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Notes: Limiting molar conductances of the K+ and Cl− ions in heavy and light water have been determined at 45 °C as a function of pressure up to 2000 kgf cm−2 (1 kgf cm−2 =0.9807×105 Pa) from the measured conductances and transference numbers of KCl. The residual friction coefficients (Δζobs ) of the K+ and Cl− ions obtained by using their limiting molar conductances and the bulk viscosity of solvent are compared up to 1000 kgf cm−2 with the corresponding values (ΔζHO ) predicted by the Hubbard–Onsager dielectric friction theory. As predicted, Δζobs for the cation in H2 O is smaller than that in D2 O and slightly decreases with increasing pressure, while its value in D2 O is almost invariant in the pressure range studied. The failure of the continuum theory in D2 O indicates that the effect of the open structure of water on the cation migration cannot be neglected even at 45 °C because of stronger hydrogen bonds in D2 O than in H2 O. For the anion, on the other hand, the continuum theory shows more serious limitations: (i) Δζobs (Cl−) in H2 O is not smaller than that in D2 O even at 45 °C with a large difference at high pressures and (ii) Δζobs (Cl−) becomes negative in both types of water at high pressures. The difference in Δζ(Cl−) between theory and experiment at 45 °C, however, becomes much smaller than that at lower temperatures.

Notes: Absorption by the tap-root and by different nodal roots of white clover S100 and translocation of 32P were investigated to find to what extent nodal roots can compensate for the absence of a tap-root. 32P absorbed from the tap-root was distributed evenly within the whole plant. When translocation from the 2nd and 7th nodal roots was studied, similar distribution was obtained only from the nodal root closer to the centre of the plant. The backward movement of 32P absorbed from nodal roots at the base of the plant increased as the root size increased. Removal of tap-roots resulted in temporary depression of translocation; its effect disappeared within 3 weeks.It is concluded that the ability of nodal roots to compensate for loss of the tap-root depends on their position and size.

Notes: The root growth of 3 temperate–region grasses (perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, and cocksfoot) and of 3 tropical grasses (Dallis grass, Bahia grass, and Rhodes grass) was investigated in large glass–sided root–boxes. The trend of root numbers and the rate of elongation of roots were ascertained to discover how the Japanese climate affected the root growth of these species.All the temperate–region grasses produced new roots vigorously during spring, but root growth ceased in August, whereas the roots of tropical grasses grew rapidly in this month. The alternate use of these two types of grasses during the growing season may therefore be worthwhile in Japan

Notes: Limiting molar conductances of the K+ and Cl− ions in heavy and light water have been determined at 5 °C as a function of pressure up to 1500 kgf cm−2 (1 kgf cm−2=0.9807×105 Pa) from the measured conductances and transference numbers of KCl. The residual friction coefficients (Δζ) are obtained for the cation and anion in D2O and H2O by using the determined limiting conductance and the bulk viscosity of solvent, and they are compared with the corresponding values predicted by applying the Hubbard–Onsager (HO) dielectric friction theory at various pressures below 1000 kgf cm−2. At atmospheric and high pressures, the solvent isotope and temperature effects on Δζ observed for the K+ ion are qualitatively in agreement with the theoretical prediction. However, the slightly positive pressure coefficients of Δζ(K+) are obtained in both solvents at 5 °C contrary to the theoretical prediction. Furthermore, Δζ(K+) in D2O at 5 °C is smaller than the theoretical one. These results suggest that another mechanism such as the passing through cavities one plays a more important role in ion migration of the K+ ion at lower temperatures and in D2O. On the other hand, the reverse solvent isotope and temperature effects on Δζ(Cl−), and the negative values of Δζ(Cl−) are found. These anomalies cannot be explained by the continuum theory.

Notes: Limiting molar conductances of the K+ and Cl− ions in heavy and light water have been determined at 25 °C as a function of pressure up to 2 kbar from the measured conductances and transference numbers of KCl. The residual friction coefficients (Δζ) are obtained for the cation and the anion in D2O and H2O by using the determined limiting conductance and the bulk viscosity of solvent and compared with the corresponding values predicted by applying the Hubbard–Onsager (HO) dielectric friction theory at various pressures below 1 kbar. At atmospheric and high pressures Δζ of the K+ ion in D2O is larger than that in H2O just as predicted by the HO theory, but Δζ of the Cl− ion in D2O is smaller than that in H2O on the contrary to the theoretical prediction. The reverse solvent isotope effect on Δζ(Cl−) suggests that a microscopic viscosity in the vicinity of the relatively large ion is smaller than the bulk viscosity used in the continuum theory.

Notes: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of angiotensinogen (AGT) gene polymorphisms in the progression of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The association of the haplotypes defined by A-20C and M235T, which correspond to G-6 A polymorphisms, with the severity of glomerular or interstitial lesions and renal prognosis were investigated.Patients with histologically proven IgAN were recruited after informed consent was obtained for the genetic study, which was approved by the ethics committee of our institute. Genomic DNA from each patient was prepared from peripheral blood leucocytes using an automatic DNA isolation system (NA-100, Kurabo, Osaka, Japan). A–C transition at nucleotide −20, G–A transition at −6, C–T transition at +68 and M235T variant at exon two in the AGT gene were determined as described previously.1,2The renal survival rate was analysed for 114 IgAN patients with a creatinine clearance (Ccr) level of 70 mL/min or greater and followed up more than 24 months. The patients with haplotype T235 and C-20 (n = 63) were compared with those without T235 and C-20 (n = 51) for age, sex, blood pressure, proteinuria, serum Cr, Ccr at the time of renal biopsy, drugs administered, and severity of renal histopathologic lesion.Light microscopic evaluation of all specimens was performed in a double blind fashion according to the grading classification described previously, including glomerular cellular proliferation, mesangial matrix increase, global or segmental sclerosis, endocapillary proliferation, leucocyte exudation, duplication of glomerular basement membrane, crescent formation, and tufts adhesion to Bowman’s capsule as well as tubulointerstitial lesions.3The Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards regression model analysed the time course from renal biopsy to end point (initiation of dialysis or sCr level doubled after the time of diagnosis). Several covariates were selected by a stepwise backward method and the effects of these covariates were expressed by a hazard ratio. P 〈 0.05 was considered statistically significant.The genotype distributions in the present study were not different from that in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The genotype and allele frequencies of AGT variants were compatible with previous studies for Japanese population.1,4 Haplotype analysis showed a complete linkage disequilibrium between M235T and A-20C alleles (linkage-disequilibrium coefficient: D′, 1.00). Because the AGT gene variant at −20 was observed only in a subset of the 235T alleles, the following haplotypes were determined: T235 and C-20; T235 and A-20; and M235 and A-20. The incidence of hypertension was not different between each haplotype of AGT.An association study of histopathological findings revealed that patients with haplotype T235 and C-20 had significantly higher grading scores in crescent formation (P = 0.017) than those without haplotype T235 and C-20. Renal survival rate was significantly lower in the patients with haplotype T235 and C-20 (〈link href="#f1"〉Fig. 1, P = 0.003). The Cox proportional hazards regression model showed an increased hazard ratio (HR) for haplotype T235 and C–20 of 5.9 from multivariate analysis (〈link href="#f2"〉Fig. 2; 95% CI, 2.1–16.7; P 〈 0.001). Furthermore, in IgAN patients without administration of angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitors (n = 77), renal survival rate was significantly lower in those with haplotype T235 and C–20 (P = 0.011).〈figure xml:id="f1"〉1〈mediaResource alt="image" href="urn:x-wiley:13205358:NEP19:NEP_19_f1"/〉Effect of AGT haplotype on the renal survival rate in IgAN patients. Solid and dashed lines represent the renal survival rate in the patients with and without haplotype T235 and C–20, respectively.〈figure xml:id="f2"〉2〈mediaResource alt="image" href="urn:x-wiley:13205358:NEP19:NEP_19_f2"/〉Cox proportional hazards regression model to test the predictors for renal survival time in multivariate analysis. Covariates were selected by stepwise backward analysis. U-protein, urinary protein; HT at renal biopsy, hypertensives at the time of renal biopsy; ACEI, angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor. The bars represent the 95% confidence intervals of hazard ratio.This work provides the evidence that the C–20 gene polymorphism of AGT, a subset of 235T alleles, is associated with histopathological severity of glomerular injury, and progression of renal dysfunction in Japanese patient with IgAN.