Physicochemical,including spectroscopic,and biological analyses during composting of green tea waste and rice bran

The aims of this study were to monitor the changes in physicochemical, including spectroscopic, and biological characteristics during composting of green tea waste–rice bran compost (GRC) and to define parameters suitable for evaluating the stability of GRC. Compost pile temperature reflected the initiation and stabilization of the composting process. The pH, electrical conductivity, NO₃ ⁻-N content, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio were measured as chemical properties of the compost. The color (CIELAB variables), humification index (the absorption ratio Q _4/6 = A ₄₇₂ / A ₆₆₄ of 0.5 M NaOH extracts), absorption at 665 nm of acetone extracts, and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra were measured to evaluate the organic matter transformation; germination of komatsuna or tomato seeds was measured to assess the potential phytotoxicity of composting materials during composting. No single parameter was capable of giving substantial information on the composting process, the nutrient balance, phytotoxicity, and organic matter decomposition. The FT-IR spectra at 3,300, 2,930, 2,852, and 1,065 cm⁻¹ provided information on the molecular transformation of GRC during composting and they decreased over the composting. Most of the assayed parameters showed no further change after about 90 days of composting suggesting that GRC can be used for agricultural purposes after this period.     

Phenolic constituents in the fruits of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and their antioxidant activity

Defatted cinnamon fruit powder was successively extracted with benzene ethyl acetate, acetone, MeOH, and water. The concentrated water extract contained the maximum amount of phenolics and showed the highest antioxidant activities. Hence, it was fractionated by Diaion HP-20SS, Diaion HP-20, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies. It gave five purified compounds, the purities of which were analyzed by HPLC. Compounds 1-5 were identified as 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (protocatechuic acid), epicatechin-(2beta-->O-7,4beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin (cinnamtannin B-1), 4-[2,3-dihydro-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7-(methoxy)benzofuranyl]-2-methoxyphenyl beta-d-glucopyranoside (urolignoside), quercetin-3-O-(6-O-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (rutin), and quercetin-3-O-alpha-l-rhamnopyranoside by using extensive spectral studies. The antioxidant activities of purified compounds were screened for their antioxidative potential using beta-carotene-linoleate and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl model systems. All of the compounds showed antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. This is the first report of the isolation and identification of nonvolatile constituents and as well as antioxidant activities from cinnamon fruits.     

‘Niigata S3’ is a new strawberry cultivar suitable for forcing culture under low temperature and insolation conditions

‘Niigata S3’ is a new strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivar that is early flowering and possesses high soluble solid content and good coloration. It was selected from a cross between Kei812 (seed parent) and ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (pollen parent). The first harvest date of ‘Niigata S3’ was December 27, 34 days earlier than ‘Echigohime’ and 9 days earlier than ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (means of 2007 and 2008). The marketable yield of ‘Niigata S3’ was 85% of ‘Echigohime’, 107% of ‘Asuka-Ruby’, while the early yield was 145% of ‘Echigohime’, 85% of ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (based on 2007 and 2008 means). The shape of the fruit is long conical, and its skin color medium-red. The fruit skin hardness of ‘Niigata S3’ was 31.5 g/mm², which was harder than ‘Echigohime’, and its average soluble solid content was 11.4%, which was higher than the values for ‘Echigohime’ and ‘Asuka-Ruby’ (2008). Furthermore, ‘Niigata S3’ did not bear apical overripe fruit. This new cultivar is adaptable to the climatic conditions of Niigata, as well as other regions that experience low winter temperatures and insolation.     

Cynomolgus macaque CYP4 isoforms are functional, metabolizing arachidonic acid

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is important for metabolism of not only xenobiotics such as drugs, but also endogenous compounds including arachidonic acids. CYP4A11, CYP4F3v2, CYP4F11, and CYP4F45 have been identified in cynomolgus macaque, an animal species widely used for investigation of drug metabolism due to its evolutionary closeness to human. However, their metabolic functions have not been investigated. In this study, proteins were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized by metabolic assays using arachidonic acids as substrates that are metabolized by CYP4 isoforms in human. The results showed that all four CYPs metabolized arachidonic acids. Therefore, cynomolgus macaque CYP4A11, CYP4F3v2, CYP4F11, and CYP4F45 are functional enzymes.     

Outbreak of human infections with uncommon Salmonella serotypes linked to pet bearded dragons, 2012–2014

Reptiles are one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States pet industry. Reptile‐associated salmonellosis (RAS) continues to be an important public health problem, especially among children. We investigated an outbreak of human Salmonella infections resulting from serotypes Cotham and Kisarawe, predominately occurring among children. An outbreak of illnesses was identified in persons with exposure to pet bearded dragon lizards. Human and animal health officials, in cooperation with the pet industry, conducted epidemiologic, traceback and laboratory investigations. Onsite sampling was conducted at two US breeding facilities, one foreign breeding facility, and a large pet retail chain. A total of 166 patients in 36 states were identified with illness onset dates from 02/2012–06/2014. The median patient age was 3 years (range, <1–79 years), 57% were aged ≤5 years, and 37% were aged ≤1 year. Forty‐four patients (37%) were hospitalized, predominantly children. Sampling at breeding facilities and a national pet store chain resulted in isolation of outbreak serotypes at each facility; isolation proportions ranged from 2%–24% of samples collected at each facility.Epidemiologic, microbiologic and traceback evidence linked an outbreak of uncommon Salmonella serotypes to contact with pet bearded dragons. The high proportion of infants involved in this outbreak highlights the need to educate owners about the risk of RAS in children and the potential for household contamination by pet reptiles or their habitats. Strategies should be developed to improve breeding practices, biosecurity and monitoring protocols to reduce Salmonella in the pet reptile trade.     

Free radical scavenging ability and structure of a 90-kDa protein from the scallop shell

We have previously reported that the scallop shell extract possesses free radical scavenging activity. In this study, we isolated a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 90 kDa (named 90-kDa protein) which showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging, reducing, and ferrous ion-chelating activities. Amino acid composition analysis showed that the 90-kDa protein was rich in Asx (Asp or Asn), Ser and Gly residues. A BLAST search of partial amino acid sequences determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry revealed that the 90-kDa protein is a novel protein. The 90-kDa protein is a yellow protein that contains fluorescent substances. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a radical scavenging protein from the scallop shell.     

Isolation of serotype 2 Marek's disease virus from birds belonging to genus Gallus in Japan

Serotype 2 of Marek's disease virus (MDV) was isolated from apparently healthy birds belonging to genus Gallus that had no history of vaccination with MDV or herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT). Buffy-coat cells from these birds were inoculated onto chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cultures for primary isolation. Thirteen isolates from one golden pheasant and three white silky fowls, three black silky fowls, three Japanese long crowers, and three Japanese bantams produced herpes-like cytopathic effects (CPE) in the CEF cultures. Using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies to MDV and HVT, 11 isolates were identified as serotype 2 MDV by indirect fluorescent antibody tests. The other two isolates were complicated with serotypes 1 and 3 of MDV-related viruses. Of 13 isolates, three cloned by the limiting-dilution method were further characterized as serotype 2 MDV biologically, genetically, and serologically. The results showed that the birds of the genus Gallus were naturally infected with serotype 2 MDV. This is the first report ever published about the distribution of serotype 2 MDV among healthy birds of the genus Gallus.