Exchangeable Cs/K ratio in soil is an index to estimate accumulation of radioactive and stable Cs in rice plant

Pot and field experiments were conducted to clarify the effect of soil exchangeable potassium (K) and cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) on ¹³⁷Cs accumulation and to establish soil index in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Four paddy soils in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, showing different transfer factors for radioactive Cs derived from the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in the field were compared in terms of ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in rice in a pot experiment. ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in shoots and brown rice widely varied among soils with the transfer factor ranging from 0.018 to 0.068 for shoots and 0.004 to 0.065 for brown rice. ¹³⁷Cs concentration in brown rice and shoots tended to decrease with higher levels of soil exchangeable K, and they were more closely related to the exchangeable Cs/K ratio. Similar relationships between the Cs/K ratio and Cs accumulation in plants were obtained for the stable isotope cesium-133 (¹³³Cs). The distributions of ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³³Cs in grains were also similar and variable among soils. The transfer factors obtained in pot experiments mostly agreed with field observations. The results imply that the exchangeable ¹³⁷Cs/K can be a potential soil index to estimate ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in rice.     

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.     

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.     

Modified atmosphere packaging of fresh produce with a biodegradable laminate of chitosan-cellulose and polycaprolactone

Use of a biodegradable laminate of a chitosan-cellulose and polycaprolactone as a film for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of fresh produce was tested. The temperature dependence of O₂, CO₂ and N₂ gas permeability coefficients for the biodegradable laminate was examined. The coefficients increased linearly with increasing temperature in the range 10–25 °C. The coefficients were validated by experiments on MAP with shredded lettuce and shredded cabbage. MAP systems with head lettuce, cut broccoli, whole broccoli, tomatoes, sweet corn and blueberries were designed using the gas permeability coefficients. The gas composition in each biodegradable package including the fresh produce was simulated to be close to the optimal composition. The biodegradable laminate was found suitable as a packaging material for storage of fresh produce.     

Effects of rearing conditions on the colonization of Salmonella enteritidis in the cecum of chicks.

Salmonella enteritidis is the cause of human salmonellosis associated with contaminated eggs. In this study, we artificially challenged S. enteritidis to chicks just after hatching, and the effects of breeding conditions on the intestinal carriage of S. enteritidis were examined. S. enteritidis was not directly detected from spleen, liver and blood, but were constantly isolated from the cecal contents throughout the experiment. When chicks were reared in the unsanitary conditions and in the high housing density, the numbers of S. enteritidis increased. The subsequent experiment was undertaken to examine whether the antibacterial additive in a feed would have any impact on S. enteritidis colonization in chicks. Some antibiotic effective on the growth promotion had an influence on S. enteritidis colonization.     

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     

Stimulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid production in vine-ripe tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruits under modified atmospheres

Stimulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production under low O2 and high CO2 conditions (adjusted aerobic atmosphere) under which ethanol fermentation could be avoided was studied. Vine-ripe tomato fruits were stored under hypoxia conditions and adjusted aerobic atmospheres as well as in the air at 15 degrees C for 13 days and at 30 degrees C for 6 days. At 30 degrees C tomato fruit GABA concentration under the adjusted aerobic atmosphere (O2 11%, CO2 9%) was significantly higher by 48% than that in air after 6 days from the start of storage. Increased accumulation of alanine under the adjusted aerobic atmosphere supports the observation that this atmosphere stimulates GABA production. The results demonstrate that the concentration of GABA as a beneficial substance for antihypertensive effects and so on can be increased by storing tomato fruits under adjusted aerobic atmospheres for the first time.     

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.     

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.