Estimation of stand volumes using the <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-nearest neighbors method in Kyushu,Japan

The k-nearest neighbors (kNN) method is widely employed in national forest inventory applications using remote sensing data. The objective of this study was to evaluate the kNN method for stand volume estimation by combining LANDSAT/ETM+ data with 622 field sample plots from the Japanese National Forest Inventory (NFI) in Kyushu, Japan. The root mean square error (RMSE) and relative RMSE of the volume estimates rapidly decreased as the number of nearest neighbors (k) increased up to five, and then it slightly declined. They were consistently smaller for the Euclidean distance than for the Mahalanobis distance. The estimation errors (RMSE and relative RMSE) were 169.2 m³/ha and 66.2%, respectively (k = 10). The relative RMSE was similar to the previous studies. The estimated values were more accurate towards the mean value of the total volume, with an overestimation of the low volumes and an underestimation of the high volumes. We found a significant linear relationship between the observed stand volumes and estimated errors, which suggests that systematic errors may be reduced using this linearity. This research concluded that the kNN method is suitable for estimating stand volumes in Kyushu.     

Morphometric evaluation of canine hepatocellular carcinoma using computed tomography: a promising tool for predicting malignancy

The size of canine focal liver lesions (FLLs) is known to be one of the predicting criteria for malignancy. However, there are discrepancies for the measurement of maximum lesion size, resulting in contradicting results among studies and incidences of false positive outcomes. Thus far, the morphometric changes of FLLs for distinguishing malignancy from benignancy remains undocumented. This study aimed to investigate morphometric characteristics of FLLs using computed tomography (CT). CT images of 40 dogs with histopathological confirmation of 49 liver lesions, including 39 hepatocellular carcinomas and 10 nodular hyperplasias were retrospectively reviewed. The morphometric parameters including size (long and short axis diameters measured on transverse image), shape (measured by long to short axis (L/S) ratio), volume, and surface appearance of a liver lesion were evaluated using univariate and stepwise multivariate analyses, respectively. The results of univariate analysis showed that long and short axis diameters, L/S ratio, volume, and surface appearance of a lesion were significantly different between hepatocellular carcinomas and nodular hyperplasias. Multivariate analysis revealed that short axis diameter (>3.30 cm; odds ratio (OR): 36.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.36–387.05, P=0.0031) and L/S ratio (>1.23; OR: 18.1, 95% CI: 1.61–205.12, P=0.0191) were independent predictors of malignancy, with the area under the curve of 0.9154. These results suggest that the combination of short axis diameter and L/S ratio is a promising tool for predicting liver malignancy with outstanding discriminating ability.     

灌浆结实期高温对水稻籽粒蔗糖及降解酶活性的影响

选用水稻品种越光和笹锦为材料,在开花后设置自然温度和高温两种处理,研究了不同温度处理下籽粒蔗糖、果糖和葡萄糖含量的动态变化以及蔗糖合酶、液泡型转化酶和细胞壁结合型转化酶活性的差异。高温处理下,蔗糖合酶活性值大于转化酶活性值,且与淀粉积累速率呈显著正相关,表明蔗糖合酶在蔗糖的分解和淀粉的合成过程中起着重要作用;高温下两品种籽粒的蔗糖含量明显增加,但分解的葡萄糖和果糖含量并未相应增加,表明高温有利于籽粒中蔗糖的积累,而不利于籽粒中蔗糖的分解。高温下蔗糖合酶、液泡型转化酶和细胞壁结合型转化酶活性明显下降,表明蔗糖分解速率的下降与蔗糖合酶和转化酶活性下降有关。     

Nitro-PAHs and PAHs in Atmospheric Particulate Matters and Sea Sediments in Hiroshima Bay Area, Japan

Atmospheric and sea sediment concentrations were measured for eight nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) and three unsubstituted PAHs in a suburban area and sea sediments in the Hiroshima Bay watershed area, Japan, from July to December, 2006 (atmospheric particulate matter) and in September and November, 2004 (sea sediments). Atmospheric concentration was higher in winter than summer for both nitro-PAHs and PAHs. Concentrations in sea sediments were less than 10%, and pattern was similar to those of atmospheric particles. Several combustion emission sources were also measured, and the 1-NP/Pyr ratio was compared to environmental values. The ratio of atmospheric and sea sediments were significantly lower than diesel particulate matters. Further, the vehicle emission loading and sea sedimentation loading was evaluated in this watershed area, and from the comparison, the existence of other important sources PAHs were suggested.     

Evaluation of estimates of crown condition in forest monitoring: comparison between visual estimation and automated crown image analysis

• Context  

In long-term forest monitoring, tree crown condition has been visually rated to diagnose tree vigor and forest condition. However, visual estimates are subjective. A semiautomatic image analysis system, called CROCO, was developed to estimate crown condition quantitatively. CROCO calculates a DSO value which decrease with increasing crown transparency.     

Simple method for isolation of glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase and the improvement of myofibril gel properties

Porcine glycoliytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PD) was prepared effectively by a combination of ethylene diamine tetra‐acetate (EDTA) pretreatment and affinity purification. After salting out of porcine sarcoplasmic proteins (SP) with ammonium sulfate at 75% saturation, the obtained supernatant (SP‐f3) was treated with EDTA, leaving G3PD in the supernatant (G3PD‐E) and most other SPs in the precipitate. At that time, the separation of G3PD‐E required more than 20 mmol/L EDTA. G3PD‐E was then subjected to affinity purification by batchwise method using blue‐sepharose CL‐6B, and purified G3PD (G3PD‐AP) was obtained using 2 mol/L potassium chloride (KCl) as an eluent. Texture analysis showed that the hardness, adhesiveness and gumminess of the myofibril gel at 0.2‐mol/L NaCl increased with the addition of G3PD‐AP. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the G3PD‐AP reinforced the gel network of the myofibril. However, scanning electron micrograph analysis showed that the network‐structure of the gel by the addition of G3PD‐AP developed in a different manner from that by adding 0.6 mol/L NaCl. These results showed that glycolytic enzyme, G3PD, contributes to the improvement of the rheological properties of meat products.     

An Acute-phase Protein as a Regulator of Sperm Survival in the Bovine Oviduct: Alpha 1-acid-glycoprotein Impairs Neutrophil Phagocytosis of Sperm In Vitro

We have previously shown that polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are present in bovine oviduct fluid under physiological conditions, and that the oviduct provides a microenvironment that protects sperm from phagocytosis by PMNs. Alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a major acute-phase protein produced mainly in the liver that has immunomodulatory functions. AGP mRNA is expressed in extrahepatic organs, such as the lung, kidney, spleen, lymph node, uterus, and ovary. Therefore, in this study, we investigated, 1) the local production of AGP in the bovine oviduct, 2) the effect of AGP on the phagocytic activity of PMNs for sperm and superoxide production and 3) the impact of AGP desialylation on the PMN phagocytosis of sperm. The AGP gene was expressed in cultured bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs) and AGP protein was detected in oviduct fluid. Preexposure of PMNs to AGP at physiological levels impaired PMN phagocytosis for sperm and superoxide generation. The desialylation of AGP eliminated these suppressive effects of AGP on PMN. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that AGP drastically reduced the formation of DNA-based neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) for sperm entanglement. Additionally, AGP dose-dependently stimulated BOECs to produce prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) which has been shown to partially contribute to the regulation of sperm phagocytosis in the bovine oviduct. AGP and PGE₂ at concentrations detected in the oviducts additively suppressed sperm phagocytosis by PMNs. These results provide evidence that locally produced AGP may be involved in protecting sperm from phagocytosis by PMNs in the bovine oviduct.     

Effect of dietary ascorbate fortification on lipolysis activity of juvenile black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli

ABSTRACT:   Hatchery-reared black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli juveniles averaging 0.05 g in body weight were fed either a control diet (commercial diet) or an experimental diet in which the commercial diet was fortified with 50 mg l -ascorbyl 2-monophosphate Mg (APM)/100 g diet for 50 days. Calcium ascorbate supplemented as a vitamin mixture in the control diet was completely destroyed during storage. Fortification with APM significantly increased the ascorbic acid levels in the muscle, liver, brain and eye. Although APM fortification did not influence growth, survival or fish body composition, adipocyte diameter in the intraperitoneal fat body (IPF) was significantly reduced. After the feeding experiment, the fish were kept for 39 days without feeding. Fortification with APM resulted in high survival, high muscle protein retention and low body weight loss. The results suggested the necessity of fortification with an adequate amount of ascorbate in the diet. While fatty acid compositions of the IPF, muscle and liver were not significantly influenced by APM fortification, characteristic changes in the fatty acid profile were found after starvation. Vitamin C and highly unsaturated fatty acids seemed crossly interactive in relation to lipolysis activity in black sea bream juveniles.