Excess estrogen sulfoconjugation as the possible cause for a poor sign of parturition in pregnant cows carrying somatic cell clone fetuses

We conducted this study to elucidate a factor causing a poor sign of parturition and prolonged gestation, which is frequently observed in cows carrying somatic clone fetuses. Pre-partum rises in concentrations of plasma estrone and estradiol-17beta in the recipient cows pregnant with clones were subtle. By contrast, the plasma concentration of estrone sulfate in clone pregnancies increased gradually from pre-initiation of parturition induction whereas control cows that received in vivo-derived embryos showed a significant increase at parturition. Therefore, in clone pregnancies, the ratio of estrone/estrone sulfate was low during the pre-partum period compared with control. Messenger RNA expression of estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) in the placenta at parturition was significantly higher in clone pregnancies than control pregnancies and was localized in binucleate cells (BNC). SULT1E1 mRNA abundance was negatively and positively correlated with concentrations of maternal estrone and estrone sulfate at parturition respectively. Messenger RNA expressions of estrogen sulfatase (STS) and aromatase (CYP19) were similar between clone and control pregnancies and were localized in BNC and caruncular epithelial cells. STS and CYP19 mRNA abundances showed positive correlations with maternal estradiol-17beta concentration. The population of BNC in the placenta did not differ between clone and control pregnancies. Plasma cortisol concentration of vaginally delivered newborn clone calves was comparable with those of control, although cesarean section delivered clone calves showed a low concentration. These results suggest that excess estrogen sulfoconjugation is the reason for the perturbed low ratio of active to inactive estrogens and the resulting hormonal imbalance contributes to the lack of overt signs of readiness for parturition in cows pregnant with clones.     

Speciation of selenium in selenium-enriched seeds,buckwheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagopyrum esculentum</Emphasis> Moench) and quinoa (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium quinoa</Emphasis> Willdenow)

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willdenow) are widely used as food ingredients. The nutritional characteristics of these plants, i.e., high contents of proteins and amino acids suggest that selenium (Se) is preserved as selenoamino acid derivatives, in particular, selenomethionine (SeMet) in proteins, similar to selenized yeast. Therefore, buckwheat and quinoa are expected to be a good nutritional source of Se. Selenized buckwheat and quinoa were cultivated on Se-fortified soil using sparingly soluble Se salts, such as barium selenate and barium selenite. Se concentration in the edible parts of these plants was determined, and Se extraction efficiency with enzyme or alkali was evaluated. In addition, the chemical species of Se in the low molecular weight fraction of these plants were determined by HPLC-ICP-MS. Total Se concentrations in the edible parts of selenized buckwheat and quinoa were 170.4 ± 2.9 μg/g and 102.7 ± 2.4 μg/g wet weight, respectively. Thus, these selenized seeds were found to be Se accumulators. The results indicate that Se in selenized buckwheat exists mainly as SeMet, while Se in selenized quinoa exists not only as SeMet but also as selenate (Se(VI)) and non-protein forms.     

Study of point defects in CuGaSe2 single crystals by means of electron paramagnetic resonance and photoluminescence

Point defects in CuGaSe₂ single crystals as vacancies V_Se, V_Cu and defect pair (2V_Cu⁻+Ga_Cu²⁺) have been studied by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and low-temperature photoluminescence (PL). EPR hyperfine structure has been found at temperatures as low as 1.45–45 K and the temperature dependence of EPR line is discussed. Photo-EPR spectrum reveals optically active behavior of intrinsic point defects in CuGaSe₂ crystals. Three bands of PL emission show different origins and two low-energy bands at 1.55 and 1.58 eV have been found to be steady despite H₂-, O₂- and Se₂-annealings. The experimental data added with electric characterization in accordance with the used annealings and together with a defect physics model allow consideration of the point defect ensemble in CuGaSe₂ in more detail.     

Facile fabrication of mesoporous TiO2 electrodes for dye solar cells: chemical modification and repetitive coating

A chemical dispersing technique for preparing a coating paste of TiO₂ nanoparticles is disclosed to fabricate mesoporous electrodes for dye-sensitized TiO₂ solar cells. The suspension of TiO₂ (P-25) powder was stirred in aqueous nitric acid at 80°C, and then evaporated to dryness, giving the nitric acid-adsorbed P-25 powder. The coating paste was obtained by mixing the nitric acid-adsorbed P-25 with PEG (M_w 20,000) as a porosity-controlling agent and cellulosic polymer as a thickener. The mesoporous TiO₂ films were fabricated on conducting glasses by repetitive coating and calcined at 500°C (30 min). The TiO₂ film obtained by the five times repetitive coating (20 μm thickness) resulted in the 1.4 times higher energy conversion efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cells than that of the one time coating TiO₂ film (V_oc=690 mV, J_sc=12.2 mA/cm², the fill FACTOR=0.71 and η=6.0%).     

A Heuristic Method for Determining Optimal Reliability Allocation

The paper presents a method for obtaining an optimal reliability allocation of an n-stage series system. In each stage, redundant comnponents can be added (in parallel, stand-by, or k-out-of-n:G, etc.), or a more reliable component can be used in order to improve the system reliability. The solution is obtained by repeatedly using a more reliable candidate at each stage that has the greatest value of a `weighted sensitivity function'. The balance between the objective unction and the constraints is controlled by a `balancing coefficient'. The overall computational procedure is given and an example is presented. The computations are given for a set of randomly generated test problems in which the optimal parallel redundancy under linear onstraints is determined. The proposed method is then compared with other methods.     

Ruthenium (II) complexes with π expanded ligand having phenylene–ethynylene moiety as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells

Ruthenium(II) complexes by introducing phenylene–ethynylene subunit into a tpy (tpy=2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) ligand were newly synthesized, and their photophysical and photochemical properties were characterized. The molar extinction coefficients of these dyes were larger than that of black dye. The photovoltaic performances of the solar cells based on these synthesizing dyes were investigated under AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW cm^?2). The conversion efficiencies of 1a and 1b were 5.7% and 2.4%, respectively.     

Niobium–aluminum oxynitride prepared by ammonolysis of oxide precursor obtained through the citrate route

Oxynitrides in the (Nb_1−xAl_x)(O,N) quaternary system were prepared by ammonolysis of oxide precursor obtained through the citrate route. The products at 1000 °C were a mixture of Nb(N,O) and NbN_0.95 at the niobium end (x = 0) and amorphous Al(O,N) at the aluminum end (x = 1). A new cubic compound (A) appeared mixed with Nb(N,O) in the compositional range 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.4. Its almost pure product was obtained at x = 0.5. The X-ray diffraction pattern was rock salt type (Nb_0.56Al_0.44)(O_0.38N_0.37□₀₂₅) in F_m−3m with a = 0.43481(1) nm. The product showed superconductivity with T_c = 15 K. Its crystallinity was much improved and its superconducting volume fraction increased to 32% after its thermal annealing at 1100 °C in evacuated sealed tube. A second cubic compound (B), rock salt type Nb[(O,N)_0.85□_0.15] with a = 0.434 nm, was observed mixed with amorphous Al(O,N) in the as-prepared products of the range 0.6 ≤ x ≤ 0.9.     

Measurement and correlation of mutual diffusion coefficients for styrene-butadiene rubber(SBR)-n-nonane systems

The mutual diffusion coefficients for styrene-butadiene rubber(SBR)-n-nonane systems were measured using a sorption apparatus with a quartz spring at 100 and 130°C for mass fractions of n-nonane ranging from 0 to 0.16. The mutual diffusion coefficients were correlated with good agreement by the free-volume theory.     

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic polyisobutylene/poly(ethylene glycol) di- and triblock copolymers

Summary Di- and triblock copolymers of polyisobutylene PIB and poly(ethylene glycol) PEG have been prepared and characterized. The syntheses involved the capping with tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate TDI various molecular weight -phenyl--(p-phenol) polyisobutylenes C₆H₅-PIB-C₆H₄OH and ,-di-(p-phenol)polyisobutylenes HOC₆H₄-PIB-C₆H₄OH, or commercially available mono- and di-hydroxyl-terminated PEGs. In this manner a series of PIB-b-PEG diblock copolymers, and PEG-b-PIB-b-PEG and PIB-b-PEG-b-PIB triblock copolymers have been obtained. The complete removal of the prepolymers from these amphiphilic sequential copolymers by conventional solvent extraction techniques could not be achieved because of the very high emulsifying action of the latters. In contrast, satisfactory separation was obtained by column chromatography using mixed (polar/nonpolar) eluents. The blocking efficiencies and composition of the block copolymers have been determined.Part XL V of the Series on New Telechelic Polymers and Sequential Copolymers by Polyfunctional Initiator-Transfer Agents (Inifers).     

Quantitative bioimaging analysis of gonads in olvas-GFP/ST-II YI Medaka (transgenic Oryzias latipes) exposed to ethinylestradiol

This study investigates the adverse and persistent effects of ethinylestradiol (EE2) on mature gonads of transgenic olvas-GFPIST II-YI medaka (Oryzias latipes). The measurement of gonadal size calculating the GFP-fluorescent area was used as a technique that enabled monitoring gonads in living specimens by GFP fluorescence. First, mature medaka were exposed to EE2 (47.8-522 ng/L) for 4 weeks. The gonads showed a significant reduction of the GFP-fluorescent area and Gonadosomatic Index in males exposed to EE2 at >216 ng/L and females exposed at 522 ng/L. Histologically, males at all treatments exhibited testis-ova and additionally, high connective tissue prevalence at > or =216 ng/L. Next, mature male medaka were exposed to EE2 (43.7-473 ng/L) for 3 weeks and allowed to depurate for 6 weeks, to investigate persistent effects of EE2. Continuous gonad observation showed that GFP began to decline 3 weeks after initial exposure to > or =215 ng/L. After depuration, the gonad's fluorescent areas gradually recovered, with no statistical difference at the end of the depuration period; normal spermatogenesis was present in these individuals. Alterations in GFP fluorescence clearly indicate the condition of the gonad in transgenic medaka and this strain showed a facilitated screening fish model to detect the adverse effects on the gonad by estrogenic chemicals.