Influence of moisture content on estimating Young’s modulus of full-scale timber using stress wave velocity

The effect of moisture content on the stress wave propagation velocity was investigated in order to estimate the Young’s modulus of full-scale timbers in an air-drying state using the measurement of stress wave propagation velocity above the fiber saturation point. Using Japanese cedar lumber, the velocity and the density under high-moisture condition and air-drying states were measured respectively; after measuring the modulus of elasticity in an air-drying state, the moisture content of each condition was measured. By performing numerical analysis on these data, the relationship between the moisture content and the rate of change of velocity of full-scale timbers was derived. This relationship was used to estimate the Young’s modulus of the timber in the air-drying state from the velocity in high-moisture condition. First, the velocity and the Young’s modulus in an air-drying state were estimated accurately from its density, moisture content and velocity under high-moisture condition. In cases where the density could not be measured, using the database of mechanical properties with the Monte Carlo simulation method, the Young’s modulus of the full-scale timber in an air-drying state might be estimated within 20% accuracy from its moisture content and velocity under high-moisture condition.     

Accumulation and localization of cesium in edible mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) mycelia

The characteristics of Cs accumulation and localization in edible mushrooms were examined using the mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus-Y1. Scanning electron microscope images revealed the existence of white spots, and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer analysis indicated the presence of larger amounts of Cs and P in these spots in mycelia cultured on medium containing 25 mM CsCl. The (137)Cs activities in the mycelia were approximately 4-6 times higher than those in water used for (137)Cs elution. Higher Cs concentrations in the sediment fraction including vacuolar pellets were obtained compared to the upper fractions. It was observed that yellowish spots caused by the fluorescence of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-stained polyphosphate were localized in the mycelia. The higher fluorescence intensity of the yellowish-grained spots was measured in comparison with other regions in the mycelium. These results suggested that Cs in the mycelia was trapped by polyphosphate in vacuoles or other organelles.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation for random insertional mutagenesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colletotrichum lagenarium</Emphasis>

Random insertional mutagenesis using a marker DNA fragment is an effective method for identifying fungal genes relevant to morphogenesis, metabolism, and so on. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (AtMT) has long been used as a tool for the genetic modification of a wide range of plant species. Recent study has indicated that A. tumefaciens could transfer T-DNA not only to plant cells but also to fungal cells. In this study, AtMT was applied to Colletotrichum lagenarium for random insertional mutagenesis. We constructed a binary vector pBIG2RHPH2 carrying a hygromycin-resistant gene cassette between the right and left borders of T-DNA. Optimal co-cultivation of C. lagenarium wild-type 104-T with pBIG2RHPH2-introduced A. tumefaciens C58C1 led to the production of 150–300 hygromycin-resistant transformants per 10⁶ conidia. Southern blot analysis revealed that T-DNA was mainly integrated at a single site in the genome and at different sites in transformants. The T-DNA inserts showed small truncations of either end, but the hygromycin-resistant gene cassette inside the T-DNA was generally intact. The mode of T-DNA insertion described above resulted in highly efficient gene recovery from the transformants by thermal asymmetrical interlaced-polymerase chain reaction. The fungal genomic DNA segments flanking T-DNA were identified from five of eight mutants that had defective melanin biosynthesis. The sequence from one of the segments was identical to that of the melanin biosynthesis gene PKS1 of C. lagenarium, which we previously characterized. These results strongly support our notion that AtMT is a possible tool for tagging genes relevant to pathogenicity in the plant pathogenic fungus C. lagenarium.     

Embryo and fetal position during pregnancy by ultrasonographic examinations in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

From 2012 to 2017, serial ultrasonographic evaluation of 5 healthy bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, were performed over the course of 6 pregnancies in Enoshima Aquarium. A total of 98 ultrasonographic examinations were included in the study. In three out of six cases, two embryos were observed between umbilicus and genital slit, and side of umbilicus in the dam’s body. All embryos were located in right below the peritoneum and observed from 308 to 325 days pre-partum. These days were corresponding to from 58 to 61 days after copulation respectively. The diameter of the embryo sac was approximately 4 cm. In three cases, the fetal head was located in the dam’s left lateral between umbilicus and genital slit from approximately 90 days pre-partum to the parturition. A snout of fetus is at the top of the uterine horn, and the tail lies close to the cervix. All six calves were fluke-first births (breech presentation). It was conjectured that the contraction of the dam’s uterus during parturition forced the fetus to invert, and the fetal tail fluke was expelled from the dam’s body. In three cases, judging from orientation of fetal tail fluke faced towards left side of the dam, a fetal position might be RSL (Right Sacrum-Lateral) within the birth canal. In the other three cases, the left and right positions of the fetus and the dam’s body are reversed during pregnancy and parturition.     

Innate immune response of mammary gland induced by intramammary infusion of Bifidobacterium breve in lactating dairy cows

This study aimed to evaluate innate immune responses of mammary glands induced by intramammary infusion of Bifidobacterium breve in dairy cows. Somatic cell counts in quarters of cows showed a marked increase following B. breve infusion on days 1 and 2. Opsonized-stimulated chemiluminescence response in quarter milk was significantly (P<0.05) increased by B. breve infusion on days 1 to 3 compared to that of pre-infusion. Lactoferrin concentrations in B. breve-infused quarter milk increased significantly (P<0.05) on days 2 to 4 and 6 compared to those of pre-infusion. IgG and IgA concentrations in B. breve-infused quarters significantly (P<0.05) increased on days 2 to 4 for IgG and days 3, 4, 6 and 8 for IgA compared to those of pre-infusion. Interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-8 mRNA levels in somatic cells from B. breve-infused quarters were significantly (P<0.05) upregulated on day 1 compared to those on days 0 and 14. Conversely, IL-6 mRNA levels in somatic cells from B. breve-infused quarters on days 0, 1 and 14 and NF-κB mRNA levels on day 0 were significantly (P<0.05) down-regulated compared to those of control. IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6 concentrations increased on days 1, 3 and 7 after B. breve infusion in quarters. Intramammary infusion of B. breve (3 × 10⁹ cfu) induces a massive influx of leukocytes and enhances innate immune response in mammary glands. This event may contribute to the enhancing host defense in the mammary gland.     

Comparative analysis of petal proteins in red and white lines from near-isogenic Portulaca sp. ‘Jewel’ plants

Summary A couple of near-isogenic lines, JR and JW from Portulaca sp. Jewel has red and white petals respectively. The difference in petal color in the two lines is caused by an alteration of single genetic locus which is involved in the biosynthesis of betalain pigmentation. In order to detect this genetic difference at the polypeptide level, we have now attempted the comparative analysis of petal proteins between JR and JW. The protein profiles of SDS-polyacrylamid gel electrophoresis from three different stages of the developing petals, and the autoradiographic protein profiles of in vivo labeled petals howed that a 27 KD fragment strongly appeared as a characteristic of JR petal fraction. Thus, this fragment can be considered as a candidate for certain polypeptides which is associated with the betalain synthesis pathway functioning in the pigmented petals.Abbreviations SDS sodium-dodecyl sulfate - KD kilo-dalton - DOPA 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine     

Silicon‐induced cadmium resistance in rice (Oryza sativa)

Silicon (Si)‐induced cadmium (Cd) tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated by analyzing Cd uptake, growth, and physiological parameters. Silicon treatments (0.0, 0.2, or 0.6 mM) were added to 6 d–old seedlings, and Cd treatments (0.0 or 5.0 μM) were added to 20 d–old seedlings. Parameters determined included: maximum net CO₂ assimilation (A_max), stomatal conductance (g_smax), and transpiration (E_max) rates at varying intercellular CO₂ concentrations (C_i). Also measured were chlorophyll fluorescence, growth, and Cd‐uptake parameters. Results showed a Si‐induced inhibition of Cd uptake. However, 0.2 mM or 0.6 mM Si treatment concentrations did not differentially inhibit Cd uptake or differentially alleviate Cd‐induced growth inhibition, despite a significant increase in tissue Si concentration due to 0.6 mM Si treatment compared to 0.2 mM Si treatment. Additionally, photosynthesis and chlorophyll‐fluorescence analysis showed that treatment with Cd significantly inhibited photosynthetic efficiency. Interestingly, the addition of 0.2 mM Si, more so than the addition of 0.6 mM Si, significantly alleviated the inhibitory effects of Cd toxicity on photosynthesis and chlorophyll‐fluorescence parameters. Our results suggest that 0.2 mM Si could be close to an optimum Si‐dose requirement for the alleviation of toxicity symptoms mediated by moderate (5 μM) Cd exposure.     

Growth promotion by sodium in amaranthaceous plants

The amaranthaceous dwarf glasswort, Swiss chard, table beet, spinach and Mexican tea were grown in solutions containing 0, 20, 40, 80, 120, 160, 180 and 200 mol m^?3 sodium chloride (NaCl). Maximum growth and increase of biomass production compared to that at 0 mol m^?3 of dwarf glasswort was observed at 200 mol m^?3 (245%), and Swiss chard (146%), table beet (128%) and spinach (138%) at 80 mol m^?3. The growth of these species increased with increasing sodium (Na) concentration of shoot until it reached 4.18, 2.42, 1.60 and 1.58 mol kg^?1, respectively. These indicate that the order of Na-loving character is dwarf glasswort >> Swiss chard > table beet = spinach. The water contents increased with increasing Na concentration until growth reached maximum in dwarf glasswort and Swiss chard. In these highly Na-loving species, Na is activity transported to shoots and utilized for producing osmotic pressure to absorb water.     

Ammonia‐oxidizing Archaea in laboratory‐scale activated sludge systems for wastewater of low‐ or high‐ammonium concentration

Ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) is known as ammonia‐oxidizer in wastewater treatment systems. However, ammonia‐oxidizing Archaea (AOA) is found from various environments, including wastewater treatment systems. In this study, to investigate the relationships between AOA population and ammonia concentration, AOA was monitored in two laboratory‐scale reactors treating artificial wastewater of different ammonium concentrations by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis targeting ammonia monooxygenase genes. At day 60 of the operation, AOA populations dominant in each reactor differed, suggesting the importance of influent ammonia concentration in dominant AOA selection.