Why do zoos attract crows? A comparative study from Europe and Asia.

Crows have successfully colonized many cities, and urban zoos have been important in this process. To evaluate why zoos attract crows, we quantified crow numbers and behavior in three zoos in Europe (Debrecen, Edinburgh, Vienna) and one in Asia (Sapporo). Data were collected in 445 surveys over 297 days in summer 2014 and winter 2014-2015.

AN EPIZOOTIC OF EMERGING NOVEL AVIAN POX IN CARRION CROWS (CORVUS CORONE) AND LARGE-BILLED CROWS (CORVUS MACRORHYNCHOS) IN JAPAN.

In 2006-10, an epizootic of emerging avian pox occurred in Carrion Crows ( Corvus corone ) and Large-billed Crows ( Corvus macrorhynchos ), leading to mortality of juvenile crows in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. We diagnosed 27 crows with proliferative skin lesions (19 carcasses and eight biopsied cases [one in zoo captivity]) as avian pox clinically, histopathologically by detection of Avipoxvirus-specific 4b core protein (P4b) gene, and epidemiologically. The fatal cases demonstrated intensively severe infection and aggressive lesions with secondary bacterial infection.

Steroidal glycoalkaloid profiling and structures of glycoalkaloids in wild tomato fruit.

Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) constitute one of the main groups of secondary metabolites in tomato fruit. However, the detailed composition of SGAs other than α-tomatine, dehydrotomatine and esculeoside A, remains unclear. Comparative SGA profiling was performed in eight tomato accessions, including wild tomato species by HPLC-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (HPLC-FTICR/MS).

Distribution of major xanthones in the pericarp, aril, and yellow gum of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana linn.) fruit and their contribution to antioxidative activity.

Xanthone compounds in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.) fruit have been reported to have biological activities including antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, and the major xanthone compounds in mangosteen are α-mangostin and γ-mangostin. The objectives of this research were to quantify and qualify the major xanthones in each part of the mangosteen fruit with and without yellow gum from the point of view of effective utilization of agricultural product.

Formation mechanism and characterization of dilysyl-dipyrrolones, the Maillard-type yellow pigments.

Our group has recently isolated and identified novel yellow compounds named dilysyl-dipyrrolones A (DPL A; 1) and B (DPL B; 2) in a heated aqueous solution containing xylose and lysine under weakly acidic conditions. In this study, we isolated and identified a novel DPL derivative (DPL C; 3), which has the same structure as DPL B, except for containing a hydroxymethyl group. To estimate the formation mechanism of DPL derivatives, (13)C-labeled DPLs were prepared and analyzed with LC/MS and NMR.

Identification of 2,4-dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-thiophenone as a low-molecular-weight yellow pigment in soy sauce.

The color of soy sauce is considered to be mainly attributable to melanoidins formed by the Maillard reaction. However, the chemical structure of melanoidins cannot be clarified, because melanoidins are high-molecular-weight heterogeneous polymers. We isolated a low-molecular-weight pigment from soy sauce and identified 2,4-dihydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-thiophenone as this pigment formed by the Maillard reaction, although its contribution to the total color of soy sauce was very low.

Decontamination effect of milling by a jet mill on bacteria in rice flour.

The decontamination effect of milling by a jet mill was investigated by counting the number of bacteria in brown and white rice flour with mean particle diameters of 3, 20, and 40µm prepared by the jet mill. In the jet mill, the particles are crushed and reduced in size by the mechanical impact caused by their collision. Although the brown and white rice grains were contaminated with approximately 10(6) and 10(5) CFU/g bacteria, the microbial load of the rice flour decreased as the mean particle diameter decreased, ultimately decreasing to approximately 104 and 103 CFU/g in the brown and white rice flour.

Conditions for the formation of dilysyl-dipyrrolones A and B, and novel yellow dipyrrolone derivatives formed from xylose and amino acids in the presence of lysine.

Foods derived from plants contain pentose in addition to hexose. It is well known that pentose contributes more to browning by the Maillard reaction than hexose does. We have recently found novel yellow compounds formed from xylose and lysine under weakly acidic conditions, named dilysyldipyrrolones (dilysyl-DPLs) A and B.

First preparation of single-enantiomer juvenile hormone III acid and (R)-juvenile hormone III-d₃.

The (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of juvenile hormone (JH) III acid [(R)-2 and (S)-2] were prepared by the hydrolysis of (R)- and (S)-JH III [(R)-1 and (S)-1], respectively. Each enantiomer of 2 was purified by preparative reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography in a single operation. (RS)-2 was methylated with CH₃I and K₂CO₃ in MeCN, yielding (RS)-1.

Bile acid-binding ability of kaki-tannin from young fruits of persimmon (Diospyros kaki) in vitro and in vivo.

The bile acid-binding ability of a highly polymerized tannin (kaki-tannin) extracted from dried-young fruits of persimmon (Diospyros kaki) was examined. The kaki-tannin was composed mainly of epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin-3-O-gallate and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate. Bile acid-binding ability of kaki-tannin was examined against cholic acid, glycocholic acid, taurocholic acid and deoxycholic acid in vitro, and its effect on fecal bile acid excretion in mice was also examined.

Novel yellow compounds, dilysyldipyrrolones A and B, formed from xylose and lysine by the Maillard reaction.

When a solution containing xylose and L-lysine is heated under weakly acidic conditions, it turns brown by the Maillard reaction. We isolated here two novel yellow compounds from a heated solution containing xylose and lysine, and identified pyrrolyl-methylidene-pyrrolone derivatives named dilysyldipyrrolones A and B. Their chemical structures were elucidated by instrumental analyses as 6-[[1-[(S)-5-amino-1-carboxypentyl]-3-hydroxy-pyrrol-2-yl]-(E)-2-methylidene-5-methyl-1,2H-pyrrol-3-one-1-ly]-(S)-2-amino-hexanoic acid (dilysyldipyrrolone A) and 6-[[1-[(S)-5-amino-5-carboxypentyl]-3-hydroxy-pyrrol-2-yl]-(E)-2-methylidene-5-methyl-1,2H-pyrrol-3-one-1-yl]-(S)-2-amino-hexanoic acid (dilysyldipyrrolone B).

Identification and some properties of anthocyanin isolated from Zuiki, stalk of Colocasia esculenta.

Zuiki, a stalk of taro (Colocasia esculenta), is a traditional vegetable in Japan. Raw zuiki is often boiled and vinegared to eat. The surface color of zuiki is reddish.

Antiproliferative effect on human cancer cell lines after treatment with nimbolide extracted from an edible part of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica).

Nimbolide, a triterpenoid extracted from the flowers of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), was found to have antiproliferative activity against some cancer cell lines. Treatment of cells with 0.5-5.

Inhibition of colon cancer (HT-29) cell proliferation by a triterpenoid isolated from Azadirachta indica is accompanied by cell cycle arrest and up-regulation of p21.

Nimbolide, a natural triterpenoid present in the edible parts of the neem tree ( Azadirachta indica), was found to be growth-inhibitory in human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells. Nimbolide treatment of cells at 2.5 - 10 microM resulted in moderate to very strong growth inhibition.

Apoptosis, necrosis and cell proliferation-inhibition by cyclosporine A in U937 cells (a human monocytic cell line).

The immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA) has been used in both organ transplantation and the treatment of autoimmune disorders. However, the drug causes adverse effects in the kidney, liver and nervous system, characterized by cellular loss in the affected area. Apoptosis has been shown to play a role in CsA-induced cytotoxicity.

Changes in caffeic acid derivatives in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) during cooking and processing.

There was an obvious decrease in caffeic acid derivatives during the boiling of cube-shaped blocks of sweet potatoes. They also decreased in a mixture of freeze-dried sweet-potato powder and water maintained at room temperature. Ascorbic acid prevented the decrease, supporting the occurrence of an enzyme reaction with polyphenol oxidase (PPO).

Characterization of a metal-chelating substance in coffee.

A metal-chelating substance in brewed coffee was separated and characterized by its chemical structure. This substance was a brown polymer. The contents of sugars, amino acids and phenolics in the substance were evaluated.

Cellular uptake and photocytotoxicity of glycoconjugated chlorins in HeLa cells.

Eight 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[3- or 4-(beta-D-glycopyranosyloxy)phenyl]chlorins were synthesized by means of the Whitlock method with diimide reduction and purified by reversed-phase thin layer chromatography (RP-TLC). All compounds were characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, electron-spray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. ESI-TOF MS could detect the 2H difference in molecular weight between a glycoconjugated chlorin and its corresponding porphyrin (i.

Antioxidative activity of a zinc-chelating substance in coffee.

Coffee brew contains a brownish zinc-chelating polymer designated ApV. ApV was prepared from the precipitate formed in a solution of instant coffee by adding ZnCl(2) and purified using ion-exchange and cellulose column chromatographies. The antioxidative activities of ApV and related compounds were evaluated in this study.

Fruit antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, total phenol, quercetin, and carotene of Irwin mango fruits stored at low temperature after high electric field pretreatment.

Greenhouse-grown tree ripe (TR) and mature green (MG) mangoes (cv. Irwin) were exposed to high electric field treatment before 20 and 30 days of storage at 5 degrees C. MG fruits were allowed to ripen at room temperature after low-temperature storage.

L-O-Caffeoylhomoserine from Matteuccia struthiopteris.

A caffeic acid derivative was isolated from Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern) as a major radical scavenger. The compound consisted of caffeic acid and L-homoserine. NMR and MS analysis revealed the structure as L-O-caffeoylhomoserine.

Caffeic acid derivatives in the roots of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius).

Five caffeic acid derivatives were found in the roots of yacon, Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. and Endl.) H.