Effect of intermittent heat treatment on crystallinity in wood cellulose

The effect of intermittent heat treatment on cellulose crystallites in wood was studied to evaluate quantitatively the changes of crystallinity induced by intermittent and continuous heating. The changes in crystallinity were found to be strongly affected by the intermittent heat treatment. The increased crystallinity, the width of the crystals, and the piezoelectric properties were the same for the first intermittent heating as for continuous heating. Further intermittent heating for the same time duration and temperature had no effect on the above properties, probably due to the stopping of the thermal reaction during the interval. Our results suggested that intermittent heat treatment has certain critical cooling temperatures that stop the thermal reaction and are closely related to the duration of the interval. Samples once exposed to a certain duration of heat treatment and then cooled need more time, about twice that of the first duration of intermittent heating compared with continuous heating, to reach maximum crystallinity in wood cellulose.     

Furazolidone induces the activity of microsomal enzymes that metabolize furazolidone in chickens

The nitrofuran antibacterial agent furazolidone (FZ) is still used in veterinary medicine in some countries in the Middle and Far East. The present study aimed to show the effect of FZ on the activity of microsomal enzymes that metabolize FZ, and to identify the enzyme that contributes to FZ metabolism in chickens. Wistar rats and White Leghorn chickens were administered FZ once a day for four consecutive days. FZ metabolism was accelerated by FZ administration in chickens, but not in rats. The elevation of FZ metabolism coincided with the induction of NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) activity in chickens, but such induction was not observed in rats. FZ metabolizing activities were inhibited in the presence of a CPR inhibitor (diphenylene iodonium chloride) but not by the addition of archetypal cytochrome P450 inhibitors (CO or n-octylamine). The preset study concluded that FZ accelerated its own metabolism in the chicken by induction of the activity of CPR.     

α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone directly increases the plasma calcitonin level and involves calcium metabolism in goldfish

International Aquatic Research - The effects of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) on calcium metabolism were examined with goldfish. The scales on the left side of goldfish bodies...     

Degradation of the urban ecosystem function due to soil sealing: involvement in the heat island phenomenon and hydrologic cycle in the Tokyo metropolitan area

ABSTRACT

We reviewed the role of the soil function of urban green space in mitigating the heat island phenomenon and urban flood damage, which are important issues in the modern urban environment. Urban sprawl has progressed remarkably in the southern part of the Kanto District of Japan, especially since the 1960s. The grassland/bare land area ratio in the center of Tokyo was more than 70% in the 1930s but less than 40% in 1990. On the other hand, the paving area ratio was ~2% in the 1930s but more than 10 times that amount in 1990. Thus, cities, such as Tokyo, in the southern part of the Kanto District have been significantly sealed soil throughout time, and the heat island phenomenon has intensified. Urban green space helps to mitigate the heat island phenomenon based on the water retention and heat dissipation function of plants and unsealed soil. A cool island effect was reported during summer days in urban green spaces in Tokyo. The mitigation of the heat island effect seems to be large, even when conditions, such as the park area, land use, afforestation area ratio, and soil type, differ. Soil sealing and compaction affect urban flooding by hindering the penetration of rainwater and increasing surface runoff. According to a survey in the hilly basin (1 km²) of the western part of Tokyo, the proportion of farm- and forestland decreased due to development. The urban area increased from ~10% in the 1970s to ~60% in the 1980s. As a result, the flood arrival time shortened. Green spaces have a high rainwater permeability. The forest soil structure and presence of O horizons further increase the permeability. By promoting permeability to the underground, it is possible to reduce and delay the water runoff on the land surface. To develop urban green space as green infrastructure, it is necessary to accumulate more information on the current situation and agenda for the future of urban green space.     

Improved porcine model for Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli infection by deprivation of colostrum feeding in newborn piglets

Porcine edema disease (ED) is a toxemia caused by enteric infection with Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e)‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC). ED occurs most frequently during the weaning period and is manifested as emaciation associated with high mortality. In our experimental infection with a specific STEC strain, we failed to cause the suppression of weight gain in piglets, which is a typical symptom of ED, in two consecutive experiments. Therefore, we examined the effects of deprivation of colostrum on the sensitivity of newborn piglets to STEC infection. Neonatal pigs were categorized into two groups: one fed artificial milk instead of colostrum in the first 24 h after birth and then returned to the care of their mother, the other breastfed by a surrogate mother until weaning. The oral challenge with 10¹¹ colony‐forming units of virulent STEC strain on days 25, 26 and 27 caused suppression of weight gain and other ED symptoms in both groups, suggesting that colostrum deprivation from piglets was effective in enhancing susceptibility to STEC. Two successive STEC infection experiments using colostrum‐deprived piglets reproduced this result, leading us to conclude that this improved ED piglet model is more sensitive to STEC infection than the previously established models.     

Improvement of simple impedance tomography method in RF range for estimating moisture distribution in squared timbers

Improvement of the simple tomography method for estimating moisture distribution in squared timbers was conducted by using impedance measurement in the RF range at 250 kHz. The local impedance in the horizontal and vertical directions was measured during natural drying. An inverse procedure using a trial-and-error method was used to reconstitute the cross-sectional moisture distribution from the surface impedance measurement. Two essential corrections for the spatial heterogeneity of the electric field between electrodes and for the calculation error due to the algorithm of the trial-and-error method were introduced to improve the accuracy of the reconstitution of the moisture distribution. The reconstituted moisture distribution matched well that determined by the oven-dry method.     

Attaining inter-subgeneric hybrids in fragrant azalea breeding and the inheritance of organelle DNA

Inter-subgeneric hybrids were successfully obtained in reciprocal cross combinations between evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron nakaharae and its hybrids) and fragrant deciduous azaleas (R. arborescens and R. viscosum) for the purpose of fragrant evergreen azalea breeding. Nuclear and organelle DNA of these hybrids was investigated using PCR-RFLP markers. Viable hybrid seedlings have nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) inherited biparentally, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the seed parent, and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) from the deciduous azalea, regardless of cross combination. These results suggest that the chloroplast genome from deciduous azaleas and the nuclear genome from evergreen azaleas are compatible in viable hybrid progenies.     

Comparison of flower color with anthocyanin composition patterns in evergreen azalea

In evergreen azaleas, major anthocyanins were detected from petals of wild species and cultivars by HPLC analysis. Depending on flower color, all samples were divided into three groups: red, purple or white, using the Japan color standard for horticultural plants. The chromatic components a* and b* values of red group samples showed a convergent distribution, whereas those of purple group samples showed a wider distribution. According to the HPLC analysis, red group samples had two to four major anthocyanins, and those of the purple group had two to six major ones. In contrast, no anthocyanins were detected in the white group petals, although anthocyanidins were detected. These results suggest that the anthocyanin constitution of the purple group flowers is more varied than that of the red group flowers, and this wider variety among purple flowers contributes to extending the diversity of flower color in evergreen azalea.