A novel immunohistochemical marker of normal and neoplastic melanocytes in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of albino rats

In albino rats, spontaneous occurrence of melanocytic tumors is rare, with diagnosis difficult. This study evaluated immunoreactivity for PNL2 in normal and neoplastic melanocytes in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of albino rats. The samples consisted of 11 (1.57%) amelanotic melanomas in 700 rats (2 studies), 23 non-melanocytic tumors, and a wide variety of normal tissues. In normal albino rats, PNL2 stained the melanocytes in the iris and choroid of the eyeball and the hair bulb and basal cell layers of the epidermis of the whole body. In amelanotic melanoma, the tumor cells consisted of spindle cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm without melanin granules. PNL2 consistently stained cytoplasm in all amelanotic melanoma cells. In contrast, the nonmelanocytic tumor cells were not labeled. Electron microscopically, neoplastic, and normal melanocytes showed numerous cytoplasmic premelanosomes (stage II melanosome). In conclusion, PNL2 is direct against a fixative- and decalcific-resistant melanocyte-associated antigen, and has high specificity against normal and neoplastic melanocytes of albino rats.     

Production and characterization of interspecific hybrids between Asparagus kiusianus Makino and A. officinalis L.

Interspecific hybridization is a useful technique to introduce characteristics from wild species into crops. Garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis, 2n = 2x = 20) is an economically important vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated in many countries. The genus Asparagus is comprised of over 100 species. Asparagus kiusianus (2n = 2x = 20) is a wild asparagus species endemic to Japan. This species occurs on the coast and is likely to be a salt-resistant species. Although the geographic distribution of these two species is not close, molecular phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that these two species are closely related. In this study, a reciprocal cross between A. officinalis and A. kiusianus was carried out by hand pollination, and progeny were obtained from both crossings. These progeny exhibited a morphologically intermediate phenotype in terms of flower shape, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis confirmed that these were indeed interspecific hybrids. The interspecific hybrids were fertile, and backcross progeny with garden asparagus was also generated. These interspecific hybrids are expected to supply novel traits to garden asparagus.     

Density maxima in high-pressure supercooled water and liquid silicon dioxide

With glass capillary pressure vessels it has been possible to study the effect of pressure on the temperature of maximum density (TMD) and on the "sharpness" of the density maximum in liquid H(2)O and D(2)O in the important but little-studied supercooled regime. A pressure of 1200 bars produces a 33 degrees C depression of the TMD in these liquids and a considerable reduction in sharpness. Comparison with the rather flat density maximum for liquid SiO(2) supports the notion that the presence or absence of density anomalies in "tetrahèdral" liquids depends on the average bridge-bond angle, which is evidently unusually large in water at normal pressure.     

Genesis and characteristics of brown forest soils derived from serpentine in Kyushu,Japan

Recently, micropedological investigations have become an important means to explain some pedogenetical processes. The micromorphological features of Brown Forest soils and Mountain Brown Forest soils have been reported by several investigators(12, 14–15), Braunerde can be distinguished from Braunlehm by the presence of a spongy structure, immobility of peptizable iron hydroxides, or by the absence of any fluidal structure in its (B) horizon. In his review on micropedology, osmond(16) has stated that Brown Earths do not show any evidence of illuviation of ferruginous compounds or clay formed by oxidative weathering. As a result of micromorphological investigations on soils derived from serpentine in Greece, Krause(12) has described that the dominant soil of the hillsides is rubefied Braunlehm (Rotlehm), whereas the soil developed on valley terraces is Braunerde which appears as a transformation product of Rotlehm and has a spongy fabric in the A horizon.     

Effect of water management on the vivianite content of paddy-rice roots

Abstract

Vivianite is a hydrated ferrous phosphate mineral that can form in reducing environments, and it was recently identified on aged paddy rice (Oryza sativa, L., cultivar Hitomebore) roots. However, the formation and dissolution of vivianite appear highly susceptible to the soil redox potential. We examined the effect of water management on the vivianite content of rice roots in three experimental micro (1 m²) paddy fields. The vivianite content of the roots was estimated using a method based on the alteration of vivianite after heating at 105°C for 48 h. This alteration steeply lowers the dissolution of phosphate from the roots in a mixed acid solution of 0.1 mol L^?1 of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and 1 mol L^?1 of acetic acid (CH₃COOH). Efficiency of the method was confirmed regarding heating temperature and duration of heating. Using this method, we found that water management significantly influenced the vivianite content of the rice roots. The vivianite content of the rice roots was highest, i.e., 2.3 g phosphorus (P) kg^?1 expressed by its estimated P content, when the paddy field was continuously flooded from May to until early September. After flooding stopped, the soil was gradually oxidized, leading to a decrease in vivianite content. In the micro plot exposed to midseason drainage, the vivianite content increased to the level of the continuously flooded plot after reflooding, and finally decreased after flooding was stopped in late August. The plots exposed to midseason drainage followed by intermittent irrigation presented the lowest vivianite contents among the three experimental paddy fields. These results confirm that increases and decreases in the vivianite contents of paddy-rice roots strongly depend on water management.     

Elemental affinity for siderite found in a Japanese paddy subsoil

ABSTRACT

Siderite (FeCO₃), a type of carbonate mineral, is very occasionally recognized as a nodule in anoxic soils and sediments. During siderite formation, elements are expected to be accumulated or excluded between siderite and bulk soil. Therefore, we verified the affinity of 40 elements for siderite found in the gley horizon of a smectite-rich paddy field in northeastern Japan from the elemental concentration of the soil and the siderite dissolved in 2.88 mol L^?1 hydrochloric acid (10% HCl). The concentration ratio of the target element of the soil to the siderite was expressed by the product of the dimensionless R₀ value and ratio of titanium (Ti) concentration of the soil to the siderite (C_siderite /C_soil) = R₀ (Ti_siderite /Ti_soil). The affinity of each element for the siderite was analyzed by comparing the R₀ values. In comparison with Ti used as the reference element, P, Cr, Co and Mo were accumulated (R₀ > 1.0), and alkali metals, such as Li, Na and K, and chalcophile elements, such as Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb, tended to be equal or excluded from the siderite (R₀ ≦1.0). Of the group 2 elements, Ca, Sr and Ba were accumulated, while Mg was excluded. The affinity of Mn for siderite exceeded that of Fe as the main component of the siderite, which reflects the fact that siderite was formed in a fresh water condition. The siderite size did not influence the elemental affinity. Observation of micromorphology using a scanning electron microscope showed that the siderite nodules were aggregations of siderite particles and clays, suggesting that the siderite grew by taking in clay around it. The rare earth element (REE) distribution pattern showed a tendency not to increase linearly but to increase with forming a concave curve at the intervals of the four elements with the increase of atomic number (i.e. tetrad effects). Although these findings are from the lower horizons of anoxic soils, the elemental affinity for siderite of this study is useful in order to elucidate the complex elemental dynamics in the anoxic environment.     

Weight-based population analysis: an estimation method

Generally, the individual weight of large fish is measured at landing, and thus, their weight composition is easily obtained. In this paper, we develop a method of population analysis using weight composition of fish, called weight-based population analysis, or WPA. WPA needs data of catch-at-weight, weight composition, weight from the growth and natural mortality M. We apply the method to the walleye pollack fishery in Funka Bay to evaluate its validity. The results show that the population size estimated from WPA reflects the features of population dynamics, and the estimated parameters reflect this walleye pollack fishery. Further, we compare the results of WPA with those of virtual population analysis (VPA) using catch-at-age data. The trend of population dynamics estimated using WPA was comparable to the results of VPA, suggesting that WPA can estimate population size as well as VPA.     

Measurement of ferritin and anti‐ferritin autoantibodies in serum and colostrum of Holstein and Japanese Black cows

Anti‐ferritin autoantibody is a ferritin‐binding protein commonly found in mammals; it is thought to form an immune complex with ferritin and thereby mediate the rapid clearance of circulating ferritin. The aim of this study is to determine concentrations of ferritin and anti‐ferritin autoantibodies (immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgG and IgA) in serum and colostrum of Holstein (H) and Japanese Black (JB) cows within 24 h of normal calving. Blood and colostrum samples were collected from cows of various ages (2–11 years) and calving number (1–8 live births). Mean ferritin concentrations were higher in colostrum than in serum for both breeds, and higher colostrum ferritin concentrations were found in H than JB cows. IgA antibodies in serum and colostrum from both breeds had negligible ferritin‐binding activity. For both breeds, IgM and IgG antibodies had higher ferritin‐binding activity in colostrum than in serum. There was a significant correlation between IgM and IgG ferritin‐binding activities in serum and colostrum of H and JB cows. These results suggest that ferritin and IgM and IgG autoantibodies are actively transferred from the blood stream to the colostrum at prepartum or early lactation.     

Can the cropping schedule of rice be adapted to changing climate? A case study in cool areas of northern Japan

Adaptation of cropping schedules in response to climate change is essential for increasing rice productivity. In the present study, we analyzed yield, cropping schedule and cultivar characteristics records from 1958 to 2007 in a case study of four prefectures in northern Japan, where low temperatures can severely limit rice growth. Grain yield in all prefectures increased over time, with a higher increase from 1958 to 1982 (2.4 g m⁻² y⁻¹) than from 1983 to 2007 (1.0 g m⁻² y⁻¹). The transplanting date became 0.07–0.91 days y⁻¹ earlier before 1983, but did not appear to change thereafter. The growing period duration from transplanting to harvesting increased over time, especially during the first 25 years. We observed a significant correlation between grain yield and transplanting date before 1983. The length of the potential growing period, defined as the period from the earliest potential date for transplanting and the latest potential date for harvesting, increased over time in all four prefectures. The gap between the actual growing period and the potential growing period increased after 1983. The safe reproductive period, which is defined as the duration within which rice can escape cold damage during its reproductive stage, did not appear to change over time. Based on these results, we discuss future cropping schedules capable of increasing rice productivity under a changing climate in the future.