The effect of a chemical hybridizing agent on the morphology and chemical composition of annual ryegrass

A chemical hybridizing agent (CHA: WL 84811, azetidine-carboxylic acid. Shell Chemical) was applied to annual ryegrass ( Lolium rigidum Gaud. cv. Wimmera) at four levels: 0, 1·6, 2·4 and 3·2 kg active ingredient (a.i.) ha⁻¹, at booting and at anthesis with a view to reducing seed set and increasing the proportion of cell solubles in the senescing and dead plants. The CHA treatments reduced stem elongation by up to 40% and reduced the proportion of pollinated florets progressively according to the concentration of CHA. At 3·2 kg (a.i.) ha⁻¹ only 14% of florets were fertilized compared with 86% on the zero (control) treatment.
The CHA treatments also resulted in progressive increases in the number of secondary tillers. Since there was no increase in the amount of neutral-detergent solubles associated with increased CHA application, it was concluded that storage carbohydrates, which might otherwise have been directed towards seed development, were partitioned towards increased tillering. There was no effect, therefore, on the proportion of neutral-detergent soluble material in senescing and dead plants.     

保水剂在甘蔗上施用的效果试验

本试验采用胶体和干粉两种不同剂型的保水剂在甘蔗上应用进行了研究,探讨施保水剂与不施保水剂以及不同剂型保水剂对甘蔗生长和产量的效果。试验结果表明,在甘蔗下种期施用吸足水分的胶体和干粉两种不同剂型的保水剂,均能促进甘蔗出苗和分蘖及蔗茎伸长,增加有效茎数。增产显著,比不施保水剂的对照每公顷增产14．80～17．81吨,增长15．3％～18．4％,达1％显著水平;经济效益增加明显,比不施保水剂的对照每公顷增收2495～2948元,增长9．4％～11．1％。不同剂型的保水剂,以干粉保水剂表现的效果较佳。     

Low Mw-lignin fractions together with vegetable oils as available oligomers for novel paper-coating applications as hydrophobic barrier

Lignin residues are available in large amounts as kraft lignin from chemical pulping processes. This lignin is mainly incinerated in recovery boilers. The recovery boilers are often the bottle-necks in the overall pulping process when pulp production increases are desired. Through cross-flow nano-filtration of the black liquor from kraft pulping, a low-molecular weight lignin fraction can be removed thus decreasing the organic load on the recovery boilers. The low-molecular weight lignin fraction furthermore exhibit different characteristics compared to other commercial kraft lignins and represents a new raw material source in novel applications.The low-molecular weight lignin was used together with a vegetable oil to produce a new hydrophobic lignin derivative similar to suberin. The lignin and the lignin derivative was analysed with FT-IR, UV–vis and SEC. The ability of the product to make paper surfaces hydrophobic was also evaluated.The results demonstrate the possibility to make a suberin-like lignin derivative that is potentially of interest in paper-coating applications due to its capability to interact well with wood fibres and make paper hydrophobic.     

Biochemical changes during the fermentation of castor oil (Ricinus communis) seeds for use as a seasoning agent

Castor oil seeds were fermented under conditions commonly used in some local communities in Eastern Nigeria. Levels of selected biochemical constituents of fermented seeds were compared with those of unfermented seeds. The free amino acids — phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine, serine, glutamic acid, cysteine, and gluamine — were detected by using thin-layer chromatography in the fermented sample extract, while none were detectable in the extract of unfermented seeds. Lipid analysis showed that the fermented seeds contained more unsaturated fatty acids than the unfermented seeds. Glutamine produced by the microorganisms responsible for fermentation is probably responsible for the characteristic flavor of foods seasoned with fermented castor oil seeds, known locally as ogiri.     

Effects of sodium hydroxide treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of lotus fibers

Lotus fibers were prepared from lotus stems through being treated with sodium hydroxide. The lotus fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis (TG and DTA). The results indicate that the length of lotus fibers ranges from 3.52 cm to 5.80 cm and the width of lotus fibers ranges from 50 μm to 90 μm. Lotus fibers belong to celluloses fiber with cellulose I structure and the crystallinity of lotus fibers is 48.50 %. The lotus fibers consist of cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, pectin, lipid and water-soluble substances. The effect of concentration of sodium hydroxide, time and temperature of treatment on removal of impurities, fineness and breaking strength of lotus fibers were investigated. The results suggest that the removal of impurities and breaking strength increase with the rise of concentration of the sodium hydroxide, time and temperature of treatment, respectively. However, the fineness of lotus fibers decreases with an increase in concentration of the sodium hydroxide, time and temperature of treatment. The results are expected to provide valuable guidance for preparation of lotus fibers through simple treatment with sodium hydroxide, which can be applied in textile industry.     

Acceptability of green soybeans as a vegetable entity

A profile of the sensory characteristics of greensoybean and consumer intent of purchasing the productwere determined. Thirty-one green soybean genotypesfrom maturity groups III to VI harvested between R6and R7 were frozen, boiled, shelled, and evaluated forcolor, texture, sweetness, nuttiness, beaniness,oiliness, aftertaste and overall eating quality bythree sensory panels. Results showed highly significant (p<0.01) variabilities among the genotypes in allsensory parameters and highly significant correlationsamong several parameters. The green soybeans, whenboiled, ranged from lightly green to green, wereslightly resistant to chewing, slightly nutty,slightly beany, not oily, imparted a pleasantaftertaste and had a fairly good overall eatingquality. The green soybeans would be potentiallyacceptable as a vegetable in the frozen state and foruse in recipes. When selecting genotypes forproduction, consideration should be given to thesensory attributes of the genotypes, because there wassignificant variability among the characteristics ofthe green soybeans, and several characteristicstogether enhanced the overall acceptability of thevegetable soybeans. To further increase theacceptability of green soybeans as a vegetable,geneticists need to consider breeding a vegetablesoybean that has as many desirable sensory attributesas possible.     

Development of UV protective sheath for high performance fibers for high altitude applications

High performance fibers have distinguished properties such as high tensile strength, good thermal and chemical resistance, dimensional stability, lightweight, and high electrical conductivity. Due to these superior properties, high performance fibers made it to the scene of broad range of applications such as aerospace, automotive, windmill, fiber reinforced composites, high strength tethers, tendons for scientific balloon, tension structures, protective clothing, and marine. Examples of such fibers are Zylon®, Kevlar®, and Vectran®. However, the fibers lose their strength significantly upon exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. In this research, UV protective films from extruded low density polyethylene (LDPE) loaded with different content of UV stabilizers (TiO₂ nanoparticles and White PE CC®) were investigated. To assess the degree of UV blockage of each extruded protective film, their transmittance to UV and visible (UV-VIS) light was measured. Additionally, Zylon® braids were sheathed with the protective films and the strength of the braids and yarns raveled from braids was measured before and after UV exposure for different number of days. LDPE loaded with White PE CC® and 10 % TiO₂ showed the least transmittance to UV-VIS and their yarns and braids exhibited highest strength retention after exposure to artificial UV. Strength retention of braids was higher than that of individual yarns due to weak link effect and braid structure assistant.     

Properties of polymers as a nanoscale material for fibers in leather

Hyperbranched polymers, an innovative class of nano-polymers, could enhance the properties of fibers owning to their unique structures. In this study, the ester compound (HPAE) of 3-(bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)propionic acid and pentaerythritol was treated with undecylenic acid to obtain novel hyperbranched multiterminal alkenyl polymers (HPAE-UAs). The sizes of the HPAE-UAs could be controlled conveniently from 400 to 1300 nm by adjusting the capped fraction of the hydroxyl groups with undecylenic acids. The molecular structures of HPAE-UAs were characterized by means of FT-IR and ¹H-NMR. Then, the effect of the HPAE-UAs on the structures, thermal, and mechanical properties of the wet blue leather were investigated. TEM and SEM demonstrated that the spacing between fibers was enlarged. The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the residual volume of leather could reach up to 30.3 % at about 500 °C. Furthermore, the shrinkage temperature increased to 89.4 °C. It was found that the HPAE-UAs used in leather could improve the thermal performance, physical and mechanical properties. All of these results indicate that HPAE-UAs can be used as a fatliquor with retanning in leather process.     

The use of conserved forage as a supplement for grazing dairy cows

The difficulty in matching the herbage requirements of grazing dairy cows to herbage production, due mainly to the unpredictability of the latter., causes stocking rates to be too low for maximum per hectare production and, thus, cows to be underfed at certain times in the grazing season. Conserved forage may be used as a supplement for grazing dairy cows in order to reduce variation in forage intake by the cow, to allow pasture stocking rates to be increased and to increase the efficiency of land use. The effect of offering conserved forage with herbage on intakes and production is reviewed in comparison to both ad libitum and restricted herbage. Total nutrient intakes and milk fat + protein yields are reduced for cows offered herbage and supplementary forage compared with cows offered ad libitum herbage, but increased compared with cows offered a restricted herbage level. Increasing pasture stocking rates may allow increases in utilized metabolizable energy levels from grassland but further research is needed in this area. Both grass and maize silage supplements offer potential for increasing the efficiency of land use, but in the case of grass silage this is only achieved in the best management practices.     

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) as a therapeutic agent for pain

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs). VGSCs play a critical role in neuronal function under both physiological and pathological conditions. TTX has been extensively used to functionally characterize VGSCs, which can be classified as TTX-sensitive or TTX-resistant channels according to their sensitivity to this toxin. Alterations in the expression and/or function of some specific TTX-sensitive VGSCs have been implicated in a number of chronic pain conditions. The administration of TTX at doses below those that interfere with the generation and conduction of action potentials in normal (non-injured) nerves has been used in humans and experimental animals under different pain conditions. These data indicate a role for TTX as a potential therapeutic agent for pain. This review focuses on the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting a potential analgesic role for TTX. In addition, the contribution of specific TTX-sensitive VGSCs to pain is reviewed.     

The use of irradiation for the preservation of fresh herbage for subsequent botanical and chemical analysis

The use of irradiation as a means of preserving fresh forage for subsequent botanical and chemical analysis was examined as a possible alternative to preservation by freezing. Forage samples containing a mixture of grass species were given irradiation doses of either 2-5 Mrad (25 k Grays) or 5-0 Mrad (50 k Grays). These samples were then stored in the dark under either ambient or chill (+ 2°C) conditions for up to 5 months, while similar samples of fresh forage were stored over the same period deep frozen at — 15°C. No spoilage or signs of any subsequent senescence were observed in the forage given the 5-0 Mrad irradiation treatment during the 5 month storage period. In the 2-5 Mrad treated material some browning of lamina tips occurred. However, the irradiation treatment did cause some colour changes, mainly a darkening of the green tissue. The state of preservation was also assessed by measuring the rate at which stored herbage could be separated into the constituent species. No difference in separation rates was found between samples that had either been stored frozen or irradiated at 5-0 Mrad (and then stored under either ambient or chill conditions); however, separation rates were slower on the 2-5 Mrad treated samples. The irradiation treatment did not cause any significant change in percent nitrogen content. However, water-soluble carbohydrate contents in the irradiated samples were significantly lower. The cost of commercial irradiation treatment was less than 20% of the commercial cost of freezing and cold storage.     

Surface modification of HMPBO fibers by silane coupling agent of KH-560 treatment assisted by ultrasonic vibration

The surface modification of poly (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (HMPBO) fibers by silane coupling agent of ??-aminopropyl triethoxy silane (KH-560) treatment assisted by ultrasonic vibration was investigated. The chemical composition and surface morphologies of the HMPBO fibers were analyzed and characterized by XPS, FTIR, TGA and SEM. The tensile properties of the HMPBO fibers were also studied. The results indicated that polar hydroxyl groups were successfully introduced on the HMPBO surface after the proposed treatment processes, and the surface roughness of HMPBO fibers was increased. Moreover, the treated HMPBO maintained relatively excellent tensile strength, and the single fiber pull-out strength of HMPBO was improved from 0.94 MPa to 1.07 MPa.     

The demonstration of a dense and stable circumferential layer in the subsurface of polyacrylonitrile fibers for carbon fibers

The radial structure of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) copolymer fibers was investigated quantitatively by etching layer by layer in an improved permanganic etchant; meanwhile the effect of the etchant on the fiber surface was taken into consideration. The aggregated structure (crystal size, crystallinity, orientation and density) and thermal stability of each circumferential layer of PAN fibers were determined in detail according to a model proposed in the study. A denser layer with a thickness of about 1 µm was observed in the subsurface (2 µm from the PAN fiber surface), possessing a greater crystal size and crystallinity as well as a relatively higher thermal stability than other layers. This layer was considered to be a barrier for the diffusion of oxygen into PAN fibers during the stabilization and accelerated the formation of a core-shell structure in the resulting carbon fibers.     

新疆南疆陆地棉化学封顶剂示范效果

选用新陆中48号,使用无人机喷施化学封顶剂“摇钱素”（质量分数20%的矮壮·甲哌钅翁 水剂）,以人工打顶为对照,探索化学封顶剂对新疆南疆棉花产量和纤维品质的影响。结果表明：与人工打顶相比,喷施“摇钱素”封顶的棉花株高增加17.1 cm,单株结铃数增加1.1,衣分高1.2百分点,籽指高0.22 g,衣指高0.62 g。喷施“摇钱素”封顶的棉花666.7 m²籽棉产量、皮棉产量和纺纱均匀性指数、纤维上半部平均长度、长度整齐度指数、断裂比强度均高于人工打顶。可见,无人机喷施“摇钱素”封顶可有效抑制棉花顶端优势,降低人工成本和生产成本,不会降低产量和纤维品质,可替代传统人工打顶。     

Oil Red as a histochemical stain for natural fibers and plant cuticle

Properties of natural fibers are influenced by the nature of their surface. Oil Red was evaluated as a histochemical stain for the waxy components on the surface of cotton and flax fibers and of plant cuticles. A positive reaction for arachidyl stearate and differential staining of fibers after sequential extraction of fatty acids and alcohols indicated that Oil Red stained wax components in plant materials. For cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers, Oil Red stained to a greater extent the regions closest to the seed coat, especially at points where fibers attached to the seed coat. Fiber regions at a distance from the seed coats stained irregularly, suggesting that the wax was unevenly distributed. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) bast fibers, in contrast, did not stain with Oil Red, but the protective stem cuticle was intensely stained. The positive histochemical reaction for cuticle identified non-fiber fragments in processed and cleaned flax fibers, thus providing a quick method to detect visually trash components in fiber and products. Likewise, bast fibers from kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) did not stain well with Oil Red, whereas the stem cuticle gave a positive reaction. The general usefulness of Oil Red as a histochemical stain for the plant cuticle was demonstrated in leaves and stems of mature corn (Zea mays) and fresh bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) leaves. Oil Red provides a quick, qualitative histochemical method to demonstrate the wax-containing cuticle in plants.     

The effect of a new setting agent for wool

Pleated wool fabrics were prepared by the treatment with ethylenediamine (EDA) at 90°C for 30 min. The degree of set, tensile property and dyeing of the treated fabrics have been discussed in relation to the concentration of EDA in the treatment system. No significant decreases in tensile strength and elongation, and great increases of exhaustion of synthetic and natural dyes were observed. Pleat and flat set were successfully attained in a wide range of the concentration of EDA. Excellent dyeability and setability of the fabrics obtained were considered to be associated with the existence of new crosslink, β-N-(2-aminoethyl)alanino-β-aminoalanine and the pendant group, β-N-(2-aminoethyl) aminoalanine produced by the reaction of EDA with dehydroalanine intermediate.     

Electrospinning and mechanical properties of polymeric fibers using a novel gap-spinning collector

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field which combines the basic principles of life sciences and engineering. One promising idea is the combination of scaffolds and living cells in order to produce new functional tissue. The scaffolds play the role of a microenvironment that guides the cells towards tissue formation and regeneration. One of the most frequently used techniques to produce scaffolds is electrospinning. Tissue engineered constructs have to exhibit physiological and mechanical properties comparable to the native tissue they are intended to replace. To create polymeric fibers with controlled orientation, a cylindrical collector that rotates at a certain speed could be used, creating fibers that run longitudinally. The process of gap-spinning enables the production of specifically aligned fibers. Aim of this study was to develop a novel setup capable of producing multilayered structures with controlled fiber angle. The structural, morphological and mechanical characteristics of the fibers were accessed using scanning electron microscopy and uniaxial tensile tests. Longer pre-stretching led to thinner (in the sub-micron scale), more brittle and less elastic fibers. In a nutshell, the results indicated that fiber mats of desired orientation, fiber diameter and mechanical properties could be produced by controlled gap-spinning with a translational collector.     

麻类纤维细度数据分析测试软件的开发

本文根据优化出的麻类纤维细度与直径的相关回归模型,设计制作了通用型麻类纤维细度及细度分布的数据分析测试软件(Ultra-OFDA),将该软件装入OFDA100纤维直径分析仪,使OFDA100纤维直径分析仪用于麻类纤维细度及细度分布的自动测定.Ultra-OFDA通用软件亦可应用于其它类似纤维直径分析仪.     

麻类纤维细度数据分析测试软件的开发

本文根据优化出的麻类纤维细度与直径的相关回归模型，设计制作了通用型麻类纤维细度及细度分布的数据分析测试软件(Uitra—0FDA)，将该软件装入0FDAl00纤维直径分析仪，使0FDAl00纤维直径分析仪用于麻类纤维细度及细度分布的自动测定。U1tra—0FDA通用软件亦可应用于其它类似纤维直径分析仪。