Tanjungides A and B: New Antitumoral Bromoindole Derived Compounds from Diazona cf formosa. Isolation and Total Synthesis

Tanjungides A (1) (Z isomer) and B (2) (E isomer), two novel dibrominated indole enamides, have been isolated from the tunicate Diazona cf formosa. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including HRMS, and extensive 1D and 2D NMR. The stereochemistry of the cyclised cystine present in both compounds was determined by Marfey’s analysis after chemical degradation and hydrolysis. We also report the first total synthesis of these compounds using methyl 1H-indole-3-carboxylate as starting material and a linear sequence of 11 chemical steps. Tanjungides A and B exhibit significant cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines.     

Polyunsaturated Aldehydes from Large Phytoplankton of the Atlantic Ocean Surface (42°N to 33°S)

Polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) are organic compounds mainly produced by diatoms, after cell wounding. These compounds are increasingly reported as teratogenic for species of grazers and deleterious for phytoplanktonic species, but there is still scarce information regarding concentration ranges and the composition of PUAs in the open ocean. In this study, we analyzed the spatial distribution and the type of aldehydes produced by the large-sized (>10 μm) phytoplankton in the Atlantic Ocean surface. Analyses were conducted on PUAs released after mechanical disruption of the phytoplankton cells, referred to here as potential PUAs (pPUAs). Results show the ubiquitous presence of pPUA in the open ocean, including upwelling areas, as well as oligotrophic gyres. Total pPUA concentrations ranged from zero to 4.18 pmol from cells in 1 L. Identified PUAs were heptadienal, octadienal and decadienal, with heptadienal being the most common (79% of total stations). PUA amount and composition across the Atlantic Ocean was mainly related to the nitrogen:phosphorus ratio, suggesting nutrient-driven mechanisms of PUA production. Extending the range of trophic conditions considered by adding data reported for productive coastal waters, we found a pattern of PUA variation in relation to trophic status.     

Phosphorus fractions and their availability in the sediments of eight tropical semiarid reservoirs

Journal of Soils and Sediments - We quantified the phosphorus (P) fractions and oxide content in the sediment of eight tropical semiarid reservoirs to assess how water-level decreases affect the...     

The ecosystem services concept: a new Esperanto to facilitate participatory planning processes?

Landscape Ecology - Several case studies investigated the role of ecosystem services in participatory planning processes. However, no systematic study exists that cuts across a large number of...     

In situ provision of drinking water to grazing dairy cows improves milk production

AIMS: To determine the effect of providing water within the area grazed by dairy cows on milk yield and quality, compared to requiring cows to walk to a distant water trough, on a dairy farm in the Pampa region of Argentina during summer.

METHODS: Holstein dairy cows were allocated to two herds with similar parity, days in milk and milk production. They were grazed in one paddock that was divided in two, with a fixed water trough at one end. Cows were moved twice daily to grazing plots within the paddock. Control cows (n=66) could only access water from the fixed trough, whereas supplemented cows (n=67) also received water from a mobile trough within the grazing plot. Milk production of each cow, and water consumption of the two herds were measured daily over 62 days. Milk composition for each herd was determined weekly from Days 18 to 60 of the study, and grazing behaviour was observed between 08:00 and 16:00 hours on Days 11–15, 19–22 and 39–43.

RESULTS: Over the 62 days of the study, supplemented cows produced 1.39 (SE 0.11) L/cow/day more milk than Control cows (p=0.027). Estimated mean daily water intake was 50.4 (SE 2.1) L/cow/day for supplemented cows and 58.2 (SE 2.7) L/cow/day for Control cows (p=0.004). Percentage total solids in milk was higher for supplemented (12.5 (SE 0.06)%) than Control (12.4 (SE 0.04)%) cows (p=0.047). During the periods of behavioural observation, a higher percentage of cows in the water supplemented than the Control herd were observed in the grazing area (p=0.012).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This preliminary study demonstrated that provision of water to dairy cows within the grazing plot was beneficial for milk production and composition, and may be associated with longer periods spent within the grazing area, during hot weather in the Pampa region of Argentina.     

Anesthetic effects of different volumes of lidocaine for spermatic cord block in cattle

Objective

To evaluate three volumes of lidocaine for spermatic cord block to perform castration in cattle.

Bioavailability of calcium from milk-based formulas and fruit juices containing milk and cereals estimated by in vitro methods (solubility, dialyzability, and uptake and transport by caco-2 cells)

An adequate calcium intake during the first years of life is needed for normal growth and development and to prevent rickets. The bioavailability of calcium from infant foods (milk-based formulas and fruit juices containing milk and cereals, FMC), the dietary sources of calcium in these stages of life, has been estimated on the basis of simulated gastrointestinal digestion and calcium solubility and dialyzability values and on the efficiency of transport and uptake by Caco-2 cells. The ranking of samples according to calcium bioavailability depends on the use of solubility or dialyzability as criterion. On the basis of the former, the highest value corresponded to adapted formulas and the lowest to fruit juices. However, when using percentage dialysis, the highest value corresponded to fruit juices and the lowest to follow-up formulas. The highest percentages of transport efficiency and uptake by Caco-2 cells corresponded to calcium from the analyzed fruit juices, followed by toddler, follow-up, and adapted formulas.     

Multiple resistance in Trichostrongylus and Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) in goats to oxfendazole,levamisole and moxidectin,and ineffi cacy of trichlorphon

Extract

We wish to report the identification, from a flock of commercially-traded goats, of nematode worms that we have been unable to kill using the anthelmintic groups currently registered for use in sheep in New Zealand.     

First approach to studying the genetics of the meagre (Argyrosomus regius; Asso, 1801) using three multigene families

The meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is a commercially important species for fisheries, and aquaculture production has been increasing in recent years. However, this growing importance has not been matched by increased genetic knowledge of the species. For this reason, an initial approach has been made to understanding the genetics of the meagre, using three particular multigene families (45S and 5S ribosomal DNA and U2 snRNA gene) as both molecular and cytogenetic markers. Only one type of 5S rDNA and only one ITS‐1 (from 45S rDNA) were obtained, and these therefore could provide the basis for the development of genetic markers for this species. However, the U2 snRNA gene produced a multi‐band electrophoretic pattern, and some of these bands were demonstrated to be linked with the U1 snRNA gene. This linkage could also provide a good species‐specific marker which could be useful for tracing the evolutionary history of the Sciaenidae family. In this study, we have described for the first time the karyotype of the meagre: this is composed of 48 acrocentric chromosomes. Each of the three gene families were localized on different chromosome pairs, although the U2 snRNA gene probe was also located scattered throughout the genome of the meagre, as expected by the amplification pattern.     

Biodegradability of Disinfectants in Surface Waters from Buenos Aires: Isolation of an Indigenous Strain Able to Degrade and Detoxify Benzalkonium Chloride

Biodegradability of chlorhexidine (CH), triclosan (TC), and benzalkonium chloride (CBA) has been tested in 18 surface water sampling points in the urban area of Buenos Aires. Sampling points were located in both the Reconquista and the Matanza-Riachuelo basins as well as in the La Plata River. High tolerance to the three disinfectants was found and indigenous strains capable of degrading CBA and TC were isolated. Neither tolerance nor biodegradation were correlated with sewage pollution. A strain that degrades CBA was identified as belonging to the genus Pseudomonas using the API20NE system and 16SRNA sequencing. In batch assays, the strain was capable of degrading 100, 200, and up to 500 mg L^?1 of CBA in 10, 25, and 46 h respectively with specific growth rates (μ) of 0.56, 0.30, and 0.14 h^?1. The efficiency of the process was between 99.5–98.0% in terms of compound removal and between 93.8–89.1% in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD). The detoxification of the compound as a result of the biodegradation was assessed using Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Vibrio fischeri, and Lactuca sativa as test organisms.