Long-Term Observation of Fogwater Composition at two Mountainous Sites in Gunma Prefecture, Japan

We made serial observations on acid fog at Mt. Akagi and Mt. Haruna, Japan for 5 years. The altitudes of the sampling sites were 1500 m (Mt. Akagi) and 1200 m (Mt. Haruna) above sea level, and the sites were approximately 30 km apart. The average liquid water content (LWC) at Mt. Akagi and Mt. Haruna was 74 mg m^?3 and 63 mg m^?3, respectively. The pH of fogwater was 2.72–7.14 (mean 3.71) at Mt. Akagi and 2.94–6.58 (mean 3.73) at Mt. Haruna. Our long-term observations indicate that there was no significant difference in the chemical components in fogwater at both sites except for ammonium ion. However, there were some cases where the chemical components of fogwater at each site were differed remarkably even in the concurrent fog event. Nitrate and sulfate ions contributed to acidification of fogwater at Mts. Akagi and Haruna and 95% of sulfate ion in the fogwater originated from air pollution. Ammonia gas in the air was the main neutralizer of acidity in fogwater. When absorption of excessive nitric acid gas over ammonia gas in the air occurred, the pH of fogwater was lowered. Our back trajectory analysis indicated that the fogwater at Mt. Akagi was mainly affected by an air mass from the Kanto Plain, including Tokyo, while the fogwater at Mt. Haruna was influenced by an air mass from large, western cities, such as Nagoya and Osaka, as well as Tokyo.     

Isolation of some glycosides as aroma precursors in young leaves of Japanese pepper (Xanthoxylum piperitum DC.).

To clarify the formation mechanism for the major alcoholic aroma compounds in young leaves of Japanese pepper, the glycosides were isolated as aroma precursors. The presence of glycosides of the main alcoholic aroma constituents was indirectly determined by enzymatic hydrolysis and trifluoroacetylation (TFA) of the glycoside-containing fraction. After Amberlite XAD-2 column chromatography, ODS flash chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), two new compounds, namely, (3S,6S)-cis-linalool-3,7-oxide beta-D-glucopyranoside and 2-methylpropanyl 6-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated. In addition, (3S,6R)-cis-linalool-3,6-oxide beta-D-glucopyranoside, which absolute configuration was the first determined, and six known glycosides, citronellyl beta-D-glucopyranoside, linalyl 6-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (Z)-3-hexenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside, benzyl 6-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, dendranthemoside A, and 3,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydro-beta-ionol 9-beta-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated. All of these glycosides were isolated for the first time from the leaves of Japanese pepper. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral data and chemical evidence. The ratios of stereoisomers of the aglycon moieties of citronellyl beta-D-glucopyranoside and linalyl 6-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside were investigated by a chiral GC analysis and compared with those of free citronellol and linalool in the aroma concentrate.     

Comparative sequence analysis of four myosin heavy chain isoforms expressed in porcine skeletal muscles: Sequencing and characterization of the porcine myosin heavy chain slow isoform

A nucleotide sequence including the full coding region for the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) slow isoform was determined from the longissimus skeletal muscle. The deduced amino acid sequence was 1935 residues, which was the same length as the human and rat MyHC-slow isoforms. The porcine MyHC-slow isoform showed 97.6% and 97.4% amino acid identities to the human and rat isoforms on their entire regions, respectively. The functional regions were also highly conserved among mammalian MyHC-slow isoforms. Amino acid substitutions between the porcine MyHC-slow and MyHC-fast isoforms were concentrated on the functional regions. Loop 1, the controlling region of nucleotide binding and release, was conserved among the fast isoforms, but not between the slow and fast isoforms. Loop 2, a part of the actin binding region, was not conserved among any of the isoform types, and the most substitutions in this region were found in the slow isoform. The myosin essential light chain binding region was conserved among the fast isoforms, except for some substitutions in the 2b isoform, but was clearly different in the slow isoform. The myosin regulatory light chain binding region was conserved among the fast isoforms, but not between the slow and fast isoforms. These results indicate that the functional difference between the porcine MyHC-slow and -fast isoforms are controlled by the sequence diversity at the four functional regions compared.     

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF HYDROPIC DEGENERATION OF THE LIVER IN DAIRY CATTLE THROUGH BIOCHEMISTRY, ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL ANALYSIS

Ultrasonography of the liver of 181 Holstein-Friesian cows was performed and blood samples were collected for analysis. The hepatic ultrasonograms were evaluated and the echoes were analyzed digitally. After slaughter, liver specimens were taken and examined histopathologically. Of the 181 animals, 120 had a normal liver and 61 had hydropic degeneration of the liver, diagnosed through histopathologic examination. Diagnostic accuracy rates for hydropic degeneration were determined based on the following test positive conditions: a) for biochemical analysis—high levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin and non-esterified fatty acids; b) for ultrasonography—presence of dark pattern and blurring of edges; and c) for digital analysis—low echo means at 1 cm and 3 cm from the hepatic surface. Digital analysis had the highest overall specificity, accuracy and positive predictive values for hydropic degeneration, followed by ultrasonography. The results suggest that ultrasonography and digital analysis of hepatic ultrasonograms can be used for diagnosis of hydropic degeneration of the liver in place of biochemical analysis.     

EVALUATION OF FATTY INFILTRATION OF THE LIVER IN DAIRY CATTLE THROUGH DIGITAL ANALYSIS OF HEPATIC ULTRASONOGRAMS

Ultrasonography of the liver of 49 Holstein-Friesian cows was performed, liver specimens were taken, examined microscopically and the fatty occupying rate (FOR) was calculated. Echoes from the hepatic B-mode ultrasonograms were quantified as histogram mean (Emean) and histogram mode (Emode) of echo amplitudes within various areas at a depth of 1–9 cm from the hepatic surface. Of the 49 animals, 26 had a normal liver and 23 had fatty infiltration of the liver, diagnosed through histopathological examination. Fatty occupying rate ranged from 1.7 to 64.5%, with 11 animals having 1–15% FOR (mild fatty infiltration), 6 having 15.1–30% FOR (moderate fatty infiltration) and 6 having > 30% FOR (severe fatty infiltration). At 1 cm, severe fatty infiltration had higher Emean and Emode than normal liver (p < 0.05). At 7 cm and 9 cm, moderate and severe fatty infiltration had lower Emeans and Emodes than normal liver (p < 0.001). The results suggest that digital analysis of hepatic ultrasonogram can be useful in the evaluation of the degree of fatty infiltration of the liver in dairy cattle.