Structural elucidation of condensed tannin from the bark waste of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia crassicarpa</Emphasis> plantation wood in Indonesia

Recently, Acacia crassicarpa has been planted in peatland areas with acidic soil in Indonesia for use in pulp and paper materials. Its bark is not suitable to produce bleached pulp; hence, it is discarded as waste. Meanwhile, in South Africa and other countries, Acacia mearnsii has been planted for a long time, and its bark extracts have been used as a leather tanning agent. First, the structure of condensed tannin from the bark waste of A. crassicarpa is characterized. The yield of the extracts obtained from A. crassicarpa using a 70% acetone aqueous solution (7% based on bark weight) is less than that obtained from A. mearnsii (34%). A novel flavan dimer from the condensed tannin, specific to A. crassicarpa, is isolated from the bark extracts. To the best of our knowledge, this dimer is a new compound as evidenced from pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses; it corresponds to a gallocatechin–catechin flavan dimer with the absence of one oxygen atom at the 3C of the pyran ring. In addition, 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzoic acid methyl ester is identified as a novel pyrolysis product obtained from the cleavage of the pyran ring.     

Ultrastructural alterations of the thyroid follicular cells in domestic fowls following neonatal olfactory bulbectomy

1. In order to investigate if ultrastructural alterations of thyroid follicular cells are induced by removal of the olfactory bulb at hatching, chicks were olfactory bulbectomised within 24 h after hatching and the thyroid follicular cells were examined at 5 months of age by electron microscopy. 2. Olfactory bulbectomised chickens showed a well-developed Golgi area, a highly-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, many mitochondria and a paucity of secretory granules and lysosomes in thyroid follicular cells. 3. These hypertrophic ultrastructural changes in follicular cells of operated birds indicated that the thyroids glands were stimulated by neonatal olfactory bulbectomy. 4. This finding may suggest an establishment of the olfactory bulbothyroid glandular system during the early days of life in the chicken.     

First detection of canine parvovirus type 2c in South America

Since its sudden emergence in the early 1970s, canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) has been evolving through the generation of novel genetic and antigenic variants (CPV-2a/b/c and a number of additional mutations) that are unevenly distributed throughout the world. In order to develop strategies to control the spread of these variants and to understand virus evolution is fundamental to genotype field isolates from different geographic locations. In the present paper we have examined 25 isolates of CPV from clinical samples of Uruguayan dogs collected during year 2006. A fragment of the VP2 gene of the virus was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequence analysis. Out of the 25 isolates analyzed, only one was characterized as CPV-2a and 24 were characterized as CPV-2c, indicating that this type is currently the prevalent field CPV circulating in Uruguay. This is the first report of CPV-2c in the American continent and it also represents the highest frequency of this type observed in a dog population so far. Its presence in South American supports the assumption that CPV-2c is reaching a worldwide distribution as occurred with 2a/2b antigenic types.     

The postspinel phase boundary in Mg2SiO4 determined by in situ X-ray diffraction

The phase boundary between spinel (gamma phase) and MgSiO3 perovskite + MgO periclase in Mg2SiO4 was determined by in situ x-ray measurements by a combination of the synchrotron radiation source (SPring-8) and a large multianvil high-pressure apparatus. The boundary was determined at temperatures between 1400 degrees to 1800 degreesC, demonstrating that the postspinel phase boundary has a negative Clapeyron slope as estimated by quench experiments and thermodynamic analyses. The boundary was located at 21.1 (+/-0.2) gigapascals, at 1600 degreesC, which is approximately 2 gigapascals lower than earlier estimates based on other high-pressure studies.     

An overview of the utilisation of microalgae biomass derived from nutrient recycling of wet market wastewater and slaughterhouse wastewater

International Aquatic Research - Microalgae have high nutritional values for aquatic organisms compared to fish meal, because microalgae cells are rich in proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates....     

Genomic characterization and distribution of bovine foamy virus in Japan

Bovine foamy virus (BFV) is distributed through worldwide cattle herds. Although the biological features of BFV are not well understood, appearance of clinical manifestation by superinfection with other microorganisms is inferred. In Japan, reports of genomic characterizations and epidemiology of this virus are limited. In this study, we performed whole genomic sequencing of BFV strains Ibaraki and No.43, which were isolated in this country. Additionally, we investigated BFV in geographically distant four daily farms in Japan, to estimate the distribution of BFV and its correlation to bovine leukemia virus (BLV). BFV was distributed throughout Japan; the average positive rate was 12.7%. The nucleotide sequence identities of the isolates were 99.6% when compared with BFV strain isolated in the USA. The phylogenetic tree using env gene sequence showed strains Ibaraki, No.43 and Kagoshima were sorted in the same cluster including the USA and Chinese strains, while Hokkaido strain was in the other cluster including European strains. Although no clear correlation between BFV and BLV could be found, BFV and BLV infections were likely to increase with ages. Our data on epidemiology and characteristics of BFV will provide important information to reveal biological features of BFV.     

Axial pattern flap based on a cutaneous branch of the facial artery in cats

Objective: To describe the cutaneous portion of the facial artery in cats and an axial pattern flap based on a branch of this artery. Study Design: Ex vivo study. Sample Population: Cat cadavers (n=12). Methods: The common carotid artery was identified, cannulated, and infused with methylene blue to assist in the identification of the facial artery, which was subsequently cannulated and selectively infused with methylene blue. The main trunk of the artery and its branches were dissected. The extent of blue coloration of the skin was evaluated on the contralateral side of the same specimen after infusing methylene blue into the facial artery. In 4 specimens, the flap was raised along previously defined borders and adequacy of perfusion was evaluated. Results: The area of skin perfused by the facial artery extended from the lower eyelid dorsally, to the angularis oris cranially, and the wing of the atlas caudally. Borders of the skin flap were defined on the basis of the anatomic dissection and skin coloration after selective infusion of the facial artery with methylene blue. A skin flap of 6 cm × 3.4 cm, based on the first caudally directed cutaneous branch of the facial artery was shown to be well perfused. The viability of this flap was confirmed in a clinical case. Conclusion: The facial artery flap is useful for repair of skin defects of the head in cats.