Carrier rate of the c.235G>C mutation in the bovine isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IARS) gene of Japanese Black cows at Kagoshima prefecture, Japan,and analysis of the metabolic profiling and reproductive performance of heterozygous cows

Bovine isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IARS) disorder, a major cause of weak calf syndrome, is caused by a homozygous missense (c.235G>C) mutation in the bovine IARS gene of Japanese Black (JB) cattle, which was identified in 2013. However, the extent to which the carrier rate has changed at Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, and whether the carrier status is associated with any clinical or reproductive problems, have yet to be ascertained. In this study, using a real-time polymerase chain reaction-based genotyping assay, we determined the carrier rate in a regional JB cow population at Kagoshima prefecture. Comparative analyses were performed on the metabolic profile test (MPT) results and reproductive performance data obtained for heterozygous carrier and homozygous wild-type cows. In 2009 and 2018, DNA samples were collected from 130 and 462 clinically healthy JB cows, respectively, in Kagoshima prefecture. MPT results and reproductive performance data were evaluated for 62 cows, comprising four heterozygous carriers and 58 wild-type cows. Genotyping revealed that the carrier rate was 6.9% in 2009 and 1.5% in 2018, the difference of which was statistically significant (P<0.005). There were no statistically significant differences between the carrier and wild-type cows with respect to either MPT results or reproductive performance, indicating that the carrier cows have necessary IARS activity to maintain minimal health and reproductive potential.     

Effects of acid extracts of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and carrot (Daucus carota L.)wastes from the food industry on the growth of some crops and weeds

The effects of acid extracts of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and carrot ( Daucus carota L.) juice wastes from the food industry on the growth of five species of crops and four weeds were examined. The acid extract of the tomato juice waste promoted the shoot and root growth of tomato, Chinese cabbage, corn, and radish, but not the growth of oat seedlings. The extract did not promote the shoot growth of weeds tested, and it inhibited the root growth of the weeds that included barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa oryzicola Ohwi), southern crabgrass ( Digitaria ciliaris Koel.) and Japanese barnyard millet ( Echinochloa utilis Ohwi). The carrot juice waste was also examined as another waste from the food industry. The effect of the acid extract of carrot juice waste showed significant promoting effects on the root growth of Chinese cabbage; however, the effects on other plants were lower than that of tomato juice waste. It also did not inhibit the growth of weeds. These results suggested that the acid extract from tomato juice waste is useful as plant-growth substances because they have a promoting effect on the shoot and root growth of crops, and an inhibitory effect on the root growth of some weeds.     

Establishment of a Conditional Transgenic System Using the 2A Peptide in the Female Mouse Germline

Transgenic mice are essential research tools in developmental biology studies. The 2A peptide allows multiple genes to be expressed simultaneously at comparable levels in somatic cells, but there are no reports of it being used successfully in germ cells. We constructed a Cre/loxP-based conditional vector containing the 2A peptide to significantly enhance the expression of a reporter and target gene from a constitutive promoter in oocytes. Mice with a transgene insertion containing the chicken β-actin promoter, floxed EGFP-polyA cassette, mCherry reporter, 2A peptide and target gene DNA methyltransferase 3A2 (Dnmt3a2) were crossed with TNAP- or Vasa-Cre mice to produce offspring, in which mCherry and DNMT3A2 proteins were highly expressed in oocytes upon Cre-mediated removal of EGFP-polyA. This novel transgenic mouse line based on the 2A expression system can serve as a useful tool for examining gene function during oogenesis.     

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the dog and cat: Comparison of two methods and influence of packed cell volume, temperature and storage of blood

Erythrocyte sedimentation rates of canine and feline blood were measured by the Wintrobe method and by a capillary method utilizing 75 times 1 mm microhaematocrit tubes. Results obtained with each method were generally similar for both species.
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) with the Wintrobe method as well as with the capillary method was inversely related to the packed cell volume (PCV), i. e., the lower the PCV, the higher the ESR. However, there was no consistent relationship between the ESR values obtained by the two methods at all levels of PCV. Wintrobe ESR values were slightly higher than capillary tube values for canine blood having a PCV of 36-60% and for 'reconstituted' canine and feline bloods having a high PCV. In contrast, capillary tube ESR values were slightly higher than Wintrobe values for 'reconstituted' canine blood having a PCV of 8-38 % and for feline blood with a PCV below 30%. It was, therefore, concluded that ESR values obtained by the two methods cannot be considered equivalent.
Only a slight decrease occurred in the ESR of blood held at 4°C for 2-6 hours, whereas the ESR of blood held at room temperature dropped markedly and blood stored for 24 hours at either temperature consistently gave lower values. Therefore, it is recommended that if the ESR cannot be determined soon after sampling, the blood should be stored at 4°C and the test conducted within 6 hours.     

Impact of direct dry seeding on rainfed paddy vegetation in north-east Thailand

In north-east Thailand where rainfed paddy cultivation is commonplace, direct dry seeding is replacing transplanting to increase the frequency of successful plantings and to save labor. The present study shows the impact of this change on paddy vegetation from agricultural and ecological viewpoints. One hundred and seventy-nine paddy fields from a wide range of climatic, topography, soil and hydrological conditions were used in this study. Authors visited these fields every 3 weeks during the rainy seasons of 1996–1998 to collect data about water conditions, rice growth, progress of cultivation, paddy vegetation and roughness (unevenness) of the soil surface. Analysis of this data revealed that direct dry seeded fields are resource-poor and have a wider range of water conditions within a field than transplanted fields due to a rougher soil surface. This results in lower productivity of total vegetation for rice growing in direct dry seeded fields. However, weed productivity was not significantly different between the direct dry seeding and transplanted fields. Direct dry seeded fields have more species-rich vegetation and greater diversity than the transplanted fields. Previous planting methods for particular fields did not influence productivity and diversity of paddy vegetation. It is concluded that the use of direct dry seeding increases biomass production of rice and the diversity of the paddy vegetation. The present results also suggest that an analytical framework be used to integrate agricultural and ecological studies of paddy vegetation in order to harmonize agricultural productivity with biological diversity.     

Horizontal distribution and seasonal variability of the epipelagic chaetognath Sagitta elegans in relation to hydrography in the western subarctic Pacific Ocean

The spatial distribution and seasonal variability of epipelagic chaetognaths along the Kurile Islands and off south-east Hokkaido, in the western subarctic Pacific Ocean. were investigated during the period from May 1990 to October 1992. Sagitta elegans was the dominant species among the epipelagic chaetognaths in the study area. Juvenile S. elegans were distributed mainly along the path of the mixed water which was determined by the acceleration potential anomaly (APA) at the iso-pycnal density surface of 26.6 σθ. The location of the path of The mixed water meandered around cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies. Catches of S. elegans were made at temperatures ranging from 4.5 to 22.2C. The juvenile distribution, however, was mostly restricted to between 1 and 4C of the potential temperature determined at the isopycnal density surface of 26.6 σθ. Variability in the juvenile abundance within the path of the mixed water could be caused by predation rather than by food limitation because microzooplankton, which are known to he prey for juveniles, were abundant enough to meet the food requirements of juveniles in the study area. Adults occurred in spring (April-May) and young individuals (juvenile and stage 1) were abundant in summer (June-July), when a strong thermocline developed. The main spawning period appears to be during April-May, with a possible second spawning period in the autumn.     

Primary analysis of DNA polymorphisms in the TRIM region (MHC subregion) of the Japanese quail,Coturnix japonica

Based on sequences of two cosmid clones from Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica, Coja), we confirmed that the syntenic cluster, GNB2L1～BTN1～BTN2, is located in the quail TRIM subregion of the quail major histocompatibility complex (MHC Coja) region. These cosmids also included four CjBG loci and one CjLEC locus; therefore, the quail TRIM subregion was thought to be adjacent to the BG/LEC subregion. We then identified three polymorphic markers – CjHEP21, CjTRIM39.2 and CjBTN2 – in the TRIM subregion that may be useful for the functional analysis of the MHC‐Coja region. We examined MHC‐Coja sequences from 321 individual quails sampled from 11 inbred strains, and we found eight alleles for each of the three genes – CjHEP21, CjTRIM39.2 and CjBTN2. These polymorphisms represent the first avian DNA markers in the TRIM subregion. Additionally, we discovered a quail‐specific VNTR (variable number of long tandem repeats, 133–137 bp) in intron 7 of CjBTN2. We identified 25 haplotypes in the sample of 321 quail; these haplotypes comprised combinations of all 24 alleles of the three polymorphic genes. We suggest that there are two recombination hotspots, one between each pair of adjacent loci. All strains, except AMRP, contained multiple haplotypes; the AMRP strain contained a single, apparently fixed haplotype.     

Changes in the plasma levels of several bone markers in newborn calves during the first two days of life

The fluctuations in the plasma levels of several bone markers were investigated in newborn calves. Experiment 1 monitored the postnatal changes in the plasma levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP5b), total alkaline phosphatase (t-ALP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in four calves. These markers increased significantly from 9−20 hr after the first colostrum-suckling compared with the values immediately after birth. Experiment 2 evaluated changes in the plasma TRAP5b, t-ALP, BAP and type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx) levels within 2 days post-birth in five calves with successful passive immunization via colostrum (non-deficient group) and five others with poor colostrum intake (deficient group). The non-deficient group had significantly higher plasma levels of the four parameters around 12 hr of life compared with the deficient group. The results suggest that the increase in plasma bone markers in calves in the first day of life is related to the colostrum intake.     

Rice yield losses by competition with weeds in rainfed paddy fields in north-east Thailand

Economic growth in recent years has induced a labor shortage for agriculture in north-east Thailand. Labor-saving techniques, such as the replacement of transplanting with direct seeding, have become widespread. Direct seeding methods have advantages over transplanting regarding labor savings and reductions in production risks, but may cause weed problems. Therefore, rice yield reduction by competition with weeds becomes a potential problem in this region. In the present research, the extent of weed competition in rice production from the viewpoint of resource level and disturbance intensity was studied. A large number of paddy fields from a wide range of climatic, topographical, soil and hydrological conditions were analyzed. The survey was conducted every 3 weeks, and data on paddy cultivation, weeds and water conditions were recorded. Average yield of direct seeded rice was significantly lower than that of transplanted rice. The yield decreased with resource decreases in both direct seeded (DSF) and transplanted paddy fields (TF). Although the yield was not different under resource-rich conditions, the yield of direct seeded rice was lower than that of transplanted rice under resource-medium and -poor conditions. Competition intensity was not different among resource levels or between DSF and TF. Competition intensity in all fields was between 0.02 and 0.09 on average, indicating 2–9% yield losses caused by competition with weeds regardless of resource level and disturbance intensity. This suggests that low yield of direct seeded rice under resource-medium and -poor conditions was not mainly caused by competition with weeds, whereas yield losses by weeds were observed in all field types. However, from an economical viewpoint, weeding should be applied only to limited parts of this region with stable and relatively high rice yields.