Fire protection of a laminated veneer lumber joint by wood carbon phenolic spheres sheeting

Laminated veneer lumber joints made with metal plate connectors were protected with wood carbon phenolic spheres (CPS) sheeting and tested for creep under fire. The effects of the carbonizing temperature of charcoal, used as raw material for the CPS sheets, the thickness, and the location of the sheet on the joint regarding the fire-resistance performance of the joint were studied. The time to rupture of the joints covered with CPS sheets made from charcoal carbonized at 800°C (CPS800) was slightly prolonged compared with that of uncovered joints. On the other hand, the time to rupture of CPS sheets made from charcoal carbonized at 1600°C (CPS1600) was markedly extended. The changes in the charcoal properties due to increasing the carbonizing temperature might be the main reason the CPS1600 sheets had higher fire-resistance performance. The thickness and location of CPS1600 sheets have significant effects on the fire resistance of the joint. A highly fire-resistant laminated veneer lumber joint was obtained using a CPS1600 sheet. The CPS1600 sheet with a thickness of 3mm covering three sides of the joint prolonged the time to rupture 16-fold compared with that of unprotected joints.Part of this paper was presented at the 4th International Wood Science Symposium, Serpong, Indonesia, September 2002     

Synthesis of 1-hydroxyethyl-2-alkyl-2-imidazoline and its derivative sulfonate amphoteric surfactant from tall oil fatty acid

1-Hydroxyethyl-2-alkyl-2-imidazoline (HEAI) and its derivative sulfonate amphoteric surfactant were synthesized using tall oil fatty acid as the raw material. Suitable experimental conditions for synthesizing the intermediate and final products were probed. Their chemical structures were also investigated by means of infrared spectroscopy and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Based on the results of these analyses, it has been found that during the reaction process of HEAI with sodium 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropane sulfonate under alkaline condition the imidazoline ring was hydrolyzed to amides, and the obtained amphoteric surfactant was actually a complex mixture of amides. An etherification reaction in the hydroxyethyl group was also observed when the HEAI/sodium 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropane sulfonate molar ratio was more than 1:1.     

Nutrient starvation affects expression of LC3 family at the feto-maternal interface during murine placentation

LC3 − the mammalian homolog of Atg8 − was found as autophagosome membrane binding protein in mammals and widely used as an autophagosomal marker. LC3A, B and C show different expression patterns in each tissue. The aim of this study was to reveal the differences of expression patterns among LC3 families in mouse placenta under normal condition and nutrient starving condition. LC3A and B were highly expressed in decidual cells. LC3A and B were increased in D14 compared with D12 and D16 in mouse placenta, while LC3C was decreased. Starvation induced increase in LC3B expression specifically. Immunohistochemistry showed different expression patterns among LC3A, B and C. LC3A expression in syncytiotrophoblast was vanished by starvation. The results of real time RT-PCR suggested differences between D12 and D16 in autophagic cascade induced by starvation. Taken together, this study suggests that autophagy could play a role in placental invasion system and that nutrient starvation affects LC3B expression.     

Plasma fluctuation in estradiol-17β and bone resorption markers around parturition in dairy cows

Blood samples were obtained sequentially from 10 dairy cows around the time of parturition to assess plasma fluctuations in estradiol-17β (E₂) levels in association with those of several bone resorption markers. Plasma E₂ concentration increased sharply a few days prepartum and decreased quickly after parturition. In terms of bone resorption markers, the plasma level of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAP5b) rose significantly, commencing 1 week prepartum, and was maintained at this level to a few days postpartum. The plasma concentration of carboxyterminal collagen cross-links of type-I collagen (CTx) increased significantly after parturition. These observations suggest that osteoclast-mediated bone resorption was activated after parturition when plasma E₂ concentrations decreased.     

Bone morphological analyses in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats

The Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rat, a model for obese type 2 diabetes, shows bone quantitative abnormalities, namely low bone mineral density (BMD). The objective of this study was to evaluate bone morphological changes, in particular identifying the bone qualitative abnormalities, in the SDT fatty rat. Male SDT fatty rats showed increases in total trabecular area and trabecular number and decreases in trabecular thickness in cancellous bones of the proximal tibia, indicating trabecular miniaturization. The SDT fatty rat is useful for investigation of pathophysiological changes in bone quality in diabetic osteoporosis.     

Supplementation of various meals to fish meal diet for chum salmon fry

In a 6-week feeding experiment, chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, swim-up fry, were fed fish meal diets supplemented with silkworm pupae powder (5%), dried beef liver (5%), krill meal (5%) or earthworm powder (5%) at the expense of fish meal, or substituting glucose (13%) for dextrin. Fish fed the diet with earthworm powder showed the best growth performance (675% weight gain in 6 weeks) and feed efficiency (117%). The growth rate and feed efficiency of the krill meal group were also significantly better than those of the control group (without supplement or substitution). Substitution of glucose and supplementation of silkworm pupae or beef liver failed to improve the growth rate, but significantly improved feed efficiency. Food consumption of fish fed the diet supplemented with earthworms was lowest, and none of the dietary treatments appreciably increased food intake of the fish over that of the control group. The dietary group receiving earthworm powder also showed significantly higher body fat content than the remaining dietary groups. No significant differences were noted in body protein and ash contents among all dietary treatments.     

Annual dynamics of marine birnavirus (MABV) in cultured Japanese flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis> and sea water

ABSTRACT:   Seasonal changes in the infection state of marine birnavirus (MABV) in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus and in rearing sea water are described. Sea water and 10–11 healthy fish were sampled monthly from April 2002 to February 2003. The MABV genome was detected throughout the year in > 80% of the fish examined at each sampling. The virus was isolated from the liver, kidney, and spleen, but not from the brain. The detection rate in each organ increased from April to October, and then decreased. Detection of virus antigen by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique also showed that the virus was present from spring to autumn (June–September) in the liver, kidney, and spleen, but not the brain. Sequence analysis of the MABV genome at the VP2–NS region revealed two specific mutations compared to the standard yellowtail strain (Y-6). It is suggested that the infection state of MABV in Japanese flounder changes to a latent or persistent infection after autumn. MABV was detected in sea water between September and February, suggesting that virus particles in the environment are relatively higher during cool seasons.