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.     

Aluminum inhibits apoplastic flow of high–molecular weight solutes in root apices of Zea mays L.

Using an aluminum (Al)‐sensitive maize cultivar, we investigated the influence of Al on the apoplastic solute bypass flow and its relationship with Al‐induced (1 h, 50 μM) callose formation and root growth. We selected the fluorescent probes 8‐hydroxypyrene‐1,3,6‐trisulfonic acid, trisodium salt (MW 524) (HPTS) and dextran‐Texas Red (TR) conjugates (MW 3,000, 10,000, and 40,000) to monitor their apoplastic transport. Confocal laser–scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis and spectrofluorometric quantification showed Al‐induced callose formation in peripheral root cells within 1 h. Pretreatment of plants with the callose synthesis inhibitor 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (DDG) reduced the callose formation by half. Uptake experiments with both HPTS and dextrans showed uniform dye distribution in control root apices. After Al treatment for 1 or 2 h, which inhibited root growth by 32% or 50%, respectively, the dyes accumulated in the epidermal and outer cortical cell layers, especially in the 1–2 mm apical root zone. Al treatment reduced the export of the dyes out of the apical 1 cm treatment zone. This was due to strong sorption of HPTS but not of dextrans by Al‐loaded cell walls. Aluminum treatment reduced loading into the xylem sap particularly of higher–molecular weight dextrans. Pretreatment of roots with DDG and presence of 50 mM mannitol during the Al treatment partially forestalled the inhibitory effect of Al on the dye transport, but only slightly reduced the Al‐induced growth inhibition. Exudation experiments revealed that xylem water flow remained unaffected by the Al treatment of the root tips. The results with dextran suggest that Al binding in cell walls of the root apex inhibits apoplastic bypass flow of higher–molecular weight solutes, which might contribute to Al‐induced inhibition of root growth.     

Physicochemical properties and chemical compositions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melaleuca leucadendron</Emphasis> leaf oils taken from the plantations in Java,Indonesia

Melaleuca leucadendron Linn. leaf oils from Gunung Kidul, Gundih and Sukun, Java, Indonesia, at tree ages of 5, 10, and 15 years were analyzed to elucidate their qualities and chemical compositions. These oils gave yields from 0.61% to 1.59%. The samples from Gundih produced the highest yields (1.42–1.59%) compared to those from Gunung Kidul and Sukun. These oils were colorless with an odor typical of Melaleuca oils. The specific gravity of essential oils in this study ranged from 0.870 to 0.912. The samples from Gunung Kidul were the highest in specific gravity (0.905–0.912). The refractive index values of oil samples ranged from 1.468 to 1.470, optical rotation ranged from (−)2.47° to (−)0.98°, and ratio miscibility of oils in 70% ethanol ranged from 1:1 to 1:9.67. The organoleptic profiles and physicochemical properties of M. leucadendron Linn. leaf oils in this study were evaluated based on the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 06-3954-2006 for standard quality of Melaleuca essential oils; only a few specific gravity values were below the standard. GC-MS spectrometry analysis indicated the presence of 26 compounds. Among them, 1,8-cineole (44.76–60.19%), α-terpineol (5.93–12.45%), d(+)-limonene (4.45–8.85%), and β-caryophyllene (3.78–7.64%) were the major components. Samples from each site tended to decrease in 1,8-cineole content and increase in β-caryophyllene content as plant age increased. α-Terpineol was highest at plant age 10 years, and d(+)-limonene varied according to plant site and age.     

Evaluating antigen-specific cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells in fish by granzyme B-like activity

Granzyme B plays an important role in granule-mediated apoptosis by CTL. It is a well characterized component of the cytolytic machinery in mammals and a candidate for the evaluation of cytotoxic activity of CTL as an alternative to conventional cytotoxicity assay. In this study, we examined the effects of granzyme inhibitors to assess the characteristics of fish granzymes in terms of substrate specificity and the involvement of granzyme B-like in the cytotoxic response. 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (DCI), which inhibit the activity of serine protease including all members of the granzyme family, markedly suppressed the cytotoxic activity of CTL. However, CTL-mediated cytotoxicity was significantly but not completely suppressed by the addition of carbobenzyloxy-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-IETD-FMK) that specifically blocks granzyme B activity. These results suggest that additional serine proteases as well as granzyme B-like are involved in cytotoxicity of CTL in fish. We further compared cytotoxicity with the granzyme B-like hydrolytic activity against fluorogenic substrate acetyl-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Ac-IETD-MCA) and found that granzyme B-like activity correlated well with the cytotoxicity of CTL in ginbuna crucian carp. Present results suggest that the granzyme activity assays is useful to assess cytotoxic activity of CTL in fish in which genetic information on granzymes and specific tools for cytotoxicity assay are not available because of well conserved catalytic triad residues and substrate binding sites in granzyme B throughout vertebrates.     

Successive deaths of a captive snow leopard (Uncia uncia) and a serval (Leptailurus serval) by infection with feline panleukopenia virus at Sapporo Maruyama Zoo

Feline parvoviruses were isolated from frozen samples of intestines taken from a snow leopard (Uncia uncia) and a serval (Leptailurus serval) that died successively at Sapporo Maruyama Zoo in Hokkaido, Japan. Isolates possessed an antigenic epitope for both the feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) and mink enteritis virus, identified with a hemagglutination inhibition test. Sequencing analyses of the VP2 region of the isolates revealed that the two isolates were identical and of the FPLV-type. These results suggested that FPLV was introduced from a feral cat which entered the zoo and transmitted the virus inside the zoo.     

In-situ growth of ZnO particles on bamboo pulp fabric and its anti-UV property

This research presents a simple way to enhance the anti-UV property of bamboo pulp fabric trough in situ synthesis of ZnO particles on the fabric. Bamboo Pulp Fabric was treated by immersion method in Zn(NO₃)₂ and multi-amide compound (RSD) aqueous solution under hydrothermal condition, then the ZnO particles were grown on the surface of bamboo pulp fabric by in-situ method. In this synthesis RSD was applied as a stabilizer, reactant and dispersant agent, the reaction mechanism was investigated. The ZnO particles were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Xray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet/visible light spectrophotometer. The anti-UV property of Bamboo Pulp Fabric was characterized by measuring its UPF. The results indicated that the diameter of ZnO is about 150 nm, the length is about 600 nm. The Bamboo Pulp Fabric treated with ZnO particles showed good anti-UV property and its UPF can reach to 83.59. After washing for 20 times, it can also keep good anti-UV property.     

The effect of water temperature on habitat use of young Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis in the East China Sea

ABSTRACT:   Immature Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis , tagged with archival tags, were released near Tsushima Island in the East China Sea (ECS) during the winters of 1995, 1996 and 1997. Geolocations were estimated using the archival tags from recovered fish. These data, together with sea surface temperature (SST) data from satellite remote sensing, are used to describe the habitat used by these bluefin in the ECS from January to June for 3 years (1996, 1997, 1998), and to asses the effect of water temperature on fish distribution and movement. The results indicate that their geolocations ranged from the area north-east of Tsushima Island to the offshore area in the south-west. However, the area of highest density differed among years, being furthest south in 1996 and furthest north in 1998. The differences were probably caused by changes in SST associated with La Niña (1996) and El Niño (1998) events. Another densely populated area was identified in offshore waters of latitude 28–30 °N in 1996 (only), on the cold side of the Kuroshio front. These fish may have been prevented from moving northwards by an intrusion of Kuroshio water of approximately 25°C into the region immediately to the north-east.     

Developmental competence of cat oocytes from ovaries stored at various temperature for 24 h

We conducted two experiments to investigate the effects of storage temperature and period for cat ovaries on the meiotic and developmental competence of oocytes collected from the ovaries. In Experiment 1, ovaries were stored in physiological saline for 24 h at 4 C, 23-25 C, or 38 C (cold, room, and incubator temperature groups, respectively), and then oocytes were collected from the ovaries in each group. Morphologically intact oocytes were then selected and cultured in maturation medium for 24 h. Significantly more oocytes reached metaphase II (MII) in the cold temperature group (53.4%) than in the room and incubator temperature groups (20.0 and 2.4%, respectively). In Experiment 2, ovaries were stored in physiological saline at room temperature for 0, 6, 12 or 18 h, and then they were stored at 4 C (cold storage) until reaching a total storage period of 24 h. After storage of the ovaries, morphologically intact oocytes were matured, fertilized with frozen-thawed spermatozoa, and cultured in vitro. The rates of morphologically intact oocytes obtained from the ovaries stored at room temperature for 0, 6, 12 or 18 h were 35.3, 30.0, 26.4 and 14.7%, respectively, and the rates of intact oocytes that reached MII were 63.2, 36.4, 26.5 and 11.9%, respectively. The results suggested that the numbers of morphologically intact oocytes and intact oocytes that reached MII after in vitro maturation decrease gradually as the period of storage at room temperature before cold storage increases. Only oocytes from ovaries stored for 6 h developed to the blastocyst stage after in vitro maturation and fertilization when ovaries were stored at room temperature before cold storage. These results indicate that 24 h storage of ovaries at high temperatures (>23 C) decreases the meiotic competence of oocytes. The quality and developmental competence of oocytes are influenced by the length of storage at room temperature before cold storage.