Distribution of cells immunopositive for AM-3K, a novel monoclonal antibody recognizing human macrophages, in normal and diseased tissues of dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, and rabbits

The monoclonal antibody AM-3K, which was developed using human pulmonary macrophages as the immunogen, immunocytochemically labels most human macrophages except for blood monocytes and dendritic cell populations. AM-3K also shows cross-reactivity in some animal species. To evaluate the usefulness of AM-3K, the present study investigated the detailed distribution of AM-3K-immunopositive macrophages in normal and diseased tissues of dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, and rabbits. Zamboni's solution-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were the most available for the immunocytochemistry with AM-3K. In all animal species examined, AM-3K labeled most macrophages in splenic red pulp, lymph node sinuses and thymus, and tissue macrophages in the interstitium of various organs and sites such as the kidneys, lungs, heart, pancreas, intestines, and skin. Alveolar macrophages and perivascular microglial cells were also immunoreactive for AM-3K. Interestingly, Kupffer cells of dogs, cats, and horses were labeled for AM-3K, but those of cattle, pigs, and rabbits were not. Furthermore, in tumor tissues and inflammatory lesions such as liver fibrosis and encephalomalacia that were obtained from dogs, infiltrating macrophages were stained with AM-3K, but not all infiltrating macrophages reacted to AM-3K. In addition, only 30-50% of pulmonary and peritoneal macrophages obtained from cats and dogs were reactive for AM-3K. AM-3K did not react with blood monocytes, dendritic cell populations, and osteoclasts. These observations indicate that AM-3K specifically labels most exudate and tissue macrophages in the animal species examined. However, the expression of antigens recognized by AM-3K on macrophages may be dependent on differential maturation stages or different functions evoked by some conditions. AM-3K immunoreaction products were seen on the cytoplasmic membrane of macrophages by immunoelectron microscopy. AM-3K would be useful for detection of macrophage populations in the animal species examined here.     

Dynamics of lymphocyte subpopulation changes in the cecal tonsils of chickens infected with Salmonella enteritidis

Salmonella enteritidis (SE)-induced changes in various T and B lymphocyte subpopulations in the cecal tonsils of chickens were analyzed using flow cytometry. At 1 day post-SE inoculation, the percentages of CD3(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes were significantly decreased in the group inoculated with 1x10(9) SE colony-forming units (CFU) (SE high) and in the group inoculated with 1x10(6) SE CFU (SE low) compared with the uninfected control group. The percentage of CD4(+) T lymphocytes was significantly increased in the SE high group compared to the uninfected and the SE low groups at 4 days after SE inoculation. The percentage of IgG(+) B lymphocytes was also significantly increased in both SE high and low groups compared to the uninfected control at 6 days post-SE inoculation. In contrast, the SE low group showed significantly fewer IgM(+) B lymphocytes compared to the uninfected and SE high groups. These results show that SE infection induces significant changes in the cecal tonsil lymphocytes subpopulations shortly following SE inoculation.     

Effects of time,temperature, and humidity on acetaldehyde emission from wood-based materials

Acetaldehyde emissions from particleboard, fiberboard, and plywood were studied using the small chamber method and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The chamber tests were conducted for 1 month to examine the time dependence of acetaldehyde emission. Effects of temperature and relative humidity were also examined. Acetaldehyde emissions from these wood-based materials decreased rapidly and their behavior could be described by an exponential function or by the sum of two exponential functions. This result suggests that in an adequately ventilated atmosphere, the acetaldehyde emission factor decreases quickly following the board’s production. Under fixed absolute humidity conditions, the initial acetaldehyde emission factor was larger under higher temperature conditions, but tended to show almost the same value after 14 days. This suggests that higher temperatures promote higher initial concentrations and a faster decline of acetaldehyde. A semi-empirical linear equation was obtained for the early stage relationship between the emission factor and temperature. Under fixed temperature conditions, higher relative humidity caused a larger acetaldehyde emission factor throughout the testing period, and it did not result in a significantly faster decline in emissions. The relationship between acetaldehyde emission and relative humidity can be described using an exponential function.     

Regolith migration and sorting on asteroid Itokawa

High-resolution images of the surface of asteroid Itokawa from the Hayabusa mission reveal it to be covered with unconsolidated millimeter-sized and larger gravels. Locations and morphologic characteristics of this gravel indicate that Itokawa has experienced considerable vibrations, which have triggered global-scale granular processes in its dry, vacuum, microgravity environment. These processes likely include granular convection, landslide-like granular migrations, and particle sorting, resulting in the segregation of the fine gravels into areas of potential lows. Granular processes become major resurfacing processes because of Itokawa's small size, implying that they can occur on other small asteroids should those have regolith.     

Highly regioselective amination of unactivated alkanes by hypervalent sulfonylimino-λ³-bromane

Amination of alkanes has generally required metal catalysts and/or high temperatures. Here we report that simple exposure of a broad range of alkanes to N-triflylimino-λ(3)-bromane 1 at ambient temperature results in C-H insertion of the nitrogen functionality to afford triflyl-substituted amines in moderate to high yields. Marked selectivity for tertiary over secondary C-H bonds was observed; primary (methyl) C-H bonds were inert. Addition of hexafluoroisopropanol to inhibit decomposition of 1 dramatically improved the C-H amination efficiencies. Second-order kinetics, activation parameters (negative activation entropy), deuterium isotope effects, and theoretical calculations suggest a concerted asynchronous bimolecular transition state for the metal-free C-H amination event.     

Itokawa dust particles: a direct link between S-type asteroids and ordinary chondrites

The Hayabusa spacecraft successfully recovered dust particles from the surface of near-Earth asteroid 25143 Itokawa. Synchrotron-radiation x-ray diffraction and transmission and scanning electron microscope analyses indicate that the mineralogy and mineral chemistry of the Itokawa dust particles are identical to those of thermally metamorphosed LL chondrites, consistent with spectroscopic observations made from Earth and by the Hayabusa spacecraft. Our results directly demonstrate that ordinary chondrites, the most abundant meteorites found on Earth, come from S-type asteroids. Mineral chemistry indicates that the majority of regolith surface particles suffered long-term thermal annealing and subsequent impact shock, suggesting that Itokawa is an asteroid made of reassembled pieces of the interior portions of a once larger asteroid.     

Comparative effects of chemical amendments on salt and NA leaching

Summary Efficiency of sodic soil reclamation is thought to vary with types of chemicals used. This study examined the effects of five inorganic (H₂SO₄, CaCl₂ · 2H₂O, CaSO₄ · 2H₂O, FeSO₄, Al₂(SO₄)₃) and two organic compounds (polyacrylamide, and trihydroxy glutaric acid) on the rate and the extent of salt and Na leaching in moderately Na-affected saline soils: Saneli silty clay loam (Vertic Torrifluvents, ESP=17.5%) and Glendale silty clay (Typic Torrifluvents, ESP=13.5%). Air-dry soil samples (<2mm) were packed in columns, and chemicals, except H₂SO₄, were incorporated into the surface 5 cm of the soils, and in selected cases, to 30 cm. H₂SO₄ was surface-applied. Application rates of the inorganic chemicals were 3.57 and 10.7 mmol(+) kg^-1 (2.5 and 7.5 Mg ha^-1 in gypsum equivalent weight) in the silty clay loam, and 8 and 24 mmol(+) kg^-1 in the silty clay, and the organic compounds were applied at rates of less than 620 kg ha^-1. The soils were then leached with simulated Rio Grande water (EC = 1.1 dS m^-1, SAR = 3.5) under continuous ponding. The tested inorganic compounds removed approximately equivalent amounts of exchangeable Na after approximately 35 cm of water application. However, the rate of water percolation (consequently the rate of salt leaching) from CaCl₂ treated columns, became progressively slow after about 20 cm of water intake. The combined effect of rapid electrolyte leaching and insufficient replacement of Na in the surface layer seemed to be responsible for the flow reduction. Gypsum and H₂SO₄ treatments provided lower ratios of sodicity to salinity in percolating solutions and relatively uniform hydraulic gradients throughout the soil depth. Incorporation of chemicals to the surface 30 cm did not alter performance, except in CaCl₂ treatments where water intake rates became even slower. The tested organic amendments improved initial water infiltration, but neither increased subsequent percolation rates nor improved salt and Na leaching. The fastest reclamation may be attained when chemicals are chosen and applied to yield an electrolyte concentration that is high enough to overcome Na effects at any depth of soil profiles throughout the leaching period.Contribution from Texas Agr. Expt. Sta. Texas A & M University System. This project was supported in part by the Binational Agricultural Research and Development (BARD) Fund and the Expanded Research Area Fund of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Assessment of emitter discharge in microirrigation system as affected by polluted water

A drip irrigation system has the advantage of maintaining high water content near the plant root. However, its performance depends on water quality as it may induce the emitter clogging. In the Tohaku National Irrigation Project, in western Japan, mist spray emitters are widely used for irrigation in the field and greenhouses for vegetable and orchard crops. Seven emitters of different types were evaluated for the variation in their discharge rate without filter. The statistical analysis of mean discharge ratio and the coefficient of variation of the performance of emitters along a lateral line in the field indicated that the mist spray emitters had the best performance for irrigation in Tohaku area, particularly the new emitters or 1-year old emitters. The results suggest that after using the emitter line for two irrigation seasons it should either be replaced in the third season or washed carefully if further used.     

Characterization of a vitamin B12 compound from unicellular coccolithophorid alga (Pleurochrysis carterae).

A unicellular coccolithophorid alga, Pleurochrysis carterae, contained 125.4 +/- 1.2 microg of vitamin B12 per 100 g dry cell weight of the lyophilized algal cells. A vitamin B12 compound was purified from the lyophilized algal cells and partially characterized. The silica gel 60 TLC and reversed-phase HPLC patterns of the purified pink-colored compound were identical to those of authentic vitamin B12, but not those of vitamin B12 analogues inactive for humans. When 22-week-old B12-deficient rats which excreted substantial amounts of methylmalonic acid (75.5 +/- 12.3 mg/day) in urine were fed the P. carterae (10 g per kg diet)-supplemented diet for 12 d, urinary methylmalonic acid excretion (as an index of vitamin B12 deficiency) of the rats became undetectable and hepatic vitamin B12 level of the rats was significantly increased.