Branched α-(1,4) glucans from Lentinula edodes (L10) in combination with radiation enhance cytotoxic effect on human lung adenocarcinoma through the Toll-like receptor 4 mediated induction of THP-1 differentiation/activation

This work investigated the role of structure in the binding of polysaccharides from 10 regionally different strains of Lentinula edodes to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) on monocytes (THP-1) and the potential effect of this interaction on tumor cell viability. Principal component analysis and multiple linear regression identified arabinose, glucose 1 → 4 linkage, and molecular weights about 2700 and 534 kDa as the significant determinant factors associated with TLR-4 binding activity. The branched α-(1,4)-glucan (L10) had the strongest ability to bind to TLR-4 and induce THP-1 cell differentiation. L10 induction of the THP-1 cell differentiation, superoxide production, and cytokine production followed the TLR-4/MyD88/IKK/NFκB pathway. Coculture of irradiated human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells with L10-activated THP-1 cells resulted in significantly decreased percentage of viable A549 cells from 66 to 37% (p = 0.018), increased levels of superoxide, interleukin-8, and RANTES, and decreased levels of angiogenin and vascular endothelial growth factor. The results indicate that L10-activated monocytes have the potential to boost the antitumor immune response and antitumor activity of radiotherapy.     

Governing climate change in Hong Kong: Prospects for market mechanisms in the context of emissions trading in China

Hong Kong continues to struggle over which environmental governance approach is in its best interest while fulfilling its environmental obligations. With regard to climate change, Hong Kong's approach is characterised by a passive form of governance that is highly dependent on China's national policy directions. This is reflected, for example, in Hong Kong having not set its own mitigation targets. Market mechanisms have received little attention in developing a city‐wide climate change strategy. A transformative impulse, China's national emissions trading scheme, may provide momentum to a market‐based approach. However, the necessary conditions for such a market mechanism to be successfully implemented in China remain relatively undeveloped. This raises question about early participation by Hong Kong. Direct benefits are likely to be limited, due to Hong Kong's economic structure and weak demand for emissions reduction. Besides, there are regulatory barriers to enforcing emissions targets and/or recognising emissions allowances and credits from China. We therefore argue that nationwide emissions trading may, at this time, present more challenges than opportunities for Hong Kong to leverage its efforts on climate change mitigation. An alternative is to promote voluntary emissions trading that will require active involvement and leadership by businesses.     

Macro‐geographical differences influenced by family‐based expression on cultured pearl grade,shape and colour in the black‐lip ‘pearl oyster’ Pinctada margaritifera: a preliminary bi‐local case study in French Polynesia

In French Polynesia, the aquaculture of Pinctada margaritifera is carried out in numerous grow‐out sites, located over three archipelagos (Gambier, Society and Tuamotu). To evaluate the impact of macro‐geographical effects of these growing sites on pearl quality traits, five hatcheries produced families were used as homogeneous donor oysters in an experimental graft. The molluscs were then reared in two commercial locations: Tahaa Island (Society) and Rangiroa atoll (Tuamotu). At harvest, eight pearl quality traits were recorded and compared: surface defects, lustre, grade, circles, shape categories, darkness level, body and secondary colour and visual colour categories. Overall inter‐site comparison revealed that: (1) all traits were affected by grow‐out location except for lustre and round shape, and (2) a higher mean rate of valuable pearls was produced in Rangiroa. Indeed, for pearl grade, Rangiroa showed twice as many A‐B and less reject samples than Tahaa. This was related to the number of surface defects (grade component): in Rangiroa, twice as many pearls had no defects and less pearls had up to 10 defects. Concerning pearl shape, more circled and baroque pearls were found in Tahaa (+10%). For colour variation, 10% more pearls have an attractive green overtone in Rangiroa than in Tahaa, where more grey body colour were harvested. Lustre does not seem to be affected by these two culture site (except at a family scale). This is the first time P. margaritifera donor family have been shown to vary in the quality of pearls they produce depending on their grow‐out location.     

Soil Conservation Tillage Effects on Yield and Water Use Efficiency on Irrigated Crops in Central Italy

Despite possible agronomic and environmental benefits, the diffusion of soil conservation tillage systems in Italy is currently rather low. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of different soil tillage techniques, in an effort to identify suitable soil management options for irrigated crops in Central Italy. An experiment was carried out on maize and soybean from April to October in two consecutive years (1993 and 1994) in Maccarese (a coastal location near Rome). The systems compared were: conventional mouldboard ploughing (CT), minimum tillage, ridge tillage and no-tillage (NT). In 1993, actual crop evapotranspiration was measured throughout the growing season on NT and CT soybean, using a micrometeorological technique.
No significant differences due to soil tillage were found for grain yield and yield irrigation water use efficiency (IWUEy), except for soybean in 1994, in which yields and IWUEy were 59 % higher on conservation tillage treatments compared with CT. In 1994 soybean yield water use efficiency was 10.1 and 9.5 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ for NT and CT respectively. The results suggest that the adoption of soil conservation tillage is feasible, for the specific cropping system, with equivalent or better performances as conventional tillage.     

江苏省的地质地貌与林业土壤的关系

在大范围内地质地貌对生物、气候、土壤的影响,例如高山地区的垂直分布规律,已有许多文献论述过.在小范围內地质地貌对山区林业土壤的直接影响,也在一些著作中有所反映(佐伯秀章,1959;Wilde,1958).本文只是试图就江苏省的一些具体事例,来讨论地质地貌对低山丘陵地区土壤类型、性状、分布规律及林木生长的影响.江苏省的低山丘陵,主要分布在东北部和西南部,占全省面积不到15%.