An encounter with extraterrestrial intelligence]

It is much easier to find extraterrestrial intelligence than to detect simple organisms living on other planets. However, it is hard to communicate with such intelligence without the mutual understanding of inter-stellar communication protocol. The radio SETI (The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) was initiated with the pioneering work of F. Drake in 1960, one year after the historical SETI paper by Cocconi and Morrison. This talk explains that SETI evolves with two bases of science; the understanding of our universe and the development of technology. Since SETI has had strong connection with radio astronomy from its early beginning, the impacts of radio astronomical findings and technological breakthrough can be seen in many aspects of the SETI history. Topics of this talk include the detection of microwave 3 K background radiation in the universe. Interstellar atomic and molecular lines found in radio-wave spectra provide the evidence of pre-biotic chemical evolution in such region. Radio telescope imaging and spectral technique are closely associated with methodology of SETI. Topics of the talk extend to new Allen Telescope Array and projected Square Kilometer Array. Recent optical SETI and the discoveries of extra solar planets are also explained. In the end, the recent understanding of our universe is briefly introduced in terms of matter, dark matter and dark energy. Even our understanding of the universe has been evolutionarily revolved and accumulated after 1960, we must recognize that our universe is still poorly understood and that astronomy and SETI are required to proceed hand in hand.     

Parasitic specialization ofGeotrichum candidum citrus race

Parasitic specialization ofGeotrichum candidum citrus race, the causal agent of citrus sour rot, was investigated. Of seven isolates tested for pathogenecity, all could infect ten species of citrus fruits and edible parts of five species of noncitrus crops. Only one isolate (Ap2), isolated from soil of an apple orchard, could infect apple fruit.     

Serotonergic Regulation of Acetylcholine Release in Rat Frontal Cortex

Abstract: The extent to which serotonin regulates the activity of cortically projecting cholinergic neurons was studied using in vivo microdialysis to monitor interstitial concentrations of acetylcholine in the frontal cortex of freely moving rats. Systemic administration of the serotonin release-inducing agent fenfluramine (3 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) increased acetylcholine release by 110–130%. The fenfluramine-induced increase in acetylcholine release was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with the selective serotonin uptake inhibitor fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). Pretreatment with the selective dopamine D₁ receptor antagonist SCH-23390 (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) failed to prevent the fenfluramine-induced increase in acetylcholine release. In contrast, the serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor antagonist ketanserin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked fenfluramine-induced increases in acetylcholine release. In contrast to previous studies that have concluded that serotonin has inhibitory actions on cortical acetylcholine release, the present results indicate that fenfluramine increases cortical acetylcholine release in vivo by its ability to enhance serotonin transmission and that serotonin produces these effects at least in part via actions at serotonin 5-HT_2A receptors.     

Spatiotemporal relationships among early events of fertilization in sea urchin eggs revealed by multiview microscopy.

Four early events of egg fertilization, changes in intracellular calcium concentration and intracellular pH, reorientation of the surface membrane, and the elevation of the fertilization envelope, were imaged in real time and in pairs in single sea urchin eggs. The paired imaging allowed the correlation of the four events spatially and temporally. Three of them propagated as waves starting at the sperm entry site. The earliest was the calcium wave, visualized with fluorescent indicator dyes. After a delay of 10 s there followed a large decrease in the fluorescence polarization of membrane-bound dyes, which we interpret as arising from membrane reorientation as a result of cortical granule exocytosis and microvillar elongation. With a further delay of 15 s the fertilization envelope was seen to rise in transmitted light. All three waves propagated with similar velocities of approximately 10 microns/s, supporting the view that calcium triggers the latter two events. The fluorescence polarization changed in two steps with a clear pause of 10-20 s in between. The second step, which also propagated as wave, reflects either further elongation of microvilli or straightening of irregular microvilli. This second step was abolished by cytochalasin B and was coincident with an increase in cytoplasmic pH, suggesting that pH-induced actin reorganization may play a role. The cytoplasmic alkalinization, imaged with a fluorescent probe, was quite different from the other events in that it took place homogeneously throughout the egg and slowly (over 100 s). Apparently, the alkalinization is not on a direct downstream pathway of calcium origin. An opposing possibility, that the alkalinization may in fact be triggered by the traveling calcium wave, is also discussed.     

Unique tissue distribution of a mouse macrophage C-type lectin

We examined mouse tissue for the expression of macrophage galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specificC-type lectin using a rat monoclonal antibody (mAb) specificfor this lectin (mAb LOM-14). The binding of mAb LOM-14 wasdetected in detergent extracts from tissue by means of immunoblottinganalysis. It was shown that this mAb did not cross-react withmouse hepatic lectins, a structural homologue. The macrophagelectin was widely distributed among various mouse tissues asjudged by the affinity isolation followed by the immunochemicaldetection. The exceptions were brain, liver, kidney, small intestine,and peripheral blood. Extracts from these organs exhibited,at best, very weak signals upon mAb LOM-14 binding, despitethe presence of cells expressing macrophage markers. The mostintense signal was observed in the extract from skin, suggestingthat cells expressing this lectin are abundant in skin. Thetissues shown to contain this lectin were further investigatedby immunohistochemical staining of the sections. Cells weredistributed in the connective tissue and in the interstice,particularly the dermis and subcutaneous layer of skin. Cellslocalized in the epithelium of skin (epidermis) or other epitheliathat we examined were not stained. Perivascular localizationof cells stained with mAb LOM-14 was also demonstrated in cardiacand skeletal muscle tissues. Immunoelectron microscopy revealedthe presence of this lectin along the rough endoplasmic reticulum.In conclusion, the distribution of C-type lectin specific forgalactose/N-acetylgalactosamine in mice was unique. The connectivetissue-specific distribution should provide important informationon the biological role of this lectin. lectin macrophage calcium-type lectin connective tissue     

Stretch-induced enhancement of mechanical power output in human multijoint exercise with countermovement

Takarada, Yudai, Yuichi Hirano, Yusuke Ishige, and NaokataIshii. Stretch-induced enhancement of mechanical power output inhuman multijoint exercise with countermovement. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(5): 1749-1755, 1997.Therelation between the eccentric force developed during a countermovementand the mechanical power output was studied in squatting exercisesunder nominally isotonic load (50% of 1-repetition maximum). Thesubjects (n = 5) performed squattingexercises with a countermovement at varied deceleration rates beforelifting the load. The ground reaction force and video images wererecorded to obtain the power output of the body. Net muscle momentsacting at hip, knee, and ankle joints were calculated from videorecordings by using inverse dynamics. When an intense deceleration wastaken at the end of downward movement, large eccentric force wasdeveloped, and the mechanical power subsequently produced during thelifting movement was consistently larger than that produced without thecountermovement. Both maximal and mean power outputs during concentricactions increased initially with the eccentric force, whereas theybegan to decline when the eccentric force exceeded ~1.4 times the sumof load and body weight. Video-image analysis showed that thischaracteristic relation was predominantly determined by the torquearound the knee joint. Electromyographic analyses showed no consistentincrease in time-averaged integrated electromyograph from vastuslateralis with the power output, suggesting that the enhancement ofpower output is primarily caused by the prestretch-induced improvementof an intrinsic force-generating capability of the agonist muscle.

     

Changes in cytokeratin expression in epidermal keratinocytes during wound healing

In order to investigate the re-epithelialization process during wound healing, the hair on the back of guinea pigs was shaved and then excisional wounds were made through the entire thickness of the skin. Histological changes were observed and changes in the expression of different cytokeratin polypeptides were examined using an immunohistochemical technique. Immunohisto chemical study revealed that the proliferating and migrating keratinocytes expressed the same cytokeratins as the basal cells of normal epidermis. In addition, the entire epidermis of fairly remote areas from the edges of the wound where no thickening was observed showed a temporarily abnormal staining pattern. The suprabasal cells in the regenerating epidermis temporarily expressed cytokeratins not only specific for suprabasal cells but also specific for basal cells. The cytokeratins expressed in normal basal keratinocytes were also present in the thickened granular layers. These data indicate that the expression of cytokeratins in the epidermal keratinocytes (even in fairly remote areas from the wound edges) changes during wound healing, that the origin of the migrating keratinocytes from the remaining epidermis seems to be the basal cells in the epidermis, and that the appearance of keratohyalin granules is not related to changes in cytokeratin expression.     

N-2′-Acetoxybenzoyl derivatives of chitosan, N-desulphated heparin and 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose

N-2′-Acetoxybenzoyl (aspirin) derivatives (degree of substitution 0·35–1·00) of chitosan, N-desulphated heparin and 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose were prepared by methods that gave yields in the range 65–86%. The salicylate of chitosan was isolated with a 98% yeild. Aspirin or salicylic acid was released much more slowly from N-(2′-acetoxybenzoyl)-chitosan than from the salicylate of chitosan, and much faster at 37°C in 0·1 m NaOH solution than in 2% aqueous acetic acid solution. Salicylic acid was isolated from the dialysate (0·1 m NaOH solution) of N-(2′-acetoxybenzoyl)-chitosan.     

Whole-cell-mount cytochemistry by the colloidal gold labeling method

Summary Binding, redistribution, and endocytosis of colloidal gold (CG)-labeled concanavalin A (ConA) were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mouse peritoneal macrophages were cultured on Formvar-coated platinum grids. Either fixed or unfixed cells were labeled by the indirect ConA-CG labeling method. Specimens were critical-pointdried and observed by TEM and SEM in the same region. Surface-bound ConA-CG was easily seen by SEM. Stereomicroscopic observation by TEM clearly showed the threedimensional distribution of ConA on the cell surface as well as in the cytoplasmic vesicles and vacuoles. In the prefixed cells, CG was distributed randomly on the cell surface. When unfixed cells were labeled at 0° C, a similar binding pattern was observed, although the density of bound CG was decreased. When cells labeled with ConA-CG at 0° C were further incubated at 37° C, redistribution and endocytosis of the label were seen. Endocytosed CG in the cytoplasmic vesicles and vacuoles was clearly seen by TEM. In addition, three-dimensional location and relationship with other organelles were easily observed. Combined TEM and SEM observation of CG-labeled whole-cell-mount specimens is a useful method to study the dynamics of cellbound ligands.This work was supported in part by grants-in-aid for scientific research from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of Japan, and the Japan Private School Promotion Foundation