Model studies on volatile release from different semisolid fat blends correlated with changes in sensory perception

The effect of dispersed aqueous droplets in water-in-oil (W/O)-emulsion semisolid fats on aroma release and sensory perception was investigated on margarine models where model aroma substances were added. Aroma release from W/O-emulsion fat blends and bulk fat blends with added monoglycerides combining different fatty acids of various short-chain free fatty acids, methylketones, esters, and lactones were measured using headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS), and their perception profiles were evaluated by sensory analysis. The presence of aqueous phase in a fat blend significantly reduced the headspace concentrations of butanoic acid and hexanoic acid, and also decreased the perceived intensity of total aroma and cheesy aroma. The aroma release of methylketones, esters, and lactones from the W/O-emulsion fat blends increased with increasing carbon chain length of the volatile molecules. The intensity of aroma perception in a W/O-emulsion fat blend depended on the melting point of the fatty acids (oleic, palmitic, stearic, and behenic) of the monoglyceride used as an emulsifier. Thus, aroma release from a W/O-emulsion semisolid fat blend was influenced by interactions between aroma volatiles and the dispersed aqueous droplets and by their viscoelastic properties.     

Detection and monitoring of ongoing aseismic slip in the Tokai region,central Japan

Analysis of global positioning system data shows that the rate of crustal deformations in the Tokai region of Japan, a seismic gap area, changed over the past 18 months. Kalman filtering analysis shows aseismic slip on the plate boundary in the western Tokai region centered on Lake Hamana, adjacent to the anticipated Tokai earthquake source area. The cumulative moment magnitude reaches 6.7 in June 2002 with a relative slip increase northeast of Lake Haman from January 2002. An existence of aseismic slip in the western Tokai supports the hypothesis of a silent event as the cause of uplifting several days before the 1944 Tonankai earthquake.     

Nitrate content and induction of NADH nitrate reductase in cultured rice cells

The nitrate content of cultured rice cells grown in liquid R-2 medium containing 40 mM nitrate increased rapidly and reached a maximum 6 hr after inoculation. After about 6-hr lag period, NADH nitrate reductase activity increased rapidly to the 24th hr. Promotive effects on the nitrate accumulation and the induction of NADH nitrate reductase were found by the addition of 5 mM ammonium into the medium. Nitrate content increased exponentially as a function of increasing external nitrate concentration between 0 and 80 mM. The NADH nitrate reductase activity also increased from 0 to 40 mM of nitrate media, but leveled off between 40 and 80 mM.

A high level of nitrate content was detected in the cells grown in 10 or 40 mM of nitrate medium without sucrose for 48 hr, suggesting that sucrose in the medium may have no effect on the nitrate accumulation in the early growth period.     

Improvement of the NH2OH-HCl-HOAc method for extracting manganese and iron oxides in Japanese Andisols and other soil types in Japan

Abstract

We evaluated the validity of Tessier’s method as applied to the extraction of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) oxides in Japanese Andisols and other soil types in Japan. Using the original Tessier’s extractant mixture, 0.04 mol L^?1 hydroxylamine hydrochloride in 25% acetic acid (0.04 mol L^–1 NH₂OH-HCl in 25% HOAc), we found that substantial amounts of short-range-ordered Fe oxides were not extracted from allophanic Andisol samples and that considerable amounts of total Fe oxides were not extracted from all soil types. Relatively high extraction pH and large amounts of short-range-ordered Fe oxides in the Andisol samples might be responsible for incomplete extraction. Stoichiometric calculation indicated that the concentration of NH₂OH-HCl might be insufficient for complete extraction of Fe oxides. The extracted amounts of Mn and Fe increased with increasing concentration of NH₂OH-HCl in the extractant, and most of the Mn and Fe oxides in the soil samples, including samples with as much as 5.6% Fe, were extracted with 0.6 mol L^–1 NH₂OH–HCl in 25% HOAc. As judged from the simultaneous dissolution of aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si) minerals, extraction selectivity of Fe oxides with 0.6 mol L^–1 NH₂OH-HCl in 25% HOAc was comparable to that of the original Tessier’s method and better than that of a modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure or a method using an extractant consisting of a mixture of oxalate and ascorbate, especially for Andisol samples.     

Occurrence probabilities of tree cavities classified by entrance width and internal dimensions in hardwood forests in Hokkaido, Japan

To estimate cavity availability for species with diverse cavity requirements, we recorded cavities in eight deciduous hardwood forests in Hokkaido, Japan, and classified them into two categories based on their entrance width (small, 2.5–5 cm; large, ≥5 cm). In two of the forests, we inspected cavity interiors and classified cavities into three further categories based on their internal dimensions (shallow, moderate, and deep). We then estimated the occurrence probabilities of cavities of different sizes at the individual-tree level. Although the cumulative occurrence probabilities of small and large cavities increased with increasing diameter at breast height (DBH) for all tree species, the occurrence probabilities of large cavities were <0.08 at 40 cm DBH except for 0.20 in Acer mono and 0.22 in snags. Snags were more likely than live trees to have cavities especially at smaller DBH. The cumulative probabilities that cavities were classified as deep or moderate were positively correlated with DBH and cavity entrance width, and negatively correlated with height of cavity entrance above ground. The variation in occurrence probabilities among cavities of different sizes shows that the classification of cavities by both entrance width and internal dimensions contributes to reliable estimates of cavity availability for different cavity users.     

Effect of citrus pulp silage feeding on concentration of beta‐cryptoxanthin in plasma and milk of dairy cows

Citrus pulp is known to contain a functional molecule of beta‐cryptoxanthin which is one of the carotenoids showing anti‐oxidative capacity. Influences of citrus pulp silage feeding to dairy cows on beta‐cryptoxanthin concentration in plasma, other blood properties and milking performances were investigated. Four Holstein cows were fed total mixed ration (TMR) containing citrus pulp silage 20% dry matter (DM) for 2 weeks with free access to the TMR. Dry mater intake, milk production and milk components 2 weeks later were not altered compared with those of the control group without citrus pulp silage. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanin aminotransferase and gamma‐glutamyltranspeptidase in plasma were not affected by feeding of citrus pulp silage. Concentrations of protein, albumin, sulfhydryl residue, ascorbic acid, thio‐barbituric acid reactive substance and urea nitrogen in plasma were also not altered by citrus pulp silage feeding. Concentration of beta‐cryptoxanthin in plasma was increased approximately 20‐fold compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Content of beta‐cryptxanthin in pooled milk fat fraction was also increased approximately three times compared with that of the control group. Feeding of TMR containing citrus pulp silage 15% DM for 30 days to eight dairy cows also increased plasma beta‐cryptoxanthin concentration 30‐fold compared with that before feeding.     

Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soil and countermeasures in Japan

Many heavy metals exist in minute amounts in natural agricultural soil. However, when their amounts exceed a certain level due to pollutants brought from outside, soil contamination occurs and agricultural products become contaminated. There have been many cases in Japan of heavy metal contamination originating from old mines and smelters, and soil contamination of agricultural land has become a social issue. In particular, cadmium (Cd) is one of the most harmful heavy metals. If agricultural products absorb an excessive amount of Cd, they may adversely affect people’s health, and therefore allowable concentrations are regulated by law. If agricultural land has become contaminated with Cd, measures for minimizing the absorption of Cd by agricultural crops are necessary; these include: (1) soil dressing, (2) water management (paddy field), (3) chemical cleaning of soil, (4) phytoextraction, and (5) use of different varieties and rootstock. Other heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, copper, zinc, and mercury also sometimes cause contamination of agricultural soil.     

Granulomatous lymphadenitis associated with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 in slaughter barrows

This study evaluated the occurrence of granulomatous lymphadenitis and its association with Actinobacillus spp. in 151 653 slaughtered pigs. Markedly enlarged pulmonary hilar, mediastinal, mandibular or hepatic lymph nodes were detected in 6 castrated males. The cut surfaces showed multifocal yellow-white lesions. Histologically, gram-negative bacilli were visible in the centers of the lesions with asteroid bodies, epithelioid cells, and multinucleated giant cells. Dense fibrous connective tissue surrounded these granulomatous lesions. Immunohistochemically, the organisms reacted with polyclonal antibodies against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 in all 6 barrows. The organism was isolated from the lymph nodes of all 6 animals. The results indicate that the granulomatous lymphadenitis was associated with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 and the disorder had a tendency to occur in slaughter barrows.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community of wheat under long-term mineral and organic amendments in semi-arid Mediterranean Turkey

A minimal amount of information is currently available concerning arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal associations with crops in semi-arid zones on Leptosols in Turkey. Therefore, using molecular ecological techniques, we studied the effects of different management practices (without fertilization, chemical fertilization, farmyard manure, and plant compost amendments) on AM fungal communities associated with wheat roots. Experiments were conducted in a field established in 1996 in southern Mediterranean Turkey where soil productivity is low owing to unfavorable climatic effects and soil characteristics. We determined 201 partial sequences of AM fungal nuclear ribosomal large subunit genes. The higher AM fungal richness was found in the control treatment without fertilization and plant compost treatments compared with the chemical fertilization and farmyard manure treatments. Clones related to Rhizophagus were found in all treatments and accounted for 37% of the total AM fungal clones, whereas those of Funneliformis were dominant under chemical fertilization. Redundancy analysis based on the frequency of operational taxonomic units revealed that AM fungal communities were divided into three groups, namely, the control treatment, the chemical fertilization treatment, and the organic treatments (farmyard manure and plant compost treatments). Although different organic amendments supported relatively similar AM fungal communities, plant compost induced higher AM fungal richness than farmyard manure fertilization.     

Effects of the application of carbonaceous adsorbents on pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) uptake of heptachlor epoxide in soil

The use of heptachlor, a cyclodiene-type insecticide, has been banned since the 1970s because of its carcinogenic potential. However, its metabolite, heptachlor exo -epoxide (HEPX), has still been detected in the fruit of cucurbits produced in some areas. It is important to reduce the daily intake of HEPX contained in food. To address this issue, the effects of carbonaceous adsorbents on the uptake of HEPX from the soil by Cucurbita maxima Dutch. (winter squash) were investigated. Amorphous organic carbons, such as peat moss and wood chips, did not affect the concentration of HEPX in the soil solution or the amount present in the shoots. In contrast, relatively condensed carbon, such as activated carbons, decreased the concentration of HEPX in the soil solution and in the shoots. The uptake amount in the shoot was closely correlated with the concentration of HEPX in the soil solution, which suggests that its uptake by C .  maxima depends on its concentration in the soil solution. Activated carbons did not affect the growth of C .  maxima . Therefore, the application of activated carbon to soil contaminated with HEPX appears to be an effective method of reducing the uptake of HEPX by C .  maxima .