Smart increment borer: a portable device for automated sampling of tree-ring cores     

Akira Kagawa  Takeshi Fujiwara 《Journal of Wood Science》2018,64(1):52-58

Manual sampling of large number of cores is an arduous task, especially when core diameter is large. We developed an automated tree-ring sampling device, the “smart increment borer”, to increase the sample throughput and minimize the need for muscular exertion. The lightweight, portable device employs a battery-powered electric wrench and the complete system to drive the boring operation weighs less than 10 kg. It is capable of taking both 5- and 12-mm diameter cores of more than 80-cm length. Compared to equipment used in previously published articles, this device enables more rapid sampling and demonstrates a superior torque output/total weight ratio. The device is also capable of facilitating the starting operation of a 12-mm increment borer. It facilitates a variety of effective sampling solutions for dendrochronology/climatology and wood anatomy/quality research.  相似文献   

Thyroid C-cell carcinoma with amyloid in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrenchki).     

K Hirayama  Y Kagawa  K Nihtani  H Taniyama 《Veterinary pathology》1999,36(4):342-344

An amyloid-producing medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrenchki) bred in a zoo was examined using histopathologic and immunohistochemical techniques. The neoplastic cells had an ill-defined cytoplasmic membrane and abundant, finely granular eosinophilic cytoplasm, containing numerous argyrophilic granules. The neoplastic tissues were divided into various sizes by a vascular connective stroma, which was partly fibrovascular with broad areas of hyalinization containing varied amounts of amyloid. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells showed reactivity to anti-calcitonin, neuron-specific enolase, somatostatin, and keratin antibodies. However, amyloid in the stroma did not show immunoreactivity to the antibodies used. Histologic and immunohistochemical features of MTC in the present animal were analogous to those of the C-cell carcinoma derived from thyroid C cells (parafollicular cells) reported in humans and dogs.  相似文献   

Enhanced expression of stress protein 70 in the brains of goldfish, Carassius auratus, reared with bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus     

N. Kagawa  K. Ryo  Y. Mugiya 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》1999,21(2):103-110

Induction of stress protein (HSP70) was studied in goldfish (Carassius auratus) reared with bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus), a predator of small fish. HSP70 was identified by Western blotting and quantified by optical density after SDS-PAGE. The expression of HSP70 was significantly enhanced in the brains of goldfish reared with bluegills for 6 and 12 h in a single tank. The hepatopancreas and the kidney were not affected by the treatment. When goldfish were separated from bluegills with a partition net (1×1 cm mesh size), this protein also increased in the brains after 6 h but then returned to the control level after 12 h. When the goldfish and bluegills were kept in separate tanks and were not able to see each other but were connected by circulating water, HSP70 levels in the goldfish were unaffected. Immunohistochemical observations indicated that an anti-HSP70 antibody was found to react predominantly with the optic and vagal lobes of the brains. These results suggest that visual perception plays a primary role in enhancement of HSP70 expression in the goldfish reared with bluegills.  相似文献   

Nucleotide Sequencing and Analysis of 16S rDNA and 16S-23S rDNA Internal Spacer Region (ISR) of Taylorella equigenitalis, as an Important Pathogen for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)     

Kagawa S  Nagano Y  Tazumi A  Murayama O  Millar BC  Moore JE  Matsuda M 《Veterinary research communications》2006,30(4):343-355

The primer set for 16S rDNA amplified an amplicon of about 1500 bp in length for three strains of Taylorella equigenitalis (NCTC11184^T, Kentucky188 and EQ59). Sequence differences of the 16S rDNA among the six sequences, including three reference sequences, occurred at only a few nucleotide positions and thus, an extremely high sequence similarity of the 16S rDNA was first demonstrated among the six sequences. In addition, the primer set for 16S-23S rDNA internal spacer region (ISR) amplified two amplicons about 1300 bp and 1200 bp in length for the three strains. The ISRs were estimated to be about 920 bp in length for large ISR-A and about 830 bp for small ISR-B. Sequence alignment of the ISR-A and ISR-B demonstrated about 10 base differences between NCTC11184^T and EQ59 and between Kentucky188 and EQ59. However, only minor sequence differences were demonstrated between the ISR-A and ISR-B from NCTC11184^T and Kentucky188, respectively. A typical order of the intercistronic tRNAs with the 29 nucleotide spacer of 5'-16S rDNA-tRNA^Ile-tRNA^Ala-23S rDNA-3' was demonstrated in the all ISRs. The ISRs may be useful for the discrimination amongst isolates of T. equigenitalis if sequencing is employed.  相似文献   

Distinct expression of GnRH genes in the red seabream brain   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

K. Okuzawa  J. Granneman  J. Bogerd  H.J.Th. Goos  Y. Zohar  H. Kagawa 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》1997,17(1-6):71-79

This paper reports the molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding the precursor of seabream gonadotropin-releasing hormone (prepro-sbGnRH) and the localization of salmon GnRH (sGnRH) and seabream GnRH (sbGnRH) expressing neurons in the brain of the red seabream (Pagrus major). The cloned prepro-sbGnRH cDNA has a 285 bps open reading frame encoding a 23 amino acid signal peptide, a 10 amino acid sbGnRH, the cleavage site (Gly-Lys-Arg), and a 59 amino acid GnRH-associated peptide. The expression of sGnRH and sbGnRH peptides, and prepro-sGnRH and prepro-sbGnRH mRNA were studied using immunocytochemistry and non-radioactive in situ hybridization, respectively. We found cell bodies that reacted positively with both the sGnRH cRNA probe and anti-sGnRH serum, but not with the sbGnRH cRNA probe or anti-sbGnRH serum in the ganglion of the terminal nerve. Cell bodies that reacted positively with the sbGnRH cRNA probe, anti-sbGnRH serum, and anti-sGnRH serum, but negatively with the sGnRH cRNA probe were found in the preoptic area (POA). Immunocytochemistry showed that a distinct bundle of axons arises in the POA which projected to the pituitary gland. These results suggest that sbGnRH is the most relevant hypophysiotropic form of GnRH.  相似文献   

Immunocytochemical identification of gonadotrophs (FSH cells and LH cells) in various perciform fishes using antisera raised against synthetic peptides     

A. Shimizu  H. Kagawa  H. Tanaka 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》2003,28(1-4):109-110

Two distinct gonadotrophs, FSH cells and LH cells, were identified in the pituitaries of various perciform fishes using immunocytochemistry with antisera raised against synthetic fragment peptides of mummichog FSHβ and LHβ. Considerable variation in the roles of FSH among species was inferred from the extensive diversity in the abundance of FSH cells.  相似文献   

Occurrence of spontaneous polyploids from the eggs obtained by artificial induction of maturation in the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica)     

H. Ohta  Y. Higashimoto  S. Koga  T. Unuma  K. Nomura  H. Tanaka  H. Kagawa  K. Arai 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》2003,28(1-4):517-518

The nuclear DNA contents of the Japanese eel larvae were measured to examine the genetic soundness of the eggs obtained by artificial induction of maturation and fertilization. Of the 12.4% abnormal polyploid larvae, 77.9% were triploid and the rest were haploid, tetraploid, pentaploid, or aneuploid.  相似文献   

Biochemical composition of eggsin relation to egg quality in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica     

H. Furuita  H. Ohta  T. Unuma  H. Tanaka  H. Kagawa  N. Suzuki  T. Yamamoto 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》2003,29(1):37-46

This paper presents the relationship between egg quality and egg biochemical composition of cultured and wild Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. Eggs were obtained by artificialinduction of maturation. Fertilization and hatching rates were used as characteristics of egg quality. Egg quality characteristics showed large variation; fertilization rate, 0–96; hatching rate, 0–84%. The biochemical composition also showed a large variation. There was no marked relationship between egg quality and fatty acid contents of eggs, except for n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA). Both the fertilization and hatching ratesincreased proportionally withincreases of the -tocopherol g(-Toc) contentin eggs. A more significant correlation was found between the amount of -Toc relative to the amount of HUFA and egg quality. The results of this study show that the egg quality of Japanese eel is affected by the –Toc level, andin particular, the ratio of -Toc to HUFAin the eggs. Abbreviations: BHT – butylhydroxytoluene; EFA – essential fatty acids; FAME – fatty acid methyl esters; HPLC – high performance liquid chromatography; HUFA – highly unsaturated fatty acids; NADH – nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; NADPH - nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; ROS – reactive oxygen species; -Toc –-tocopherol.  相似文献   

Inorganic elements in typical Japanese trees for woody biomass fuel     

Yooko Tsuchiya  Hisashi Shimogaki  Hisashi Abe  Akira Kagawa 《Journal of Wood Science》2010,56(1):53-63

The inorganic element contents of trees were measured to evaluate the safety of using wood biomass as thermal power generation fuel. Twelve species of typical conifer trees and 17 species of typical broad-leaved trees in Japan plus 9 species of commonly imported trees were selected and analyzed for the main inorganic elements and several trace elements that are potentially harmful in combustion ash. The ash content in bark, especially in the inner bark, was higher than that in wood, but the highest concentration was in the leaves. In almost all parts of the trees, the order of inorganic element concentration was calcium ≥ potassium ≥ magnesium ≥ sulfur ≥ phosphorous. Among the trace elements, the boron content was high and the mercury content was recorded as being high in conifer bark.  相似文献   

Detection of Nesopora caninum-Specific DNA from Cerebrospinal Fluid by Polymerase Chain Reaction in a Dog with Confirmed Neosporosis     

Ishigaki K  Noya M  Kagawa Y  Ike K  Orima H  Imai S 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2012,74(8):1051-1055

A one-month male Greyhound dog presented with a swinging gait of the hindlimbs, and later developed muscular atrophy of the femoral region and hyperextension of hindlimbs. The dog had positive serum IFAT titers to Neospora caninum, but a negative titer in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). N. caninum-specific DNA was amplified from the CSF using a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Clusters of protozoa in biopsied muscle fibers were subsequently confirmed as N. caninum tachyzoites by immunohistochemical examination. Early recognition and treatment are necessary for effective recovery of clinical canine neosporosis, but antemortem diagnosis is difficult. We suggest that the detection of parasite deoxyribonucleic acid in the CSF is a useful antemortem diagnostic method in facilitating treatment of this disease.  相似文献