Adamantylidene Addition to M3 N@Ih -C80 (M=Sc, Lu) and Sc3 N@D5h -C80 : Synthesis and Crystallographic Characterization of the [5,6]-Open and [6,6]-Open Adducts.

Additions of adamantylidene (Ad) to M3 N@Ih -C80 (M=Sc, Lu) and Sc3 N@D5h -C80 have been accomplished by photochemical reactions with 2-adamantyl-2,3'-[3H]-diazirine (1). In M3 N@Ih -C80 , the addition led to rupture of the [6,6]- or [5,6]-bonds of the Ih -C80 cage, forming the [6,6]-open fulleroid as the major isomer and the [5,6]-open fulleroid as the minor isomer. In Sc3 N@D5h -C80 , the addition also proceeded regioselectively to yield three major isomeric Ad mono-adducts, despite the fact that there are nine types of C-C bonds in the D5h -C80 cage. The molecular structures of the seven Ad mono-adducts, including the positions of the encaged trimetallic nitride clusters, have been unambiguously determined through single-crystal XRD analyses. Furthermore, results have shown that stepwise addition of Ad to Lu3 N@Ih -C80 affords several Ad bis-adducts, two of which have been isolated and characterized. The X-ray structure of one bis-adduct clearly revealed that the second Ad addition took place at a [6,6]-bond close to an endohedral metal atom. Theoretical calculations have also been performed to rationalize the regioselectivity.

Relationship between the Degree of Thoracic Deformity and the Angle Formed by a Line Connecting the Sternum and the Spinous Process of the Vertebrae in Individuals with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disorders.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the degree of thoracic deformity (TD) and the angle formed by a line drawn on transverse plane computed tomography (CT) images, connecting the sternum and the spinous process of the vertebrae at the level of the xiphisternum, and the perpendicular line from the floor (ANGLE), in individuals with severe motor and intellectual disorders (SMID). [Subjects] Twenty seven individuals with SMID were examined. [Methods] CT transverse images were acquired at the level of the xiphisternum of each patient. Two protocols were used to measure the anteroposterior (AP) and laterolateral (LL) diameters. The largest AP diameters were measured along a perpendicular line from the floor (protocol 1) and the line from the midline of the sternum to the spinous process of the vertebrae (protocol 2). The largest LL diameters were measured along the lines perpendicular to the AP diameters in each protocol. The ratios of the AP to LL diameters and the difference between the ratios of protocols 1 and 2 (DIFFERENCE) were calculated. [Results] Moderate to good correlation between DIFFERENCE and ANGLE was observed, and DIFFERENCE became larger with increasing ANGLE. [Conclusions] These results show that ANGLE indicates the degree of TD.

A new pest suction machine to control Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in tomato greenhouses.

The sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is challenging to control using chemical pesticides owing to its resistance to many insecticides. Thus, there has been an increasing demand for alternative control measures. Thus, this study evaluated the efficacy of a newly designed pest suction machine to manage whiteflies on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) (Solanales: Solanaceae) in greenhouses over 2 seasons. The suction machine comprised a battery-powered cart with a mounted suction unit, an ultrasonic device, and green lights. Ultrasonic irradiation provided non-contact vibration, facilitating the movement of adult whiteflies away from the plants, and green lights attracted them to the suction device. This combination effectively captured whitefly adults, even with a weak suction force, saving electricity consumption. The efficacy of suction machine was further evaluated by measuring the number of whitefly adults caught by the machine and the number of adults and nymphs remaining on the tomato leaves. The whitefly population was considerably lower in the treated blocks than in the non-treated blocks in the autumn trial. The machine reduced the density of whitefly adults without using chemical pesticides. Although a lot of optimizations would be required, suction control is an additional and alternative strategy that may be incorporated in the integrated pest management of whiteflies on greenhouse tomato plants.

Early high-fat feeding improves histone modifications of skeletal muscle at middle-age in mice.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate how the effects of high-fat diet feeding on the skeletal muscle persisted during aging using mice. Post-weaned male mice were fed a high-fat diet between 1- and 3-mo-old followed by return to supply a normal diet until 13-mo-old. Monthly physical tests demonstrated that age-related glucose intolerance that was generally developed after 10-mo-old in the control mice was significantly improved in mice fed a high-fat diet. Interestingly, mRNA expressions of Pdk4, Ucp3, and Zmynd17 were up-regulated by high-fat feeding and persisted in the tibialis anterior muscle until 13-mo-old. At Pdk4 and Ucp3 loci, enhanced distributions of active histone modifications were noted in the high-fat-fed mice at 13-mo-old. In contrast, age-related accumulation of histone variant H3.3 at these loci was suppressed. These results indicated that epigenetic modifications caused by early nutrition mediated the changes in skeletal muscle gene expression during aging.