New isoflavonoid glycosides and related constituents from astragali radix ( Astragalus membranaceus ) and their inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production

Twenty-four secondary metabolites, including 16 isoflavonoids, 7 astragalasides, and 1 benzoquinone, have been isolated from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus (Astragali radix). Among these isolated isoflavonoids, (-)-methylinissolin 3-O-β-d-(6'-acetyl)-glucoside (1), (-)-methylinissolin 3-O-β-d-{6'-[(E)-but-2-enoyl]}-glucoside (2), and calycosin 7-O-β-d-(6'-acetyl)-glucoside (3) have been identified as new compounds on the basis of spectroscopic analysis; (-)-methylinissolin 3-O-β-d-glucoside (4) was isolated from the natural products for the first time. The nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory activity of the major compounds has been assessed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. To identify A. membranaceus, a fingerprint method was developed by using a high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) method. Furthermore, characteristic peaks for the 11 major compounds in the chromatogram were unambiguously confirmed.     

Comparison of the properties of hyaluronate products used in treatment of joint dysfunction in horses

A standardized investigation was conducted to compare the biophysical properties of hyaluronate products used in the treatment of joint dysfunction in horses. Results showed that two of the five products, Hyvisc® and Hylartin®V, contained higher-weight molecular hyaluronate (greater than 1.5×10⁶). Other investigations have shown that higher molecular weight hyaluronate is effective in providing physical resistance to shear, in stimulating endogenous hyaluronate synthesis, and in inhibiting excess cell proliferation which may be associated with synovial pannus formation. It is suggested that the therapeutic benefits of hyaluronate products may be dependent on the molecular size of the hyaluronate molecules. Higher molecular weight hyaluronate products would be expected to be more effective than lower molecular hyaluronate products in providing therapeutic benefits.     

Tipburn of Chinese cabbage in relation to calcium nutrition and distribution

Heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. pekinensis Rupr.) grown with low Ca or B developed dark tan lesions near the leaf margins. A synergistic effect of low Ca and low B accompanied the development of this symptom. Plants grown under humid conditions were free of tipburn. Plants grown under less humidity developed tipburn. Total chemical analysis revealed a steady decrease in total Ca from the outer to the inner leaves. Fractional chemical analysis showed 7 times more water-soluble Ca in the outer than in the inner leaves, and 2 times more 1 N NaCl-soluble Ca in the outer than in inner leaves. Threshold concentration of water-soluble forms of Ca for tipburn was around 3.0 mg/g dry weight. Data suggest that root pressure flow is required to move adequate amounts of water-soluble Ca to the wrapper leaves to prevent tipburn of Chinese cabbage.     

Crustal dilatation observed by GRACE after the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake

We report the detection of an earthquake by a space-based measurement. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites observed a +/-15-microgalileo gravity change induced by the great December 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. Coseismic deformation produces sudden changes in the gravity field by vertical displacement of Earth's layered density structure and by changing the densities of the crust and mantle. GRACE's sensitivity to the long spatial wavelength of gravity changes resulted in roughly equal contributions of vertical displacement and dilatation effects in the gravity measurements. The GRACE observations provide evidence of crustal dilatation resulting from an undersea earthquake.     

Characterization of three Colletotrichum acutatum isolates from Capsicum spp.

Colletotrichum acutatum causes anthracnose on peppers (Capsicum spp.), resulting in severe yield losses in Taiwan. Fungal isolates Coll-153, Coll-365 and Coll-524 collected from diseased peppers were found to differ in pathogenicity. Pathogenicity assays on various index plants revealed that Coll-524 was highly virulent and Coll-153 was moderately virulent to three commercially available pepper cultivars. Both isolates induced anthracnose lesions and produced abundant conidia. Coll-365 was only weakly virulent on pepper fruit, where it caused small lesions and hardly produced conidia on pepper fruit. However, Coll-365 was highly pathogenic to tomato fruit and mango leaves, where it caused anthracnose lesions and formed acervuli and conidia. All three isolates showed similar abilities in the attachment and germination of conidia, formation of highly branched hyphae and appressoria, penetration of cuticles, and infection of epidermal cells on chili peppers. Coll-365 accumulated less turgor pressure in appressoria but produced higher levels of cutinase and protease activity than Coll-153 and Coll-524 did. All three isolates invaded the neighbouring cells through plasmodesmata in chili peppers and showed similar pectinase or cellulase activities in culture. However, the most virulent strain Coll-524 expressed stronger laccase activity and was more resistant to capsaicin compared to Coll-153 and Coll-365. The three isolates are different in numbers and sizes of double-stranded RNAs. Depending on the cultivar genotypes, cellular resistance of chili pepper to C. acutatum might rely on the ability to restrict penetration, colonization, or conidiation of the pathogen. We conclude that the differences in pathogenicity among the three C. acutatum isolates of pepper are attributed to their ability to colonize the host plant.     

玉米雌穗发育异常及防控措施

2010年东北部分地区的玉米出现了雌穗发育异常现象,给农业生产造成了一定的损失,本文在调查基础上,参考了其他农业科研单位和高校的诸多专家的意见,就玉米雌穗分化过程中几种异常现象的表现、成因及防治措施进行分析探讨。     

Functional processing of PET fabrics using boehmite/silica/thiazole dye hybrid materials

A series of hybrid materials composed of boehmite/silica/thiazole dyes and prepared via the sol-gel process is synthesized from aluminum isopropoxide (AIP) and tetraethoxysilane using heteroaryl 2-amino-thiazole azo dyes. Heterocyclic 2-amino-thiazole azo dyes undergo a hydrolysis-condensation reaction with an appropriate proportion of AIP under a catalyst, at a constant ratio of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The structures of these hybrid materials composed of boehmite/silica/thiazole dyes are characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis. The surface morphology of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics is evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images show uniform dyeing of the PET fabrics that confirms the reaction of the hybrid materials with the PET fabrics. The water contact angle, washing fastness, color evenness, air permeability, and warmth retention of the PET fabrics dyed with hybrid materials composed of boehmite/silica/thiazole dyes are evaluated. The evaluation results indicate improved warmth retention property and good water repellency.     

Effect of phytocompounds from the heartwood of Acacia confusa on inflammatory mediator production

Acacia confusa Merr. (Leguminosae) is traditionally used as a medicinal plant in Taiwan. In the present study, anti-inflammatory activity of extracts from the heartwood of A. confusa were investigated for the first time. Results demonstrated that ethanolic extracts of A. confusa heartwood strongly suppressed NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Among all fractions derived from ethanolic extracts, the EtOAc fraction exhibited the best inhibitory activity. Following column chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, 13 specific phytocompounds including 5 new flavonoids (i.e., 7,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-4-methoxyflavan-3-ol, 7,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone, 7,8,3'-trihydroxy-3,4'-dimethoxyflavone, 7,3',4'-trihydroxyflavone, and 7,3',4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavone) were isolated and identified from the EtOAc fraction. In addition, melanoxetin (3,7,8,3',4'-pentahydroxyflavone), a major compound in the EtOAc fraction, markedly suppressed LPS-induced NO and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2) production. Moreover, melanoxetin completely suppressed gene expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at 50 and 100 microM, respectively. This is the first report to identify the inhibitory bioactivities of melanoxetin on iNOS and COX-2.     

苹果管道气力输送装置参数优化与试验

针对苹果在管道输送过程中的撞击损伤问题,对管道气力输送装置的参数组合进行研究。以输送管道内径、管型和进风口风速为影响因素,以苹果迎风面风速为响应值,通过单因素仿真试验确定各因素对响应值的影响规律;基于单因素仿真结果利用多因素仿真试验获得最优输送参数组合,通过验证试验检验最优组合的可靠性。单因素仿真试验结果表明:当管道内径分别为88、96、104、112和120 mm时,随着输送管道内径的增大,苹果迎风面风速呈先增大后减小的趋势;管型对苹果迎风面风速大小影响的排序为,下圆弧管>螺旋管>S型管>上圆弧管>反S型管;当进风风速分别为14.07、15.83、17.59、19.35和21.11 m/s时,随着进风风速的增大,苹果迎风面风速呈先增大后减小的趋势。多因素仿真试验结果表明:最优输送参数组合为,管道内径112 mm、下圆弧型管型、进风风速19.35 m/s,此时苹果迎风面风速为18.46 m/s。验证试验结果表明,基于最优输送参数组合的管道气力输送装置输送苹果时苹果损伤率为14%,苹果损伤面积0~14.82 mm²,损伤体积0~23.84 mm³,86%的苹果为一等及以上果,14%的苹果为二等果。管道气力输送装置可有效降低苹果采摘后落入果筐时的损伤。     

棉花烂铃及炭疽病的研究

长江流域棉区常见的烂铃病菌有:炭疽病菌(Glomerella gossppii)、角斑病菌(Xanthomonas malvacearum)、花腐病菌(Choanephora cucurbitarum)、黑果病菌(Diplodia gossypina)、印度炭疽病菌(Colletotrichum indicum)、面包霉菌(Rhizopus nigricans)、红粉病菌(Cephalothecium roseum)、红腐病菌(Fusarium spp.)、疫菌(Phytophthora sp.)、轮纹斑病菌(Alternaria spp.)、褐斑病菌(Phyllosticta spp.)、青霉菌(Penicillium spp.)、黑子菌(Nigrospora sp.)、斑纹病菌(Pestalozzia sp.)、(?)腐病菌(Aspergillus spp.)、蠕子菌(Helminthos-porium cuverlaria)、黑斑病菌(Ceratostoma sp.)、汚叶病菌(Cladosporium sp.)等18种,某些年分以炭疽、角斑、红腐等为最主要。1950—51年田间观察结果表明,棉花生长期8、9二个月久雨多湿是引起炭疽病及其他烂铃发生的重要因子。田间接种试验证明:气温平均在25—30℃以及长期保湿,炭疽病菌能直接侵害棉铃。机械损伤、虫孔、角斑病等都是病菌侵害的有利条件。以生长10天的幼铃抗力最强。接近吐絮时的自然裂口,在高湿多雨时,也可成为各种菌类侵害的重要途径。适当密植,合理施用氮肥,进行整枝摘叶,使株行间通风透光,减低湿度,对减轻烂铃损失有一定的作用。