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In the tissue characterization of plaques using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), T1-weighted imaging is important. However, T1-weighted imaging are obtained by various imaging methods, and show different contrasts depending on parameters such as repetition time, echo time, and inversion time. To evaluate the tissue characterization of plaques using MRI, the characteristics are estimated and evaluated using the strength of the plaque-to-muscle signal intensity ratio (PMR), which is the value obtained by dividing the signal intensity of the plaque by that of the sternocleidomastoid muscle or myocardium. In the present research, we aim to obtain the PMR by phantom experiment and grasp the image characteristics for T1 and T2 values of different T1-weighted imaging methods. In addition, since the PMR of the conventional spin echo (SE) method of T1-weighted imaging (two-dimensional (2D) T1WI SE) is reported to have high discrimination ability in plaque tissue characterization, the experimental results were compared with those of 2D T1WI SE. Among the protocols examined, 3D sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolutions, T1-variable, motion-sensitized driven equilibrium (1-axis 300 ms2*mT/m) + had the same tissue characterization ability as 2D T1 WI SE, and was the most suitable imaging method. Moreover, in the gradient echo method, the effect of T2 values was smaller than that of 2D T1 WI SE, and it was suggested that the PMR of the plaque may be lowered when there is a change in the tissue properties that the T2 value and T1 value are prolonged due to liquefaction. The results of this phantom experiment are expected help in selecting the imaging method aimed at optimization and the image characteristics of different T1-weighted imaging method can be grasped.

Organic farming was developed to reduce agriculture’s negative impacts on the environment and enhance biodiversity for sustainable productivity in agricultural ecosystems, but the long-term effectiveness of its application in Japanese rice paddies is unclear. We sought to understand how long-term organic farming affects the abundance of animals in both the rice growth and fallow seasons, and how soil properties change. We investigated the abundance of fishes, frogs, beetles, and shellfish in the floodwater in summer, and the abundance of earthworms (mainly Enchytraeidae), arthropods (spiders and springtails), and soil properties in aerobic soils in autumn. We examined fields which had been farmed organically for 10 and 18 years in Tochigi, Japan. Fields farmed with conventional management, located close to the selected organic fields, were used as a control. All selected fields were located in a valley, which is the typical landscape of a traditional Japanese farming village, called a yatsuda in Japanese. The results showed an increase in soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus in plowed soils that had been converted from conventional to organic farming both 10 and 18 years earlier. However, the abundance of various animals were not affected significantly by long-term organic rice farming, other than arthropods in the aerobic soils that had been farmed organically for 18 years. The quantity of most animals in floodwater and fallow season soil was unaffected by long-term organic rice farming in the yatsuda paddy fields, probably due to the circumstances and similar irrigation systems for both conventional and organic rice farming, as well as lighter doses of agrochemical application for conventional rice cultivation.

A new pyrrocidine A derivative, 19-epi-pyrrocidine A (1) was isolated from the insect–derived fungus Neonectria ramulariae In-2, together with known pyrrocidine A (2). The structure of 1 was determined by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR, and MS spectral analyses. The absolute configuration of 2 was confirmed for the first time by X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxicity against human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells (IC50 2.05 μM). In addition, semi-synthetic compounds 19-O-methyl-pyrrocidine A (3), 19-O-acetyl-pyrrocidine A (4), and 1,2-4,5-17,18-triepoxy-pyrrocidine A (5) were found to possess significant cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 0.66 μM, 0.19 μM, and 2.00 μM, respectively.

In three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging used for tissue characterization of coronary plaques, the contrast for electrocardiographic synchronization may vary according to the R-R interval (RR). The coronary artery plaque image shows suppression of the fluid compartment signal for the coronary artery luminal blood as well as the fat signal in the region of interest; in addition, it is necessary to ensure that the value of the plaque-to-muscle signal intensity ratio (PMR) does not change according to the difference in RR. In the current study, the phantom review and clinical data suggested that the PMR changes that occur due to the differences in RR can be minimized by adjusting the inversion time (TI) in the range of the required black blood effect. Moreover, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which varies according to the difference between the RR and the TI, was determined to identify the maximum value flip angle (FA) value that would lead to improvement in the SNR. Thus, signal suppression of the PMR, SNR, and the fluid compartment of the coronary artery luminal blood can be controlled using different RRs with the relational expressions for calculating optimal TI and FA.

A factorial experiment was conducted in 2015 to assess the effects of ambient temperature and the presence of the mud snail, Cipangopaludina chinensis laeta (Martens) (Architaenioglossa: Viviparidae), on rice plant performance. The presence of mud snails resulted in significantly increased rice plant height and SPAD value (reflecting leaf color), although the number of tillers was not significantly affected. The effects of temperature (high vs. normal) on rice plant performance were examined in experiments inside and outside the greenhouse. The average temperature of the water in experimental containers with rice seedlings showed that the temperature inside the greenhouse tended to be higher than that outside. The results suggest that the effects of temperature differed among plant traits; plants grew taller but had fewer tillers when the rice was grown at a high temperature, whereas SPAD was not significantly affected. A significantly greater number of roots were observed on the soil surface when snails were present. In general, the mud snails produced less excreta at a high temperature than a normal temperature. The results of this study indicate that ambient temperature had both a direct influence on rice plant performance and an indirect influence through the activity of the mud snails.

Transparent organic–inorganic hybrids with a whitish colour were prepared from cellulose diacetate (CDA) nanosheets derived from Dion–Jacobson-type ion-exchangeable layered perovskite HLaNb2O7·xH2O (HLaNb) to prepare CDA-based hybrids bearing covalent bonds between HLaNb nanosheets and CDA matrices for improved mechanical properties. An n-decoxy derivative of HLaNb (C10_HLaNb) was exfoliated in acetonitrile by ultrasonication. TEM and AFM images revealed that C10_HLaNb was exfoliated into individual nanosheets. In order to explore the local environment around HLaNb nanosheets, a very small amount of CDA was reacted with a C10_HLaNb nanosheet dispersion [molar ratio COH:(NbOH + NbOC10H21) = 4:1] at 80 °C, and solid-state 13C NMR with cross polarization and magic angle spinning techniques showed that an alcohol-exchange-type reaction was proceeded to graft the CDA chains to the HLaNb nanosheets via new Nb–O–C covalent linkages. The CDA-based hybrids were prepared by dispersing 5 mass% of HLaNb nanosheets in CDA and subsequent heating at 80 °C for 1–7 days to cause a grafting reaction, and the product prepared by a 1-day grafting reaction exhibited improved mechanical properties compared to neat CDA; the Young’s modulus, tensile strength and toughness increased by 18, 34 and 78%, respectively. The mechanical properties deteriorated with further extension of the reaction period, however. In addition, a hybrid film prepared by mixing CDA and a C10_HLaNb nanosheet dispersion exhibited only a slight improvement in mechanical properties. These results clearly indicate that formation of an appropriate number of Nb–O–C bonds at the nanosheet/CDA interfaces is effective for improving mechanical properties.

To investigate the intrinsic reactivity of atomic nitrogen, which had previously been accomplished only by examining its decay in the gas phase using special equipment, a nitrogen atom was inserted into a series of molecule-encapsulating C60 and C70 fullerenes. Among the studied endofullerenes, H2 @C70 was able to encapsulate an additional nitrogen atom within the fullerene cage under radiofrequency plasma conditions. The product was analyzed by ESR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry in solution, which revealed that the nitrogen atom with a quartet ground state does not react but weakly interact with the H2 molecule, thus demonstrating the utility of such fullerenes as "nanoflasks".

Additions of adamantylidene (Ad) to M3 N@Ih -C80 (M=Sc, Lu) and Sc3 N@D5h -C80 have been accomplished by photochemical reactions with 2-adamantyl-2,3'-[3H]-diazirine (1). In M3 N@Ih -C80 , the addition led to rupture of the [6,6]- or [5,6]-bonds of the Ih -C80 cage, forming the [6,6]-open fulleroid as the major isomer and the [5,6]-open fulleroid as the minor isomer. In Sc3 N@D5h -C80 , the addition also proceeded regioselectively to yield three major isomeric Ad mono-adducts, despite the fact that there are nine types of C-C bonds in the D5h -C80 cage. The molecular structures of the seven Ad mono-adducts, including the positions of the encaged trimetallic nitride clusters, have been unambiguously determined through single-crystal XRD analyses. Furthermore, results have shown that stepwise addition of Ad to Lu3 N@Ih -C80 affords several Ad bis-adducts, two of which have been isolated and characterized. The X-ray structure of one bis-adduct clearly revealed that the second Ad addition took place at a [6,6]-bond close to an endohedral metal atom. Theoretical calculations have also been performed to rationalize the regioselectivity.

Organic farming was developed to reduce agriculture's negative impacts on the environment and enhance biodiversity for sustainable productivity in agricultural ecosystems, but the long-term effectiveness of its application in Japanese rice paddies is unclear. We sought to understand how long-term organic farming affects the abundance of animals in both the rice growth and fallow seasons, and how soil properties change. We investigated the abundance of fishes, frogs, beetles, and shellfish in the floodwater in summer, and the abundance of earthworms (mainly Enchytraeidae), arthropods (spiders and springtails), and soil properties in aerobic soils in autumn. We examined fields which had been farmed organically for 10 and 18 years in Tochigi, Japan. Fields farmed with conventional management, located close to the selected organic fields, were used as a control. All selected fields were located in a valley, which is the typical landscape of a traditional Japanese farming village, called a yatsuda in Japanese. The results showed an increase in soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus in plowed soils that had been converted from conventional to organic farming both 10 and 18 years earlier. However, the abundance of various animals were not affected significantly by long-term organic rice farming, other than arthropods in the aerobic soils that had been farmed organically for 18 years. The quantity of most animals in floodwater and fallow season soil was unaffected by long-term organic rice farming in the yatsuda paddy fields, probably due to the circumstances and similar irrigation systems for both conventional and organic rice farming, as well as lighter doses of agrochemical application for conventional rice cultivation.

We compared the chemical reactivity of D2d(23)-C84 and that of Sc2C2@D2d(23)-C84, both having the same carbon cage geometry, in the photolysis of 2-adamantane-2,3′-[3H]-diazirine, to clarify metal-atom doping effects on the chemical reactivity of the carbon cage. Experimental and computational studies have revealed that the chemical reactivity of the D2d(23)-C84 carbon cage is altered drastically by endohedral Sc2C2 doping. The reaction of empty D2d(23)-C84 with the diazirine under photoirradiation yields two adamantylidene (Ad) adducts. NMR spectroscopic studies revealed that the major Ad monoadduct (C84(Ad)-A) has a fulleroid structure and that the minor Ad monoadduct (C84(Ad)-B) has a methanofullerene structure. The latter was also characterized using X-ray crystallography. C84(Ad)-A is stable under photoirradiation, but it interconverted to C84(Ad)-B by heating at 80 °C. In contrast, the reaction of endohedral Sc2C2@D2d(23)-C84 with diazirine under photoirradiation affords four Ad monoadducts (Sc2C2@C...

Understanding the effects of temperature and moisture on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics is crucial to predict the cycling of C in terrestrial ecosystems under a changing climate. For single rice cropping system, there are two contrasting phases of SOC decomposition in rice paddy soils: mineralization under aerobic conditions during the off-rice season and fermentation under anaerobic conditions during the growth season. This study aimed to investigate the effects of soil temperature and moisture on SOC decomposition under the aerobic and subsequently anaerobic conditions. Two Japanese paddy soils (Andisol and Inceptisol) were firstly incubated under four temperatures (±5, 5, 15, and 25°C) and two moisture levels (60 and 100% water-filled pore space (WFPS)) under aerobic conditions for 24 weeks. Then, these samples were incubated for 4 weeks at 30°C and under anaerobic conditions. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) productions were measured during the two incubation stages to monitor the SOC decomposition dynamics. The temperature sensitivity of SOC was estimated by calculation of the Q10 parameter. The total CO2 production after the 24-week aerobic incubation was significantly higher in both soils for increasing soil temperature and moisture (P

We report that Ce@C2v(9)-C82 forms a centrosymmetric dimer when co-crystallized with Ni(OEP) (OEP = octaethylporphyrin dianion). The crystal structure of {Ce@C2v(9)-C82}2⋅2[Ni(OEP)]⋅4 C6H6 shows that a new C−C bond with a bond length of 1.605(5) A connects the two cages. The high spin density of the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) on the cage and the pyramidalization of the cage are factors that favor dimerization. In contrast, the treatment of Ni(OEP) with M@C2v(9)-C82 (M = La, Sc, and Y) results in crystallization of monomeric endohedral fullerenes. A systematic comparison of the X-ray structures of M@C2v(9)-C82 (M = Sc, Y, La, Ce, Gd, Yb, and Sm) reveals that the major metal site in each case is located at an off-center position adjacent to a hexagonal ring along the C2 axis of the C2v(9)-C82 cage. DFT calculations at the M06-2X level revealed that the positions of the metal centers in these metallofullerenes M@C2v(9)-C82 (M = Sc, Y, and Ce), as determined by single-crystal X-ray structure studies, correspond to an energy minimum for each compound.

The effects of a mud snail, Cipangopaludina chinensis laeta (Martens) (Architaenioglossa: Viviparidae), on terrestrial arthropods through rice plant development in a paddy field were investigated in 2013 and 2014 by a field experiment. There were no significant differences between treatments in the abundance of aquatic organisms, which comprised several functional feeding groups in both years. The presence of mud snails did not significantly affect plant height and soil plant analysis development values, either, except in June 2014, when tiller number and biomass of the rice plants tended to be larger in plots with snails versus those without. Significantly higher abundances of terrestrial organisms, including phytophagous pest insects and other insects, but not natural enemies of the pest insects, occurred in plots with snails. As shown by principal component analysis, the community structure of the terrestrial organisms was significantly different between the two treatments in both years. The results of this study indicate that mud snails play an important role in the paddy field ecosystem, in which they influence the biomass production of rice plants and the abundance of organisms in terrestrial ecosystems through direct and indirect interactions at different trophic levels.

Azorhizobium caulinodans is a microsymbiont of Sesbania rostrata Bremek. & Oberm., and is able to fix nitrogen in both the free-living and symbiotic states. In this study, we focused on the ggm gene (locus tag, AZC_4606) that encodes a putative membrane protein belonging to the TIGR02302 family. Although the genes encoding TIGR02302 family protein are distributed in a wide range of alpha-proteobacteria including rhizobia, the functions of this protein are still unknown. To investigate the functions of this protein in A. caulinodans, we made a ggm mutant, and analyzed its phenotypes. The ggm mutant produced more bubbles than the wild-type strain in L3 + N medium liquid cultures, and formed mucoid colonies on L3 + N medium agar plates, suggesting that the ggm mutant overproduced exopolysaccharides (EPSs). The amounts of EPSs produced by the ggm mutant on L3 + N plates were about 1.3-fold higher than those by the wild-type strain, and expression levels of EPS production-related genes in the ggm mutan...

The temperature dependence of the anisotropic transient conductivity of a La@C2v-C82(Ad) crystal was investigated using flash-photolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity (FP-TRMC) measurements. Results showed that the transient conductivity along the c-axis of the single-crystal increased as the temperature decreased, proving that electron transport can be described by the electronic band-conduction model instead of the electron-hopping model.

Three new fusarielins, 3-epi-fusarielin H (1), 3-O-methyl-fusarielin H (2), and 3-O-methyl-epi-fusarielin H (3), were isolated from the fungus Fusarium sp. together with the known analogues, fusarielins F (4) and G (5). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by analysis of their ESI-HRTOFMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The new compounds exhibited weak antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus.

To investigate the intrinsic reactivity of atomic nitrogen, which had previously been accomplished only by examining its decay in the gas phase using special equipment, a nitrogen atom was inserted into a series of molecule-encapsulating C

Additions of adamantylidene (Ad) to M

We investigated the effects of symbiotic association between a plant and an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on the abundance of aboveground foliar-feeding insects that differed in feeding mode and their predator. We examined effects on insect abundance as the result of AMF-related changes in the quality and quantity of plants in the field. The numbers of three insects with different foliar-feeding mode (phloem feeder, chewer, and cell-content feeder) and their generalist predator Orius sauteri Poppius on soybean Glycine max (L.) Merrill with and without the AMF Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall were compared over time. Symbiotic association between the AMF and the soybean increased shoot biomass, the concentration of phosphorus in the soybean, and the abundance of the phloem feeder Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach, but did not affect the abundance of generalist chewers. In addition, the effects of the symbiotic association on the abundance of cell-content feeding Thrips spp. and the generalist predator O. sauteri differed between sample dates. These results indicated that the effects of the symbiotic association on the number of foliar-feeding insects depended on feeding mode and the number of predators.

We compared the chemical reactivity of D

We report that Ce@C

The improvement of host plant growth resulting from mycorrhizal colonization often affects the viability of above-ground herbivorous insects. Conversely, the effects of herbivorous insects on plant growth may indirectly affect below-ground microorganisms. This study investigated the effects of herbivorous insects on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization of soybean (Glycine max Merr.). Seeds of soybean were sown in soil inoculated with the AM fungus Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall and grown in growth chambers. At 39 days after inoculation (DAI), a larva of the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura Fabricius) was placed on a leaf of each soybean plant for 5 days. AM colonization of soybean on 39 DAI was 21%. Although not evident by 62 DAI, by 77 DAI there was a statistically significant increase in AM colonization in plants subjected to herbivory by S. litura relative to control plants. Leaf removal at 46 DAI was also associated with increased AM colonization at 78 DAI. These results suggest that herbivory...

Metal positions in endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) are of special importance because their molecular symmetry and intrinsic properties are strongly influenced by the location and motion of the encapsulated metals. X-ray analyses of the cocrystals of Gd@C(2v)(9)-C(82) with nickel(II) octaethylporphyrin [Ni(II)(OEP)] reveal that the Gd(3+) cation is off-center, being located under a hexagonal ring along the 2-fold axis of the C(2v)(9)-C(82) cage. This result is in sharp contrast to that of a previous study, showing that Gd@C(2v)(9)-C(82) has an anomalous endohedral structure, with the metal being positioned over a [6,6] bond, which is opposite to the hexagonal ring along the C(2) axis (Phys. Rev. B 2004, 69, 113412). In agreement with theoretical calculations and related studies, it is conclusive that the single rare-earth metal in M@C(2v)(9)-C(82) always tends to coordinate with the hexagonal ring along the 2-fold axis, instead of interacting with the [6,6] bond on the other end, regardless of the type of metal atom.

We describe the regioselective cycloaddition of La(2)@I(h)-C(80) with tetracyanoethylene oxide (TCNEO), which enabled the formation of the corresponding adduct having a tetracyanotetrahydrofuran moiety. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the cycloaddition took place as a [5,6] addition. Along with dynamic swing motion of the metal atoms, the results of this electrochemical study demonstrate that TCNEO addition enhanced the electron-accepting character of La(2)@I(h)-C(80) and that the first reduction potential of the adduct reached -0.21 V versus the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple, which is the lowest value reported for endohedral metallofullerenes and their derivatives to date.

This study focuses on the function of the gene praR that encodes a putative transcription factor in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, a microsymbiont of Sesbania rostrata . The praR gene is a homolog of the phrR gene of Sinorhizobium medicae WSM419, and the praR and phrR homologs are distributed throughout the class Alphaproteobacteria . The growth and nitrogen fixation activity of an A. caulinodans praR deletion mutant in the free-living state were not significantly different from those of the wild-type strain. However, the stem nodules formed by the praR mutant showed lower nitrogen fixation activity than the wild-type stem nodules. Microscopy revealed that infected host cells with an oval or elongated shape were observed at early stages in the nodules formed by the praR mutant, but these infected cells gradually fell into two types. One maintained an oval or elongated shape, but the vacuoles in these cells gradually enlarged and the bacteria gradually disappeared. The other cells were shrunken with bacteria remaining inside. Microarrays revealed that genes homologous to the reb genes of Caedibacter taeniospiralis were highly expressed in the praR mutant. Furthermore, the stem nodules formed by an A. caulinodans mutant with a deletion of praR and reb -homologous genes showed high nitrogen fixation activity, comparable to that of the wild-type stem nodules, and were filled with oval or elongated host cells. These results suggest that PraR controls the expression of the reb -homologous genes and that high expression of reb -homologous genes causes aberrance in A. caulinodans - S. rostrata symbiosis.

The two regioisomers of endohedral pyrrolidinodimetallofullerenes M(2)@I(h)-C(80)(CH(2))(2)NTrt (M = La, Ce; Trt = trityl) were synthesized, isolated, and characterized. X-ray crystallographic analyses of [6,6]-La(2)@I(h)-C(80)(CH(2))(2)NTrt and [6,6]-Ce(2)@I(h)-C(80)(CH(2))(2)NTrt revealed that the encapsulated metal atoms are located at the slantwise positions on the mirror plane that parallels the pyrrolidine ring. Paramagnetic NMR analyses of [6,6]- and [5,6]-Ce(2)@I(h)-C(80)(CH(2))(2)NTrt were also carried out to clarify the metal positions. As for the [6,6]-adduct, the metal positions obtained by paramagnetic NMR analysis agree well with the X-ray structure. In contrast, paramagnetic NMR analysis of the [5,6]-adduct showed that the two Ce atoms are collinear with the pyrrolidine ring. We also compared the observed paramagnetic effects of the pyrrolidinodimetallofullerenes with those of other cerium-encapsulating fullerene derivatives such as bis-silylated Ce(2)@I(h)-C(80) and a carbene adduct of Ce(2)@I(h)-C(80). We found that the metal positions can be explained by the electrostatic potential maps of the corresponding [6,6]- and [5,6]-adducts of [I(h)-C(80)(CH(2))(2)NTrt](6-). These findings clearly show that metal positions inside fullerene cages can be controlled by means of the addition positions of the addends. In addition, the radical anions of the pyrrolidinodimetallofullerenes were prepared by bulk controlled-potential electrolysis and characterized by X-band EPR spectral study.

Vulnerability of larvae of two species of aphidophagous ladybirds, Adalia bipunctata Linnaeus and Harmonia axyridis Pallas, to cannibalism and intraguild predation was assessed in the laboratory. In the first experiment, a first instar of one of the two above species was kept with a fourth instar of the other species in a Petri dish. The number of times each first instar larva was encountered by the fourth instar larva and the fate of the first instar was determined over a period of 10 min. The fourth instar larvae captured and killed all the first instar larvae of their own species at the first encounter. However, when presented with fourth instar larvae of the other species the first instar larvae of A. bipunctata and H. axyridis were encountered 6.4 ± 1.3 (n = 10) and 19.4 ± 2.1 (n = 10), respectively. In this experiment no first instar larvae of H. axyridis, whereas all those of A. bipunctata, were killed.

The relative effects of intra and interspecific interactions on the larval survival of two species of aphidophagous ladybirds, Coccinella septempunctata brucki and Harmonia axyridis, were assessed at two different prey abundances. In single species rearing, the number of larvae of both species decreased during the latter developmental stages, mainly due to cannibalism. When prey was abundant, the survival of both species improved; however, in mixed species rearing, the mortality of C. septempunctata brucki due to cannibalism or intraguild predation was higher than in single species rearing, whereas the mortality was lower in H. axyridis. Consequently, the survival of C. septempunctata brucki decreased while that of H. axyridis improved. In addition, in the 18 intraguild predation events observed, H. axyridis was always the intraguild predator and C. septempunctata brucki was its prey. Thus, when these two species co-exist in the field, H. axyridis is likely to be an important intraguild predator of C. septempunctata brucki. In addition, when prey is scarce, it is likely that cannibalism and intraguild predation become more important factors in the intra and interspecific relationships of these two species.

Two experiments were performed in the laboratory to understand the relationships between oviposition preference and larval performance of the two predatory hoverfly species, Episyrphus balteatus de Geer and Metasyrphus corollae Fabricius. We first conducted laboratory experiments to understand the nature and relative strengths of intraguild predation between the larvae of three ladybird species, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, Propylea japonica Thunberg, and Scymnus posticalis Sicard, and two predatory hoverfly species. The interactions between larvae of the three ladybird and two hoverfly species differed depending on the species and developmental stages involved: the relationships between H. axyridis or S. posticalis and the two hoverfly larvae tended to be asymmetric with H. axyridis being a superior species and S. posticalis an inferior species, although the reverse was true for each of these two species when small larvae were paired with large larvae of the hoverflies. The ladybird, P. japonica, had both asymmetric and symmetric relationships depending on the hoverfly species with which it interacted. Secondly, we tested the preference and performance hypothesis for hoverflies, by determining whether hoverfly oviposition preference was related to the risk of intraguild predation posed by the presence of a ladybird larva in an aphid colony. Oviposition preference in relation to larval performance of the two hoverflies differed between the species: E. balteatus females tended to adjust their rate of eggs laying in response to the presence of ladybird larvae, while similar responses of M. corollae females were weak. The relationship between oviposition preference and larval performance in hoverflies is discussed.

Newly developed Rheocasting process makes semi-liquid slurry in metallic vessel without stirring process. Semi-liquid castings made by this process show good mechanical properties. The effects of strontium, magnesium and iron contents on the mechanical properties of Rheocast and squeeze cast Al-7 mass%Si-Mg alloys were investigated. Elongation of Al-7 mass%Si-Mg alloy Rheocastings was higher than those of squeeze castings when strontium was not added or iron content was up to 0.27 mass%. Both Rheocastings and squeeze castings increased in strength but decreased in elongation with increasing magnesium content in Al-7 mass%Si-xmass%Mg (x ¼ 0:23{0:64) alloy. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.F-MRA2008845]

1. Ladybird eggs are defended chemically against intra-guild predation, and are unsuitable to varying degrees as food for other ladybirds. 2. Ladybird eggs [Coccinella septempunctata (Cs) and Harmonia axyridis (Ha); Coleoptera: Coccinellidae] from local Japanese versus North American populations were compared as food for two ladybirds (Cs and Ha) co-occurring in Japan. 3. Larvae of Cs exhibited high mortality, slow development, and reduced egg consumption and weight gain when they fed on Ha versus conspecific eggs, especially when Ha eggs were from the local (Japanese) population versus a distant (North American) population of Ha. 4. Larvae of Ha survived equally well on a diet of Cs or conspecific eggs, but developed more slowly and gained less weight on Cs eggs. Ha larvae were more reluctant to eat eggs from the local (Japanese) population of Cs than eggs from the distant (North American) population of Cs; however, other measures of performance did not differ significantly. 5. These results indicate greater egg chemical defence of Ha eggs against Cs larvae than vice versa, as expected from field observations of greater temporal overlap between Cs larvae and Ha eggs than between Ha larvae and Cs eggs. Furthermore, results also indicate that local populations of eggs are better defended than eggs from elsewhere against locally occurring intra-guild predators. Thus, it appears that the effectiveness of chemical defence of ladybird eggs reflects the degree to which specific pairings of ladybirds have the potential to interact in nature through egg predation.

The ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), was studied under laboratory condition to reveal the effect of food stress on phenotypic changes in life history traits that reflect larval and adult performance. Two food environments (abundant and limited food availability) were used as experimental treatments. When the food was limited, larvae grew slowly. Surviving adults were smaller, and their pre-reproductive period was considerably prolonged, reproductive life span and fecundity were reduced, and longevity was increased. On limited food supply, adults had reduced efficiency of converting food into eggs in comparison to adults provided abundant food supply. The relationships between lifetime fecundity and female longevity suggested that for both food levels, there were two groups of individuals with one group showing a positive correlation and the other group a negative correlation between reproduction and longevity. Life history responses to food stress, and the trade-off between fecundity and female longevity, are discussed.

Survival and growth efficiency of fourth-instar larvae of two species of aphidophagous ladybirds, Coccinella septempunctata brucki Mulsant and Harmonia axyridis Pallas were determined when fed aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris, or intraguild prey, another species of aphidophagous ladybird, Propylea japonica Thunberg. The percentage of fourth instars fed intraguild prey that completed their development was 42.9% for C. septempunctata brucki and 100% for H. axyridis, respectively. All fourth-instar larvae of both species fed aphids completed their development. The average growth efficiency (increase in body weight/weight of prey consumed) of fourth instars of H. axyridis was significantly lower than that of C. septempunctata brucki when fed aphids. In contrast, when fed intraguild prey, it was significantly higher than that of C. septempunctata brucki. Adaptive significance and determinants of prey specialization in aphidophagous ladybirds are discussed.

In order to achieve an efficient mass-production system, a new semi-liquid casting process was developed that can produce a semi-liquid slurry, in individual metallic vessels, for each casting shot. In this research, the effect of heat treatment conditions was investigated on the mechanical properties and microstructures of stepped casting samples made by the new semi-liquid casting process and compared with that of squeeze cast samples. The semi-liquid castings showed a larger elongation and a slightly lower strength than squeeze castings. The larger elongation is due to the finer eutectic silicon structures formed under the higher cooling rate of semi-liquid slurry. The lower strength is considered to be the effect of the lower magnesium content in the primary-crystallized alpha phase. Castings made by the semi-liquid casting process seem to contain more Al–Si–Fe–Mg compounds, thus more magnesium is consumed to form these compounds than squeeze castings.

Semi-liquid slurry consists of globular primary solid phase and remaining liquid phase can be obtained directly from molten metal without stirring technique by pouring low temperature melt with superheated within 30 K, into the vessel and cooling the slurry at the rate of not more than 0.15 K/s. The reasons why shape of primary crystals become globular during solidification, not dendritic, are considered as follows; 1) large number of nuclei are produced during pouring process and those nuclei survive for a long term because of low superheat degree, so there are small space between growing crystals, 2) distribution of solute element and temperature gradient around solid-liquid interface are uniform, 3) supercooling degree is small. High pressure casting fabricated using this process show high tensile strength and large elongation. Prevention of mingling oxide inclusions, which forms at the upper surface of the slurries, by reversing vessel when injecting slurries into the shot sleeve and the fine eutectic microstructure give rise to the good mechanical properties, especially large elongation.

The photochemical reaction of C 60 with 3-trifluoromethyl-3-phenyldiazirine affords a photo-labeled C 60 derivative. The derivative was characterized by mass, UV–vis absorption, NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallographic analysis. The redox potentials of this derivative were also investigated by means of CV and DPV. This photo-labeling method to the fullerene surface is expected to be effective for constructing various kinds of bio-functionalized fullerenes.

The self-assembly of covalently linked dyad 1a of cyclometalated organoplatinum(II) complex and fullerene afforded alternating multilayers of electron-rich and -deficient molecular components. On the other hand, the coassembly of 1a with organoplatinum(II) complex 2 having no fullerene moiety gave an exfoliated form of the multilayers, by inhibiting the interdigitation of organoplatinum(II) complex moieties of 1a. The coassembled 1a/2 transports both of the photogenerated holes and electrons, while the self-assembled 1a allows only the transportation of electrons under the same conditions.