Potential Use of 3D CORAGRAF-Loaded PDGF-BB in PLGA Microsphere Seeded Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Enhancing the Repair of Calvaria Critical-Size Bone Defect in Rat Model

Our previous study evidenced that the 3D CORAGRAF loaded with PLGA microsphere constitutes PDGF-BB can support cell attachment and proliferation and can induce an osteogenic commitment of mesenchymal stromal cells in the in vitro condition. However, how this construct can perform in pathophysiological conditions in terms of repairing critical bone defects is yet to be understood. A study was therefore conducted to investigate the regeneration potential of calvaria critical-size defects using CORAGRAF + PLGA with PDGF-BB + mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in a rat model. A 5 mm critical bone defect was created on calvaria of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats. CORAGRAF incorporated either with or without PDGF-BB and seeded with rat bone-marrow-derived MSCs was implanted at the defect region. The bone regeneration potential of implanted constructs was assessed using micro-CT imaging and histological staining in weeks 4 and 8. The micro-CT images indicated a significant closure of defects in the cranial bone of the rats treated with 3D CORAGRAF + PLGA with PDGF-BB + MSCs on week 4 and 8 post-implantation. This finding, further supported with the histology outcome where the rat cranial defect treated with CORAGRAF + PLGA with PDGF-BB + MSCs indicated neo-bony ingrowth with organized and mature bone-like morphology as compared with other groups. The previous in vitro results substantiated with our pre-clinical findings demonstrate that the combination of CORAGRAF + PLGA with PDGF-BB + MSCs could be an ideal construct to support bone regeneration in critical bone defects. Hence, this construct can be further investigated for its safety and efficacy in large animal models, or it can be skipped to human trial prior for commercialization.     

绢蒿荒漠草地两种主要植物的生态化学计量特征分析

【目的】研究退化伊犁绢蒿荒漠草地恢复后,主要植物的生态化学计量特征的变化,为干旱区草地恢复提供理论依据。【方法】以该草地的建群种伊犁绢蒿(Seriphidium transiliense)和伴生种木地肤(Kochia prostrata)为对象,分析两种植物的C、N、P、K含量及计量比以及放牧和封育条件下,两种植物的生态化学计量特征,研究两种植物的养分利用策略以及封育对两种植物的生态化学计量特征的影响。【结果】伊犁绢蒿的P(0.82 g/kg)极显著高于木地肤的P(0.58 g/kg),伊犁绢蒿的N(15.11 g/kg)、K(13.06 g/kg)含量和N/P(22.46)极显著低于木地肤的N(25.14 g/kg)、K(21.17 g/kg)含量和N/P(43.75)。封育改善了荒漠草地植物的生长环境,但与放牧相比,伊犁绢蒿与木地肤的C、N、P、K含量及元素计量比变化不显著。【结论】伊犁绢蒿与木地肤的养分利用策略不同,伊犁绢蒿以吸收利用P为主,木地肤以吸收利用N和K为主,伊犁绢蒿的生长率高于木地肤。封育对荒漠草地两种植物的生态化学计量特征影响不显著。     

Rice bran, a potential source of biodiesel production in Indonesia

Biodiesel is a biodegradable, renewable, non-toxic and environmentally friendly alternative fuel. The cost of raw materials comprises 60-88% of the production cost in commercial biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters, FAMEs) production. Therefore, the use of low-cost raw material as a substrate and an in situ process for biodiesel production are being preferred. In this case, rice bran, which contains 13.5% oil, was an interesting substrate. In situ esterification of high-acidity rice bran with methanol and sulfuric acid catalyst was investigated. The individual and interaction effects of methanol to rice bran ratio, sulfuric acid catalyst concentration and reaction time on purity and recovery of biodiesel were discussed. Our results suggest that under the following operation conditions: methanol to rice bran ratio of 5 mL/g, sulfuric acid concentration in methanol of 1.5 vol.%, and reaction time of 60 min, an in situ esterification operated on rice bran could yield FAMEs with a high purity and recovery. By applying an in situ esterification with n-hexane/water extractions, Indonesia will be succesfull in obtaining biodiesel from rice bran up to 96,000 ton per year.     

乌鲁木齐县石人沟地衣物种多样性及群落特征

为了查明新疆乌鲁木齐县石人沟地区的地衣物种多样性及其区系和群落特征,在石人沟地区的不同植被带设立16个样点,对地衣进行了样方调查、标本采集和标本鉴定,并对地衣区系成分和生长型进行了分析。结果表明,石人沟地区地衣共有30种,隶属于17属,10科,5目,其中叶状地衣和壳状地衣种类较丰富。地衣区系成分划分为世界广布成分、环北极成分、温带成分、中亚物种和中国特有物种等5个区系成分;按照该地区地衣生长的现状,把其划分为岩面生、树生、藓丛生和地面生等4个类型;该地区地衣的生长型主要以壳状地衣为主,其次为叶状地衣,缺乏枝状地衣种类。同时基于30种地衣及盖度数据,应用双向指示种分析方法(TWINSPAN)和除趋势对应分析(DCA)将该地区的地衣划分为3个样点组,并计算了物种多样性和均匀度指数。     

绿洲区不同灌溉方式及灌溉量对苜蓿田土壤盐分运移的影响

为探讨绿洲区不同灌溉方式及灌溉量对苜蓿田土壤盐分空间分布及运移的影响,在苜蓿生长第2年设滴灌和漫灌2种灌溉方式,每种灌溉方式设3个灌溉梯度,对土壤电导率进行了测定与分析。结果表明,随生育进程的推进及灌水次数的增加,整个苜蓿生育期内土壤盐分含量呈波动式递减的变化趋势。滴灌方式下0～40 cm 土层、漫灌方式下0～30 cm 土层在灌溉后土壤处于脱盐状态;滴灌方式下在50～60 cm 土层、漫灌方式下在40～60 cm土层土壤处于积盐状态。在水平及垂直方向上,随灌水量的增加,2种灌溉方式下土壤盐分峰值位均呈下移趋势,灌溉后土壤盐分含量随土壤深度的增加而增大,土壤盐分主要集中于土壤40～60 cm 土层,且滴灌方式下的“驱盐”效果要好于漫灌。在考虑成本、产出等综合经济效益时,当灌水量达到某种定额（滴灌下3000 m3／hm2,苜蓿干草产量为1406 kg／667 m2,漫灌下5250 m3／hm2,其干草产量为1504 kg／667 m2）后即可达到最佳的“驱盐”及高产效果,在绿洲区苜蓿田过多的灌溉量只会导致水资源的更多浪费。对绿洲区盐渍化较重的农田进行灌溉时,应尽量选取合理的灌溉制度及适宜的灌水量,以达到土壤盐分淋洗和经济效益最大化的双赢。     

Seasonal deviation effects foliar endophyte assemblage and diversity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Asparagus racemosus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hemidesmus indicus</Emphasis>

Background

Fungal endophytes are the living symbionts which cause no apparent damage to the host tissue. The distribution pattern of these endophytes within a host plant is mediated by environmental factors. This study was carried out to explore the fungal endophyte community and their distribution pattern in Asparagus racemosus and Hemidesmus indicus growing in the study area.

Results

Foliar endophytes were isolated for 2 years from A. racemosus and H. indicus at four different seasons (June–August, September–November, December–February, March–May). A total of 5400 (675/season/year) leaf segments harbored 38 fungal species belonging to 17 genera, 12 miscellaneous mycelia sterile from 968 isolates and 13 had yeast like growth. In A. racemosus, Acremonium strictum and Phomopsis sp.1, were dominant with overall relative colonization densities (RCD) of 7.11% and 5.44% respectively, followed by Colletotrichum sp.3 and Colletotrichum sp.1 of 4.89% and 4.83% respectively. In H. indicus the dominant species was A. strictum having higher overall RCD of 5.06%, followed by Fusarium moniliforme and Colletotrichum sp.2 with RCD of 3.83% and 3%, respectively. Further the overall colonization and isolation rates were higher during the wet periods (September–November) in both A. racemosus (92.22% and 95.11%) and H. indicus (82% and 77.11%).

Conclusion

Study samples treated with 0.2% HgCl₂ and 75% EtOH for 30 s and 1 min, respectively, confirmed most favorable method of isolation of the endophytes. Owing to high mean isolation and colonization rates, September–November season proved to be the optimal season for endophyte isolation in both the study plants. Assessing the bioactive potential of these endophytes, may lead to the isolation of novel natural products and metabolites.

     

用低分子酚醛树脂浸渍竹蔑（巨草竹属）

本文研究了用低分子酚醛树脂（LMWPF）浸渍竹篾（巨草竹属）。竹子样品是竹秆的基部和中部。采用真空法．用低分子酚醛树脂处理竹篾后，评估处理后的竹篾增重率加湿含率。竹篾浸渍在树脂增加的时间越长，其增重率就越高。浸渍120min后，基部和中部的增重率分别提高了4．51％和7．52％。     

Physiological and Yield Responses of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) to Drought Stress in Managed and Open Field Environments

Water scarcity is threatening the sustainability of global food grain production systems. Devising management strategies and identification of crop species and genotypes are direly required to meet the global food demands with limited supply. This study, consisted of two independent experiments, was conducted to compare faba bean (Vicia faba L.) genotypes Giza Blanka, Goff‐1, Hassawi‐1, Hassawi‐2 and Gazira‐2 in terms of physiological attributes and yield under water‐limited environments. In first experiment, conducted in a growth chamber, osmotic stress of ?0.78, ?0.96, ?1.19 and ?1.65 MPa was induced using polyethylene glycol for 4 weeks. In second experiment, conducted in open field for two consecutive growing seasons, water deficit treatments were applied 3 weeks after sowing. In this experiment, irrigation was applied when an amount of evaporated water from the ‘class A pan’ evaporation reached 50 mm (well watered), 100 mm (moderate drought) and 150 mm (severe drought). Water deficit, applied in terms of osmotic stress or drought, reduced the root and shoot length, related leaf water contents, total chlorophyll contents and efficiency of photosystem‐II, plant height, grain yield and related attributes in faba bean; increased the leaf free proline, leaf soluble proteins and malondialdehyde contents, and triggered the maturity in tested faba bean genotypes. However, substantial genetic variation was observed in the tested genotypes in this regard. For instance, root length of genotypes Giza Blanka and Hassawi‐2 decreased gradually, whereas it was increased in genotypes Goff‐1, Hassawi‐1 and Gazira‐2 with increase in the level of osmotic stress. Genotypes Gazira‐2 and Hassawi‐2 had better relative leaf water contents, leaf free proline and soluble proteins under water deficit conditions; however, these were minimum in genotype Giza Blanka. Better accumulation of leaf free proline, soluble proteins, and maintenance of chlorophyll contents, tissue water, efficiency of photosystem‐II and grain weight in water‐limited conditions helped some genotypes like Hassawi‐2 to yield better. Future breeding programs for developing new faba bean genotypes for water‐limited environments may consider these traits.     

Genetic algorithms for the sequential irrigation scheduling problem

A sequential irrigation scheduling problem is the problem of preparing a schedule to sequentially service a set of water users. This problem has an analogy with the classical single machine earliness/tardiness scheduling problem in operations research. In previously published work, integer program and heuristics were used to solve sequential irrigation scheduling problems; however, such scheduling problems belong to a class of combinatorial optimization problems known to be computationally demanding (NP-hard). This is widely reported in operations research. Hence, integer program can only be used to solve relatively small problems usually in a research environment where considerable computational resources and time can be allocated to solve a single schedule. For practical applications, metaheuristics such as genetic algorithms (GA), simulated annealing, or tabu search methods need to be used. These need to be formulated carefully and tested thoroughly. The current research is to explore the potential of GA to solve the sequential irrigation scheduling problems. Four GA models are presented that model four different sequential irrigation scenarios. The GA models are tested extensively for a range of problem sizes, and the solution quality is compared against solutions from integer programs and heuristics. The GA is applied to the practical engineering problem of scheduling water scheduling to 94 water users.