Spatial and temporal migration modeling for stock of Pacific saury Cololabis saira (Brevoort), incorporating effect of sea surface temperature

ABSTRACT:   A model is proposed that expresses the spatial and temporal migration pattern for stock of Pacific saury Cololabis saira (Brevoort), in order to investigate the effect of sea surface temperature (SST) on migration rates. Two factors are considered: (i) Saury emigrate to waters of an optimal SST zone; and (ii) saury immigrate from water zone that is extremely cold for saury. Parameters of migration and initial levels of stock are estimated with a maximum likelihood method based on catch per unit effort (CPUE) data for 1995–2001. The best model was selected using Akaike's information criteria. The results suggested that the emigration rate to southern adjacent regions is dependent on the coverage proportion of their waters under some threshold temperatures; 20°C to Doutou and Sanriku, 23°C to Joban and Izu.     

Measurement system of whole-canopy carbon dioxide exchange rates in grafted cucumber transplants in which scions were exposed to different water regimes using a semi-open multi-chamber

A continuous CO₂ measurement system was developed to monitor the CO₂ exchange rate of the whole canopy of grafted transplants using semi-open multiple chambers. Air heating or cooling and humidification inside a healing box were under control, if needed. To test the system, the gas exchange rate of the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) transplants grafted onto pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima cv. ‘New-Shintozwa’) was analysed. During the healing and acclimatisation of the grafted cucumber plants, the air temperature in the box remained constant at night but ranged above 1 °C of a set value under high humidity in daytime. The relative humidity was kept within the set point during the daytime, and it nearly reached 100% at night when not controlled. The cucumber seedlings were exposed to different water stresses before grafting, and the water potentials of each treatment were −0.579 (non-stressed), −0.814 (mildly water-stressed), and −0.870 MPa (strongly water-stressed) on grafting. At the water-stressed scions, leaf expansion was inhibited by 30.9–53.3% compared with the non-stressed scions. Therefore, the gas exchange rates of the strongly water-stressed scions based on the leaf area were decreased to 72.7% compared with the non-stressed scions. After grafting, the apparent photosynthesis of the transplants of all treatments was negative, with higher respiration in the strongly water-stressed scions during the initial period of healing. However, they turned to positive values and exceeded those of the non-stressed scions from three days after grafting. This result provides critical information that the water column is physiologically connected between the stock and scion within two days after grafting. As a result of water stress, the leaf area and dry weight of the transplants in the strongly water-stressed scions were inhibited by 67.5% and 83% compared with the non-stressed scions at the end of acclimatisation. In contrast, the relative growth rate and graft-take of the strongly water-stressed transplants were slightly increased, which suggests that the water stress prior to grafting alleviated the water demand of the scion. This system may provide useful information for diagnosis at the early stage by monitoring the whole canopy's photosynthesis over a long term.     

Regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle by CaMK

Endurance exercise training promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle and enhances muscle oxidative capacity, but the signaling mechanisms involved are poorly understood. To investigate this adaptive process, we generated transgenic mice that selectively express in skeletal muscle a constitutively active form of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV*). Skeletal muscles from these mice showed augmented mitochondrial DNA replication and mitochondrial biogenesis, up-regulation of mitochondrial enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism and electron transport, and reduced susceptibility to fatigue during repetitive contractions. CaMK induced expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC-1), a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis in vivo, and activated the PGC-1 gene promoter in cultured myocytes. Thus, a calcium-regulated signaling pathway controls mitochondrial biogenesis in mammalian cells.     

Vision-based Navigation System for Autonomous Transportation Vehicle

Autonomous navigation using global positioning system (GPS) or geomagnetic direction sensor (GDS) to detect absolute position is widely used. An alternative system that detects boundary lines and intersections information can be achieved using machine vision based navigation systems. The objectives of this research are the development of the intersection detection method using machine vision and the approaching/turning at the intersection using dead reckoning method. Intersection guidance markers (IGM) were installed on farm road intersections. The method of intersection recognition involved the search to detect the IGM instead of the actual intersection, which would be difficult because the latter changes appearance through the season. Hough Transform and coordinate transformation was used for this purpose. A dead reckoning system for approaching and turning on the intersection was developed. Rotary encoders installed on both sides of the crawler sprocket are used as guidance sensors. RTK-DGPS and fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) were used for evaluating the track of autonomous traveling. The result of field tests (the speed was 0.8 m/s) showed the rms of intersection detection error and the dead reckoning error were 0.12 m at 8.64 Hz processing speed and 0.063 m respectively.     

Purification of serine carboxypeptidase from the hepatopancreas of Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus and its application for elimination of bitterness from bitter peptides

ABSTRACT:   An acidic serine carboxypeptidase (CPase Tpa) from the hepatopancreas of Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus was purified. Purified CPase Tpa had a molecular mass of 36 kDa on sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and an isoelectric point of 6.0. The optimum pH of CPase Tpa was pH 4.0. In investigating the specificity of CPase Tpa for several peptide substances, it was found that peptides with hydrophobic or bulky amino acid residues at the P₁ position reacted well. The enzymatic activity was almost completely inhibited by p -chloromercuribenzoic acid, monoiodoacetic acid, diisopropylfluorophosphate and HgCl₂. This is the basis for its grouping in the serine carboxypeptidase family (EC 3. 4. 16. 5). The substrate specificity of CPase Tpa can be used to eliminate the bitterness of bitter peptides. In this study, the bitterness-reductive effect using bitter peptides prepared by hydrolyzing soy protein, casein and corn gluten with pepsin or trypsin was tested. The bitterness of soy peptide digested with pepsin was completely eliminated by treatment with CPase Tpa, whereas the bitterness of casein digested with trypsin and corn peptide digested with pepsin were somewhat less efficient. On the basis of these results, it is anticipated that CPase Tpa would be effective in eliminating the bitterness of some bitter peptides.     

Immunostimulatory effects of fermented vegetable product on the non-specific immunity of Japanese flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis>

The stimulatory effect of fermented vegetable product (FVP) upon the phagocytic and superoxide generation of leukocytes was studied in the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. The phagocytic activity of casein-induced, intraperitoneal leukocytes was investigated and quantified, that is the activity significantly increased (P<0.05 or <0.01) by the addition of FVP beyond 3 mg/kg body weight. Further analysis investigated the effect of FVP on superoxide generation in leukocytes. Established in vitro cytochrome c reduction assay was used to measure superoxide generation; reduced levels of FVP in assay samples had a profound effect on superoxide generation. FVP was also incorporated in commercial diets and fed to Japanese flounder for 4 weeks. The phagocytic activities and superoxide generation of peritoneal induced leukocytes were significantly higher (P<0.05, <0.01) in fish fed the FVP supplemented diet than fish fed the control diet. FVP feeding in fish had a significantly higher (P<0.05) activity of lysozyme than in the control fish.     

A one-dimensional model for water quality simulation in medium- and small-sized rivers

While studying water quality in the Tatara river, we realized that the river has various hydraulic and topographic characteristics when flowing through different regions. Because of these specific characteristics, the application of the existing models for simulation of its water quality may not be appropriate due to limitations in the models themselves. Therefore, we developed a mathematical model that is suitable for short-term simulations of water quality in rivers with characteristics similar to the Tatara river. The main foundation of the model is the one-dimensional transport equation established on the basis of the mass conservation law. To solve this equation numerically, it was discretized by the method of finite-difference approximations, and an algorithm has been programmed in Fortran 90. To verify the model, the Tatara river was chosen as a case study. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, hydraulic parameters in four typical blocks of the river, and meteorological data of the study area, have been observed and used to test the model. By calibrating the model with different series of data collected from the designated blocks, all results have shown a good fit between simulated data and the observed one. Therefore, the model could be a reliable tool for simulating water quality in medium- and small-sized rivers over a short-term period. This research has also indicated the changing tendencies of water temperature and dissolved oxygen in Tatara river in response to different meteorological patterns over a daily 24-h period. Besides, the model could be improved to simulate other water quality variables, which would be studied further.     

Liquefaction of beech wood in various supercritical alcohols

The liquefaction of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume) was studied with various straight-chain alcohols in subcritical and supercritical states using a batch-type reaction vessel to obtain liquid fuel from lignocellulosics. Under the reaction condition of 270°C, beech wood was liquefied to some extent in all alcohols with about 50%–65% insoluble residue left after treatment for 30min. Under the condition of 350°C, however, more than 90% of wood was decomposed and liquefied in all alcohols. Alcohols with longer alkyl chains liquefied lignocellulosics in shorter reaction times. Because many kinds of alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, can be produced from biomass, 100% biomass-based liquid fuel can be prepared by supercritical alcohol technology when using such bioalcohols. This study was presented in part at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kyoto, Japan, March 16–18, 2005