Retrogradation of Rice Flour Gel and Dough: Plasticization Effects of Some Food Additives

Certain food additives commonly used in flour products also have a plasticization effect on product shelf life regarding retrogradation. Sucrose, sorbitol, glycerol, citric acid, and acetic acid at 25, 25, 25, 0.5, and 0.5%, respectively, were added to two different starch gel systems: slurry (high‐amylose rice flour gel) and dough (waxy rice flour dough). All plasticizers increased gelatinization temperature, decreased enthalpy (ΔH), and promoted a more homogeneous system. Sucrose had the greatest effect on gelatinization increase. Rice dough was more susceptible to plasticizers, resulting in higher moisture content and a more amorphous structure. Retrogradation was highly positively correlated with amylose content, moisture retention, ratio of protons of water/starch, and previous occurrence of retrogradation. Moisture retention was increased in plasticizer‐added samples, especially waxy rice dough. Over a longer storage period, sucrose and sorbitol showed an antiplasticization effect in waxy rice flour dough, but glycerol and acid caused higher retrogradation in high‐amylose rice flour gel.     

Cardiovascular effects of tramadol in dogs anesthetized with sevoflurane

Cardiovascular effects of tramadol were evaluated in dogs anesthetized with sevoflurane. Six beagle dogs were anesthetized twice at 7 days interval. The minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane was earlier determined in each dog. The dogs were then anesthetized with sevoflurane at 1.3 times of predetermined individual MAC and cardiovascular parameters were evaluated before (baseline) and after an intravenous injection of tramadol (4 mg/kg). The administration of tramadol produced a transient and mild increase in arterial blood pressure (ABP) (P=0.004) with prolonged increase in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (P<0.0001). Compared with baseline value, mean ABP increased significantly at 5 min (119% of baseline value, P=0.003), 10 min (113%, P=0.027), and 15 min (111%, P=0.022). SVR also increased significantly at 5 min (128%, P<0.0001), 10 min (121%, P=0.026), 30 min (114%, P=0.025), 45 min (113%, P=0.025) and 60 min (112%, P=0.048). Plasma concentrations of tramadol were weakly correlated with the percentage changes in mean ABP (r=0.642, P<0.0001) and SVR (r=0.646, P<0.0001). There was no significant change in heart rate, cardiac output, cardiac index, stroke volume, pulmonary arterial pressure, right atrial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. In conclusion, the administration of tramadol produces a prolonged peripheral vascular constriction in dogs anesthetized with sevoflurane, which is accompanied with a transient and mild increase in arterial blood pressure. It also indicated that the degree of vasoconstriction might depend on the plasma concentration of tramadol.     

Carotenoid Nostoxanthin Production by Sphingomonas sp. SG73 Isolated from Deep Sea Sediment

Carotenoids are used commercially for dietary supplements, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals because of their antioxidant activity. In this study, colored microorganisms were isolated from deep sea sediment that had been collected from Suruga Bay, Shizuoka, Japan. One strain was found to be a pure yellow carotenoid producer, and the strain was identified as Sphingomonas sp. (Proteobacteria) by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis; members of this genus are commonly isolated from air, the human body, and marine environments. The carotenoid was identified as nostoxanthin ((2,3,2′,3′)-β,β-carotene-2,3,2′,3′-tetrol) by mass spectrometry (MS), MS/MS, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Nostoxanthin is a poly-hydroxy yellow carotenoid isolated from some photosynthetic bacteria, including some species of Cyanobacteria. The strain Sphingomonas sp. SG73 produced highly pure nostoxanthin of approximately 97% (area%) of the total carotenoid production, and the strain was halophilic and tolerant to 1.5-fold higher salt concentration as compared with seawater. When grown in 1.8% artificial sea salt, nostoxanthin production increased by 2.5-fold as compared with production without artificial sea salt. These results indicate that Sphingomonas sp. SG73 is an efficient producer of nostoxanthin, and the strain is ideal for carotenoid production using marine water because of its compatibility with sea salt.     

Chemical Forms,Mobility and Deposition of Silicon in Rice Plant

The study of chemical forms and physiological mobility of elements found in plants is always essential to establishing the roles of elements in plant life. Such information in combination with the results of growth experiments will lead to more. reliable conclusions on the physiological functions of elements.     

Nodulation of Rj-soybean varieties with Rhizobium fredii USDA 193 under limited supply of nutrients

The compatibility between rhizobia and host plants for nodulation was determined based on the genetic and physiological properties of both symbionts. It has been observed that soybean varieties carrying the Rj-gene were not nodulated effectively by certain strains or groups of rhizobia. Soybeans carrying the Rj ₂-gene, Rj ₂-varieties, were found to nodule ineffectively by the rhizobial strains belonging to the 3-24-44 and 122 serogroups (Caldwell 1966). In the same way, Rj ₃- and Rj ₄-varieties were found to nodule ineffectively by strains USDA 33 (Vest 1970) and USDA 61 (Vest and Caldwell 1972), respectively.     

Effects of symbiosis with Rhizobium fredii on transport of fixed nitrogen in the xylem of soybean plants

An experiment was conducted to identify the main nitrogenous compound transported in the xylem sap of soybean plants nodulated with Rhizobium fredii. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) cultivars, wild type Bragg (nod⁺, fix⁺) and its nitrate tolerant, hypernodulating mutant ntsll16 (nod⁺⁺, fix⁺) were used for this experiment. These soybean plants were inoculated with a slowgrowing rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDAllO or fast-growing rhizobia consisting of a mixture of R. fredii USDA191, USDA193, and USDA-194 and grown in a phytotron under natural light and controlled temperature conditions. Xylem sap was collected from Bragg and ntsll16 plants at the flowering and pod elongation stages. Acetylene reduction activity per plant or per nodule weight was not different between soybean lines and inoculums. The composition of the nitrogenous compounds in the xylem sap was compared between the symbionts, with B. japonicum and R. fredii. At the flowering stage, ureide-N and amide-N accounted for 53 to 70% and 20 to 27% respectively of the total N in the sap collected from the plants inoculated either with B. japonicum or R. fredii. At the pod elongation stage, ureide-N and amide-N accounted for 74 to 85%, and 7 to 19% of total sap N. With the growth of the soybean plants, the ratio of ureide-N in the xylem sap increased. These results suggest that in the case of wild soybean and the hypernodulating mutant line nodulated by R. fredii, ureide is transported as the main nitrogenous compound of fixed nitrogen in the xylem sap in the same way as in plants nodulated with B. japonicum.     

Relationship between resistance to bacterial wilt and nutrient uptake in tomato seedlings

Abstract

Varietal differences in the resistance to bacterial wilt and nutrient uptake of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings were examined in pot experiments. Twenty-three tomato cultivars were classified into three groups based on the degree of resistance to the disease. Differences in nutrient uptake among cultivars were observed for all the elements tested, and highly resistant cultivars were characterized by a high calcium uptake.     

IT field monitoring in a Japanese system of rice intensification (J-SRI)

A demonstration study on Information Technology (IT) field monitoring was conducted in a rice field under the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) environment in Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The IT system used in this study consisted of an intelligent sensor node web-server that is equipped with in situ camera and sensor networks for agrometeorological, soil, and plant growth monitoring. Dynamic changes in soil moisture, water level, agrometeorological, and environmental conditions were measured and monitored. With this precision farming set-up, understanding and easy assessment of the salient field conditions and phenomena such as cyclic soil wetting and drying as well as critical crop growth stages were made possible. Based on the findings of the demonstration experiment, the system was effective, reliable, and efficient in monitoring soil moisture parameters and agrometeorological information in remote rice field environment. The actual field conditions were captured well by a combination of images, numerical, and graphical data sets. With this precise information, the frequency of irrigation was found to be every 7 days. The rice field was irrigated up to a moisture level of 0.592 m³/m³ (~600 mV) and allowed to be depleted to a moisture level of 0.417 m³/m³ (~400 mV). With this alternate drying and wetting method (AWD), a 25.71% of irrigation water was saved. In this study, rice production was made more scientific and more reliable. Hence, the use of IT field monitoring system represented a viable medium for the realization of better rice productivity which leads to the ethic of sustainable agriculture.     

Dietary branched‐chain amino acid supplementation affects growth and hepatic insulin‐like growth factor gene expression in yellowtail,Seriola quinqueradiata

We investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with a branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) mixture (valine, leucine and isoleucine) on juvenile yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata) growth and hepatic insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) gene expression. Total dietary BCAA content was 8.1, 8.5, 9.0 and 9.8 g   kg^?1 for the control, 0.4%, 1.0% and 2.0% BCAA experimental groups, respectively. Body weight was measured on day 77, after which fish were fasted for 3 days and refed; the livers were then removed 3 or 9 h later for analysis of hepatic gene expression. Body weight significantly increased in the BCAA‐supplemented groups. Hepatic expression of IGF1 and IGF2 significantly increased in the 2% BCAA group at 3 and 9 h after refeeding. In the 1% BCAA group, hepatic IGF1 expression tended to be higher at 9 h than in the control group after refeeding. Also, hepatic IGF2 significantly increased at only 9 h after refeeding in the 1% BCAA group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with crystalline BCAAs increased growth and hepatic expression of IGF1 and IGF2. These results suggest that dietary crystalline BCAA supplementation would be a valuable addition to yellowtail aquaculture practices.     

Expression and localization of NO synthase isoenzymes (iNOS and eNOS) in development of the rabbit placenta

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is a key regulator of angiogenesis and embryogenesis in the mammalian reproductive process. Here, we attempted to clarify the expression and localization of inducible and endothelial NOS (iNOS and eNOS) in the developing rabbit placenta. Real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that iNOS mRNA was significantly upregulated till the complete development of the placenta (d18), and then significantly decreased at the end of fetal growth stage (d28) during successful pregnancy. The eNOS mRNA was also enhanced in the pregnant uteri and gradually decreased near the term of pregnancy. Western blot analysis also showed elevation of the iNOS and eNOS protein levels during the course of successful pregnancy till the functional maturation of the placenta (d18). Immunohistochemical study revealed distinct localizations of iNOS along the radial arteries and eNOS at the spiral arteries and arterial sinuses in the developing placenta. This may reflect that iNOS and eNOS participate in pregnancy success through placentation-specific vascular formation and by supporting adequate blood circulation in the rabbit placenta.