Changes in wettability of wood surface using electron beam irradiation

ABSTRACT

This study deals with the influence of electron beam irradiation (EBI) on the wettability of Norway spruce surface samples. To evaluate this possible effect in detail, the changes in chemistry and wood structure were analysed using the methods of IR spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The surface wettability was determined by the contact angle measurement method. The results of infrared spectra show decreased relative numbers of available hydrophilic groups (e.g. hydroxyl and carbonyl groups) in the wood surfaces due to the electron beam irradiation. This behaviour is consistent with the values from the surface wettability measurements. Structural differences of the wood surfaces after electron beam irradiation were not detectable. Based on these findings pre-treatment of wood surfaces for industrial usages can be a potential field of application of this technology.     

Tanshinone ⅡA induces apoptosis via JNK signaling pathway in human osteosarcoma HOS cells

AIM: To explore the effect of tanshinone ⅡA on human osteosarcoma HOS cells and the underlying mechanism.METHODS: The cell viability and the appropriate dose of tanshinone ⅡA were determined by CCK-8 assay. Colony formation assay and Transwell assay were used to investigate the proliferation and migration abilities of the HOS cells treated with tanshinone ⅡA. The apoptosis of the HOS cells was monitored by Hoechst 33258 staining, transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry. The protein levels of apoptosis-related molecules and JNK signaling-associated proteins were determined by Western blot. Meanwhile, a JNK inhibitor was added for confirming the relationship between the pathway and apoptosis mentioned above.RESULTS: Tanshinone ⅡA inhibited both HOS cell proliferation and migration in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Exposure of the HOS cells to tanshinone ⅡA resulted in the activation of apoptosis. Tanshinone ⅡA treatment increased the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bax and JNK signaling-associated proteins, and decreased the protein level of Bcl-2, which were reversed by JNK inhibitor SP600125. Moreover, the result of CCK-8 assay revealed that tanshinone ⅡA-induced cell death was alleviated by JNK inhibitor.CONCLUSION: Tanshinone ⅡA induces cell growth inhibition and the activation of apoptosis via JNK signaling pathway in human osteosarcoma HOS cells.     

郁金香新品种‘黄玉’

‘黄玉’是从郁金香‘Golden Apeldoorn’的芽变中选育的新品种。株高37 cm，花单生于茎顶，鲜黄色，外轮花瓣外侧黄绿色。生育期75 d，盛花期13 d，花朵品质高，抗寒能力强，是优良的盆栽和园林绿化品种。     

面向农业监视的流媒体实时传输机制

研究了分布式网络中流媒体的实时传输问题,该问题直接影响农业环境实时监视网络系统的通信效率、实时性和可靠性.考虑到农业地理环境的复杂多样,对流媒体数据传输需要考虑到网络的异构性.通过分析流媒体数据包和音视频帧的依赖关系,建立基于边缘节点的实时传输模型,在模型基础上提出一种基于边缘节点计算的实时传输机制.并通过模拟带宽缓慢变化和不规则抖动两种网络环境在玉米大田中进行仿真和试验分析.对所提出的传输机制的迟延和丢包率进行了深入的分析和认证.结果 表明:这种传输机制能够降低动态网络中流媒体数据的传输迟延和丢包现象,为农业环境监视提供了实时性和可靠性的保证.     

Comparison of outcomes following treatment of septic calcaneal bursitis by needle or bursoscopic lavage: A retrospective study of 29 horses

Sepsis of the calcaneal bursae (CB) presents significant treatment challenges with limited clinical data available in the literature. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the clinical outcomes associated with CB lavage using either a through-and-through needle or bursoscopic technique. Clinical records of 29 horses treated for septic calcaneal bursitis using either technique between 2005 and 2019 were reviewed. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess statistical significance between first surgical technique and success at first surgery (i.e. not requiring >1 lavage), survival to discharge and return to work (RTW). Bursoscopy was performed in 13/29 (44.8%) cases, and needle lavage in 16/29 (55.2%). In the needle group, 12 (75%) horses were discharged following the first surgery. Four had repeat interventions; two (12.5%) had needle lavage and two (12.5%) had bursoscopy. Of the two horses to have repeat needle lavage, one was subjected to euthanasia and one discharged, and of the two that underwent bursoscopy, one was discharged and one received a third bursoscopy prior to discharge. In the bursoscopy group, seven (53.8%) were discharged and three (23.1%) were subjected to euthanasia following the first surgery. Three (23.1%) received a second bursoscopic lavage with one discharged, one subjected to euthanasia and one having a third bursoscopic lavage prior to discharge. Overall, 18/24 (75%) followed up cases RTW, 10 (55.5%) from the needle group, eight (44.4%) the bursoscopy group. No statistically significant differences between first surgical technique used and success at first surgery (no subsequent lavage(s) required), survival to discharge or return to work were detected. The main limitations of this study are that it is a retrospective study, has a small population with limited statistical power and potential selection bias. No statistically significant differences existed between the outcomes of the two techniques, contrary to the belief that bursoscopic lavage is superior. Larger, multicentred studies, with greater statistical power are required to further assess this relationship.     

Impact of soil water content on maize responses to the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Azospirillum lipoferum CRT1

Members of the bacterial genus Azospirillum are root-associated bacteria that increase yield in cereals by promoting growth and alleviating drought stress. How plants integrate the many bacterium-derived growth-promoting stimuli with other environmental factors to generate a coordinated response remains unresolved. Using a commercial Azospirillum strain, A. lipoferum CRT1 and two host maize cultivars, it was observed that bacterization reduced the drought-induced increase in lateral root growth and enhanced the flood-induced increase in lateral root growth in the more drought- and flood-sensitive cultivar. In the other one, A. lipoferum CRT1 only elicited a moderate root growth response under low soil water potential. The photosynthetic potential and activity were increased in the earlier cultivar and decreased in the later one, irrespective of the soil water content. No impact of the bacterium was seen on the growth of the leaves of both cultivars under both stresses until the third leaf stage, therefore suggesting that it is a consequence of multiple primary adaptations to biotic and abiotic stresses. It is suggested that host–bacteria recognition leads to a stress-specific modulation of the root response and a differential stress-independent effect on photosynthesis. This is the first report of the impact of Azospirillum under flood conditions.     

Impact of weather variables and season on sporulation of Phytophthora pluvialis and Phytophthora kernoviae

Phytophthora pluvialis and Phytophthora kernoviae are the causal agents of important needle diseases on Pinus radiata in New Zealand. Little is known about the epidemiology of the diseases, making the development of control strategies challenging. To investigate the seasonality and climatic drivers of sporulation, inoculum traps, consisting of pine fascicles floating on water in plastic containers, were exchanged fortnightly at five sites in P. radiata plantations between February 2012 and December 2014. Sections of needle baits were plated onto selective media and growth of Phytophthora pluvialis and P. kernoviae recorded. To explore the generalizability of these data, they were compared to detection data for both pathogens from the New Zealand Forest Health Database (NZFHDB). Further, equivalent analyses on infection of Rhododendron ponticum by P. kernoviae in Cornwall, UK allowed the comparison of the epidemiology of P. kernoviae across different host systems and environments. In New Zealand, inoculum of P. pluvialis and P. kernoviae was detected between January–December and March–November, respectively. Inoculum of both species peaked in abundance in late winter. The probability of detecting P. pluvialis and P. kernoviae was greater at lower temperatures, while the probability of detecting P. pluvialis also increased during periods of wet weather. Similar patterns were observed in NZFHDB data. However, the seasonal pattern of infection by P. kernoviae in the UK was the opposite of that seen for sporulation in New Zealand. Phytophthora kernoviae was likely limited by warmer and drier summers in New Zealand, but by colder winter weather in the UK. These results emphasize the importance of considering both environmental drivers and thresholds in improving our understanding of pathogen epidemiology.     

体外产气法评价全株藜麦与全株玉米混合青贮饲料饲用价值

为提高全株藜麦的饲料化利用率，寻找其与全株玉米的最佳青贮比，试验共设全株藜麦与全株玉米比为100：0，90：10，80：20等11个组合进行青贮发酵，发酵60 d后测定各组青贮料的体外产气发酵指标，使用灰色关联度分析筛选出最佳青贮比例。结果表明，体外发酵至36 h时，各处理组GP趋于稳定，体外发酵减弱接近停止；全株藜麦与全株玉米比例为90：10时，该青贮饲料组合的粗蛋白（CP）和粗脂肪（EE）含量显著高于其他各组（P<0.05），乙酸（AA）、总挥发性脂肪酸（TVFA）含量以及氨态氮（NH₃-N）浓度显著高于其他各处理（P<0.05）。分析表明，全株藜麦与全株玉米比例为90：10时，混合青贮饲料的营养品质和产气发酵特性综合表现最好，可作为优质混合青贮饲料在家畜养殖中推广使用。     

Climate change will affect the ability of forest management to reduce gaps between current and presettlement forest composition in southeastern Canada

Landscape Ecology - Forest landscapes at the boreal–temperate ecotone have been extensively altered. Reducing the gap between current and presettlement forest conditions through...