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A novel, eco‐friendly direct graphite exfoliation method was developed using 1‐allyl‐pyridinium‐based ionic liquids (ILs) under microwave irradiation. Exfoliated graphene comprising a few layers was prepared from graphite using 1‐allyl‐pyridinium nitrate under 300 W microwave irradiation for 10 min, which was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the combination of the cations and anions in the ILs led to improved adsorption on the graphite surface. High‐power microwave irradiation can also allow cations to intercalate easily between the graphite layers and increase the efficiency of graphite exfoliation. Solid acid catalysts were prepared from exfoliated graphene via oxidation and sulfonation. The catalytic activity was evaluated for the saccharification of cellulose, where the highest monosaccharide yield of 15.9% was obtained after 24 h at 140°C with a cellulose/solid acid catalyst/water ratio of 0.1/0.05/3 (g/g/g). This performance was superior to that of several commercial catalysts. The magnetic solid acid catalyst which was prepared to facilitate separation from cellulose residue showed constant durability in three activity tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-year-old dog weighing 8 kg was referred with a disorder of sexual development and persistent urinary incontinence before and after gonadohysterectomy performed at a local animal hospital. Histopathological examination disclosed hypoplasia of the testes, epididymis, pampiniform plexus, and uterus. On ultrasonography, an anomalous structure containing anechoic fluid was identified in the region dorsal to the urinary bladder. An anomalous communication between the proximal urethra and the remnant uterus and vagina was found on retrograde urethrography under fluoroscopy. Reflux of contrast medium into the anomalous structure, suspected to be the uterus and cranial vagina, from the urethra was detected. Computed tomography identified the anomalous structure between the rectum and urethra. The anomalous structure was removed via laparotomy and the urinary incontinence resolved. The diagnosis of XX sex reversal with a developmental anomaly of the genitourinary tract was made on the basis of laparotomy findings and cytogenetic and SRY gene analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancers cause a high level of transcription and activation of chromatin structure at target genes. Hyperacetylation of histones H3 and H4, a mark of active chromatin, is established broadly across target loci by enhancers that function over long distances. In the present study, we studied the role of an enhancer in methylation of various lysine residues on H3 by comparing a model gene locus having an active enhancer with one in which the enhancer has been inactivated within the context of minichromosomes. The intact enhancer affected histone methylation at K4, K9 and K36 in distinct ways depending on the methylation level and the location in the locus. All three lysine residues were highly tri-methylated in the coding region of the gene linked to the active enhancer but not the inactive enhancer. However di-methylation of K9 and K36 was not affected by the enhancer. The enhancer region itself was marked by mono-methylation at K4 and K9, distinguishing it from the methyl marks in the gene coding region. These results indicate that an enhancer has roles in establishing active histone methylation patterns linked with gene transcription rather than removing methylation linked with gene inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]