Synthesis of rosinimide modified with polyphenylpyridinylsiloxane and its characteristics

Rosin maleic anhydride adduct (RMA)-bisester was prepared by the esterification of chlorinated RMA with hydroquinone. Phenylpyridinylcyclotrisiloxane (D ₃ ^Ph,Py ) was synthesized from phenylpyridinyldichlorosilane in the presence of zinc oxide catalyst, and amino group terminated polyphenylpyridinylsiloxane prepolymer was prepared by equilibrium polymerization of D ₃ ^Ph,Py with 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane. Rosinimide (PSMR) was prepared from the imidization of RMA-bisester with polyphenylpyridinylsiloxane prepolymer at 120°C for 7 h using γ-butyrolactone/pyridine. It showed that PSMR had better thermal stalbility than rosinimide modified with polydimethylsiloxane.     

Preparations of carbon fibers from precursor pitches synthesized with coal tar or petroleum residue oil

Pitch precursors were synthesized from coal tar(CT) and pyrolysis fuel oil(PFO, petroleum residue oil) at relatively low temperature of 250°C, in the presence of borontrifluoride/diethyletherate complex(BFDE) as a catalyst and nitrobenzene(NB) as a co-catalyst. The softening point, nitrogen content and carbon yield increased with an increase of concentration of NB. The pitch precursors with good spinnability were prepared by removing the volatile components through N₂ blowing. The precursor pitches were spun through a circular nozzle, stabilized at 310°C and finally carbonized at 1000°C. The optically anisotropic structure formed at the absence of NB was changed into isotropic structure, showing a decrease in size of the flow domain. The hollow carbon fiber could be prepared in the process of stabilization. The results proposed that the morphology of carbon materials could be controlled by changing the concentration of catalyst and/or co-catalyst and/or stabilization condition that affect on the mobility of molecules during carbonization.     

Xenotransplantation and the potential risk of xenogeneic transmission of porcine viruses.

The clinical success of allotransplantation and the shortage of donor organs have led to a proposal for the use of animal organs as alternative therapeutic materials for humans. In that regard, swine are preferable to non-human primates as a source of donor organs. While applications for clinical trials for xenotransplantation have not yet been received in Canada, several trials have already been authorized in the United States. A major concern, however, is the potential for xenogeneic transmission of viruses from animals to humans via organ, tissue, or cellular transplantation or via ex vivo exposure of humans to porcine biologic materials. Xenotransplantation allows viruses to bypass the normal immunological defense mechanisms of the recipient. Furthermore, the use of immunosuppressive drugs following transplantation may facilitate the xenogeneic transmission of zoonotic agents. Of porcine viruses, swine hepatitis E virus does not cause any clinical symptoms in the natural host but is a likely zoonotic agent that can infect humans and cause hepatitis. Porcine circovirus type 1 is prevalent in swine populations with no known association with clinical disease, while circovirus type 2 causes post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome. Porcine endogenous retrovirus is integrated into the host chromosomes while porcine cytomegalovirus undergoes latent infection. Two additional porcine herpesviruses have recently been identified in swine and have been named porcine lymphotrophic herpesviruses. These herpesviruses can potentially become reactivated in human recipients after xenotransplantation. All in all, there are a number of viruses in swine that are of primary concern to screen and eliminate from xenotransplantation protocols. Epidemiology and the current knowledge on xenogeneic risk of these viruses are discussed.     

Patch size but not short‐term isolation influences occurrence of westslope cutthroat trout above human‐made barriers

Habitat fragmentation in aquatic systems has led to widespread isolation of stream fishes. Metapopulation theory predicts that persistence is directly related to local patch size and its characteristics, but because these relationships tend to be taxon‐specific, empirical data are important. We assembled 246 observations of occurrence of westslope cutthroat trout (WCT), a taxon of concern in the western U.S. and Canada, in stream networks isolated for up to 100 years (median 40 years) above human‐made barriers, mostly culverts, at road crossings within U.S. National Forests. We used logistic regression to analyse how WCT occurrence varied with patch size, isolation time and stream‐level covariates. Occurrence was positively related to stream length and habitat quality within the isolated stream network and negatively related to elevation and channel gradient. Unexpectedly, the probability of occurrence was not related to how long a habitat patch had been isolated. At the median elevation (1354 m) and channel gradient (14%), and where habitat quality was poor, WCT were likely to occur (probability >0.5) if an isolated stream network was at least 1.7 km. If habitat quality was high, about 0.2 km of habitat produced the same probability. Although there are important limitations, this analysis provides the first empirical estimate for how patch size and patch‐level characteristics influence persistence of WCT in isolated stream networks.     

Evaluation of Dietary Fishmeal Analogue with Addition of Shrimp Soluble Extract on Growth and Nonspecific Immune Response of Rainbow Trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

A 12‐wk feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the dietary fishmeal analogue (FMA) adding 2% shrimp soluble extract (SSE) on growing rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Fish averaging 146 ± 3.8 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed into 500‐L aquaria as groups of 20 fish per tank. Fish were fed the experimental diets in triplicate groups to apparent satiation twice a day on a dry matter basis. Each group was fed one of the four experimental diets: control (FM100% + FMA0%), FMA₀ (FM100% + FMA0% + SSE2%), FMA₁₂ (FM88% + FMA12% + SSE2%), and FMA₂₄ (FM76% + FMA24% + SSE2%). After the feeding trial, weight gain and specific growth rate of fish fed the FMA₀ and FMA₁₂ diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the FMA₂₄ diet (P < 0.05). Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio values of fish fed the control, FMA₀, and FMA₁₂ diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed the FMA₂₄ diet (P < 0.05). The values of superoxide dismutase activity showed significantly higher amounts for the FMA₀, FMA₁₂, and FMA₂₄ groups than the control group (P < 0.05). Lysozyme activity in the FMA₁₂ group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Therefore, according to our results, FMA with additive SSE can be used up to 12% as a substitute of fishmeal for growing rainbow trout.     

Microstructures and electrical properties of composite films based on carbon nanotube and para-aramid containing cyano side group

We report the microstructures and electrical properties of poly(2-cyano-1,4-phenylene terephthalamide) (cyPPTA)-based composite films including pristine multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) of 0.3-10.0 wt%, which were manufactured by ultrasonication-based solution mixing and casting techniques. FT-IR spectra of the composite films revealed the existence of specific interaction between cyPPTA and MWCNT. Accordingly, the pristine MWCNTs were found to be dispersed uniformly in the cyPPTA matrix, as confirmed by TEM images. The electrical resistivity of the composite films decreased considerably from ~10¹⁰ Ω cm to ~10⁰ Ω cm with the increase of the MWCNT content by forming a conductive percolation threshold at ~0.525 wt%. The composite films with 3.0-10.0 wt% MWCNT contents, which have sufficiently low electrical resistivity of ~10²-10⁰ Ω cm, exhibited excellent electric heating performance by attaining high maximum temperatures and electric power efficiency under given applied voltages of 10-100 V. Since the thermal decomposition of the composite films took place at 520-600 °C under air atmosphere, cyPPTA/MWCNT composite films could be used for high performance electric heating, antistatic, and EMI shielding materials.     

Effect of Whole Grain Wheat Flour on the Mixing Properties,Oil Uptake,and In Vitro Starch Digestibility of Instant Fried Noodles

The effects of whole grain wheat (WGW) flour on the quality attributes of instant fried noodles were characterized in terms of mixing and oil‐resisting properties as well as in vitro starch digestibility. Higher water absorption and shorter kneading time were required to obtain the optimally mixed dough from WGW flour, and the presence of nonstarch components in the WGW flour lowered the thermal conductivity of the noodles. The use of WGW flour produced instant fried noodles with oil uptake reduced by 30%, which could be correlated with the less porous structure confirmed by the surface and cross‐sectional scanning electron microscope images. When the instant fried noodles were subjected to in vitro starch digestion, the use of WGW flour was effective in suppressing the hydrolysis of starch in the noodles, and the predicted glycemic index of the WGW noodles (80.6) was significantly lower than that of the white wheat noodles (83.3).     

First report of Exobasidium gracile causing hypertrophied leaves of Camellia sasanqua in South Korea

This study presents the first report of Exobasidium gracile in South Korea. In 2012, a Camellia sasanqua tree with typical Exobasidium disease symptoms was observed for the first time in South Korea. The causal fungus was determined as E. gracile. The identification was based on host range, symptomatology, morphology and two‐gene sequence analyses.     

Lymphocytic ganglioneuritis secondary to intervertebral disc extrusion in a dog

This study presents a case of lymphocytic ganglioneuritis in a dog secondary to intervertebral disc extrusion that mimicked a peripheral nerve sheath tumour on magnetic resonance imaging. A four‐year‐old spayed female dachshund with lumbar pain was imaged via magnetic resonance. A tubular, space‐occupying, contrast‐enhancing lesion was noted in the right intervertebral foramen at L6 to L7. This was presumed to represent focal enlargement of the right sixth lumbar spinal nerve. A right‐sided haemilaminectomy was performed at L6 to L7 and material that grossly resembled extruded nucleus pulposus was removed. The right L6 dorsal root ganglion, dorsal nerve root and proximal spinal nerve were severely enlarged and a partial thickness biopsy was collected from the dorsal root ganglion. Results of histopathological examination of the submitted tissue samples were consistent with extruded disc material and lymphocytic ganglioneuritis. To the author's knowledge, this is the first published report of lymphocytic ganglioneuritis secondary to intervertebral disc disease in a dog.