Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against canine trypsin

Canine cationic trypsin was purified by salting-out, gel filtration and affinity chromatography. Purity was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The molecular weight was ca. 28 kDa by SDS-PAGE.

Thirty hybridomas were obtained which produced mAb to canine cationic trypsin by the cell fusion technique. Twenty-two of these recognized cationic trypsin only, while eight hybridomas recognized both cationic and anionic trypsin. Several of the anti-canine cationic trypsin mAb were purified by salting-out and DEAE ion-change chromatography using ascites fluid of immunized BALB/c mice. The mAb proved to have very high specificity to canine cationic trypsin as shown by immunoblotting and it may be possible to use them to develop clinical assays.     

Characteristic of Inflammatory Airway Disease in Japanese Thoroughbred Racehorses

Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) is a common cause of poor performance, interruption of training and premature retirement in racehorses. It is also reported that up to 80% of horses are affected at some point in the first years of training in UK and Australia. However, no studies with regard to the information on occurrence of IAD in Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses have been reported. To investigate the occurrence and the characteristics of IAD, epidemic research including endoscopic examination of the airway tract and trachea wash was conducted for Thoroughbred racehorses presenting coughs or poor performance which airway tract disease was suspected stalled in training facility managed by Japan Racing Association. Fifty-six out of 76 Thoroughbred racehorses (73.7%) presenting coughing or poor performance were diagnosed as IAD. Mean incidence rate of IAD was 0.3% and it has been confirmed that constant number of IAD exists in Japan. Up to 35.7% of IAD horses showed upper airway abnormalities in some extent. There was a trend for IAD horses to use wood shavings for bedding and fed hay from the ground compared with the control group. Therefore, improvement of stabling environment may aid in preventing IAD. This study demonstrated that Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses are affected by IAD likewise other countries as well as demonstrated the characteristics of IAD which may contribute to the clarification of the pathogenesis of IAD.     

QTL analysis of photoperiod sensitivity in common buckwheat by using markers for expressed sequence tags and photoperiod-sensitivity candidate genes

Photoperiod sensitivity is an important trait related to crop adaptation and ecological breeding in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench). Although photoperiod sensitivity in this species is thought to be controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs), no genes or regions related to photoperiod sensitivity had been identified until now. Here, we identified QTLs controlling photoperiod sensitivity by QTL analysis in a segregating F₄ population (n = 100) derived from a cross of two autogamous lines, 02AL113(Kyukei SC2)LH.self and C0408-0 RP. The F₄ progenies were genotyped with three markers for photoperiod-sensitivity candidate genes, which were identified based on homology to photoperiod-sensitivity genes in Arabidopsis and 76 expressed sequence tag markers. Among the three photoperiod-sensitivity candidate genes (FeCCA1, FeELF3 and FeCOL3) identified in common buckwheat, FeELF3 was associated with photoperiod sensitivity. Two EST regions, Fest_L0606_4 and Fest_L0337_6, were associated with photoperiod sensitivity and explained 20.0% and 14.2% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. For both EST regions, the allele from 02AL113(Kyukei SC2)LH.self led to early flowering. An epistatic interaction was also confirmed between Fest_L0606_4 and Fest_L0337_6. These results demonstrate that photoperiod sensitivity in common buckwheat is controlled by a pathway consisting of photoperiod-sensitivity candidate genes as well as multiple gene action.     

Effects of maturity genes E2 and E3 on yield formation in soybean cultivar Enrei in warm region,Fukuyama in Japan

ABSTRACT

Understanding how maturity genes affect soybean yield formation will provide important information for crop management decisions. This study aimed to reveal how maturity genes E2 and E3 in the soybean cultivar ‘Enrei’ affect yields and yield formation in warm regions of Japan. ‘Enrei’ (e2e3) and three near-isogenic lines of ‘Enrei’ (e2E3, E2e3, and E2E3) were cultivated in 2016 and 2017 in Fukuyama, Japan (34°30′N, 133°23′E). Two sowing dates were set in each year (June sowing and July sowing). E2 extended the period from emergence to R1 and also the period from R1 to R7, whereas E3 extended only the period from emergence to R1. Interaction between E2 and E3 did not affect duration of the period from emergence to R1, but did affect the period from R1 to R7. Although seed yield did not differ between genotypes in the June sowings, the effects of E2 and E3 on seed yield in July sowing were both significant and interaction between E2 and E3 also observed. The total number of nodes increased in E3 genotypes in both sowing dates, especially in E2E3. Pod-set ratio was lower in E2 and E3 genotypes than in e2 and e3 genotypes in the June sowings, but did not differ between genotypes in the July sowings. The high yield of E2E3 genotypes in the July sowings was attributed to increased number of nodes and flower production while maintaining pod-set ratio. Appropriate choice of sowing date is suggested to be essential when using E3 genotypes.Abbreviations: HI: harvest index; NIL: near-isogenic line; RUE: radiation use efficiency; TDM: total above-ground dry matter; TRI: total solar radiation intercepted     

A Computer Program for Automatic Watering Based on Potential Evapotranspiration by Penman Method and Predicted Leaf Area in Miniature Pot Rose Production

In this study, we developed a computer program for automatic prediction of watering time point by considering the environmental factors such as solar radiation, air temperature and relative humidity based on the multiple linear regression equation of leaf area and Penman Method. The experiments were carried out for a year in two watering experimental plots, one of which was controlled by pF value, and the other by the computer program. After comparing the results of the two plots, the following findings were obtained. In the computer program plot, the observed and predicted values of both leaf area and evapotranspiration indicated significant correlation at the 1% level, which suggested that the computer program had high prediction accuracy. In addition, no significant difference was observed between the two experimental plots with respects to the plant height, plant diameter, leaf area, leaf number, fresh weight, and dry weight, which demonstrated that the plants in the computer program plot had normal growth. On the other hand, although the number of flower buds and flowering shoots showed higher values at the end of certain cultivations in the computer program plot than those in pF value plot, we proposed that it was due to the effect of cumulative daily solar radiation in the greenhouse, rather than the watering. Thus, we have reached the conclusion that the computer program for automatic prediction of watering time point developed by this study has high applicability in miniature pot rose production.     

Trade-off evaluation using carbon dioxide equivalent and hazard index of a paddy soil with application of organic liquid fertilizer

<正>Dear Editor,Rice is an important staple food crop in Asia, but the anaerobic soil conditions in rice fields cause emission of the potent greenhouse gas, methane(CH₄)(Le Mer and Roger,2001), and promote the accumulation of arsenic(As) in the grain(Le Mer and Roger, 2001; Khanam et al., 2020).To facilitate sustainable agriculture, using wastewater as an organic fertilizer is essential for reducing wastewater treatment-associated energy consumption and the recycling of wastewate...     

Color vision, spectral sensitivity, accommodation, and visual acuity in juvenile masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou masou

ABSTRACT:   Color vision, spectral sensitivity, accommodation, and visual acuity were examined in juvenile masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou masou to obtain fundamental information about the visual system. Two types of S-potentials were recorded from 415 horizontal cells in isolated retinas from 34 cultured freshwater masu salmon (114–219 mm standard length, SL). Although horizontal cells recording S-potentials were not identified, the horizontal cells were confirmed because their responses were maintained while the stimulus remained. The variety of chromaticity (C)-type S-potentials indicated well-developed color vision. The analysis of the luminosity (L)-type S-potentials indicated that the peak spectral sensitivity was at 522 nm. S-potentials were also recorded in response to ultraviolet light. The direction and extent of lens movement induced by electrical stimulation was measured in 12 cultured masu salmon (99.0–142.5 mm SL). The results indicated that the visual axis was upward and forward, and that the range of accommodation was from 0.79 × SL in front of the eye to infinity. In histological analysis of the retinas of five wild smolts (100–118 mm SL), the maximum cone densities (276–345 cones/0.01 mm²) were detected in the ventral to temporal regions. The visual acuities assessed by histological methods were 0.069–0.075.     

Examining the Optimal Method to Extract Logging Residues from Small-Scale Forestry in the Nasunogahara Area,Tochigi Prefecture,Japan

This study examines the optimal method to extract logging residues from small, fragmented and scattered forests separately from the mechanized operational systems used on aggregated forestry operation sites. First, small-scale logging systems operated by a private logging contractor and an individual forest owner were investigated. Regression equations for estimating felling and processing cycle times were established as a function of stem and log volumes, respectively. Equations to estimate the forwarding and transporting cycle times were established as a function of the forwarding and transporting distances using the forwarding and transporting velocities, respectively. Then, equations to estimate productivities and costs were established with the cycle times, volumes and hourly operational expenses consisting of labour and machinery expenses. Finally, costs of the small-scale systems—mini-forwarder and 4 t truck operated by a private logging contractor, and manual logging and light truck operated by an individual forest owner—were estimated and compared with the mechanized operation system operated by the Forest Owners’ Association. The mechanized operation system was found to have the highest cost and could not compete for small forestry operational sites and small stem volumes. The small-scale systems could be effective for harvesting small areas. This was especially true when conducting extracting operations without machines, as done by the individual forest owner, and transporting operations by a private logging contractor, in which the hourly income of the individual forest owner was higher than the hourly labour expenses.     

A review of okara (soybean curd residue) utilization as animal feed: Nutritive value and animal performance aspects

Year by year, huge quantities of by-products are generated during the manufacturing process of soybean-based products. Okara is one of the by-products, and it is an insoluble portion of the soybean. It consists of high moisture (8.4–22.9%); on dry matter basis, it contains high metabolizable energy (9.0–14.2 MJ/kg) and other components that include crude protein (20.9–39.1%), crude fiber (12.2–61.3%), crude fat (4.9–21.5%), and ash (3.4–5.3%). Fermentation of okara improves its nutritional quality and reduces its anti-nutrient contents. Due to animals' palatability, okara can be used to replace the soybean meal/concentrate feed partially or completely in ruminant's diet and partially in nonruminant's diet. Okara feeding does not depress the intake, digestibility, growth, milk production, blood metabolic profiles, and meat quality of animals. However, this by-product decays quickly due to its high moisture content, and its heavy weight and sticky nature make it difficult to process and expensive to dry using conventional methods. This paper thoroughly summarizes the utilization of okara as animal feed in the cause of developing a general guideline with favorable levels of inclusion in the diets of animals for its exploitation and valorization. This review will encourage further research to develop eco-friendly and value added feed for animals.     

Stability and emulsion-forming ability of water-soluble fish myofibrillar protein prepared by conjugation with alginate oligosaccharide

Carp myofibrillar protein (Mf) was conjugated with alginate oligosaccharide (AO) through the Maillard reaction under low relative humidity, and the functional properties of the Mf-AO conjugate were investigated under different NaCl concentrations and pH levels. Mf became highly solubilized at lower NaCl concentrations by conjugation with AO, with a slight loss of available lysine. The thermal stability of Mf was effectively improved by conjugation with AO. Heat treatment at 80 degrees C for 2 h had no effect on the solubility of the Mf-AO conjugate attached to 227 microg/mg of AO regardless of the NaCl concentration and pH. Furthermore, the Mf-AO conjugate showed excellent emulsion-forming ability regardless of NaCl concentration. The improved functionalities of Mf by conjugation with AO remained even at a nearly isoelectric point. These results indicate that conjugation with AO through the Maillard reaction is an effective way to prepare high-functional food material from fish muscle protein.