Effects of Suxiao Jiuxin Pill(速效救心丸)on Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response in Rats with Experimental Atherosclerosis

Objective:To observe the preventive role of Suxiao Jiuxin Pill (SX 速效救心丸) on atherosclerosis (AS) and to probe into the mechanism in the atherosclerosis rat model.Methods:The AS rat model was esta...     

Pollution of Environmental Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals(EDCs) in Water and Its Adverse Reproductive Effect on Fish

越来越多的环境内分泌干扰物（ EDCs）不断释放到环境,并通过大气沉降、地表径流、土壤淋溶和直接排放等方式进入水体,从而使水体成为 EDCs 存在的主要场所之一。为引起社会对水体 EDCs 污染的广泛关注,并积极采取EDCs 危害防治措施,保护鱼类资源和水生态系统,本文介绍了 EDCs 的分类,详述了自然水体、饮用水源水以及自来水中EDCs 污染情况,阐明了 EDCs 对鱼类的生殖危害。资料分析显示,EDCs 能够扰乱生物体内分泌功能,导致生殖器官、生殖机能和生殖行为异常,引起生育力下降,甚至生物繁殖机能损害,并最终导致种群数量下降,以至物种灭绝。虽然国内外已经开展了一些关于 EDCs 对生物危害等方面的研究,但大都处于起步阶段,存在着基础研究薄弱、识别和鉴定困难或代价太大等问题,有关工作亟需全面、深入开展。     

Effects of Zuogui Pill (左归丸) on Wnt Singal Transduction in Rats with Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis

Objective:To reveal the mechanism of Zuogui Pill (左归丸) in treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis from the angle of the Wnt signal transduction pathway and to provide further experimental e...     

Effect of different chemicals on postharvest biochemical changes in mango ( Mangifera indica L. ) fruit during storage

Mango fruits(Cv.Langra)were treated with 2,4-D(50,l00 ppm)and Cycocel(250,500 ppm)during two seasons.Fruits were subjected to biochemical analyses upto 16th days of storage after 4 days interval.2,4-D(50 ppm)and Cycocel(500 ppm)caused continuous increase in total soluble solids and total sugars through out storage period while a decline was noticed in other treatments for these parameters.2,4-D(50 ppm)helped in retension of more acidity and vitamin C compared to all other treatments during storage period.     

Identification and expression of the CEP gene family in apple (Malus×domestica)

Plant peptide hormones play important roles in plant growth and development. Among these hormones, the C-TERMINALLYENCODED PEPTIDE(CEP) belongs to a newly found peptide family that regulates root development in Arabidopsis as well as in other species. However, nothing is known about the CEP genes in apple(Malus×domestica, MdCEP). In this study, a total of 27 apple CEP genes were identified through a genome-wide analysis and were phylogenetically divided into three classes(Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ). The predicted MdCEP genes were distributed across 10 of 17 chromosomes with different densities. Next, the gene structures and motif compositions of the MdCEP genes were analyzed. Subsequently, the expression analysis suggested that the MdCEP genes were highly activated in roots and that MdCEP23 may play an important role in regulating the growth and development of roots. Moreover, all of the MdCEP genes were responsive to multiple abiotic stresses, indicating that MdCEP genes may be involved with various aspects of physiological processes in apple. Nearly one-third of MdCEP genes had a significant response to low nitrogen treatment. Most of the MdCEP genes were up-regulated under stress, including mannitol, polyethylene glycol(PEG) and abscisic acid(ABA), suggesting that MdCEP genes may be involved in the drought stress response. This study provides insight into the putative functions of the MdCEP genes using a genome-wide analysis of the CEP gene family.     

Characterization and modeling of water movement and salts transfer in a semi-arid region of Tunisia (Bou Hajla,Kairouan) – Salinization risk of soils and aquifers

The semi-arid region of Bou Hajla (Kairouan – Central Tunisia) is exposed to the risk of soils and aquifers salinization. A characterization of water movement through the use of TDR probes installed at up to 4 m in depth, and of salts transfer by soil sampling was conducted to highlight this risk. At the same time, climatic parameters were monitored. The results were gathered over the period of approximately 1 year (June 12, 2006 to May 08, 2007). Water infiltration and evaporation, occurred at within distinct materials: two zero flux planes at 1 and 3 m, and a clay-silt layer at 2 m where the soil water content and electrical conductivity is highly varied. Saline profiles show salt accumulation at this layer where the electrical conductivity of soil paste extract exceeds 20 dS m⁻¹. However, the additive salt balance between soil surface and a depth of 4 m highlights the salt transfer beyond the studied unsaturated zone, increasing the salinization risk of the aquifer. The water movement and salts transfer were simulated by Hydrus-1d model, and inverse modeling was used to optimize the required hydrodynamic parameters. It was found that the simulated profiles of volumetric humidity and the electrical conductivity of soil are close to those measured. The calculated RMSE values are low, indicating the reliability of Hydrus-1d for the simulation of the hydro-saline dynamics in field conditions.     

Effect of harvest time on the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of Gannan navel orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck ‘Newhall’) juice

The present study investigates the chemical composition and antioxidant capacity of juice from the Gannan navel orange, which is harvested at one- to two-week intervals during the ripening period.  The total soluble solid (TSS), total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), sucrose and hesperidin contents gradually increase with the ripening of the fruit, followed by slight declines at the late maturity stage.  Contrary to these observations, the contents of titratable acid (TA), vitamin C (Vc), and limonin trend downward throughout the ripening period.  However, the contents of fructose, glucose, and narirutin fluctuate throughout the harvest time.  Three in vitro antioxidant assays consistently indicate that the harvest time exerts no significant influence (P>0.01) on the antioxidant capacity.  Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson’s correlation test are performed to provide an overview of the complete dataset. This study provides valuable information for evaluating the fruit quality and determining when to harvest the fruit in order to meet the preferences of consumers.  Meanwhile, our observations suggest that the fruits subjected to juice processing should be harvested at the late maturity stage to alleviate the “delayed bitterness” problem without compromising the antioxidant capacity and the flavonoid content in the juice.     

Gene Cloning and Tissue-Specific Expression of G Protein β Subunit in Microplitis mediator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

A gene encoding a novel G protein β subunit of β1 subclass, GβMmed was isolated from Microplitis mediator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The full-length sequence of GβMmed is 1 119 bp, the cDNA contains a 1 023 bp open reading frame that encodes a protein with 340 amino acids, and the predicted molecular weight of GβMmed is 37.23 kDa and isoelectric point is 5.86. By the quantitative real-time RT-PCR method, the tissue-specific expression and quantitative changes in the developmental expression profile of GβMmed were detected. It was found that GβMmed was abundantly expressed in M. mediator antennae, head (without antennae), thorax, abdomen, legs and the wings, and especially at high levels in abdomen. In antennae, expression varied through 1st day before emergence to 5-d-old adults, and had equal expression levels detected in females and males in total. In head, GβMmed expresses while initially high in females, and have another peaked in stage 4 and 1st day, in males showed a peak of GβMmed expression prior to emergence and relatively low levels after emergence. In female abdomen GβMmed expression levels have two peaks in stage 1 and the 5th d, but just have one peak in male abdomen in stage 1. In all other tissues expression was low and stable.     

Regulation of Development and Endogenous Polyamine Level in Chinese Cabbage (B. Campestris ssp. Pekinensis)

The endogenous polyamine levels were tested at every developmental stage in different ecotypes of the Chinese cabbage. The results showed that polyamincs (PAs) were decreased in the process of flower bud initiation and fornfation, but the floral stem formation and elongation were accompied by PAs increase. The level of Spm was related to the bolting date of Chinese cabbage. During the inducing of flower bud initiation and elongation of floral stem, and the changes of Spm were reversed between early bolting date and late bolting cultivars, but they have the same requirment for Spd for the starting of flower bud initiation and the starting of bolting. The level of Spd changed little during entire developmental stage for early bolting cultivars, but a lot for late bolting cultivars. The time that the highest level of Put appeared is related to the bolting date of Chinese cabbage.     

pH influences the profiles of midgut extracts in Cnaphalocrocis medinalis(Guenée) and its degradation of activated Cry toxins

Midgut extracts play crucial roles in food digestion and detoxification. We evaluated the effect of pH on the profiles of the midgut extracts in rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis and the degradation of activated Bt-toxins by the midgut extracts under different pH conditions. Total protease activity increased slightly with the increase with the simulated pH in the midgut extracts and the maximal protease activity was observed at pH 10.5, while an upward trend was observed as the pH of reaction buffer increased. Activity of chymotrypsin-like enzymes increased with pH, both in the buffer and midgut extracts, while the activity of trypsin-like enzyme was unaffected. Degradation of the activated Cry2 A by the midgut extracts enhanced as the pH increased. Cry2 A was fully degraded into smaller segments at pH 9.0–10.5. Activated Cry1 C protein at pH 9.0–10.5 was partially degraded by the midgut extracts. Activated Cry1 Aa and Cry1 Ac were partially degraded into fragments by the midgut extracts at high pH. These results will facilitate our further understanding of the interactions between C. medinalis and the Cry toxin.     

Analysis of sex pheromone production and field trapping of the Asian corn borer(Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée) in Xinjiang,China

Identifying the sex pheromone systems of local pest populations facilitates their management, especially for moth species that show significant geographic variation in sex pheromone communication. We investigated the pheromone production and behavioral responses of the Asian corn borer(Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée; ACB) in Xinjiang, China. The ACB produces three compounds:(Z)-12-tetradecenyl acetate(Z12-14:Ac) and(E)-12-tetradecenyl acetate(E12-14:Ac)which are two sex pheromone compounds, and n-te...     

Toxicity and binding analyses of Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Vip3A in Cry1Ac-resistant and-susceptible strains of Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner)

The Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein, Vip3 A, represents a new family of Bt toxin and is currently applied to commercial transgenic cotton. To determine whether the Cry1Ac-resistant Helicoverpa armigera is cross-resistant to Vip3 Aa protein, insecticidal activities, proteolytic activations and binding properties of Vip3 Aa toxin were investigated using Cry1Ac-susceptible(96S) and Cry1Ac-resistant H. armigera strain(Cry1Ac-R). The toxicity of Vip3 Aa in Cry1Ac-R slightly reduced compared with 96 S, the resistance ratio was only 1.7-fold. The digestion rate of full-length Vip3 Aa by gut juice extracts from 96 S was little faster than that from Cry1Ac-R. Surface plasmon resonance(SPR) showed there was no significant difference between the binding affinity of Vip3 Aa and BBMVs between 96 S and Cry1Ac-R strains, and there was no significant competitive binding between Vip3 Aa and Cry1 Ac in susceptible or resistant strains. So there had little cross-resistance between Vip3 Aa and Cry1 Ac,Vip3A+Cry proteins maybe the suitable pyramid strategy to control H. armigera in China in the future.     

Toxicity and binding analyses of Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Vip3A in Cry1Ac-resistant and-susceptible strains of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

The Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein, Vip3 A, represents a new family of Bt toxin and is currently applied to commercial transgenic cotton. To determine whether the Cry1Ac-resistant Helicoverpa armigera is cross-resistant to Vip3 Aa protein, insecticidal activities, proteolytic activations and binding properties of Vip3 Aa toxin were investigated using Cry1Ac-susceptible(96S) and Cry1Ac-resistant H. armigera strain(Cry1Ac-R). The toxicity of Vip3 Aa in Cry1Ac-R slightly reduced compared with 96 S, the resistance ratio was only 1.7-fold. The digestion rate of full-length Vip3 Aa by gut juice extracts from 96 S was little faster than that from Cry1Ac-R. Surface plasmon resonance(SPR) showed there was no significant difference between the binding affinity of Vip3 Aa and BBMVs between 96 S and Cry1Ac-R strains, and there was no significant competitive binding between Vip3 Aa and Cry1 Ac in susceptible or resistant strains. So there had little cross-resistance between Vip3 Aa and Cry1 Ac,Vip3A+Cry proteins maybe the suitable pyramid strategy to control H. armigera in China in the future.     

Foliar δ~(13)C Values and Water Use Efficiency of Semi-arid Plants in Horqin Sandy Land,China

Water was a key factor restricting the plantation in sandy areas. Foliar δ~(13)C value regarded as an indicator of longterm water use efficiency(WUE) of plants was generally used to evaluate the adaptability of plants to arid and semi-arid environment. In Horqin sandy land of China, the foliar δ~(13)C values of 114 species in 35 families naturally growing in the area, and 15 species of sand-fixing trees and shrubs were measured and analyzed in 2012. The results showed that 97 species in all 114 species were C_3 plants and only 17 species were C_4 plants. Most C_4 plants belonged to Gramineae family. The foliar δ~(13)C value of C_3 plants was between -25.000 and -31.075‰ with an average of-28.226‰, while those of C_4 plants between -12.578 and -16.334‰, with an average of -13.678‰. The δ~(13)C values of mature leaves collected in August were averagely 0.85‰ less than that of juvenile leaves collected in June. The foliar δ~(13)C values and WUE of 15 sand-fixing tree species in Horqin sandy land ranked in the order as: S.vulgaris H.rhamnoides C.ovata P.mongolica T.chinensis R.typhina S.matsudana E.angustifolia U.pumila S.gordejevii X.sorbifolia C.microphylla H.fruticosum C.korshinskii E.bungeanus.     

Effects of Zao Huang Mixture (藻黄合剂) on the Expressions of TGF-β1 and Col IV in Human Glomerular Mesangial Cells Cultured in High Glucose Environment

Objective:To investigate the effect of Zao Huang Mixture (藻黄合剂 ZHM) on expressions of growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and collagen IV (Col IV) in human glomerular mesangial cells (GMC) cultured in high-gl...     

Genetic diversity center of cultivated soybean(Glycine max) in China——New insight and evidence for the diversity center of Chinese cultivated soybean

Information on the center of genetic diversity of soybean(Glycine max) will be helpful not only for designing efficient strategies for breeding programs, but also for understanding the domestication and origin of this species. Here, we describe an analysis of genetic diversity based on simple-sequence repeat(SSR) variations within a core collection of 2 111 accessions of Chinese soybean landraces. Prior to the diversity assessment, the geographic origin of each accession was mapped. The map was then divided into grids each 2.5° in latitude and 5° in longitude. We found two regions that had higher number of alleles(NA) and greater polymorphic information content(PIC) values than the others. These regions are adjacently located within grid position of 30°–35°N×105°–110°E, which includes the valley of the middle and lower reaches of the Wei River, and the valley of the upper reaches of the Hanjiang River. It was also observed that in many regions, genetic diversity decreased with the increase in distance from the center. Another region, in northern Hebei Province(115°–120°E×40°–42.5°N), was observed having higher diversity than any surrounding regions, indicating that this is a sub-center of soybean diversity. Based on the presented results, the domestication and origin of soybean are also discussed.