Magnetic resonance image findings of placental lake: report of two cases

Two cases with a large cystic mass within the placenta are reported. By ultrasonography, it was found that both women had a subchorionic hypoechoic lesion (11.0 × 4.8 × 4.0 cm and 6.6 × 3.7 × 2.2 cm, respectively) at 24 and 35 weeks of gestation, respectively. In both cases, turbulent blood flow generated by a pulsatile jet flow (pulse rate; 40 to 60 beats per minute) into the cystic lesion seen on real-time imaging and lesions being low intensity on T1-weighted and isointensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance image suggested that they contained fresh maternal blood. In both cases, the sonolucency of the lesions did not change until cesarean deliveries of females, both of whom were small-for-gestational-age infants (1940 g at 37 weeks and 2195 g at 37 weeks, respectively). Biochemical analysis of the fluid in the cystic lesion sampled during the cesarean section in the latter case confirmed that the fluid had originated from the maternal blood. These lesions histologically corresponded to large avillous areas surrounded by normal villi. Thus, a huge placental lake was diagnosed in both cases. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in Age-Related Reproductive Tactics in the Female of the Butterfly, Eurema hecabe

The occurrence of mate solicitation by virgin females was investigated in the butterfly Eurema hecabe. Young (1-day-old) virgin females rarely showed mate solicitation to male model, however, old (at least 6-day-old) virgin females frequently showed such flight. The duration of solicitation was significantly longer in older females than in younger ones. The age-related behavioral change occurs with female oogenesis (Hiroki and Kato 1996), and such behavior may thus be a result of female adaptation to maximize their fecundity. Received: 6 November 1997 / Accepted in revised form: 29 June 1998     

Biosensing of an indoor volatile organic compound on the basis of fungal growth

A fungal biosensor plate was applied to assessment of the harmfulness of air polluted by formaldehyde. Alternariaalternata, Eurotiumherbariorum and Aspergilluspenicillioides were used as fungal species. Fungal mycelium length and optical transparency of the biosensor plate were employed as indices of the fungal growth. Formaldehyde in air was detected on the basis of growth inhibition, reflected by suppression of the growth indices. Dynamic range of the measurement was 700-4000 microg m(-3) or broader. Eurotiumherbariorum and Aspergilluspenicillioides were the most suitable fungal species to formaldehyde sensing based on the mycelium length and that based on the transparency, respectively.     

Quantitative analysis of perfluorinated chemicals in media for in vitro fertilization and related samples

The actual standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocol recommends an overnight gamete co-incubation. All of the culture media used for human IVF are supplemented with serum or albumin. In the present study, we determined the concentrations of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in IVF media (IVFM) and related samples by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The results indicated that the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in the protein source were higher than those in the IVFM samples. Compared with human plasma concentrations of PFCs, PFCs in all of the IVFM samples, such as PFBS, PFHxS and PFOA, were either not detected or present at only trace levels, even when protein source was added. LC/MS/MS could be used to determine PFCs in IVFM samples in future studies of the effects of PFC exposure on intrauterine insemination.     

Detection of dicofol and related pesticides in human breast milk from China, Korea and Japan

Previously, we demonstrated that the concentrations of DDTs were greater in breast milk collected from Chinese mothers than from Japanese and Korean mothers. To investigate dicofol as a possible source of the DDTs in human breast milk, we collected breast milk samples from 2007 to 2009 in China (Beijing), Korea (Seoul, Busan) and Japan (Sendai, Takarazuka and Takayama). Using these breast milk samples, we quantified the concentrations of dichlorobenzophenone, a pyrolysis product of dicofol (simply referred to as dicofol hereafter), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) using GC-MS. Overall, 12 of 14 pooled breast milk samples from 210 mothers contained detectable levels of dicofol (>0.1 ng g⁻¹ lipid). The geometric mean concentration of dicofol in the Japanese breast milk samples was 0.3 ng g⁻¹ lipid and significantly lower than that in Chinese (9.6 ng g⁻¹ lipid) or Korean breast milk samples (1.9 ng g⁻¹ lipid) (p < 0.05 for each). Furthermore, the ΣDDT levels in breast milk from China were 10-fold higher than those from Korea and Japan. The present results strongly suggest the presence of extensive emission sources of both dicofol and DDTs in China. However, exposure to dicofol cannot explain the large exposure of Chinese mothers to DDTs because of the trace levels of dicofol in the ΣDDTs. In the present study, dicofol was confirmed to be detectable in human breast milk. This is the first report to identify dicofol in human samples.     

Preparation of Galactomannan-Based Materials Compatibilized with Ionic Liquids

This paper reports the preparation of galactomannan/ionic liquid composite materials from the corresponding ion gels. Three kinds of galactomannans, that is, fenugreek gum (FG), guar gum (GG), and locust bean gum (LBG) and an ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) were used. When the galactomannan/BMIMCl gels were immersed in ethanol, followed by dryness under reduced pressure, the galactomannan/BMIMCl composite materials were obtained. The crystalline structures of galactomannans in the materials were evaluated by the powder X-ray diffraction measurement. The mechanical property of the FG/BMIMCl composite material under compressive mode was superior compared with the GG and LBG/BMIMCl composite materials. Then, FG films compatibilized with polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) were also prepared by in situ radical polymerization of polymerizable ionic liquids, 1-(3-acryloyloxypropyl)-3-vinylimidazolium bromide and 1-methyl-3-vinylbenzylimidazolium chloride by AIBN in mixtures of FG with BMIMCl. The mechanical properties of the resulting films were affected by the FG/PIL ratios as well as the unit ratios in PILs.     

A GAME-THEORETIC APPROACH TO ACID RAIN ABATEMENT: CONFLICT ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LOAD ALLOCATION1

ABSTRACT: The detrimental impacts of acid rain have become widely publicized, but effective and equitable methods to mitigate the acid rain problem remain to be found. This paper focuses on conflicts involved in allocation of the total emission loads to be reduced to respective pollution sources of acid rain, and proposes a game-theory approach to the resolution of the conflict. With an example abstracted from a hypothetical case study in the United States of America and Canada, a systematic analysis is performed and policy implications of the results examined to assess the applicability of the proposed model.     

Recovery of gold by chicken egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads

We have successfully prepared a bead-type adsorbent from two materials with different adsorption characteristics. Heavy metals were removed by greatly swollen egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads. The egg shell membrane accumulated and removed precious metal ions from a dilute aqueous solution with a high affinity in a short contact time. Experiments suggested that chitosan beads could take up gold ions with great capacity and selectivity by conjugation with egg shell membrane. Under certain conditions, the selective removal of gold and copper in a mixture of gold and copper ions by egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads was 100% and 2%, respectively. Egg shell membrane-conjugated chitosan beads can be seen as a promising material to recover gold in wastewater from various industries, such as electroplating.