Germplasm conservation and quantitative estimation of podophyllotoxin and related glycosides of Podophyllum hexandrum

We have done comparative morphological and chemotaxonomic studies to investigate the phylogenetic relationship of different accessions within the Podophyllum species. HPLC profiles revealed that all Podophyllum hexandrum accessions collected from different geographical locations are chemically highly diverse. Also, we have observed that chemotaxonomic studies clearly demonstrated that chemical characters of the Podophyllum hexandrum are suitable to generate essentially the same relationship as revealed by RAPD analysis.     

Reduction in chilling injury to stored grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) by vegetable oils

Immersing grapefruit in vegetable oils and vegetable oil—water emulsions prior to storage at 3°C markedly delayed and reduced symptoms of chilling injury. Oil—water emulsions of 20% oil were more effective than higher percentage oil emulsions or 100% oil.     

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of N-(p-sulfonylphenyl)-N1 -carbamoylureas

A series of 11 N-(p-sulfonylphenyl)-N¹-carbamoylureas was prepared by reaction of 1,6-diphenyl-2,4-dioxohexahydro-s-triazine with chlorosulfonic acid and thionyl chloride. The resultant N-(p-chlorosulfonylphenyl)-N¹-carbamoylurea was subsequently condensed with amines, butanol, hydrazine and sodium azide. The hydrazide was reacted with carbonyl compounds and the azide with trimethyl phosphite. The products were tested for in-vivo fungicidal activity against barley powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis); the acetone hydrazone derivative showed the highest activity. © 1998 SCI.     

Development and characterization of cell lines derived from rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), and catla, Catla catla (Hamilton)

Two new cell lines, designated RE and CB, were derived from the eye of rohu, Labeo rohita , and the brain of catla, Catla catla , respectively. The cell lines were maintained in Leibovitz's L-15 supplemented with 20% foetal bovine serum. The RE cell line was sub-cultured for more than 70 passages and the CB cell line for more than 35 passages. The RE cells are rounded and consist predominantly of epithelial cells. The CB cell line consists of predominantly fibroblastic-like cells. Both cell lines are able to grow at temperatures between 25 and 32 °C with an optimum of 28 °C. The growth rate of the cells increased as the foetal bovine serum concentration increased from 2% to 20% at 28 °C, with optimum growth at concentrations of 15% or 20% foetal bovine serum. The cells were successfully cryopreserved and revived at different passage levels. The cell lines were not susceptible to four marine fish viruses. Extracellular products from Aeromonas sp . were toxic to the cell lines. When the cells were transfected with plasmid eukaryotic green fluorescent protein (pEGFP [Clontech, Carlsbad, CA, USA]) vector DNA, a significant fluorescent signal was observed suggesting that these cell lines could be a useful tool for transgenic and genetic manipulation studies. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of mitochondrial 12S rRNA from rohu and catla confirmed that the cell lines originated from these fish species. The cell lines were further characterized by immunocytochemistry using confocal laser scanning microscopy.     

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peel Extracts Inhibit Microbial Growth and Lipid Oxidation in Minced Shrimps Stored at 4°C

Pomegranate peel is inherited with diverse functional properties that improve storage stability and nutritional quality of edible goods. This research was aimed at evaluating antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of pomegranate peel hydro-alcoholic extracts and to determine in situ efficacy of extracts in controlling microbial growth and lipid oxidation of shrimp meat. The results suggest that pomegranate peel ethanolic extracts (PoPetx) have significantly higher (p < 0.05) phenolic contents, 169 mg GAE/100 g accompanied with 90% free radical scavenging activities. Contrary to the normal control, incorporation of PoPetx @ 2.0% (w/w) in minced shrimp meat increased thiobarbituric acid reactive species generation by 10% during 28 days of storage at 4°C. Supplementing PoPetx @ 0.5–2.0% (w/w) to shrimp meat has shown a comparable microbial inhibitory action against total plate counts and Staphylococcus spp. The study concludes that application of pomegranate peel extracts in minced shrimp is a viable strategy to preserve chemical and microbiological quality of shrimp and products of sea origin.     

Hepatic Lipidosis Associated with Cobalt Deficiency in Omani Goats

Livers from 36 of 684 (5.3%) apparently healthy goats examined at an abattoir in the greater Muscat area of Oman exhibited gross pathological findings characterized by extremely pale, friable, fatty livers encompassing the entire organ. Histopathologically, diffuse hepatic lipidosis and occasional bile duct proliferation were observed. Periodic acid–Schiff-positive, diastase-resistant pigment was observed in the macrophages lining the sinusoids. These histopathological lesions were consistent with those characteristic of ovine white liver disease. Cobalt analysis revealed that normal livers had six times more cobalt and a 3-fold less fat content than those measured in the fatty livers. This is the first report of an association between cobalt deficiency and hepatic lipidosis in Omani goats.     

反演分析土壤-秸秆水分运动参数

通过潜水均衡试验站土壤测渗仪资料,以新疆具有一定代表性的轻粘土为例,利用无秸秆覆盖和地表以下35 cm秸秆覆盖的实测资料,研究作物生长条件下土壤水分和盐分运移模型参数,通过HYDRUS模型反演确定了土壤水分运动参数和秸秆水分参数。并与测筒实测数据进行了比较。通过计算,无论是模拟计算的土壤水分运动参数还是秸秆水分参数都与相应的测筒观测值具有良好的一致性,模拟值与实测值吻合较好,这表明了轻粘土土壤水分运动参数和秸秆水分运动参数的确定是合理的。这些参数的确定将为更好地模拟秸秆覆盖条件下土壤水盐运移规律,研究秸秆覆盖层阻止土壤潜水蒸发抵制土壤盐分向上运动提供科学数据。     

Zebrafish fin‐derived fibroblast cell line: A model for in vitro wound healing

The goal of this study was to develop and characterize a cell line from the caudal fin tissue of zebrafish and also its application as an in vitro model to study the effect of H₂O₂ in wound healing. Fibroblastic cell line was developed using explant culture method from caudal fin tissue of zebrafish and characterized. This cell line was named as DrF cell line. The DrF cells treated with 0–10 µM/ml H₂O₂ were tested for viability, proliferation and motility by MTT assay, trypan blue assay and chemotaxis assay, respectively. Among the different concentrations of H₂O₂, 4 µM was found to be nontoxic to study cell migration in in vitro scratch wound assay. Furthermore, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and chemokine receptor (CXCR4) genes was carried by qPCR. The cell survival, proliferation and migration were extremely enriched at 4 µM level of H₂O₂. We observed accelerated wound closure in DrF cells treated with H₂O_2. The qPCR results indicated that H₂O₂ markedly up‐regulated mRNA expression of PCNA and CXCR4. The findings from our study suggest that H₂O₂ at low levels promotes cell survival, proliferation, migration and wound healing in DrF cells.     

阿克苏河流域平原型水库水质特征研究

本文对阿克苏流域的三座大型平原水库,即上游水库、胜利水库和多浪水库在枯水期和丰水期的水质进行了监测分析,比较了各水库不同水期水质现状,并对监测指标进行了因子分析。结果表明:三座水库枯水期污染程度比丰水期高。水质污染物可分抑制性因子(F1),包括NH3-N、SO42-、Cl-和矿化度以及富营养性污染指标(F2),包括TN、TP和CODMn。目前水库水质主要由第一因子F1决定。枯水期水质污染大小次序为胜利水库>上游水库>多浪水库,而丰水期为多浪水库>胜利水库>上游水库。三座水库水质与引水河流的水质污染指标之间存在极显著相关性。