Effects of light and microsite conditions on tree size of 6-year-old Cryptomeria japonica planted in a group selection opening     

Toru Kohama  Nobuya Mizoue  Satoshi Ito  Akio Inoue  Kotaro Sakuta  Hiroyuki Okada 《Journal of Forest Research》2006,11(4):235-242

We examined the extent to which direct and indirect measures of light and microsite conditions could explain variation in tree height and diameter at the base of 6-year-old Cryptomeria japonica trees planted in a group selection opening of about 0.32 ha on a steep slope at Shiiba, Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Japan. We first used the gap light index (GLI) and soil thickness (ST) as directly measured indices. For an indirect measure of light, we used a between-cohort competition index (BCI) estimated from the position and total height of residual trees. For indirect measures of microsite, we examined topographic indices (slope, plan and profile curvature, average slope gradient, and relative elevation) derived from digital elevation models (DEMs) with different resolutions ranging from 2 to 10 m. The multiple linear regression using GLI and ST explained about 45% of variation in tree size, while simple regression using only GLI explained about 35%. The contribution of ST was about half of GLI. The multiple regressions using BCI and the topographic indices did not explain any more variation than using BCI alone (R ² of about 0.26). We conclude that microsite conditions with shallower soil and steeper slope have negative effects on tree growth in group selection openings, although the relative importance is smaller than light conditions. More comprehensive studies considering several openings with more heterogeneous topography including different species are needed to generalize our growth prediction using the indirect measures, which are useful for practical forest management.  相似文献   

Effects of heat treatment on brittleness of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Styrax tonkinensis</Emphasis> wood     

Le Xuan Phuong  Satoshi Shida  Yukie Saito 《Journal of Wood Science》2007,53(3):181-186

A new approach is proposed for the evaluation of the brittleness of heat-treated Styrax tonkinensis wood. Heat treatment made wood more brittle when wood was heated at a higher temperature or for a longer time. The brittleness increased to four times that of the control when wood was heated at 200°C for 12 h. For treatment at 160°C, the increase in brittleness without any change in weight is thought to be possibly caused by the relocation of lignin molecules. At higher temperatures, loss of amorphous polysaccharides due to degradation is thought to become the main factor affecting brittleness. The crystallites that were newly formed after 2 h of treatment showed brittleness that was different from that of the inherent crystallites remaining after 12 h of heat treatment. This inherent crystalline cellulose possibly plays a role in brittleness. There is also the possibility of using color to predict the brittleness of heat-treated wood.  相似文献   

Chemical analysis of the product in acid-catalyzed solvolysis of cellulose using polyethylene glycol and ethylene carbonate     

Tatsuhiko Yamada  Masako Aratani  Satoshi Kubo  Hirokuni Ono 《Journal of Wood Science》2007,53(6):487-493

Degradation and decomposition of cellulose were studied in an acid-catalyzed solvolysis treatment of biomass using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ethylene carbonate (EC). The solvolysis reaction was followed by a typical reaction system of wood liquefaction that uses sulfuric acid catalyst at 140° or 150°C at atmospheric pressure. The methods of fractionation and chemical analysis of the degraded cellulose in the solvolyzed product are discussed. The solvolyzed product was separated into several fractions, and they were hydrolyzed to release glucose and levulinic acid to determine the quantity of glucosides and levulinates in the solvolysis product. The data clearly showed that the solvolysis reaction had the same mechanism when using PEG or EC. Degradation of cellulose leads to the formation of glucosides, which then decompose, resulting in a levulinic acid structure, and producing a water-insoluble fraction. The conversion rates of both glucosides and levulinates strongly depend on the reaction conditions of the solvolysis. In particular, EC promotes faster conversion of the reactions. The method discussed here is a chemical analytical technique for characterization of the products of wood liquefaction.  相似文献   

Comparative functional anatomy of hindlimb muscles and bones with reference to aquatic adaptation of the sea otter     

Kent MORI  Satoshi SUZUKI  Daisuke KOYABU  Junpei KIMURA  Sung-Yong HAN  Hideki ENDO 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2015,77(5):571-578

Although the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a complete aquatic species, spending its entire life in the ocean, it has been considered morphologically to be a semi-aquatic animal. This study aimed to clarify the unique hindlimb morphology and functional adaptations of E. lutris in comparison to other Mustelidae species. We compared muscle mass and bone measurements of five Mustelidae species: the sea otter, Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra), American mink (Neovison vison), Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi) and Siberian weasel (M. sibirica). In comparison with the other 4 species, E. lutris possessed significantly larger gluteus, popliteus and peroneus muscles, but smaller adductor and ischiopubic muscles. The popliteus muscle may act as a medial rotator of the crus, and the peroneus muscle may act as an abductor of the fifth toe and/or the pronator of the foot. The bundles of the gluteus superficialis muscle of E. lutris were fused with those of the tensor fasciae latae muscle and gluteofemoralis muscles, and they may play a role in femur abduction. These results suggest that E. lutris uses the abducted femur, medially rotated crus, eversion of the ankle and abducted fifth digit or extended interdigital web as a powerful propulsion generator. Therefore, we conclude that E. lutris is a complete aquatic animal, possessing differences in the proportions of the hindlimb muscles compared with those in other semi-aquatic and terrestrial mustelids.  相似文献   

Relationship between blood calcium level and ST peak interval of electrocardiographic variables in peripartum Holstein cows     

Megumi ITOH  Yoshie SAKURAI  Yasuhiro NAKAJIMA  Satoshi KAWAMOTO 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2015,77(12):1655-1657

The association between blood calcium levels and electrocardiographic variables was compared in 137 normal parturient and 36 peripartum recumbent Holstein cows to determine whether hypocalcemia in peripartum dairy cows can be rapidly diagnosed using electrocardiograph. Inverse of STc (ST peak interval/SS interval^0.5) and blood ionized calcium or serum calcium concentrations were strongly correlated, and both correlation coefficients were 0.81 (P<0.001). The 95% prediction interval indicated that cows with STc >0.385 ± 0.001 sec are very likely to be hypocalcemic (blood ionized or serum calcium concentrations of <0.9 mmol/l or <7.5 mg/dl, respectively). These findings indicate that hypocalcemia in parturient cows can be non-invasively estimated using the STc.  相似文献   

Ligand-binding characteristics of feline insulin-binding immunoglobulin G     

Takafumi SUZUKI  Naohito NISHII  Satoshi TAKASHIMA  Tatsuya MATSUBARA  Atsushi IWASAWA  Hirofumi TAKEUCHI  Kohei TAHARA  Tatsuyuki HACHISU  Hitoshi KITAGAWA 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2015,77(11):1379-1383

Polyclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) G autoantibodies against insulin have been identified in sera of healthy cats. We purified and fractionated insulin-binding IgGs from cat sera by affinity chromatography and analyzed affinity of insulin-binding IgGs for insulin and their epitopes. Following the passing of fraction A, which did not bind to insulin, insulin-binding IgGs were eluted into two fractions, B and C, by affinity chromatography using a column fixed with bovine insulin. Dissociation constant (KD) values between insulin-binding IgGs and insulin, determined by surface plasmon resonance analysis (Biacore™system), were 1.64e⁻⁴ M for fraction B (low affinity IgGs) and 2e⁻⁵ M for fraction C (high affinity IgGs). Epitope analysis was conducted using 16 peptide fragments synthesized in concord with the amino acid sequence of feline insulin by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fractions B and C showed higher absorbance (affinity) of the peptide fragment of 10 amino acid residues at the carboxyl-terminal of the B chain (peptide No. 19), followed by peptide fragments of 6 to 15 amino acid residues of the B chain (peptide No. 8). Fraction C showed a higher absorbance to 7 to 16 amino acid residues of the B chain (peptide No. 5) compared with the absorbance of fraction B. Polyclonal insulin-binding IgGs may form a macromolecule complex with insulin through the multiple affinity sites of IgG molecules. Feline insulin-binding IgGs are multifocal and may be composed of multiple IgG components and insulin.  相似文献   

Hypoxia inducible factor 1α expression and effects of its inhibitors in canine lymphoma     

Satoshi KAMBAYASHI  Masaya IGASE  Kosuke KOBAYASHI  Ayana KIMURA  Takako SHIMOKAWA MIYAMA  Kenji BABA  Shunsuke NOGUCHI  Takuya MIZUNO  Masaru OKUDA 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2015,77(11):1405-1412

Hypoxic conditions in various cancers are believed to relate with their malignancy, and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) has been shown to be a major regulator of the response to low oxygen. In this study, we examined HIF-1α expression in canine lymphoma using cell lines and clinical samples and found that these cells expressed HIF-1α. Moreover, the HIF-1α inhibitors, echinomycin, YC-1 and 2-methoxyestradiol, suppressed the proliferation of canine lymphoma cell lines. In a xenograft model using NOD/scid mice, echinomycin treatment resulted in a dose-dependent regression of the tumor. Our results suggest that HIF-1α contributes to the proliferation and/or survival of canine lymphoma cells. Therefore, HIF-1α inhibitors may be potential agents to treat canine lymphoma.  相似文献   

Brazilian savanna re-establishment in a monoculture forest:diversity and environmental relations of native regenerating understory in Pinus caribaea Morelet. stands     

Gastao Viegas de Pinho Ju nior  Andre R Terra Nascimento  Barbara Tahara Valverde  Lucas H Clemente 《林业研究》2015,(3)

In this paper we analyze and compare natural regeneration in shrub-tree community in three areas below Pinus caribaea stands and a natural area (cerrado sensu stricto). We also analyze the influence of...  相似文献   

Reducing radioactive cesium transfer from sawdust media to Pleurotus ostreatus fruiting bodies     

Masakazu Hiraide  Masahide Sunagawa  Hitoshi Neda  Nur Humaira’ Lau bt. Abdullah  Satoshi Yoshida 《Journal of Wood Science》2015,61(4):420-430

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Specific detection of potentially allergenic kiwifruit in foods using polymerase chain reaction     

Taguchi H  Watanabe S  Hirao T  Akiyama H  Sakai S  Watanabe T  Matsuda R  Urisu A  Maitani T 《Journal of agricultural and food chemistry》2007,55(5):1649-1655

Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia chinensis) is allergenic to sensitive patients, and, under Japanese regulations, it is one of the food items that are recommended to be declared on food labeling as much as possible. To develop PCR-based methods for the detection of trace amounts of kiwifruit in foods, two primer pairs targeting the ITS-1 region of the Actinidia spp. were designed using PCR simulation software. On the basis of the known distribution of a major kiwifruit allergen (actinidin) within the Actinidia spp., as well as of reports on clinical and immunological cross-reactivities, one of the primer pairs was designed to detect all Actinidia spp. and the other to detect commercially grown Actinidia spp. (i.e., kiwifruit, Actinidia arguta, and their interspecific hybrids) except for Actinidia polygama. The specificity of the developed methods using the designed primer pairs was verified by performing PCR experiments on 8 Actinidia spp. and 26 other plants including fruits. The methods were considered to be specific enough to yield target-size products only from the target Actinidia spp. and to detect no target-size products from nontarget species. The methods were sensitive enough to detect 5-50 fg of Actinidia spp. DNA spiked in 50 ng of salmon testis DNA used as a carrier (1-10 ppm of kiwifruit DNA) and 1700 ppm (w/w) of fresh kiwifruit puree spiked in a commercial plain yogurt (corresponding to ca. 10 ppm of kiwifruit protein). These methods would be expected to be useful in the detection of hidden kiwifruit and its related species in processed foods.  相似文献