A sharp peak of the zero-temperature penetration depth at optimal composition in BaFe2(As(1-x)P(x))2

In a superconductor, the ratio of the carrier density, n, to its effective mass, m*, is a fundamental property directly reflecting the length scale of the superfluid flow, the London penetration depth, λ(L). In two-dimensional systems, this ratio n/m* (~1/λ(L)(2)) determines the effective Fermi temperature, T(F). We report a sharp peak in the x-dependence of λ(L) at zero temperature in clean samples of BaFe(2)(As(1)(-x)P(x))(2) at the optimum composition x = 0.30, where the superconducting transition temperature T(c) reaches a maximum of 30 kelvin. This structure may arise from quantum fluctuations associated with a quantum critical point. The ratio of T(c)/T(F) at x = 0.30 is enhanced, implying a possible crossover toward the Bose-Einstein condensate limit driven by quantum criticality.     

Comparison of the incorporation of oleate and ricinoleate into phosphatidylcholines and acylglycerols in soybean microsomes

The incorporations of oleate (endogenous) and ricinoleate (nonendogenous) into phosphatidylcholine (PC) and acylglycerol (AG) in immature soybean microsomes were compared. [(14)C]Oleate and [(14)C]ricinoleate were incubated individually with soybean microsomal preparations for up to 4 h, and molecular species of PC and AG incorporated were identified and quantified by HPLC. The activities of acyl CoA:lysoPC acyltransferase and phospholipase A(2) are in general not affected by the fatty acid (FA) chain at the sn-1 position. However, comparison between oleate and ricinoleate revealed that different FA incorporated at sn-2 of PC showed some different selection of the molecular species of lysoPC. The incorporation of [(14)C]ricinoleate into triacylglycerols (TAG) was slightly better than that of [(14)C]oleate and indicated that soybean was capable of incorporating ricinoleate into TAG when ricinoleate can be produced endogenously in a transgenic soybean. The incorporation of FA into TAG in soybean microsomes was much slower than that in castor microsomes.     

Comparison of the total phenolic and ascorbic acid content of freeze-dried and air-dried marionberry,strawberry, and corn grown using conventional,organic, and sustainable agricultural practices

Secondary phenolic metabolites play an important role in plant defense mechanisms, and increasing evidence indicates that many are important in human health. To date, few studies have investigated the impact of various agricultural practices on levels of secondary plant metabolites. To address this issue, the total phenolic (TP) content of marionberries, strawberries, and corn grown by sustainable, organic, or conventional cultural practices were measured. Additionally, the effects of three common postharvest processing treatments (freezing, freeze-drying, and air-drying) on the TP content of these agricultural products were also investigated. Statistically higher levels of TPs were consistently found in organically and sustainably grown foods as compared to those produced by conventional agricultural practices. In all samples, freeze-drying preserved higher levels of TPs in comparison with air-drying.     

Reliable multiplication of seed for NERICA varieties of rice, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.

A comparison of breeder seed from different seed sources produced guidelines for multiplication of NERICA (New Rice for Africa) varieties. Lower percentage detection of offtypes was noted with seed from a breeder than with seed from the Genetic Resources Unit (GRU) of the Africa Rice Center. The GRU grows breeder seed in the field as bulk populations of varieties and this seed is multiplied for the foundation seed. Breeders, however, always cultivate the variety in each family with several lines. In the comparison, each NERICA variety was cultivated as a single plant per hill for easy offtype detection in the field. Any offtypes or doubtful plants were recorded and immediately discarded. The breeder seed was not always genetically uniform because it was not yet fixed genetically and included mechanical seed mixture as well as natural mutants. Offtypes were classified into categories such as chlorophyll mutants, aberrations of plant height, plant types and panicle types, semi- or high sterility, awnness, apiculous color, leaf sheath color and excessively early plants. The causes of these offtypes were mainly (1) mechanical seed mixture, (2) segregation in genetically-unfixed material, (3) out-crossing with another variety, or (4) natural mutation. In 2006, we multiplied foundation seed using used home-saved seed from the 2005 crop harvested after removal of offtypes. The detection percentage of offtypes decreased compared with the previous year, but the number of semi- or high sterility plants increased significantly. This review confirms that breeder seed must be maintained with line culture within a family.     

Chemical Characteristics in Stemflow of Japanese Cedar in Japan

To clarify the characteristics in stemflow of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), we conducted the annual and extensive observation. We examined the chemistry of bulk and wet deposition, throughfall and stemflow at 26 forested sites in June and September 1998. The each sampling site was broadly distributed in all over the Japanese archipelago. The stemflow pH of Japanese cedar was significantly lower (p<0.01) than precipitation and stemflow of broad-leaved species in both months. There were significant anion deficits in stemflow of Japanese cedar, suggesting that organic anions derived from plant sources play an important role in the stemflow acidity. Our results suggested that the strong stemflow acidity in Japanese cedar was derived from an internal biological characteristic rather than influences of external acidic deposition.     

Hydrogeochemical Conditions Affecting Acidification of Stream Water in Mountainous Watersheds

Acid deposition in eastern Asia will increase and freshwaters in Japan are likely to become acidified in future. In order to make long-term predictions about freshwater acidification, it is necessary to evaluate acid neutralization mechanisms in Japanese watersheds. Ikeda and Miyanaga (1999) earlier proposed a method of separating acid-neutralization capacity into chemical weathering and cation exchange. By this means, we were able to assess the effect of hydrogeochemical properties on chemical weathering and stream water chemistry for three watersheds in Japan. On the basis of this assessment, acid-neutralization stream water chemistry was predicted using the ILWAS (Integrated Lake-Watershed Acidification Study) model. The main factors determining acidification are the thickness of weatherd profile and chemical weathering rates. The principal results are: (1) for non-acidified watersheds in Japan, acid deposition is neutralized by chemical weathering of primary minerals; (2) freshwaters in Japanese watersheds will not acidify even if acid deposition increases to the extent found in an acidified watershed in the U.S.A.     

Effects of revision of Japanese food composition tables on estimation of nutrient intakes, with reference to age-dependent differences

OBJECTIVE: To identify effects of revision of the Japanese food composition tables from the fourth version to the fifth version on nutrient intake estimation. DESIGN: A database on 783 samples of 24-hour food duplicate portions was re-visited. Nutrients in the duplicate portions were estimated by use of the fourth and fifth versions of the Japanese food composition tables in parallel, together with supplemental use of other databases. The two sets of estimates were subjected to comparison. SETTING: The sample collection was conducted at 31 sites all over Japan. SUBJECTS: The sample donors were 783 women aged 20-78 years. RESULTS: Compared with the estimates by use of the fourth version of the tables, the estimates by the fifth version were substantially higher for intakes of energy, carbohydrate, dietary fibre, vitamin A and niacin, and lower for iron intake. The increase in carbohydrate intake estimates was more evident in older women than in young women, whereas the decrease in the intake estimation of iron and the increase in that of dietary fibre were more marked in young women than in older women. CONCLUSION: The recent revision of food composition tables in Japan induced substantial changes in the estimation of nutrient intakes, i.e. an increase in energy, carbohydrate, dietary fibre, vitamin A and niacin, and a decrease in iron. The extent of the changes varied depending on age.     

Alkaloids from the poisonous plant Ipomoea carnea: effects on intracellular lysosomal glycosidase activities in human lymphoblast cultures

There is natural intoxication of livestock by the ingestion of Ipomoea carnea (Convolvulaceae) in Brazil and other parts of the world. The alkaloidal glycosidase inhibitors swainsonine, 2-epi-lentiginosine, and calystegines B(1), B(2), B(3), and C(1) have been identified as constituents of this plant. Swainsonine is a potent inhibitor of rat lysosomal alpha-mannosidase, with an IC(50) value of 0.02 microM, whereas calystegines B(1), B(2), and C(1) are potent inhibitors of rat lysosomal beta-glucosidase, with IC(50) values of 2.1, 0.75, and 0.84 microM, respectively. The action of swainsonine results in a lysosomal storage disorder that closely mimics alpha-mannosidosis in humans. To determine whether the toxicity of I. carnea to livestock is due to purely swainsonine or due to a combination of effects by swainsonine and calystegines, intracellular lysosomal glycosidase activities in normal human lymphoblasts grown with inhibitors in the medium were examined. Incubation of lymphoblasts with 0.1 microM swainsonine for 3 days resulted in approximately 60% reduction of alpha-mannosidase activity. On the other hand, calystegines B(2) and C(1) showed no inhibition of beta-glucosidase up to 1 mM; instead inclusion of calystegines B(2) and C(1) at 100 microM in the culture medium increased its activity by 1.5- and 1.6-fold, respectively. Calystegines B(2) and C(1) seem to act as chemical chaperones, enhancing correct folding of the enzyme and enabling smooth trafficking to the lysosome. The lysosomal beta-glucosidase inhibitory calystegines seem to have little risk of inducing intoxication of livestock.     

Dysregulated metabolism and behaviors by disrupting gut microbiota in prenatal and neonatal mice

The live microbiota ecosystem in the intestine plays a critical role in maintaining the normal physiological and psychological functions in both animals and human beings. However, the chronic effect of microbiota disturbances during prenatal and neonatal developing periods on animal's health remains less studied. In the current study, pregnant ICR mice were fed with an antibiotic diet (7-g nebacitin [bacitracin-neomycin sulphate 2:1]/kg standard diet) from day 14 of conception, and their offspring were provided with the same diet till the termination of the experiments. Dams treated with antibiotics showed increased body weight along with enlarged gut. Antibiotic-treated offspring revealed decreased bodyweight, increased food, water, and sucrose intake. Administration of antibiotics affected corticosterone responsivity to acute 20 min restraint challenge in male pups. In behavior tests, female pups showed decreased movement in open field while male pups revealed decreased latency to open arms in elevated plus maze test and immobility time in tail suspension test. Together, these results suggested that early antibiotic exposure may impact on the food intake, body weight gain, and emotional behavior regulation in mice.