Evaluation of the resistance effect of QTLs derived from wild soybean (Glycine soja) to common cutworm (Spodoptera litura Fabricius).

Common cutworm (CCW) is a serious herbivorous insect pest of soybean. Previously, we conducted an antixenosis bioassay (measuring feeding preference) with CCW using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between a wild soybean (Glycine soja) collected in Hiroshima prefecture (JP110755) and the leading cultivar, Fukuyutaka. The analysis revealed quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for antixenosis resistance, qRslx3 and qRslx4. In the present study we developed another RIL population using Fukuyutaka and a different G. soja, collected in Kumamoto prefecture (G406). An analysis revealed an antixenosis resistance QTL on chromosome 7, and the resistant allele of the QTL was derived from G406. The chromosomal position of the QTL was almost the same as that of CCW-2, a previously-reported antibiosis resistance QTL for CCW, detected in a F2 population derived from a cross between Fukuyutaka and a resistant cultivar Himeshirazu. These QTLs could be the same locus; however, G406 and Himeshirazu are likely to possess different alleles, because Himeshirazu allele exhibits no antixenosis effect. We expect that pyramiding of the resistance QTLs derived from G. soja will contribute to the development of CCW resistant cultivars.

Erratum: Quantitative trait loci associated with short inter-node length in soybean.

[This corrects the article on p. 554 in vol. 68, PMID: 30697116.].

Quantitative trait loci associated with short inter-node length in soybean.

Manipulating the genetic control of plant height is essential in soybean breeding to increase yield through the enlargement of the plant size while preventing lodging. A Japanese soybean germplasm, Y2, has distinctively shorter inter-node lengths than those of recently developed Japanese cultivars and is expected to provide new variation to prevent lodging. A quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for plant height-related traits was conducted using F2 individuals derived from a cross between the elite Japanese cultivar Fukuyutaka and Y2. A major QTL for average inter-node length (AIL) and plant height was identified on chromosome 13 and named qSI13-1 (QTL for short inter-node on chromosome 13). The Y2 allele of qSI13-1 was partially dominant for plant height. qSI13-1 exhibited no effect on either days to flowering or number of main stem nodes. The AILs and plant heights of the near-isogenic lines containing the Y2 allele of qSI13-1 in the genetic background of Fukuyutaka were significantly less than those of Fukuyutaka. No significant differences between the near-isogenic lines and Fukuyutaka were observed for seed yield and flowering date, indicating that qSI13-1 will be useful in developing cultivars with short plant heights without having negative effects on yield potential and days to flowering.

Management of a Mass Casualty Event Caused by Electrocution Using Doctor Helicopters.

OBJECTIVE: This is the first report to show the use of doctor helicopters in a mass casualty event induced by electrocution. METHODS: We performed a narrative review. RESULTS: Two children obtained electrocution burns by breaking an electric fence. Five adults also received electrocution burns. Emergency medical technicians at the scene requested additional dispatch of an ambulance and the doctor helicopter. Two adult men with cardiopulmonary arrest were transported by 2 ambulances to a nearby hospital. One adult woman was in a restless confusional state, intubated, and transferred to another hospital using the doctor helicopter. One boy, who was initially in a coma, and his mother were transferred to our hospital by 1 ambulance. Another boy, who had finger amputation, was transferred to the other hospital by another doctor helicopter. A remaining elderly woman was transported to the other local hospital by ambulance. All the victims, except the 2 fathers who fell into cardiac arrest, survived. CONCLUSION: Early confirmation of the safety of the scene, early establishment of command and control, early request for dispatch of other parties and the doctor Helicopter, appropriate triage, appropriate treatment at the scene, selecting appropriate medical facilities, and dispersion transportation were crucial.

Redshifted and blueshifted photoluminescence emission of InAs/InP quantum dots upon amorphization of phase change material.

We present the mechanisms underlying the redshifted and blueshifted photoluminescence (PL) of quantum dots (QDs) upon amorphization of phase change material (PCM). We calculated the stress and energy shift distribution induced by volume expansion using finite element method. Simulation result reveals that redshift is obtained beneath the flat part of amorphous mark, while blueshift is obtained beneath the edge region of amorphous mark. Simulation result is accompanied by two experimental studies; two-dimensional PL intensity mapping of InAs/InP QD sample deposited by a layer of PCM, and an analysis on the relationship between PL intensity ratio and energy shift were performed.

Genetic analysis of antixenosis resistance to the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura Fabricius) and its relationship with pubescence characteristics in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.).

The common cutworm (CCW, Spodoptera litura Fabricius) is one of the most serious pests of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Previously, two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for antibiosis resistance to CCW, CCW-1 and CCW-2, were detected in the resistant cultivar Himeshirazu. In this study, we conducted an anti-xenosis bioassay using a recombinant inbred population derived from a cross between a susceptible cultivar Fukuyutaka and Himeshirazu to perform QTL analysis. Two QTLs for antixenosis resistance, qRslx1 and qRslx2, were identified on Chrs 7 and 12, and the resistant alleles of qRslx1 and qRslx2 were derived from Himeshirazu and Fukuyutaka, respectively. The position of qRslx1 is similar to that of CCW-1. We also analyzed pubescence characteristics because they have been reported to be associated with soybean insect resistance. Two QTLs for pubescence length (on Chrs 7 and 12) and two QTLs for pubescence density (on Chrs 1 and 12) were identified. The pubescence QTLs on Chrs 7 and 12 were located near qRslx1 and qRslx2, respectively. These results suggest that the antixenosis resistance could be controlled genetically by the identified QTLs and that the pubescence characteristics might contribute to the soybean antixenosis resistance to CCW.

Experimental study of near-field light collection efficiency of aperture fiber probe at near-infrared wavelengths.

We examined the near-field collection efficiency of near-infrared radiation for an aperture probe. We used InAs quantum dots as ideal point light sources with emission wavelengths ranging from 1.1 to 1.6 µm. We experimentally investigated the wavelength dependence of the collection efficiency and compared the results with computational simulations that modeled the actual probe structure. The observed degradation in the collection efficiency is attributed to the cutoff characteristics of the gold-clad tapered waveguide, which approaches an ideal conductor at near-infrared wavelengths.

Supplementation of 1-Kestose Modulates the Gut Microbiota Composition to Ameliorate Glucose Metabolism in Obesity-Prone Hosts.

Insulin resistance leads to the onset of medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, and its development is associated with the alteration in the gut microbiota. Although it has been demonstrated that supplementation with prebiotics modulates the gut microbiota, limited evidence is available for effects of prebiotics on insulin resistance, especially for humans. We investigated the prebiotic effect of 1-kestose supplementation on fasting insulin concentration in obesity-prone humans and rats. In the preliminary study using rats, the hyperinsulinemia induced by high-fat diet was suppressed by intake of water with 2% (w/v) 1-kestose. In the clinical study using obese-prone volunteers, the fasting serum insulin level was significantly reduced from 6.5 µU/mL (95% CI, 5.5-7.6) to 5.3 (4.6-6.0) by the 12-week intervention with supplementation of 10 g 1-kestose/day, whereas it was not changed by the intervention with placebo (6.2 µU/mL (5.4-7.1) and 6.5 (5.5-7.6) before and after intervention, respectively). The relative abundance of fecal Bifidobacterium was significantly increased to 0.3244 (SD, 0.1526) in 1-kestose-supplemented participants compared to that in control participants (0.1971 (0.1158)). These results suggest that prebiotic intervention using 1-kestose may potentially ameliorate insulin resistance in overweight humans via the modulation of the gut microbiota. UMIN 000028824.

Medial and Lateral Meniscus Posterior Root Tears with an Intact Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

BACKGROUND: Medial meniscus (MM) posterior root tear (PRT) is often caused by meniscal degeneration, whereas lateral meniscus (LM) PRT is mainly caused by trauma, especially trauma associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Although there are a few reports on PRTs of both menisci with an ACL injury, to our knowledge, there is no report on those with an intact ACL. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe a rare case of both meniscal PRTs with an intact ACL. Case Presentation. A 67-year-old woman complained of right knee pain during weeding in a deep knee flexion position. At presentation, three days after the injury, physical examination revealed signs of meniscal injury without ACL rupture. Magnetic resonance imaging showed PRTs of both menisci and damaged cartilage, especially on the medial femoral condyle and lateral tibial plateau. MM was sutured using the FasT-Fix dependent modified Mason-Allen suture technique, and LM by a single simple stitch using the Knee Scorpion suture passer. Referring to previous cadaveric studies, transtibial pullout repair using a single tibial tunnel for MM fixation was performed. The stability of the repaired menisci was checked by probing during second-look arthroscopy at one year after the primary surgery, and no meniscal signs and symptoms were present at the last follow-up one year after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This rare case showed PRTs of both menisci with an intact ACL. We speculated that, in this case, both roots tore because of the degenerative menisci. A good clinical outcome was achieved after single-transtibial pullout repair. This technique may be an effective surgical approach for PRTs of both menisci.

QTL mapping of antixenosis resistance to common cutworm (Spodoptera litura Fabricius) in wild soybean (Glycine soja).

The common cutworm (CCW; Spodoptera litura Fabricius) is a serious herbivorous insect pest of soybean (Glycine max) in Asia and Oceania. Previously, we identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for CCW-antibiosis-resistance, CCW-1 and CCW-2, and antixenosis-resistance, qRslx1 and qRslx2, in the cultivar 'Himeshirazu'. The effects of these QTLs are useful in the breeding of CCW-resistant cultivars. In this study, we conducted an antixenosis bioassay on CCW using recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between a wild soybean (Glycine soja) and the leading cultivar 'Fukuyutaka' to identify CCW-resistance genes in G. soja. The QTL analysis revealed six and four novel antixenosis-resistance QTLs in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Among them, the QTLs on chromosomes 2 and 7, designated qRslx4 and qRslx3, respectively, were stably detected in both years. qRslx3 exhibited the largest effect in both years, suggesting that qRslx3 can be exploited in the breeding of CCW-resistant soybean. Furthermore, qRslx3 and qRslx4 can be used, along with previously reported QTLs from 'Himeshirazu', to enhance the CCW-resistance of soybean cultivars because their chromosomal positions are unique. These new CCW-resistance QTLs from G. soja should play important roles in the breeding of CCW-resistant soybean cultivars.

An Alteration in the Cecal Microbiota Composition by Feeding of 1-Kestose Results in a Marked Increase in the Cecal Butyrate Content in Rats.

Functional food ingredients, including prebiotics, have been ardently developed for improving the intestinal environment. Fructooligosaccarides (FOS), including fructans, are the well researched and commercialized prebiotics. However, to our knowledge, few studies have been conducted on the physiological effects of each component of FOS as prebiotics. 1-Kestose, a component of FOS, is composed of one glucose and two fructose molecules, and is considered as a key prebiotic component in short-chain FOS. In the present study, we examined the effects of dietary 1-kestose using 0.5-5% 1-kestose diets on cecal microbiota composition and cecal contents of short-chain fatty acids and lactate in rats. The findings indicate that dietary 1-kestose induced cecal hypertrophy and alterations in the cecal microbiota composition, including a marked increase in the cell number of Bifidobacterium spp. These alterations were associated with significant increases in acetate and lactate, and a marked increase in butyrate in cecal contents. Furthermore, dietary 1-kestose induced a significant decrease in serum insulin concentration in rats fed 2.5-5% 1-kestose diet. These findings suggest a potential of 1-kestose to be a prebiotic for improving the metabolism of the host.