Nutrient storage in termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) mounds and the implications for nutrient dynamics in a tropical savanna Ultisol

The role of mounds of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) in nutrient recycling in a highly weathered and nutrient-depleted tropical red earth (Ultisol) of the Nigerian savanna was examined by measuring stored amounts of selected nutrients and estimating their rates of turnover via the mounds. A study plot (4?ha) with a representative termite population density (1.5?mounds?ha^?1) and size (3.7?±?0.4?m in height, 2.4?±?0.2?m in basal diameter) of M. bellicosus mounds was selected. The mounds were found to contain soil mass of 9249?±?2371?kg?ha^?1, composed of 7502?±?1934?kg?ha^?1 of mound wall and 1747?±?440?kg?ha^?1 of nest body. Significant nutrient enrichment, compared to the neighboring topmost soil (Ap1 horizon: 0–16?cm), was observed in the nest body for total nitrogen (N) and exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K), and in the mound wall for exchangeable K only. In contrast, available (Bray-1) phosphorus (P) content was found to be lower in both the mound wall and the nest body than in the adjacent topmost soil horizon. Consequently, the mounds formed by M. bellicosus contained 1.71?±?0.62?kg?ha^?1 of total N, 0.004?±?0.003?kg?ha^?1 of available P, 3.23?±?0.81?kg?ha^?1 of exchangeable Ca, 1.11?±?0.22?kg?ha^?1 of exchangeable Mg and 0.79?±?0.21?kg?ha^?1 of exchangeable K. However, with the exception of exchangeable K (1.2%), these nutrients amounted to less than 0.5% of those found in the topmost soil horizon. The soil nutrient turnover rate via M. bellicosus mounds was indeed limited, being estimated at 1.72?kg?ha^?1 for organic carbon (C), 0.15?kg?ha^?1 for total N, 0.0004?kg?ha^?1 for available P, 0.15?kg?ha^?1 for exchangeable Ca, 0.05?kg?ha^?1 for exchangeable Mg, and 0.06?kg?ha^?1 for exchangeable K per annum. These findings suggest that the mounds of M. bellicosus, while being enriched with some nutrients to create hot spots of soil nutrients in the vicinity of the mounds, are not a significant reservoir of soil nutrients and are therefore of minor importance for nutrient cycling at the ecosystem scale in the tropical savanna.     

Comparative studies on antigenicity and allergenicity of native and denatured egg white proteins

The binding activities of IgG and IgE antibodies from egg-allergic patients to physically or chemically treated egg white proteins were examined and compared with those of rabbit anti-egg white IgG antibodies. The sera from eight patients and four rabbit antibodies were used in this study. The binding activities of human IgG antibody to partially denatured ovotransferrin (Tf), ovalbumin (OA), and lysozyme (Lys) forms were increased, whereas carboxymethylation (RCM) and heat treatment caused a dramatic decrease in the antigenicity of Tf and ovomucoid (OVM). Tf and OVM were major immunogenic antigens for the rabbit IgG response. Urea also caused Tf to exhibit greater rabbit IgG binding activity. In contrast, human and rabbit antibodies did not react with ovomucin. Partially denatured Tf and Lys also induced strong IgE binding activities. The allergenicity of Tf, OVM, and Lys was decreased by RCM, whereas OA retained its binding capacity. These results suggested that anti-OA IgE recognizes more sequential epitopes and that anti-OVM and Lys antibodies recognize both conformational and sequential epitopes. Tf and OVM were dominant allergens for the IgE antibodies of anaphylaxis patients, whereas IgE from atopic patients bound more strongly with OA and OVM.     

A client/server architecture remote fish finder system for a set net fishery

In order to monitor the fish volume entrapped over time in a set net in real time, a new remote fish finder system based on a mobile network was developed and tested. This system was designed with a client/server architecture including an echo sounder terminal, a web server, and some end user display terminals, which allowed fishermen to monitor the fishing state of a set net via any display device. In addition, in order to transfer the echo data smoothly via a mobile network, a fish echo extraction method based on image processing and a data organization structure were proposed, which can significantly reduce the data volume for transmission, supply sufficient information to reconstruct the high resolution echogram at the user terminals, and calculate the positional and morphometric parameters of fish echoes. Furthermore, a semiautomatic data recording method for use with a database was proposed to manage the extracted fish echo data and the fishing records. The functions and capabilities of the new system were demonstrated by a sea trial.     

Screening of therapeutic targets for canine mast cell tumors from a variety of kinase molecules

Options of systemic treatment for canine MCT have been still limited and most canine cases with MCTs eventually undergo relapses even after achievement of a remission. Thus additional therapies are required to establish for the tumor. To identify the novel candidate therapeutic targets for canine MCT, the mRNA expression and phosphorylation statuses of several receptor or non-receptor kinases as well as the inhibitory effect of 95 specific inhibitors on the growth were assessed in three canine MCT cell lines (HRMC, VIMC1 and CMMC1). Among the 14 targets, the mRNAs of 11, 7 and 7 kinases were amplified in HRMC, VIMC1 and CMMC1, respectively. The mRNAs of VEGFR3, PDGFRα, SRC, YES, LCK and FYN were detected in all cell lines. The phosphorylation of 12, 8 and 7 kinases was observed by using specific antibody arrays in HRMC, VIMC1 and CMMC1, respectively. DTK, EPHB6, AMPKα1, CREB, STAT5a and STAT5b were phosphorylated in all cell lines. The 10, 9 and 17 inhibitors exhibited the biological activity against the growth of HRMC, VIMC1 and CMMC1, respectively. Only three inhibitors such as SB218078 (for Chk1), PDGF RTK inhibitor IV (for PDGFR) and radicicol (for Hsp90) suppressed the growth of all three cell lines. The present study indicated that several kinases, such as Chk1, PDGFR and Hsp90, could be used as therapeutic targets in the treatment for canine MCT. Further studies and clinical trials are warranted to apply the inhibitors for the treatment of the tumor.     

Immunomodulatory effects of heated ovomucoid-depleted egg white in a BALB/c mouse model of egg allergy

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising therapeutic approach for treating food allergy. The treatment with heated ovomucoid-depleted egg white (HOMEW) in egg-allergic patients is noteworthy; however, OIT protocols are still experimental, and a better knowledge of the underlying mechanism is required. The objective of this work was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of HOMEW and characterize the underlying mechanism in a BALB/c mouse model of egg allergy. Mice were sensitized with EW and treated with HOMEW. Post treatment, mice were challenged with EW and euthanized for collecting blood and spleen. Markers of allergic clinical outcomes were measured as histamine concentration, serum antibody activity, and cytokine production from cultured splenocytes. Digestibility of HOMEW was assessed mimicking physiological conditions in vitro. The HOMEW demonstrated high digestibility. The treatment induced a marked increase of the Th1/Th2 ratio in the high-dose treatment group. Treated mice had significantly less histamine, EW-specific IgE, and IL-4 and more IFN-γ and IL-10. This study confirms the mechanisms involved in successful tolerance induction with OIT using HOMEW and allows understanding of the vital role of surrogate allergy markers involved in immune modulation.     

Antioxidative activity of amino acids on tissue oxidative stress in human intestinal epithelial cell model

The protective effects of amino acids against H 2O 2-induced oxidative stress were investigated in an in vitro assay using human intestinal epithelial cells. Caco-2 cells were pretreated with amino acids (1, 2, and 5 mM) for 2 h and then stimulated with 1 mM H 2O 2 for 6 h. The secretion of IL-8, a proinflammatory mediator, was determined by ELISA as an indicator of tissue oxidative stress. The inhibition of H 2O 2-induced IL-8 secretion from Caco-2 cells was observed by pretreatment with Cys, Val, Ile, Leu, Trp, His, Lys, and Ala. Cys enhanced glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis enzyme activity and increased cellular GSH levels. Branched-chain amino acids such as Val, Ile, and Leu elevated activities of GSH S-transferase (GST) and catalase. Trp, His, and Lys caused increases in GST activity. Ala enhanced GSH reductase activity. These data suggest that specific amino acids exert protective effects against tissue oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells based on the structure.     

Large-scale survey of frequency of forest walking and related factors in a Japanese population inhabiting a large city, and comparison of an urban area and a rural area

The frequency of forest walking among the general population is a major topic of study in forest science. The objectives of this study were threefold: to assess the frequency of forest walking among Japanese residents of Nagoya, a large city; to evaluate differences among frequency of forest walking by participants from a large city, an urban area (Shizuoka; 4,666 participants), and a rural area (Yakumo Town, Hokkaido; 397 participants) in previous studies; and to examine factors related to frequency of forest walking. The survey, by self-administered questionnaire, in the major city of Nagoya was conducted between June 2008 and May 2010. In all, 5,158 participants (M/F, 1,466/3,692; mean age ± SD [range], 52.5 ± 10.3 [35–69] years) were included in the analysis. The proportions of frequency of forest walking ≥ once/month and ≥ once/year were 10.9 % (M/F, 15.1/9.3 %) and 46.1 % (51.0/44.1 %), respectively. In multiple logistic regression analysis, significant differences were noted among study sites for the adjusted odds ratio for frequency of forest walking. Overall, the order of highest to lowest frequency of forest walking was Shizuoka > Nagoya > Yakumo. Factors related to frequency of forest walking were common among the three study sites. Higher frequency of forest walking was associated with male sex and older age; the most relevant factor related to frequency of forest walking was its enjoyment level. Further studies will be required to clarify why these factors are related to frequency of forest walking.