An assay for circulating antibodies to a major etiologic virus of human non-A, non-B hepatitis

A specific assay has been developed for a blood-borne non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) virus in which a polypeptide synthesized in recombinant yeast clones of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is used to capture circulating viral antibodies. HCV antibodies were detected in six of seven human sera that were shown previously to transmit NANBH to chimpanzees. Assays of ten blood transfusions in the United States that resulted in chronic NANBH revealed that there was at least one positive blood donor in nine of these cases and that all ten recipients seroconverted during their illnesses. About 80 percent of chronic, post-transfusion NANBH (PT-NANBH) patients from Italy and Japan had circulating HCV antibody; a much lower frequency (15 percent) was observed in acute, resolving infections. In addition, 58 percent of NANBH patients from the United States with no identifiable source of parenteral exposure to the virus were also positive for HCV antibody. These data indicate that HCV is a major cause of NANBH throughout the world.     

Hypotheses for problems impeding the mass propagation of grey mullet and other finfish

The authors review the problems which, in their opinion, impede successful mass propagation of grey mullet larvae in hatcheries. Individual hypotheses on the reasons for problems associated with oocyte quality, larval foods, bacterial contamination, environmental control and facility design, are discussed.     

Physiological responses, desaturase activity, and fatty acid composition in milkfish (Chanos chanos) under cold acclimation

Physiological responses of milkfish (Chanos chanos) under cold shock and acclimation were investigated. The experimental milkfish, a warm-water teleost, were initially acclimated at 25 °C and then transferred directly to 15 °C; stress responses of this species were monitored for 1 week. Parameters monitored included plasma glucose, lactate, and lipids, as well as stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity and fatty acid compositions of hepatic membranes. All parameters showed significant changes in the process of cold acclimation. A hyperglycemic response indicated by a notable and steady increase in plasma glucose levels from 85 mg dl⁻¹ to the highest level of 458.2 mg dl⁻¹ in 24 h was followed by a rapid decline thereafter. The elevation in plasma glucose content under cold shock resulted from gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, indicated by correlated changes in plasma glucose with fructose-1,6-biphosphatase and phosphorylase a activities. Plasma lactate concentrations remarkably increased from 47 mg dl⁻¹ on day 0 to 149.6 and 120.4 mg dl⁻¹ on days 1 and 2, respectively, and then rapidly declined to the same level as the control thereafter. In contrast, plasma lipids increased gradually from 44.8 mg dl⁻¹ to 191 mg dl⁻¹ over the 5-day acclimation period, followed by a declining trend from day 6 on. Furthermore, changes in monounsaturated fatty acids were highly correlated with those of stearoyl-CoA desaturase activities in hepatic microsomes of milkfish during cold acclimation. Results indicate that in milkfish subjected to cold stress, plasma hyperglycemic and hyperlactemic responses can be used as acute stress indicators, and plasma lipids can be used as a chronic stress indicator.     

Synthesis of 1-substituted carbazolyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- and carbazolyl-3,4-dihydro-β-carboline analogs as potential antitumor agents

A series of 1-substituted carbazolyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- and carbazolyl-3,4-dihydro-β-carboline analogs have been synthesized and evaluated for antitumor activity against human tumor cells including KB, DLD, NCI-H661, Hepa, and HepG2/A2 cell lines. Among these, compounds 2, 6, 7, and 9 exhibited the most potent and selective activity against the tested tumor cells. As for inhibition of topoisomerase II, compounds 1-14 and 18 showed better activity than etoposide. Among them, compounds 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10 exhibited potent activity. The structure and activity relationship (SAR) study revealed correlation between carbon numbers of the side chain and biological activities. The molecular complex with DNA for compound 2 was proposed.     

魔芋种芋包衣技术研究

以膨润土、高岭土、观音土、耐火泥4种黏性较好的土样为载体,并添加一定量的魔芋包衣试剂1或试剂2、石灰、锯末等辅助材料,对魔芋种芋进行丸化包衣技术研究。结果表明,T-22(高岭土+石灰+试剂1+水+锯末)、T-23(观音土+石灰+试剂1+水+锯末)、T-25(膨润土+石灰+试剂2+水+锯末)处理的包衣表面光滑,厚度在2.1~3.6 mm,可避免种芋碰伤。与不做包衣处理(对照)相比,包衣后不影响种芋的正常呼吸,呼吸强度在108.57~113.96 mg/(kg·h);种芋过氧化物酶和多酚氧化酶活性降低,过氧化氢酶活性升高;出苗率和出苗时间差异均不显著。表明T-22、T-23、T-25是适宜魔芋种芋的丸化包衣技术。     

Flexibilins A–C,New Cembrane-Type Diterpenoids from the Formosan Soft Coral,Sinularia flexibilis

Three new cembrane-type diterpenoids, flexibilins A–C (1–3), along with a known cembrane, (−)-sandensolide (4), were isolated from the soft coral, Sinularia flexibilis. The structures of cembranes 1–4 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The structure of 4, including its absolute stereochemistry, was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Cembrane 2 displayed a moderate inhibitory effect on the release of elastase by human neutrophils.     

Digital innovation for promoting knowledge of paddy functions

The purpose of this paper is to launch a new platform for advocating three functions of paddies including economics, society and environment through the cross-field integration of the agricultural hydrology, information technology and children’s picture book, which is novel. We translate literatures of paddy agriculture to popular content. Scientific visualization is applied to develop digital value-added content for enhancing effects according to computer graphics technologies. For developing the Internet channel, we take web-based architecture coupled with Java3D and Flash visualization as the main solution for engaging attention of virtual communities. With a web browser, we present paddy knowledge that is based on the above-mentioned popular content related to three functions of rice paddies. Furthermore, for the general public, the tiled display wall is employed to build up a fixed-site channel. In this paper, the demonstration of promoting interest in paddy fields has been established. Through exploring this digital paddy, not only children could be encouraged to learn, but also the public could accumulate the knowledge related to paddy agriculture.     

New Antiproliferative Compounds against Glioma Cells from the Marine-Sourced Fungus Penicillium sp. ZZ1750

Seven novel compounds, namely peniresorcinosides A–E (1–5), penidifarnesylin A (6), and penipyridinone A (7), together with the 11 known ones 8–17, were isolated from a culture of the marine-associated fungus Penicillium sp. ZZ1750 in rice medium. The structures of the new compounds were established based on their high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS) data, extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analyses, chemical degradation, Mosher’s method, ¹³C-NMR calculations, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Peniresorcinosides A (1) and B (2) are rare glycosylated alkylresorcinols and exhibited potent antiglioma activity, with IC₅₀ values of 4.0 and 5.6 µM for U87MG cells and 14.1 and 9.8 µM for U251 cells, respectively.     

Comparative analyses of the toxic effects of imidacloprid and spirotetramat on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), the vector of tomato zonate spot virus: a laboratory assay

The tomato zonate spot virus (TZSV) is responsible for substantial yield losses in vegetables, tobacco and other cash crops in China in recent years. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), is the main vector of TZSV in Yunnan Province. Because controlling the population of insect vectors is the most efficient way to prevent epidemics of viral diseases, we conducted laboratory assays to assess the potential of using spirotetramat as an alternative to imidacloprid in controlling F. occidentalis. Our results demonstrated that spirotetramat was significantly more lethal than imidacloprid to F. occidentalis at different concentrations. The LC₃₀, LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of spirotetramat were all much lower than those of imidacloprid after the same time of treatment. Frankliniella occidentalis was more sensitive when treated with spirotetramat than imidacloprid at the concentrations of 500, 250, 125 and 62.5mg/L, and the median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) were 285.53, 82.24 and 11.19mg/L at 12, 36 and 72 hours after treatment, respectively. Spirotetramat caused 100% mortality of F. occidentalis at 500 and 250 mg/L after 48 hours treatment, and at the lowest concentration 125 mg/L at 72 hours after treatment, respectively. Field experiments carried out elsewhere have confirmed our findings. Together they allow us to conclude that spirotetramat is a promising pesticide for the control F. occidentalis in China.