Determination of residues of pyrethroid and organophosphorous ectoparasiticides in foods of animal origin

Analytical methods were introduced for the determination of residues of ectoparasiticides containing pyrethroid and organophosphate active ingredients in foods. Milk and edible tissues of cows treated with three experimental ectoparasiticides (containing cypermethrin + diazinon, deltamethrin + diazinon and alphamethrin + diazinon, respectively) were assayed for the presence of active ingredient residues. Synthetic pyrethroid residues were not detected in any of the samples processed. Diazinon residues could only be detected in milk samples taken on the first day after treatment (0.005-0.025 mg/kg) and in liver and fat tissue samples taken on the day of slaughtering (0.12 and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively). Permethrin and propetamphos residues were determined in the skin, meat and liver of chickens kept on 'Blotic-B' treated litter and in eggs collected at different times after the treatment of layer houses. Permethrin residues could not be detected in any of the samples (< 0.01 mg/kg). Meat and fat tissues of chickens slaughtered on the day after treatment contained small amounts of propetamphos (0.003 and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively). In the case of chickens kept on the treated litter and slaughtered after one week, active ingredient was not detected in meat, but 0.006 mg/kg propetamphos was present in the fat. The residue content of other samples (liver, egg) was below the detection limit of the applied method at all sampling times. From the food toxicological point of view these pesticide combinations can be used safely if the recommended withdrawal period is observed between ectoparasiticide administration and slaughter.     

Genetic structures of Calophyllum inophyllum L., a tree employing sea-drift seed dispersal in the northern extreme of its distribution

? Context

Little is known about the potential of gene flow and resulting genetic structures of trees employing sea-drifting seed dispersal in island populations.

? Aims

Current genetic structure and the magnitude of historical gene flow were estimated in island populations of Calophyllum inophyllum L., a typical plant employing sea-drifting seed dispersal.

? Methods

Samples were collected from the northern extreme of the species’ distribution (Taiwan and the Sakishima, Daito, and Ogasawara Islands, Japan) and genotyped using 15 EST-SSR markers. Genetic differentiation (F _ST and AMOVA), genetic structure (STRUCTRE analysis), and historical gene flow (assignment testing) were determined.

? Results

Frequent gene flow within and rare gene flow among island groups was determined using assignment testing. Clear genetic structures were also detected using the STRUCTURE analysis, which demonstrated differentiation between dominant clusters among geographically constructed island groups.

? Conclusions

The potential for gene flow via sea-drifting seed dispersal was high, and this was possible even among small islands. However, the extent and frequency of gene flow were not great enough to prevent genetic differentiation in a range of over a few hundred kilometers.     

Molecular basis of proton motive force generation: structure of formate dehydrogenase-N

The structure of the membrane protein formate dehydrogenase-N (Fdn-N), a major component of Escherichia coli nitrate respiration, has been determined at 1.6 angstroms. The structure demonstrates 11 redox centers, including molybdopterin-guanine dinucleotides, five [4Fe-4S] clusters, two heme b groups, and a menaquinone analog. These redox centers are aligned in a single chain, which extends almost 90 angstroms through the enzyme. The menaquinone reduction site associated with a possible proton pathway was also characterized. This structure provides critical insights into the proton motive force generation by redox loop, a common mechanism among a wide range of respiratory enzymes.     

Effect of ionic strength and clay mineralogy on Na–Ca exchange and the SAR–ESP relationship

The relationship between sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) for all soils has traditionally been assumed to be similar to that developed by the United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) in 1954. However, under certain conditions, this relationship has been shown not to be constant, but to vary with both ionic strength and clay mineralogy. We conducted a detailed experiment to determine the effect of ionic strength on the Na⁺–Ca²⁺ exchange of four clay minerals (kaolinite, illite, pyrophyllite, and montmorillonite), with results related to the diffuse double‐layer (DDL) model. Clays in which external exchange sites dominated (kaolinite and pyrophyllite) tended to show an overall preference for Na⁺, with the magnitude of this preference increasing with decreasing ESP. For these external surfaces, increases in ionic strength were found to increase preference for Na⁺. Although illite (2:1 non‐expanding mineral) was expected to be dominated by external surfaces, this clay displayed an overall preference for Ca²⁺, possibly indicating the opening of quasicrystals and the formation of internal exchange surfaces. For the expanding 2:1 clay, montmorillonite, Na⁺–Ca²⁺ exchange varied due to the formation of quasicrystals (and internal exchange surfaces) from individual clay platelets. At small ionic strength and large ESP, the clay platelets dispersed and were dominated by external exchange surfaces (displaying preference for Na⁺). However, as ionic strength increased and ESP decreased, quasicrystals (and internal exchange surfaces) formed, and preference for Ca²⁺ increased. Therefore, the relationship between SAR and ESP is not constant and should be determined directly for the soil of interest.     

Genetic diversity and population history of the migratory catfishes Pangasianodon hypophthalmus and Pangasius bocourti in the Cambodian Mekong River

ABSTRACT:   Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of mitochondrial DNA was applied to the genetic structure and evolutionary history of the more ancestral Pangasianodon hypophthalmus ( n  = 82), and the recently speciated catfish Pangasius bocourti ( n  = 90) from the Cambodian Mekong River. Both pangasiids were characterized by a lack of genetic population structure that may result from high levels of contemporary gene flow. Genetic diversity was lower in P. hypophthalmus than in P. bocourti . However, a different evolutionary history was inferred for both species based on genealogical and demographic analyses (mismatch analysis, Tajima's D- and Fu's F _S-tests). The genetic profile of the more ancestral P. hypophthalmus shows indications of a recent population bottleneck, whereas the recently speciated P. bocourti shows signatures of historical population expansion. This study stresses the importance of preserving the migration routes in the Cambodian Mekong basin in order to maintain the genetic diversity and long-term integrity of both species.     

Surface modification of silk fibroin nanofibrous mat with dextran for wound dressing

In this study, we examined the effects of a dextran-modified silk fibroin nanofibrous mat (D-SFNM) on wound healing. To increase the hydrophilicity of silk fibroin (SF), the SF nanofibrous mat (SFNM) was modified with oxidized dextran. The D-SFNM absorbed water faster than the SFNM, and the swelling ratio was increased by approximately 80 % compared with the SFNM. An in vitro cell (NIH3T3) test revealed that fewer cells attached to the D-SFNM than the SFNM, but the proliferation of cells was not significantly affected by the presence of dextran. An in vivo wound healing test with mice indicated that the D-SFNM resulted in a good wound recovery effect similar to a commercial wound dressing material. The increased hydrophilicity of the D-SFNM might balance the moist environment at the wound site, which improves the wound healing compared with the SFNM.     

Synchrotron SAXS study on the micro-phase separation kinetics of segmented block copolymer

The phase transition behavior and isothermal micro-phase separation kinetics of polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer were studied using the synchrotron X-ray scattering (SAXS) method. The structural changes occurring during heating period were investigated by determining the changes of the one-dimensional correlation function, interfacial thickness and Porod constant. Based on the abrupt increases of the domain spacing and interfacial thickness, a major structural change occurring well below the melting transition temperature is suggested. Those changes are explained in terms of melting of the thermodynamically unstable hard domains or/and the interdiffusion of the hard and soft segments in the interfacial regions. SAXS profile changes during the micro-phase separation process were also clearly observed at various temperatures and the separation rate was found to be sensitively affected by the temperature. The peak position of maximum scattering intensity stayed constant during the entire course of the phase separation process. The scattering data during the isothermal phase separation process was interpreted with the Cahn-Hilliard diffusion equation. The experimental data obtained during the early stage of the phase separation seems to satisfy the Cahn-Hilliard spinodal mechanism. The transition temperature obtained from the extrapolation of the diffusion coefficient to zero value turned out to be about 147±2°C, which is close to the order-disorder transition temperature obtained from the Porod analysis. The transition temperature was also estimated from the invariant growth rate. By extrapolating the invariant growth rate to zero, a transition temperature of about 145±2°C was obtained.     

Free Radical Scavenging Activity of 4-(3,4-Dihydroxybenzoyloxymethyl)phenyl-O-β-d-glucopyranoside from Origanum vulgare and Its Protection against Oxidative Damage

4-(3,4-Dihydroxybenzoyloxymethyl)phenyl-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (DBPG), a polyphenolic glycoside, isolated from Origanum vulgare has shown 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(?))-scavenging capacity in previous work. This study demonstrated that DBPG exhibits antioxidant activity by a series of DPPH(?), 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS(?+)), and superoxide anion radical (O(2)(?-)) radical-scavenging assays. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation (LP) by DBPG exceeded that by l-ascorbic acid (AA) in a liposome model system. Adding DBPG to mouse liver and brain tissue inhibited the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) to a greater extent than did trolox. In the oxygen stress test, BNLCL2 and HaCaT cells pretreated with DBPG showed increased activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), perhaps as a result of reduction of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These findings proved that DBPG had antioxidant activities and a cytoprotective effect in hepatocytes and keratinocytes, suggesting that DBPG may be a useful food and cosmetic additive.