Effect of boiled barley-rice-feeding in hypercholesterolemic and normolipemic subjects

Barley contains approximately 10% dietary fiber and is easily cooked with rice, the dominant cereal in Japan, to increase the intake of dietary fiber. This research involved three experiments to examine the influence of barley on blood lipids in human subjects. All subjects received a boiled barley-rice (50/50 w/w mix) supplement two times per day in place of rice for 2 or 4 weeks. In the normolipemic subjects, serum lipids were unaffected by the ingestion of barley for 4 weeks. In twenty hypercholesterolemic men aged 41 ± 5 years, the ingestion of barley was associated with a significant fall in serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, phospholipids and LDL and VLDL-lipoproteins. In seven mildly hypercholesterolemic women aged 56±7 years, a significant improvement of serum lipid profiles was observed. The present study suggests the possibility that the ingestion of barley-rice could lower serum lipids in hypercholesterolemic subjects.     

Growth, Net Photosynthetic Rate, Nutrient Status and Secondary Xylem Anatomical Characteristics of Fagus Crenata Seedlings Grown in Brown Forest Soil Acidified with H2SO4 Solution

Dry matter production, net photosynthetic rate, leaf nutrient status and trunk anatomical characteristics of Fagus crenata seedlings grown in brown forest soil acidified by adding H₂SO₄ solution were investigated. The soil acidification leaded to decreased (Ca+Mg+K)/Al molar ratio in the soil solution. Dry mass per plant of the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1 was significantly reduced compared with the control value at 0 mg·L^?1. When net photosynthetic rate was reduced in the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1, the carboxylation efficiency and maximum net photosynthetic rate at saturated CO₂-concentration were lower than the control values. The addition of H⁺ to the soil at 120 mg·L^?1iinduced a reduction in the concentration of Ca in the leaf. By contrast, the concentration of Al in the leaf was increased with increasing the amount of H⁺ added to the soil. The annual ring formed in the seedlings grown in the soil treated with H⁺ at 120 mg·L^?1 was significantly narrower than that at 0 (control), 10, 30, 60 or 90 mg·L^?1. Based on the results obtained in the present study, we conclude that Fagus crenata is relatively sensitive to a reduction in the (Ca+Mg+K)/Al molar ratio of soil solution compared with Picea abies.     

Leaf thickness and response of leaf photosynthesis to water stress in soybean varieties

Summary A comparative study of photosynthetic response to soil moisture was conducted with soybean varieties (Harosoy, Norin No. 1 and Hogyoku). When the plants were grown in May before the rainy season under a high radiation level, per unit leaf area the photosynthetic rate of Harosoy leaves was significantly higher throughout the entire range of soil water potentials and leaf water potentials than that of Norin No. 1 leaves. The high photosynthetic rate of Harosoy under non-stress conditionsaand mild water stress was associated with both the high specific leaf weight and the high leaf areal nitrogen content. The photosynthetic response of the Harosoy leaves developed during rainy season under a low radiation level, however, was similar to that of Norin No. 1; no significant difference was observed between these two varieties in the specific leaf weight and in the leaf areal nitrogen content.On the other hand, Hogyoku cultivated especially along the footpaths between the paddy field was very sensitive to water stress, closing the stomata at higher soil water potentials. Under non-stress conditions, as compared with per unit leaf nitrogen content, however, Hogyoku performed higher leaf photosynthesis even with a thinner leaf than Harosoy.     

Ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block using a ventral suprainguinal approach in healthy dogs

Objective

To determine whether an ultrasound (US)-guided femoral nerve block using a ventral suprainguinal approach could be successfully achieved in sedated dogs; to measure the time to execute the nerve block, onset time, duration, and complete block rate in sensory and motor nerves; and to examine any differences between two volumes for injection.

Improving production systems of timber-processing plants IV: Application of genetic algorithms for appropriate positioning of processing machines

The development of a layout plan for a new plant with the aid of genetic algorithms was studied to place the machines so that the plant floor was effectively utilized and the operation would not be impeded. Genetic algorithms are search algorithms based on the mechanics of natural evolution and natural genetics to solve problems in engineering fields. Simulation with the aid of genetic algorithms was undertaken step by step. The first seven hundred strings (chromosomes) were generated at random to organize an initial population. Each string consisted of 40 bits (genes), which represented characteristics of machines (x- andy-coordinates and inlet and outlet formations of materials on machines) in the binary coding. Then the simulation was undertaken by repeating selection, crossover, reproduction, and mutation of strings until all strings were saturated with the highest evaluation (fitness of chromosomes to environments in the case of creatures). Under some limitations, an acceptable layout plan of the modeled plant involving four wood-processing machines was obtained according to evaluation indices.Part III of this series appeared inMokuzai Gakkaishi 37: 702–710, 1991.Part of this report was presented at the 47^th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kocht, April 1997     

Characterization of gelatinolytic enzymes in the skeletal muscle of red sea bream Pagrus major

Gelatinolytic enzymes were partially purified from the skeletal muscle of red sea bream Pagrus major and characterized to obtain information on post mortem tenderization of fish muscle. Four gelatinolytic activities, G1 (90 kDa), G2 (65 kDa), G3 (60 kDa), and G4 (100 kDa), were detected in the Q Sepharose column. G1, the major gelatinolytic enzyme, and G4 were identified as serine proteinases from results of inhibitor spectrum and substrate specificity. By contrast, G2 and G3 were found to be metalloproteinases since these were inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and o-phenanthroline, and activated by 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. The optimum pH and temperature of these enzymes were in the ranges of 7–9 and 20–40°C, respectively.     

Genetic identification and morphology of naturally spawned eggs of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica collected in the western North Pacific

Eggs of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica collected in the western North Pacific were identified by onboard species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA nucleotide sequencing after the cruise. Fish eggs of various species were collected by large plankton net tows at 12 stations along the southern part of the West Mariana Ridge on 19–25 May 2009. A total of 43 fish eggs were distinguished morphologically as possibly being of A. japonica. Thirty-one of those were analyzed by PCR, which included 15 eggs collected at 12°50–55′N, 141°15–20′E (in 5 tows) that showed positive results. The 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences of eggs determined after the cruise indicated that 31 A. japonica eggs had been collected. The remaining eggs were of mesopelagic eel species (Serrivomeridae and Derichthyidae), or unidentified species. The morphological characteristics of the A. japonica eggs were consistent with those of artificially spawned eggs, except they had a slightly larger diameter. The egg diameter range did not overlap with those of mesopelagic eels of the Serrivomeridae, which often spawn in the same area as A. japonica. These results suggest that egg diameter and embryo shape can be used to morphologically identify naturally spawned A. japonica eggs.     

Network establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphae in the rhizospheres between citrus rootstocks and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paspalum notatum</Emphasis> or <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpia myuros</Emphasis> grown in sand substrate

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine the favorable effects of sod culture system with bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge.) and Vulpia myuros (L.) C. C. Gmel. intercropped with citrus trees on the establishment of the network of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus hyphae in their rhizospheres. Special acrylic root boxes with three compartments were used for the experiment. Four types of citrus rootstock seedlings, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata Raf.), sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.), rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri Lush.), and Citrus natsudaidai Hayata, were separately transplanted into one outer compartment in each box, and the seedlings of bahiagrass and V.myuros were separately transplanted into the other outer compartment. An AM fungus, Gigaspora margarita Becker and Hall, was inoculated in the center compartment of each box. Some boxes with both outer compartments without plants and with some plants in only one outer compartment were also prepared. The box with bare × bare had very low density of AM hyphae. There were a few hyphae in bare compartments in the boxes of trifoliate orange × bare, sour orange × bare, rough lemon × bare, and C. natsudaidai × bare. The density of hyphae in the compartments with citrus seedlings and grasses, however, was significantly higher than in every bare compartment, and the hyphae in the compartments with plants penetrated deeply into the sand. In particular, the density in the compartments of citrus seedlings increased when bahiagrass or V. myuros was transplanted as a neighboring plant. The percentage of AM fungus colonization in every plant root was high. New spore formation was observed in compartments with plants, whereas there were few spores in every bare compartment. In particular, the spore formation in bahiagrass compartments was superior to that in other compartments with plants. Our results suggest that the network system by AM hyphae is easily discernible in the rhizospheres between citrus rootstocks and bahiagrass or V. myuros, but bare ground severely inhibits the formation and development of AM hyphal network and reduces the number of AM spores in the soil.     

Pregnancy rate and conception date in a wild population of Japanese monkeys

This study is the first to determine the conception dates of specific individuals and estimate the pregnancy rate of a wild population in Japanese monkeys. The conception dates estimated from the embryonic ages of 37 fetuses were distributed over 128 days between September 17 and January 23, with a mean conception date of November 19 (SD=29.2 days). A comparison of the mean conception dates among age groups showed a significantly delayed conception in the subadult animals (aged 4 to 5 years; December 5, n=8) than in the adult animals (aged 6 or more years; November 15, n=29; P<0.03). The mean pregnancy rate among animals aged 4 years or more in this local population was estimated to be 48.5% (32/66).     

Organic components from scallop shell increase expression of keratinocyte growth factor in human skin fibroblast

We observed previously that scallop shells contain organic components that have various useful applications for skin. The organic components from scallop shell (scallop shell extract) enhance the turnover rate of the rat skin epidermal layer and increase the rate of recovery of UVB-induced injury to rat dorsal skin. We investigated the effect of scallop shell extract on the expression of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) from human skin fibroblasts because it has been reported that KGF promotes wound healing and reduces the generation of UVB-induced free radicals in skin. Scallop shell extract increased the mRNA expression level of KGF in skin fibroblasts and the secretion of KGF from the fibroblasts at the protein level. These results suggest that the scallop shell extract may promote recovery from UVB-induced injury in skin through an increase in the secretion of KGF from the fibroblast cell.