Rapid serodiagnosis with the use of surface plasmon resonance imaging for the detection of antibodies against major surface protein A of Mycoplasma synoviae in chickens

Mycoplasma synoviae, a major worldwide pathogen in poultry, causes respiratory tract infection and arthritis in chickens and turkeys. Two major surface antigens of M. synoviae are encoded by a single gene, vlhA (variably expressed lipoprotein and hemagglutinin). The gene product is cleaved post-translationally to yield the lipoprotein major surface protein (MSP) B (MSPB) and the hemagglutinin MSPA. The availability of MSPA as an antigen for serodiagnosis was studied by means of a protein chip based on surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi). The diagnostic potential of SPRi for measurement of levels of antibody to MSPA was compared with that of a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The results from SPRi, a process that took only 1 h, were similar to those from ELISA. Therefore, MSPA can be used as an antigen for serologic studies, and SPRi, a label-free and high-throughput method, may be a valuable tool in avian serodiagnostic studies.     

Mapping of the dog skin based on biophysical measurements

Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration status and pH were determined in 14 skin regions of five healthy male Beagle dogs (2–4 years) both before and after anaesthesia. Trans epidermal water loss was highest for the footpad and head and lowest for the inguinal region. Skin hydration status was higher in the ear but did not vary significantly in other regions. Skin pH was usually alkaline with the highest values on the lower back and tail. Following anaesthesia, TEWL and skin hydration were significantly lower on the head, upper back and footpad, and upper back and elbow respectively, while skin pH was unaffected by this procedure. While measurement of pH would seem to be valid anywhere on the body in anaesthetized dogs, regional factors should be considered when interpreting TEWL and skin hydration values and when treating regional skin diseases in veterinary practice.     

Fine mapping of grain weight QTLs using near isogenic lines from a Cross between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">O. grandiglumis</Emphasis>

In a previous study, we reported the grain weight QTL, tgw2 in the 150 F2:3 lines derived from a cross between Oryza sativa subssp. Japonica cv. Hwaseongbyeo and HG101. This QTL was confirmed in F4 lines (CR1242) segregating for the target region. For fine mapping of tgw2, one F₅ plant homozygous for the O. grandiglumis DNA in the target region was selected from CR1242 and crossed with Hwaseongbyeo to produce the F₂ and F₃ populations. QTL analysis using 490 F₂ plants confirmed the existence of tgw2 with an R ² value of 28.0%. This QTL explained 61.3% of the phenotypic variance for 1,000-grain weight in 64 F₃ lines. Substitution mapping with 47 F₃ lines and 74 F₄ plants with informative recombination breakpoints in the target region was carried out to narrow down the position of the tgw2. The result indicated that tgw2 was located in the 384-kb interval between two SSR markers, RM12813 and RM12836. Annotation data of BACs in this 384-kb region revealed that forty-five putative genes exist in this interval including the GW2 gene responsible for grain weight and width. Considering the position of the QTL tgw2, it appears that tgw2 is functionally related to the gene GW2. However, the possibility that another unknown mechanism might be responsible for regulation of grain weight at tgw2 cannot be ruled out. Four QTLs for grain length, grain width, and grain thickness were also located in the same interval suggesting that a single gene is involved in controlling these four traits. Substitution mapping also indicated that two QTLs for grain weight and culm length, tgw2 and cl2, were tightly linked.     

Extra‐Firm Networks and Firm Performance: A Study of South Korean Solar PV Firms and Industry Specific Government Actors

Extra‐firm actors have been acknowledged as vital to the success of green energy industries. This article deploys the firm network perspective to deliver a first of its kind analysis of specific extra‐firm actor impacts on firm performance in Korea's solar photovoltaic industry. Results are based on quantitative analyses of data from 60 firm respondents and augmented by interviews with eight government officials. Three research questions capture and compare firm and government actor perceptions pertaining to extra‐firm actor influences at the national, regional, and extra‐local scales, inclusive of place–place competition and cooperation. Results indicate that firms differ in perceptions related to the impact of 18 national level government institutes, R&D centers, associations, and academic societies on their success, and that perceptions vary by level of technology concerning a plethora of other related extra‐firm actor and support infrastructure impacts. A comparative perspective is presented based on government informant interviews.     

Lectin binding profile of the small intestine of five-week-old pigs in response to the use of chlortetracycline as a growth promotant and under gnotobiotic conditions

Antibiotics have traditionally been used for growth promotion in the pork industry; however, their use in animal feed has recently been limited because of human health concerns. The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in mediating many physiological functions such as digestion and animal growth. It was hypothesized that use of antibiotics as growth promotants and subsequent variations in intestinal microbiota induce significant changes in the intestinal glycoconjugate composition, which ultimately affects animal growth and disease susceptibility. The aim of this study was to characterize the lectin binding profiles of the ileum of weanling pigs in response to the absence of intestinal microbiota and to the use of the antibiotic chlortetracycline as growth promotant. Eighteen half-sib piglets obtained by cesarean section were divided into 3 treatment groups (n = 6) and maintained as control, antibiotic-fed, and gnotobiotic piglets until 5 wk of age. The glycoconjugate composition of the ileal tissues was examined by lectin histochemistry. Lycopersicon esculentum lectin, Jacalin, Pisum sativum agglutinin, Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA), and Sambucus nigra lectin showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in binding intensities on the dome and villous epithelium between the treatment groups. Griffonia simplicifolia lectin I, Glycine maxi agglutinin, and Arachis hypogea agglutinin exhibited differences (P < 0.05) between treatment groups in lectin binding on goblet cells. Triticum vulgaris agglutinin, Pisum sativum agglutinin, and LCA showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in binding intensities on dome, corona, and follicular regions of the ileum among treatment groups of animals. Overall, ileal tissues from gnotobiotic piglets expressed significantly weaker (P < 0.05) lectin binding for many lectins compared with control and antibiotic groups. This suggests that the intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the expression of sugar moieties in the intestine. Lectins LCA, Phaseolus vulgaris Leucoagglutinin, and Maackia amurensis lectin II showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in lectin bindings between control and antibiotic-fed piglets. This indicates that chlortetracycline as a growth promotant induces biologically relevant changes in the lectin binding profile of the ileum. These findings will help in further understanding the role of the gut microbiota and the mechanisms of action of antibiotics as growth promotants in pigs.     

Desorption Characteristics of Three Mineral Oxides and a Non-crystalline Aluminosilicate for Supplying Phosphate in Soilless Root Media

The objective was to evaluate phosphate desorption characteristics of synthetic hematite, goethite, and allophane and commercial alumina after loading at maximum adsorbed phosphate levels to determine their potential to release phosphate at a constant, low level to sustain plant growth in soilless media and reduce phosphate leaching. Desorption isotherms were measured at pH 6.4 ± 0.1 using a continuously stirred-flow reactor. The time period during which dissolved phosphate was maintained within the range of 5–0.2 mg·L^?1 phosphate-P decreased in the order: allophane (12.4 d) > alumina (4.6 d) > goethite (3.6 d) > hematite (1.9 d). Allophane released the most phosphate during the desorption process (40% of maximum adsorbed phosphate; 12.7 mg?g^?1) followed by alumina and goethite (19–20%; ≈2.5 mg?g^?1) and lastly hematite (5%; 0.1 mg?g^?1). Allophane demonstrated the greatest potential as a phosphate-charged source for soilless root media, in amount and duration of phosphate release.     

Growth performance,oxidative stress,and non-specific immune responses in juvenile sablefish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anoplopoma fimbria</Emphasis>, by changes of water temperature and salinity

Juvenile sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria (mean length 15.5 ± 1.9 cm, mean weight 68.5 ± 4.8 g), were used to evaluate the effects on growth, oxidative stress, and non-specific immune responses by changes of water temperature (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 °C) and salinity (100 (35.0), 90 (31.5), 80 (28.0), 70 (24.5), 60 (21.0), 50 (17.5), and 40% (14.0) (‰)) for 4 months. The growth performance was significantly increased at the temperature of 12 and 14 °C, and the feed efficiency was notably decreased at the temperature of 18 °C. The growth performance and feed efficiency were also significantly decreased at low salinity. The antioxidant responses such as superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly increased by the high temperature and decreased by the low salinity. The immune responses such as lysozyme and phagocytosis were elevated by the temperature of 18 °C and decreased by the salinity of 50%. The results of this study indicate that the growth performance of juvenile sablefish, A. fimbria, is influenced by the temperature and salinity, and the excessive temperature and salinity levels can affect the antioxidant and immune responses.     

Ishophloroglucin A,Isolated from Ishige okamurae,Alleviates Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy through Muscle Protein Metabolism In Vivo

The in vitro capacity of Ishige okamurae extract (IO) to improve impaired muscle function has been previously examined. However, the mechanism underlying IO-mediated muscle protein metabolism and the role of its component, Ishophloroglucin A (IPA), in mice with dexamethasone (Dexa)-induced muscle atrophy remains unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of IO and IPA supplementation on Dexa-induced muscle atrophy by assessing muscle protein metabolism in gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of mice. IO and IPA supplementation improved the Dexa-induced decrease in muscle weight and width, leading to enhanced grip strength. In addition, IO and IPA supplementation regulated impaired protein synthesis (PI3K and Akt) or degradation (muscle-specific ubiquitin ligase muscle RING finger and atrogin-1) by modulating mRNA levels in gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Additionally, IO and IPA upregulated mRNA levels associated with muscle growth activation (transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 and adenosine A1 receptor) or inhibition (myostatin and sirtuin 1) in gastrocnemius and soleus muscle tissues of Dexa-induced mice. Collectively, these results suggest that IO and IO-derived IPA can regulate muscle growth through muscle protein metabolism in Dexa-induced muscle atrophy.