The Development of Activity of Cell Wall Bound β-Fructofuranosidase with Ripening and Senescence of Tomato Fruit

Optically active trisubstituted and tetrasubstituted cyclopentanes, with proper functional groups of proper stereochemistry as precursors for chiral synthesis of brefeldin A and prostaglandins, were prepared stereoselectively from carbohydrate.     

Direct observation of fibrinogen-heparinoid complexes formation using surface plasmon resonance.

We analyzed the binding of heparinoid or heparin with fibrinogen by real-time measurement using surface plasmon resonance technology. Poly(glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate) sulfate [poly(GEMA) sulfate] and dextran sulfate were used as heparinoids. The binding ability of each sulfated polymer was estimated by having each polymer-containing buffer interact with the sensor chip surfaces that had immobilized fibrinogen. Dextran sulfate and poly(GEMA) sulfate showed high affinity to the fibrinogen in this experiment, while the heparin did not. All of the dextran sulfates were desorbed from its surface, while about 30% of the poly(GEMA) sulfate remained on the immobilized fibrinogen upon the addition of NaCl to the buffer which was done in order to analyze the desorption of poly(GEMA) sulfate or dextran sulfate from the surface of the fibrinogen. These data show that the type of binding between fibrinogen-poly(GEMA) sulfate was different from that of dextran sulfate, indicating that the interaction between fibrinogen and poly(GEMA) sulfate was caused not only by an electrostatic but also by a hydrophobic force. These results suggest that the interaction mechanism of heparinoids with fibrinogen was different from that of heparin.     

Snow cover manipulation in agricultural fields: as an option for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions

Short-term N₂O emission occurs in relation to snowmelt within seasonally frozen soil. To understand the effects of changing winter climates on the N₂O flux, snow cover manipulation experiments are useful. In Japan, snow cover manipulation is practiced by farmers to improve agricultural yield and is executed either by applying a broadcast of blackish agent onto the snow cover, which leads to faster snow-melting thereby extending the crop-growing season, or by snow cover removal/re-accumulation, leading to an enhanced soil frost depth for weed management. Implementation of these practices involves using an amount of fossil fuel, in addition to influencing soil-derived N₂O emissions, therefore, the load factors of snow cover management practices per unit area of agricultural field were estimated in this study. Field data including micrometeorological conditions, ground surface flux of N₂O, and amount of fossil fuel consumed during machinery operation for management practices, were obtained at two sites in Hokkaido over 2 years (2008–2010). Fuel consumption for the field spreading was found to be unexpectedly small (0.017 Mg CO₂ eq ha^?1). It was therefore suggested that acceleration of snowmelt may have the potential to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions if the agent used is a low-degradable C-rich material, such as charcoal. For soil frost control, the fossil fuel consumption during a set of snow cover removal/re-accumulation (estimated as 0.052 Mg CO₂ eq ha^?1) is discussed, together with the relationship between possible mechanisms causing stimulation of N₂O production in frozen soil and inherent large differences in N₂O flux among sites.     

Production of heat-stable enterotoxin II by chicken clinical isolates of Escherichia coli

Abstract Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from diarrhea stools of chickens were examined for production of heat-stable enterotoxin II which is considered to be implicated only in diarrhea of pigs. Seven out of 38 strains examined were found to contain heat-stable enterotoxin II gene, determined by colony hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction. The culture supernatants of these strains caused fluid accumulation in the mouse intestinal loop test. This fluid accumulation activity was not lost by heating at 100°C and was neutralized by anti-heat-stable enterotoxin II antiserum. Purified heat-stable enterotoxin II caused fluid accumulation in the chicken intestinal loop assay. These results indicate that STII-producing E. coli is implicated in chicken diarrhea.     

Immobilization of human thrombomodulin on glass beads and its anticoagulant activity.

Human thrombomodulin (TM) was for the first time immobilized on glass beads by the reaction between the carboxyl group of TM and the amino group of glass beads using water-soluble carbodiimide. Immobilized human TM exhibited both anticoagulant activity and inhibition of platelet aggregation of human blood.     

Epigastrius with omphalocele--report of a case

An epigastrius (parasitic twinning in the epigastrium) was delivered via the vaginal route spontaneously and died 37 days later. The autosite had cardiac hypertrophy with VSD, PDA, and PFO and an omphalocele. The liver was partly conjoined. There was a small swelling at the lower part of the autosite's bifurcated sternum to which the parasitic left pelvis and lower extremity were attached. On the second day after birth, parasitectomy was performed. The amputated specimens consisted of a small left pelvic girdle with a free extremity, a scrotal mass, nipplelike structures and two small protuberances externally. The liver, intestines, two testes, one kidney, one ureter, and the bladder were contained within the omphalocele. Although all of the organs and external structures of the parasite had abnormal histopathological findings, differentiated muscle fibers and submucous and/or myenteric plexus were observed.     

Phylogenetic position of a rare loricated green alga, Cephalomonas granulata N. L. Higinb. (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae)

Cephalomonas ( Cp .) granulata N. L. Higinb. (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae), a rare volvocalean phytoflagellate, has recently been isolated from a paddy field in Japan and examined by light and fluorescence microscopy. The vegetative cells of Cp . granulata have granulate loricae and a characteristic mushroom-like shape with a hemispherical to spherical anterior part and narrower posterior part. Cp . granulata has been classified among the Phacotaceae along with other loricated genera. However, its phylogenetic position has not been investigated using molecular phylogeny. To evaluate the phylogenetic position of Cephalomonas , the 18S r RNA gene sequence of the Japanese strain was determined. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that Cp . granulata was not closely related to other loricated taxa with known phylogenetic affinities, such as Phacotaceae sensu stricto ( Phacotus , Pteromonas , and Wislouchiella ) and Dysmorphococcus globosus . This indicates at least three independent origins of loricae within the Volvocales.