Dopamine modulates the physiological response of the tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

Levels of glucose, lactate, pO₂, pCO₂, HCO₃⁻, TCO₂, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, protein, and oxyhemocyanin in the hemolymph and its osmolality and pH were measured when tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (13.5 ± 1.5 g body weight), were individually injected with saline or dopamine at 10^− 8, 10^− 7, or 10^− 6 mol shrimp^− 1. Results showed that hemolymph glucose, lactate, pCO₂, HCO₃⁻, and TCO₂ values increased from 2 to 4 h; hemolymph osmolality, Na⁺, and total protein had increased at 2 h; and hemolymph K⁺ decreased from 2 to 8 h after the dopamine injection. All physiological parameters returned to the control values 4–16 h after receiving dopamine. The dopamine injection also significantly decreased the oxyhemocyanin/protein ratio of P. monodon which occurred at 2 h, resulting from an elevation of hemolymph protein and a slight decrease of oxyhemocyanin. These results suggest that stress-inducing dopamine caused a transient period of modulation of energy metabolism, osmoregulation, respiration, and the acid–base balance in P. monodon in adapting to this environmental stress.     

温州南部沿岸海域鱼类群落特征及其与环境因子的关系

根据2015年春季(5月)和秋季(9月)温州南部沿岸海域渔业资源调查数据,利用物种多样性指数、多元分析及其典范对应分析等方法,对该海域鱼类种类组成、多样性和群落与环境因子间的关系进行了分析。结果表明:温州南部沿岸海域共鉴定鱼类47种,隶属于9目27科41属,主要以暖水性和暖温性为主,鲈形目(Perciformes)种类最多,共26种;其次为鲱形目(Clupeiformes),共6种;再次为形目(Tetraodontiformes),共4种。春季,优势种依次为日本鳀(Engraulis japonicas)、镰鲳(Pampus echinogaster)、六丝矛尾虾虎鱼(Amblychaeturichthys hexanema)和棘头梅童鱼(Collichthys lucidus),其渔获量占总渔获量的49.3%;秋季,优势种为龙头鱼(Harpodon nehereus)、棘头梅童鱼和六指马鲅(Polynemus sextarius),占总渔获量的50.8%。日本鳀、蓝圆鲹(Decapterus maruadsi)、刺鲳(Psenopsis anomala)、龙头鱼、鳓(Ilisha elongata)和六指马鲅等是各季节各站位组的典型种及造成不同站位组间群落差异的主要分歧种。此外,组内的典型种一定程度上是组间的分歧种和群落的优势种。经Pearson分析,Margalef种类丰富度指数(D)和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')与溶解氧呈极显著正相关,而与盐度和温度均呈显著正相关。通过典范对应分析(CCA)得出,影响鱼类群落的主要环境因子为酸碱度p H、水深和盐度。     

香茅草精油/羧甲基壳聚糖复合膜的性能及对沃柑采后青绿霉病防治效果

为探寻安全高效的可食性涂膜应用于沃柑保鲜,以羧甲基壳聚糖（Carboxymethyl chitosan,CMCS）和香茅草精油（XMC）两种天然材料为原料制备复合涂膜材料,并检验复合涂膜材料的理化性质,后以蒸馏水为对照,研究0.5%香茅草精油与1.0%羧甲基壳聚糖复合涂膜处理（0.5% XMC-1.0% CMCS）对沃柑果实青霉、绿霉病害的防控效果及其对果实抗病防御酶活性和果实品质的影响。结果表明,香茅草精油的添加提高了膜的韧性、完整性、粗糙度、不透明度,降低了水蒸气透过率。同时,0.5%香茅草精油与1.0%羧甲基壳聚糖复合处理显著（P<0.05）抑制了沃柑果实青霉、绿霉病的发病率及病斑直径的扩展。此外,与对照组相比,0.5%香茅草精油与1.0%羧甲基壳聚糖复合涂膜处理诱导提高了沃柑果皮中苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）、过氧化物酶（POD）、多酚氧化酶（PPO）、几丁质酶（CHI）活性及苯酚、类黄酮、花青素等抗性物质的含量,且在整个贮藏过程中保持了果实品质。综上,香茅草精油的加入提高了复合膜的整体性能,0.5% XMC-1.0% CMCS复合涂膜处理诱导提高了采后沃柑果实的抗病防御酶活性和抗性物质含量,增强沃柑果实抗青绿霉病的能力,维持了果实贮藏品质。     

Investigation of mRNA expression for secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (sFRP2) in chick embryos

The roles of secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (sFRP2) in organ development of vertebrate animals are not well understood. We investigated expression of sFRP2 during embryogenesis of Arbor Acre broiler chicken eggs. Expression of sFRP2 was detected in the folds and lateral layer of developing brains. The sFRP2 signals in the developing eye were marked as a circle along the orbit. In younger embryos on days 3-6, the sFRP2 signals were consistent with growth of the sclerotome, suggesting that sFRP2 may be associated with somite development. Furthermore, with the exception of bones, sFRP2 mRNA was detectable in the interdigital tissue of embryos older than eight days as the limbs matured. This revealed that sFRP2 might play a role in myogenesis. In situ hybridization was also used to analyze the expression of sFRP2 in day 3-10 chick embryos. Signals were expressed in the gray matter of the developing brain coelom, including the optic lobe, metencephalon, myelencephalon, mesencephalon and diencephalon. The developing eyes contained an intercellular distribution of sFRP2 in the pigmented layer of the retina and photoreceptors. Furthermore, sFRP2 was expressed in the mantle layer of the neural tube and notochord. Based on these findings, it seems reasonable to suggest that sFRP2 may play an active role in embryogenesis, especially in development of the neural system, eyes, muscles and limbs.     

品牌危机管理机制——以乳制品行业为例

品牌形象一直企业最关心的问题,但是品牌危机问题日趋普遍。文章试图以乳制品行业为例,浅析品牌危机的管理机制。     

Antiproliferation effect and apoptosis mechanism of prostate cancer cell PC-3 by flavonoids and saponins prepared from Gynostemma pentaphyllum

The objectives of this study were to investigate the antiproliferation and apoptosis mechanism of saponin and flavonoid fractions from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino on prostate cancer cell PC-3. Both flavonoid and saponin fractions were isolated by a column chromatographic method with Cosmosil 75C(18)-OPN as adsorbent and elution solvents of ethanol-water (30:70, v/v) for the former and 100% ethanol for the latter, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. On the basis of the MTT assay, the saponin and flavonoid fraction were comparably effective in inhibiting the growth of PC-3 cells, with the IC(50) being 39.3 and 33.3 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, both fractions induced an arrest of PC-3 cell cycle at both S and G2/M phases, with both early and late apoptotic cell populations showing a dose-dependent rise. The Western blot assay indicated that the incorporation of flavonoid or saponin fraction could modulate the expression of G2 and M checkpoint regulators, cyclins A and B, and the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl and pro-apoptotic proteins Bad and Bax. The expression of the caspase-3 and its activated downstream substrate effectors, DFF45 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), was also increased and followed a dose-dependent manner. All of these findings suggest that the apoptosis of PC-3 cells may proceed through the intrinsic mitochondria pathway.     

Greenhouse technique to evaluate onion resistance to pink root

Summary An assay for resistance of onion to pink root Pyrenochaeta terrestris was developed, employing infested vermiculite medium with an adequate inoculum concentration of the fungus to minimize escapes of susceptible plants.Plant material other than seed was used. Either root-excised 6–8 week-old seedlings or onion sets were planted in infested vermiculite, and kept for two successive 2-week periods of growth differing in light and temperature regimes. During the first phase a short-day regime of 10 h and 17±1°C was kept, under which a vigorous root system was obtained. For an additional 12–14 days under 26±1°C and 12 h light the prolific roots were then exposed to the optimal temperature for disease development.This technique enables one to distinguish easily between susceptible Allium cepa material and a resistant line of A. fistulosum.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 1022-E, 1984 series.     

Anti-inflammatory activities of new succinic and maleic derivatives from the fruiting body of Antrodia camphorata

Six new compounds, trans-3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (1), trans-1-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-isobutylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione (2), cis-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-isobutyldihydrofuran-2,5-dione (3), 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-isobutyl-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (4), 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-isobutylfuran-2,5-dione (5), and dimethyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-isobutylmaleate (6), together with one known compound, 3-isobutyl-4-[4-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)phenyl]furan-2,5-dione (7), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Antrodia camphorata. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data. To investigate the immunomodulatory potential of the compounds, RAW264.7 macrophage cells were treated with the compounds. Compound 1 significantly increased spontaneous TNF-alpha secretion from unstimulated RAW264.7 cells but suppressed IL-6 production [50% inhibition concentration value (IC50) = 10 microg/mL] in LPS-stimulated cells. Compounds 3, 4, and 6 also suppressed IL-6 production with IC50 values of 17, 18, and 25 microg/mL, respectively, suggesting that these four compounds may have an anti-inflammatory effect on macrophage-mediated responses. Of the six compounds, compound 1 was the most effective, exerting both immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects.     

Analysis of amino acids by gas chromatography as the N-trifluoroacetyl n-butyl esters

This presentation describes amino acid analysis with the gas chromatographic method and experimental conditions using the N-trifluoroacetyl n-butyl ester derivatives; the study we describe here was undertaken to compare gas chromatographic (GC) and ion-exchange chromatographic (IEC) analyses of amino acids in hydrolysates of 9 diverse sample types to gain insight into effects of these 2 chromatographic methods of analysis on variation in amino acid results. Our study showed that values for samples prepared by 2 separate laboratories using the same procedure were generally in good agreement when all of the hydrolysates were analyzed by a single laboratory using a single method of analysis. To compare results from gas chromatography with those from ion-exchange chromatography analyses were performed by 2 different laboratories on the same hydrolysates and on different hydrolysates prepared by the same method by both laboratories. The data demonstrate that GC and IEC can be expected to yield essentially identical results when applied to the same hydrolysate. Agreement is so close that interlaboratory differences in hydrolysate preparation of the same sample contribute as much to variation in amino acid results as does the method of analysis, a fact which should be noted in planning collaborative studies.     

Antimutagenic constituents of adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) with potential cancer chemopreventive activity

Adlay has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine and as a nourishing food. The acetone extract of adlay hull had previously been demonstrated to possess potent antimutagenic activity. The aims of this study were to identify the antimutagenic constituents from adlay hull by using Ames antimutagenic activity-guide isolation procedures and to investigate their chemopreventive efficacies in cultured cells. The results demonstrated that six compounds showing great antimutagenic activity were identified by spectroscopic methods and by comparison with authentic samples to be p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillin, syringaldehyde, trans-coniferylaldehyde, sinapaldehyde, and coixol. Two of them, trans-coniferylaldehyde and sinapaldehyde, exhibit relatively potent scavenging of DPPH radicals, inhibit TPA stimulated superoxide anion generation in neutrophil-like leukocytes, and induce Nrf2/ARE-driven luciferase activity in HSC-3 cells. Moreover, trans-coniferylaldehyde possesses cytoprotective efficacy against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced DNA double-strand breaks in cultured cells, and the chemopreventive potency induced by trans-coniferylaldehyde may be through the activation of kinase signals, including p38, ERK1/2, JNK, MEK1/2, and MSK1/2. In summary, we first identified six antimutagenic constituents from adlay hull. Among them, trans-coniferylaldehyde would be a highly promising agent for cancer chemoprevention and merits further investigation.