Effect of tank wall colour and pattern on the survival rate of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (Temminck and Schlegel) during ship transportation

Juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis; PBT) often experience high mortality during ship transportation. This study investigated whether the addition of colours or patterns to the walls of tanks affected survival rate. In the first experiment, three colours and lattice patterns were tested: dark blue single‐colour, red single‐colour, and red–blue lattice pattern. Fish in all tanks exhibited abnormal behaviours when sunlight entered the tanks between 0800 and 1000 hours, but mortality only increased in the single‐coloured tanks as a result of collision with the tank walls. In the second experiment, four colours and patterns were tested: dark blue single‐colour, red–blue lattice pattern, red–blue lattice pattern with shade sheet and red–green lattice pattern with shade sheet. Again, we visually observed that fish in all treatment groups exhibited abnormal behaviour when sunlight entered the tanks, but there were no collision deaths in the lattice‐patterned tanks and survival in this group was significantly higher than in the single‐coloured tanks. Thus, the use of a high‐contrast colour pattern can prevent mass death of juvenile PBT during ship transportation.     

Surface-check variation in boxed-heart square timber of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) cultivars dried by the conventional kiln drying

To investigate the factors affecting the surface-check variation in boxed-heart square timber of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica), surface checks formed by the conventional kiln drying were compared for two stem heights of five cultivars with different wood properties. The total length and average length of the surface checks were greater at the upper part of the stems for all the cultivars. This might be caused by more sapwood at the upper part of the stem, and large drying stresses between the outer sapwood and the inner heartwood. The cultivars, in which tangential shrinkage was large owing to small microfibril angle, formed longer surface checks and smaller bow. There was a positive relationship between surface-check length and tangential shrinkage. The heartwood percentage and tangential shrinkage were thought to be important factors affecting the surface-check variation in sugi boxed-heart square timber.     

An outbreak of tuberculosis by Mycobacterium bovis in coatis (Nasua nasua)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which includes Mycobacterium bovis, infrequently causes severe or lethal disease in captive wildlife populations. A dead coati from a wildlife triage center showing pulmonary lesions compatible with tuberculosis had raised suspicion of a potential disease caused by mycobacteria species and was further investigated. Four native coatis (Nasua nasua) with suspected mycobacterial infection were sedated, and bronchoalveolar lavages and tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) were performed. All animals tested positive upon TST. Mycobacterial culturing, Ziehl-Neelsen staining, and genetic testing were performed on postmortem samples and the etiologic agent was identified as M. bovis. Molecular genetic identification using a polymerase chain reaction panel was crucial to achieving a definitive diagnosis.     

Acetophenone glycosides from thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.).

Four acetophenone glycosides were isolated from the butanol-soluble fraction of thyme extracts. Their structures were determined by spectral methods (MS, NMR, and 2D-NMR). Among them, two new compounds, 4-hydroxyacetophenone 4-O-[5-O-(3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-apiofuranosyl]-(1-->2)-beta-D -gl ucopyranoside (1) and 4-hydroxyacetophenone 4-O-[5-O-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-apiofuranosyl]-(1-->2)-beta-D-+ ++gluc opyranoside (2), were determined. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxicity, inhibiting DNA synthesis of human leukemia cells.     

Quantitative evaluation of antioxidant components in prunes (Prunus domestica L.)

Prunes are known to show high antioxidant activity on the basis of the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and their major antioxidant components are caffeoylquinic acid isomers. The aim of this study is to prove the contribution of caffeoylquinic acid isomers to the ORAC of prunes, and to investigate the existence of other antioxidant components. Caffeoylquinic acid isomers in ethanol (EtOH) extracts of prunes were quantified by HPLC analysis, and the degree of contribution of these isomers to the ORAC was found to be 28.4%; hence, it was speculated that the remaining ORAC is dependent on other antioxidant compounds. EtOH extract was partitioned between hexane and H(2)O. The H(2)O layer was further separated into H(2)O and 2-100% methanol (MeOH) eluates by Diaion HP-20 column chromatography. Both the H(2)O and 50% MeOH eluates showed high values of total phenolics and ORAC, although the contribution of caffeoylquinic acid isomers to the ORAC was low. Therefore, it was predicted that unknown antioxidants exist in these fractions, and several compounds were identified by HPLC analysis. Furthermore, hydrolysis of EtOH extract residue led to higher levels of total phenolics and ORAC, and these results suggested the existence of conjugated antioxidant components in prunes.     

LONG‐TERM LAND USE INFLUENCES SOIL MICROBIAL BIOMASS P AND S,PHOSPHATASE AND ARYLSULFATASE ACTIVITIES,AND S MINERALIZATION IN A BRAZILIAN OXISOL

Land use choices differentially affect soil physical and biological properties. Tillage choices in particular affect soil erosion, the retention of soil organic matter, and the biological activity that organic matter supports. The present study evaluated the consequences of different cropping and tillage systems (undisturbed forest, coffee plantation, conventional, and no‐tillage row cropping) for soil microbial indicators and sulfur mineralization after 24 years of cropping on an Oxisol (Typic Haplorthox) in an experimental area at Londrina, Brazil. Soil samples were taken at 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm depths and evaluated for microbial biomass P and S, S mineralization, and phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities. Land use affected microbial biomass P and S, and enzyme activity at all depths studied. The cultivated sites had lower values of microbial activity than the undisturbed forested site. Although the coffee site was not tilled and had high organic carbon content, there was low microbial activity, probably due to higher soil acidity and Al content. The estimates of pool stock for microbial P and annual P flux through the soil microbial biomass suggest that these pools are large enough to significantly affect plant nutrient availability. The greater microbial biomass and activity under forested and no‐tillage sites may be attributed, at least partially, to higher organic matter content. The soil microbial variables examined proved to be strong indicators of soil sustainability. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Autoimmune dilated cardiomyopathy in PD-1 receptor-deficient mice

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a severe pathology of the heart with poorly understood etiology. Disruption of the gene encoding the negative immunoregulatory receptor PD-1 in BALB/c mice, but not in BALB/c RAG-2-/- mice, caused dilated cardiomyopathy with severely impaired contraction and sudden death by congestive heart failure. Affected hearts showed diffuse deposition of immunoglobulin G (IgG) on the surface of cardiomyocytes. All of the affected PD-1-/- mice exhibited high-titer circulating IgG autoantibodies reactive to a 33-kilodalton protein expressed specifically on the surface of cardiomyocytes. These results indicate that PD-1 may be an important factor contributing to the prevention of autoimmune diseases.     

Identification, quantitative determination, and antioxidative activities of chlorogenic acid isomers in prune (Prunus domestica L. )

Neochlorogenic acid (3-CQA) and cryptochlorogenic acid (4-CQA), isolated from prune (Prunus domestica L.), were identified by NMR and MS analyses. In addition, the quantity of chlorogenic acid isomers in prune were measured by HPLC. These isomers, 3-CQA, 4-CQA, and chlorogenic acid (5-CQA), were contained in the ratio 78.7:18. 4:3.9, respectively. 4-CQA was identified and quantified in prune for the first time, and relatively high amounts of this isomer were characteristic. Antioxidative activities of the chlorogenic acid isomers, such as scavenging activity on superoxide anion radicals and inhibitory effect against oxidation of methyl linoleate, were also evaluated. Each isomer showed antioxidative activities which were almost the same.     

Constituents of the leaves of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. and their biological activity

In the course of our study on the isolation and structure determination of constituents in tropical plants, we focused on Peucedanum japonicum Thunb., belonging to the family Umbelliferae. In this study, a new C(13) norisoprenoid glucoside, (3S)-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-6-[3-oxo-(2S)-butenylidenyl]-1,1,5-trimethylcyclohexan-(5R)-ol (1), and two new phenylpropanoid glucosides, 3-(2-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid (3) and methyl 3-(2-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate (4), were isolated from the n-butanol soluble fraction of this plant's leaves, together with five known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. In addition, all isolated compounds were examined for scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase. These results suggested that 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol (7) and 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propanol (8) showed an appreciable activity in both assay systems.