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A new shape of the mixer in supercritical hydrothermal flow-type reactors was proposed and evaluated by neutron radiography and nanoparticle synthesis.

This study aims at identifying transcriptional targets of FruitlessBM (FruBM), which represents the major isoform of male-specific FruM transcription factors that induce neural sexual dimorphisms. A promoter of the axon-guidance factor gene robo1 carries the 16-bp palindrome motif Pal1, to which FruM binds. Our genome-wide search for Pal1-homologous sequences yielded ~200 candidate genes. Among these, CG17716 potentially encodes a transmembrane protein with extracellular immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains similar to Robo1. Indeed, FruBM overexpression reduced CG17716 mRNA and protein expression. In the fru-expressing mAL neuron cluster exhibiting sexual dimorphism, we found that CG17716 knockdown in female neurons completely transformed all neurites to the male-type. Conversely, CG17716 overexpression suppressed male-specific midline crossing of fru-expressing sensory axons. We renamed CG17716 teiresias (tei) based on this feminizing function. We hypothesize that Tei interacts with other Ig superfamily transmembrane proteins, including Robo1, to feminize the neurite patterns in females, whereas FruBM represses tei transcription in males., Sato, Ito, and Yamamoto report the identification of a Fruitless target gene, teiresias (tei), required for neuronal feminization in Drosophila. They find that tei is responsible for specifying the sex-specific structure of neurites and propose that the Tei protein forms a complex with robo1, conferring the ligand specificity on the heteromeric receptor complex. more...

The fruitless gene of Drosophila produces multiple protein isoforms, which are classified into two major classes, sex-specific Fru proteins (FruM) and non-sex specific proteins (FruCOM). Whereas FruM proteins are expressed in ∼2000 neurons to masculinize their structure and function, little is known about FruCOM's roles. As an attempt to obtain clues to the roles of FruCOM, we compared expression patterns of FruCOM and FruM in the central nervous system at the late larval stage. We found that nearly all neuroblasts express FruCOM but not FruM, whereas a subset of ganglion mother cells and differentiated neurons express FruM but not FruCOM. It is inferred that FruCOM proteins support fundamental stem cell functions, contrasting to FruM proteins, which play major roles in sex-specific differentiation of neurons. more...

While epigamic traits likely evolve via sexual selection, the mechanism whereby internal sexual dimorphism arises remains less well understood. Seeking clues as to how the internal sexual dimorphism evolved, we compared the abdominal musculature of 41 Drosophila montium group species, to determine whether any of these species carry a male-specific muscle of Lawrence (MOL). Our quantitative analysis revealed that the size of a sexually dimorphic MOL analog found in 19 montium group species varied widely from species to species, suggesting the gradual evolution of this sexually dimorphic neuromuscular trait. We attempted the ancestral state reconstitution for the presence or absence of the neuromuscular sexual dimorphism in the A5 segment; the neuromuscular sexual dimorphism existed in an old ancestor of the montium group, which was lost in some of the most recent common ancestors of derived lineages, and subsequently some species regained it. This loss-and-gain history was not shared by evolutionary changes in the courtship song pattern, even though both traits were commonly regulated by the master regulator male-determinant protein FruM. It is envisaged that different sets of FruM target genes may serve for shaping the song and MOL characteristics, respectively, and, as a consequence, each phenotypic trait underwent a distinct evolutionary path. more...

Because inorganic solid electrolytes are one of the key components for application to all-solid-state batteries, high-ionic-conductivity materials must be developed. Therefore, we propose a method of efficiently evaluating the activation energy of ionic diffusion by calculating a potential-energy surface (PES), searching for the optimal diffusion path by an algorithm developed using dynamic programming (DP), and calculating the corresponding activation energy by the nudged elastic band (NEB) method. Taking beta-Li3PS4 as an example, the activation energy of Li-ion diffusion was calculated as 0.43, 0.25, and 0.40 eV in the a-, b-, and c-axis directions, respectively, which is in good agreement with previously reported values. By comprehensively searching for the lowest energy path by PES-DP, the arbitrariness of the path selection can be eliminated, and the activation energy must only be calculated using the NEB method a few times, which greatly reduces the computational cost required for evaluating activation energy and enables the high-throughput screening of solid state electrolytes., 8 pages, 10 figures more...

The main theme of the review is how changes in pheromone biochemistry and the sensory circuits underlying pheromone detection contribute to mate choice and reproductive isolation. The review focuses primarily on gustatory and non-volatile signals in Drosophila. Premating isolation is prevalent among closely related species. In Drosophila, preference for conspecifics against other species in mate choice underlies premating isolation, and such preference relies on contact chemosensory communications between a female and male along with other biological factors. For example, although D. simulans and D. melanogaster are sibling species that yield hybrids, their premating isolation is maintained primarily by the contrasting effects of 7,11-heptacosadiene (7,11-HD), a predominant female pheromone in D. melanogaster, on males of the two species: it attracts D. melanogaster males and repels D. simulans males. The contrasting preference for 7,11-HD in males of these two species is mainly ascribed to opposite effects of 7,11-HD on neural activities in the courtship decision-making neurons in the male brain: 7,11-HD provokes both excitatory and inhibitory inputs in these neurons and differences in the balance between the two counteracting inputs result in the contrasting preference for 7,11-HD, i.e., attraction in D. melanogaster and repulsion in D. simulans. Introduction of two double bonds is a key step in 7,11-HD biosynthesis and is mediated by the desaturase desatF, which is active in D. melanogaster females but transcriptionally inactivated in D. simulans females. Thus, 7,11-HD biosynthesis diversified in females and 7,11-HD perception diversified in males, yet it remains elusive how concordance of the changes in the two sexes was attained in evolution. more...

It remains an enigma how the nervous system of different animal species produces different behaviors. We studied the neural circuitry for mating behavior inDrosophila subobscura, a species that displays unique courtship actions not shared by other members of the genera including the genetic modelD. melanogaster, in which the core courtship circuitry has been identified. We disrupted theD. subobscura fruitless(fru) gene, a master regulator for the courtship circuitry formation inD. melanogaster, resulting in complete loss of mating behavior. We also generatedfrusoChrimV, which expresses the optogenetic activator Chrimson fused with a fluorescent marker under the nativefrupromoter. Thefru-labeled circuitry inD. subobscuravisualized byfrusoChrimVrevealed differences between females and males, optogenetic activation of which in males induced mating behavior including attempted copulation. These findings provide a substrate for neurogenetic dissection and manipulation of behavior in non-model animals, and will help to elucidate the neural basis for behavioral diversification.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTHow did behavioral specificity arise during evolution? Here we attempted to address this question by comparing the parallel genetically definable neural circuits controlling the courtship behavior ofDrosophila melanogaster, a genetic model, and its relative,D. subobscura, which exhibits a courtship behavioral pattern unique to it, including nuptial gift transfer. We found that thesubobscura fruitlesscircuit, which is required for male courtship behavior, was slightly but clearly different from itsmelanogastercounterpart, and that optogenetic activation of this circuit inducedsubobscura-specific behavior, i.e., regurgitating crop contents, a key element of transfer of nuptial gift. Our study will pave the way for determining how and which distinctive cellular elements within thefruitlesscircuit determine the species-specific differences in courtship behavior. more...

Behavior is a readout of neural function. Therefore, any difference in behavior among different species is, in theory, an outcome of interspecies diversification in the structure and/or function of the nervous system. However, the neural diversity underlying the species-specificity in behavioral traits and its genetic basis have been poorly understood. In this article, we discuss potential neural substrates for species differences in the courtship pulse song frequency and mating partner choice in the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup. We also discuss possible neurogenetic mechanisms whereby a novel behavioral repertoire emerges based on the study of nuptial gift transfer, a trait unique to D. subobscura in the genus Drosophila. We found that the conserved central circuit composed primarily of fruitless-expressing neurons (the fru-circuit) serves for the execution of courtship behavior, whereas the sensory pathways impinging onto the fru-circuit or the motor pathways downstream of the fru-circuit are susceptible to changes associated with behavioral species differences. more...

In Drosophila, some neurons develop sex-specific neurites that contribute to dimorphic circuits for sex-specific behavior. As opposed to the idea that the sexual dichotomy in transcriptional profiles produced by a sex-specific factor underlies such sex differences, we discovered that the sex-specific cleavage confers the activity as a sexual-fate inducer on the pleiotropic transcription factor Longitudinals lacking (Lola). Surprisingly, Fruitless, another transcription factor with a master regulator role for courtship circuitry formation, directly binds to Lola to protect its cleavage in males. We also show that Lola cleavage involves E3 ubiquitin ligase Cullin1 and 26S proteasome. Our work adds a new dimension to the study of sex-specific behavior and its circuit basis by unveiling a mechanistic link between proteolysis and the sexually dimorphic patterning of circuits. Our findings may also provide new insights into potential causes of the sex-biased incidence of some neuropsychiatric diseases and inspire novel therapeutic approaches to such disorders. more...

The fruitless (fru) gene of Drosophila melanogaster generates two groups of protein products, the male-specific FruM proteins and non-sex-specific FruCOM proteins. The FruM proteins have a 101 amino acids (a.a.)-long extension at the N-terminus which is absent from FruCOM. We suggest that this N-terminal extension might confer male-specific roles on FruM interaction partner proteins such as Lola, which otherwise operates as a transcription factor common to both sexes. FruM-expressing neurons are known to connect with other neurons to form a sexually dimorphic circuit for male mating behavior. We propose that FruM proteins expressed in two synaptic partners specify, at the transcriptional level, signaling pathways through which select pre- and post-synaptic partners communicate, and thereby pleiotropic ligand-receptor pairs for cell-cell interactions acquire the high specificity for mutual connections between two FruM-positive cells. We further discuss the possibility that synaptic connections made by FruM-positive neurons are regulated by neural activities, which in turn upregulate Fru expression in active cells, resulting in feedforward enhancement of courtship activities of the male fly. more...

The fruitless (fru) locus was originally defined by a male sterile mutation that promotes male‐to‐male courtship while suppressing male‐to‐female courtship in Drosophila melanogaster. The fru promoter‐1 pre‐RNA generates a set of BTB‐zinc finger family FruM proteins expressed exclusively in the male neurons, leading to the formation of sexual dimorphisms in neurons via male‐specific neuroblast proliferation, male‐specific neural survival, male‐specific neuritegenesis or male‐specific arbor patterning. Such a wide spectrum of phenotypic effects seems to result from chromatin modifications, in which FruBM recruits Bonus, Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and/or Heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a) to ~130 target sites. One established FruBM transcriptional target is the axon guidance protein gene robo1. Multiple transcriptional regulator‐binding sites are nested around the FruBM‐binding site, and mediate sophisticated modulation of the repressor activity of FruBM. FruBM also binds to the Lola‐Q transcriptional repressor to protect it from proteasome‐dependent degradation in male but not female neurons as FruBM exists only in male neurons, leading to the formation of sexually dimorphic neural structures. These findings shed light on the multilayered network of transcription regulation orchestrated by the master regulator FruBM., Drosophila Fruitless regulates proteolysis to produce sex‐specific Lola isoforms that specify neuronal sex types. more...

Temperature-sensitive gels (TSGs) are generally used in the fields of medical, robotics, MEMS, and also in daily life. In this paper, we synthesized a novel TSG with good thermal durability and a lower melting temperature below 60 °C. We discussed the physical properties of he TSG and found it provided excellent thermal expansion. Therefore, we proposed the usage of TSG to develop a strategic breathable film with controllable gas permeability. The TSG particles were prepared firstly and then blended with linear low-density polyethylene/calcium carbonate (LLDPE/CaCO3) composite to develop microporous TSG/LLDPE/CaCO3 films. We investigated the morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties of TSG/LLDPE/CaCO3 composite films. The film characterization was conducted by gas permeability testing and demonstration temperature control experiments. The uniformly porous structure and the pore size in the range of 5–40 μm for the TSG/LLDPE/CaCO3 composite films were indicated by SEM micrographs. The demonstration temperature control experiments clearly proved the effect of the controllable gas permeability of the TSG and, more promisingly, the great practical value and application prospects of this strategic effect for the temperature-sensitive breathable film was proved. more...

It remains an enigma how the nervous system of different animal species produces different behaviors. We studied the neural circuitry for mating behavior in Drosophila subobscura, a species that displays unique courtship actions not shared by other members of the genera including the genetic model D. melanogaster, in which the core courtship circuitry has been identified. We disrupted the D. subobscura fruitless (fru) gene, a master regulator for the courtship circuitry formation in D. melanogaster, resulting in complete loss of mating behavior. We also generated fru(soChrimV), which expresses the optogenetic activator Chrimson fused with a fluorescent marker under the native fru promoter. The fru-labeled circuitry in D. subobscura visualized by fru(soChrimV) revealed differences between females and males, optogenetic activation of which in males induced mating behavior including attempted copulation. These findings provide a substrate for neurogenetic dissection and manipulation of behavior in non-model animals, and will help to elucidate the neural basis for behavioral diversification. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT How did behavioral specificity arise during evolution? Here we attempted to address this question by comparing the parallel genetically definable neural circuits controlling the courtship behavior of Drosophila melanogaster, a genetic model, and its relative, D. subobscura, which exhibits a courtship behavioral pattern unique to it, including nuptial gift transfer. We found that the subobscura fruitless circuit, which is required for male courtship behavior, was slightly but clearly different from its melanogaster counterpart, and that optogenetic activation of this circuit induced subobscura-specific behavior, i.e., regurgitating crop contents, a key element of transfer of nuptial gift. Our study will pave the way for determining how and which distinctive cellular elements within the fruitless circuit determine the species-specific differences in courtship behavior. more...

Neurogenetic analyses in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster revealed that gendered behaviors, including courtship, are underpinned by sexually dimorphic neural circuitries, whose development is directed in a sex-specific manner by transcription factor genes, fruitless (fru) and doublesex (dsx), two core members composing the sex-determination cascade. Via chromatin modification the Fru proteins translated specifically in the male nervous system lead the fru-expressing neurons to take on the male fate, as manifested by their male-specific survival or male-specific neurite formations. One such male-specific neuron group, P1, was shown to be activated when the male taps the female abdomen. Moreover, when artificially activated, P1 neurons are sufficient to induce the entire repertoire of the male courtship ritual. These studies provide a conceptual framework for understanding how the genetic code for innate behavior can be embodied in the neuronal substrate. more...

Silicon oxide thin film was formed using reaction of spin-coated dimethyl-silicone-oil and 5% ozone gas at low temperature of 300°C. Silicone oil is used for lubrication, insulation, and so on, and it is inexpensive and easy to deal with owing to its stability. FT-IR spectrum of the formed silicon oxide film was similar to that of the thermally oxidized film, and we hardly observed peaks of Si-CH3and C-H bonds originated in silicone oil. The Si-OH bonds in the film were observed. The Si-OH bond causes the degradation of the electric properties of the insulator. In order to remove the Si-OH bonds, the silicon oxide film was treated with an argon excimer light at room temperature. The wavelength of the light was 126 nm. The amount of Si-OH bond was drastically reduced by the UV annealing. The energy of the UV light is high and the value is 9.8 eV. The high energy light may cut the bond of Si-OH. Therefore, the amount of Si-OH bond could be reduced. more...

Temperature characteristic analysis of the triple-junction solar cell was carried out using circuit simulator under concentration conditions. The temperature exponent of saturation current density for each single-junction solar cell was derived. Extracted temperature exponents were used in the equivalent circuit model for the triple-junction solar cell, and the calculations of solar cell performance were carried out at various temperatures and concentration ratios. The calculation results agreed well with the measured results. more...

When installing concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems in desert areas, we must consider the impact of sandstorms on the Fresnel lens in CPV modules. CPV systems are much more sensitive to sandstorms than flat-panel PV systems because they can only use the direct beam component of sunlight. In this study, the transmittance of a PMMA substrate after sandblasting was evaluated and the influence of sandblasting on the output of a CPV system was assessed. The transmittance of PMMA decreased with an increase in the momentum of blown sand. The conversion efficiency of a CPV module was determined by equivalent circuit calculation. The conversion efficiency decreased with increasing momentum. The coefficient of degradation was 0.17 point per unit momentum. more...

SiC was prepared from Shirasu volcanic ash using solar furnace. The solar furnace is composed by two parts; Fresnel lens and reacting furnace. Fresnel lens is used to concentrate sunlight onto the reacting furnace where the sample was put on. The sample was made from the mixture of SiO2 formed using Shirasu volcanic ash and graphite, and placed in the carbon crucible inside the reacting furnace. By using light of sun concentrated with Fresnel lens, the sample was irradiated for 15 minutes and the furnace was left until it cooled down to room temperature. Both irradiated and cooling processes were done under Ar atmosphere. After the experiment, the sample was evaluated by XRD and Raman spectroscopy and the result indicated that β-SiC was formed. more...

High purity nanoporous silica was fabricated using Shirasu a volcanic ash as a starting material. The starting materials were melted at 1400°C. A mother glass was formed by quenching the melt in pure water. Leaching was performed by immersing the mother glass into an HCl solution. Nonsilica phases formed by phase separation in the mother glass were leached out with acid solution. The obtained porous silica was more than 99% pure and had pore size smaller than 2 nm. In order to control the pore size, post heat treatment was performed. The treatment temperature was varied from 540 to 600°C for 12 h. The treatment time was varied from 6 to 12 hours at 600°C. The pore size was controlled from 3.1 to 23.4 nm with changing temperature and time for the post heat treatment. more...

High purity nanoporous silica was fabricated using Shirasu volcanic ash as a starting material. The starting materials were placed into a platinum crucible and were melted at 1400°C. A mother glass was formed by quenching the melt in pure water. Leaching was performed by immersing the mother glass into an HCl solution. Nonsilica phases formed by phase separation in the mother glass were leached out with acid solution. The obtained porous silica was more than 99% pure and had pore size smaller than 2 nm. In order to control the pore size, post heat treatment was performed. The pore size could be controlled from 3.1 to 21.7 nm by changing the post treatment temperature. more...

The Temperature-Sensitive-Gel (TSG) is a stimulus-responsive gel whose volume and physical properties change responsive to a temperature. The purpose of this research is to develop a novel temperature-responsive microporous film by adding TSG particles into a polymer composite. The TSG particles were synthesized firstly, which have a melting point of around 60 ° C, a spherical shape with the diameter of from 50 to 300 μm. Then the synthesized TSG particles were blended with linear low density polyethylene/calcium carbonate (LLDPE/CaCO3) composite to prepare microporous TSG/LLDPE/CaCO3 film. In this paper, we discuss the processing and physical properties of TSG/LLDPE/CaCO3 composite film. Our findings confirmed the thermal expansion and shrinkage of TSG in the vicinity of its melting temperature. This behavior enables pores close/open, to provide the TSG/LLDPE/CaCO3 composite film temperature-responsive pore-size-adjustment function to control the gas permeability. more...

Drosophila platonic (plt) males court females, but fail to copulate. Here we show that plt is an allele of scribbler (sbb), a BMP signalling component. sbb knockdown in larvae leads to the loss of approximately eight serotonergic neurons, which express the sex-determinant protein Doublesex (Dsx). Genetic deprivation of serotonin (5-HT) from dsx-expressing neurons results in copulation defects. Thus, sbb+ is developmentally required for the survival of a specific subset of dsx-expressing neurons, which support the normal execution of copulation in adults by providing 5-HT. Our study highlights the conserved involvement of serotonergic neurons in the control of copulatory mechanisms and the key role of BMP signalling in the formation of a sex-specific circuitry., Drosophila platonic (plt) mutant males court with females but fail to copulate. Here, the authors find plt is an allele of scribbler and may disrupt courtship behaviour via developmental disruption of a subgroup of serotonergic Doublesex+ neurons in the abdominal ganglion. more...

Pattern formation along the proximal-distal (PD) axis in the developing limb bud serves as a good model for learning how cell fate and regionalization of domains, which are essential processes in morphogenesis during development,are specified by positional information. In the present study, detailed fate maps for the limb bud of the chick embryo were constructed in order to gain insights into how cell fate for future structures along the PD axis is specified and subdivided. Our fate map revealed that there is a large overlap between the prospective autopod and zeugopod in the distal limb bud at an early stage (stage 19), whereas a limb bud at this stage has already regionalized the proximal compartments for the prospective stylopod and zeugopod. A clearer boundary of cell fate specifying the prospective autopod and zeugopod could be seen at stage 23, but cell mixing was still detectable inside the prospective autopod region at this stage. Detailed analysis of HOXA11 AND HOXA13 expression at single cell resolution suggested that the cell mixing is not due to separation of some different cell populations existing in a mosaic. Our findings suggest that a mixable unregionalized cell population is maintained in the distal area of the limb bud, while the proximal region starts to be regionalized at the early stage of limb development. more...

In the pupal stage, the fly body undergoes extensive metamorphic remodeling, in which programmed cell death plays a critical role. We studied two of the constituent processes in this remodeling, salivary gland degeneration and breakdown of the eclosion muscle, which are triggered by an increase and a decrease in the circulating steroid hormone ecdysone at the start and end of metamorphosis, respectively. We found that knockdown of zeste (z), a gene encoding a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein implicated in transvection, in salivary gland cells advances the initiation of their degeneration, whereas z knockdown in neurons delays muscle breakdown. We further showed that knockdown of an ecdysone-inducible gene, E74, retards salivary gland degeneration with little effect on eclosion muscle breakdown. We propose that Z tunes the sensitivity of ecdysone targets to this hormone in order to ensure a high safety margin so that the cell death program will be activated when the ecdysone titer is at a sufficiently high level that is reached only at a defined stage during metamorphosis. more...

セントラルコア病 (central core disease: CCD) を合併した小児の肝芽腫に対する拡大肝右葉切除術の麻酔を経験した. CCDは近年同定された悪性高熱症 (malignant hyperthermia: MH) の遺伝子と同一の遺伝子異常で発症する先天性非進行性ミオパチーで, CCDの合併は麻酔中にMHを発症する可能性の高い危険因子と考えられている. 当症例ではMHに関する術前評価は十分であったため, とくに問題となることはなかったが, 術中予期せぬ大量出血に遭遇し管理に難渋した. more...

SiC was formed using volcanic ash as starting material and concentrated sunlight as energy resource. The solar furnace was composed of two parts: Fresnel lens and reacting furnace. The reacting furnace was composed of a cylindrical vacuum chamber and quartz glass plate functioning to guide the concentrated sunlight into the furnace and was placed at the focal point of the Fresnel lens. The sample was made from the mixture of silica formed from volcanic ash and graphite and placed in the carbon crucible inside the reacting furnace. The temperature in the carbon crucible reached more than 1500°C. After the reaction using concentrated light,β-SiC was formed. The weight % of formed SiC was 90.5%. more...

The muscle of Lawrence (MOL) is a male-specific muscle present in the abdomen of some adult Drosophila species. Formation of the MOL depends on innervation by motoneurons that express fruitless, a neural male determinant. Drosophila melanogaster males carry a pair of MOLs in the 5th abdominal segment, whereas D. subobscura males carry a pair in both the 5th and 4th segments. We hypothesized that the fru gene of D. subobscura but not that of D. melanogaster contains a cis element that directs the formation of the additional pair of MOLs. Successively extended 5' DNA fragments to the P1 promoter of D. subobscura or the corresponding fragments that are chimeric (i.e., containing both melanogaster and subobscura elements) were introduced into D. melanogaster and tested for their ability to induce the MOL to locate the hypothetical cis element. We found that a 1.5-2-kb genomic fragment located 4-6-kb upstream of the P1 promoter in D. subobscura but not that of D. melanogaster permits MOL formation in females, provided this fragment is grafted to the distal ∼4-kb segment from D. melanogaster, demonstrating that this genomic fragment of D. subobscura contains a cis element for the MOL induction. more...

Two transcription factor genes, fruitless (fru) and doublesex (dsx), are the primary factors that direct the development of brain sex differences in Drosophila. In the nervous system, the dsx gene produces different proteins, DsxM and DsxF, respectively, in males and females, whereas the fru gene produces proteins (FruM) only in males. Thus, the dsx-dependent sex differences in the nervous system likely reflect the distinct target specificity of DsxM and DsxF, whereas the fru-dependent sex differences rely on the presence and absence of FruM. Some neurons express both fru and dsx and others express either fru or dsx, while the majority of neurons express neither. By studying the sexual dimorphism of single neurons, insights into the molecular mechanism whereby FruM specifies the neuronal sex have been obtained. The sexually dimorphic morphologies of a fru-expressing neural cluster in males are completely feminized when FruM is lost, whereas the same cluster has an intersexual appearance under moderate reductions in FruM in fru hypomorphic mutants. Single-cell labeling demonstrates that even in such fru hypomorphic mutants, each neuron in the cluster has a complete male-type structure or a complete female-type structure, indicating that the intersexual appearance of the cluster results from the mixed presence of the male-type and female-type neurons. This all-or-none mode of sex-type determination by FruM is mediated by a competitive recruitment to the FruM-target genomic sites of two antagonistic chromatin regulators, histone deacetylase 1 and heterochromatin protein 1a, each of which masculinizes or demasculinizes single neurons in concert with FruM. These findings open up a new avenue for the study of epigenetic bases for sexual differentiation. more...

Recently mated Drosophila females were shown to be reluctant to copulate and to exhibit rejecting behavior when courted by a male. Males that experience mate refusal by a mated female subsequently attenuate their courtship effort toward not only mated females but also virgin females. This courtship suppression persists for more than a day, and thus represents long-term memory. The courtship long-term memory has been shown to be impaired in heterozygotes as well as homozygotes of mutants in orb2, a locus encoding a set of CPEB RNA-binding proteins. We show that the impaired courtship long-term memory in orb2-mutant heterozygotes is restored by reducing the activity of lig, another putative RNA-binding protein gene, yet on its own the loss-of-function lig mutation is without effect. We further show that Lig forms a complex with Orb2. We infer that a reduction in the Lig levels compensates the Orb2 deficiency by mitigating the negative feedback for Orb2 expression and thereby alleviating defects in long-term memory. more...

Purpose Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent anticoagulant and homozygous protein C deficiency is a rare fatal thrombotic disease. This report describes the perioperative management of homozygous protein C deficiency in a patient who underwent a total of three surgical procedures under general anesthesia and the successful use of activated protein C concentrate. more...

Two transcription factor genes, fruitless (fru) and doublesex (dsx), are the primary factors that direct the development of brain sex differences in Drosophila. In the nervous system, the dsx gene produces different proteins, DsxM and DsxF, respectively, in males and females, whereas the fru gene produces proteins (FruM) only in males. Thus, the dsx-dependent sex differences in the nervous system likely reflect the distinct target specificity of DsxM and DsxF, whereas the fru-dependent sex differences rely on the presence and absence of FruM. Some neurons express both fru and dsx and others express either fru or dsx, while the majority of neurons express neither. By studying the sexual dimorphism of single neurons, insights into the molecular mechanism whereby FruM specifies the neuronal sex have been obtained. The sexually dimorphic morphologies of a fru-expressing neural cluster in males are completely feminized when FruM is lost, whereas the same cluster has an intersexual appearance under moderate reductions in FruM in fru hypomorphic mutants. Single-cell labeling demonstrates that even in such fru hypomorphic mutants, each neuron in the cluster has a complete male-type structure or a complete female-type structure, indicating that the intersexual appearance of the cluster results from the mixed presence of the male-type and female-type neurons. This all-or-none mode of sex-type determination by FruM is mediated by a competitive recruitment to the FruM-target genomic sites of two antagonistic chromatin regulators, histone deacetylase 1 and heterochromatin protein 1a, each of which masculinizes or demasculinizes single neurons in concert with FruM. These findings open up a new avenue for the study of epigenetic bases for sexual differentiation. more...

Background Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium (k+ATP) channels play an important role in pulmonary vasoregulation. However, the effects of volatile anesthetics on k+ATP channel-mediated pulmonary vasoregulation have not been elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of halothane and enflurane anesthesia on the pulmonary vasodilator response to the selective k+ATP channel agonist lemakalim (BRJ38227) compared with that measured in the conscious state. The authors also investigated the extent to which endogenous neurohumoral vasoconstrictor mechanisms modulate the vasodilator response to k+ATP channel activation. Method Nineteen conditioned, male mongrel dogs were chronically instrumented to measure the left pulmonary vascular pressure-flow (LPQ) relationship. LPQ plots were generated by continuously measuring the pulmonary vascular pressure gradient (pulmonary arterial pressure-left atrial pressure) and left pulmonary blood flow during gradula (approximately 1 min) inflation of a hydraulic occluder implanted around the right main pulmonary artery. After preconstriction with the thromboxane analog, U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-11 alpha, 9 alpha-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2 alpha), the pulmonary vascular dose-response relationship for the k+ATP agonist lemakalim was assessed in the conscious and halothane-anesthetized states and also in the conscious and enflurane-anesthetized states. This protocol was repeated in conscious and halothane-anesthetized dogs after combined neurohumoral block with antagonists of sympathetic alpha 1 adrenoreceptors, arginine vasopressin V1-receptors, and angiotensin II receptors. The effect of the k+ATP antagonist glybenclamide on the baseline LPQ relationship and on the lemakalim dose-response relationship also was assessed in conscious dogs. Results Compared with the conscious state, halothane, enflurane and glybenclamide had no net effect on the baseline LPQ relationship. In contrast, halothane and enflurane attenuated (P < 0.05) the pulmonary vasodilator response to lemakalim compared with the conscious state. Glybenclamide also caused a rightward shift (P < 0.05) in the lemakalim dose-response relationship. Combined neurohumoral block did not modulate the vasodilator response to lemakalim in the conscious state. The halothane-induced attenuation of the vasodilator response to lemakalim was apparent after combined neurohumoral block. Conclusion These results indicate that halothane and enflurane act to reduce the magnitude of K+ATP channel-mediated pulmonary vasodilation. Reflex pulmonary vasoconstriction resulting from K+ATP mediated systematic hypotension does not alter the magnitude of the pulmonary vasodilator response to lemakalim nor is it responsible for the attenuated response to K+ATP channel activation during halothane anesthesia. more...