Soy-derived Isoflavones Inhibit HeLa Cell Growth by Inducing Apoptosis

Isoflavones are among the major bioactive compounds found in a wide variety of plant-derived foods, especially in soybeans and soy-based foods. In this study, the effect of a soy-derived isoflavone mixture (designated as SI-I, containing 71% daidzein, 14.3% genistein and 14.7% glycitein) on HeLa cells and its mechanism were investigated. SI-I in concentration range 5–80 μg/ml significantly reduced the survival rate of HeLa cells by MTT assay, whereas showed no side effect on that of L929 cells. After HeLa cells were exposed to 10, 20 and 40 μg/ml SI-I for 4 days, typical apoptotic morphological changes, including nuclear fragmentation, cytoplasm shrinkage and decrease of cell volume, were observed by fluorescence microscope and CLSM, respectively. FCM analysis revealed that the percentages of early apoptotic cells with lost Δψm increased by 2.27, 2.74 and 4.05 folds respectively, compared with control. The results showed that SI-I inhibited HeLa cell growth through inducing apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway and comparisons with reported data indicated that synergistic effect existed between the isoflavone species contained in SI-I. It is proposed that natural soy-derived isoflavones are potential candidates as chemoterapeutic agents against human cervical cancer.     

玉米青贮技术现状

随着人们生活水平的提高,对动物产品的需求量不断增加,这就要求大力发展饲料业,从而加快畜牧业的发展。玉米是重要的青贮原料,有相对高的生物产量和饲用价值,对于缓解饲料短缺问题具有重要的作用。因此,玉米青贮技术受到了越来越多的重视。主要从青贮玉米的品种、种植、青贮技术以及质量评定方法 4个方面进行阐述,说明我国玉米青贮技术的研究现状,为以后的发展提供一定的参考。     

叶菜类蔬菜中主要污染物调研分析研究

叶菜类蔬菜是人们日常食用量最大的蔬菜品种．其种类繁多。是我国种植和消费的主要蔬菜品种。但由于叶菜类蔬菜在种植栽培过程中可能会使用某些化学物质．加之栽培环境的不良影响．使其质量安全受到威胁。本研究通过调查研究叶菜类蔬菜的主要病虫害及其防治措施、农药使用情况、国内外现行污染物的限量标准及检测方法等．结合近年来叶菜类蔬菜主要污染物检测结果的统计分析．提出保障叶菜类蔬菜质量安全需要重点控制的15项污染物项目（包括13项农药及2项重金属）．并对其限量值及检测方法进行比对确立．对叶菜类蔬菜的质量安全日常监管提供了有效指导。     

Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture and Adaptive Strategies in China

China is the world’s most populous country and a major emitter of greenhouse gases. Consequently, China’s role in climate change has received a great deal of attention, whereas the impact of climate change on China has been largely ignored. Studies on the impacts of climate change on agriculture and adaptation strategies are increasingly becoming major areas of scientific concern. However, the clear warming that has been sounded in China in recent decades has not been matched with a clear assessment of the impact of climate change on China’s water resources and agriculture. In the present study, we review observations on climate change, hydrology, and agriculture in China and relate these observations to likely future changes. We also analyse the adaptive strategies in China’s agriculture.     

California Simulation of Evapotranspiration of Applied Water and Agricultural Energy Use in California

The California Simulation of Evapotranspiration of Applied Water (Cal-SIMETAW) model is a new tool developed by the California Department of Water Resources and the University of California, Davis to perform daily soil water balance and determine crop evapotranspiration (ET c ), evapotranspiration of applied water (ET aw ), and applied water (AW) for use in California water resources planning. ET aw is a seasonal estimate of the water needed to irrigate a crop assuming 100% irrigation efficiency. The model accounts for soils, crop coefficients, rooting depths, seepage, etc. that influence crop water balance. It provides spatial soil and climate information and it uses historical crop and land-use category information to provide seasonal water balance estimates by combinations of detailed analysis unit and county (DAU/County) over California. The result is a large data base of ET c and ET aw that will be used to update information in the new California Water Plan (CWP). The application uses the daily climate data, i.e., maximum (T x ) and minimum (T n ) temperature and precipitation (P cp ), which were derived from monthly USDA-NRCS PRISM data (PRISM Group 2011) and daily US National Climate Data Center (NCDC) climate station data to cover California on a 4 km×4 km change grid spacing. The application uses daily weather data to determine reference evapotranspiration (ET o ), using the Hargreaves-Samani (HS) equation (Hargreaves and Samani 1982, 1985). Because the HS equation is based on temperature only, ET o from the HS equation were compared with CIMIS ET o at the same locations using available CIMIS data to determine correction factors to estimate CIMIS ET o from the HS ET o to account for spatial climate differences. Cal-SIMETAW also employs near real-time reference evapotranspiration (ET o ) information from Spatial CIMIS, which is a model that combines weather station data and remote sensing to provide a grid of ET o information. A second database containing the available soil water holding capacity and soil depth information for all of California was also developed from the USDA-NRCS SSURGO database. The Cal-SIMETAW program also has the ability to generate daily weather data from monthly mean values for use in studying climate change scenarios and their possible impacts on water demand in the state. The key objective of this project is to improve the accuracy of water use estimates for the California Water Plan (CWP), which provides a comprehensive report on water supply, demand, and management in California. In this paper, we will discuss the model and how it determines ET aw for use in water resources planning.     

蝇蛆粉替代鱼粉对黄颡鱼幼鱼生长性能、体组成和血浆生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究蝇蛆粉替代鱼粉对黄颡鱼幼鱼生长性能、体组成和血浆生化指标的影响。选用初始均重为2.02 g的黄颡鱼960尾,随机分为6组,每组4个重复,每个重复40尾。6组试验鱼分别投喂以蝇蛆粉替代基础饲料中0、20%、40%、60%、80%、100%鱼粉的6种等氮(39.5%)等能(16.8 MJ/kg)试验饲料,并分别记为G0、G20、G40、G60、G80、G100组。试验期为60 d。结果表明:蝇蛆粉替代鱼粉对黄颡鱼幼鱼存活率影响不显著(P>0.05)。除G20组外,各替代组黄颡鱼幼鱼的终末体重、增重率、特定生长率、蛋白质效率、蛋白质沉积率与对照组(G0组)相比显著降低(P<0.05),饲料系数显著升高(P<0.05)。G80组摄食量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。蝇蛆粉替代鱼粉对黄颡鱼幼鱼肥满度,脏体比,肝体比,全鱼水分、灰分、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、钙、总磷含量和血浆尿素氮含量及谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶活性的影响不显著(P>0.05)。与对照组相比,G60～G80组血浆葡萄糖、G40～G100组血浆高密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量显著升高(P<0.05),G80～G100组血浆总蛋白、G20～G100组血浆胆固醇、G20～G80组血浆甘油三酯和G60组血浆低密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量显著降低(P<0.05)。由此得出,蝇蛆粉替代鱼粉比例超过20%时会显著影响黄颡鱼幼鱼的生长性能和部分血浆生化指标;以生长性能为评价指标,黄颡鱼幼鱼饲料中蝇蛆粉替代鱼粉的比例不宜超过20%。     

Rectal temperature as an indicator for heat tolerance in chickens

High environmental temperature is perhaps the most important inhibiting factor to poultry production in hot regions. The objective of this study was to test adaptive responses of chickens to high ambient temperatures and identify suitable indicators for selection of heat‐tolerant individuals. Full‐sib or half‐sib Anak‐40 pullets (n = 55) with similar body weights were raised in a room with a temperature ranging from 24°C to 28°C, and relative humidity of 50% from 61 to 65 days of age. On day 66, the ambient temperature was increased within 60 min to 35 ± 1°C which was defined as the initial of heat stress (0 h). Rectal temperature (RT) was measured on each pullet at 0, 6, 18, 30, 42, 54 and 66 h. After 66 h the ambient temperature was increased within 30 min to 41 ± 1°C and survival time (HSST) as well as lethal rectal temperatures (LRT) were recorded for each individual. The gap between the RT and initial RT was calculated as ΔTn (ΔT6, ΔT18, ΔT30, ΔT42, ΔT54 and ΔT66), and the interval between LRT and initial RT as ΔTT, respectively. A negative correlation was found between HSST and ΔTn as well as ΔTT (r_ΔT18 = ?0.28 and r_ΔTT = ?0.31, respectively, P < 0.05; r_ΔT30 = ?0.36, r_ΔT42 = ?0.38, r_ΔT54 = ?0.56, P < 0.01). Importantly, pullets with low ΔT18 showed a longer HSST (256.0 ± 208.4 min) than those with high ΔT18 (HSST = 123.7 ± 78.3 min). This observation suggested that the ΔT18 or early increment of RT under heat stress might be considered as a reliable indicator for evaluation of heat resistance in chickens.     

Quantitative trait loci for photosynthetic pigment concentration in a doubled-haploid population of Pak Choi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis var. communis Tsen et Lee)

Summary

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and marker development are essential steps in any molecular breeding programme. In this study, QTL for photosynthetic pigment concentration were identified using a doubled-haploid (DH) population of 112 lines derived from an F₁ hybrid of Pak Choi, ‘Shulv’, obtained from a cross between Brassica rapa lines SW-13 and SU-124 through microspore culture. QTL mapping was carried out using a modification to the map of ‘Shulv’. Alignment of the linkage groups was carried out with those of reference B. rapa maps, allowing the assignment of these groups as A01 – A10. In total, 11 QTL were associated with photosynthetic pigment concentration and identified on linkage groups A05, A08, and A10. The maximum phenotypic variance for a single QTL was 38.0%. Markers closely linked to these QTL could assist in the development of Pak Choi cultivars with increased yield, due to having improved photosynthetic capabilities.     

Effects of Planting Density and Chemical control on Yield and Mineral Elements Accumulation of Cotton Direct-Seeded after Wheat

[Objective] The effects of planting density and Miantaijin treatment on yield and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake and accumulation in cotton direct-seeded after wheat in the Yangtze River basin were studied in order to clarify the high-yield cultivation techniques under this cropping system. 【Method】 In 2011 and 2012, Guoxinzao 11-1 at the experimental material, and adopted three densities (75 000, 90 000 and 105 000 plants·hm^－2) and three Miantaijin doses (0 mL·hm^－2, 1 170 mL·hm^－2 and 2 340 mL·hm^－2). 【Result】 The results showed that the highest yield was 3 551.3～3 687.5 kg·hm^－2 under 90 000～105 000 plant·hm^－2 density combined with 1 170 mL·hm^－2 Miantaijin (seedling stage: 90 mL·hm^－2, peak squaring stage: 180 mL·hm^－2, peak flowering stage: 360 mL·hm^－2, peak boll-setting stage: 540 mL·hm^－2). Under these conditions, the highest uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was 117.8 kg·hm^－2, 77.4 kg·hm^－2, 116.4 kg·hm^－2, respectively. Among them, nitrogen uptake was the highest in the peak-squaring stage to peak-flowering stage, while the highest phosphorus and potassium uptake were both detected in the peak-flowering to boll-opening stage. The correlation analysis showed that there was a significant linear positive correlation between the yield of direct seeded cotton after wheat and the total absorption and accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, especially during the peak flowering to boll-opening stage. 【Conclusion】 The suitable application dose of Miantaijin under medium and high density could enhance the absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the whole growth period of cotton, especially in the peak flowering to boll-opening stage. and thus result in the high yield of direct-seeded cotton after wheat in the Yangtze River basin.     

Micro structure Characteristics of Recycled Fine Aggregate and Its Concrete

The characteristics of recycled fine aggregate (RFA) and its concrete (RFAC) were analyzed by SEM, EDXA, XRD, Micro harness and nitrogen absorption. The results show that RFA is an artificial aggregate with complex compositions, certain hydration activity and high permeability. The mineral compositions of RFA include SiO2, CaCO3 and a small quantity of C2S, which has a certain hydration activity and can form hydration productions. The compaction rate of cement paste in RFAC is low because of pores in it. There is obvious interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between RFAC and cement paste, and its width is bigger than that in ordinary concrete. In addition, the values of micro hardness of the interfacial transition zone on both sides of RFA and cement paste are lower. The porous structure of the recycled fine aggregates and defects of ITZ are main reasons for big pores in RFAC, which has bad effect on impermeability of RFAC.