Response of to Flooding with Physical Flow.

Flooding causes severe yield losses worldwide, making it urgent to enhance crop tolerance to this stress. Since natural flooding often involves physical flow, we hypothesized that the effects of submergence on plants could change when combined with physical flow. In this study, we analyzed the growth and transcriptome of exposed to submergence or flooding with physical flow.

Lutein Maintains Bone Mass In Vitro and In Vivo Against Disuse-Induced Bone Loss in Hindlimb-Unloaded Mice.

Background: Lutein, a carotenoid, exhibits various biological activities such as maintaining the health of the eye, skin, heart, and bone. Recently, we found that lutein has dual roles in suppressing bone resorption and promoting bone formation. In this study, we examined the effects of lutein in a disuse-induced osteoporosis model using hindlimb-unloaded (HLU) mice.

BLV-CoCoMo Dual qPCR Assay Targeting LTR Region for Quantifying Bovine Leukemia Virus: Comparison with Multiplex Real-Time qPCR Assay Targeting Region.

The proviral load (PVL) of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a useful index for estimating disease progression and transmission risk. Real-time quantitative PCR techniques are widely used for PVL quantification. We previously developed a dual-target detection method, the "Liquid Dual-CoCoMo assay", that uses the coordination of common motif (CoCoMo) degenerate primers.

Synthesis and Electron-Transporting Properties of N-Type Polymers with Cardanol-Based Side Chains.

We synthesized n-type polymers poly{[N,N'-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-bis(dicarboximide)-2,6-diyl]-alt-5,5'-(2,2'-bithiophene)} [P(NDI2OD-T2)] and poly{[N,N'-bis(3-(4-cardanol)propyl)-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic diimide]-alt-[5,5'-bis(2-thienyl)-2,2'-bithiophene]} [P(NDICL-T2)] with cardanol-based side chains via Stille coupling to enhance electron mobility. Replacing the 2-octyldodecyl side chain with cardanol in P(NDICL-T2) improved electron mobility due to increased chain flexibility and ordered packing. Lower glass transition temperature (), red-shifted UV-vis absorption, results from crystalline structure analysis, indicating tighter lamellar spacing and enhanced molecular ordering, and smoother surface morphology confirmed the enhanced intermolecular interactions and uniform film formation.

Recent Advancements in Imaging Techniques for Individual Extracellular Vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), secreted from most cells, are small lipid membranes of vesicles of 30 to 1000 nm in diameter and contain nucleic acids, proteins, and intracellular organelles originating from donor cells. EVs play pivotal roles in intercellular communication, particularly in forming niches for cancer cell metastasis. However, EVs derived from donor cells exhibit significant heterogeneity, complicating the investigation of EV subtypes using ensemble averaging methods.

Intradomain Allosteric Regulation of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase by Its Substrates.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a bifunctional enzyme with epoxide hydrolase activity in the C-terminal domain (C-EH) and lipid phosphate phosphatase activity in the N-terminal domain (N-phos). The C-EH hydrolyzes bioactive epoxy fatty acids such as epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET). The N-phos hydrolyzes lipid phosphomonesters, including the signaling molecules of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA).

Dietary RNA from Torula Yeast Prevents Capillary Regression in Atrophied Skeletal Muscle in Rats.

Chronic neuromuscular inactivity induces capillary regression within skeletal muscle. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effects of dietary nucleic acids in counteracting the capillary reduction linked to chronic neuromuscular inactivity in the soleus muscle. The study utilized four distinct groups of female Wistar rats: a control group (CON), a hindlimb-unloading group (HU), an HU group supplemented with DNA (HU + DNA), and an HU group supplemented with RNA (HU + RNA).

Water Extract Inhibits Melanin Synthesis and Promotes Wound Healing.

This study investigated the multifaceted benefits of water extract across various cell lines, including murine B16F1 melanoma cells, human keratinocyte HaCaT cells, and human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs), to assess its potential in skin health improvement. Initially, the antioxidant capacity of the extract was evaluated using the ABTS assay, revealing significant radical scavenging activity, indicating strong antioxidative properties. Subsequently, extract showed notable inhibition of α-MSH-enhanced melanin production in B16F1 cells without cell toxicity by suppressing tyrosinase expression.

Antimicrobial Use in the Animal Sector in Japan from 2011 to 2022.

Evaluating antimicrobial use (AMU) is essential in the investigation and implementation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prevention measures. Here, we examined AMU using an index (mg/kg biomass) that considers the antimicrobial sales volume and livestock biomass in Japan from 2011 to 2022. Antimicrobial sales volumes were obtained from JVARM data, and biomass data were obtained from reliable statistics.

Peroxisome Proliferator Activator α Agonist Clofibrate Induces Pexophagy in Coconut Oil-Based High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats.

Peroxisomes are crucial for fatty acid β-oxidation in steatosis, but the role of pexophagy-the selective autophagy of peroxisomes-remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) agonist clofibrate on pexophagy in a coconut oil-based high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis model. Rats were divided into four groups: control, clofibrate, HFD, and HFD with clofibrate.

An Assessment of the Diversity and Seasonal Dynamics of Small- and Medium-Sized Mammals in Pittachhara Forest, Bangladesh, Using a Camera Trap Survey.

The Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHTs) in Bangladesh have a rich biodiversity, hosting a wide range of wild mammal species, underscoring the importance of systematic monitoring focused on conservation efforts. This study aims to assess the diversity and abundance of small- and medium-sized wild mammal species in Pittachhara Forest in the CHTs. A comprehensive wildlife monitoring survey was conducted in this forest using strategically placed camera traps to identify the wild species diversity, and we evaluated the activity patterns and seasonal variations for the period of February 2023 to August 2024.

Genetic Analysis of and Polymorphisms and Their Associations with the Egg Production Traits of Bangladeshi Hilly Chickens.

In warm environments, thermoregulation in poultry is controlled by heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), whose expression is controlled by heat shock factor 3 (HSF3). Although the association between genetic polymorphisms in these genes and thermotolerance as well as reproductive traits has been extensively studied in mammals, the association has not yet been studied in poultry. This study aimed to explore the relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes and the egg production traits of Bangladeshi hilly chickens.

Development of a mertansine-specific DNA aptamer and novel high-throughput sandwich enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay for quantification and characterization of trastuzumab emtansine.

We developed a novel DNA aptamer, D8#24S1, which specifically recognizes mertansine (DM1), the cytotoxic payload of the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), and applied it for T-DM1 analysis. D8#24S1 was obtained through SELEX and was shown to specifically recognize DM1 with high affinity (dissociation constant, K = 84.2 nM).

Application of the SpCas9 inhibitor BRD0539 for CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic tools in .

Although the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas system has been extensively developed since its discovery for eukaryotic and prokaryotic genome editing and other genetic manipulations, there are still areas warranting improvement, especially regarding bacteria. In this study, BRD0539, a small-molecule inhibitor of Cas9 (SpCas9), was used to suppress the activity of the nuclease during genetic modification of , as well as to regulate CRISPR interference (CRISPRi). First, we developed and validated a CRISPR-SpCas9 system targeting the gene of .

Impact of container type on the microbiome of airag, a Mongolian fermented mare's milk.

Airag, a fermented mare's milk in Mongolia, exhibits diverse flavors and microbiota due to distinct production processes and environments in nomadic households. Recently, there has been a shift from the traditional cow skin container, 'khokhuur', to a plastic container for airag production, potentially impacting the microbiota and quality. To address this notion, we aimed to elucidate the differences in the microbiota between airag samples from a plastic container and those from a khokhuur.

Mixed DAMP/MAMP oligosaccharides promote both growth and defense against fungal pathogens of cucumber.

Plants recognize a variety of environmental molecules, thereby triggering appropriate responses to biotic or abiotic stresses. Substances containing microbes-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are representative inducers of pathogen resistance and damage repair, thus treatment of healthy plants with such substances can pre-activate plant immunity and cell repair functions. In this study, the effects of DAMP/MAMP oligosaccharides mixture (Oligo-Mix) derived from plant cell wall (cello-oligosaccharide and xylo-oligosaccharide), and fungal cell wall (chitin-oligosaccharide) were examined in cucumber.

Excitation Spillover from PSII to PSI in Leaves at 77K.

Heterogeneous distribution of PSI and PSII in thick grana in shade chloroplasts is argued to hinder spillover of chlorophyll excitations from PSII to PSI. To examine this dogma, we measured fluorescence induction at 77K at 690 nm (PSII) and 760 nm (mostly PSI) in the leaf discs of Spinacia oleracea, Cucumis sativus and shade tolerant Alocasia odora, grown at high and low light, and quantified their spillover capacities. PSI fluorescence (FI) consists of the intrinsic PSI fluorescence (FIα) and fluorescence caused by excitations spilt over from PSII (FIβ).

Long-Term Survival of Primary Intracranial Histiocytic Sarcoma Through Surgical Resection and Low-Dose CCNU.

A 5 yr old chihuahua presented to our clinic with a complaint of decreased activity and focal seizures. Based on the findings of MRI and computed tomography, a primary brain tumor originating from the right frontal lobe region was suspected. Surgical resection was performed, and a diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma was made via histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining.

H and B Blood Antigens Are Essential for In Vitro Replication of GII.2 Human Norovirus.

Background: Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major cause of enteric infectious gastroenteritis and is classified into several genotypes based on its capsid protein amino acid sequence and nucleotide sequence of the polymerase gene. Among these, GII.4 is the major genotype worldwide.

Targeted C-to-T Base Editing in the Arabidopsis Plastid Genome.

Arabidopsis thaliana, particularly the ecotype Columbia-0 (Col-0), has been extensively employed in the study of genetics of the nuclear genome. However, the difficulty of modifying the plastid genome of Col-0, the most widely used ecotype, has hindered investigation of the functional interactions between nuclear-encoded and plastid-encoded genes in this ecotype. Recently, we achieved targeted base editing, substituting a specific C:G pair with a T:A pair in the plastid genome of Col-0 through the application of genome-editing technology.

Anti-Obesity Effects of a Combination of Whole-Body Vibration Stimulus and Dietary D-Allulose on Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) has gained attention as a light-resistance exercise and can increase energy metabolism. The rare sugar D-allulose has anti-obesity effects that are mediated by the suppression of hepatic lipogenesis. In this study, we examined the anti-obesity effects of a combination of WBV and dietary D-allulose in rats fed a high-fat diet.

Fructo-Oligosaccharides Enhance the Expression of Genes Related to Focal Adhesion- and Inflammation-Pathways in Small Intestinal Absorptive Caco-2 Cells.

Recently, we demonstrated, using mRNA microarray analysis, that fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), which are indigestible carbohydrates, enhanced the expression of several inflammation-related genes, such as CLEC7A, CCL2, ITGA2, and F3, by ≥4-fold in Caco-2 cells, a model of human intestinal absorptive cells, independently of intestinal bacteria (Harasawa A et al., Nutrition, 112140, 2023). However, whether FOS enhances the expression of genes in other pathways, particularly the non-inflammatory pathways, in Caco-2 cells has not been investigated.

Anticancer potentialsof chaga and notoginseng against dog bladder cancer organoids.

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a common form of BC in dogs. Adjuvant chemotherapy administration is commonly applied in MIBC cases, but patients sometimes experience treatment failure and recurrence. Therefore, supplements with anticancer properties, such as traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), are required, and they have been widely used in Japanese human medicine and may be useful in veterinary medicine.

[Identification of Food-derived Bioactive Components with Physiological Effects].

Food-derived components with physiological effects have been attracting attention in recent years, and studies have comprehensively analyzed these components. In this study, we sought to identify food components with functional properties for the prevention and improvement of metabolic syndrome. We performed a luciferase reporter assay using fatty acid synthase (FAS) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL) receptor gene promoters.

Identification of two novel α-amylase inhibitory activity peptide from Russian sea cucumber body wallprotein hydrolysate.

This study aimed to identify novel α-amylase inhibitory peptides from Russian sea cucumbers and elucidate their inhibitory mechanisms. Among the 52 identified sea cucumber peptide (SCP), two peptides with potential α-amylase inhibitory activity, FPSPPLVA (SCP1) and GPPMPPPPLP (SCP2), were selected from the sequences researched. The results showed that both SCP1 and SCP2 exhibited α-amylase inhibitory activity with IC of 0.