Small-scale variation in feeding environments for the Manila clam <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ruditapes philippinarum</Emphasis> in a tidal flat in Tokyo Bay

The relative contribution of particulate organic matters (POMs) in water column and sediment as a food source for the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, was studied using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic method (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in a tidal flat at Seaside Park, Yokohama, Japan. Comparisons of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N among R. philippinarum and POMs in surface water, bottom water, and sediment surface indicated that R. philippinarum larger than 5 mm shell length (SL) mainly assimilated benthic POM, and individuals smaller than 5 mm SL assimilated benthic and pelagic POM. Continuous measurements of chlorophyll concentrations in the bottom water revealed tide-driven resuspension of the benthic phytopigments. R. philippinarum showed differences in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N along an inshore–offshore transect, indicating small-scale spatial differences in POM provision in the tidal flat. These findings suggest that POM in the bottom water, supposedly inhaled by R. philippinarum, is a mixture of a larger proportion of resuspended benthic POM and a smaller proportion of pelagic POM, and that the mixing ratio of the POMs may be affected by the hydrodynamics of flooding water associated with tidal flat topography.     

小麦-中间偃麦草部分双二倍体"中5"的外源染色体的鉴定

应用染色体分带（Ｃ－带）分子原位杂交技术对普通小麦－中间偃麦草（Ｔｈｉｎｏｐｙｒｍｉｎｔｅｒｍｅｄｉｕｍ２ｎ＝４２）Ｅ１Ｅ１Ｅ２Ｅ２ＸＸ）部分双二倍体“中５”（２ｎ＝５６）的外部染色体进行了鉴定分析,染色体分带结果表明：“中５”的７中间偃麦草当色体不显带或显示出与受体小麦亲本染色体相似的带型,单靠型很难准确地鉴定出这７对外源染色体,分带处理后进行人子原位杂交鉴定出“中５”的７对外源染色体,并发现共     

Repair of a type IV Monteggia fracture in a foal

A Monteggia fracture is a humero-radial luxation combined with a fracture of the ulna. It is a rare injury, infrequently reported in the horse. This case report describes the surgical repair of such a fracture in a 4-month-old filly.     

Systemic Immunosuppression by Methylprednisolone and Pregnancy Rates in Goats Undergoing the Transfer of Cloned Embryos

The presence of the zona pellucida has been perceived as a requirement for the oviductal transfer of cloned embryos at early stages of development while protecting the embryo from an immune system response. We hypothesized that steroid hormone therapy could reduce a potential cellular immune response after the transfer of zona‐free cloned embryos into the oviduct of recipient female goats. In Experiment 1, seven does were used to study the systemic immunosuppressant effect of the methylprednisolone administration (for 3 days) on blood cell counts. Whole blood was collected prior to treatment with methyprednisolone and then on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after the first dose of methylprednisolone for the analysis of haematological parameters. Methylprednisolone treatment significantly reduced circulating white blood cells and neutrophils in comparison with pre‐treatment levels, demonstrating a systemic immunosuppressant effect. In Experiment 2, a group of 58 does were used as recipient females to study the effect of administration of methylprednisolone for 3 days on the establishment of pregnancies after the transfer of zona‐free cloned embryos into the oviducts. No effects on pregnancy rates on Day 30 were observed regarding the distinct treatment groups (control vs. methylprednisolone), the source of oocytes (in vivo‐ vs in vitro‐matured) or the presence or absence of the zona pellucida in embryos. In summary, methylprednisolone was effective at inducing a systemic immunosuppressed state in goats, but the treatment prior to embryo transfer did not affect pregnancy rates. Moreover, pregnancy rates were similar between zona‐free and zona‐intact goat cloned embryos.