Influenza virus infection in seal (Phocidae) : seroepidemiological survey of influenza virus in Caspian seals(Phoca caspica)

In the last a few decades, several viral diseases in marine mammals such as seals and cetaceans were characterized. Influenza virus causes a worldwide zoonosis, influenza, and was shown to be involved in mass mortality in seals. Several influenza virus strains have been isolated from the sick seals. Because interspecies transmission of influenza virus plays a crucial role in the introduction of pandemic influenza disease in humans, it is important to monitor the virus distribution in wild animals including marine mammals. In this article, we review the previous findings on influenza virus infection in seals, and introduce our recent serological surveillance of influenza virus in Caspian seals (Phoca caspica) in 1993-2000. Our recent results suggested that the Caspian seals were infected by human related influenza viruses. The possibility of seals as reservoirs of influenza virus, and the importance of surveillance of the virus infection in marine mammals have been discussed

Effects of Acid Treatment on the Acidic Properties and Catalytic Activity of MCM-41 for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Isobutane

Mesoporous silicas have shown promise as materials for solid catalysts or catalyst supports due to their unique characteristics. Metal-doped mesoporous silicas are known to be catalytically active in the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of isobutane. However, heavy-metal-free mesoporous silicas have not been studied closely for their use as catalysts. In the present study, MCM-41 (#41 Mobil composition of matter) was acid-treated to enhance its catalytic activity, although pure MCM-41 was confirmed as catalytically inactive for the ODH of isobutane (isobutene yield = 0.9%). The pH of a slurry of as-synthesized MCM-41 was changed during acid treatment. A pH adjustment to 6.5 resulted in great improvement in catalytic activity (isobutene yield = 6.1%), but a pH adjustment to 4.5 resulted in insufficient improvement (isobutene yield = 4.5%). It was confirmed via XRD and N2 adsorption-desorption measurement that the pH adjustment to 4.5 degraded the ordered structure of MCM-41. This degradation would be a crucial factor that would render acid treatment less effective. In addition to the acid treatment, Al doping to MCM-41 was conducted. Al doping also greatly enhanced the acidity and catalytic activity of MCM-41

Effect of the template ion exchange behaviors of chromium into FSM-16 on the oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane

The template ion exchange of chromium cations into FSM-16 (#16 Folded Sheets Mesoporous Materials) for 247 h resulted in a 2.89 wt% incorporation of those cations into the FSM-16, although only a 0.3 wt% incorporation had previously been reported. The XRD pattern of the resultant solid (Cr-FSM-16) showed that the hexagonal structure characteristic of FSM-16 remained after the 2.89 wt% incorporation of chromium cations. XPS could be used to detect the Cr3+ and Cr6+ species on the surface of Cr-FSM-16. A pre-edge peak that was due to a tetrahedrally coordinated Cr6+ species was confirmed in the XANES spectrum of the Cr-FSM-16, which showed that the coordination state around some Cr species was similar to that around the Si species in FSM-16. With the increase in the amount of chromium cations in FSM-16, its catalytic activity and stability during the oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane were evidently improved

Very Low Nucleation Rates of Glucose Isomerase Crystals under Microgravity in the International Space Station

In situ observation of the nucleation and growth of glucose isomerase (GI) crystals under microgravity was conducted using an optical microscope during the first flight of the Advanced Nano Step project undertaken in the International Space Station (ISS). Very low apparent nucleation rates (J’) of GI crystals in the solution and on the substrate of the growth container were confirmed compared with those on the ground. In particular, J’ of GI crystals in the solution were a few times lower than that on the substrate. The growth rates (R) of the {101} faces of GI crystals on the substrate and the apparent growth rates (R’) in the solution were measured. The very low nucleation rates allowed us to successfully measure R at a very high supersaturation region (up to ln(C/Ce) = 6), at which R cannot be measured on the ground

Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Isobutane to Isobutene on Metal-doped MCM-41 Catalysts

MCM-41 (#41 Mobil Composition of Matter) is a favorable material for heterogeneous reactions because of its unique porous structure. However, the catalytic activity of MCM-41 for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of isobutane to isobutene is known to be quite low. In the present study, a metal-doping method was employed to improve this catalytic activity. Doping of Cr, Co, Ni, or Mo into MCM-41 resulted in a great improvement in the catalytic activity. Since chromium-doped MCM-41 (Cr-MCM-41) showed the greatest catalytic activity among these catalysts, its redox property was further analyzed via XPS, XAFS and H2-TPR techniques. The XPS spectrum of Cr-MCM-41 suggested that it has Cr3+ and Cr6+ species on its surface. Also, a pre-edge peak due to Cr6+ species was confirmed in the XANES spectrum of Cr-MCM-41. In H2-TPR measurement, Cr-MCM-41 was more reducible than crystalline Cr2O3, which showed low catalytic activity for the ODH of isobutane. The reducible Cr6+ species on Cr-MCM-41 contributed to an improvement in the catalytic activity of MCM-41

使われ方からみた小学校オープンスペースの再評価─沖縄県うるま市の場合─

　　More than 45 years have passed since elementary schools with open spaces started to be built in Japan. This paper researches how the spaces designed in those early days have been used and assesses whether they are still effectively used. The points are: whether they have been adapted flexibly to new educational requirements or needs; whether the furniture in the spaces has been appropriately installed; how the furniture has been used during intervals and after-class; and how the spaces have been used for school events and during class hours. The four targeted schools, built in the 1980s, are located in Gushikawa District （formerly Gushikawa City）, Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture, where various types of schools with open spaces built in the early days of this movement survive and some of which the author has been following since they were built.　　The results show that the open spaces have been used effectively and in accordance with their intended purpose, and that they have changed as demands changed over time. The open spaces have been important as children’s free space during intervals and after-school hours, and were useful for events, communication with the local community, and PTA activities. Various pieces of furniture were installed, separating the spaces so that multi-purpose use by children and teachers was possible, but the small amount of furniture suggested that classes with large numbers and those that incorporated team teaching, integrated study and continuous learning could not always be held when desired. Enlarged libraries that include open space are in active use. Naturally, the shape and the size of the space limited usage by large groups: whole school events, activities for multiple grades, or several classes together were difficult. A space designed exclusively for children who need special support would be beneficial

Acidic Properties of Various Silica Catalysts Doped with Chromium for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Isobutane to Isobutene

Although previous researchers have found that FSM-16 (#16 Folded Sheet Mesoporous material) doped with chromium and related Cr-doped silica catalysts has shown great activity for the oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane to isobutene, information on the nature of these catalysts is insufficient. For this study, three types of Cr-doped silica catalysts were prepared by applying the template ion exchange method. CrOx/FSM-16 and CrOx/SiO2 were used as references. These catalysts were used for oxidative dehydrogenation, which was then characterized via various techniques. The most active catalyst was Cr-doped silica, which did not have the hexagonal structure that is characteristic of mesoporous FSM-16. Various characterizations showed that the catalytic activity of the Cr-species, stemmed from a weak acidic nature and a redox nature that originated from the combination of silicate and a Cr cation, as opposed to the hexagonal structure and strong acidic nature of FSM-16

Evaluation of coronary blood flow velocity during cardiac arrest with circulation maintained through mechanical chest compressions in a porcine model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mechanical chest compressions (CCs) have been shown capable of maintaining circulation in humans suffering cardiac arrest for extensive periods of time. Reports have documented a visually normalized coronary blood flow during angiography in such cases (TIMI III flow), but it has never been actually measured. Only indirect measurements of the coronary circulation during cardiac arrest with on-going mechanical CCs have been performed previously through measurement of the coronary perfusion pressure (CPP). In this study our aim was to correlate average peak coronary flow velocity (APV) to CPP during mechanical CCs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a closed chest porcine model, cardiac arrest was established through electrically induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) in eleven pigs. After one minute, mechanical chest compressions were initiated and then maintained for 10 minutes upon which the pigs were defibrillated. Measurements of coronary blood flow in the left anterior descending artery were made at baseline and during VF with a catheter based Doppler flow fire measuring APV. Furthermore measurements of central (thoracic) venous and arterial pressures were also made in order to calculate the theoretical CPP.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Average peak coronary flow velocity was significantly higher compared to baseline during mechanical chests compressions and this was observed during the entire period of mechanical chest compressions (12 - 39% above baseline). The APV slowly declined during the 10 min period of mechanical chest compressions, but was still higher than baseline at the end of mechanical chest compressions. CPP was simultaneously maintained at > 20 mmHg during the 10 minute episode of cardiac arrest.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study showed good correlation between CPP and APV which was highly significant, during cardiac arrest with on-going mechanical CCs in a closed chest porcine model. In addition APV was even higher during mechanical CCs compared to baseline. Mechanical CCs can, at minimum, re-establish coronary blood flow in non-diseased coronary arteries during cardiac arrest.</p

The effect of adenosine monophosphate deaminase overexpression on the accumulation of umami-related metabolites in tomatoes

Taste is perceived as one of a combination of five sensations, sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. The umami taste is best known as a savoury sensation and plays a central role in food flavour, palatability, and eating satisfaction. Umami flavour can be imparted by the presence of glutamate and is greatly enhanced by the addition of ribonucleotides, such as inosine monophosphate (IMP) and guanosine monophosphate (GMP). The production of IMP is regulated by the enzyme adenosine monophosphate (AMP) deaminase which functions to convert AMP into IMP. We have generated transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) lines over expressing AMP deaminase under the control of a fruit-specific promoter. The transgenic lines showed substantially enhanced levels of AMP deaminase expression in comparison to the wild-type control. Elevated AMP deaminase levels resulted in the reduced accumulation of glutamate and increased levels of the umami nucleotide GMP. AMP concentrations were unchanged. The effects on the levels of glutamate and GMP were unexpected and are discussed in relation to the metabolite flux within this pathway