In vivo antioxidant activities of essential oils and their constituents from leaves of the Taiwanese Cinnamomum osmophloeum

Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kaneh is an indigenous tree species in Taiwan. In this study, phytochemical characteristics and antioxidant activities of the essential oils and key constituents from the leaves of two C. osmophloeum clones were investigated. The two trees possess two chemotypes, which were classified as the cinnamaldehyde type and camphor type. We demonstrated that the essential oils from C. osmophloeum leaves exerted in vivo antioxidant activities in Caenorhabditis elegans. In addition, trans-cinnamaldehyde and D-(+)-camphor, which respectively represent the major compounds in the cinnamaldehyde-type and camphor-type trees, exerted significant in vivo antioxidant activities against juglone-induced oxidative stress in C. elegans. Moreover, expressions of antioxidative-related genes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), were significantly induced by trans-cinnamaldehyde and D-(+)-camphor from C. osmophloeum leaves. Our results showed that the essential oils from C. osmophloeum leaves and their major compounds might have good potential for further development as nutraceuticals or antioxidant remedies.     

Population genetics of red imported fire ant in Taiwan

In the case of recently established populations of Solenopsis invicta in Taiwan,analysis of genetic variation may provide various dimensions regarding the historical demographic events of this invasive species,which represents a novel opportunity to study the genetic consequences of invasiveness over an ex- tremely short time period.Here we describe genetic structure of two introduced S.invicta populations, Taoyuan and Chiayi,in Taiwan using two classes of markers,nuclear(microsatellites)and mitochondrial (mtDNA)genomes.Pronounced regional differentiation inferred from either AMOVA or Bayesian clustering approach at both genomes suggests that the two populations most likely originate from separate introductions. Furthermore,significant mtDNA but not nuclear differentiation between sympatric social forms suggests two scenarios that interform gene flow is mainly mediated by males,and queens of each form commonly fail to become egg-layers of alternate form.Isolation by distance(IBD)obtained from microsatellites is absent in monogynes,indicating sexuals of this form retain the superior dispersal ability to homogenize the nuclear sig- nature among spatially isolated areas;however,lack of IBD in less vagile polygyne may result from frequent human mediated jump dispersal that erodes the geographical restrictions of genetic exchange.The patterns observed here not only provide insights into how social organization influences the interform gene flow but also reinforce different breeding strategies pursued by two forms in the character of shaping the genetic varia- tion at two levels of genomes.     

斯洛伐克农田土壤环境学指标的研究

The soil environmental index(SEI),which is a four digit code system,represents relatively homogenous spatial unit with specific soil capacity to provide ecological or non-production functions.This work aimed to present information on rating and economic evaluation of SEI,which is a spatial identifier used for expressing heterogeneity of Slovak agricultural soil to support analysis of soil ecological functions.In this study,SEI index expressed the capacity of soil to accumulate water,immobilise the risk elements and substances and transform risk substances(organic pollutants).Partial evaluations of soil capacity to provide above mentioned functions were used to derive final SEI values.Within the agricultural soils of Slovakia there were 493 combinations of soil environmental index.Each index was expressed through rating(point)value and economic value.Average value of Slovak agricultural land to provide selected ecological soil functions was 55.3 points,which corresponded to 35.946 billionper agricultural land or approximately 1.42per square meter.Spatial identification of SEI codes and relevant database were developed in vector form via geographical information systems of Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute,Bratislava.In addition to using the national soil database system,a strategy was presented for evaluating and pricing of soil ecological function,and the development of an soil environmental index.Assessment and evaluation of vitally important soil functions expressed by SEI can significantly contribute to planning and protection of the soil,and can regulate indiscriminate anthropic interventions in land use decisions.     

Spatial Response of Mammals to Late Quaternary Environmental Fluctuations

Analyses of fossil mammal faunas from 2945 localities in the United States demonstrate that the geographic ranges of individual species shifted at different times, in different directions, and at different rates in response to late Quaternary environmental fluctuations. The geographic pattern of faunal provinces was similar for the late Pleistocene and late Holocene, but differing environmental gradients resulted in dissimilar species composition for these biogeographic regions. Modern community patterns emerged only in the last few thousand years, and many late Pleistocene communities do not have modern analogs. Faunal heterogeneity was greater in the late Pleistocene.     

Global invasion history of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta

The fire ant Solenopsis invicta is a significant pest that was inadvertently introduced into the southern United States almost a century ago and more recently into California and other regions of the world. An assessment of genetic variation at a diverse set of molecular markers in 2144 fire ant colonies from 75 geographic sites worldwide revealed that at least nine separate introductions of S. invicta have occurred into newly invaded areas and that the main southern U.S. population is probably the source of all but one of these introductions. The sole exception involves a putative serial invasion from the southern United States to California to Taiwan. These results illustrate in stark fashion a severe negative consequence of an increasingly massive and interconnected global trade and travel system.     

Veterinarians' preferences for anticonvulsant drugs for treating seizure disorders in dogs and cats

Objective   To identify veterinarians' approaches and concerns when managing canine and feline patients with acute and chronic seizure disorders.
Design   Cross-sectional survey.
Method   A questionnaire was distributed to veterinarians to determine how many dogs and cats they were actively treating for seizures, their anticonvulsant drug (ACD) preferences for treating acute and chronic seizure disorders and whether serum anticonvulsant concentrations and/or biochemical analytes were routinely measured. Additional questions involved the respondent's year and place of graduation and identified concerns they faced when managing patients with seizure disorders.
Results   Phenobarbitone was the most commonly used ACD for managing chronic seizure disorders in both dogs and cats, with 82% of respondents using a combination of phenobarbitone and potassium bromide to manage refractory seizure disorders in dogs. Most respondents (96%) felt comfortable managing seizures in dogs, but only 63% were comfortable managing affected cats. Routine monitoring of serum ACD concentrations and of liver biochemical analytes was performed routinely by 71% and 45% of respondents, respectively. Of the respondents, 86% graduated from Australian universities and of these 53% had graduated after 1985.
Conclusion   Veterinarians identified when to commence medication, whether regular monitoring of serum ACD concentrations and liver enzyme activity was necessary, and if the cost was justified. Veterinarians also identified the need to balance dose rates and side-effects by using combination therapy, and the importance of providing accurate information to clients about what to expect in terms of seizure control for their pet.     

Apoptosis induction in BEFV-infected Vero and MDBK cells through Src-dependent JNK activation regulates caspase-3 and mitochondria pathways

Our previous report demonstrated that bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV)-infected cultured cells could induce caspase-dependent apoptosis. This study aims to further elucidate how BEFV activates the caspase cascade in bovine cells. BEFV replicated and induced apoptosis in Vero and Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells, and a kinetic study showed a higher efficiency of replication and a greater apoptosis induction ability of BEFV in Vero cells. Src and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or p38 inhibitor, alleviated BEFV-mediated cytopathic effect and apoptosis. In BEFV-infected Vero and MDBK cells, BEFV directly induced Src tyrosine-418 phosphorylation and JNK phosphorylation and kinase activity, which was inhibited specifically by SU6656 and SP600125, respectively. The caspase cascade and its downstream effectors, Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and DFF45, were also activated simultaneously upon BEFV infection. In addition, cytochrome c, but not Smac/DIABLO, was released gradually from mitochondria after BEFV infection. SU6656 suppressed Src, JNK, and caspase-3 and -9 activation, as well as PARP and DFF45 cleavage; SP600125 reduced JNK and caspase-3 and -9 activation, as well as PARP and DFF45 cleavage. Taken together, these results strongly support the hypothesis that a Src-dependent JNK signaling pathway plays a key role in BEFV-induced apoptosis. The molecular mechanism identified in our study may provide useful information for the treatment of BEFV.     

Use of Enzymes for the Separation of Protein from Rice Flour

When rice flour was treated with heat stable α-amylases, the effectiveness of protein separation increased with increased temperature. Depending on the enzyme, treatment at 90°C for 45 min resulted in protein contents of 47–65% for the insoluble fraction. Prior gelatinization enhanced the effectiveness of the enzyme reaction but was undesirable because the increased viscosity and gelation could cause difficulties in the processing operation. Follow-up treatment with other carbohydratehydrolyzing enzymes, such as glucoamylase, cellulase, and hemicellulase further increased the protein content up to 76% for the insoluble fraction. The subunit structure of the isolated proteins, based on electrophoretic analysis, remained practically unchanged after the treatment. The limited solubility and emulsion activity of rice protein were also unchanged.