Syphacia (Syphacia) maxomyos sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from Maxomys spp. (Rodentia: Muridae) from Sulawesi and Sumatra,Indonesia

The present report describes Syphacia (Syphacia) maxomyos sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from two species of spiny rats, Maxomys musschenbroekii from Sulawesi and M. whiteheadi from Sumatra. It is characterized by a cephalic plate extending laterally with dorsoventral constriction and stumpy eggs with an operculum rim reaching pole. It is readily distinguishable by the former feature from all of hitherto known representatives of this genus in Indonesia, but it resembles parasites in Murini and Hydromyni rodents in continental Asia and Sahul. This is the first Syphacia species distributed in both the Sunda Shelf and Sulawesi with the exception of Syphacia muris, a cosmopolitan pinworm found in rodents of the of genus Rattus. It is surmised that S. maxomyos is specific to Maxomys and that it was introduced to Sulawesi by dispersal of some Maxomys from the Sunda Shelf.     

Energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) balance of logging residues as alternative energy resources: system analysis based on the method of a life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis

Using the method of a life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis, the energy balance and the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission of logging residues from Japanese conventional forestry as alternative energy resources were analyzed over the entire life cycle of the residues. The fuel consumption for forestry machines was measured in field experiments for harvesting and transporting logging residues at forestry operating sites in Japan. In addition, a total audit of energy consumption was undertaken. It involved an assessment of materials, construction, and the repair and maintenance of forestry machines as well as the costs associated with an energy-conversion plant. As a result, the ratio of energy output to input was calculated to be 5.69, indicating that the system examined in this study could be feasible as an energy production system. The CO₂ emission per MWh_e (e: electricity) of the biomass-fired power generation plant was calculated to be 61.8kgCO₂/MWh_e, while that of coal-fired power generation plants in Japan is 960kgCO₂/MWh_e. Therefore, the reduction in the amount of CO₂ emission that would result from replacing coal with biomass for power generation by as much as 3.0 million dry-t/year of logging residues in Japan was estimated to be 1.66 million tCO₂/year, corresponding to 0.142% of the national CO₂ emission. This study provides evidence that Japan could reduce its domestic CO₂ emission by using logging residues as alternative energy resources.     

Strength properties of glued laminated timber made from edge-glued laminae II: bending,tensile, and compressive strength of glued laminated timber

The purpose of this study was to investigate the strength properties of glued laminated timber composed of edge-glued laminae and to investigate the influence of edge gluing on the strength properties. Glued laminated timber composed of multiple-grade laminae (symmetrical composition, strength grade E95-F270, 10 laminations) was produced from karamatsu (Larix kaempferi) edge-glued laminae according to the Japanese Agricultural Standard. The bending, tensile, and compressive strengths of the glued laminated timber were measured. The average bending, tensile, and compressive strengths were 33.4, 24.5, and 35.9 MPa, respectively, and these values are almost equal to those of glued laminated timber composed of karamatsu single-piece laminae. It was determined that finger-joints and knots in the edge-glued laminae played a significant role in the failure of specimens. However, the use of glued edge-joints did not appear to affect the failure of specimens.     

Simple method for synthesizing phenolicβ-O-4 dilignols

A modified synthetic method for phenolic-O-4 lignin substructure model dimers was developed involving protection of the phenolic hydroxyl group of acetophenons with benzoyl chloride, bromination with 4-dimethylaminopyridiniumbromide perbromide, condensation with phenols in the presence of 18-crown-6-ether, condensation with paraformaldehyde, reduction with NaBH₄ and debenzoylation. This method results in shorter reaction times and increasing yields without the application of strict anhydrous and drastic conditions or chloric solvents. This alternative route could be applied to the-O-4 dilignol syntheses of four combinations of guaiacyl and syringyl derivatives.     

Nitrogen fertilization affects yields and storage compound contents in seeds of field-grown soybeans cv Enrei (Glycine max. L) and its super-nodulating mutant En-b0-1 through changing N2 fixation activity of the plants

ABSTRACT

We compared the protein and oil contents, seed yields, and natural abundance of ¹⁵N (σ¹⁵N) of seeds from the plants of the cultivar Enrei, which has moderate nodulating ability (Enrei) with those of its two near-isogenic lines (NILs), a super-nodulating genotype of Enrei, i.e., En-b0-1, and a non-nodulating genotype of Enrei, i.e., En1282. Plants of these three genotypes were grown on four types of field plots with different types of urea coated slow-release nitrogen (N) fertilizers (CUSLNFs) which delivered N in different manners during plant growth . The seed yield of the En1282 plants was similar to that of the Enrei plants but much greater than that of the En-b0-1 plants when the plants were grown on the field to which a CUSLNF with a long lifespan was applied. The amounts of protein per seed were positively correlated with those of oil per seed in the case of En1282 plants irrespective of the field N conditions. The seed protein contents were proportional to the seed weight in both En1282 and Enrei plants. Such a relationship was not observed in the En-b0-1 plants, and the protein and oil contents in the seeds of En-b0-1 plants were negatively correlated with each other. These observations suggested that the N supply to maturing seeds was a key to the protein contents in the En1282 and Enrei plants and that the C supply to maturing seeds was a key to the protein contents in the En-b0-1 plants. The comparison of the σ¹⁵N values, protein contents, and seed yields of seeds from En1282 plants suggested that the Enrei plants assimilated considerable amounts of N from the soil during the late plant growth. We concluded that high N₂ fixation activity depressed the amounts of oil per seed and changed the protein and oil contents in soybean seeds.     

Curing and degradation processes of cement-bonded particleboard by supercritical CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> treatment

This study examined the effects of supercritical CO₂ treatment on the curing and degradation of cementbonded particleboard (CBP). Significant correlations were found between the supercritical CO₂ treatment and mechanical properties during both curing and degradation processes. Internal bond (IB) strength, modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) values of CBP achieved their maximums by supercritical CO₂ treatment in 30 min. These conditions indicated that supercritical CO₂ treatment accelerates the curing process rapidly and enhances the mechanical properties of the CBP. However, these values decreased in treatment from 60 min to 10 days and had a negative effect on board performance, indicating that supercritical CO₂ treatment over a longer time span leads to degradation of the CBP. Furthermore, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermal gravimetry (TG-DTG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation clarified that the mechanisms of degradation are directly affected by the mineralogical composition of the system, in par ticular, by the calcium carbonate content as caused by carbonation.     

Nitrocapsanthin and nitrofucoxanthin, respective products of capsanthin and fucoxanthin reaction with peroxynitrite

The in vitro reactivity of capsanthin (1) and fucoxanthin (2) with peroxynitrite was investigated, and the reaction products produced by scavenging with peroxynitrite were analyzed. (14'Z)-Nitrocapsanthin (3) and 12-nitrocapsanthin (4) were isolated from the products of the reaction of capsanthin with peroxynitrite. Similarly, (14Z)-15-nitrofucoxanthin (5), (11Z)-11-nitrofucoxanthin (6), and (14Z,9'Z)-15-nitrofucoxanthin (7) were obtained from the reaction of peroxynitrite reaction with fucoxanthin. Capsanthin and fucoxanthin inhibited the nitration of tyrosine by peroxynitrite. Furthermore, nitrocapsanthins (3 and 4) and nitrofucoxanthins (5 and 6) exhibited an inhibitory effect on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation in Raji cells and an antiproliferative effect on human pancreatic carcinoma. Moreover, nitrocapsanthins (3 and 4) inhibited carcinogensis of mouse skin tumors initiated by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBN).     

Analysis of problems in certain soils of the Kyushu Okinawa region for suitable management

ABSTRACT

Soils in the Kyushu Okinawa region with problematic properties for agriculture were studied and the following findings were obtained. 1) Mahji-soils in Nansei Islands became very hard with desiccation under high-pH conditions; therefore, soil treatments that cause alkalinization such as overliming should be avoided. 2) In contrast to the generally favorable effects of organic matter on the physical properties of soil, the application of manure compost at 100 Mg ha^?1 to Mahji-soils increased the degree of hardening with desiccation. 3) Application of clinker ash (coarse fraction of coal ash) at 10% (wt/wt) mitigated the hardening and shrinkage of Jagaru, a heavy-textured gray soil found on Nansei Island. 4) Non-allophanic surface horizons with strong acidity were widely distributed in the Andosol area of central Kyushu, covering at least 340 km². These horizons showed a relatively large ratio of carbon per Al_p (pyrophosphate extractable aluminum) and high content of allophane, and began forming around 2500 years ago. 5)Some Andosols in Kyushu showed remarkable hardness. They are divided into two types, according to the degree of weathering and hardening characteristics, and the different measures required to improve each type. 6) An experimental method for determining nitrate retention by soils was developed, and factors influencing the nitrate retention of Andosols were elucidated using this method. 7) A method for micromorphological observation of pelletized manure compost (PC) grains was developed. This method revealed that the internal microstructure of PC did not change in 18 months after compost application, whereas the volume of the grains decreased with the formation of voids around them. 8) As an indicator of soil acidity concerning the countermeasure for common scab, pH(KCl) can easily be used instead of exchangeable acidity y_1, which is laborious to determine. The maximally simplified pH(KCl) measurement method can be carried out by farmers in the field.     

Yield estimation of 1-year-old asparagus grown using rootstock-planting forcing culture

Rootstock-planting forcing culture was developed in asparagus to harvest spears even during the seasons when the plants become dormant, but the demand for them high. In this study, cumulative hours during which the air temperature remained lower than 5°C, i.e. chilling hours (CHs), were calculated to determine dormancy breakage for asparagus cultures. We also measured CIELab colour values for cut stems immediately before rootstock digging, and determined whether they could be substituted and/or compensated for CHs while evaluating asparagus plant productivity in different low-temperature backgrounds, and obtained regression equations for yield estimation. Asparagus seedlings were cultivated in seven different regions across Japan and brought to the study site for harvesting. Our regression equation based on CHs and rootstock weight for yield estimation had relatively high fitness (adjusted R² = 0.5795). The colour values of cut stalks at rootstock digging can also be used to evaluate their productivity. These values can be useful in regions where CHs cannot be determined, although their effectiveness was slightly lower than that of CHs of areas adjacent to the study sites.