Evaluation of maturity of poultry manure compost by phospholipid fatty acids analysis

To study the influence of the physical properties of compost feedstock on some characteristics associated with maturity, two types of compost were made from poultry manure, rice husk, and rice bran. The bulk density of one type (PMC) was always higher than that of another type (NMC) during composting. In the case of PMC, the change in temperature, decrease in NH₄⁺, appearance of NO₃^–, and increase in germination indices (GI) with Japanese Komatsuna (Brassica campestris cv. Osome) were all more delayed than in NMC. As the composting process progressed, the proportion of branched (iso-, anteiso-, 10Me-) and saturated phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) [BRANCHED FAMES (fatty acid methyl esters), biomarkers for gram-positive bacteria] gradually increased, then reached plateau. The high proportion of BRANCHED FAMES was maintained over a long storage period. The straight hydroxyl and saturated PLFAs (SOH-FAMES) initially increased, then disappeared with the progress of composting. The increase in BRANCHED FAMES and the decrease in SOH-FAMES were more delayed in PMC than NMC. The day on which the proportion of BRANCHED FAMES reached plateau and the proportion of SOH-FAMES dipped below 2 mol% coincided with the maturity stage based on the changes of physicochemical characteristics and GI. The composition of BRANCHED FAMES showed highly positive and negative correlation with GI and NH₄⁺, respectively. In the case of SOH-FAMES, inverse correlations were observed. This indicates that the proportion of BRANCHED FAMES and/or SOH-FAMES can be used as a tool for evaluating the maturity of poultry manure compost.     

Food organisms and feeding habits of larval and juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus at Ohama Beach in Hiuchi-Nada, the central Seto Inland Sea, Japan

ABSTRACT:   The abundance of food organisms and feeding habits of larval and juvenile Japanese flounder were examined during the period from May to August in 1999, 2000 and 2001 at the sandy Ohama beach, the central Seto Inland Sea. The food organisms collected with a sledge net consisted of 40 families from 18 orders, dominated by mysids, crangonids and gammarids. The mean densities of mysids, crangonid shrimp ( Crangon spp.), gammarids and fish were 2.74, 6.74, 2.91 and 0.15 individuals/m², respectively. The main prey of the flounder ( n  = 202; range of total length 9.80–75.95 mm) was mysids and small crangonid shrimp (<14 mm in body length). Prey fish availability was low, as the density of fish was low. The small crangonid shrimp was abundant, and the large crangonid shrimp, which could prey on larval flounder, was not abundant. The crangonid shrimp was important not as a predator for the flounder but as prey. The flounder preferred epifaunal mysids, Nipponomysis ornata and Anisomysis ijimai , to sand-burrowing mysids, Iiella oshimai , and avoided crangonid shrimp.     

梅花鹿慢性氟中毒的骨病理学研究

对来自因１年前饲喂含氟量过高的饲料而导致鹿群慢性氟中毒鹿场的２头梅花鹿作了病理学研究。其主要病理学特征为全身骨骼多发性骨外膜性骨瘤形成，无氟斑牙变化。血钙０．１２５～０．６２４ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ，骨组织氟含量４９９×１０－６～１０６９×１０－６。病理组织学特征为骨外膜增生亢进，骨密质外层骨小梁异常增生，并在骨密质内有变性骨单位形成，而破骨过程微弱。研究结果认为，骨瘤的形成及发展是氟的持续作用所致的进行性病变。超微结构显示，甲状旁腺呈现机能衰退状态，甲状腺滤泡旁细胞则显示机能亢进形态     

Socioeconomic factors influencing global paper and paperboard demand

To clarify the socioeconomic factors influencing global paper and paperboard demand, a panel data analysis was conducted covering the period 1961–2014. This study used paper and paperboard demand as the dependent variable, and a country’s economic level, Internet usage rate, plastic packaging demand, and time trend as the explanatory variables. An inverse U-shaped quadratic relationship, such as an environmental Kuznets curve, was found between economic level and paper and paperboard demand, which saturates and begins to decline as economic level increases. The economic level representing the turning point differs significantly with the use, ranging from around 37,000 US$/person for newsprint paper to around 66,000 US$/person for printing and writing paper. For both newsprint paper and printing and writing paper, demand declines owing to the spread of the Internet as the economic level rises, although this reductive effect is greater for printing and writing paper than for newsprint paper. A substitution relationship is not found between wrapping paper and corrugated cardboard on the one hand and plastic packaging on the other hand as the economic level becomes higher.     

转型中的亚洲林业(续一)

在过去的20年里,亚洲林业经历了引人注目的转型,包括从计划经济到市场经济的转变,从天然林供给木材到人工林供给木材的转变,木材替代品与非木质林产品的增加,地方分权与当地群众的参与,生态时代的发展与生态系统管理。在促进亚洲可持续森林资源管理中,市场工具、社区参与和环境服务都得到了应用。亚洲林业的转型表现出多样化,其森林、社会与环境之间的联系是丰富多彩的。     

Controlling highly prevalent Staphylococcus aureus mastitis from the dairy farm

In 57 Holstein cows where the dairy farm uses a milking parlor system, the somatic cell count (SCC) increased persistently in the bulk milk (monthly mean 52.3 x 10(4) cells/ml; range 21 to 94 x 10(4) cells/ml). We detected S. aureus in 24 (41.2%) of the 54 lactating cows and in 29 (12.8%) of 227 quarters of the 57 milking cows in the herd. A control program was implemented in an effort to eradicate S. aureus mastitis from this dairy farm. The control plan established improved handling of the lactating cows, improved milking procedures, dry-cow therapy, and culling of infected cows. The program was monitored for 3.5 years by frequent checkups on the rate of S. aureus infection, the SCC, and the changes in milk composition. Eighteen months after the control program was started, the rate of S. aureus infection in the quarter milk decreased dramatically, and no S. aureus isolates were found in the milk of the remaining cows. The SCC in the bulk milk of the herd dropped to a monthly mean of <20 x 10(4) cells/ml. In conclusion, the control program was effective for controlling persistent S. aureus mastitis in this dairy herd.     

Studies on Endophytic Actinomycetes ( I ) <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces </Emphasis>sp. Isolated from Rhododendron and Its Antifungal Activity

To survey endophytic actinomycetes as potential biocontrol agents against fungal diseases of rhododendron, young plants of rhododendron were surface-sterilized for use as an isolation source. Nine, six and two isolates, with distinguishing characteristics based on the macroscopic appearance of colonies, were obtained from roots, stems and leaves, respectively, suggesting that various species of actinomycetes grow in the respective organs of this plant as symbionts or parasites. On an agar medium, only isolate R-5 commonly formed a clear growth-inhibition zone against two major fungal pathogens of rhododendron, Phytophthora cinnamomi and Pestalotiopsis sydowiana, indicating that this isolate can produce antifungal material(s). Acetone extracts of a liquid culture of R-5 had a broad antimicrobial spectrum against Gram-positive bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi. Isolate R-5 was identified as a Streptomyces sp. based on morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomical characteristics. The present results indicate that isolate R-5 is a suitable candidate for the biocontrol of diseases of rhododendron. Received 25 March 2000/ Accepted in revised form 18 May 2000     

Loss-of-function of Nicotiana tabacum L. eukaryotic translation initiation factors eIF4E1-S and eIF(iso)4E-T synergistically confers high-level resistance to both Potato virus Y (PVY) and resistance-breaking PVY

The plant eukaryotic translation-initiation factors eIF4E and eIF(iso)4E play key roles in infection by plant RNA viruses, especially potyviruses. Mutations in the genes that encode these factors reduce susceptibility to the viruses. In the amphidiploid plant tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), eIF4E1-S deletion mutants resist Potato virus Y (PVY), but resistance-breaking strains (RB-PVY) have appeared. In an earlier study, we demonstrated that the loss-of-function of eIF(iso)4E-T reduces susceptibility to RB-PVY. Here, we show that simultaneous inhibition of eIF4E1-S and eIF(iso)4E-T synergistically confers enhanced resistance to both PVY and RB-PVY without host growth or development defects. PVY symptoms and accumulation in a tobacco line lacking eIF4E1-S were detected at 14 days post-inoculation (dpi) and RB-PVY symptoms in lines without functional eIF(iso)4E-T were observed at 24 dpi. RB-PVY emerged in a PVY-infected tobacco line lacking eIF4E1-S. In contrast, lines without functional eIF4E1-S and eIF(iso)4E-T were nearly immune to PVY and RB-PVY, and little accumulation of either virus was detected even at 56 dpi. Thus, the lines will be promising for PVY-resistance breeding. This study provides a novel strategy to develop tobacco highly resistant to PVY and RB-PVY, and insights into the mechanisms responsible for high-level resistance.