Age and growth of alfonsino Beryx splendens from the Kanto District, central Japan, based on growth increments on otoliths

ABSTRACT:   Age and growth of alfonsino Beryx splendens (Lowe) were studied using counts of presumed daily incremental growth rings on the transverse section of otoliths of fish collected from the Kanto District, central Japan. Microstructural growth increments were observed from the core to the outermost margin of the broadest of approximately 50 branches formed on the surface of an otolith. Of 98 otoliths examined, 46 were readable. The number of increments and fish lengths ranged from 448 (218 mm fork length [FL]) to 3701 (411 mm FL). The ages of these fish were estimated to be 1 year, 2 months and 10 years, 2 months, respectively, assuming that an increment was formed daily. The von Bertalanffy growth equation combined for males and females was expressed as follows: L _t  = 542 {1 −  exp  [−0.133( t  + 2.00)]}, where L _t is fork length (mm) at yearly age t . The results of the present study were compared with those of other researchers who had studied alfonsino from central Japan.     

Fire-resistant performance of a laminated veneer lumber joint with metal plate connectors protected with graphite phenolic sphere sheeting

Creep under fire of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) joined with metal connectors was studied. The fire-resistant performance of LVL butt joints connected with metal plates protected with graphite phenolic sphere (GPS) sheeting was discussed. The GPS sheeting was overlaid on the joint in different sizes and locations. The joint was exposed to a burner with a top flame temperature of 800°C and loaded with a load of 200 N to test for creep under fire. The results showed that the fire-resistant performance of the joint was markedly improved by the sheeting. The size and location of the GPS sheet significantly affected the time to rupture of the specimen, which was six times longer than that without GPS. Temperature measurements at the joint showed that the GPS sheeting distributed the heat along the surface and delayed failure. Thermographic images and analyses clarified the improvement in fire-resistant properties due to GPS.     

Fire protection of a laminated veneer lumber joint by wood carbon phenolic spheres sheeting

Laminated veneer lumber joints made with metal plate connectors were protected with wood carbon phenolic spheres (CPS) sheeting and tested for creep under fire. The effects of the carbonizing temperature of charcoal, used as raw material for the CPS sheets, the thickness, and the location of the sheet on the joint regarding the fire-resistance performance of the joint were studied. The time to rupture of the joints covered with CPS sheets made from charcoal carbonized at 800°C (CPS800) was slightly prolonged compared with that of uncovered joints. On the other hand, the time to rupture of CPS sheets made from charcoal carbonized at 1600°C (CPS1600) was markedly extended. The changes in the charcoal properties due to increasing the carbonizing temperature might be the main reason the CPS1600 sheets had higher fire-resistance performance. The thickness and location of CPS1600 sheets have significant effects on the fire resistance of the joint. A highly fire-resistant laminated veneer lumber joint was obtained using a CPS1600 sheet. The CPS1600 sheet with a thickness of 3mm covering three sides of the joint prolonged the time to rupture 16-fold compared with that of unprotected joints.Part of this paper was presented at the 4th International Wood Science Symposium, Serpong, Indonesia, September 2002     

Characterization of graft-induced change in capsaicin content of Capsicum annuum L.

Summary Capsaicin contents were measured in the progenies from the test crosses between the strain, G₅S₁₇ derived from fruit with the graft-induced change in fruit shape and the original two cultivars, Yatsubusa (Capsicum annuum L. var fasciculatum Ilish) and Spanish Paprika (C. annuum L. var. grossum Sendt) used for grafting.The strain, G₅S₁₇ contained a lower amount of capsaicin than the original pungent cultivar Yatsubusa used as scion. The characteristic of the lowered capsaicin content in the strain has been stably inherited through seed propagation, and has also been transmitted to the progenies from the crosses with the original two cultivars used for scion or stock. These features in the capsaicin content agreed with those in fruit shape in the graft-induced change.     

Elevational Patterns of Acid Deposition into a Forest and Nitrogen Saturation on Mt. Oyama, Japan

Virgin fir trees have been dying on Mt. Oyama, which is located in the southwestern part of Kanto Plain, although the frequency of death seems to be reducing recently. We report elevational patterns of acid deposition in precipitation and throughfall under fir and cedar canopies and nitrogen saturation in the forest ecosystem on Mt. Oyama. The deposition fluxes of major inorganic ions in precipitation were nearly constant regardless of elevation except for hydrogen and ammonium ions, whereas the deposition fluxes of all major inorganic ions in throughfall among cedar increased. The 5-year average of annual nitrate deposition in precipitation from 1994 to 1998 showed 19.3 – 23.5 kg ha^?1 yr^?1 (annual inorganic total N deposition: 9.6 – 10.7 kgN ha^?1 yr^?1) at four sites ranging in elevation from 500 to 1252 m, whereas the deposition in both cedar and fir throughfall was over 6 times greater than that in precipitation. The average soil surface nitrate concentration in 1998 was 140 µg g^?1 (the range: 21.1 – 429 µg g^?1, n=80) and the 7-year average of nitrate concentration in stream water from 1992 to 1998 was 4.81 mg L^?1 (the range: 2.38 – 20.6 mg L^?1, n=317). Our results indicate that nitrogen saturation is occurring in the forest ecosystem because of high N deposition, probably via acid fog, on Mt. Oyama.     

Detection of γ-H2AX,a Biomarker for DNA Double-strand Breaks,in Urinary Bladders of N -Butyl- N -(4-Hydroxybutyl)-Nitrosamine-Treated Rats

To evaluate the potential role of DNA repair in bladder carcinogenesis, we performed an immunohistochemical analysis of expression of various DNA repair enzymes and γ-H2AX, a high-sensitivity marker of DNA double-strand breaks, in the urothelium of male F344 rats treated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN), a bladder-specific carcinogen. Our results clearly demonstrated that γ-H2AX aggregation was specifically generated in nuclei of bladder epithelial cells of BBN-treated rats, which was not found in untreated controls or mesenchymal cells. γ-H2AX-positive cells were detected not only in hyperplastic and neoplastic areas but also in the normal-like urothelium after BBN treatment. These data indicate that γ-H2AX has potential as a useful biomarker for early detection of genotoxicity in the rat urinary bladder. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating expression of γ-H2AX during bladder carcinogenesis.     

Effect of carpropamid on secondary infection by rice blast fungus

Carpropamid (WIN™, KTU 3616) provides good control of leaf and panicle blast by ‘one-shot’ nursery-box treatment. It inhibits melanin biosynthesis in appressorial cells of Pyricularia oryzae, making them hyaline. Penetration by infection hyphae from the hyaline appressoria into rice epidermal cells is substantially hindered. In addition, the spread of rice blast spores from primary lesions to the other parts of the plant leading to secondary infection is largely prevented when the plants are treated with carpropamid by spray or water surface application. Secondary infection was simulated in a glass chamber fitted with an ultrasonic humidifier. On treated plants, many blast spores formed in the lesions, but the number of air spora that were dispersed from the lesions decreased significantly. A similar suppression of the spore liberation was observed in vitro when lesions on rice leaf segments, or discs from Pyricularia cultures on oatmeal agar were treated with the chemical. Spores from treated lesions or from the cultures on oatmeal agar amended with the chemical germinated normally and produced well-melanized appressoria on cellophane membranes. In addition, the spores proved to be fully pathogenic towards rice seedlings, producing normal disease symptoms. These results strongly suggest that carpropamid reduces the secondary infection of rice by Pyricularia by specifically hindering spore liberation. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of increased feeding of dietary α‐linolenic acid by grazing on formation of the cis9,trans11–18:2 isoform of conjugated linoleic acid in bovine milk

Feeding systems such as grazing affect the fatty acid profile of bovine milk fat. In addition, milk fat is formed as the product of fatty acid metabolism in cow bodies before being secreted into milk. However, how grazing influences milk fatty acid profile through the metabolism has not been completely characterized. When fatty acid concentrations in Holstein milk were compared between grazing and non‐grazing periods, α‐linolenic acid was significantly higher in the grazing period than in the non‐grazing period. This could be explained with an increase in α‐linolenic acid feeding with grazing. α‐linolenic acid had a linear positive correlation with conjugated linoleic acid (9c,11t‐18:2) (CLA) and vaccenic acid (VA) during the grazing period, whereas CLA had higher correlation with linoleic acid rather than with α‐linolenic acid during the non‐grazing period. These data indicate that the high content of dietary α‐linolenic acid affects CLA and VA formation in milk of grazing periods via α‐linolenic acid metabolism into VA.     

Studies on wetting phenomena on plant leaf surfaces. 3: A retention model for droplets on solid surfaces

To investigate the factors governing retention of pesticidal spray solutions on plant surfaces, a new retention model for droplets on solid surfaces has been introduced as where ΔΘ = Θ_a – Θ_r. The minimum sliding volumes (MiSV) of surfactant aqueous solutions (2 g litre^?-1; surface tensions; 28·5 – 72·5 mN m^?-1) on smooth surfaces of paraffin wax and polymer sheets were measured and the validity of the above retention equation was verified on combinations of these solutions and surfaces. A concept of the specific adhesional force (F_a) of a droplet was defined as which was the maximum adhesional force on a unit length of the width of the contact circle of a droplet, and F_a values of the solutions on the surfaces were compared. The predominant factors for droplet retention are discussed on the basis of this model.