Observation of a one-dimensional Tonks-Girardeau gas

We report the observation of a one-dimensional (1D) Tonks-Girardeau (TG) gas of bosons moving freely in 1D. Although TG gas bosons are strongly interacting, they behave very much like noninteracting fermions. We enter the TG regime with cold rubidium-87 atoms by trapping them with a combination of two light traps. By changing the trap intensities, and hence the atomic interaction strength, the atoms can be made to act either like a Bose-Einstein condensate or like a TG gas. We measure the total 1D energy and the length of the gas. With no free parameters and over a wide range of coupling strengths, our data fit the exact solution for the ground state of a 1D Bose gas.     

Brachyspira pilosicoli isolated from pigs in Japan

Two of four weak beta-hemolytic isolates of intestinal spirochetes isolated from pigs in Japan possessed a unique base alignment of TTTTTT on the 16S ribosomal DNA of Brachyspira pilosicoli and were identified as B. pilosicoli. The other two isolates were not identified by this technique. The identified isolates were 4.2 to 11 microm in length and 0.2 to 0.3 microm in diameter, 4 periplasmic flagella at each end were observed dominantly. The isolates were hippurate positive but indole negative. This is the first report on the isolation of B. pilosicoli from pigs in Japan.     

Collection,preservation and distribution of Oryza genetic resources by the National Bioresource Project RICE (NBRP-RICE)

Biological resources are the basic infrastructure of bioscience research. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a good experimental model for research in cereal crops and monocots and includes important genetic materials used in breeding. The availability of genetic materials, including mutants, is important for rice research. In addition, Oryza species are attractive to researchers for both finding useful genes for breeding and for understanding the mechanism of genome evolution that enables wild plants to adapt to their own habitats. NBRP-RICE contributes to rice research by promoting the usage of genetic materials, especially wild Oryza accessions and mutant lines. Our activity includes collection, preservation and distribution of those materials and the provision of basic information on them, such as morphological and physiological traits and genomic information. In this review paper, we introduce the activities of NBRP-RICE and our database, Oryzabase, which facilitates the access to NBRP-RICE resources and their genomic sequences as well as the current situation of wild Oryza genome sequencing efforts by NBRP-RICE and other institutes.     

Effect of combination feeding of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nannochloropsis</Emphasis> and freshwater <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella</Emphasis> on the fatty acid composition of rotifer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus plicatilis</Emphasis> in a continuous culture

ABSTRACT:   A continuous culture of rotifer was conducted to investigate the effect of combination feeding of both a high density of Nannochloropsis oculata (N) and condensed freshwater Chlorella (FC) on the fatty acid composition of L-type rotifer Brachionus plicatilis in a continuous culture system. The algal feeding of the rotifers was carried out in three successive steps: N-feeding → N+FC-feeding → FC-feeding. The culture was conducted at 24°C and 25–27 psu in a 2000 mL bottle with 50% of water exchanged daily. The combination N+FC-feeding was effective in increasing rotifer density. The rotifers fed on N+FC (N+FC-R) had more non-polar lipids than polar ones, similar to those on N (N-R), opposite to the rotifers fed on FC (FC-R). N+FC-R contained higher levels of 16:2, 18:2n-6 (linoleic acid [LA]) and 20:2n-6, but lower levels of 18:1, 20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid), 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]) and 22:5n-3 (docosapentaenoic acid [DPA]) compared with N-R. Whereas N+FC-R contained higher levels of 16:1n-7, EPA and DPA, but lower levels of 16:2 and LA compared with FC-R. N+FC-R had more DPA in polar lipids than in non-polar ones. The Σn-6/Σn-3 ratio in N+FC-R was 0.9–1.0, significantly different from those in N-R (0.4) and FC-R (6.6–8.4). Therefore, it is inferred that the fatty acid profile of the N+FC-R cultured in a continuous culture system was affected by both N and FC. Also, the combination N+FC-feeding may be effective in manipulating the Σn-6/Σn-3 ratio in continuously cultured rotifers.     

Overcoming hybrid lethality in a cross between Japanese pear and apple using gamma irradiation and confirmation of hybrid status using flow cytometry and SSR markers

Although there have been some attempts to obtain intergeneric hybrids between Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) and apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) mature hybrids have not been generated due to hybrid lethality. Shoots from immature hybrid embryos were gamma irradiated and cultured at normal temperature conditions to obtain viable intergeneric plants. Gamma irradiation doses of 50 and 100 Gy cultured at 25 °C killed all shoots but there was one survivor at 150 Gy and 25 °C. Hybrid status of the shoot was confirmed by using morphology, flow cytometry and SSR markers. The intergeneric plant had similar leaf serrations to apple and similar petioles to Japanese pear. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the intergeneric shoot had a DNA content intermediate between the parents. SSR analysis showed one allele from each parent for all 16 SSR loci investigated. These data strongly suggest that the obtained shoot is a true hybrid between Japanese pear and apple.     

Changes of multi-drug resistance pattern in Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar typhimurium isolates from food-producing animals in Japan

A total of 153 isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium derived from food-producing animals in Japan between 2002 and 2005 were investigated for antimicrobial resistance and phage types related to definitive phage type 104 (DT104). The predominant resistance type was resistance to ampicillin, dihydrostreptomycin, kanamycin, and oxytetracycline in bovine (45.2%, 48/104) and resistance to dihydrostreptomycin and oxytetracycline in porcine isolates (58.7%, 27/48). DT104-related phage type was found in 32 of 104 bovine isolates, two of 48 porcine isolates, and one of eight isolates from poultry, showing that the proportion of the phage type in S. Typhimurium isolates from cattle and pigs significantly (P<0.01) decreased from 71.9% and 31.4% in 1999-2001 to 30.8% and 4.1% in 2002-2005, respectively.     

Changes in carbon stock following soil scarification of non-wooded stands in Hokkaido,northern Japan

To restore non-wooded stands dominated by dwarf bamboo species (Sasa kurilensis or S. senanensis) into forests, mechanical soil scarification has been applied in northern Japan since the 1960s. The treatment is followed both by natural regeneration and artificial planting. In this study, we quantified the total carbon stock (plants plus 0.3 m depth of soil) of these stands over 35-year age-sequences. The natural regeneration stands were gradually dominated by Betula ermanii. The carbon stock increased linearly to 215.1 ± 35.2 Mg C ha⁻¹ for a 37-year-old stand formerly dominated by S. kurilensis, and 181.1 ± 29.8 Mg C ha⁻¹ for a 34-year-old stand formerly dominated by S. senanensis. The latter was similar to that of a Picea glehnii plantation, formerly dominated by S. senanensis, with comparable stand age (160.3 ± 6.7 Mg C ha⁻¹ for 35-year-old stands). Although the carbon stock in plants quickly offset the untreated level, that in the soil remained depressed even in the older stands. This resulted in small differences in carbon stock of these stands with untreated dwarf bamboo stands. We conclude that natural regeneration following scarification could be a prime option for carbon sink management in the region. However, we should take a long rotation period (i.e., >50 years) to ensure a carbon sink state. A potential of further improvements of the practice, including that reduce intensity of soil disturbance, was presented.     

An outbreak of systemic granulomatous disease in cows with high milk yields

Seven of 92 lactating Holstein cows on a dairy farm developed urticaria with alopecia and decreased milk production, and three of the seven died over the course of 7 to 18 days. Pathologic examination of the three cows, including the two dead and one euthanized cow, revealed that the skin, liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, salivary glands, pancreas, adrenal glands, mammary glands, lymph nodes, and trigeminal ganglia had lymphocytic to lymphogranulomatous inflammation. Inflammation predominated by lymphocytic infiltration was prominent in the heart, pancreas, mammary glands, adrenal gland, and trigeminal ganglia. Severe granulomatous inflammation with multinucleated giant cells was present in the spleen and kidneys. These lesions and their distributions were most similar to those seen in suspected cases of citrus pulp toxicosis and hairy vetch toxicosis. The outbreak of this disease resolved with the elimination of Citrus pulp from the feed. Immunohistochemical detection of lymphocytes and macrophage markers confirmed dramatic hyperplasia of CD3-positive T lymphocytes in these lesions. This strongly suggested that a type 4 hypersensitivity reaction played a role in the development of the lesions.     

Production of anti-virus,viroid plants by genetic manipulations

Many pathogenic plant viruses are RNA viruses, which initiate production of double-stranded RNA intermediates when they replicate in host plant cells. Introduction of double-stranded RNA-specific ribonucleases such as the Schizosaccharomyces pombe derived pac I protein and animal cell derived interferon-induced 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5 Aase)/ribonuclease L (RNase L) system into various plants may make plants resistant to various pathogenic viruses and viroids. We have demonstrated that pac I and 2-5 Aase/RNase L transgenic tobacco plants are resistant to various viruses including tobacco mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus and potato virus Y. In addition, pac I transgenic potato plants are resistant to potato spindle tuber viroid. Using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, we have established a transformation system for chrysanthemum plants and have recently developed pac I transgenic chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora cv Reagan) resistant to chrysanthemum stunt viroid and have grown them in isolated fields for an evaluation of their effects.