Multi‐system progressive angiomatosis in a dog resembling blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome in humans

A six‐year‐old, neutered, female golden retriever was presented with generalised, dark purple to black cutaneous nodules and gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Histopathologically, all cutaneous nodules were diagnosed as benign cavernous haemangiomas. Endoscopic analysis revealed similar nodules in the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. At laparotomy, similar nodules were seen on the visceral peritoneal lining of abdominal organs. Metastatic haemangiosarcoma was ruled out based on histological features and lack of primary tumour in spleen, liver or heart ultrasonographically. Blood loss associated with gastrointestinal haemorrhage was managed with blood transfusion. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first canine case of multi‐system progressive angiomatosis resembling blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome in humans.     

Silicon budget of eutrophic Lake Kasumigaura, Japan

Purpose

Determining the dynamics of silicon in lakes, one of the essential nutrients for diatoms, is valuable for understanding aquatic environmental problems. The dissolved silicon (DSi) and biogenic silicon (BSi) budgets in Lake Kasumigaura, a shallow eutrophic lake in Japan, during the last three decades were assessed based on the analysis of dated sediment cores and a water quality database.

Materials and methods

Sediment cores (100?cm long) were taken at the center of Lake Kasumigaura in 2005, 2007, and 2009 and at two other sites in 2007. BSi contents of the dated sediments were determined by wet alkaline digestion. The net sedimentation rates of BSi were defined as the difference between the DSi load from inflowing rivers and the DSi and BSi loads from the outflow of the lake, calculated using DSi concentrations and diatom abundances in the lake from 1980 to 2007 and DSi concentrations of the inflowing rivers during 1994, 2007, and 2009. The gross sedimentation rates of BSi were estimated by multiplying BSi concentrations in lake water by the diatom sinking rate reported by previous studies.

Results and discussion

Budgetary calculations based on the database showed that 60?C70?% of DSi inputs from the inflowing rivers during the 27?years could ultimately be accumulated as diatom frustules in bottom sediments in the lake. The sediment analysis revealed that the amount of BSi accumulated in the lake from 1980 to 2007 was 2.0?C2.6?×?10¹¹?g, similar to the amount based on the database of 1.3?C2.4?×?10¹¹?g. Although the gross sedimentation rates of BSi likely increased, the net sedimentation rates of BSi decreased significantly from 6?C10?×?10⁹?g?year^?1 in the 1980s to 2?C6?×?10⁹?g?year^?1 in the 2000s, suggesting a fast recycling of BSi in recent years caused by an increase in sediment resuspension and regeneration.

Conclusions

The sediment core information and the water quality database can be used for calculating the long-term silicon budgets in Lake Kasumigaura. An increase in the DSi release rates was identified, which is consistent with recent sediment resuspension. Comparing the sediment core information with the database suggests the long-term dissolution of sediment BSi; however, analysis of the BSi content in sediment cores representing a much longer time period is needed to confirm this.     

Effects of Chilled Storage,Freezing Rates,and Frozen Storage Temperature on Lipid Oxidation in Meat Blocks from Cultured Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus

ABSTRACT

The effects of a short chilled storage period before freezing, frozen storage temperature, and freezing rate on lipid oxidation of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) meat during frozen storage were investigated. After 12-months storage, all samples had increased in peroxide value though they were less at the lower temperatures (?45 and ?60°C). Peroxide values in all samples stored at ?20°C increased after 3 months storage, particularly those processed and stored 51 h after harvest. The lowest increase in peroxide value occurred in the samples frozen rapidly 3 h after harvest. Vitamin E levels decreased faster during frozen storage at ?20°C. There were no apparent differences in levels of triacylglycerides nor in n-3 fatty acid levels between treatments, storage periods, and storage temperatures. After 12-months storage, headspace oxidative volatiles were highest in samples stored at ?20°C and lowest in those stored at ?60°C. Lipid oxidation in tuna meat stored at ?45°C is similar to that at ?60°C, and rapid freezing rather than slow freezing should be used.     

Photoconductive coaxial nanotubes of molecularly connected electron donor and acceptor layers

Controlled self-assembly of a trinitrofluorenone-appended gemini-shaped amphiphilic hexabenzocoronene selectively formed nanotubes or microfibers with different photochemical properties. In these nanotubes, which are 16 nanometers in diameter and several micrometers long, a molecular layer of electron-accepting trinitrofluorenone laminates an electron-donating graphitic layer of pi-stacked hexabenzocoronene. The coaxial nanotubular structure allows photochemical generation of spatially separated charge carriers and a quick photoconductive response with a large on/off ratio greater than 10(4). In sharp contrast, the microfibers consist of a charge-transfer complex between the hexabenzocoronene and trinitrofluorenone parts and exhibit almost no photocurrent generation.     

Biomass allocation and nitrogen limitation in a Cryptomeria japonica plantation chronosequence

We investigated soil net nitrogen mineralization rate, above- and belowground biomass allocation, and nitrogen use in a Cryptomeria japonica plantation chronosequence. Total biomass accumulation showed an asymptotic accretion pattern, and the peak total biomass accumulation rate occurred approximately 30 years after afforestation. Soil net nitrogen mineralization rate was lowest 30 years after afforestation. Between years 30 and 88, net nitrogen mineralization increased again. These results indicate that an imbalance in soil nitrogen supply and plant nitrogen demand occurred approximately 30 years after afforestation. Furthermore, leaf nitrogen concentration, which was used as an index of plant nitrogen status, was lower in mature forest than in young forest, suggesting that mature stands did not take up nitrogen as successfully. If soil resources such as nitrogen limit plant growth, plants may increase biomass allocation to fine root structure; however, fine root biomass was not higher in 30- and 88-year-old stands than in younger stands, suggesting that changes in biomass allocation may not be effective against nitrogen deficiency in a C. japonica plantation chronosequence.     

Frugivory of carnivores and seed dispersal of fleshy fruits in cool-temperate deciduous forests

Five members of the order Carnivora in the cool-temperate deciduous forests of Japan consume the fruits of trees, and they are potential dispersers of the seeds of fleshy-fruited plants. We studied the frugivory of the Asiatic black bear, Japanese marten, badger, red fox, and raccoon dog in cool-temperate deciduous forest of central Japan. From May 2003 to April 2005, a total of 377 fecal samples of the five carnivores (bears, 91; martens, 158; badgers, 45; foxes, 36; and raccoon dogs, 47) were sampled to determine the presence and frequency of occurrence of seeds. Seeds from 17 plant species, representing about 50% of the fleshy-fruited plants occurring in the study forest, were recovered from the carnivore fecal samples. Large numbers (9–10,256) of seeds were present in those feces. Almost all the seeds of fleshy fruits retrieved from the fecal samples were undamaged whereas no intact acorns or nuts were recovered. These findings suggest that all five carnivores can act as seed dispersers for some fleshy-fruited plants in cool-temperate deciduous forest. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Algal growth in an irrigation canal and its effect on flow function

Paddy and Water Environment - In the A irrigation district in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, a rehabilitation project is being implemented due to the aging of the irrigation facilities;...     

Decontamination of Cs from Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>) via kraft cooking

To investigate the possibility of decontaminating ¹³⁷Cs-contaminated Cryptomeria japonica wood, kraft pulping was conducted and the Cs behavior in the reaction process was examined. ¹³³Cs-treated or ¹³⁷Cs-contaminated bark, sapwood, and heartwood chips of Cryptomeria japonica were digested using an aqueous solution of NaOH and Na₂S. The pulp was washed with ultrapure water and filtered, after which the filtrate (black liquor) was collected. The black liquor was acidified to separate the supernatant and precipitation. The Cs (¹³³Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) concentrations in the chip and reaction products were measured. As for wood samples, the majority of Cs was present in black liquor, while only a minor amount of Cs was retained in the pulp (<1%). In the case of bark, although the majority of Cs was present in the black liquor, the proportion of Cs in the pulp was much higher than that in the wood pulp. In addition, the Cs in the precipitation of the bark was higher than that in the wood, possibly because the Cs in the bark was combined with some components, which is insoluble in alkaline solution. Our results suggest that ¹³⁷Cs-contaminated Cryptomeria japonica wood can be used in the pulp and paper industries.     

Stomach Chitinase from Japanese Sardine Sardinops melanostictus: Purification,Characterization, and Molecular Cloning of Chitinase Isozymes with a Long Linker

Fish express two different chitinases, acidic fish chitinase-1 (AFCase-1) and acidic fish chitinase-2 (AFCase-2), in the stomach. AFCase-1 and AFCase-2 have different degradation patterns, as fish efficiently degrade chitin ingested as food. For a comparison with the enzymatic properties and the primary structures of chitinase isozymes obtained previously from the stomach of demersal fish, in this study, we purified chitinase isozymes from the stomach of Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus, a surface fish that feeds on plankton, characterized the properties of these isozymes, and cloned the cDNAs encoding chitinases. We also predicted 3D structure models using the primary structures of S. melanostictus stomach chitinases. Two chitinase isozymes, SmeChiA (45 kDa) and SmeChiB (56 kDa), were purified from the stomach of S. melanostictus. Moreover, two cDNAs, SmeChi-1 encoding SmeChiA, and SmeChi-2 encoding SmeChiB were cloned. The linker regions of the deduced amino acid sequences of SmeChi-1 and SmeChi-2 (SmeChi-1 and SmeChi-2) are the longest among the fish stomach chitinases. In the cleavage pattern groups toward short substrates and the phylogenetic tree analysis, SmeChi-1 and SmeChi-2 were classified into AFCase-1 and AFCase-2, respectively. SmeChi-1 and SmeChi-2 had catalytic domains that consisted of a TIM-barrel (β/α)₈–fold structure and a deep substrate-binding cleft. This is the first study showing the 3D structure models of fish stomach chitinases.     

Antiobese effects of novel saponins from edible seeds of Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata BLUME) after treatment with wood ashes

Recently, we have identified novel saponins from edible seeds of Japanese horse chestnut ( Aesculus turbinata BLUME) after processing the natural seeds with wood ashes to remove bitterness. We attempted to determine anti-obesity effects of those saponins from edible seeds as well as natural seeds. The purified individual components of saponins from natural and edible seeds inhibited pancreatic lipase in vitro. The potency was in the order of escins > desacylescins > deacetylescins. Escins Ib and IIb as well as deacetylescins Ib and IIb with the angeloyl moiety were more potent than the corresponding Ia and IIa series with the tigloyl moiety. Moreover, in vivo anti-obesity effects of the saponin fractions were monitored for 8 weeks in mice fed high-fat diets. Saponin fractions from both seeds significantly attenuated the elevation in body weight, the mass of peritoneal adipose tissues, and plasma triacylglycerol, which was accompanied by higher contents of undigested fats in feces without changes in food intake, indicating the effective inhibition of fat digestion in vivo. Taken together, saponin fractions including desacylescins and deacetylescins from edible seeds are potentially useful for the development of nutraceutical foods with anti-obesity effects and more attenuated bitter taste.