Quality evaluation and prediction of Citrullus lanatus by 1H NMR-based metabolomics and multivariate analysis

(1)H NMR spectrometry in combination with multivariate analysis was considered to provide greater information on quality assessment over an ordinary sensory testing method due to its high reliability and high accuracy. The sensory quality evaluation of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) was carried out by means of (1)H NMR-based metabolomics. Multivariate analyses by partial least-squares projections to latent structures-discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) and PLS-regression offered extensive information for quality differentiation and quality evaluation, respectively. The impact of watermelon and rootstock cultivars on the sensory qualities of watermelon was determined on the basis of (1)H NMR metabolic fingerprinting and profiling. The significant metabolites contributing to the discrimination were also identified. A multivariate calibration model was successfully constructed by PLS-regression with extremely high reliability and accuracy. Thus, (1)H NMR-based metabolomics with multivariate analysis was considered to be one of the most suitable complementary techniques that could be applied to assess and predict the sensory quality of watermelons and other horticultural plants.     

Effects of intravenous infusion of hypotonic lactated Ringer's solution on calves with diarrhea

The effects of intravenous infusion of hypotonic lactated Ringer's (LR: n=14) on plasma volume and venous blood gases were compared to those of hypotonic Ringer's solutions (RS: n=7) in diarrheic Japanese Black breed calves with metabolic acidosis. Venous blood samples were collected immediately before and after, and at 24 hr after the fluid infusion therapy. The LR and RS infusions increased relative plasma volume to 147.1 +/- 25.5% and 134.2 +/- 18.6%, respectively, just after the fluid therapy. The LR infusion induced an increase in the BE value (+5.1 +/- 4.8 mM) at 24 hr compared to that of RS. LR infusion should be explored as a treatment for dehydration and moderate metabolic acidemia caused by naturally occurring diarrhea in calves.     

Immunohistochemical detection of phosphatidylserine and thrombospondin on denucleating erythroblasts in rat bone marrow

The hypothesis that apoptotic factors play some roles in the denucleation of erythroblasts has been confirmed by the immunohistological detection of both phosphatidylserine and thrombospondin as phagocytosis-inducing factors in general apoptotic events. Both phosphatidylserine and thrombospondin were detected on the surface of cell membrane of mature erythroblasts, while thrombospondin was also detected in more immature erythroblasts. The intensities of their immune reactions increased as the erythroids matured. During denucleation, the positivities of both phosphatidylserine and thrombospondin were restricted on the surface of the cell membrane surrounding the protruding nuclei. Thus, the apoptotic process involves denucleation of erythroblasts and phosphatidylserine, and thrombospondin acts as phagocytosis-inducing factors in the denucleation event.     

Prediction of Japanese green tea ranking by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based hydrophilic metabolite fingerprinting

An innovative technique for green tea's quality determination was developed by means of metabolomics. Gas-chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry and multivariate data analysis was employed to evaluate the quality of green tea. Alteration of green tea varieties and manufacturing processes effects a variation in green tea metabolites, which leads to a classification of the green tea's grade. Therefore, metabolic fingerprinting of green tea samples of different qualities was studied. A set of ranked green tea samples from a Japanese commercial tea contest was analyzed with the aim of creating a reliable quality-prediction model. Several multivariate algorithms were performed. Among those, the partial least-squares projections to latent structures (PLS) analysis with the spectral filtering technique, orthogonal signal correction (OCS), was found to be the most practical approach. In addition, metabolites that play an important role in green tea's grade classification were identified.     

Incorporation of 15N-labeled ammonia into glutamine amide groups by protein-glutaminase and analysis of the reactivity for α-lactalbumin

Protein-glutaminase (PG) is an enzyme that catalyzes the deamidation of protein-bound glutamine residues. We found that an enzyme labeling technique (ELT), which is a stable isotope labeling method based on transglutaminase (TGase) reaction, is applicable for PG. PG catalyzed incorporation of (15)N-labeled ammonium ions into reactive glutamine amide groups in α-lactalbumin similarly to TGase and deamidated the most reactive glutamine amide group once labeled with (15)N. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of ammonium ions on the PG activity by peptide mapping, and more reactive glutamine residues were detected than were detected by the ELT in the presence of ammonium ions. This is probably because ammonium ions are competitive inhibitors, causing decreased reactivity for glutamine residues. We propose the reaction scheme of PG in the presence of the (15)N-labeled ammonium ions and show that the ELT method with PG is useful for evaluating the activity of PG.     

Dynamics and Characteristics of Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter in the Groundwater, River and Lake Water

Fluorescent dissolved organic matters (FDOM) in the groundwater-river-lake environments were investigated using three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (EEM) and measuring the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), inorganic anions and electric conductivity (EC) in shallow groundwater, river and lake waters. DOC concentrations were high and largely varied in groundwater, 16–328 μM C (mean 109?±?88 μM C), and in river waters, 43–271 μM C (mean 158?±?62 μM C) and were very low in the lake Biwa waters, 89–97 μM C (mean 93?±?2 μM C). The fluorescence properties of EEM showed that the fulvic-like components (peak C, peak A and peak M) were dominated in groundwater and river waters, but protein-like components (peak T) was in lake waters. The peak C was observed at $ {{\text{Ex}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\text{Ex}}} {{\text{Em}}}}} \right. \kern-0em} {{\text{Em}}} = {320 \pm 9} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{320 \pm 9} {424 \pm 5}}} \right. \kern-0em} {424 \pm 5}\;{\text{nm}} $ in groundwater, and 340?±?5/432?±?4 nm in river waters, but the lake waters detected the two peaks, 347?±?7/441?±?11 nm (peak C) as a minor peak and 304?±?2/421?±?8 nm (peak M) as a major peak. Emission wavelength of peak T was observed to shorten in wavelengths from groundwater to river and then lake waters. Peak T in lake waters showed at shorter in wavelengths (279?±?2/338?±?11 nm) at the middle point of Lake Biwa compared to those of lake shore site (283?±?3/350?±?7 nm). Photo-irradiation experiment on upstream waters suggested the changes in the fluorescence peaks of fulvic acid-like substances in lake waters, which might be caused by photo-degradation. DOC concentration was significantly correlated with inorganic anions and EC in river waters. However, such correlations were not observed in groundwater. Anion concentrations in lake waters were low with respect to DOC concentration. These results showed that the optical and chemical properties of FDOM are characteristically varied among groundwater, river and lake waters, indicating the impacts of environments to various FDOM at the same watershed level.     

Prediction of Japanese green tea ranking by fourier transform near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

A rapid and easy determination method of green tea's quality was developed by using Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) reflectance spectroscopy and metabolomics techniques. The method is applied to an online measurement and an online prediction of green tea's quality. FT-NIR was employed to measure green tea metabolites' alteration affected by green tea varieties and manufacturing processes. A set of ranked green tea samples from a Japanese commercial tea contest was analyzed to create a reliable quality-prediction model. As multivariate analyses, principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares projections to latent structures (PLS) were used. It was indicated that the wavenumber region from 5500 to 5200 cm(-1) had high correlation with the quality of the tea. In this study, a reliable quality-prediction model of green tea has been achieved.     

High-throughput technique for comprehensive analysis of Japanese green tea quality assessment using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/TOF MS)

Applications of metabolomics techniques along with chemometrics provide an understanding in the relationship between metabolome of green tea and its quality. A coupled of ultra-performance liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/TOF MS) allowed a high-throughput and comprehensive analysis with minimal sample preparation. Using this technique, a wide range of metabolites were investigated. Data analysis was rapid, considering that the fingerprinting technique was performed. A set of green tea samples from 2006 tea contest of the Kansai area was analyzed to prove usefulness of the developed technique. Green tea with different qualities were discriminated through principal component analysis (PCA). Consequently, projection to latent structure by means of partial least-squares (PLS) was performed to create a constructive quality-predictive model by means of metabolic fingerprinting. Beside epigallocatechin, other predominant catechins, including epigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin gallate, detected in green tea were found to be significant biomarkers to the high quality of Japanese green tea (Sencha).     

Quality prediction of Japanese green tea using pyrolyzer coupled GC/MS based metabolic fingerprinting

A couple between pyrolyzer and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has allowed a fast, simple, and low-cost approach to evaluate a quality of Japanese green tea without any sample preparation or derivatization techniques. Using our method, errors from sample preparation could be avoided since raw samples were directly extracted through the extreme heat of the pyrolyzer. In addition, undesired reactions from expensive derivatizing agents, which are commonly needed to treat the samples before analyzing with GC/MS, could be omitted. In order to illustrate the efficiency of this technique, a set of green tea samples from the Tea contest in 2005 in the Kansai area were used. Projection to latent structure by means of partial least squares (PLS) along with orthogonal signal correction (OSC) was selected to explain the relation between green tea's metabolite profiling and its quality. The quality of the model was validated by testing and comparing the predictive ability to the respective model.     

An approach to achieve sustainable development goals through participatory land and forest conservation: a case study in South Kalimantan Province,Indonesia

The delivery of sustainable development goals (SDGs) through a participatory land and forest conservation initiative was evaluated in South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. The initiative focused on the rehabilitation of a 410 ha forest that was managed by local villagers. A forest rehabilitation and management initiative was developed through participatory action, establishing a well-managed rubber plantation that provided new livelihood opportunities. Poverty reduction was promoted, evidenced by a reduction in inequality amongst the local community. Between 2010 and 2018 the Gini coefficient of inequality declined from 34.6% to 31.3%, demonstrating a contribution to SDGs 1 (No Poverty) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). In addition, forest rehabilitation resulted in improved carbon stock and biodiversity management contributing to SDG15 (Life on Land). This was attributed to successful forest rehabilitation and the reduced incidence of forest fires. Cooperation amongst local villagers categorized as living in poor households was improved, facilitated by capacity building. This focused on rubber plantation management, cooperative action, and firefighting activities. This capacity building contributed to the delivery of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Results from a socio-economic survey demonstrated that group activities and cooperation amongst stakeholders were essential to improve both livelihoods and forest management practices.