Long-term changes in microbial community structure in soils subjected to different fertilizing practices revealed by quinone profile analysis

Quinone profile analysis of stored air-dried soils gave an approximation of the long-term changes in the microbial community structure in four soils subjected to different types of fertilizer application from 1987 to 1997: unfertilized soil (NF-soil), soil amended with chemical fertilizers (CF-soil), soil amended with chemical fertilizers and 40 t ha^-1 y^-1 of farmyard manure (CF+ FYM-soil), and soil amended with 400 t ha^-1 y^-1 of farmyard manure (FYM-soil). The carbon content increased, and the soil pH remained higher in the soils receiving farmyard manure. Principal component analysis of the quinone profiles of the soils indicated that the microbial community structure showed a high similarity among the four soils before the onset of cultivation and changed to a different community structure specific to the respective fertilizing practices except for the NF-soil. The specific quinone profile became stable after two cropping seasons in the FYM-soil, after 10 cropping seasons in the CF+ FYM-soil and after 15 cropping seasons in the CF-soil, respectively. The quinone profile of the NF-soil did not become stable, and no specific profile was developed. The specific quinone profiles in the FYM- and CF+ FYM-soils were both characterized by large mole fractions of menaquinone with seven isoprenoid units (MK-7). Farmyard manure itself contained a large mole fraction of MK-7. It was suggested that the amount of MK-7 increased due to the application of farmyard manure. MK-7 indicates the presence of Gram-positive bacteria with low guanine plus cytosine contents such as Bacillus and Gram-negative bacteria of the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium complex. The specific quinone profile in the CF-soil was characterized by the presence of menaquinone with seven isoprenoid units dihydrated (MK-7(H₂)and MK-7(H₄). Although Brevibacterium and Kocuria contain MK-7(H₂), no microorganisms are known to have MK- 7(H.) as major quinone. The common major quinones were MK-8, MK-10(H₄) and a mixture of MK-8(H₄) and MK-9, suggesting the predominance of Grampositive bacteria in all the soils. Mole fractions of Ubiquinone with 8 isoprenoid units (Q-8) and Q-10 increased at various times in all the soils, indicating the sporadic growth of Gram-negative bacteria.     

Encapsulation of molecular hydrogen in fullerene C60 by organic synthesis

In spite of their importance in fundamental and applied studies, the preparation of endohedral fullerenes has relied on difficult-to-control physical methods. We report a four-step organic reaction that completely closes a 13-membered ring orifice of an open-cage fullerene. This process can be used to synthesize a fullerene C60 encapsulating molecular hydrogen, which can be isolated as a pure product. This molecular surgical method should make possible the preparation of a series of C60 fullerenes, encapsulating either small atoms or molecules, that are not accessible by conventional physical methods.     

Bioactive Alkaloids from the Sea: A Review

In our ongoing search for bioactive substances from marine organisms, novel alkaloids have been isolated. Pinnatoxins and pinnamine, potent shellfish poisons, were purified from the Okinawan bivalve Pinna muricata. Pinnatoxins activate Ca²⁺ channels. Halichlorine was isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria okadai. This compound inhibits the induction of VCAM-1. Drugs that block VCAM-1 may be useful for treating coronary artery diseases, angina, and noncardiovascular inflammatory diseases. Pinnaic acids, which are cPLA₂ inhibitors, were also obtained from P. muricata. Interestingly, the structures of pinnaic acids are closely related to that of halichlorine. Norzoanthamine hydrochloride, isolated from the colonial zoanthid Zoanthus sp., suppresses decreases in bone weight and strength in ovariectomized mice, and could be a good candidate for an osteoporotic drug. Ircinamine, purified from the marine sponge Ircinia sp., has a reactive thioester. Aburatubolactams, inhibitors of superoxide anion generation, were isolated from Streptomyces sp. This article covers the bioactive marine alkaloids that have been recently isolated by this research group.     

Systematic assessment of flood mitigation in a tank irrigated paddy fields area

Flood mitigation in irrigation tanks and paddy fields is their favorable aspect though its practical effect is not known very well. A dynamic and systematic approach is presented to assess flood mitigation in a tank irrigated paddy fields area in the worst case where no static buffer function is expected. Based on the linear control theory, transfer function models for runoff process in catchments are identified. Hydraulic models are developed to represent flood dynamics in irrigation tanks, paddy fields, and drainage channels. These models are integrated as an ordinary differential equations system. Then, using the perturbed linear system, flood mitigation in each component of the system is examined in terms of frequency response. An application example demonstrates that a tank irrigated paddy fields area has a significant flood mitigation effect as a low-pass filter. This method has the advantage of assessing flood mitigation even in the case of an increase in the total runoff ratio.     

Influence of estradiol-17β, testosterone, and 11-ketotestosterone on testicular development, serum steroid hormone, and gonadotropin secretion in male red sea bream Pagrus major

ABSTRACT:   In order to investigate the influence of estrogen and androgen on reproductive activities of male teleosts, male red sea bream were implanted with silicone capsules containing estradiol-17β (E2), testosterone (T) or 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in immature and early spermatogenic stages. One month after implantation of either E2 or T, the gonadosomatic index decreased in accordance with testicular regression in both stages. Implantation of E2 decreased circulating 11-KT levels but did not affect gonadotropin (GTH) subunits, follicle stimulating hormone-β (FSHβ), luteinizing hormone-β (LHβ), α glycoprotein subunit (αGSU) gene expression, and serum LH levels in both stages. Alternatively, T decreased serum 11-KT and LH levels, and FSHβ and LHβ mRNA levels in the early spermatogenic stage but not in the immature stage. These results suggest E2 may directly inhibit testicular development through the suppression of 11-KT production. Meanwhile, T may decrease serum 11-KT levels through the suppression of FSH and LH secretion, resulting to inhibition of testicular development in the early spermatogenic stage. Treatment with 11-KT did not affect the testis in either stage, whereas 11-KT increased LHβ and αGSU mRNA levels in immature, and decreased FSHβ mRNA levels in the early spermatogenic stage. These results suggest that 11-KT may have different effects on GTH subunit gene expression in each reproductive stage.     

A retrospective study and gene analysis of canine sterile panniculitis

In this study, a retrospective analysis was conducted to assess the current aspects and predisposing factors of canine sterile panniculitis. Miniature dachshund, neutered, and younger dogs appeared to be predisposed. In addition, histories of previous surgery and injection were associated in 46.5% of the cases, with several types of surgical suture materials used. About 88% of the dogs had multifocal lesions, frequently with signs of systemic illnesses. Whereas systemic immunosuppressive therapy was effective in most dogs, surgical excision of lesions was rarely curative. In order to prevent recurrences, over 65% of the cases required prolonged immunosuppressive therapy. Polymorphism of canine alpha(1)AT gene was investigated as a candidate gene for sterile panniculitis. Eight polymorphisms were discovered in seven Miniature dachshunds by direct nucleotide sequencing, which included a 12-bp deletion, three non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms, and four silent substitutions. Genotyping of the two polymorphisms, c.109_120del12 and c.483A>C, which identified at high incidence in the dachshunds, was conducted in 83 dogs of 6 popular breeds. The frequencies of neither polymorphism differed between Miniature dachshunds and other breeds, suggesting that neither is responsible for developing panniculitis.     

Analysis of the 18S rRNA gene sequence of a Hepatozoon detected in two Japanese dogs

Partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene (625 bp) from a Hepatozoon detected in two canine hepatozoonosis cases, one clinical and one subclinical, in Japan were analyzed. Both sequences were identical to each other and they were closely related to the Hepatozoon canis strain found in Israel with 99% (617/625) nucleotide identity. Both Hepatozoon americanum and Hepatozoon catasbianae were distantly related to the Japanese Hepatozoon with 94% (586/625) and 91% (566/625) identities, respectively. In a phylogenetic tree, the Japanese Hepatozoon was most closely related to H. canis from Israel but was significantly different than H. americanum and H. catasbianae. These results suggest that the Hepatozoon detected in the Japanese dogs might be a strain variant of H. canis, but is apparently a different species than H. americanum.     

Gastroduodenal adenocarcinomas and rectal adenoma in a cougar (Felis concolor) infected with Helicobacter-like organisms and spirochetes

A 14-year-old female cougar died from gastroduodenal adenocarcinomas and rectal adenoma. At necropsy, polypoid tumor masses of various sizes were scattered on the mucosal surfaces of the stomach, duodenum, and rectum. Histologically, the gastric tumor was diagnosed as an intestinal type adenocarcinoma and the tumor cells metastasized to the mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, and lung. Helicobacter-like organisms were detected in the lumina lined by foveolar epithelium. In the duodenum, the carcinoma cells were localized in the limina propria and many of them were intensely positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). In contrast, the rectal adenoma had a lower number of PCNA-positive cells. In the rectum, chronic inflammation with numerous spirochetes was also noted. These results indicated that the occurrence of the gastrointestinal tumors might be associated with the bacterial infection described above.     

Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay by using monoclonal antibody for detection of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin

Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the quantitative estimation of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies as capturing and detecting antibodies, respectively. The dose-dependent relationship between absorbance at 405 nm and concentration of purified CPE was obtained over the range of 0.64-400 ng/ml. The sandwich ELISA was fond to detect crude CPE in culture and CPE in 10% fecal extracts. This method is convenient, rapid and sensitive for specific detection of CPE.     

Association between intestinal lymphangiectasia and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in dogs with lymphoplasmacytic enteritis

Intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL) is a common complication in dogs. Since nitric oxide (NO) is known to relax the lymphatic vessel, we evaluated inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression using immunohistochemistry in 13 dogs with lymphoplasmacytic enteritis (LPE) with or without IL. The duodenal iNOS expressing cells were significantly increased in dogs with IL-negative or IL-positive LPE dogs (P=0.025, P=0.007) compared with control dogs. However, there was no significant difference in iNOS expression between IL-positive and IL-negative tissues. Based on these results, there is no clear evidence for the NO overproduction in the pathogenesis of IL in dogs with LPE. Factors other than NO could, thus, contribute to IL in dogs with LPE.