Numerical experiments of watershed-scale soil water movement and bedrock infiltration using a physical three-dimensional simulation model

Numerical experiments of soil water movement and bedrock infiltration based on a simplified simulation method were conducted to analyze watershed-scale rainfall-runoff processes. To verify the model accuracy, it was applied to a Minamitani watershed (0.45 ha). The simulation was performed with 2.5-m space grids horizontally and five cells vertically. Results of long-term calculation of this model proved that this simulation model is robust and demonstrated good computational water mass conservation. Calculation results showed the best agreement with observed hydrographs and the number of groundwater levels simultaneously when laboratory-tested soil hydraulic characteristics for topsoil were used and infiltration into bedrock was included in numerical calculations. Numerical experiments show that bedrock infiltration generated a stable base flow and suppressed the secondary discharge peak. The reproducibility achieved by observed soil hydraulic characteristics with the assumption of bedrock flow demonstrates the effectiveness of the simulation model used in this article for analyses of watershed-scale soil water movements.     

Drosophila Sex lethal gene initiates female development in germline progenitors

Sex determination in the Drosophila germ line is regulated by both the sex of the surrounding soma and cell-autonomous cues. How primordial germ cells (PGCs) initiate sexual development via cell-autonomous mechanisms is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that, in Drosophila, the Sex lethal (Sxl) gene acts autonomously in PGCs to induce female development. Sxl is transiently expressed in PGCs during their migration to the gonads; this expression, which was detected only in XX PGCs, is necessary for PGCs to assume a female fate. Ectopic expression of Sxl in XY PGCs was sufficient to induce them to enter oogenesis and produce functional eggs when transplanted into an XX host. Our data provide powerful evidence that Sxl initiates female germline fate during sexual development.     

Phytogeny and Cross-infectivity of Powdery Mildew Isolates (Podosphaera fuliginea s. lat.) on Cosmos and Cucumber

To clarify the relationship between the phylogeny and infectivity of isolates of Podosphaera fuliginea s. lat. (= Sphaerotheca fuliginea s. lat.) from cosmos and cucumber, more than 50 powdery mildew isolates from these two plants were subjected to nucleotide sequencing or PCR-RFLP analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and cross-inoculation tests. The isolates from both cosmos and cucumber are genetically monotypic, and there are six nucleotide substitutions in the rDNA ITS region between isolates from cosmos and cucumber. Cross-inoculation tests of these isolates revealed that isolates from cosmos are not pathogenic on cucumber. Although isolates from cucumber produced conidia on leaves of cosmos in the laboratory, the conidial density was much lower than that from isolates from cosmos. This result, as well as the fact that the cucumber strain was not isolated from cosmos in fields, suggests that isolates from cucumber do not infect cosmos in the field. Therefore, powdery mildews on cosmos and cucumber can be regarded to have become specialized for their hosts both genetically and pathogenically. The present study reconfirms the close relationship between phylogeny and infectivity of powdery mildew fungi. Host specialization may be a trigger that causes genetic divergence of powdery mildew fungi. Received 28 June 2000/ Accepted in revised form 4 September 2000     

Phenotypic analysis of hepatic T lymphocytes in a dog with chronic hepatitis

We evaluated hepatic T lymphocyte phenotypes in a dog with chronic hepatitis. Before treatment, numerous CD3+ lymphocytes were demonstrated in the liver, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was remarkably high (2.96; reference range, 0.33+/-0.12). After treatment, CD3+ lymphocyte infiltration in the liver was reduced, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ decreased to 0.31. Therefore, hepatic T lymphocytes, especially CD4+ lymphocytes, might play a central role in the pathogenesis of this dog with chronic hepatitis.     

Swimming depths of the giant jellyfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nemopilema nomurai</Emphasis> investigated using pop-up archival transmitting tags and ultrasonic pingers

The swimming depths of 12 individual Nemopilema nomurai with bell diameters of 0.8–1.6 m were investigated using pop-up archival transmitting tags and ultrasonic pingers, and the validity of the research method was evaluated. The N. nomurai studied frequently showed vertical movement, with the swimming depth ranging from 0 to 176 m, The mean swimming depths of most individuals were less than 40 m. The swimming depths of N. nomurai in the northern Japan Sea in the winter were mostly deeper than those of this species in the southern Japan Sea in the autumn. This result suggests that the range of the depths almost depends on the vertical structure of the ocean. Swimming depths during the nighttime were significantly deeper than those during the daytime. More specifically, during the daytime, the swimming depths in the afternoon tended to be shallower than those in the morning, while during the nighttime, the swimming depths after midnight were deeper than those before midnight.     

Multi-locus sequence typing of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis strains in Japan between 1973 and 2004

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) was responsible for a worldwide pandemic during the 1980s and 1990s; however, changes in the dominant lineage before and after this event remain unknown. This study determined S. Enteritidis lineages before and after this pandemic event in Japan using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Thirty S. Enteritidis strains were collected in Japan between 1973 and 2004, consisting of 27 human strains from individual episodes, a bovine strain, a liquid egg strain and an eggshell strain. Strains showed nine phage types and 17 pulsed-field profiles with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. All strains had homologous type 11 sequences without any nucleotide differences in seven housekeeping genes. These MLST results suggest that S. Enteritidis with the diversities revealed by phage typing and pulsed-field profiling has a highly clonal population. Although type 11 S. Enteritidis may exhibit both pleiotropic surface structure and pulsed-field type variation, it is likely to be a stable lineage derived from an ancestor before the 1980s and/or 1990s pandemic in Japan.     

Inhibitory action of dissolved humic substances on the growth of soil bacteria degrading DDT

Abstract

Dissolved humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) prepared from a Dando brown forest soil (Typic Dystrochrept) inhibited the growth of soil bacteria degrading DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane) in the culture. The population of DDT-degrading Gram-variable rod Bll6 decreased by the application of both HA and FA, suggesting the presence of bactericidal effect. Such inhibitory effect was stronger for HA and resulted in a lower degrading activity of DDT in the culture of Bll6. No inhibitory effect was observed on the growth of DDT-degrading Bacillus sp. B75. The electron spin resonance spectra showed the presence of organic free radicals in both HA and FA. The relative concentration of the radicals was higher in HA. Storage of HA solution for 3 months at 4°C decreased the concentration of the radicals as well as the inhibitory action. The addition of catalase decreased the inhibitory effect of humic acid. It is suggested that a hydroxy radical, which is derived from free radicals of humic substances, is involved in the inhibition of bacterial growth and degradation of DDT.     

Intrapancreatic accessory spleen mimicking pancreatic insulinoma with intrapancreatic metastasis in a cat

An 11-year-old neutered male Domestic Shorthair cat presented with a 3-month history of hypoglycemia, two episodes of seizure, and intermittent tick-like signs. Serum biochemistry revealed severe hypoglycemia associated with high insulin concentrations. Dynamic abdominal computed tomography (CT) indicated two pancreatic masses, which were enhanced most during the late arterial phase but had different degrees and variations of attenuation. Partial pancreatectomy was performed. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed that one mass was an insulinoma and the other was an ectopic splenic tissue, consistent with the differences in imaging findings. When an intrapancreatic lesion with hyper-attenuation on dynamic abdominal CT is detected, not only insulinoma or metastasis of malignancies but also intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS) should be considered as differential diagnoses.