Fate of xanthohumol and related prenylflavonoids from hops to beer

The fate of three prenylated flavonoids of the chalcone type, xanthohumol, desmethylxanthohumol, and 3'-geranylchalconaringenin, was monitored with LC/MS-MS from hops (Humulus lupulus L.) to beer in two brewing trials. The three prenylchalcones were largely converted into their isomeric flavanones, isoxanthohumol, prenylnaringenins, and geranylnaringenins, respectively, in the boiling wort. Losses of prenylflavonoids were due to incomplete extraction from the hops into the wort (13-25%), adsorption to insoluble malt proteins (18-26%), and adsorption to yeast cells (11-32%) during fermentation. The overall yield of xanthohumol, after lagering of the beer and largely in the form of isoxanthohumol, amounted to 22-30% of the hops' xanthohumol. About 10% of the hops' desmethylxanthohumol, completely converted into prenylnaringenins, remained in the beers. 3'-Geranylchalconaringenin behaved similarly to desmethylxanthohumol. Solubility experiments indicated that (1) malt carbohydrates form soluble complexes with xanthohumol and isoxanthohumol and (2) solubility does not dictate the isoxanthohumol levels of finished beers.     

Localization of denitrification activity in macropores of a riparian wetland

Soil structure heterogeneity in the form of macropores and preferential flow channels can complicate efforts to quantify the physical and biological characteristics of wetland systems. We collected soil cores from two riparian wetlands to determine whether soil associated with macropores had elevated denitrification potentials compared to bulk soil from the same core. Cores were inspected for obvious macropores, which were distinguished as visible holes in the core, sometimes with decaying root matter, or as highly unconsolidated layers that appeared to have a substantially lower bulk density than the surrounding soil. Denitrification potentials were significantly higher in pores (P<0.05) for six of the 16 cores that were obtained from the Cheraw State Park site. In cores obtained from a second site, denitrification potentials were significantly higher in pores for six of 20 cores and the trend of higher denitrification in pores was present in the majority of cores that had measurable activity. In cores with significant differences, denitrification was often 1-2 orders of magnitude greater in soil surrounding the macropore than in the bulk soil. Denitrification potentials of the bulk soils were similar in magnitude to the potentials measured in composited cores from previous studies. It is possible that the difference between macropore and bulk denitrification rates developed due to preferential flow of nitrate-rich water through the macropores. Previous work showed that water entering these riparian systems in groundwater and storm runoff had elevated levels of NO₃⁻.     

Assessing daily egestion rates in earthworms: using fungal spores as a natural soil marker to estimate gut transit time

Earthworms have an important role in ‘bioturbation’—the mixing of soil due to biological processes. Quantification of earthworm bioturbation relies on estimating earthworm egestion rates which in turn depend on two parameters: the gut content of the worms and the gut transit time (GTT). Gut content can be determined relatively easily, but determining GTT is problematic. The present study aimed at estimating daily soil egestion rates of Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus terrestris, refining the most common approach for estimating GTT by using fungal spores as natural markers in ingested soil. This approach avoids the use of artificial markers that may adversely affect the earthworms. Gut transit time was estimated by tracking the passage of marked soil through the gut by the appearance of the spores in the egested faeces. Gut transit time was estimated to be 9.6?±?0.3 h for A. caliginosa and 11.6?±?0.5 h for L. terrestris. Gut content averaged 465?±?40(± standard error (SE))?mg dw g^?1 dw worm for A. caliginosa and 265?±?80 mg dw g^?1 dw worm for L. terrestris. From these values, daily egestion rates of 1.16 and 0.66 g dw faeces g^?1 dw worm d^?1 were calculated for A. caliginosa and L. terrestris, respectively. Both values compare well to literature values for each species. The presented method for GTT estimation is inexpensive, rapid and easy to evaluate, with spores being a good alternative to existing markers.     

鸡新城疫病毒F基因与鸡白介素-2(IL-2)基因在真核载体中串连表达及免疫原性

为了探索鸡白介素-2(IL-2)对鸡新城疫病毒(NDV)F蛋白免疫效果的增强作用,本研究通过重叠延伸PCR技术(SOE-PCR)利用连接子(G2SG3S)将鸡IL-2基因和鸡NDV F基因串连,克隆至真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+),构建了表达质粒pcDNA-IL-2-F.通过脂质体介导DNA瞬时转染法,将重组质粒pcDNA-IL-2-F和pcDNA-F分别转染鸡胚成纤维细胞,Western blot验证表明,pcDNA-IL-2-F和pcDNA-F均能瞬时表达F蛋白,表达蛋白分别为76.0和59.6 kD,表达蛋白的大小与预期一致并具有抗原性.将表达质粒免疫SPF鸡(Gallus domedticus),6d后开始用ELISA方法检测NDV的特异抗体,免疫20 d后,用F48E9进行攻毒.结果显示,免疫pcDNA-IL-2-F的鸡群产生的抗体水平(P＜0.05)高于混合免疫pcDNA-IL-2和pcDNA-F,高于免疫pcDNA-F的鸡群,但比免疫Lasota组的抗体水平要低.攻毒试验说明免疫pcDNA-IL-2-F组比免疫其他质粒组保护率高,这说明串连表达的免疫效果要好于二者的联合使用,为病毒病疫苗的研制提供了思路.     

不同雨强与坡度对沂蒙山区典型土壤坡面侵蚀产沙的影响

通过室内人工模拟降雨试验研究降雨强度、坡度两因素与沂蒙山区典型土壤坡面产沙的关系。结果表明:土壤侵蚀量随雨强、坡度的增大而增加,但增加幅度不同。降雨强度、坡度的增大会加速坡面细沟的出现及其演变,且细沟的产生会引起产沙率急剧增加,并表现出一定的波动性。对于棕壤,小雨强时,坡面变化是影响坡面侵蚀产沙的主要因素,当雨强逐渐增大时,雨强对侵蚀产沙的影响逐渐超过坡度。对于褐土,雨强一直是影响坡面侵蚀产沙过程的主导因子。在相同雨强、坡度条件下,棕壤坡面的产沙率、土壤侵蚀量始终要高于褐土。     

土壤不同形态碳氮含量和酶活性对培养时间及外源碳投入的响应

在绿色农业科技的推动下,有机物料资源化利用备受青睐,但有机物料种类不同对土壤肥力的提升效果不同,为探究有机物料施用对潮土不同形态碳氮含量及酶活性的动态影响,通过为期1年的培养试验,设置添加10 g/kg的秸秆菌渣(S)、树枝菌渣(B)、小麦秸秆(W)、黑麦草秸秆(R)和蚕豆秸秆(BB),并以空白处理作为对照(CK)。结果表明:与CK相比,有机物料施用显著增加土壤不同形态碳氮含量及酶活性,随培养时间的延长,有机碳及全氮含量呈增加的趋势,增幅分别为25.4%～42.9%和35%～60%,易氧化有机碳和碱解氮含量呈先上升后下降的趋势,最大值分别为2.80,43.26 mg/kg,水溶性有机碳、微生物量碳氮和酶活性则呈下降的趋势,最大值分别为346 mg/kg,293μg/g和23.08μg/g。有机物料施用会增加土壤酶活性提高土壤呼吸速率,通过对3个取样期7种水解酶的分析发现,酶活性表现为:LAPPHOSNAGBGCBAGXYL,即参与氮循环酶活性参与磷循环酶活性参与碳循环酶活性,绿肥秸秆主要增加氮循环酶活性,且以BB处理酶活性最高,菌菇渣主要增加碳循环酶活性,B处理酶活性高于S处理。有机物料施用会影响土壤酶活性,增加不同形态碳氮含量,但增幅因有机物料种类不同而有所差异,且碳氮组分对培养时间的响应不一。总体而言,小麦秸秆和蚕豆秸秆腐殖化系数最高,对不同组分碳氮含量增加效果最优。     

黏土矿物混合生物炭包膜尿素的制备及其氮素污染减排潜力

为促进氮肥高效利用,实现氮素污染减排,选用膨润土和生物炭作为包膜材料,结合硝化抑制剂制备包膜尿素。设置包膜尿素淋溶模拟试验收集淋溶液,结合静态箱法收集N₂O,通过分析NH₄⁺-N,NO₃^--N淋失量和N₂O排放通量对包膜尿素氮素污染减排潜力进行了评估。结果表明:（1）膨润混合土生物炭包膜尿素（F₄）NH₄⁺-N淋溶损失率最低,较纯化肥尿素（F₁）NH₄⁺-N淋溶损失率降低19.76%。（2）硝化抑制剂型膨润土生物炭包膜尿素（F₅）NO₃^--N淋失率最低,较F₁降低16.74%。（3）F₅同时具有最优的N₂O减排效果,N₂O排放量较F₁降低77.8%。F₅氮素减排效果最优,其减排机制在于一方面硝化抑制剂可以从化学过程控制硝化和反硝化进程,延缓尿素酰胺态氮的水解和铵态氮的硝化,在降低NO₃^--N淋失的同时可以实现N₂O减排。另一方面F₅的包膜材料膨润土和生物炭可以通过吸附作用将更多的NH₄⁺-N富集在土壤表层,从而显著降低NH₄⁺-N淋失。综上所述,硝化抑制剂型膨润土生物炭包膜尿素氮素污染减排潜力最优,可使NH₄⁺-N,NO₃^--N和N₂O分别减排15.24%,16.74%和77.8%。     

Fermented Sorghum as a Functional Ingredient in Composite Breads

Whole sorghum flour was fermented (a five‐day natural lactic acid fermentation) and dried under forced draught at 60°C, and evaluated for its effect on sorghum and wheat composite bread quality. In comparison with unfermented sorghum flour, fermentation decreased the flour pH from 6.2 to 3.4, decreased total starch and water‐soluble proteins, and increased enzyme‐susceptible starch, total protein, and the in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD). Fermentation and drying did not decrease the pasting temperature of sorghum flour, but slightly increased its peak and final viscosity. In comparison with composite bread dough containing unfermented sorghum flour, fermented and dried sorghum flour decreased the pH of the dough from 5.8 to 4.9, increased bread volume by ≈4%, improved crumb structure, and slightly decreased crumb firmness. IVPD of the composite bread was also improved. Mixing wet fermented sorghum flour directly with wheat flour (sourdough‐type process) further increased loaf volume and weight and reduced crumb firmness, and simplified the breadmaking process. It appears that the low pH of fermented sorghum flour inactivated amylases and increased the viscosity of sorghum flour, thus improving the gas‐holding capacity of sorghum and wheat composite dough. Fermentation of sorghum flour, particularly in a sourdough breadmaking process, appears to have considerable potential for increasing sorghum utilization in bread.