Compressive and tensile properties of a butt-jointed lamination model

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of glue application and placement of butt-joints on the compressive and tensile properties in a butt-jointed lamination. The aim was to provide background information for producing butt-jointed, glued, laminated timber. Three butt-jointed lamination models were prepared from spruce-pine-fir (S-P-F) dimension lumber with glued and nonglued butt joints, with different placements of the butt joints in the models. The axial stiffness and strength properties were assessed using both compressive and tensile tests. The results of the study indicated that for the compressive lamination model the application of glue at the butt joint gave more stiffness than the nonglued butt joint. Neither glue application nor placement of the joint had a statistically significant effect on the compressive strength. There were no significant differences between the glued and nonglued butt joint for either tensile strength or stiffness.     

Molecular characterization of A2 and D strains of Soybean mosaic virus, which caused a recent virus outbreak in soybean cultivar Sachiyutaka in Chugoku and Shikoku regions of Japan

Coat protein sequences of two isolates in strain A₂ and five isolates in strain D of Soybean mosaic virus (SMV), which caused a recent mosaic outbreak in soybeans (cv. Sachiyutaka) in Chugoku and Shikoku in Japan, were compared to published data on 15 other Asian-origin isolates. Sequence comparison and cluster analysis showed that SMV isolates of strain A₂ from these districts were closely related, as were those of strain D, but strains A₂ and D were not. Thus, the two strains may have different origins and be carried through seed transmission.     

Adsorption,desorption and dissipation of metolachlor in surface and subsurface soils

BACKGROUND: Variations in soil properties with depth influence retention and degradation of pesticides. Understanding how soil properties within a profile affect pesticide retention and degradation will result in more accurate prediction by simulation models of pesticide fate and potential groundwater contamination. Metolachlor is more persistent than other acetanilide herbicides in the soil environment and has the potential to leach into groundwater. Reasonably, information is needed about the dissipation and eventual fate of metolachlor in subsoils. The objectives were to evaluate the adsorption and desorption characteristics and to determine the dissipation rates of metolachlor in both surface and subsurface soil samples. RESULTS: Adsorption of metolachlor was greater in the high‐organic‐matter surface soil than in subsoils. Lower adsorption distribution coefficient (K_ads) values with increasing depth indicated less adsorption at lower depths and greater leaching potential of metolachlor after passage through the surface horizon. Desorption of metolachlor showed hysteresis, indicated by the higher adsorption slope (1/n_ads) compared with the desorption slope (1/n_des). Soils that adsorbed more metolachlor also desorbed less metolachlor. Metolachlor dissipation rates generally decreased with increasing soil depth. The first‐order dissipation rate was highest at the 0–50 cm depth (0.140 week^?1) and lowest at the 350–425 cm depth (0.005 week^?1). Degradation of the herbicide was significantly correlated with microbial activity in soils. CONCLUSION: Metolachlor that has escaped degradation or binding to organic matter at the soil surface might leach into the subsurface soil where it will dissipate slowly and be subject to transport to groundwater. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

First report of ‘<Emphasis Type="Italic">Candidatus</Emphasis> Phytoplasma malaysianum’ associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeocarpus</Emphasis> yellows of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeocarpus zollingeri</Emphasis>

“Elaeocarpus yellows” (ELY) is a widely reported phytoplasma disease of Elaeocarpus zollingeri trees in Japan. The phytoplasma associated with ELY (ELY phytoplasma) had not been identified at the species level because its 16S rRNA sequence had yet to be reported. Here, we report the results of a sequence analysis based on 16S rRNA and secA gene sequences, which showed that the ELY phytoplasma is related to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma malaysianum’. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the occurrence of ‘Ca. P. malaysianum’ outside Malaysia and the infection of E. zollingeri by the phytoplasma.     

Effects of concanamycins produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces scabies</Emphasis> on lesion type of common scab of potato

Streptomyces scabies, causative agent of common scab of potato, produces the phytotoxins concanamycin and thaxtomin. In a potato tuber slice assay to study the contribution of concanamycins to lesion development, concanamycin A had weak necrosis-inducing activities; >10× the amount of thaxtomin A was needed to produce equivalent lesion severity. Concanamycins were detected in tubers inoculated with S. scabies, which caused deep-pitted lesions but not in those inoculated with Streptomyces acidiscabies, which caused corky, raised lesions. In field-grown, diseased potatoes, concanamycin content tended to be higher in tubers with deep-pitted lesions than in those with corky, raised lesions.     

A 90-day Feeding Toxicity Study of l-Serine in Male and Female Fischer 344 Rats

A subchronic feeding study of l-serine (l-Ser) was conducted with groups of 10 male and 10 female Fischer 344 rats fed a powder diet containing 0, 0.06, 0.5, 1.5 or 5.0% concentrations of l-Ser for 90 days. There were no toxicologically significant, treatment-related changes with regards to body weight, food intake, water intake or urinalysis data. In several of the hematology, serum biochemistry and organ weight parameters, significant changes were observed between some of the treated groups and the controls. All these changes, however, were subtle and lacked any corresponding pathological findings. In addition, the increased or decreased values remained within the range of the historical control values. In fact, histopathological assessment revealed only sporadic and/or spontaneous lesions. In conclusion, the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) for l-Ser was, therefore, determined to be at least a dietary dose of 5.0% (2765.0 mg/kg body weight/day for males and 2905.1 mg/kg body weight/day for females) under the present experimental conditions.     

The Farmland and Rural Improvement Project budget under the Agriculture Basic Law in Japan

The Farmland and Rural Improvement Project (FRIP) system met socioeconomic needs during the time the Agriculture Basic Law (ABL) was in effect. Four hundred and forty publications and revisions of project execution guidelines between fiscal years (FY) 1960 and 1995 addressed the need to modify the FRIP systems. From the viewpoint of budgets, the budget share of the Farmland Improvement Project (FIP) in annual national public works budgets decreased in close correlation with percentages of gross agricultural product in gross domestic product (GDP). The Rural Improvement Project (RIP) share, however, increased during the same time period, in close correlation with percentages of non-farmers living in rural villages. Consequently, there was little change in the FRIP budget share. These changes in FRIP budget structure brought a certain level of FIP investment per hectare, with no increase since FY 1980. In addition, the RIP investment played a role in narrowing the gap in the living infrastructure investment per capita between urban and rural areas.     

Regulation of Innate Immune Function in Bovine Oviduct Epithelial Cells in Culture: The Homeostatic Role of Epithelial Cells in Balancing Th1/Th2 Response

This study aimed to investigate the role of epithelial cells in regulating innate immunity in bovine oviduct epithelial cell (BOEC) culture. We studied the effect of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its interaction with ovarian steroids, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), and luteinizing hormone (LH) at concentrations observed during the preovulatory period on immune responses in BOEC culture. Immunohistochemistry of oviduct tissue showed intensive expression of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) and TLR-2 in epithelial cells. A dose of 10 ng/ml LPS stimulated TLR-4, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor A (NFKBIA), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) expression, indicating an early pro-inflammatory response. A dose of 100 ng/ml LPS did not induce expression of these genes but stimulated TLR-2, IL-10,IL-4 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) expression and PGE2 secretion, indicating an anti-inflammatory response. Ovarian steroids and LH completely block LPS (10 ng/ml)-induced TLR-4, IL-1β and TNF-α expression as well as LPS (100 ng/ml)-induced TLR-2 expression. Taken together, this study suggests the existence of an early signaling system to respond to infection in the BOEC. In addition, ovarian steroids and LH may play a critical role in inducing homeostasis and in controlling hyperactive pro-inflammatory responses detrimental to epithelial cells, sperm and the embryo.     

Effects of omega-7 palmitoleic acids on skeletal muscle differentiation in a hyperglycemic condition

Maternal obesity and diabetes are known to be involved in fetal myogenesis, but the later stages of myogenesis are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the influence of a hyperglycemic environment on L6 skeletal myoblast differentiation and the function of omega-7 palmitoleic acids. Exposure to a high concentration of glucose (25 mM) in high-glucose culture medium (HG) increased the expression of myogenic genes (MyoD, Myogenin, MRF4, Myhc2x, and Myhc2a) and the synthesis of myosin. HG also activated the PI3K/AKT pathway revealed muscle cell differentiation. Furthermore, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an inflammatory cytokine (Tnfaip3; tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3), which are crucial for the growth and differentiation of skeletal muscle, were increased by HG. Palmitoleic acids suppressed the expression levels of myogenic regulatory genes and increased the expression level of a cell proliferation-related gene (Pax3). Trans-palmitoleic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (TPA and EPA) increased the phosphorylation level of MAPK/ERK1/2 and downregulated ROS generation and Tnfaip3 expression. In contrast, cis-palmitoleic acid inactivated MAPK/ERK1/2, leading to increased ROS generation. In conclusion, a hyperglycemic environment mediated by HG induced excessive muscle differentiation. Palmitoleic acids inhibited myoblast differentiation by downregulating muscle-specific genes. Moreover, trans-palmitoleic acids may have beneficial antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory effects in cells.     

Oxygen isotopic compositions of asteroidal materials returned from Itokawa by the Hayabusa mission

Meteorite studies suggest that each solar system object has a unique oxygen isotopic composition. Chondrites, the most primitive of meteorites, have been believed to be derived from asteroids, but oxygen isotopic compositions of asteroids themselves have not been established. We measured, using secondary ion mass spectrometry, oxygen isotopic compositions of rock particles from asteroid 25143 Itokawa returned by the Hayabusa spacecraft. Compositions of the particles are depleted in (16)O relative to terrestrial materials and indicate that Itokawa, an S-type asteroid, is one of the sources of the LL or L group of equilibrated ordinary chondrites. This is a direct oxygen-isotope link between chondrites and their parent asteroid.