Typing Listeria monocytogenes by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting.

Twenty epidemiologically unrelated Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from different animals, locations and on different dates in Japan were classified into 18 types by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting technique with four primers. Further, seven epidemiologically related L. monocytogenes strains isolated from raw milk and a bulk tank on a dairy farm represented the same RAPD type suggesting that they were all of the same origin. Therefore, RAPD-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, which is rapid, simple and inexpensive to perform, can be used in surveys as a convenient epidemiological technique.     

Variance of actual inbreeding derived from the number and variance of chromosome segment

The inbreeding coefficient (F) is used as a central parameter inferring a proportion of alleles identical by descent within an individual and by genetic variability within a population. The actual inbreeding coefficient varies around a central value, the inbreeding coefficient. C ockerham and W eir (1983) derived the method for computing the variance of inbreeding while reviewing several other methods. The variance of inbreeding in their report was considered to be of two components: one within population and the other between population of varied pedigrees. If pedigree is fixed, F is easily computed for an individual by the standard method (F alconer 1989). For domestic animals, pedigree information is usually available because it is requisite for a programme of genetic improvement. In this study, the variance of inbreeding coefficient was derived for an individual with a pedigree having a single path to a foundation animal.     

A "Green" route to adipic acid: direct oxidation of cyclohexenes with 30 percent hydrogen peroxide

Currently, the industrial production of adipic acid uses nitric acid oxidation of cyclohexanol or a cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone mixture. The nitrous oxide emission from this process measurably contributes to global warming and ozone depletion. Therefore, the development of an adipic acid production process that is less damaging to the environment is an important subject in chemical research. Cyclohexene can now be oxidized directly to colorless crystalline adipic acid with aqueous 30 percent hydrogen peroxide under organic solvent- and halide-free conditions, which could provide an ideal solution to this serious problem.     

Effect of halomethyl-1,3,5-triazines on nitrification of ammonia

Nitrification inhibitory activity of halomethyl-1,3,5-triazines was determined by measuring the inhibitory activities on ammonia-oxidation to nitrate (NO₃⁻-N) in an upland soil and on ammonia-oxidation to nitrite (NO₂⁻-N) by Nitrosomonas europaea ATCC 25978 (ATCC) and Nitrosomonas sp TK 794 (TK). Within the chlorinated trimethyl-1,3,5-triazines, those bearing at least one trichloromethyl group inhibited nitrification more strongly, both in soil and in cell suspension of ATCC, than other mono- or dichlorinated methyl-1,3,5-triazines. Introduction of an amino group to 2,4,6-tris(trichloromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine gave 10- and 100-fold increases of nitrification inhibitory activity in soil and ATCC cell culture, respectively. Within the trihalomethyl-1,3,5-triazines, those having tribromomethyl group(s) exhibited rather weaker nitrification inhibition in soil than the corresponding trichloromethyl-1,3,5-triazines, although they showed a strong inhibition in cell suspension. Ammonium oxidation in ATCC was inhibited more strongly than that in TK. In QSAR studies, the optimum log P values were calculated as c 4.30. By using this value it will become possible to design highly active trichloromethyl-1,3,5-triazine nitrification inhibitors.     

Convenient Method to Determine Free Fatty Acid of Rice Using Thin‐Layer Chromatography and Flame‐Ionization Detection System

A convenient method which possessed simplicity and high sensitivity was designed to investigate the changes in free fatty acid (FFA) of rice during storage using a thin‐layer chromatography and flame‐ionization detection (TLC/FID) system. In this method, two different solvent systems for TLC were used according to the purpose of experiments. Solvent system A (hexane and diethyl ether and acetic acid 80:20:1) was suitable to obtain a chromatogram showing the overall state of rice lipid degradation. Using solvent system A, the degradation of triglyceride or the increase in FFA during storage was clearly visualized as changes in the chromatogram. Solvent system B (hexane and acetic acid 100:1) was used to improve the low reproducibility of the TLC/FID method. When methyl stearate was used as an internal standard with solvent system B, high reproducibility of the FFA value was obtained, and very small changes were detectable in stored white milled rice. This method has small sample size and simple operation and is more sensitive than the standard titration method. Therefore, this seems to be an especially convenient method for small‐scale storage tests or for experiments using many samples.     

Differences in dry matter production,grain production,and photosynthetic rate in barley cultivars under long-term salinity

Soil salinity is a major environmental stress causing significant loss of crop productivity. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the few field crops that can grow in salt-affected fields and varietal differences in productivity under salinity conditions were known. To clarify the trait most responsible for grain production under salt stress, barley cultivars that were salt tolerant (OUE812) or salt sensitive (OUC613) were grown from seedling to harvest stage in vermiculite containing various concentrations of NaCl. Dry weight of aboveground parts and grain weight decreased significantly with increasing NaCl concentration. The dry weight of the aboveground parts and grain weight decreased more significantly in OUC613 than in OUE812 for plants treated with 150 mM and 200 mM NaCl. A marked reduction in ripening percentage caused significantly decreased grain production in OUC613 as compared with OUE812. In plants treated with 200 mM NaCl, the photosynthetic rate decreased three weeks after starting the NaCl treatment, but a significant difference between cultivars in photosynthetic rate did not appear until seven weeks of NaCl treatment. OUE812 kept a higher photosynthetic rate during ripening than did OUC613 and dry matter production during the period from ripening to harvest was significantly larger in OUE812 than in OUC613. Keeping a higher photosynthetic rate might have contributed to higher grain production in OUE812. Higher ripening percentage and higher rate of photosynthesis during ripening might be target traits in breeding to improve the tolerance of barley to long-term salt stress.     

Determination of chlorinated pesticide residues in foods. II. Simultaneous analysis of chlorinated pesticide and phthalate ester residues by using AgNO3-coated Florisil column chromatography for cleanup of various samples.

A simplified method suitable for simultaneous analysis of chlorinated pesticide and phthalate ester residues in various foods was developed. Chemical residues were quantitatively extracted from fatty and vegetable samples with acetonitrile as follows: Chemical standard in 0.5 mL ethanol solution was added to 10 g homogenized sample. After 3 hr, pork and beef were extracted 3 times with 20 mL portions of acetonitrile. The acetonitrile layers were diluted with water and extracted with n-hexane. Rice samples were combined with 10 mL water, 5 mL acetonitrile and 1 mL ethanol and extracted 3 times with 20 mL portions of n-hexane. The n-hexane concentrate from each sample was submitted to AgNO3-coated Florisil column chromatography. The AgNO3 coating adequately adsorbed interfering coextractives. Extracts of fish and vegetable samples were separated into 2 fractions by the above column chromatography. Supplemental cleanup procedures were also developed to accurately determine phthalate esters eluted in the second fraction. Satisfactory gas chromatograms were obtained for most samples.     

Effects of species and shelterbelt structure on wind speed reduction in shelter

Live shelterbelts are common elements in coastal land areas and play an important role in reducing wind speed and sand drift. A simple measured index, that well represents relationship between shelterbelt structure and wind speed reduction, is required by landowners to enable them in establishing more effective shelterbelts. A three-dimensional crown (3D) density is proposed, which can be easily identified through shelterbelt parameters including maximum height, shelterbelt width, vertical crown/stem area ratio, and horizontal crown/stem area ratio. The utility of the index was tested in 10-year-old Casuarina equisetifolia and in 7-year-old Acacia auriculiformis shelterbelts in north central Coast of Vietnam. There was a significant negative linear relationship (R ² = 0.64, p < 0.001) between 3D density and wind speed reduction efficiency, while there was no relationship between a two-dimensional crown density and wind speed reduction efficiency. Reduction efficiency was found to increase at higher wind speeds in shelterbelts of A. auriculiformis, but not C. equisetifolia. The A. auriculiformis shelterbelt was more efficient in reducing wind speed compared to C. equisetifolia shelterbelt. The former recovered 70 % wind speed at 130 m (16.5H) leeward, while it recovered 70 % at 85 m (8H) leeward in C. equisetifolia shelterbelt.     

Multiple spawning and related variations in female reproductive parameters of amphidromous type ayu

Adult ayu Plecoglossus altivelis were sampled from the Nezugaseki River, Yamagata Prefecture to investigate the reproductive parameters and analyze their variations related to multiple spawning. Ovarian histology (mainly based on the occurrence of postovulatory follicles) indicated that female ayu can be divided into four groups, which are considered to correspond with unspawned, once spawned, twice spawned, and three (or more) times spawned individuals. Comprehensive analysis of the ovarian state with field surveys revealed that most of the female ayu achieve second spawning and that third spawning is very common in this river. Mean relative batch fecundity (RBF) for the second, third, and fourth spawning indicated 69, 42, and 22%, respectively, of the value for the first spawning, showing a decline with the number of spawning batches. Mean gonadosomatic index (GSI) values of non-ovulating fish showed a similar decline during the main spawning period (October). Condition factor (without gonads) during autumn also decreased with the number of batches spawned, suggesting that multiple spawning is achieved partly by transfer of body mass nutrients to the ovary. Size dependency in reproductive parameters such as occurrence of the multiple spawning, RBF values, and GSI values of the unspawned fish, was not evident except for GSI values in early September (generally during the early phases of ovarian development), when larger fish had larger GSI.     

Manufacture of plywood bonded with kenaf core powder

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) core powder was used as a binder to manufacture three-ply plywoods of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) by conventional hot pressing under various manufacturing conditions: hot-pressing conditions (pressure, temperature, and time) and powder conditions (grain size, spread volume, and moisture content). The adhesive shear strength and wood failure of plywoods were measured in accordance with the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for plywood. The result showed that fine kenaf core powder played a role as an effective binder when plywoods were pressed at high pressure, which caused extreme compression of veneer cells. In addition, the adhesive shear strength of plywoods in dry conditions was high regardless of pressing temperature and time, but it was sensitive to pressing temperature and time in wet conditions. The highest adhesive shear strength was obtained from plywoods manufactured with kenaf core powder (grain size 10 μm, spread volume 200 g/m², moisture content 8.6%) under hot-pressing conditions (pressure 5.0 MPa using distance bars 4 mm thick, temperature 200°C, time 20–30 min). However, the plywood could not meet the requirement for the second grade of plywood by JAS because of its low water-resistance properties. Part of this article was presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tsukuba, March 2008, and the 10th World Conference on Timber Engineering, Miyazaki, June 2008