Decadal changes in the rice-cropping system in the Ayeyarwady Delta using a large archive of satellite imagery from 1981 to 2020

In the last 40 years, the rice-cropping system has considerably changed in the Ayeyarwady Delta. The large archive of satellite imagery provides a history of how land and water resource managements have changed in the face of growing populations, resource demand, and climate change. This study aimed to assess the decadal changes in the rice-cropping system in the Ayeyarwady Delta by using the large archive of satellite imagery for the last 40 years (1981???2020). The long-term NDVI dataset provided various information on rice cultivation. Signal processing techniques were used to detect on the historical changes in the rice-cropping system, and the impact of climate change was assessed by using trend analysis. Until the 1980s, single-cropping of summer rice was dominant in the Delta. To enhance the grain yield of rice, the irrigation facilities were introduced in 1992 under an initiative of the Myanmar government. As a result, the annual cropping intensities increased from 1.087?±?0.390 in the 1980s to 1.422?±?0.499 in the 2010s. The information on historical change in the rice-cropping system would be useful to consider the practical and cost-effective utilization of remaining land and water resources. Moreover, the trend analysis of NDVI time-series showed negative trends in coastal areas. This indicates that the rice production in coastal areas has been constrained by the saline intrusion. The salt-affected areas are expected to expand under future climate change scenarios. Government support is highly required for sustainable rice production in the Delta.

     

QTL analysis of panicle morphology response to irrigation regime in aerobic rice culture

In water-efficient rice production, grain yield is often constrained by panicle size. The objective of this study was to genetically dissect the response of panicle morphology to irrigation regimes in aerobic rice culture. We grew ‘Akihikari’ (a lowland japonica cultivar) × ‘IRAT109’ (an upland japonica cultivar) backcross inbred lines in aerobic soils with full or limited irrigation for 2 years, and examined 4 panicle traits—number of florets per panicle (FPP), number of primary branches per panicle (BPP), number of florets per primary branch (FPB), and frequency of pre-flowering floret abortion (%FA)—and grain yield. QTLs for BPP were detected in both the irrigation regimes but QTLs for FPB and %FA were detected mostly only in either of the irrigation regimes. The QTL for FPP on chromosome 2 (RM3421–RM213) coincided with that for yield under full irrigation, showing that this QTL is related to sink capacity and yield potential in aerobic rice culture. On the other hand, the QTL for FPB on chromosome 1 (RM3148–RM243) coincided with that for yield under limited irrigation, when water deficit was moderate. The QTL for root axis length at vegetative stage, previously identified in the same mapping population, was located near this region. This study unravelled the complicated genetic control on panicle morphology in aerobic rice culture, and suggested the positive roles of the dehydration avoidance mechanism by vigorous root growth on panicle size and yield under dry soil conditions.     

Expression dynamics of bovine MX genes in the endometrium and placenta during early to mid pregnancy

MX belongs to a family of type I interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes, and the MX protein has antiviral activity. MX has at least two isoforms, known as MX1 and MX2, in mammals. Moreover, bovine MX1 has been found to have alternative splice variants—namely, MX1-a and MX1B. In ruminants, IFN-τ—a type I IFN—is temporarily produced from the conceptus before implantation and induces MX expression in the endometrium. However, the expression dynamics of MX after implantation are not clear. In the present study, we investigated the expression of MX1-a, MX1B and MX2 in the endometrium and placenta before and after implantation along with the expression of IFN-α, type I receptors (IFNAR1 and IFNAR2) and interferon regulatory factors (IRF3 and IRF9). Pregnant uterine samples were divided into five groups according to pregnancy days 14–18, 25–40, 50–70, 80–100, and 130–150. Tissue samples were collected from the intercaruncular endometrium (IC), caruncular endometrium (C) and fetal placenta (P). Although all the MX expressions were significantly higher in the IC and C at days 14–18, presumably caused by embryo-secreted IFN-τ stimulation, their expressions were also detectable in the IC, C and P after implantation. Furthermore, IFN-α expression was significantly higher in the IC. RT-PCR indicated IFNAR1, IFNAR2, IRF3 and IRF9 mRNA in all the tissues during pregnancy. These results suggest that all the MX genes are affected by the type I IFN pathway during pregnancy and are involved in an immune response to protect the mother and fetus.     

Effects of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) hay feeding on dry matter intake and milk production of Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) fed rice straw ad libitum

To identify the effects of field pea hay (FPH) as a supplement of rice straw (RS) on feed intake and milk production of mid‐late lactation buffaloes in Tarai, Nepal, nine multiparous Murrah were fed a concentrate at 0.6% of their bodyweight (BW) on a concentrate dry matter (DM) basis daily while having ad libitum access to RS. The buffaloes were divided into three groups, and the experiment with three levels of FPH feeding was conducted at the following rate of BW: 0% (T1), 0.5% (T2) and 1.0% (T3) on an FPH DM basis. The DM intake (DMI) was higher in T2 and T3 than in T1. As the amount of FPH was raised, the BW change, crude protein intake (CPI) and total digestible nutrient intake (TDNI) was increased. Although the yield of milk and milk composition did not differ among the treatments, the 7% fat corrected milk yield (FCMY) tended to increase as FPH feeding amount was raised. Although there were no significant differences in FCMY/DMI and FCMY/TDNI among the treatments, FCMY/CPI decreased with FPH feeding. Supplementary FPH increased DMI, CPI and TDNI that might have raised BW, and tended to improve FCMY in mid‐late lactating buffaloes as a result of an increase in TDNI.     

Psycho-educational Horseback Riding to Facilitate Communication Ability of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders

In this study, we applied a novel psycho-educational horseback riding (PEHR) program to the treatment of four Japanese children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) in order to facilitate the acquisition of verbal and nonverbal communication skills. The behavioral changes in each child were evaluated using a psychological and behavioral scale. The scale for evaluating the effect of Human-Equips-Interaction on Mental activity (HEIM scale) was designed to assess the behavioral improvement of children based on the following 10 items: Human relationships, Imitation, Emotional expression, Sudden physical movement, Fixative behavior, Adaptation to change, Visual response, Fear or nervousness, and Verbal and nonverbal communication. After taking part in the PEHR program for several months, all subjects showed remarkably improved HEIM scores and marked improvements were observed in eye contact with others (instructors, side walkers, and leaders) in the riding area. A statistical difference was found in items 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9. However, no statistical difference was found in items 4, 5, and 10. As the program progressed, the children showed enhanced verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and became more expressive in their emotional and empathetic interaction with their parents. These observations suggest that the normal functioning of pleasurable emotions and empathy may facilitate further improvements in joint attention, imitation and empathy, and may result in successful verbal expression by PDD children. Therefore, horseback riding can play a very important role in the psycho-educational support required for the communication ability of PDD children.     

Pore structure and the properties of electric double layer capacitor electrode of bamboo-derived activated carbon prepared by superheated steam

Bamboo-derived activated carbon prepared by superheated steam (BAC) exhibited performance for utilization as an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) electrode. Pore structure and EDLC performances were investigated by comparison with phenol resin-derived activated carbon (MSP-20), which is commercially available and often used for the purpose. The nitrogen adsorption isotherm showed that BAC had a large BET-specific surface area of 1268 g/m² with a developed pore structure, especially of the mesopore, in comparison with MSP-20. It is considered that inherent ash in bamboo promoted activation, in addition to physical activation by superheated steam. Capacitance per electrode volume (C_V) was 52 F/cm³ with BAC. Because the density of BAC is high (0.78 g/cm³) compared with that of MSP-20 (0.58 g/cm³), sufficient C_V for usage was obtained, although the capacitance per electrode mass (C_M) at 5 mA/cm² itself of BAC (67 F/g) was lower than that of MSP-20 (126 F/g). With IR drop, the resistance value of BAC (9.7 Ω) was lower than that of MSP-20 (10.5 Ω). Especially, the diffusion resistance of BAC disclosed to be smaller than that of MSP-20. These results indicated that BAC produced by steam activation is a promising material with a pore structure suitable for ion transfer in EDLC.     

Site preference and occurrence patterns of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea jezoensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies sachalinensis</Emphasis> on decayed logs in natural coniferous forests in Hokkaido,northern Japan

The objectives of this study were to investigate differences in the site preferences of seedlings of Picea jezoensis and Abies sachalinensis on decayed logs, and to examine the occurrence patterns of seedlings and saplings of the two species and whether they occur together or separately on logs. We characterized the habitats of 1–2-year-old seedlings of the two species on logs and examined the relationship of the two species on logs by growth stages in two plots. One plot had been disturbed about 50 years ago whereas the other had not for a long time. Although the thickness of moss and the litter layer in the habitats of 1–2-year-old seedlings were significantly different between the two species, the two species could occur together. In one study plot, seedlings and saplings of the two species occurred together. The initial occurrence pattern of the seedlings affected the occurrence patterns of the saplings on logs. The occurrence patterns of the seedlings and saplings of the two species on logs seemed to be affected by the abundance of seed trees. In the other study plot saplings of the two species occurred separately, but one species was not always competitively superior to the other species. Disturbance history affected the occurrence patterns of the saplings of the two species on decayed logs at the two study plots. Consequently, it is concluded that seed dispersal and the abundance of available logs, which are usually affected by disturbance, are significant factors in the natural regeneration of conifers in Hokkaido.     

Effects of muscle type on beef taste‐traits assessed by an electric sensing system

To assess the role of muscle fiber type in beef taste‐traits, we analyzed cooked meats from bovine masseter, diaphragm, psoas major, longissimus thoracis, and semitendinosus muscles with an electric taste sensing system (INSENT SA402B). The system is composed of five taste sensors of polymer membranes fixing different lipids. The sensors, CT0, CA0, AAE, C00 and AE1 are designed to respond to the individual tastes of salty, sour, umami, bitter and astringent, respectively. The system found significant differences in the converted outputs of CA0 (cvCA0), C00 (cvC00) and AE1 (cvAE1) among the bovine muscles. The slow‐type muscles (masseter and diaphragm) showed lower cvCA0, higher cvC00, and higher cvAE1 than did the fast‐type muscles (psoas major, longissimus thoracis, and semitendinosus). Lactic acid content was different among muscle types and was highly related to the cvCA0 output and pH. carbonyl compounds and free fatty acids were higher in the slow‐type muscles. Free fatty acids were major components causing the difference in the C00 output among the muscle types. Iron content was also different among the muscle types and related to the cvC00 and cvAE1 outputs. These results suggested that the muscle fiber type affects the beef taste characteristics.