Characteristics of neutralization of acids by newly isolated fungal cells

Soil microorganisms play an important role in maintaining soil pH at levels suitable for other soil organisms. To clarify the biological neutralization mechanism in soil, we isolated soil microorganisms showing a high ability to neutralize acids and studied their characteristics. From our taxonomic study, three isolated strains were identified as filamentous fungi, namely Mucor sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aureobasidium pullulans. These strains could secrete basic materials, such as ammonia, for neutralization, grow in the medium at pH 4.0 and increase the pH of the medium to approximately 8.0. These microbial cells could neutralize not only nitric acid but also sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. The strains could also grow by utilizing nitric acid as a sole nitrogen source. In the soil containing these organisms, the pH was maintained in the neutral range by the buffering action of basic materials that they secrete. These results suggest that these fungal cells are useful for protecting the soil from acidification by acid rain.     

An aqueous suspension system for phospholipase D-mediated synthesis of PS without toxic organic solvent

Enzymatic synthesis of PS by phospholipase D (PLD)-mediated transphosphatidylation in an aqueous media was investigated. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel synthetic method where no toxic organic solvents were used. An attempt to react soybean lecithin (simply dispersed in an aqueous buffer) with an aqueous solution of l-serine and PLD was unsuccessful, giving only 20% of PS. By contrast, a suspension of lecithin adsorbed on fine powders such as silica was effectively converted into PS in an aqueous solution of l-serine and PLD. After screening various powders for use as the lecithin adsorbent, calcium sulfate was found to be the best with respect to lecithin conversion. In addition, calcium sulfate did not require prior adsorption of lecithin (i.e., the reaction proceeded effectively simply by adding the powder to an aqueous mixture of lecithin, l-serine, and PLD). With this “aqueous suspension system” of calcium sulfate, up to 180 mg/mL lecithin was completely converted, resulting in more than 80% PS in 24 h. The synthesized PS could easily be recovered from the powder by extracting with a mixture of n-hexane, ethanol, and diluted HCl.     

2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) inhibits capacitative calcium entry independently of the function of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors

Capacitative calcium entry (CCE), the mechanism that replenishes intracellular calcium stores after depletion, is essential to intracellular calcium signaling. CCE is mediated by the channels in the plasma membrane generally referred to as "store operated channels (SOCs)". However, the molecular identity of the SOCs has never been determined, and the mechanism of the activation of SOCs remains to be elucidated. Recent studies have demonstrated that 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), which has been found to be an antagonist of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), inhibits CCE, suggesting that IP3Rs channel activity is essential to the generation of CCE. However, CCE has also been reported to occur normally in IP3R-deficient cells. In order to resolve this discrepancy, we investigated the effect of 2-APB on CCE in IP3Rs-deficient cells. In response to store depletion with thapsigargin or N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylene diamine (TPEN), CCE was generated in IP3Rs-deficient cells the same as in wild-type cells, however, 2-APB abolished CCE in IP3Rs-deficient cells, despite the fact that this cell line does not possess functional IP3Rs. We also examined the effect of 2-APB on several types of TRP Ca2+ channels, which exhibit properties similar to those of SOCs. 2-APB had a different inhibitory effect on spontaneous and thapsigargin-induced Ba2+ influx in cells that transiently expressed individual TRP subtypes. These results suggest that the channel activity of IP3Rs is not essential to the generation of CCE in this cell line and that 2-APB inhibits CCE independently of the function of IP3Rs.     

Nanotribology of Si oxide layers on Si by atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used for tribological studies of Si surfaces covered by oxide layers of various kinds: chemical oxides prepared by the SC1 (NH4OH/H2O2/H2O) and the SC2 (HCl/H2O2/H2O) treatments and a thermal oxide. In the case of the SC1 chemical oxide, the oxide layer was scratched and the underlying Si substrate was ploughed by the Si3N4 AFM tip. On the other hand, no wear of the sample was noted on the other surfaces: the AFM often produced elevated patterns in the shape of the scanned area, which were no longer visible after HF etching. By annealing the SC1-treated surface in N2 gas at above 200 degrees C for 30 min, the oxide layer could not be scratched any more. By soaking the thermal oxide in KOH, the oxide layer was then scratched. It is concluded that the presence of OH bases is the necessary condition for the nano-scratching of the oxide layers.     

Atomic surface characterisation and modification of the layered compounds Bi2Se3, Bi1.9Sb0.1Se3 and Bi1.6Sb0.4Se3

In this work, we show atomic STM images of the layered compound Bi2Se3. We study the effect in the surface of the substitution of 5% and 20% of the Bi atoms for Sb in Bi1.9Sb0.1Se3 and Bi1.6Sb0.4Se3. The images of the three samples show similar trigonal structures corresponding probably to the van der Waals Se atoms. The distance measured between surface atoms in Bi2Se3 is 4.04 A, in Bi1.9Sb0.1Se3 is 4.16 A and in Bi1.6Sb0.4Se3 is 4.26 A. In Bi1.6Sb0.4Se3 some atomic sites appear brighter than others. The effect is accentuated at higher tunnelling currents and is not observed in the other compounds. Nanoscopic range depressions on the sample might be related to the skeletal crystal structure since the images show atomic corrugations that align slightly in one direction. We explain the results as the effects of the interactions between tip and sample, and discuss two interpretations: on the one hand, localised depression of the individual atomic sites, and on the other the possible elevation of the atoms of the surface due to a phase transition of the compounds induced by STM.     

Abnormal myelination in a patient with ring chromosome 18

BACKGROUND: Most adult anatomical texts state that the deep inguinal ring is situated midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle. The aim of this study was to determine if this was true in prepubescent children. METHODS: A total of 107 inguinal ligaments and canals were measured during inguinal operations in 80 children (68 boys, age range 1-118 months). RESULTS: The length of the inguinal ligament increased from a median of 4.3 cm (range 3.6-6.8) at less than 1 year of age to 7.5 cm (range 6.7-10.1) at over 4 years of age. The internal ring was situated medial to the midpoint of the inguinal ligament throughout childhood. The ratio of internal ring to public tubercle over inguinal ligament length was 42% (range 27-58) at less than 2 years; and 34% (range 25-46) at over 4 years. The inguinal canal remained short (median 1 cm (range 0.7-1.1) at less than 2 years, and median 1.1 cm (range 0.7-2.3) at over 4 years) suggesting that growth of the inguinal region in this age group occurs outside the canal. CONCLUSIONS: These results have implications for the siting of incisions, and question the necessity of opening the inguinal canal in children.     

Exposure and risk assessment of zinc in Japanese surface waters

In recent years, due to concerns on the potential effects of zinc on aquatic biota, zinc is receiving particular attention from regulatory agencies. A comprehensive exposure and risk assessment of zinc in Japanese surface waters was conducted to provide a scientific basis for developing realistic risk reduction measures for zinc. Emissions from corrosion contribute approximately 37% of the total zinc emissions to surface water in Japan. The zinc concentration distributions estimated using 12 years of monitoring data from 2075 sites by a maximum likelihood method indicated that the mean concentrations have gradually declined. The threshold concentrations (HC5 and PHC5) derived from organism- and population-level species sensitivity distributions were estimated to be 27 and 107 μg/L for total zinc, respectively. The risk characterization identified that during 1991-2002, 14.5-26.8% of the monitoring sites likely exceeded the HC5, whereas only 0.7-3.5% likely exceeded the PHC5. Evaluation of the effect of stormwater runoff to zinc concentrations in a river showed that zinc concentrations in river water increased significantly from roadway drainage flowing into the river. The cost-effectiveness analyses demonstrated that enforcement of the zinc national effluent standard may be effective at a certain level for public water areas in Japan; however, the degree of the effectiveness is highly dependent on the characteristics (e.g., sources and background) of the watersheds. An emissions and exposure assessment along with cost-effectiveness analysis is crucial for developing realistic and appropriate ecological risk management of zinc. The zinc RAD in Japan illustrated that in any “state-of-the science” method used, some degree of ecological risk from zinc can be observed in some Japanese water environments. On the other hand, zinc is a beneficial material for human industrial activities. Because zinc is an element, its role in industrial activities would be difficult to be substituted by other metals with less toxicity. In addition to improving science-based risk assessment methodologies which often focus on the toxicological perspectives, it is important to develop a more robust framework considering a trade-off between a damage in ecosystem and a benefit in human activities. Zinc can be a role model for it.