Pleistophora infestation in fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas (Rafinesque)

Pleistophora infestation was observed in adult fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, held under laboratory conditions. Fish were clinically healthy, and presented no gross findings at necropsy. Histopathology revealed parasitic stages only in the ovaries. Spores within sporophorous vesicles were mainly encountered in late vitellogenic oocytes and were ultrastructurally identified as a microsporidian parasite. Heavily parasitized oocytes underwent degeneration followed by the release of spores into the ovarian interstitium. Degenerating oocytes and interstitial spores caused ovarian inflammation. Male fish showed no parasites in the testes. Parasitic infestation was compared with body length, body weight, gonadal weight, gonadosomatic index and plasma vitellogenin levels, and revealed no statistically significant differences between non-parasitized and parasitized females. The isolated holding conditions of the fish and the presence of parasitic stages in the ovaries suggested that an infestation with Pleistophora ovariaeSummerfelt, 1964 was more probable than that with Pleistophora mirandellae (Vaney & Conte, 1901).     

Effects of parameters on mass index of the CHES-FY system

The main content dealt with in this paper is to discuss effects of parameters (bending rigidity, sample size and sensor resolution) on one featured index measured by the comprehensive handle evaluation system for fabrics and yarns (CHES-FY) system, which is named as mass index utilized to on-line evaluate mass of fabric so as to make quick inspection on evenness of fabric under coating and finishing. Based on the deformation shape of fabric in the weighting step of the CHES-FY system, the mass index was featured from the pulling-out force and distance curve. Comparisons between the mass index measured by the CHES-FY system and mass by electronic balance were conducted. It shows that good correlation exists between theoretical and experimental values. Furthermore, effects of bending property and specimen size as well as sensor resolution were discussed, which indicated that variation of the mass index exhibited quadratic relations with bending rigidity of fabric. Moreover, the mass index’s result could be significantly improved to precisely evaluate mass of fabric by selecting both high resolution of sensor and specimen size in width. It demonstrates that the mass index can be adopted to characterize mass of fabric, and the CHES-FY system can be utilized to have on-line and accurate inspection on mass of fabric.     

Determination of optimal system parameters to measure bending property of fabric based on the CHES-FY system

The main content of the paper is to determine the optimal system parameters to measure bending property of fabric based on the Comprehensive Handle Evaluation System for Fabric and Yarn (CHES-FY). Four system parameters of the CHES-FY system were selected, including space distance between a pair of jaws, space distance between Bi-U-shaped pins, vertical distance between a pair of jaws and Bi-U-shaped pins, and diameter of Bi-U-shaped pins. In order to both determine the sequence of significant influences of the four system parameters on bending property, and to determine the optimal values of the four parameters to measure bending property of fabric, the Orthogonal design method was adopted to set the four system parameters as four factors and to assign four levels to each factor. Correlations were conducted between bending property and the featured indices (slope and peak value) from the pulling-out force and displacement curves recorded by the CHES-FY system. Comparing results show that the featured indices have good relations with both bending rigidity and bending length measured by FAST-2 meter as well as drape coefficient. Range values and average values are used to assess the significant relation of both factors and factor’s levels with bending property of fabric. The sequence of significant influences of the four system parameters on bending property are diameter of Bi-U-shaped pins, space distance between Bi-U-shaped pins, vertical distance between a pair of jaws and Bi-U-shaped pins, and space distance between a pair of jaws. Moreover, the optimal parameters’ levels are also obtained to better measure bending property of fabric. It indicates that the optimal system parameters of the CHES-FY system are a highly effective combination in evaluating bending property of fabric.     

Four New Jacaranone Analogs from the Fruits of a Beibu Gulf Mangrove Avicennia marina

Four new jacaranone analogs, marinoids F–I (1–4), were isolated from the fruits of a Beibu Gulf mangrove Avicennia marina. The structures were elucidated based on analysis of spectroscopic data. Marinoids F and G are shown to be diastereoisomers of chlorocornoside, a new halogen containing marine secondary metabolite. The antioxidant activity of the isolates was evaluated using a cellular antioxidant assay, and 4 showed good antioxidant activity (EC₅₀ = 26 μM).     

Marine Compound Catunaregin Inhibits Angiogenesis through the Modulation of Phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS in vivo and in vitro

Angiogenesis is the formation of blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. Excessive or uncontrolled angiogenesis is a major contributor to many pathological conditions whereas inhibition of aberrant angiogenesis is beneficial to patients with pathological angiogenesis. Catunaregin is a core of novel marine compound isolated from mangrove associate. The potential anti-angiogenesis of catunaregin was investigated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and zebrafish. HUVECs were treated with different concentrations of catunaregin in the presence or absence of VEGF. The angiogenic phenotypes including cell invasion cell migration and tube formation were evaluated following catunaregin treatment in HUVECs. The possible involvement of AKT, eNOS and ERK1/2 in catunaregin-induced anti-angiogenesis was explored using Western blotting. The anti-angiogenesis of catunaregin was further tested in the zebrafish embryo neovascularization and caudal fin regeneration assays. We found that catunaregin dose-dependently inhibited angiogenesis in both HUVECs and zebrafish embryo neovascularization and zebrafish caudal fin regeneration assays. In addition, catunaregin significantly decreased the phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS, but not the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. The present work demonstrates that catunaregin exerts the anti-angiogenic activity at least in part through the regulation of the Akt and eNOS signaling pathways.     

The different deletion mutation in the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene affects the peel color of mango (Mangifera indica L.)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the first key enzyme of the anthocyanidin synthesis pathway, has been extensively studied in the biosynthesis of various...     

1989—2019年库布齐沙漠植被覆盖度的时空变化

[目的]探究库布齐沙漠近1989—2019年植被覆盖度的时空动态变化规律,为库布齐沙漠植被恢复及生态建设提供理论参考和基础数据。[方法]以1989—2019年每5 a为1期(共7期)的Landsat影像为数据源,结合归一化植被指数(NDVI)像元二分法模型,利用ENVI 5.3和ArcGIS 10.2分析库布齐沙漠1989—2019年植被覆盖度(FVC)时空动态变化特征。[结果](1)在时间变化上,近30 a间库布齐沙漠植被覆盖度整体呈增长趋势,平均植被覆盖度由0.104增长到0.243。在空间分布上,库布齐沙漠植被覆盖度呈现由西向东、向北增加的特征。(2)库布齐沙漠植被覆盖在1999—2004年和2009—2014年均呈现退化趋势,平均植被覆盖度分别减少0.053和0.054,退化面积分别为3 870.22和6 093.59 km~2,退化程度均以植被覆盖度减少10%～30%为主。[结论] 1989—2019年库布齐沙漠植被覆盖度总体有所改善,未来该区生态修复重点关注低植被覆盖区域。     

中国城市水土流失的现状、对策及研究展望——以广东省深圳市为例

[目的]总结城市水土流失的概念、危害、成因、特点和防治对策,分析城市水土保持工作存在的问题和未来研究方向,旨在为中国城市水土流失治理及研究工作提供参考依据。[方法]根据多年的研究工作经验和文献资料,综合分析国内外城市水土流失及水土保持研究的成果。[结果](1)城市水土流失的概念蕴涵自然和人为两种动力,水和土两个流失主体,城市和周边及地表与地下两类分布空间;(2)城市水土流失危害主要包括管道淤积、风沙扬尘、水源污染、资源衰退、环境破坏等多方面;(3)城市水土流失防治对策主要包括法律、机制、宣传、监管、兼治和科研等6个方面。[结论]人们对城市水土流失的认识尚存不足,城市水土保持理论、技术及法规体系有待完善。城市水土流失及城市水土保持工作应从理论研究、应用优化以及经验推广等方面深入开展。     

基于风洞试验的风沙区光伏阵列近地表形态变化规律研究

[目的] 研究库布齐沙漠中段沙区光伏阵列扰动下地表形态变化规律及其与风环境的关系,为科学制定沙区光伏电站次生风沙危害防治技术方案提供理论依据。[方法] 运用风洞试验方法,分析光伏阵列与风向之间夹角为0°,45°,90°,135°和180°时光伏阵列地表蚀积空间分布规律和地表形态剖面特征。[结果] 夹角为±90°时,迎风侧前两排电板区域地表蚀积变化表现为风蚀以中度和重度为主,堆积以轻度为主。第3—5排电板区域在前两排电板的遮蔽作用下风沙活动强度大幅降低。夹角为±45°时所有电板区域蚀积变化规律较为相似;45°时蚀积变化表现为风蚀以中度和重度为主,堆积以中度和轻度为主,小范围出现重度堆积现象;-45°时风蚀和堆积均表现为以轻度和中度为主。以8 m/s风速条件为例,不同夹角条件光伏阵列地表蚀积强度表现为：45°>90°>-45°>-90°>0°。夹角为0°时最小,蚀积变化极差仅为1.265 cm。夹角为45°时最大,蚀积变化极差可达5.429 cm。夹角绝对值相等符号相反风况条件下,夹角为正值相较负值时光伏阵列地表风沙活动更为强烈。夹角为45°时蚀积强度是夹角为-45°时的1.566倍,夹角为90°时则是夹角为-90°时的1.269倍。[结论] 沙区光伏阵列次生风沙危害的防治技术方案设计应充分考虑区域主害风向条件。     

天津市填海造陆区自然植被演替特征及其影响因素

[目的] 探究天津市填海造陆区自然演替特征和影响因素,为填海造陆区生态恢复与重建提供科学依据。[方法] 以天津市不同时期填海造陆区为研究对象,采取野外调查采样、实验室测定与双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)、除趋势典范对应分析(detrended correspondence analysis,DCA)、典范对应分析(canonical correspondence analysis,CCA)等分析方法,分析天津市填海造陆区植物群落类型、演替模式和影响因素。[结果] ①天津市填海造陆区自然植被演替序列为：盐地碱蓬群落→芦苇—盐地碱蓬群落→獐毛群落→芦苇群落→柽柳—鹅绒藤群落。随着演替的进行,土壤含盐量逐渐降低,植物种类逐渐增加。②土壤全盐含量、离市区二级道路的距离和离15 m等深线的距离在不同演替阶段间存在显著差异,是天津市填海造陆区自然植被演替的主要影响因子。[结论] 天津市填海造陆区的植被演替受自然和人为因子的共同作用,科学调控环境因子(如土壤全盐含量)可为填海造区植被恢复提供有利环境条件。