Molecular characterization of an H1N2 swine influenza virus isolated in Miyazaki, Japan, in 2006

Swine influenza virus (SIV) was isolated from a farm in Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan in July 2006. An isolate was genetically subtyped as H1N2 and was designated A/swine/Miyazaki/1/2006 (H1N2). The nucleotide sequences of all eight viral RNA segments were determined, and then phylogenetic analysis was performed using the neighbor-joining method. All segments were shown to be closely related to those of Japanese SIV H1N2 isolates, which have been circulating since the 1980s. The results indicate the persistence of the SIV H1N2 subtype in the Japanese pig population for more than two decades and emphasize the importance of continuous surveillance for SIV.     

Identification and characterization of foliar polyphenolic composition in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) genotypes

Trials over two years were conducted using 1389 sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) genotypes collected from all over the world to characterize the polyphenolic composition in sweetpotato leaves. Wide variation was observed in relation to their total and individual leaf polyphenolic constituents. In all genotypes studied, the total polyphenol contents of sweetpotato leaf ranged from 1.42 to 17.1 g/100 g dry weight. The six different polyphenolic compounds were identified and quantified by NMR, FABMS, and RPHPLC analysis procedures. This is the first report of polyphenolic compositions in sweetpotato leaves. The relative levels of polyphenolic acids in sweetpotato leaves were as follows: 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid > 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid > chlorogenic acid (3-O-caffeoylquinic acid) > 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid > 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid > caffeic acid. The highest 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid occurred at 221 and 1183.30 mg/100 g dry weight, respectively.     

Clinical pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir and its active metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate after oral administration in horses

The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) in horses (n=6) after oral administration of its prodrug oseltamivir. The binding rate of OC to horse plasma proteins was negligible (<1%). Oral administration of oseltamivir of 2 mg/kg body weight of oseltamivir to horses provided a plasma concentration of OC (mean maximum concentration: 257.9 ng/ml) above the inhibitory concentrations against equine influenza A viruses determined in vitro. However, because OC is rapidly eliminated from horse plasma (mean elimination half-life: 2.5 hr), administration intervals should be less than 10 hr to retain a suitable concentration when using a single dose of 2 mg/kg oseltamivir.     

Isolation and characterization of some antioxidative compounds from the rhizomes of smaller galanga (Alpinia officinarum Hance)

Antioxidative compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of fresh rhizome of smaller galanga (Alpinia officinarum Hance). Seven phenylpropanoids (1-7) were finally obtained by reversed-phase HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR analyses. They comprised the two known compounds, (E)-p-coumaryl alcohol gamma-O-methyl ether (1) and (E)-p-coumaryl alcohol (6), and the five novel compounds, stereoisomers of (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-pentene (2a and 2b), stereoisomers of (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-ethoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-pentene (3a and 3b), (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-[(2E)-3-(4-acetoxyphenyl)-2-propenoxy]-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-pentene (4), (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(methoxymethyl)-4-penten-1-ol (5), and (4E)-1,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-penten-1-ol (7). Compounds 1-7 were detected for the first time as constituents of galanga rhizomes and exhibited antioxidative activities against the autoxidation of methyl linoleate in bulk phase.     

不同含水量下工具材料切向土壤黏附特性（摘选）

为了提高越野车辆性能和建筑、农业领域机械工作效率,就需要了解土壤黏附机理。该试验旨在找到不同工具材料的土壤切向黏附与含水率之间的关系,探讨土壤切向黏附对土壤剪切力学性能的影响。试验对橡胶（RUB）、钢（SS400）和树脂（PEEK）3种材料进行了直剪试验。结果表明,土壤和材料之间的切向黏附随着土壤含水量的增加而增加至最大值后降低。土壤切向黏附最大值的排序是钢（SS400）,其次是橡胶（RUB）,最后是树脂（PEEK）。结果还表明,3种材料道具与测试土壤间的外摩擦角随着土壤含水率的增加先降低后增加,当发生剪切的时候,随着剪切的发生,土壤含水量导致切向黏附的变化进而直接影响剪切应力和外摩擦角。      

Effects of medium‐chain fatty acid‐cyclodextrin complexes on ruminal methane production in vitro

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate effects of medium‐chain fatty acid‐cyclodextrin (CD) complexes on ruminal methane and volatile fatty acid production, and protozoal activity in vitro. Medium‐chain fatty acid‐CDs used in this study were caprylic acid (C8)‐αCD or ‐βCD, capric acid (C10)‐αCD or ‐βCD, and lauric acid (C12)‐αCD or ‐βCD. A 60‐mL of diluted rumen fluid was incubated anaerobically at 38°C for 6 h with the addition of the complex (10–40 mg as fatty acid). Each of the fatty acid‐CDs reduced the number of protozoa, with the order C10 > C12 > C8, and βCD complexes were more effective than αCD complexes. Molar proportions of acetic acid remained unchanged with the addition of fatty acid‐CD, while that of propionic acid increased, being significant for C8‐αCD and βCD, and C10‐αCD and βCD (P < 0.05). Hydrogen production decreased by about 70% of control with the addition of 40 mg of C8 and C10‐CD, on the other hand, it tended to increase with the addition of C12‐CD in both αCD and βCD. Methane production decreased by about 20% with the addition of 40 mg of complexes, except for C10‐βCD, which significantly reduced methane production by about 60%. In conclusion, the addition of C8 or C10‐CD to ruminant diets may be effective in reducing methane production.     

Mixed cropping with ice plant alleviates the damage and the growth of cowpea under consecutive NaCl treatment and after the recovery from high salinity

We investigated the alleviative effects of mixed cropping using ice plant, which is one of the salt-accumulating halophytes, on the damage and growth inhibition of cowpea, which is not tolerant to high salinity. Three cropping patterns (mono cropping of cowpea and ice plant and their combination) were tested. The plants were treated with 0, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl for 14 days (consecutive NaCl). The plants were also treated with NaCl for 3 days, followed by 2 weeks (short-term recovery) and 1 month (long-term recovery) recovery. Salinity levels for short-term recovery were similar to those of the consecutive experiment, while the concentration of long-term recovery was 250 mM. The alleviative effects of mixed cropping in the consecutive NaCl experiment were observed at 200 and 300 mM NaCl. Mixed cropping significantly reduced the Na content in the cowpea leaves at 200 and 300 mM NaCl compared with mono cropping. In addition, the Na content in the soil of mix-cropped cowpea at 200 and 300 mM NaCl was statistically lower than that of the mono cropping. Mixed cropping was effective to recover from high concentration of NaCl in the experiments of short- and long-term recovery. These results indicate that mixed cropping with a halophyte could be effective in mitigating the damage and growth inhibition of a glycophyte not only under salinity but also under recovery periods.     

Proliferation capacity, neuronal differentiation potency and microstructures after the differentiation of canine bone marrow stromal cells into neurons

We examined the proliferation capacity and neuronal differentiation potency of canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). In addition, the microstructures of neuron-like cells after neuronal differentiation were observed under a scanning electron microscope. Canine BMSCs grew to confluency at 10.0 ± 2.5 days, and 3.8 ± 2.1 × 10(6) BMSCs were collected in one passage. Approximately 65% of canine BMSCs changed to neuron-like morphology after neuronal differentiation, and nearly all neuron-like cells stained positive against neuron-specific enolase. In addition, microstructures such as the cellular organelles, filaments and growth cones of these cells bore a close resemblance to those of the original mature neurons. These results suggested that canine BMSCs might be capable of differentiating into neurons.     

Improvement of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for equine herpesvirus type 4 by using a synthetic-peptide 24-mer repeat sequence of glycoprotein G as an antigen

To increase the sensitivity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) that uses a 12-mer peptide of glycoprotein G (gG4-12-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSL) [4], we used a longer peptide consisting of a 24-mer repeat sequence (gG4-24-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSLMLNVQHDDSIHT) as an antigen. Sera of horses experimentally infected with EHV-4 reacted much more strongly to the gG4-24-mer peptide than to the gG4-12-mer peptide. We used peptide ELISAs to test paired sera from horses naturally infected with EHV-4 (n=40). gG4-24-mer ELISA detected 37 positive samples (92.5%), whereas gG4-12-mer ELISA detected only 28 (70.0%). gG4-24-mer ELISA was much more sensitive than gG4-12-mer ELISA.     

Magmatic dike resonances inferred from very-long-period seismic signals

Very-long-period (VLP) signals showing simple decaying harmonic oscillations with periods near 10 seconds and lasting for about 300 seconds were observed in association with an earthquake swarm that occurred beneath Hachijo Island, Japan. Results from the source-mechanism analysis and waveform simulation based on a fluid-filled crack model consistently point to the resonance of a dike filled with a basaltic magma as the source of the VLP signals. Thus, VLP signals can be used to probe the state of the fluid and dynamic processes within a volcanic system.