Suppressive effects of a polymer sodium silicate solution on powdery mildew and root rot diseases of miniature rose

Sodium silicate was dissolved in water in either a monomer form or polymer form; the effects of both forms of sodium silicate aqueous solution on rose powdery mildew and root rot diseases of miniature rose were examined. Both forms of sodium silicate aqueous solution were applied to the roots of the miniature rose. Potassium silicate aqueous solution was used as a control and was compared to the effect of sodium silicate aqueous solution. The polymer sodium silicate aqueous solution was the most effective treatment against both powdery mildew and root rot diseases. Moreover, no inhibition effects of silicate solutions were observed in vitro on Pythium helicoides, the causal pathogen of rose root rot disease. The silicon contents in the roots of the miniature rose treated with polymer sodium silicate were significantly greater than that in plants treated with monomer sodium silicate. In conclusion, the suppressive effects of sodium silicate in the polymer form were confirmed against powdery mildew and root rot diseases of the miniature rose.Keywords: Podosphaera pannosa, Pythium helicoides, miniature rose, polymer and monomer sodium silicat

Crystal Structure of 200 K-Superconducting Phase of Sulfur Hydride System

This article reports the experimentally clarified crystal structure of a recently discovered sulfur hydride in high temperature superconducting phase which has the highest critical temperature Tc over 200 K which has been ever reported. For understanding the mechanism of the high superconductivity, the information of its crystal structure is very essential. Herein we have carried out the simultaneous measurements electrical resistance and synchrotron x-ray diffraction under high pressure, and clearly revealed that the hydrogen sulfide, H2S, decomposes to H3S and its crystal structure has body-centered cubic symmetry in the superconducting phase.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

The effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on reperfusion injury of the brain under hypothermic circulatory arrest

AbstractObjective: The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, Ng-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, on reperfusion injury of the brain under hypothermic circulatory arrest. Methods: After cardiopulmonary bypass was established using 12 piglets each weighing about 30 kg, the animals were cooled to a brain temperature of 20° C and circulatory arrest was performed for 90 minutes followed by reperfusion for 120 minutes. The level of nitric oxide within the brain was measured with a needle electrode inserted into the brain. In the treatment group, Ng-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride was administered with an intravenous injection of 1.5 mg/kg at the onset of the reperfusion followed by a 60-minute continuous venous infusion of 1.5 mg/kg/hr. Results: In the control group, nitric oxide levels within the brain increased not during ischemia but during reperfusion, and the level after 120 minutes of reperfusion increased significantly compared with that of before circulatory arrest. But in the treatment group, Ng-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride administered at the onset of reperfusion inhibited nitric oxide production during reperfusion. A significant difference was observed between the groups regarding the nitric oxide level after 120 minutes of reperfusion. Regarding cerebral blood flow, excess lactate, and cerebral tissue water content, no significant difference was observed between the groups. However, recovery of somatosensory evoked potential after 120 minutes of reperfusion was detected in all six animals in the treatment group, but none in the control group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: These data suggest that Ng-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride protects the brain against reperfusion injury under hypothermic circulatory arrest. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;115:925-30

Increased expression of kisspeptin and GnRH forms in the brain of scombroid fish during final ovarian maturation and ovulation

BACKGROUND: Kisspeptins (Kiss) are prime players in the control of reproductive function through their regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) expression in the brain. The experimental scombroid fish, chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) expresses two kiss (kiss1 and kiss2) and three gnrh (gnrh1, gnrh2, and gnrh3) forms in the brain. In the present study, we analyzed expression changes of kiss and gnrh mRNAs in the brain and corresponding GnRH peptides in the brain and pituitary during final ovarian maturation (FOM) and ovulation. METHODS: Female fish possessing late vitellogenic oocytes were injected with GnRH analogue to induce FOM and ovulation. Fish were observed for daily spawning activities and sampled one week post-injection at germinal vesicle migration (GVM), oocyte hydration, ovulation, and post-ovulatory time periods. Changes in relative mRNA levels of kiss and gnrh forms in the brain were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Changes in GnRH peptides in the brain and pituitary were analyzed using time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. RESULTS: Both kiss1 and kiss2 mRNA levels in the brain were low at late vitellogenic stage and increased significantly during the GVM period. However, kiss1 mRNA levels decreased during oocyte hydration before increasing again at ovulatory and post-ovulatory periods. In contrast, kiss2 mRNA levels decreased at ovulatory and post-ovulatory periods. Levels of gnrh1 mRNA in the brain increased only during post-ovulatory period. However, levels of gnrh2 and gnrh3 mRNAs were elevated during GVM and then, decreased during oocyte hydration before increasing again at ovulatory period. During post-ovulatory period, both gnrh2 and gnrh3 mRNA levels declined. Peptide levels of all three GnRH forms in the brain were elevated during GVM and oocyte hydration; their levels were significantly lower during late vitellogenic, ovulatory, and post-ovulatory periods. In contrast, pituitary GnRH peptide levels did not show any significant fluctuations, with the GnRH1 peptide levels being many-fold higher than the GnRH2 and GnRH3 forms. CONCLUSION: The results indicate increased expression of multiple Kiss and GnRH forms in the brain and suggest their possible involvement in the regulation of FOM and ovulation in captive female chub mackerel

Distribución y cambios del sistema sbGnRH en machos de Rastrelliger brachysoma durante el período reproductivo

Rastrelliger brachysoma is a mariculture candidate species, but reproduction in captive fish has been problematic. This report examines the difference in the HPG axis, the neuroendocrine system and the development of reproductive tissues between captive vs. wild male R. brachysoma. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of sexually mature male wild R. brachysoma was 1.12±0.34 and 1.94±0.26 during the non-breeding and breeding seasons, respectively. Captive R. brachysoma had a GSI of 1.88±0.17. All wild R. brachysoma were in the late spermatogenic stage irrespective of seasons. Immunostaining results showed that sbGnRH-immunoreactive neurons were distributed in three areas of the brain, namely the nucleus periventricularis, nucleus preopticus and nucleus lateralis tuberis. Follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone immunoreactivities were also observed in the pituitary gland. The levels of brain sbGnRH and GtH mRNA were not significantly different between the non-breeding and breeding seasons, but captive fish displayed (times or percent difference) lower mRNA levels than wild fish. These results suggest that these hormones control the testicular development in R. brachysoma and that the impaired reproduction in captivity may be due to their relative lower expression levels of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone genes.Rastrelliger brachysoma es una especie candidata para la piscicultura marina, pero la reproducción de individuos cautivos de esta especie ha sido problemática. Este estudio examina las diferencias en el eje hipotálamo-hipófisis-gónada (eje HPG), junto con el desarrollo de tejidos reproductivos, entre machos cautivos y salvajes de R. brachysoma. El índice gonadosomático (IGS) de machos salvajes de R. brachysoma sexualmente maduros fue de 1.12±0.34 y 1.94±0.26 durante la estación no-reproductiva y reproductiva, respectivamente. Los R. brachysoma cautivos mostraron un IGS de 1.88±0.17. Todos los R. brachysoma salvajes se encontraban en un estado de espermatogénesis tardío, independientemente de la estación. Los resultados de inmunotinción mostraron que las neuronas sbGnRH-inmunoreactivas se distribuían en tres áreas del cerebro, nucleus periventricularis, nucleus preopticus y nucleus lateralis tuberis. Se detectó inmunoreactividad para Fsh y Lh también en la hipófisis. Los niveles de mRNA de sbgnrh y gths en cerebro no fueron significativamente diferentes entre las estaciones de reproducción y no-reproducción, aunque se observaron niveles de mRNA menores (diferencia en nivel o porcentaje) en individuos cautivos que en salvajes. Estos resultados sugieren que las hormonas analizadas controlan el desarrollo testicular en R. brachysoma y que la inhibición de la reproducción en cautividad podría ser debida a unos menores niveles de expresión relativa de los genes de Fsh y Lh

Microcystin degradation in sphingopyxis sp. C-1

The microcystin-degrading gene cluster, mlrA-B-C-D, plaies an important role in the degradation process of hepatotoxic microcystins for several bacterial species. However after microcystin is degraded to linear-microcystin by MlrA, it is still unknown about where and by what it is metabolited. In order to clarify it, we disrupted the mlrB gene and mlrC gene in chromosome of microcystin-degrading bacteria, Sphingopyxis sp. C-1. The cells disrupted mlrB gene and mlrC gene accumulated of microcystin-degradation product, linear-microcystin and tetrapeptide, respectively, whereas the cell free extracts of ?mlrB cells detected Adda and ?mlrC cells accumulated tetrapeptide. Moreover, topology analysis of MlrB using the ß-lactamase gene fusion method insisted MlrB is the peripheral protein binding the inner-membrane. These results insist that MlrB degrades the linear microcystin in the periplasmic space and MlrC degrades tetrapeptide in cytoplasm. Thus, in intact cells, MlrC cannot degrade linear-microcystin as being separated in inner-membrane from linear-microcystin while MlrC is capable of degrading the linear-microcystin in cell-free extract

ANGPTL4 Expression Is Increased in Epicardial Adipose Tissue of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is known to affect atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD) pathogenesis, persistently releasing pro-inflammatory adipokines that affect the myocardium and coronary arteries. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a protein secreted from adipose tissue and plays a critical role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Here, the expression of ANGPTL4 in EAT was investigated in CAD subjects. Thirty-four consecutive patients (13 patients with significant CAD; 21 patients without CAD) undergoing elective open-heart surgery were recruited. EAT and pericardial fluid were obtained at the time of surgery. mRNA expression and ANGPTL4 and IL-1β levels were evaluated by qRT-PCR and ELISA. The expression of ANGPTL4 (p = 0.0180) and IL-1β (p < 0.0001) in EAT significantly increased in the CAD group compared to that in the non-CAD group and positively correlated (p = 0.004). Multiple regression analysis indicated that CAD is a contributing factor for ANGPTL4 expression in EAT. IL-1β level in the pericardial fluid was significantly increased in patients with CAD (p = 0.020). Moreover, the expression of ANGPTL4 (p = 0.004) and IL-1β (p < 0.001) in EAT was significantly increased in non-obese patients with CAD. In summary, ANGPTL4 expression in EAT was increased in CAD patients

Relation between deffect density and conductivity changes with light-soaking and annealing in a-Si:H

It is found in a-Si:H and N-doped a-Si:H that the ESR spin density N, increases and saturates with light-soaking slower than the dark-and photoconductivities (ad and ap) do. In the recovery process by annealing, the change in N. also occurs slower than ad and up. From the measurement of the activation energy for 9d the change in ad is found to originate mainly from the movement of the Fermi level EF. In order to elucidate the origin of different behaviors between N, and ad or ap, the light-induced ESR and the constant photocurrent method measurements have been carried out

Identification of 20-hydroxyecdysone-inducible genes from larval brain of the silkworm, bombyx mori, and their expression analysis

The insect brain secretes prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), which stimulates the prothoracic gland to synthesize ecdysone. The active metabolite of ecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), works through ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP) to initiate molting and metamorphosis by regulating downstream genes. Previously, we found that EcR was expressed in the PTTH-producing neurosecretory cells (PTPCs) in larval brain of the silkworm Bombyx mori, suggesting that PTPCs function as the master cells of development under the regulation of 20E. To gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of the 20E control of PTPCs, we performed a comprehensive screening of genes induced by 20E using DNA microarray with brains of day-2 fifth instar silkworm larvae. Forty-one genes showed greater than twofold changes caused by artificial application of 20E. A subsequent semiquantitative screening identified ten genes upregulated by 20E, four of which were novel or not previously identified as 20E-response genes. Developmental profiling determined that two genes, UP4 and UP5, were correlated with the endogenous ecdysteroid titer. Whole-mount in situ hybridization showed exclusive expression of these two genes in two pairs of cells in the larval brain in response to 20E-induction, suggesting that the cells are PTPCs. BLAST searches revealed that UP4 and UP5 are Bombyx homologs of vrille and tarsal-less, respectively. The present study identifies 20E-induced genes that may be involved in the ecdysone signal hierarchies underlying pupal-adult development and/or the 20E regulation of PTPCs. © 2012 Zoological Society of Japan.発行後1年より全文公