Applicability of DNA barcode for identification of fish species

DNA barcoding is a species identification technique, which uses a very short DNA sequence from a region of approximately 650 base-pairs in the 5'-end of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene as a marker to identify species of mammals and fishes. The applicability of DNA barcoding for identification of fish species consumed in Japan was studied. Among thirty-one fresh or processed fishes were obtained from the market, two samples could not be identified due to lack of data in the Barcode of Life Data (BOLD) database. However, BLAST-search of 16S rRNA genes in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database and the PCR-RFLP method published by the Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center (FAMIC) were found to be applicable to identify these 2 fishes. The results show that the DNA barcoding technique is potentially useful as a tool for confirming the proper labeling of fish species in the Japanese market.     

Co-operation regarding water and other resources will enhance economic development in Egypt,Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea

Competition for water will increase in the northern portion of the Nile River basin, with increases in population and with new and continuing efforts to stimulate economic development, improve income levels and achieve food security. Water scarcity and the inefficient allocation of water can limit the pace of economic development in arid regions, particularly when nations are unable to implement agreements that enhance the sum of net benefits generated with water resources. Much of the discussion regarding water in the northern Nile basin involves the volumetric allocation of water among countries. That focus may limit appreciation of the benefits that might be generated by co-operation involving a larger set of activities, such as international trade and transborder investments. The authors present a conceptual framework that describes how co-operation and international agreements may contribute to achieving the development goals of individual countries, while also enhancing regional net benefits. The authors propose several types of transborder investments that might be helpful in achieving those goals.     

Cellular and transcriptional responses of yeast to the cleavage of cytosolic tRNAs induced by colicin D

Colicin D is a plasmid‐encoded antibacterial protein that specifically cleaves the anticodon loops of four Escherichia coli tRNA^Arg species. Here, we report that the catalytic domain of colicin D, which is expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, impairs cell growth by cleaving specific tRNAs. DNA microarray analysis revealed that mating‐related genes were upregulated, while genes involved in a range of metabolic processes were downregulated, thereby impairing cell growth. The pheromone‐signalling pathway was activated only in α cells by tRNA cleavage, which was not observed in ‘a’ cells or diploid cells. On the basis of these results and on the recent identification of two killer toxins that cleave specific tRNAs, the relationship between tRNA depletion and the resultant cellular response is discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Superconducting properties of the composite-processed Nb3Sn superconductor with the Cu-Sn-Zn matrix

Effects of the Zn addition to the Cu-Sn matrix of the Nb₃Sn composite tape have been investigated by measuring the matrix work-hardening behaviour, the rate of Nb₃Sn layer formation and the pertinent superconducting properties. The Zn addition drastically enhances the diffusion rate of Nb₃Sn formation at each Sn level in the matrix examined, leading to sufficient superconducting properties even at a low Sn level of 3.5 at. %; a sample containing 3.5 at. % Sn and 15 at. % Zn in the matrix exhibits a critical temperature and critical current density comparable with those of samples at a Sn level of 7 at. %. The upper critical field obtained for a sample with the 6 at. % Cu-6 at. % Sn-4 at. % Zn matrix beyond 200 kOe. The work-hardening of the composite matrix is found to be essentially a function of Sn level, and insensitive to the Zn addition.     

Effect of short‐term anaerobic conditions on the production of volatiles,activity of alcohol acetyltransferase and other quality traits of ripened bananas. Sumithra K Wendakoon. Yoshinori Ueda. Yoshihiro Imahori. Megumi Ishimaru. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2006; 86: 1475–1480

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2006; 86: 1475–1480.     

High pressure differential thermal analysis (HPDTA) of fatty acid methyl esters and triglycerides

When using high pressure differential thermal analysis to study the stability of a fatty methyl ester or triglyceride in an atmosphere of air, a departure from the base line in the exothermic curve is observed. The point where an extension line from the base line intersects a tangent line to the departure curve was selected as the transition point in the exothermic curve. For each sample studied, temperature at this transition point showed good reproducibility. The influence of sample container and air pressure upon the temperature of the transition point in the exothermic curve (TTE) was examined. A linear correlation between the number of double bonds in the sample and TTE was observed.     

Primary adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis in a young male: a case report

The patient was a 16-year-old male who visited our hospital with the chief complaint of microhematuria. Computed tomography revealed left hydronephrosis, renal stones and left renal tumor. Needle biopsy was performed under ultrasonography. The histological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma and left radical nephrectomy was performed. The histological diagnosis was mucinous adenocarcinoma of the renal pelvis. Postoperative chemotherapy was not given. The patient has had neither recurrence nor metastasis for 1 year following surgery. This is the 92nd reported case in the literature.     

Transient cell proliferation with polyethylenimine-cationized N-terminal domain of simian virus 40 large T-antigen

Polyethylenimine (PEI) cationization is a powerful strategy for protein transduction into cells. In this study, we attempted the artificial regulation of cell proliferation by protein transduction of the N-terminal domain (1-132 amino acids) of the simian virus 40 large T-antigen (SVLT-N), which inactivates retinoblastoma family proteins but not p53. To deliver SVLT-N into cells, we employed an indirect cationization method by forming a complex of biotynylated SVLT-N through disulfide bonds (biotin-SS-SVLT-N) and PEI-cationized avidin (PEI600-avidin). Using this complex, SVLT-N was transduced into the nucleus of confluent and quiescent Balb/c 3T3 cells and was found to be complexed with a cellular target protein, pRb. Furthermore, SVLT-N transduction induced cell proliferation in spite of confluent conditions. Because SVLT-N thus transduced into cells gradually degraded and was not detectable after a 4-d incubation, transiently transformed cells were obtained by this method. These results suggest that oncogene protein transduction technology has great potential for in vitro regulation of cell proliferation.     

Evaluation of a nitric acid-based partial-digestion method for selective determination of inorganic arsenic in rice

Arsenic (As) uptake in human occurs via the food chain mainly. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives has established the provisional tolerable weekly intake level for As as an inorganic As (iAs) value, because iAs in food is much more toxic than organic As. In this study, we studied an acid based partial-digestion method for the complete extraction of arsenicals from rice. HPLC/ICP-MS was used to determine the concentration of iAs selectively. The conditions adopted to extract arsenicals from a 0.5 g of finely ground rice sample were addition of 2 mL of 0.15 mol/L nitric acid and heating at 80 degrees C for 2 hr. The LOD and LOQ for iAs were 0.0024 and 0.0079 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Recovery studies showed good accuracy. When the method was applied to ten short-grain brown rice samples, the iAs concentrations were 0.108-0.227 mg/kg dry weight and the total As concentrations were 0.118-0.260 mg/kg dry weight. Although dimethylarsinic acid was also detected in most samples, the percentage of iAs content in total As content was 62.2-96.3%. Thus, iAs was the principal As species in the short-grain brown rice samples tested.