Cdh1-APC controls axonal growth and patterning in the mammalian brain

The anaphase-promoting complex (APC) is highly expressed in postmitotic neurons, but its function in the nervous system was previously unknown. We report that the inhibition of Cdh1-APC in primary neurons specifically enhanced axonal growth. Cdh1 knockdown in cerebellar slice overlay assays and in the developing rat cerebellum in vivo revealed cell-autonomous abnormalities in layer-specific growth of granule neuron axons and parallel fiber patterning. Cdh1 RNA interference in neurons was also found to override the inhibitory influence of myelin on axonal growth. Thus, Cdh1-APC appears to play a role in regulating axonal growth and patterning in the developing brain that may also limit the growth of injured axons in the adult brain.     

Effects of the micro-scale advection on the soil water movement in micro-irrigated fields

The objective of this study was to explore the soil water dynamics under micro-advective conditions. A numerical model was introduced to estimate the airflow turbulence generated by the crop canopy. The vapor pressure and air temperature in the vicinity of the soil surface were estimated from the wind velocity predicted by this model. The energy budget on the soil surface was estimated using wind velocity, vapor pressure, and air temperature simulated by numerical models. The soil water content and temperature were predicted using the simulation model describing the water and heat transfer in soil. Using the energy budget, the accuracy of this model was experimentally verified using a wind tunnel. Spatial changes of the soil water content simulated by this model were reproduced by the experiment. This indicated that the numerical model for estimating the soil water movement under micro-scale advection considering the crop body was satisfactory.     

Aging-related Changes in In Vitro-matured Bovine Oocytes: Oxidative Stress,Mitochondrial Activity and ATP Content After Nuclear Maturation

The objective of this research was to clarify the aging-related changes in in vitro-matured bovine oocytes. Firstly, we examined the fertilization and embryonic development of bovine oocytes after 22 and 30–34 h of in vitro maturation (IVM). The oocytes after 30–34 h of IVM (penetrated by sperm at around 40 h after starting IVM) showed a lower developmental rate to blastocysts (P<0.01), although normal fertilization rates were similar regardless of IVM duration. In the next experiment, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial activity and ATP content in oocytes after 20, 30 and 40 h of IVM were examined. The lowest level of ROS was found in the group subjected to 30 h of IVM. The mitochondrial activity and ATP content in the group subjected to 40 h of IVM were higher than in the group subjected to 20 h of IVM (P<0.01), and those in the group subjected to 30 h of IVM showed intermediate values. Thereafter, the mitochondrial activities at 3 days after in vitro fertilization in embryos derived from the oocytes subjected to 22 and 34 h of IVM were evaluated. In the group subjected to 34 h of IVM, high-polarized mitochondria were frequently observed at the periphery of blastomeres. The present results suggest that high mitochondrial activity observed in oocytes after prolonged IVM culture and localization of high-polarized mitochondria at the periphery of blastomeres during early embryonic development may be associated with the low developmental competence in aged bovine oocytes.     

Biological nitrate removal using sugar-industry wastes

Biological denitrification experiment was conducted using sugar-industry wastes, namely final molasses as a carbon source and bagasse charcoal pellets as supporting media for denitrifying bacteria. We employed an upflow fixed-bed reactor filled with the pellets and biofilm attached onto them. This was fed with potassium-nitrate and dilute-molasses solutions. Total nitrogen removals of more than 85% were achieved at influent carbon–nitrogen (C/N) ratios between 2 and 4, and hydraulic residence times of more than 0.8 h. This demonstrated that final molasses could be used as an alternative carbon source. On the other hand, final molasses also contained some organic/ammonium nitrogen and refractory organic matter including colors, both of which were difficult to remove with the reactor. Accordingly, at higher C/N ratios, these substances caused major increases in effluent total-nitrogen and organic-carbon concentrations. Therefore, an optimum C/N ratio was found to be around 2.     

Asynchronous wood formation in youngAcacia mangium planted in Malaysia

In general, tropical trees have less-distinct growth rings. Even if the trees have some concentric structures, there is little information on the timing of their formation. The objective of this report is to show the asynchronous wood formation from the observation of indistinct, ring-like structures. YoungAcacia mangium planted in Malaysia was investigated for asynchronous wood formation anatomically and macroscopically. Tree heights and girths at breast height for 28 trees were measured every other week. Wood disks from four trees were sampled at breast height for this research. The radial variation of vessel dimensions and the number of cambial cells in different radial directions and the wood anatomy of discontinuous bands were investigated using thin sectioning and soft radiographic methods. The vessel dimension was quite different in their radial variation even for four radial directions with a similar radius. There was a large variation in the number of cambial cells among radial directions in youngAcacia mangium. Bands of low density included a layer of vessels aligned in a spiral rather than in a closed circle.     

Change of clopyralid concentration in recycled beef cattle compost

Composting of beef cattle manure using sawdust or recycled compost as a bulking agent was investigated for the management of clopyralid risk, such as changes in the clopyralid concentration and the mechanism of clopyralid accumulation caused by recycled compost. These raw materials were composted with laboratory equipment, which was controlled at 60℃ after the temperature peak by autothermal composting. Clopyralid concentration did not changed during composting in the thermophilic phase; on the contrary, it increased because clopyralid accumulated in compost when recycled compost was used repeatedly as a bulking agent. The clopyralid accumulation ratio (ratio of clopyralid concentration to that in the first compost) could be explained by a model using a recurrence formula, and a correlation existed between the calculated (model) accumulation ratios and measured accumulation ratios (R² = 0.78). Using this model, the excessive accumulation of clopyralid could be controlled when using recycled compost as a bulking agent with lower moisture content or when part of the recycled compost was replaced by another bulking agent, even if recycled compost had high moisture content. In future work, the model and its considerations should be verified in a field test.     

Production of saturated acyl L-ascorbate by immobilized lipase using a continuous stirred tank reactor

6-O-decanoyl, 6-O-dodecanoyl, or 6-O-tetradecanoyl L-ascorbate was continuously produced at 50 degrees C using a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with an immobilized lipase, Chirazyme L-2 C2, from Candida antarctica. Acetone was used as the reaction medium. For each saturated acyl L-ascorbate, the productivity of ca. 60 g/L reactor/day was achieved for at least 11 days. The solubility of the saturated acyl L-ascorbate in the soybean oil or water was measured at various temperatures. The solubilities in both the soybean oil and the water were higher for L-ascorbate with a shorter acyl chain. The acyl chain dependence of the solubility in water was stronger than that of the solubility in soybean oil. The temperature dependences of the solubility in both soybean oil and water could be expressed by the van't Hoff equation, and the dissolution enthalpy (DeltaH) values for the soybean oil and water were about 20 and 90 kJ/mol, respectively, irrespective of the acyl chain length. The radical scavenging activities of L-ascorbic acid and the saturated acyl L-ascorbates against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical were ca. 95% for all of the compounds, and the introduction of a saturated acyl group to the L-ascorbic acid did not affect the activity.     

Improved uptake models of nonionized pesticides to foliage and seed of crops.

The residual amount of nonionized pesticides incorporated to foliage and stem (foliage) and seed (fruit) of crops via root hairs from the water phase was estimated using the uptake models newly including metabolic parameters by which the amount of intact pesticide remaining in crops was considered with its proportion in a transpiration stream. A new parameter was also introduced for the seed model that accounts for the pesticide loss by adsorption to the inner surface of xylem tissue. Validation of the model was conducted using six pesticides with soybean and spinach plants. The ratio of the predicted concentration of pesticide to the measured one was 0.44-1.49 and 0.57-2.93 with foliage and seed models, respectively, showing that these improved models would be effective as a prediction tool.