Artificial burrow preference by the Japanese crayfish Cambaroides japonicus

SUMMARY: Preference for artificial burrows by the endangered Japanese crayfish species Cambaroides japonicus was studied to improve its cultivation. The occupation of artificial burrows, which were made from straight polyvinyl chloride pipes of different internal diameters ( Y , mm), by crayfishes of different total lengths ( X , mm) was significantly ( P < 0.001, n = 56) described by a linear regression: Y = 0.49 X + 3.42 (19.0 ≤ X ≤ 70.2). Among burrows of different lengths [crayfish total length (TL) × 1, × 2, × 3, and × 4], crayfishes significantly preferred burrows that were greater than TL × 3 ( P < 0.001, n = 588).     

Thermal behavior of beta-1 subunits in lignin: pyrolysis of 1,2-diarylpropane-1,3-diol-type lignin model compounds

1,2-Diarylpropane-1,3-diol-type lignin model compounds, 1,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol (1) and 1-(3,4-diethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol (2), were pyrolyzed at 500 degrees C for 4 s to clarify the thermal behavior of beta-1 subunits in lignin. Products were monitored by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The cleavage of the Calpha-Cbeta bond to produce benzaldehydes such as 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (9) and phenylethanals as the counterparts such as 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethanal (10) occurred in pyrolyses of both 1 and 2. In pyrolysis of 1, an oxetane pathway leading to the formation of Z/E-stilbenes without the gamma-CH2OH group such as Z/E-4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxystilbene (3) was predominant. In pyrolysis of 2, the oxetane pathway was minor, while pathways producing a dimer with a =CgammaH2 group by loss of water and a dimer with an alpha-carbonyl group were predominant. Pyrolysis of Japanese cedar wood provided 3 and 10 in approximately 0.8% and 0.6% yields, respectively, based on the Klason lignin content, while pyrolysis of a guaiacyl bulk dehydrogenation polymer gave them in a very small amount.     

Changes in myoglobin content and proximate compositions of the dorsal ordinary muscles of full-cycle cultured Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (Temminck et Schlegel) with body size

We investigated the changes in myoglobin (Mb) content and proximate compositions of the cephalad parts of the dorsal ordinary muscles (Ce‐DOM) of full‐cycle cultured (FC) Pacific bluefin tuna [body length: 42.6–115.4 cm, body weight (BW): 1.7–38.4 kg, killed from July 2004 to October 2005]. The Mb content of Ce‐DOM increased (P<0.01) until a BW of 7.0 kg was reached. However, the Mb content of Ce‐DOM had a wide variety above a BW of 7.0 kg. On the other hand, the moisture, protein and ash contents of Ce‐DOM of FC tuna decreased (P<0.05 and 0.01) with an increase in BW. However, the lipid content of Ce‐DOM increased gradually above about a BW of 20.0 kg. Furthermore, the Mb content in protein of the Ce‐DOM of FC tuna increased with an increase in BW. These results indicated that the increase in Mb content of Ce‐DOM of FC tuna was not related to changes in proximate composition between a BW of 1.7 and 38.4 kg.     

Evaluation of genetic variation among wild rice populations in Cambodia

A total of 448 samples in five natural populations of wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) were collected in Cambodia. They were examined using 12 SSR and two chloroplast markers to evaluate the degree of variation among populations and the genetic structure within populations. In the two annual populations, the number of plants with homozygous alleles at all 12 SSR loci were high (66.3% and 79.5%), suggesting that these plants propagate mainly through self-pollination. In the three perennial populations, no individuals had all homozygous genotypes, but redundant genotypes resulted from clonal propagation were observed. Percentages of the redundant genotypes were highly varied (3.6%, 29.2% and 86.0%). This may be due to the different stable levels of environmental conditions. As for chloroplast genome, most of the wild plants showed the same chloroplast types as most Indica-type cultivars have. However, plants with different chloroplast types were maintained, even in the same population. In tropical Asian countries, many wild rice populations were observed under similar ecological conditions examined in this study. Therefore, the present results concerning population structure will be important to further elucidate genetic features of wild rice, and will also give strong clues to utilize and conserve wild natural genetic resources.     

Naturally occurring antifungal agents against Zygosaccharomyces bailii and their synergism

Polygodial was found to exhibit a fungicidal activity against a food spoilage yeast, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, with the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 50 microg/mL (0.17 mM). The time-kill curve study showed that polygodial was fungicidal at any growth stage. The primary action of polygodial comes from its ability to disrupt the native membrane-associated function of integral proteins as nonionic surface active agents (surfactants) followed by a decrease in plasma membrane fluidity. The fungicidal activity of polygodial was increased 128-fold in combination with a sublethal amount (equivalent of 1/2 MFC) of anethole and vice versa relative to the fungicidal activity of anethole. The fungicidal activity of sorbic acid was enhanced 512-fold in combination with 1/2 MFC of polygodial. Conversely, the fungicidal activity of polygodial was enhanced 128-fold in combination with 1/2 MFC of sorbic acid.     

Identification of a novel cytotoxic protein, Cry45Aa, from Bacillus thuringiensis A1470 and its selective cytotoxic activity against various mammalian cell lines

Parasporal inclusion proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis strain A1470 exhibit strong cytotoxicity against human leukemic T cells when activated by protease treatment. One of the cytotoxic proteins was separated by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography and designated Cry45Aa. Its gene was then expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli, in which the Cry45Aa precursor was accumulated in an inclusion body. It was solubilized in sodium carbonate buffer and processed with proteinase K, and cytotoxic activities of the protein against various mammalian cell lines were evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide assay. The protein exhibited high cytotoxic activity against CACO-2, Sawano, MOLT-4, TCS, and HL60 cells and moderate activity against U-937 DE-4, PC12, and HepG2 cells. On the other hand, the EC50 values against Jurkat, K562, HeLa, A549, Vero, COS-7, NIH3T3, CHO, and four normal tissue cells (human primary hepatocyte cells, UtSMC, MRC-5, and normal T cells) were >2 microg/mL.     

Light exposure during night suppresses nocturnal increase in growth hormone secretion in Holstein steers

To understand the regulatory mechanism of the secretory rhythm of GH and the involvement of melatonin (MEL) in GH regulation in cattle, daytime and nighttime profiles of GH secretion and the effect of a photic stimulation on nocturnal GH and MEL secretion were investigated in Holstein steers. Steers were kept under a constant lighting condition of 12 h of light (LIGHT; 500 lx, 0600 to 1800 h):12 h of dark (DARK; 10 lx, 1800 to 0600 h). In Exp. 1, blood was taken for 4 h at 15-min intervals during LIGHT (1100 to 1500 h) and DARK (2300 to 0300 h), respectively. The sampling was also performed from 0500 to 0900 h, with the usual light transition (light onset at 0600 h; morning sampling). In Exp. 2, steers were exposed to light (500 lx) for 1 h from 0000 to 0100 h. Plasma GH and MEL concentrations were determined by RIA and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. Both GH (P < 0.05) and MEL (P < 0.01) concentrations in plasma for 4 h during DARK were greater than those during LIGHT. On the other hand, although MEL concentrations were decreased after the light onset at 0600 during the morning, GH release was not altered. Increased GH secretion during DARK was suppressed (P < 0.01) by the 1 h of light exposure, as were MEL concentrations (P < 0.05). Pineal MEL, which was affected by the photic condition, may play an important role in the secretory rhythm of GH secretion in cattle.     

红鳍东方鲀的人工繁殖试验

采用网箱养殖四年的红鳍东方鲀经过颗粒状的促黄体生成激素释放素(LH-RH)的植埋,促使性腺成熟,再通过注射绒毛膜促性腺激素(HCG)与大麻哈鱼脑垂体混合液诱导排卵,采卵后进行人工授精,得到红鳍东方鲀受精卵,孵化后得到红鳍东方鲀仔鱼。     

Purification and characterization of novel proteinase inhibitors from dried figs

Two types of the natural organic matter P and B were isolated from dried figs by gel permeation and high-performance liquid chromatography. The characterizations of their molecular structures were also performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and infrared absorption spectrometry. As a result, these samples were revealed to inhibit the serine and cysteine proteinases chymotrypsin and papain (K(i) = 10(-)(6)-10(-)(4) M). The optimal inhibitory pH values of the P and B samples were observed to be approximately 5.5 and 5.0, respectively. The analyses of their UV-vis absorption spectra and infrared absorption spectra indicated that they would be a kind of humic substance. The mass spectrometry analyses showed that they possessed relatively small heterogeneous molecules with molecular masses around 692, 845, and 1389 Da for the P sample and around 551, 704, and 909 Da for the B sample.