Goblet cell hyperplasia and muscular layer thickening in the small intestine of a cynomolgus monkey

We report here the interesting case of a 5-year-old male cynomolgus monkey with goblet cell hyperplasia and thickening of the muscular layer throughout the small intestine without exhibiting any clinical symptoms. Necropsy examination showed diffuse thickening of the intestinal wall from the jejunum to the ileum, with an appearance likened to a rubber tube. Histopathologically, marked thickening was observed in both the mucosal and muscular layers in the jejunum and ileum, and slight thickening was observed in the duodenum. Goblet cell hyperplasia with extension of the circular folds and villi was prominently observed. The mucosal surface was covered with a thick mucus layer containing desquamated mucosal epithelial cells, and both the inner and outer muscular layers were markedly thickened due to smooth muscle hypertrophy. Neither macroscopic nor histopathological examination identified any causative factors, such as infection, enteritis and intestinal stenosis, or obstruction that may have caused development of this lesion. Given these observations, this case may simply be considered of spontaneous goblet cell hyperplasia and muscular layer thickening in the small intestine of a cynomolgus monkey.     

Growth and yield of self-compatible and hybrid common buckwheat lines pollinated with and without flies

Common buckwheat is a self-incompatible, insect-pollinated allogamous plant. This study examined growth and yield of the common buckwheat self-compatible and hybrid lines pollinated with and without flies. Self-compatible ‘IH3’, hybrid ‘IP2/IH3’, and standard self-incompatible ‘Kitawasesoba’ were used in field and pot experiments. Self-compatibility of ‘IH3’ was shown to be of high purity. Approximately 10% segregation of pin plants from ‘IP2/IH3’ was observed. The harvest index of ‘Kitawasesoba’ pollinated without flies was considerably lower than that pollinated with flies in both field and pot experiments. The harvest index values of ‘IH3’ and ‘IP2/IH3’ were hardly affected by the presence or absence of flies. The morphological traits of ‘IH3’ were significantly lower than those of the other two genotypes. Large differences in these traits between ‘IP2/IH3’ and ‘Kitawasesoba’ were not observed in either the field or pot experiments. The seed yield of ‘Kitawasesoba’ pollinated without flies tended to be lower than that pollinated with flies. The seed yield of ‘IP2/IH3’ tended to be higher than that of ‘IH3’. The hybrid line ‘IP2/IH3’ showed a high fertilization rate, which was nearly as high as that of ‘IH3’. Rate of fertilization and percentage of ripe seeds were higher in ‘IH3’ and ‘IP2/IH3’, wherein they were hardly affected by the presence or absence of flies, than in ‘Kitawasesoba’. The ‘IP2/IH3’ hybrid line will be useful for understanding the stable high-yielding ability of self-compatibility common buckwheat.     

Screening method for wood extractives: direct cellulose thin-layer chromatography plate

A method for screening wood extractives was developed using cellulose thin-layer chromatography plate (Cell-TLC) separation and was directly applied to bioassays. Wood meal (60 mesh) from nangka (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk) heartwood was extracted with hot methanol. The crude extract was separated using a Cell-TLC plate (50 × 50mm). Two broad bands with R_f values of 0.46 and 0.96 were found, and the bands showed completely different effects against the pest termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and the decay fungus Fomitopsis palustris. The band with R_f 0.46 was preferentially consumed by workers of C. formosanus, and it did not show any growth inhibition against F. palustris when the Cell-TLC plate was directly exposed to the organism. In contrast, the band with R_f 0.96 appeared to repel strongly the feeding by C. formosanus and inhibited the growth of F. palustris. It was concluded that the Cell-TLC system was applicable for screening wood extracts consisting of many compounds.     

利用RAPD—BSA分子标记技术筛选金针菇色泽基因研究

色泽是金针菇的重要性状之一,受一对等位基因的控制。以FL19(黄色)、8801(白色)及其后代(F1代、F2代)菌株和相应单核菌株为材料,采用分离群体分组分析(BulkedSegregantAnalysis,BSA)方法,对金针菇基因组DNA进行RAPD分析,通过对200个引物的筛选,获得了一个与白色性状基因紧密连锁的RAPD标记S3751800,并在亲本及其后代菌株进行了验证,具有较好的重复性和稳定性。可用于白色金针菇新品种的辅助选育。     

Cartilage acidic protein-1B (LOTUS), an endogenous Nogo receptor antagonist for axon tract formation

Neural circuitry formation depends on the molecular control of axonal projection during development. By screening with fluorophore-assisted light inactivation in the developing mouse brain, we identified cartilage acidic protein-1B as a key molecule for lateral olfactory tract (LOT) formation and named it LOT usher substance (LOTUS). We further identified Nogo receptor-1 (NgR1) as a LOTUS-binding protein. NgR1 is a receptor of myelin-derived axon growth inhibitors, such as Nogo, which prevent neural regeneration in the adult. LOTUS suppressed Nogo-NgR1 binding and Nogo-induced growth cone collapse. A defasciculated LOT was present in lotus-deficient mice but not in mice lacking both lotus- and ngr1. These findings suggest that endogenous antagonism of NgR1 by LOTUS is crucial for normal LOT formation.     

Improving the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus of composite sheets containing wasted tea leaves by roasting

We used various kinds of wasted tea leaves to develop composite sheets with antibacterial properties. Antibacterial tests showed that the number of viable bacterial cells for the sheet containing wasted green tea leaves was around 10:⁶–10⁷ CFU/ml after 18 h culture compared to 108 CFU/ml for a tea-free sheet. This indicates that cell growth was signifi cantly inhibited. For sheets containing other types of tea leaves (oolong, black, hojicha, and pu-erh), living cells were not found, indicating that these sheets had superior antibacterial effects. Living cells were also not found in sheets containing wasted black tea leaves or roasted tea leaves at a concentration of 60% by weight after 6 h cultivation. Therefore, roasting treatment of wasted green tea leaves was examined to improve the antibacterial activity of the sheet. In particular, the focus was on structural conversion of catechins by heating.     

Quantifying landscape pattern and ecosystem service value changes in four rapidly urbanizing hill stations of Southeast Asia

Context

Hill stations are known for their favorable cool climate and natural environments which generate valuable ecosystem services that benefit the local population, tourists and visitors. However, rapid urbanization threatens the sustainability of these highly valued fragile landscapes.

Objectives

We aim to characterize and quantify the changes in the landscape patterns and ecosystem service values (ESVs) of Baguio (Philippines), Bogor (Indonesia), Dalat (Vietnam), and Pyin Oo Lwin (Myanmar), and discuss their implications to landscape sustainability.

Methods

We used remote sensing imagery to map land-use/cover (2001 and 2014), and spatial metrics and gradient analysis to characterize the changes in landscape pattern. We employed a benefit transfer method to estimate the changes in ESV and human-to-ESV ratio. A land-change model was used to simulate different scenarios of future built-up expansions (2014–2030).

Results

The landscapes of Dalat and Pyin Oo Lwin are becoming more fragmented, while those of Baguio and Bogor are getting more aggregated. Dalat had the highest decrease (absolute change) in ESV and H-ESV ratio, while Bogor had the highest percentage decrease (2001–2014).

Conclusions

Rapid urbanization has been a major factor in the landscape transformation of Baguio, Bogor, Dalat and Pyin Oo Lwin. If the current built-up expansion rate will speed up, the decline in future ESV and H-ESV ratio (2014–2030) will be higher than if the rate will continue or slow down. Unless the concept of landscape sustainability is taken seriously in landscape and urban planning, the respective ‘values’ of these precious hill stations will become less and less.

     

Semi-quantitative method to evaluate the α-carbonyl content in lignin

A method to estimate the content of -carbonyl structures in lignin was developed. This method consists of two successive treatments: NaBD₄ treatment of pulp to reduce an -carbonyl structure in lignin, and nitrobenzene oxidation. NaBD₄ was used to convert an -carbonyl structure to a deuterium-labeled hydroxymethine structure. The ratio of D-vanillin [(HO)(H₃CO)C₆H₃CDO] to H-vanillin [(HO)(H₃CO)C₆H₃CHO] or that of their syringyl analogues obtained by nitrobenzene oxidation was used as the measure of the content of -carbonyl structure. Model experiments demonstrated that when sodium hydroxide was used as alkali for the nitrobenzene oxidation, the retention of deuterium at the side chain -position was very low due to the displacement of deuterium with hydrogen by an unknown reaction mechanism. In order to depress this unexpected displacement, the reaction conditions of the nitrobenzene oxidation were modified. The modified nitrobenzene oxidation employs 0.5mol/l of lithium hydroxide as a reaction medium instead of 2.0mol/l sodium hydroxide. By this modification, this method could successfully trace the formation and the degradation of the -carbonyl structure in milled wood lignins.This paper was presented in part at the 11th International Symposium on Wood and Pulping Chemistry, Nice, France, June 2001 and at the 46th Lignin Symposium, Kyoto, Japan, November 2001