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.     

站场ESD系统触发回路可靠性及提升措施

天然气输气站场ESD系统是SIS保护层的重要环节,专注作用于工艺过程失控时的风险降低。西气东输管道公司站场使用的ESD系统,存在ESD按钮回路故障、系统接地等隐患,可能导致工艺过程失控,影响系统安全性及可用性。通过分析西气东输管道公司过去10年中所有ESD误触发事件,比较不同类型的ESD按钮回路及配套数字量输入卡件特点,选择最合理的提升措施,提出有效建议,使设备达到最佳的安全性和可用性,降低ESD误触发频率,可为输气站场ESD系统运行维护、升级改造、更新换代提供借鉴指导。     

日本海神蛤人工繁殖及早期生长发育

为探究日本海神蛤规模化人工苗种繁育的可行性,在国内首次开展了日本海神蛤人工繁殖及早期生长发育研究.结果 显示,日本海神蛤繁殖盛期为5月和10月,单次产卵量为300～500万粒/个,卵径为75～85μm.春季人工将水温升至18.6～19℃,6～9日龄和15～18日龄幼虫生长缓慢,壳长生长速率仅为1～3 μm/d.其他各日...     

Water repellency and warmth retention finishes for polyester fabrics based on hybrid materials comprising zirconia,silica, and thiazole dyes prepared via sol-gel synthesis

A series of hybrid materials composed of zirconia, silica, and thiazole dyes were synthesized from zirconium npropoxide (ZNP) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) using heteroaryl 2-amino-thiazole azo dyes, and prepared via the sol-gel process. The heterocyclic 2-amino-thiazole azo dyes underwent a hydrolysis-condensation reaction with an appropriate proportion of ZNP under a catalyst, using a constant ratio of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and TEOS. The structures of these hybrid materials composed of zirconia/silica/thiazole dyes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis. The surface morphologies of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images demonstrated the uniform dyeing of the PET fabrics, which confirmed the reaction of the hybrid materials with the PET fabrics. The water contact angle, washing fastness, color uniformity, and warmth retention of the PET fabrics dyed with the hybrid materials composed of the zirconia/silica/thiazole dyes were evaluated. The evaluation results indicated that these fabrics offered enhanced warmth retention properties and good water repellency.     

Foraging dispersion of Ryukyu flying-foxes and relationships with fig abundance in East-Asian subtropical island forests

Background

Figs are widely distributed key resources to many tropical-subtropical animals, and flying-foxes are major consumers and seed dispersers of figs. Bat-fig interrelationships, however, may vary among species differing in fruiting traits, i.e., bat- versus bird-dispersed figs. We examined Ryukyu flying-fox foraging dispersion and the relationships with tree species composition and fig abundance in forests of Iriomote Island.

Results

Bat foraging dispersion showed no spatial patterns with respect to different areas of the island, and was not explained by heterogeneity, density, or basal area (BA) of total trees, nor by relative density or BA of fruiting trees or total fruiting figs among sites. Instead, bat densities were positively dependent on the relative density of total figs, and particularly the relative BA of bat-dispersed figs Ficus septica and F. variegata. Both species were dominant figs in forests, fruiting asynchronously with long crop seasons, and were used as predominant foods. Bats foraged mostly solitarily and the mean density was in a hump-shaped relationship with crop sizes of the dominant bat-figs. These two species and Ficus benguetensis are larger-sized bat-figs, all contained more seeds, higher dry-pulp mass and water mass, but not necessarily water content. By approximate estimation, higher proportions of seeds of these bat-figs would have been removed from fruits through the bat consumption, than that of small-sized bird-figs like F. virgata, F. superba, and F. microcarpa.

Conclusions

The foraging dispersion of Ryukyu flying-foxes in forests depends on the availability of the most abundant bat-figs that serve as predominant foods. Intermediate levels of crop sizes of theses figs appear most fit with their solitary foraging. Our results suggest that as density and BA coverage of these dominant bat-figs are below a certain level, their effectiveness to attract bats may dwindle and so would their chance of dispersal by bats.

     

Novel Wx alleles induced by chemical mutagens in rice,Oryza sativa L.

From mutant pools of two Taiwanese elite japonica cultivars, Tainung 67 and Taikeng 8, we identified 13 mutant lines possessing opaque endosperm with relatively low amylose contents (AC) ranging from 1.5% to 7.1%. Because of different AC, paste viscosities of these 13 mutant lines differed, as revealed by palatability and physicochemical properties. The mutated gene conferring opaque endosperm was isolated from the F₂ population of one mutant line, WY1× indica cv. ‘Taichung Sen 17’, by positional cloning, revealing a G3018→A3018 substitution at exon 9 of Waxy leading to a non‐synonymous mutation from alanine to valine. Two additional alleles were identified from the other 12 mutant lines, for which single‐nucleotide substitutions G2708 → A2708 and G3029 → A3029 occurred in exons 8 and 9, leading to non‐synonymous mutations from arginine to histidine and glutamic acid to lysine, respectively. The three novel wx alleles had different effects on grain quality, specifically on eating and cooking quality, and could be applied in rice breeding programmes to develop new low AC varieties by marker‐assisted selection.     

Recent progress on the control of ovarian development and induced spawning of the grey mullet (Mugil cephalus L.)

The paper describes some past and current work for the control and regulation of ovarian development. It reports on the induction of ovarian maturation out of season by manipulation of photoperiod and temperature cycle, and recommends conditions of constant temperature control at 21°C and photoperiod of $\text{6L}\text{18D}$ for the best results using fish with oocytes in the refractory period. It also recommends salmon pituitary gonadotropin SG-G100 as the best ovulating agent for reliable results, but suggests further research with alternative gonadotropins and steroids. The paper describes some recent progress with the latter.     

Field trials of a formulation containing moxidectin and 6 in 1 vaccines for sheep

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of a formulation containing moxidectin and 6 in 1 vaccine in sheep under field conditions.
Design: Efficacy and safety study.
Animals: Two hundred and five crossbred Merino lambs and two hundred and eight Merino ewes were used in the studies.
Procedure: A formulation was made for the simultaneous treatment of sheep with moxidectin and immunisation against clostridial diseases and caseous lymphadenitis. The efficacy against nematodes, vaccine response and safety were assessed.
Results: Effective control of nematodes and responses to antigens were achieved following subcutaneous administration. The formulation was safe to administer; occasional minor tissue reactions were evident, but no other adverse effects of treatment were observed in either pregnant ewes or lambs, using either the recommended dose, or an overdose of the formulation.
Conclusion: Administration of a formulation containing moxidectin, five clostridial antigens and caseous lymphadenitis antigen proved safe and efficacious under field conditions.