Sources of carbon supporting the fast growth of developing immature moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) culms: inference from carbon isotopes and anatomy

Phyllostachys edulis is a spectacularly fast-growing species that completes its height growth within 2 months after the shoot emerges without producing leaves (fast-growing period, FGP). This phase was considered heterotrophic, with the carbon necessary for the growth being transferred from the mature culms via the rhizomes, although previous studies observed key enzymes and anatomical features related to C₄-carbon fixation in developing culms. We tested whether C₄-photosynthesis or dark-CO₂ fixation through anaplerotic reactions significantly contributes to the FGP, resulting in differences in the natural abundance of δ¹³C in bulk organic matter and organic compounds. Further, pulse-¹³CO₂-labelling was performed on developing culms, either from the surface or from the internal hollow, to ascertain whether significant CO2 fixation occurs in developing culms. δ¹³C of young shoots and developing culms were higher (−26.3 to −26.9 ‰) compared to all organs of mature bamboos (−28.4 to −30.1 ‰). Developing culms contained chlorophylls, most observed in the skin tissues. After pulse-¹³CO₂-labelling, the polar fraction extracted from the skin tissues was slightly enriched in ¹³C, and only a weak ¹³C enrichment was observed in inner tissues. Main carbon source sustaining the FGP was not assimilated by the developing culm, while a limited anaplerotic fixation of respired CO₂ cannot be excluded and is more likely than C₄-photosynthetic carbon fixation

Extracellular cyclophilin A possesses chemotaxic activity in cattle

International audienceCyclophilin A (CyPA) was originally discovered in bovine thymocytes as a cytosolic binding protein of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A. Recent studies have revealed that in mice and humans, CyPA is secreted from cells in injured or infected tissues and plays a role in recruiting inflammatory cells in those tissues. Here we found that in cattle abundant level of extracellular CyPA was observed in tissues with inflammation. To aid in investigating the role of extracellular CyPA in cattle, we generated recombinant bovine CyPA (rbCyPA) and tested its biological activity as an inflammatory mediator. When bovine peripheral blood cells were treated with rbCyPA in vitro, we observed that rbCyPA reacts with the membranous surface of granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes. Chemotaxis analysis showed that the granulocytes migrate toward rbCyPA and the migration is inhibited by pre-treatment with an anti-bovine CyPA antibody. These results indicate that, as for mice and humans, extracellular CyPA possesses chemotactic activity to recruit inflammatory cells (e.g., granulocytes) in cattle, and could thus be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammation

National seroepidemiological study of COVID-19 after the initial rollout of vaccines: Before and at the peak of the Omicron-dominant period in Japan

BACKGROUND: Based on routine surveillance data, Japan has been affected much less by COVID-19 compared with other countries. To validate this, we aimed to estimate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and examine sociodemographic factors associated with cumulative infection in Japan. METHODS: A population-based serial cross-sectional seroepidemiological investigation was conducted in five prefectures in December 2021 (pre-Omicron) and February-March 2022 (Omicron [BA.1/BA.2]-peak). Anti-nucleocapsid and anti-spike antibodies were measured to detect infection-induced and vaccine/infection-induced antibodies, respectively. Logistic regression was used to identify associations between various factors and past infection. RESULTS: Among 16 296 participants (median age: 53 [43-64] years), overall prevalence of infection-induced antibodies was 2.2% (95% CI: 1.9-2.5%) in December 2021 and 3.5% (95% CI: 3.1-3.9%) in February-March 2022. Factors associated with past infection included those residing in urban prefectures (Tokyo: aOR 3.37 [95% CI: 2.31-4.91], Osaka: aOR 3.23 [95% CI: 2.17-4.80]), older age groups (60s: aOR 0.47 [95% CI 0.29-0.74], 70s: aOR 0.41 [95% CI 0.24-0.70]), being vaccinated (twice: aOR 0.41 [95% CI: 0.28-0.61], three times: aOR 0.21 [95% CI: 0.12-0.36]), individuals engaged in occupations such as long-term care workers (aOR: 3.13 [95% CI: 1.47-6.66]), childcare workers (aOR: 3.63 [95% CI: 1.60-8.24]), food service workers (aOR: 3.09 [95% CI: 1.50-6.35]), and history of household contact (aOR: 26.4 [95% CI: 20.0-34.8]) or non-household contact (aOR: 5.21 [95% CI:3.80-7.14]) in February-March 2022. Almost all vaccinated individuals (15 670/15 681) acquired binding antibodies with higher titers among booster dose recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Before Omicron, the cumulative burden was >10 times lower in Japan (2.2%) compared with the US (33%), the UK (25%), or global estimates (45%), but most developed antibodies owing to vaccination

The FLUXNET2015 dataset and the ONEFlux processing pipeline for eddy covariance data

The FLUXNET2015 dataset provides ecosystem-scale data on CO2, water, and energy exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere, and other meteorological and biological measurements, from 212 sites around the globe (over 1500 site-years, up to and including year 2014). These sites, independently managed and operated, voluntarily contributed their data to create global datasets. Data were quality controlled and processed using uniform methods, to improve consistency and intercomparability across sites. The dataset is already being used in a number of applications, including ecophysiology studies, remote sensing studies, and development of ecosystem and Earth system models. FLUXNET2015 includes derived-data products, such as gap-filled time series, ecosystem respiration and photosynthetic uptake estimates, estimation of uncertainties, and metadata about the measurements, presented for the first time in this paper. In addition, 206 of these sites are for the first time distributed under a Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) license. This paper details this enhanced dataset and the processing methods, now made available as open-source codes, making the dataset more accessible, transparent, and reproducible.Peer reviewe

フジサンロク シンリン タイキ ビリョウ キタイ ケイソク システム オ モチイタ シンリン ト シガイチ ニオケル チッソ サンカブツ オゾン ノウド ヘンカ ノ ヒカク

We have developed a monitoring system for nitrogen oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxides (NO_2), and ozone (O_3) in theatmosphere in a Fujiyoshida forest site at the foot of Mt. Fuji. The air was sampled above the canopy at the height of 27 musing a flux tower in the observation site. The concentration of NO, NO_2 and O_3 were successfully observed continuously for amonth in September 2011. We tested the monitoring system using NO, NO_2 and O_3 analyzers with the length of 40 m PTFE tube in the laboratory inUenohara Campus of Teikyo University of Science. The observed data were in good agreements with the data obtained byAtmospheric Environmental Regional Observation System (AEROS) in the Uenohara city centre which located in a few kmaway from the Uenohara Campus. We constructed the monitoring system of NO, NO_2 and O_3 concentrations in the atmosphereabove the canopy in the Fujiyoshida forest site at the foot of Mt. Fuji. The primary data were successfully observed for amonth and discussed with the data obtained by AEROS in the Fujiyoshida city center. The concentrations of NO and NO_2 in the Fujiyoshida forest were increased in the early morning and in the evening, andwere smaller than in the city center. This suggested NO and NO_2 were emitted by traffics in the city center and diffused tothe forest. However the concentrations of O_3 in the forest were larger than in the Fujiyoshida city centre, especially in thenighttime. A possible interpretation is that O_3 in the city centre reacts with NO, and O_3 reduces its concentration. We willcontinue the observation and the observation results will give us more information of O_3 in the forest

キコウ カイヘイ ノ フキンイツセイ ガ ガス コウカン トクセイ ニ アタエル エイキョウ : コヨウ カラ グンラク マデ

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(農学)甲第11798号農博第1518号新制||農||915(附属図書館)学位論文||H17||N4072(農学部図書室)23538UT51-2005-F828京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻(主査)教授 谷 誠, 教授 櫻谷 哲夫, 教授 三野 徹学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Agricultural ScienceKyoto UniversityDA

Temporal changes in the surf zone fish assemblage in Otsuchi Bay, Pacific coast of northeastern Japan, with comments on influences of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami

Effects of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on the surf zone fish assemblage during summer to autumn in Otsuchi Bay, Pacific coast of northeastern Japan, were evaluated based on the species composition and abundances of 46 fish species collected by bottom towing surveys from 2009 to 2015. The fish community was characterized by the juveniles of epibenthic species preferring bare sandy habitat, viz. Upeneus japonicus, Repomucenus curvicornis, R. lunatus, Paralichthys olivaceus, Tarphops oligolepis and Pleuronectes yokohamae, and the species associated with seagrass or macroalgal habitat, viz. Pholis crassispina, P. nebulosa and Rudarius ercodes, according to SIMPER analysis. While no significant differences were found in the physical water condition, total abundance, or species diversity and richness indices, cluster and canonical correspondence analyses showed that the post-earthquake species composition was clearly distinct from the pre-earthquake communities by the increase of demersal fish species associated with sandy substrate, such as Favonigobius gymnauchen and flatfishes, in contrast to the reduction of seagrass or macroalgal dependent fish species. The results suggest that the disturbance of tsunami has affected the expansion of the nursery and/or feeding potential for epibenthic species, including many commercial pleuronectid flatfishes, caused by the replacement of substratum by sandy sediment.Special Issue（東日本大震災特集