This paper examines the effects that electromagnetic fields from microwave radiation have in enzymatic reactions. Hydrolysis of proteins in beef ( in vivo case) and casein ( in vitro case) by the papain enzyme, a major industrial enzyme, is used herein as a model reaction to assess, under highly controlled conditions, the various parameters of microwave radiation (electric field, magnetic field, pulsed microwave irradiation, continuous microwave irradiation) as they might influence these in vivo and in vitro enzymatic reactions. The effect(s) of the microwaves’ electromagnetic fields was clearly evidenced in the in vivo case, contrary to the in vitro case where no such effect was observed, likely due to the nature of the hydrolysis reaction and to the autolysis (self-digestion) of the papain enzyme. Additionally, the effect of pulsed versus continuous microwave irradiation was further assessed by examining the catalase -assisted decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.

To reduce the availability of soil cadmium (Cd) to soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), we employed a liming by partial mixing (PM) technique in two drained paddy fields on Gray Lowland soils, which had 0.1 mol L -1 hydrochloric acid-extractable Cd concentrations as high as 1.08 and 1.40 mg kg -1 . Among the different application methods tested, PM application (PM2) using a width of 20 cm and a depth of 20 cm was found to be most appropriate for reducing the seed Cd concentration and to obtain the optimum yield at Site A. Under PM2, a liming rate of 38% of that for broadcast incorporated into the surface 15 cm layer (Bc) was suitable to reduce the seed Cd concentration at Site A, whereas the lime rate with PM2 was set at 50% of that for Bc (PM2-50) at Site B due to the higher availability of soil Cd. The root system was limited within the range of lime and fertilizer application for PM2 as well as PM2-50; thus, the lime and fertilizer were supplied successfully to the rooting zone. The soil pH value was lower under PM2 at Site A and PM2-50 at Site B compared with Bc, whereas the seed Cd concentration was lower for PM2 and PM2-50. This may be explained by the intensive uptake of calcium and magnesium with PM2 as well as PM2-50. The seed Cd concentration in the cultivar "Ryuhou" at the target pH of 6.5 was approximately 30% lower with PM2-50 than Bc at Site B. In addition, the average seed Cd concentrations in one cultivar and two lines, characterized by the lower Cd uptake with higher retention in roots and higher accumulation in leaves, were approximately 40% lower compared with "Ryuhou." Thus, the combination of liming with PM2-50 at the target pH of 6.5 and a low-Cd cultivar (or lines) minimized the seed Cd concentration. The highest seed Cd concentration was found in the first year of soybean cultivation, which was considered to be caused by the release of Cd from organic nitrogen compounds during the nitrogen mineralization process. ARTICLE HISTORY

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