Application of reactive UV-absorbers for increasing protective properties of cellulose fabrics during standard laundering process

A number of water-soluble colourless fibre-reactive UV-absorbers derivatives of symmetrical triazine were used as additives during commercial laundering process. UV-protection factor (UPF) of such treated cotton tricot samples was measured. Changes in protection properties of modified textiles after repeated standard laundering process were determined. Carried-out experiments gave evidence of covalent bond formation between applied absorbers and cellulose fibre during standard washing process at 40 °C or 60 °C. Textiles modified by this method have provided UV-protective properties for prolonged time.     

Epipolythiodiketopiperazines from the Marine Derived Fungus Dichotomomyces cejpii with NF-κB Inhibitory Potential

The Ascomycota Dichotomomyces cejpii was isolated from the marine sponge Callyspongia cf. C. flammea. A new gliotoxin derivative, 6-acetylmonodethiogliotoxin (1) was obtained from fungal extracts. Compounds 2 and 3, methylthio-gliotoxin derivatives were formerly only known as semi-synthetic compounds and are here described as natural products. Additionally the polyketide heveadride (4) was isolated. Compounds 1, 2 and 4 dose-dependently down-regulated TNFα-induced NF-κB activity in human chronic myeloid leukemia cells with IC_50s of 38.5 ± 1.2 µM, 65.7 ± 2.0 µM and 82.7 ± 11.3 µM, respectively. The molecular mechanism was studied with the most potent compound 1 and results indicate downstream inhibitory effects targeting binding of NF-κB to DNA. Compound 1 thus demonstrates potential of epimonothiodiketopiperazine-derived compounds for the development of NF-κB inhibitors.     

Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan Induces Endothelial Cell Migration via the PI3K/AKT Pathway and Modulates the Transcription of Genes Involved in Angiogenesis

Low-molecular-weight fucoidan (LMWF) is a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed that presents antithrombotic and pro-angiogenic properties. However, its mechanism of action is not well-characterized. Here, we studied the effects of LMWF on cell signaling and whole genome expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and endothelial colony forming cells. We observed that LMWF and vascular endothelial growth factor had synergistic effects on cell signaling, and more interestingly that LMWF by itself, in the absence of other growth factors, was able to trigger the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, which plays a crucial role in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. We also observed that the effects of LMWF on cell migration were PI3K/AKT-dependent and that LMWF modulated the expression of genes involved at different levels of the neovessel formation process, such as cell migration and cytoskeleton organization, cell mobilization and homing. This provides a better understanding of LMWF’s mechanism of action and confirms that it could be an interesting therapeutic approach for vascular repair.     

Dyeing performance of disperse dyes based on 2-aminothiazole for cellulose triacetate and nylon fibers

A series of monoazo disperse dyes based on 2-amino-4-phenylthiazole was prepared using variousN,N-dialkylaniline derivatives as the coupling component. The dyes were characterized by IR spectral studies, visible absorption spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The dyeing performance of these dyes was assessed on cellulose triacetate and nylon fibers. These dyes were found to give a wide range of colour shades varying from bright red to royal blue with very good depth, brightness and levelness on fibers. The dyed fibers showed good to very good light fastness and very good to excellent fastness to washing, perspiration, rubbing and sublimation. The dyebath exhaustion and fixation on the fibers were found to be very good.     

Canopy temperature on clear and cloudy days can be used to estimate varietal differences in stomatal conductance in rice

Leaf photosynthetic potential, a major determinant of yield potential in rice, is mostly explained by stomatal conductance (g_s) as well as leaf N content (Rubisco protein content). Therefore, the rapid and precise evaluation of g_s as well as leaf N content would be a valuable addition to rice breeding programs aimed at improved yield potential. We established a simple method based on infrared thermography to estimate varietal differences in g_s. Seven rice varieties were cultivated in two-row plots in 2007, and canopy temperatures in three varieties, including a control variety, Koshihikari, were simultaneously measured to determine canopy temperature difference (CTd) between Koshihikari and the other varieties on clear days. The varieties Takanari, Habataki, and TUAT1-5-6a displayed significantly (P < 0.05) lower leaf temperature and higher g_s and leaf photosynthetic rate (P_n) than Koshihikari. CTd was closely correlated with g_s and P_n. These results indicate that CTd may be useful as a relative index to estimate varietal differences in g_s. A significant CTd was still observed even under cloudy conditions in 2008. Takanari and TUAT1-5-6a had lower leaf temperature than Koshihikari on cloudy days as well as on clear days. Subsequent investigation of photosynthetic light response curves revealed that Takanari and TUAT1-5-6a had higher g_s and P_n than Koshihikari under lower irradiance. These results suggest that infrared thermography may be a simple method of evaluating varietal differences in g_s through CTd, and that it may be practicable even under cloudy conditions.     

水旱轮作大豆的营养生长与根系活力的关系

大豆是实行水旱轮作制度的重要作物之一,水田的排水不良是导致轮作大豆减产的重要原因.通过对水旱轮作大豆幼苗进行过湿处理,分析了不同大豆品种的营养生长特性与根系生理活性的关系.轮作大豆在过湿条件下,所有品种的生育都受到抑制,干物质生产受抑制程度存在着品种间的差异.营养生长诸性状中,伤流速度受过湿处理影响最大,处理区的伤流速度仅为对照区的64.2%.过湿处理导致伤流液中氮含量几乎减少了一半,伤流中的氮含量与叶片氮素含量之间存在极显著正相关关系,过湿条件下叶片氮含量的减少是由于根的氮素吸收能力的低下所致.遭遇过湿逆境时的植株个体大小与维持物质生产关系密切.过湿处理期间及其后的干物质增加量的大小与以伤流速度为代表的根系活力密切相关,说明从田间管理技术上提高大豆的根系活力以维持水旱轮作大豆的干物质生产是可行的.     

杂交水稻夷优180的选育与应用

夷优180系福建省南平市农业科学研究所用自主选育的三系不育系夷A与恢复系南恢180配组而成的杂交中稻新品种。经多年在福建省各地试验、试种表现群体整齐、适应性广、产量高、抗性好等特点,2014年通过福建省农作物品种审定。简述了杂交水稻夷优180的选育及应用。     

Extraction of rice-planting area and identification of chilling damage by remote sensing technology: a case study of the emerging rice production region in high latitude

Rice is the second largest staple crop in the world and therefore plays an important role in food security. As a thermophilic crop, rice is sensitive to temperature changes. Thus, research on the chilling damage of rice is essential. The Sanjiang Plain is an emerging rice production area and is located at high latitudes in China, the world’s largest rice-producing country. Landsat data were used to extract rice-planting area from 1985 to 2015. MODIS 13Q1, which was uniformly distributed during the growing period of rice, was used to obtain NDVI values of paddies during 2002–2015. Dynamic Identification Index of sterile-type chilling damage and monitoring standard of delayed-type chilling damage were the proposed methods used in this paper, which were used to judge the chilling damage of rice. The results show that in the study region, the rice-planting area in 2015 is nearly 12 times larger than that in 1985. Delayed-type chilling damage occurred in 2002 and 2009, while sterile-type chilling damage occurred in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2015. Comparing with the prevalent meteorological standards, the results indicate that the index and standards proposed in this paper are precise, applicable, and more sensitive than them. The method is a macroscopic and accurate method to identify chilling damage in rice and can also provide a scientific basis to ensuring the stability of rice yield.     

Lithothamnion muelleri Controls Inflammatory Responses,Target Organ Injury and Lethality Associated with Graft-versus-Host Disease in Mice

Lithothamnion muelleri (Hapalidiaceae) is a marine red alga, which is a member of a group of algae with anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties. The present study evaluated the effects of treatment with Lithothamnion muelleri extract (LM) in a model of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), using a model of adoptive splenocyte transfer from C57BL/6 donors into B6D2F1 recipient mice. Mice treated with LM showed reduced clinical signs of disease and mortality when compared with untreated mice. LM-treated mice had reduced tissue injury, less bacterial translocation, and decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5)). The polysaccharide-rich fraction derived from LM could inhibit leukocyte rolling and adhesion in intestinal venules, as assessed by intravital microscopy. LM treatment did not impair the beneficial effects of graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL). Altogether, our studies suggest that treatment with Lithothamnion muelleri has a potential therapeutic application in GVHD treatment.