Sintering tests, involving airflow measurements before and after bed ignition, were carried out on three optimized iron ore blends-containing only hematite (HAEM), hematite with pisolite (PISO), and hematite with pisolite and hematite-goethite ()-to assess the resistance of the flame front and associated regions. Results showed that post-ignition airflow rates for the three blends were comparable for the same pre-ignition airflow rate, indicating that reactive ores i.e. pisolite and hematite-goethite ores, did not have an adverse effect on flame front resistance. For the blend, increasing the level of fines (minus 0.15 mm fraction) also did not have any effect on the flame front resistance. Reducing the coke level in all the three blends and increasing basicity decreased the value of the resistance. The resistance was shown to be a strong function of green bed airflow velocity and semi-empirical equations, with single variables, were derived to characterize the ‘sinterability’ of iron ore mixes.

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Proteolytic enzymes play a significant role in malignancy including, loss of growth regulation, invasiveness and metastases formation. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) is a secretory glycoprotein produced mainly in liver and monocytes. It is the most abundant serine protease inhibitor in human plasma. Deficiency of A1AT is an inherited disorder characterized by reduced serum level of A1AT. Protease inhibitor Z (PiZ) and protease inhibitor S (PiS) are the most common deficient genotypes of A1AT. The association of deficient A1AT subtypes with several tumors such as primary liver carcinoma, lung cancer, bladder cancer and malignant hepatoma was reported. This study was aimed to test the relationship between A1AT genotypes Z and S and breast cancer in Jordanian female patients. Blood samples were collected from 111 patients. DNA was isolated and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the regions contain the Z and S mutations in exon V, and III, respectively. Genotyping of Z and S alleles was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism technique using Taq1 restriction enzyme. Our results demonstrated that 100% of the breast cancer patients were homozygous for the normal allele Protease inhibitor MM () and no PiZ and PiS genotypes were found. In conclusion, there is no relationship between A1AT deficient genotypes Z and S and breast cancer in Jordanian female patients.

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食物網の研究はその重要性が指摘されながらも, いまだに発展途上にある. 食物網の研究を構造面と機能面に分けると, 構造面の研究はいまだパターン記載の段階にある. 一方, 機能面の研究は, 少数例にもかかわらず近年大きな成果を上げつつある. とくに, 陸上生態系においては, クモを含んだシステムでこれまでの群集生態学では見られなかった概念が提出されるなど, 大きな貢献がなされている.

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A 42-year-old woman with severe deficient variant of α₁-antitrypsin (α₁-AT) wasfound in Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, in May 1978.
She was asymptomatic and gave no previous history of recurrent bronchitis or liver disease. Physical examination on admission and function tests of the lung, liver and pancreas showed nothing remarkable.
The proband had an α₁-AT concentration of 17.9mg per 100ml, approximately 10% of the normal level, and had low trypsin inhibitory capacity, 0.104 trypsin mg per ml, in contrast with normal average level, 0.653, determined in our laboratory. Genetic phenotyping by acid starch gel, crossed immunoelectrophoresis and isoelectric focusing showed a Pi M-like phenotype.
Liver tissue obtained by peritoneoscopic biopsy was subjected to periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining after diastase digestion, and revealed the unusual PAS positive intracytoplasmic globules in the periportal hepatocytes, typical of those seen with severe α₁-AT deficiency, Pi ZZ. The globules were antigenically identical with or related to α₁-AT by immunofluorescent technique.
Family studies revealed that her parents were second cousins, and her younger sister had the same severe α₁-AT deficiency, and ten other relatives had intermediate deficiency.
None of the family members examined had clinical signs or symptoms of pulmonary or liver disease.
This new variant of α₁-AT was named Pi M_Nichinan according to Fagerhol's nomenclature.

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There are few reports on tuberculous tenosynovitis, but probably many sergeons encounter with the disease.
We treated four cases of tuberculous tenosynovitis of the hand.
Case 1. 35 aged male; Patient has had suffered from swelling and pain in the left middle finger for a year. He received curattage and removal of granulation tissues from the synovial tendon sheath. Tuberculous bacilli cultured from the specimen.
Case 2. 21 aged male; Patient was injured in the left hand at the sea, followed by swelling and pain in the dorsum of the hand. He had curattage eight times for two years.
Case 3. 59 aged male; He has had swelling and pain over the volar surface of the left forearm for one and half year. Many rice bodies were found at surgery in the tendon sheath.
Case 4. 43 aged female; She has noted swelling and pain in the right ring finger for a year. At operation watery seropurulent fluid was found in the flexor tendon sheath of the ring finger.
Frequently the correct diagnosis is not made for many months or even years because of the slow developement of the symptomes. The presence of a chronic dough-like sausageshaped swelling over the flexor or extesor tendons is practically always due to tuberculosis, and if rice bodies can be demonstrated the diagnosis is practically certain.
The operative treatment with anti tuberculous drags are considerate the best.

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We are living during the most diverse period in the history of Earth's life and evolution. Approximately 1.75 million species have been described, and best estimates show on the total number of species range from 8 to 9 million. Meanwhile, current extinction rates are calculated to be 100 to 1000 times higher than ever recorded, without taking into account all the underestimates in the evaluation process. A mass extinction at this moment would devastate the earth's diversity at a level that is impossible to predict. Human activity is the only true cause behind this crisis, thus are responsible for halting the extinction trend. Non-representative numbers of threatened species and biased concepts towards common species or pristine ecosystems in conservation trend have limited the protection range, and reduced the speed and efficiency of conservation. In this review, these limitations are examined, and new conservation approaches are suggested, such as preserving biological diversity in human-managed landscapes (as in the study cases in Laos and northeast Thailand). To conclude, only a comprehensive strategy, with simultaneous approaches in all levels of diversity will lead to conservation success, and restrict the sixth mass extinction event.

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We study the asymptotic behavior of effective degrees of freedom (i.e., the number of species or the diversity) of large-dimensional replicator equations (RE) with quenched antisymmetric random interspecies interactions. It is found that the diversity is maintained at the order of initial diversity N if the random interactions are antisymmetric, while it is known that the diversity rapidly decreases to order 1 via “extinction” in the RE with symmetric or asymmetric random quenched interactions. In the antisymmetric case, the global stability of a unique attracting set is contrasted to the symmetric and asymmetric cases which have many attractors in general. The present result suggests a new mechanism of maintaining biodiversity which resolves the “paradox of ecology”.

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本稿は，国外の先行研究の批評を通して，定義活動に関する研究の展開と課題を明らかにすることを目的とした．ナラティブレビューによる批評の結果，定義活動の背景とみられる古典的研究，定義活動に関する研究の契機，近年の研究動向を特定した．この結果から，多様な側面を考慮しつつ定義活動の概念を規定すること，及び定義を構成することによって活動の目的が達成されるような状況を設定することの必要性を指摘した．

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Suspended moult is a special adaptive moult strategy which is widespread in long-distance migrants. The replacement of remiges and rectrices in this type of moult starts before migration but then is interrupted during migration. So far, it has virtually not been investigated experimentally. We carried out an investigation on the Orphean Warbler, Sylvia hortensis, an European trans-Saharan migrant known commonly to suspend its moult. We studied 15 trapped adults and 8 handraised young individuals, which were kept in light conditions simulating those to which freeliving conspecifics are normally exposed in the course of a year. In the first experimental year, the adults, caught during breeding, all suspended their moult and retained some old primaries, secondaries, and tertials. In the second experimental year, when the same birds were prevented from breeding, they moulted weeks earlier, and, as a result, completed their moult before the migratory period. Similarly, the handraised birds showed a complete moult in their second year. Thus, the suspended moult of the Orphean Warbler is not based on strictly endogenously controlled moult programs with preprogrammed moult pauses. Moult in this species can be adapted on a facultative basis to various conditions experienced. The course of the moult and its suspension appear to be linked to the preceeding individual breeding season, and some conceivable control mechanisms are discussed in detail.

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Introduction of exotic birds into Japan has been increasing. So far, forty-three species have bred at least once here. Most of these exotic species were imported as caged birds and entered the natural environments either accidentally or deliberately. Dominant taxa are Psittacidae, Passeridae (Estrildinae and Ploceinae) and Sturnidae. Most of the exotic birds are established in habitats disturbed by humans such as reed beds, riparian grasslands, croplands, and towns. Exceptions are Timaliidae such as the Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea and the Melodious Laughing Thrush Garrulax canorus, which have invaded indigenous forests. Although most species are restricted to small particular areas, the Red-billed Leiothrix has been rapidly increasing and expanding its geographical range. Serious adverse influences by introduced birds on local ecosystems, biota and human economic resources have not been pronounced yet in Japan, except for crop damage or other economic damages by the Feral Pigeon Columba livia and Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis formosae. Therefore, public concern about avian introduction is low in Japan. Strict control of import of exotic birds, a registration system of caged birds, eradication and management of established exotic birds, and more research and public education about avian introduction are necessary.

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A novel positive selection marker for Escherichia coli transformation was developed. The marker consisted of a DNA fragment encoding the C-terminal ribonuclease domain (CRD) of colicin E3 (colE3) and one or more amber stop codons between the initiation codon and the E3-CRD coding sequence. The toxicity of the marker was controlled by the suppressor activity the host cells possessed. This allowed both effective selection and propagation of the vector possessing the maker by selecting appropriate hosts from among those widely distributed: sup⁺ strains for selection and sup⁰ strains for propagation respectively. The insert DNA fragment was introduced onto the vector by replacing the marker DNA. The transformants harboring the vector with an insert grew, but those without an insert were effectively removed by the killing activity of E3-CRD encoded on the marker DNA. The marker was also successfully applied to λ phage display vector.

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日本への鳥類の移入定着の成功を決定する要因と帰化個体群の在来鳥類群集に与える影響について,ニュージーランド,ハワイ諸島,マスカレーニュ諸島での鳥類移入の資料を基に考察した.日本への鳥類の移入では狩猟目的のキジ目,ペット目的のオウム目,スズメ目(カエデチョウ科,ハタオリドリ科)が大半を占ある.狩猟目的の組織的な放鳥のあったコウライキジ,コジュケイを除いて,ほとんどが事故ないし意図的な逸出である.帰化個体群を定着させたと考えられる種はコウライキジ,コジュケイ,ドバト,ワカケホンセイインコ,カオグロガビチョウ,ガビチョウ,ソウシチョウ,ベニスズメ,ハッカチョウ,カササギである.定着成功種は食性の幅が広く,開けた環境を好む.例外的に,ガビチョウとソウシチョウは近年落葉広葉樹林内で個体数を急激に増加させている.現在のところ,移入種が原因で在来種の個体数減少を引き起こしたと確認された例はない.移入種との交雑,餌資源や営巣場所をめぐる競争,伝染病など在来種への悪影響のおそれがある.外来種の輸入状況,移入先での生活史,個体群動態などの情報が絶対的に不足している.

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食物綱とは生物群集内の捕食・被食関係を描いたグラフである。個体群動態は直接・間接の種間相互作用の影響を受けるが、捕食・被食関係を通じた相互作用の生じ方は食物網の構造に依存する。したがって、食物綱構造は個体群動態を理解するうえでの鍵となる。これまで、食物網の複雑性(種数、結合度)と安定性の間の関係について多くの研究がなされてきたが、数理モデルを用いた理論研究ではしばしば食物網の複雑性が高くなると安定性が低下するとの予測がなされてきた。その後、現実の食物網の特徴や現実的な仮定を組み込むことによって、複雑な食物綱が安定に存続しうることが理論的に示されてきた。しかし、これらの研究の多くは「食物綱の構造は固定的で変化しない」という生物の根本的な特徴を無視した仮定にとらわれてきた。生物の最も重要な特徴のひとつは、表現型可塑性や進化のためにその行動や形態が適応的に変化するということだ。捕食行動や対捕食者防御行動が適応的に変化する場合、食物網を構成する捕食・被食関係のリンクもやはり時とともに変化しうる柔軟なものとして捉えなくてはならない。このような適応のひとつである適応的餌選択とそれに由来する食物網の柔軟性を考慮すると、食物網・生物多様性の維持に関してこれまでとはまったく異なる理論予測が導かれる。第一に、複雑性-安定性関係が正になりうる。第二に、食物網の結合度と安定性の間の関係が時間スケールと結合度の差を生み出すメカニズムに依存するようになる。第三に、生物の適応が生物間の相互作用の歴史の結果にできたものであることから、歴史こそが群集を安定化する鍵になっていると考えることができる。食物網の柔軟性が個体群動態におおきな影響を与えうることが多くの研究によって示唆されてはいるが、それを確かめるのは容易ではない。なぜなら食物綱の時とともに変動する詳細な構造を調べ上げることは簡単ではないからだ。工夫を凝らした実証研究によってこれらの理論予測をテストしていくことが今後の課題であろう。

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The pharmacokinetics of neocarzinostatin (NCS) have been compared to NCS conjugates with monoclonal antibodies using Balb/c and tumor bearing nude mice. Data on blood and whole body clearance revealed that the high MW conjugate persists in the body far longer and at a higher level than the free drug. Excretion of the free drug occurs with an extremely rapid renal clearance and localization of the remaining drug in the kidney, whereas the NCS immunoconjugate remained in circulation far longer allowing time for tumor localization to occur without renal accumulation of drug.
In addition, NCS conjugated to monoclonal antibody was found to retain its activity in human serum better than free drug, in agreement with data obtained for other NCS-derivatives. Half-time of inactivation was greatly extended when measured under relevant conditions in a DNA strand-break assay.
The results indicate that two of the most important requirements for the successful targeting of NCS in vivo, decreased clearance rate and increased serum stability are achieved by conjugation to antibody. Both results increase the probability of NCS accumulating in tissue while still in its active form.
Coupling of NCS to monoclonal antibody decreases clearance and inactivation rate and increases localization of the active drug in tumor tissue.

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The Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea has been introduced from China and is rapidly increasing in deciduous broad-leaved forests of Japan. We studied nest-site characteristics and nest-site selection of this species and the Japanese Bush Warbler Cettia diphone, a sympatric native species, in southwestern Japan. Both species placed nests exclusively in bamboo thickets and on bamboo stalks. The Red-billed Leiothrix built pendulous nests in the canopy of high concealment. The Japanese Bush Warbler placed nests on the crossing of bamboo stems and selected places of high stem density. The Japanese Bush Warblers placed nests in denser vegetation than the Red-billed Leiothrix. The segregation of nesting microhabitat was also evident in both species to coexist in bamboo thickets. Existence of few inhabitants in bamboo thickets may contribute to the invasion success of the Red-billed Leiothrix.

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