The reaction of nitrogen dioxide with lung surface components: The reaction with cholesterol

The reaction of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) with cholesterol was investigated. NO₂ reacted with the hydroxyl group in cholesterol to produce cholesteryl nitrite. In this reaction, other minor products were observed. Cholesteryl nitrate, however, was not detected as was reported by other workers. Water accelerates and oxygen retards this reaction.     

Developmental changes in body weight and elemental composition of laboratory-reared larvae of the red frog crab,Ranina ranina (Decapoda: Brachyura)

Ranina ranina larvae were reared at 29°C from hatching to the megalopa stage to measure daily changes in body weight, water content and elemental composition. Energy, estimated from carbon content, was also examined. The water content was 85 to 92% of body weight immediately after ecdysis but decreased with days after ecdysis. Gains in body weight, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and energy during each instar ranged from 52 to 245% and increased with instar after instar II (body weight and carbon), instar III (hydrogen and energy), and instar IV (nitrogen). Cumulative gains of these elements from hatching to 2 d before metamorphosis into megalopa ranged from 11 567% (carbon) to 12 209% (energy). Most cumulative gains (57 to 59%) in elemental composition were contributed by instar VII. Carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen content in body weight decreased to a minimum on the day of ecdysis and increased on the subsequent days. C:N ratios after instar IV were lowest on the day after ecdysis and reached a plateau by the second day. Energy, estimated as J mg^-1 dry weight (DW), decreased with instar and within a molt cycle, and was at a minimum on the day after ecdysis. Gains in elemental composition could be described by an exponential function of days after hatching and by a quadratic function in each instar.     

Temporal Trends of Non-sea Salt Sulfate and Nitrate in Wet Deposition in Japan

Temporal trends of non-sea salt (nss-) sulfate and nitrate were analyzed from nationwide precipitation chemistry measurements provided by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) for the 1988–2002 fiscal years (April–March). The concentrations and deposition of nss-sulfate were found to be decreasing, and those of nitrate were stable or slightly increasing at most sites. These deposition trends were discussed from the viewpoint of emissions of SO₂ and NO_X during the period of interest. Because monitoring techniques have changed in the number of active sites, samplers, and analytical methods during the operation period, the median of all annual depositions measured in Japan in a specific year was selected as the annual representative. The contribution of specific emission sources was also calculated for 1990 on the basis of the nss-sulfate and nitrate deposition in Japan obtained with a model simulation in which the model did not include volcanic emissions from Mt. Oyama, Miyakejima Island, which began to erupt suddenly and violently in 2000. For nss-sulfate, the calculated deposition agrees well with the intensity and trends of the median up to 1999. After 2000, a higher deposition than calculated in the preceding years was evident, which is attributable to the volcanic SO₂ from Mt. Oyama. For nitrate, both the calculated and observed depositions were slightly increasing; however, the calculation was found to exceed the observation.     

Characterization of metal concentration,heavy metal elution,and desalination behavior of municipal solid waste incineration bottom and grate sifting deposition ash based on particle size

Resource and environmental safety protocols of incineration residues were evaluated by analyzing the metal concentration, heavy metal elution, desalination behavior, and chlorine removal ratio owing to particle size differences between bottom ash (BA) and grate sifting deposition ash (GA). In the total content test, Cl, Zn, and Cr in the incinerator BA exceeded the cement acceptance standard (Cl: 1000 mg/kg; Zn: 1700 mg/kg, and Cr: 170 mg/kg) at almost all of the particle sizes, while Au, Ag, Pd, and Zn had high contents in the GA. When using BA as a construction material, heavy metal elution values and contents are restricted as per the product quality standards based on the Japanese soil pollution control law. Lead within the BA and GA exceeded the standard values for most particle sizes. We predicted that there would be a limit on the elution of K by only washing with water. The removal ratio of total chlorine by particle size was approximately 20–70%, where the effect of the particle size on the removal ratio was small, suggesting that the elution of chlorine was complete in approximately 6 hours. These results contribute to information on the recycling of BA and GA.

     

Levels of Hg and other chemical elements in volcanic ash fall samples erupted from Mt. Sakurajima,Japan

Mt. Sakurajima is a volcanic island in Japan, and a big city, Kagoshima, is quite close to the active volcano. Samples of volcanic ash fall erupted from Mt. Sakurajima were collected at several locations in Kagoshima City and analyzed for Hg and other elements, including major (Mg, Al, Ca, and Fe) and trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, As, and Pb). The concentrations of Hg varied from 6.3 to 124 ng g^?1, with the amounts of ash varying from 13 to 1230 g m^?2 month^?1. The Hg concentrations tended to be higher when the monthly amounts of ash fall were lower; other elements did not show such a tendency.     

Mating behavior of the marine copepodOithona davisae

Oithona davisae Ferrari and Orsi were collected from the innermost region of Tokyo Bay, Japan, in 1980 and 1981. The mating behavior of this marine cyclopoid copepod consists of several steps, starting with the paddling of the male in random search of a mate. This behavior is followed by a spiraling movement in pursuance of a mate. Next is the copulatory grasp during which the male grasps the fourth swimming legs of the female partner by means of his first antennae. Whilst in this position, the male's urosome vibrates to allow the spermatophores to extrude from his genital openings. The mating behavior then culminates in the spermatophore transfer. Males do not grasp the uro-some or caudal setae of the mating partner before proper copulatory grasp. The specialized setae of the female's fourth legs may help the male to grasp her legs firmly. Spiraling occurs when the male approaches or traverses the trail of a female that is ready to copulate and that presumably emits a sex-attractant pheromone. The turning radius reduces gradually from more than 1 mm to ca. 0.25 mm as the male approaches the mate female. Females may register spiraling as a mate (male)-approaching signal. Spiraling may lead the male to locate a pheromone source more accurately, and to promote diffusion of the pheromone to prevent other males from pursuing the source. This swimming strategy can increase the copulatory chance of mature virgin females.     

Prenatal diagnosis of infantile hypophosphatasia

Prenatal diagnosis was attempted in a pregnant Japanese woman whose son had died of infantile hypophosphatasia, using chorionic villi sampled at 10 weeks of gestation. Southern blot analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism was used as a guide, with cDNA for the human liver-type alkaline phosphatase as a probe, and BclI as a restriction enzyme. The fetus was found to be a heterozygote; the pregnancy was allowed to continue; and the baby born was phenotypically normal.