Tronchuda cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC): scavenger of reactive nitrogen species

The ability of tronchuda cabbage ( Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC) to act as a scavenger of the reactive nitrogen species nitric oxide and peroxynitrite was investigated. The aqueous extracts obtained from tronchuda cabbage seeds and from its external and internal leaves exhibited a concentration dependent scavenging capacity. The antioxidant potential observed against the two reactive species was as follows: seeds > external leaves > internal leaves. In order to establish a possible correlation with the chemical composition of the extracts, the activity of ascorbic and sinapic acids and kaempferol 3- O-rutinoside was also studied. Among the compounds tested, sinapic acid showed the strongest antioxidant activity against both species.     

Radiographic and computed tomographic appearance of caseous lymphadenitis in a goat

A 2‐year‐old Boer doe was presented with respiratory distress and severe inspiratory dyspnea. Cervical and thoracic radiographs revealed a marked retropharyngeal soft tissue mass effect, several mineralized pharyngeal and retropharyngeal structures, and a pulmonary mass. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a severely enlarged right medial retropharyngeal lymph node, which caused laryngeal compression, leading to upper airway obstruction. Multiple cervical and thoracic lymph nodes, and the pulmonary mass had an irregular layered/laminated pattern of mineralization. Imaging findings were consistent with caseous lymphadenitis, and further confirmed with culture, necropsy, and histopathology. This is the first report of CT appearance of caseous lymphadenitis in a goat.     

Quantum cascade surface-emitting photonic crystal laser

We combine photonic and electronic band structure engineering to create a surface-emitting quantum cascade microcavity laser. A high-index contrast two-dimensional photonic crystal is used to form a micro-resonator that simultaneously provides feedback for laser action and diffracts light vertically from the surface of the semiconductor surface. A top metallic contact allows electrical current injection and provides vertical optical confinement through a bound surface plasmon wave. The miniaturization and tailorable emission properties of this design are potentially important for sensing applications, while electrical pumping can allow new studies of photonic crystal and surface plasmon structures in nonlinear and near-field optics.     

The surface composition and temperature of asteroid 21 Lutetia as observed by Rosetta/VIRTIS

The Visible, InfraRed, and Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) on Rosetta obtained hyperspectral images, spectral reflectance maps, and temperature maps of the asteroid 21 Lutetia. No absorption features, of either silicates or hydrated minerals, have been detected across the observed area in the spectral range from 0.4 to 3.5 micrometers. The surface temperature reaches a maximum value of 245 kelvin and correlates well with topographic features. The thermal inertia is in the range from 20 to 30 joules meter(-2) kelvin(-1) second(-0.5), comparable to a lunarlike powdery regolith. Spectral signatures of surface alteration, resulting from space weathering, seem to be missing. Lutetia is likely a remnant of the primordial planetesimal population, unaltered by differentiation processes and composed of chondritic materials of enstatitic or carbonaceous origin, dominated by iron-poor minerals that have not suffered aqueous alteration.     

Light propagation with phase discontinuities: generalized laws of reflection and refraction

Conventional optical components rely on gradual phase shifts accumulated during light propagation to shape light beams. New degrees of freedom are attained by introducing abrupt phase changes over the scale of the wavelength. A two-dimensional array of optical resonators with spatially varying phase response and subwavelength separation can imprint such phase discontinuities on propagating light as it traverses the interface between two media. Anomalous reflection and refraction phenomena are observed in this regime in optically thin arrays of metallic antennas on silicon with a linear phase variation along the interface, which are in excellent agreement with generalized laws derived from Fermat's principle. Phase discontinuities provide great flexibility in the design of light beams, as illustrated by the generation of optical vortices through use of planar designer metallic interfaces.     

Evaluation of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) resistance to Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus in controlled greenhouse conditions

Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) seems to be the causal agent of apricot viruela disease. This disease has become an important problem for apricot production in Spain, mainly affecting the ‘Búlida’ cultivar, although no information is available about the behaviour of other cultivars with regards to ACLSV. In this study, the behaviour of 29 apricot cultivars against ACLSV (Apr 62 isolate) was evaluated under controlled conditions in an insect-proof greenhouse. Three different rootstocks, ‘GF305’ peach, ‘Real Fino’ apricot and ‘Adesoto’ plum, were first inoculated by grafting ACLSV-infected bark and were later grafted with the apricot cultivar to be evaluated. Apricot cultivars were evaluated during three cycles of study. ACLSV was asymptomatic on the leaves of all cultivars and rootstocks, so level of susceptibility or resistance was determined by virus detection through RT-PCR. ‘GF305’ rootstock showed a greater susceptibility level than ‘Real Fino’ and ‘Adesoto’. Most of the cultivars were susceptible to ACLSV with different levels of susceptibility, and only ‘Bergeron’ and ‘Mauricio’ were resistant.     

Pharmacokinetics of voriconazole following intravenous and oral administration and body fluid concentrations of voriconazole following repeated oral administration in horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole following IV and PO administration and assess the distribution of voriconazole into body fluids following repeated PO administration in horses. ANIMALS: 6 clinically normal adult horses. PROCEDURES: All horses received voriconazole (10 mg/kg) IV and PO (2-week interval between treatments). Plasma voriconazole concentrations were determined prior to and at intervals following administration. Subsequently, voriconazole was administered PO (3 mg/kg) twice daily for 10 days to all horses; plasma, synovial fluid, CSF, urine, and preocular tear film concentrations of voriconazole were then assessed. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD volume of distribution at steady state was 1,604.9 +/- 406.4 mL/kg. Systemic bioavailability of voriconazole following PO administration was 95 +/- 19%; the highest plasma concentration of 6.1 +/- 1.4 microg/mL was attained at 0.6 to 2.3 hours. Mean peak plasma concentration was 2.57 microg/mL, and mean trough plasma concentration was 1.32 microg/mL. Mean plasma, CSF, synovial fluid, urine, and preocular tear film concentrations of voriconazole after long-term PO administration were 5.163 +/- 1.594 microg/mL, 2.508 +/- 1.616 microg/mL, 3.073 +/- 2.093 microg/mL, 4.422 +/- 0.8095 microg/mL, and 3.376 +/- 1.297 microg/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that voriconazole distributed quickly and widely in the body; following a single IV dose, initial plasma concentrations were high with a steady and early decrease in plasma concentration. Absorption of voriconazole after PO administration was excellent, compared with absorption after IV administration. Voriconazole appears to be another option for the treatment of fungal infections in horses.     

Marine Demospongiae: A Challenging Treasure of Bioactive Compounds

In the last decades, it has been demonstrated that marine organisms are a substantial source of bioactive compounds with possible biotechnological applications. Marine sponges, in particular those belonging to the class of Demospongiae, have been considered among the most interesting invertebrates for their biotechnological potential. In this review, particular attention is devoted to natural compounds/extracts isolated from Demospongiae and their associated microorganisms with important biological activities for pharmacological applications such as antiviral, anticancer, antifouling, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, antifungal and antioxidant. The data here presented show that this class of sponges is an exciting source of compounds, which are worth developing into new drugs, such as avarol, a hydroquinone isolated from the marine sponge Disidea avara, which is used as an antitumor, antimicrobial and antiviral drug.