FISH DIVERSITY DETECTION AT THE INNER PART OF OSAKA BAY USING ENVIRONMENTAL DNA ANALYSIS

大阪湾奥に位置する尼崎運河において，環境DNA調査と捕獲調査を比較して運河内スケールにおける環境DNAの有効性と問題点を検討し，各調査地点の魚類相の比較および環境条件との関連を明らかにした．東堀では1月の表層のORPやDOが回復し，同時期の環境DNAにより検出された種数が最も多かった．このことから，この場所が水質の回復によって魚類の利用場所となるポテンシャルを持っている可能性が示唆された．環境DNA調査はより環境の異なる港湾との比較や季節変化については差の検出が可能であった．環境DNA調査は検出は不安定で，検出できない種もあるが，採捕調査よりも多くの魚種を検出する傾向にあり，直接採捕の調査と合わせると互いの調査方法の結果を補い，魚類相全体の把握に有効な手法であると考えられる．Fish diversity at at Amagasaki canal in the Inner Part of Osaka Bay were investigated by environmental DNA analysis (eDNA) to clarify whether this method is valuable in eutrophic conditions. A ORP and DO was restored in January in Higashi-bori sampling point and the detected fish species was larger number than the other time. The result suggests that Higashi-bori has a potential for fish habitat with a water quality recovery. The number of detected species and fish fauna suggests that eDNA is efficient in comparison among sampling points which has sharp contrast of environmental factors and monitoring seasonal difference. The eDNA is unable to detected a certain species, but allow to detect larger number of species than the conventional sampling methods. eDNA is most effective when used in conjunction with conventional sampling method for investigation of fish diversity

A dynamic partitioning mechanism polarizes membrane protein distribution

Abstract The plasma membrane is widely regarded as the hub of the numerous signal transduction activities. Yet, the fundamental biophysical mechanisms that spatiotemporally compartmentalize different classes of membrane proteins remain unclear. Using multimodal live-cell imaging, here we first show that several lipid-anchored membrane proteins are consistently depleted from the membrane regions where the Ras/PI3K/Akt/F-actin network is activated. The dynamic polarization of these proteins does not depend upon the F-actin-based cytoskeletal structures, recurring shuttling between membrane and cytosol, or directed vesicular trafficking. Photoconversion microscopy and single-molecule measurements demonstrate that these lipid-anchored molecules have substantially dissimilar diffusion profiles in different regions of the membrane which enable their selective segregation. When these diffusion coefficients are incorporated into an excitable network-based stochastic reaction-diffusion model, simulations reveal that the altered affinity mediated selective partitioning is sufficient to drive familiar propagating wave patterns. Furthermore, normally uniform integral and lipid-anchored membrane proteins partition successfully when membrane domain-specific peptides are optogenetically recruited to them. We propose “dynamic partitioning” as a new mechanism that can account for large-scale compartmentalization of a wide array of lipid-anchored and integral membrane proteins during various physiological processes where membrane polarizes

Prediction of Negative Outcomes in Non-Surgical Treatment for Appendiceal Abscess in Adults

Objectives: Non-surgical treatment is an acceptable approach for managing appendiceal abscess in adults. However, it is only applicable for selected patients, and conversion to surgery is mandatory for failed conservative treatment. This study aimed to determine the predictive factors for unsuccessful outcomes. Methods: Of 594 patients with acute appendicitis, 34 (5.7%) diagnosed with appendiceal abscess were initially treated conservatively. Patients were divided into two groups: the conservative group, which was successfully treated with antibiotics and percutaneous abscess drainage, and the conversion group, which comprised patients who had surgical conversion despite conservative treatment. Risk factors for the conversion group were investigated by comparing clinical and radiological parameters between the two groups. Results: Eight (23.4%) patients were converted to surgical management at an average of 5.5 days of non-surgical treatment. An abscess size greater than 40 mm and a lower rate of improvement in the white blood cell (WBC) count were significant factors for predicting conversion in multivariate analysis. The conversion group had a long operative time and high morbidity and operative conversion rates (change of proposed initial operation). Early conversion to operation group, i.e., less than 5 days of treatment, contributed to a significantly shorter hospital stay, lower hospital cost, and relatively shorter operative time (p = 0.02, p = 0.04, and p = 0.11, respectively). Conclusions: Contributing factors in predicting unsuccessful outcomes for non-surgical treatment include an abscess size greater than 40 mm and a low rate of improvement in WBC count on the first day of antibiotic treatment

A new approach to the deposition of elemental boron and boron-based coatings by pulsed magnetron sputtering of loosely packed boron powder targets

Large numbers of potential application areas for elemental boron and boron-based thin film materials make this subject area a focus of significant scientific and industrial interest. Applications include thermoelectric energy conversion devices, biomedical implants, metalworking tools and automotive components. Boron is however also recognised widely to be a difficult-to-deposit material. Therefore, a new technique to deposit boron (and other boron-based materials) by pulsed magnetron sputtering of loosely packed powder targets has been proposed. Among the benefits of this approach are: improved stability of the deposition process, increased speed and flexibility of target preparation, enhanced time- and cost-effectiveness and the ability to control readily the target and hence the chemical composition of the coating