Evaluating the durability of wood-based panels using internal bond strength results from accelerated aging treatments

In this study, the durability of wood-based panels was evaluated by comparing the internal bond (IB) strength retention after five different laboratory-based accelerated aging tests with the IB retention after 5 years of outdoor exposure in Shizuoka City. In each accelerated aging test, the IB retention of MDI-bonded panels showed high retention compared to other panels. Outdoor exposure in Shizuoka City resulted in an IB retention value for particleboard (PF) and oriented strandboard (aspen) of less than 10% after the 5-year exposure period. Medium-density fiberboards maintained their initial IB strength over the same period. Calculation of the mean IB retention for all board types allowed comparison of the severity of aging between the accelerated test methods and outdoor exposure. The ASTM six-cycle test method was the most severe among the standard treatment cycles applied.     

Growth and yield of self-compatible and hybrid common buckwheat lines pollinated with and without flies

Common buckwheat is a self-incompatible, insect-pollinated allogamous plant. This study examined growth and yield of the common buckwheat self-compatible and hybrid lines pollinated with and without flies. Self-compatible ‘IH3’, hybrid ‘IP2/IH3’, and standard self-incompatible ‘Kitawasesoba’ were used in field and pot experiments. Self-compatibility of ‘IH3’ was shown to be of high purity. Approximately 10% segregation of pin plants from ‘IP2/IH3’ was observed. The harvest index of ‘Kitawasesoba’ pollinated without flies was considerably lower than that pollinated with flies in both field and pot experiments. The harvest index values of ‘IH3’ and ‘IP2/IH3’ were hardly affected by the presence or absence of flies. The morphological traits of ‘IH3’ were significantly lower than those of the other two genotypes. Large differences in these traits between ‘IP2/IH3’ and ‘Kitawasesoba’ were not observed in either the field or pot experiments. The seed yield of ‘Kitawasesoba’ pollinated without flies tended to be lower than that pollinated with flies. The seed yield of ‘IP2/IH3’ tended to be higher than that of ‘IH3’. The hybrid line ‘IP2/IH3’ showed a high fertilization rate, which was nearly as high as that of ‘IH3’. Rate of fertilization and percentage of ripe seeds were higher in ‘IH3’ and ‘IP2/IH3’, wherein they were hardly affected by the presence or absence of flies, than in ‘Kitawasesoba’. The ‘IP2/IH3’ hybrid line will be useful for understanding the stable high-yielding ability of self-compatibility common buckwheat.     

Characterization of ethylene biosynthesis and its regulation during fruit ripening in kiwifruit,Actinidia chinensis ‘Sanuki Gold’

Ethylene biosynthesis in kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis ‘Sanuki Gold’ was characterized using propylene, an ethylene analog, and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an inhibitor of ethylene perception. In fruit harvested between a young stage (66 days after pollination) (DAP) and an early commercial harvesting stage (143 DAP), 2 days of exposure to propylene were sufficient to initiate ethylene biosynthesis while in fruit harvested at commercial harvesting stage (154 DAP), 4 days of propylene treatment were required. This observation suggests that response of ethylene biosynthesis to propylene treatment in kiwifruit declined with fruit maturity. Propylene treatment resulted in up-regulated expression of AC-ACO1, AC-ACO2, AC-SAM1 and AC-SAM2, prior to the induction of AC-ACS1 and ethylene production, confirming that AC-ACS1 is the rate limiting step in ethylene biosynthesis in kiwifruit. Treatment of fruit with more than 5 μL L^?1 of 1-MCP after the induction of ethylene production subsequently suppressed ethylene production and expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes. Treatment of fruit with 1-MCP at harvest followed with propylene treatment delayed the induction of ethylene production and AC-ACS1 expression for 5 days. These observations suggest that in ripening kiwifruit, ethylene biosynthesis is regulated by positive feedback mechanism and that 1-MCP treatment at harvest effectively delays ethylene production by 5 days.     

The influence of rearing conditions on the physical growth of captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

To clarify the influence of rearing conditions on the growth of various body parts of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), two groups reared under different conditions, i.e., a group born and reared in open enclosures (Enclosure group) and another consisting of macaques born and reared in cages (Caged group), were somatometrically analyzed. Somatometric data on 36 measures of various body parts were collected from 77 males and 92 females. Growth in many body parts was smaller in the Caged group than in the Enclosure group. Body parts that exhibited large incremental increases were more sensitive to differences in rearing space at the infantile growth stage in both sexes. Recovery from delayed growth at the pubertal growth stage was found in many body parts. However, the size of some locomotor elements such as the wrist and hand, and ankle and foot strongly reflected limitations of space and changes due to this were irreversible. Females were more sensitive than males to such differences in rearing conditions. We conclude that open enclosures with ample rearing space are necessary for the innate growth of Japanese macaques to occur.     

Effects of estrous cycle on the mouse kidney morphology

Although mice kidney morphology shows various sexual dimorphisms, the effect of the estrous cycle has not previously been discussed. In this study, we investigated the effects of the estrous cycle on kidney morphology, including renin-positive areas, of female DBA/2 mice. No effects were confirmed in most of the histometrical parameters, however, the percentage of the renal corpuscles in which cuboidal epithelium covered under 50% of the parietal layer was significantly higher during estrus compared to that during anestrus.     

Effects of pre-feeding of a corn silage-based supplement on the feed intake, milk production and nitrogen utilization of grazing dairy cows

Four Holstein cows were used to determine the effect of timing of the feeding of a corn silage (CS)‐based supplement on the feed intake, milk production and nitrogen utilization of grazing dairy cows. The cows were fed the supplement 2 h before grazing (pre‐grazing) or immediately after grazing (post‐grazing). Cows were grazed for 5 h per day under a rotational grazing system. There was no difference in the herbage and total feed intake between treatments. The milk protein yield for pre‐grazing tended to be higher than that for post‐grazing, whereas the milk yield did not differ between treatments. The total nitrogen intake for pre‐grazing tended to be higher than that for post‐grazing (P = 0.06). There was no difference in the urinary nitrogen output between treatments, whereas the proportion of urinary nitrogen output : total nitrogen intake for pre‐grazing tended to be lower than that for post‐grazing (P = 0.06). The milk nitrogen output and nitrogen retention for pre‐grazing tended to be higher than that for post‐grazing (milk nitrogen, P = 0.06; nitrogen retention, P = 0.05). Nitrogen utilization of grazing dairy cows was improved by feeding a CS‐based supplement before grazing.     

Isolation and purification of a protective protein antigen of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

The rapid growth and high survival rate of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was determined using a culture of the bacterium in tryptic soy broth supplemented with 0.3% Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane and 0.1% Tween 80 (TT-TS broth). High concentrations of 64, 66 and 43 kDa proteins, which are associated with protection against E. rhusiopathiae infection in mice, were obtained by alkaline treatment of whole cells using 0.05-1 N NaOH. The supernatant of alkaline treated cells (alkaline extract; AE) was stable at alkaline or neutral pH. However, aggregates appeared at neutral pH in the absence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). A high yield of 64, 66 and 43 kDa proteins was obtained from strain Agata (serovar 5). The proteins were eluted from gel bands following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the AE from strain Agata and designated P64 and P43. The amounts of P64 and P43 isolated were 0.7 and 0.3 mg/16 g of wet bacteria, respectively. In a mouse protection test, 50% protective doses (PD50) of P64 and P43 were 0.58 and 0.63 microgram, respectively. Upon Western blotting of the AE, both anti-P64 and anti-P43 antibodies reacted with the 64 and 43 kDa proteins. From these results, it is suggested that P64 is the most effective protective antigen and that P43 (43 kDa protein) is a degradation product of P64. Therefore, the 64 kDa structural proteins are associated with the induction of a protective activity against E. rhusiopathiae infection in mice.     

Ultrastructure of the thyroid gland of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Follicular epithelium of the thyroid gland of the one-humped camel was examined by light and electron microscopy. It consisted of a single type of epithelial cell which varied from flattened to columnar in shape. Follicular epithelial cells were characterized by the presence of markedly dilated cisternae of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, well developed Golgi apparatus, abundant small vesicles (150 nm to 200 nm in diameter) in the apical cytoplasm, and electron-dense colloid droplets measuring from 250 nm to 1600 nm. Follicular epithelial cells frequently showed apocrine secretion into colloidal lumens. Apocrine protrusions with smooth surface were dome-like or balloon-like structures and contained a fine granular matrix. These findings indicate that the morphological features of the follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid gland of the camel are essentially similar to those of mammals except for the presence of apocrine secretion, which is unique to the camel.     

Morphology and size of embryos recovered from superovulated cows.

A total of 691 normal embryos were recovered from 183 superovulated donor cows on the 5th and 6th days after the first insemination, and were examined for their morphology and size in relation to their developmental stage. There was no significant difference in the thickness of the zona pellucida, the diameter of the cell mass, and the overall diameter of the embryos among zygotes, 2-, 4-, 8- and 16-cell embryos, and morulae. In the blastocyst stage, however, the diameter of the cell mass and the overall embryo diameter were significantly greater and the zona pellucida was significantly thinner than in the earlier-stage embryos. The volume of the blastomere significantly decreased from zygote to morula in proportion to the increase in the number of blastomeres. The volume of the cell mass of 2-cell embryos was decreased by about 30% compared with that of zygotes and no increase in the volume of the cell mass was observed during the progression from 2-cell stage to morula. The diameter of the cell mass and the overall diameter of morulae recovered on the 6th day after the first insemination were significantly greater than those of morulae recovered on the 5th day.