Estimation of stand volumes using the <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-nearest neighbors method in Kyushu,Japan

The k-nearest neighbors (kNN) method is widely employed in national forest inventory applications using remote sensing data. The objective of this study was to evaluate the kNN method for stand volume estimation by combining LANDSAT/ETM+ data with 622 field sample plots from the Japanese National Forest Inventory (NFI) in Kyushu, Japan. The root mean square error (RMSE) and relative RMSE of the volume estimates rapidly decreased as the number of nearest neighbors (k) increased up to five, and then it slightly declined. They were consistently smaller for the Euclidean distance than for the Mahalanobis distance. The estimation errors (RMSE and relative RMSE) were 169.2 m³/ha and 66.2%, respectively (k = 10). The relative RMSE was similar to the previous studies. The estimated values were more accurate towards the mean value of the total volume, with an overestimation of the low volumes and an underestimation of the high volumes. We found a significant linear relationship between the observed stand volumes and estimated errors, which suggests that systematic errors may be reduced using this linearity. This research concluded that the kNN method is suitable for estimating stand volumes in Kyushu.     

Mechanism of formaldehyde adsorption of (+)-catechin

The reaction of (+)-catechin with formaldehyde vapor was investigated as a model reaction of formaldehyde adsorption of (+)-catechin. It was found by H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography of the product that the vapor reaction of (+)-catechin with formaldehyde without a solvent or a catalyst proceeds via methylolation, condensation, and polymerization. This is the same as the reaction in a solvent in the presence of an acid or a base. The formation of polyoxymethylenes such as paraformaldehyde was not confirmed.     

A draft sequence of the rice genome (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica)

The genome of the japonica subspecies of rice, an important cereal and model monocot, was sequenced and assembled by whole-genome shotgun sequencing. The assembled sequence covers 93% of the 420-megabase genome. Gene predictions on the assembled sequence suggest that the genome contains 32,000 to 50,000 genes. Homologs of 98% of the known maize, wheat, and barley proteins are found in rice. Synteny and gene homology between rice and the other cereal genomes are extensive, whereas synteny with Arabidopsis is limited. Assignment of candidate rice orthologs to Arabidopsis genes is possible in many cases. The rice genome sequence provides a foundation for the improvement of cereals, our most important crops.     

Monocaprin Enhances Bioavailability of Fucoxanthin in Diabetic/Obese KK-Ay Mice

Fucoxanthin is a marine carotenoid found in brown seaweeds and several microalgae. It has been reported that fucoxanthin has health benefits such as anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. To facilitate fucoxanthin applications in the food industry, it is important to improve its low bioavailability. We attempted the combined feeding of fucoxanthin-containing seaweed oil (SO) and monocaprin in a powder diet and analyzed the fucoxanthin metabolite contents in the liver, small intestine and serum of diabetic/obese KK-A^y mice. After 4 weeks of feeding with the experimental diets, the serum fucoxanthinol concentrations of the mice fed 0.2% SO and 0.5% monocaprin were higher than those of the 0.2% SO-fed mice. Furthermore, fucoxanthinol accumulation in the liver and small intestine tended to increase in a combination diet of 0.2% SO and 0.125–0.5% monocaprin compared with a diet of 0.2% SO alone, although amarouciaxanthin A accumulation was not different among the 0.2% SO-fed groups. These results suggest that a combination of monocaprin with fucoxanthin-containing SO is an effective treatment for improving the bioavailability of fucoxanthin.     

Effect of liquid whey feeding on fecal microbiota of mature and growing pigs

The effect of liquid whey feeding on fecal bacteria and their metabolites was assessed in five pregnant sows and 66 growing pigs. Sows were fed a control diet for 4 weeks (control period) followed by the same diet but with whey feeding (5 L/day/pig) for 4 weeks (whey period). One group of growing pigs was given 267 L of whey per pig (whey group), while the other group was not (control group). In both cases, liquid whey was given separately from control diet. Sows in the whey period had feces showing lower pH, lower ammonia concentration, and larger population sizes of total bacteria, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. The bacterial gene library analysis indicated that Mitsuokella and Megasphaera were more frequently detected, while Clostridium disporicum were detected less frequently in the whey period. Feces from whey‐fed growing pigs showed lower pH than that from control pigs in the early stage of growing. Also, larger populations of total bacteria, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria were recorded in the whey group. From the bacterial gene library analysis, the detection frequency of Lactobacillus reuteri tended to be higher in the whey group. These results indicate that whey feeding influences the hindgut microbiota of pigs, possibly leading to a fermentation shift that is favorable for animal health.     

Combined use of a synthetic trail pheromone and insecticidal bait provides effective control of an invasive ant

BACKGROUND: Except for sex pheromones, use of pheromones in pest management has been largely unexplored. A high concentration of trail pheromone disrupts ant trail following and foraging, and thus synthetic trail pheromone can be a novel control agent for pest ants. In this study, a year‐long treatment of small areas (100 m² plots of urban house gardens) with synthetic trail pheromone, insecticidal bait or both was conducted to develop a novel control method of the invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr). RESULTS: The ant population could be maintained lower than or similar to the initial level only by combined treatment with synthetic trail pheromone and insecticidal bait. Actually, the ant population was nearly always lowest in combination treatment plots. Throughout the study period, the ant population in plots treated with either one of synthetic trail pheromone or insecticidal bait remained similar to no‐treatment plots. CONCLUSIONS: Combination treatment may be a more effective and environmentally friendly method for controlling invasive ants than conventional methods. Extermination of ants by insecticidal bait and inhibition of re‐infestation by pheromone may be the mechanism of the combination effect. This is the first study to show a significant effect of synthetic trail pheromone on ant population. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Marine Pharmacology in 2016–2017: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and Other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action

The review of the 2016–2017 marine pharmacology literature was prepared in a manner similar as the 10 prior reviews of this series. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2016–2017 assessed 313 marine compounds with novel pharmacology reported by a growing number of investigators from 54 countries. The peer-reviewed literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities for 123 marine natural products, 111 marine compounds with antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as affecting the immune and nervous system, while in contrast 79 marine compounds displayed miscellaneous mechanisms of action which upon further investigation may contribute to several pharmacological classes. Therefore, in 2016–2017, the preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline generated both novel pharmacology as well as potentially new lead compounds for the growing clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline, and thus sustained with its contributions the global research for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for multiple disease categories.     

Gel forming ability of fish meat oxidized during washing

ABSTRACT: In order to examine the effect of meat oxidation on the gel forming ability before grinding the meat with salt, fish meat was washed with CuCl₂ solution, and the gel strength as well as total sulfhydryl (SH) groups and sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) patterns were analysed. Washing with CuCl₂ solution resulted in a decrease in the total SH content of fish meat and the formation of myosin heavy chain (MHC) dimer through disulfide bonding. The plot of logarithmic gel strength versus protein concentration after heating the washed meat at 80°C in the presence of 3% NaCl to form a gel illustrated that the gel forming ability of meats washed with CuCl₂ solution was weaker than the control meat. The gel of meat washed with CuCl₂ showed the polymerization of MHC and MHC dimers through disulfide bonding much more than the control meat gel, although a small decrease in the SH group content after heating. Further washing with ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) solution to remove CuCl₂ from the CuCl₂-washed meat also resulted in similar behavior for MHC polymerization and SH content as the CuCl₂-washed meat, and the gel was still weaker than the control gel. It was found that the oxidation of SH groups during washing with CuCl₂ solution accompanied by MHC dimer formation in the meat results in the weakening of its gel forming ability.