A Madden-Julian oscillation event realistically simulated by a global cloud-resolving model

A Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is a massive weather event consisting of deep convection coupled with atmospheric circulation, moving slowly eastward over the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Despite its enormous influence on many weather and climate systems worldwide, it has proven very difficult to simulate an MJO because of assumptions about cumulus clouds in global meteorological models. Using a model that allows direct coupling of the atmospheric circulation and clouds, we successfully simulated the slow eastward migration of an MJO event. Topography, the zonal sea surface temperature gradient, and interplay between eastward- and westward-propagating signals controlled the timing of the eastward transition of the convective center. Our results demonstrate the potential making of month-long MJO predictions when global cloud-resolving models with realistic initial conditions are used.     

Endosperm starch properties in several wheat cultivars preferred for Japanese noodles

To characterize superior genotypes for the white Japanese noodle, endosperm starch properties including amylose content, flour peak viscosity and starch-granule bound Waxy (Wx) proteins were compared using several cultivars preferred for noodle manufacture. Amylose contents from three seasons trials and flour peak viscosity from two seasons trials varied among cultivars. Low amylose content was a common property in the noodle cultivars, whereas a high peak viscosity was not always the case. When the Wx proteins were analyzed by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a clear reduction in the amount of low molecular weight protein or a lack of the high molecular weight protein occurred in the noodle cultivars. Segregation of Wx proteins was detectable in a B₁F₁ population, indicating that the Wx protein analysis has a potential as a surrogate of selecting low amylose genotypes in early generations.     

Food sources for the bivalve Corbicula japonica in the foremost fishing lakes estimated from stable isotope analysis

ABSTRACT:   Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in tissue of the bivalve corbicula Corbicula japonica and particulate organic matter (POM) were measured in Lake Jusan, Lake Ogawara and Lake Shinji, which are the foremost fishing grounds for the corbicula in Japan, to determine their food sources. The bivalves in Lake Ogawara and Lake Shinji showed enriched isotope composition, while those in Lake Jusan were depleted. In addition, the difference in the isotope ratios between the sampling sites was remarkable in Lake Jusan. Chlorophyll concentrations were significantly higher in Lake Ogawara and Lake Shinji than those in the inflow rivers, although that in Lake Jusan was equivalent to that in the river. Residence time of river water was estimated at 1 day, 455 days and 88 days in Lake Jusan, Lake Ogawara and Lake Shinji, respectively. These values indicate that the bivalves in Lake Ogawara and Lake Shinji assimilate autochthonous phytoplankton, while those in Lake Jusan assimilate terrestrial matter in the upper reaches and marine phytoplankton in the lower reaches because of low production in the lake.     

Ovicidal activity of juvenile hormone mimics in the bean bug,Riptortus pedestris

Insect juvenile hormone (JH) mimics (JHMs) are known to have ovicidal effects if applied to adult females or eggs. Here, we examined the effects of exogenous JHMs on embryonic development of the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris. The expression profiles of JH early response genes and JH biosynthetic enzymes indicated that JH titer was low for the first 3 days of the egg stage and increased thereafter. Application of JH III skipped bisepoxide (JHSB₃) or JHM on Day 0 eggs when JH titer was low caused reduced hatchability, and the embryos mainly arrested in mid- or late embryonic stage. Application of JHMs on Day 5 eggs also resulted in an arrest, but this was less effective compared with Day 0 treatment. Interestingly, ovicidal activity of synthetic JHMs was much lower than that of JHSB₃. This study will contribute to developing novel insecticides that are selective among insect species.     

Analysis of blood clotting with the total thrombus analysis system in healthy dogs

To date, coagulation tests are unable to reflect in vivo coagulation status in the same system, including platelet function, fibrin clot formation, and whole blood flow. The Total Thrombus Analysis System (T-TAS), which is a microfluidic assay that simulates conditions in vivo, measures whole blood flow at defined shear rates under conditions designed to assess platelet function (PL-chip) or coagulation and fibrin clot formation (AR-chip). The T-TAS records occlusion start time, occlusion time, and area under the curve. We evaluated this test in healthy control dogs. We also investigated the effect in vivo of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and the effect in vitro of an anticoagulation drug (dalteparin; low-molecular-weight heparin; LMWH). The CV of the AUC of both chips was good (CVs of 6.45% [PL] and 1.57% [AR]). The inhibition of platelet function by ASA was evident in the right-shift in the PL test pressure curve. The right-shift in the AR test pressure curves showed that the administration of LMWH inhibited both platelets and the coagulation cascade. The T-TAS may be useful in the evaluation of canine blood coagulation.     

Morphological reproductive characteristics of testes and fertilization capacity of cryopreserved sperm after the Fukushima accident in raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, we have established an archive system of livestock and wild animals from the surrounding ex-evacuation zone. Wildlife within the alert zone have been exposed to low-dose-rate (LDR) radiation for a long continuous time. In this study, we analysed the morphological characteristics of the testes and in vitro fertilization (IVF) capacity of cryopreserved sperm of racoons from the ex-evacuation zone of the FDNPP accident. The radioactivity of caesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry, and the measured radioactivity concentration was 300–6,630 Bq/kg in the Fukushima raccoons. Notably, normal spermatogenesis was observed in the seminiferous tubules of the testes, with the germinal epithelium composed of a spermatogenic cell lineage with no evident ultrastructural alterations; freeze-thawing sperm penetration ability was confirmed using the interspecific zona pellucida-free mouse oocytes IVF assays. This study revealed that the chronic and LDR radiation exposure associated with the FDNPP accident had no adverse effect on the reproductive characteristics and functions of male raccoons.