Simulation model of rainfed rice production on sloping land in northeast Thailand

In northeast Thailand, the rapid expansion of rainfed paddy fields has decreased the stability of rice production. This paper describes a model that computes rice production on the basis of the hydrologic conditions of rainfed paddy fields on hill slopes. The model well expressed the hydrologic processes, rice yield, and production at the study site. We simulated rice production as uphill paddy plots are abandoned, increasing catchment area, under various rainfall conditions. The simulation showed that rice yield and stability increase as uphill plots are abandoned, although the total rice production decreases. Thus, the effect of catchment size on rice production in each plot was quantified. The model proved to be useful for analyzing rainfed rice production under various land and water conditions.     

Spontaneous iron accumulation in hepatocytes of a 7-week-old female rat

Spontaneous iron accumulation in hepatocytes was observed in a 7-week-old female Han Wistar GALAS rat. Very fine yellowish brown pigments, which showed a positive reaction with Berlin Blue stain, were apparent in the cytoplasm close to the bile canaliculi, with a diminishing periportal-to-centrilobular gradient. There were also differences in distribution between and within lobes. Transmission electron microscopy revealed cytosolic ferritin and pericanalicular siderosomes in hepatocytes. No degeneration or necrotic changes were observed, and non-hepatocyte cells did not demonstrate any obvious accumulation of iron. There were no abnormalities in the animal other than this finding in the liver.     

Adsorption by coniferous leaves of chromium ions from effluent

The chromium adsorption ability of leaves from 34 conifer species were examined. Among them, deciduous conifer species, such asLarix, Ginkgo, Metasequia, andTaxodium, showed high ability to adsorb chromium ions. Factors affecting chromium adsorption were studied using larch (Larix leptolepis) leaves to determine the optimum adsorption conditions. The factors included solution pH, contact time, temperature, and the initial concentration of chromium ions. Maximum adsorption for Cr³⁺ was observed at pH 5, and maximum Cr⁶⁺ adsorption occurred at pH 3. The amount of Cr⁶⁺ adsorbed on the adsorbent increased rapidly during the first 4 h, then gradually increased, and finally reached equilibrium in 16 h. The adsorption rate of Cr³⁺ was somewhat slower than that of Cr⁶⁺. The adsorption isotherm for Cr⁶⁺ adsorption was composed of two straight lines, suggesting that the adsorbent could not practically reduce the concentration of Cr⁶⁺ in solution below 1.6 mg Cr/L Column experiments using larch leaf packing suggested that the practical operation could be controlled by monitoring the effluent pH.     

Overcoming hybrid lethality in a cross between Japanese pear and apple using gamma irradiation and confirmation of hybrid status using flow cytometry and SSR markers

Although there have been some attempts to obtain intergeneric hybrids between Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) and apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) mature hybrids have not been generated due to hybrid lethality. Shoots from immature hybrid embryos were gamma irradiated and cultured at normal temperature conditions to obtain viable intergeneric plants. Gamma irradiation doses of 50 and 100 Gy cultured at 25 °C killed all shoots but there was one survivor at 150 Gy and 25 °C. Hybrid status of the shoot was confirmed by using morphology, flow cytometry and SSR markers. The intergeneric plant had similar leaf serrations to apple and similar petioles to Japanese pear. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the intergeneric shoot had a DNA content intermediate between the parents. SSR analysis showed one allele from each parent for all 16 SSR loci investigated. These data strongly suggest that the obtained shoot is a true hybrid between Japanese pear and apple.     

Occurrence of a temperate coastal flatfish,the marbled flounder Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae,at high water temperatures in a shallow bay in summer detected by acoustic telemetry

Fisheries Science - The marbled flounder Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae, a flatfish found in temperate coastal waters, is an important commercial species in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, but little...