Aluminum oxyhydroxide polymorphs and some micromorphological characteristics in sclerotium grains

The presence of aluminum oxyhydroxide and its micromorphological characteristics in sclerotium grains were examined by SEM, TEM, and EDX analyses. A spherical fraction with a diameter of 100 nm, which contained C and Al as the predominant elements, was recognized as the unit particle of the matrix of sclerotium grains. The Al polymorphs and the Si spherical structures found in the ignited grains were assumed to correspond to boehmite and opaline silica particles, respectively. SEMI analysis revealed the presence of a needle ball structure inside the hollow part of sclerotium grains. The relationship between the inner structure of sclerotium and biochemical processes of the host fungi was discussed.     

Surface-active properties of particle size fractions in two humic acids

The relationships between surface active properties and humic acid (HA) particle sizes were investigated. Two HAs from an Ando soil and a Brown forest soil were separated into 6 particle size fractions by gel permeation chromatography. Surface-active properties characterized by surface excess value (\gT mol cm^-2), cross-sectional surface area per molecule (A nm²), critical micelle concentration (CMC g L^-1), efficiency and effectiveness of water surface tension reduction were obtained by the measurement of the surface tension of HA solutions from different particle size fractions. For the HA from the Ando soil, except for the smallest particle size fraction, increasing particle size enhanced the efficiency of reduction of the water surface tension and decreased the CMC, while the effectiveness of reduction of the water surface tension was about the same. The surface activity of the HA from the Ando soil increased with increasing particle size. This phenomenon was similar to the surface activity of a homologous series of surfactants, which increased with increasing alkyl chain length. For the HA from the Brown forest soil, the smallest particle size fraction and three large fractions showed a high efficiency, namely a high surface activity. The smallest fraction from the Brown forest soil showed the highest efficiency and the lowest CMC value. In both HAs, the smallest particle size fraction showed exceptional surface-active properties compared with the other fractions and three fractions with large particle size showed a higher surface activity than other smaller fractions.     

Relationship between viscosity and molecular weight in an andosol humic acid

Viscosity and molecular weight of particle size fractions obtained from an Andosol humic acid (HA) were determined. Viscosity was determined both in solutions with and without the addition of 0.1 M NaCl (Cs 0.1 and Cs 0, respectively) at pH 7.0. Polyelectrolytic character was observed in the particle size fractions based on the changes in the concentration dependence of reduced viscosity with NaCI concentrations. The use of a Cs 0.1 solution was suitable for the determination of the values of intrinsic viscosity ([η]) of the particle size fractions. The [η] value increased with increasing weight average molecular weight ( M _w) determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and ranged from 4.3 to 12.9 X 10-3 (L g^-1) in the Cs 0 solution and from 3.5 to 6.6 × 10^-3 (L g^-1) in the Cs 0.1 solution. A linear relationship between [η] in the Cs 0.1 solution and M _w on a logarithmic scale, which was similar to the MarkHouwink equation, was observed. The value of the constant a calculated from the relationship, which reflected the polymer morphology, was 0.75 in the Cs 0.1 solution, and it corresponded to a polymer with flexible chains.     

Dietary β-alanine enhances brain, but not muscle, carnosine and anserine concentrations in broilers

Carnosine (β‐alanyl‐L‐histidine) and its derivative anserine (β‐alanyl‐1‐methyl‐L‐histidine) are present in high concentrations in the muscle and brain of chickens. They are known as antioxidants and putative neurotransmitters in the brain. If administration of β‐alanine (β‐Ala), one of the constituents of carnosine, could increase the concentrations of these dipeptides in the brain and muscles, it could improve brain function and increase the commercial value of the meat in chickens. As an early step in investigating this hypothesis, in the present study, the effect of dietary β‐Ala on these dipeptide concentrations in the brain, Musculus pectoralis superficialis, Musculus pectoralis profundus and Musculus biceps femoris was investigated in broilers. Four‐week‐old broilers were given a commercial diet or diet containing 0.5, 1 or 2%β‐Ala for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, concentrations of both dipeptides were increased in the brain, while taurine concentration was decreased. In the muscles, concentrations of these dipeptides were unchanged. These results indicate that dietary β‐Ala might influence brain function, but is ineffective in increasing the concentrations of carnosine and anserine in the muscles of broilers.     

Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis infection in living raccoon dogs assessed by hematological examination

The prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in free-ranging raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) was examined in the southeast region of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, using a rapid immunomigration (RIM) test kit. Between April 2007 and March 2010, we examined 108 raccoon dogs rescued and housed by the Kanazawa Zoological Garden. D. immitis infection was found in 8 (7.4%) raccoon dogs. This is the first report to reveal the prevalence of D. immitis infection in living raccoon dogs. The prevalence of the infection was lower than previously reported values obtained on postmortem examination. One reason might be that the present study included young raccoon dogs infected with immature worms. Significant high-risk areas of D. immitis infection in the raccoon dogs were not observed.     

Horizontal distribution of main hydroxyanthraquinones in soil

Six hydroxyanthraquinones (chrysophanol, chrysotalunin, microcarpin, physcion, 7,7′-biphyscion, and hinakurin) present in the samples of 26 surface soils were quantitatively analyzed, and the contents of HAQs in soil types were compared. The soil samples had been collected from 19 Umbric Andosols and seven Distric Cambisols, and the Andosols were further subdivided into those with allophanic soil materials (exchange acidity (y ₁<5 mL 100 g^-l) and nonallophanic soil materials (y _l≧5 mL 100 g^-l). The following results were obtained. (1) It was determined quantitatively for the first time that chrysotalunin was the major hydroxyanthraquinone in many soils. (2) The amounts of major dime ric hydroxyanthraquinones (chrysotalunin, 7,7′-biphyscion, and microcarpin) in non-allophanic soil materials were significantly larger than those in allophanic soil materials. As the contents of chrysotalunin in Andosols were positively correlated with y _l, which was reported to be positively correlated with aluminum toxicity and exchangeable aluminum in soil, it is suggested that toxic aluminum may be involved in the production of soil hydroxyanthraquinones.