Estimation of dispersal ability responding to environmental conditions: larval dispersal of the flightless firefly,Luciola parvula (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

We provided an extensional method for diffusion equation models so far presented to cover cases where diffusion coefficients temporally change. We applied this method to data sampled from mark recapture surveys to estimate the natural mean dispersal distance and diffusion coefficients of terrestrial firefly larvae, Luciola parvula Kiesenwetter (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae). The surveys were conducted twice (December 2009 and March–April 2010) on a Cryptomeria plantation where 100 traps were placed in a lattice pattern at 30 cm intervals (10 × 10). Marked larvae were released at the center of the lattice, and the number of recaptures was recorded. Larval dispersal became remarkably active on the first night with rainfall as well as on the following day. The estimated natural mean dispersal distances (±SE) were 100.7 (±18.4) cm (December) and 245.4 (±700.0) cm (March–April). The diffusion coefficients just after rainfall were estimated to increase by 14.2 (±6.1) times (December) and 106.0 (±55.9) times (March–April) (±SE). Larvae were expected to disperse no further from where their eggs were laid. Most of their dispersing activity took place just after rainfall. Our extensional method was able to effectively illustrate that larval dispersal was affected by rainfall. This method can be usefully applied to any other species that disperses according to environmental conditions.     

Three-dimensional co-culture model employing silica nonwoven fabrics to enhance cell-to-cell communication of paracrine signaling between hepatocytes and fibroblasts

The realization that soluble factors secreted by heterotypic cells play an importanta role in paracrine signaling, which facilitates intercellular communication, enabled the development of physiologically relevant co-culture models for drug screening and the engineering of tissues, such as hepatic tissues. The most crucial issues confronting the use of conventional membrane inserts in segregated co-culture models that are used to study paracrine signaling between heterotypic cells have been identified as long-term viability and retention of cell-specific functions, especially when isolated primary cells are used. Herein, we present an in vitro segregated co-culture model consisting of a well plate incubated with rat primary hepatocytes and normal human dermal fibroblasts which were segregated using a membrane insert with silica nonwoven fabric (SNF) on it. SNF, which mimics a physiological environment much more effectively than a two-dimensional (2D) one, promotes cell differentiation and resultant paracrine signaling in a manner that is not possible in a conventional 2D culture, owing to high mechanical strength generated by its inorganic materials and interconnected network structure. In segregated co-cultures, SNF clearly enhanced the functions of hepatocytes and fibroblasts, thereby showing its potential as a measure of paracrine signaling. These results may advance the understanding of the role played by paracrine signaling in cell-to-cell communication and provide novel insights into the applications of drug metabolism, tissue repair, and regeneration.     

Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Evaluation of Iron Excretion in Mouse Urine Caused by Whole-Body Gamma Irradiation

Biological Trace Element Research - A procedure for the determination of iron in mice urine using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. The mice urinary samples contain...     

Retroperitoneal hematoma with bone resorption around the acetabular component after total hip arthroplasty: a case report and review of the literature

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Vascular complications related to cup-fixating screws penetrating the medial acetabular wall during total hip arthroplasty are not uncommon but rarely are associated with serious adverse events in the late post-operative period. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 77-year-old Japanese woman who developed progressive extensive bone resorption and large hematoma in the acetabulum 13 years after total hip arthroplasty. On admission to our hospital, she was on oral warfarin (1.5mg/day) for atrial fibrillation. About 5 months after the initiation of anticoagulant therapy, she suffered a major fall followed by massive subcutaneous and pelvic girdle bleeding, predominantly on the medial side of the right thigh, but a fracture or damage of total hip arthroplasty was not evident on an emergency orthopedic evaluation. One year after the accident, a routine follow-up examination showed an asymptomatic osteolytic lesion in the acetabulum on the right pelvis, and 2 years later our patient noticed progressive pain in her right hip during walking. A large osteolytic lesion was noted in the right acetabulum on a plain radiograph. On high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, a huge granulomatous lesion in the acetabulum was suggestive of chronic hematoma in intrapelvic and extrapelvic gluteal regions. A closer computed tomography examination showed that one of the screws used for fixation of the acetabular component in the total hip arthroplasty had penetrated the acetabular bone and had reached the pelvic cavity. Surgery was performed in a single session by means of two approaches: anterior midline transperitoneal address to resect the low-density mass lesion followed by posterolateral acetabular implant re-settlement. CONCLUSIONS: Though rare, total hip arthroplasty-related late vascular complications could be serious and potentially affect the limb and quality of life.     

400 MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the polar headgroup conformation of inositolphospholipids

400 MHz ¹H-resonances of 1-phosphatidyl-myoinositol (PI), PI 4-phosphate (DPI) and PI 4,5-bisphosphate (TPI) in CD₃OD were assigned. Proton resonances in the inositol moiety shift downfield with the increase in the number of the phosphate from PI to TPI. From the ¹H-¹H and ¹H-³¹P vicinal coupling constants, rotamer populations around bonds in the polar headgroups were calculated. The H-C(5)O-P bond at position 5 of the inositol moiety tends to assume a gauche form. The H-C(1)O-P and the H-C(4)O-P bonds are not so strongly restricted to the gauche form as the H-C(5)O-P bond. The conformation of the glycerol moiety in PI, DPI and TPI is similar to that in phosphotidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The CH-CH₂O-P bond in the glycerol moiety assumes a trans form. The acyl chains prefer a gauche arrangement to each other around the CHCH₂OCOR bond.     

Dominant honeybee colony infestation by Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) K haplotype in Japan

Applied Entomology and Zoology - Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) are ectoparasitic mites found in the western honeybee Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae)....     

The physiological potential of anammox bacteria as revealed by their core genome structure

We present here the second complete genome of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacterium, Candidatus (Ca.) Brocadia pituitae, along with those of a nitrite oxidizer and two incomplete denitrifiers from the anammox bacterial community (ABC) metagenome. Although NO2− reduction to NO is considered to be the first step in anammox, Ca. B. pituitae lacks nitrite reductase genes (nirK and nirS) responsible for this reaction. Comparative genomics of Ca. B. pituitae with Ca. Kuenenia stuttgartiensis and six other anammox bacteria with nearly complete genomes revealed that their core genome structure contains 1,152 syntenic orthologues. But nitrite reductase genes were absent from the core, whereas two other Brocadia species possess nirK and these genes were horizontally acquired from multiple lineages. In contrast, at least five paralogous hydroxylamine oxidoreductase genes containing candidate ones (hao2 and hao3) encoding another nitrite reductase were observed in the core. Indeed, these two genes were also significantly expressed in Ca. B. pituitae as in other anammox bacteria. Because many nirS and nirK genes have been detected in the ABC metagenome, Ca. B. pituitae presumably utilises not only NO supplied by the ABC members but also NO and/or NH₂OH by self-production for anammox metabolism.