Redefining awn development in rice through the breeding history of Japanese awn reduction.

The study challenges the conventional understanding of awn loss as a domestication syndrome, showing instead that many awned varieties continued to be widely grown in Japan until the early twentieth century and that selection for awn reduction was active at that time, demonstrating that awn loss is not a domestication syndrome but "a trait that emerged during crop improvement". Although selection for awnless mutants was carried out independently using different types of awned cultivars in the early twentieth century in Japan, awn loss was caused by the mutation in This suggests that a single mutant haplotype of was conserved in the genomes of different cultivars and subsequently selected within each line to meet the demand for awnless varieties. The study also conducts phylogenetic analyses of in 48 grass plants, revealing its unique involvement in awn formation in rice while potentially playing a different role in the domestication of other grass plants.

Alternative localization of HEME OXYGENASE 1 in plant cells regulates cytosolic heme catabolism.

Heme, an organometallic tetrapyrrole, is widely engaged in oxygen transport, electron delivery, enzymatic reactions, and signal transduction. In plants, it is also involved in photomorphogenesis and photosynthesis. HEME OXYGENASE 1 (HO1) initiates the first committed step in heme catabolism, and it has generally been thought that this reaction takes place in chloroplasts.

Healthcare-seeking behavior and spatial variation of internal migrants with chronic diseases: a nationwide empirical study in China.

Individuals migrating with chronic diseases often face substantial health risks, and their patterns of healthcare-seeking behavior are commonly influenced by mobility. However, to our knowledge, no research has used spatial statistics to verify this phenomenon. Utilizing data from the China Migrant Dynamic Survey of 2017, we conducted a geostatistical analysis to identify clusters of chronic disease patients among China's internal migrants.

Reaction-norm animal model analysis of average daily gain heat tolerance in purebred Duroc pigs.

The present study aimed to genetically improve growth performance under high-heat environments by specifically designing a reaction-norm animal model (RNAM) for purebred Duroc pigs in Japan. A total of 54,750 records of average daily gain (ADG) measured for pigs reared at four farms in different prefectures were analyzed. Estimated maximum daily temperatures at the respective farm locations were used to calculate the average cumulative thermal load (TL).

Daily Consumption of α-Linolenic Acid Increases Conversion Efficiency to Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Mice.

To maintain a beneficial concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the efficient conversion of its precursor, α-linolenic acid (α-LA), is important. Here, we studied the conversion of α-LA to EPA using ICR and C57BL/6 mice. A single dose of perilla oil rich-in α-LA or free α-LA had not been converted to EPA 18 h following administration.

Metabolome in Tibialis and Soleus Muscles in Wild-Type and Knockout Mice through High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Skeletal muscles are heterogenous tissues composed of different myofiber types that can be classified as slow oxidative, fast oxidative, and fast glycolytic which are distinguished on the basis of their contractile and metabolic properties. Improving oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscles can prevent metabolic diseases and plays a protective role against muscle wasting in a number of neuromuscular diseases. Therefore, achieving a detailed understanding of the factors that regulate myofiber metabolic properties might provide new therapeutic opportunities for these diseases.

Role of brain monoamines in acetamiprid-induced anxiety-like behavior.

Neonicotinoid (NN) pesticides have been linked to increased brain dysfunction in mammals, such as anxiety-like behavior; this is thought to involve monoamines (MA), neurotransmitters that control behavior, memory, and learning. However, the mechanism by which NNs affect the central nervous system is not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether MAs affect NNs-induced anxiety-like behavior.

3-D stochastic modeling approach in thermal inactivation: estimation of thermal survival kinetics of O157:H7 in a hamburger after exposure to desiccation stress.

Desiccation tolerance of pathogenic bacteria is one strategy for survival in harsh environments, which has been studied extensively. However, the subsequent survival behavior of desiccation-stressed bacterial pathogens has not been clarified in detail. Herein, we demonstrated that the effect of desiccation stress on the thermotolerance of O157:H7 in ground beef was limited, and its thermotolerance did not increase.

Breeding of a Near-Isogenic Wheat Line Resistant to Wheat Blast at Both Seedling and Heading Stages Through Incorporation of .

Wheat blast caused by pathotype (MoT) has been transmitted from South America to Bangladesh and Zambia and is now spreading in these countries. To prepare against its further spread to Asian countries, we introduced , a gene for resistance to wheat blast, into a Japanese elite cultivar, Chikugoizumi (ChI), through recurrent backcrosses and established ChI near-isogenic lines, #2-1-10 with the / genotype and #4-2-10 with the / genotype. A molecular analysis suggested that at least 96.

Protecting-Group-Free Synthesis of ADP-Ribose and Dinucleoside Di-/Triphosphate Derivatives via P(V)-P(V) Coupling Reaction.

Biomolecules containing adenosine di- or triphosphate (ADP or ATP) are crucial for diverse biological processes. Synthesis of these biomolecules and development of their chemical probes are important to elucidate their functions. Enabling reproducible and high-yielding access to these ADP- and ATP-containing molecules via conventional P(III)-P(V) and P(V)-P(V) coupling reactions is challenging owing to water content in highly polar phosphate-containing substrates.

Biomass recovery of coastal young mangrove plantations in Central Thailand.

Around one-third of the world's most carbon-rich ecosystems, mangrove forests, have already been destroyed in Thailand owing to coastal development and aquaculture. Improving these degraded areas through mangrove plantations can restore various coastal ecosystem services, including CO absorption and protection against wave action. This study examines the biomass of three coastal mangrove plantations (Avicennia alba) of different ages in Samut Prakarn province, Central Thailand.

Metabolomic and morphologic surveillance reveals the impact of lactic acid-treated barley on in vitro ruminal fermentation.

Objective: Lactic acid (LA) treatment of cereals is known to improve ruminant performance. However, changes in cereal nutrient levels and variations in rumen fermentation remain unclear.

Methods: This study was designed to compare the effects of 5% LA treatment on the trophic and morphological characteristics of barley and to discover the differences in rumen fermentation characteristics and metabolomes between LA-treated and untreated barley.

Plateau-linear reaction norm model analysis of number born alive in purebred Landrace pigs using meteorological data in Japan.

We performed a plateau-linear reaction norm model (RNM) analysis of number born alive (NBA) in purebred Landrace pigs, where breeding value changes according to maximum temperature at mating day, using public meteorological observation data in Japan. We analysed 52,668 NBA records obtained from 10,320 Landrace sows. Pedigree data contained 99,201 animals.

Insights into the Anti-Adipogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Potentialities of Probiotics against Obesity.

Functional foods with probiotics are safe and effective dietary supplements to improve overweight and obesity. Thus, altering the intestinal microflora may be an effective approach for controlling or preventing obesity. This review aims to summarize the experimental method used to study probiotics and obesity, and recent advances in probiotics against obesity.

Effects of Amino Acid Supplementation to a Low-Protein Diet on the Growth Performance and Protein Metabolism-related Factors in Broiler Chicks.

A low-protein (LP) diet may alleviate the environmental impact of chicken meat production by reducing nitrogen excretion and ammonia emissions. Thus, this study investigated the effect of a 15% reduced protein diet with or without amino acid (AA) supplementation on the growth performance of broiler chicks from 10 to 35 days of age and the underlying mechanism for loss of skeletal muscle mass. Thirty-six male broiler chicks were allocated to three experimental groups based on body weight: control, LP, and essential AA-supplemented LP (LP+AA).

Identification of in Tetraploid Wheat as a New Blast Resistance Gene with Tolerance to High Temperature.

Wheat blast caused by pathotype has spread to Asia (Bangladesh) and Africa (Zambia) from the endemic region of South America. Wheat varieties with durable resistance are needed, but very limited resistance resources are currently available. After screening tetraploid wheat accessions, we found an exceptional accession St19 (, KU-114).

Elevated fish densities extend kilometres from oil and gas platforms.

Thousands of offshore oil and gas platforms have been installed throughout the world's oceans and more structures are being installed as part of the transition to renewable energy. These structures increase the availability of ecological niches by providing hard substrate in midwater and complex 3D habitat on the seafloor. This can lead to 'hotspots' of biodiversity, or increased densities of flora and fauna, which potentially spill over into the local area.

encoding a chromatin remodeling factor, is a killer causing hybrid sterility between rice species and .

The genetic mechanisms of reproductive isolation have been widely investigated within Asian cultivated rice (); however, relevant genes between diverged species have been in sighted rather less. Herein, a gene showing selfish behavior was discovered in hybrids between the distantly related rice species and . The selfish allele in the locus impaired male fertility, discriminately eliminating pollens containing the allele from in heterozygotes (/).

2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases and BAHD acyltransferases drive the structural diversification of orobanchol in Fabaceae plants.

Strigolactones (SLs), a class of plant apocarotenoids, serve dual roles as rhizosphere-signaling molecules and plant hormones. Orobanchol, a major naturally occurring SL, along with its various derivatives, has been detected in the root exudates of plants of the Fabaceae family. Medicaol, fabacyl acetate, and orobanchyl acetate were identified in the root exudates of barrel medic (), pea (, and cowpea (), respectively.

Recent Research on Mechanisms of Feeding Regulation in Chicks.

Food intake affects poultry productivity. A complete understanding of these regulatory mechanisms provides new strategies to improve productivity. Food intake is regulated by complex mechanisms involving many factors, including the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, hormones, and nutrients.

Bacterium-like Particles from as Mucosal Adjuvant for the Development of Pneumococcal Vaccines.

Previously, it was shown that intranasally (i.n.) administered 090104 (Cp) or CP-derived bacterium-like particles (BLPs) improve the immunogenicity of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV).