Search

Improvement of synthesis of non-peripherally alkyl-substituted macrocycle molecules, 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octaalkyltetrabenzotriazaporphyrins (CnTBTAPH2) has been investigated. In the reaction from 3,6-dialkyl phthalonitrile to CnTBTAPH2, the yield has been markedly improved by replacing a conventional Grignard reagent with methyllithium. The modified procedure using a stable solvent was significantly effective for the scale-up of the reaction system as well as the yield enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the impact of atmospheric deposition on alpine ecosystems, we evaluated the interactions between atmospheric deposition and the Pinus pumila canopy close to the summit of Mount Tateyama, central Japan. We analyzed the chemical characteristics of rain, fog, and throughfall under the canopy in the summertime for 5 years. The concentrations of inorganic nitrogen and sulfate in precipitation at the summit (2839 m a.s.l.) were lower than at the base (13 m a.s.l.), but the total amounts deposited tended to be larger, because the precipitation was greater at the summit and highly concentrated fog water was deposited on the pine canopy. Large fluctuations in the quality and quantity of deposition were due to interannual variations in the meteorological conditions. About 80% of NO3--N and NH4+-N (0.40 and 0.47 kg ha-1 month-1) from rain and fog were retained in the P. pumila canopy, and contributions from fog were twice those from rain. Considerable amounts of K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ ions (0.97, 0.13, and 0.13 kg ha-1 month-1) were leached out from the canopy to the soil as throughfall. The leaching did not increase with rainfall, but increased as the duration of the fog and dew increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Most sources conclude that the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) is a purely motor nerve. There are some reports that suggest a sensory component, although the exact nature of such sensory fibers has yet to be elucidated. With such discrepancies in the literature and with well-established pain syndromes of unknown etiology following SAN injury, the authors performed the present study to better clarify this anatomy. Materials and methods. The entire accessory nerve was harvested from 10 adult cadavers. Samples were then submitted for immunohistochemical analyses. Results. Occasional microganglia cells were identified along the SAN in all specimens. These ganglia were most numerous along the intracranial segment of the SAN, but none was found along the cranial rootlets of the accessory nerve. Conclusions. Neuronal cell bodies were identified along the course of the SAN in human cadavers. Although the function is not certain, such cells have been found in other animals to be nocioceptive in nature. Pending further study, these cells may be found to be involved in enigmatic pain syndromes thought to arise in the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of ultrafine particles (UFPs) with diameters smaller than 100 nm were made with a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer on the roadside of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine route on the western slope of Mt. Tateyama, Japan, in the summer and autumn of 2007 and 2008. The number concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs) with diameters smaller than 50 nm increased sharply in the morning. This increase agreed with that of the NO concentration, which is a good indicator of vehicle emissions. Although the peak concentration of NO was also detected in the late afternoon, the concentrations of NPs did not increase. The vehicle emission of UFPs may vary considerably with the driving conditions. The emission of NPs might have been accelerated under a high engine-load condition. The NP concentrations in October were much higher than those in August, although there were more buses in August than in October. The number size distribution in the morning was bimodal, with the first peak around 20-30 nm and the second one around 70-80 nm. The first peak became small during the daytime. The first peak disappeared, and a small second peak remained through midnight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyze the predominant Bacteroides species in normal human feces, species-specific primer sets for Bacteroides eggerthii, B. fragilis, B. ovatus, B. thetaiotaomicron, B. uniformis and B. vulgatus were designed. Normal human feces were cultured on Bacteroides selective agar (neomycin brilliant green taurocolic acid (NBGT) agar plates). We identified the colonies with the aforementioned species-specific primers. B. vulgatus and B. ovatus were found to be predominant in all volunteers, and B. thetaiotaomicron and B. uniformis varied between volunteers. However, B. fragilis and B. eggerthii were not detected in any volunteers using this culture method. When we used the direct PCR method with extracted bacterial DNA from feces, B. vulgatus and B. ovatus were detected from all samples, and B. thetaiotaomicron, B. uniformis and B. fragilis from four or five out of six samples, but no B. eggerthii was detected. This is the first report that analyzes the predominant Bacteroides species in normal human intestine using a systematic molecular identification method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]