The Effects of the TPP on Agricultural Production in Japan and China -A Computer Simulation Analysis using the GTAP model-

この論文では、TPP に日本、中国、東アジア諸国が参加するときに、どのような経済効果が生じるのかをGTAP モデルを使ってシミュレーションをする。2010年に日本政府は、日本がTPP に参加することによってGDP が0.48～0.65％増加するというシミュレーション結果だけを発表してTPP を推進する根拠としたが、個別の産業、とりわけ農業にどのような影響を及ぼすのかについては明らかにしていない。この論文では、GTAP モデルを使って独自にシミュレーション分析を行い、TPP への参加によって、日本のコメの生産が1 / 3 になるなど、日本の農業は致命的な損失を被ることを明らかにした。同時に、中国や東アジア諸国が受けるTPP 参加によって受ける影響についても検討する。\nIn this article, we conduct some computer simulations using the GTAP model to estimate how theeconomies of Japan, China and other East-Asian countries will be affected if they participate in the TPP. The Japanese government announced only one result of the simulations, namely that Japan’s GDP would increase by 0.48 to 0.65 % in October 2010. However it has not given other details of the simulations, especially how the individual sectors including agricultural products will be affected. We will show, using the computer simulations that the agricultural production in Japan will be fatally damaged if Japan participates in the TPP. We also examine the current situation of the agricultural productions in Japan and China

Association between ecological risks and ecosystem services in an urban agglomeration in arid China

Rapid urbanization leads to changes in ecosystem services and may exacerbate ecological risks. Clarifying the relationship between these two factors in a specific context is essential to explore the integrated management model and achieve sustainable regional development. However, previous studies mainly lack an integrated analysis, fail to clearly explain the mechanism of ecosystem change, and can neither support landscape ecological security construction nor spatial planning and management. This study, using the urban agglomeration on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains (UANSTM) as an example, applied multi-source data from 2010 to 2020, investigated the changes and relationships between ecological risks and ecosystem services, and proposes an assessment framework. The total ecosystem services (TES) of the studied agglomeration showed a decreasing trend, with an overall loss of 0.43%. Corresponding to the decrease of ecosystem services, the ecological risk was higher in the south and north of the UANSTM and lower in the northwestern, central, and eastern regions. The proportion of ecological high-risk areas was expanding. The key to the relationship between ecological risks and ecosystem services is the change in hydrological conditions. Therefore, we suggest that the UANSTM actively transforms the development and use mode of water resources and coordinates their allocation, aiming to reduce regional ecological risks and optimize the pattern of ecosystem services

Intestinal segment and vitamin D3 concentration affect gene expression levels of calcium and phosphorus transporters in broiler chickens

Two experiments were conducted in this research. Experiment 1 investigated the spatial expression characteristics of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) transporters in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of 21-day-old broilers provided with adequate nutrient feed. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of dietary vitamin D3 (VD3) concentration (0, 125, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 IU/kg) on growth performance, bone development, and gene expression levels of intestinal Ca and P transporters in 1–21-day-old broilers provided with the negative control diet without supplemental VD3. Results in experiment 1 showed that the mRNA levels of calcium-binding protein 28-kDa (CaBP-D28k), sodium-calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1), plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1b (PMCA1b), and IIb sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-IIb) were the highest in the broiler duodenum. By contrast, the mRNA levels of inorganic phosphate transporter 1 (PiT-1) and 2 (PiT-2) were the highest in the ileum. Results in experiment 2 showed that adding 125 IU/kg VD3 increased body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), bone weight, and percentage and weight of Ca and P in the tibia and femur of 1–21-day-old broilers compared with the negative control diet (p < 0.05). The rise in dietary VD3 levels from 125 to 1,000 IU/kg further increased the BWG, FI, and weights of the bone, ash, Ca, and P (p < 0.05). No difference in growth rate and leg bone quality was noted in the broilers provided with 1,000 and 2,000 IU/kg VD3 (p > 0.05). Supplementation with 125–2,000 IU/kg VD3 increased the mRNA abundances of intestinal Ca and P transporters to varying degrees. The mRNA level of CaBP-D28k increased by 536, 1,161, and 28 folds in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, respectively, after adding 1,000 IU/kg VD3. The mRNA levels of other Ca and P transporters (PMCA1b, NCX1, NaPi-IIb, PiT-1, and PiT-2) increased by 0.57–1.74 folds by adding 1,000–2,000 IU/kg VD3. These data suggest that intestinal Ca and P transporters are mainly expressed in the duodenum of broilers. Moreover, the addition of VD3 stimulates the two mineral transporter transcription in broiler intestines

Individual and Combined Effects of CaCl2 and UV-C on the Biosynthesis of Resveratrols in Grape Leaves and Berry Skins

The individual and combined effects of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and ultraviolet C (UV-C) light on the synthesis of resveratrol in grape leaves and berry skins were investigated. Results showed that all treatments could increase leaf resveratrol contents at least about 5 times, but the combination treatment was the most efficient. Moreover, compared with UV-C treatment, the combination treatment delayed the decline of resveratrol contents. The expression levels of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), coumaroyl-CoA ligase (4CL), and stilbene synthase (STS) and 3-O-beta-glycosyltransferases, which are related to the synthesis of resveratrol, increased in response to these treatments, paralleling the change in resveratrol content. All treatments also induced the biosynthesis of resveratrol in berry skins at room temperature. The berries of these treatments held at room temperature for 1 day were further stored under low temperature (-1 +/- 0.5 degrees C, RH 9596) for 27 days, and the results showed that all treatments continuously increased berry skin resveratrol content, with the combination treatment being most efficient. During cold storage, resveratrol content remained at high levels and reached a maximum (about 247.7 mu g/g FIN) at 13 days, then showed a slight decline, though it remained high by the end of storage. Berry firmness and total soluble solids content showed slight changes during cold storage, but there were no differences among the treatments. Thus, the combination treatment of CaCl2 and UV-C could be an efficient method for increasing resveratrol content of table grapes during storage under low temperature. This would be potentially beneficial for producing functional fruits

Low temperature synthesis of plasmonic molybdenum nitride nanosheets for surface enhanced Raman scattering

Molybdenum nitride is promising for catalysis, energy storage and Raman scattering, but it is synthesized under harsh conditions. Here the authors synthesize highly crystalline molybdenum nitride nanosheets using a relatively mild, non-aqueous solvothermal approach that can be extended to other nitrides

Resveratrols in grape berry skins and leaves in vitis germplasm.

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol is an important stilbene that benefits human health. However, it is only distributed in a few species including grape and is very expensive. At present, grape has been an important source resveratrol. However, the details are scarce on resveratrol distribution in different Vitis species or cultivars. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING: The composition and content of resveratrols were investigated by HPLC for assessing genotypic variation in berry skins and leaves of 75 grape cultivars, belonging to 3 species and 7 interspecific hybrids. Trans-resveratrol, cis-piceid and trans-piceid were detected in berry skins and leaves, but cis-resveratrol was not. Resveratrol content largely varied with genetic background as well as usage. In most cultivars, total resveratrol including the above three compounds was higher in berry skins than leaves. In berry skins of most cultivars and leaves of almost all cultivars, cis-piceid was the most abundant resveratrol; trans-resveratrol and trans-piceid were minor components. Some specific cultivars were found with extremely high levels of trans-resveratrol, cis- piceid, trans-piceid or total resveratrols in berry skins or leaves. In skins and leaves, rootstock cultivars had a higher content of total resveratrols, and the cultivated European type cultivars and their hybrids with V. labrusca had relatively low totals. There were no significant correlations of the amounts of total resveratrols or any individual resveratrol between berry skins and leaves. All 75 cultivars can be divided into four groups based on the composition of resveratrols and their concentration by principal component analysis. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol content of grape berries and leaves varied largely with their genetic background and usage. Rootstock cultivars had a higher content of total resveratrols than the other germplasm. Total resveratrols were lower in leaves than berry skins in most cultivars. Cis-piceid was the most abundant resveratrol in most cultivars, and trans-res and trans-pd were minor components

Assessment and Prediction of Landscape Ecological Risk from Land Use Change in Xinjiang, China

Land use change has significant impacts on the regional and global environment; thus, in-depth research on the associated ecological risks is necessary for promoting ecological restoration and sustainable development. Xinjiang, China, is characterized by a fragile ecological environment, and this study aimed to predict the land use change in the region in 2030 under different scenarios, including natural development, ecological conservation, and urban development, by using the PLUS model based on land use data from 2000, 2010, and 2020. Based on the landscape structure of regional ecosystems, we developed a comprehensive ecological risk assessment framework by utilizing a combination of landscape disturbance index, vulnerability index, and loss index. This framework allowed us to evaluate the spatiotemporal patterns and variations of landscape ecological risks under different scenarios in 2030. The study results indicate the following: (1) During the period from 2000 to 2020, the primary landscape type in Xinjiang was unused land. However, significant changes were observed in the area of cultivated land, mainly due to the conversion of grassland and construction land. The expansion of construction land during the urbanization process resulted in a decline in ecological landscapes, such as grassland, thereby weakening the ecosystem’s stability. (2) Under different simulation scenarios, the urban development scenario primarily led to the conversion of unused land into construction land, which is beneficial for economic development. On the other hand, the ecological conservation scenario resulted in a modest increase in construction land and a transformation of unused land into forest and grassland, which aligns with the principles of sustainable development. (3) Different scenarios in 2030 result in varying degrees of changes in each landscape type in Xinjiang, with the spatial distribution characteristics of landscape ecological risks remaining similar to those observed in 2020. Notably, under the urban development scenario, the area of lowest and medium risk areas decreases significantly while the area of higher and highest risk areas increases substantially. Conversely, under the ecological conservation scenario, the area of the lowest risk areas experiences a more significant increase. (4) Overall, the spatial differences in the ecological risk of Xinjiang’s landscape are significant, with HH and LL clustering types predominating and presenting a polarization pattern. The distribution pattern is low in the north and high in the central and southern parts of the study area