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Catchment land use of streams can cause deterioration of the stream ecosystems. Studies on the impact of land use on water quality and invertebrate assemblages in tropical streams are currently less common than studies in temperate regions. In the current study, we conducted a field survey on stream invertebrates and habitat characteristics in 23 streams with different land use conditions in Yogyakarta Province, Java Island, Indonesia. Relationships among catchment characteristics, habitat characteristics, and invertebrate assemblages were analyzed to elucidate the importance of land use and water quality in determining invertebrate assemblages. The analyses, using generalized linear models, showed that the relative area of urban land use of the catchment was strongly and positively related to the nutrient concentration of stream water and negatively related to the taxonomic richness of whole invertebrate assemblages and intolerant taxa. Furthermore, the richness metrics were low in streams with high nutrient concentrations, particularly PO 4 -P. The biplot of nonmetric multidimensional scaling showed that there was a gradient in community structure along the tolerance to water pollution that occurred in urban streams. These results collectively suggest that urban land use, not agricultural use, seemed to be a predominant factor causing nutrient enrichment in stream water and low invertebrate diversity through the exclusion of intolerant taxa in Indonesian streams whose catchments are exposed to rapid urbanization. We suggest that the impact of agricultural wastewater on stream water quality is concealed by the strong impact of urbanization when we consider that farming methods are, in general, not intensive in Indonesia, and that advanced wastewater treatment systems have not been widely introduced. Our results strongly support the development of sewage treatment as an effective solution for restoring tropical stream ecosystems. • Streams with urbanized catchments had high nutrient concentrations in the stream water and low invertebrate taxon richness. • Invertebrate richness tended to decrease with increase in nutrient concentrations. • Urban, not agricultural, land use has an overriding impact on the water environment and invertebrate diversity in Indonesian streams. • Our results support the development of sewage treatment as an effective solution for restoring tropical stream ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe a nematode larva in a subcutaneous nodule excised from a 44-year-old Chinese male who had been living in Japan for 15years. Morphological features suggested that the worm was a dioctophimatid nematode. PCR amplification and sequencing of small subunit ribosomal DNA and mitochondrial cytochrome subunit c oxidase genes allowed us to identify the larva as the giant kidney worm, Dioctophyme renale (Goeze, 1972). This is the first molecularly confirmed human case of a dermal D. renale infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Perovskite-type oxides, BaMoO3 and SrMoO3, were prepared by reduction of scheelite-type oxides, BaMoO4 and SrMoO4, in H2 flow at 873K and characterized by XRD, TG, SEM, TPR, NH3-TPD, UV–vis DRS and BET measurement. The catalytic activity of these alkaline-earth molybdenum oxide catalysts was tested for oxidation of 2-propanol with gaseous oxygen under atmospheric pressure. Dehydration to propylene was mainly promoted over the scheelite-type with Mo6+, while oxidative dehydrogenation to acetone was mainly promoted over the perovskite-type with Mo4+, and selectivity to acetone was much higher over BaMoO3 than over SrMoO3. Both perovskite-type oxide catalysts underwent oxidation to some degree during the catalytic reaction, so that they also contained some Mo6+. We concluded that the high selectivity to acetone resulting from oxidative dehydrogenation during 2-propanol conversion is related to the constantly changing oxidation state of the catalyst, resulting in coexistence of Mo6+ octahedra and Mo4+ octahedra on the AMoO3 oxides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The nucleotide-oligomerization domain (NOD) 2 is an important molecule involved in host defense. In this study, we report the cloning and characterization of porcine NOD2 (poNOD2) cDNA. The open reading frame of poNOD2 contains 3042bp which encode 1013 amino acid residues. The putative poNOD2 protein shares higher level of homology with human counterpart (81.6% amino acid identity) than the mouse protein (76.6% amino acid identity). In order to determine the function of poNOD2, we established human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells transfected to express poNOD2 cDNA. We found that poNOD2 was expressed not only in the cytoplasm but also in the inner side of the plasma membrane of HEK293 cells. HEK293 cells expressing poNOD2 responded to muramyl dipeptide (MDP) by activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that poNOD2 mRNA was expressed by a number of tissues isolated from adult and newborn swine such as esophagus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, ileal Peyer''s patches (Pps), colon, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). In the newborn swine, the expression of poNOD2 mRNA was detected at higher levels in MLNs and spleen as compared to other tissues. In the adult swine, the highest expression was observed in ileal Pps. Furthermore, Toll-like receptor (TLR) and NOD2 ligands as well as immunobiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) enhanced the expression of NOD2 in gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) in adult and newborn swine. Our results implicate NOD2 as an important immunoregulator in the swine intestinal immunity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The preferential CO oxidation on a monolith Ru/Al2O3 catalyst pretreated with SO2 in the reactant gas was investigated in the presence/absence of 0.21–20ppm sulfur compounds (SO2 or H2S). In the presence of 2.1ppm sulfur compound, CO was preferentially oxidized over the SO2-pretreated catalyst at 150°C. On the other hand, in the absence of sulfur compounds, the H2 oxidation was promoted. By in situ IR measurements, multicarbonyl species and SO4 2− species were found on Ru in the presence of SO2. The presence of multicarbonyl species at a high frequency (2154cm−1) and that of SO4 2− species on Ru suggested that Ru was oxidized. Since the rate of CO oxidation was low on oxidized Ru, the selectivity for CO oxidation was low over the SO2-pretreated catalyst in the absence of sulfur compounds. On the other hand, the increase in the selectivity in the presence of sulfur compounds suggested that weakly adsorbed sulfur compounds suppressed the migration of dissociatively adsorbed H atom on Ru or decreased the H atoms next to adsorbed O atom for the H2 oxidation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, we cloned the cDNAs encoding porcine RP105 (poRP105) and porcine MD-1 (poMD-1) from Peyer''s patches of adult swine. The complete open reading frames of poRP105 and poMD-1 contain 1986 and 480bp and encode 661 and 159 amino acid residues, respectively. These two proteins were more similar to the human (77.6% and 76.5% amino acid identity) than the mouse counterparts (70.0% and 71.1% amino acid identity). The results of several experiments in cells cotransfected with poRP105 and poMD-1 indicated both lipopolysaccharide and extracellular phosphopolysaccharide from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris (Lc. cremoris) strongly activate nuclear factor-κB and induce the expression of various cytokines via RP105. These effects were mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Bruton''s tyrosine kinase. Thus, we identified extracellular polysaccharide from Lc. cremoris as an active substance that can induce immune activation via RP105 and MD-1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• High dimensionally structured W-V oxide (HDS-WVO) was synthesized by hydrothermal method. • Local catalyst structure in HDS-WVO was analyzed in atomic level by HAADF-STEM analysis. • HDS-WVO showed outstanding catalytic performance for selective oxidation of toluene. High dimensionally structured W-V-O catalysts (HDS-WVO) were synthesized by hydrothermal method and catalyst structures were investigated by HAADF-STEM analysis. HDS-WVO were rod-shaped crystals and the cross-sections were constituted by W 6 O 21 pentagonal units and MO 6 octahedra (M = V, W), forming heptagonal and hexagonal channels. HDS-WVO catalysts showed excellent catalytic performance for selective oxidation of toluene to benzoic acid, and the activity and the selectivity to benzoic acid were superior to those of state-of-the-art catalysts. After the ion exchange using Cs+, the catalytic activity over HDS-WVO was significantly decreased. Since HAADF-STEM analysis and N 2 adsorption revealed that Cs+ was located mainly at the heptagonal channel of HDS-WVO, it can be concluded that toluene oxidation takes place at the heptagonal channel site of HDS-WVO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of the porous structure of carbon support for bimetallic PtRu PEFC anode catalysts on their CO tolerance, a series of Resorcinol-formaldehyde carbon gels with different resorcinol to catalyst (R/C) ratios (i.e., 200, 800 and 1000) were synthesized and used to support Pt 2 Ru 3 nanoparticles. Synthesized catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, N 2 gas adsorption/desorption experiments, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. CO tolerances were evaluated by using a single cell in a H 2 feed in the presence of CO ranging from 100 to 2000 ppm. The potential difference of the cell using Pt 2 Ru 3 /RC1000ac58 anode catalyst was 0.655 V whereas the cell using a commercial Pt 2 Ru 3 /C catalyst showed a voltage of 0.570 V in the presence of 500 ppm CO. The results reveal that high modal size and volume of mesopore enhance diffusivity of CO resulted in effectively oxidization of CO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Mo3VO x with different surface areas and the same micropore volumes were synthesized. [•] Heptagonal micropore of orthorhombic Mo3VO x was responsible for catalytic activity. [•] Ethane oxidation takes place inside the micropore of the orthorhombic Mo3VO x oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: PtRu/WOx catalyst is prepared in a polyol process with three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) WO3 as the template in combination with an ammonia-leaching treatment. The morphology, composition and structure of the prepared catalysts are characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy, N2 adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical activities are evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and chronoamperometry measurements in combination with in situ IR reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). The composition and particle size of the PtRu/WOx catalyst are similar to those of the PtRu catalyst prepared without the 3DOM WOx template, and both of the catalysts have a uniform element distribution, however, the PtRu/WOx catalyst has a more porous structure and greater metallic Pt proportion due to the support role of the residual WOx template and the interaction between WOx and PtRu nanoparticles. Electrochemical and in situ IRRAS measurements indicate that the PtRu/WOx catalyst has a greater electro-catalytic activity for methanol oxidation than the PtRu catalyst due to the assisting catalytic role of WOx and mass transport benefit of the porous structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The electrocatalysis of heat-treated Co-TPP/carbon for O2 reduction and H2O2 formation using a fuel cell reactor with an H2SO4 aqueous electrolyte was studied (TPP: 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(phenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin). Carbon supports, including vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF), activated carbon (AC), carbon black XC-72 (XC72), and carbon black Black-Pearl-2000/3500 (BP2000/3500), strongly affected the electrocatalysis of the Co-TPP/carbon. The Co-TPP/VGCF heat-treated at 1023K, abbreviated as Co-TPP/VGCF(1073), showed a good electrocatalytic activity for H2O2 formation (1.0moldm−3 with 40% current efficiency (CE)); however, other carbon supports were unfavorable. Electrocatalytic activities were Co-TPP/VGCF(1073)>>Co-TPP/XC72(1073)>Co-TPP/AC(1073)>Co-TPP/BP2000(1073). Their electrocatalysis were studied by rotating ring-disk electrode voltammetry and kinetic studies of the decomposition of H2O2 and the electroreduction of H2O2 to water. These studies indicated that the electrocatalytic activities for the successive reduction of H2O2 to water determined the final H2O2 concentrations and CEs. An active site of heat-treated Co-TPP/VGCF was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption near-edge fine structure spectroscopy. Partial pyrolysis of Co-TPP on the carbon surface was essential to generate the active site for the H2O2 formation. A model of the Co active site, CoN2–carbon, was proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]