Analysis of forest structural complexity using airborne LiDAR data and aerial photography in a mixed conifer–broadleaf forest in northern Japan

Determining forest structural complexity,i.e.,a measure of the number of different attributes of a forest and the relative abundance of each attribute,is important for forest management and conservation.In this study,we examined the structural complexity of mixed conifer–broadleaf forests by integrating multiple forest structural attributes derived from airborne Li DAR data and aerial photography.We sampled 76 plots from an unmanaged mixed conifer–broadleaf forest reserve in northern Japan.Plot-level metrics were computed for all plots using both field and remote sensing data to assess their ability to capture the vertical and horizontal variations of forest structure.A multivariate set of forest structural attributes that included three Li DAR metrics(95 th percentile canopy height,canopy density and surface area ratio) and one image metric(proportion of broadleaf cover),was used to classify forest structure into structural complexity classes.Our results revealed significant correlation between field and remote sensing metrics,indicating that these two sets of measurements captured similar patterns of structure in mixed conifer–broadleaf forests.Further,cluster analysis identified six forest structural complexity classes includingtwo low-complexity classes and four high-complexity classes that were distributed in different elevation ranges.In this study,we could reliably analyze the structural complexity of mixed conifer–broadleaf forests using a simple and easy to calculate set of forest structural attributes derived from airborne Li DAR data and high-resolution aerial photography.This study provides a good example of the use of airborne Li DAR data sets for wider purposes in forest ecology as well as in forest management.     

Turkish Tombul hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.). 1. Compositional characteristics

The quality of Tombul (Round) hazelnut, grown in the Giresun province of Turkey, was determined by measuring proximate composition, minerals, vitamins, dietary fiber, amino acids, and taste active components (free amino acids, sugars, and organic acids). Fat was the predominant component in Tombul hazelnut (approximately 61%). The major minerals were potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and selenium. Hazelnut was also found to serve as an excellent source of vitamin E (24 mg/100 g) and a good source of water soluble (B complex) vitamins and dietary fiber. The major amino acids were glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid. The three nonessential amino acids and the essential amino acids contributed 44.9 and 30.9% to the total amino acids present, respectively, while lysine and tryptophan were the limiting amino acids in Tombul hazelnut. Twenty-one free amino acids, six sugars, and six organic acids were positively identified; among these, arginine, sucrose, and malic acid predominated, respectively. These taste active components may play a significant role in the taste and flavor characteristics of hazelnut. Thus, the present results suggest that Tombul hazelnut serves as a good source of vital nutrients and taste active components.     

Trientine, a copper-chelating agent, induced apoptosis in murine fibrosarcoma cells in vivo and in vitro

Anti-copper treatments have been investigated to determine whether they suppress angiogenesis and tumor development since Cu is widely accepted as being required for angiogenesis. We examined the effects of treatment with trientine, a copper-chelating agent, on tumor development in a murine xenograft model using fibrosarcoma-derived transplantable QRsp-11 cells and C57BL/6 mice and induction of apoptosis in tumor cells and endothelial cells in vivo and in vitro. The tumor volumes increased more slowly in trientine-treated mice than in untreated mice. Tumor volumes in the treated mice were significantly smaller than those in the untreated mice at 24 days postinoculation (d.p.i.) of tumor cells. A cluster of pyknotic tumor cells and morphological abnormalities in capillary endothelial cells were observed in the tumors of trientine-treated mice but not in the tumors of untreated mice. The proportions of apoptotic and necrotic cells in the tumors of treated mice were approximately 3.5-fold higher than those in the tumors of untreated mice at 14 d.p.i. When the cells were treated with trientine in vitro, mouse endothelial cells and bovine primary endothelial cells showed an approximately 10-fold higher sensitivity to trientine than QRsp-11 cells in terms of D37. However, the proportion of apoptotic cells in endothelial cells was significantly lower than that in QRsp-11 cells after treatment with trientine. These results show that apoptosis was induced in tumor cells by treatment with trientine in vivo and in vitro.     

Comparison of Iron Availability in Leaves of Barley and Rice

Iron (Fe) is an essential trace element in all eukaryotes. In higher plants, Fe deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis in young leaves. However, in barley and rice, both of which are "Strategy II" plants, the degree and the pattern of Fe-deficiency symptoms differ. In the present study, barley and rice plants were grown in the same container, i.e., by "coculturing," to compensate for the amount of mugineic acids in rice in the nutrient solution. We examined the differential availability of Fe for distribution and retranslocation in shoots between barley and rice without considering the difference in the iron acquisition ability, which is affected by the differential mugineic acid secretion between barley and rice. Although the Fe concentration of young barley leaves had decreased under the coculture conditions, the SPAD value was similar to that in monocultured barley. In contrast, although there was an increase in the Fe concentration of the young leaves of cocultured rice, the SPAD value decreased, as in the case of monocultured rice. Rice accumulated Fe in old leaves, whereas in barley Fe was efficiently distributed to young leaves. Therefore, the SPAD value of the second leaf in rice remained constantly high. The Fe concentration of the second leaf in barley decreased under Fe-deficient coculture conditions, the SPAD value decreased and the senescence of the second leaf become accelerated. ⁵⁹Fe pulse-labeling experiments suggested that in barley Fe was more efficiently retranslocated from old leaves to young leaves than that in rice. As a result, the level of Fe present in the fraction with a molecular weight lower than the 10,000/water-soluble Fe ratio was higher in the old leaves of barley than in the old leaves of rice under Fe-deficient conditions. Based on the results obtained, we suggest that the distribution and retranslocation characteristics of internal Fe in barley may be well adapted to Fe deficiency.     

Spectral sensitivity of juvenile chub mackerel (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis>) in visible and ultraviolet light

Although chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is widely distributed all over the world, the relevance of its visual sensitivity to its ecology is not yet fully understood. We investigated spectral sensitivity in juvenile chub mackerel in the range of ultraviolet (UV) to visible light (369–652 nm) by electroretinogram (ERG) using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Sensitivity peaked at a wavelength of approximately 482 nm in dark-adapted fish and 525 nm in light-adapted fish. A secondary sensitivity peak in the UV range at approximately 382 nm was found in both dark- and light-adapted fish. The UV sensitivity of chub mackerel may be attributable to UV transmissibility of the optical media and to the presence of a beta-band of visible light-sensitive visual pigments, and not to an alpha-band of UV visual pigments. This UV sensitivity may be useful for feeding or communication with other fishes.     

Novel method for improving the antioxidative properties of fish meat by direct injection of sodium l-ascorbate into the blood vessels of live fish

The color of the red muscle of pelagic fish is used as an indicator of freshness, and sustaining a bright red color is important for maintaining the commercial value of pelagic fish. Feeding fish with antioxidant compounds can delay metmyoglobin (metMb) formation, but the process requires long-term feeding. Live cultured Japanese horse mackerel Trachurus japonicus were used in this study. After anesthetization, 2 ml of blood was drawn from blood vessels, and a parenteral solution including an antioxidant compound was injected. Browning, metMb formation, and lipid oxidation of dark muscle during chilled storage were delayed by injecting sodium l-ascorbate as an antioxidant compound in the blood vessels of live fish.     

Selection and characterization of a 5-methyltryptophan resistant mutant in Zea mays L.

Summary A maize plant resistant to 5-methyltrytophan (5MT) was selected from M₂ seeds (Zea mays L. Danggin, inbred line) originating from ears treated with ethylmethane sulfonate (0.2%) at 6 hr after self-pollination. Genetic analysis of the progeny of plants selected from a medium containing 50 ppm 5MT showed that 5MT resistance was inherited as a single dominant nuclear gene. This resistance was also expressed in callus and seedling. Analysis of the free amino acids in kernels and calli showed that homozygous resistant plants (MR1) contained higher levels of total free amino acids than sensitive plants and calli. In particular, the their kernels the levels of tryptophan, threonine and serine were, respectively, 4.5, 5.9 and 6.3 times higher than those of the sensitive plants. From the results, it may be expected that mutants resistant to amino acid anologs will be useful not only for studying amino acid biosynthesis but also for improving the nutritional quality of maize.Abbreviations EMS Ethylmethane sulfonate - 5MT 5-methyltryptophan - 2,4-D 2-4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Fast‐to‐slow shift of muscle fiber‐type composition by dietary apple polyphenols in rats: Impact of the low‐dose supplementation

Our previous studies demonstrated that an 8‐week intake of 5% (w/w) apple polyphenol (APP) in the diet improves muscle endurance of young‐adult rats. In order to identify a lower limit of the dietary contribution of APP to the effect, the experiments were designed for lower‐dose supplementation (8‐week feeding of 0.5% APP in AIN‐93G diet) to 12‐week‐old male Sprague‐Dawley rats. Results clearly showed that the 0.5% APP diet significantly up‐regulates slower myosin‐heavy‐chain (MyHC) isoform ratios (IIx and IIa relative to total MyHC) and myoglobin expression in lower hind‐limb muscles examined (P < 0.05). There was a trend to increased fatigue resistance detected from measurements of relative isometric plantar‐flexion force torque generated by a stimulus train delivered to the tibial nerve (F(98, 1372) = 1.246, P = 0.0574). Importantly, there was no significant difference in the animal body‐phenotypes or locomotor activity shown as total moving distance in light and dark periods. Therefore, the present study encourages the notion that even low APP‐intake may increase the proportions of fatigue‐resistant myofibers, and has promise as a strategy for modifying performance in human sports and improving function in age‐related muscle atrophy.     

Experimental gizzard erosions in specific-pathogen-free chicks by serotype 1 group I avian adenoviruses from broilers

The pathogenicity of serotype 1 group I avian adenovirus (GIAAV) strains isolated from gizzard erosions for 1-wk-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens was investigated. In Experiment 1, SPF chickens inoculated orally with a serotype 1 strain (Tokushima2000/GE) of GIAAV isolated from gizzard erosion in broilers were euthanatized and necropsied from 3 to 12 days after inoculation. Clinically, there were no significant signs in the chickens inoculated with Tokushima strain. The gizzards were found macroscopically to be dilated with liquefied contents. The koilin layer of the gizzard exhibited multifocal white lesions with occasional erosions. Gross lesions of the koilin layer (white foci and erosion) appeared at 3 days after inoculation and persisted until 12 days after inoculation. The gross lesions were most severe at 9 days after inoculation. Histologically, multifocal degeneration, necrosis, and loss of the glandular epithelial cells with intranuclear inclusions, liquefactive change of koilin substance, and erosive lesions of koilin layers and surface epithelium of the gizzards were observed. Macrophages increased in the focal areas of the lamina propriabelow the liquefactive koilin substances. Immunohistochemically, intranudear inclusions were positive against GIAAV antigen. Histologic lesions of gizzards were most severe at 7 and 9 days after inoculation, but the frequency of intranuclear inclusions was greatest at 5 days after inoculation. In Experiment 2, the pathogenicities of four strains of serotype 1 GIAAV for 1-wk-old SPF chickens were compared. Three strains isolated from gizzard erosion had similar pathogenicities but one strain from a normal chicken was not pathogenic for chickens. These results suggest that gizzard erosions by serotype 1 GIAAV infection may occur in broiler chickens in Japan.     

Increase in soil pH due to Ca-rich organic matter application causes suppression of the clubroot disease of crucifers

Clubroot disease of cruciferous plants caused by the soil-borne pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae is difficult to control because the pathogen survives for a long time in soil as resting spores. Disease-suppressive and conducive soils were found during the long-term experiment on the impact of organic matter application to arable fields and have been studied to clarify the biotic and abiotic factors involved in the disease suppression. The fact that a large amount of organic matter, 400 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ farmyard manure (FYM) or 100 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ food factory sludge compost (FSC), had been incorporated for more than 15 yr in the suppressive soils and these soils showed higher pH and Ca concentration than the disease conducive soil led us to hypothesize that an increase in soil pH due to the long-term incorporation of Ca-rich organic matter might be the primary cause of the disease suppression. We have designed a highly reproducible bioassay system to examine this hypothesis. The suppressive and conducive soils were mixed with the resting spores of P. brassicae at a rate of 10⁶ spore g⁻¹ soil, and Brassica campestris was grown in a growth chamber for 8 d. The number of root hair infections was assessed on a microscope. It was found that the incorporation of FYM and FSC at 2.5% (w/w) to the conducive soil suppressed the infection and that the finer particles (?5 mm) of FSC inhibited the infection and increased soil pH more effectively. Neutralization of the conducive soil by Ca(OH)₂, CaCO₃ and KOH suppressed the infection, but the effectiveness of KOH was less than those of Ca(OH)₂ and CaCO₃. Acidification of the suppressive soils by H₂SO₄, promoted the infection. The involvement of soil biota in the disease suppression was investigated using the sterilized (γ-ray irradiation) suppressive soils with respect to soil pH. The γ-ray irradiation promoted the infection at pH 5.5, but no infection was observed at pH 7.4 irrespective of the sterilization status. All these observations suggest that soil pH is a major factor in disease suppression by organic matter application and that Ca and soil biota play certain roles in the suppression under the influence of soil pH.