Erythrocyte supply from the spleen and hemoconcentration in hypoxic yellowtail

Hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration of yellowtail blood elevated more than 30% during severe hypoxia for 35 or 40 min. About 40% of the hematocrit elevation is considered to have been caused by erythrocyte supply from the spleen, and about 60% by hemoconcentration due to water shift out of the circulating plasma. Osmotic swelling of erythrocytes is considered not to have occurred, judging from the constant level in the saturation index of the blood.     

Reaction mechanism and pathway for the hydrothermal electrolysis of organic compounds

In this study, hydrothermal electrolysis experiments using glucose (a biorelated substance) as a starting material were carried out using a specially designed autoclave at 250°C. We could understand the fundamental reaction behavior of glucose under these conditions through various kinds of experiments and product analyses. Another series of experiments using pressurized CO₂ as an electrolyte was conducted to discover whether it is possible to use CO₂ as an alternative electrolyte to the conventional KCl electrolyte, with a view to lowering the environmental impact of the process. It was found that pressurized CO₂ was useful as an environmentally friendly electrolyte, although there were still some problems in terms of the reaction efficiency.     

Properties and biodegradability of chain-extended copoly(succinic anhydride/ethylene oxide)

Chain-extension reactions were carried out using titanium-iso-propoxide (TIP) as a catalyst for a series of polyesters or copolyesterethers with low molecular weights (M _n =1500–10,000) synthesized by the ring-opening copolymerization of succinic anhydride (SA) with ethylene oxide (EO). The copolymers having aM _n from 25,000 to 50,000 of different properties were obtained. Both the melting point (T _m ) and the fusion heat (H), which indicate the crystallinity of the copolymers, rose with an increase in SA content in the copolymers. Semitransparent films were prepared by compression molding of the copolymers. The biodegradation of the copolymer films was evaluated by enzymatic hydrolysis by lipases and by an aerobic gas evolution test in standard activated sludge. The hydrolyzability of these copolymers by three kinds of lipases was affected by their copolymer composition SA/EO, form, andM _n . The copolyesterether (SA/EO=43/57,M _n =48,900) was more easily biodegraded by standard activated sludge compared to the polyester (SA/EO=47/53,M _n =36,300).Presented at the Pacifichem-95, December 17–22, 1995, Honolulu, Hawaii.     

Response surface method for modeling the removal of carbon dioxide from a simulated gas using water absorption enhanced with a liquid-film-forming device

This paper presents the results from using a physical absorption process to absorb gaseous CO_2mixed with N_2using water by producing tiny bubbles via a liquid-film-forming device(LFFD)that improves the solubility of CO_2in water.The influence of various parameters—pressure,initial CO_2concentration,gas-to-liquid ratios,and temperature—on the CO_2removal efficiency and its absorption rate in water were investigated and estimated thoroughly by statistical polynomial models obtained by the utilization of the response surface method(RSM)with a central composite design(CCD).Based on the analysis,a high efficiency of CO_2capture can be reached in conditions such as low pressure,high CO_2concentration at the inlet,low gas/liquid ratio,and low temperature.For instance,the highest removal efficiency in the RSM–CCD experimental matrix of nearly 80%occurred for run number 20,which was conducted at 0.30 MPa,CO_2concentration of 35%,gas/liquid ratio of 0.71,and temperature of 15°C.Furthermore,the coefficients of determination,R~2,were 0.996 for the removal rate and 0.982 for the absorption rate,implying that the predicted values computed by the constructed models correlate strongly and fit well with the experimental values.The results obtained provide essential information for implementing this method properly and effectively and contribute a promising approach to the problem of CO_2capture in air pollution treatment.     

Regulation of bone morphogenetic proteins in early embryonic development

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), a large subgroup of the TGF- family of secreted growth factors, control fundamental events in early embryonic development, organogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis. The plethora of dose-dependent cellular processes regulated by BMP signalling demand a tight regulation of BMP activity. Over the last decade, a number of proteins have been identified that bind BMPs in the extracellular space and regulate the interaction of BMPs with their cognate receptors, including the secreted BMP antagonist Chordin. In the early vertebrate embryo, the localized secretion of BMP antagonists from the dorsal blastopore lip establishes a functional BMP signalling gradient that is required for the determination of the dorsoventral – or back to belly – body axis. In particular, inhibition of BMP activity is essential for the formation of neural tissue in the development of vertebrate and invertebrate embryos. Here we review recent studies that have provided new insight into the regulation of BMP signalling in the extracellular space. In particular, we discuss the recently identified Twisted gastrulation protein that modulates, in concert with metalloproteinases of the Tolloid family, the interaction of Chordin with BMP and a family of proteins that share structural similarities with Chordin in the respective BMP binding domains. In addition, genetic and functional studies in zebrafish and frog provide compelling evidence that the secreted protein Sizzled functionally interacts with the Chd–BMP pathway, despite being expressed ventrally in the early gastrula-stage embryo. These intriguing discoveries may have important implications, not only for our current concept of early embryonic patterning, but also for the regulation of BMP activity at later developmental stages and tissue homeostasis in the adult.     

Chlorination of bisphenol A in aqueous media: formation of chlorinated bisphenol A congeners and degradation to chlorinated phenolic compounds

The chlorination of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous media was investigated in order to describe the degradation profile of this compound and the formation of chlorinated products. Aqueous solutions of BPA (approx. 1 mg/l) were chlorinated by sodium hypochlorite solution at room temperature and under weakly alkaline conditions. Chlorinated compounds were extracted with dichloromethane and determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). BPA was consumed completely within 5 min of chlorination, when the initial chlorine concentration was 10.24 mg/l (molar ratio to BPA, 58.7). On the other hand, when the initial chlorine concentration was 1.03 mg/l (molar ratio, 6.56), 9.3% of BPA still remained after 60 min chlorination. Five chlorinated BPA congeners, 2-chlorobisphenol A (MCBPA), 2,6-dichlorobisphenol A (2,6-D2CBPA), 2,2'-dichlorobisphenol A (2,2'-D2CBPA), 2,2',6-trichlorobisphenol A (T3CBPA) and 2,2', 6,6'-tetrachlorobisphenol A (T4CBPA) were formed in the earlier stages of chlorination. Several chlorinated phenolic compounds, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (T3CP), 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (D2CBQ), 2,6-dichloro-1,4-hydroquinone (D2CHQ), C9H10Cl2O2, C9H8Cl2O and C10H12Cl2O2, were also formed by further chlorination.     

Bisphenol A in hazardous waste landfill leachates

The levels of bisphenol A in hazardous waste landfill leachates collected in Japan in 1996 were determined by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Bisphenol A was found in seven of 10 sites investigated. All the hazardous waste landfills with leachates contaminated by bisphenol A were controlled. The concentrations of bisphenol A ranged from 1.3 to 17,200 microg/l with a median concentration of 269 microg/l. The source of bisphenol A in landfill leachates may be the waste plastics in waste landfill. The concentrations of bisphenol A in some samples exceeded the EC50 or LC50 levels for aquatic biota. Landfill leachates may be a significant source of bisphenol A found in the environment.     

Nutrient dynamics and the eutrophication of shallow lakes Kasumigaura (Japan), Donghu (PR China), and Okeechobee (USA)

We compared the nutrient dynamics of three lakes that have been heavily influenced by point and non-point source pollution and other human activities. The lakes, located in Japan (Lake Kasumigaura), People's Republic of China (Lake Donghu), and the USA (Lake Okeechobee), all are relatively large (> 30 km2), very shallow (< 4 m mean depth), and eutrophic. In all three lakes we found strong interactions among the sediments, water column, and human activities. Important processes affecting nutrient dynamics included nitrogen fixation, light limitation due to resuspended sediments, and intense grazing on algae by cultured fish. As a result of these complex interactions, simple empirical models developed to predict in-lake responses of total phosphorus and algal biomass to external nutrient loads must be used with caution. While published models may provide 'good' results, in terms of model output matching actual data, this may not be due to accurate representation of lake processes in the models. The variable nutrient dynamics that we observed among the three study lakes appears to be typical for shallow lake systems. This indicates that a greater reliance on lake-specific research may be required for effective management, and a lesser role of inter-lake generalization than is possible for deeper, dimictic lake systems. Furthermore, accurate predictions of management impacts in shallow eutrophic lakes may require the use of relatively complex deterministic modeling tools.     

Contamination of butyltin and phenyltin compounds in the marine environment of Otsuchi Bay, Japan

Butyltin (BT) and phenyltin (PT) compounds were measured in seawater, sediment, and biological samples collected from coastal areas of Otsuchi Bay, Japan. Tributyltin (TBT) compounds in seawater, sediment, plankton, mussels, scallops and fish were in the range of 0.008-0.074 microg liter(-1), 0.01-0.64 mg (kg dry wt)(-1), 0.24-9.8 mg (kg dry wt)(-1), 0.04-0.18 mg (kg wet wt)(-1), 0.10-0.13 mg (kg wet wt)(-1) and 0.01-0.02 mg (kg wet wt)(-1), respectively. Trace amount of PTs were found in seawater. The highest concentrations of TBT and triphenyltin (TPT) were found near a shipyard. Triorganotin compounds were more dominant than their metabolites. A positive correlation was observed between the concentrations of TBT and TPT in the mussels. Concentrations of TBT and TPT in mussels were high in the upper intertidal zone, and decreased toward the water.     

Preparation of Cationic/Anionic Chitin Nanofiber Composite Materials

In this study, we investigated the preparation of cationic/anionic chitin nanofiber (CNF) composite materials by electrostatic interaction. An aqueous dispersion of amidinium CNF was prepared by a top-down approach, and a maleylated CNF film was obtained by a bottom-up approach from a chitin ion gel in an ionic liquid with subsequent maleylation on the CNFs. The resulting film was dispersed in ammonia (aq), which was then mixed with the aqueous cationic CNF dispersion to give the composite film. The composition of the two CNFs was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. Tensile testing results indicated that the mechanical properties of the composites were enhanced with increasing degrees of substitution of the cationic and anionic groups on CNFs, and also when the molar ratio of these groups approached 1:1. The dissociation of the two kinds of CNFs by alkaline treatment of the composite film was achieved, suggesting the presence of an electrostatic interaction among the interactions between them.