Development of the interregional I/O based LCA method considering region-specifics of indirect effects in regional evaluation

Background and Aims  Recently, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been recognized as an effective tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of regional activities. The main issue, when applying LCA to region-based studies, is how best to consider and reflect the regional characteristics, as they need to be as close to reality as possible. Several Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) analysis and Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) studies have been undertaken to study site-specific considerations. However, due to practicalities, very few attempts have been made at identifying the regions affected by regional activities and consider their regional characteristics. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to suggest the direction of a forthcoming study by showing the necessity of regional characteristic consideration in regional evaluation, and to suggest a synthetic, region-based LCA method which can reflect the differences of regional characteristics for direct and indirect effects of regional activities. Methods  In this study, the Life Cycle Region-specific Assessment Method (LCRAM) was proposed as a new site-specific LCA method. As an example, we used LCRAM to observe the effects of 4 environmental burdens (CO₂, NO_x, SO_x, and SPM) to human health (DALY) in 47 regions (prefectures in Japan). LCRAM consists of a regional database and an analysis method (EIOM). In order to reflect the regional characteristics, including structural (regional production and consumption, interregional trade, and the structure of energy consumption) and environmental features (geographical location, climate, natural conditions, and population density), we first constructed a regional database. This includes an Interregional Trade Matrix (ITM), Regional Environmental Burden Coefficients (REBC), and Regional Damage Factors (RDF). Second, for considering the regional characteristics by using the regional database to the each region, it is a necessary to identify the environmental burden emitting regions (Emitting Regions) of indirect effects due to regional activity. To do this, we developed the Expanded Interregional Input Output Method (EIOM) to take the place of the Multi-Regional Input Output method (Multi-Regional IO) by applying the Two-Regional IO method and the ITM. This is because it is difficult to apply Multi-Regional IO to many regions and industries owing to practical constraints. Results and Discussion  Upon comparison between the regional database, it was found to show considerable differences due to regional characteristics. It is possible to identify how much the difference of REBC influences the evaluation results by calculating the Deviation Effect Index with REBC and, thus, it was found that the effects from the iron and steel, and electric power industries were more than three times that of other industries. Also the size of RDF varies according to the property of the Environmental Burden (EB) and region; and the more site-specific EB, such as SPM in this study shows, the more distinct the difference. Therefore, it seems reasonable to recommend that the proper regional database is applied to the Emitting Regions. Meanwhile, a comparison with a 9-region IO table (a Multi-Regional IO table made by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan) was performed to verify the reliability of EIOM. The results indicated a high consistency of over 95%, which verifies that EIOM can be used instead of a Multi-Regional IO method. Finally, as a comparison between LCRAM and Region-Generic Method (RGM) for nine activity regions, we confirmed that the results produced by RGM may be an underestimation or overestimation; as an example, the largest difference among the regions for DALY reached 48% of the RGM result. Conclusions and Outlook  In this study, it was clearly shown that the evaluation results will be different depending on the structure and environmental features of each region. It is necessary to reflect the proper regional characteristics to evaluate the actual regional activity. LCRAM is an efficient method to consider the regional characteristics for direct and indirect effects to regions, through all stages of the activities. Also, it is possible to apply a regional evaluation for more regions and more detail in the industry classification. Furthermore, it discusses the interdependence and transportation effects due to interaction between the regions. Thus, it may enable us to make an appropriate decision in region-based evaluations such as nourishment and inducement of industry, infrastructure, recycle system, etc. Finally, it is also expected that further discussion and continuous examination will contribute to enabling us to frame an actual and efficient policy based on the regional structural features and environmental features for a sustainable community.     

Structural Analysis of A-Protein of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus and Tobacco Mosaic Virus by Synchrotron Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering

The size and shape of A-protein of tobacco mosaic virus coat protein (TMVP) and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus coat protein (CGMMVP) were evaluated by means of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) using a synchrotron radiation source, complemeted by electron microscopic observations. The results imply that TMV and CGMMV A-proteins are composed of three and two subunits, respectively, stacked in the shape of an isosceles triangular prism at lower ionic strength. Considering the difference of the A-protein structure at higher and lower ionic strength, the globular core structure was proposed as a subunit which might be modeled as a thin isosceles triangular prism composed of four globular cores joined by rather flexible segments. These cores correspond probably to four helical regions in a subunit, and rearrange their relative positions according to the external conditions. A slight rearrangement of core positions in a subunit may result in the formation of A-proteins of various shapes.     

Dynamics of the spindle pole body of the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans examined by freeze-substitution electron microscopy

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human pathogen belonging to basidiomycetous fungi and has unique properties in cell cycle progression. In the present study, dynamics of the spindle pole body (SPB) during the cell cycle was examined using freeze-substitution and serial thin-sectioning electron microscopy. The SPB was located on the outer nuclear envelope and appeared either dumbbell- or bar-shaped in G1 through G2 phases. At the beginning of prophase, globular elements of the SPB enlarged, associated with numerous cytoplasmic microtubules, and separated on the nuclear envelope. At prometaphase, the SPBs entered the nuclear region by breaking a part of the nuclear membrane, were located at the isthmus, and were associated with numerous nuclear microtubules. The nuclear division process was carried out in the daughter cell, though the nucleolus remained in the mother cell. At anaphase, one half of the nucleus returned to the mother cell. At telophase, the SPB element was extruded back to the cytoplasm from the nuclear region. By analyzing serial sections of 63 cells, duplication of the SPB was found to take place in the early G1 phase. Thus, the location, structure, and duplication cycle of the C. neoformans SPB are different from those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae , but have similarities to those of Schizosaccharomyces pombe .     

The existence of a dispensable fibrillar layer on the wall surface of mycelial but not yeast cells of Aureobasidium pullulans

Abstract Wall surface ultrastructure of Aureobasidium pullulans was studied by freeze-etching. Yeast cells had a smooth wall surface as in typical yeast species. Mycelial cells and chlamydospores had an extra layer on the wall surface made mostly of fibrils. The fibrils were 20 nm in diameter, and thicker than typical major fungal wall skeletal fibrils of β-glucan and chitin. This layer was apparently easily detached from the wall proper, presumably as a result of enzymic activity or by physical means, suggesting that it is a physiologically dispensable wall component.     

Nuclear selection in monokaryotic oidium formation from dikaryotic mycelia in a basidiomycete,Pholiota nameko

The effect of nuclear dominance in monokaryotic oidium formation from dikaryotic mycelia inPholiota nameko was examined. Over 90% of oidium isolates from dikaryotic mycelia were monokaryotic. Although only one parental nuclear type was recovered from an average of about 80% in these isolates, the nuclear selection process in oidium formation seems essentially to produce split nuclear type composition in oidium products. The hierarchy of relative dominance among the nuclear types of the parental dikaryons in monokaryotic oidium formation was determined. The two hierarchies in nuclear selection between monokaryotic oidium formation and monokaryotic mycelium formation coincided at a level of at least 75%.     

Differences of asymmetrical division between the pseudomycelial and yeast forms of Candida albicans and their effect on multiplication

Unlike asymmetrical division of budding yeast, the daughter cell in the pseudomycelial form of Candida albicans at division was nearly equal in size to the mother cell, it had a larger amount of protein, RNA and active protoplasm (cell size minus vacuolar volume) than the mother cell, and it budded earlier than the mother cell. Results presented here suggest that the cell size control over bud initiation found in budding yeasts is also applicable to the pseudomycelial cells of C. albicans if vacuolar volume is omitted from cell size.     

Synchronous Activation of Cell Division by Light or Temperature Stimuli in the Dimorphic Yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus

Many fungi respond to light and regulate fungal development and behavior. A blue light-activated complex has been identified in Neurospora crassa as the product of the wc-1 and wc-2 genes. Orthologs of WC-1 and WC-2 have hitherto been found only in filamentous fungi and not in yeast, with the exception of the basidiomycete pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus. Here, we report that the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus responds to blue light depending on Wcs1 and Wcs2, orthologs of components of the WC complex. Surprisingly, those of ascomycete S. japonicus are more closely related to those of the basidiomycete. S. japonicus reversibly changes from yeast to hyphae in response to environmental stresses. After incubation at 30°C, a colony of yeast was formed, and then hyphal cells extended from the periphery of the colony. When light cycles were applied, distinct dark- and bright-colored hyphal cell stripes were formed because the growing hyphal cells had synchronously activated cytokinesis. In addition, temperature cycles of 30°C for 12 h and 35°C for 12 h or of 25°C for 12 h and 30°C for 12 h during incubation in the dark induced a response in the hyphal cells similar to that of light. The stripe formation of the temperature cycles was independent of the wcs genes. Both light and temperature, which are daily external cues, have the same effect on growing hyphal cells. A dual sensing mechanism of external cues allows organisms to adapt to daily changes of environmental alteration.