Numerical modeling of environmental behavior and fate of tributyltin in a semi-closed bay

The environmental behavior and fate of tributyltin (TBT) in the northern Ariake Sea, resulting from the use of TBT-containing antifouling paints on hulls of ships, pleasure crafts and docking facilities, was assessed by numerical simulations. First, a mathematical model was devised on the basis of a non-steady state equilibrium, one box multi-compartment model consisting of the surface micro-layer, the water column, the mud-layer, and the bottom sediment compartments. The movement of TBT among the four compartments was modeled by resuspension of bottom mud, deposition of suspended sediment, film penetration and water advection in each compartment. Furthermore, a one-dimensional diffusion equation was introduced into the bottom sediment compartment to calculate profile distribution of TBT. The reactivity of TBT considered within the compartments included biological degradation, adsorption to particulate matter and diffusion. Next, the optimal amount of past TBT loads, reflecting the recent observations of TBT concentration in the waters and sediments of the northern Ariake Sea, was searched by a simple genetic algorithm. The relative sensitivity of various model parameters were also determined to identify the more important parameters for estimating the environmental behavior and fate of TBT. Finally, the future status of TBT contamination of the northern Ariake Sea was predicted assuming the discontinued use of TBT-containing antifouling paints. Despite its simple model structure relative to hydraulics, it was concluded that this multi-compartment model adequately estimated the environmental behavior and fate of TBT.     

Fatal suppurative meningoencephalitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in two calves

One calf died (No. 1) and another was euthanized following astasia (No. 2). Histopathological examination revealed suppurative meningoencephalitis in these calves. Klebsiella pneumoniae antigens were detected in lesions. Thymocytes were decreased in the thymus cortex in both cases. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the No. 1 isolate and bacterial extracts from formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections of No. 2 revealed that both samples were K. pneumoniae. The No. 1 isolate showed multidrug resistance against penicillin antibiotics, fosfomycin, streptomycin, macrolide antibiotics, tetracycline antibiotics, and clindamycin. Immunosuppression is a significant septicemic K. pneumoniae infection risk factor. Our study provides new aspects regarding K. pneumoniae infections in cattle, bacterial meningoencephalitis differentiation, and K. pneumoniae and bacterial meningoencephalitis treatments.     

Environmental characteristics of spawning and nursery grounds of Japanese sardine and mackerels in the Kuroshio and Kuroshio Extension area

The sustainable use of marine resources requires understanding the surrounding ecosystem and elucidating mechanisms of variation. However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of environmental variation in the spawning and nursery grounds of important fisheries species Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) and mackerels (Scomber japonicus and Scomber australasicus) in the northwest Pacific. Here, we investigate detailed physical, chemical, and biological environment variations in the spawning and nursery grounds along the Kuroshio and Kuroshio Extension area from intensive investigation in spawning season (April) of 2013. We found similar water mass property and copepod community in the egg‐rich Kuroshio area and the larvae‐rich downstream Kuroshio Extension area, indicating environmental variability is small during transportation and development processes. The egg‐rich northern Izu Islands region showed high copepod abundance, although low nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations were observed. Eggs were scarce or absent in the second survey 10 days after abundant eggs were observed in the region, along with differences in water property and copepod community. This indicates that not only the location but also the specific water characteristic and copepod community are a determining factor for spawning. Indicator communities of copepod found in our study (indicator community of transportation process from spawning ground, of non‐spawning ground, and of reproductive area in the Kuroshio Extension area) would be a key factor for recruitment prediction.     

食用菌的抗氧化活性及竹荪抗氧化物质提取工艺的优化

对26种食用菌子实体干品水提液和醇提液分别进行总还原能力、羟自由基、超氧阴离子自由基和DPPH自由基的清除能力测定。结果表明:26种食用菌子实体干品2种提取液均具有不同程度的还原能力及羟自由基、超氧自由基、DPPH自由基清除能力。且总体来说,水提液抗氧化性要强于醇提液抗氧化性。采用模糊综合评价法比较评价26种子实体干品的抗氧化性,其中以竹荪水提液和醇提液的抗氧化活性最高。在单因素实验的基础上,用L9(34)正交设计法,研究乙醇浓度(A)、回流温度(B)、料液比(C)和提取时间(D)等4个因素,以DPPH自由基清除率为评价指标优化长裙竹荪中抗氧化物质的提取条件。结果表明,影响提取物抗氧化效果的主因素为回流温度。最佳的提取工艺为:乙醇浓度90%,回流温度90℃,料液比1/35,回流时间2.5h。     

Laboratory evaluation of the termiticidal efficacy of copper HDO

A laboratory no-choice termite bioassay was conducted to evaluate the ability of copper HDO (CX-A or copper xyligen) to protect radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) wood samples from attack by two subterranean termite species, Reticulitermes speratus and Coptotermes formosanus. A series of sapwood samples were pressure treated with either 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, or 1.00% copper HDO solution. Samples treated with equivalent concentrations of a benchmark preservative, CCA-C, were used as treated controls. All samples (including controls) were subjected to an artificial weathering schedule before the bioassay. The samples were exposed to 30-day R. speratus tests and 3-week C. formosanus tests. Copper HDO was shown to deter termites from significant feeding on the treated wood. At a retention of 5.8 kg/m3 (treated with 0.75% solution) or higher, the mass loss from termite feeding did not exceed 3% for both the 30-day R. speratus tests and the 3-week C. formosanus tests. At each of the retentions tested, copper HDO performed comparably with equivalent retentions of CCA-C; however, field data are needed to validate these laboratory results. The preliminary findings are that copper HDO pressure treatment has potential as a viable method of protecting wood from attack by both termite species tested.     

Biological effectiveness of didecyl dimethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate (DBF) against basidiomycetes following preconditioning in soil bed tests

Evaluation of wood preservatives in soil-contact tests is becoming an important issue since detoxification of wood-protecting compounds by fungi and bacteria found in soil may decrease the resistance of treated wood. In this study, the decay resistance of wood treated with didecyl dimethyl ammonium tetrafluoroborate (DBF), a recently developed quaternary ammonia compound, was evaluated in both soil bed and laboratory decay resistance tests. Small specimens (5×10×100 mm³) of DBF-treated and untreated sugi sapwood were subjected to decay in laboratory soil bed tests (DIN ENV 807 (2001)) followed by Basidiomycetes tests (DIN EN 113 (1996)). Exposure in field soil and compost soil substrates was used to observe the effects of wood degrading and other soil-inhabiting micro-organisms on the decay resistance of the specimens. Soil bed tests showed that DBF-treated wood specimens at 7.7 kg/m³ retention level (1% DBF solution concentration) showed better performance compared to 0.01 and 0.1% DBF treatments. The 7.7 kg/m³ retention level was also effective to protect the wood specimens against Coniophora puteana and Coriolus versicolor in Basidiomycetes tests. It is concluded that detoxification of wood preservatives in soil contact is an important factor to determine protective properties of treated wood in ground contact applications. Further experiments with larger specimens are needed to observe the performance of DBF-treated wood at higher retention levels in field above ground and ground contact tests. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H.C. Mult. Walter Liese on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Role of the rice blast resistance gene Pi-cd in rice (Oryza sativa) breeding programmes

A series of DNA markers for various agronomic traits may accelerate the success of marker-assisted selection in practical plant breeding programmes. Here, we developed DNA markers for the blast resistance gene Pi-cd. In this study, we examined the effects of the Pi-cd locus on not only blast resistance but also agronomic traits in agriculture. We developed three pyramiding lines (PLs) coupling Pi-cd with three blast resistance genes, pi21, Pi35 and Pi39. The effect of Pi-cd on blast resistance was dependent on the coupled resistance genes. Then, we evaluated the effects of Pi-cd on 13 agronomic traits. Amylose content and 1,000-grain weight showed significant differences between the PLs and current commercial varieties, which had no negative effects on agronomic trait values. Furthermore, we investigated the distribution of genotype for the Pi-cd locus among varieties of upland rice. The KT genotype specific to rice blast resistance may be predominant in the varieties. The results suggested that Pi-cd has the potential to be useful for improving blast resistance in rice breeding programmes.