Small Dishes Research Articles

288 PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE USE OF TUMOR CELLS OF A DOG TO CONDITION BOVINE EMBRYO IN VITRO CULTURE MEDIUM

The aim of this study was to analyze the response of bovine embryos fertilized in vitro to a tumor dog cell- conditioned TCM-199 culture medium used in the development stage. Two hundred ninety-five oocytes obtained from slaughterhouse ovaries were cultured in groups of 20 cells at 39°C in TCM-199 medium droplets with 20% estrous cow serum (ECS) for 24h in a humid atmosphere containing 5% CO2. After incubation, these oocytes were fertilized with a 1 × 106 sperm cell dose, previously capacitated by a 1-h incubation in SP-TALP medium under usual conditions, by incubation in small petri dishes with 1 mL of Fert-TALP medium for 24 h under the conditions described previously. Alleged fertilized oocytes were randomly separated into 2 groups. A control group (n = 144) was cultured in TCM-199 medium with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and the other (n = 151) was cultured in TCM-199 medium previously conditioned by incubation for 72 h with 1 × 106 cells of a complex adenocarcinoma grade 1 obtained from a 6-year-old boxer dog and sterilized by filtration with 0.2-(im membrane. After 72 h of culture, the zygotes were harvested and prepared for a quick microscope observation. Alleged zygotes were classified as “not fertilized,” “divided,” or “degenerated.” Statistical differences (P < 0.01) were found among both groups with a greater number of normal divided embryos (65.2%) in the conditioned medium group and a lower number (30.4%) in the control group. The number of normal divided embryos in the conditioned medium after 72 h of incubation was similar to that achieved by current methods. These preliminary results are consistent with results obtained by other researchers in which growth factors derived from established cell lines can be used to condition culture medium for in vitro bovine embryo development. Further studies will be necessary to clarify how these factors contribute to in vitro embryo development. Spanish Retinta Breed Asociation, Spain.

Risk Factors Affect Outcome of Esophageal Injuries Caused by Caustic Ingestion in Children

Purpose: Ingestion of caustic materials is a worldwide challenge. The study aim was to identify the factors that influence the outcome and prognosis of esophageal injuries after caustic ingestion in children. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all files of patients with history of caustic ingestion, their endoscopy results and follow up, who were admitted at Pediatrics Gastroenterology ward of Aboozar Children's Hospital, Ahwaz, South -Western of Iran. Results: During 10 years (October 1998- 2008) a total of 81 children (mean 2.7, range 1-5 y), 46 male, with history of caustic ingestion were enrolled in our study. Ingestable alkaline were drain, pipe, oven, grill and barbecue cleaners, dish washer detergent and bleaches (Totally 61%) and acidic materials as drain openers, toilet cleaners and battery liquid (Totally 39%). The grade(G) of esophageal injury with regard of the ingested caustic materials was: GO (history of ingestion, no injury, 18.5% in bleaches ingestion), G1 (edema and erythema, no transmucosal injury, 11% in very small amount acid and dish washer ingestion), G2 a/b (transmural injury, hemorrhage, circumferential ulceration, 64% in large amount of acid ingestion and vomiting, alkaline ingestion and delay in hospital admission), G3 a/ b (scattered deep ulceration and necrotic tissue 6.5% in large amount of alkaline ingestion and vomiting and/ or delay in hospital admission). Our follow up study showed that 11 (13.5%) cases developed esophageal stricture about 3 weeks after caustic ingestion despite proper treatment including dexametasone and antibiotic (Picture). The stricture confirmed by a second endoscopy and contrast media study. All these 11 patients had grade 2+ esophageal injury. Dilatation by boogies or balloon was done for these cases and 2 of them needed further surgery treatment which 1 of them died.FigureConclusion: Caustic ingestion by children is a worldwide preventable medical problem. In this study, we found that the alkali, large amount of ingested caustic agent, delayed referral to hospital and treatment including vomiting after ingestion worsen the outcome and prognosis. Prevention is paramount.

Application of high-density daylight for indoor illumination

A fiber optic solar concentrator system with a simple parabolic profile is designed and fabricated to deliver a stream of high-density solar flux into the interior of a building for indoor illumination. The system consists of a small dish concentrator (30 cm in diameter), an optical fiber cable and a diffuser at the end. A series of tests are performed using a goniophotometer and spectrometer to investigate the photometric characteristics of the system in terms of luminous intensity distribution and spectral radiance, which are used in link with the actual photometric measurements for a lightless mock-up space of 4.9 m × 4.9 m × 2.6 m. The illuminance on the working plane was continuously monitored at 25 points by using photometric sensors. Measurements clearly indicate the photometric characteristics of the present system where a constant level of indoor illumination is observed depending on the sky clearness.

Pan Evaporation Trends and the Terrestrial Water Balance. I. Principles and Observations

AbstractPan evaporation is just that – it is the evaporation rate of water from a small dish located at the ground‐surface. Pan evaporation is a measure of the evaporative demand over terrestrial surfaces. Declines in pan evaporation have now been reported in many regions of the world. The trends vary from one pan to the next, but when averaged over many pans, they are typically in the range of −1 to −4 mm a−2 (mm per annum per annum). In energetic terms, a trend of −2 mm a−2 is equivalent to −0.16 W m−2 a−1 and over 30 years this is a change of −4.8 W m−2. For comparison, the top‐of‐atmosphere forcing due to doubled CO2 is estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to be ~3.7 W m−2. Hence, the magnitude of the pan evaporation trend is large. What is of even greater interest is the direction – a decline – given the well‐established warming of the last 30–50 years. In this article, the first in a two part series, we describe the underlying principles in using and interpreting pan evaporation data and then summarise the reported observations from different countries. In the second article, we describe the interpretation of the trends in terms of changes in the terrestrial water balance.

Weed seed predation in organic and conventional fields

Enhanced biological control of weed seeds may improve sustainability of agricultural production. Biological control due to seed predation may be higher in organic fields because organic production generally supports more seed predators. To investigate such a difference, weed seed predation was studied in autumn in eight organic and eight conventional mixed cropping fields in New Zealand. Predation rates were estimated by observing removal rates of seeds of the annual weeds fathen or common lambsquarter ( Chenopodium album) and Persian speedwell ( Veronica persica). The seed losses were recorded at distances of 0, 3, 9 and 50 m from the field edge. The weed seeds were placed at the above distances on small dishes of finely sieved soil and sunk into the ground. Removal rates were recorded after 48 h. Seed predators were identified using video recording at an organically grown husbandry unit at Lincoln University and in two of the fields used for estimating seed predation. Recording of predators had therefore limited overlap with seed predation assays but was expected to give important information on key seed predators in the region. The mean seed removal rate was 17% in organic fields compared with 10% in conventional fields although variation was high. Significantly different removal rates between the two field types were found only 9 m from the field edge with approximately four times higher losses of fathen seeds in organic fields. There was also a strong tendency towards higher seed losses at organic field edges. Overall, there was no consistent effect of distance from the field edge. Vegetation had a significant influence on the predation rates, with maximum rates at a medium-dense plant cover. Based on the video images, birds were the most important seed predators. The higher weed seed predation rate in the organic fields indicates that there may be an economic advantage associated with the well-established trend that bird populations are generally higher in organic agricultural situations.

Comparative Bionomics of Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella tritici

Comparative Bionomics of Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella tritici

Nitric oxide (NO)-dependent and NO-independent signaling pathways act in ABA-inhibition of stomatal opening

We investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in ABA-inhibition of stomatal opening in Vicia faba L. in different size dishes. When a large dish (9 cm diameter) was used, ABA induced NO synthesis and the NO scavenger reduced ABA-inhibition of stomatal opening. When a small dish (6 cm diameter) was used, ABA induced stomatal closure and inhibited stomatal opening. The NO scavenger was able to reduce ABA-induced stomatal closure, but unable to reverse ABA-inhibition of stomatal opening. Furthermore, NO was not synthesized in response to ABA, indicating that NO is not required for ABA-inhibition of stomatal opening in the small dish. These results indicated that an NO-dependent and an NO-independent signaling pathway participate in ABA signaling pathway. An NO-dependent pathway is the major player in ABA-induced stomatal closure. However, in ABA-inhibition of stomatal opening, an NO-dependent and an NO-independent pathway act: different signaling molecules participate in ABA-signaling cascade under different environmental condition.

Effects of fine-grain habitat complexity on egg parasitism by three species of Trichogramma

Effects of microhabitat complexity on host foraging by three species of Trichogramma ( T. deion, T. ostriniae, and T. pretiosum) were evaluated under simulated stored product conditions. All three species have been considered as potential biological control agents for the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella, in retail stores and warehouses. Trials were conducted with single naïve female parasitoids in 10-cm Petri dishes that were either empty, contained flour, or contained millet. Empty 15-cm Petri dishes, which served as a surface area control, comprised a fourth treatment. Females were allowed to forage for sentinel egg disks for 2 h, after which percentages of parasitism and egg mortality were computed. In addition, behavioral observations were made on a subset of the trials. Trichogramma deion parasitized more eggs than the other two species in the empty dishes and in the dish containing flour. For T. deion, rates of parasitism and egg mortality were significantly greater in both the small and large empty dishes than in the small dishes containing flour or millet. Parasitism was consistently low for all three species in the grain-filled dishes. Among species, T. ostriniae spent the most time walking, while T. pretiosum was the most sedentary. In addition, T. pretiosum spent significantly more time on the first egg visited compared with subsequent eggs. T. deion may be the best-suited for use as a biological control agent for P. interpunctella. However, the potential negative effects of fine-grain habitat complexity should be taken into account when developing a release protocol for Trichogramma spp.

A Pathway Separate from the Central Channel through the Nuclear Pore Complex for Inorganic Ions and Small Macromolecules

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are supramolecular nanomachines that mediate the exchange of macromolecules and inorganic ions between the nucleus and the cytosol. Although there is no doubt that large cargo is transported through the centrally located channel, the route of ions and small molecules remains debatable. We thus tested the hypothesis that there are two separate pathways by imaging NPCs using atomic force microscopy, NPC electrical conductivity measurements, and macromolecule permeability assays. Our data indicate a spatial separation between the active transport of macromolecules through the central channel and the passive transport of ions and small macromolecules through the pore periphery.

Very Long-chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Are the Major Acyl Groups of Sphingomyelins and Ceramides in the Head of Mammalian Spermatozoa

Very long-chain (C24 to C34) polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFA) are important constituents of sphingomyelin (SM) and ceramide (Cer) in testicular germ cells. In the present paper we focused on the SM and Cer and their fatty acids in spermatozoa and their main regions, heads and tails. In bull and ram spermatozoa, SM was the third most abundant phospholipid and VLCPUFA were the major acyl groups ( approximately 70%) of SM and Cer. In rat epididymal spermatozoa the SM/Cer ratio was low in the absence of and could be maintained high in the presence of the cation chelator EDTA, added to the medium used for sperm isolation. This fact points to the occurrence of an active divalent cation-dependent sphingomyelinase. Bull and rat sperm had an uneven head-tail distribution of phospholipid, with virtually all the VLCPUFA-rich SM located at the head, the lower SM content in the rat being determined by the lower sperm head/tail size ratio. Most of the SM from bull sperm heads was readily solubilized with 1% Triton X-100 at 4 degrees C. The detergent-soluble SM fraction was richer in VLCPUFA than the nonsoluble fraction and richer in saturated fatty acids. Cer was produced at the expense of SM, thus decreasing severalfold the SM/Cer ratio in rat spermatozoa incubated for 2 h in presence of the sperm-capacitating agents, calcium, bicarbonate, and albumin. The generation of Cer from SM in the sperm head surface may be an early step among the biochemical and biophysical changes known to take place in the spermatozoon in the physiological events preceding fertilization.

One-trial conditioning of aerial respiratory behaviour in Lymnaea stagnalis

Repeated spaced training sessions of contingent tactile stimulation to the pneumostome as it opens are required to cause long-term memory (LTM) formation of aerial respiratory behaviour making if difficult to determine exactly when memory forms. We have devised a single-trial aversive operant conditioning training procedure in Lymnaea to be better able to elucidate the causal mechanisms of LTM formation. Observations of baseline breathing behaviour in hypoxia were first made. Twenty-four hours later the snails were trained using the single trial procedure, by placing them in a small Petri dish containing 4 ml of 25 mM KCl for 30–35 s as soon as the first pneumostome opening in hypoxia was attempted. LTM was present if (1) breathing behaviour following training was significantly less than before; and (2) breathing behaviour post-training was significantly less in experimental groups than in yoked control groups. LTM persisted for 24 h but not 48 h. Yoked controls that received an aversive stimulus not contingent with pneumostome opening had no evidence of memory. Cooling directly after, but not at any other time, blocks LTM formation. LTM formation was also prevented by removal of the cell body of the neuron RPeD1 before training.

Critical Feeding Periods for Last Instar Nymphal and Pharate Adults of the Whiteflies,Trialeurodes vaporariorumandBemisia tabaci

A critical feeding period is the time after which 50% of a given species of insect can be removed from its food source and complete development by undergoing adult eclosion. The critical feeding period was determined for the greenhouse white fly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, and the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Biotype B) (Homptera/Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Fourth (last) instar and pharate adult whiteflies were removed from green bean leaves, staged, placed on filter paper in small Petri dishes containing drops of water, and observed daily for eclosion. For T. vaporariorum reared at 25°C and L:D 16:8, 55 and 80% adult eclosion were observed when whiteflies were removed at stages 4 (0.23–0.26 mm in body depth) and 5 (≥ 0.27 mm in body depth), respectively, so that at least 50% eclosion was only achieved in this species of whitefly when adult eye development had already been initiated (in Stage 4), and 80% eclosion when adult wing development had been initiated (Stage 5). In contrast, 63% of B. tabaci emerged as adults if removed from the leaf at Stage 3 (0.18–0.22 mm in body depth), and 80% emerged if removed at Stage 4/5, stages in which adult formation had not yet been initiated. The mean number of eggs laid by experimental (those removed at Stages 4–5, 6–7 or 8–9) and control (those that remained on the leaf prior to eclosion) whiteflies, and the mean percent hatch of these eggs were not significantly different in experimental and control groups. Stages 7, 8 and 9 are characterized by a light red adult eye, medium red bipartite adult eye and dark red or red-black bipartite adult eye, respectively. Mean adult longevity also was not significantly different between experimental and control groups. However, for all groups of T. vaporariorum, adult female longevity was significantly (at least 2 times) greater than male longevity. Our results identify the critical feeding periods for last instar/pharate adults of two important pest species of whitefly. Since in both species of whitefly the critical feeding period is achieved when weight gain reaches a plateau, it appears that the critical feeding period is more closely correlated with the attainment of a critical weight than with either the time that ecdsyteroid titers first peak or the time when adult development is initiated.

Immunomarking Reveals Food Flow and Feeding Relationships in the Eastern Subterranean Termite, <I>Reticulitermes flavipes</I> (Kollar)

Trophallaxis and feeding relationships in the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), were examined using a novel marking technique, rabbit IgG protein coupled with an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the marker. Transfer experiments in small dishes evaluated the trophallactic transfer of the marker from donor workers fed IgG-treated paper to recipient workers or larvae. Worker donors rapidly acquired the marker, and 100% of donors tested positive within 24 h. Trophallactic transfer from donors to recipients was relatively inefficient, and 51 +/- 2% of recipient workers and 31 +/- 2% of recipient larvae tested positive at 72 h. Based on the mean optical density counts, approximately 27% of marker ingested by the donors was passed on to the recipient workers in the first 24 h, 14% to recipient larvae, and 26% to recipient soldiers. The ability of soldiers to feed independently of workers was examined in dish assays. Soldiers showed no significant uptake of the marker when isolated from the workers, and uptake increased significantly when workers were present. The distribution of the marker was further studied in larger colony fragments composed of workers, soldiers, nymphs, and larvae. Marker acquisition by the different castes/developmental stages was highly variable, with workers and nymphs acquiring the marker at a faster rate than soldiers and larvae. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of the foraging ecology and social behavior in R. flavipes. In addition, they may help design improved control programs for subterranean termites based on baits.

Overexpression of Apolipoprotein A-IV Enhances Lipid Secretion in IPEC-1 Cells by Increasing Chylomicron Size

Intestinal apolipoprotein A-IV expression is highly regulated by dietary lipid in newborn swine, suggesting a role in lipid absorption. Constitutive overexpression of apoA-IV in newborn swine enterocytes enhances basolateral secretion of triacylglycerol (TG) in TG-rich lipoproteins 4.9-fold (Lu, S., Yao, Y., Meng, S., Cheng, X., and Black, D. D. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 31929-31937). To investigate the mechanism of this enhancement, IPEC-1 cells were transfected with a tetracycline-regulatable expression system (Tet-On). In cells incubated with oleic acid, a dose response relationship was observed between medium doxycycline concentration and basolateral apoA-IV and TG secretion. Similarly regulated expression of apoA-I did not enhance lipid secretion. The mean diameter of TG-rich lipoproteins secreted from doxycycline-treated cells was larger than from untreated cells (87.0 nm versus 53.4 nm). Basolateral apoB secretion decreased. Using the same expression system, full-length human apoA-IV (376 amino acids); a "pig-like" human apoA-IV, lacking the C-terminal EQQQ repeats (361 amino acids); and a "chicken-like" apoA-IV, further truncated to 343 amino acids, were expressed in IPEC-1 cells. With increasing protein secretion, cells expressing the full-length human apoA-IV displayed a 2-fold increase in TG secretion; in sharp contrast, cells expressing the pig-like human apoA-IV displayed a 25-fold increase in TG secretion and a 27-fold increase in lipoprotein diameter. When human apoA-IV was further truncated to yield a chicken-like protein, TG secretion was inhibited. We conclude that overexpression of swine apoA-IV enhances basolateral TG secretion in a dose-dependent manner by increasing the size of secreted lipoproteins. These data suggest that the region in the human apoA-IV protein from residues 344 to 354 is critical to its ability to enhance lipid secretion, perhaps by enabling the packaging of additional core TG into chylomicron particles. The EQQQ-rich region may play an inhibitory or modulatory role in chylomicron packaging in humans.

Localization of the Lipopolysaccharide-binding Protein in Phospholipid Membranes by Atomic Force Microscopy

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS; endotoxin) activate immunocompetent cells of the host via a transmembrane signaling process. In this study, we investigated the function of the LPS-binding protein (LBP) in this process. The cytoplasmic membrane of the cells was mimicked by lipid liposomes adsorbed on mica, and the lateral organization of LBP in these membranes and its interaction with LPS aggregates were characterized by atomic force microscopy. Using cantilever tips functionalized with anti-LBP antibodies, single LBP molecules were localized in the membrane at low concentrations. At higher concentrations, LBP formed clusters of several molecules and caused cross-linking of lipid bilayers. The addition of LPS to LBP-containing liposomes led to the formation of LPS domains in the membranes, which could be inhibited by anti-LBP antibodies. Thus, LBP mediates the fusion of lipid membranes and LPS aggregates.

Comparative analysis of the solar dish electricity production

Round parabolic solar mirror is of ten called the solar or sun dish. Even when the dish is faceted into several smaller dishes (facets) which are all focusing the sunlight in the single point (focus), it is called a solar dish. When solar radiation to electricity converter is mounted into the dish focus and the sun-tracking system is provided, it could be named solar dish/converter system. Depending on the sort of the converter, two promising systems which are approaching the commercialization could be mentioned. These are solar dish/Sterling system and solar dish/photo voltaic system. In this paper, majority of the technical and economical aspects of the two systems are examined and compared. Two systems are chosen to represent this: SAIC/STM Sun Dish TM, solar dish with Sterling heat engine/generator, and Solar Systems SS20TM representing solar dish with concentrating photovoltaic converter. It is concluded that solar dish with concentrated photovoltaic converter can have much better cost/performance ratio. It is also concluded that recently introduced thermo acoustical converter and photovoltaic cavity converter, probably des ignites future development of the solar dish systems. World?s potential of in stalling solar dish systems according to geographic and climate conditions wisest mated. Also, the number of solar dishes which could, in stalled in Croatia cover yearly state?s electricity consumption was calculated.

Measurement of root and leaf osmotic potential using the vapor-pressure osmometer

The vapor-pressure osmometer (VPO) is used to measure osmotic potential ( ψ π) in plant water relations. The VPO was designed for 10 μL solution samples but its performance can be extended to suit smaller volumes and actual tissue samples. Measurement of ψ π by the VPO was compared to end-window (EW) psychrometry on known saline solutions and tissue samples varying from 10 to 2 μL. The VPO was a more sensitive instrument compared to the small EW psychrometer when using 10 μL of solution in the standard dish. Volumes varying from 3 to 10 μL could be used with reasonable accuracy and precision if a thinner disk (to ensure saturation) or smaller dish was used. Small samples such as root tips required a suitably small volume chamber to reduce effects of lowering ψ π. For leaves from a field study, variability in plant replicates was greater than VPO sensitivity, so precision was comparable to using psychrometers. For direct measurement of water potential, lengthy equilibration times made the VPO an unsuitable method for measuring multiple samples. The VPO could be used for both small solution volumes and direct measurement of ψ π in tissue.

Dopamine D2 receptors mediate two-odor discrimination and reversal learning in C57BL/6 mice

BackgroundDopamine modulation of neuronal signaling in the frontal cortex, midbrain, and striatum is essential for processing and integrating diverse external sensory stimuli and attaching salience to environmental cues that signal causal relationships, thereby guiding goal-directed, adaptable behaviors. At the cellular level, dopamine signaling is mediated through D1-like or D2-like receptors. Although a role for D1-like receptors in a variety of goal-directed behaviors has been identified, an explicit involvement of D2 receptors has not been clearly established. To determine whether dopamine D2 receptor-mediated signaling contributes to associative and reversal learning, we compared C57Bl/6J mice that completely lack functional dopamine D2 receptors to wild-type mice with respect to their ability to attach appropriate salience to external stimuli (stimulus discrimination) and disengage from inappropriate behavioral strategies when reinforcement contingencies change (e.g. reversal learning).ResultsMildly food-deprived female wild-type and dopamine D2 receptor deficient mice rapidly learned to retrieve and consume visible food reinforcers from a small plastic dish. Furthermore, both genotypes readily learned to dig through the same dish filled with sterile sand in order to locate a buried food pellet. However, the dopamine D2 receptor deficient mice required significantly more trials than wild-type mice to discriminate between two dishes, each filled with a different scented sand, and to associate one of the two odors with the presence of a reinforcer (food). In addition, the dopamine D2 receptor deficient mice repeatedly fail to alter their response patterns during reversal trials where the reinforcement rules were inverted.ConclusionsInbred C57Bl/6J mice that develop in the complete absence of functional dopamine D2 receptors are capable of olfaction but display an impaired ability to acquire odor-driven reinforcement contingencies. Furthermore, the ability of dopamine D2 receptor deficient mice to adjust their responding to a previously reinforced stimulus when unexpected outcomes are encountered is significantly impaired. These findings suggest that signaling mediated by the dopamine D2 receptor is important for regulating associative and reversal learning and may have implications for the treatment of human attention disorders.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Slow Food

In recent visit to Korean greengrocer down street from my home in Toronto, I went to reach for Asian hot sauce, only to find that it had been dropped to lower shelf in favour of higher-end competitor: increasingly ubiquitous extra virgin olive oil. Indeed, hot sauce had all but been replaced with at least ten varieties of extra virgin olive oil, with fancy Italian labels and price tags to match, mimicking stock of expensive gourmet store across street. More than an average shopping crisis, this moment made me ask question of how olive oil, healthy fat, but fat nonetheless, could make such positive mark on public obsessed with fat and fitness. Indeed, well before greengrocers took up this trend, at one moment in not-too-distant past, butter seemed to vanish from higher-end restaurant tables, replaced by small dishes of olive oil. This move reveals kind of key shift in what Simmel (1994) would call sociology of meal, or perhaps, more aptly, sociology of hip meal. These scenes epitomize how commodity-extra virgin olive oil-can move across borders, in company of diverse cultural and class assumptions and practices. The study of these flows of olive oil illuminates wider issues of culture and class in commodity-saturated world of contemporary capitalism.As Stallybrass notes, Marx was concerned with a specific form of fetishism which took as its object not animized object of human labour and love but evacuated non-object that was site of exchange (1997:187). Relations between subjects in capitalist production come to be misapprehended as relations between objects. This misapprehension, as has often been noted, is real in its consequences, erasing connection between producers and consumers. In what Harvey calls the condition of postmodernity, world's geographies are being brought together via circulation of food commodities to be experienced vicariously and simultaneously as simulacrum yet social relations of production, producers and place of origin of these commodities are still erased from view of consumer (1990: 300). However, what makes Tuscan extra virgin olive oil such successful commodity is its craft or non-industrial production; location of production, producer's estate, remains embedded in product. In this respect, source identifying indexicals1 of craft production, seem to seek to overcome fetish. Extra virgin olive oil is, at least rhetorically, de-fetishized in that identity of producer remains immanent in product.As Mintz (1985) argues, making of dominant commodity depends on markets of consumers-the cultivation of particular tastes-as well as production. Is consumption of extra virgin olive oil an example of consumers' resistance to erasure of producer that so vexed Marx? Italian extra virgin olive oil producers produce, package and market their oil in ways that are not unrelated, I argue, to way in which North American consumers imagine and desire it. As well as investigating how extra virgin olive oil is produced and marketed in Tuscany, I consider how consumer imaginings and consumer movements might affect way in which production of food commodities is carried out. I focus specifically on an international movement, Slow Food, which advocates, instead of harried intake of industrial fast food, leisurely consumption of artisanally produced food.Commodities on DisplayOn my way to Italy to interview extra virgin olive oil producers, I used stopover in London to visit Harrods' famed food floor, in hopes of gaining insight into how Italian extra virgin olive oils are marketed abroad. I found four substantial olive oil displays. One four-tiered display drew my attention. Although Harrods brand of olive oil was given prestige place at eye level, estate oils from Tuscany immediately followed it. Greek, Spanish and South African olive oils were on lower tier; and, lowest of low, at my feet, mass-produced oils, like Fry Light cooking spray and Mazola corn oil. …

ヒメダカ仔魚毒性試験方法の開発と８種の代表的農薬への適用

A new acute toxicity test method was developed using the larvae of Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes). The test was carried out in small glass petri dishes and was found to be feasible for simultaneously testing many chemicals. The most preferable larval stage and exposure period for the test were determined to be 48-72h posthatch with an exposure time of 48h. To obtain larvae for the test, adult pairs as many as 1/7 the number of larvae are required. The egg should be collected after 8 days of pairing, and the larvae hatched on the 9th or 10th day from commencement of embryo incubation at 25°C should be separated and cultured at a population density of less than 1.0g-weight·l-1. The calculated coefficients of variation of the test were 15% for 48-h LC50 and 22% for 48-h EC50. Using this method, the acute toxicity levels of eight widely used pesticides were evaluated. High toxicity levels were detected for diazinon and isoprothiolane, which were reported as low-toxicity pesticides in an acute toxicity test using Medaka adults.