Phenolic esters in peat

The p-hydroxypropiophenone ester of stearic acid has been isolated sedge peat. This appears to be the first report of the ester as a natural product.     

Bacterial leaf blight of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) caused by Pseudomonas cichorii in Japan

Sweet peppers (cv. Tosajishi beauty) with leaf blight symptoms were observed in Kochi Prefecture, 2003. Initially, small spots formed on leaves, and later enlarged to brown to dark brown spots, and eventually blighted leaves fell. Several bacteria that caused the same symptoms were isolated and subsequently reisolated. These bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas cichorii on the basis of bacterial characteristics and the 16S rRNA gene sequence. This is the first report of bacterial leaf blight in the sweet pepper in the world.     

Anatomical variation of habitat‐related changes in scapular morphology

The mammalian forelimb is adapted to different functions including postural, locomotor, feeding, exploratory, grooming and defence. Comparative studies on morphology of the mammalian scapula have been performed in an attempt to establish the functional differences in the use of the forelimb. In this study, a total of 102 scapulae collected from 66 species of animals, representatives of all major taxa from rodents, sirenians, marsupials, pilosa, cetaceans, carnivores, ungulates, primates and apes, were analysed. Parameters measured included scapular length, width, position, thickness, area, angles and index. Structures included supraspinous and infraspinous fossae, scapular spine, glenoid cavity, acromium and coracoid processes. Images were taken using computed tomographic (CT) scanning technology (CT‐Aquarium, Toshiba and micro CT‐LaTheta, Hotachi, Japan), and measurement values were acquired and processed using Avizo computer software and CanvasTM 11 ACD systems. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2013. Results obtained showed that there were differences in morphological characteristics of scapula between mammals with arboreal locomotion and living in forest and mountainous areas and those with leaping and terrestrial locomotion living in open habitat or savannah. Differences were seen in the ratio of maximum length and maximum width, the orientation of scapular spine and the horizontal length of acromion and coracoid processes. The cause for the statistical grouping of the animals and the way the scapular shape covaries with habitat and to the type of locomotion and speed are discussed in detail.     

Condensation reactions of phenolic resins VII: catalytic effect of sodium bicarbonate for the condensation of hydroxymethylphenols

This article describes the catalytic effect of NaHCO₃ on condensation reactions of monomeric hydroxymethylphenols (HMPs) to elucidate the cure-acceleration mechanism. By comparison of the kinetics of self-condensations of HMPs, NaHCO₃ was proved to increase the reactivity of para-hydroxymethyl groups. The changes of ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts on each HMP system with the additive indicated that the addition of NaHCO₃ enhanced some molecular interactions between HMPs and NaHCO₃, facilitating a resonance effect that might play a similar role in dissociation of the phenolic hydroxyl groups of HMPs. In addition, computational modeling by molecular orbital calculations elucidated that hydrogen carbonate anion (HCO ₃ ⁻ ) forms an interaction between either the para-hydroxymethyl group and the phenolic hydroxyl group or between the two para-hydroxymethyl groups of HMPs by hydrogen bonds. From the experimental results, the authors proposed the mechanism of the catalytic action of NaHCO₃: it appears to be due to the delocalization of an electron initiated by the interaction of the para-hydroxymethyl groups and the phenolic hydroxyl of HMPs with HCO ₃ ⁻ through hydrogen bonds, which results in facilitating the formation of active species.     

Flonicamid, a novel insecticide with a rapid inhibitory effect on aphid feeding

Flonicamid (IKI220; N-cyanomethyl-4-trifluoromethylnicotinamide), a pyridinecarboxamide compound, is a novel systemic insecticide with selective activity against hemipterous pests, such as aphids and whiteflies, and thysanopterous pests. The purpose of this study is to clarify the biological properties of flonicamid against aphids. Flonicamid is very active against aphids, regardless of differences in species, stages and morphs. This compound inhibited the feeding behaviour of aphids within 0.5 h of treatment without noticeable poisoning symptoms such as convulsion, and this antifeeding activity was not recoverable until death. The nymphs born from adults exposed to flonicamid for 3 h showed high mortality. The effect of flonicamid on the feeding activity of an individual aphid was studied using electronic monitoring of insect feeding behaviour (EMIF). Although the treated aphid attached the head of its proboscis to the leaf surface, salivation and sap feeding were strongly inhibited. These results suggest that the main insecticidal mechanism of flonicamid is starvation based on the inhibition of stylet penetration to plant tissues.     

Life cycle of Eimeria krijgsmanni-like coccidium in the mouse (Mus musculus)

Life cycle of Eimeria krijgsmanni-like coccidium isolated from the feces of naturally infected mice purchased from commercial sources was examined. The parasite was purified by single oocyst isolation and maintained by passage in the mice before experiments. The sporulated oocysts were ovoid or ellipsoid, measuring 19.3 x 14.8 microm on average. One or two small polar granules were present. Micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent. Sporocysts were ellipsoid, measuring 11.6 x 7.2 microm on average with a small Stieda body and sporocyst residuum. Six groups of respective 5 mice (4-week-old) were inoculated with doses varying from 2.0 x 10(1) to 10(6) oocysts. All the mice examined began to shed oocysts from 7 day postinoculation (PI) and their maximum number of oocysts per gram of feces were 10(6) on day 8 PI. Patency was 6 or 7 days. This parasite had severe virulence to the mice that is, the mice given 10(6) oocysts showed anorexia, diarrhoea and rough hair from 1 day and all of them died on day 3 PI. The mice given 10(3) or more oocysts showed the clinical signs described above from day 5 and 4 of them received 10(5) died on day 9 or 10 PI. The parasites occurred within the epithelial cells of cecum, colon and rectum of infected mice. Sporozoites, 13.9 x 3.0 microm, with two large refractil bodies on side of the nucleus located subcentrally were observed on day 1 and 2 PI. Merozoites were first observed at 24 hr PI, and sexual stages were found from 4 day PI. No parasites were detected in the small intestine and mecenteric lymph nodes.     

Seroepidemiologic survey of Coxiella burnetii and attempt to detect Coxiella DNA in aged non-laying chickens in a prefecture of Japan where poultry farming prospers

The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) revealed seropositivity to Coxiella burnetii in aged non-laying chickens in poultry farms in a prefecture in the central part of Japan. Seropositivity was 7%, and antibody titers ranged from 16 to 64. No DNA fragment specific for C. burnetii was detected in the chickens by nested-PCR. The prevalence of C. burnetii infection in a prefecture of Japan in which poultry farming prospers was 7%.     

Intestinal Tritrichomonas suis (=T. foetus) infection in Japanese cats

Tritrichomonas suis (=T. foetus) has recently been reported to be a causative agent of chronic large-bowel diarrhea in cats. While the disease was previously attributed to Pentatrichomonas hominis, the etiologic agent for feline trichomonal diarrhea was identified as T. suis. Although feline trichomonosis due to T. suis has been reported at prevalences ranging from 14 to 31% in Europe and the U.S., no reports of the pathogen have been published to date in Japan. In 2008, however, we encountered a case of feline trichomonosis at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Hokkaido University. The parasite was identified as T. suis by nested PCR amplification of partial internal transcribed spacer region 1 and 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene sequences with T. suis-specific primers and DNA sequencing of the amplified products. We then conducted surveys for feline trichomonosis in three different animal hospitals using either cultivation and/or PCR-based assays. The results revealed that 13 of 147 samples (8.8%) were positive for T. suis, and that 5 of the 13 infected cats, which ranged between 1 month and 7.5 years-old, showed chronic diarrhea. Seven of the infected cats were purebred and 6 were mixed breed. These findings suggested that feline trichomonosis is prevalent in Japan, and that T. suis may play a role as a causative agent of feline chronic diarrhea.     

Detection and sequence analysis of DNA polymerase and major envelope protein genes in koi herpesviruses derived from Cyprinus carpio in Gunma prefecture, Japan

Koi herpesvirus (KHV), which is believed to be an emerging virus, causes fatal diseases in carps. Since the 1990s, the presence of KHV has been confirmed in several countries. In Japan, from 2003 to 2004, large outbreaks of KHV infection in farmed carps resulted in the death of numerous fishes. From April to May 2004, we collected 43 dead or dying carps exhibiting typical symptoms of KHV infection in Gunma prefecture. To conduct a molecular epidemiologic study of KHV in our prefecture, we amplified DNA polymerase and the major envelope protein genes of KHV derived from carp gills using newly designed primers. We also performed sequence analysis of both genes of KHV. Sensitivity of our PCR method for amplification of DNA polymerase and the major envelope protein genes of KHV was 3 x 10(2) (100 fg) and 3 x 10(3) (1000 fg) copies of KHV genome, respectively. We detected both DNA polymerase and major envelope protein genes in 37 of 43 carps (86%). No mutation was found in both the genes sequenced from 11 strains, which included two foreign strains and one domestic strain. The results suggested that KHV strains derived from carps in our prefecture were closely related genetically to the other KHV strains.