ocular abnormalities under a binocular stereo-microscope and a light microscope. The ED 12 embryos were stained with osmium tetroxide to facilitate the observation. The stereo-microscopic examination on ED 12 and 21 revealed various types of ocular abnormalities characterized primarily by aplasia or hypoplasia of the optic cup and invaginated lens placode. The light microscopic examination further confirmed these findings histomorphologically, and the hypoplastic abnormalities were classified into three types: (1) hypoplasia of the optic cup and invaginated lens placode, (2) complete malformation of the optic cup and hypoplasia of the invaginated lens placode, and (3) complete malformation of the optic cup and invaginated lens placode. Because the lens was formed in the complete absence of the retina, the development and differentiation of the retina and lens do not seem to be tightly synchronized. Thus, this sequential analysis on ocular abnormalities during the early stage of development supports the notion that the presence of the retina is not always necessary for the development of the lens.     

First Identification of 12β-Deoxygonyautoxin 5 (12α-Gonyautoxinol 5) in the Cyanobacterium Dolichospermum circinale (TA04) and 12β-Deoxysaxitoxin (12α-Saxitoxinol) in D. circinale (TA04) and the Dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum (Group IV) (120518KureAC)

Saxitoxin and its analogues, paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), are potent and specific voltage-gated sodium channel blockers. These toxins are produced by some species of freshwater cyanobacteria and marine dinoflagellates. We previously identified several biosynthetic intermediates of PSTs, as well as new analogues, from such organisms and proposed the biosynthetic and metabolic pathways of PSTs. In this study, 12β-deoxygonyautoxin 5 (12α-gonyautoxinol 5 = gonyautoxin 5-12(R)-ol) was identified in the freshwater cyanobacterium, Dolichospermum circinale (TA04), and 12β-deoxysaxitoxin (12α-saxitoxinol = saxitoxin-12(R)-ol) was identified in the same cyanobacterium and in the marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum (Group IV) (120518KureAC) for the first time from natural sources. The authentic standards of these compounds and 12α-deoxygonyautoxin 5 (12β-gonyautoxinol 5 = gonyautoxin 5-12(S)-ol) were prepared by chemical derivatization from the major PSTs, C1/C2, produced in D. circinale (TA04). These standards were used to identify the deoxy analogues by comparing the retention times and MS/MS spectra using high-resolution LC-MS/MS. Biosynthetic or metabolic pathways for these analogues have also been proposed based on their structures. The identification of these compounds supports the α-oriented stereoselective oxidation at C12 in the biosynthetic pathway towards PSTs.     

Microbial Immobilization and Plant Uptake of Different N Forms in Three Forest Types in Shikoku District, Southern Japan

Soil microbial immobilization and plant uptake of N were evaluated for three forest types in Kochi, Shikoku district. During 196-d laboratory incubation, soil NO₃-N production in the Hinoki cypress forest was negligible for the initial 40 d and then rapidly increased, whereas NO₃-N production was rapid from the beginning in Japanese cedar and deciduous hardwood forests. Microbial immobilization of the labeled ¹⁵N decreased in the order of NH₄-N>glycine-N>NO₃-N. The ¹⁵N immobilization was higher for soil in the Hinoki cypress forest than other two soils. The delayed NO₃-N production in the Hinoki cypress forest was likely related with low availability of NH₄-N due to NH₄-N immobilization and substantial NO₃-N immobilization. In the field experiment, ¹⁵N uptake by roots decreased in the order of NH₄-N>NO₃-N>glycine-N. The absorption of the labeled ¹³C suggested direct uptake of organic N. The preference of N forms by root uptake was not different among forest types. Trees in three forest types can absorb inorganic and organic forms of N, suggesting trees absorb the N form that is the most abundant in the soil.     

Annual monitoring of growth of red sea bream by multi-stereo-image measurement

Fisheries Science - In aquaculture, periodic measurement of fish body size is required to suitably assess growth progress. The aim of this study is to monitor the growth of free-swimming red sea...     

Eucalyptus camaldulensis density and fiber length estimated by near-infrared spectroscopy

Density and fiber length belong to the parameters that are used by the pulping industry as indicators of wood quality for different industrial processes and final paper products. The feasibility of Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy for the non-destructive evaluation of fiber length and air-dry density of fast-growing E. camaldulensis from Thailand was investigated using 50 samples. NIR spectra taken from solid wood and air-dry density as well as fiber length were used for partial least squares (PLS) regression analyses. It is the first time that the fiber length of E. camaldulensis solid wood could be predicted with high accuracy and precision and that the ratios of performance to deviation (RPD) obtained are the first that fully fulfill the requirements of AACC Method 39-00 (AACC 1999) for screening in breeding programs (RPD?≥?2.5). The RPDs for cross-validation (test set validation) of the NIR-PLS-R models of 3.3 (3.8) for air-dry density and 3.5 (3.9) for fiber length allow drawing the conclusion that the models are at least applicable for screening in breeding programs as they lie in-between screening (RPD?≥?2.5) and quality control (RPD?≥?5). Even when 40% of the samples were removed in cross-validation of the air-dry density model, the RPD is 3.2, which confirms that the model is robust, stable, and well qualified for prediction. The good model statistics obtained in this study might be due to the fact that measurement sites for the measurement of NIR spectra, air-dry density, and fiber lengths were strictly coincided.     

Harvest index is a critical factor influencing the grain yield of diverse wheat species under rain-fed conditions in the Mediterranean zone of southeastern Turkey and northern Syria

Environmental and plant factors critical to the grain yields of bread (Triticum aestivum L.), durum (T. durum L.) and emmer (T. dicoccum L.) wheat cultivars were investigated at two Mediterranean rain-fed field sites: Adana in southeastern Turkey (2009 and 2010) and Aleppo in northern Syria (2009). The grain yield (GY) and biological yield (BY) of most cultivars were higher in Adana than in Aleppo, and the lower GY in Aleppo resulted from lower harvest index (HI) and lower BY due to higher temperatures and lower rainfall. The variations in the HI among cultivars were greater in Adana than in Aleppo. The GY was closely related to the HI but not the BY across cultivars at each site, and a higher GY was accompanied by a superior conversion-efficiency of incident radiation during the grain filling period for grain yield [GY/Ra, where Ra is the cumulative radiation for 30 days after heading (D₃₀)] across all observations. The GY/Ra correlated negatively with the average temperature for D₃₀, and higher HI values resulted in higher GY/Ra. In Adana, the time from anthesis to physiological-maturity decreased as the average temperature for D₃₀ increased, resulting in a lower HI. Cultivars exhibiting the early heading trait can effectively escape the negative impacts of terminal high-temperature and water-shortage conditions on the HI. The results suggested that the HI is a critical factor for GY across diverse wheat cultivars under terminal high-temperatures and water-shortages in Mediterranean areas, and the BY is also an important factor under severe water-limitation conditions.