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Grass puffer, Takifugu niphobles, has unique spawning behavior; spawning occurs on beach only for several days around new moon and full moon from spring to early summer. To investigate the role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the reproductive function, genes encoding three types of GnRHs, namely seabream GnRH (sbGnRH), chicken GnRH-II (cGnRH-II) and salmon GnRH (sGnRH), were cloned and changes in their mRNA amounts were examined over the spawning season. In addition, changes in the pituitary gonadotropin subunit mRNAs and the plasma steroid hormones were examined over the spawning season. Fishes were assessed at four reproductive stages, i.e., in December (early maturation), in April (maturing), in May (spawning), and in July (post-spawning). Moreover, spawning fish just after releasing eggs and sperm were taken at a spawning bed. The amounts of sbGnRH mRNA were substantially elevated in May and the spawning fish in both sexes, concomitant with considerable elevations of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone beta subunit mRNAs and plasma estradiol-17beta (E(2)) and testosterone (T) levels. There were strong positive correlations between the sbGnRH mRNA and the plasma E(2) and T levels over the spawning season in both sexes. The amounts of cGnRH-II mRNA showed no noticeable changes except for an increase in the post-spawning females. The amounts of sGnRH mRNA in the males were significantly increased in May, but they were low in the spawning males. In the females, sGnRH mRNA increased from the maturing stage and reached a maximum in the post-spawning stage, in which a positive correlation with the plasma cortisol levels was observed. These specific changes suggest that the expression of three types of GnRH genes is differentially regulated during the spawning season, and sex steroids may be important for the differential expression of GnRH genes.

Given Japan’s super-ageing society and its need for developing community-based integrated care system, the role of home care nursing is becoming increasingly important. A central concern in home care nursing is regional/spatial placement of home nursing stations and accessibility for patients. Analysis based on geographic information systems (GIS) may be useful in home care nursing research. We conducted a literature review of home care nursing research based on GIS in Japan. A total of 4 articles were selected following a search of medical literature databases. The first report was published in 2014. Most subjects in the identified studies were older people. Most studies were implemented at a municipal level. Key themes in the identified studies were “placement of specialists and home nursing stations” and “placement of home nursing stations and target patients.” Despite the paucity of research, as all identified studies examined the community areas with an aged population, it may point to the need to consider community-based integrated care systems, including home care nursing, in Japan. More GIS-based research on home care nursing is called for.

In the previous paper, the loading rates of TN and TP were measured in Aburahi-S Experimental Forested Watershed (AsEFW; 3.34 ha), and the specific loads (Lss) were evaluated to be 9.95 and 0.168 kg·ha-1·y-1, respectively. The Ls values should be verified to converge within AsEFW in order to be appreciable as parameters characterizing AsEFW. However, it is difficult to install a sufficient number of weirs in such a small watershed to prove directly such convergence. In this paper, water samples of the baseflow were taken up monthly at twelve sites (R0-R7 and L1-L4) located upstream of the weir (R0) of AsEFW for one year. The average concentrations of the nutrients at R0 did not significantly differ (ps values converge within AsEFW. Since springs may affect significantly Ls values, especially in small watersheds, their existence and effect should be checked. A small spring (L5) was found in AsEFW, and its influence on the Ls values of the nutrients was confirmed to be negligible.

Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) is a major virulence factor in infections with Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), which causes gastrointestinal diseases and sometimes fatal systemic complications. Recently, we developed an oral Stx2 inhibitor known as Ac-PPP-tet that exhibits remarkable therapeutic potency in an STEC infection model. However, the precise mechanism underlying the in vivo therapeutic effects of Ac-PPP-tet is unknown. Here, we found that Ac-PPP-tet completely inhibited fluid accumulation in the rabbit ileum caused by the direct injection of Stx2. Interestingly, Ac-PPP-tet accumulated in the ileal epithelial cells only through its formation of a complex with Stx2. The formation of Ac-PPP-tet-Stx2 complexes in cultured epithelial cells blocked the intracellular transport of Stx2 from the Golgi apparatus to the endoplasmic reticulum, a process that is essential for Stx2 cytotoxicity. Thus, Ac-PPP-tet is the first Stx neutralizer that functions in the intestine by altering the intracellular transport of Stx2 in epithelial cells.

The reproductive characteristics of ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’, a bud mutation of Hyuganatsu that is self-incompatible, were examined. A pollination experiment resulted in Hyuganatsu × ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’ and ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’ self-pollination produced their fruit, whereas ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’ × Hyuganatsu cannot produce fruit as a result of early dropping of premature fruits within the first 10 weeks after pollination. Considering the self-incompatible nature of Hyuganatsu, this result implies a mutation of the pollen-expressed gene(s) associated with the self-incompatibility occurring in ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’. When ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’ pollen was used for several citrus accessions (Hyuganatsu, ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’, Hassaku, and ‘Sweet Spring’), it was observed that the number of normal seeds decreased and that of aborted seeds increased. Interestingly, the extent of seed abortion differed among seed parents. Hyuganatsu and ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’ lost most of their normal seeds. In contrast, Hassaku lost relatively lesser seeds, and ‘Sweet Spring’ lost only a few seeds. Moreover, Hassaku fruits obtained by pollination with ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’ pollen showed various proportions of normal and aborted seeds even among individual fruits. ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’ pollen did not affect the fruit characteristics, with some exceptions in Hyuganatsu, ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’, and Hassaku. All the characteristics were superior in Hyuganatsu-pollinated fruits compared with ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’-pollinated ones in ‘Sweet Spring’. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that ‘Nishiuchi Konatsu’ has two agriculturally important traits: self-compatibility and seed abortion. It can be useful for elucidating the mechanisms and as the genetic resources that introduce these traits.

CS6 is a widely expressed colonization factor of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). To date, CS6 has not been well characterized in its native state. Here, we purified CS6 for the first time from an ETEC clinical isolate. Purified CS6 was composed of two structural subunits, CssA and CssB, which were present in equal amounts and tightly linked through noncovalent, detergent-stable association. The CssA subunit was poorly immunogenic, whereas CssB was highly immunogenic. Although the predicted molecular mass of CssA is 15 kDa, the purified CssA has an effective molecular mass of 18.5 kDa due to fatty acid modification. When purified CS6 was screened for its ability to bind with different extracellular matrix proteins, fibronectin (Fn) was found to interact with CS6 as well as CssA in a dose-dependent and saturable manner. This interaction was inhibited both by a synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal hydrophilic, surface-exposed region of CssA (positions 112 to 126) and by the antibody derived against this region. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that CssA interacted with the 70-kDa N-terminal domain of Fn. The modifications on CssA probably do not play a role in Fn binding. Preincubation of INT 407 cells with CssA, but not CssB, inhibited ETEC binding to these cells. The results suggested that CS6-expressing ETEC binds to Fn of INT 407 cells through the C-terminal region of CssA. Purified CS6 was found to colocalize with Fn along the junctions of INT 407 cells. Based on the results obtained, we propose that CS6-expressing ETEC binds to the intestinal cells through Fn for colonization.

The green turtle Chelonia mydas is distributed throughout tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. The Japanese population, the northernmost population of this species, is decreasing due to loss of spawning beaches, and peopling to the coastal area. To examine the genetic structure and genetic diversity of the Japanese population, a total of 294 individuals from seven foraging localities and 20 individuals from two nesting sites were analyzed using muscle and skin samples. The control region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was amplified with specific primers, and 32 haplotypes were detected from the Japanese population. Haplotype diversities (h) of the southern islands (0.89 at Yaeyama and 0.83 at Amami-Ohshima) were higher than those of the main islands (0.69, 0.63, and 0.67 at Nomaike, Muroto, and Owase, respectively). A median-joining tree using the 32 haplotypes showed three clades, and dominant haplotypes were situated in the middle of each clade. The exact test and F_ST for geographic heterogeneity in haplotype frequency distributions for the five foraging localities showed that significant differences were detected between Yaeyama and the main island localities, and between the Amami-Ohshima and Nomaike/Owase localities.

Summary Cathelicidin (hCAP-18/LL-37) and b-defensin 1 (HBD-1) are human antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with high basal expression levels, which form the first line of host defence against infections over the epithelial surfaces. The antimicrobial functions owe to theirdirectmicrobicidaleffectsaswellastheimmuno- modulatory role. Pathogenic microorganisms have developed multiple modalities including transcrip- tional repression to combat this arm of the host immune response. The precise mechanisms and the pathogen-derived molecules responsible for tran- scriptional downregulation remain unknown. Here, we have shown that enteric pathogens suppress LL-37 and HBD-1 expression in the intestinal epithe- lial cells (IECs) with Vibrio cholerae and enterotoxi- genic Escherichia coli (ETEC) exerting the most dramatic effects. Cholera toxin (CT) and labile toxin (LT), the major virulence proteins of V. cholerae and ETEC, respectively, are predominantly responsible for these effects, both in vitro and in vivo. CT tran- scriptionally downregulates the AMPs by activating several intracellular signalling pathways involving protein kinase A (PKA), ERK MAPKinase and Cox-2 downstream of cAMP accumulation and inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) may mediate this role of CT, at least in part. This is the first report to show transcriptional repression of the AMPs through the activation of cellular signal transduction path- ways by well-known virulence proteins of pathogenic microorganisms.

We have investigated the regioselective cycloaddition of o-quinones 1b–e with the protected sinapyl alcohol 2. It was found that the position of the alkoxy substituent on the o-quinone ring controlled the regioselectivity of the cycloaddition. In addition, our reported procedure for determining the location of the side chains on 1,4-benzodioxanes has been improved.

Background The incidence of allergic symptoms to cedar pollen has reached epidemic proportions in Japan. Intravenous injection of β-1,3-glucan in human subjects is known to induce a T H 1 response, whereas oral uptake does not. Objective It was examined whether orally ingested, superfine dispersed β-1,3-glucan (SDG), easily absorbed by intestinal mucosa, would alleviate allergic symptoms. Methods Allergic patients were orally administrated either SDG (n = 30) or nondispersed β-1,3-glucan (n = 30), and allergic symptoms were assessed clinically in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study. Results SDG alleviated ongoing symptoms of Japanese cedar pollen–induced rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchy watery eyes, and its oral uptake before symptom onset exhibited preventive effects. Alleviation of allergic symptoms was evident not only for seasonal allergy to cedar pollen but also for perennial allergy. Oral ingestion of β-1,3-glucan in individuals with allergic tropism could reduce the spontaneous increase in both allergen-specific and total IgE titers. The clinical responses to treatment were well correlated with the capacity of monocytes to bind to β-1,3-glucan. Although SDG reduced allergic symptoms, the oral uptake of nondispersed β-1,3-glucan produced no clinical effects, despite the identical amount of β-1,3-glucan in both preparations. Conclusion We postulate that orally taken β-1,3-glucan prepared in a form easily absorbed by intestinal mucosa is able to alleviate cedar pollen–induced allergic symptoms. Clinical implications Orally effective SDG might greatly contribute to the resolution of epidemic medical problems of seasonal cedar pollen–induced allergy.

©2015 The Physical Society of Japan. We have carried out nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements on ThRu2Si2 and LaRu2Si2, which are the nonmagnetic references of the intriguing heavy fermion URu2Si2. The comparisons of URu2Si2 with the reference materials allow us to analyze the already known NMR and NQR data on URu2Si2 phenomenologically and semiquantitatively. The study of 101Ru-NQR frequency suggests the relatively close electronic configuration of URu2Si2, including the valence of the actinide ion, to that of the tetravalent ThRu2Si2 at high temperatures, as well as the delocalization of 5 f electrons at low temperatures. Ising-like spin fluctuations along the c-axis were brought to light by 29Si-NMR data in the so-called hidden order phase of URu2Si2. The unique magnetic property is plausibly associated with the mechanism of the unconventional superconductivity.

(2006). pH response in stream water and buffering capacity of forested soil affected by clear-cutting. SIL Proceedings, 1922-2010: Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 1603-1607.

CS6 is the predominant colonization factor of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). We report the existence of multiple CS6 subtypes caused by natural point mutations in cssA and cssB, the structural genes for CS6. The subtype AIBI was mostly associated with ETEC isolated from diarrhoeal cases, whereas AIIBII was mostly found in asymptomatic controls. Here we explore the rationale behind this association. ETEC isolates expressing AIIBII showed weaker adherence to intestinal epithelial cells compared with ETEC expressing AIBI. AIIBII expression on the ETEC cell surface was threefold less than AIBI. We found that alanine at position 37 in CssAII, in conjunction with asparagine at position 97 in CssBII, was responsible for the decreased levels of AIIBII on the bacterial surface. In addition, purified AIIBII showed fourfold less mucin binding compared with AIBI. The asparagine at position 97 in CssBII was also accountable for the decreased mucin binding by AIIBII. Reduced fluid accumulation and colonization occurred during infection with ETEC expressing AIIBII in animal models. Together these results indicate that the differential adherence between AIBI and AIIBII was a cumulative effect of decreased surface-level expression and mucin binding of AIIBII due to two specific amino acid variations. As a consequence, ETEC expressing these two subtypes displayed differential pathogenicity. We speculate that this might explain the subjective association of AIBI with ETEC from diarrhoeal cases and AIIBII with asymptomatic controls.

PURPOSE To report a case in which a macular hole (MH) associated with a ruptured retinal arteriolar aneurysm (RAM) closed without surgical intervention. PATIENT AND RESULTS A 65-year-old woman presented complaining of sudden visual loss due to vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye. Correctable visual acuity in the left eye was 2/100 at the initial visit. Three weeks later, the vitreous hemorrhage had resolved, revealing an MH, serous retinal detachment, and subretinal hemorrhage associated with a ruptured RAM. Laser photocoagulation was applied to the RAM to promote absorption of the subretinal fluid. Two months after onset, the MH closed with resolution of the exudative retinal lesions and recovery of vision to 20/60. CONCLUSIONS The present case indicates that closure of an MH can take place within a couple of months without surgical intervention. This suggests that observation without surgical intervention may be advocated when an MH is associated with a ruptured RAM and massive subretinal hemorrhage spares the macula.

Summary Acidification of the starchy endosperm by the aleurone layer following germination has been established; however, the physiological and metabolic responses of this tissue to external pH have been incompletely investigated. In this investigation, isolated wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) aleurone layers were incubated in different solutions at initial pH values of 3, 4 and 6 in the absence of phytohormones. After 24 h of incubation, the initial pH of all malate and succinate buffers shifted towards a value close to 4.2. These results suggest the existence of a pH-stating mechanism, instead of the simple acidification process reported previously. The rise of initial pH 3 by aleurone layers was accompanied by a high net uptake of external malic- or succinic acid. In contrast, incubation in glycyl-glycine buffer (a supposedly non-permeating cation at pH 3) partially prevented that pH rise in a pH-3 solution. The 14 C-malate taken up from media at pH 3 was mostly broken down to CO 2 , indicating that an effective metabolic control of the intracellular malate level was operating. At pH 6, an uptake of 14 C-malate and 14 CO 2 production occurred as well, but at slower rates than at pH 3. When buffer concentration was increased, at initial pH values of 3 or 6, a higher uptake or secretion of malic acid, respectively, was carried out by the aleurone layers. The pH of these buffers varied less than that of dilute ones, but always showed a tendency toward a pH near 4. These results suggest that a balance between secretion and uptake of malic acid, accompanied by the corresponding biosynthesis or degradation, is the basis of this pH-stating mechanism.

The aim of this study was to develop a lethal Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection model in mice. A small inoculum of 5 x 10(3) CFU of STEC strain 89020087 to mice treated with streptomycin sulfate in drinking water (5 mg/ml) lead to marked increase in the excretion of the bacteria of up to 10(9)CFU/g feces within 18 h after the challenge. Combination of administration of 5 x 10(3) CFU of STEC followed by mitomycin C (MMC) treatment during the late log phase to the early stationary phase of STEC growth in the intestine lead to fatal infection. Periodic analysis showed that there is transient but dramatic increase in the Stxs (Stx1 and Stx2) concentration in the lower intestines after multiple MMC treatment. Histopathological analysis and blood chemistry revealed damages in both kidney and hematopoietic organs but not in the brain. Comparison of the virulence of 11 different STEC strains revealed that only strains which produced high amount of Stx2 responding to MMC treatment and exerted lethal toxicity to mice, suggesting that Stx2 plays a pivotal role in the lethal infection of STEC in the mouse model.

Shiga toxin 2-converting phage was isolated from Escherichia coli O157:H7 associated with an outbreak that occurred in Okayama, Japan in 1996 (M. Watarai, T. Sato, M. Kobayashi, T. Shimizu, S. Yamasaki, T. Tobe, C. Sasakawa and Y. Takeda, Infect. Immun. 61 (1998) 3210-3204). In this study, we analyzed the complete nucleotide sequence of Shiga toxin 2-converting phage, designated Stx2phi-I, and compared it with three recently reported Stx2-phage genomes. Stx2phi-I consisted of 61,765 bp, which included 166 open reading frames. When compared to 933W, VT2-Sakai and VT2-Sa phages, six characteristic regions (regions I-VI) were found in the Stx2 phage genomes although overall homology was more than 95% between these phages. Stx2phi-I exhibited remarkable differences in these regions as compared with VT-2 Sakai and VT2-Sa genes but not with 933W phage. Characteristic repeat sequences were found in regions I-IV where the genes responsible for the construction of head and tail are located. Regions V and VI, which are the most distinct portion in the entire phage genome were located in the upstream and downstream regions of the Stx2 operons that are responsible for the immunity and replication, and host lysis. These data indicated that Stx2phi-I is less homologous to VT2-Sakai and VT2-Sa phages, despite these three phages being found in the strains isolated at the almost same time in the same geographic region but closely related to 933W phage which was found in the E. coli O157 strain 933W isolated 14 years ago in a different geographic area.

Whole-lake areal distribution of submerged macrophyte growth in Lake Biwa was surveyed using aerial photographs in 1994 and 2000, when unusual declines in the water level of approximately 1 m occurred in the dry summers. The estimated total areas of the submerged macrophyte communities were 1441 ha for 1994 and 2825 ha for 2000. In the shallow and eutrophic southern basin, the bottom area covered by vegetation gradually increased year by year after 1994, and the ratio of this area to the total surface area of the basin in 2000 amounted to 52%. The dominant species were two natives, Hydrilla verticillata and Myriophyllum spicatum, and one exotic, Egeria densa. Changes in physical conditions and water quality associated with the decline in the water level, as well as the reactions of submerged plants to aquatic environments and ecosystem dynamics, are discussed.

A novel nontoxic form of chimeric mucosal adjuvant that combines the A subunit of mutant cholera toxin E112K with the pentameric B subunit of heat-labile enterotoxin from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was constructed by use of the Brevibacillus choshinensis expression system (mCTA/LTB). Nasal immunization of mice with tetanus toxoid (TT) plus mCTA/LTB elicited significant TT-specific immunoglobulin A responses in mucosal compartments and induced high serum immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A anti-TT antibody responses. Although TT plus native CT induced high total and TT-specific immunoglobulin E responses, use of the chimera molecule as mucosal adjuvant did not. Furthermore, all mice immunized with TT plus mCTA/LTB were protected from lethal systemic challenge with tetanus toxin. Importantly, the mice were completely protected from influenza virus infection after nasal immunization with inactivated influenza vaccine together with mCTA/LTB. These results show that B. choshinensis-derived mCTA/LTB is an effective and safe mucosal adjuvant for the induction of protective immunity against potent bacterial exotoxin and influenza virus infection.

6歳,男児のマダニ刺症の1例を報告した。2001年8月12日林間学校のため,沖縄県石川市の少年自然の家に一泊した後,右側頭部にマダニが咬着したことに気づいた。マダニを局麻下で皮膚を含め切除·除去した。そのマダニを光顕および走査電顕で観察し,ヤマトマダニと同定した。沖縄県におけるマダニ刺症は自験例を含め6例の報告がある。その原因虫はタカサゴキララマダニが4例,犬に寄生するクリイロコイタマダニ1例,自験例のヤマトマダニ1例である。また沖縄県では1例のライム病の報告があるが,マダニの刺症歴については不明である。

8, KJ00007524159

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a T-cell lymphoma characterized by the proliferation of large pleomorphic CD30 + cells. Typical cases are associated with t(2;5)(p23;q35), which results in ...

The budgets of nutrients and major ions between the input flux from atmospheric deposition and the output flux to streams were measured on three forested small mountain watersheds, Aburahi-N (23.8 ha), Aburahi-S (3.8 ha, 2 km south from Aburahi-N) and Myokoji (1.77 ha, 28 km northwest from Aburahi-N), located at 34-35 N and 136 E around the central part of Japan. The bedrock of the watersheds is granite. The main vegetation of Aburahi-N and Aburahi-S was planted with Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc), and Myokoji was a secondary forest growing deciduous broadleaf trees and Japanese red pine. The chemical analysis of the stream waters was carried out once a week at Aburahi-N from 1987 to 1991, at Aburahi-S from 1995 to 1998, and at Myokoji from 1991 to 1993. Wet and dry depositions were collected every month at Aburahi-N. The annual mean concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) of the stream water of Aburahi-N, Aburahi-S and Myokoji were 0.408, 0.614 and 0.349 mg/l, respectively, total phosphorus (TP) contents were 0.0074, 0.0046 and 0.0096 mg/l, and the potassium ion (K+) contents were 0.83, 0.49 and 0.77 mg/l. The average annual output fluxes of TN from the watersheds of Aburahi-N, Aburahi-S and Myokoji were calculated to be 5.85, 4.10 and 12.7 kg/ha/y, TP 0.131, 0.045 and 0.280 kg/ha/y, K+ 9.63, 3.23 and 9.70 kg/ha/y, and discharge 1062, 508 and 1265 mm/y, respectively. The annual outputs tended to increase as the annual precipitation increased. The average annual input fluxes of TN, TP and K+ for six years from 1990-1998 were 12.5, 1.31 and 7.64 kg/ha/y, respectively, and the precipitation averaged 1449 (1019-1947) mm/y.

The inhibiting characteristics of lactic acid bacteria on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 (three strains, clinically isolated) was investigated by using a batch fermentation system. The species such as Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota or L. acidophilus YIT 0070 exert growth inhibitory and bactericidal activities on STEC. The pH value and undissociated lactic acid (U-LA) concentration of the culture medium of STEC cocultured with L. casei or L. acidophilus dramatically lowered or increased, respectively [corrected], when compared with those of the control culture. The cytotoxic properties of U-LA on STEC strain 89020087 analyzed in vitro was divided into two phases, i.e., the bacteriostatic phase (between 3.2 to 62 mM) and the bactericidal phase (over 62 mM). These data suggest that the bactericidal effect of Lactobacillus on STEC depends on its lactic acid production and pH reductive effect.

Summary Isolated wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Potam) aleurone layers have a high capacity to acidify their environment, and secrete hydrolytic enzymes (endoxylanase, glucanase, α-amylase, proteases, etc.) under the control of GA3. Acidic pH and xylanases are found to be essential for cell wall relaxation in growing tissues, but aleurone is a non-growing, non-dividing tissue. In this tissue, we studied the effect of these loosening factors on aleurone cell walls.Exposure to pH 3.0 caused the release of carbohydrates and calcium ions from the pericarp, and a small amount of carbohydrates, mainly polysaccharides, from aleurone layers from which pericarp tissue had been removed. 50 percnt; of the total sugars released into the incubation medium by these isolated aleurone tissue was arabinose, but no xylose, calcium ions, or phenolic compounds were found. Acid preincubation decreased by 30 percnt; the susceptibility of aleurone cell walls to degradation by exogenously-applied endoxylanase, and also modified the architecture of cell wall as observed by autofluorescence of phenolic groups. These findings suggest that acid treatment and endoxylanase action, rather than having a loosening effect on aleurone cell wall, can have an opposite effect, increasing the resistance of aleurone cell walls to loosening.

Methane absorption rates of soils in a deciduous broad-leaf secondaryforest dominated by Quercus serrata in central Japan were measured by closed chamber technique from July 1995 to March 1999, focusing on its seasonal and spatial variations and the effects of clear-cutting. The measurement indicated that the methane absorption rate was the highest from late summer to beginning of autumn. The maximum value of the mean absorption rate was about 0.1 CH4 m−2hr−1. Regarding the spatial variation of the absorption rate, it varied along the position in a slope: the rate was higher at the lower position in a slope and lower at the upper position. After clear-cutting in the one of two adjacent watersheds constituting the study site, the highest mean absorption rate decreased to about 60–70 % of the last year's rate; our observations suggest that partial disturbance and erosion of the surface soil was the main reasons for the decrease.

The isolation frequency of pathogenic bacteria for acute respiratory infection (ARI) in the pharynx and nasal vestivulum was investigated. Age group-matched children with or without ARI including 109 individuals in each group were examined. Any of the organisms, which are widely regarded as the pathogens causing ARI such as Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, beta-haemolytic Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Moraxella catarrhalis, were isolated from 91% of the patient group and from 77% of the healthy group. The isolation frequency of S. pneumoniae in the nasal vestivulum of the patient group was outstanding. The healthy carrier rates of S. pneumoniae in the pharynx and nasal vestivulum were 9% and 8%, respectively. Whereas the isolation frequencies from the patient group were 7% and 28%, respectively. alpha-haemolytic Streptococci except S. pneumoniae revealed different tendency from S. pneumoniae. These organisms were almost always isolated from their pharynx but rarely isolated from the nasal vestivulum. The isolation frequency of H. influenzae from the pharynx of the patient group was 41%, which was slightly higher than 34% in the healthy group, but the difference was statistically not significant. H. influenzae was not isolated from the nasal vestivulum of the healthy group, nevertheless it was isolated from 25% of the patient group. The isolation of H. influenzae from the nasal vestivulum may have some important information about ARI. S. aureus was isolated from the pharynx with higher rate than the nasal vestivulum in both groups, and moreover, the isolation frequency of S. aureus in the healthy group was higher than the patient group. It means that the diagnosis of staphylococcal infection should be made very carefully. Considering the results of this study, it could be said that bacteriologic examination of the specimens from nasal vestivulum is valuable to determine S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae as the etiologic agents of ARI.

secretes several hydrolytic enzymes in response to gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) of which a-amylase is the most abundant With the aim of determining the level at which ageing and the best characterized (for review, see Fincher, 1989; exerts its effect on the expression of a-amylase, GA 3 Jones and Jacobsen, 1990). In wheat, there are two regulation of a-amylase production was studied in families of a-amylase isoforms (Macgregor and isolated aleurone layers from aged wheat seeds. Macgregor, 1987), encoded by two sets of structural GA 3 -induced a-amylase activity was lower in the tissue genes (Lazarus et al., 1985). These isoenzymes are from aged seeds than in controls. However, the proporsecreted into the starchy endosperm of the germinating

The time evolution of translationally symmetric hydromagnetic waves in a nonideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) plasma is investigated. Exact time-dependent wave solutions of the nonlinear resistive and dissipative MHD equations for the plasma within a cylindrical annulus are presented. It is shown that the magnetic field and the velocity have different damping time and that in the asymptotic limit t→∞ the plasma relaxes toward the equilibrium state involving uniform rotation and no magnetic field.

We have achieved total synthesis of cleomiscosin C (aquillochin) through regioselective cycloaddition of o-quinone and protected sinapyl alcohol as a key step. During preparation of o-quinone from phenol by IBX oxidation, silyl substituents adjacent to the phenolic hydroxyl group afforded effective inhibition of an undesired oxidative elimination.

Prolyl endopeptidase (EC3.4.21.26) has been considered a unique intracellular enzyme catalyzing internal peptide bond hydrolysis of Pro-X. In this study, the distribution of prolyl endopeptidase activity and its mRNA was investigated in the follicles of porcine ovary. Both follicular fluid and granulosa cell fractions from small follicles showed higher activity than those from large follicles. Molecular cloning and Northern blot analysis suggested that only one species of prolyl endopeptidase gene was expressed in the ovary. In addition, in situ hybridization study revealed that the prolyl endopeptidase mRNA expresssion was more noticeable in the granulosa cell layers of small ovarian follicles than in those of large follicles, suggesting its importance in the early stage of follicular development.