Japanese Papilio butterflies puddle using Na+ detected by contact chemosensilla in the proboscis

Many butterflies acquire nutrients from non-nectar sources such as puddles. To better understand how male Papilio butterflies identify suitable sites for puddling, we used behavioral and electrophysiological methods to examine the responses of Japanese Papilio butterflies to Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺. Based on behavioral analyses, these butterflies preferred a 10-mM Na⁺ solution to K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ solutions of the same concentration and among a tested range of 1?mM to 1?M NaCl. We also measured the ion concentrations of solutions sampled from puddling sites in the field. Na⁺ concentrations of the samples were up to 6?mM, slightly lower than that preferred by butterflies in the behavioral experiments. Butterflies that sipped the 10?mM Na⁺ solution from the experimental trays did not continue to puddle on the ground. Additionally, butterflies puddled at sites where the concentrations of K⁺, Ca²⁺, and/or Mg²⁺ were higher than that of Na⁺. This suggests that K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ do not interfere with the detection of Na⁺ by the Papilio butterfly. Using an electrophysiological method, tip recordings, receptor neurons in contact chemosensilla inside the proboscis evoked regularly firing impulses to 1, 10, and 100?mM NaCl solutions but not to CaCl₂ or MgCl₂. The dose?Cresponse patterns to the NaCl solutions were different among the neurons, which were classified into three types. These results showed that Japanese Papilio butterflies puddle using Na⁺ detected by the contact chemosensilla in the proboscis, which measure its concentration.     

Reality and risk of contact-type head injuries related to bicycle-mounted child seats

Objective

The authors have treated numerous children who have been injured by falling from bicycle-mounted child seats. Despite the greatly increased use of such seats, the understanding of their risk and the importance of helmet use remains alarmingly poor. The objective of this study was to confirm the risk of bicycle-mounted child seats and to evaluate the efficacy of helmets, seat belts, and back seat height in terms of preventing or mitigating contact-type head impacts that occur in falls from bicycle-mounted child seats.

Materials and methods

Biometrical dummy tests were performed to examine contact-type head injuries in falls from stationary bicycles. A bicycle with an anthropometric test dummy placed in a bicycle-mounted child seat was tipped over. Each test was repeated three times and three-dimensional acceleration was measured using accelerometer. Head Injury Criteria (HIC) were calculated and the respective influences of a helmet, a seat belt, and increased height of the back of the seat on such impacts were evaluated.

Results

Only helmets unequivocally lowered maximal acceleration and/or HIC values with statistical significance. The seat belt lowered HIC values as long as it was used with the high-back seat. Only when the dummy wore a helmet sitting in a high-back seat did the HIC show less than the threshold of 570 for three-year-old children. The HIC showed the lowest score of 161.5 when the dummy wore both a helmet and a seat belt sitting in a high-back seat.

Conclusions

Riders in bicycle-mounted child seats definitely have higher risks of contact-type head injuries. In transporting a child on a bicycle-mounted child seat, parents must use both a child-bicycle helmet and a high-back child seat at least; a seat belt is highly recommended as long as it is used with the other safety devices.

Impact on Industry

The bicycle-mounted child seat should have a high enough back and an appropriate seat belt to protect the head of the child from a contact-type injury.     

Removal of fluoride by effectively using spent cation exchange resin

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Spent strongly acidic cation exchange resin was effectively used for the removal of trace concentration of fluoride ions. For this purpose, the...     

The Monitoring of Insects to Maintain Biodiversity in Ogawa Fores Reserve

The results of a biodiversity monitoring program conducted in the Ogawa Forest Reserve and its vicinity, situated in a cool temperate region of Japan, identified three different patterns for species richness. Forests of the region are characterized by a mosaic of secondary deciduous stands of various ages scattered among plantations of conifers. The three different types of change in species richness observed in response to the stand age are as follows: Type I (butterflies, tube-renting bees and wasps, hoverflies, fruit flies, and longicorn beetles), the species diversity was highest in open areas, just after clear-cutting, decreasing with the stand age; Type II (mushrooms and mites associated with them), older stands showed greater diversity than younger stands; and, Type III (moths, oribatid mites, collembolas, carabid beetles, and ants), the number of species did not change greatly with the stand age, though ordination analysis revealed that there was variation in species compositions. These results indicate that combinations of stands of different ages, or heterogeneously arranged stands, can contribute to the maintenance of insect biodiversity at the landscape level.     

Tributyltin causes abnormal development in embryos of medaka, Oryzias latipes

We examined the effects of tributyltin (TBT) on embryonic development, hatching success and sexual differentiation in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Embryos (within 8h after fertilization) were exposed to TBT in ovo via nanoinjection at concentrations of 0 (control), 0.16, 0.80, 3.96, 19.2 and 82.1 ng/egg. Embryonic survival, development and hatching were observed. Hatched fry were reared until 60 days when they sexually matured, and sexual differentiation was also examined by accordance of genetic and phenotypic sex, based on existence of DMY (a male determining gene in medaka) and secondary sex characteristics. As results, TBT caused a concentration-dependent mortality and impaired the embryonic development. However, no masculinization was detected at 60 dph medaka adults. Lowest observed effective concentration for inducing abnormal embryonic development was estimated to 0.16 ng/egg (ca. 160 ng/g egg).     

Irrigation system and land use effect on surface water quality in river, at lake Dianchi, Yunnan, China

The surface water samples were collected in river Dahe and its tributaries, which flow into severely eutrophic lake Dianchi, Yunnan Province, China, in order to elucidate factors controlling water quality fluctuations. The temporal and spatial distribution of water quality tendency was observed. The water quality of each river is dependent on the hydrology effect such water gate and circulating irrigation system. We must consider the hydrology effect to accurately understand water quality variations of river in this study field. In river without highly circulating irrigation system or water gate effect, the downstream nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) concentration increase occurred in area dominated by open field cultivation, whereas the NO₃-N concentration was constant or decreased in area dominated by greenhouse land use. This result suggests that greenhouse covers the soil from precipitation, and nitrate load of greenhouse could be less than that of open field cultivation while the rainfall event. In the upper reaches of river, where is dominated by open field cultivation, there were no sharp increase dissolved molybdate reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus concentration, but P load was accumulated in the lower reaches of river, whose predominant land use is greenhouse. Although the P sources is unclear in this study, greenhouse area may have potential of P loads due to its high P content in greenhouse soil. Considering hydrology effect is necessary to determine what the major factor is influencing the water quality variation, especially in area with highly complicated irrigation system in this studying site.     

Gas reforming and tar decomposition performance of nickel oxide (NiO)/SBA-15 catalyst in gasification of woody biomass

In the gasification of biomass, it is necessary to limit the amount of by-product tar and increase the yields of hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) (syngas). Therefore, we conducted gasification and reforming experiments on woody biomass using an electric tubular furnace, to evaluate the gas reforming and tar decomposition performance of a NiO/SBA-15 catalyst. As a result, we found that this catalyst is effective for H₂ production. It is believed that the increase in H₂ volume due to the catalyst occurs through a steam reforming reaction involving hydrocarbons, including methane (CH₄), and the water-gas shift reaction. With respect to the influence of the gasifying agent on the reforming effect of the catalyst, the amount of generated carbon dioxide (CO₂) and hydrogen (H₂) increases because the shift reaction is promoted by supplying steam. On the other hand, it was inferred that the shift reaction rarely occurred because it approaches equilibrium by supplying O₂. Furthermore, it is suggested that light aromatic hydrocarbons are decomposed by the catalyst.

Implications: The mesoporous silica catalyst NiO/SBA-15 was highly effective for H₂ production and decomposition of light aromatic compounds in the gasification of woody biomass. In the catalyst reaction, supplying steam promoted H₂ production. From thermodynamic analysis and discussion, it was also inferred that supplying O₂ might prevent the water gas shift reaction. The results are useful for designing a process needed for rich H₂ production and gas refining process for further use of syngas.     

Identification of microbial populations contributing to nitrification-associated nitrous oxide emission during cattle manure composting process with forced aeration

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - This study was conducted to clarify the fates of whole nitrogen cycle-associated microorganisms during laboratory-scale composting of cattle manure...     

Overview on recent advances of magnetic metal–organic framework (MMOF) composites in removal of heavy metals from aqueous system

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Developing a novel, simple, and cost-effective analytical technique with high enrichment capacity and selectivity is crucial for environmental...     

Synthesis and characterizations of Zr(IV)-loaded orange waste for effective sequestration of Mo(VI) and W(VI) from water

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - An efficient and environmentally benign biosorbent for Mo(VI) and W(VI) sequestration was developed by loading Zr(IV) ions onto Saponified Orange...