Characterization of sp<Superscript>2</Superscript>- and sp<Superscript>3</Superscript>-bonded carbon in wood charcoal

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) preheated at 700°C was subsequently heated to 1800°C and characterized by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The degree of disorder of carbon crystallites and the amount of amorphous phase decreased considerably with an increase in heat treatment temperature to 1400°C, while carbon crystallites clearly developed above this temperature, showing that the microstructure of carbonized wood undergoes drastic changes around 1400°C. Besides showing the bands for sp²-bonded carbon, the Raman spectra showed a shoulder near 1100 cm⁻¹ assigned to sp³-bonded carbon. With an increase of heat treatment temperature, the peak position of the Raman sp³ band shifted to a lower frequency from 1190 to 1120 cm⁻¹, which is due to the transformation of sp³-bonded carbon from an amorphous phase to a nanocrystalline phase. These data showed that the microstructure of carbonized wood from 700° to 1800°C consisted of the combination of sp²- and sp³-bonded carbon, which is probably due to the disordered microstructure of carbonized wood. It is suggested that the sp³-bonded carbon is transformed from an amorphous structure to a nanocrystalline structure with the growth of polyaromatic stacks at temperatures above 1400°C.     

Anisotropy and corotation of galactic cosmic rays

The intensity of Galactic cosmic rays is nearly isotropic because of the influence of magnetic fields in the Milky Way. Here, we present two-dimensional high-precision anisotropy measurement for energies from a few to several hundred teraelectronvolts (TeV), using the large data sample of the Tibet Air Shower Arrays. Besides revealing finer details of the known anisotropies, a new component of Galactic cosmic ray anisotropy in sidereal time is uncovered around the Cygnus region direction. For cosmic-ray energies up to a few hundred TeV, all components of anisotropies fade away, showing a corotation of Galactic cosmic rays with the local Galactic magnetic environment. These results have broad implications for a comprehensive understanding of cosmic rays, supernovae, magnetic fields, and heliospheric and Galactic dynamic environments.     

High level expression and purification of bioactive bovine interleukin-18 using a baculovirus system

Bioactive recombinant bovine interleukin-18 (rboIL-18) was expressed using a baculovirus system. Normally, IL-18 is translated as a precursor form of a 24kDa polypeptide and processed by IL-1beta converting enzyme (ICE) to a mature bioactive form of 18kDa protein. Hence, to express active form IL-18, we constructed two recombinant baculoviruses containing boIL-18 and human ICE (hICE) genes, respectively, and superinfected these viruses into insect cells. Superinfection of both recombinant viruses into the cells resulted in the expression of a 24kDa precursor form and an 18kDa mature form detectable in the supernatant by immunoblotting using anti-porcine IL-18 antibody. Culture supernatant from the superinfected cells showed a synergistic effect with recombinant boIL-12 for production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in bovine peripheral mononuclear cells. By addition of histidine hexamer at the C-terminal of boIL-18, the mature IL-18 was purified. Bioactivity remained after purification.     

Production and in vivo testing of a recombinant bovine IL-12 as an adjuvant for Salmonella typhimurium vaccination in calves

A recombinant bovine interleukin-12 (boIL-12) that contains a histidine hexamer, rboIL-12His, was produced, purified and administered to calves. We first tried the purification of heterodimer IL-12 from a mixture of p40 homodimer, p40 monomer, and p40-p35 heterodimer with a p35 subunit tagged with a histidine hexamar at its C-terminal (p35His). A recombinant baculovirus expressing p35His was generated and used for superinfection with a recombinant baculovirus expressing p40 subunit. The expressed subunits, p40 and p35His, were assembled into a 70kDa heterodimer in insect cells, released into culture medium, and then purified using a nickel chelate column. The purified rboIL-12His was bioactive for induction of IFN-gamma in bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro.The purified rboIL-12His was then administered to calves with inactivated Salmonella Typhimurium (ST). When sera were assayed by ELISA, specific anti-ST IgG1 antibodies were detected in all ST immunized calves, but, specific anti-ST IgG2 antibodies were detected only in calves administered ST along with rboIL-12His, indicating a possible switch to a Th1 response. Administration of commercially available Salmonella vaccine did not elicit IgG2 antibodies in calves. These results suggest that co-administration of IL-12 with inactivated ST cells could induce a Th1-type response in calves.     

Mineral composition in the holdfast of three brown algae of the genus Laminaria

SUMMARY: The mineral (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn) contents in the holdfast of three brown algae of the genus Laminaria were determined to compare with those in frond and stipe. The wild and cultivated kelps of Laminaria japonica , L. ochotensis , and L. diabolica were used as samples. The K content was markedly high (11.76–14.91 g/100 g dry weight) in the holdfast of cultivated L. japonica; the K/Na ratio (3.88–5.18) of the holdfast was greater than those of frond and stipe as well as the reported values of frond (1.0–2.2). The content of Ca in the holdfasts of these three species was also higher than those in frond and stipe. The content of Mn showed the same tendency. This is the first report showing that the holdfast of L. japonica and L. diabolica is rich in minerals, especially K.     

Metal nanotubule membranes with electrochemically switchable ion-transport selectivity

Membranes containing cylindrical metal nanotubules that span the complete thickness of the membrane are described. The inside radius of the nanotubules can be varied at will; nanotubule radii as small as 0.8 nanometer are reported. These membranes show selective ion transport analogous to that observed in ion-exchange polymers. Ion permselectivity occurs because excess charge density can be present on the inner walls of the metal tubules. The membranes reject ions with the same sign as the excess charge and transport ions of the opposite sign. Because the sign of the excess charge on the tubule can be changed potentiostatically, a metal nanotubule membrane can be either cation selective or anion selective, depending on the potential applied to the membrane.     

Two species of seabirds foraged in contrasting marine habitats across the cold-water belt along the coast of northern Hokkaido in the southwestern Okhotsk Sea

To understand the environmental factors affecting the density of foraging seabirds across the cold-water belt in the southwestern Okhotsk Sea, we conducted a 1-day (180-km transect length) shipboard seabird survey off the northeastern coast of Hokkaido during summer in 2019, along with acoustic observations of potential prey (zooplankton and fish) biomass, thermosalinograph measurements, and CTD observations. Planktivorous short-tailed shearwaters Ardenna tenuirostris (66% of total seabirds) and piscivorous rhinoceros auklets Cerorhinca monocerata (28%) were predominant, but foraged in contrasting habitats. A large foraging flock of shearwaters was observed in the cold-water belt zone, including its front with coastal Soya Warm Current Water and the offshore Fresh Surface Okhotsk Sea Water, where surface chlorophyll a concentrations were the highest but not related to their prey (zooplankton) biomass at any spatial scale between 4.6 and 9.2 km. In contrast, the density of auklets was high in the coastal Soya Warm Current Water, where the acoustically determined fish biomass was large, and showed a positive relationship with the fish biomass especially in the lower layer (29–104 m depth) at any spatial scale. This species-specific difference in response to prey biomass might be related to prey-searching behaviors; i.e., rhinoceros auklets search prey underwater visually, but short-tailed shearwater can use both visual and olfactory cues to locate zooplankton patches from the air.

     

Expression and localisation of calbindin D28k in all intestinal segments of the laying hen

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate expression and localisation of a 28-kDa calcium-binding protein (CaBP-D28k) related to active calcium (Ca) absorption, in the entire intestine of egg-laying hens. 2. Western blotting analysis showed that the entire intestine expressed CaBP-D28k to the following degree: duodenum > jejunum > caecum > ileum > colon. Immunohistochemistry showed strong CaBP-D28k localisation in enterocytes along the villus tip-crypt axis in the duodenum and in villus tips in the caecum and colon. The jejunum and ileum had moderate localisation with respect to the number of immunoreactive cells and staining intensity. 3. These results suggest that laying hens actively absorb Ca in both the large and small intestines.     

Location of the c-yes gene on the human chromosome and its expression in various tissues

Analysis of DNA from human embryo fibroblasts showed that ten Eco RI fragments were hybridizable with the Yamaguchi sarcoma virus oncogene (v-yes). Four of the Eco RI fragments were assigned to chromosome 18 and one to chromosome 6. There was evidence for multiple copies of yes-related genes in the human genome; however, only a single RNA species, 4.8 kilobases in length, was related to yes in various cells.