Water absorption of boron-treated and heat-modified wood

Heat treatments change the chemical and physical properties of wood and dimensional stability and hygroscopicity are affected as a result of modifications of wood cell components. This study evaluated the water absorption of wood specimens treated with boron compounds followed by heat treatment. Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) sapwood specimens treated with either boric acid (BA) or disodium octoborate tetrahydrate (DOT) solutions were heat-modified at either 180° or 220°C for 2 or 4 h. Carbohydrate composition and water absorption of the specimens were then measured and compared with those of untreated and unheated specimens. Wood carbohydrates were significantly degraded in the specimens after heat treatment. The heat treatment evidently decreased the water absorption and the heat-modified specimens absorbed less water than unheated specimens. The higher the treatment temperature and the longer the treatment time, the lower the amount of absorbed water. The boron-treated and heat-modified specimens, however, showed increased water absorption due to the hygroscopic properties of BA and DOT.     

南昌市城市道路绿化现状及改进对策

分析了南昌市道路绿化现状,指出了南昌市城市道路绿化建设方面存在着道路绿化设计水平不高,树种、植被结构简单,养护管理不到位以及市民绿化意识低等一系列问题,有针对性地提出了相应的措施,为南昌市的道路绿化提供参考。     

刺槐实时定量PCR分析中内参基因的选择

The real-time PCR is an important method for analyzing gene expression levels. Selection of reference genes suitable for calibration of the expression of objective gene according to specific experiment...     

Effects of different supplements on tetraploid black locust (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis> L.) silage

Preparation of silage is a common method to preserve green forage. It plays an important role in improving forage utilization,     

红肉猕猴桃果实发育期不同果肉部位比较转录组分析

红肉猕猴桃中果皮和内果皮在果实发育不同时期色泽变化模式有显著差异,但目前对于其内在的分子调控机制尚不清楚。本研究中,利用高通量测序技术,对红肉猕猴桃(‘红实2号’)中果皮与内果皮4个不同发育时期(开花后0 d, 28 d, 75 d, 157 d,分别标注为T1时期, T2时期, T3时期, T4时期)的样本进行转录组测序。经去除低质量数据后,得到Clean reads数目为2 192～4 331万,检测到的基因数目为24 607～29 170个。在(log2 Ratio)≥1和FDR<0.05阈值下,中果皮和内果皮在T2、T3、T4时期检测到的差异基因数目分别为1 880个、4 799个、7 346个和4 31个、1 493个、7 700个。KEGG分析显示这些差异表达基因被富集到68个代谢途径,包括DNA复制、RNA转运、蛋白质输出、植物激素信号转导、类黄酮生物合成、花青素合成、淀粉与蔗糖的代谢等。此外我们还鉴定到13个花青素合成相关基因差异表达,大部分基因的表达量随果实的发育呈现下降趋势,这一结果与花青素含量变化模式相吻合。本研究不仅深化了对猕猴桃果实成色差异机理的认识,还对今后的彩色猕猴桃选育种工作有一定的帮助。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lupinus albus</Emphasis> Conglutin Gamma Modifies the Gene Expressions of Enzymes Involved in Glucose Hepatic Production <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vivo</Emphasis>

Lupinus albus seeds contain conglutin gamma (Cγ) protein, which exerts a hypoglycemic effect and positively modifies proteins involved in glucose homeostasis. Cγ could potentially be used to manage patients with impaired glucose metabolism, but there remains a need to evaluate its effects on hepatic glucose production. The present study aimed to analyze G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions in two experimental animal models of impaired glucose metabolism. We also evaluated hepatic and renal tissue integrity following Cγ treatment. To generate an insulin resistance model, male Wistar rats were provided 30% sucrose solution ad libitum for 20 weeks. To generate a type 2 diabetes model (STZ), five-day-old rats were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (150 mg/kg). Each animal model was randomized into three subgroups that received the following oral treatments daily for one week: 0.9% w/v NaCl (vehicle; IR-Ctrl and STZ-Ctrl); metformin 300 mg/kg (IR-Met and STZ-Met); and Cγ 150 mg/kg (IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ). Biochemical parameters were assessed pre- and post-treatment using colorimetric or enzymatic methods. We also performed histological analysis of hepatic and renal tissue. G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions were quantified using real-time PCR. No histological changes were observed in any group. Post-treatment G6pc gene expression was decreased in the IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ groups. Post-treatment Fbp1 and Pck1 gene expressions were reduced in the IR-Cγ group but increased in STZ-Cγ animals. Overall, these findings suggest that Cγ is involved in reducing hepatic glucose production, mainly through G6pc inhibition in impaired glucose metabolism disorders.     

Some Nutritional Characteristics of Enzymatically Resistant Maltodextrin from Cassava (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Manihot esculenta</Emphasis> Crantz) Starch

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) native starch was treated with pyroconversion and enzymatic hydrolysis to produce a pyrodextrin and an enzyme-resistant maltodextrin. Some nutritional characteristics were quantified for both compounds. Pyroconversion was done using a 160:1 (p/v) starch:HCl ratio, 90 °C temperature and 3 h reaction time. The resulting pyrodextrin contained 46.21% indigestible starch and 78.86% dietary fiber. Thermostable α-amylase (0.01%) was used to hydrolyze the pyrodextrin at 95 °C for 5 min. The resulting resistant maltodextrin contained 24.45% dextrose equivalents, 56.06% indigestible starch and 86.62% dietary fiber. Compared to the cassava native starch, the pyrodextrin exhibited 56% solubility at room temperature and the resistant maltodextrin 100%. The glycemic index value for the resistant maltodextrin was 59% in healthy persons. Its high indigestible starch and dietary fiber contents, as well as its complete solubility, make the resistant maltodextrin a promising ingredient for raising dietary fiber content in a wide range of foods, especially in drinks, dairy products, creams and soups.     

Antioxidant Capacity of Beetroot: Traditional vs Novel Approaches

Red beetroot has been ranked among the 10 most potent antioxidant vegetables, although only extraction-based methods have been used to evaluate its total antioxidant capacity. Therefore, the present study aims at comparing the traditional extraction-based method with two more recent approaches (QUENCHER -QUick, Easy, New, CHEap and Reproducible- and GAR -global antioxidant response method), in order to establish their suitability in the case of beetroot. Our results indicate that the total antioxidant capacity of beetroot would be underestimated when using extraction-based procedures, since both QUENCHER and GAR methods resulted in a higher total antioxidant capacity. The effect of a thermal treatment on the total antioxidant capacity of beetroot varies among the methods evaluated and our findings suggest different compounds responsible for the total antioxidant capacity detected in each pre-processing method. Remarkably, the present study demonstrates that the traditional extraction-based method seems useful to screen for (changes in) the “bioavailable” antioxidant potential of the root.