High water content silk protein-based hydrogels with tunable elasticity fabricated via a Ru(II) mediated photochemical cross-linking method

Silk is very promising in the field of biomaterials as a natural biomacromolecule. Silk protein can be made into various forms of materials, including hydrogels. However, silk protein-based hydrogels have not attracted much attention due to its weak mechanical properties. Here, we report high water content silk protein-based hydrogels with tunable elasticity which were fabricated through Ru(II) mediated photochemically cross-linking tyrosine residues in regenerated silk protein. The regenerated silk protein was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The gelation kinetics of the silk protein was studied by rheology measurements. The compressive mechanical properties of the silk protein-based hydrogels was investigated using compressive tests and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Compressive modulus of the hydrogels reached 349±64 MPa at 15 % strain. The fabricated silk protein-based hydrogels were also characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing an interconnected porous network structure, typical of hydrogels, with an average pore size of approximately 130 μm. Finally, biocompatibility of the silk protein-based hydrogels was demonstrated through cell culture studies using a human fibroblast cell line, HFL1. The reported silk protein-based hydrogels represent a promising candidate for biomaterial applications.     

Nano-calcium carbonate reinforced polypropylene and propylene-ethylene copolymer nanocomposites: Tensile vs. impact behavior

Improvement of both the tensile and impact strength of the same polymeric material has always been a great challenge for the plastic industry. The study focuses on the effect of incorporation of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (0.3 wt% to 15 wt%) into three polypropylene (PP) based matrices viz. PP homopolymer, propylene-ethylene (PP-PE) copolymer and the blend of PP:PP-PE (30:70) to improve their impact behavior without hampering the tensile strength much. A loss in both the tensile and impact properties was observed in PP based nanocomposite. However, PP-PE based nanocomposites showed a significant improvement in impact strength (47 %) at 10 wt% loading with a loss of tensile strength by 22 %. To minimize this loss a blend of PP:PP-PE (30:70) was explored as a matrix. At 10 wt% loading, this matrix showed an improvement of 30 % in impact strength whereas the tensile loss was minimized to 10 %. Further, silane coupling agent which promoted good interfacial adhesion was used for best compositions. The variation of crystalline morphology of the nanocomposites with various formulations was analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction.     

化肥减施下紫云英不同翻压量对双季稻产量及养分利用效率的影响

为了探索紫云英替代化肥的可行性和适宜翻压量,利用连续11 a田间定位试验,共设置7个处理,分别为CK(不施紫云英和化肥)、GM_(22.5)(单施紫云英22.5 t/hm~2)、100%CF(常规施肥)及60%化肥施用量条件下将紫云英翻压量设15.0(GM_(15.0)),22.5(GM_(22.5)),30.0(GM_(30.0)),37.5(GM_(37.5)) t/hm~2 4个水平,研究化肥减施下不同紫云英翻压量对双季稻产量、氮磷钾积累量、氮磷钾利用率及土壤肥力的影响。结果表明:与CK相比,施肥处理均能显著增加早晚稻及全年两季籽粒产量(P0.05),增幅分别为79.1%～91.1%,44.8%～50.7%,56.8%～64.7%。单施紫云英可显著增加水稻产量(P0.05),与CK相比,早晚稻及全年两季籽粒产量增幅分别为23.9%,12.4%,16.4%。60%化肥与不同量紫云英配施处理早晚稻及全年两季籽粒产量与常规施肥相比差异不显著,紫云英翻压量为15.0～30.0 t/hm~2时,早晚稻及全年两季籽粒产量均随紫云英翻压量的增多而提高,当紫云英翻压量多于30.0 t/hm~2时,则呈下降趋势。在所有的化肥配施紫云英处理中,早晚稻籽粒氮、磷、钾养分积累量均以翻压紫云英30.0 t/hm~2时最高。与常规化肥相比,紫云英与化肥配施可提高氮、钾肥回收利用率、农学效率和偏生产力。与CK相比,各施肥处理均不同程度地提高土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量。紫云英翻压量为22.5～30.0 t/hm~2时,土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、有效磷含量均显著高于常规化肥处理(P0.05)。因此,在本试验施用60%化肥条件下长期翻压紫云英有利于促进水稻增产及水稻氮、磷、钾素的吸收,提高双季稻氮、磷、钾养分利用效率及土壤肥力。     

中药对肉仔鸡脂质代谢及肉品质的影响

将120只1周龄肉仔鸡随机分成4组,每组30只,前3组(试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组)分别喂以含1%的3种不同中药组方的饲粮,第Ⅳ组为对照组,只喂基础日粮.试验期6周.结果(1)与对照组相比,Ⅰ组血清TC、LDL-C极显著下降(P＜0.01);Ⅱ组血清TC、LDL-C极显著下降(P＜0.01),TG也下降(P＜0.05),HDL-C显著升高(P＜0.01);Ⅲ组血清LDL-C极显著下降(P＜0.01),HDL-C则显著升高(P＜0.01);试验Ⅰ～Ⅲ组血清总脂都极显著下降(P＜0.01);与Ⅱ组相比,Ⅰ组血清LDL-C、Ⅲ组TC存在显著差异(P＜0.01).(2)与对照组相比,胸肌组织中,各试验组TG极显著下降(P＜0.01),Ⅱ组TC显著下降(P＜0.05);腿肌中,各组TC显著下降(P＜0.05),TG下降极显著(P＜0.01);肝脏中各组TC、TG均极显著下降(P＜0.01);与Ⅱ组相比,Ⅰ组肝TG差异极显著(P＜0.01);Ⅲ组胸肌TG、肝TG有显著差异性(P＜0.05).(3)7周龄末鸡体重与对照组相比,Ⅱ组差异极显著(P＜0.01),Ⅲ组差异显著(P＜0.05);Ⅱ组料肉比比对照组极显著下降(P＜0.01).(4)肌肉中的营养成分,Ⅰ、Ⅱ组腿肌中粗脂肪比对照组极显著下降(P＜0.01),Ⅱ组腿肌中粗蛋白含量显著升高(P＜0.01).结论中药组方能不同程度地调整鸡脂质代谢,提高生产性能和改善鸡肉品质.在3个不同中药组方中,综合效果Ⅱ方最优.     

甘蓝型油菜凸耳叶性状的观察

从油菜品种资源以及杂交后代中发现了油菜叶变异株－－凸变叶植株，套袋自交纯化后种植观察，发现油工有 凸耳叶性状最先起 始叶位多出现在第4－5片真叶上，在同一片真叶上一般可同时着生1－5个凸耳叶，凸耳叶面积大小一般在0.05-4.2cm^2。     

水霉属菌(Saprolegnia)分离培养技术研究

 对水霉(Saprolegnia)的分离培养技术进行了探索,筛选出大麻籽、油菜籽、红花籽、苍蝇、蚜虫、小麦粒、玉米片、茶叶、葵花仁9种材料作为诱发水霉菌的诱饵。其中油菜籽能防止腐霉菌(Pythium)污染,是初步纯化菌种、排除杂菌的适宜饵料。同时发现控制温度能使水霉在最短时间内分别产生无性或有性繁殖。在水培条件下,25℃左右适合菌丝及无性器官的发育,有性器官却不能产生,而只有在15~17℃条件下才能使水霉很快进入有性生殖阶段;在加入200mg/L链霉素的CMA培养基上促发有性阶段则需要在25℃左右的温度下进行,方能缩短培养时间。     

瓜叶菊开花生物学及杂交育种技术探讨

根据有关文献及试验观测，探讨了瓜叶菊的开花生物学特性及杂交育种工作中的几个技术性问题，为瓜叶菊杂交育种工作提供了有益参考。     

黄皮的生物学特性研究

通过本试验观察表明:黄皮[Clausena Lansium (Lour.)Skeels]的开花与温度有密切关系,温度高,开花过程短;温度低,开花过程长。花穗中的花轴增长速度也随温度升高而加快,花轴增长快,则花轴长,花穗大;反之,花轴增长速度慢,花轴短,花穗小。黄皮开花的顺序是从花穗基部第1—4个分枝开始,每个分枝则先从基部1—8个二次分枝首先开放。31℃是黄皮花粉萌发最适宜温度。在培养基中加入15—20％蔗糖或2.4—D,三十烷醇等生长调节物质,明显可提高黄皮花粉的萌发力。本试验对黄皮的物候期及植物学特性同时进行了研究。     

Alfalfa Phytoestrogen Content: Impact of Plant Maturity and Herbage Components

Legumes contain a range of non‐nutritional phytochemicals that may have health‐promoting effects in humans. In this study, we determined the concentrations of four phytoestrogens (coumestrol, apigenin, luteolin and quercetin) in field‐grown alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Differences between plants of different stages of maturity, between plant parts, and different canopy segments were assessed. The concentration of individual phytoestrogen in whole herbage varied between 15 and 225 μg g^?1 dry matter (DM) and was strongly affected by stage of maturity. Coumestrol and apigenin concentrations were highest at early vegetative stages, luteolin and quercetin at early vegetative and late flowering stages. All phytoestrogens were found in lowest concentrations at the early flowering stage (average 68 μg g^?1 DM); stage at which alfalfa is usually harvested when used as a forage source for animals. At vegetative stages, apigenin was the predominant phytoestrogen in herbage followed by coumestrol, the reverse being observed upon initiation of flowering; luteolin and quercetin were found at all stages in similarly lower concentrations. Concentrations of luteolin, quercetin and apigenin were 225, 410 and 690 % greater, respectively, in flowers than in leaves or stems; coumestrol concentration was similar between plant parts. In flowers and stems the predominant phytoestrogens were apigenin and quercetin, followed by coumestrol and luteolin. Similar concentrations (average 26 μg g^?1 DM) of each of the four phytoestrogens were found in leaves. Concentrations through the herbage canopy varied and were greatest at >60 cm from the soil surface for apigenin and coumestrol, but greatest at >60 and 0–20 cm for quercetin and at 0–20 cm for luteolin. The results suggest that if alfalfa is to be used as a source of phytoestrogens and is harvested for the production of herbal supplements or nutraceuticals, management will need to be adapted.