Evaluation of the extent of the oxidation reaction during chlorine bleaching of pulp

A modified method was developed to evaluate how much chlorine is consumed by the oxidation reaction during the chlorine bleaching process. This evaluation is, in principle, based on the sum of chloride produced during the chlorination stage (C-stage) and produced during alkali treatment of both the C-stage effluent and the chlorinated pulp. Results obtained by this method proved that about 50%–75% of chlorine was consumed by the oxidation reaction during chlorine bleaching, depending on the reaction condition of chlorination. Even under a reaction condition that is not favorable to an oxidation reaction (low pH), approximately three electrons were abstracted from one lignin structural unit by chlorine bleaching. This result provides additional evidence for our recent observation that lignin is extensively oxidized during chlorine bleaching even when pure chlorine without any chlorine dioxide substitution was used.Part of this paper was presented at the 40th Lignin Symposium. Tsukuba, Japan, October 12, 1995     

Multiple high-throughput analyses monitor the response of E. coli to perturbations

Analysis of cellular components at multiple levels of biological information can provide valuable functional insights. We performed multiple high-throughput measurements to study the response of Escherichia coli cells to genetic and environmental perturbations. Analysis of metabolic enzyme gene disruptants revealed unexpectedly small changes in messenger RNA and proteins for most disruptants. Overall, metabolite levels were also stable, reflecting the rerouting of fluxes in the metabolic network. In contrast, E. coli actively regulated enzyme levels to maintain a stable metabolic state in response to changes in growth rate. E. coli thus seems to use complementary strategies that result in a metabolic network robust against perturbations.     

Structural characterization of plancitoxin I, a deoxyribonuclease II-like lethal factor from the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci , by expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Plancitoxin I, the major lethal factor from the spines of crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci, is a 37 kDa protein composed of two different subunits, and it has potent hepatotoxicity. It is homologous with mammalian deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) and exhibits DNase activity responsible for the hepatotoxicity. To obtain information on the structure–activity relationship of plancitoxin I, various mutants were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and examined for DNase activity. The results with deletion mutants revealed the requirement of the signal peptide for the expression of intact plancitoxin I and the inability of each subunit to hydrolyze DNA. Mutation at the N-glycosylation site (Asn-274) did not reduce DNase activity, supporting the absence of carbohydrate moieties in the molecule. The mutant H303A exhibited no DNase activity, suggesting the importance of His-303 for the enzymatic activity. No DNase activity was detected in C29A, C169A, C318A and C337A, indicating that four Cys residues are critical to the enzymatic activity. However, DNase activity was completely maintained in C263A and somewhat reduced in C277A and C357A. Based on the results with the Cys-specific mutants, plancitoxin I was assumed to contain three disulfide bridges (29–169, 277–357 and 318–337) and one free Cys-263.     

考虑灌溉及气候变化条件下葡萄花翅小卷蛾在中国的潜在地理分布

葡萄花翅小卷蛾Lobesia botrana(DenisSchiffermüller,1775)是我国重要的检疫性害虫,目前尚未传入我国,为了解该害虫在中国的潜在地理分布,根据该物种在全球已知的最新分布情况,利用CLIMEX 4.0.2在考虑灌溉条件的情景下,预测其在不同气候条件下的潜在地理分布。结果显示,葡萄花翅小卷蛾在我国的潜在地理分布范围较广,我国的主要葡萄产区均为葡萄花翅小卷蛾的适生区,且随着气候变化,至2030年,葡萄花翅小卷蛾在我国黑龙江、青海、四川省的部分适生区有所增加,适生程度也有所提高。因此应加强对葡萄花翅小卷蛾的检疫力度,防止其传入我国,保护我国葡萄种植业的生产安全。     

短翅蚜小蜂对桃蚜的取食和寄生功能反应

为评估短翅蚜小蜂对桃蚜的搜寻及控害潜能,采用叶碟法研究了短翅蚜小蜂对甘蓝和辣椒2种植物上桃蚜2龄若虫的取食与寄生行为。结果表明,短翅蚜小蜂对甘蓝桃蚜和辣椒桃蚜的取食和寄生功能反应均符合Holling II及Holling III型方程。短翅蚜小蜂的取食和寄生搜寻效应均随蚜虫密度的增加而降低,当桃蚜密度小于35头时,短翅蚜小蜂对甘蓝桃蚜的取食搜寻效应大于辣椒桃蚜,而当桃蚜密度大于35头时,短翅蚜小蜂对辣椒桃蚜的取食搜寻效应大于甘蓝桃蚜;短翅蚜小蜂在所有密度下对辣椒桃蚜的寄生搜寻效应均大于甘蓝桃蚜。短翅蚜小蜂取食甘蓝桃蚜的瞬间攻击率a'为0.3289,处理时间T_h为0.2597,均大于辣椒桃蚜,寄生甘蓝桃蚜的瞬时攻击率a'为0.8213,小于辣椒桃蚜,而处理时间T_h为0.0275,大于寄生辣椒桃蚜;短翅蚜小蜂对甘蓝桃蚜的理论最大取食量和寄生量均小于辣椒桃蚜。研究表明,短翅蚜小蜂对不同密度的桃蚜均有一定的控制能力,且对辣椒桃蚜的控制作用大于甘蓝桃蚜。     

滑菇胞内多糖的提取及其抗氧化活性研究

为了探讨滑菇胞内多糖提取工艺及其抗氧化活性,本研究采用热水浸提的方法,在单因素试验结果的基础上,建立以滑菇胞内多糖得率为响应值的二次回归模型。结果表明:最佳提取工艺为浸提温度84℃,浸提时间1.5 h,液固比40:1 m L/g,测得滑菇胞内多糖提取得率为(34.020 8±0.043 3)%。同时以清除DPPH自由基、羟自由基、ABTS自由基及还原能力为指标,对滑菇胞内多糖的抗氧化活性进行研究。结果显示,滑菇胞内多糖具有一定的抗氧化能力。本研究对滑菇胞内多糖的提取工艺及抗氧化活性进行研究,旨在为后续研究滑菇胞内多糖提供试验依据,为进一步综合开发和利用提供一定的理论支持。      

秸秆还田方式对丛枝菌根真菌群落和玉米磷素利用的影响

丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）与80%左右的植物可形成共生结构,在农田生态系统中对植物—土壤系统养分循环起重要作用。为改善我国南方典型瘠薄红壤加速酸化、磷有效性低和土壤生物功能退化等严重问题,采用高通量测序技术揭示秸秆还田方式对根际AMF群落、土壤磷酸酶活性和磷素利用率的作用机制。结果表明,不同秸秆还田方式显著影响土壤理化性质,其中秸秆猪粪配施处理显著提升有机碳（SOC）、全氮（TN）、全磷（TP）、有效磷（AP）以及酸性磷酸酶（acid phosphomonoesterase,ACP）和碱性磷酸酶（alkaline phosphomonoesterase,ALP）活性。秸秆还田显著影响AMF多样性和群落结构,球囊霉属（Glomus）和类球囊霉属（Paraglomus）是AMF群落的优势属,SOC是影响AMF多样性和群落结构的关键因子。秸秆猪粪配施处理对玉米磷素利用率的提升效果最佳,显著高于秸秆还田和秸秆生物质炭处理。AP、TP、ACP活性和AMF群落多样性显著影响了磷肥利用率。不同秸秆还田方式下根际AMF群落可能调控了土壤磷素活化过程...     

Changes in surface properties of tropical wood species exposed to the Indonesian climate in relation to mold colonies

Changes in mold populations and genera on the exposed surfaces of tropical hardwoods — albizia (Paraserianthes falcata), kapur (Dryobalanop lanceolata), mahoni (Switenia macrophylla), nangka (Artocarpus heterophyllus), puspa (Schima wallchii) — were investigated. The wood specimens were exposed to the Indonesian climate for 32 weeks. Properties including mass loss, wettability, mold growth (colony-forming units), and mold genera were evaluated. The change in properties after exposure was significantly affected by the wood species, but there was no clear relation between mass loss and the initial chemical components or between wettability and wood density. The number of mold populations was different by exposure period and wood species, but there was no significant effect of climate conditions, such as rainfall and ultraviolet radiation. Of the genera identified,Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, andPenicillium were dominant molds on the exposed wood surfaces.     

Distinct regional profiles of trace element content in muscle of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica from Japan, Taiwan, and China

Trace element distribution patterns were examined in Japanese eel from five Asian regions for the purpose of identifying the elements and patterns that could be used to determine provenance. Distinctive patterns were found in eels from the Japanese prefectures of Miyazaki, Kagawa, and Shizuoka, and from Taiwan and China. The levels of six trace elements, selenium, mercury, copper, manganese, zinc, and arsenic, in muscle tissue varied among eels of different origins, and factorial analysis of the elemental patterns showed that Factor 1 was attributable to selenium and mercury levels and Factor 2 to zinc and copper levels. Multivariate analysis showed that the patterns of elemental composition in fish muscle were mainly differentiated by these two factors.