Fuel reduction in coastal squid jigging boats equipped with various combinations of conventional metal halide lamps and low-energy LED panels

Application of the low-energy light emitting diode (LED) is considered as a possible measure for fuel saving in the squid jigging fishery. We monitored fuel consumption of 14 coastal squid jigging boats ranging in size from 6.6 to 19. gross tons (GT) operating in the northern and western waters of the Sea of Japan in 2009-2011. In summer in the northern waters, squid boats of 19. GT consumed approximately 900. l in one operation that lasted from the afternoon to the next morning and 54% of the fuel was used during jigging with 53 conventional metal halide lamps (MHs) of 159. kW in total. In winter in the western waters, the total amount of fuel consumed in conventional operations of the 6.6-16. GT boats was less, but fuel consumption during jigging with lamps accounted for 70-78% of the total consumption due to close fishing grounds. The relationship between fuel consumption (l) and energy (kW. h) during jigging with lamps was expressed as a linear regression containing effects of the boat size and the inherent character of each boat. Fuel consumption rate decreases on average 0.28. l/kW. h by using LEDs with a reduced number of MHs. When 9. kW LEDs were employed with 24. MHs for 19. GT boat in the western water in summer, 24% fuel saving was estimated

Role of the node in controlling traffic of cadmium, zinc, and manganese in rice

Heavy metals are transported to rice grains via the phloem. In rice nodes, the diffuse vascular bundles (DVBs), which enclose the enlarged elliptical vascular bundles (EVBs), are connected to the panicle and have a morphological feature that facilitates xylem-to-phloem transfer. To find a mechanism for restricting cadmium (Cd) transport into grains, the distribution of Cd, zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and sulphur (S) around the vascular bundles in node I (the node beneath the panicle) of Oryza sativa ‘Koshihikari’ were compared 1 week after heading. Elemental maps of Cd, Zn, Mn, and S in the vascular bundles of node I were obtained by synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and electron probe microanalysis. In addition, Cd K-edge microfocused X-ray absorption near-edge structure analyses were used to identify the elements co-ordinated with Cd. Both Cd and S were mainly distributed in the xylem of the EVB and in the parenchyma cell bridge (PCB) surrounding the EVB. Zn accumulated in the PCB, and Mn accumulated around the protoxylem of the EVB. Cd was co-ordinated mainly with S in the xylem of the EVB, but with both S and O in the phloem of the EVB and in the PCB. The EVB in the node retarded horizontal transport of Cd toward the DVB. By contrast, Zn was first stored in the PCB and then efficiently transferred toward the DVB. Our results provide evidence that transport of Cd, Zn, and Mn is differentially controlled in rice nodes, where vascular bundles are functionally interconnected

Cross-Sector Review of Drivers and Available 3Rs Approaches for Acute Systemic Toxicity Testing

Acute systemic toxicity studies are carried out in many sectors in which synthetic chemicals are manufactured or used and are among the most criticized of all toxicology tests on both scientific and ethical grounds. A review of the drivers for acute toxicity testing within the pharmaceutical industry led to a paradigm shift whereby in vivo acute toxicity data are no longer routinely required in advance of human clinical trials. Based on this experience, the following review was undertaken to identify (1) regulatory and scientific drivers for acute toxicity testing in other industrial sectors, (2) activities aimed at replacing, reducing, or refining the use of animals, and (3) recommendations for future work in this area

A System Comparison Approach to Distinguish Two Nonseparable and Nonnested Agricultural Household Models

This study distinguishes two nonseparable agricultural household models for a self-employed farm household. One assumes heterogeneity of farm and nonfarm labor and a competitive market for nonfarm labor. The other assumes homogeneity of the two types of labor and a restricted market for nonfarm labor. We compare demand systems that are derived from them, which have different dependent variables and different numbers of equations. We apply a Cox-type test to compare these complicated nonnested systems. Results show clearly that the former is better for Japanese rice-farming households. Comparison of price elasticities for those models verifies the importance of that test. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.