Wear of tungsten carbide tipped circular saws in cutting particleboard: Effect of carbide grain size on wear characteristics

Summary In order to study the wear of tungsten carbide tipped circular saws, three kinds of carbide tips (fine, medium and coarse grained ones) were employed, when sawing particleboards. The saw with coarse grained carbide tips showed the longest working life, while the fine-grained carbide tipped saw retained its usefulness for only a short period of sawing. In an experiment using a saw with all three kinds of carbide tips, it was also confirmed that the fine grained tips wore most and the coarse least. From the observations of the worn tips, it was found that the wear boundary on the clearance face was quite distinct for these tips, although for the fine grained one it was remarkably indented. There were many striations on the wear surface of the fine grained tip, but they scarcely appeared on those of the other two tips. The wear mechanism and the wearing process of the carbide tips are discussed.This paper was presented at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society at Tokyo, April, 1972The authors wish to express their appreciation to Dr. T. Kawakita, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., for supplying the carbide tips and to Mr. M. Hiraiwa, Nittokukan Saw Mfg. Co., Ltd., for manufacturing the saws. They are also greatly indebted to Dr. H. Saiki, Wood Structure Laboratory, Kyoto University, for taking scanning electron micrographs and for his valuable advice. This investigation was supported in part by Grants in Aid for Scientific Research in 1972 and 1973 from the Ministry of Education, Japan     

Time-action profiles of insulin detemir in normal and diabetic dogs

Insulin detemir is the first member of a new class of long-acting soluble insulin analogues capable of maintaining the basal level of insulin in humans. In this preliminary study, we investigated the time-action profiles of insulin detemir in normal and diabetic dogs since the use of insulin detemir in canines has yet to be determined. Eight animals were used in our study (three normal and five insulin dependent diabetic dogs). Time-action profiles of insulin detemir were monitored in normal dogs using an artificial pancreas apparatus under euglycemic condition. Blood sampling was performed at 2 h intervals post feeding, with insulin administration, in insulin dependent diabetic dogs. Time-action profiles of insulin detemir, in normal dogs, demonstrated that insulin detemir is a long-lasting preparation similar to what has been observed in humans. A pronounced peak was detected at 8–10 h while the glucose-lowering effect lasted for over 24 h after insulin injection, thus illustrating its longer prolonged peak activity time. Furthermore, intensive glycemic control was achieved with insulin detemir in insulin dependent diabetic dogs, using a lower dosage than NPH insulin and insulin glargine therapeutic doses. Our results indicate that insulin detemir has a greater effect than either NPH insulin or insulin glargine in canines, requiring a lower dose than either insulin preparation. However, using insulin detemir also carries a higher risk of inducing hypoglycemia as compared to either NPH insulin or insulin glargine.     

Upregulation of P-glycoprotein activity in porcine oocytes and granulosa cells during in vitro maturation

Multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein (Pgp), coded by the multidrug resistance type I (MDR1/ABCB1) gene, is an energy-dependent efflux pump and functions in systemic detoxification processes. In the present study, the expression and development of Pgp were evaluated in the porcine oocyte during in vitro maturation to compare with the expression of Pgp in cultured granulosa cells. As revealed by Western blotting using anti-human Pgp antibody, a single band of Pgp with an apparent molecular size of 170 kDa was detected in the germinal vesicle stage oocytes. The surface of GV oocyte was positively labeled by immunostaining. In the second metaphase oocyte after culture in the maturation medium containing porcine follicular fluid and human chorionic gonadotropin, the level of Pgp was increased. The elevation of the oocyte Pgp level was associated with increased activity of rhodamine 6G efflux from the oocyte, and its efflux was suppressed by verapamil, an inhibitor of Pgp. Removal of porcine follicular fluid from the maturation medium resulted in little alteration of the oocyte Pgp level. Expression of Pgp was also elevated in cultured porcine granulosa cells during cell maturation when stimulated with follicle-stimulating hormone or luteinizing hormone for 24-48 h. Collectively, the present results indicate that the transporting activity of P-glycoprotein upregulates in porcine oocytes and granulosa cells during exposure to gonadotropins or prior to ovulation.     

Growth characteristics, stress-wave velocity, and Pilodyn penetration of 15 clones of 12-year-old Tectona grandis trees planted at two different sites in Indonesia

Tree improvement programs for teak (Tectona grandis) have mainly focused on breeding of trees with superior growth characteristics. However, improvement in wood quality should be included in breeding programs for high yield and high quality timber. In the present study, growth characteristics [stem diameter (D), tree height (H), and bole volume (V)], stress-wave velocity (SWV), and Pilodyn penetration (Py) were measured for 15 clones of 12-year-old teak trees planted at two different sites in Indonesia to clarify the variations in tree growth characteristics, SWV, and Py among clones, their repeatability, interaction between genotype and environment, and correlations between measured characteristics. Significant differences of all measured characteristics were found among 15 clones at both sites. Their repeatability showed relatively moderate to high values in both sites. These results indicate that these characteristics are closely related to genetic factors. Significant interaction between genotype and environment was found in all measured characteristics. In addition, SWV and Py showed lower interaction between genotype and environment than growth characteristics. No significant correlation was found between growth characteristics and SWV. These results suggest that wood properties and growth characteristics of teak trees can be improved by application of an appropriate tree breeding program.     

Serological differentiation of Brucella-vaccinated and -infected domesticated animals by the agar gel immunodiffusion test using Brucella polysaccharide in mongolia

To investigate Brucella infection in cattle, sheep, goat, reindeer and yak in Mongolia, serological reactions of Brucella-infected and -vaccinated domestic animals were compared by the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test with a polysaccharide (poly-B) of the B. Abortus strain S-19. The sensitivity and specificity were compared with conventional serological tests that are commonly used in Mongolia, such as the rose Bengal test, the tube agglutination test and the compliment fixation test. A total of 73.3, 100, 100, 95.8 and 61.9% of the sera from suspected cattle, yak, goat, sheep and reindeer, respectively, that were positive in the compliment fixation test, were also positive in the AGID test. Sera from vaccinated cattle, sheep and goat were positive over 90% by conventional tests 3 months after vaccination, but were negative by the AGID. These results suggest that the AGID test may be useful to differentiate infected and vaccinated animals in the field.     

Effect of air temperature after heading of rice on the arsenic concentration of grain

ABSTRACT

High air temperatures during the grain-filling stage of rice (Oryza sativa L.) decrease grain yield and quality. Temperatures above the optimal growth temperature impair dry matter production due to reduced grain size. Since the arsenic (As) concentration in grain is determined by the As accumulation and the grain weight, we focused on the effect of air temperature before and after rice heading on the As concentration in grain. Rice plants have been planted in the same field every year since 1974 with a similar set-up and water management. We analyzed the As concentrations in stored rice grains produced in 1995–2014 and evaluated the possible relationships with the meteorological data for the associated production year. The average daily mean air temperatures (DMTs) from 2 weeks after the heading day to 4 weeks after the heading day were significantly correlated with the inorganic As concentrations in the grains, whereas there was no significant correlation between the grain As concentration and the average DMT during 1 week after the heading day or 3 weeks before the heading day. These findings indicate that high air temperature is more effective at increasing As in grain in the late ripening stage of rice than before the ripening stage or in the early ripening stage. Further experiments are necessary to clarify why As concentrations in grain increase when high air temperatures occur in the late ripening stage of rice.     

Wood decaying properties of the termite mushroom <Emphasis Type="Italic">Termitomyces eurrhizus</Emphasis>

Four strains of the termite mushroom Termitomyces eurrhizus collected in Japan were surveyed for their wood decaying properties in three softwood and two hardwood species, in comparison with the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor and the brown-rot fungus Fomitopsis palustris. All strains of T. eurrhizus degraded only the surfaces of the wood samples, and differences in mass-loss rates between heartwood and sapwood were generally not significant. Higher mass-loss rates were generally obtained in softwood than in hardwood. The results of chemical analyses of decayed wood samples indicated that T. eurrhizus does not have high lignin-degradation ability, even though it is categorized as a white-rot fungus. These results clearly suggest the unique physiological characteristics of T. eurrhizus.     

Possible role of central interleukins on the anorexigenic effect of lipopolysaccharide in chicks

1. The purpose of the present study was to determine if central interleukin-1β (IL1β), interleukin-6 (IL6) and interleukin-8 (IL8) affect feeding behaviour in chicks (Gallus gallus) and examine if central interleukins are related to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced anorexia.

2. Intra-abdominal (IA) injection of LPS significantly suppressed feeding behaviour and significantly increased mRNA expression of IL1β and IL8 in the diencephalon when compared to the control group, while IL6 tended to be increased.

3. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of 200 ng IL1β significantly decreased food intake at 60 min after the injection while IL6 and IL8 had no effect.

4. IA injection of these ILs (200 ng) had no effect on food intake in chicks.

5. ICV injection of 200 ng IL1β did not affect water intake and plasma corticosterone concentration, suggesting that central IL1β might not be related to the regulation of drinking behaviour and the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis.

6. The present study demonstrated that central IL1β but not IL6 and IL8 might be related to the inhibition of feeding in chicks.