Search

The Cancer Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (CEDAR) is a newly developed repository of cancer epitope data from peer-reviewed publications, which includes epitope-specific T cell, antibody, and MHC ligand assays. Here we focus on prostate cancer as our first cancer category to demonstrate the capabilities of CEDAR, and to shed light on the advances of epitope-related prostate cancer research. The meta -analysis focused on a subset of data describing epitopes from 8 prostate-specific (PS) antigens. A total of 460 epitopes were associated with these proteins, 187 T cell, 109B cell, and 271 MHC ligand epitopes. The number of epitopes was not correlated with the length of the protein; however, we found a significant positive correlation between the number of references per specific PS antigen and the number of reported epitopes. Forty-four different class I and 27 class II restrictions were found, with the most epitopes described for HLA-A*02:01 and HLA-DRB1*01:01. Cytokine assays were mostly limited to IFNg assays and a very limited number of tetramer assays were performed. Monoclonal and polyclonal B cell responses were balanced, with the highest number of epitopes studied in ELISA/Western blot assays. Additionally, epitopes were generically described as associated with prostate cancer, with little granularity specifying diseases state. We found that in vivo and tumor recognition assays were sparse, and the number of epitopes with annotated B/T cell receptor information were limited. Potential immunodominant regions were identified by the use of the ImmunomeBrowser tool. CEDAR provides a comprehensive repository of epitopes related to prostate-specific antigens. This inventory of epitope data with its wealth of searchable T cell, B cell and MHC ligand information provides a useful tool for the scientific community. At the same time, we identify significant knowledge gaps that could be addressed by experimental analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• H 2 , CH 4 -CO 2 and H 2 -CO atmospheres can increase tar yield and decrease char yield. • CO 2 reforming of CH 4 coupling with cedar pyrolysis greatly increased tar yield. • H 2 atmosphere can improve the quality of tar from cedar pyrolysis. • CO 2 atmosphere can increase the content of ketones in tar. • H 2 /CO atmosphere improves the content of phenolic compounds in pyrolysis tar. Pyrolysis, as an efficient route for biomass, usually suffers the influence of pyrolysis atmosphere by the interaction with free radicals from biomass pyrolysis. To investigate the effects of pyrolysis atmosphere on cedar pyrolysis, several atmospheres including CH 4 , H 2 , CO 2 , CO, CH 4 /CO 2 and H 2 /CO were used for CS pyrolysis on a fixed-bed reactor and the pyrolysis process was revealed based on products distribution, tar quality and compositions. The results show that the components in pyrolysis atmosphere apparently affect the distribution of pyrolysis products and play different roles in cedar pyrolysis. Tar yields under different atmospheres follow the order of H 2 /CO > H 2 > CH 4 /CO 2 > CO 2 > CO > N 2 > CH 4. The highest tar yield of 45.5 wt.% was obtained under H 2 /CO atmosphere at 600 °C. Char yield was decreased under H 2 by suppressing secondary reaction and followed the order of H 2 < H 2 /CO < CH 4 /CO 2 < N 2 < CO 2 < CO < CH 4. The content of ketones was improved under CO 2 atmosphere. The introduction of H 2 mainly increases naphthalenes, benzenes, ketones and phenols; while the formation of acids, esters, aldehydes and furans was inhibited under CO atmosphere. Integrated process of biomass pyrolysis with CO 2 reforming of CH 4 can greatly increase tar yield and change tar compositions, which is ascribed to the participation of H-rich free radicals from CO 2 reforming of CH 4. This work provides a route to improve the yield of pyrolysis tar and adjust tar components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DataCite is a leading non-profit organization that provides DOIs for research datasets and other research outputs – an active participant in the research community that promotes data sharing through different community-building efforts and outreach activities. DataCite is the coordinator leading the "Implementing FAIR Workflows" project that, along with ChronosHub, Dryad, CEDAR, California Digital Library, and Australia Research Data Commons as project partners, aim to develop an exemplar FAIR and Open Research workflow based on the reality of the research lifecycle. ChronosHub, as one of the project partners, acts as an intermediary to facilitate the information flow between the different stakeholders in the research ecosystem. By applying the FAIR principles from the inception of the research project, all the different entities of research information get related to each other, which in the case of Chronoshub, refers to the point of submission of a manuscript to the publisher. This paper discusses how the stakeholders in the research ecosystem can contribute with collaborative actions to build bridges and remove the huge amounts of administrative work that currently is needed for making research FAIR, specifically the data collection, structuring, and quality assurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts in the orography dominated mid-to-high elevation Himalaya have serious impact on the agrarian economy and biodiversity of the region. Temporally and spatially limited weather records from the Himalaya restrict our understanding on the socioeconomic impact of droughts in long-term perspective. In view of this, high-resolution proxies are required to develop long-term drought records from the data scarce Himalayan region. To fill this void, we developed February–May (FMAM) 4-month standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI4-May), a metric of drought, extending back to AD 1773 using ring-width chronology of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don) from Chakrata region of Garhwal, Uttarakhand, western Himalaya. The calibration model (1969–2016) captured 43% of the variance in the observed SPEI series. The SPEI reconstruction revealed high year-to-year and inter-decadal variation with 1774 (SPEI -3.11) and 1787 (SPEI +2.13) being the driest and the wettest years, respectively. The five year mean of reconstructed SPEI revealed droughts in 1818–1822, 1798–1802, 1813–1817, 1793–1797, 1958–1962 and pluvials in 1783–1787, 1838–1842, 1788–1792, 1933–1937, 1808–1812. A comparison of present SPEI reconstruction with other available tree-ring based precipitation and drought records from the western Himalayan region revealed synoptic scale features represented in our data. The findings underscore that a wide network of such large tree-ring based drought records from the data scarce Himalayan region should be very useful to understand the spatial distribution of droughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A warmer climate will increase aridity and threaten forest persistence in xeric areas. This is the case of some Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) forests showing recent growth decline, dieback and high mortality rates in North Africa. A lower resistance to drought, manifested as stronger growth loss, could increase the drought-related mortality risk in these forests as has been found for gymnosperms worldwide. It could be also expected that changes in dryness are linked to large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). We tested these hypotheses by analyzing growth resilience indices (resilience, recovery, resistance) derived from tree-ring data. We sampled nine Atlas cedar plots located in north-western Algeria, where climate shifted towards drier conditions in the 1980s. In these forests, drier winters, associated to positive NAO phases, constrained tree growth and resistance, two outputs of the drought impact. During dry years, the resilience index decreased as elevation increased. The association between cedar growth resistance and drought severity is strengthening: the drier the climate conditions, the lower the growth resistance. Resistance also showed a significant higher temporal variability in 8 out of 9 plots as drought intensified. These findings have allowed identifying the increase in the temporal variability of growth resistance as a new early-warning signal of drought stress. • Aridification threatens NW-Algerian Atlas cedar forests causing growth decline. • Drought-induced decline could be caused by a long-term loss in resistance or resilience. • Cedar growth and resistance were constrained by long, severe droughts. • The association between cedar resistance and drought is strengthening. • Neither resistance nor resilience declined but showed higher variability as climate dried. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptomeria fortunei is the indigenous evergreen coniferous timber species in southern China, valued for its superior wood quality, which frequently finds industrial applications. MiRNAs (microRNAs) can be involved in regulating various aspects of plant growth, and more and more studies have explored miRNAs related to growth and development, but among them, the ones on C. fortunei are relatively rare. In this study, we screened miRNAs that were differentially expressed during vascular cambium development, and chose miR159a and CfMYB37 as candidate genes for cloning and functional validation. The results showed that miR159a had CfMYB37 as a target gene and that there was a distinct negative regulatory relationship between miR159a and CfMYB37 in C. fortunei. 35 S::miR159a plants were taller than WT and had thicker stems than WT, and miR159a encouraged the growth of xylem cells and lignin. While 35 S::mCfMYB37 plants had the opposite phenotype to 35 S::miR159a plants, with considerably lower lignin content and xylem cell layer number compared to WT, 35 S::CfMYB37 plants lacked a distinctive phenotype. This suggests that the miR159- CfMYB37 module can control plant growth and xylem development. For the following investigation of C. fortunei 's growth and vascular cambium development as well as the enhancement of its wood qualities, this work serves as a crucial theoretical foundation. • Screening from transcriptome and miRNA sequencing data for differentially expressed miR159 and CfMYB37 in C. fortunei. • MiR159a and its target gene CfMYB37 were cloned from C. fortunei. • MiR159 negatively regulates the expression of CfMYB37 in different growth stages of C. fortunei. • CfMYB37 was nucleus localization proteins. • The miR159a-CfMYB37 module plays an important role in the development of xylem and regulates the synthesis of lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, pyrolysis kinetics of the pure and blends of cedar wood (CW), algal biomass (AB), and digested sludge (DS) with and without the catalyst ZSM–5 were examined. Both Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) model-free methods were used to calculate the total activation energy (E a), change in enthalpy (ΔH), and change in Gibb's free energy (ΔG) of 18 different biomass combinations. The highest E a (548.52 kJ/mol) and ΔH (532.22 kJ/mol) were found for the CW. The biomass blend of AB: CW at weight ratios of 2:1 with catalyst (2:1 catalyst to biomass weight ratio) resulted in the lowest E a (57.03 kJ/mol) and ΔH (50.11 kJ/mol) with a ΔG value of 243.25 kJ/mol. Statistically significant response surface models were developed to describe the effect of biomass blend composition on E a and ΔH. This study demonstrated that catalytic pyrolysis of biomass blends from different sources can be used to significantly reduce the energy requirement for the process. • First study on pyrolysis kinetics of cedarwood, microalgae, sludge and their blends. • Lowest activation energy was for catalytic pyrolysis of microalgae: cedarwood blend. • Models describing the effect of blend composition on E a and ΔH were developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional electrically conductive coatings applied to the field of connectors would cause electrical signal crosstalk or even short circuits due to their excellent electrical conductivity. Meanwhile, the traditional waterproof coatings were difficult to achieve excellent electrical conductivity due to their high contact resistance. Therefore, there was a long-standing contradiction between electrical conductivity and waterproofing in the field of connectors. Based on the conductive effect of electronic tunnel, a new design concept of electrically conductive and waterproof coating was proposed. An ultra-thin and highly cross-linked hydrophobic coating was manufactured onto a dense electrically conductive coating so as to create a bifunctional coating. Simultaneously, the hydrophobic coating was thin enough so that it did not destroy the conductive response of electronic tunnel. Concretely, the electrically conductive coating (polyaniline) was in-situ polymerized on the substrate by plasma initiation, and then another ultra-thin hydrophobic coating (polysiloxane) was also polymerized onto the initial conductive coating by a similar method. The contact conductivity of the bifunctional coating was up to 2.08 × 107S/m. The plasma firstly initiated the dissociation of reactive monomers, and then polymerization. Consequently, these two monomers with different polarity (aniline and hexamethyldisiloxane) can sequentially polymerize to form a dense coating. Importantly, the interface between the conductive coating and hydrophobic coating were connected by chemical bond without delamination failure. Interestingly, the surface of the bifunctional coating exhibited a protrusion like structure of cedar leaves, resulting in the water contact angle to reach 133.3°. This work provided clear guidance and a strong impetus for the development of contact electrical conductivity and waterproofness for the connector field. • An ultra-thin and highly cross-linked hydrophobic coating was manufactured. • The bifunctional coating had a protrusion structure of cedar leaves-like. • The bifunctional coating can perfectly protect the Cu-substrates in a 30-day corrosion test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On railway lines in mountainous areas, wheel slip and wheel slide frequently occurr due to a decrease in adhesion coefficient caused by fallen leaves in wet conditions. One of the countermeasure is tree felling, and knowing which tree species significantly reduce the adhesion coefficient is helpful in determining the order of priority for felling. In this study, the tangential force coefficient, which is strongly correlated with the adhesion coefficient and the maximum tangential force coefficient is generally defined as the adhesion coefficient, was quantitatively assessed for fallen leaves of five tree species using a rolling-slip friction measurement machine. The experimental results showed that the tangential force coefficients in order of lowest to highest belong to ginkgo, cedar, cherry, maple, and zelkova in wet conditons. This experiment identified which tree species are more slippery and have a high priority for felling. • Adhesion coefficient decreases when leaves are interposed between wheel and rail. • Adhesion coefficient is about 0.225 and 0.053 in dry and wet conditions, respectively. • Adhesion coefficient is about 65% lower than no leaves in dry conditions. • Adhesion coefficient is about 75% lower than no leaves in wet conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Northern white-cedar seedlings have faster height, diameter and branch growth under 50% sun than under full sun conditions. • Northern white-cedar seedlings can show apparent aboveground compensatory growth following low to moderate severity browsing. • Large northern white-cedar seedlings have the potential to be recruited above white-tailed deer reach even if they are browsed. The impacts of ungulate browsing on forested ecosystems largely stem from events happening at the plant scale, and plant-level responses to browsing vary according to factors including light environment and browsing intensity, frequency, and timing. Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis), a slow-growing, shade tolerant, and highly browse-selected species, is experiencing regeneration problems in large part due to heavy browsing pressure by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Although survival and recovery following browsing are essential for cedar recruitment, we know little about the reactions of individual cedar plants to browsing. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of browsing, as emulated by clipping, on cedar height, diameter, and branch growth. We applied combinations of shading (full sun or 50% sun) and clipping timing (early growth or dormancy), intensity (apex or 50% previous year's growth), and frequency (one or two years) to planted cedar seedlings. Partially shaded trees had systematically faster height, diameter and branch growth than trees in full sun. Clipping timing had no effect on height or branch growth but growing season clipping negatively affected diameter growth. Clipping frequency had no detectable effect on cedar growth. We observed aboveground growth compensation except under high clipping intensity. We confirm the expected browse tolerance of cedar and its high recovery potential following low to moderate browsing pressure. We underline that higher clipping intensities or longer-term browsing pressure than those we tested, which can be expected in areas with heavy, sustained browsing pressure, could negatively impact cedar's recovery potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Primary particles of delignification were assumed to be tracheid cell wall of wood. • Organosolv delignification proceeded from outside to inside of cell wall of wood. • The unreacted-core model was applied to the kinetic analysis of delignification. • The rate-determining step was indicated to be diffusion through cellulose layer. • The calculated diffusion coefficient was enough low to limit delignification rate. Abstract A kinetic study of the delignification of cedar wood during organosolv treatment using 1-butanol was conducted. The results revealed that the primary particles in the delignification were not wood chips, but the tracheid cell wall in the wood structure. In addition, the delignification proceeded from the lumen of the tracheid cell wall into the middle lamella, which suggests that the kinetic situation was similar to that in the unreacted-core model. The amount of delignification increased with reaction time, although the cellulose remained a solid with mesopores. These results indicate that delignification should proceed to produce pure cellulose layers. Therefore, delignification was analyzed using the unreacted-core model, which revealed that the rate-determining step was the diffusion of dissolved lignin molecules within the cellulose layer. The mesopore and lignin particle size were approximately 3–10 nm and 2.7–5.4 nm, respectively. This size relation predicted that the diffusion rate would be very low, which supported the result from the unreacted-core model analyses. Finally, the effective diffusion coefficient was calculated from unreacted-core model equations, and produced a value of 4.09 × 10−19 m2 s−1, which was low and indicated that diffusion of the lignin molecules within the cellulose layer was the rate-determining step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There are some cases of PFAS in mountain cedar pollen hypersensitivity. • Our results indicate that IgE directed to mountain cedar pollen is cross-reacting to fruits. • The causative allergens of tomato PFAS among mountain cedar hypersensitivity are Jun a 2 and PG2 A. • Sensitivity to tomato, banana and apple should be considered in cedar-sensitive patients. Mountain cedar pollen is recognized as a major cause of seasonal hypersensitivity in the US. We describe here that a subgroup of these patients also suffer from pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS). We performed this study to determine the frequency of PFAS among patients with mountain cedar hypersensitivity. We performed mail-out/telephone surveys of 800 mountain cedar-sensitive patients in Austin, TX. The subjects for this survey were selected by telephone screening, and skin and serologic testing. We performed immunoblot inhibition assay and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify the allergens that cause PFAS. Of the 28 patients with suspected food allergies, 15 had clinical manifestations of PFAS. Eleven of them had positive skin tests to tomato, six to banana, and one to apple. The subjects with PFAS have stronger cutaneous and in vitro reactivity to cedar pollen. The intensities of the tomato and banana reactivity were correlated with the cedar reactivity. The results of the ImmunoCAP inhibition experiments demonstrated a strong cross-reactivity between IgE antibodies to cedar pollen and fruits. This suggested that their primary sensitization was to cedar pollen, since absorption with cedar pollen extract strongly inhibited reactivity to each of the fruits, while the absorption with tomato extract did not significantly inhibit IgE binding to cedar extract. We determined that polygalacturonase 2 A (PG2 A) in tomato is the cause of PFAS. This is the first report of a PFAS in patients with mountain cedar pollinosis. Sensitivity to tomato, banana, and apple should be considered in cedar-sensitive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most abundant renewable energy source, wood comprises the secondary cell wall (SCW). SCW biosynthesis involves lignin and cellulose deposition. Increasing studies have illustrated that R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs) play pivotal roles in affecting lignin accumulation and SCW formation. Nevertheless, the regulatory roles of R2R3-MYBs are still unresolved in Cryptomeria fortunei Hooibrenk cambium and wood formation. To dissect the potentials of CfMYBs , we successfully cloned and intensively studied the functions of CfMYB4 and CfMYB5 in SCW formation and abiotic stress response. They both contained the conserved MYB domain capable of forming a special structure that could bind to the core motifs of downstream genes. The phylogenetic tree implied that two CfMYBs clustered into different evolutionary branches. They were predominantly expressed in the stem and were localized to the nucleus. Furthermore, CfMYB4 functioned as an activator to enhance lignin and cellulose accumulation, and increase the SCW thickness by elevating the expression levels of SCW-related genes. By contrast, CfMYB5 negatively regulated lignin and cellulose biosynthesis, and decreased SCW formation by reducing the expression of SCW biosynthetic genes. Our data not only highlight the regulatory functions of CfMYBs in lignin deposition but also provide critical insights into the development of strategies for the genetic improvement of Cryptomeria fortunei wood biomass. • According to previous study, we successfully isolated CfMYB4 and CfMYB5 from Chinese cedar vascular cambium. • CfMYB4 and CfMYB5 are localized in the nucleus. • CfMYB4 functions as a transcriptional activator to enhance lignin biosynthesis and cell wall thickness. • CfMYB5 negatively regulates the lignin biosynthesis and secondary xylem formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Development of the symptoms of mountain cedar pollen hypersensitivity is associated with an increase in specific IgE and IgG antibodies, relative to the non-sensitive, but atopic group. • Allergen specific IgG produced after immunotherapy, predominantly recognizes conformational epitopes. • The epitope-specificity of IgE and IgG may provide clues to the anatomical sites and the mechanisms of production of these immunoglobulins. Abstract Most studies of the immune responses in allergic rhinitis have focused on IgE antibodies to mixtures of allergenic proteins. Based on our previous studies of the major mountain cedar allergen Jun a 1, we sought to describe a broader assessment of the humoral immune responses to a single, dominant allergen, in three groups of allergic subjects, all of whom had similarly exposures to the whole cedar pollen. The major outcomes of this study was that, with the onset of allergic rhinitis symptoms, and after treatment with immunotherapy, serum IgE and IgG (but not IgA) antibodies to Jun a 1 increased. Interestingly, both IgE and IgG4 antibodies to the Jun a 1 allergen were strongly focused on its conformation epitopes. These IgG antibodies to conformationalstructures may be a useful marker of the therapeutic response to immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retention forestry is replacing clear-cutting as the dominant silvicultural practice in many parts of the world. Higher retention levels are thought to promote faster, more complete ecological recovery after logging, but this hypothesis is insufficiently tested. We compared plant community dynamics in 0%, 40% and 70% retention stands to unharvested stands for 24 years after logging at the Date Creek Research Forest near Kispiox, BC, Canada. The study has a before-after control-impact experimental design with four replicates of each treatment. For terricolous understory plants, we used the similarity of cover, species richness and composition to pre-harvest and unharvested conditions as indicators of ecological integrity. Changes in cover, richness and composition were greatest at 0% retention. For nonvascular plants, changes were generally intermediate at 40% retention and smallest at 70% retention, and recovery increased with retention. The dominant moss Hylocomium splendens responded negatively to harvest in proportion to retention level, while most other species responded positively, shifting community composition. Most vascular plants responded positively to harvest, especially at 0% retention, with the exception of two late seral species, Platanthera orbiculata and Oplopanax horridus . Generally, understory communities in these largely unfragmented northern cedar-hemlock forests displayed less sensitivity to low retention levels than studies conducted elsewhere. For some vascular plant indicators, changes at 70% retention were equal to or greater than those at 40%. Thus, most -but not all- vegetation responses supported the hypothesis that higher retention enhances ecological recovery after logging. The non-linear results were apparently driven by suppression of understory conifer growth in small gaps at 70% retention and illustrate that evaluating ecological integrity strictly in terms of departure from an un-impacted benchmark system risks oversimplifying complex forest dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial patterns of atmospherically deposited radiocesium on the forest floor and the temporal evolution were measured in two Japanese cedar stands and a secondary mixed broad-leaved forest in the early phase of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. In situ measurements of the 137 Cs gamma count were made using a portable germanium gamma ray detector. These measurements revealed that the forest floors were contaminated with radionuclides derived from the accident. In the cedar stands, the inter-canopy area had higher 137 Cs count rate relative to the under-canopy area, whereas no clear relationship was found between the radiocesium pattern and canopy cover in the mixed broad-leaved forest. Repeated radiocesium measurements revealed that the spatial pattern of radiocesium activity on the forest floor did not substantially change following additional deposition inputs. Furthermore, the magnitude of canopy cover partially explained spatial variability of the 137 Cs on the forest floor in cedar stands. These results suggest that canopy structure affected the genesis of the horizontal variability of atmospherically deposited radiocesium on the forest floor during the early phase of the Fukushima accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughfall ( TF ) is a critical component of the hydrological and biogeochemical cycles and is greatly influenced by stand structures in forested watersheds. Previous studies have examined the relationships between TF and stand structures for different species and regions. However, there remains acknowledged difficulty in estimation of TF with changing stand structures due to forest management (e.g., thinning) for specific species and regions. This study conducted intensive thinning with 43–50% stem removal at seven experimental plots with various structures (e.g., stand density, canopy cover and basal area) across Japan that were covered by Japanese cypress ( Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) and cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) plantations. TF was measured by a set of 20 tipping-bucket rain gauges placed in a lattice-like pattern within the plots before and after thinning. Results showed that during the study periods, thinning caused an increase in the mean TF rate from 63.2 ± 7.0% to 75.4 ± 6.0%. The TF rate was significantly negatively correlated with stand density, canopy cover, and basal area on a stand scale. Additionally, the slope ( a TF ) of event-based linear TF - P g (gross rainfall) equation was significantly higher in post-thinning (0.782 ± 0.077) than that in pre-thinning (0.663 ± 0.078), whereas it’s intercept ( b TF ) showed no significant difference (−0.707 ± 0.810 mm in pre-thinning and −0.441 ± 0.607 mm in post-thinning). The a TF significantly decreased with increasing stand density and canopy cover, whereas the b TF was not significantly correlated with any forest-structure variables. Further, the TF rate and a TF were estimated, respectively, by their related stand-structural variables in multiple regression models with high determination coefficients and moderate relative errors. The b TF was assumed to be a constant and its mean value obtained from all the experimental plots in each (pre- and post-thinning) period. Thus, the models of stand-scale TF rate and event-based TF amount were developed with input of commonly forest inventories. These models were validated by using the dataset of this study and earlier publications for Japanese cedar and cypress plantations, and showed good fit between the estimated and measured values. These models are practical tools that can be readily used for assessing the changes in TF with changing stand structures at both stand and event-based scales, and have also potential implications in evaluating the spatial TF patterns at catchment scale and exploiting similar models in other species and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Historical deer abundance limits cedar sapling recruitment at the landscape scale. • Proximity to deer overwintering areas limits sapling recruitment. • Accurate browsing and regeneration data are needed in national forest surveys. • This would help forest managers to limit browsing-induced regeneration failures. By selectively feeding on the new vegetation from forest regeneration, cervids influence the abundance of understory species. This can lead to recruitment failure for the consumed species. The impact of cervids on regeneration is generally studied at fine scales, making it difficult to generalize about the species distribution scale for co-occurring cervid and tree species. This is especially problematic for species such as northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.), which is susceptible to browsing and has been declining throughout much of its range. In our study, we aimed to determine the effect of the spatio-temporal variations in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman) abundance on northern white cedar recruitment over a broad spatial scale. We combined distinct forest and wildlife monitoring databases for two Canadian provinces, Québec and New Brunswick. We also surveyed cedar regeneration and deer browsing pressure in a subset of plots located in Québec. In both provinces, we detected a negative effect of deer abundance and deeryard proximity on the recruitment of cedar saplings. In Québec, local deer browsing pressure also had a negative effect on cedar seedling abundance. As deer browsing pressure can vary considerably over a short distance, we recommend the inclusion of browsing indicators in national forest surveys to precisely assess the impact of browsing on regeneration and recruitment. This would allow managers to identify areas that are highly vulnerable to browsing and adapt forest management accordingly to reduce browsing-induced regeneration failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was performed to screen the α-amylase inhibitor in the essential oil from Cedrus deodara cones. For this purpose, a fast and efficient method based on GC–MS and molecular docking was established for identification chemical compositions and prediction their activity in the essential oil with the potential α-amylase inhibitory activity. A total of 28 compounds were identified from the essential oil through GC–MS, which were individually docked with α-amylase as the target through molecular docking. Longipinene with the lowest binding energy of −5.93 kcal/mol was completely enfolded in the active site of α-amylase, which indicated that longipinene possessed the potential α-amylase inhibitory activity. The experimental verification exhibited that longipinene with an IC 50 value of 34.47 ± 0.54 μg/mL, indicating that it is the active ingredient responsible for the activity of this essential oil. The result revealed that the present strategy can facilely screen the active compounds from the complex natural plant extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts in semi-arid and arid regions of the northwest Himalaya are very common causing distress to socioeconomic systems. Our understanding on natural variability in droughts in the northwest Himalaya in long-term perspective is limited largely due to paucity of observational and high-resolution proxy records. We developed a 275-years (A.D. 1740–2014) long Standardized Precipitation Index (eight months SPI of May, SPI8-May) reconstruction using ring-width chronology of Himalayan cedar ( Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don) from Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir in the northwest Himalaya, India. The most conspicuous feature of reconstruction is pluvial 1950s, 1990s and dry 1970s. The wettest phase of 1990s is followed by a distinct drying since 2000s in Kishtwar. The reconstructed SPI8-May series showed very good consistency with tree–ring-based upper Indus basin discharge and gridded summer (June–July–August) PDSI data of the northwest Himalaya–Karakoram region. Such a consistency in SPI8-May, Indus discharge and summer PDSI in westerly dominated region of the Himalaya–Karakoram region underscores potential utility of SPI reconstructions in understanding climate change over the region in long-term perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have reported differences in collembolan community structure between coniferous plantations and deciduous forests. The reasons for the differences include both soil characteristics and the site environment other than soil. We compared the importance of soil effects on collembolan community structure in coniferous (Japanese cedar) plantation and deciduous forest sites by transferring soil monoliths among them. The soil monoliths included the litter layer, and they were incubated in the field fresh or after defaunation by freezing. They were collected 1 week, 1 month, 10 months, and 13 months after setting. The significant effects of the ‘site type’ factor on species composition were observed. Effects of the ‘soil type’ factor on species composition were also observed during the early phase of the experiment. However, only a small portion of the variation in the species composition among monoliths could be explained by the ‘soil type’ factor. An analysis of species traits revealed that species with spherical body forms were associated with both the sites and soil of cedar plantations ( Megalothorax minimus and Neelides minutus ) and that species with simple post-antennal organs were associated with both the site and soil of broad-leaved forests ( Folsomina onychiurina, Folsomia octoculata, and Dagamaea morei ). The percentage of species that preferred the site and soil of broad-leaved forests was significantly lower than the percentage that preferred the sites and soil of cedar plantations. These results suggested that the importance of the ‘soil type’ factor changed depending on the species composition between cedar plantations and broad-leaved forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial adhesion of microorganisms on a substrate is a significant step for biofilm formation. In this work, the contact angle measurement method was used to investigate the effect of three Myrtus communis extractives on the physicochemical properties of cedar wood surface. Indeed, hydrophobicity, electron donor ( γ − ) electron acceptor ( γ + ) parameters and surface tension components (ΔGiwi) of untreated and treated wood were assessed. The results indicated that all extractives tested decreased the hydrophobic parameter and made the cedar wood surface more donor electron. Moreover, the theoretical prediction and the experimental assay of Thielavia hyalocarpa adhesion on untreated and treated substrates were also investigated. According to the values of total free energy of interaction ( Δ G Tot ) , the adhesion of the fungal strain studied on wood was found favorable. However, the treatments made the adhesion conditions unfavorable. Likewise, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) showed a decrease in cell adhesion with treatment, indicating the highest anti-adherence activity of methanol fraction. Furthermore, a linear relationship between theoretical prediction and experimentally determined adhesion has been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afforestation results in changes of vegetation and soil properties, which in turn could affect the soil bacteria that play critical roles in the biogeochemical cycles in forest ecosystems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to elucidate the impacts of afforestation on soil bacterial communities. Using the barcoded pyrosequencing technique, the phylogenetic structure and diversity of the soil bacterial communities in moso bamboo and Japanese cedar plantations were compared with that of an adjacent natural hardwood forest. A total of 43,097 bacterial pyrosequences were obtained from soil samples. The majority of these sequences were classified as either Acidobacteria or α- Proteobacteria , but the relative abundance of Acidobacteria in bamboo soils was much lower than that in the other two communities. The sequences related to the α- Proteobacteria were dominated by the orders Rhizobiales and Rhodospirillales and were more abundant in the bamboo community. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis of the operational taxonomy units (OTUs) and the distribution of some of the most abundant OTUs revealed distinct bacterial community structures among the three sites. These differences were correlated to soil acidity and C/N ratio, with soil acidity affecting the distribution of Acidobacteria , Actinobacteria , α- and β- Proteobacteria . Based on Shannon diversity indices and richness and rarefaction analyses, the diversity of soil communities decreased in the order bamboo plantation > cedar plantation > hardwood forest. These findings suggest that afforestation and subsequent management of a natural hardwood forest causes differences in soil bacterial community structure and increases in diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fab fragments (Fabs) of antibodies having the ability only to bind to specific allergens lack effector functions due to the absence of the Fc portion. In the present study, we examined whether IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) Fabs targeting Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) Cry j 1 were able to regulate JCP-induced allergic conjunctivitis in mice. BALB/c mice actively sensitized with JCP were repeatedly challenged by topical administration of JCP eye drops. Fabs prepared by the digestion of anti-JCP IgG1 mAbs (P1-3 and P1-8) with papain were applied to the eye 15 min before the JCP challenges followed by measurement of the clinical conjunctivitis score. In the in vitro experiments, P1-3 and P1-8 showed specific binding to JCP Cry j 1. Furthermore, intact P1-3 binding to Cry j 1 was inhibited by P1-3 Fabs, but not P1-8 Fabs; additionally, P1-8 Fabs, but not P1-3 Fabs, suppressed the intact P1-8 binding, suggesting that the epitopes of Cry j 1 recognized by P1-3 and P1-8 were different. Topical ocular treatment with P1-3 Fabs or P1-8 Fabs was followed by marked suppression of JCP-induced conjunctivitis (P<0.01). In histological evaluation, P1-8 Fabs showed a reduction in eosinophil infiltration in the conjunctiva (P<0.01). These results demonstrated that topical ocular treatment with IgG1 mAb Fabs to Cry j 1 was effective in suppressing JCP-induced allergic conjunctivitis in mice. Furthermore, it suggests the possibility that some epitopes recognized by Fabs could be used as a tool to regulate allergic conjunctivitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the transfer of canopy-intercepted radiocesium to the forest floor following the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The 137 Cs content of throughfall, stemflow, and litterfall were monitored in two coniferous stands (plantations of Japanese cedar) and a deciduous mixed broad-leaved forest stand (oak with red pine) from July 2011 to December 2012. The forest floor of cedar stands had received higher levels of additional 137 Cs deposition compared with the mixed broad-leaved stand during the sampling period. The cumulative 137 Cs deposition during the study period was 119 kBq m −2 for the mature cedar stand, 105 kBq m −2 for the young cedar stand, and 41.5 kBq m −2 for the broad-leaved stand. The deposition of 137 Cs to the forest floor occurred mainly in throughfall during the first rainy season, from July to September 2011 (<200 d after the initial fallout); thereafter, the transfer of 137 Cs from the canopy to forest floor occurred mainly through litterfall. A double exponential field-loss model, which was used to simulate the removal of 137 Cs from canopies, was the best fit for the temporal changes in the canopy 137 Cs inventory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, with the outstanding performance of the transformer in NLP, approaches that employ the transformer to address vision problem is becoming a research focus. However, transformer-based research rarely focuses on signature verification. To fill this gap, this paper proposes a two-channel and two-stream transformer approach (2C2S) to cope with the signature verification problem. 2C2S is composed of original and central streams. The original stream receives the original signature pair as input, and the central stream receives the signature pair generated by cropping the central at the original pair as input. In order to establish the associations among feature channels, a squeeze-and-excitation operation is applied between two standard Swin Transformer blocks. Moreover, an up-sampling enhancement module directly steers the model to focus on useful information. The verification accuracy of 2C2S on SUES-SiG and several publically available datasets: CEDAR, BHSig-B, and BHSig-H, reaches 93.25%, 90.68%, 100%, and 72.22%, respectively. Extensive experiments illustrate that the proposed framework is competitive with the existing techniques for offline handwritten signature verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Similar total stand volumes were found in 20-year-old mixtures and pure stands of western redcedar and red alder. • Soil N increased with increasing red alder proportion with increases in exchangeable cations (K, Ca, and Mg) and C in the soil under pure red alder. • Western redcedar height and diameter growth were found to surpassed alder growth performance in the last 7 years. A replacement series designed trial containing mixed and pure stands of western redcedar and red alder (cedar: alder; 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 0:100) was monitored over a 20-year period. Tree and stand growth performance across the pure and mixed species treatments were inconclusive. Inherent site variation in soils and microclimate resulted in a range of survival and productivity responses. After twenty years since planting, total stand volumes were similar across the treatments, ranging between 145 and 165 m3/ha. Average cedar height and diameter growth performance surpassed alder growth performance in the last 7 years. Soil C, N and exchangeable cations (K, Ca, and Mg) trended towards greater accumulation with increasing red alder proportion. These observations indicate cedar in combination with alder may further benefit from enhanced soil fertility over the next decades as stands continue to develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variation of reaction heat of cedar wood pyrolysis with the variation of product distribution was estimated by means of heat balance calculation. For estimating the reaction heat of pyrolysis, heat balance was calculated with heating values of gas products, oil and char. Heating values of char and oil, except for gas product, were estimated with an estimation equation using only elemental composition of the products. The above heat balance indicated that the reaction heat of pyrolysis distributed in a wide range from − 0.5 to 1.5 MJ/kg with the variation of product yields. The thermal decomposition of char and oil vapor to permanent gas during pyrolysis contributes to the endothermicity of reaction heat, while the production of the oil vapor from cedar pyrolysis contributes to the exothermicity of reaction heat. The gas composition also affects reaction heat distribution. Decrease in CO yield results in exothermicity of reaction heat. Increase in CH 4 contributes to exothermicity of reaction heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock outcrop ecosystems, such as limestone cedar glades (LCGs), are known for their rare and endemic plant species adapted to high levels of abiotic stress. Soils in LCGs are thin (< 25 cm), soil-moisture conditions fluctuate seasonally between xeric and saturated, and summer soil temperatures commonly exceed 48 °C. The effects of these stressors on soil microbial communities (SMC) remain largely unstudied, despite the importance of SMC-plant interactions in regulating the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. SMC profiles and functional diversity were characterized in LCGs using community level physiological profiling (CLPP) and plate-dilution frequency assays (PDFA). Most-probable number (MPN) estimates and microbial substrate-utilization diversity (H) were positively related to soil thickness, soil organic matter (OM), soil water content, and vegetation density, and were diminished in alkaline soil relative to circumneutral soil. Soil nitrate showed no relationship to SMCs, suggesting lack of N-limitation. Canonical correlation analysis indicated strong correlations between microbial CLPP patterns and several physical and chemical properties of soil, primarily temperature at the ground surface and at 4-cm depth, and secondarily soil-water content, enabling differentiation by season. Thus, it was demonstrated that several well-described abiotic determinants of plant community structure in this ecosystem are also reflected in SMC profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One undescribed C 40 terpenoid, calomacroquinoic acid; four undescribed diterpenes, 5α,6α-epoxy-7α-hydroxyferruginol, 15-ethoxysugiol, 7-methoxy-6,7-secoabieta-8,11,13-triene-6,12-diol, and ethyl 7,8-secoabieta-11,14-dioxo-7-ate; two compounds isolated from Nature for the first time, 6β,7α-dihydroxyferruginol and 12-O-methyltaxochinon; and six known compounds were successfully identified from the bark of Taiwan incense cedar Calocedrus formosana. Structures of all isolates were elucidated by physical data (appearance, ultraviolet, infrared, specific rotation, and X-ray) and spectroscopic data (1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution electron ionization mass spectrometry). The biosynthetic pathway of calomacroquinoic acid is also described in the current study. Nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglia cells was inhibited by 6,7-dehydroferruginol, 7α,11-dihydroxy-12-methoxy-8,11,13-abietriene, and trans-communic acid. Altogether, the bark of C. formosana possessed several potential natural therapeutics against inflammation-related neuronal diseases. [Display omitted] • Seven undescribed and six known compounds were isolated from C. formosana. • The absolute configuration of calomacroquinoic acid was elucidated by X-ray crystallographic data. • Calomacroquinoic acid is a rare tetraterpene combined a sesquiterpene with a sesterterpene. • The proposed biosynthetic pathway of calomacroquinoic acid was also described. • Three compounds showed anti-neuroinflammatory properties in BV-2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently described a dominant role for conformational epitopes on the group 1 allergen of the mountain cedar ( Juniperus ashei , Cupressaceae), Jun a 1, in pollen hypersensitivity in South Central U.S.A. Since these epitopes are surface exposed and are likely to be flexible, they may be susceptible to molecular or physical perturbations. This may make Jun a 1 a potential target for new forms of therapy for cedar pollinosis. Here, we describe a mouse monoclonal antibody, termed E58, which binds to the group 1 allergens of the cedar pollens from three highly populated regions of the world (central U.S.A., France and Japan). Upon binding to these allergens, E58 strongly reduces the binding of patient’s IgE antibodies to these dominant allergens. This characteristic of E58, and potentially other similar antibodies, suggests an opportunity to develop preventative or therapeutic agents that may inhibit cedar pollen sensitization or prevent their allergic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood is an irreplaceable material used as decorative and structural element both indoors and outdoors. When used as a structural material, wood has several superior characteristics in comparison to other structural constituents, although it is adversely affected by fires as well as biotic pests and abiotic effects. In this study, cedar ( Cedrus libani A. Rich.) wood samples were impregnated using either Tanalith-E or Wolmanit-CB as detailed in ASTM-D 1413-76 and surface-treated using water-based or synthetic varnish. The impregnated and varnished samples were left outdoors with the aim of investigating the effect of seasonal changes. The samples were later subjected to combustion analysis as detailed in the combustion test standard ASTM-E 160-50. The results of the study indicated that the weight loss was lower during winter (87.82%), for samples that were impregnated using Wolmanit-CB (88.90%) and those that were treated with synthetic varnish (88.45%). On the other hand the O 2 and CO 2 contents were determined to be the highest in fall during combustion without flame (18.16% and 17.96%, respectively); the CO content was the highest during combustion without flame for the winter samples (28,907 ppm) and the NO content was the highest during combustion without flame for the spring samples (76.15 ppm). In conclusion, the winter samples that were impregnated using Wolmanit-CB and treated with synthetic varnish were determined to be safer to employ in areas with high fire risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of a rapid increase in atmospheric radiocarbon ( 14 C) content in AD 774–775 was presented by Miyake et al. (2012), who observed an increase of about 12‰ in the 14 C content in annual tree rings from Japanese cedar. Usoskin et al. (2013) report a similar 14 C spike in German oak, and attribute it to exceptional solar activity. If this phenomenon is global in character, such rapid changes in 14 C concentration may affect the accuracy of calibrated dates, as the existing calibration curve is composed mainly of decadal samples. Single-year samples of dendro-chronologically dated tree rings of deciduous oak ( Quercus robur ) from Kujawy, a village near Krakow (SE Poland), spanning the years AD 765–796, were collected and their 14 C content was measured using the AMS system in the Leibniz Laboratory. The results clearly show a rapid increase of 9.2 ± 2.1‰ in the 14 C concentration in tree rings between AD 774 and AD 775, with maximum Δ 14 C = 4.1 ± 2.3‰ noted in AD 776. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese cedar is one of the most abundant plantation softwoods in Japan, although it is not effectively utilized as a wood resource. Japanese cedar cellulose was isolated and subjected to one-pot catalytic oxidation and reduction with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and NaBH 4 , respectively. The TEMPO-oxidized and NaBH 4 -reduced Japanese cedar celluloses (TOCs-NaBH 4 ) had carboxylate content of up to 1.4 mmol/g and viscosity-average degrees of polymerization from 2000 to 3000. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the TOCs-NaBH 4 showed that the crystal widths were ~ 3 nm, indicating that the C6-OH groups present on the crystalline cellulose microfibril surfaces were selectively oxidized to C6-carboxylate groups. When the TOCs-NaBH 4 with carboxylate content of 0.9–1.4 mmol/g were mechanically disintegrated in water, transparent TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibril (TOCN) dispersions were obtained. The lengths of the TOCNs, determined from their atomic force microscopy images, varied from 800 to 1500 nm, depending on the oxidation conditions. The TOCNs prepared from Japanese cedar cellulose have an average of high aspect ratios (> 300), which is greater than that (~ 150) prepared from wood pulp and thus advantageous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R2R3-MYB, the largest subfamily in MYB transcription factor (TF), plays a crucial role in regulating numerous aspects of growth and development of plants. Whereas, a comprehensive identification and characterization of R2R3-MYBs have not been elucidated in Cryptomeria fortunei Hooibrenk. C. fortunei is the indigenous evergreen coniferous timber species in southern China. Here, we aimed to understand the functional roles of CfMYBs during lignin biosynthesis. Therefore, we conducted systematic transcriptome-wide mining to explore biological functions and expression profiles of CfMYBs. A total of 35 CfMYBs were screened from transcriptome data, which could further be subdivided into 16 groups through phylogenetic analysis. Besides, they all shared a highly conserved R2R3 domain that could form helix-turn-helix (HTH) structure. The expression patterns revealed that CfMYBs participated in various biological processes. Moreover, the interaction network suggested that CfMYBs regulated many metabolic pathways as upstream regulatory switches. Further verification uncovered that CfMYB25 and CfMYB13 were nucleus localization proteins. CfMYB25 , a transcriptional repressor, negatively regulated the lignin deposition and secondary cell wall (SCW) formation. These results provide new insights into the functional verification of CfMYBs and lay a foundation for understanding their regulatory roles in lignin biosynthesis. • A total of 35 R2R3-CfMYB TFs were identified from the transcriptome data of C. fortunei vascular cambium. • These R2R3-CfMYB TFs were clustered into diverse evolutionary branches, including the "Regulation of secondary cell wall". • Most R2R3-CfMYBs were highly expressed in stages B and D. • CfMYB25 and CfMYB13 were nucleus localization proteins. • CfMYB25 , a transcriptional repressor, negatively regulated the lignin biosynthesis and secondary cell wall formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the conservation of white cedar ( Tecomella undulata ) are of worthwhile because of its potential advantages of various secondary metabolites, therapeutic usages combined with its endangered status. The present study was undertaken to investigate high efficiency regeneration system through encapsulated nodal segments of T. undulata excised from mature tissues. Highest regrowth and regeneration efficiency was achieved when the gelling matrix (3% sodium alginate in Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) basal medium) was supplied with 2.5 μM BA (6-benzyladenine) + 0.5 μM IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) followed by their plantation on to the nutrient medium composed of MS + 10.0 μM BA with the production of 6.50 ± 0.28 shoots/encapsulated nodal segment. The excised shoots were subjected to ex vitro rooting by exposing their cut ends to two different ethylene inhibitors [salicylic acid (2-hydroxybenzoic acid) and silver nitrate (AgNO 3 )] for 15 min followed by their transfer to different potting substrates. Soilrite™ and vermi-compost potting substrates proved equally better for healthy root formation directly, under greenhouse conditions. Multiple shoot formation from a single encapsulated bead along with ex vitro rooting and direct acclimatization under greenhouse conditions supports this protocol to be more efficient, cost effective and less time consuming coupled with clonal propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water availability is one of the main concerns for future developmental and economic activities in semi-arid to arid western Himalaya. However, the water supply potential of Himalayan rivers, essential for residents living along rivers, is not well understood in long-term perspective largely due to the scarcity of observational data. To fill this void, we developed Satluj river flow reconstruction for October to current year June (OJ) extending back to AD 1660. We used a network of ring-width chronologies of Himalayan cedar ( Cedrus deodara ) from seven moisture stressed, homogeneous sites in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. In this pursuit, a total of 302 increment cores from 212 trees of Himalayan cedar from the Satluj river basin in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh were used. The reconstruction capturing 40% of the variance in calibration period (1923–1952) revealed that Satluj river flow, consistent with the decreasing trend in winter precipitation, decreased since the 1990s. The reconstruction spanning over the past 345 years showed 10-year, 20-year high, and low flow records in the 20th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop an immunotherapeutic vaccine for treatment of allergic rhinitis, we developed a controlled release formulation of Cryj1, a major Japanese cedar pollen allergen, with immunostimulatory potency. Two sets of hexapod-like structured DNA (hexapodna) were prepared using six oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) each, including ODNs with an unmethylated cytosine–phosphate–guanine (CpG) sequence (CpG motif), to obtain an immunostimulatory DNA hydrogel (sDNA hydrogel). A non-immunostimulatory DNA hydrogel (nsDNA hydrogel) was also prepared using ODNs with no CpG motifs. The sDNA hydrogel was more effective than its components or the nsDNA hydrogel for production of interleukin (IL)-12 after addition to murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells or after intranasal administration to mice. Then, a Cryj1-loaded sDNA hydrogel (Cryj1/sDNA hydrogel) formulation was prepared by mixing solutions containing both Cryj1 and hexapodna. Cryj1 was slowly released from the sDNA hydrogel in phosphate-buffed saline. After intranasal administration of the fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Cryj1/sDNA hydrogel in mice, FITC-Cryj1 was retained in the nasal cavity for a longer period than FITC-Cryj1 mixed with hexapodna in solution. Intranasal immunization of mice with the Cryj1/sDNA hydrogel resulted in high levels of Cryj1-specific IgG in nasal lavage fluid (NFL), IL-12 and interferon-γ release from spleen cells after re-stimulation with Cryj1 when compared with intranasal immunization with the other formulations examined. These results indicate that the self-gelling immunostimulatory DNA hydrogel is an effective formulation for controlled induction of allergen-specific immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the simultaneous saccharification, fermentation and detoxification SSDF process of steam-exploded cedar using a detoxification microorganism, Ureibacillus thermosphaericus A1, to facilitate efficient ethanol production. Steam explosion was applied as a pretreatment before enzymatic saccharification followed by alcohol fermentation. The highest glucose conversion rate was observed in the sample pretreated with a steam pressure of 45 atm for 5 min. Alcohol production by a heat-tolerant yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae BA11, was inhibited strongly by inhibitory materials present in the steam-exploded cedar, such as formic acid, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The maximum amount of ethanol, i.e., 0.155 g ethanol/g dry steam-exploded cedar, which corresponded to 74% of the theoretical ethanol yield, was obtained using the SSDF when U. thermosphaericus A1 degraded the inhibitory materials. A fed batch SSDF culture, in which U. thermosphaericus A1 was used to maintain low concentrations of inhibitory materials, was effective for increasing the ethanol concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensing pollen allergens is required to prevent allergic disorders such as pollinosis. Aptamers, which bind to specific molecules, offer great potential as useful tools for detecting pollen allergens as measures against allergic disorders. Here, we report the identification of DNA aptamers binding to Cry j 2, one of the major allergens in Japanese cedar pollen, and the histochemical sensing of Cry j 2 in ruptured Japanese cedar pollen. DNA aptamers were selected by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) using nitrocellulose membranes. Through four rounds of SELEX, we identified aptamers binding to Cry j 2. The aptamers generated staining in ruptured Japanese cedar pollen on glass slides without extraction, similar to anti-Cry j 2 antibodies. The staining was compatible with starch localization, in which Cry j 2 is present. An aptamer, CJ2-06, which had high and specific binding ability to Cry j 2 ( K d =24 nM), detected an amount of Cry j 2 equivalent to that in several tens of micrograms of pollen. Cry j 2 contained in house dust was detected in a spike test. The aptamers identified in this study can be powerful tools for allergen recognition in the practical biosensing of Cry j 2, leading to preventive measures against allergic disorders caused by Japanese cedar pollen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptomeria japonica trees in the area surrounding Fukushima, Japan, intercepted 137 Cs present in atmospheric deposits soon after the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011. To study the uptake and translocation of 137 Cs in C. japonica leaves, we analyzed activity concentrations of 137 Cs and the concentration ratios of 137 Cs to 133 Cs ( 137 Cs/ 133 Cs) in old and new leaves of C. japonica collected from a forest on Mount Tsukuba between 9 and 15 months after the accident. Both isotopes were also analyzed in throughfall, bulk precipitation and soil extracts. Water of atmospheric and soil origin were used as proxies for deciphering the absorption from leaf surfaces and root systems, respectively. Results indicate that 20–40% of foliar 137 Cs existed inside the leaf, while 60–80% adhered to the leaf surface. The 137 Cs/ 133 Cs ratios inside leaves that had sprouted before the accident were considerably higher than that of the soil extract and lower than that of throughfall and bulk precipitation. Additionally, more than 80% of 137 Cs in throughfall and bulk precipitation was present in the dissolved form, which is available for foliar uptake, indicating that a portion of the 137 Cs inside old leaves was presumably absorbed from the leaf surface. New leaves that sprouted after the accident had similar 137 Cs/ 133 Cs ratios to that of the old leaves, suggesting that internal 137 Cs was translocated from old to new leaves. For 17 species of woody plants other than C. japonica , new leaves that sprouted after the accident also contained 137 Cs, and their 137 Cs/ 133 Cs ratios were equal to or higher than that of the soil extract. These results suggested that foliar uptake and further translocation of 137 Cs is an important vector of contamination in various tree species during or just after radioactive fallout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand why slopes with Japanese cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica ) forests slid far more frequently between 2008 and 2013 than slopes with a mixed forest of four native species in Yingchanggou valley, western Sichuan province of China, we studied 118 slopes. We examined the relationship between slope stability, degree of slope, slope substrate and percent tree cover of Japanese cedar in various proportions with mixed native tree forest cover, in regard to landslide occurrence with degrees of slope ranging from 20° to 85°. A binomial logistic regression analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between interaction of degree of slope and >35% Japanese cedar cover in stands on slopes that suffered landslides during the 2008 earthquake and the following four years during heavy precipitation seasons. One big difference between Japanese cedar and the other four species comprising the native mixed forests is root type. Japanese cedar has shallow, thin roots while the others have deep, tap roots. The present study demonstrates that root type and root depth are an important factor influencing the role of tree roots on slope stability and that multiple species forests contribute to slope stability. Vegetation often contributes to slope stability but on substrates such as those common in this region, with 1 m or more of loose soil, rock mixtures at the surface inappropriate tree species can increase slope failure. To avoid increasing slope instability on slopes of 35° or greater, Japanese cedar should not be planted, as it is now, across wide areas in western China; instead the reestablishment of natural forest species should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Asian sand dust (ASD), originating in the deserts of Mongolia and China, spreads over large areas and is associated with adverse effects on human health in East Asia, including asthma, heart disease, and some allergic diseases. However, the effect of ASD on patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by Japanese cedar pollen (SAR-JCP), the most common form of allergic rhinitis, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ASD on SAR-JCP patients. Methods A total of 41 patients with SAR-JCP recorded nasal and ocular allergic symptom scores in a diary. We assessed the influence of ASD events on patients with SAR-JCP during the JCP season and before and after the JCP season. Results ASD events did not influence nasal and ocular allergy symptoms during the JCP season. Scores for sneezing and runny nose were significantly increased by ASD events in the pre-JCP season. Ocular symptom scores were significantly increased by ASD events in the post-JCP season. Conclusion Our results suggest that ASD may exacerbate allergy symptoms even before mass scattering of JCP, which usually does not cause allergic symptoms in patients with SAR-JCP. ASD also induced conjunctivitis symptoms after the JCP season. However, we did not observe any adverse effects of ASD on allergic symptoms during the JCP season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to obtain optimal preparation conditions of cedar cone (CC) using calcinations and the chemical activation. For the calcinations treatment, the temperature was varied from 300 to 600 °C at different calcinations durations (30 min–5.00 h 30 min), while the chemical activation was carried on using bases and acids reagents such as: H3PO4, H2SO4, HNO3 for the acid reagents and NaOH, Na2SO4, Na2CO3 for bases ones successively, at the same concentration of 0.1 mol/L. Furthermore other chemical activation parameters were tested such as acids concentration and impregnation ratio. The efficiency of the treated cedar cone was tested by basic dye Rhodamine B (RhB) sorption from aqueous solutions in a batch system. The results show that the maximum dye removal was obtained for the case of calcined cedar cone at a temperature of 500 °C with a 4 h30 min time duration and for the case of HNO3 activated cedar cone at a concentration of 2 mol/L with an impregnation ratio of 20. The kinetic data were fitted to pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intra-particulate diffusion and Boyd models. The sorption kinetics' was found to follow the pseudo-second-order model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We obtained reliable estimations of water use components in Japanese cedar stands. [•] We found a constant ratio of interception to rainfall (P) throughout a year. [•] Upper canopy transpiration contributes to total water use during scarce rainfall. [•] These result in a conservative ratio of evapotranspiration to P throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Physical process of canopy interception loss remains to be explained. [•] Rainfall partitioning to interception was similar between the stands. [•] The rate of interception increased with rainfall intensity. [•] Observed amount of interception was greater than estimated amount of evaporation. [•] We suggest that splash droplets transport by canopy ventilation is the primary process of interception loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Western redcedar-salal forest productivity limited by wet, deep organic soils. [•] Losses in canopy interception and evapotranspiration did not increase soil moisture. [•] Site index estimates of western redcedar by age 12 averaged 19.5m at 50years. [•] Soil mounding nor phosphorus fertilization consistently alleviated N deficiencies. [•] Light soil disturbance and planting of cedar promotes long-term sustained yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We use a climate envelope model to project the risk of cedar leaf blight in BC. [•] We compare projected disease intensity under multiple future climate change scenarios. [•] Most models agree coastal environments will continue to be suitable for the disease. [•] However, disease intensity is projected to decrease toward the end of the century. [•] Disease resistant stock should be deployed in key maritime environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Volatiles emitted by Cedrela fissilis are altered by variation in shading. • In a total of 30 volatiles identified, nine are increased with some level of shading. • Methyl salicylate is the only one that raised proportionally with increasing shading. • Hypsipyla grandella responded to methyl salicylate and other three volatiles. • Exogenous application of methyl salicylate reduced H. grandella damage. Cedar (Cedrela fissilis) is a major timber species native to South America that has suffered frequent impacts from illegal harvesting. Cultivation efforts have experienced recurrent failures due to the action of the mahogany shoot borer Hypsipyla grandella, which, when attacking the plants in the first years of growth, inflicts negative effects on the commercial use of this timber. One of the methods used to reduce attacks by this insect is planting cedar in shaded areas, but the factor that makes shaded plants to be less attacked is still unknown. Considering that variation in photosynthetically active radiation can alter the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from plants, our hypothesis is that shading cedar plants alters their production of volatile compounds, including those that affect host location by H. grandella adults. To check this hypothesis, the authors used an air-entrainment system to collect VOCs emitted by cedar under different levels of artificial shading (50%, 30%, 15%) and full sunlight. The influence of the volatiles emitted by cedar plants on H. grandella was then assessed through electroantennographic/GC assays. One volatile compound, methyl salicylate, which was found to experience enhanced emission in shaded cedar plants, was then subjected to a field experiment to evaluate its influence on host location by H. grandella moths. From thirty VOCs emitted by the tested cedar plants, nine exhibited enhanced emission when plants were shaded: methyl salicylate, methyl-5-methylhexanoate, the monoterpenes α-pinene and eucalyptol, the homoterpenes (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT) and (E-E)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene (TMTT) the sesquiterpenes, β-caryophyllene, β-cubebene and an unidentified sesquiterpene. Antennal response from H. grandella female and male antennae was observed to four volatile compounds, nonanal, decanal, methyl salicylate, and β-caryophyllene, when stimulated with the air-entrainment cedar plant extracts. A synthetic blend comprising these four compounds also elicited antennal responses from H. grandella. Field studies showed that plants treated with methyl salicylate exhibited a lower rate of damage by H. grandella caterpillars. These results indicate the potential of this semiochemical as a management tool for H. grandella in cedar cultivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]