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We address the nonperturbative calculation of the inclusive decay rate of semileptonic B(s)-meson decays from lattice QCD. Precise Standard-Model predictions are key ingredients in searches for new physics, and this type of computation may eventually provide new insight into the long-standing tension between the inclusive and exclusive determinations of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix elements |Vcb| and |Vub|. We present results from a pilot lattice computation for Bs → Xclνl, where the initial b quark described by the relativistic-heavy-quark (RHQ) formalism on the lattice and the other valence quarks discretised with domain-wall fermions are simulated approximately at their physical quark masses. We compare two different methods for computing the decay rate from lattice data of Euclidean n-point functions, namely Chebyshev and Backus-Gilbert approaches. We further study how much the ground-state meson dominates the inclusive decay rate and indicate our strategy towards a computation with a more comprehensive systematic error budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an ab initio study of inclusive semileptonic decays of heavy mesons from lattice QCD. Our approach is based on a recently proposed method, that allows one to address the study of these decays from the analysis of smeared spectral functions extracted from four-point correlators on the lattice, where the smearing is defined in terms of the phase-space integration relevant to the inclusive decays. We present results obtained from gauge-field ensembles from the JLQCD and ETM collaborations, and discuss their relation with theoretical predictions from the operator-product expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of climate change on forest ecosystems take on increasing importance more than ever. Information on plant traits is a powerful predictor of ecosystem dynamics and functioning. We reviewed the major ecological traits, such as foliar gas exchange and nutrients, xylem morphology and drought tolerance, of Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa, which are major timber species in East Asia, especially in Japan, by using a recently developed functional trait database for both species (SugiHinokiDB). Empirically, C. obtusa has been planted under drier conditions, whereas C. japonica, which grows faster but thought to be less drought tolerant, has been planted under wetter conditions. Our analysis generally support the empirical knowledge: The maximum photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, foliar nutrient content and soil-to-foliage hydraulic conductance were higher in C. japonica than in C. obtusa. In contrast, the foliar turgor loss point and xylem pressure corresponding to 50% conductivity, which indicate drought tolerance, were lower in C. obtusa and are consistent with the drier habitat of C. obtusa. Ontogenetic shifts were also observed; as the age and height of the trees increased, foliar nutrient concentrations, foliar minimum midday water potential and specific leaf area decreased in C. japonica, suggesting that nutrient and water limitation occurs with the growth. In C. obtusa, the ontogenetic shits of these foliar traits were less pronounced. Among the Cupressaceae worldwide, the drought tolerance of C. obtusa, as well as C. japonica, was not as high. This may be related to the fact that the Japanese archipelago has historically not been subjected to strong dryness. The maximum photosynthetic rate showed intermediate values within the family, indicating that C. japonica and C. obtusa exhibit relatively high growth rates in the Cupressaceae family, and this is thought to be the reason why they have been selected as economically suitable timber species in Japanese forestry. This study clearly demonstrated that the plant trait database provides us a promising opportunity to verify out empirical knowledge of plantation management and helps us to understand effect of climate change on plantation forests by using trait-based modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), much of the wild and edible mushrooms and plants in the surrounding areas were contaminated with radiocesium (137Cs). To elucidate their concentration characteristics, we analyzed 137Cs radioactivity data in edible forest products brought in for food inspection by the residents of Kawauchi Village, 12–30 km away from the FDNPP, from 2012 to 2019. A Bayesian model to estimate 137Cs concentration was constructed. Parameters of the normalized concentration of species (NCsp) for mushrooms were similar to those of the same species obtained in a previous study. Although NCsp values were highly varied among species, mycorrhizal mushrooms tended to have high NCsp values, followed by saprotrophic mushrooms, and wild edible plants values were low. Also, half of mycorrhizal mushroom species (8 of 16) showed an increasing trend in concentration with time; however, saprotrophic mushrooms and wild plants generally demonstrated a decreasing trend (22 of 24). The model considering the sub-village location information decreased the error of individual samples by 40% compared to the model not considering any location information, indicating that the detailed geo-information improved estimation accuracy. Our results indicate that the radioactivity data from samples collected by local residents can be used to accurately assess internal exposure to radiation due to self-consumption of contaminated wild mushrooms and plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify the soil carbon stock changes from croplands/grasslands to forestlands in Japan, we compared the soil carbon stock of a cropland/grassland with that of an adjacent forestland at 22 different sites. With respect to a 0–30-cm depth basis, the soil carbon stock in the cropland/grassland was the same as that in the forestland; however, it was less than that in the forestland when an equivalent mass approach was used. The ratio of the soil carbon stock in the forestland to that in the cropland/grassland was 1.11 on average, which is comparable with previous mass-corrected paired sampling studies. The ratio was affected by two factors: tree age and current vegetation. Mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, phosphate absorption coefficient, litter quantity, and former land use did not affect the ratio. According to a comparison with the results of a paired study for deforestation, the application of the reciprocal of the soil carbon stock ratio of deforestation to the ratio of afforestation was slightly overestimated. Further studies are necessary to establish a general conclusion. Some previous studies, including those involving non-mass-corrected data, are possibly biased, and more studies using the paired sampling method with equivalent mass basis must be conducted to provide the general factor for soil carbon stock change in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatiotemporal prediction of the response of planted forests to a changing climate is increasingly important for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems. In this study, we present a methodology for estimating spatially varying productivity in a planted forest and changes in productivity with a changing climate in Japan, with a focus on Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) as a representative tree species of this region. The process-based model Biome-BGC was parameterized using a plant trait database for Japanese cedar and a Bayesian optimization scheme. To compare productivity under historical (1996–2000) and future (2096–2100) climatic conditions, the climate scenarios of two representative concentration pathways (i.e., RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) were used in five global climate models (GCMs) with approximately 1-km resolution. The seasonality of modeled fluxes, namely gross primary production, ecosystem respiration, net ecosystem exchange, and soil respiration, improved after two steps of parameterization. The estimated net primary production (NPP) of stands aged 36–40 years under the historical climatic conditions of the five GCMs was 0.77 ± 0.10 kgC m-2 year-1 (mean ± standard deviation), in accordance with the geographical distribution of forest NPP estimated in previous studies. Under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, the mean NPP of the five GCMs increased by 0.04 ± 0.07 and 0.14 ± 0.11 kgC m-2 year-1, respectively. The increases in annual NPP were small in the southwestern region because of the decreases in summer NPP and the small increases in winter NPP under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively. Under the RCP2.6 scenario, Japanese cedar was at risk in the southwestern region, in accordance with previous studies, and monitoring and silvicultural practices should be modified accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the area contaminated by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident is covered by forest. In this paper, we updated model predictions of temporal changes in the 137Cs dynamics using the latest observation data and newly provided maps of the predicted 137Cs activity concentration for wood, which is the most commercially important part of the tree body. Overall, the previous prediction and latest observation data were in very good agreement. However, further validation revealed that the migration from the soil surface organic layer to the mineral soil was overestimated for evergreen needleleaf forests. The new prediction of the 137Cs inventory showed that although the 137Cs distribution within forests differed among forest types in the first 5 years, the difference diminished in the later phase. Besides, the prediction of the wood 137Cs activity concentrations reproduced the different trends of the 137Cs activity concentrations for cedar, oak, and pine trees. Our simulation suggests that the changes of the wood 137Cs activity concentration over time will slow down after 5–10 years. Although the model uncertainty should be considered and monitoring and model updating must continue, the study provides helpful information on the 137Cs dynamics within forest ecosystems and the changes in wood contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Predicting the environmental fate of 137Cs in forest ecosystems along with the concentrations of 137Cs in tree parts are important for the managements of radioactively contaminated forests. In this study, we calibrate the Forest RothC and Cs model (FoRothCs), a forest ecosystem 137Cs dynamics model, using observational data obtained over six years from four forest sites with different levels of 137Cs contamination from Fukushima Prefecture. To this end, we applied an approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) technique based on the observed 137Cs concentrations (Bq kg−1) of five compartments (leaf, branch, stem, litter, and soil) in a Japanese cedar plantation. The environmental decay (increment) constants of the five compartments were used as the summary statistics (i.e., the metric for model performance) to infer the five parameters related to 137Cs transfer processes in FoRothCs. The ABC technique successfully reconciled the model outputs with the observed trends in 137Cs concentrations at all sites during the study period. Furthermore, the estimated parameters are in agreement with the literature values (e.g., the root uptake rates of 137Cs). Our study demonstrates that model calibration with ABC based on the trends in 137Cs concentrations of multi compartments is useful for reducing the prediction uncertainty of 137Cs dynamics in forest ecosystems. Highlights • Forest 137Cs dynamics model "FoRothCs" is calibrated with six-years observations. • Approximate Bayesian computation with observable data improved model perfor-mance. • Trends of 137Cs activities of forest parts can be good metric for model assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the exposure of underlying dielectric (phophosilicate glass and borophosphosilicate glass) films to a humid air ambient on crystallographic orientations in A1-Si-Cu/Ti/TiN/Ti layered structures has been investigated as a function of the boron content and exposure time of the dielectric films. The A1(111) orientation in the layered structures was found to improve drastically with increasing boron content and exposure time of the dielectric films. The full width at half maximum value of an A1(111) x-ray rocking curve reached less than 1°. It was also found that the A1-Si-Cu surface becomes smoother and the average grain size increases as the A1(111) orientation improves. The improved A1(111) orientation was attributed to the improved Ti(002) orientation of the bottom Ti films. The mechanism of the improved Ti(002) orientation was investigated. It was confirmed that the improved orientation is closely related with the surface concentration of the absorbed water in the dielectric films. Further, it was demonstrated that interconnects fabricated from the improved layered structure have excellent electromigration performance. © 1997 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil greenhouse gas fluxes (particularly CO2, CH4, and N2O) play important roles in climate change. However, despite the importance of these soil greenhouse gases, the number of reports on global soil greenhouse gas fluxes is limited. Here, new estimates are presented for global soil CO2 emission (total soil respiration), CH4 uptake, and N2O emission fluxes, using a simple data-oriented model. The estimated global fluxes for CO2 emission, CH4 uptake, and N2O emission were 78 Pg C yr-1 (Monte Carlo 95% confidence interval, 64-95 Pg C yr-1), 18 Tg C yr-1 (11-23 Tg C yr-1), and 4.4 Tg N yr-1 (1.4-11.1 Tg N yr-1), respectively. Tropical regions were the largest contributor of all of the gases, particularly the CO2 and N2O fluxes. The soil CO2 and N2O fluxes had more pronounced seasonal patterns than the soil CH4 flux. The collected estimates, including both the previous and the present estimates, demonstrate that the means of the best estimates from each study were 79 Pg C yr-1 (291 Pg CO2 yr-1; coefficient of variation, CV=13%, N=6) for CO2, 21 Tg C yr-1 (29 Tg CH4 yr-1; CV = 24%, N = 24) for CH4, and 7.8 Tg N yr-1 (12.2 Tg yr-1; CV = 38%, N = 11) for N2O. N2O. For N2O, the mean of the estimates that was calculated by excluding the earliest two estimates was 6.6 Tg N yr-1 (10.4 Tg N2O yr-1; CV=22%, N=9). The reported estimates vary and have large degrees of uncertainty but their overall magnitudes are in general agreement. To further minimize the uncertainty of soil greenhouse gas flux estimates, it is necessary to build global databases and identify key processes in describing global soil greenhouse gas fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions and uptake of soil greenhouse gases (GHG) are controlled by soil biogeochemical processes. We developed simple models, which were termed SG models, for soil CO2 efflux, CH4 uptake, and N2O efflux in forest soils. We described each gas flux in terms of three functions: soil physiochemical properties (C/N ratio for CO2 and N2O, bulk density for CH4; 0–5-cm soil layer), water-filled pore space (WFPS, 5-cm depth) and soil temperature (5-cm depth). Multi-site data, which were gathered monthly in Japanese forests over 3 years, were used for model calibration (36 sites, n =768 in total for each gas flux). We used Bayesian calibration for optimization of the models. The functions for soil physiochemical properties were as follows. As soil C/N ratio increases, CO2 flux increases, but N2O flux rapidly decreases. CH4 uptake decreases with increasing bulk density. Calibration clearly revealed the different sensitivities of each gas flux to WFPS and soil temperature. The estimated optimum WFPS for CO2 flux was around 0.5 (intermediate), whereas CH4 flux decreased with increasing WFPS, and N2O flux increased with increasing WFPS. The Q 10 values for CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes were 1.9, 1.1, and 3.4, respectively. Our models reproduced observed GHG fluxes well, both in comparison to each observation and the site average. The SG models require only three inputs, which are easily measurable and are therefore suitable for regional application and incorporation into other models as GHG submodels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Forests cover approximately 70% of the area contaminated by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011. Following this severe contamination event, radiocaesium (137Cs) is anticipated to circulate within these forest ecosystems for several decades. Since the accident, a number of models have been constructed to evaluate the past and future dynamics of 137Cs in these forests. To explore the performance and uncertainties of these models we conducted a model inter-comparison exercise using Fukushima data. The main scenario addressed an evergreen needleleaf forest (cedar/cypress), which is the most common and commercially important forest type in Japan. We also tested the models with two forest management scenarios (decontamination by removal of soil surface litter and forest regeneration) and, furthermore, a deciduous broadleaf forest (konara oak) scenario as a preliminary modelling study of this type of forest. After appropriate calibration, the models reproduced the observed data reliably and the ranges of calculated trajectories were narrow in the early phase after the fallout. Successful model performances in the early phase were probably attributable to the availability of comprehensive data characterizing radiocaesium partitioning in the early phase. However, the envelope of the calculated model end points enlarged in long-term simulations over 50 years after the fallout. It is essential to continue repetitive verification/validation processes using decadal data for various forest types to improve the models and to update the forecasting capacity of the models. [Display omitted] • The first inter-comparison of forest radiocaesium models using Fukushima data. • The models reproduced the observed data reliably. • The long-term simulations of inventory in tree and soil showed a general agreement. • The long-term simulations of activity concentrations diverged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptomeria japonica (sugi) and Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki) are major Japanese timber species whose plantation area accounts for 44 and 25%, respectively, of the plantation forests in Japan. Physiology, anatomy and ecology of the species have been intensively studied for this half century, which now forms a huge stock of information. These data, however, were scattered in diverse sources, including papers, bulletins of research institutes, reports of other kinds and books, and were presented in nonstandardized, diverse styles in each source. This paper provides a database (SugiHinoki DB) that compiles 177 plant traits of sugi and hinoki from 364 primary sources published since 1950. The compiled traits include physiological, morphological, anatomical and biochemical features that are recognized as relevant to life history strategies, vegetation modeling and global change responses. Collected data have been obtained under different environmental conditions, for plants with different ages and for organs with a different age or different position, which provide information of within‐species variation for a given trait. Each data entry is accompanied by detailed ancillary information describing the site of measurement, stand of measurement and detailed measurement conditions, which help users account for data variations as a consequence of phenotypic plasticity and genetic variations and to filter data. To provide data in a consistent format, the data and the ancillary information were standardized, and units were converted. After data compilation, outliers were detected by calculating interquartile range for each trait per each species. As of August 2019, SugiHinokiDB contains 24,683 data entries (16,410 for sugi, 8,273 for hinoki). As sugi and hinoki are major plantation species in Japan, the data mostly came from study sites in Japan (from Hokkaido in the north to Yakushima island in Kyushu to the south) but were also obtained from arboretums or plantation forests in Taiwan, Korea and China. Data were largely obtained from plants in plantation forests but also from plants in natural forests and under experimental conditions. The improved availability of trait data offered by SugiHinokiDB provides new research opportunities, such as the intensive parameterization of vegetation models for a more accurate prediction of climate change impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A soil–plant–air continuum multilayer model was developed to simulate soil respiration. The model can be used to investigate the effects of three canopy characteristics on soil thermal and hydrological properties and soil respiration: leaf area index, the maximum rate of carboxylation, and the vertical profile of leaf area density. The model did not consider physiological effects of canopy characteristics, such as the effect of photosynthesis on root respiration. Rather, it examined how changes in temperature and moisture in the soil layers, caused by changes in the plant canopy, affect soil respiration. Model validation and numerical experiments were performed using above-canopy hydrometeorological variables, including seasonal changes related to a dry season with strong evaporative demand (high solar radiation and high temperature) and a rainy season with weaker evaporative demand. The results suggest that the model can successfully reproduce seasonal changes in soil profiles of moisture, temperature, CO2 gas concentration, and respiration, and that canopy characteristics can limit soil respiration because of thermal and hydrological effects. An increase in leaf area decreased soil respiration in two ways: by decreasing soil temperature through a reduction in net radiation to the soil surface and by decreasing soil moisture through an increase in canopy transpiration. An increase in the maximum rate of carboxylation decreased soil respiration because it decreased soil moisture by increasing canopy transpiration; there was little thermal effect on soil respiration. A canopy with a denser leaf area in the upper layers created a faster wind velocity in the lower portion and on the ground than did a canopy with the same leaf area index, but with a denser leaf area in the lower layers. The faster wind velocity significantly decreased soil moisture at the soil surface and decreased soil temperature through an increase in soil evaporation; these effects decreased soil respiration. The hydrological effects of the three parameters were most evident in the dry season, while the thermal effects were evident year-round. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent results from lattice QCD calculations relevant to particle physics phenomenology are reviewed. They include the calculations of strong coupling constant, quark masses, kaon matrix elements, and D and B meson matrix elements. Special emphasis is on the recent progress in the simulations including dynamical quarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lattice quantum chromodynamics provides first-principles calculations for hadrons containing heavy quarks--charm and bottom quarks. Their mass spectra, decay rates, and some hadronic matrix elements can be calculated on the lattice in a model-independent manner. In this review, we introduce the effective theories that treat heavy quarks on the lattice. We summarize results on the heavy quarkonium spectrum, which verify the validity of the effective theory approach. We then discuss applications to B physics, which is the main target of the lattice theory of heavy quarks. We review progress in lattice calculations of the B meson decay constant, the B parameter, semileptonic decay form factors, and other important quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines the vertical distributions of carbon dioxide (CO[sub 2]) diffusion and production in forest soils in Chiba, Japan. Disadvantage of disturbing the soil system; Relationship between gas diffusion and microorganism activity; Measuring system of CO[sub 2] emissions from soil.

Thin film parasitic slot antenna arrays with 0.1-μm-width DC cuts were fabricated using a microfabrication technique, and the receiving properties were investigated at 28 THz in order to expand the operating frequency and to improve the power gain. The experimental results indicate that the fabricated antenna arrays operate as expected from the theory based on the transmission line model, and the power gain improved by 6 dB compared to the single slot antenna when fabricating the 7-parasitic slot antenna array. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Demonstrates that the B cell specific adaptor molecule, BLNK, mediates the protein tyrosine kinase Syk-dependent Btk activation. Mediation of Btkk phosphorylation in nonhematopoietic-reconstituted cells; Requirement of BLNK for B cell antigen receptor-induced Btk phosphorylation and activation.

As soil microbial respiration is the major component of land CO2 emissions, differences in the functional dependence of respiration on soil moisture among Earth system models (ESMs) contributes significantly to the uncertainties in their projections. Using soil organic C (SOC) stocks and CO2 data from a boreal forest–mire ecotone in Finland and Bayesian data assimilation, we revised the original precipitation-based monotonic saturation dependency of the Yasso07 soil carbon model using the non-monotonic Ricker function based on soil volumetric water content. We fit the revised functional dependency of moisture to the observed microbial respiration and SOC stocks and compared its performance against the original Yasso07 model and the version used in the JSBACH land surface model with a reduction constant for decomposition rates in wetlands. The Yasso07 soil C model coupled with the calibrated unimodal Ricker moisture function with an optimum in well-drained soils accurately reconstructed observed SOC stocks and soil CO2 emissions and clearly outperformed previous model versions on paludified organo-mineral soils in forested peatlands and water-saturated organic soils in mires. The best estimate of the posterior moisture response of decomposition used both measurements of SOC stocks and CO2 data from the full range of moisture conditions (from dry and xeric to wet and water-saturated soils). We observed unbiased residuals of SOC and CO2 data modelled with the moisture optimum in well-drained soils, suggesting that this modified function accounts more precisely for the long-term SOC change dependency according to ecosystem properties as well as the contribution of short-term CO2 responses including extreme events. The optimum moisture for decomposition in boreal forests was found in well-drained soils instead of the mid-range between dry and water-saturated conditions as is commonly assumed among soil C and ESMs. Although the unimodal moisture modifier with an optimum in well-drained soils implicitly incorporates robust biogeochemical mechanisms of SOC accumulation and CO2 emissions, it needs further evaluation with large-scale data to determine if its use in land surface models will decrease the uncertainty in projections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposes a simple method to analyze a small volume of carbon dioxide gas concentration both in the field and laboratory using an infrared gas analyzer. Comparison between standards and measured carbon dioxide concentration; Measurement of carbon dioxide profiles at various temperatures.

We perform a numerical computation of the anomalous magnetic moment (g − 2) of the electron in QED by using the stochastic perturbation theory. Formulating QED on the lattice, we develop a method to calculate the coefficients of the perturbative series of g − 2 without the use of the Feynman diagrams. We demonstrate the feasibility of the method by performing a computation up to the α3 order and compare with the known results. This program provides us with a totally independent check of the results obtained by the Feynman diagrams and will be useful for the estimations of not-yet-calculated higher order values. This work provides an example of the application of the numerical stochastic perturbation theory to physical quantities, for which the external states have to be taken on-shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss the environmental effects of large-scale discharges of radioactive material on forests, particularly focusing on the impact of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in March 2011. They compare the effects of radioactive contamination on forested areas with non-forested areas, as well as notes the lack of availability of countermeasure options in forests.

Although it is an integral part of global change, most of the research addressing the effects of climate change on forests have overlooked the role of environmental pollution. Similarly, most studies investigating the effects of air pollutants on forests have generally neglected the impacts of climate change. We review the current knowledge on combined air pollution and climate change effects on global forest ecosystems and identify several key research priorities as a roadmap for the future. Specifically, we recommend (1) the establishment of much denser array of monitoring sites, particularly in the South Hemisphere; (2) further integration of ground and satellite monitoring; (3) generation of flux‐based standards and critical levels taking into account the sensitivity of dominant forest tree species; (4) long‐term monitoring of N, S, P cycles and base cations deposition together at global scale; (5) intensification of experimental studies, addressing the combined effects of different abiotic factors on forests by assuring a better representation of taxonomic and functional diversity across the ~73,000 tree species on Earth; (6) more experimental focus on phenomics and genomics; (7) improved knowledge on key processes regulating the dynamics of radionuclides in forest systems; and (8) development of models integrating air pollution and climate change data from long‐term monitoring programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cytokine storm induces acute respiratory distress syndrome, the main cause of death in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, the detailed mechanisms of cytokine induction due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain unclear. To examine the cytokine production in COVID-19, we mimicked the disease in SARS-CoV-2-infected alveoli by adding the lysate of SARS-CoV-2-infected cells to cultured macrophages or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived myeloid cells. The cells secreted interleukin (IL)-6 after the addition of SARS-CoV-2-infected cell lysate. Screening of 25 SARS-CoV-2 protein-expressing plasmids revealed that the N protein-coding plasmid alone induced IL-6 production. The addition of anti-N antibody further enhanced IL-6 production, but the F(ab')2 fragment did not. Sera from COVID-19 patients also enhanced IL-6 production, and sera from patients with severer disease induced higher levels of IL-6. These results suggest that anti-N antibody promotes IL-6 production in SARS-CoV-2-infected alveoli, leading to the cytokine storm of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for estimating bulk density (BD) of forest soils in Japan affected by volcanic ash were developed using 3513 stone-free soil data. We found that 29 existing PTFs of five empirical types and one physical type generally overestimated the BD. This occurred because volcanic soil with the unique physical and chemical properties and forest soils with high pore volume resulted in lower BD and higher organic carbon content (OC) compared with other soil groups and produced a much lower bulk density of the ‘pure’ mineral fraction, a parameter of the physical PTF (1.153 in this study), compared with previous studies. Revised PTFs were newly developed by a non-linear least-squares method using the same algorithms of the six types of published PTFs. The best fit revised PTFs were a decimal one, BD=1/(0.882+0.133OC), and a physical one based on organic matter fraction (OM), BD=100/[(OM/0.140)+{(100−OM)/1.152}]. The revised PTFs predicted 37% of the samples to within ±10% and 67% of the samples to within ±20% in relative error for BD and explained 68% of BD variations. The variable mixture proportion of volcanic ash in the soils, the differences of soil textures, and the topographic conditions of the forest soils in Japan may have caused the variation in the observed BD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Distances and directions from volcanos are effective covariates for SOC mapping. • 3D mapping with 10-m resolution can reproduce SOC along with microtopography. • SOC may accumulate more on ridges, highland slopes, and landslide masses. Geographic information on soil organic carbon (SOC) is important for climate change research and understanding the global carbon cycle. At present, this information is limited for forest soils in mountainous regions that have complex topographies and are affected by tephra deposition. This study predicted the SOC concentration (OC), bulk density (BD), apparent rock coarse fraction (CF), and SOC stock (OCS) at 0–5, 5–15, and 15–30 cm in the soil horizon for the forested areas (ca. 230 000 km2) of Japan. This was carried out with a 10 m grid resolution using a digital soil mapping (DSM) approach. To determine the appropriate spatial prediction model, we evaluated the accuracy of a two dimensional approach for ordinary kriging (OK) and regression kriging (RK), and a three dimensional approach for random forest model (RF). The RF was based on topography, climate and vegetation factors (RF env), distance and direction from 152 volcanos (RF env+vol), distance from survey points (RF env+sp); these factors were also combined (RF all) as explanatory attributes. The results demonstrated an improvement in the average root mean square errors (RMSEs) of RF env+vol , RF env+sp , and RF all by approximately 12%, 14%, 5%, and 21% for OC, BD, CF, and OCS using 10-fold cross-validation on a site-by-site basis, respectively, compared with OK. Based on the relatively small difference in improvement among RF env+vol , RF env+sp , and RF all (<0.5%), and the considerably high computational cost of RF env+sp and RF all , RF env+vol was considered as the appropriate model for the area. The R2 of RF env+vol was calculated at 0.59, 0.44, 0.30, and 0.38 in OC, BD, CF, and OCS, respectively, using 10-fold cross validation on a site-by-site basis. The predicted map by RF env+vol accurately reproduced the large spatial variation in OCS at small watershed, regional, and national scales; this have been derived from the effect of microtopography, tephra deposition, and the gradient of temperature with latitude, respectively. A larger OCS was predicted to accumulate on the ridges, highland slopes, near volcanos, and higher latitudes than at other areas. The mean OCS was estimated to be 7.6 kg·m−2 for a soil depth of 0–30 cm in Japanese forests. The results also suggest that the fine-scale three dimensional random forest approach using the distances from volcanoes showed promise for regional-scale OCS prediction. This approach was considered particularly effective in hills and mountainous areas that are strongly exposed to tephra deposition, this includes the Pacific Rim regions and other volcanic countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production is a critical step of antituberculosis (anti-TB) immune response. The purpose of this study was to determine the influences of biologics, including the interleukin (IL)-6 receptor-inhibitor tocilizumab (TCZ), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists infliximab (INF) and etanercept (ETA), on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) antigen-induced IFN-γ production. MTB antigen (ESAT-6 and CFP-10)-induced IFN-γ-releasing assay was performed with or without addition of biologics (TCZ, ETA, and INF) using whole blood from patients with active TB. ETA and INF inhibited IFN-γ production in a dose-dependent manner. In whole blood from TB patients, ESAT-6 stimulated significant production of IFN-γ (1.30 ± 1.95 IU/ml), and TCZ did not inhibit IFN-γ production (1.56 ± 1.88 IU/ml). IFN-γ production by ESAT-6 was inhibited by ETA and INF (0.98 ± 1.74, 0.75 ± 1.66 IU/ml, respectively). CFP-10 stimulated significant production of IFN-γ (1.46 ± 1.60 IU/ml), and TCZ did not inhibit IFN-γ production (1.51 ± 1.77 IU/ml). IFN-γ production by CFP-10 was inhibited by ETA and INF (0.91 ± 0.99, 0.72 ± 0.88 IU/ml, respectively). TCD did not inhibit MTB antigen-induced IFN-γ production. As IFN-γ production is important in antimycobacterial host defenses, the minimal influence of TCZ on IFN-γ-releasing assay suggests a low risk of latent TB infection reactivation during tocilizumab therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan is facing the threat of medical system collapse due to the rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present scoring system may help assess disease severity and oxygen supply requirements in COVID-19 patients. Data on patient characteristics at baseline and throughout hospitalization for COVID-19 were extracted from medical records. Disease severity was dichotomized into two categories without or with oxygen supply as asymptomatic, mild, and moderate illness (AMMI), and severe and critical illness (CSI). The AMMI and CSI groups were compared. Predictors of disease severity, previously identified in the outpatient setting, were included in multivariable logistic regression analysis; the obtained coefficients were converted to integers and assigned a score. A total of 206 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in this study. Correlation between COVID-19 severity and medical information was examined by comparing AMMI and CSI. Age, hemodialysis, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were candidate predictors of the need for oxygen supply in patients with COVID-19. Coefficients associated with age, hemodialysis, and CRP were as follows: 1 × age (in years, coded as 0 for values of <50, and as 1 for values of ≥50) + 1 × hemodialysis (coded as 0 for "no", and as 1 for "yes") + 1 × CRP (in mg/dL, coded as 0 for values of <1.0, and as 1 for values of ≥1.0). Patients with scores of ≥2 points required oxygen supply (sensitivity, 68.4%; specificity, 79.0%) The present model can help predict disease severity and oxygen requirements in COVID-19 patients in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Japanese patients is unreported. We retrospectively examined significant factors associated with disease severity in symptomatic COVID-19 patients (COVID-Pts) admitted to our institution between February 20 and April 30, 2020. All patients were diagnosed based on the genetic detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Information on the initial symptoms, laboratory data, and computed tomography (CT) images at hospitalization were collected from the patients' records. COVID-Pts were categorized as those with critical or severe illness (Pts-CSI) or those with moderate or mild illness (Pt-MMI). All statistical analyses were performed using R software. Data from 61 patients (16 Pt–CSI, 45 Pt-MMI), including 58 Japanese and three East Asians, were analyzed. Pt–CSI were significantly older and had hypertension or diabetes than Pt-MMI (P < 0.001, 0.014 and < 0.001, respectively). Serum albumin levels were significantly lower in Pt–CSI than in Pt-MMI (P < 0.001), whereas the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein level were significantly higher in Pt–CSI than in Pt-MMI (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). In the CT images of 60 patients, bilateral lung lesions were more frequently observed in Pt–CSI than in Pt-MMI (P = 0.013). Among the 16 Pt–CSI, 15 received antiviral therapy, 12 received tocilizumab, five underwent methylprednisolone treatment, six received mechanical ventilation, and one died. The illness severity of Japanese COVID-Pts was associated with older age, hypertension and/or diabetes, low serum albumin, high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the temporal change in vertical distributions of radiocesium inventories in Japanese forest soils during the early phase (from 2011 to 2017) following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, using three simple parameters. We calculated the fraction in the organic layer (F l/t), the migration center (X c) and the relaxation depth (α) using 99 soil inventory data sets. F l/t decreased significantly from 2011 to 2017 (logistic analysis, p < 0.001). In addition, F l/t in the FDNPP zone rapidly decreased compared to that in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) zone from the first year to the second year. Different migration rates from organic to mineral soil layers between previous studies in the ChNPP and this study have several possible causes such as organic litter features, climate and physico-chemical forms of initial deposition. In mineral soil layers in the FDNPP zone, only X c increased significantly with time according to generalized mixed model analysis (p < 0.01). However, X c and α in the ChNPP zone decreased from two to five years after the accident in 1986, which shows a high 137Cs retention in the organic layer even in the fifth year after the accident. The vertical migration of 137Cs in the mineral soil layer in the FDNPP zone appears to be due to low input of 137Cs from organic to surface mineral soil layer after the second year. These results indicate that 137Cs retention capacity of the organic layer can affect the apparent vertical migration of 137Cs in the underlying mineral soil layer. • We calculated fraction in the organic layer, migration center, relaxation depth. • Three parameters described the temporal change in vertical distributions of 137Cs. • 137Cs migration rate in forest soils was estimated using 99 datasets. • 137Cs moved rapidly from organic to mineral soil layers, within one year. • 137Cs migration from organic to mineral soil layers was faster than in Chernobyl. • 137Cs migration in mineral soil could be shown by no input from organic layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a global health problem. At present, prior exposure to Mtb can be determined by blood-based interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), but active TB is not always detectable by blood tests such as CRP and ESR. This study was undertaken to investigate whether leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG), a new inflammatory biomarker, could be used to assess active disease of TB. Cynomolgus macaques pretreated with or without Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination were inoculated with Mtb to induce active TB. Blood was collected over time from these animals and levels of LRG as well as CRP and ESR were quantified. In the macaques without BCG vaccination, Mtb inoculation caused extensive TB and significantly increased plasma CRP and LRG levels, but not ESR. In the macaques with BCG vaccination, whereas Mtb challenge caused pulmonary TB, only LRG levels were significantly elevated. By immunohistochemical analysis of the lung, LRG was visualized in epithelioid cells and giant cells of the granulation tissue. In humans, serum LRG levels in TB patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and declined one month after anti-tubercular therapy. These findings suggest that LRG is a promising biomarker when performed following IGRA for the detection of active TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We can curb climate change by improved management decisions for the most important terrestrial carbon pool, soil organic carbon stock (SOC). However, we need to be confident we can obtain the correct representation of the simultanous effect of the input of plant litter, soil temperature and water (which could be altered by climate or management) on the decomposition of soil organic matter. In this research, we used regression and Bayesian statistics for testing process‐based models (Yasso07, Yasso15 and CENTURY) with soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh) and SOC, measured at four sites in Finland during 2015 and 2016. We extracted climate modifiers for calibration with Rh. The Rh values of Yasso07, Yasso15 and CENTURY models estimated with default parameterization correlated with measured monthly heterotrophic respiration. Despite a significant correlation, models on average underestimated measured soil respiration by 43%. After the Bayesian calibration, the fitted climate modifier of the Yasso07 model outperformed the Yasso15 and CENTURY models. The Yasso07 model had smaller residual mean square errors and temperature and water functions with fewer, thus more efficient, parameters than the other models. After calibration, there was a small overestimate of Rh by the models that used monotonic moisture functions and a small generic underestimate in autumn. The mismatch between measured and modelled Rh indicates that the Yasso and CENTURY models should be improved by adjusting climate modifiers of decomposition or by accounting for missing controls in, for example, microbial growth. Highlights: We tested soil carbon models against monthly soil Rh fluxes and amounts of SOC stock.The models accurately reproduced most of the seasonal Rh trends and amounts of SOC.Under autumn temperature and moisture, Rh was mismatched before and even after the parameterization.The seasonality of the temperature and water functions should be adjusted in models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We study spatial isovector J = 1 meson correlators in n f = 2 QCD with dynamical domain-wall fermions on 323 × 8 lattices at temperatures T = 220–380 MeV. We observe an approximate degeneracy of all considered correlators with increasing temperature. This approximate degeneracy suggests emergent SU(2) CS and SU(2 n f) symmetries at high temperatures, that mix left- and right-handed quarks. Since these symmetries are symmetries of the chromo-electric interaction in QCD we conclude that at 2 T c temperature the elementary objects are quarks with a definite chirality connected by the chromo-electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In our previous study, colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with active Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) tolerated concurrent anti-cancer chemotherapy (anti-CCT) and anti-MTB chemotherapy. In this study, we retrospectively confirmed the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemotherapy in a greater number of patients with different types of malignancies.Methods: We enrolled 30 patients who were treated concurrently with anti-CCT and anti-MTB regimens between January 2006 and February 2016. Cancer and MTB treatments were administered according to the approved guidelines.Results: Patient demographics included: men/woman: 24/6; median age: 66.5 years; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1/2/3-4: 24/4/2; Stage IIB-IIIC/IV/recurrence: 6/22/2; lung cancer (LC)/CRC/other: 15/10/5; and MTB diagnosis (before or during anti-CCT): 20/10 (LC: 8/7; CRC: 8/2; other: 4/1). For anti-CCT, 23 patients received two cytotoxic agents with or without targeted agents and 7 patients received a single cytotoxic or targeted agent. The overall response rate was 36.7%. Regarding anti-MTB chemotherapy, 22 patients received a daily drug combination containing isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol, plus pyrazinamide in 15 of the 22 patients, followed by daily isoniazid and rifampicin; the remaining 8 patients received other combinations. Hematological adverse events of Grade ≥ 3 were observed in 19 (67.9%) of 28 patients; laboratory data were lost for the remaining 2. Grade 3 lymphopenia and higher were significantly more frequent in LC compared to other malignancies (P < 0.005). Non-hematological adverse events of Grade ≥ 3 were observed in 5 (16.7%) of 30 patients. One CRC patient experienced Grade 3 hemoptysis and another 2 experienced Grade 3 anaphylaxis. One patient with cholangiocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer experienced Grade 3 pseudomembranous colitis as a result of a Clostridium difficile infection. One patient (3.3%) died of pemetrexed-induced pneumonitis. The success of the anti-MTB chemotherapy was 70.0%. There were no MTB-related treatment failures. The median overall survival (months, 95.0% confidence interval) was 10.5 (8.7-36.7), 8.7 (4.7-10.0), 36.7 (minimum 2.2), and 14.4 (minimum 9.6) for all patients combined, LC, CRC, and Other malignancies, respectively. LC patients experienced delayed MTB diagnosis and shorter overall survival.Conclusions: Concurrent chemotherapy is effective and safe for treating cancer patients with active MTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To evaluate the long-term safety of subcutaneous immunotherapy with TO-204, a standardized house dust mite (HDM) allergen extracts, we conducted a multicenter, open label clinical trial. Methods Japanese patients aged 5–65 years were eligible for the study, if they had HDM-induced allergic rhinitis (AR), allergic bronchial asthma (BA), or both. TO-204 was administered in a dose titration scheme, and the maintenance dose was determined according to the predefined criteria. The treatment period was 52 weeks, and patients who were willing to continue the treatment received TO-204 beyond 52 weeks. This clinical trial is registered at the Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center (Japic CTI-121900). Results Between July 2012 and May 2015, 44 patients (28 with AR and 16 with allergic BA) were enrolled into the study. All patients were included in the analysis. The duration of treatment ranged from 23 to 142 weeks and the median maintenance dose was 200 Japanese allergy units (JAU). Adverse events occurred in 22 patients (50%). The most common adverse event was local reactions related to the injection sites. Four patients experienced anaphylactic reactions when they were treated with the dose of 500 JAU. Two patients experienced anaphylactic shock with the doses of 1000 JAU at onset. These 6 patients could continue the study with dose reduction. Conclusions Safety profile of TO-204 was acceptable in Japanese patients with HDM-induced AR or allergic BA. Higher doses should be administered carefully, because the risk of anaphylaxis increased at doses of 500 or 1000 JAU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections continue to be a leading problem in health care facilities worldwide.Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study consisted of a derivation phase and a validation phase. The derivation phase included all patients admitted to Osaka University Hospital between May 2010 and April 2011. We proposed a provisional available, bed-sided, comprehensive (ABC) score, and evaluated its accuracy using the clinical diagnosis as a reference. We subsequently revised ABC scores based on k coefficient scores of each variable; this revision was validated by applying it to another patient population.Results: A total of 172 patients and 154 cases were enrolled in the derivation and validation studies, respectively. The revised ABC score consisted of four simple variables: type of clinical specimen (1 to 3 points), Gram-staining result (1 point), presence of local inflammation (2 points), and a systemic inflammatory response (2 points). A revised score of ≥5 points was sensitive (93.8%) and specific (90.6%), and the area under the receiver-operating curve was 0.969 (95% CI; 0.957-1).Conclusions: We developed a simple and comprehensive scoring system for diagnosis of nosocomial MRSA infections; this system is applicable in a wide variety of situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate interannual changes in the vertical distribution of 137Cs in forest ecosystems contaminated by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, we investigated 137Cs inventories in forest soils (both organic and mineral soil horizons) at 10 sampling plots with different 137Cs deposition levels and dominant species for up to 10 years after the accident. We examined the temporal variation of the 137Cs inventories by depth with exponential regression models (assuming that the transition and partitioning of 137Cs are still active) and exponential offset regression models (assuming a shift to a stable 137Cs distribution, defined as the "quasi-equilibrium steady-state" in the Chernobyl accident). In the organic horizon, the 137Cs inventories were exponentially decreasing, and it might take more time to converge in the quasi-equilibrium steady-state at most plots. In the mineral soil horizon, most of 137Cs was found in the surface layer of the mineral soil horizon (0–5 cm). In this layer, the inventories first increased and then become relatively constant, and the exponential offset model was selected at most plots, suggesting entry into the quasi-equilibrium steady-state over the observation period. Although we also observed exponentially increasing trends in a lower layer (5–10 cm) of the mineral soil horizon, there was no clear increasing or decreasing trend of 137Cs inventory in the deeper mineral soil layers (10–15 and 15–20 cm). Our calculation of the relaxation depth and migration center revealed that downward migration of 137Cs is not significant in terms of the overall 137Cs distribution in the mineral soil horizon over 10 years. • Cesium-137 inventories in the organic horizon were still exponentially decreasing. • Recently, most 137Cs was found in the surface layer of the mineral soil horizon. • In this surface layer, entry into the quasi-equilibrium steady-state was suggested. • Downward migration of 137Cs within this horizon was statistically insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effect of pyrroloquinoline quinine (PQQ) on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation was examined using RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells. RANKL led to the formation of osteoclasts identified as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells in the culture of RAW 264.7 cells. However, PQQ inhibited the appearance of osteoclasts and prevented the decrease of F4/80 macrophage maturation marker on RANKL-stimulated cells, suggesting a preventive action of PQQ on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. PQQ inhibited the activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATc1), a key transcription factor of osteoclastogenesis, in RANKL-stimulated cells. On the other hand, PQQ did not inhibit the signaling pathway from RANK/RANKL binding to NFATc1 activation, including NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). PQQ augmented the expression of type I interferon receptor (IFNAR) and enhanced the IFN-β-mediated janus kinase (JAK1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1) expression. Moreover, PQQ reduced the expression level of c-Fos leading to the activation of NFATc1. Taken together, PQQ was suggested to prevent RANKL-induced osteoclast formation via the inactivation of NFATc1 by reduced c-Fos expression. The reduced c-Fos expression might be mediated by the enhanced IFN-β signaling due to augmented IFNAR expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An ADP ribosylation factor-GTPase activating protein (ASAP1) is highly expressed in a variety of tumor cells and is involved in the cell motility, invasion, and metastasis. In order to elucidate the involvement of ASAP1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory response, the effect of ASAP1 silencing on LPS-induced proinflammatory mediators production was examined by using RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells. ASAP1 was constitutively expressed in the cells and the expression was augmented by LPS stimulation. Silencing of ASAP1 with small interfering RNA enhanced the production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, interferon-β, and nitric oxide in response to LPS. ASAP1 silencing augmented the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and several mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). On the other hand, ASAP1 silencing did not affect the expression of IRAK4, TRAF6, and Akt as the upstream molecules of NF-κB signaling. A series of toll-like receptor ligands as well as LPS augmented the ASAP1 expression. Taken together, ASAP1 was suggested to negatively regulate LPS-induced proinflammatory mediators production through down-regulating LPS signaling. The feedback function of ASAP1 in LPS-mediated inflammatory response is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thalidomide is known as an anti-angiogenic, anti-tumor, and anti-proliferative agent, widely used in the treatment of some immunological disorders and cancers. The effect of thalidomide on interferon (IFN)-γ induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse vascular endothelial cells was examined in order to elucidate the anti-angiogenic or anti-inflammatory action. Thalidomide inhibited IFN-γ-induced NO production in mouse END-D cells via reduced expression of an inducible type of NO synthase (iNOS) protein and mRNA. Since thalidomide did not alter the cell surface expression of IFN-γ receptor, the NO inhibition was suggested to be due to the impairment of IFN-γ-induced intracellular event by thalidomide. Thalidomide inhibited the phosphorylation of IRF1, which was required for the iNOS expression. Moreover, it inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT1, an upstream molecule of IRF1, in IFN-γ signaling. Thalidomide did not inhibit the JAK activation in response to IFN-γ. A phosphatase inhibitor, sodium orthovanadate, abolished the inhibitory action of thalidomide. Therefore, thalidomide was suggested to inhibit IFN-γ-induced NO production via impaired STAT1 phosphorylation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Positron-Emitting Tracer Imaging System (PETIS) is introduced for monitoring the distribution of 11C-labelled photoassimilates in Sorghum. The obtained two-dimensional image data were quantitatively analysed using a transfer function analysis approach. While one half of a Sorghum root in a split root system was treated with either 0, 100, or 500 mM NaCl dissolved in the nutrient solution, tracer images of the root halves and the lower stem section were recorded using PETIS. From the observed tracer levels, parameters were estimated, from which the mean speed of tracer transport and the proportion of tracer moved between specified image positions were deduced. Transport speed varied between 0.7 and 1.8 cm min−1 with the difference depending on which part of the stem was involved. When data were collected in the lowest 0.5–1 cm of the stem, which included the point where the roots emerge, transport speed was less. Rapid changes in NaCl concentration, from 0 to 100 mM, resulted in short-term increases of assimilate import into the treated root. This response represented a transient osmotic effect, that was compensated for in the medium-term by osmotic adaptation. Higher concentrations of NaCl (500 mM) resulted in distinctly less photoassimilate transport into the treated root half. The present results agree with earlier observations, showing that transport of 11C-labelled photoassimilates measured with the PETIS detector system can be quantified using the method of input–output analysis. It is worth noting that with the PETIS detector system, areas of interest do not need to be defined until after data collection. This means that unexpected behaviour of a plant organ will be seen, which is not necessarily the case with conventional detector systems looking at predefined areas of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Decomposition of trans-1,2-dichloroethylene(trans-DCE) in low-humidity air under electron beam irradiation at different initial concentrations has been investigated. CO, CO2 were identified by TOC analyzer as inorganic products and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene was observed by GC-FID, while such compounds as CH2&z.dbnd6;CHCl, CH2&z.dbnd6;CCl2, CHCl&z.dbnd6;CCl2, CCl2&z.dbnd6;CCl2, CH2ClCOCl were not found. Degradation efficiencies of trans-DCE and 1,1-DCE were compared and a mechanism of trans-DCE decomposition was proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The upper part of a nodulated soybean root hydroponically cultured in a glass bottle was monitored using a computer microscope under controlled environmental conditions, and the diameter of individual nodules was measured from 10–24 d after planting. The diameter of a root nodule attached to the primary root increased from 1 mm to 6 mm for 2 weeks under nitrogen‐free conditions. The increase in diameter of the nodules was almost completely stopped after 1 d of supplying 5 mM nitrate, and was due to the cessation of nodule cell expansion. However, nodule growth quickly returned to the normal growth rate following withdrawal of nitrate from the solution. The reversible depression of nodule growth by nitrate was similar to the restriction of photoassimilate supply by continuous dark treatment for 2 d followed by normal light/dark conditions. In addition, the inhibitory effect of nitrate was partially alleviated by the addition of 3% (w/v) sucrose to the medium. Plant leaves were exposed to 11C or 14C‐labelled carbon dioxide to investigate the effects of 5 mM nitrate on the translocation and distribution of photosynthates to nodules and roots. Supplying 5 mM nitrate stimulated the translocation rate and the distribution of labelled C in nitrate‐fed parts of the roots. However, the 14C partitioning to nodules decreased from 9% to 4% of total 14C under conditions of 5 mM nitrate supply. These results indicate that the decrease in photoassimilate supply to nodules may be involved in the quick and reversible nitrate inhibition of soybean nodule growth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]