Synthesis and application of o,o′-dihydroxyazo dyes and their metal complexes

This paper presents the synthesis of metal complex acid dyes obtained from the reaction of o,o′-dihydroxyazo dyes and chromium and cobalt sulfate. The ¹H-NMR, FT-IR and UV/Visible Spectrophotometer, TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) and ICP (Ion Chromatography) of the intermediates and the metal complexes were studied and compared. Their properties such as dyeing, fastness and toxicity on nylon were also assessed according to standard methods.     

Laparoscopy vs. laparotomy for embryo transfer to produce transgenic goats (Capra hircus)

This study was performed to produce transgenic Korean native goat (Capra hircus) by laparoscopic embryo transfer (ET) to overcome the limitations of ET performed by laparotomy. Transgenic embryos were produced by DNA pronuclear microinjection of in vivo zygotes. The recipient goats were synchronized for estrus by using an introvaginal progesterone devices as a controlled internal drug-releasing insert (CIDR) for 13 days and injection of 400 IU PMSG 48 h before removal of the insert. Embryos were transferred on day 3 and 4 after removal of the insert. Recipient goats were deprived of feed for 48 h, then suspended in a laparotomy cradle at an angle of 45°. After obtaining a sufficient pneumoperitoneum, the laparoscope and forceps were inserted abdominally through 5 mm trocar sleeves. Examination of the ovaries and uterus was performed and then 213 embryos were transferred into the oviducts via the infundibula of 76 recipient goats. To compare pregnancy rates, ET was also performed by laparotomy in 82 recipient goats. The pregnancies in the recipient goats were diagnosed by ultrasound on day 30 after embryo transfer. The pregnancy rate with laparoscopic ET was significantly higher than with ET performed by laparotomy (46.1% vs. 28.6%, p < 0.05). In addition, the pregnancy rates were compared between ovulated and non-ovulated ovaries of the recipient goats in the laparoscopic ET group. No significant difference was observed between the pregnancy rates of ovulated and non-ovulated ovaries (41.3% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.05) suggesting that ET may also be possible in non-ovulated recipients through artificial rupture of Graafian follicles. These results suggest that laparoscopic ET is a highly efficient method for the transfer of goat embryos.     

Involvement of cytochrome P‐450 enzyme activity in the selectivity and safening action of pyrazosulfuron‐ethyl

To investigate the selectivity and safening action of the sulfonylurea herbicide pyrazosulfuron‐ethyl (PSE), pyrazosulfuron‐ethyl O‐demethylase (PSEOD) activity involving oxidative metabolism by cytochrome P‐450 was studied in rice (Oryza sativa L cv Nipponbare) and Cyperus serotinus Rottb. Cytochrome P‐450‐dependent activity was demonstrated by the use of the inducers 1,8‐naphthalic anhydride and ethanol, the herbicides PSE, bensulfuron‐methyl, dimepiperate and dymron, or the inhibitor piperonyl butoxide (PBO). Growth inhibition in C serotinus seedlings was more severe than that in rice seedlings. O‐Dealkylation activities of PSE were induced differently in rice and in C serotinus, with distinctly higher activity in rice seedlings. The induced PSEOD activities were slightly inhibited by PBO in rice seedlings, whereas they were strongly inhibited in C serotinus seedlings. Dimepiperate and dymron were effective safeners of rice against PSE treatment. Treatments with herbicide alone resulted in less induction of PSEOD activity compared with combined treatments of the herbicide and safener. PSEOD activity in rice seedlings induced with herbicide alone was strongly inhibited by PBO, whereas it was weakly inhibited in rice seedlings induced with combinations of PSE and two safeners. These results suggest that O‐demethylation by cytochrome P‐450 enzymes may be involved in the metabolism of PSE and may contribute to its selectivity and safening action. Furthermore, these results suggest the existence of a multiple form of cytochrome P‐450 in plants. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Bright coherent ultrahigh harmonics in the keV x-ray regime from mid-infrared femtosecond lasers

High-harmonic generation (HHG) traditionally combines ~100 near-infrared laser photons to generate bright, phase-matched, extreme ultraviolet beams when the emission from many atoms adds constructively. Here, we show that by guiding a mid-infrared femtosecond laser in a high-pressure gas, ultrahigh harmonics can be generated, up to orders greater than 5000, that emerge as a bright supercontinuum that spans the entire electromagnetic spectrum from the ultraviolet to more than 1.6 kilo-electron volts, allowing, in principle, the generation of pulses as short as 2.5 attoseconds. The multiatmosphere gas pressures required for bright, phase-matched emission also support laser beam self-confinement, further enhancing the x-ray yield. Finally, the x-ray beam exhibits high spatial coherence, even though at high gas density the recolliding electrons responsible for HHG encounter other atoms during the emission process.     

Two novel QTLs regulate internode elongation in deepwater rice during the early vegetative stage

Deepwater rice possesses internode elongation ability to avoid drowning under deepwater conditions. Previous studies identified three QTLs regulating internode elongation ability on chromosomes 1, 3 and 12 using different populations. However, these QTLs only induce internode elongation in response to deepwater conditions from the 7-leaf stage and not during the early leaf stage. In this study, we detected two novel QTLs, qTIL2 and qTIL4 regulating deepwater response at the early leaf stage using an F₂ population derived from the cross between NIL1-3-12 carrying the three QTLs regulating deepwater response in T65 (O. sativa ssp. japonica) genetic background and C9285 (O. sativa ssp. indica, deepwater rice). Plants of the BC₂F₂ population derived from NIL1-3-12/C9285 and the RILs of T65/Bhadua (O. sativa ssp. indica, deepwater rice) possessing these QTLs as well as the three QTLs previously identified also showed internode elongation during the early leaf stage. These results indicate that qTIL2 and qTIL4 regulate early internode elongation and function in coordination with the three major QTLs under deepwater conditions. The results presented here would not only help define the mechanism of deepwater response in rice but also contribute in the breeding of deepwater tolerant rice that is adapted to various water depths.     

A multi-microbe probiotic formulation processed at low and high drying temperatures: effects on growth performance,nutrient retention and caecal microbiology of broilers

1. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate a multi-microbe probiotic formulation processed at low (LT) or high (HT) drying temperature.

2. In both the experiments, 640 d-old Ross male chicks were randomly allotted to 4 treatments on the basis of initial BW for 35 d experiments.

3. In experiment one, dietary treatments were a negative control (NC; basal diet without any antimicrobial); positive control (PC; basal diet +10?mg/kg avilamycin); basal diet with 0·3% probiotic LT; and basal diet with 0·3% probiotic HT.

4. Improved overall weight gain, FCR and retention of CP were observed in birds fed the PC and probiotic diets when compared with birds fed the NC diet. At d 21, birds fed the probiotic and NC diets had more caecal Bifidobacterium and total anaerobes than birds fed the PC diet; while birds fed the PC and probiotic diets had fewer caecal Clostridium than birds fed the NC diet at d 35.

5. In experiment two, a 2?×?2 factorial arrangement of treatments was employed to evaluate the effects of two concentrations of probiotic HT (0·30 or 0·60%) and avilamycin (0 or 10?mg/kg).

6. Birds fed the 0·60% probiotic HT diet showed improved overall weight gain and CP retention, higher Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the caecum, and reduced Clostridium and coliforms in the caecum. Inclusion of avilamycin improved the overall weight gain and feed intake, and reduced the caecal Clostridium and Bifidobacterium population.

7. In conclusion, high drying temperature had no effect on the efficacy of the multi-microbe probiotic formulation; while the probiotic HT formulation was more effective at the 0·60% level. Moreover, inclusion of avilamycin improved performance of birds but did not have any interaction with probiotics.     

Differential glutathione S-transferase isozyme activities in rice and early watergrass seedlings

Glutathione S -transferase (GST) isozymes were investigated in one-leaf-stage rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare) and early watergrass ( Echinochloa oryzicola Vasing) shoots after being induced by treatment with a combination of pretilachlor [2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-N-(2-propoxyethyl)acetanilide] and fenclorim (4,6-dichloro-2-phenylpyrimidine) using DEAE-Sephacel anion exchange chromatography. Non-treated plants contained GST isozymes that had activity to the following substrates: three isozymes for l-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), six isozymes for pretilachlor and three isozymes for fenclorim in rice shoots; and four isozymes for CDNB, three or four isozymes for pretilachlor and two or three isozymes for fenclorim in early watergrass shoots. Glutathione S -transferase isozyme activities of non-treated plants were higher in rice than in early watergrass, especially in the case of GST activity with fenclorim as a substrate. Pretreatment of rice roots with a combination of pretilachlor and fenclorim increased the activity of the constitutively expressed isozymes that exhibited activity with CDNB, pretilachlor and fenclorim. This pretreatment also caused the appearance of one new GST(fenclorim) isozyme. Pretreatment of early watergrass roots with a combination of pretilachlor and fenclorim produced almost no increase in activity of some constitutively expressed isozymes that exhibited activity to CDNB and fenclorim, although it partly increased the peaks to corresponding to pretilachlor. The induction of GST was higher in rice than that in early watergrass. These results indicated that the isozyme pattern and substrate specificity of GST isozymes in rice were different from those in early watergrass. Furthermore, the selectivity of pretilachlor between rice and early watergrass may be related to different constitutively expressed GST(pretilachlor) isozyme activities and the induction of GST(pretilachlor) isozyme activities in the combination treatment.