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.     

Seminoma with hyperesterogenemia in a Yorkshire Terrier

A male 8-year-old Yorkshire Terrier dog with unilateral cryptorchism was presented for investigation of reduced appetite and multifocal alopecia. Abdominal sonography and radiography demonstrated abnormal enlargement of left testicle in abdominal cavity. Both of the retroperitoneal cryptorchid testicle and the other contralateral testicle were removed surgically. The concentrations of testosterone and estradiol in blood collected from the jugular vein and the two spermatic veins were evaluated and the results revealed high estradiol concentration. The retroperitoneal cryptorchid testicle was enlarged, firm, bulging sphere mass. The cut surface revealed homogeneous white color and lobulation by septa. The contralateral testicle in scrotum showed atrophic testicle and enlarged epididymis. Histopathologically, the retroperitoneal cryptorchid testicle was diagnosed as seminoma. We thought that hyperesterogenemia and alopecia in this case was probably related with his seminoma, although high correlations between Sertoli cell tumor and alopecia have been reported. To our knowledge, this report may be a rare case of seminoma with hyperesterogenemia and alopecia.     

栗疫病菌弱毒性菌株的筛选及其dsRNA的转化稳定性

为获取栗疫病生物防治的基础信息,本研究根据菌株在PDA培养基上培养7天后的菌丝生长速度、分生孢子形成能力等培养特性,从韩国国立山林科学院树木病理研究室保藏的60个栗疫病菌菌株中筛选了2个弱致病力菌株,进行dsRNA检测、弱致病力菌株和强致病力菌株间的细胞融合试验。结果表明:2个弱致病力菌株(KCP-135和KCP-136)中均检测到了dsRNA,弱毒性菌株KCP-22和其他19个强毒性菌株之间的菌落形成明显的隔离带并沿着隔离带产生分生孢子,没有明显的细胞融合现象,而弱毒性菌株KCP-22和强毒性菌株KCP-9之间的菌落则呈现了显著的细胞融合现象,而且其细胞融合菌株的培养特性和转化dsRNA数量均发生了变异。     

Protective effects of bio-active ceramic water on alcohol-induced hepatic injury in pigs

Among many detrimental injuries, alcohol is implicated in hepatitis, fatty liver, hepatic fibrosis, and cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of bio-active ceramic water on alcohol-induced hepatic injury in pigs. Twelve male Landrace pigs were divided into 3 groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were fed with bio-active ceramic water + normal liquid diet, bio-active ceramic water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol, and tap water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol for 12 weeks, respectively. For serological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analysis, all pigs were sacrificed at week 12. In group 3, serum ALT and AST levels increased, and mild fatty change and moderate necrosis were detected in the liver. Collagen fibers, myofibroblasts, and CYP2E1 were also increased or activated in group 3. In group 2, there were mild hepatic injuries compared to group 3. However, injuries and activations were not observed in the liver in group 1. We suggest that the bio-active ceramic water used in the present study had protective capability against ethanol-induced hepatic injury and that having no toxic effect on the pig liver. The bio-active ceramic water might be useful as a therapeutic drinking water in patients suffering from alcoholic liver diseases.     

Evaluation of regional climate scenario data for impact assessment of climate change on rice productivity in Korea

Spatial evaluation of the uncertainty associated with climate data would allow reliable interpretation of simulation results for regional crop yield using gridded climate data as input to a crop growth model. The objective of this study was to examine the spatial uncertainty of regional climate model data through determining optimal seeding date with the ORYZA2000 model for assessment of climate change impact on rice productivity in Korea. The optimal seeding date was determined at each grid point using regional climate model outputs under the RCP 8.5 scenarios. In major rice production areas such as inland plain regions, where temperatures of regional climate data were relatively accurate, the optimal seeding date determined using those gridded data were reasonable. However, areas with complex terrains including areas near bodies of water, e.g. coastal areas, riverbasins, lakes, and mountainous areas, had a relatively large uncertainty of the optimal seeding date determined using the regional climate data. These results indicated that the uncertainty of regional climate data at a high spatial resolution of 12.5 km should be taken into account in the regional impact assessment based on crop growth simulations in Korea. In addition, further studies would be merited to assess the impact of climate change on rice yield at an ultra-high spatial resolution of 1 km in Korea. Crop yields were projected to decrease after the 2020s when crop yield simulations from inland plain areas were considered, which suggested that adaptation strategies should be established and implemented in the near future.     

Acaricidal activities of paeonol and benzoic acid from Paeonia suffruticosa root bark and monoterpenoids against Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae)

The acaricidal activities of paeonol (2'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyacetophenone) and benzoic acid identified in the root bark of tree peony, Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews, against copra mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank), adults were examined using direct contact and vapour phase toxicity bioassays and compared with those of cinnamyl acetate, cinnamyl alcohol and 37 monoterpenoids as well as the acaricides benzyl benzoate, dibutyl phthalate and N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET). Based on LD(50) values in fabric piece contact toxicity bioassays, the acaricidal activities of benzoic acid (4.80 microg cm(-2)) and paeonol (5.29 microg cm(-2)) were comparable to that of benzyl benzoate (4.46 microg cm(-2)) but more pronounced than those of DEET (30.03 microg cm(-2)) and dibutyl phthalate (25.23 microg cm(-2)). In vapour phase toxicity bioassays, paeonol and benzoic acid were much more effective in closed containers than in open ones, indicating that the effects of these compounds were largely due to action in the vapour phase. As judged by 24 h LD(50) values, (1S)-(-)-verbenone (7.42 mg per disc) was the most toxic fumigant, followed by (1S)-(-)-camphor, (S)-(+)-carvone, (R)-(-)-linalool and (+/-)-camphor (10.45-18.18 mg). Potent fumigant toxicity was also observed with paeonol, (2S,5R)-(-)-menthone, (+/-)-citronellal, benzoic acid, (1S,4R)-(-)-alpha-thujone and (R)-(+)-pulegone (25.10-34.63 mg). Neither benzyl benzoate, DEET nor dibutyl phthalate caused fumigant toxicity. Paeonia root bark-derived materials, particularly paeonol and benzoic acid, as well as the monoterpenoids described, merit further study as potential acaricides or as leads for the control of T. putrescentiae.     

Protein digestibility of porcine colostrum by neonatal pigs

Colostrum plays an important role in neonatal growth and development. However, little is known about the digestion of macronutrients in colostrum of any species. This study was conducted with the neonatal piglet model to determine the digestibility of proteins in porcine colostrum. Twelve, 1-d-old, male piglets were selected from 3 litters (4 pigs/litter) and housed individually in metabolism crates with heating lamps to maintain a temperature of 35 °C. Colostrum (13 L) was collected from 400 sows (30 to 40 mL/sow) within 12 h postpartum after injection of oxytocin. All piglets were fed colostrum containing 0.25% (DM basis) chromium oxide as an external marker based on the following feeding program: 6 meals/d for an entire 3-d period; with 40 mL/meal for d 1 (240 mL/d), 55 mL/meal for d 2 (330 mL/d), and 70 mL/meal for d 3 (420 mL/d). Colostrum was hand-fed using baby milk bottles. Entire fecal samples with the chromium green color were collected each day after colostrum feeding. Fecal collection was terminated before the fading of the green color. Fecal samples were weighed (10.3 ± 1.0 g/pig), stored in − 20 °C, freeze-dried, and thoroughly ground for chemical analysis. Blood samples were collected at 0900 h of d 3 to obtain plasma samples for amino acid and immunoglobulin (Ig) G analysis. Digestibilities of crude protein and DM in colostrum, defined as the percentage of ingested colostral crude proteins and DM that disappeared in the gut, averaged 96.9 ± 0.4% and 98.3 ± 0.2%, respectively. Digestibility of total amino acids (protein-bound plus free amino acids) in the colostrum was 98.3 ± 0.1%, with the values being 98.5 ± 0.3, 98.2 ± 0.4, and 98.3 ± 0.3%, respectively, for Lys, Thr, and Arg. Plasma and colostral IgG content were 3.4 ± 0.3 and 3.8 ± 0.7 g/L, respectively. In conclusion, protein-bound and free amino acids in porcine colostrum were highly digestible and available to neonatal pigs.     

Age-related changes in metabolic properties of equine skeletal muscle associated with muscle plasticity

The purpose of the present study was to determine the age-related changes in myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition and muscle oxidative and glycolytic capacity in 18 horses ranging in age from two to 30 years. Muscle samples were collected by excisional biopsy of the semimebranosus muscle. MHC expression and the key enzymatic activities were measured. There was no significant correlation between horse age and the proportions of type-IIA and type-IIX MHC isoforms. The percentage of type-I MHC isoforms decreased with advancing age. Muscle citrate synthase activity decreased, whereas lactate dehydrogenase activity increased with increasing age. Muscle 3-OH acyl CoA dehydrogenase activity did not change with ageing. The results suggest that, similar to humans, the oxidative capacity of equine skeletal muscle decreases with age. The age-related changes in muscle metabolic properties appear to be consistent with an age-related transition in MHC isoforms of equine skeletal muscle that shifts toward more glycolytic isoforms with age.     

Preliminary Study of the Optimum Dietary Riboflavin Level in Sea Cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

A 14‐wk feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the optimum dietary riboflavin (vitamin B₂) level in juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. A total of 360 sea cucumbers averaging 1.49 ± 0.07 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed into 18 rectangular plastic tanks, and each tank was then randomly assigned to one of three replicates of six diets containing 0.29 (B₂0), 4.22 (B₂4), 8.93 (B₂9), 17.9 (B₂18), 56.7 (B₂57), and 577 (B₂577) mg riboflavin/kg diet. At the end of 14 wk of feeding trial, average weight gain (WG) of sea cucumbers fed B₂9, B₂18, B₂57, and B₂577 diets were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of animals fed B₂0 diet. WG of sea cucumbers fed B₂18, B₂57, and B₂577 diets were significantly higher than those of animals fed B₂0 and B₂4 diets. Specific growth rate of sea cucumbers fed B₂9, B₂18, B₂57, and B₂577 diets were significantly higher than those of animals fed B₂0 and B₂4 diets. Feed efficiency of sea cucumbers fed B₂9, B₂57, and B₂577 diets were significantly higher than those of animals fed B₂0 and B₂4 diets. Although significant differences were recorded in proximate composition of sea cucumbers fed the experimental diets, no clear trends were observed. The ANOVA test suggested that the optimum dietary riboflavin level in sea cucumber could be 17.9 mg/kg diet but broken‐line analysis of WG indicated a level of 9.73 mg riboflavin/kg diet. Therefore, these results may indicate that the optimum dietary riboflavin level in sea cucumber could be higher than 9.73 mg/kg diet but lower than 17.9 mg/kg diet.