Measurement system of whole-canopy carbon dioxide exchange rates in grafted cucumber transplants in which scions were exposed to different water regimes using a semi-open multi-chamber

A continuous CO₂ measurement system was developed to monitor the CO₂ exchange rate of the whole canopy of grafted transplants using semi-open multiple chambers. Air heating or cooling and humidification inside a healing box were under control, if needed. To test the system, the gas exchange rate of the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) transplants grafted onto pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima cv. ‘New-Shintozwa’) was analysed. During the healing and acclimatisation of the grafted cucumber plants, the air temperature in the box remained constant at night but ranged above 1 °C of a set value under high humidity in daytime. The relative humidity was kept within the set point during the daytime, and it nearly reached 100% at night when not controlled. The cucumber seedlings were exposed to different water stresses before grafting, and the water potentials of each treatment were −0.579 (non-stressed), −0.814 (mildly water-stressed), and −0.870 MPa (strongly water-stressed) on grafting. At the water-stressed scions, leaf expansion was inhibited by 30.9–53.3% compared with the non-stressed scions. Therefore, the gas exchange rates of the strongly water-stressed scions based on the leaf area were decreased to 72.7% compared with the non-stressed scions. After grafting, the apparent photosynthesis of the transplants of all treatments was negative, with higher respiration in the strongly water-stressed scions during the initial period of healing. However, they turned to positive values and exceeded those of the non-stressed scions from three days after grafting. This result provides critical information that the water column is physiologically connected between the stock and scion within two days after grafting. As a result of water stress, the leaf area and dry weight of the transplants in the strongly water-stressed scions were inhibited by 67.5% and 83% compared with the non-stressed scions at the end of acclimatisation. In contrast, the relative growth rate and graft-take of the strongly water-stressed transplants were slightly increased, which suggests that the water stress prior to grafting alleviated the water demand of the scion. This system may provide useful information for diagnosis at the early stage by monitoring the whole canopy's photosynthesis over a long term.     

The effect of Korean red ginseng on liver regeneration after 70% hepatectomy in rats

The effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on morphologic change and function of the liver was investigated after 70% hepatectomy in rats. The liver weight and hepatocyte proliferation of the KRG treated groups significantly increased compared to those of the control group. KRG inhibited the increase of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and the number and area of lipid droplets. On the basis of these results, it could be concluded that KRG accelerated the liver regeneration and ameliorated liver injury after hepatectomy in rats.     

Application of SSR markers and real-time PCR for variety identification in azuki-bean [Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi and Ohashi]

The azuki bean in Korea consists of seven domestic varieties which have been developed and registered for the public during last 25 years. Here, we present a simple but reliable method to screen and identify Korean azuki bean varieties. A method based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers is widely used for prominent gene identification and variety discrimination. In molecular biology, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a laboratory technique based on the polymerase chain reaction that is used to amplify and simultaneously quantify a targeted DNA molecule. It enables easy detection of a specific sequence in a DNA sample without performing electrophoresis and further processes. For separation of seven Korean azuki bean varieties, 110 unique azuki bean SSR markers from an (AG)n-enriched library were selected, synthesized and used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were taken through acrylamide gel electrophoresis and automated multi-capillary electrophoresis system for selection of specific markers and then changed into proper formats for data mining analysis. Ten primer pairs that showed high polymorphism were chosen for the indepth study. These ten primers were re-amplified with real-time PCR and checked the cycle threshold (Ct) and temperature (Tm) for comparison of amplification sequence in seven varieties. Consequently, a total of 20 alleles and 6 SSR primers were detected from the standard PCR amplification. Within these 6 primers, 7 alleles of 3 SSR primers were isolated for variety identification. From real-time PCR results, 3 SSR primers were selected as efficient markers for discrimination of seven Korean azuki bean varieties. The approach described here could be applied in monitoring our varieties and can be adapted in the azuki bean breeding program.     

Anthocyanin extracted from black soybean reduces prostate weight and promotes apoptosis in the prostatic hyperplasia-induced rat model

Anthocyanin is a natural plant pigment and potent antioxidant. This study was designed to investigate the effects of anthocyanin extracted from black soybeans on a rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disease associated with the geriatric population. Thirty male rats were divided into five experimental groups: a control group, a BPH-induced group, and three BPH-induced groups that received oral doses of anthocyanin (40, 80, and 160 mg/kg). Prostate hyperplasia was induced by the administration of testosterone propionate for 4 weeks. Following BPH induction, the anthocyanin-treated groups received the compound for 4 weeks. After anthocyanin treatment, the prostates from the rats in all groups were removed, weighed, and subjected to histological examination. Apoptosis in the prostates was measured by the TUNEL assay. The mean prostate weight for the control animals was 674.17 ± 28.24 mg, whereas the BPH-induced rats had a mean prostate weight of 1098.33 ± 131.31 mg. The mean prostate weights for the rats receiving 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg anthocyanin were 323.00 ± 22.41, 324.00 ± 26.80, and 617.50 ± 31.08 mg, respectively. The average prostate weight in the BPH-induced group was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05), whereas the prostate weights in the anthocyanin-administered groups were significantly lower than in the BPH-induced group (p < 0.05). Injected testosterone led to prostatic hyperplasia as observed histologically, but anthocyanin administration helped to prevent this change. Apoptotic body counts were significantly higher in groups receiving anthocyanin than in the BPH-induced group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that anthocyanin may be effective in decreasing the volume and suppressing the proliferation of the prostate. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms and actions of anthocyanin, and these studies may lead to the clinical application of anthocyanin in treating BPH.     

Effect of transfection and passage number of ear fibroblasts on in vitro development of bovine transgenic nuclear transfer embryos

The objective of this study was to determine if the transfection of human prourokinase (ProU) gene and passage number of transfected ear fibroblasts affected in vitro development of bovine transgenic nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. An expression plasmid for human ProU was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker and human ProU gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid and transfected into bovine ear fibroblasts using a lipid mediated method. Abattoir derived oocytes were enucleated at 18-20 hr post maturation and a single donor cell was transferred into the perivitelline space of a recipient oocyte. After fusion and activation, the couplets were cultured in modified synthetic oviductal fluid (mSOF) medium for 168 hr. In Experiment 1, significantly lower rate in blastocysts formation (10.3%) was observed in transfected donor cells at early passage than that in nontransfected counterparts (22.1%, P<0.05). In Experiment 2, development to blastocysts and GFP expression in blastocysts were not significantly different between early (3-7) and late (8-12) passage donor cells (10.3 vs. 11.3% and 54.5 vs. 41.7%, respectively). This study indicates that in vitro development of bovine transgenic NT embryos is negatively influenced by transfection of human ProU gene into donor fibroblasts. However, passage number of transfected ear fibroblasts does not affect in vitro development of bovine transgenic NT embryos.     

三唑酰草胺2.5%颗粒剂的高效液相色谱分析

本文采用高效液相色谱法,以乙腈+水为流动相,使用以ZORBAX SB-C18、5μm为填料的不锈钢柱和二极管阵列检测器,在240nm波长下对试样进行分离和定量分析。结果表明三唑酰草胺的线性相关系数为0.999 8;标准偏差为0.012;变异系数为0.46%;平均回收率为100.4%。     

Effect of β‐glucooligosaccharides as a new prebiotic for dietary supplementation in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) aquaculture

β‐Glucooligosaccharides (BGO), produced from barley β‐glucan, were used as a feed supplement (0.1%) for juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) to identify and quantify its oral administration effects on innate immunomodulation and infectious disease protection. Juvenile flounders (14 ± 0.5 g) were divided into two groups fed either 0.1% BGO (treatment) or a standard diet (control) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, investigation of the effects was carried out through systemic studies on growth performance, serum and mucus biochemical parameters, innate immunity, microvillus length, and relative pro‐inflammatory cytokine gene expression. The results demonstrated that the BGO diet produced slightly higher levels of growth performance, serum protein, microvillus length and pro‐inflammatory cytokine gene (tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin [IL]‐1β, and IL‐6) expression without any significant differences (p > .05). All innate immunity parameters were up‐regulated by BGO administration and, among these, respiratory burst, lysozyme and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly different (p < .05). Fish in the both groups were challenged with Streptococcus iniae (1.35 × 10⁸ CFU/ml), and BGO group was focused to confirm the promotion of innate immunity parameters. The results showed a significantly (p < .05) lower death rate compared with that of the control. Therefore, BGO could be used as a new prebiotic in future olive flounder aquaculture as well as to control streptococcosis.     

非圆形喷洒域喷头的可实现性研究

提出通过变圆心途径实现非圆形喷洒域喷头的构想 ,研究了实现这一构想的数学原理 ;以近似正方形喷洒域为重点 ,对水质点的运动轨迹和运动速度、喷灌强度和喷灌均匀度进行了计算机模拟和计算 ;提出了实现非圆形喷洒域的结构设想。结果表明 :运用双圆周复合运动可较简单地实现非圆形喷洒域 ;近似正方形喷洒域的点喷灌强度取决于喷头单向喷洒时的线喷灌强度函数。     

Selection of appropriate endotracheal tube size using thoracic radiography in Beagle dogs

Objective

To determine the optimal endotracheal tube size in Beagle dogs using thoracic radiography.

Oral efficacy of Vero cell attenuated porcine epidemic diarrhea virus DR13 strain

A Vero cell attenuated porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) strain, DR13, was distinguished from wild-type PEDV using restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Cell attenuated DR13 was orally or intramuscularly (IM) administered to late-term pregnant sows, and mortality resulting from the highly virulent PEDV challenge was investigated in passively immunized suckling piglets of the two different groups. The mortality rate of the oral group (13%) was lower than that of the IM group (60%). In particular, the concentration of IgA against PEDV was higher in piglets of sows in the oral group, compared to the IM group. The attenuated DR13 virus remained safe, even after three backpassages in piglets. The findings of this study support the theory that the Vero cell attenuated DR13 virus may be applied as an oral vaccine for inducing specific immunity in late-term pregnant sows with a high margin of protection against PEDV infection.