Surveillance of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in sheep in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan

Surveillance of jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) infection was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of blood DNA samples collected from 40 sheep and goats in 10 different flocks in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. No exogenous (oncogenic) JSRV sequence was detected by PCR in these samples, while the ovine endogenous retrovirus sequence was successfully amplified in all samples. Our paper is the first demonstration of JSRV surveillance in Japan and shows no evidence of oncogenic JSRV infection in sheep and goats in Hokkaido.     

Analysis of the equine ovarian structure during the first twelve months of life by three-dimensional internal structure microscopy

A three-dimensional internal structure microscopy (3D-ISM) can clarify the anatomical arrangement of internal structures of equine ovaries. In this study, morphological changes of the equine ovary over the first 12 months of life were investigated by 3D-ISM in 59 fillies and by histological analysis in 2 fillies. The weight and volume of the paired ovaries initially decreased from 0 to 1 months to 2 to 3 months of age and then significantly increased at 8 to 12 months of age. The ovulation fossa was first observed around the 3rd month and became evident after the 6th month. The number of follicles with a diameter of ≥10 mm and the diameter of the largest follicle increased gradually after 6 months of age. On a volume basis, the medulla accounted for nearly 90% of the whole ovary at 0 to 1 months of age, but significantly decreased from 2 to 3 months of age. The volume of the cortex increased progressively after birth and reached approximately 60% of the total volume at 8 to 12 months of age. This significant development of the cortex coincided with the increased number and size of large follicles observed from 6 months of age. These results suggest that the development of the cortex plays a role in the maturation of the follicles and the equine ovary undergoes substantial morphological changes postnatally until puberty.     

Inclusion of novel bacteria in rumen microbiology: Need for basic and applied science

Rumen microbiology has made a significant contribution to the understanding of ruminant nutrition. However, further progress in research has been hindered by the incomplete analysis of the rumen microbiota comprised of bacteria, protozoa and fungi, most of which remain uncharacterized due to the difficulties in their isolation and cultivation. In order to maximize rumen fiber digestion, it is necessary to understand the community structure of rumen microbes, especially bacteria, and the factors that influence their composition. Recent advances in molecular biology techniques allow the analysis of such bacteria without cultivation, thereby identifying many functional, but uncultured, bacteria as new targets for basic and applied research. Specific uncultured bacterial groups are being considered as important members of a fibrolytic consortium in the rumen, judging by their ecologic distribution. The inclusion of such uncharacterized bacteria in analyses is crucial for understanding the rumen microbial community and its manipulation. In addition, these bacteria could potentially be candidates as probiotics and sources of enzymes for animal feed and other industrial uses.     

Molecular loops in the galactic center: evidence for magnetic flotation

The central few hundred parsecs of the Milky Way host a massive black hole and exhibit very violent gas motion and high temperatures in molecular gas. The origin of these properties has been a mystery for the past four decades. Wide-field imaging of the (12)CO (rotational quantum number J = 1 to 0) 2.6-millimeter spectrum has revealed huge loops of dense molecular gas with strong velocity dispersions in the galactic center. We present a magnetic flotation model to explain that the formation of the loops is due to magnetic buoyancy caused by the Parker instability. The model has the potential to offer a coherent explanation for the origin of the violent motion and extensive heating of the molecular gas in the galactic center.     

Morphological observations of uterine and vaginal duplexes with a developmental anomaly at the vaginovestibular junction in a Japanese brown calf

Since a rare anomaly of the female genital tract was defined as uterine and vaginal duplexes with a developmental anomaly at the vaginovestibular junction, it was morphologically examined in detail in a Japanese Brown calf. The genital tract was completely duplicated from the uterus to the vagina just cranial to the vestibule. At the vaginovestibular junction, a hymenal constriction and an aberrant location of the outer urethral orifice were also observed. These anomalies suggest that an error in the complete fusion of the Mullerian ducts and a failure in the correlated development between the Mullerian ducts and the urogenital sinus occurred in the embryonic stage.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Talaromyces wortmannii</Emphasis> FS2 emits <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-caryphyllene,which promotes plant growth and induces resistance

A plant-growth-promoting fungus (PGPF), Talaromyces sp. was isolated from an agricultural field in southwestern Japan. We found that this fungus emitted several terpenoid-like volatiles including β-caryophyllene. Then we investigated the effect of β-caryophyllene on promoting the growth and inducing resistance of Brassica campestris L. var. perviridis. The compound significantly enhanced the growth of seedlings and their resistance to Colletotrichum higginsianum. On the basis of these results, we discuss the role of β-caryophyllene in the activities of PGPF.     

Evaluation of useful plants for the treatment of polluted pond water with low N and P concentrations

Eutrophication of ponds for agricultural use has begun to adversely affect rice production and the residential living environment in Japan. Cultivation of useful terrestrial and aquatic plant species in plant-bed filter ditches enables to treat domestic wastewater in addition to resource recycling and amenity functions. We evaluated the ability of several plant species, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), hanana (Brassica campestris L. var.), African marigold (Tages erecta L.), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.), and reed (Phragmites communis Trin.), to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from polluted pond water whose N and P concentrations were much lower than those in domestic wastewater. Artificial pond water containing 2.5 mg L^-1 of N and 0.5 mg L^-1 of P was supplied to ditches at a loading rate of 1.1 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.21 g m^-2 d^-1 for P. Italian ryegrass, papyrus, or kenaf in ditches removed N and P more effectively than other plants. The average removal rate of Italian ryegrass in ditches was 0.62 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.10 g m^-2 d^-1 for P, that of papyrus 0.81 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.15 g m^-2 d^-1 for P, and that of kenaf 0.73 g m^-2 d^-1 for N and 0.11 g m^-2 d^-1 for P. The influence of N and P concentrations on the removal rates of Italian ryegrass, papyrus, and kenaf was studied. Concentrations at a removal rate of zero were 0.2–0.3 mg L^-1 for N and 0.01–0.03 mg L^-l for P. At low concentrations, the plant removal rates increased sharply with the rise in the concentration. When N concentrations exceeded 0.3–0.6 mg L^-1 and P concentrations 0.10–0.45 mg L^-1, the removal rates were high and less affected by the concentration. It was considered that these plant species could be used most efficiently at the concentrations where removal rates are less restricted.     

Cation-exchange properties of soil organic matter

The CEC was determined for humic acid preparations by changing the conditions for the CEC procedure and the CEC values obtained were compared with those of clay minerals. Humic acid was extracted from Kodonbaru and Kuriyagawa surface soils, Iwanuma peat, and straw with 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇-0.l M NaOH. The CEC was measured by a method which eliminates washing for the removal of excess saturating salt.

The CEC of humic acid became larger as humification progressed, and increased in the order: Straw<Iwanuma<Kuriyagawa<Kodonbaru. An equilibrium of cation exchange for the humic acid preparations was attained in a short time in contrast with that for allophane. No effect of salt concentration on the CEC of the humic acid preparations was recognized. The CEC of humic acid was also determine using the procedure in which tbe excess salt was removed by washing with water. Practically no decrease of CEC with decreasing salt concentration was found. When the pH of the salt solution WBB reduced, the em: of the humic acid decreased, though the extent of the decrease was smaller than that of allophane. The CEC of halloysite and montmorillonite did not decrease through reduction of the pH of the salt solution. It was considered that humic acid is a stronger acid than allophane and a weaker acid than halloysite and montmorillonite. The difference between the CEC of humic add measured with Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺ was small. Little temperature effect was observed for humic acid.     

Characteristics of free sesquioxides and humic acids in soil distributed under Warm-temperate forest climate in Nyu mountains,Fukui Prefecture,Central Japan

The activity and crystallinity ratios of free iron oxides, and the ΔlogK and RF values of humic acids were analyzed in five soil types in the Nyu mountains, Fukui Prefecture, to examine the relation between the zonality of soils and the bioclimatic conditions under the Warm-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest climate. The characteristics of free iron oxides and humic acids were as follows: The Dark red soil, Kunimidake series was a Dark Red soil under the Cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest climate; the Dry brown forest soil (reddish), Tega series was a Yellow-Brown Forest soil under the Warm-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest climate; the Dry brown forest soil, Takasu-1 series and the Yellow soil, Yada series were Yellow-Brown Forest soils under the Warm-temperate lucidophyllous forest climate; and the Red soil, Oshibayama series and the lower parts of the Tega series were paleo-red soils. These results indicated that zonal soils under the Warm-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest climate were Yellow-Brown Forest soils in the Nyu mountains, Fukui Prefecture. The Dark red soil, Kunimidake series corresponded to a Hyperdystri-Rhodic Cambisol of World Reference Base for Soil Resources, WRB (FAO, ISRIC, and ISSS: World Soil Resources Reports 84, 1998). The Dry brown forest soil (reddish), Tega series, the Dry brown forest soil, Takasu-1 series, and the Red soil, Oshibayama series were compared with the Hyperdystri-Chromic Cambisol (WRB). The Yellow soil, Yada series was a Hypereutri-Chromic Cambisol (WRB).     

Activation of an O-ethyl S-n-propyl phosphorothiolate,TIA-230, in the central nerve of Spodoptera larvae

TIA-230, O-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-pyrazolyl] O-ethyl S-propyl phosphorothiolate, showed strong insecticidal activity against Spodoptera larvae, in spite of its weak in vitro anti-AChE activity. Head AChE of Spodoptera was, however, inhibited with the progress of TIA-230 intoxication. When the isolated central nerve cord was incubated with TIA-230, AChE in the tissue was strongly inhibited even by concentration (10^?5M) lower than in vitro I₅₀ against AChE (10^?4M). The frequency of spontaneous firing of the nerve cord was increased by treatment of TIA-230 at low concentrations (10^?6–10^?5M) after a latent time of several minutes. The firing was increased by fenitroxon, but without the latent time. The length of the latent time agreed well with the time necessary for rising the inhibition of nerve cord AChE by TIA-230. AChE inhibition of TIA-230 in the nerve cord was reduced by the treatment of piperonyl butoxide, an inhibitor of mixed-function oxidases. From these results, TIA-230 was regarded as being activated oxidatively in the nerve cord to inhibit AChE. Profenofos was also activated in the nerve cord. It was concluded, therefore, that O-ethyl S-n-propyl phosphorothiolate insecticides were activated in the central nerve of the insect.