Showing papers by "Utsunomiya University published in 2012"

Tracing the Emergence of a Novel Sex-Determining Gene in Medaka, Oryzias luzonensis

Abstract: Three sex-determining (SD) genes, SRY (mammals), Dmy (medaka), and DM-W (Xenopus laevis), have been identified to date in vertebrates. However, how and why a new sex-determining gene appears remains unknown, as do the switching mechanisms of the master sex-determining gene. Here, we used positional cloning to search for the sex-determining gene in Oryzias luzonensis and found that GsdfY (gonadal soma derived growth factor on the Y chromosome) has replaced Dmy as the master sex-determining gene in this species. We found that GsdfY showed high expression specifically in males during sex differentiation. Furthermore, the presence of a genomic fragment that included GsdfY converts XX individuals into fertile XX males. Luciferase assays demonstrated that the upstream sequence of GsdfY contributes to the male-specific high expression. Gsdf is downstream of Dmy in the sex-determining cascade of O. latipes, suggesting that emergence of the Dmy-independent Gsdf allele led to the appearance of this novel sex-determining gene in O. luzonensis.

How do nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies affect strigolactone production and exudation

Abstract: Plants exude strigolactones (SLs) to attract symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere. Previous studies have demonstrated that phosphorus (P) deficiency, but not nitrogen (N) deficiency, significantly promotes SL exudation in red clover, while in sorghum not only P deficiency but also N deficiency enhances SL exudation. There are differences between plant species in SL exudation under P- and N-deficient conditions, which may possibly be related to differences between legumes and non-legumes. To investigate this possibility in detail, the effects of N and P deficiencies on SL exudation were examined in Fabaceae (alfalfa and Chinese milk vetch), Asteraceae (marigold and lettuce), Solanaceae (tomato), and Poaceae (wheat) plants. In alfalfa as expected, and unexpectedly in tomato, only P deficiency promoted SL exudation. In contrast, in Chinese milk vetch, a leguminous plant, and in the other non-leguminous plants examined, N deficiency as well as P deficiency enhanced SL exudation. Distinct reductions in shoot P levels were observed in plants grown under N deficiency, except for tomato, in which shoot P level was increased by N starvation, suggesting that the P status of the shoot regulates SL exudation. There seems to be a correlation between shoot P levels and SL exudation across the species/families investigated.

Origin of strigolactones in the green lineage

Abstract: The aims of this study were to investigate the appearance of strigolactones in the green lineage and to determine the primitive function of these molecules. We measured the strigolactone content of several isolated liverworts, mosses, charophyte and chlorophyte green algae using a sensitive biological assay and LC-MS/MS analyses. In parallel, sequence comparison of strigolactone-related genes and phylogenetic analyses were performed using available genomic data and newly sequenced expressed sequence tags. The primitive function of strigolactones was determined by exogenous application of the synthetic strigolactone analog, GR24, and by mutant phenotyping. Liverworts, the most basal Embryophytes and Charales, one of the closest green algal relatives to Embryophytes, produce strigolactones, whereas several other species of green algae do not. We showed that GR24 stimulates rhizoid elongation of Charales, liverworts and mosses, and rescues the phenotype of the strigolactone-deficient Ppccd8 mutant of Physcomitrella patens. These findings demonstrate that the first function of strigolactones was not to promote arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Rather, they suggest that the strigolactones appeared earlier in the streptophyte lineage to control rhizoid elongation. They may have been conserved in basal Embryophytes for this role and then recruited for the stimulation of colonization by glomeromycotan fungi.

Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC): A 5-year update and future perspectives

Abstract: Over the past decade, bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) has emerged as a key technique to visualize protein-protein interactions in a variety of model organisms. The BiFC assay is based on reconstitution of an intact fluorescent protein when two complementary non-fluorescent fragments are brought together by a pair of interacting proteins. While the originally reported BiFC method has enabled the study of many protein-protein interactions, increasing demands to visualize protein-protein interactions under various physiological conditions have not only prompted a series of recent BiFC technology improvements, but also stimulated interest in developing completely new approaches. Here we review current BiFC technology, focusing on the development and improvement of BiFC systems, the understanding of split sites in fluorescent proteins, and enhancements in the signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, we provide perspectives on possible future improvements of the technique.

Dynamic Changes in the Distribution of Minerals in Relation to Phytic Acid Accumulation during Rice Seed Development

Abstract: Phytic acid (inositol hexakisphosphate [InsP6]) is the storage compound of phosphorus in seeds. As phytic acid binds strongly to metallic cations, it also acts as a storage compound of metals. To understand the mechanisms underlying metal accumulation and localization in relation to phytic acid storage, we applied synchrotron-based x-ray microfluorescence imaging analysis to characterize the simultaneous subcellular distribution of some mineral elements (phosphorus, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and copper) in immature and mature rice (Oryza sativa) seeds. This fine-imaging method can reveal whether these elements colocalize. We also determined their accumulation patterns and the changes in phosphate and InsP6 contents during seed development. While the InsP6 content in the outer parts of seeds rapidly increased during seed development, the phosphate contents of both the outer and inner parts of seeds remained low. Phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and iron were most abundant in the aleurone layer, and they colocalized throughout seed development. Zinc was broadly distributed from the aleurone layer to the inner endosperm. Copper localized outside the aleurone layer and did not colocalize with phosphorus. From these results, we suggest that phosphorus translocated from source organs was immediately converted to InsP6 and accumulated in aleurone layer cells and that calcium, potassium, and iron accumulated as phytic acid salt (phytate) in the aleurone layer, whereas zinc bound loosely to InsP6 and accumulated not only in phytate but also in another storage form. Copper accumulated in the endosperm and may exhibit a storage form other than phytate.

Dmrt1 mutation causes a male-to-female sex reversal after the sex determination by Dmy in the medaka.

Abstract: DMRT1, which is found in many vertebrates, exhibits testis-specific expression during the sexual differentiation period, suggesting a conserved function of DMRT1 in the testicular development of vertebrate gonads. However, functional analyses have been reported only in mammals. The current study focused on the Dmrt1 function in the teleost medaka, Oryzias latipes, which has an XX–XY sex determination system. Although medaka sex is determined by the presence or absence of the Y chromosome-specific gene Dmy, we demonstrated that in one Dmrt1 mutant line, which was found by screening a gene-driven mutagenesis library, XY mutants developed into normal females and laid eggs. Histological analyses of this mutant revealed that the XY mutant gonads first developed into the normal testis type. However, the gonads transdifferentiated into the ovary type. The mutant phenotype could be rescued by transgenesis of the Dmrt1 genomic region. These results show that Dmrt1 is essential to maintain testis differentiation after Dmy-triggered male differentiation pathway.

High Temperature Superconductor Terahertz Emitters: Fundamental Physics and Its Applications

Abstract: Coherent and continuous radiation sources of the electromagnetic (EM) waves at terahertz (1 THz = 1012 c/s) frequencies using a mesa structure fabricated from high temperature superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ single crystals are described with a special emphasis on the physics of the radiation mechanism and the applications. After the intensive studies of many mesas fabricated with different conditions, it is revealed that the ac-Josephson effect works as a primary driving mechanism of the radiation and the cavity resonance needed for stronger radiation plays an additional role to the mechanism, although both are working together while radiating. A prototype of the imaging machine for multipurpose uses has successfully been developed.

Differential entrainment of peripheral clocks in the rat by glucocorticoid and feeding.

Abstract: The suprachiasmatic nucleus is the master circadian clock and resets the peripheral clocks via various pathways. Glucocorticoids and daily feeding are major time cues for entraining most peripheral clocks. However, recent studies have suggested that the dominant timing factor differs among organs and tissues. In our current study, we reveal differences in the entrainment properties of the peripheral clocks in the liver, kidney, and lung through restricted feeding (RF) and antiphasic corticosterone (CORT) injections in adrenalectomized rats. The peripheral clocks in the kidney and lung were found to be entrained by a daily stimulus from CORT administration, irrespective of the meal time. In contrast, the liver clock was observed to be entrained by an RF regimen, even if daily CORT injections were given at antiphase. These results indicate that glucocorticoids are a strong zeitgeber that overcomes other entrainment factors regulating the peripheral oscillators in the kidney and lung and that RF is a dominant mediator of the entrainment ability of the circadian clock in the liver.

Momentum measurement by the Multiple Coulomb Scattering method in the OPERA lead emulsion target

Abstract: A new method of momentum measurement of charged particles through multiple Coulomb scattering (MCS) in the OPERA lead-emulsion target is presented. It is based on precise measurements of track angular deviations carried out thanks to the very high resolution of nuclear emulsions. The algorithm has been tested with Monte Carlo pions. The results are found to describe within the expected uncertainties the data obtained from test beams. We also present a comparison of muon momenta evaluated through MCS in the OPERA lead-emulsion target with those determined by the electronic detectors for neutrino-charged current interaction events. The two independent measurements agree within the experimental uncertainties, and the results validate the algorithm developed for the emulsion detector of OPERA.

Evaluation of SAR in a human body model due to wireless power transmission in the 10 MHz band.

Abstract: This study discusses a computational method for calculating the specific absorption rate (SAR) due to a wireless power transmission system in the 10 MHz frequency band. A two-step quasi-static method comprised of the method of moments and the scalar potential finite-difference method are proposed. The applicability of the quasi-static approximation for localized exposure in this frequency band is discussed by comparing the SAR in a lossy dielectric cylinder computed with a full-wave electromagnetic analysis and the quasi-static approximation. From the computational results, the input impedance of the resonant coils was affected by the existence of the cylinder. On the other hand, the magnetic field distribution in free space and considering the cylinder and an impedance matching circuit were in good agreement; the maximum difference in the amplitude of the magnetic field was 4.8%. For a cylinder-coil distance of 10 mm, the difference between the peak 10 g averaged SAR in the cylinder computed with the full-wave electromagnetic method and our quasi-static method was 7.8%. These results suggest that the quasi-static approach is applicable for conducting the dosimetry of wireless power transmission in the 10 MHz band. With our two-step quasi-static method, the SAR in the anatomically based model was computed for different exposure scenarios. From those computations, the allowable input power satisfying the limit of a peak 10 g averaged SAR of 2.0 W kg(-1) was 830 W in the worst case exposure scenario with a coil positioned at a distance of 30 mm from the chest.

Observation of thundercloud-related gamma rays and neutrons in Tibet

Abstract: During the 2010 rainy season in Yangbajing (4300 m above sea level) in Tibet, China, a long-duration count enhancement associated with thunderclouds was detected by a solar-neutron telescope and neutron monitors installed at the Yangbajing Comic Ray Observatory. The event, lasting for similar to 40 min, was observed on July 22, 2010. The solar-neutron telescope detected significant gamma-ray signals with energies >40 MeV in the event. Such a prolonged high-energy event has never been observed in association with thunderclouds, clearly suggesting that electron acceleration lasts for 40 min in thunderclouds. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations showed that >10 MeV gamma rays largely contribute to the neutron monitor signals, while >1 keV neutrons produced via a photonuclear reaction contribute relatively less to the signals. This result suggests that enhancements of neutron monitors during thunderstorms are not necessarily clear evidence for neutron production, as previously thought.

AidC, a Novel N-Acylhomoserine Lactonase from the Potato Root-Associated Cytophaga-Flavobacteria-Bacteroides (CFB) Group Bacterium Chryseobacterium sp. Strain StRB126

Abstract: N-Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are used as quorum-sensing (QS) signal molecules by many Gram-negative bacteria. We have reported that Chryseobacterium sp. strain StRB126, which was isolated from the root surface of potato, has AHL-degrading activity. In this study, we cloned and characterized the aidC gene from the genomic library of StRB126. AidC has AHL-degrading activity and shows homology to several metallo-β-lactamase proteins from Bacteroidetes, although not to any known AHL-degrading enzymes. Purified AidC, as a maltose-binding fusion protein, showed high degrading activity against all tested AHLs, whether short- or long-chain forms, with or without substitution at carbon 3. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that AidC functions as an AHL lactonase catalyzing AHL ring opening by hydrolyzing lactones. An assay to determine the effects of covalent and ionic bonding showed that Zn2+ is important to AidC activity both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the aidC gene could also be PCR amplified from several other Chryseobacterium strains. In conclusion, this study indicated that the aidC gene, encoding a novel AHL lactonase, may be widespread throughout the genus Chryseobacterium. Our results extend the diversity and known bacterial hosts of AHL-degrading enzymes.

Bow shock formation in a complex plasma.

Abstract: A bow shock is observed in a two-dimensional supersonic flow of charged microparticles in a complex plasma. A thin conducting needle is used to make a potential barrier as an obstacle for the particle flow in the complex plasma. The flow is generated and the flow velocity is controlled by changing a tilt angle of the device under the gravitational force. A void, microparticle-free region, is formed around the potential barrier surrounding the obstacle. The flow is bent around the leading edge of the void and forms an arcuate structure when the flow is supersonic. The structure is characterized by the bow shock as confirmed by a polytropic hydrodynamic theory as well as numerical simulation.

The Effect of Habitat Association and Edaphic Conditions on Tree Mortality during El Niño-induced Drought in a Bornean Dipterocarp Forest

Abstract: The effects of El Nino-induced droughts on dipterocarp forests must be quantified to evaluate the implications of future global climatic changes for the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. We studied the mortality of trees ≥ 1 cm in diameter in a lowland dipterocarp forest in Borneo before, during, and after the 1997/1998 El Nino drought. The annual mortality rates were 1.30, 1.75, and 1.66 percent/yr for the pre-drought, drought, and post-drought periods, respectively. The effect of drought was tree size-dependent being greater for larger trees. Modified logistic regression analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between species' habitat association and edaphic condition on mortality rates in all periods. For species associated with wet habitat, drought effect was greater in dry conditions than in wet conditions, in both the drought and post-drought periods. The mortality rates of dry-habitat species were less affected by the drought both in dry and wet conditions. A similar pattern was also found in common Dipterocarpaceae species; mortality rates increased more in species associated with wet-habitat in the drought and post-drought periods. Species and families with higher mortality in the pre-drought period tended to experience greater mortality increases during the drought and post-drought periods. These results suggest that changes in drought regimes alter the species composition and spatial distribution of dipterocarp forests.

Structural, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Highly Ordered Mesoporous MCr2O4 and MCr2–xFexO4 (M = Co, Zn) Spinel Thin Films with Uniform 15 nm Diameter Pores and Tunable Nanocrystalline Domain Sizes

Abstract: Herein is reported the synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline cobalt chromite (CoCr2O4) and zinc chromite (ZnCr2O4) thin films with highly ordered cubic networks of open pores averaging 15 nm in diameter. We also show that the synthesis method employed in this work is readily extendable to solid solutions of the type MCr2–xFexO4 (M = Co, Zn), which could pave the way for innovative device design. All of these materials can be prepared by facile coassembly of hydrated nitrate salts with an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, referred to as KLE. The as-made materials are amorphous thin films with face-centered-cubic close-packed pore structures. Electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering, krypton physisorption, UV–vis spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy studies collectively verify that both the transition metal chromites and the solid solutions are well-defined at the nanoscal...

Effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone on sperm function and early embryonic development following intracytoplasmic sperm injection in human assisted reproduction

Abstract: The objective here was to review the effects of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) upon sperm function and embryonic development in humans. PVP has been used successfully in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to facilitate the handling and immobilization of sperm for both domestic animals and humans. In our previous reports, PVP solution exists locally in embryos injected during the early developmental period, and also exerts influence over the developmental capacity of such embryos. In other reports, PVP causes significant damage to sperm membranes that can be detected by transmission electron microscopy, and has been associated with chromosomal abnormalities in pregnancy derived from ICSI embryos. In some Japanese clinics, PVP-free media has been used for sperm immobilization in order to optimise safety. Consequently, it is strongly suggested that the success rate of fertilization and clinical pregnancy could be improved by using PVP-free solution for human ICSI. In conclusion, our interpretation of the available data is to perform ICSI without PVP or select a lower concentration of PVP solution in order to reduce safety for pregnancy and children born via ICSI.

Phylogeography of the Korean pine ( Pinus koraiensis ) in northeast Asia: inferences from organelle gene sequences

Abstract: Range-wide genetic variation of Korean pine (Pinuskoraiensis) was assessed using maternally inherited mtDNA and paternally inherited cpDNA for 16 natural populations throughout northeast Asia in order to study its phylogeographical history during the Quaternary. The cpDNA variation indicated that there was no difference between populations on the Asian continent and those in the Japanese archipelago. In contrast, the mtDNA variation indicated that there was significant difference between the populations from the two regions, with each region having a different lineage. The continental populations exhibited no diversity in the mtDNA examined despite the species’ current extensive range and large populations. Conversely, while the Korean pine is rare in Japan, the Japanese populations exhibited greater levels of mtDNA diversity (HT = 0.502). The higher mtDNA diversity and evidence from numerous Korean pine macrofossil remains dated to the Pleistocene and recovered various sites in Japan suggest that the Japanese archipelago once served as a refugium to a much larger Korean pine population with a more extensive range than is the case today. The presence of the single mtDNA haplotype across the Asian continent suggests that the present widespread populations could have expanded from a single refugium population after the last glacial periods.

The Active Phase of Nickel/Ordered Ce2Zr2OxCatalysts with a Discontinuity (x=7-8) in Methane Steam Reforming

Abstract: In recent years, there has been a surge in interest in syngas (H2/CO) and H2 production technologies, which utilize a wide variety of hydrocarbon feed stocks, such as gasoline, diesel, LPG, natural gas, methanol, and bio-ethanol. Among fossil fuels, natural gas ( 90 vol% CH4) is the ideal fuel, owing to its ready availability, high energy density, and wide distribution network; CH4 activation and reforming provide attractive ways to produce syngas, which can be transformed to useful larger hydrocarbons. Catalysts based on both noble metals and other metals have been extensively studied for CH4 steam reforming. [1, 2] Noble-metal (Rh, Ru, Ir, Pd, and Pt) catalysts are active and stable; however, because of the limited supply and high cost of noble metals, much attention has been paid to the development of non-noble metal catalysts, among which nickel-based catalysts have attracted particular attention because of their similar mechanistic features to noble-metal catalysts. The strong C H bonds of CH4 (439 kJmol ) and endothermic heat of reforming reactions necessitate high temperatures for practical CH4 conversion, and thus stable catalysts that resist sintering under extreme operating conditions. In CH4 steam reforming, coke formation that deactivates the catalyst is thermodynamically favored at a H2O/CH4 ratio less than 1.4. Thus, industrial CH4 steam reforming is usually carried out at a H2O/CH4 ratio of 1.4 or greater. Although catalytic CH4 steam reforming at low H2O/CH4 ratios have many advantages from operational and energy-consuming viewpoints, conventional nickel-based catalysts suffer from severe carbon deposition under such conditions. Supports and additives (for example, CeO2, ZrO2, CeO2-ZrO2, and La2O3) have been used to confer catalysts with kinetic resistance to carbon deposition and Ni sintering because they enhance redox activity and thermal stability, thereby promoting steam reforming. The efficient CH4 upgrading has long been a challenge in fundamental research. Herein, we report the unique properties and active phase of a new Ni/ordered Ce2Zr2Ox (x = 7–8) catalyst with a regular arrangement of Ce and Zr ions in CH4 steam reforming to produce H2 and CO at H2O/CH4 = 1. The catalytic performance of Ni/Ce2Zr2Ox (x = 7–8) strongly depends on the phase and oxygen content of Ce2Zr2Ox, and it shows a unique discontinuity in catalytic activity at x = 7.5. The 2 wt % Ni/pyrochlore-Ce2Zr2O7 catalyst showed a remarkable performance in CH4 steam reforming at 923 K at H2O/CH4 = 1 (Table 1). Ni/CeO2, Ni/ZrO2, and Ni/CeO2ZrO2 reduced by H2 were much less active and selective than Ni/Ce2Zr2O7, and significant deactivation was observed probably owing to Ni sintering and carbon deposition. On the other hand, the Ni/pyrochlore-Ce2Zr2O7 catalyst was stable, resulting in a remarkably high catalytic performance (for a typical 50 h performance, see the Supporting Information, Figure S4). At 973 K, the Ni/Ce2Zr2O7 catalyst exhibited high CO selectivity of 96–98% and high H2 selectivity of 96– 99% at CH4 and H2O conversions of 92–94% and > 96 %, respectively. Platinum, a typical noble metal active for CH4 steam reforming, was supported on CeO2, ZrO2, or Ce2Zr2O7, but the performance was not significantly enhanced by these types of supports, and the CH4 conversion on these Pt-based catalysts ranged between 29 % and 39 %. For Pt-based catalysts, CH4 steam reforming may be controlled by Pt rather than by the nature of the support. 8] In the presence of 0.8% O2 in the reaction feed, the Ni/ Ce2Zr2O7 catalyst also exhibited high H2 selectivity (97–99%) at a CH4 conversion of 93–94 % for at least 10 h. No significant deactivation was observed. These are great advan[*] Dr. M. Tada, Dr. S. Zhang, N. Ishiguro Institute for Molecular Science 38 Nishigo-naka, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585 (Japan) E-mail: mtada@ims.ac.jp

Preparation of aminosilane–alginate hybrid microcapsules and their use for enzyme encapsulation

Abstract: Organic–inorganic hybrid microcapsules (AP-capsules) were fabricated by sequential preparation of calcium alginate microcapsules (Alg-capsules), followed by the addition of the Alg-capsules to an aqueous solution of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) in mild conditions without the use of any catalyst. Results showed that the shell thickness of AP-capsules was found to vary with time during the APTES incorporation onto the Alg-capsules, suggesting that the shell thickness was dependent on the amount of CaCl2 contained initially in the core solution as well as on the reaction time. A model enzyme, formate dehydrogenase (FDH), was successfully encapsulated in AP-capsules, and maximum efficiency of encapsulation was found with the capsule size of 1 mm diameter. The AP-capsules were reused efficiently for 10 cycles without loss of FDH activity. The approach developed in this study could evolve as a generic platform of enzyme immobilization for biotechnology applications using core–shell microcapsule technology.

Color digital holography using a single monochromatic imaging sensor

Abstract: Color digital holography utilizing the Doppler effect is proposed. The time variation of holograms produced by superposing images at three wavelengths is recorded using a high-speed monochromatic imaging sensor. The complex amplitude at each wavelength can be extracted from frequency information contained in the Fourier transforms of the recorded holograms. An image of the object is reconstructed by the angular spectrum method. Reconstructed monochromatic images at the three wavelengths are combined to produce a color image for display.

Infection dynamics in viral spread and interference under the synergism between Cucumber mosaic virus and Turnip mosaic virus.

Abstract: Mixed infection of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) induced more severe symptoms on Nicotiana benthamiana than single infection. To dissect the relationships between spatial infection patterns and the 2b protein (2b) of CMV in single or mixed infections, the CMV vectors expressing enhanced green fluorescent or Discosoma sp. red fluorescent proteins (EGFP [EG] or DsRed2 [Ds], respectively were constructed from the same wild-type CMV-Y and used for inoculation onto N. benthamiana. CMV2-A1 vector (C2-A1 [A1]) has a functional 2b while CMV-H1 vector (C2-H1 [H1]) is 2b deficient. As we expected from the 2b function as an RNA silencing suppressor (RSS), in a single infection, A1Ds retained a high level of accumulation at initial infection sites and showed extensive fluorescence in upper, noninoculated leaves, whereas H1Ds disappeared rapidly at initial infection sites and could not spread efficiently in upper, noninoculated leaf tissues. In various mixed infections, we found two phenomena providing novel insights into the relationships among RSS, viral synergism, and interference. First, H1Ds could not spread efficiently from vasculature into nonvascular tissues with or without TuMV, suggesting that RNA silencing was not involved in CMV unloading from vasculature. These results indicated that 2b could promote CMV to unload from vasculature into nonvascular tissues, and that this 2b function might be independent of its RSS activity. Second, we detected spatial interference (local interference) between A1Ds and A1EG in mixed infection with TuMV, between A1Ds (or H1Ds) and TuMV, and between H1Ds and H1EG. This observation suggested that local interference between two viruses was established even in the synergism between CMV and TuMV and, again, RNA silencing did not seem to contribute greatly to this phenomenon.

Strigolactones--intriguing biologically active compounds: perspectives for deciphering their biological role and for proposing practical application.

Abstract: Strigolactones are a class of bioactive natural metabolites produced by plant roots and released into the rhizosphere. They were discovered as signals indispensable for the induction of germination of seeds of root parasitic weeds, but since then, interestingly, many other biological, physiological and ecological roles have been described. This has suddenly provoked huge scientific interest in these compounds within different research fields. In this short perspective the attention is focused mainly on the ongoing and future research aimed at deciphering the biological roles of strigolactones that could positively affect, more or less directly, the management of parasitic weeds. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Coherence holography by achromatic 3-D field correlation of generic thermal light with an imaging Sagnac shearing interferometer

Abstract: We propose a new technique for achromatic 3-D field correlation that makes use of the characteristics of both axial and lateral magnifications of imaging through a common-path Sagnac shearing interferometer. With this technique, we experimentally demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, 3-D image reconstruction of coherence holography with generic thermal light. By virtue of the achromatic axial shearing implemented by the difference in axial magnifications in imaging, the technique enables coherence holography to reconstruct a 3-D object with an axial depth beyond the short coherence length of the thermal light.

Thermal management systems for data centers with liquid cooling technique of CPU

Abstract: Energy consumption in data centers has seen a drastic increase in recent years and approximately 40% of it is spent on cooling facilities. In data centers, server racks are cooled down indirectly by chilled air with an air conditioner. This technique is inefficient because IT equipment is not cool enough whereas the server room is overcooled. Under these circumstances, the authors have proposed liquid cooling systems in which CPUs are cooled down directly and exhaust heat is not radiated into the server room. Three cooling technique for CPUs are developed simultaneously. Two of them involve a single-phase heat exchanger and a two-phase heat exchanger as a cooling jacket. The other is flat heat pipes in order that the heat generated by CPU is cooled after being transported to the outside of the chassis. Condensation section of the heat pipe is cooled down by liquid with liquid manifold, so that there is no air cooling part in our new liquid cooling systems. Performance evaluation tests of the cooling devices have been conducted, which are single-phase heat exchanger, two-phase heat exchanger and two-types of flat heat pipes. Meanwhile, nanofluid technology for heat transfer enhancement and development of plug-in connectors for standardization of the systems are pursued. In addition, Verification tests have been carried out with using commercial servers. As a result, a 44% to 53% reduction in energy consumption of cooling facilities with single-phase cooling system was realized compared with conventional air cooling system.