Increase in Cation Adsorption Induced by Surface Complexation of Sulfate on Andisols and Prediction by “Four-Plane Model”

Abstract

The “Four-plane model” is one of the surface complexation models developed for analyzing the electrostatic charge of synthetic oxides. This model which was applied to the B horizon of Andisols, was equilibrated with an electrolyte solution containing KCl, KNO₃, K₂SO₄ in the concentration range of 0.0033, 0.01, 0.033, 0.1 M, and pH range of 2 to 11. The amounts of NO₃ ^-, Cl^-, SO₄ ^2-, and K⁺ adsorbed were determined from the products remaining in the liquid phase. The increase in the pH value results in the increase of K⁺ adsorption, and decrease of anion adsorption. The increase in the equilibrium concentration increased both K⁺ and anion adsorption. The parameters of the model were determined by measurements and the iterative method. The model have a good agreement between calculated and measured values of cation and anion adsorption. Among the anion species, the amount of adsorbed anions was in the order of SO₄ ^2-?Cl^->NO₃ ^-. The differences in the degree of adsorption were mainly associated with the differences in the equilibrium constants of surface complexation. The surface complexation of the anions produced a negative charge and increased cation adsorption. The degree of surface complexation was most significant in the K₂SO₄ solution, and the phenomenon was considered to be important not only for anion adsorption but also for cation adsorption on Andisols.     

Application of “Four-Plane Model” to the Adsorption of K+, NO3 -, and SO4 2- from a Mixed Solution of KNO3 and K2SO4 on Andisols

To evaluate the interaction between anionic species when they were adsorbed on variable charge soils, we measured the adsorption of NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2- on. an Andisol equilibrated with a mixture of KNO₃ and K₂SO₄ solutions. The amount of NO₃ ^- adsorption declined with the increase in the concentration of SO₄ ^2-. On the other hand, the amount of SO₄ ^2- adsorption increased with the increase in the concentration of NO₃ ^-. These phenomena can not be explained by the simple “exchange theory” or the “Three-plane model” unless surface complexation is associated with the changes in the electrical potential of the surface. Therefore, in order to explain the phenomena by using the “Four-plane model” with surface complexation, a new equation was derived for the Diffuse Double Layer (DDL) charge from the “main equation of DDL theory” (equation of electrical potential in DDL) instead of the “Gouy-Chapman equation,” which can be used only for single symmetric electrolytes but nor for a mixture. By introducing the new equation to the computer program for analyzing the Four-plane model, the interaction between anionic species adsorbed on Andisols could be explained well. It was considered that SO₄ ^2- acted as a regulator for the ionic concentration, osmotic pressure and pH of the soil solution, and consequently, these factors affected the vertical distribution and mobility of anionic species and also the mobility of counter-ions in Andisols.     

Porcine CPEB1 is involved in Cyclin B translation and meiotic resumption in porcine oocytes

Ovarian immature oocytes accumulate many dormant maternal mRNAs, which have short poly(A) tails. Cytoplasmic‐polyadenylation‐element binding protein (CPEB) has been reported to play key roles for the elongation of the tails and the translation of these mRNAs in Xenopus oocytes. However, the functions of CPEB in meiotic resumption have not yet been established in mammalian oocytes. The present study examined the roles of porcine CPEB in Cyclin B syntheses and meiotic resumption of porcine oocytes. Porcine CPEB1 (pCPEB1) cDNA was cloned from total RNA of immature oocytes by RT‐PCR. The overexpression of pCPEB1 by mRNA injection into immature oocytes increased Cyclin B expression and the rate of meiotic resumption. Conversely, the inhibition of endogenous CPEB by expression of a dominant‐negative mutant pCPEB1 (AA‐CPEB), which replaced the expected phosphorylation sites with alanines, had the effect of inhibiting Cyclin B synthesis, ribosomal S6 kinase phosphorylation (an indicator of Mos activity), and meiotic resumption. The inhibition of porcine Aurora A by an injection of antisense RNA enhanced the inhibitory effects of AA‐CPEB. These results suggest the involvement of mammalian CPEB1 in Cyclin B syntheses and meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes. In addition, the phosphorylation sites of pCPEB1 were identified and are suggested to be phosphorylated by porcine Aurora A.     

Abundance-dependent transmission of the pinewood nematode, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</Emphasis> (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae), to the Japanese pine sawyer, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monochamus alternatus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), adult in its pupal chamber

The transmission ratio of the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, to the emerging adult Japanese pine sawyer (JPS), Monochamus alternatus, in its pupal chamber is a determinant of the number of the nematodes carried by JPS beetles. To investigate the factors affecting the transmission ratio, we counted the number of the nematodes carried by 36 newly emerged JPS beetles and the number remaining in and around their pupal chambers, and then estimated the transmission ratio (the number of nematodes carried by a JPS adult as a percentage of the total number of nematodes aggregating in and around its pupal chamber). The total number of nematodes aggregating in and around a pupal chamber ranged from 0 to 19,041, and the number of nematodes carried by a beetle ranged from 0 to 18,920. The transmission ratio correlated with neither the water content of the wood around the pupal chamber nor the degree of wood discoloration caused by blue-stain fungus. The transmission ratio varied with the abundance of the nematodes aggregating in and around the pupal chamber. In pupal chambers with more than 1,000 nematodes, almost all the nematodes were transmitted to the beetle. However, in pupal chambers with fewer than 1,000 nematodes, the transmission ratio varied greatly, from 0 to 100%. These results suggest that aggregation of many PWNs in the pupal chamber might stimulate transmission of the PWNs to the JPS adult and that this abundance-related transmission might contribute to the large variation in the number of PWNs carried by the JPS beetle.     

One-step Generation of Phenotype-expressing Triple-knockout Mice with Heritable Mutated Alleles by the CRISPR/Cas9 System

Triple-knockout mice generated by the one-step CRISPR/Cas9 system were examined for the effects of multiple gene modifications on each phenotype and individual gene function. Sixty embryos were transferred, and 9 pups were obtained; all 9 pups had mutations on 3 loci, and 7 pups showed mutations in all-alleles. F0 mice showed knockout phenotypes or no protein expression of target genes simultaneously, and these mutations were normally inherited in the next generation.     

Different effects of ionic and non-ionic compounds on the freeze denaturation of myofibrils and myosin subfragment-1

The effects of non-ionic (sorbitol, maltose, trehalose) and ionic compounds (Na-glutamate, Na-acetate, Na-sulfate, ammonium sulfate) on freeze denaturation of myosin subfragment-1 (S-1) and of myofibrils were compared. Sugars, Na-glutamate and Na-acetate well suppressed the freeze denaturation of myofibrils as well as S-1 in a concentration dependent manner. Although sulfate suppressed freeze denaturation of S-1 irregularly, it accelerated myofibril denaturation. It was concluded that sulfate salts were useless as cryoprotectant for myofibrils. Stabilization extent by F-actin in frozen storage was much less than that in heating.     

Guidelines for soil conservation towards integrated basin management for sustainable development: A new approach based on the assessment of soil loss risk using remote sensing and GIS

Soil suspension in the Cidanau River of western Java, Indonesia, has increased recently, perhaps because of rapid environmental change in this watershed region. The objectives of this research are to assess soil loss risk using remote sensing and GIS and to develop effective guidelines for soil conservation in this watershed. To assess soil loss risk, a new soil loss model based on Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was applied, in which C factor (crop management factor) was estimated using the perpendicular vegetation index (PVI); this was computed with satellite remote sensing data and used to simulate soil loss risk. The simulation showed that areas with highest risk of soil loss are on northern- and southern-facing hillsides with poor vegetation. Guidelines for soil conservation in the watershed were proposed: under these guidelines soil-loss risk is managed by evaluating the effectiveness of contour farming, belt farming, and mulch farming. Some recommended measures for soil conservation are as follows: (1) Green vegetation cover should be preserved as much as possible. (2) Vegetation coverage must be increased by forestation in steep sloped areas. (3) Belt farming and contour farming are recommended in areas with slopes under 100%, and mulch farming (more than 50% ground cover mulching is recommended) is desirable in areas with slopes over 100% and without green cover.     

Meiotic resumption of porcine immature oocytes is prevented by ooplasmic Gsalpha functions

A high cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level in fully-grown immature oocytes prevents meiotic resumption. In Xenopus, inhibitory cAMP is synthesized within oocytes depending on a stimulatory alpha-subunit of G-protein (Gsalpha). In the present study, we examined whether ooplasmic Gsalpha is involved in meiotic arrest of porcine oocytes. First, we studied the presence of Gsalpha molecules in porcine oocytes by immunoblotting, and this suggested the presence of reported isoforms (45 and 48 kDa) not only in cumulus cells but also in porcine oocytes. Then we injected an anti-Gsalpha antibody into porcine immature oocytes and found that inhibition of ooplasmic Gsalpha functions significantly promoted germinal vesicle breakdown of the oocytes, whose spontaneous meiotic resumption was prevented by 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine (IBMX) treatment. Although cyclin B synthesis and M-phase promoting factor (MPF) activation were largely prevented until 30 h of culture in IBMX-treated oocytes, injection of anti-Gsalpha antibody into these oocytes partially recovered cyclin B synthesis and activated MPF activity at 30 h. These results suggest that meiotic resumption of porcine oocytes is prevented by ooplasmic Gsalpha, which may stimulate cAMP synthesis within porcine oocytes, and that synthesized cAMP prevents meiotic resumption of oocytes through the signaling pathways involved in MPF activation.     

Immunological effects of glucan and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus rhamnosus</Emphasis> GG,a probiotic bacterium,on Nile tilapia <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis> intestine with oral <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas</Emphasis> challenges

The present study histologically examined the effects of glucan-containing and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)-containing diets on intestinal damages inflicted on Nile tilapia by Aeromonas challenges. Tilapia were fed control, glucan, and LGG diets for 2 weeks and were subsequently challenged with Aeromonas. The intestines were then histologically examined at 1, 7, 14, and 21 days post-infection. Mortality following the challenge was lower for the fish fed the glucan and LGG diets. The intestines of these groups also showed increased inflammatory cell infiltration and reduced intestinal damage from Aeromonas. Moreover, inflammatory cell infiltration occurred more rapidly in the glucan-fed than in the LGG-fed fish following the challenge. Before the challenge, the dominant mucous cell was the acid type in all the tests. After the challenge, the main mucus cell type in the proximal intestine of the glucan-fed fish shifted to AB-PAS double-staining cells, while in the LGG-fed fish, it remained the acid type throughout the test period, and the number of double-staining cells was smaller than in the control fish after the challenge. Thus, the different mucous cell and inflammatory cell responses show that glucan and LGG might have different immunostimulative effects, although they both reduced the intestinal damage following Aeromonas challenges.     

Inhibition of mitogen activated protein kinase activity induces parthenogenetic activation and increases cyclin B accumulation during porcine oocyte maturation

The inhibition of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation during porcine oocyte maturation leads to decreased maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity and to the induction of parthenogenetic activation. In the present study, in order to analyze the mechanism underlying the suppression of MPF activity in MAPK-inhibited porcine oocytes, we injected mRNA of SASA-MEK, a dominant negative MAPK kinase, or antisense RNA of c-mos, a MAPK kinase kinase, into immature porcine oocyte cytoplasm. The injection of SASA-MEK mRNA or c-mos antisense RNA inhibited the MAPK activity partially or completely, respectively, decreased the MPF activity slightly or significantly, respectively, and induced parthenogenetic activation in 17.1% or 96.6% of mature oocytes, respectively, although no parthenogenetic activation was observed in the control oocytes. Immunoblotting experiments revealed that cyclin B accumulation in these MAPK-suppressed porcine oocytes was increased significantly after 50 h of culture and that a considerable amount of MPF was converted into inactive pre-MPF by hyperphosphorylation. These results indicate that the inhibition of MAPK activity in porcine oocytes did not promote cyclin B degradation but rather suppressed it; also the decrease in MPF activity in MAPK-suppressed porcine oocytes correlated with the conversion of active MPF into inactive pre-MPF.