Quantitative electroencephalography of medetomidine,medetomidine-midazolam and medetomidine-midazolam-butorphanol in dogs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the administration of an alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist alone and in combination with other derivatives on brain wave activity. In addition, the diagnostic values of the electroencephalogram (EEG) for judging the depth of the balanced anaesthesia with an alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist was evaluated. The treatments comprised 20 microg/kg medetomidine (Me-20), 80 microg/kg medetomidine (Me-80), 20 microg/kg medetomidine and 0.5 mg/kg midazolam (Me-Mi) administered intramuscularly, and 20 microg/kg medetomidine with 0.5 mg/kg midazolam and 0.1 mg/kg butorphanol (Me-Mi-Bu). The EEG was recorded continuously at pre-administration, and at 7, 10, 20, 30, 45 and 60 min after administration. The recorded data were analysed by separating the power spectrum into 1-3, 4-7, 8-13 and 14-30 Hz bands. Spectral-edge analysis was used to calculate the spectral edge frequency 90 (SEF90) and the median edge frequency (MEF). Time-related changes in power spectrum analysis showed a significant increase in the Me-80 group in the 1-3 Hz band. The power for 1-3 Hz in the Me-80 group was significantly higher than in all the other groups. In the 14-30 Hz band, there was a significant reduction of power in all groups following administration of the agents. The SEF90 frequencies were significantly reduced in all groups except for the Me-20 group after administration of the agents. The SEF90 frequencies in the Me-20, Me-Mi and Me-Mi-Bu were all significantly higher than those in the Me-80 group. However, there was no significant difference between the Me-20, Me-Mi and Me-Mi-Bu groups in any analyses. Our results demonstrated that the changes in quantitative EEG made by the Me-Mi-Bu and Me-Mi groups were similar to those made by Me-20 groups. Present results suggest that the EEG should be interpreted with caution in assessing the anaesthetic level in balanced anaesthesia in dogs.     

A Promising Potential of Brown Algae Sargassum polycystum as Irreversible Hydrocolloid Impression Material

This study aimed to investigate the potential use of brown algae Sargassum polycystum as irreversible hydrocolloid (alginate) impression material. Potassium alginate extracted from Sargassum polycystum was prepared in three different compositions (14%, 15%, and 16%) and mixed with other standard components to form an alginate impression material. Prior to that, the purity of potassium alginate was quantified with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. As a control material, the alginate impression material from a commercially available product was used. All alginate impression materials were then applied to a die stone model. Dimensional accuracy was measured by calculating the mesiodistal width of incisors in the generated dental cast using a digital caliper 0.01 accuracy (five replications). In addition, to evaluate the dimensional stability, the impression results were poured at four different periods (immediately, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min). An independent t-test was performed to compare the measurement results with p < 0.05 considered significant. Analytical results confirm that the impression material containing 15% potassium alginate gives the best dimensional accuracy similar to control (p > 0.05). Meanwhile, the optimal dimensional stability was produced in the impression material containing 16% potassium alginate. Our study suggested that brown algae Sargassum polycystum has a promising potential to be used as an alginate impression material in clinical application.     

Profitability and downside risk implications of site-specific nitrogen management with respect to wheat grain quality

Precision Agriculture - Profitability analyses of site-specific nitrogen (N) management strategies have often failed to provide satisfying reasons for adoption of precision farming technologies....     

First description and collection records of juvenile slime flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microstomus achne</Emphasis> from the eastern and western coastal waters off Honshu Island,Japan

Morphological characteristics and body pigmentations of juvenile slime flounder Microstomus achne were described from one specimen [27.8 mm total length (TL)] collected off Niigata Prefecture from the Sea of Japan (35 m depth) in May 1993 and from three specimens (30.1, 36.2, and 40.9 mm TL) collected off Fukushima Prefecture on the Pacific coast of northern Japan (15 and 50 m depths) during April–May 2008 and 2009. These age-0 juveniles had a characteristically slenderly oval-shaped body and slightly protruded front nostrils. Sparsely distributed melanophores and xanthophores were clearly visible throughout the ocular side of one specimen, which was judged as a newly settled juvenile, whereas several spots aggregated by small melanophores were found in the others with elongated pectoral fins and small cycloid scales. Melanophores were only slightly detectable on the blind side. Comparisons of the depth distributions of slime flounder juveniles and sympatrically collected age-0 pleuronectids (Pseudopleuronectes herzensteini, Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae, Platichthys bicoloratus, and Dexistes rikuzenius) suggested that slime flounder can settle on broad nursery areas of coastal and offshore pleuronectid flatfishes, probably depending on local oceanic conditions during the protracted pelagic phase.     

Muscle biochemical constituents of cultured amberjack <Emphasis Type="Italic">Seriola dumerili</Emphasis> and their influence on raw meat texture

The study was conducted to evaluate the meat texture, muscle proximate composition, lipid class composition, and collagen content of cultured amberjack and to compare these parameters with those of the yellowtail. Our results showed that the meat texture of cultured amberjack was tougher and had a lower degree of seasonality than that of cultured yellowtail. Muscle lipid and collagen content also varied in the two fish species over the study period. Meat breaking strength was not correlated with any of the muscle constituents, indicating that variations in the meat texture of cultured amberjack was not directly influenced by the changes in the muscle biochemical constituents.     

Comparative QTL mapping for male sterility of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) using different reference genome sequences

Male sterility is one of the reproductive isolation systems in plants and quite useful for F₁ seed production. We previously identified three independent quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for male sterility of cultivated strawberry, Here, we identified the specific subgenomes in which these QTLs are located by QTL-seq approach. QTLs qMS4.1, qMS4.2, and qMS4.3 were mapped separately in subgenomes Fvb4-4, Fvb4-3, and Fvb4-1, respectively, in ‘Camarosa’ genome assembly v. 1.0.a1. Candidate regions of qMS4.1 and qMS4.3 were clearly detected around 12–26 Mb in Fvb4-4 and 12–14 Mb in Fvb4-1, respectively; those of qMS4.2 were fragmented in Fvb4-3, which suggests that some scaffolds were incorrectly assembled in Fvb4-3. qMS4.3 was mapped to chr4X1 of ‘Reikou’ genome assembly r2.3, and qMS4.1 and qMS4.2 were both mapped to chr4Av, which indicates that differentiation of the subgenomes in which both QTLs are located was insufficient in ‘Reikou’ r2.3. Although ‘Camarosa’ genome assembly v. 1.0.a1 is an unphased map, which merges homologous chromosomes into one sequence, ‘Reikou’ genome assembly r2.3 is a phased map, which separates homologous chromosomes. QTL mapping to different reference genomes clearly showed the specific features of each reference genome, and that using different kinds of reference map could accelerate fine mapping and map-based cloning of certain genes of cultivated strawberry.     

Prevalence of white spot syndrome virus infection detected by one-step and nested PCR in selected tiger shrimp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Penaeus monodon</Emphasis>) hatcheries

White spot syndrome (WSS) is considered as a great threat to commercial farming of the tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). The causal agent of WSS is a DNA virus called white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). The prevalence of this dreadful virus infection has been studied in five randomly selected hatcheries located in the Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh. Both one-step and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) involving two pairs of primers, namely, 146F1/146R1 and 146F2/146R2, amplifying the 1447 bp and 941 bp fragments, respectively, were conducted to detect the WSSV. Out of 60 randomly collected shrimps, 12 (20%) were found to be positive by one-step PCR, while 18 (30%) were found to be positive by nested PCR. The nested PCR was found to be much more sensitive than the one-step PCR. The shrimp specimens showing clinical signs of WSS were positive for WSSV by both one-step and nested PCR. Some of the apparently healthy samples were also found to be positive for WSSV by nested PCR. Among the two primer-pairs, the inner pair amplifying the 941 bp fragment was more sensitive than the outer primer pair amplifying the 1447 bp fragment when used in one-step PCR.     

Effect of the lateral growth rate on wood properties in fast-growing hardwood species

We investigated the feasibility of using several fast-growing tropical or subtropical hardwood species for timber production by measuring key wood qualities in relationship to the high rates of lateral growth. The trees tested were sampled from even-aged plantations of Acacia mangium, A. auriculiformis, hybrid Acacia (A. mangium × A. auriculiformis), Eucalyptus grandis, E. globulus, and Paraserianthes falcataria (Solomon and Java origin) that had already reached commercial harvesting age. The released strain of the surface growth stress (RS), xylem density (XD), microfibril angle (MFA), and fiber length (FL) were measured at the outermost part of the xylem at breast height in each tree. Results were then compared to the lateral growth rate (radius/age) at breast height, which provides a relative indicator of the amount of tree growth per year. Our findings indicated that RS was constant, regardless of lateral growth rate in each species. Similar results were observed for XD, MFA, and FL, with a few exceptions, suggesting that high growth rates do not intrinsically affect the wood properties of fast-growing tropical or subtropical species that have reached harvesting age. However, special attention must be paid to patterns of xylem maturation when developing plantations of such species.     

Methyl parathion induced nephrotoxicity in male rats and protective role of vitamins C and E

Methyl parathion is an organophosphate insecticide that has been used in agriculture and domestic for several years. Vitamin C (200 mg/kg bw per day) + vitamin E (200 mg/kg bw per day), methyl parathion (0.28 mg/kg bw per day) and vitamin C (200 mg/kg bw per day) + vitamin E (200 mg/kg bw per day) + methyl parathion (0.28 mg/kg bw per day) combination were given to rats orally via gavage for 7 weeks. Body and kidney weights, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and histopathological changes were investigated at the end of 4th and 7th weeks comparatively with control group. When methyl parathion-treated group and vitamins C and E + methyl parathion-treated group were compared to control group body and kidney weights decreased significantly at the end of 4th and 7th weeks. MDA levels increased in kidney tissues of the methyl parathion- and vitamins C and E + methyl parathion-treated groups compared to control group. MDA levels decreased significantly in vitamins C and E + methyl parathion treated group compared with methyl parathion treated group at the end of 4th and 7th weeks. In our light microscopic investigations, after 4 weeks of methyl parathion exposure, glomerular atrophy and vascular dilatation, and after 7 weeks, necrosis and edema were observed in the kidney tissues. After 4 weeks of vitamins C and E + methyl parathion exposure, mononuclear cell infiltrations, and after 7 weeks, calcification were detected in the kidney tissues.