Changes in fatty acids composition during seed growth and physicochemical characteristics of oil extracted from four safflower cultivars

Fatty acid contents at different stages ofmaturity and physicochemical characteristics of oilextracted from mature seeds of four safflowercultivars (S208, S400, S541, and S303) were studied. Results indicated that for all cultivars bothsaturated and unsaturated fatty acid contentsfluctuated with seed growth and development. Palmiticacid content decreased up to day 20 after which itstarted to increase for the S400, S541, and S303cultivars, while for S208 it progressively decreased.Stearic acid fluctuated with seed growth anddevelopment. Oleic acid showed slight changes withseed growth and development, while linoleic aciddecreased with seed growth and development for theS400, S541, and S303 cultivars while for S208 afterday 30, it started to increase significantly. For allcultivars, glyceride contents varied among thecultivars with maximum values of 97.70, 2.80 and0.20 for tri-, di- and monoglycerides, respectively. Physicochemical investigation of mature seed oilsshowed that the color, density, refractive index, free fatty acids, peroxide value, saponificationvalue and unsaponifiable matter were similar for allcultivars while viscosity, iodine value, and acetoneinsoluble matter varied among the cultivars.     

Nomen est Omen: do antidepressants increase p11 or S100A10?

Occasionally, multiple names are given to the same gene/protein. When this happens, different names can be used in subsequent publications, for example in different research areas, sometimes with little or no awareness that the same entity known under a different name may have a major role in another field of science. Recent reports about the protein p11 presented findings that this protein, commonly known as S100A10, may play a crucial role in depression and antidepressant treatment mechanisms. One set of data showed an increased expression of this protein in the brain of mice treated with antidepressants. P11/S100A10 is only one of several S100 proteins expressed in the brain. Interestingly, it has been previously noted that antidepressant treatment increases the brain content of another S100 protein, S100B. It appears that up-regulating the brain content of various S100 proteins might be a common feature of antidepressants. In cells coexpressing S100A10 and S100B, these proteins may interact and exert opposite regulatory roles. Nevertheless, S100A10 is predominantly expressed in certain types of neurons whereas S100B is more abundant in glia. Thus, an interplay among multiple members of the S100 proteins might be important in determining the region and cell specificity of antidepressant mechanisms. Calling the p11 protein by its other name, S100A10, may prompt more investigators from different fields to participate in this new direction of neurobiological research.     

Long-term feeding ecology and habitat use in harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from Scandinavian waters inferred from trace elements and stable isotopes

Background  

We investigated the feeding ecology and habitat use of 32 harbour porpoises by-caught in 4 localities along the Scandinavian coast from the North Sea to the Barents Sea using time-integrative markers: stable isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and trace elements (Zn, Cu, Fe, Se, total Hg and Cd), in relation to habitat characteristics (bathymetry) and geographic position (latitude).     

Zn, Cu, Cd and Hg binding to metallothioneins in harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from the southern North Sea

Background  

Harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from the southern North Sea are known to display high levels of Zn and Hg in their tissues linked to their nutritional status (emaciation). The question arises regarding a potential role of metallothioneins (MTs) with regard to these high metal levels. In the present study, metallothionein detection and associated Zn, Cd, Cu and Hg concentrations were investigated in the liver and kidney of 14 harbour porpoises collected along the Belgian coast.     

Characterization and distribution of phytoplasma strains associated with temperate stone fruits and their possible natural reservoirs in the north-western Himalayan states of India

European Journal of Plant Pathology - To understand the key soil factors that affect the survival and reproduction of Phytophthora sojae in soil, the number of zoospores and oospores of P. sojae...     

Diverse RNA viruses in a parasitic flowering plant (spruce dwarf mistletoe) revealed through RNA-seq data mining

Journal of General Plant Pathology - Spruce dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium sichuanense) is an important vascular parasite of spruce. In this study of the virome of A. sichuanense parasitizing Picea...     

Molecular Docking of Laccase Protein from Bacillus Safensis DSKK5 Isolated from Earthworm gut: A Novel Method to Study dye Decolorization Potential

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - The bacterial communities in the intestinal tracts of earthworm were isolated by culture-dependent approaches. In total, 72 cultures were isolated and purified...     

Effect of adult nutrition and insect density on the performance of spotted stem borer, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chilo partellus</Emphasis> in laboratory cultures

The spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is being successfully reared on artificial diets for screening programmes. Besides quality characteristics of the diet, rearing density and adult nutrition have significant implications on the successful mass multiplication of lepidopterans. The performance of C. partellus moths was assessed on different adult diets (water and sugar solution) and compared with unfed adults. Further, three pairing densities, viz. 2, 5 and 8 pairs/oviposition jar (1177.5 cm³) were compared for their effect on C. partellus longevity and fecundity. In another experiment, different larval densities (100, 150 and 200 neonate larvae/diet jar) were evaluated for their effect on the larval survival. Water-fed moths (both males and females) lived longer (7.32 and 7.26 days, respectively) and showed higher fecundity (307.17 eggs) than the sugar-fed or unfed moths. The latter, however, showed better egg hatchability (76.55%) than the water- or sugar-fed moths (60.45 and 50.59%, respectively). The longevity (5.67 days) and fecundity (258.46 eggs) were significantly greater at pairing density of 2 pairs/jar. The larval survival was higher (58.50%) at rearing density of 100 larvae/jar. The neonate larval release into diet jars was compared with conventional egg release and both modes were no different with respect to larval survival.     

柠檬酸铜对肉鸡生产性能、血脂指标和组织胆固醇含量的影响

【目的】探讨柠檬酸铜对肉鸡生产性能、血脂指标和组织胆固醇含量的影响。【方法】采用单因子设计,将420只7日龄AA肉鸡随机分为7组,每组设3个重复,每个重复20只,公母各半。Ⅰ(对照)～Ⅶ组日粮分别添加0,50,100,150,200,250和300mg/kg柠檬酸铜,49日龄空腹称体质量,计算采食量、日增质量和料肉比。每组取6只鸡,采集血样、肝脏和胸腿肌,测定血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)、极低密度脂蛋白(VLDL-C)和高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)及肝脏、胸腿肌胆固醇含量。【结果】与Ⅰ组(对照)相比,Ⅳ～Ⅶ组肉鸡日增质量及日采食量均显著增加(P<0.05),料肉比显著降低(P<0.05);血清TC、TG、LDL-C、VLDL-C显著降低(P<0.05),HDL-C显著升高(P<0.05);胸腿肌、肝脏中的胆固醇含量显著降低(P<0.05);Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ及Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ、Ⅶ组间,以上指标差异均不显著(P>0.05)。【结论】日粮中添加150～300mg/kg柠檬酸铜,具有提高肉鸡生产性能、降低肉鸡血脂和组织胆固醇含量的效果。     

The Embeddedness of Collective Action in Nepalese Community Forestry

Collective action by local communities has been recognised as crucial for effective management of natural resources, particularly the management of forests in rural settings in developing countries. However, the processes and outcomes of collective action in forest management are often analysed through a narrow rational choice model, ignoring the impacts of wider social, political and economic processes in conditioning peoples’ decisions to act (or not to act) collectively. Optimistic assumptions are made for collective action being instrumental to enhance both social and ecological outcomes, but there is a paucity of empirical evidence on how and why the condition of forests has improved (or deteriorated) under collective action, and what impacts the change in forest condition has on various groups within local communities. This study critically examines the emergence, evolution and outcomes of collective action in a case of community forestry in Nepal. A mix of qualitative and quantitative methods has been used to collect primary data from the forest, households, key informants and focus groups. The emergence and outcomes of collective action is found to be embedded in social, economic and political relationships, where powerful actors control the use of forests in order to ensure conservation, thereby resulting in the underutilisation of forest products. Poor users, who depend heavily on forests, are found to be worse off economically under community forestry, but still engage in collective action for a variety of socio-political reasons. This contradicts the conventional wisdom which assumes that people only cooperate when they benefit from cooperation. It is concluded that a deeper understanding of the embeddedness of community forestry is needed in order to achieve the potential of collective action.