Effect of dietary fish oil on enhanced inflammation and disturbed lipophagy in white adipose tissue caused by a high fat diet

Fisheries Science - Fish oil containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) attenuates chronic inflammation found in obesity, leading to a reduction in insulin resistance. The effect of fish...     

Quantitative monitoring of changes in forest habitat connectivity following the great eastern Japan earthquake and tsunami

Landscape Ecology - In March of 2011 a huge tsunami devastated forest habitats along the coast of Sendai Bay in northeastern Japan. Evaluation and monitoring of the changes in habitat connectivity...     

Comparison of the effects of seed coating with tungsten and molybdenum compounds on seedling establishment rates of rice,wheat, barley,and soybean under flooded conditions

Seed coating with molybdenum compounds improves seedling establishment for rice, wheat, barley, and soybean when such seeds were sown under flooded conditions. Tungsten belongs to the same chemical group as molybdenum in the periodic table, and similar to molybdenum, inhibits the generation of sulfide ions. Here, the effects of tungsten and molybdenum containing seed coatings on seedling establishment under flooded conditions were compared using rice, wheat, barley, and soybean. In rice, the effects of tungsten compounds on seedling establishment varied. Tungsten trioxide had little effect but tungstic acid and ammonium phosphotungstate significantly improved seedling establishment when the amounts were at least .1–.2 mol W kg^?1. Although the effect of tungsten coating varied depending on the compound used, ammonium phosphotungstate, along with other tungsten compounds, improved seedling establishment in a manner comparable with that of molybdenum compounds. For wheat and barley, ammonium phosphotungstate treatment resulted in a significant increase in establishment that was only slightly less than the results observed using molybdenum compounds. Tungstic acid and ammonium phosphotungstate treatments improved soybean establishment in a significant manner that was comparable with those of molybdenum compounds. Collectively, these results suggest that tungsten compounds, as well as molybdenum compounds, improve seedling establishment under flooded conditions.     

Regression of venous thrombus after trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy for pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in a dog

An 8.0-kg 8-year-old male dachshund was presented for surgical treatment of suspected pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism with portal vein thrombosis. Advanced diagnostic imaging revealed a thrombus in the splenic and portal veins. For the portal vein thrombus, CT angiography showed an enhanced timing delay in the lateral right and caudate liver lobes. Blood tests showed a marked increase in the liver panel, including total bile acid. Brain MRI revealed a pituitary mass, suggesting pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. The mass was completely resected. The preoperative antithrombotic therapy of rivaroxaban (0.66 mg/kg, PO, once per day) and clopidogrel sulphate (1.66 mg/kg, PO, once per day) was continued postoperatively. Six months after resection of the pituitary mass, the thrombus had disappeared. Further studies are required to prove a causal association between the disappearance of the thrombus and the treatments provided.     

External factors that regulate movement in the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

Fisheries Science - There are two types of movement pattern in the Brachionidae (rotifers), swimming and attachment, although the factors that induce a shift between them have not been adequately...     

Overstory and shrub effects on natural regeneration processes in native Pinus radiata stands

Native Monterey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) stands on the Monterey peninsula have been significantly modified by natural and anthropogenic disturbances. The exclusion of fire and the introduction of pitch canker (caused by Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O’Donnell) created a need for the examination of these changing ecosystems with respect to regeneration, especially as these stands reach mature ages. We established 210 plots on 35 transects distributed throughout five stands in order to describe the current stand structure and quantify the extent and condition of regeneration. The results indicated that Monterey pine seedling establishment varies throughout the peninsula depending on percent canopy cover, duff and litter depth, and percent shrub cover while seedling growth is influenced by percent shrub cover. Canopy cover was also found to inversely influence shrub cover. Our study highlights the importance of understory removal to increase Monterey pine regeneration and seedling growth as canopy cover decreases, especially in areas where coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Nee) and poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum E. Greene) are abundant.     

Prediction of the buckling stress of intermediate wooden columns using the secant modulus

We made several buckling tests of wooden columns with intermediate slenderness ratios () and examined the empirical formulas. On the basis of the examination, we formulated an equation for predicting the buckling stress () of an intermediate wooden column. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) and buna (Japanese beech, Fagus crenata BI.) were used for the studies. A compressive load was applied on the specimen supported with pin ends, and the buckling stress was predicted by the tangent modulus theory and two empirical equations: those of Tetmajer and Newlin-Gahagan. The predicted - relations were compared with the test results, and the applicability of these predictions were examined. Based on the comparisons, we formulated an equation that can predict the - relations of materials with various stress-strain characters in the plastic strain range.     

Accuracy of shear properties of wood obtained by simplified Iosipescu shear test

We examined the accuracy of the shear properties of wood by the Iosipescu shear test using specimens whose shape was simplified. Quartersawn boards of sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) and shioji (Japanese ash,Fraxinus spaethiana Lingelsh.) were used. Two types of specimen for the Iosipescu shear test were compared: a standard specimen whose notch angle is 90° and a keyhole type specimen, which is more easily prepared than the standard type. The shear modulus, yield shear stress, and failure shear stress of the keyhole-type specimen were compared to those of the standard specimen. Shear stress analysis was conducted using the finite element method (FEM). The results obtained were as follows: (1) The failure pattern obtained by the simplified Iosipescu shear test was similar to that seen with the standard Iosipescu shear test. (2) The shear modulus, yield stress, and failure stress obtained by the simplified Iosipescu shear test coincided with those by the standard Iosipescu shear test. (3) The principal strain angle and principal stress angle of the simplified Iosipescu shear test were about 45°. (4) It is recognized that pure stress is applied to the strain-gauge regions in the simplified Iosipescu shear test, and it is expected that the shear properties are independent of the notch angle.     

Boron-Calcium Synergically Alleviates Aluminum Toxicity in Wheat Plants (Triticum aestivum L.)

The effects of B and Ca treatments on root growth, nutrient localization and cell wall properties in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) plants with and without Al stress were investigated. Seedlings were grown hydroponically in a complete nutrient solution for 7 d and then treated with B (0, 40 μM), Ca (0, 2,500 μM), and Al (0, 100 μM) in a 500 μM CaCl₂ solution for 8 d. The cell wall materials (CWM) were extracted with a phenol: acetic acid: water (2:1:1 w/v/v) solution and used for subsequent pectin extraction with trans -1,2-diami-nocyclohexane- N,N,N,N -tetraacetic acid (CDTA) and Na₂CO₃ solutions. Boron, Ca, and B + Ca treatments enhanced root growth by 19.5, 15.2, and 27.2%, respectively, compared to the control (pH 4.5). Calcium and B+Ca treatments enhanced root growth with Al stress by 43 and 54%, respectively, while B did not exert any effect. The amounts of CWM and pectin per unit of root fresh weight increased by Al treatment, whereas the Ca and B+Ca treatments slightly reduced the contents of these components. Seventy-four percent of total B, 69% of total Ca, and 85% of total Al were located in the cell wall in the B, Ca, and Al treatments, respectively and 32% of total B, 33% of total Ca, and 33% of total Al were located in the CDTA-soluble and Na₂CO₃-soluble pectin fractions. A more conspicuous localization of B was observed in the presence of Al. Aluminum treatment markedly decreased the Ca content in the cell wall as well as pectin fractions, mainly in the case of the CDTA-soluble pectin fraction. Boron + Ca treatment decreased the Al content in the cell wall and pectin fractions compared to the Ca treatment alone in the presence of Al. It is concluded that the B+Ca treatment enhanced root growth and, B and Ca uptake, and helped to maintain a normal B and Ca metabolism in the cell walls even in the presence of Al.