Retrospective diagnosis of feline GM2 gangliosidosis variant 0 (Sandhoff-like disease) in Japan: possible spread of the mutant allele in the Japanese domestic cat population

GM2 gangliosidosis variant 0 (human Sandhoff disease) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by simultaneous deficiencies of acid beta-hexosaminidase (Hex) A and Hex B due to an abnormality of beta-subunit, a common component in these enzyme molecules, which is coded by the HEXB gene. In the present study, a retrospective diagnosis was performed in 2 previous suspected cases of feline Sandhoff-like disease using a DNA test to detect the causative mutation identified previously in 4 cats in 2 other families of Japanese domestic cats. Enzymic analysis was also performed using stored leukocytes and plasma collected from the subject families in order to investigate the usefulness of enzymic diagnosis and genotyping of carriers. The DNA test suggested that the 2 cases were homozygous recessive for the mutation. Consequently, 6 cats homozygous for the same mutation have been found in 4 separate locations of Japan, suggesting that this mutant allele may be spread widely in the Japanese domestic cat populations. In enzymic analysis, Hex A and Hex B activities in leukocytes and plasma measured using 4-methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide as a substrate were negligible in affected cats, compared with those in normal and carrier cats. However, there was a wide overlap in enzyme activity between normal and carrier cats. Therefore, it was concluded that enzymic analysis is useful for diagnosis of affected cats, but is not acceptable for genotyping of carriers.     

Liquid penetration of precompressed wood VI: Anatomical characterization of pit fractures

Pit fractures of refractory coniferous heartwoods caused by precompression in the radial direction were investigated and are discussed in terms of improved liquid penetration. Small cracks appeared at the boundary between the torus and margo, along the outer margin of the margo, and on the torus when specimens were compressed and deformation was fixed by drying. The remarkable cracks were generally observed for Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco showed peculiar detachment of the torus from the pit border, and Larix leptolepis Gordon exhibited only small cracks on the torus. These fractures patterns were clearer when the precompressed specimens were recovered by water impregnation and then redried.This report was presented at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kumamoto, April 1996     

Species diversity of the marine diatom genus Skeletonema in Japanese brackish water areas

The genus Skeletonema includes phytoplankton species that are important primary producers in marine food chains. Brackish waters have been reported to be one of the important habitats of some species of Skeletonema. To elucidate the species diversity of Skeletonema in brackish waters, we investigated three Japanese brackish bodies of water: the coastal waters of Toyama Bay, a tidal area of the Chikugo River, and a constructed reservoir in Isahaya Bay. We used molecular analysis based on large subunit rDNA and fine morphological structure to identify species. Skeletonema costatum s.s. (sensu stricto) was isolated at salinities as low as 0.6, but Skeletonema dohrnii, Skeletonema subsalsum, and Skeletonema tropicum were not found at salinities below 11.0. S. costatum s.s. could survive transfer from a medium with a salinity of 15 to a salinity of 2, but S. dohrnii did not survive in the same experiment. Only S. costatum s.s. germinated from the sediment of a reservoir in which the salinity was 0.1–1.4; incubation conditions included temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C and salinities of 5 and 30. Skeletonema costatum s.s. was identified as the species most adaptable to low-level salinity variations throughout its lifecycle.     

Small-radius turning performance of an articulated vehicle by direct yaw moment control

This paper reports the turning performance of an articulated vehicle in which applying direct yaw-moment control is applied to reduce the turning radius. In the proposed method, a braking force is applied to the inner tires when the articulation angle reaches its maximum in turning, which generates a yaw-moment around the vehicle's centre of gravity. The yaw-moment allows the vehicle to turn in a small radius. To evaluate the performance in tight turns, experiments were conducted using a wheel loader on paved ground. The vehicle's turning radius, yaw rate and side-slip angle were determined from the data measured using two global positioning systems and a fibre-optic gyro sensor. In addition, results of a simulation were compared with experimental results from a test vehicle. The turning radius at a braking pressure of 4 MPa was at least 0.41 m smaller than that of 0 MPa. Experimental and simulated results proved that generating a yaw-moment by applying one-sided braking forces during turning decreases the turning radius.     

Integrating remote sensing and GIS for prediction of rice protein contents

In this study, protein content (PC) of brown rice before harvest was established by remote sensing (RS) and analyzed to select the key management factors that cause variation of PC using a GIS database. The possibility of finding out the key management factors using GreenNDVI was tested by combining RS and a GIS database. The study site was located at Yagi basin (Japan) and PC for seven districts (85 fields) in 2006 and nine districts (73 fields) in 2007 was investigated by a rice grain taste analyzer. There was spatial variability between districts and temporal variability within the same fields. PC was predicted by the average of GreenNDVI at sampling points (Point GreenNDVI) and in the field (Field GreenNDVI). The accuracy of the Point GreenNDVI model (r ² > 0.424, RMSE < 0.256%) was better than for the Field GreenNDVI model (r ² > 0.250, RMSE < 0.298%). A general-purpose model (r ² = 0.392, RMSE = 0.255%) was established using 2 years data. In the GIS database, PC was separated into two parts to compare the difference in PC between the upper (mean + 0.5SD) and lower (mean − 0.5SD) parts. Differences in PC were significant depending on the effective cumulative temperature (ECT) from transplanting to harvest (Factor 4) in 2007 but not in 2006. Because of the difference in ECT depending on vegetation term (from transplanting to sampling), PC was separated into two groups based on the mean value of ECT as the upper (UMECT) and lower (LMECT) groups. In 2007, there were significant differences in PC at LMECT group between upper and lower parts depending on the ECT from transplanting to last top-dressing (Factor 2), the amount of nitrogen fertilizer at top-dressing (Factor 3) and Factor 4. When the farmers would have changed their field management, it would have been possible to decrease protein contents. Using the combination of RS and GIS in 2006, it was possible to select the key management factor by the difference in the Field GreenNDVI.     

Effects of different application timings of methane fermentation digested liquid to paddy plots on soil nitrogen and rice yield

Treatment of animal and food wastes using a methane fermentation technique is drawing considerable public attention as a suitable option for the utilization of biomass resources. The application of a fermentation byproduct (methane fermentation digested liquid) as an agricultural fertilizer has been investigated. Determining the appropriate timing required for applying digested liquid on a rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddy plot is important. The concentrations of soil nitrogen (N) components and rice yield should be considered because digested liquid contains both inorganic and organic N. This study compares the N transformation and the rice yield and growth at different application times over a period of 3 y. The effects of the timing of basal application on soil N were different and the timing that maximized the rice yield was different in each year. Days before ponding (DBP) affected soil N before mid-summer drainage, and rice growth rates at the panicle formation stage and the ear emergence stage. The effects of DBP disappeared before harvest. The results indicated that sufficient potentially mineralizable N existed regardless of DBP, and the effect of DBP lessened after the mid-summer drainage, which coincides with the period when N uptake is most active.     

Timing and temperature thresholds of heat stress effects on fertility performance of different parity sows in Spanish herds

High temperature is an environmental factor that impairs sow fertility. In this study, we identified the critical weeks for heat stress effects on aspects of fertility performance, namely weaning-to-first-service interval (WSI) and farrowing rate (FR). We also examined the threshold temperatures above which the fertility performance deteriorated and whether there were any differences between parities regarding heat stress effects or thresholds. Performance data of sows in 142 herds from 2011 to 2016 were matched to appropriate weekly averaged daily maximum temperatures (T_max) from weather stations close to the herds. Two types of ratios (i.e., ratio for WSI and odds ratio for FR) were used to identify the critical weeks for heat stress by comparing the respective measures for two sow groups based on T_max in different weeks around weaning or service events. The ratios for WSI were calculated between groups of sows exposed to T_max ≥ 27 °C or <27 °C in each week before weaning, with the T_max cutoff value based on a recent review study. Similarly, the odds ratios for FR for the two groups were calculated in weeks around service. The weeks with the largest differences in the fertility measures between the two T_max groups (i.e., the highest ratio for WSI and the lowest odds ratio for FR) were considered to be the critical weeks for heat stress. Also, piecewise models with different breakpoints were constructed to identify the threshold T_max in the critical week. The breakpoint in the best-fit model was considered to be the threshold T_max. The highest ratios for WSI were obtained at 1 to 3 wk before weaning in parity 1 and 2 or higher sow groups. The threshold T_max leading to prolonged WSI was 17 °C for parity 1 sows and 25 °C for parity 2 or higher sows. Increasing T_max by 10 °C above these thresholds increased WSI by 0.65, and 0.33 to 0.35 d, respectively (P < 0.01). For FR, the lowest odds ratios were obtained at 2 to 3 wk before service in parity 0, 1, and 2 or higher sow groups. The threshold T_max leading to reductions in FR was 20, 21, and 24 to 25 °C for parity 0, 1, and 2 or higher sow groups, respectively. Increasing T_max by 10 °C above these thresholds decreased FR by 3.0%, 4.3%, and 1.9% to 2.8%, respectively (P < 0.01). These results indicate that the critical weeks for heat stress were 2 to 3 wk before service for FR and 1 to 3 wk before weaning for WSI. The decreases in fertility performance in parity 0 to 1 sows started at temperatures 3 to 8 °C lower than in parity 2 or higher sows.     

饱水和气干状态杉木的压缩成型及其热处理永久固定

该研究采用烘箱热处理和真空热处理方法 ,在热处理温度都为 180℃ ,热处理时间分别为 6,10 ,15 ,2 5h的条件下 ,研究比较了饱水状态和气干状态杉木试材的径向压缩成型特性及其在不同方式热处理条件下热处理永久固定的效果 .研究结果表明 :①在相同条件下 ,与气干状态杉木试材相比 ,饱水并经蒸煮的试材在压缩成型后 ,或经热处理后 ,其回复率Rs 较小 ,各项物理力学性质较好 ;②在热处理过程中 ,对照试材的重量损失率WL随着热处理时间的延长而增大 ,而且 ,WL与Rs 之间呈近似线性负相关 ;③在相同条件下 ,与空气介质中热处理相比 ,真空中热处理后试材的材色变化较小 ,但回复率较大     

The role of litter and humus layer as a mortality factor of seedlings of Japanese red pine,Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.

The process of decrease in seedlings of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb.et Zucc.) and the effect of litter and humus layers on the mortality were studied in their stand and adjacent bare land. After the rainy season, only small number of individuals died in the bare land but more seedlings died in the forest. The number of seedlings killed by drought was greater in the forest than in the bare land. The population of naturally occurring current year seedlings was larger in the forest than in the bare land, but that of 1- to 5-year-old seedlings was smaller. Severe summer drought exceeding the permanent wilting point was observed only in the forest F-H horizon where greater part of seedling roots distributed, this may be one of major mortality factors. Inhibitory substances to seedling growth in fresh fallen pine needles were also suggested.