Nutritional characteristics of the leaves of native plants growing in adverse soils of humid tropical lowlands

Acid sulfate, peat, sandy podzolic, and saline soils are widely distributed inthe lowlands of Thailand and Malaysia. The nutrient concentrations in theleaves of plants grown in these type of soils were studied with the aim ofdeveloping a nutritional strategy for adapting to such problem soils. In sagoand oil palms that were well-adapted to peat soil, the N, P, and Kconcentrations were the same in the mature leaves, while the Ca, Mg, Na,and Fe concentrations were higher in the mature leaves of the oil palm thanof the sago palm. Melastoma malabathricum and Melaleuca cajuputi plantsthat were well-adapted to low pH soils, peat, and acid sulfate soils were alsostudied. It was observed that a high amount of Al accumulated in the M.marabathricum leaves, while Al did not accumulate in M. cajuputi leaves.M. cajuputi plants accumulated large amounts of Na in their leaves or stemsregardless of the exchangeable Na concentration in the soil, while M.malabathricum that was growing in saline-affected soils excluded Na.Positive relationships between macronutrients were recognized between Pand N, between K and N, and between P and K. Al showed antagonisticrelationships with P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Na. Na also showedantagonistic relationships with P, K, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Al. Fe showed weakantagonistic relationships with Zn, Mn, Cu, and Al.     

Spinal epidural empyema concurrent with sequestrum in a cat: a case report

A 5-month-old intact female mixed cat presented with repetitive paraplegia and drainage of pus from the back despite continuous antibiotic medication. Neurologic examination was consistent with below T3-L3 myelopathy. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a contrast-enhanced mass in the L1-3 spinal canal, and bone fragments in the T13 and L1 spinal canal. Spinal epidural empyema was suspected, and hemilaminectomy was performed for T12-L2 on the right side and T11-12 on the left side. Bone fragments were diagnosed as sequestrum infected with Bacteroides sp. The cat recovered enough to ambulate next day. One month after surgery, there was no deficit in neurological function. This is the first report of spinal epidural empyema concurrent with sequestrum in a cat.     

Reservoir sedimentation and its mitigating strategies: a case study of Angereb reservoir (NW Ethiopia)

Purpose  

The Angereb dam in northwestern Ethiopia was commissioned in 1997 to serve as a domestic water supply for 25 years. However, its sustainability is being threatened by rapid sedimentation. The overall objective of this study was to understand reservoir sedimentation in this tropical highland watershed and to propose its mitigating strategies that would contribute to the improved planning and management of reservoirs in similar regions.     

Keratometry in normal cats: a cross-sectional study in Japan using an automated handheld keratometer

Keratometry was performed in 73 domestic cats of varied signalment in Japan using an automated handheld keratometer. The mean corneal curvature radius was significantly lower for cats younger than 1 year than for those older than 2 years (8.04 mm vs. 8.80−8.99 mm, P<0.01). The radius was significantly greater in males than in females among the cats older than 11 years (9.22 mm vs. 8.84 mm, P=0.01), while the age distributions of the males and females were similar. Corneal astigmatism did not significantly differ across the gender and age groups. The predictability of the corneal curvature and astigmatism was approximately 41−43% and less than 3%, respectively, as a function of age and bodyweight. The results highlighted some age- and sex-related keratometric variations in domestic cats in Japan.     

Squamous cell carcinoma in a digit of the hind limb with systemic metastasis in a 17-year-old female koala

We encountered a case of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a 17-year-old female koala at a zoo. A fragile, papillary, elevated mass was found on the third digit of the right hind limb. SCC was identified histopathologically: squamous cell-like polygonal tumor cells showed a nest-like growth pattern with epidermal down growth, central keratinization and necrotic foci, and invaded dermal connective tissues. Metastatic lesions were observed in various organs, including the lung and axillary lymph node: in the lung, multiple metastatic foci similar to the primary lesion, and in the axillary lymph node, individual polygonal tumor cells infiltrated the sinusoids. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells were positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, which exhibited 32–33% of labeling indices in the tumor cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of SCC in a digit of a koala.     

Molecular and biological characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus</Emphasis> isolates from distinct regions in Japan

Three isolates of Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (CSNV) were obtained from chrysanthemum plants in distinct regions of Japan in 2006 and 2007. All the original host plants showed severe necrotic symptoms on the leaves and stems. Amino acid sequence data of the nucleocapsid protein genes of the three isolates (CbCh07A, TcCh07A, and GnCh07S) showed high identities with those of two other CSNV isolates, HiCh06A L1 from Japan and Chry1 from Brazil. Furthermore, for the first time the complete nucleotide sequence of the S RNA was determined for CSNV (isolate HiCh06A). In phylogenetic analysis based on the non-structural protein genes from the genus Tospovirus, HiCh06A L1 was placed in the same genetic group as Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Impatiens necrotic spot virus. Host range examination for isolates HiCh06A L1 and CbCh07A showed that green pepper (cv. ‘Kyoyutaka’, ‘Saitamawase’, ‘Tosakatsura’, ‘L3 sarara’ and ‘L3 miogi’) and tomato (cv. ‘Sekaiichitomato’) were systemically susceptible hosts, whereas TSWV-resistant Solanaceae species, Capsicum chinense, Lycopersicon peruvianum and a TSWV-resistant cultivar of green pepper (cv. TSR miogi), were resistant.     

Aluminum toxicity of synthetic aluminum–humus complexes derived from non-allophanic and allophanic Andosols and its amelioration with allophanic materials

Natural non-allophanic Andosols often show aluminum (Al) toxicity to Al-sensitive plant roots. The significance of Al–humus complexes to Al toxicity has been emphasized. Allophanic Andosols also possess Al–humus complexes, but they rarely show any toxicity. In the present study, using model substances, we tested the toxicity of Al–humus complexes and its amelioration with allophanic materials. We extracted humic substances from the A horizons of a non-allophanic Andosol and an allophanic Andosol using a NaOH solution, and reacted the humic substances and partially neutralized AlCl₃ solution at pH 4. Allophanic material was purified from commercial Kanuma pumice. Plant growth tests were conducted using a medium containing the Al–humus complexes (50 g kg⁻¹), the allophanic material (0, 90, 180 and 360 g kg⁻¹) and perlite. The root growth of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) and burdock ( Arctium lappa ) was reduced in the media containing the Al–humus complexes derived from both the non-allophanic and allophanic Andosols when the allophanic material was not added. With the addition of the allophanic materials, particularly in the 360 g kg⁻¹ treatment, the growth of the barley roots was improved markedly. Although the root growth of the burdock tended to improve with allophanic materials, the effect was weaker than that for barley. Monomeric Al in a solution of the medium was not detected (< 0.05 mg L⁻¹) following the addition of 360 g kg⁻¹ of allophanic materials, whereas 0.8–1.7 mg L⁻¹ Al was recorded without the allophanic material.     

Effects of Calcium Lactate on the Development of Chicken Embryos in a Shell-less Culture System up to Day Seventeen of Incubation

This study examined the effects of calcium lactate on the development of chicken embryos in a shell-less culture system (cSLCS) up to the seventeenth day of incubation. In the presence of calcium lactate, a significant reduction in embryo viability was observed during the first week of incubation in cSLCS. On day 17 of embryo development, no significant difference was observed in the blood plasma calcium concentration or tibia bone density between cSLCS and intact control embryos, whereas the tibia length was significantly shorter in cSLCS embryos than in the intact control. These results suggest that calcium lactate supplementation in cSLCS supports bone formation in developing chicken embryos, but has adverse effects on the viability of embryos, particularly during the first week of embryo development.