Determination of Principal Components for Characterizing the Drying of Sea Cucumbers (Stichopus japonicus Selenka) Using Far Infrared Radiation Drying and Hot Air Drying

Principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) were conducted to characterize the drying of sea cucumber (SC). Far infrared radiation drying (FIRD) and hot air drying (AD) were used to dehydrate SC. Thirteen variables—including the morphological, color, and textural properties of dried SC—were selected for statistical analysis. The analysis of these 13 variables yielded three principal components showing significant correlations. PCA showed that the first three components represented 86.2% of the total variation. The first principal component was primarily related to the morphological properties of SC. The principal components determined by the PCA were more strongly influenced by the morphological variables than by the drying method. Of the morphological variables, the weight of SC had the strongest influence on the drying time and rehydration ratio of FIRD and AD.     

Radiation-Induced Breeding in Camelina Sativa

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - The ionizing radiation methods, including X-rays, gamma rays, and neutrons to create variation is well established and used in major crops. Many...     

Abnormal changes in both mandibular salivary glands in a dog: Non-mineral radiopaque sialoliths

A 10-year-old Maltese dog was presented with a firm mass on the left side of his neck. Physical examination confirmed a firm mass in the left and a submandibular swelling in the right cervical region. Sialolithiasis and associated sialocele in both mandibular salivary glands were suspected and bilateral sialoadenectomy was performed. The stones were identified as non-mineral sialoliths.     

The grafting of recycled polyol from waste polyurethane foam onto new polyurethane and its impact on shape recovery and water vapor permeation

Recycled polyols from waste polyurethane (PU) foams were grafted onto PU to improve the properties such as tensile strength, shape recovery, low-temperature flexibility, and water compatibility. The recycled polyol was either purified by column chromatography before grafting or was used directly for grafting. The soft segment melting temperature of PU did not notably increase with the addition of polyol, whereas the glass transition temperature increased with increased polyol content. The tensile strength sharply increased at low polyol content and decreased at high polyol content, while the strain at break did not significantly change with an increase in polyol content. The shape recovery at 10 oC notably improved compared with unmodified PU and remained high after four cyclic tests. Polyol-grafted PU demonstrated better lowtemperature flexibility and reduced the water vapor permeability of PU membranes. Overall, grafting recycled polyol onto PU significantly improved the tensile stress, shape recovery, and low-temperature flexibility of PU.     

Novel Caryophyllane-Related Sesquiterpenoids with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from Rumphella antipathes (Linnaeus, 1758)

Two previously undescribed caryophyllane-related sesquiterpenoids, antipacids A (1) and B (2), with a novel bicyclo[5.2.0] core skeleton, and known compound clovane-2β,9α-diol (3), along with rumphellolide L (4), an esterified product of 1 and 3, were isolated from the organic extract of octocoral Rumphella antipathes. Their structures, including the absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical experiments. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity analysis indicated that antipacid B (2) inhibited the generation of superoxide anions and the release of elastase by human neutrophils, with IC₅₀ values of 11.22 and 23.53 μM, respectively, while rumphellolide L (4) suppressed the release of elastase with an IC₅₀ value of 7.63 μM.     

Seasonal variations in photosynthesis of Picea morrisonicola growing in the subalpine region of subtropical Taiwan

From January 1999 to May 2001, we investigated seasonal variations in the photosynthetic capacity of Taiwan spruce (Picea morrisonicola Hay.) growing in the subalpine region of subtropical Taiwan (23 degrees 29' N, 120 degrees 53' E, 2600 m a.s.l.). Photosynthetic capacity (near light-saturated net photosynthetic rate, Pnsat, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and soluble protein concentration of needles all increased from mid or late spring to early winter. Even when minimum air temperature of the measuring day dropped to near 0 degrees C, Pnsat remained at about 20% of the highest value observed in winter. There was a curvilinear relationship between Fv/Fm and the minimum or mean air temperature of the measuring day. The increase in Fv/Fm with temperature was slowed when the daily mean air temperature was above 7 degrees C, or the minimum air temperature was above 3 degrees C; however, when air temperatures dropped below these values, Fv/Fm varied sharply. Seasonal variations in Pnsat paralleled those in Fv/Fm and needle soluble protein concentration. In early or mid spring when air temperature and Fv/Fm increased, Pnsat and soluble protein concentration remained low. Multiple regression analysis showed that seasonal variations in Pnsat were affected by Fv/Fm, air temperature and needle soluble protein concentration, and the multiple regression equation could be used to estimate Pnsat in different seasons. We conclude that the decrease in photosynthetic capacity of Taiwan spruce in winter and its subsequent recovery in spring were mainly caused by photoinhibition and its reversal, and changes in needle soluble protein concentration. Another possible explanation for the delayed recovery of photosynthetic capacity in spring may be associated with the slow increase in needle soluble protein concentration.     

Anticariogenic activity of some tropical medicinal plants against Streptococcus mutans

The methanol extracts of five tropical plants, Baeckea frutescens, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Kaempferia pandurata, Physalis angulata and Quercus infectoria, exhibited potent antibacterial activity against the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans. In particular, G. glabra, K. pandurata and P. angulata conferred fast killing bactericidal effect against S. mutans in 2 min at 50 microg/ml of extract concentration.