Imaging doped holes in a cuprate superconductor with high-resolution Compton scattering

The high-temperature superconducting cuprate La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) (LSCO) shows several phases ranging from antiferromagnetic insulator to metal with increasing hole doping. To understand how the nature of the hole state evolves with doping, we have carried out high-resolution Compton scattering measurements at room temperature together with first-principles electronic structure computations on a series of LSCO single crystals in which the hole doping level varies from the underdoped (UD) to the overdoped (OD) regime. Holes in the UD system are found to primarily populate the O 2p(x)/p(y) orbitals. In contrast, the character of holes in the OD system is very different in that these holes mostly enter Cu d orbitals. High-resolution Compton scattering provides a bulk-sensitive method for imaging the orbital character of dopants in complex materials.     

Cellularity of developing subcutaneous adipose tissue in Landrace and Meishan pigs: Adipocyte size differences between two breeds

Experiments were designed to compare the adipocyte cellularity of subcutaneous adipose tissue between growing Landrace (low backfat) and Meishan (high backfat) pigs at 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months of age. As pigs aged, body weight and backfat thickness of both breeds significantly increased. When compared at equal ages, backfat thickness adjusted to equal body weight was greater for Meishan pigs. The mean diameter of fat cell size also increased with age, and by 6 weeks adipocytes from both outer and inner layers of subcutaneous adipose tissue were larger in Meishan pigs. At 5 months, approximately 80% of the adipose tissue mass in Meishan pigs was attributable to adipocytes measuring 95–165 µm in diameter, whereas adipocytes of 75–145 µm comprised most of the tissue mass in the Landrace. Although the contribution of smaller adipocytes (25–45 µm) to the tissue volume was negligible, both breeds showed a biphasic diameter distribution at all ages, suggesting that adipocyte hyperplasia is still active. Our results demonstrate that cellularity differences exist between the subcutaneous adipose tissues of Landrace and Meishan pigs, and adipocyte hypertrophy is the most overwhelming contributor to the greater backfat deposition for Meishan pigs.     

Virtopsy in a red kangaroo with oral osteomyelitis

This report describes the use of computed tomography (CT) in a nondomestic species. Postmortem CT was performed on a red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and a diagnosis of oral osteomyelitis was made. CT examination revealed bony remodeling of the right mandible, an intraosseous lesion of the right temporal bone, muscle necrosis around the right mandible, and the absence of the right, first, upper molar tooth. Cardiac and intrahepatic gas and a distended intestine due to postmortem gas accumulation were also seen. All the lesions identified with CT were also identified by conventional necropsy, except the cardiac and intrahepatic gases. Virtopsy may be a useful procedure for the noninvasive identification of cause of death and as a guide for necropsy in animals.     

Methane emissions from stems of Fraxinus mandshurica var. japonica trees in a floodplain forest

We measured methane (CH₄) emissions from the stem surfaces of mature Fraxinus mandshurica var. japonica trees in a floodplain forest. Flux measurements were conducted almost monthly from May to October 2005, and positive CH₄ fluxes were detected throughout the study period, including the leafless season. The mean CH₄ flux was 176 and 97 μg CH₄ m⁻² h⁻¹ at the lower (15 cm above the ground) and upper (70 cm above the ground) stem positions, respectively. The CH₄ concentration was lower in soil gas than in ambient air to a depth of at least 40 cm. One possible source of CH₄ emitted from the stems might be the dissolved CH₄ in groundwater; maximum concentrations were 10,000 times higher than atmospheric CH₄ concentrations. Our results suggest that CH₄ transport from the submerged soil layer to the atmosphere may occur through internal air spaces in tree bodies.     

Detection and quantification of protein residues in food grade amino acids and nucleic acids using a dot-blot fluorescent staining method

Food allergies represent an important health problem in industrialized countries, such that detection and quantitative analysis of the protein considered to be the main allergen is crucial. A dot-blot fluorescent staining method for the detection and quantitative analysis of protein residues in food grade amino acids and nucleic acids is presented. This method combines fluorescence staining with dot-blotting onto PVDF membrane. Several standard proteins, such as bovine serum albumin (66 kDa), lysozyme (14 kDa), ubiquitin (8.6 kDa), bovine insulin (5.7 kDa), and oxidized insulin B chain (3.5 kDa), were detectable at 0.1 ppm using SYPRO Ruby blot stain. Twenty-five different amino acids and two different nucleic acids of food grade were analyzed using this method combined with an internal standard addition method using BSA as an internal standard. All amino acids and nucleic acids were dissolved in 3.6% aqueous HCl and dot-blotted onto PVDF membrane before a large amount of amino acids and nucleic acid were removed. Protein residues and the internal standard protein immobilized on the membrane were stained using SYPRO ruby blot stain. The internal standard in all samples was detectable at 0.1 ppm. Samples were dissolved at 120 or 70 mg/mL, according to their solubility under acidic conditions. The detection limit of protein residues per weight was 0.8-1.4 ppm in amino acids and nucleic acids; residual protein was not detected in any sample.     

A specific and potent inhibitor of brassinosteroid biosynthesis possessing a dioxolane ring

Screening for brassinosteroid biosynthesis inhibitors was performed to find azole derivatives that induced dwarfism, to resemble brassinosteroid-deficient mutants in Arabidopsis, and which could be rescued by brassinosteroid. Through this screening experiment, propiconazole fungicide was selected as a likely inhibitor of brassinosteroid biosynthesis and, thus, propiconazole derivatives with optimized activity and selectivity were synthesized. The biological activity of these compounds was evaluated by examining cress stem elongation. Among the compounds tested, 2RS,4RS-1-[2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-n-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylmethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole (12) showed the most potent capability to retard cress stem elongation in the light. The compound-induced hypocotyl dwarfism was restored by the coapplication of 10 nM brassinolide but not by 1 microM gibberellin. These results suggest that 12 should affect brassinosteroid biosynthesis. The potency and specificity of 12 were greater than those of brassinazole, a previously reported brassinosteroid biosynthesis inhibitor.     

Antiallergic tea catechin, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)-gallate,suppresses FcepsilonRI expression in human basophilic KU812 cells

We previously found that the O-methylated derivative of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCg), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)-gallate (EGCG' '3Me), has potent antiallergic activity. The high-affinity IgE receptor, FcepsilonRI, is found at high levels on basophils and mast cells and plays a key role in a series of acute and chronic human allergic reactions. To understand the mechanism of action for the antiallergic EGCG' '3Me, the effect of EGCG' '3Me on the cell surface expression of FcepsilonRI in human basophilic KU812 cells was examined. Flow cytometric analysis showed that EGCG' '3Me was able to decrease the cell surface expression of FcepsilonRI. Moreover, immunoblot analysis revealed that total cellular expression of the FcepsilonRI alpha chain decreased upon treatment with EGCG' '3Me. FcepsilonRI is a tetrameric structure comprising one alpha chain, one beta chain, and two gamma chains. The level of mRNA production of each subunit in KU812 cells was investigated. EGCG' '3Me reduced FcepsilonRI alpha and gamma mRNA levels. The cross-linkage of FcepsilonRI causes the activation of basophils, which leads to the secretion of inflammatory mediators including histamine. EGCG' '3Me treatment inhibited the FcepsilonRI cross-linking-induced histamine release. These results suggested that EGCG' '3Me can negatively regulate basophil activation through the suppression of FcepsilonRI expression.     

Effect of 3-O-octanoyl-(+)-catechin on the responses of GABA(A) receptors and Na+/glucose cotransporters expressed in xenopus oocytes and on the oocyte membrane potential

Recently, 3-O-octanoyl-(+)-catechin (OC) was synthesized from (+)-catechin (C) by incorporation of an octanoyl chain into C in the light of (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECg) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which are the major polyphenols found in green tea and have strong physiological activities. OC was found to inhibit the response of ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors (GABA(A) receptors) and Na+/glucose cotransporters expressed in Xenopus oocytes in a noncompetitive manner more strongly than does C. OC also induced a nonspecific membrane current and decreased the membrane potential of the oocyte, and thus death of the oocyte occurred even at lower concentrations than that induced by C or EGCg. Although EGCg produced H2O2 in aqueous solution, OC did not. This newly synthesized catechin derivative OC possibly binds to the lipid membrane more strongly than does C, Ecg, or EGCg and as a result perturbs the membrane structure.