The Effects of Freshwater Clam (Corbicula fluminea) Extract on Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) in Prediabetic Patients in Taiwan

Freshwater clam extract (FCE) is a functional food that regulates the immune system and has been demonstrated in numerous studies to display desirable anti–tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) responses. In addition, excess TNF-α production is positively associated with type 2 diabetes. However, few longitudinal clinical studies evaluating the efficiency and toxicity of FCE are available. This article reports that patients with prediabetes who received FCE had a desirable outcome of a reduction in serum TNF-α for a long period. This was a double-blind, randomized, parallel clinical trial conducted using FCE intervention and placebo groups, and 36 patients with prediabetes were enrolled. Two grams of FCE or placebo was consumed daily for 180 consecutive days. The serum of the participants was collected at four time points (0M: before the intervention; 3M: after 3 months of intervention; 6M: after 6 months of intervention; 12M: 6 months after cessation of intervention at 6M). A serum TNF-α concentration higher than 4.05 pg/mL was defined as a cut-off value. FCE reduced serum TNF-α in all participants at 6M and 12M. Moreover, FCE significantly suppressed serum TNF-α concentrations at 6M and 12M and inhibited TNF-α release with time series in subjects with elevated TNF-α values. FCE intervention effectively reduced serum TNF-α and persistently sustained the effects for half a year in patients with prediabetes. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GS-MS) analysis revealed that the major components of FCE were phytosterols and fatty acids, which exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-TNF-α abilities. Hence, FCE has the potential to be developed as a natural treatment for prediabetic patients in Taiwan.     

Effect of Beclin 1 RNA interference on Vit K3 injured SMMC-7721 cells

AIM: To observe the effect of Beclin 1 silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) technique to the injury of SMMC-7721 hepatoma cells by vitamin K3 (Vit K3).METHODS: The recombinant plasmid Psilencer 3.1-siRNA-Beclin 1 was transfected into SMMC-7721 hepatoma cells by eukaryotic cell transfection technique. Plasmid vector and cell culture medium were used as negative and control, respectively. The cells were collected 48 h later to extract cell RNA and total protein and to detect Beclin 1 gene expression by RT-PCR and Western blotting. 40 μmol/L Vit K3 was used to treate the Beclin 1-siRNA cells, Hoechst33342 staining was used for the determination of the percentage of cell apoptosis.RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the synthetic siRNA of Beclin 1 significantly decreased the levels of Beclin 1 mRNA and protein expressions. Beclin 1 mRNA was up-regulated in 40 μmol/L Vit K3 treated SMMC-7721 hepatoma cells, the percentage of apoptosis cells increased (P﹤0.01). In beclin 1-siRNA cells, Beclin 1 mRNA was down-regulated obviously, the percentage of apoptosis cells increased significantly compared with the 40 μmol/L Vit K3 group (P﹤0.01).CONCLUSION: The transfection of SMMC-7721 hepatoma cells by Psilencer3.1-siRNA-Beclin 1 effectively inhibits the expressions of Beclin 1 mRNA and protein, inhibits the activation of Beclin 1 dependent autophagic signaling pathway, and aggravates the apoptosis induced by Vit K3.     

CT扫描分析秸秆隔层孔隙特征及其对土壤水入渗的影响

为阐明不同物理形态玉米秸秆建立的隔层对盐碱土壤灌溉水入渗特征的影响机制,该文采用室内模拟试验方法,在距地表40～45 cm处均匀铺设同一隔层厚度(5 cm)段状秸秆(SL)、颗粒状秸秆(SK)与粉末状秸秆(SF),以不埋设秸秆隔层为对照(CK),并利用CT扫描和图像处理技术,定量分析不同形态秸秆隔层内部孔隙度、孔隙大小分布、连通度等孔隙参数及其与灌溉水入渗特征之间的关系。结果表明:与CK处理相比,不同物理形态的玉米秸秆隔层均显著提高了40～45 cm隔层处总孔隙度,其中以SF处理最高,分别较CK、SL与SK处理显著提高了29.25、12.09与12.61个百分点(P 0.05),但SL与SK处理间差异不显著。SF处理在灌溉水入渗各阶段均显著增加了孔隙直径≤1 mm的孔隙度(P 0.05),入渗开始前、结束后分别较SL与SK处理提高了19.18、17.25和9.45、9.41个百分点,从而增大了封闭气体体积,导致灌溉水入渗速率较慢,而SL处理在灌溉水入渗开始前孔隙直径1 mm孔隙度较SK处理提高了1.04个百分点,但在入渗结束后SK处理孔隙直径1 mm孔隙度较SL处理显著提高,这种 1 mm大孔隙的变化导致SK处理出现湿润锋通过秸秆隔层耗时长于SL处理,而湿润锋通过隔层后至土柱底部耗时短于SL处理的现象。相关性分析结果表明:湿润锋通过秸秆隔层用时与入渗开始前、结束后隔层处总孔隙度、≤1 mm直径孔隙度均呈极显著正相关,与入渗前 1 mm直径孔隙度呈极显著负相关(P 0.01),而在入渗结束后这种大孔隙的作用减弱,但≤1 mm孔隙度的阻渗作用依旧显著,孔隙连通度对灌溉水入渗速率的影响较总孔隙度小。可见,不同形态玉米秸秆隔层均影响灌溉水入渗过程,CT扫描技术可作为定量研究秸秆隔层内部孔隙结构及其对灌溉水入渗影响机制的手段,该结果可为筛选和建立盐碱土壤最佳灌溉淋盐效果的物理形态秸秆隔层提供参考。     

Anti-stress effects of Glycine tomentella Hayata in tilapia: inhibiting COX-2 expression and enhancing EPA synthesis in erythrocyte membrane and fish growth

The objective of this study was to elucidate the in vivo effects of the ethanol extract of wooly Glycine tomentella Hayata (GTE) root on tilapia to elucidate whether GTE has antistress activity. Tilapia as an animal model were fed with or without GTE, then injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or ammonium chloride (NH(4)Cl). The tilapia were exposed to 100 mg/L of aqueous NH(4)Cl, and/or acute cold stress. Growth parameters of the tilapia were measured during the feeding trials. Tilapia injected with GTE (20 μg/g of fish), NH(4)Cl (100 μg/g of fish) and/or LPS (1 μg/g of fish) were then sampled 2 h poststimulation. GTE significantly inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 expression and hemoglobin (Hb) dimer formation (36 kDa). GTE also improved growth and blood viscosity and upregulated eicosapentaenoic acid content of erythrocytes. The in vivo results indicated that GTE (20 μg/g of fish) can be applied as a stress-tolerance enhancing agent for the aquaculture industry.     

基于模糊PID的采棉机作业速度最优控制算法与试验

针对采棉机作业速度影响采棉效率的问题,提出基于模糊PID控制技术的采棉机作业速度实时调整算法,建立行走速度调节模型,实现采棉机作业速度最优控制。该算法通过实时获取棉花在线流量,经采棉输入负荷梯度堵塞条件约束,并将模糊算法和常规PID控制相结合,应用模糊规则和推理方法对PID参数进行在线整定,实时调节行走速度,实现作业速度最优控制。借助基于FPGA的硬件控制器在4MZ-5型采棉机上进行了试验研究。试验表明:所提出的算法可以根据棉花在线流量当量大小实时调整作业速度,提高了采棉机作业效率;有效避免了因采棉量过大造成的输棉管堵塞故障,提高了采棉机智能化水平。     

抗药性根瘤菌基因工程菌的构建与应用

用三亲本杂交的方法将外源抗药性质粒导入到高效固氮的根瘤菌 Tal377中,外源质粒在 Tal377中能正常表达,但不影响其原有的固氮结瘤能力。利用此抗药性根瘤菌所携带的抗药性,在接种此根瘤菌的同时结合施加一定浓度的抗菌素,抗药性根瘤菌与出发菌株相比表现出一定程度地提高其结瘤固氮能力和占瘤率。     

奶牛体外成熟卵母细胞与X分离冻精体外受精及其胚胎发育

比较了X分离冻精和未分离冻精与牛卵母细胞进行体外受精后,受精卵的卵裂率和胚胎发育率。X分离冻精组受精卵的卵裂率（51.4%）和囊胚发育率（19.7%）显著低于未分离冻精组（67.9%,29.9%,P〈0.05）;微量上浮非离心法处理X分离冻精和未分离冻精后,其受精卵的卵裂率（50.7%,65.5%）高于上浮离心法处理组（48.3%,63.8%）,但两种处理方法之间无统计学差异（P〉0.05）;同一种精子采用微量上浮非离心法或上浮离心法处理后,其卵裂胚的桑葚胚发育率和囊胚发育率无统计学差异（P〉0.05）;X分离冻精的受精卵与颗粒细胞和睾丸支持细胞共培养后,其卵裂率（50.0%,51.4%）与非共培养组（50.3%）无显著差异（P〉0.05）;两个共培养组的桑葚胚发育率（53.3%,54.6%）和囊胚发育率（21.1%,21.5%）均高于对照组（52.2%,20.4%）,但无统计学差异（P〉0.05）。     

奶牛X性控冻精的卵胞质内精子注射研究

探讨奶牛X性控冻精的卵胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)技术的可行性及显微操作条件对奶牛X性控冻精ICSI效果的影响.结果表明,注射运动性控冻精ICSI卵的卵裂率和囊胚发育率均高于不运动组,但差异不显著(P>0.05).分别用5%、8%和10%聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)的精子操作液处理性控冻精,进行ICSI操作,ICSI卵的卵裂率差异不显著;但PVP在5%和10%时,正常卵裂率分别是78.4%和69.1%(P<0.05),囊胚率分别是29.7%和20.4%(P<0.05).精子显微注射时,将卵母细胞的极体调整在相当于时钟6点与12点的位置时,所获ICSI卵的卵裂率差异不显著,但正常卵裂率(76.4%,66.7%)和囊胚率(28.6%,19.0%)明显提高(P<0.05).结论认为,进行奶牛X性控冻精ICSI操作时,应选用运动精子,并用含5%PVP的精子操作液进行处理,而且注射在卵母细胞极体置于6点的位置,有利于ICSI卵体外发育.     

52份豌豆种质萌发期耐铝毒性的综合评价与筛选

随着土壤酸化的日益加重,铝毒成为影响作物种子萌发质量以及产量的重要胁迫因子之一。本研究采用单项耐铝毒系数(AC值)、综合耐铝毒系数(CAC值)、平均隶属函数值(ASF值)、耐性综合评价值(A值)等指标及相关分析、主成分分析、聚类分析和逐步回归分析等方法,综合评价豌豆种质萌发期铝毒耐性,建立综合筛选评价体系,并筛选萌发期耐铝毒豌豆种质。利用筛选出的适宜浓度40 mg L–1Al3+处理52份豌豆品种(系)种子,结果显示,萌发期8个相关性状在处理组及对照组品种间均存在显著差异,遗传多样性指数分别介于1.43～2.03和1.51～2.06之间。基于AC值聚类分析, 52份豌豆种质可被分为3个耐性级别,其中,第I级含2份,为耐铝毒品种(系);第II级含19份,为敏感品种(系);第III级含31份,为铝毒极敏感性品种(系)。利用豌豆种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、芽长、根长、芽干重、根干重7项指标,结合最优回归方程可初步鉴定豌豆萌发期耐铝毒特性。通过综合评价和聚类分析,筛选出萌发期铝毒耐性极强的种质C175和C145,可作为豌豆铝毒耐性育种和耐性机制研究的重要资源。     

镉胁迫对小麦、玉米种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

为探讨重金属镉对不同作物种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响,于2018年3-5月,以小麦矮抗58和玉米提纯958为研究对象,利用光照培养箱进行培养,研究不同浓度镉胁迫下小麦、玉米种子的萌发及幼苗生长特征。结果表明:随镉胁迫浓度的增加,小麦种子的发芽势、发芽率及发芽指数均表现为先增加后降低,且在镉胁迫浓度为20 mg·L^-1和50 mg·L^-1时,发芽势、发芽率及发芽指数为最大;随镉胁迫浓度的增加,玉米种子发芽势、发芽率及发芽指数均表现出下降趋势,但各处理间均无显著差异(p>0.05)。小麦种子活力指数随镉胁迫浓度的增加逐渐降低,且在镉浓度为150 mg·L^-1和200 mg·L^-1时表现最为显著(p<0.05);玉米活力指数则随镉胁迫浓度的增加显著降低(p<0.05)。镉胁迫对小麦、玉米根长的抑制率均高于对芽长的抑制率,且不同浓度镉胁迫对小麦幼苗根长和苗长的抑制率低于玉米幼苗,当镉胁迫浓度高于100 mg·L^-1时,玉米幼苗的根长抑制率为100%。研究表明,小麦种子萌发对镉胁迫的响应为"低促高抑",而镉胁迫对玉米种子的萌发影响不显著;小麦、玉米幼苗生长均受镉胁迫的显著抑制,且玉米幼苗受镉胁迫的抑制作用较强。