Proteome Array on Differentially Expressed Proteins of Skin Tissue in Fine-wool Sheep with Different Fiber Diameter

The purpose of this paper was to study the differentially expressed proteins of hair follicles in skin tissue with different fiber diameter of Fine-wool sheep, and discussed the function of proteins related to wool fineness.The differentially expressed protein maps of Fine-wool sheep skin hair follicle were established by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and the differentially expressed protein spots were detected and analyzed by the ImageMaster 2D Platinum software, Fine-wool sheep skin hair follicle specific proteins were classified and functional identified by mass spectrum identification technology and database matching method.The results showed that 94 different proteins were successfully identified in Fine-wool sheep with different fiber diameter, including 73 different proteins between superfine wool sheep and Fine-wool sheep at the same age, and 21 different proteins of superfine wool sheep at the different age.According to the functional properties got eight kind of functional proteins, keratin, molecular chaperone protein, cytoskeleton protein, 14-3-3 protein, protease, myosin, serum albumin, other protein, respectively.These results indicated that the internal relation between the differentially expressed protein and the wool fiber diameter was analyzed by the bioinformatics knowledge, which would provide effective genetic resources information directly for high quality breeding of Fine-wool sheep, and had important practical significance for improving the quality of the wool.     

黄绵土坡面土壤矿质氮素径流流失与入渗特征研究

采用人工模拟降雨的研究方法，研究了黄绵土坡面土壤矿质氮素径流损失与人渗规律。结果表明，径流损失是土壤矿质氮素流失的主要形式，土壤硝态氮是氮素径流损失的主要形态；土壤矿质氮素在地表流失过程中，随时间的延长累积流失量均不断增大，可用幂函数和对数函数方程进行模拟；降雨16h后，硝态氮发生深层渗漏现象比较明显；坡中部硝态氮发生向下迁移的现象相对严重，而铵态氮径流或泥沙损失主要集中在坡上和坡中部。     

A class-wide phylogenetic assessment of Dothideomycetes

We present a comprehensive phylogeny derived from 5 genes, nucSSU, nucLSU rDNA, TEF1, RPB1 and RPB2, for 356 isolates and 41 families (six newly described in this volume) in Dothideomycetes. All currently accepted orders in the class are represented for the first time in addition to numerous previously unplaced lineages. Subclass Pleosporomycetidae is expanded to include the aquatic order Jahnulales. An ancestral reconstruction of basic nutritional modes supports numerous transitions from saprobic life histories to plant associated and lichenised modes and a transition from terrestrial to aquatic habitats are confirmed. Finally, a genomic comparison of 6 dothideomycete genomes with other fungi finds a high level of unique protein associated with the class, supporting its delineation as a separate taxon.     

Avocado lenticel damage: The cause and the effect on fruit quality

Avocado fruit can develop small, 1–5 mm diameter brown spots immediately after harvest. These symptoms are typically more severe among fruit harvested following rain. The incidence of the brown spots increased significantly when fruit were artificially imbibed with water, but not when immersed in water. Morphological examination with the light and electron microscope showed there was a change in lenticels that was caused by water uptake. In unaffected fruit, large intercellular spaces were observed in cells below the lenticels, but when the fruit had taken up water, these cells became turgid and filled these spaces. Swollen cells associated with lenticels were more distended than other cells in the mesocarp, because the expansion of mesocarp cells was limited by adjacent cells. Swollen cells in the lenticels became brown more rapidly than other cells, probably because their turgidity made them more susceptible than other cells. Cells close to the surface were also more susceptible to discoloration than internal fruit cells. They were not prone to compression from adjacent cells towards the surface and were consequently more distended than internal cells. At harvest, prior to coolstorage, no fungal mycelium or spores were observed associated with lenticel damage symptoms. Surface-sterilised samples of lenticel damaged tissue failed to yield a fungal pathogen. In coolstorage, however, these fruit developed slightly sunken dark brown patches with irregular margins, referred to as measles, about 10–50 mm diameter The fungi Colletotrichum acutatum and Phomopsis sp. were isolated from such tissue in greater quantities than adjacent green tissue. Imbibation had no effect on measles development, but fruit jostled in a plastic crate to simulate damage that occurs at harvest developed more severe measles than fruit that were not damaged. There was no evidence that lenticel damage lead to measles but both symptoms were worsened by jostling.     

Oral administration of Saccharomyces boulardii alters duodenal morphology,enzymatic activity and cytokine production response in broiler chickens

The present study evaluated the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii on duodenal digestive enzymes, morphology and cytokine induction response in broiler chicken. A total of 200 birds were allotted into two groups (n = 100) and each group divided into five replications (n = 20). The control group was fed basal diet in addition to antibiotic (virginiamycin 20 mg/kg), and treatment group received (1 × 10⁸ colony‐forming units/kg feed) S. boulardii in addition to basal diet lasting for 72 days. The results compared to control group revealed that adenosine triphosphatase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, lipase and trypsin activities were higher, while, no significant improvement was observed in amylase activities in the duodenum of the treatment group. Moreover, morphological findings showed that villus height, width and number of goblet cells markedly increased. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy visualized that villus height, width and structural condensation significantly increased in the treatment group. The immunohistological observations showed increased numbers of immunoglobulin A (IgA)‐positive cells in the duodenum of the treatment group. Meanwhile, cytokine production levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin (IL)‐10, transforming growth factor‐β and secretory IgA markedly increased, and IL‐6 statistically remained unchanged as compared to the control group. These findings illustrated that initial contact of S. boulardii to the duodenum has significant impact in improving enzymatic activity, intestinal morphology and cytokine response in broiler chicken.     

The effect of increasing NaCl in irrigation water on growth,gas exchange and yield of tobacco Burley type

Despite the economic importance of tobacco, there is limited field study on the quantitative response of growth and yield to increasing soil salinity. The effects of irrigation with saline water on yield components of field-grown tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) “Burley” type plants were studied over two growing seasons. Growth, dry matter partitioning and gas exchange were measured either in rainfed or fully irrigated plants growing in a clayey–sandy–loam soil. The four fully irrigated treatments received amounts of saline waters at 0.54, 2.5, 5.0 or 10 dS m⁻¹ electrical conductivity (EC_w) equal to crop evapotranspiration. In both years, the electrical conductivity of the saturation phase (EC_e) across the 0.6 m topsoil profile increased with increasing salinity of the irrigation water. Soil moisture was markedly lower in the rainfed treatment than in fully irrigated treatments. Different saline concentrations of irrigation water had virtually no effect on soil moisture. Carbon assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water use efficiency of the saline treatments were lower than the fully irrigated plants at 0.54 dS m⁻¹ (NW treatment) in 1996, but not in 1997. Transpiration rates were unaffected by salinity in both years. The highest yield was produced by plants irrigated with good quality water. The number of leaves per unit land area was greater for the NW plants, whereas there were no differences between the other four treatments. Salinity decreased plant dry matter and height at harvest, increased dry matter partitioning into leaves and decreased that into stems in both years. Dry matter partitioning to leaves was also greater for the rainfed plants than for the NW plants. Tobacco plants grown under field conditions showed a maximum reduction of relative yield at the highest salinity level of only 31%. The threshold values (0.56 and 0.96 dS m⁻¹) and the EC_e at which a 10% yield reduction was obtained (3.12 and 2.55 dS m⁻¹) calculated from the linear model of response of relative yield to increasing EC_e were typical of moderately sensitive crops. The EC_e values at which 50% yield was reduced (13.34 and 8.91 dS m⁻¹) were indicative of moderate tolerance to salinity.     

Reduction of chilling injury in ‘Tommy Atkins’ mangoes during ripening

Studies were conducted to investigate how harvest maturity influence fruit ripening processes to alleviate chilling injury (CI) in mangoes (cv. Tommy Atkins). Fruit at three stages of maturity, immature (M1), half-mature (M2) and mature (M3) were stored for 18 days at 5 °C and then at 1 or 3 days at 20 °C. M1 fruit succumbed to CI after 18 days at 5 °C, with symptoms increasing in severity upon warming. Low C₂H₄ production, poor colour development, minor changes to fruit composition, insipid flavour and poor aroma revealed that fruit ripening was insufficient to reduce CI compared to M2 and M3 fruits. M2 and M3 fruits had higher C₂H₄ production rates than M1 fruit and ripened normally with acceptable flavour and aroma after 18 days at 5 °C and 3 days at 20 °C. While M3 fruit had no CI symptoms, they were overripe and fruit decay incidence was 26.6%, compared to M2 fruit which had no decay, a trace of CI symptoms and possessed the best overall quality.     

Cities vs countryside: An example of a science-based peri-urban landscape features rehabilitation in Milan (Italy)

Urban-rural boundaries are often abrupt and unmitigated, a trait that significantly enhances their ecological vulnerability. Nonetheless, such fringe systems enclose a high potential in furnishing buffering and resilience functions and services towards the city. Our study intends to give a contribution on the understanding of the ecological behaviour of peri-urban landscape features (PLFs) systems, showing how floristic-vegetational and landscape ecology studies can inform their multi-functional phytocoenoses ecological reconfiguring. Analyses were led among a fringe context of Milan city. An agri-environmental extra-local scale analysis framed the forthcoming finer scale results. Landscape mosaic structural and functional main traits were interpreted, outlining a current impairment of the landscape system capacity to support ecological functions across the area. In parallel, floristic traits were studied through chorological, life forms and Ellenberg’s ecogram analysis (total flora and single sub-areas values). The main phytocoenoses types were qualitatively described and related to the dynamic patterns of reference vegetation series. Results highlighted a significant deterioration of floristic-vegetational traits, if compared to the local potential. Recurrent anthropic disturbances, open space conditions were identified as the major impact factor on phytoconoeses evolution towards higher diversity, complexity and stability traits. Spontaneous recolonization processes were acknowledged as currently unable to change these trends, while past reforestation interventions showed positive effects. These results informed the building of a functional-dynamic interpretative approach, focused on the ecological roles and physical habitat conditions currently influencing phytocoenoses dynamics, and on which to intervene. Accordingly, the current and potential ecological functions of 9 key PLFs categories were inspected. Consequently, design criterions for corrective interventions were outlined. This brought to the identification of the optimal structural and functional patterns of PLFs to be integrated throughout the urban-rural boundary, as well as their floristic-vegetational design specificities, by pursuing a rebalancing effect on the peri-urban agroecosystem inner complexity and environmental stability parameters.     

The green quality of urban spatial development: A multi-dimensional and multi-regional model using big data

Spatial development involves multi-dimensional and multi-regional objectives that might be competing, while few studies have examined these issues simultaneously. We proposed a comprehensive model to assess the green quality of urban spatial development (GQUSD), focusing on the synergy of multi-dimensional objectives and the balance of multi-regional interests. The metropolitan city of Hangzhou was taken as an example. We included land consumption, vegetation loss and infrastructure cost as the inputs and the density of production and living activities as the outputs of spatial development. We developed a categorical Data Envelope Analysis (DEA) using geospatial big data and stratified optimization to evaluate the synergy of inputs-outputs at the finer level of spatial grids.Resultsshow a “sandwich” structure of the GQUSD in Hangzhou when considering green space and vegetation loss, and characterize four spatial typologies of agglomerated development, limited development, blinded development and low-potential development through the Bivariate Local Indicator of Spatial Association (LISA) analysis. The “sandwich” structure is shaped by spatial processes of socio-economic agglomeration, industrial-driven sprawl, new-town development and suburbanization of high-end sectors. We also find green inequality in the spatial development of Hangzhou where vegetation costs were higher in manufactural industrial sites and low-income communities. We provide urban planning strategies to balance competing interests across regions, objectives, functions and communities for green growth and sustainable goals.     

Visitors’ perceptions of traditional homestead windbreaks from user-generated comments

Visitors’ perceptions of traditional homestead windbreaks on the Ryukyu Archipelago were determined in this study by analyzing the user-generated comments (UGC) on Instagram. It was found that an overwhelming majority of tourists used phrases like “spiritual,” “greenery,” “nature,” and “healing” to describe their feelings while visiting the dense windbreaks, in comparison with local residents’ perceptions of “windbreak” and “firebreak” in their stories. By analyzing the Instagram UGC, useful information related to tourists’ assessments, perceptions of windbreaks, and disadvantages of trees with numerous mosquitoes, was obtained. Many tourists assessed dense tree lines as sacred and spiritual. Furthermore, many tourists preferred a comfortable tour by riding a bicycle and a micro kickboard without walking too much. This study demonstrated Instagram as an important source of tourists’ perceptions of landscape amenities, which can inform tourism management organizations (TMO). It is recommended that homestead windbreaks are promoted on the websites of TMO of isolated islands and remote areas, and as a popular destination that is part of local culture and alternative tourist attractions.