Vertical distributions of PAHs in the sediments of four lakes in Japan

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to elucidate historical trends, spatial variations, and the sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in several Japanese lakes.

Materials and methods

The vertical distributions of PAHs in the core samples of sediments taken at several points in lakes Kasumigaura, Suwa, Kizaki, and Shinji were determined using a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass selective detector and combined with chronological information and the physical/elemental properties of the sediment.

Results and discussion

Seventeen related compounds (congeners) typically had concentration peaks at sediment depths corresponding to the 1960s to 1970s. In Lake Shinji and one bay of Lake Kasumigaura, there was a tendency for PAH concentrations to increase downstream; in contrast, another bay of Lake Kasumigaura showed the reverse trend. During big flood events, the fluxes of PAHs increased due to large inputs of particulate matter, although PAH concentrations were reduced. For the four study lakes and other similar lakes, PAH concentrations of surface sediments were approximately proportional to population densities in the respective watersheds, while the total input of PAHs to the lakes were correlated with their population and watershed area. The source apportionment analysis using isomer ratios for the congener profiles indicated that the principal sources of the PAHs in the lake sediments were gasoline and/or diesel engine exhausts and biomass burning.

Conclusions

The observed concentration peaks showed a deterioration of the chemical quality of atmospheric conditions around 1960?C1970 and a recent tendency for their amelioration. Between-lake differences suggest that the influence of human activity in the watersheds influences sediment PAH concentrations. The PAH sources were identified to be of pyrogenic origin.     

Serological diagnosis of enzootic pneumonia of swine by a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a monoclonal antibody and recombinant antigen (P46) of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

To facilitate the control of enzootic pneumonia (EP) of swine caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, the complement fixation (CF) test has been used for the detection of M. hyopneumoniae antibodies. However, the CF test is a cumbersome and time-consuming technique and cross-reactivity are major drawbacks associated with this method. To circumvent these drawbacks, we have developed a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), consisting of purified monoclonal antibody (Mab) against the 46 kDa surface antigen (P46) of M. hyopneumoniae and recombinant P46 protein expressed in Escherichia coli, for the detection of antibodies to M. hyopneumoniae in serum samples from pigs experimentally inoculated with M. hyopneumoniae and from naturally infected pigs, and compared the practical usefulness of ELISA using the CF test. In experimentally inoculated pigs, the CF and ELISA antibodies were detected at almost the same time, and a good correlation was demonstrated between the CF test and the ELISA. In a survey conducted on field samples, the seropositivity by ELISA in pigs of age 2-6 months was increased. At the time of slaughter, approximately 80% of the animals were seropositive for ELISA. However, a gradual decrease in the prevalence of ELISA positive samples was observed in sows with increasing parity. No correlation was seen between the results obtained with the two methods in the clinical samples. The CF test appears to have limited value for the diagnosis of EP in conventional herds because nonspecific reactions were frequently observed. Therefore, this ELISA is a useful alternative to the CF test currently used for the diagnosis of EP.     

Effects of 25‐hydroxy‐cholecalciferol on the development of osteochondrosis in swine

The principal objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of 25‐hydroxy‐cholecalciferol (25‐OH‐D₃) on the development of osteochondrosis in 6‐ to 110‐kg castrated male pigs. The growth rate and serum calcium and inorganic phosphate levels neither increased nor decreased in response to supplementation of 25‐OH‐D₃. However, supplemental 25‐OH‐D₃ significantly increased serum levels of 25‐OH‐D₃ and 1α,25‐hydroxy‐cholecalciferol without any influence on bone mineral density. The 25‐OH‐D₃‐treated group had significant (P < 0.05) reduced incidence of osteochondrotic lesions compared to the control group as evidenced by macroscopically examining the articular cartilage of the distal humerus (32.4% vs. 59.3%) and distal femur (47.1% vs. 87.5%). Likewise, supplemental 25‐OH‐D₃ significantly reduced osteochondrotic lesions over the control when histologically examining humerus (20.6% vs. 43.8%) and femur (52.9% vs. 87.5%). The results of this experiment suggested that 25‐OH‐D₃ supplementation in pig diets had a tendency to promote normal endochondral ossification, inhibit osteochondrosis progression and possibly regenerate destroyed cartilage tissue.     

Cloning and characterization of 5 MADS-box cDNAs isolated from citrus fruit tissue

We isolated and characterized 5 MADS-box cDNA clones of CitMADS1, CitMADS3, CitMADS5, CitMADS6 and CitMADS8 from fruit tissues of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.). Sequence analysis revealed that they have high sequence identities with known MADS-box genes and that their predicted proteins possess the general structural features of the M domain and the K domain. In a phylogenetic tree with 24 known Arabidopsis MADS-box genes, 5 Citrus MADS-box genes were classified into 4 clades of the MADS-box gene with independent gene functions. Their broad expression profiles in the Citrus life cycle suggested that they play roles in flower and fruit development. Most of them, except CitMADS1 and CitMADS3, are expressed in seedlings before the phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. CitMADS1 and CitMADS3 are not expressed in vegetative organs and could serve as a molecular marker for reproductive development.     

Probenecid: its chromatographic determination, plasma protein binding, and in vivo pharmacokinetics in dogs

Pharmacokinetics (PK) of probenecid including plasma probenecid concentrations, in vitro plasma protein binding properties, and in vivo PK parameters were determined in dogs. Probenecid concentrations were best determined by HPLC, which showed good linearity and good recovery with simple plasma preparation. The quantification limit of probenecid was approximately 50 ng/ml at S/N ratio = 3, by simple procedure with HCl and methanol treatment. Probenecid showed two types of binding characteristics, i.e., high-affinity with low-capacity and low-affinity with high-capacity binding. This result indicated 80-88% of probenecid was bound to plasma protein(s) at observed concentrations (< 80 microg/ml) in vivo at an intravenous dose of 20 mg/kg. Plasma probenecid concentration-time profile following i.v. administration in dogs showed biphasic decline and well fitted a two-compartment open model. The total body clearance was 0.34 +/- 0.04 ml/min/kg, volume of distribution at steady-state was 0.46 +/- 0.07 l/kg, elimination half-life was 18 +/- 6 hr, and mean residence time (MRT) was 23 +/- 6 hr. Since probenecid has been known as a potent inhibitor of renal tubular excretion of acidic drugs and highly binds to plasma proteins, our observation in relation to plasma protein binding and PK parameters will serve as the basic information concerning drug-drug interactions in dogs and in other mammalian species.     

大白菜品种耐热性的鉴定方法

通过对电导法、人工模拟气候鉴定法、叶绿素测定法的鉴定结果与夏季自然鉴定结果的相关性分析表明：前两种方法能基本反映大白菜品种的耐热性。叶片细胞电解质渗透率及热害指数与高温结球率之间有极显著的负相关性。而高温处理后叶绿素含量变化率没有一定的规律性，不能作为一个耐热生理指标。     

Preliminary evaluation of diagnostic tests for avian influenza using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Method in an emergency surveillance

In June 2005, an outbreak of avian influenza (AI) caused by a low pathogenic H5N2 virus was identified in Japan. A serological surveillance was conducted because the infected chickens did not show any clinical signs. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo Method was used to evaluate the performances of serological HI and AGP tests because there was not enough time when the surveillance was initiated to conduct a test evaluation. The sensitivity of the AGP test (0.67) was lower than that of the HI test (0.99), while the specificities were high for both tests (0.96 for AGP and 0.90 for HI). Based on the low sensitivity of the AGP test, the HI test was used for primary screening in later stages of the epidemic.     

Development of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for octopus gonadotropin-releasing hormone

We have developed a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) for octopus gonadotropin-releasing hormone (oct-GnRH) to determine the profiles of oct-GnRH peptide levels in cephalopods. The sensitivity and the intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 4.9 pg/well and 6.8 (n = 10) and 2.7% (n = 5), respectively. Anti-oct-GnRH antibody was tested on all known forms of GnRH and found to cross-react with lamprey GnRH-II (27.1%), annelid GnRH (3.36%), tunicate GnRH-I (0.92%), dogfish GnRH (0.51%), and scallop Patinopecten yessoensis GnRH (0.05%). The displacement curve obtained for serially diluted brain extracts of three cephalopods, the spear squid Loligo bleekeri, swordtip squid Loligo edulis, and North Pacific giant octopus Octopus dofleini, paralleled the oct-GnRH standard curve. The presence of oct-GnRH in the central nervous system (CNS) of these cephalopods was further examined by a combination of reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and oct-GnRH TR-FIA. CNS extracts from these cephalopods showed peaks with retention times similar to that of synthetic oct-GnRH. These results indicate that this novel oct-GnRH TR-FIA is widely applicable for oct-GnRH measurement in cephalopods.     

Combined use of a synthetic trail pheromone and insecticidal bait provides effective control of an invasive ant

BACKGROUND: Except for sex pheromones, use of pheromones in pest management has been largely unexplored. A high concentration of trail pheromone disrupts ant trail following and foraging, and thus synthetic trail pheromone can be a novel control agent for pest ants. In this study, a year‐long treatment of small areas (100 m² plots of urban house gardens) with synthetic trail pheromone, insecticidal bait or both was conducted to develop a novel control method of the invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr). RESULTS: The ant population could be maintained lower than or similar to the initial level only by combined treatment with synthetic trail pheromone and insecticidal bait. Actually, the ant population was nearly always lowest in combination treatment plots. Throughout the study period, the ant population in plots treated with either one of synthetic trail pheromone or insecticidal bait remained similar to no‐treatment plots. CONCLUSIONS: Combination treatment may be a more effective and environmentally friendly method for controlling invasive ants than conventional methods. Extermination of ants by insecticidal bait and inhibition of re‐infestation by pheromone may be the mechanism of the combination effect. This is the first study to show a significant effect of synthetic trail pheromone on ant population. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry