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Aims Axonal aggregates of phosphorylated (p-) transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS) were examined in relation to propagation of the protein in the nervous system. Methods Brains and spinal cords of Japanese patients with sALS and control subjects were examined immunohistochemically using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens with special reference to the topographical distribution, microscopic features, presynaptic aggregates, and correlation between the aggregates in axons and the clinical course. Results (i) Aggregates of p-TDP-43 were frequently present in axons of the hypoglossal and facial nerve fibres and the spinal anterior horn cells. (ii) Aggregates of p-TDP-43 in the axons showed two characteristic microscopic features – dash-like granuloreticular aggregates (GRAs) and massive aggregates (MAs). (iii) MAs were surrounded by p-neurofilaments, but p-neurofilament immunnoreactivity decreased at the inside of axons with GRAs. (iv) Patients showing MAs and GRAs had a relatively shorter clinical course than patients without the aggregates. (v) Some neurones in the red nucleus in patients were surrounded by synapses containing p- and p-independent (i)-TDP-43, and almost all neurones had lost their nuclear TDP-43 immunoreactivity; 17% of those neurones in the red nucleus also had TDP-43-immunopositive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, but no postsynaptic p-TDP-43 deposition was evident. Conclusions There are two types of axonal p-TDP-43 aggregates, MAs and GRAs, located predominantly in the facial and hypoglossal nuclei and anterior horn cells. These aggregates may influence the function of neurones, and presynaptic aggregates of the protein induce loss of p-i-TDP-43 in the nuclei of postsynaptic neurones.

The supercooling and vitrification of aqueous glycerol solutions was studied at high pressures. Homogeneous ice nucleation temperatures (TH) were obtained for aqueous glycerol solutions of R = 50, 30, 20, 12, and 10 (R: moles of water/moles of glycerol) up to 300 MPa. The R = 20 glycerol solution formed a glass above 200 MPa at a cooling rate of 200 °C/min, indicating that pressure enhances glass-formation of aqueous glycerol solutions. The (dTg/dP) values were obtained for vitrified aqueous glycerol solutions of R = 3, 5, 10, and 20. These data can be used for the development of cryo-preservation liquids for living cells at high pressures.

Yokukansan (YKS), a traditional Japanese medicine, is composed of seven kinds of dried herbs. It is widely prescribed in clinical situation for treating psychiatric disorders such as aggressiveness in patients with dementia. We previously demonstrated that YKS and Uncaria hook (UH), which is a constituent herb of YKS, had a partial agonistic effect to 5-HT(1A) receptors in vitro. However, it has still been unclear whether this in vitro effect is reflected in in vivo, and what the active ingredients are. The purpose of the present study is to find the active ingredient in YKS and to demonstrate the effect in in vivo. In the present study, we first studied the effect of YKS and UH on aggressiveness and sociality in socially isolated mice. YKS and UH ameliorated the isolation-induced increased aggressiveness and decreased sociality, and these ameliorative effects were counteracted by coadministration of 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist WAY-100635, or disappeared by eliminating UH from YKS. These results suggest that the effect of YKS is mainly attributed to UH, and the active ingredient is contained in UH. To find the candidate ingredients, we examined competitive binding assay and [(35)S] guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPγS) binding assay of seven major alkaloids in UH using Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing 5-HT(1A) receptors artificially. Only geissoschizine methyl ether (GM) among seven alkaloids potently bound to 5-HT(1A) receptors and acted as a partial agonist. This in vitro result on GM was further demonstrated in the socially isolated mice. As did YKS and UH, GM ameliorated the isolation-induced increased aggressiveness and decreased sociality, and the effect was counteracted by coadministration of WAY-100635. These lines of results suggest that GM in UH is potent 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist and a candidate for pharmacological effect of YKS on aggressiveness and sociality in socially isolated mice.

To clarify the mechanism of yokukansan (TJ-54), a traditional Japanese medicine, against glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, the effects of TJ-54 on glutamate uptake function were first examined using cultured rat cortical astrocytes. Under thiamine-deficient conditions, the uptake of glutamate into astrocytes, and the levels of proteins and mRNA expressions of glutamate aspartate transporter of astrocytes significantly decreased. These decreases were ameliorated in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with TJ-54 (100–700 μg/ml). The improvement of glutamate uptake with TJ-54 was completely blocked by the glutamate transporter inhibitor dl -threo-β-hydroxyaspartic acid. Effects of TJ-54 on glutamate-induced neuronal death were next examined by using cultured PC12 cells as a model for neurons. Addition of 17.5 mM glutamate to the culture medium induced an approximately 50% cell death, as evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. TJ-54 (1–1000 μg/ml) inhibited the cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, competitive binding assays to glutamate receptors showed that TJ-54 bound potently to N -methyl- d -aspartate receptors, in particular, to its glutamate and glycine recognition sites. These results suggest that TJ-54 may exert a neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity not only by amelioration of dysfunction of astrocytes but also by direct protection of neuronal cells.

Eighteen unrelated pyruvate kinase (PK)-deficient Indian patients were identified in the past 4 years with varied clinical phenotypes ranging from a mild chronic haemolytic anaemia to a severe transfusion-dependent disorder. We identified 17 different mutations in the PKLR gene among the 36 mutated alleles. Ten novel mutations were identified: 427G>A, 499C>A, 1072G>A, 1180G>T, 1216G>A, 1220A>G, 644delG, IVS5 (+20) C>A, IVS9 (+44) C>T, and IVS9 (+93) A>C. A severe syndrome was commonly associated with some mutations, 992A>G, 1436G>A, 1220A>G, 644delG and IVS9 (+93) A>C, in the PKLR gene. Molecular graphics analysis of human red blood cell PK (RPK), based on the crystal structure of human PK, shows that mutations located near the substrate or fructose 1,6-diphosphate binding site may change the conformation of the active site, resulting in very low PK activity and severe clinical symptoms. The mutations target distinct regions of RPK structure, including domain interfaces and catalytic and allosteric sites. In particular, the 1216G>A and 1219G>A mutations significantly affect the interdomain interaction because they are located near the catalytic site in the A/B interface domains. The most frequent mutations in the Indian population appear to be 1436G>A (19.44%), followed by 1456C>T (16.66%) and 992A>G (16.66%). This is the first study to correlate the clinical profile with the molecular defects causing PK deficiency from India where 10 novel mutations that produce non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia were identified.

Homogeneous ice nucleation temperatures ( T H s) of aqueous sucrose, trehalose, and maltose solutions were measured together with melting temperatures ( T m s). It is shown that there is a linear relation between T H and T m for these solutions. Almost identical supercooling behavior is observed for these aqueous disaccharide solutions.

Epstein – Barr virus (EBV) is identified as an etiological agent of African type of Burkitt’s lymphoma. Latent infection genes of EBV including EBV nuclear antigens (EBNAs) and latent membrane proteins (LMPs) are expressed in latently infected and immortalized B cells. EBV infection in immunosuppressed patients, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients or allograft recipients receiving long-term immunosuppressive therapy, leads to polyclonal B-cell proliferative disorders, frequently resulting in the development of monoclonal malignant lymphomas. These lymphomas are most often diffuse lymphomas of the B-cell type and contain EBV DNA. Salivary glands often develop chronic inflammatory lesions, sialadenitis, sometimes with the background of autoimmune conditions, and form the acquired mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Sialadenitis increases the risk of malignant lymphoma, and both low-grade B-cell lymphoma of MALT type and high-grade diffuse large B-cell lymphoma develop in salivary glands of sialadenitis patients [1,2]. In these cases, most of the lymphomas do not exhibit EBV genome [2]. Here, we report an infant showing the selective depletion of CD4-positive T-cells without HIV infection, who subsequently developed an EBV-positive diffuse B-cell lymphoma of left submandibular gland. A 3-month-old Japanese girl presented in December 2002 with a high fever of 388C and rubella-like skin eruptions. She was uneventful in her perinatal period. Laboratory examinations revealed a marked elevation of liver enzymes (AST, 489 IU/l; ALT 487 IU/l). The peripheral blood picture showed red

Several gene variants identified in bronchial asthmatic patients are associated with a decrease in pulmonary function. The effects of this intervention on pulmonary function have not been fully researched.We determined the effects of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) on decreased pulmonary function in asthmatic Japanese patients with variants of IL13 and STAT4 during long-term treatments with low to mild doses of ICS.In this study, 411 patients with bronchial asthma who were receiving ICSs and living in Japan were recruited, were genotyped, and underwent pulmonary function tests and fibreoptic examinations. The effects of 2 years of high-dose ICSs administered to asthmatic patients who were homozygous for IL13 AA of rs20541 or STAT4 TT of rs925847 and who progressed to airway remodelling were investigated.High-dose ICS treatment increased the pulmonary function of patients homozygous for IL13 AA of rs20541 but not of patients homozygous for STAT4 TT of rs925847. The increased concentrations of the mediators IL23, IL11, GMCSF, hyaluronic acid, IL24, and CCL8 in bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) were diminished after high-dose ICS treatment in patients homozygous for IL13 AA of rs20541.IL13 AA of rs20541 and STAT4 TT of rs925847 are potential genomic biomarkers for predicting lower pulmonary function. The administration of high-dose ICSs to asthmatic patients with genetic variants of IL13 AA may inhibit the advancement of airway remodelling. The genetic variants of STAT4 TT did not respond to high-dose ICSs. Therefore, using medications other than ICSs must be considered even during the initial treatment of bronchial asthma. These genetic variants may aid in the realization of personalized and phenotype-specific therapies for bronchial asthma.

Summary Objective Apoptosis of chondrocytes plays a pivotal role in cartilage degeneration. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a proinflammatory cytokine and has been assumed to cause the degradation of human cartilage. To investigate the mechanisms of TNF-α-mediated apoptosis of human chondrocytes from a point of view of the balance between the caspase-cascade and the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), although both of them are induced with TNF-signals. Methods The expression of TNF-receptors (TNF-Rs) in normal human articular chondrocyte (NHAC-kn) was examined with immunocytochemistry. Subconfluent cultures of NHAC-kn were tested with TNF-α and/or actinomycin D (actD), and the induction of apoptosis was evaluated by the frequency of apoptotic cells visualized with nuclear staining using Hoechst 33342. The activation of caspases and the expression of IAPs were examined with Western blot analyses. Results NHAC-kn expressed TNF-R1 and -R2. When NHAC-kn was treated with TNF-α (10ng/ml) and actD (0.2μg/ml) for 24h, the frequency of apoptotic cells increased to more than 25%. TNF-α alone, however, induced the apoptosis insufficiently (up to 8.3%), even when used at the concentration of 100ng/ml for 48h. In apoptotic human chondrocytes induced with TNF-α (10ng/ml) and actD (0.2μg/ml), the caspase-3, -8, and -9 were activated and the protein expression of XIAP and c-IAP1 decreased. Conclusions In apoptotic human chondrocytes induced with TNF-α and actD, the balance between caspase activation and IAPs' expression lay with the executioner caspase (caspase-3) and led to decreased expression of XIAP and c-IAP1.

In a previous study, we showed that female Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), oviposits significantly fewer eggs on susceptible wheat plants attacked by conspecific larvae. Here we tested whether proximate cues for reduced egglaying on larval-occupied plants are associated with larvae per se or plant-based cues related to larval attack. We used a novel method, i.e., R gene–defended wheat Triticum aestivum L. genotypes, to decouple Hessian fly larvae from their effects on the plant. On R gene–defended plants, Hessian fly larvae survive for up to 5 d but do not grow. A comparison of egglaying patterns on four near-isogenic wheat genotypes, a susceptible control ‘Newton’ and three R gene wheat genotypes expressing the H6, H9, or H13 gene, showed that the presence of live larvae on plants was not the cause of reduced egglaying. Growth deficits in the youngest leaves, a well-known plant response to Hessian fly larval attack, also were examined as a possible cause of reduced oviposition but showe...

Complex formation of rare earth ions with thiocyanate ions was investigated in the presence of coexisting anions (Cl− or ClO4− ions). From the frequency variations of the CS and CN stretching Raman bands, it is shown that both the coordination number change in the middle of the series and the complex formation of rare earth ions with thiocyanate ions are affected by the coexisting anions. Some discussion was made on the anomalous behavior of the coordination number change with the salt concentration.

Homogeneous ice nucleation temperatures (THs) were measured as a function of solute concentration for aqueous solutions of alcohols (methanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol and xylitol) and sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose and trehalose). It is found that there is a linear relation between TH and the number of OH groups in an alcohol molecule. It is also found that small configurational difference of the solute molecule gives rise to little TH difference.

Raman spectroscopic measurements were carried out for the anhydrous LnCl3·20MeOH·XLiCl solutions (Ln3+=Pr3+, Gd3+ and Ho3+, X=0–4) in both liquid and glassy states. Salt concentration dependence of the frequency for the Ln–Cl stretching Raman band (νLn–Cl) is examined in conjunction with the formation of chloro-rare earth complexes. We have obtained the very interesting results that the chloro-complexations of gadolinium and holmium ions in these solutions show very peculiar behavior as to the salt concentration dependence at room temperature: the νLn–Cl frequency increases with increasing concentration. On the other hand, the νLn–Cl frequency of the PrCl3·20MeOH·XLiCl solution shows normal behavior as to the salt concentration dependence: νLn–Cl decreases with increasing chloride concentration. We present a possible mechanism for this anomalous concentration dependence of coordination of Cl− ions to Ln3+ ions in anhydrous methanol LnCl3 solutions.

A 34-year-old Japanese woman developed subcutaneous induration in the left thigh, then showed extreme eosinophilia, and died of hemorrhagic infarction of the brain. Autopsy revealed endocarditis with eosinophil infiltration and systemic thrombophlebitis, including pulmonary veins and intrahepatic branches of the portal vein. Arterial structure was relatively preserved. She had no clinical history of asthma and had anti-ascarid IgE antibody at postmortem serological examination; thus, her disease does not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of Churg-Strauss syndrome and idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). Her organ involvement is, however, consistent with that of HES; thus, her pathophysiological conditions would resemble those of HES. Systemic thrombophlebitis without arterial lesion in patients with hypereosinophilia has never been reported, and this case would broaden the spectrum of vascular lesions in these patients.

Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the presence of small, dense lipoproteins, which are thought to be related to the metabolic syndrome caused by insulin resistance, can be predicted by routine serum lipid profiling. Methods: The relationship between low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size and serum lipid levels was analysed in 284 school children (148 boys and 136 girls), aged 7 to 13 y old. LDL particle size was determined by gradient gel electrophoresis. Results: The LDL particle diameter was significantly correlated with the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (r= 0.437, p > 0.001) and triglycerides (TG) (r= 0.432, p 0.001), and with the atherogenic index (AI) [total cholesterol/HDL-C] (r= 0.450, p > 0.001), while only weak correlations were observed with the serum levels of total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B. No significant relationship was observed between LDL particle diameter and the serum LDL-C level. Conclusion : The presence of small, dense LDL as a metabolic marker of lifestyle-related diseases in children seems to be reflected by a serum lipid profile characterized by an elevation in TG, a reduction in HDL-C, and a raised AI.

The protein content in rice grains is negatively correlated with eating quality. Protein content of the grains can be estimated using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) with satellite or airborne sensor. The relationship between NDVI and panicle blast severity was examined to assess the effect of severity on the NDVI. As severity increased, NDVI estimated with both a radiometer and an airborne hyper-spectral sensor decreased. Severity of panicle blast must be assessed with the NDVI before estimating the protein of the grain.

Hydrogen bonding in aqueous N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) solutions was studied by Raman spectroscopy of the OH-stretching spectra of water as functions of solute concentration and temperature (from –50 to 50 °C). The Raman spectra were decomposed successfully into two components (the low- and high-frequency components). The peak area ratio of the low-frequency component to the high-frequency component increases exponentially with decreasing temperature. The frequency of the low-frequency component decreases linearly with lowering temperature down to –50 °C at all solute concentrations (solute mol fraction from 0.3 to 0.7). It is shown that the hydrogen bonds in the clathrate structures around DMA molecules are stronger than those around DMF molecules.Key words: Raman spectrum, DMF, DMA, aqueous solution, low temperature.

In order to examine the possibility of applying the HDDR process to segregated master ingots, Nd–Fe–B system HDDR powders were made from ingots with different levels of homogeneity, and their structures and magnetic properties were evaluated in detail. HDDR powders made from segregated as-cast ingots displayed anisotropy and large coercivity. They had a nearly homogeneous Nd2Fe14B phase, although some large areas with α-Fe and Nd-rich regions of 30 μm in size were present after the HD process. With increasing in the homogeneity level of the master ingots, the anisotropy of HDDR-processed powders decreased and their coercivity increased. In addition, an intermediate Ar treatment was applied between the HD and DR processes to improve the magnetic properties. As a result, the effect of the IA treatment was clearly confirmed, and good magnetic properties of Br=1.23 T, HcJ=848 kA/m and (BH)max=238 kJ/m3 were obtained.

The hydrogenation disproportionation desorption recombination (HDDR) process was performed on the generally used alloy composition of Nd12.6Fe63.1Co17.4Zr0.1Ga0.3B6.5 and a low rare earth content alloy composition of Nd11.0Fe65.0Co17.8Zr0.1Ga0.3B5.8. A detailed evaluation was made of the relationship between the microstructure and magnetic properties of these HDDR-processed magnetic powders with respect to their different rare earth element concentrations. The HDDR-processed powders of both alloy compositions were transformed to the Nd2Fe14B phase consisting of fine recombined crystal grains of around 400–500 nm in size and maintained the anisotropic magnetic characteristic that was present before HDDR processing. However, reduction of the rare earth content drastically reduced coercivity, and the alloy composition of Nd11.0Fe65.0Co17.8Zr0.1Ga0.3B5.8 did not manifest magnetic properties. From the results of an examination of their microstructures, it was inferred that the coercivity decreased due to a decline in the concentration of the rare earth element at the grain boundaries of the fine Nd2Fe14B grains with the reduction of the rare earth content of the alloys. Accordingly, in magnetic powders obtained by the HDDR process, the nucleation type of coercivity mechanism predominates, in which rare earth-rich regions present at the grain boundaries of fine Nd2Fe14B grains play a large role in the manifestation of coercivity.

The thermal decomposition of the lanthanoid trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) complexes {Ln(CF3SO3)3·9H2O; Ln=La-Lu{ was studied by TG and DTA methods. From the endothermic and exothermic data of Ln(CF3 SO3)3·9H2O complexes, pyrolysis behavior of the complexes is classified into three groups: 1) La-Nd salts, 2) Sm-Ho salts, 3) Er-Lu salts. It has also shown that all the final decomposition products were found to result in the formation of LnF3.

SUMMARYIn this study we established a new animal model for exploring the pathogenesis of autoimmune pancreatitis. We have found previously that MRL/Mp-+/+(MRL/+) mice develop pancreatitis spontaneously by an autoimmune mechanism but only when they are more than 34 weeks old. Because this disease might be a model of multi-factorial diseases controlled by genetic and environmental factors, beginning at 6 weeks old, we injected polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) into MRL/+ mice and in addtion, into MRL/Mp mice bearing the Fas deletion mutant gene, lpr (MRL/lpr). Poly I:C induced chronic severe pancreatitis in all the MRL/+ mice and to a lesser extent in the MRL/lpr mice by 18 weeks of age. There was no pancreatitis in control mice of both strains at the same age. Other than chronic pancreatitis, no severe autoimmune diseases were observed in MRL/+ mice. Immunohistochemical examinations revealed predominant infiltration of CD4+ T cells and Mac-2+ activated macrophages in the pancreatic lesions. Splenic expression of the mRNAs for TNF-α and IL-10, which is known to suppress the development of pancreatitis, were increased in both strains of mice. These findings suggest that an MRL strain of mice treated with poly I:C might be a good model for developing new approaches to the study of the pathogenesis of autoimmune pancreatitis.

1. Unoccupied wheat plants and wheat plants occupied by conspecific eggs or larvae were presented to ovipositing female Hessian flies in choice tests. 2. The presence of conspecific eggs on the leaf surfaces of wheat plants did not appear to have any effect on the responses of ovipositing Hessian fly females. 3. The presence of conspecific larvae at the base and nodes of wheat plants for 1, 6, or 11 days had significant effects on Hessian fly oviposition. Eggs oviposited on plants were inversely proportional to larval densities and days of larval occupation. 4. Feeding by Hessian fly larvae is associated with several changes in wheat plants. One of these changes, the growth arrestment of the plant, was measured by recording the heights of plants used in oviposition tests. Plant heights were inversely proportional to both larval densities and days of occupation. Plant heights were directly proportional to eggs oviposited on plants. 5. The consequences of adult female avoidance of plants occupied by conspecific larvae were investigated by allowing females to oviposit on unoccupied plants and 1-day, 6-day, and 11-day larval occupied plants, then scoring at the end of the first larval instar the survival of the offspring that resulted from this oviposition. 6. Survival during the first larval instar was 88% for the offspring of females that oviposited on unoccupied plants, decreasing to 82, 31, and 4% on the 1-day, 6-day, and 11-day occupied plant treatments. On these four plant treatments, a positive correlation was found between larval performance (i.e. survival) and the preferences of ovipositing females. 7. On the four plant treatments, relationships between first-instar larval density and first-instar larval survival varied significantly. On unoccupied plants, survival was inversely proportional to density. On plants oviposited on at 6 days of larval occupation, survival was directly proportional to density.

Supercooling behavior of aqueous tetraalkylammonium chloride solution {R4NCl, R = methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), and n-propyl (Pr)} was investigated using emulsification method at high pressures. The magnitude of the supercooling at normal pressure is in the order: Pr4NCl > Et4NCl > Me4NCl while it becomes in the reversed order at high pressures (∼ 200 MPa): Me4NCl > Et4NCl > Pr4NCl. It is shown that the supercooling behavior of these solutions is closely related to intrinsic clathrate-like structures in pure water. In addition, it is suggested that bulky cage-like structures can not be formed at higher pressures than ∼ 200 MPa in water and aqueous solutions.

Test of the linear relation between TH (homogeneous ice nucleation temperature) and Tm (melting temperature) was carried out for aqueous HCl and H2SO4 solutions. It is shown that the linear relation does not hold for aqueous H2SO4 solution. Enhancement of the ionization of sulfuric acid with decreasing temperature is the most likely cause for the curved relation between TH and Tm. In addition, close examination of the TH and Tm data for aqueous HCl solution indicates that the TH versus Tm relation for aqueous HCl solution seems very weakly curved.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) were studied in 75 patients with cerebral infarction. All patients were alert with the symptoms of hemiparesis and/or aphasia, and were divided into two groups: 42 patients had occlusion or stenosis of >75% at the internal carotid artery or main trunk of middle cerebral artery; and 33 patients did not. Hemispheric mean CBF was measured by performing first-pass radionuclide angiography using 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime. CVR was measured as the percentage change from the baseline mean CBF value after the administration of 500 mg acetazolamide. The CVR in both groups was significantly impaired (5.2+/-6.3%, P

An attempt has been made to interpret the anomalous properties of supercooled water in a unified way by using Stillinger's postulate that the formation of bulky clathrate-like local structures is the main cause of the anomalous thermodynamic and transport properties exhibited by liquid water at low temperatures. Comparison of the thermodynamic properties of liquid water, tellurium, and sulfur suggests the existence of a λ-like Cp transition in supercooled water below TH (but above TK). It is inferred that the diverging trends of various anomalous properties with lowering temperature are preserved up to high pressures (

Raman spectroscopic measurements were carried out for anhydrous alcoholic rare earth chloride solutions (LnCl3 · 20ROH; ROH = MeOH, EtOH, and n-PrOH) in the glassy state at liquid nitrogen temperature. Series behavior of the Ln–Cl stretching Raman band is examined in conjunction with the formation of chloro complexes. The results are summarized as follows: (1) Comparing the results with those in the liquid state at room temperature, more Cl- ions tend to coordinate to heavy rare earth ions in the three alcohol solutions upon going from a liquid to a glassy state, while the coordination number of the Cl- ions of the light rare earth ions remains almost unchanged on vitrification. (2) In the former half region of the rare earth series, the coordination number of the Cl- ions of the rare earth ions in the methanol LnCl3 solution is apparently the same as that in the ethanol LnCl3 solution. (3) In the latter half region, the higher chloro complexes, such as [LnClx+1(ROH)y-2](z-1) (x + y = 8; x = 1, z = 2 or x = 2, z = 1) are more abundant in the methanol LnCl3 solution than in the ethanol and n-propanol LnCl3 solutions.

It has been reported recently that Haemophilus influenzae can elicit an axonal form of Guillain-Barré syndrome. To investigate the incidence and features of H. influenzae-related Guillain-Barré syndrome, anti-H. influenzae antibody titres were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 46 consecutive Japanese patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, 49 normal controls, 24 patients with multiple sclerosis and 27 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Whole bacteria of non-encapsulated (non-typable) H. influenzae isolated from one of the Guillain-Barré syndrome patients was the antigen used. Elevated anti-H. influenzae antibodies for two or three classes of IgG, IgM and IgA were found in six (13%) Guillain-Barré syndrome patients, but not in the normal controls and patients with multiple sclerosis or ALS. The incidence was significantly higher in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome than in the normal controls (P = 0.01) and patients with multiple sclerosis or ALS (P = 0.009). Western blot analysis confirmed that the H. influenzae-positive patients' IgG recognized the lipopolysaccharides of H. influenzae. Guillain-Barré syndrome patients with anti-H. influenzae antibodies showed relatively uniform clinical and laboratory features: prodromal respiratory infection, less frequent cranial and sensory nerve involvement, pure motor axonal degeneration on electrophysiology, and positivity for IgG anti-GM1 antibodies. Although the features were similar to those in Guillain-Barré syndrome patients infected by Campylobacter jejuni, the recoveries seemed to be better in patients with H. influenzae-related Guillain-Barré syndrome. It is concluded that a form of Guillain-Barré syndrome occurs after respiratory infection by H. influenzae in the Japanese population. A particular strain of non-typable H. influenzae has a ganglioside GM1-like structure and elicits axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome similar to C. jejuni-related Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Hessian fly eggs are more likely to be found on adaxial rather than abaxial surfaces of wheat leaves. These leaf surfaces differ in their physical features: the adaxial side of the leaf has parallel grooves and ridges while the abaxial side is relatively smooth. We used leaf models to investigate the relationship between Hessian fly egglaying and these physical features. When both sides of a green paper leaf model were treated with a wheat leaf extract, but only one side of the model was scored with parallel grooves, the grooved side received more eggs than the smooth side. As the number of grooves per surface increased from 0 to 10, eggs per model increased. When grooves and the wheat leaf extract were tested together and separately, the grooves significantly increased egg numbers in the presence, but not the absence, of wheat extract. In contrast, wheat extract increased egg numbers both in the absence and presence of grooves. Molding techniques were used to recreate the physical features of the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of five grasses. For four of the grass genotypes (a triticale, two common wheats, and a durum wheat), patterns of egglaying on real leaves and molded models were similar, i.e., adaxial leaf surfaces and adaxial molded models were preferred over abaxial leaf surfaces and abaxial models. On the fifth grass, oat, preferences for the adaxial side of real leaves and for adaxial models were not as obvious. We conclude that the adult female Hessian fly obtains information about the leaf surface through her tactile and/or kinesthetic senses and uses this information when making egglaying decisions.

To identify features of plants that mediate host selection behavior in the Hessian fly, we established the ranking of six grasses by ovipositing females and then ran choice tests with plant models that incorporated physical and/or chemical features of the six grasses. In tests with real plants, egg counts revealed the following ranking: 18ITSN triticale > Otane hexaploid bread wheat > Fleet barley > PND tetraploid durum wheat > 3424 hexaploid bread wheat > Awapuni oat. On all six grasses, the adaxial side of the leaf received more eggs than the abaxial side. In tests with green paper models treated with extracts of the six grasses, egg counts were similar to egg counts on real plants. In tests with models that incorporated a molded resin imprint of an abaxial or adaxial leaf surface, egg counts on adaxial models, but not abaxial models, again were similar to egg counts on real plants. In two final tests a factorial design was used to compare the effects of the chemical and physical features of two pairs of grasses: (1) two bread wheats, Otane and 3424; and (2) a bread wheat and an oat, Otane and Awapuni. In the two tests, the effects of the physical features of the models were at least as important as the effects of the chemical features.

Anthracnose of netted melon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus Naud.) which appeared on leaves, petioles, stems and fruits was observed in Miyagi prefecture in 1997. The causal fungus was isolated from the netted melon and identified as Colletotrichum orbiculare (Berkeley & Montagne) Arx, based on its morphology, growth temperatures, and pathogenicity. Inoculation experiments revealed that 17 species plants belonging 10 genera of Cucurbitaceae and six species of plants belonging to six genera in three other families were infected by the pathogen. This is the first report of anthracnose of netted melon caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare in Japan.

Raman spectra were obtained for alcohol solutions with inert solvents such asCCl4, CHCl3, etc. The frequency of the OH stretching vibrations[νOH(free) band]due to free hydrogen bonds varies with change in either alcohol or inert solvent.It is shown that the frequency of the νOH(free) band is sensitive to the shape ofthe head group of an inert solvent. The main cause for the frequency change ofthe νOH(free) band with change in alcohol is ascribed to the change of effectivemass of the vibrating unit (RO-H, R = alkyl group).