Throughfall and stemflow chemical dynamics of Satoyama, a traditional secondary forest system under threat in Japan

The term 'Satoyama' refers to traditional and unique secondary forests in Japan that occupy intermediate zones between villages ('sato') and hills or mountains ('yama'). Satoyama landscapes help sustain ecosystem services and the diversity of secondary natural environments. As Japan relies more heavily on foreign timber imports, the traditional role of Satoyama in providing forest products has diminished, and this has led to their abandonment and poor management. The chemical behavior of cations, anions, and dissolved organic matter in throughfall and stemflow from one such threatened Satoyama system in central Japan was investigated. From autumn to winter, the atmospheric deposition of sulfates and nitrates was 2.5–6.0 times higher compared to the amounts in summer due to the intrusion of air masses from the Asian continent. The dissolved organic matter in the throughfall and stemflow was composed mainly of humic substances and protein derivatives. The deposition fluxes of dissolved organic carbon from throughfall (7.31–10.1 g m^(−2) a^(−1)) and stemflow (1.79–3.84 g m^(−2) a^(−1)) in this study were within ranges seen in temperate forests in previous studies. The deposition flux of sulfates was low compared to that in other forest types because canopy interaction was lower, suggesting higher canopy openness than in primary forests. If a shift from a mixed species Satoyama forest to a conifer-dominated forest occurs after the mass mortality of oak, the deposition flux of dissolved organic carbon and K^(+) might decrease by 33% and 62%, respectively, while NO_(3)^(−) might increase by 20%. In the near future, the degradation of Satoyama landscapes might change the levels of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen loads, resulting in imbalances in river-ocean linkages affecting forested catchments and aquatic ecosystems in Japan.

Identification of QTLs for Yield and Associated Traits in F_(2) Population of Rice

Identification of quantitative trait loci(QTLs)controlling yield and yield-related traits in rice was performed in the F_(2) mapping population derived from parental rice genotypes DHMAS and K343.A total of 30 QTLs governing nine different traits were identified using the composite interval mapping(CIM)method.Four QTLs were mapped for number of tillers per plant on chromosomes 1(2 QTLs),2 and 3;three QTLs for panicle number per plant on chromosomes 1(2 QTLs)and 3;four QTLs for plant height on chromosomes 2,4,5 and 6;one QTL for spikelet density on chromosome 5;four QTLs for spikelet fertility percentage(SFP)on chromosomes 2,3 and 5(2 QTLs);two QTLs for grain length on chromosomes 1 and 8;three QTLs for grain width on chromosomes1,3 and 8;three QTLs for 1000-grain weight(TGW)on chromosomes 1,4 and 8 and six QTLs for yield per plant(YPP)on chromosomes 2(3 QTLs),4,6 and 8.Most of the QTLs were detected on chromosome 2,so further studies on chromosome 2 could help unlock some new chapters of QTL for this cross of rice variety.Identified QTLs elucidating high phenotypic variance can be used for marker-assisted selection(MAS)breeding.Further,the exploitation of information regarding molecular markers tightly linked to QTLs governing these traits will facilitate future crop improvement strategies in rice.

Termites Improve the Horizontal Movement of Carbonized Particles:A Step towards Sustainable Utilization of Biochar

Soil amendments containing carbonized materials increase the soil carbon reservoir,influence plant productivity,and,ultimately,help to clean the environment.There is data on the effect of such additions on soil physicochemical properties or plant growth,but few studies have focused on how these carbonized materials are distributed by termite species in the soil ecosystem.It is the first comprehensive study of the transportation of biochar(BC)by termite species under tropical environmental conditions in Pakistan.The present study was carried out to test the hypothesis that if termite species I)were involved in the distribution of biochar particles II)if yes,then how far these particles were transported during the study period(10 days)and III)check their preference between the enriched BC(EBC)and non-enriched BC.BC was enriched with the cattle slurry after its pyrolysis in the study.The results showed that EBC particles were significantly more widely distributed than non-enriched BC particles,but both types of BC were transported more than 4 cm(ring 4)within 10 days(at the end of the experiment).The current study also revealed that EBC was easily attached to the setae,cuticle,and legs of termites,implying that it could potentially be transported over a greater distance.Furthermore,transportation of EBC over larger distances indicated a potential preference of termite species between the EBC and BC particles.During the study,however,the preference among the termite species was also observed.Under the prevailing study conditions,the Coptotermes heimi and Heteroterme indicola species transported the EBC further than Microtermes obesi and Odontotermes obesus.These findings revealed that transportation preferences were observed among the four termite species.In conclusion,the current study found that termites were involved in the distribution of BC particles,with a preference for EBC and that these have the potential to transport BC particles more than 4 cm within 10 days.Furthermore,two species Coptotermes heimi and Heteroterme indicola may be more suitable candidates for EBC transpiration in Pakistani soils.It was necessary to conduct additional research into the effect of temperature on the transportation process.

Monitoring and mathematical modeling of mitochondrial ATP in myotubes at single-cell level reveals two distinct population with different kinetics

Backgrounds ATP is the major energy source for myotube contraction,and is quickly produced to compensate ATP consumption and to maintain sufficient ATP level.ATP is consumed mainly in cytoplasm and produced in mitochondria during myotube contraction.To understand the mechanism of ATP homeostasis during myotube contraction,it is essential to monitor mitochondrial ATP at single-cell level,and examine how ATP is produced and consumed in mitochondria.Methods:We established C2C12 cell line stably expressing fluorescent probe of mitochondrial ATP,and induced differentiation into myotubes・We gave electric pulse stimulation to the differentiated myotubes,and measured mitochondrial ATP.We constructed mathematical model of mitochondrial ATP at single-cell level,and analyzed kinetic parameters of ATP production and consumption.Results:We performed hierarchical clustering analysis of time course of mitochondrial ATP,which resulted in two clusters.Cluster 1 showed strong transient increase,whereas cluster 2 showed weak transient increase.Mathematical modeling at single-cell level revealed that the ATP production rate of cluster 1 was larger than that of cluster 2,and that both regulatory pathways of ATP production and consumption of cluster 1 were faster than those of cluster 2.Cluster 1 showed larger mitochondrial mass than cluster 2,suggesting that cluster 1 shows the similar property of slow muscle fibers,and cluster 2 shows the similar property of fast muscle fibers.Conclusions Cluster 1 showed the stronger mitochondrial ATP increase by larger ATP production rate,but not smaller consumption.Cluster 1 might reflect the larger oxidative capacity of slow muscle fiber.

富含缺陷的非晶态与晶态杂化介孔钴钼纳米片高效析氧催化剂

构建具有丰富缺陷且缺陷浓度可调的二维(2D)介孔金属氧化物(氢氧化物)纳米材料作为高效电催化剂仍然是一个巨大的挑战.本工作开发了一种简便有效的一锅溶剂热路线来合成由晶体相Mo_(4)O_(11)和准非晶相氢氧化钴组成的介孔Mo_(x)-Co-O杂化纳米片.由于短链有机胺在高温下的刻蚀作用,合成过程中在Mo_(x)-Co-O杂化纳米片上原位产生了大量的介孔空穴,增加了材料的电化学比表面积.此外,Mo_(x)-Co-O纳米片的尺寸、介孔和晶相/非晶相纳米片上缺陷(本工作中的氧空位)的浓度可以通过控制Mo/Co摩尔比调节.电化学测试表明,2D介孔Mo_(x)-Co-O纳米片表现出优异的析氧反应活性,其中Mo_(0.2)-Co-O纳米片表现出最高的催化活性(在1 mol L^(−1)KOH中10 mA cm^(−2)处的过电位为276 mV).研究发现,Mo_(0.2)-Co-O纳米片具有合适的d带中心和最高浓度的氧空位,这是促成其优异催化活性的两个主要因素.本工作构建具有丰富缺陷(氧空位)和合适d带中心的二维金属氧化物(氢氧化物)的晶相/非晶杂化纳米材料的方法,为设计更高效的催化剂提供了重要启发.

Biological methane production coupled with sulfur oxidation in a microbial electrosynthesis system without organic substrates

Methane is produced in a microbial electrosynthesis system(MES) without organic substrates. However, a relatively high applied voltage is required for the bioelectrical reactions.In this study, we demonstrated that electrotrophic methane production at the biocathode was achieved even at a very low voltage of 0.1 V in an MES, in which abiotic HS-oxidized to SO_(4)^(2-) at the anodic carbon-cloth surface coated with platinum powder. In addition, microbial community analysis revealed the most probable pathway for methane production from electrons. First, electrotrophic H_(2) was produced by syntrophic bacteria, such as Syntrophorhabdus, Syntrophobacter, Syntrophus, Leptolinea, and Aminicenantales, with the direct acceptance of electrons at the biocathode. Subsequently, most of the produced H_(2) was converted to acetate by homoacetogens, such as Clostridium and Spirochaeta 2. In conclusion,the majority of the methane was indirectly produced by a large population of acetoclastic methanogens, namely Methanosaeta, via acetate. Further, hydrogenotrophic methanogens,including Methanobacterium and Methanolinea, produced methane via H_(2).