Phospholipase Cζ (PLCζ) versus postacrosomal sheath WW domain‐binding protein (PAWP): Which molecule will survive as a sperm factor?

During mammalian fertilization, sperm is fused with the oocyte's membrane, triggering the resumption of meiosis from the metaphase II arrest, the extrusion of the second polar body, and the exocytosis of cortical granules; these events are collectively called 'oocyte activation.' In all species studied to date, the transient rise in the cytosolic level of calcium (in particular, the repeated calcium increases called 'calcium oscillations' in mammals) is required for these events. Researchers have focused on identifying the factor(s) that can induce calcium oscillations during fertilization. Sperm‐specific phospholipase C, i.e., PLC zeta (PLCζ), is a strong candidate of the factor(s), and several research groups using different species obtained evidence that PLCζ is a sperm factor that can induce calcium oscillations during fertilization. However, postacrosomal sheath Tryptophan‐Tryptophan (WW)—domain‐binding protein (PAWP) was recently shown to have a pivotal role in inducing calcium oscillations in some species. In this review, we focus on PLCζ and PAWP as sperm factors, and we discuss this controversy: Which of these two molecules survives as a sperm factor?     

Satellite Analysis of Volcanic Clouds and Transport of Acidic Substances from Mt. Aso and Mt. Sakurajima

The satellite images of volcanic clouds in Kyushu, Japan during September–November 1989 were studied in connection with the mountain site measurement of atmospheric qualities at Unzen-Nodake and the SO₂ concentration data at Aso Volcano Museum. The images strongly indicate that many high concentration events of SO₂ were the results of the long-range transport of volcanic gas from Mt. Aso and Mt. Sakurajima to these stations. Brief comments on the 2000 eruption of Miyake-jima volcano are added.     

Determination of spherosomes from lees materials

To evaluate the effectiveness in adsorbing organochlorine compounds such as chloroform, dichloromethane, or benzene by lees materials, the determination of spherosomes from different lees materials was established by using a hemacytometer under an optical microscope. Rice bran, wheat bran, rapeseed, linseed, okara, and sakekasu were used for this investigation, and activated carbon was also used as a standard adsorbent material. The number of spherosomes varied from 1.82 x 10(10) particles/g for sakekasu to 4.95 x 10(10) particles/g for wheat bran. There was a high correlation between the removal efficiency in adsorbing organochlorine compounds such as chloroform, dichloromethane, or benzene by lees materials and the number of spherosomes from different lees materials.     

In situ measurement of wood moisture content in high-temperature steam

Changes in moisture content of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) wood during high-temperature saturated and superheated steam treatments were investigated. A system for in situ weighing of specimens was used, and the reduction of wood substance by heating was taken into consideration. At 160°C the loss of wood substance due to heating was significant and influenced the moisture content values, but it was almost negligible at 120°C. Treatment time and temperature affected the moisture content in saturated steam but not in superheated steam. Excess water in a saturated closed system appears to promote the decomposition of wood and condensation in or on specimens.Parts of this work was presented at the 49th, 50th, and 52nd Annual Meetings of the Japan Wood Research Society in Tokyo, April 1999; Kyoto, April 2000; and Gifu, April 2002     

Food variations and ontogenetic dietary shift of the starspotted-dogfish Mustelus manazo at five locations in Japan and Taiwan

SUMMARY: Stomach contents were examined from 936 individuals of Mustelus manazo , collected by trawl at five locations: Aomori, Tokyo Bay, Maizuru and Shimonoseki in Japan, and one location off Taiwan. The vacuity index was relatively low (0–6.1%). Based on three indices ( %W , %F , RI ), the major dietary component was crustaceans at all locations. The most important prey category was crabs in Aomori, Shimonosei and Taiwan, mantis shrimps in Tokyo Bay, and shrimps in Maizuru. Fishes were a minor food category for M. manazo in most locations, except in Maizuru where fishes were second in importance in the diet. Dietary overlap revealed a medium degree of overlap between Tokyo Bay and Aomori, and between Tokyo Bay and Shimonoseki. The other locations showed a high degree of overlap with each other. Significant ontogenetic dietary shifts were found in Tokyo Bay, Maizuru and Taiwan, and prey diversity showed a trend being relatively low in larger size classes. The feeding habit of M. manazo was unique in Tokyo Bay, where crustaceans in the muddy substrata were taken in preference to the most abundant benthic prey item available, such as a southern rough shrimp, Trachypenaeus curvirostris . Mustelus manazo appears to use two feeding strategies based upon stomach contents. One, in Tokyo Bay, involved the digging up or removing of burrowing invertebrates from muddy substrata without crushing them. The other, at the other four locations, involved the crushing of prey on the substrata surface.     

Properties of soil humic substances in fractions obtained by sequential extraction with pyrophosphate solutions at different pHs

Abstract

Humic acids (HAs) obtained from four different soils by sequential extraction with pyrophosphate solutions at different pH values (i.e. at pH 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13), were examined by ultraviolet and visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. UV-VIS spectra from 230 to 700 nm were measured, and absorbance coefficients of 1% humic acid solutions at 600 nm (E ^1% ₆₀₀) and Δlog K were calculated. The shape of the spectra of humic acids depended on the soil types rather than on the pH values. The (E ^1% ₆₀₀) values were higher in the neutral region, and lower in the alkaline region, for each pH value they decreased in the following order: buried Andosol > Andosol > Histosol ≧ Cambisol. The Δlog K values for each pH value were higher in the following order: Histosol> Cambisol > buried Andosol≧Andosol. Although the linear correlation was found to be significant between the E ^1% ₆₀₀ and Δlog K values, the relation between these optical properties and pH values differed among the soil types. However, in the neutral region, the higher E ^1% ₆₀₀ values of humic acids from buried Andosol and Andosol and the lower Δlog K values of humic acids from Cambisol and Histosol suggest that the humification degree was higher in the neutral region. Data of elemental composition and atomic ratios were obtained for each humic acid. The H/C ratios in the four soils increased gradually with increasing pH values from 5 to 13, and those for each pH value were commonly higher in the following order: Cambisol> Histosol> Andosol> buried Andosol. The O/C and OIH ratios decreased with increasing pH values. The results of the H/C versus O/C diagram suggested that decarboxylated humic acids were extracted at the higher pH values. A highly significant correlation coefficient was obtained between the H/C and OIH ratios (r= ?0.891***). Results showing that the decrease of the pH values corresponded to the order of the humic acids in the correlation curve in the H/C versus O/H diagram suggest that the humic acids with a higher content of unsaturated bonds and a higher degree of oxidation were extracted at the lower pH values within the range from 5 to 13.     

Intraocular peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a dog

A tumor within the right globe in a 9-year-old Shetland sheepdog was examined pathologically. The tumor was composed of spindle or oval cells arranged in interwoven bundles with intervening collagenous or mucinous matrices. Immunohistochemically, the tumor bound antibody directed to S-100 protein and vimentin, but not to desmin, actin smooth muscle, or neurofilament. Electron microscopy revealed that the tumor cells had poorly developed cytoplasmic processes, desmosomes between closely contiguous cells, and a discontinuous basement membrane-like material. Based on these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) histologically. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of intraocular PNST in dogs.     

Self-assembled hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene graphitic nanotube

An amphiphilic hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene self-assembles to form a pi-electronic, discrete nanotubular object. The object is characterized by an aspect ratio greater than 1000 and has a uniform, 14-nanometer-wide, open-ended hollow space, which is an order of magnitude larger than those of carbon nanotubes. The wall is 3 nanometers thick and consists of helical arrays of the pi-stacked graphene molecule, whose exterior and interior surfaces are covered by hydrophilic triethylene glycol chains. The graphitic nanotube is redox active, and a single piece of the nanotube across 180-nanometer-gap electrodes shows, upon oxidation, an electrical resistance of 2.5 megohms at 285 kelvin [corrected]. This family of molecularly engineered graphite with a one-dimensional tubular shape and a chemically accessible surface constitutes an important step toward molecular electronics.     

Acute vascular and interstitial rejection following renal allograft transplantation in dogs

Renal allograft transplantation was performed in four beagles. Immunosuppressive treatment using cyclosporine, mizoribin and prednisolone was continued from Day 5 pre- until Day 20 post-transplantation. Between Days 28 and 32 post-transplantation, an abrupt elevation of the serum creatinine values followed by the development of uremia was seen in all recipients. Histopathology of the allografts examined between Days 28 and 37 revealed edema, necrosis, hemorrhage and severe diffuse interstitial cellular infiltration as well as tubulitis. Glomerular changes notably included swelling of the tufts due to hypercellularity, which was consistent with transplant glomerulitis. The intrarenal arteries exhibited fibrinoid necrosis of the walls and intimal or transmural cellular infiltration. These renal lesions were consistent with those of acute vascular and interstitial rejection in humans.     

Vacuolar degeneration of skeletal muscle in transgenic mice overexpressing ORP150

ORP150 is a hypoxic stress-induced protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Transgenic mice overexpressing ORP150 (ORP-Tg) exhibit vacuolar degeneration in the heart. To determine whether vacuolization is present in skeletal muscle, we pathologically examined ORP-Tg mice. After 60 days of age, severe vacuolization was found in the soleus muscles of the hind legs of the ORP-Tg mice. Immunohistochemical staining of ORP150 revealed co-localization of ORP150 and vacuolization in the affected cells. Electron microscopy revealed a marked increase in the number of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticula (rER) and distention of the cisterna. These findings suggest that overexpression of ORP150 causes accumulation of ORP150 in the rER, resulting in vacuolar degeneration in the skeletal muscle of ORP-Tg mice.