Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

Characterizing the pigmented traditional rice cultivars grown in temperate regions of Kashmir (India) for free and bound phenolics compounds and in vitro antioxidant properties

The purpose of the research was to identify the phenolic and flavonoid compounds of seven different traditional pigmented whole rice cultivars grown in the temperate regions of Kashmir so as to study their relationship with in vitro antioxidant capacities. The completely pigmented rice cultivars were found to have higher phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin contents and exhibited higher antioxidant capacities than the light colored and sparely colored rice cultivars. A total of 40 compounds had been identified in the analyzed rice cultivars that were found to be distributed in 6 major categories with 6-phenolics, 6-flavonoids, 11-hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, 7-hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, 3-anthocyanins and 7-flavonoid glucosides of different flavonoid compounds. Among the free and bound fractions for each cultivars the light and sparsely colored depicted higher content of phenolics and in vitro antioxidant properties in bound faction, while the completely pigmented cultivars showed higher antioxidant properties in free fractions. The anthocyanins quercetin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-O-diglucoside had been identified by LC-MS existing in the free fractions of the analyzed rice cultivars whereas, the free fraction of acetone + H₂O possessed higher percentage of phenolic compounds as compared to methanolic extracts and bound fractions. The black colored cultivars possessed higher DPPH scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition.     

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy and waxy whole-wheat flour blends

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy whole-wheat flour (WWF) with partial- or full-waxy (PW- or FW-) WWF substitution were studied. The substitution levels were 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 g/kg, respectively. FW-WWF reduced the peak viscosity and pasting temperature of WWF blends as its substitution level was increased due to its higher proportions of B-type starch granules and short amylopectin chains, while PW-WWF increased peak viscosity with the increasing substitution level because of its higher amylopectin content. As demonstrated by farinograph and rheometer measurements, FW-WWF interfered with gluten development because of the increased competition for water by arabinoxylans and amylopectin; however, PW-WWF enhanced dough strength due primarily to its increased protein content. Consequently, FW-WWF showed a detrimental effect on cooked noodle texture as the cooked noodle hardness was reduced by 50% at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. In contrast, PW-WWF enhanced noodle integrity and elasticity by increasing cooked noodle cohesiveness and resilience by 10.1% and 14.8%, respectively, at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. The results suggest that with waxy WWF substitution, the changes in starch composition, arabinoxylans, and protein content could modify the interactions among flour components and influence the quality characteristics of noodle products.     

Replication of neurovirulent equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in CD172a+ monocytic cells

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is responsible for respiratory disorders, abortion and myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses. Two pathotypes of EHV-1 strains are circulating in the field: neurovirulent (N) and non-neurovirulent (NN). For both strains, CD172a⁺ monocytic cells are one of the main carrier cells of EHV-1 during primary infection, allowing the virus to invade the horse’s body. Recently, we showed that EHV-1 NN strains showed a restricted and delayed replication in CD172a⁺ cells. Here we characterize the in vitro replication kinetics of two EHV-1 N strains in CD172a⁺ cells and investigate if the replication of these strains is similarly silenced as shown for EHV-1 NN strains. We found that EHV-1 N replication was restricted to 7–8% in CD172a⁺ cells compared to 100% in control RK-13 cells. EHV-1 N replication was not delayed in CD172a⁺ cells but virus production was significant lower (10^3.0 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells) than in RK-13 cells (10^8.5 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells). Approximately 0.04% of CD172a⁺ cells produced and transmitted infectious EHV-1 to neighbour cells compared to 65% of RK-13 cells. Unlike what we observed for the NN strain, pretreatment of CD172a⁺ cells with histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi) did not influence the replication of EHV-1 N strains in these cells. Overall, these results show that the EHV-1 replication of N strains in CD172a⁺ cells differs from that observed for NN strains, which may contribute to their different pathogeneses in vivo.     

A new lean no time test baking method with improved discriminating power

In response to customer concerns related to gluten strength in commercial baking, the Canadian Grain Commission assessed whether the Canadian Short Process (CSP) test bake method was generating useful data related to intrinsic strength of wheat varieties. Assessment of CSP loaf volume data for Canadian variety trials spanning 2003 to 2013 showed very little correlation with dough strength parameters as measured by farinograph and extensigraph. A lean no time (LNT) test baking method was developed that can better discriminate genotypes and provide objective indicators of the effect of intrinsic dough strength on baking quality. From early method development, through method validation and verification using diverse sets of samples targeting different Canadian wheat classes and grown in three different crop years, results showed the LNT method to be more discriminating and easily adopted by other laboratories. In 2015, the LNT method was adopted as the method of choice in future Canadian variety registration trials. The LNT method is fast, simple and well-suited to high throughput test baking conditions encountered in the evaluation of large numbers of breeder lines. A new objective parameter, loaf top ratio, was also introduced and found to correlate well with dough strength and dough handling properties.     

斑节对虾Toll9受体基因免疫功能的研究与表达分析

Toll受体蛋白(Toll receptors)是一类重要的模式识别受体,在无脊椎动物先天性免疫系统中发挥重要作用。文章对斑节对虾(Penaeus monodon)新型Toll9受体基因(Pm Toll9)进行了研究:以人源胚胎肾细胞(HEK293T)成功构建体外细胞免疫模型,通过免疫印迹方法证实Pm Toll9重组真核蛋白可在HEK293T中成功表达。双荧光素酶报告系统检测发现在200 ng转染浓度处Pm Toll9对NF-κB报告基因的激活效果显著。q RT-PCR数据证明PmToll9成功激活HEK293T细胞Toll-like receptor(TLR)信号通路,促进通路下游髓样分化因子(My D88)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)和白介素(IL-10)的上调表达,同时酶联免疫吸附测定结果证明Pm Toll9可促进TNF-α蛋白表达水平显著上调。斑节对虾体内细菌刺激实验结果显示无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)可激活Pm Toll9在肝胰腺、肠、淋巴和鳃中的表达,哈维氏弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)可显著抑制Pm Toll9在肝胰腺中的表达。提示无乳链球菌可通过Pm Toll9激活Toll信号通路,引起机体免疫防御反应,而哈维氏弧菌对此过程具有一定的抑制作用。     

黄土高原植被恢复过程中土壤表面电化学性质演变特征

土壤胶体表面所带电荷是土壤具有一系列物理、化学性质的根本原因。表面电荷数量、比表面积、表面电荷密度、表面电场强度以及表面电位是土壤胶体颗粒重要性质,影响土壤中物理、化学、生物化学过程。运用带电颗粒表面性质联合分析法,测定黄土高原子午岭地区不同植被类型下土壤表面电荷性质,研究自然植被恢复过程对土壤表面电荷性质的影响。结果表明:随着植被的演替,子午岭林区土壤表面电荷数量、比表面积、表面电荷密度均随植被的恢复增加,变化范围分别为10.88～19.85 cmol·kg~(–1)、40.67～61.71 m~2·g~(–1)和0.22～0.31 c·m~(–2),平均值分别为16.18 cmol·kg~(–1)、54.88 m2·g~(–1)和0.28 c·m~(–2),土壤表面电场强度达108 V·m~(–1)数量级;土壤黏粒、有机碳含量是影响表面电荷性质的主要因素,解释率分别为62.5%和27.9%;土壤基本性质对表面电荷性质的影响由强到弱依次为:黏粒、有机碳、砂粒、全氮、C/N、粉粒、碳酸钙、pH。研究结果对于进一步认识黄土高原土壤颗粒表面性质,加深理解土壤中发生的一系列物理化学过程具有重要意义。     

保护地黄瓜新品种唐杂6 号的选育

唐杂6 号是以雌性系S16 为母本，以自交系S26 为父本配制的强雌型黄瓜一代杂种。生长势强，商品瓜短棒状， 瓜长12～14 cm，横径4.0～4.3 cm，非特异性环境下雌花率95% 以上，瓜皮嫩绿有光泽，白刺，刺瘤稀小，平均单瓜质量 131.8 g 左右，高抗霜霉病，抗细菌性角斑病，耐白粉病；春保护地栽培平均产量可达8 000 kg·（667 m²） ^-1，秋冬保护地栽 培产量可达6 500 kg·（667 m²） ^-1；适合河北、北京、天津及东北地区春、秋保护地种植。     

种植年限对设施蔬菜土壤养分和环境的影响

为了给设施蔬菜地合理施肥提供依据,研究了不同种植年限设施蔬菜地土壤理化性质、微生物数量及酶活性变化,以露地土壤为对照(CK),采集种植1 a(年)、3 a、5 a、7 a、9 a、11 a、13 a、15 a、17 a、20 a以及20 a以上的0~20 cm设施蔬菜土壤样品,采用常规土壤理化性质检测方法测定了土壤理化性质和酶活性,采用平板计数法,分析土壤微生物数量。结果表明,设施菜地种植年限与土壤容重呈正相关,与土壤孔隙度呈负相关;设施菜地土壤pH值随种植年限的增加逐年降低,两者呈显著的负相关性;土壤EC值、土壤有机质和速效磷含量都随种植年限的增加而逐年增高,并与种植年限呈显著的正相关性;与CK相比,种植13 a的蔬菜样地土壤全氮和速效钾含量均显著地增加;连续种植20 a以上,设施蔬菜土壤含盐量比对照土壤显著地增加了486.49%。土壤细菌和放线菌数量、过氧化氢酶和碱性磷酸酶活性呈现出先增加后减少的趋势,且都在种植年限为11~13 a时达到最大;真菌数量随着种植年限的增加而增加,而土壤脲酶活性则随种植年限的增加呈下降趋势;转化酶活性随着种植年限的增加保持不变。土壤微生物数量与酶活性之间存在一定程度的相关关系,其中土壤真菌数量与土壤酶活性之间的相关性最为显著。综上所述,种植年限不同的设施菜地,土壤养分失衡,呈现酸化趋势,盐分含量逐年增加,土传真菌病害潜在发生,对设施蔬菜生产不利。     

氮磷钾用量对小麦冠层不同层次光截获和干物质分配的影响

为明确不同氮、磷、钾用量对小麦冠层不同层次光截获和干物质分配的影响，以济麦22为供试材料，设置F0（不施肥）、F1（N 180 kg·hm^-2，P₂O₅ 75 kg·hm^-2，K₂O 60 kg·hm^-2）、F2（N 225 kg·hm^-2，P₂O₅ 120 kg·hm^-2，K₂O 105 kg·hm^-2）和F3（N 270 kg·hm^-2，P₂O₅ 165 kg·hm^-2，K₂O 105 kg·hm^-2）4个施肥量处理，比较分析开花后不同氮、磷、钾用量对小麦叶面积指数、冠层不同层次光截获特性和成熟期干物质分配的影响。结果表明，F1处理下叶面积指数显著高于F0处理，而与F2和F3处理间无显著差异；开花后15 d，F1处理下小麦冠层不同层次及总PAR截获率和截获量均显著高于F0处理，而与F2和F3处理间无显著差异。F1处理下成熟期干物质在小麦冠层不同层次营养器官中的分配量、籽粒中的分配量及总干物质积累量显著高于F0处理，而与F2和F3处理间无显著差异。成熟期干物质在小麦冠层不同层次营养器官和籽粒中的分配量以及总干物质积累量与冠层上层（顶部至株高2/3）、中层（株高2/3至株高1/3）和总PAR截获率均呈显著正相关。F1处理（N 180 kg·hm^-2，P₂O₅ 75 kg·hm^-2，K₂O 60 kg·hm^-2）为本试验条件下的最优处理。