Prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism by an electron microscopic dopa reaction test of fetal skin

An electron microscopic DOPA reaction test of fetal skin was used for the prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism (OCA). The subject was a 34-year-old Japanese woman in her second pregnancy. Her first child, born in 1982, had been previously examined and confirmed to have tyrosinase-negative OCA. The parents requested a prenatal diagnosis and we sampled skin from the upper trunk of the fetus. On conventional electron microscopy, the development of melanosomes in interfollicular melanocytes had progressed no further than stage II. Fetal skin samples incubated with L-DOPA solution indicated a lack of tyrosinase activity and showed that the melanosomes had not progressed beyond stage II. In skin samples from the trunks of three Japanese fetuses aborted for other reasons at 19–20 weeks of gestation, most premature melanosomes were further melanized to stage IV after incubation with L-DOPA solution. A prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative OCA was made. The parents requested a termination and skin biopsies of the abortus confirmed the diagnosis. This study shows that tyrosinase is normally present in melanocytes of the fetal epidermis at 20 weeks' gestation, and that the electron microscopic DOPA reaction test of a fetal skin biopsy specimen is safe and practical, and provides reliable information for making a prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative OCA in the second trimester.     

PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>-related health impacts of utilizing ammonia-hydrogen energy in Kanto Region,Japan

Ammonia has emerged as a promising hydrogen carrier with applications as an energy source in recent years. However, in addition to being toxic, gaseous ammonia is a precursor of secondary inorganic aerosols. The concentration of ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is intrinsically connected to public health. In this study, PM_2.5-related health impacts of utilizing ammonia-hydrogen energy in Kanto Region, Japan, were investigated. It was assumed that 20% of the electricity consumption in Kanto Region, the most populated area in Japan, was supplied by ammonia-hydrogen energy. The PM_2.5 resulted from incomplete ammonia decomposition was simulated by a chemical transport model: ADMER-PRO (modified version). Based on the incremental PM_2.5 concentration, health impacts on the elderly (individuals over 65 years old) were quantitatively evaluated. The ammonia emission in this scenario increased PM_2.5 by 11.7% (0.16 μg·m^–3·y^–1) in winter and 3.5% (0.08 μg ·m^–3·y^–1) in summer, resulting in 351 premature deaths per year. This study suggests that costeffective emissions control or treatment and appropriate land planning should be considered to reduce the associated health impacts of this type of energy generation. In addition, further in-depth research, including cost-benefit analysis and security standards, is needed.

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The Bacillus subtilis rec-assay: a powerful tool for the detection of genotoxic substances in the water environment. Prospect for assessing potential impact of pollutants from stabilized wastes

The Bacillus subtilis rec-assay has been specially developed to detect genotoxicity in environmental water samples. The rationale of the B. subtilis rec-assay is based on the relative difference of survival of a DNA repair-recombination proficient strain and its deficient strain, which is interpreted as genotoxicity. This assay method can be very powerful in that it has higher sensitivity for the detection of mutagens in highly polluted waters than other bacterial mutation assays. Hydrophobic fractions from various environmental waters were fractionated by using XAD-2 resins and assayed, targeting the detection of organic genotoxic substances. Genotoxic response was detected in most of them, which revealed that many unknown micropollutants with genotoxicity occur in public water bodies. Positive response was also detected from a treated municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachate. Genotoxicity remaining in the treated effluent suggests that genotoxic micropollutants may pass through conventional water treatment processes such as activated sludge treatment process. Without proper control of waste quality and landfill facilities, waste landfill could be a heavy pollution source.     

Possible change in Asian dust source suggested by atmospheric anthropogenic radionuclides during the 2000s

Decades-long monitoring of anthropogenic radionuclides in the atmospheric deposition in Tsukuba, Japan suggests not only the substantial impacts of the Asian dust (Kosa) on the deposition but also the possible change of the Kosa source region, especially during springs of the 2000s. In order to know more about such change, 4 single wet deposition events occurred in the spring of 2007 were scrutinized. The largest anthropogenic radionuclides wet deposition was supplied by the April 2–4 event. It brought several tens % of the monthly depositions (April 2007) of the dust (residue) mass (4.5 g m^?2) and anthropogenic radionulides (⁹⁰Sr: 16, ¹³⁷Cs: 97 and Pu: 3 mBq m^?2). None of the events observed fulfilled both criteria of the specific activities and ⁹⁰Sr/¹³⁷Cs activity ratio to the Tsukuba soil; they did not exhibit local soil dust signature. The Kosa events in fact have extensive impacts on the atmospheric environment over Japan in spring season. Considering the elevated specific activities as well as greater ¹³⁷Cs/⁹⁰Sr activity ratio in the deposited dust, it is hypothesized that the dust source areas in Asian continent would be shifting from the arid zone to the desert-steppe zone suffering from desertification during the 2000s. This type of the Kosa may be called as the ‘new-regime Kosa’. Chemical observation in the far downwind region of the Kosa dust could allow us to know possible shift in the source regions.     

Annual production and molecular weight as an influential factor for environmental distribution of chemicals — a case study in Japan

The changes promoted by treatment of a highly polluted soil with sulphuric acid or calcium hydroxide for changing its pH value are studied by controlling physical properties (particle size, TGA and DTA curves), evolution of metal species (exchangeable, as carbonates, related to Fe‐Mn oxides, linked to organic matter and residual) and metal uptake by plant cultures. Metal contents were determined, after wet digestion with HF—HNO₃—HC1O₄ when necessary, by AAS (Ca, Mg, Cu, Pb, Mn, Fe, Zn) or emission (Na, K). The treatment of soil with successive amounts of sulphuric leads to changes in particle size, hydration properties and exothermic peak for organic matter combustion. Very small changes were, however, detected in the alkaline treatment of soil. Soil treatments do not have practical influence on speciation of some metals (Na, K, Mg, Pb, Mn, Fe), but the intensity of the acid treatment leads to both an increase in the Cu extraction and a decrease in the Ca solubilization, probably through gypsum formation. In the case of zinc a maximum solubility in the middle of the range of acid treatment was observed. The comparison among extractants shows solubilities high for two pollutants (Pb, Cu), associated mainly to Fe—Mn oxides and organic matter, and low for two macrocomponents (Fe, K). The rest of metals, basically present in soil as carbonates or oxides, have intermediate extractions. Pot cultures weights depended mainly on both the treatment of soil (poor development in the more acid sample and drainage difficulties in the rest of acid treatments) and the situation (very low weights in laboratory runs as compared with outside), but the irrigation with water or a diluted sulphuric acid solution (at pH = 4.0) did not produce significant weight changes. Tendencies to increase plant pollution were observed for smaller soil pH, acid irrigation and probably for outside cultures, due to uptake by leaves.     

Preparation of Chitin/Cellulose Films Compatibilized with Polymeric Ionic Liquids

This paper reports the preparation of chitin/cellulose films compatibilized with polymeric ionic liquids. In-situ (co)polymerization of polymerizable ionic liquids, 1-(3-methacryloyloxypropyl)-3-vinylimidazolium bromide (1) and 1-methyl-3-vinylbenzylimidazolium chloride (3), was carried out in the presence of a radical initiator, AIBN, in the chitin/cellulose solution with ionic liquid solvents (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate and chloride, BMIMOAc and BMIMCl, respectively), followed by the appropriate procedure to give the desired films. The presence of the polymeric ionic liquid in the film was confirmed by the IR measurement. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that crystalline structures of the polysaccharides were largely disrupted in the film, as same as that of a chitin/cellulose film prepared by the AMIMOAc/BMIMCl system. These results were different from the XRD result of a chitin/cellulose film prepared by the 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide/BMIMCl system reported in our previous study, in which some crystalline structures were still remained in the film. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the present films were evaluated by tensile testing, which were affected by the molar ratios of the polymeric ionic liquids to the polysaccharides and the compositional ratios of the two units 1 and 3.     

Role of protein in larval swimming and metamorphosis of Bugula neritina (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida)

Larvae of the marine cheilostomatid bryozoan Bugula neritina (L.) were prevented from settling for 1, 4 and 8 h by mechanical agitation, following which settlement and metamorphosis success were examined. Settlement rates were significantly affected by swimming time, which decreased from 100% after 2 h to 93.7 ± 4.3% after 8 h. Similarly, metamorphosis to the feeding ancestrula was significantly impaired following a swimming time of 8 h, declining from 93.7 ± 4.3% after 1 h to 65.9 ± 7.0% after 8 h. The resultant colonies grew well for the first 3 wk, following which time, growth patterns became erratic. Growth rate was in all cases highly variable, and did not correlate with enforced swimming times. Larval protein composition was examined after 1, 4 and 8 h swimming time, and post-larval composition 1, 2, 5, 24 and 48 h after settlement using sodium-dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Individual protein content was measured using a densitometer. Larvae did not consume protein during swimming, however a protein measuring 170 kdaltons was consumed during metamorphosis. These results are discussed in the context of larval settlement and energetics. Received: 19 July 1998 / Accepted: 3 December 1998     

Estimation of turbulent flame speed during DME/air premixed gaseous explosions

DME is thought to be a good alternative fuel due to its cleanliness and more excellent fuel economy. Although the prediction and loss prevention of flammability hazard is very important for safety of DME installations, the evaluation method with sufficient accuracy has not been established. In this study, a numerical combustion model is constructed and a 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of a premixed DME/air explosion in a large-scale domain is conducted. The main feature of the numerical model is the solution of a transport equation for the reaction progress variable using a function for turbulent flame velocity which characterizes the turbulent regime of propagation of free flames derived by introducing the fractal theory. The model enables the calculation of premixed gaseous explosion without using fine mesh of the order of micrometer, which would be necessary to resolve the details of all instability mechanisms. The value of the empirical constant contained in the function for turbulent flame velocity is evaluated by analyzing the experimental data of LPG/air and DME/air premixed explosions. The comparison of flame behavior between the experimental result and numerical simulation shows good agreement.     

Study of Asian Dust Phenomena in 2001–2003 Using A Network of Continuously Operated Polarization Lidars

We have conducted dust observations at a number of locations including Beijing, Hefei, Suwon, Fukue, Nagasaki, Tsukuba, and Sapporo using automated two-wavelength polarization lidars o study Asian dust phenomena, including generation, transport, and change during transport. We developed a method using the depolarization ratio for estimating the contributions of Asian dust and spherical air-pollution aerosols in observed aerosol mixtures. We analyzed the dust profiles statistically to derive climatological characteristics and year-on-year variations. We also studied dust source and transport path for each dust event using the regional chemical transport model CFORS. The statistical analysis clearly demonstrated the year-on-year variation of dust phenomena and the characteristics depending on the locations of the observational sites. Most major dust events in 2001 and 2002 originated in Inner Mongolia and/or Mongolia at the southern edge of a low-pressure area located in Siberia and were transported by strong westerlies. In 2003, the typical meteorological pattern for heavy dust cases accompanying a strong low in Siberia was not seen, except for one case in April. Furthermore, the lidar observation in Beijing suggests that less dust was generated in the source regions in Inner Mongolia and/or Mongolia, probably due to higher precipitation in 2003.