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This study investigated the mechanism of reducing body fat via whey protein diet. Pregnant mice were fed whey or casein, and their offspring were fed by birth mothers. After weaning at 4 weeks, male pups received the diets administered to their birth mothers (n = 6 per group). At 12 weeks of age, body weight, fat mass, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin (IRI), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), cholesterol (Cho), triglyceride (TG), the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes in liver tissues and metabolomic data of fat tissues were measured and compared between the groups. The birth weights of pups born were similar in the two groups. Compared to the pups in the casein group, at 12 weeks of age, pups in the whey group weighed less, had significantly lower fat mass, HOMA-IR and TG levels (p < 0.01, p = 0.02, p = 0.01, respectively), and significantly higher levels of the antioxidant glutathione and the anti-inflammatory 1-methylnicotinamide in fat tissues (p < 0.01, p = 0.04, respectively). No differences were observed in FBG, IRI, Cho levels (p = 0.75, p = 0.07, p = 0.63, respectively) and expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes. Whey protein has more antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than casein protein, which may be its mechanism for reducing body fat.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, but its underlying cause remains unknown. Although recent studies using PD-related neurotoxin MPP+ suggest autophagy involvement in the pathogenesis of PD, the effect of MPP+ on autophagic processes under mild exposure, which mimics the slow progressive nature of PD, remains largely unclear. We examined the effect of mild MPP+ exposure (10 and 200 μM for 48 h), which induces a more slowly developing cell death, on autophagic processes and the mechanistic differences with acute MPP+ toxicity (2.5 and 5 mM for 24 h). In SH-SY5Y cells, mild MPP+ exposure predominantly inhibited autophagosome degradation, whereas acute MPP+ exposure inhibited both autophagosome degradation and basal autophagy. Mild MPP+ exposure reduced lysosomal hydrolase cathepsin D activity without changing lysosomal acidity, whereas acute exposure decreased lysosomal density. Lysosome biogenesis enhancers trehalose and rapamycin partially alleviated mild MPP+ exposure induced impaired autophagosome degradation and cell death, but did not prevent the pathogenic response to acute MPP+ exposure, suggesting irreversible lysosomal damage. We demonstrated impaired autophagic degradation by MPP+ exposure and mechanistic differences between mild and acute MPP+ toxicities. Mild MPP+ toxicity impaired autophagosome degradation through novel lysosomal acidity-independent mechanisms. Sustained mild lysosomal damage may contribute to PD. We examined the effects of MPP+ on autophagic processes under mild exposure, which mimics the slow progressive nature of Parkinson's disease, in SH-SY5Y cells. This study demonstrated impaired autophagic degradation through a reduction in lysosomal cathepsin D activity without altering lysosomal acidity by mild MPP+ exposure. Mechanistic differences between acute and mild MPP+ toxicity were also observed. Sustained mild damage of lysosome may be an underlying cause of Parkinson's disease. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13338.

We carried out underway geophysical survey in the transit of the JAMSTEC R/V Mirai MR08-06 Leg-1. The cruise was an unprecedented opportunity to collect data in regions of the Pacific Ocean where it has sparsely been surveyed. Our multibeam bathymetric and shipboard gravity survey track crossed over the Pacific, the Antarctic, and the Nazca plates, and covered lithospheric ages varying from zero to 150 Ma. The survey revealed kilometer-sized fine-scale structures of seafloor fabrics; i.e. abyssal hills and fracture zones, and distribution of seamounts or knolls. These are not detectable in satellite altimetry data only. As well as contributing to the world's seafloor mapping, our survey results also show valuable evidence towards the plate tectonic reconstruction and help us look into the oceanic lithosphere formation and evolution, since the directions of tectonic stress and seafloor spreading mode are the major factors that can affect the morphology of lineated abyssal hills, etc.

A micro-gas analysis system (μGAS) was developed for mobile monitoring and continuous measurements of atmospheric HCHO. HCHO gas was trapped into an absorbing/reaction solution continuously using a microchannel scrubber in which the microchannels were patterned in a honeycomb structure to form a wide absorbing area with a thin absorbing solution layer. Fluorescence was monitored after reaction of the collected HCHO with 2,4-pentanedione (PD) in the presence of acetic acid/ammonium acetate. The system was portable, battery-driven, highly sensitive (limit of detection = 0.01 ppbv) and had good time resolution (response time 50 s). The results revealed that the PD chemistry was subject to interference from O(3). The mechanism of this interference was investigated and the problem was addressed by incorporating a wet denuder. Mobile monitoring was performed along traffic roads, and elevated HCHO levels in a street canyon were evident upon mapping of the obtained data. The system was also applied to stationary monitoring in a forest in which HCHO formed naturally via reaction of biogenic compounds with oxidants. Concentrations of a few ppbv-HCHO and several-tens of ppbv of O(3) were then simultaneously monitored with the μGAS in forest air monitoring campaigns. The obtained 1 h average data were compared with those obtained by 1 h impinger collection and offsite GC-MS analysis after derivatization with o-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine (PFBOA). From the obtained data in the forest, daily variations of chemical HCHO production and loss are discussed.

本研究では，簡易でかつ時間分解能の比較的高いイソプレンの分析装置を開発し，森林大気のオンサイト分析に応用した．測定では4分間の大気サンプリングに続いて，加熱脱着によって化学発光セルに導入した．本装置によりppbvレベルのイソプレンを10分ごとに測定することが可能になり，検出限界は0.15 ppbvであった．植物をチャンバー内に設置したラボ実験では，チャンバー内イソプレン濃度は光照射とともに増大し消灯とともに減少した．この結果は加熱脱着－ガスクロマトグラフ－質量分析による結果とよい一致を示した．森林内測定においては有意な日内変化がみられ，日中イソプレン濃度が増大し夜間はほとんど見られなかった．これに対し同じ植物起源のα-ピネンは夜間濃度のほうが高く，α-ピネン放出の常時性と日中の高い分解速度に起因していると考えられる．このほかホルムアルデヒド，オゾン，窒素酸化物，有機・無機酸についても測定を行い，日内変化の追跡や季節変動の考察を行った．また，発生・消失のモデル構築を行い，日内変動よりイソプレンやα-ピネンの森林内発生のシミュレーションを行った．さらに実大気におけるイソプレンの発生とオゾン増幅の関係について考察を行った．

The Hahajima Seamount, located at the junction between the Izu–Bonin and Mariana forearc slopes, is a notable rectangular shape and consists of various kinds of rocks. An elaborated bathymetric swath mapping with geophysical measurements and dredge hauls showed the Hahajima Seamount is cut by two predominating lineaments, northeast–southwest and northwest–southeast. These lineaments are of faults based on the topographic cross-sections and a 3-D view (whale's eye view). The former lineament is parallel to the transform faults of the Parece Vela Basin, whereas the latter is parallel to the nearby transform fault on the subducting Pacific Plate. The rocks constituting the seamount are ultramafic rocks (mostly harzburgite), boninite, basalt, andesite, gabbro, breccia and sedimentary rocks, which characterize an island arc and an ocean basin. Gravity measurement and seismic reflection survey offer neither a definite gravity anomaly at the seamount nor definite internal structures beneath the seamount. A northwest–southeast-trending fault and small-scale serpentine flows were observed during submersible dives at the Hahajima Seamount. The rectangular shape, size of the seamount, various kinds of rocks and geophysical measurements strongly suggest that the Hahajima Seamount is not a simple serpentine seamount controlled by various tectonic movements, as previously believed, but a tectonic block.

In order to clarify the occurrence mechanism of nonlinear phenomena, dc-bias dependence and aging characteristics of the nonlinear coefficients of second-higher and third-higher terms were measured in piezoelectric rectangular vibrators. The two nonlinear coefficients of second- and third-higher terms were contrasted sharply in their dc-bias dependence and aging characteristics. These contrasting dependences originate from the difference in the occurrence mechanism of harmonic voltages, that determines the values of the second- and third-higher nonlinear coefficients. The difference in the occurrence mechanism was discussed from the viewpoint of non-180° domain-wall motion.

The lubricating oils solidify at quasi-static high-pressure as the amorphous or glassy solids are verified by a number of studies. However, solidification of lubricating oil under the dynamic condition as the rolling bearings and the traction CVT is not clear. The high-pressure short time solidification of traction fluids is examined by the analysis of dent after the impact tests and AE analysis under impact loads. The intensity of each impact collision is measured by means of an acoustic emission (AE) sensor. The dimensionless AE r.m.s value is investigated by based on phase diagram of testing oils. It was recognized the solidification of oil under the dynamic high-pressure condition almost corresponded to the static condition.Copyright © 2005 by ASME

Linear and nonlinear piezoelectric coefficients of second- and third-higher terms in length-extensional vibration were experimentally investigated in the compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of PbZrO3-PbTiO3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 ternary piezoelectric ceramics. The Zr/Ti ratio showing the maximum value of the piezoelectric constant d 31 disagreed with that showing the maximum value of the electromechanical coefficient k 31 in the transverse vibration. The disagreement increased with Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PMN) content. The nonlinear piezoelectric coefficients of the second- and third-higher terms showed their minimum values at the Zr/Ti ratios showing the maximum values of d 31. Hence, the Zr/Ti ratio showing the maximum value of d 31 was regarded as the MPB composition. The nonlinear coefficients of the second- and third-higher terms on the MPB compositions showed different dependences on PMN content. The nonlinear coefficient of the second-higher term showed a grain size dependence in its change, and that of the third-higher term showed a mechanical quality factor dependence in its change. The difference in the dependences was discussed from the viewpoint of the difference in the occurrence mechanism of nonlinear phenomena dominating the two nonlinear coefficients.