Among forty strains of marine cyanobacteria isolated in our laboratory, five strains had 1-3 different plasmids. The unicellular marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. NKBG 042902, contains at least three plasmids (pSY09, pSY10, and pSY11). However, these plasmids are cryptic. Therefore, a hybrid plasmid pUSY02 containing the 1.4-kb HindIII fragment of pSY11 and Escherichia coli plasmid pUC18 was constructed. The plasmid pUSY02 transformed both marine Synechococcus sp. NKBG042902-YG1116, which is a cured strain, and fresh water Anacystis nidulans R2 by dark incubation or Ca2+ treatment. However, the plasmid pSG111 constructed from the plasmid DNA of A. nidulans R2 failed to transform marine Synechococcus sp. Electroporation was also applicable to transformation of marine Synechococcus sp. and fresh water A. nidulans R2. The plasmid pUSY02 was rapidly introduced into marine Synechococcus sp.

Aspergillus nidulans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Measures to prevent emissions of PCDDS/DFs and co-planar PCBs from crematories in Japan.

In this study, PCDDs/DFs and co-planar PCBs concentrations in flue gases from 17 crematories and in fly ashes and bottom ashes (mainly bone) from several crematories were measured to grasp the present state of PCDDs/DFs emissions from crematories. The effects of several factors were discussed to prevent PCDDs/DFs emissions from crematories. Total concentration (normalized by 12% O2) of PCDDs/DFs was ranged from 4.9 to 1200 ng/m3 N, and toxic equivalent concentration was ranged from 0.064 to 24 ng TEQ/m3 N. As the results obtained in this research, the following measures to reduce PCDDs/DFs emission are recommended for existing crematories: (1) keeping the temperature at 800 degrees C in main/secondary chambers during a whole cremation, and (2) lowering the temperature in the dust collector. For newly installed crematories, following measures to prevent PCDDs/DFs emission including the measures for existing ones are recommended: (1) connecting one secondary chamber to one main chamber, (2) installing the high efficiency dust collector and reducing dust concentration to less than 0.01 g/m3 N, and (3) installing the sampling point for monitoring of PCDDs/DFs.

Air Pollution↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A new apparatus for chronic intravenous infusion in unrestrained rats.

A new apparatus incorporating a unique type of swivel device was devised for chronic intravenous infusion in unrestrained rats. The swivel requires very little torque for rotation, ie, one-fourth that of the standard swivel, yet is 1/30 as expensive. A coil spring tube, located between the swivel and the catheter, allows the rat unhampered movement within the metabolic cage. Because the catheter follows the rats' movements freely, only two silk sutures are required to secure it to the animal. No statistically significant differences between experimental and control rats were observed in terms of body weight gain, food intake, nitrogen balance, or caloric efficiency. This apparatus should prove useful in many areas of research.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Thallium-201-chloride and technetium-99m-MIBI SPECT of primary and metastatic lung carcinoma.

We compared technetium-99m-MIBI (Tc-99m MIBI) with thallium-201-chloride (Tl-201) SPECT imaging in patients with lung carcinoma. In addition, we compared the imaging characteristics of Tl-201 and Tc-99m MIBI after radiation therapy. Thirty-seven patients with primary lung carcinoma were evaluated with SPECT imaging for metastasis to the mediastinal lymph nodes and brain. Patients were imaged with Tl-201 chloride images 10 and 180 min after injection. Patients were also imaged 10 min after injection of Tc-99m MIBI. The sensitivity of Tl-201 SPECT for the primary lesion and brain metastasis was 97.1% and 70.0% respectively at 10 min and 97.1% and 60.0% at 180 min. The sensitivity of Tc-99m MIBI SPECT was 97.1% (for the identification of the primary lesion) and 50.0% (for the detection of brain metastasis) at 10 min. The uptake ratios (count in tumor/count in normal lung or brain) at 10 min on the Tl-201 SPECT and on the Tc-99m MIBI SPECT were not significantly different for the primary tumor or for brain metastasis. The uptake ratios were better for Tc-99m MIBI than for Tl-201 [2.82 vs. 1.99 (p<0.05)] for mediastinal lymph nodes. Decreasing uptake ratios and retention index with both agents after radiation therapy are concordant to the follow-up clinical course. Tc-99m MIBI SPECT is more sensitive in the detection of metastasis to mediastinal lymph nodes than Tl-201 SPECT.

Aged↗