Performance of a new carbon dioxide absorbent,Yabashi lime? as compared to conventional carbon dioxide absorbent during sevoflurane anesthesia in dogs

In the present study, we compare a new carbon dioxide (CO₂) absorbent, Yabashi lime^® with a conventional CO₂ absorbent, Sodasorb^® as a control CO₂ absorbent for Compound A (CA) and Carbon monoxide (CO) productions. Four dogs were anesthetized with sevoflurane. Each dog was anesthetized with four preparations, Yabashi lime^® with high or low-flow rate of oxygen and control CO₂ absorbent with high or low-flow rate. CA and CO concentrations in the anesthetic circuit, canister temperature and carbooxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentration in the blood were measured. Yabashi lime^® did not produce CA. Control CO₂ absorbent generated CA, and its concentration was significantly higher in low-flow rate than a high-flow rate. CO was generated only in low-flow rate groups, but there was no significance between Yabashi lime^® groups and control CO₂ absorbent groups. However, the CO concentration in the circuit could not be detected (≤5ppm), and no change was found in COHb level. Canister temperature was significantly higher in low-flow rate groups than high-flow rate groups. Furthermore, in low-flow rate groups, the lower layer of canister temperature in control CO₂ absorbent group was significantly higher than Yabashi lime^® group. CA and CO productions are thought to be related to the composition of CO₂ absorbent, flow rate and canister temperature. Though CO concentration is equal, it might be safer to use Yabashi lime^® with sevoflurane anesthesia in dogs than conventional CO₂ absorbent at the point of CA production.     

Dynamics of lingual antimicrobial peptide,lactoferrin concentrations and lactoperoxidase activity in the milk of cows treated for clinical mastitis

The aim of the present study was to examine changes in innate immune factors in the milk of mastitic dairy cows treated with antibiotics. Cows in the antibiotics group (n = 13) were infused into the mammary gland with cefazolin on the sixth day after mastitis was diagnosed (the day of the mastitis diagnosis = day ?6). The control group (n = 12) was not treated. Milk samples were collected once every 2 days from days ?6 to 12 and somatic cell count (SCC), lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), and lactoferrin (LF) concentrations and lactoperoxidase (LPO) activity were measured. SCC and LF concentrations in the antibiotics group markedly decreased after the antibiotic treatment. When cows in the antibiotics group were divided according to SCC on day 0, LAP concentrations and LPO activity in cows with a lower SCC on day 0 (<5 × 10⁶ cell/mL) were significantly higher and lower than those in cows with a higher SCC, respectively. These results suggest that LF concentration decreased with decrease in SCC after treatment and that LAP concentration and LPO activity differed depending on the severity of mastitis. This is the first report to reveal the dynamics of innate immune factor in milk of cows treated for clinical mastitis.     

Characteristics of Monomeric Al Concentration in An Acidified River

The Kusurisambetsu River is a tributary of the Noboribetsu River. These rivers flow through Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. Because the upper reaches of the river are acidified by a caldera lake and basin, the river water contains aluminum in high concentration, together with iron and sulfate. The drainage area at the lower reaches is not acidified. Therefore, the acidified water of the river is neutralized by the alkalinity of water from the drainage area. The water at the mouth is neutral in pH, although about 1 mg/L of aluminum is detected. Heavy rainfall occurred in Autumn 1993, and many adult salmon were killed at the lower reaches of the river. This prompted study of the neutralization process of river water, the Al concentration change, and the influence of rainfall. Determination of Al found total Al concentration to be roughly constant at the mouth of the Noboribetsu River. However, the concentration of monomeric Al varied with pH, which varied according to rainfall and flow volume. Monomeric Al showed a minimum concentration of roughly pH 6.0. At pH of greater than 6.0, the presence of some kinds of polymeric Al is determined by filtration fraction. This suggests that the death of salmon is caused by monomeric Al when conditions are acidic. Liming test of the river water confirmed that the monomeric Al that was toxic under acidic conditions became non-toxic under alkaline conditions.     

pH of solution greatly affects sorption of ionizable compounds into low-density polyethylene film

Sorption of ionizable compounds of pyridines and aromatic carboxylic acids into low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film was investigated as a function of pH ranging from 4 to 7. The sorptions for pyridines were increased with increasing pH. Within the range examined, pH 7 was observed to promote the highest degree of sorption. When the pH increased by one unit from 6 to 7, the sorptions for 2-propylpyridine and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine were both increased approximately 3.8 and 10.5 times, respectively. At pH 4, the sorption for the pyridines entirely disappeared. In contrast, the sorptions for aromatic carboxylic acids increased with decreasing pH. Within the range examined, pH 4 was observed to promote the highest degree of sorption. The magnitude of sorption for pyridines and carboxylic acids apparently depended on the affinity (delta(c)) of these compounds for LDPE film. Another factor affecting the sorption at various pHs was the pK(a) of these compounds; the sorption greatly decreased with the ionization degree of these compounds. To elucidate the phenomena, the following thermodynamic sorption equation was applied: S = S(0)gamma exp[V(v){(delta(w) - delta(v))(2) - delta(c)(2))/RT}. The plots of ln S for pyridines vs the term of the equation gave an insufficient relationship (r = 0.519). In contrast, taking into account the ratio (chi(i)()) of concentration of un-ionized compound to total concentration, the improvement for the equation was made: S' = S/chi(i)() = S(0)gamma exp[V(v){(delta(w) - delta(v))(2) - delta(c)(2))/RT}. The plots of ln S' vs the term of the equation gave a better relationship (r = 0.884). Furthermore, the equation was also applicable for the sorption behavior of carboxylic acids into LDPE (r = 0.769).     

利用内部信息的农用自动引导行走车的研究(第3报)——农业环境内位置检测系统

采用内部传感器（压电式陀螺仪角速度计和雷达式速度计）来检测行走车的角速度和速度，通过对检测量的积分可分别得到方向角和移动距离，并可由位置计算模型获得行走车的方位。考虑到农业环境内车辆的纵摇和横摇的影响，使用３个角速度计构成相互垂直的直角坐标系，依此对角速度进行修正。该位置检测系统获得了较好的检测精度。     

Diurnal Variations in Photosynthesis,Stomatal Conductance and Leaf Water Relation in Sorghum Grown with or without Silicon under Water Stress

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] was grown hydroponically with or without 50 ppm silicon (Si), and exposed to water stress from 10 days after sowing (DAS). At 15 and 23 DAS, we measured dry weight and diurnal variations in photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), transpiration rate (T), leaf water potential (ψ _L), and water uptake rate (23 DAS only). The reduction in dry weight at 23 DAS caused by water stress was ameliorated by silicon. Under water stress, silicon-treated seedlings showed higher g _s, P _N, and T than untreated ones. ψ _L remained almost constant within treatments throughout the daytime. Water uptake rate was reduced by water stress, but the reduction was ameliorated by silicon. We conclude that silicon enhanced water uptake and g _s, improving water supply to the leaves. These effects of silicon occurred soon after exposure to water stress.     

Studies on the bacteria isolated anaerobically from paddy field soil III. Production of fatty acids and ammonia by Clostridium species

The volatile fatty acids produced by the representative strains of clostridia isolated from paddy field soil were surveyed. All the strains, except Cl. tertium, utilized only amino acids as the sole source of energy for growth. All of them produced acetic and butyric acids, and some of them produced propionic acid in addition. Iso-valeric and iso-butyric acids were also produced, except by Cl. tertium. These results suggest that all the strains, except Cl. tertium, may carry out the STICKLAND reaction. The cells of each strain harvested from the culture in the VL medium were subjected to examination whether or not they carried out the STICKLAND reaction in the presence of leucine or glycine. All the strains, except Cl. tertium, catalyzed the STICKLAND reaction and some strains also metabolized leucine and glycine even when they were supplied singly.     

Chemical studies on soil humic acids

The levels of alcoholic and phenolic hydroxyl, methoxyl, carboxyl, and carbonyl groups of 33 to 38 humic acids obtained from various types of soils were determined to analyze the relationships between the amounts of these functional groups and the degree of humification or the types of soils. The amounts of various oxygen-containing functional groups examined were all proven to be significantly different among the various types of humic acids by analyses of variance. During humification. generally, the carboxyl and carbonyl groups increased while alcoholic and phenolic hydroxyl and methoxyl groups decreased. Linear and logarithmic regression analyses of carboxyl group contents on RF values (optical density of the alkaline solution of humic acids at 600 nm) gave very significant positive correlations. The carboxyl group contents of Rp type humic acids and humic acids from calcareous soils were largely distributed in the upper side of the regression curve. The carbonyl group contents showed a very significant linear positive correlation with carboxyl group contents. and both of them showed high linear positive correlation with RF values. Phenolic hydroxyl group contents decreased with humification in Rp(l). B. and A type humic acids. Alcoholic hydroxyl group contents showed a significant negative linear association with _RF values. Methoxyl group contents decreased rapidly with increasing humification in low humified humic acids, and their negative correlation with _RF values were proven to be very significant by logarithmic regression analysis. The complicated relationship between oxygen content and RF value which was reported previously (7) has been accounted for by the results obtained in the experiments conducted here.     

Determination of top-dressing for rice in the field by the detection of asparagine

It is well known that an increase of and better grain can be obtained by the application of an adequate amount of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium sulphate, thirty to twenty five days before heading, and this is a common practice of top-dressing, being called “Hogoe” in Japanese. It is also well known that excess of nitrogen supplied at this time makes plants weak against mechanical injury, insects and disease. For the application of “Hogoe”, therefore, an accurate diagnosis of the nitrogen nutrient condition of rice is required. In a series of investigations on the nitrogen metabolism, the author found that asparagine appeared in parallel with the increase of nitrogen concentration in rice plants, and considered that the detection of asparagine would be a good indicator for assessing the nitrogen requirement of rice lantst^l).     

Absorption of Radioactive Strontium by Soil,Especially in Relation to Native Calcium

Since it has been well known that radioactive strontium, among the fission nuclides, is particularly important in respect to the potential biological radiation hazard, much attention has been given in recent years to the study on its behaviour in soil and plant. The experiments described herein were conducted in order to elucidate some of the features of carrier-free radioactive strontium added to soils especially in connection with native calcium.