Congenital chondrodysplastic dwarfism with dyshematopoiesis in a holstein calf

A holstein calf with congenital chondrodysplastic dwarfism was histopathologically examined. The head of the calf was relatively flat giving a dog-like appearance with its short nose and sloping forehead. Limb bones were dumbbell-like with short diaphysis and hypertrophied metaphyses. Bone marrow was pale, whitish and fatty. In the metaphyseal plates most of chondrocytes were pyknotic with swollen and ghost-like cytoplasm, and were irregularly arranged. Column of calcified cartilage were poorly formed losing comb-like structure. Bone marrow was ischemic with poor hematopoiesis and was moderately replaced by adipose tissue. In articular cartilage, most of chondrocytes were degenerated with ghost-like cytoplasm. Many cartilage canals and occasional bone marrow-like structure were formed. The characteristics lesions of the calf were chondrodysplasia and dyshematopoiesis.     

Cloning and Selective Toxicant-induced Expression of BMR1 and BMR3, Novel ABC Transporter Genes in Botrytis cinerea

Two genes, BMR1 and BMR3, encoding new members of the ABC superfamily in Botrytis cinerea, were cloned and characterized. The topologies of the encoded proteins, BMR1 and BMR3, were both (NBF-TMD₆)₂, similar to most of the toxicant-efflux ABC transporters. These genes had different induced expression patterns after treatment with various toxicants, suggesting they may have different roles in toxicant-resistance. Received 24 September 2002/ Accepted in revised form 2 December 2002     

Influence of sudden changes in management program on physiological and behavioral parameters in hens

The present study was designed to test the effects of sudden changes of food access and light duration on the physiological and behavioral parameters of hens. The physiological parameters investigated were heart rate (HR), body temperature (BT), and locomotor activity (LA) using a radiotelemetry system. After implantation of the telemetry transmitters, six hens were housed individually in cages under constant environmental conditions for 10 days with a photoperiod of 15 h light (04.00–19.00 hours), and food was available ad libitum at all times. After that, the same hens were subjected to a feed withdrawal trial, from 12.00 to 08.30 hours, followed by a lighting hour reduction trial by changing the time of lights‐off from 19.00 to 14.00 hours. The physiological and behavioral data were recorded for 2 days before each trial, as control data. With the feed withdrawal trial, during the light and dark periods, HR and BT were significantly lower in the hens without food access than in the control. Whereas, LA was significantly lower only during the light period in the hens without food access than in the control. Further, the time spent resting increased significantly, but the time spent feeding decreased significantly in the hens without food access than in the control. Also, the number of times the cage was pecked and pecking of the feeder occured at a significantly higher level, while the number of times beaks were wiped occured at a significantly lower level in the hens without food access than in the control. With the lighting hour reduction trial, during the light period, HR and BT were significantly higher, whereas LA was significantly lower in the ’sudden light‐off’ treated hens than in the control. In addition, during the dark period, HR, BT and LA were significantly higher in the sudden light‐off treated hens than in the control. Moreover, in the sudden light‐off treated hens, the time spent preening and feeding decreased significantly, but the time spent resting increased significantly than in the control. It is concluded that sudden changes in a management program might result in many significant differences as were found in the physiological and behavioral parameters of hens in the present study.     

Glutathione supplementation to semen extender improves the quality of frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa for transcervical insemination

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether supplementation of semen extender with glutathione (GSH) can maintain the quality of frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa. Eighteen ejaculates were obtained from 5 dogs and placed in extender (20% egg yolk, Tris, citric acid, lactose, raffinose, antibiotics and 6.5% glycerol) containing 0 (control), 2.5, 5, 7.5 or 10 mM GSH. The samples were cooled to 4 C and then frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor. Motility parameters of the sperm were evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 12 and 24 h after thawing. Sperm motility was higher in the 5 mM GSH group than in the control or 2.5 and 10 mM GSH groups; this effect was observed at 1 to 24 h after thawing (P < 0.05). The 5 mM GSH group had a higher sperm viability index at 12 and 24 h after thawing compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Acrosome integrity, evaluated at 4 h after thawing, was greater in two of the GSH-treated groups (5 and 10 mM) compared with the control. Lipid peroxidation (LP) levels immediately after thawing were lower in the 5 and 10 mM GSH groups compared with the control, while those at 12 h after thawing did not differ significantly. Frozen-thawed semen in the 5 mM GSH group was used for transcervical insemination of 4 bitches, resulting in delivery of 5 puppies from 2 bitches. These results indicate that supplementation of semen extender with 5 mM GSH was effective in improving motility, longevity and acrosomal integrity and inhibiting LP levels in post-thaw canine spermatozoa, without any adverse impacts on full-term development after transcervical insemination.     

Toxicity of chlorothalonil to marine organisms

We evaluated the acute toxicity of the antifouling biocide 2,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1,3-benzenedicarbonitrile (chlorothalonil, TPN) to an alga (Skeletonema costatum), crustacea (Tigriopus japonicus, kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus), and a teleost fish (red sea bream Pagrus major) commonly found in the coastal waters of Japan. We also performed acute toxicity and early-life-stage tests for TPN using mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus and used the results to predict the chronic toxicity of TPN to red sea bream. The acute toxicity values of TPN (based on measured concentrations) for S.?costatum, T.?japonicus, M.?japonicus, red sea bream, and mummichog were 0.95, 16, 290, 35, and 61???g/l, respectively. The early-life-stage test with mummichog embryos revealed that hatchability and growth were the most sensitive indicators, and the lowest- and no-observed-effect concentrations, based on the measured concentrations, were 32 and 11???g/l, respectively. We estimated the chronic toxicity value for red sea bream to be 11???g/l based on these toxicity values. Considering the current measured concentrations of TPN in coastal waters of Japan, its environmental impact would appear to be limited.     

荞麦品种资源聚类分析

采用系统聚类分析方法,把来源于全球的１２１个荞麦品种分成了１２类,即Ｉ高产类、Ⅱ１－１中高产高产类、Ⅱ１－２中高产中产类、Ⅱ１－３中高产高秆大粒中产类、Ⅱ２－１中低产高产类、Ⅱ２－２中低产中产类、Ⅱ２－３中低产早熟大粒低产类、Ⅱ２－４中低产低产类、Ⅲ－１低产中产类、Ⅲ－２低产中产类、Ⅲ－３低产无产类和Ⅳ特矮低产类。并对各类荞麦品种的性状特征及黄土丘陵区所适宜的荞麦品种的生态性状及特性进行了论述。     

日本茶叶生产与消费

The spread of tea drinking to the common people began in the 18th century in the middle of the Edo period. At the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912), tea was one of the most important agricultural prod ucts, ranking with silk, and was mainly exported, especially to North America.     

Effect of taurine supplementation on hepatic metabolism and alleviation of cadmium toxicity and bioaccumulation in a marine teleost,red sea bream, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pagrus major</Emphasis>

This study was performed to unravel the mechanism of the beneficial action of taurine on marine teleost fish, red sea bream (Pagrus major), by analyzing the hepatic metabolism. Moreover, the ameliorative effects of the nutrient against cadmium toxicity and bioaccumulation were further evaluated. The fish were fed a diet containing 0 % (TAU0 %), 0.5 % (TAU0.5 %), or 5.0 % (TAU5.0 %) taurine for 40–55 days (d) and subjected to cadmium acute toxicity and bioaccumulation tests. Taurine deficiency in feed severely affected growth and the hepatic metabolic profiles of the fish, including a remarkable increase in myo-inositol, aspartate, and ß-alanine in the TAU0 % group, which indicates a complementary physiological response to taurine deficiency. For the acute toxicity test, fish were fed the test diets for 55 d and were then exposed to different dose of cadmium ranging from 0 to 5.6 mg/L for 96 h. Fish fed taurine had a higher tolerance to cadmium than those not fed taurine. For the bioaccumulation test, fish were fed the test diets for 40 d and then were chronically exposed to 0.2 mg/L of cadmium for 28 d followed by depuration for 21 d. Cadmium concentrations in the liver and muscle of fish fed TAU5.0 % were significantly lower than those of fish fed TAU0 % for the first 7 d of exposure and the first 7 d of elimination. Our findings suggest a possible mechanism for the beneficial role played by taurine and that the inclusion of taurine in fish aquaculture feed may reduce cadmium contamination of fish intended for human consumption.     

Evaluation of Thai rice cultivars with low-grain cadmium

To identify rice cultivars with low grain cadmium (Cd) levels, 42 cultivars of Thai rice (Oryza sativa L.) were cultivated in a Cd-contaminated field in the Pha Te village, Mae Sot district, Tak province, Thailand, from 2009 to 2011. Among non-glutinous and late-ripening cultivars, lower levels of Cd accumulated in the grains of RD5, RD15, and Sang Yod than in Khao Dawk Mali 105, a prevailing and popular cultivar in this area. Among glutinous and late-ripening cultivars, Khao’ Niaw Ubon 1 and Khao’ Niaw Ubon 2 accumulated lower Cd levels than a prevailing cultivar RD6. The findings suggest that human cadmium intake can be reduced by selecting low-Cd rice cultivars.