Synthesis and spectral properties of phthalimide based alkali-clearable azo disperse dyes

The synthesis of a series of phthalimide based azo disperse dyes and their spectral properties were investigated. The azo dyes containing phthalimide and N-methyl phthalimide structure in diazo component were synthesized in order to compare their spectral properties. The synthesized dyes developed the color of yellow to violet and the N-substitution of the phthalimide gave a bathochromic effect on the color change. Most of the synthesized dyes exhibit negative solvatochromism so that the absorption band of dyes moves toward shorter wavelengths as the polarity of the solvent increases. In the case of halochromic effect, the bathochromic shift decreased steadily with the general electron donating capacity of the substituents in the coupling component, and became negative especially when more powerful electron donating groups are present in the coupling components ring.     

Probing of an environmentally friendly regenerated cellulose material having bimorphic behavior

Novel regenerated cellulose material which was prepared from cellulose acetate fiber through the hydrolysis of acetyl groups have been developed by an environmentally friendly process without emitting toxic substances in addition to be at low production cost. They have composite crystalline structure constituted of cellulose II and cellulose IV. Also, they show a lamellar morphology with an increased amorphous region, as compared to conventional regenerated cellulose such as viscose rayon and cupra rayon. Our data obtained by several independent methods demonstrated that the adsorption properties of cellulose fibers depend predominantly on the amorphous region.     

Detection and isolation of winter dysentery bovine coronavirus circulated in Korea during 2002-2004

Although winter dysentery (WD) has been suspected to occur frequently in Korea, to date the exact epidemiology of WD has remained unknown. Therefore, we investigated the causative agents of WD by using electron microscopy, ELISA, RT-PCR, and nested PCR from 97 fecal samples of 32 WD-affected herds collected from 8 provinces during 2002-2004. The bovine coronavirus (BoCV) was consistently detected in all herds with WD. Of other pathogens, only coccidian oocyts were inconsistently but concurrently detected with BoCV. Ten isolates were identified as BoCV by immune electron microscope, immunofluorescent test and ELISA with antiserum to BoCV, and RT-PCR. From these results, it is concluded that WD caused by BoCV occurred in relatively high frequency and was widespread in Korea. The results provide important epidemiological data for the control and establishment of a surveillance system for WD in Korea.     

The effect of thrombin on astrocyte stellation with regional specificity

In this study, we have examined the possible existence of astrocyte regional heterogeneity in thrombin effect on astrocyte stellation. Neonatal astrocytes were cultured for 2 weeks from six different regions of the neonatal rat brain, including the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, brainstem, midbrain, hypothalamus and cerebellum. Culture medium was changed to DMEM containing 8-CPT-cyclic AMP (cAMP) or isoproterenol plus various concentrations of thrombin for 2 hr. Thrombin effectively blocked both cAMP- and isoproterenol-induced cell stellation in a dose-dependent manner in all regional astrocytes except cerebellar astrocytes. RT-PCR analysis showed that thrombin receptor mRNA was expressed in all regional astrocytes, suggesting that cerebellar astrocytes may maintain a unique signaling pathway downstream of the thrombin receptor.     

Effect of the co-administration of vitamin C and vitamin E on tyrosine hydroxylase and Nurr1 expression in the prenatal rat ventral mesencephalon

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme of dopamine (DA) biosynthesis, which is up-regulated by vitamin C administration. Nurr1 gene is highly expressed in brain and important for midbrain DAergic cell development and survival. But, the role of vitamin C and/or vitamin E during Nurr1 expression is yet to be known. Further, the synergistic effect of vitamins C and E on TH expression has not yet been explored clinically. Therefore, we studied the effects of single or co- administration of vitamin C (0.5 mM) and vitamin E (1 mM) for 72 hr, on both TH and Nurr1 expression in in vitro primary cultured gestational days (GD) 13.5 rat ventral mesencephalon (VM) by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. Our study revealed highest expressions of both TH and Nurr1 in the vitamin C + vitamin E treated group. TH expression was also increased in the vitamin C treated group than that of the control group, but the vitamin E treated group did not show any statistically significant effect. However, both the vitamin C and the vitamin E treated groups revealed increased expression of Nurr1 protein as compared with the control group. The present experimental data suggest that vitamin C can up-regulate the protein expression of TH, but Nurr1 level was elevated either by vitamin C or by vitamin E administration. Further, vitamin E acts synergistically with vitamin C to elevate TH and Nurr1 expression, which is the most novel finding of our study and for the first time; we reported this result, since there have been no published data on the synergistic effect of both the antioxidant vitamins on TH and Nurr1 expression in VM. As the motor function defect due to the progressive loss of DAergic neuron is the major reason of Parkinsonism, therefore, the results of our study finally suggest the effective role of vitamin C and vitamin E during early treatment of Parkinsonism.     

Streptococcal Cellulitis Following Preparation of Fresh Raw Seafood

We describe three zoonotic streptococcal soft tissue infections resulting from fresh seafood contact. One was a localized thumb infection with Streptococcus iniae in an immunocompetent healthy young male resulting from a puncture wound from a crab pincer. The other two were cases of ascending upper limb cellulitis associated with bacteraemia in mastectomy patients. One of these infections was caused by S. iniae while the other was caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae, a species that has not been previously described as a cause of zoonotic infection. Hence when cleaning raw seafood, protective equipment should be used to minimize the risk of percutaneous injuries.     

One-bath dyeing of PET/cotton blends with azohydroxypyridone disperse dyes containing a fluorosulfonyl group

Azohydroxypyridone disperse dyes containing a fluorosulfonyl group were dyed on PET/cotton blends and their dyeing and fastness properties were investigated. Specially, the azohydroxypyridone dyes containing a nitro group in place of the fluorosulfonyl group in the para position to azo group were synthesized in order to compare their dyeing and fastness properties on PET/cotton blends with those of fluorosulfonyl-substituted analogues. As these dyes can be alkali cleared in the same bath, a one-bath dyeing method was used and the results were compared with that of a conventional two-bath dyeing method. In particular, the cross-staining of cotton was studied in order to assess their suitability for the one-bath dyeing of PET/cotton blends.     

Evaluation of the dyeability of the new eco-friendly regenerated cellulose

Three commercial dyes-direct, reactive, and vat dye-were applied to the new regenerated cellulose fiber which was prepared from cellulose acetate fiber through the hydrolysis of acetyl groups with an environmentally friendly manufacturing process. The effect of salt, alkali, liquor ratio, temperature, and leveling agent on the dyeing behavior and fastness were evaluated and compared with regular viscose rayon. From the results, we found that new regenerated cellulose fiber exhibited better dyeability and fastness than regular viscose rayon.     

Sensitivity of insectivorous bats to urbanization: Implications for suburban conservation planning

Indonesia and Norway have entered into a landmark deal that will pay Indonesia up to US$1 billion for forest-conservation activities aimed at slowing rampant deforestation and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. A recent Presidential Instruction in Indonesia outlines a key deliverable of this “Partnership”—a two-year suspension on new concessions for clearing or logging of peat and old-growth forest. Here, we discuss the implications of this instruction for carbon and biodiversity protection. The protection of highly threatened deep peatlands represents a clear victory. However, by focusing solely on old-growth forests, the instruction excludes over 46 million ha of selectively logged rainforests, which often have high carbon storage and biodiversity. This leaves the logged forests, most of which are in accessible lowland areas, highly vulnerable to re-logging and conversion for oil palm and pulpwood plantations. The instruction also could allow large areas of peatlands and old-growth forest to be converted to sugarcane—one of the world’s most rapidly expanding biofuel crops. While the Partnership could potentially help reform land-use planning and reduce illegal deforestation in Indonesia, we argue that Indonesia must also strive to protect vulnerable logged forests, which comprise a large part of the country’s high-carbon, high-biodiversity lands.     

Accumulation mechanism of γ-aminobutyric acid in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under low O2 with and without CO2

The storage of ripe tomatoes in low-O(2) conditions with and without CO(2) promotes γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation. The activities of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and α-ketoglutarate-dependent GABA transaminase (GABA-TK) were higher and lower, respectively, following storage under hypoxic (2.4 or 3.5% O(2)) or adjusted aerobic (11% O(2)) conditions compared to the activities in air for 7 days at 25 °C. GAD activity was consistent with the expression level of mRNA for GAD. The GABA concentration in tomatoes stored under hypoxic conditions and adjusted aerobic conditions was 60-90% higher than that when they are stored in air on the same day. These results demonstrate that upregulation of GAD activity and downregulation of GABA-TK activity cause GABA accumulation in tomatoes stored under low-O(2) conditions. Meanwhile, the effect of CO(2) on GABA accumulation is probably minimal.