Buckwheat extract inhibits progression of renal failure

Rats subjected to partial resection of the parenchyma showed reduced radical-scavenging activity in the remaining kidney and increased severity of renal tissue lesions. However, in similarly nephrectomized rats given buckwheat extract, the state of oxidative stress improved by restoring the decreased activities of reactive oxygen species-scavenging enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. The degree of mesangial proliferation, severity of extratubular lesions such as crescents and adhesions, glomerulosclerosis index, and severity of tubular interstitial lesions also improved. In addition, nephrectomized rats given buckwheat extract showed improvement in renal function, as indicated by decreased serum level of creatinine, with a significant decrease in the level of methylguanidine, a uremic toxin produced from creatinine in the presence of hydroxyl radical.     

Prediction of enteric methane emissions from lactating cows using methane to carbon dioxide ratio in the breath

The aim of this study was to develop prediction equations for methane (CH₄) emissions from lactating cows using the CH₄/carbon dioxide (CO₂) ratio in the breath measured in the automatic milking system (AMS) and to evaluate the predicted values and factors affecting the CH₄/CO₂ ratio. The model development was conducted using a dataset determined in respiration chambers or head boxes (n = 121). Then, gas measurements in the AMS as well as in the head box were carried out with six lactating cows fed one of three different levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, following a 3 × 3 Latin square experimental design. The obtained equation that is suitable for practical use on farms to predict CH₄ was CH₄ (L/day) = −507 + 0.536 live weight (kg) + 8.76 energy-corrected milk (kg/day) + 5,029 CH₄/CO₂ (adjusted R² = 0.83; root mean square error = 40.8 L/day). Results showed that the predicted values correlated positively with the observed values, the determined CH₄/CO₂ ratio increased with increasing dietary NDF content, and the detected eructation rate was in the normal range. On the other hand, the CH₄/CO₂ ratio was affected by the time interval between measurement and last eating before the measurement.     

Multifunctional Alloys Obtained via a Dislocation-Free Plastic Deformation Mechanism

We describe a group of alloys that exhibit "super" properties, such as ultralow elastic modulus, ultrahigh strength, super elasticity, and super plasticity, at room temperature and that show Elinvar and Invar behavior. These "super" properties are attributable to a dislocation-free plastic deformation mechanism. In cold-worked alloys, this mechanism forms elastic strain fields of hierarchical structure that range in size from the nanometer scale to several tens of micrometers. The resultant elastic strain energy leads to a number of enhanced material properties.     

Methane and N2O emissions, nitrate concentrations of drainage water, and zinc and copper uptake by rice fertilized with anaerobically digested cattle or pig slurry

We have examined the effects of different types of slurry on CH₄ and N₂O emissions, Zn and Cu contents of rice, and nitrate content of the drainage water. The experiment included four treatments: (1) anaerobically digested cattle slurry (ADCS), (2) ADCS filtered to remove the coarse organic matter fraction, (3) anaerobically digested pig slurry (ADPS), and (4) chemical fertilizer (CF). The application rate was 30?g?NH₄?CN?m^?2. Different amounts of C were incorporated with fertilization: 725?g?C?m^?2 in ADCS, 352?g?m^?2 in filtered ADCS, and 75?g?m^?2 in ADPS. The average CH₄ emissions during a growing period were 304, 359, 452, and 579?mg?m^?2?day^?1 in the CF, ADPS, filtered ADCS, and ADCS treatments, respectively. The CH₄ emission was significantly higher in ADCS than in CF and ADPS. Negligible N₂O emissions were observed during the growing period. Comparable concentrations of Zn and Cu were observed in the rice grain among the treatments. In contrast, their concentrations in the stems and leaves were significantly higher in ADPS than in CF treated rice, although the values were lower than the upper limit of feed additives. Nitrate concentrations in the drainage water were consistently low (0.5?mg?N?L^?1). The present study suggested that ADPS, containing a lower amount of C than ADCS, might be an organic fertilizer in paddy field with comparable environmental impacts to chemical fertilizers (CF), but long-term field studies are needed to better understand the effects of these organic fertilizers.     

The draft genome of Ciona intestinalis: insights into chordate and vertebrate origins

The first chordates appear in the fossil record at the time of the Cambrian explosion, nearly 550 million years ago. The modern ascidian tadpole represents a plausible approximation to these ancestral chordates. To illuminate the origins of chordate and vertebrates, we generated a draft of the protein-coding portion of the genome of the most studied ascidian, Ciona intestinalis. The Ciona genome contains approximately 16,000 protein-coding genes, similar to the number in other invertebrates, but only half that found in vertebrates. Vertebrate gene families are typically found in simplified form in Ciona, suggesting that ascidians contain the basic ancestral complement of genes involved in cell signaling and development. The ascidian genome has also acquired a number of lineage-specific innovations, including a group of genes engaged in cellulose metabolism that are related to those in bacteria and fungi.     

Potato composition: I. Tissue selection and its effects on solids content and amylose/amylopectin ratios

Solids content and amylose/amylopectin ratios were determined in different parts of tubers of White Rose, Red La Soda, Kennebec, Russet Burbank, Norchip and Lenape at harvest, after storage at 7 C for 2 and 4 mo, and after reconditioning at 20 C for 3 wk following each storage period. In all cultivars, solids content was greatest in stem-end, lower in bud-end and lowest in core tissue. The relationships for distribution of solids among the different parts of the tubers was not changed by storage treatments in any of the cultivars. Amylose/amylopectin ratios were similar in all parts of the tuber. Both the solids content and amylose/amylopectin ratio were changed by storage, but not uniformly in all cultivars.     

The textural quality of cooked potatoes. I. The relationship of cooking time to the separation and rupture of potato cells

Mealy mashed potatoes were obtained from potato slabs steam cooked as little as 8 min. The potato slabs were undercooked by the fork test. The bud-end slabs were softer than the stem-end slabs and the compressive force to rice the potato was high. Histologically, potatoes cooked 8–18 min showed no distention of cell walls and the rupture of cells was caused by the ricing of the potato tissue. Measurement of released free starch from the ruptured cells showed the potato cell was more susceptible to rupture as the cooking time increased. Potatoes cooked 9–12 min showed no significant differences in amount of cell rupturing. The results indicated the possibility that the pectic material in the middle lamella underwent a change, which was complete at cooking time of 9–12 min, to permit forced separation of the cells without undue damage to the cells. With longer cooking time, there was breakdown of the pectic material in the primary and secondary wall increasing the susceptibility of cells to rupture.     

French fry quality related to specific gravity and solids content variation among potato strips within the same tuber

The solids content of adjacent potato strips cut from known locations within the tuber was found to differ significantly. These strips were identified and processed according to commercial practice. The finish fries were subjectively scored for quality. Yield and oil uptake were calculated. The solids content of individual strips from a 20 tuber sample out of a single 100 lb. bag ranged from 12% to 29%. The whole tubers ranged from 18% to 23% solids. Strips below 17% solids were shriveled, limp and soggy after processing while strips above 22% solids were rigid and crisp with a mealy interior. Oil uptake was not related to solids content. However, yield of par-fries and to a lesser extent of finish-fries increased as solids content increased.     

Characterization of bagasse binderless particleboard manufactured in high-temperature range

This paper describes the features of binderless particleboard manufactured from sugarcane bagasse, under a high pressing temperature of 200–280 °C. Mechanical properties [i.e., modulus of rupture (MOR) and elasticity (MOE) in dry and wet conditions, internal bonding strength (IB)] and dimensional stability [i.e., thickness swelling (TS)] of the board were evaluated to investigate the effect of high pressing temperature. Recycled chip binderless particleboards were manufactured under the same conditions for comparison, and particleboards bonded with polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI) resin were manufactured as reference material. The target density was 0.8 g/cm³ for all of the boards. The results showed that the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of both types of binderless boards were improved by increasing the pressing temperature. Bagasse showed better performance than that of recycled chip as a raw material in all evaluations. Bagasse binderless particleboard manufactured at 260 °C had an MOE value of 3.5 GPa, which was equivalent to the PMDI particleboard, and a lower TS value of 3.7 % than that of PMDI particleboard. The MOR retention ratio under the dry and wet conditions was 87.0 %, while the ratio for the PMDI particleboard was only 54.6 %. The obtained results showed the possibility of manufacturing high-durability binderless particleboard, with good dimensional stability and water resistance, which previously were points of weakness for binderless boards. Manufacturing binderless boards under high temperature was effective even when using particles with poor contact area, and it was possible to express acceptable properties to allow the manufacture of particleboards. Further chemical analysis indicated a contribution of a saccharide in the bagasse to the improvement of the board properties.