Antioxidative and Antigenotoxic Activity of Extracts from Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) Flowers

The Cosmos bipinnatus has been used in a traditional herbal remedy for various diseases such as jaundice, intermittent fever, and splenomegaly. The present study describes the preliminary evaluation of antioxidant activities and antigenotoxic effect of Cosmos bipinnatus flowers according to four different colors (white, pink, orange, and violet). The antioxidants properties were evaluated by determining TPC, DPPH RSA, ABTS RSA, and RP. The highest TPC of methanolic CFE (at concentration of 1 mg/ml) showed in violet colored CF (1,013 μM), and IC₅₀ of DPPH RSA, ABTS RSA, and RP were also the lowest in violet colored CFE with values of 0.61, 1.48, and 0.82 mg/ml, respectively. The antigenotoxic effect of the CFE on DNA damage induced by H₂O₂ in human leukocytes was evaluated by Comet assay. Pretreatments with CFE produced significant reductions in oxidative DNA damage at the concentration of 500 μg/ml, except for violet colored CFE. The ED₅₀ value of white colored CFE has shown the highest inhibition (0.40 mg/ml) on H₂O₂ induced DNA damage, followed by orange > pink > violet color. These results suggested that Cosmos bipinnatus has significant antioxidant activity and protective effect against oxidative DNA damage.     

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.     

High-Tc superconductors in the two-dimensional limit:

The free modulation of interlayer distance in a layered high-transition temperature (high-Tc) superconductor is of crucial importance not only for the study of the superconducting mechanism but also for the practical application of high-Tc superconducting materials. Two-dimensional (2D) superconductors were achieved by intercalating a long-chain organic compound into bismuth-based high-Tc cuprates. Although the intercalation of the organic chain increased the interlayer distance remarkably, to tens of angstroms, the superconducting transition temperature of the intercalate was nearly the same as that of the pristine material, suggesting the 2D nature of the high-Tc superconductivity.     

Genetic relationship between the adult plant resistance gene Lr12 and the complementary gene Lr31 for seedling resistance to leaf rust in common wheat

A resistant phenotype similar to that conferred in wheat by the complementary genes Lr27  +  Lr31 was produced in the progeny of intercrosses of cultivars carrying Lr27 and a line possessing Lr12 . This confirms that Lr12 is either completely linked with Lr31 or is the same gene. On the basis of these findings and that Lr31 is located on chromosome 4BS, it is concluded that Lr12 must also be located on 4BS. Adult-plant genetic tests confirm that the Australian wheat cultivar Timgalen carries Lr12 , and stocks with Lr12 alone were established from this cultivar.     

Haematological and biochemical alterations in Korean catfish, Silurus asotus, experimentally infected with Edwardsiella tarda

This study determined the haematological changes in Korean catfish, Silurus asotus , experimentally infected with Edwardsiella tarda . Twenty-four or 48 h after infection with 1 × 10⁴ colony-forming units (CFU) mL⁻¹ of E. tarda , the fish were anaesthetized and the blood was collected. The haematological and biochemical tests included haematocrit (Ht), haemoglobin (Hb), leucocyte counts (Lc), total calcium (Ca), total protein (TP) concentration, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose (GLU), aspartate aminotransferase, lysozyme and differential leucocyte populations. After 24- and 48-h infection, the values of Ht, Hb, Lc, TP, ALP and GLU were significantly decreased with respect to the control. Aspartate aminotransferase and lysozyme activity in both the 24- and 48-h groups exhibited higher levels compared with those in the control. However, the bacterial infection did not induce any significant alteration in the Ca concentration. After the 48-h infection, neutrophils and macrophage populations were reduced whereas lymphocytes were increased with respect to those in the control and the 24-h infection groups. The present study demonstrates that E. tarda infection causes haemato-biochemical responses that are related to the general physiological condition and defence system in catfish.     

The optimum dietary docosahexaenoic acid level based on growth and non‐specific immune responses in juvenile rock bream,Oplegnathus fasciatus

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimum level and effect of incremental dietary levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3) on growth and non‐specific immune responses in juvenile rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus. A basal diet without DHA supplementation was used as a control, and six other diets were prepared by supplementing with 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 or 40 g kg^?1 DHA. These diets included no eicosapentaenoic acid and/or arachidonic acid contents. The actual DHA concentrations of the diets were 1, 4.8, 8.9, 13.1, 17.6, 21.2 and 41.4 g kg^?1 diet (DHA_1.0, DHA_4.8, DHA_8.9, DHA_13.1, DHA_17.6, DHA_21.2 and DHA_41.4 respectively). At the end of feeding trial, final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate and feed efficiency of fish fed the DHA_13.1, DHA_17.6, DHA_21.2 and DHA_41.4 diets were significantly higher than those fed the other diets (P < 0.05). The broken‐line analysis of weight gain indicates that the optimum dietary DHA level is 11.9 g kg^?1. Fish fed DHA_1.0 had the highest hepatosomatic index, an increase in plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, low‐density lipoprotein and aspartate aminotransferase levels, as well as a decrease in high‐density lipoprotein. Superoxide dismutase activity of fish fed DHA_13.1 and DHA_17.6 diets was significantly higher than that of fish fed DHA_1.0, DHA_4.8 and DHA_8.9 diets. Fish fed the DHA_17.6, DHA_21.2 and DHA_41.4 diets showed significantly higher lysozyme activity than those fish fed DHA_1.0, DHA_4.8 and DHA_8.9 diets. Therefore, the optimum dietary DHA level could be greater than 11.9 g kg^?1 but less than 13.1 g kg^?1 in diet.     

Effects of temperature on growth and fatty acid synthesis in the cyclopoid copepod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paracyclopina nana</Emphasis>

We have used the cyclopoid copepod Paracyclopina nana to understand responses to the temperature shift. To determine the changes of molecular mechanisms, which would lead to physiological changes in P. nana, we investigated mRNA expression involved in lipogenesis, the area of lipid droplets, the ratio of fatty acids, and life parameters (growth and fecundity) in response to temperature changes (15, 20, and 30 °C) with comparative control at 25 °C. Setting the temperature 25 °C as a standard point, there were increases in mRNA expression, the area of the lipid droplets, and fatty acid composition at temperatures below the standard (15 °C), while all the markers mentioned above significantly decreased at higher temperatures than the standard (25 °C). Through fecundity and growth rate experiments, daily nauplii production was reduced and growth retardation was observed at both 15 and 20 °C, but no noticeable differences in the two parameters were observed at 30 °C compared to the control (25 °C). This study provides a better understanding of the effects of temperature on lipogenesis in copepods.     

Dispersant-free dyeing of poly(lactic acid) knitted fabric with temporarily solubilized azo disperse dyes

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is known for environmentally friendly material as it is derived from annually renewable crops and biodegradable. Dispersant-free dyeing of PLA fabric with three temporarily solubilized azo disperse dyes which contain β-sulfatoethylsulfonyl group was investigated and their dyeing and fastness properties were compared with those of commercial disperse dyes. The temporarily solubilized azo disperse dyes were successfully applied to PLA fabric without the use of dispersant. The color yield on PLA fabric was dependent on dyebath pH and dyeing temperature as well. The optimum results were obtained at pH 7-8 and 110 °C. The dyes showed markedly higher color yield on PLA fabric when compared to commercial disperse dyes. Wash fastness was very poor to poor but light fastness was good. The COD levels of the dyeing effluent from the temporarily solubilized disperse dyes were considerably lower than those from commercial disperse dyes.     

Experimental study on failure mechanism of hybrid composite joints with different adhesives

The use of the hybrid joint has increased in recent years because of its superior mechanical characteristics. In this study, quasistatic experiments were performed to elucidate the failure mechanism of hybrid composite joints upon consideration of the properties of the adhesive, clamping force, and joint width. The results showed that the stiffness of the adhesive is the most important design parameter. In this study, two adhesives with different stiffness values were used. In the case of the joints using the adhesive with the lower stiffness modulus, it was observed that the load was transferred readily through the adhesive since it was shared between the bolt and adhesive more efficiently. This phenomenon allowed the hybrid joints that use the low-modulus adhesive to sustain greater loads before failure, as compared to the joints that use the stiffer adhesive.