l-2-Amino-4-methylpimelic acid: A new amino acid from Lactarius species

A PC survey revealed the occurrence of an unusual amino acid in fruit bodies of the mushroom Lactarius quietus Fr. and a related species. This was identified as l-2-amino-4-methylpimelic acid, which has not been previously reported as a naturally occurring compound.     

Integration mechanism of molecular rhythm in biological clock

Sleep and Biological Rhythms -     

Local caspase activation interacts with Slit-Robo signaling to restrict axonal arborization

In addition to being critical for apoptosis, components of the apoptotic pathway, such as caspases, are involved in other physiological processes in many types of cells, including neurons. However, very little is known about their role in dynamic, nonphysically destructive processes, such as axonal arborization and synaptogenesis. We show that caspases were locally active in vivo at the branch points of young, dynamic retinal ganglion cell axonal arbors but not in the cell body or in stable mature arbors. Caspase activation, dependent on Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), rapidly increased at branch points corresponding with branch tip addition. Time-lapse imaging revealed that knockdown of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 led to more stable arbors and presynaptic sites. Genetic analysis showed that Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and p38 MAPK interacted with Slit1a-Robo2 signaling, suggesting that localized activation of caspases lie downstream of a ligand receptor system, acting as key promoters of axonal branch tip and synaptic dynamics to restrict arbor growth in vivo in the central nervous system.     

Alterations of lymphocyte count and platelet volume precede cerebrovascular lesions in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is associated with future stroke. Although pathological alteration in small vessels of patients with CSVD can be detected by neuroimaging, diagnosis of CSVD is delayed because it is an asymptomatic disease. The stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) show similar pathological features to human CSVD and develop stroke-related symptoms with advancing age.

Objective: We investigated the time course of haematological parameters in Wistar rats and SHRSP.

Material and Methods: Blood cells were analysed using an automated haematological analyser.

Results: SHRSP develop stroke-related symptoms including onset of neurological symptoms, decreased body weight and blood brain barrier leakage between 12 and 14?weeks of age. Lymphocyte counts were gradually decreased at 3?weeks before development of stoke-related symptoms and then were further decreased after the development of stroke-related symptoms. The both mean platelet volume and large platelet ratio gradually increased at 3?weeks before the development of stoke-related symptoms. However, although SHRSP showed more microcytic red cells than Wistar rats, the trajectories of change in erythrocyte-related parameters were similar between Wistar rats and SHRSP.

Conclusion: Our pilot study suggests that alterations of lymphocyte count and platelet volume predictive indicators for asymptomatic CSVD and symptomatic stroke in SHRSP.     

Flood mitigation function of rain gardens for management of urban storm runoff in Japan

Urban waterlogging stems from coverage with impervious surfaces and increasing rainfall intensity from climate change and variability, meaning that storm water cannot readily infiltrate the ground and excessive surface runoff leads to urban flooding. To reduce related environmental and safety risks, rainfall and groundwater level research was carried out in Kyoto Prefecture with two rain gardens (RG1 and RG2) to investigate flood mitigation functions using a tank model. During the 134 days of monitoring from July 14, 2017, to November 25, 2017, RG1 had seven overflow events with an average runoff control ratio of 63.94%, and RG2 had one event with a ratio of 95.97%. The RG1 tank model (two stages) showed that initial storage for the first and second depths was 6.912?×?10^?11 and 0 mm, respectively. The heights of the discharge holes were 20.857 and 0.784 mm for the first stage and 0.659 mm for the second stage, and the discharge hole coefficients were 0.529 and 0.002 for the first stage and 0.004 for the second stage. The results showed that RG1 had penetration hole coefficients of 0.138 (first stage) and 0.254 (second stage), with a water balance error of 0.017 (<?0.02) and a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of 0.922, indicating better reliability and quality than RG2 with the one-stage tank model. Peak flow simulation for mitigation showed that RG1 had a high overflow control ratio (mitigation time 2 h for instant rainfall of 100 mm/h), and can therefore be considered appropriate for other urban areas of Japan.

     

Correction to: Rainwater storage/infiltration function of rain gardens for management of urban storm runoff in Japan

Landscape and Ecological Engineering - In the original publication of the article, Figure&nbsp;1 was published incorrectly. The correct figure is given below.     

MicroRNA-30c attenuates fibrosis progression and vascular dysfunction in systemic sclerosis model mice

Molecular Biology Reports - Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by peripheral circulatory disturbance and fibrosis in skin and visceral organs. We recently demonstrated that...