Differences in Ibaraki virus RNA segment 3 sequences from three epidemics

Phylogenetic tree and partial nucleotide sequence analysis of RNA segment 3 were conducted to compare the Ibaraki virus (IBAV) strains from three epidemics in Japan, and serotype 2 epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus strains isolated in Australia, Taiwan, and Canada. Each strain was classified relative to the Ibaraki disease (IBAD) epidemics, which occurred in 1959-1960, 1987, or 1997-1998. In particular, major variation of the gene was identified in the strains isolated after 1997 when a new type of IBAD with the abnormal birth was confirmed. Ibaraki viruses isolated in Japan were more closely related to Taiwanese and Australian strains based on genetics, while the Canadian strain was more distantly related.     

7Th international congress of pesticide chemistry

A series of 2-(1,3-dimethyl-4-substituted-5-pyrazolyl)sulfonylimino-5,7-disubstituted-2H-1,2,4-thiadiazolo[2,3-a]pyrimidines was synthesized and tested for herbicidal effects. The compounds showed potent activity and improved selectivity to rice when compared with analogous sulfonylurea derivatives.     

Reliability of estrous detection in Holstein heifers using a radiotelemetric pedometer located on the neck or legs under different rearing conditions

To evaluate the efficiency and accuracy of estrous detection using a new pedometry system that can measure the hourly activity of cattle, pedometers were attached to the neck and the hind legs of 15 Holstein heifers. Heifers were reared in pasture for grazing, an open paddock, or in a tie-stall barn (an additional pedometer was attached to a front leg of each of these heifers). The most recent 24 h-total number of steps was compared for each 1 h-interval with the mean value of the preceding days during the reference period (RP). The neck pedometer detected all 10 instances of estrous activity (100%) for the grazing heifers at 1.3 times the thresholds value for a 5-day RP but with only 32% accuracy. The hind leg pedometer, however, obtained 100% efficiency and 83% accuracy at 1.4 times the threshold value for a 7-day RP. The efficiencies and accuracies in detecting 12 instances of estrous activity under the paddock condition were 92 and 65% (neck, 1.3-fold, 7-day RP) and 92 and 100% (hind leg, 1.6- or 1.7-fold, 7-day RP), respectively. Under the tie stall condition, the neck pedometers detected 92% of 23 instances of estrous activity with 34% accuracy (1.2-fold, 3-day RP), and the efficiencies and accuracies of the leg pedometers were 78 and 78% (hind leg, 1.4-fold, 4- or 6-day RP) and 87 and 83% (front leg, 1.4-fold, 7-day RP), respectively. Prediction of ovulation time was more precisely with the leg pedometers than with those under the tie stall conditions. Our preliminary results indicate that this new pedometer system has practical value for estrous detection in heifers under different rearing conditions, which affect the criteria required for detection. Furthermore, they also indicate that a leg pedometer can reliably detect estrus and that a neck pedometer may only be capable of detecting estrus under paddock rearing conditions.     

Comparison of water stress effects on growth,leaf water status,and nitrogen fixation activity in tropical pasture legumes siratro and desmodium with soybean

Siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum), desmodium (Desmodium intortum), and soybean (Glycine max) were grown in pots with or without irrigation for 20 d at the vegetative growth stage in order to examine the effects of water stress on the leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, biomass production, biological nitrogen fixation, and nitrogen accumulation. Whole plant weight decreased under water stress conditions and the decrease was less pronounced in siratro than in desmodium and soybean. Decrease in total leaf area was the largest and dry matter partition to stem and petioles was the highest in siratro. Decrease in leaf water potential was lower in desmodium and soybean than in siratro. Although water stress decreased biological nitrogen fixation in all the species, the decrease was relatively less pronounced in siratro than in desmodium and soybean. Whole plant nitrogen concentration was higher in siratro than in soybean and desmodium. The results indicated that siratro is more tolerant to water stress than soybean and desmodium. This could be partially attributed to the maintenance of a higher water potential and higher biological nitrogen fixation by siratro under water stress conditions.     

A database for poplar gene co-expression analysis for systematic understanding of biological processes,including stress responses

Reforestation in the humid tropics and arid zones, where trees are often subject to stresses, is an effective approach for mitigating global warming. Forestation with Populus species that are tolerant to the stresses in such regions has been conducted. The selection of poplar trees with higher stress tolerance leads to more efficient reforestation. The genome-wide bioinformatics approaches of gene function have been used for revealing the mechanisms of biological processes, including such stress tolerance. The decoding of the poplar genome has been followed by the genome-wide identification of genes and then the inference of gene function for systematic understanding of biological processes. To predict gene function in poplar, we analyzed poplar gene expression data using DNA microarray datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and developed a database for poplar gene co-expression analysis. Using the database, we illustrate the steps to retrieve two groups of co-expressed genes that are specifically expressed in experiments of hypoxic stress response in gray poplar, a flooding-tolerant tree species. Our database allows users to extract genes involved in biological processes, such as stress reaction, and then is useful for understanding such mechanisms in tree species.     

Effect of Initial Stocking Density on Larviculture Performance of the Ocellate Puffer,Takifugu rubripes

Depending on the initial stocking density, ocellate puffer larvae exhibit the cannibalism that resulted in high mortality. We aimed to clarify the relationship between stocking density of larvae, mortality, and the effect of density on cannibalism. Ocellate puffer larvae were reared at five different stocking densities between 5 and 25 larvae/L with duplicate 1‐m³ tank for each treatment. Larvae were stocked at 0 d after hatch (d.a.h.), and the experimental cultures lasted for 55 d. In larvae stocked initially at more than 10 larvae/L, cannibalism was evident from 11 to 17 d.a.h., and the survival rate at 55 d.a.h. was less than 15%. The survival rate was 25.5% at 5 larvae/L, and cannibalism was observed from 31 to 32 d.a.h. Consequently, an initial density of 5 larvae/L was the most efficient in terms of survival and the prevention of cannibalism. On the other hand, when cannibalism is still observed at 5 larvae/L, it is necessary to lower the stocking density before the onset of cannibalism.     

Pharmacokinetic interactions of flunixin meglumine and enrofloxacin in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To examine pharmacokinetic interactions of flunixin meglumine and enrofloxacin in dogs following simultaneously administered SC injections of these drugs. ANIMALS: 10 Beagles (4 males and 6 females). PROCEDURE: All dogs underwent the following 3 drug administration protocols with a 4-week washout period between treatments: flunixin administration alone (1 mg/kg, SC); simultaneous administration of flunixin (1 mg/kg, SC) and enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg, SC); and enrofloxacin administration alone (5 mg/kg, SC). Blood samples were collected from the cephalic vein at 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, and 24 hours following SC injections, and pharmacokinetic parameters of flunixin and enrofloxacin were calculated from plasma drug concentrations. RESULTS: Significant increases in the area under the curve (32%) and in the elimination half-life (29%) and a significant decrease (23%) in the elimination rate constant from the central compartment of flunixin were found following coadministration with enrofloxacin, compared with administration of flunixin alone. A significant increase (50%) in the elimination half-life and a significant decrease (21%) in the maximum plasma drug concentration of enrofloxacin were found following coadministration with flunixin, compared with administration of enrofloxacin alone. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The observed decrease in drug clearances as a result of coadministration of flunixin and enrofloxacin indicates that these drugs interact during the elimination phase. Consequently, care should be taken during the concomitant use of flunixin and enrofloxacin in dogs to avoid adverse drug reactions.     

大豆籽粒蛋白质和磷含量及凝固剂浓度对豆腐加工品质的影响

对6个大豆品种的种子蛋白质含量、磷含量及凝固剂MgCl2浓度（0.25%、0.30%、0.35%、0.40%、0.45%）对豆腐加工品质（豆奶蛋白质浓度、豆腐硬度）的影响进行了研究。结果表明,豆奶蛋白质浓度与大豆种子蛋白质含量显著相关（r=0.93）;种子蛋白质含量与0.25% MgCl2时豆腐断裂应力的相关不显著（r=－0.11）,而与最大断裂应力极     

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.