Formation of mutagens by photochemical reaction of biphenyl in nitrate aqueous solution

Biphenyl was found to be converted to mutagenic compounds by UV irradiation with a high-pressure mercury lamp in nitrate aqueous solution under neutral conditions. The mutagenicity of the reaction mixture increased in proportion to the nitrate ion concentration. The most mutagenic product was dinitro dihydroxy biphenyl, and the main products in this reaction were 2-hydroxy-3-nitrobiphenyl and 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobiphenyl.     

Concentrations, enrichment and predominant sources of Sb and other trace elements in size classified airborne particulate matter collected in Tokyo from 1995 to 2004

APM was collected and trace elements existing in the particles were monitored since May 1995 in this study. APM sample was collected separately by size (d < 2 microm, 2-11 microm and >11 microm) on the roof of the university building (45 m above ground) in the campus of Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan, using an Anderson low volume air sampler. The collected sample was digested by HNO3, H2O2 and HF using a microwave oven, and major elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca and Fe) were measured by ICP-AES, and trace elements (Li, Be, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Sb, Ba and Pb) were measured by ICP-MS. It was observed that the APM concentration was higher between the winter and the spring, compared to during the summer. The enrichment factor was calculated for each element in each set of APM (d < 2 microm, 2-11 microm and >11 microm). Seasonal trends of enrichment factors were examined, and the elements were classified into 3 groups according to the common seasonal behavior. It is likely that the elements in the same group have common origins. Toxic pollutant elements (Sb, Se, Cd, Pb and As) were found in small particles with d of <2 microm in concentrated levels. Antimony (Sb) had the highest enrichment factor, and the results suggested that Sb level in APM was extremely high. The origins of Sb were sought, and wastes from plastic incineration and brake pad wears of automobiles were suspected. Each set of APM (d < 2 microm, 2-11 microm and >11 microm) was classified by the shape, and the shape-dependent constituents of a single APM particle were quantitatively measured by SEM-EDX. High concentration of Sb was found in APM <2 microm and square particles. Particles less than 2 microm and square shaped particles were major particles produced by actual car braking experiments. From these experimental results it was concluded that the source of Sb in squared APM <2 microm is considered to be from brake pad wear.     

High-resolution simulation of volcanic sulfur dioxide dispersion over the Miyake Island

After severe eruptions of the volcano at Miyake Island in August 2000, a large amount of volcanic gas was released into the atmosphere. To simulate flows and dispersion of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) over Miyake Island, a set of numerical models was developed. The multi-nesting method was adopted to reflect a realistic meteorological field and to sufficiently resolve the flow over the island with a diameter of 8 km. The outermost model was the Regional Spectral Model (RSM) of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) with a horizontal grid size of 10 km. Finer atmospheric structure was simulated with the nonhydrostatic model jointly developed by the Meteorological Research Institute and the Numerical Prediction Division of JMA (MRI/NPD-NHM) with grid intervals of 2 km, 400 m and 100 m. Realistic topography of the island was represented in the innermost model. The Lagrangian particle method was applied to the dispersion model, which is driven by the meteorological field of the 100 m grid MRI/NPD-NHM. The random walk procedure was used to represent the turbulent diffusion. The model was verified in four cases. Simulated SO₂ concentrations agreed well with observed concentrations at a monitoring station including temporal variation. Under a large synoptic change, however, accurate prediction became difficult. Further numerical experiments have been done to investigate characteristics of the flow and the distribution of SO₂. Steady inflows, classified according to the surface wind speed and direction, were assumed. Simulated SO₂ distribution on the ground apparently depends on the surface wind. Under relatively weak inflow, there is a large diurnal change in SO₂ distribution, affected by the thermally induced flow. SO₂ gas is widely spread downstream in the nighttime but hardly reaches the coastal area in the daytime. On the other hand, SO₂ gas steadily reached the downstream coast with little diurnal variation under the stronger inflow. Ground temperature, as well as the static stability of the inflow, also influences downstream wind, turbulent diffusivity and SO₂ distribution.     

Chromosomal complements of two forms of Neanthes japonica (Polychaeta,Nereididae) with evidence of male-heterogametic sex chromosomes

Karyotypes of the brackish-water polychaeteNeanthes japonica (Izuka) collected from five rivers in Japan from 1984 to 1988 were examined with air-drying and flame-drying methods using materials consisting of regenerating tails, clumps of spermatogonia and youngN. japonica specimens (embryos, larvae or juveniles). A diploid number of 28 was determined in well-spread metaphase chromosomes of mitotic cells. The presence of an XX-XY (male heterogametic) sex chromosome system was established for the first time in polychaetes. The Y chromosome was larger than the X chromosome. Slight differences in karyotype were found between two forms (the small- and large-egg forms), which are very similar in adult morphology but can be distinguished by reproductive and developmental characteristics.     

Environmental controls on shell growth rates and δ<Superscript>18</Superscript>O of the shallow-marine bivalve mollusk <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phacosoma</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">japonicum</Emphasis> in Japan

Microgrowth patterns and the oxygen isotope composition of juvenile, shallow-marine bivalve mollusk shells of Phacosoma japonicum (Reeve) in Japan were analyzed and cross-calibrated with environmental parameters. Mark-and-recovery experiments indicate that a pair of two microgrowth lines and two microgrowth increments is produced every lunar day. This finding makes it possible to assign exact calendar dates to each portion of the shell. Average daily growth rates decrease by 61% from age two to three and 55% from age three to four. The length of the growing season and the growth rate are mainly controlled by temperature: shell growth ceases below 14.2°C (age two) and 16.8°C (age four) and is most rapid between 24.6°C and 27.2°C. Based on local temperature cycles, the growing season is longest in Seto Inland Sea, central Honshu (from May to November) and shortest at Hakodate Bay, North Japan (from June to October). The annual oxygen isotope profiles of the shells reflect the temperature cycle and the varying amounts of freshwater added to the seawater by precipitation. The most negative '¹⁸O values of -3.15‰ occur during the rainy season, i.e. during the monsoon and typhoon seasons. Growth rates are only slightly affected by salinity changes. Strongly reduced growth rates during the second half of the year at Seto Inland Sea and to a lesser extent at Tokyo Bay are explained by nutrient deprivation. Our study provides the basis for the use of P. japonicum in high-resolution ecological studies and environmental reconstructions.     

Effect of modified magnetic field on the ocean migration of maturing chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta

To investigate the role of magnetic compass orientation in oceanic migrating chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, an ultrasonic telemetry study was carried out in the western North Pacific off the coast of Kushiro, Hokkaido. Four salmon were fitted with a tag which generated an artificial magnetic field and modified the geomagnetic field around the head of the fish. Initially, the free-ranging salmon with stomach-implanted ultrasonic transmitters were tracked for a period of several hours before the magnetic field was altered for a period of 16 h. The generator produced an alternating magnetic field intensity of about 6 gauss, with polarity which reversed every 11.25 min. There was no observable effect on the horizontal and vertical movements of the salmon when the magnetic field was modified. However, it was noted that salmon slowed their swimming speed significantly before changing direction, regardless of whether the fish were swimming under the normal geomagnetic field or whether they were swimming under the modified field. Received: 6 April 1997 / Accepted: 29 April 1997     

Darkened Xenopus tadpoles appeared with neurochemical agents

Skin darkened tadpoles sometimes appear spontaneously. Darkened was artificially induced in Xenopus larvae by yohimbine or chlorpromazine. These phenomena look like that are seen at pinealectomized or hypothalamus separated Xenopus larva. In this experiment, such a morphological color changed Xenopus larva is suggested by cause of inhibition of alpha2-adrenargic receptor or dopamine receptor from gastrula stages.