Glucosinolates and myrosinase activity in red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. Capitata f. rubra DC.) after various microwave treatments

Total and individual levels of glucosinolates (GSs) were measured in red cabbage after various microwave treatments varying in time and intensity of the treatments. Furthermore, the myrosinase enzyme activity of the microwave-heated vegetables was determined. The retention of GSs in the cabbage and the residual activity of the hydrolytic enzyme as a result of microwave preparation were compared with untreated cabbage. In general, high total GS levels were observed for all of the applied microwave treatments. Strikingly, many of the time/energy input combinations resulted in levels exceeding the total GS content of the untreated cabbage material. Moreover, the increase in levels seems to be associated with the energy input applied. A possible explanation for this behavior is an increased extractability of GS from heat-treated cabbage as compared to raw cabbage. Substantial myrosinase activity was retained in cabbage treated at low (24 min, 180 W) and intermediate microwave powers (8 min, 540 W) while microwave cooking for 4.8 min at 900 W (259.2 kJ energy input) resulted in a complete loss of hydrolytic activity. In this respect, differences in observed temperature profiles of the various microwave treatments play an important role. Higher retention of GSs and controllable amounts of active myrosinase can offer increasing health-promoting properties of microwave-prepared Brassica vegetables.     

原子吸收分光光度法测定植物中微量元素的研究

采用原子分光光度法测定牛蒡、银杏、银杏叶和大蒜中Se、Cd、Pb含量,以期为该法用于植物微量元素测定提供参考。     

Metabolic adaptations associated with irreversible glucose loss are different to those observed during under-nutrition

In this study the hypothesis that irreversible glucose loss results in an 'uncoupling' of the somatotrophic axis (increasing plasma GH levels and decreasing plasma IGF-I) was tested. During periods of negative energy balance the somatotrophic axis respond by increasing plasma GH and decreasing plasma IGF-I levels. In turn, elevated GH repartitions nutrient by increasing lipolysis and protein synthesis, and decreases protein degradation. Irreversible glucose loss was induced using sub-cutaneous injections of phloridizin. Seven non-lactating cows were treated with 8g/day phloridizin (PHZ) and seven control animals (CTRL, 0g/day), while being restricted to a diet of 80% maintenance. PHZ treatment increased urinary glucose excretion (P<0.001), resulting in hypoglycemia (P<0.001). As a response to this glucose loss, the PHZ treated animals had elevated plasma NEFA (P<0.005) and BHBA (P<0.001) levels. Average plasma insulin concentrations were not altered with PHZ treatment (P=0.059). Plasma GH was not different between the two groups (P>0.1), whereas plasma IGF-I levels decreased significantly (P<0.001) with PHZ treatment. The decline in plasma IGF-I concentrations was mirrored by a decrease in the abundance of hepatic IGF-I mRNA (P=0.005), in addition the abundance of hepatic mRNA for both growth hormone receptors (GHR(tot) and GHR(1A)) was also decreased (P<0.05). Therefore, the irreversible glucose loss resulted in a partial 'uncoupling' of the somatotrophic axis, as no increase in plasma GH levels occurred although plasma IGF-I levels, hepatic IGF-I mRNA declined, and the abundance of liver GH receptor mRNA declined.     

Reproductive efficiency of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses in north-east Victoria

Objective To evaluate the reproductive efficiency of horse farms in north-east Victoria and identify aspects of management to be targeted for improving reproductive efficiency. Design Retrospective study. Procedure Records from seven Thoroughbred (TB) and four Standardbred (STB) studs in north-east Victoria from 1990 to 2001 were reviewed; 8813 cycles in 4455 mares were analysed. TB mares were inseminated by natural mating, whereas STB mares (89%) were artificially inseminated. Results The overall early pregnancy rate per cycle was 68.8% for TB mares and for STB mares, 68.3%. Multiple pregnancy per cycle was more frequent in TB (8.3%) than in STB (4.6%) mares (P < 0.001). Early embryonic death occurred in 7.1% of TB and 7.5% of STB pregnancies. TB mares had fewer inseminations per cycle (1.03) than STB mares (1.43) (P < 0.001). There was a significantly lower proportion of barren reproductive status within the TB than the STB mares. Pregnancy rate per cycle among stallions ranged from 48% to 79%. Conclusions On-farm pregnancy rates in both breeds were higher than previously reported and likely reflect improvements in reproductive management. The disparity between breeds in the inseminations per cycle and proportion of barren mares exposed the differing structures of the two industries, and presents a target for improving the reproductive efficiency in STBs. The difference between breeds in the multiple pregnancy rate per cycle likely reflects the higher ovulation rate of TB mares. The variability in pregnancy rate per cycle between the 22 stallions was associated with differences in individual inherent fertility and the quality of stallion management.     

生物结皮对高寒退化草地植物群落的影响

生物结皮在各类生态系统中扮演着重要的角色,具有调控土壤水分,养分含量与侵蚀敏感性等作用,并可直接或间接地影响地上植物群落,但对植物群落发展存在促进还是抑制作用尚不清楚。本研究于2017年在青海贵南县森多镇高寒草原,设置大样方,对生物结皮种类和分布格局进行调查。结果表明：在青藏高原高寒退化草地生态系统中,生物结皮的存在显著影响了植物的群落结构,降低了杂草的比例;苔藓生物结皮的盖度与草本植物盖度在初级发育阶段的生物结皮（地衣和苔藓共存）的样方中呈显著正相关关系（P<0.05）,在高级发育阶段的生物结皮（仅有苔藓结皮存在）的样方中正相关关系极显著（P<0.01）。由此可见,生物结皮是高寒草地生态系统的重要组成部分,有调节高寒退化植物群落的结构和功能的作用。     

Determination of the Trace Element Contents in Plants Using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

The aim of the study is to investigate the contents of trace dement Se, Cd, Pb in three plants including burdock, ginkgol and garlic via graphite fumace atomic absorption and standard addition method. The results show that Se in burdock stem, skin and leaf are 32.40, 48.63, 38.10 μg/g, respec-tively; Cd in burdock stem, skin and leaf are 0. 160 0, 0.300 0, O. 140 0 isg/g, respectively; Cd in burdock stem, skin and leaf are 2.020, 3.960,2. 410 μg/g, respectively. In the ginkgo and ginko leaf, Se contents are 17.63 and 16.91 la.g/g, respectively; for Cd are 0.181 0 and 0.202 0 μg/g, respec-tively ; for Pb are 3.572 and 4.021 μg/g, respectively. In garlic, $e, Cd and Pb are 73. 900 O, 6.900 0 and 0.390 0, respectively. All the standard devi-ations of measured results are below 2.3%, recovery rate are from 99% to 101%.     

Kinetics of changes in glucosinolate concentrations during long-term cooking of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. capitata f. alba)

Brassica vegetables are the predominant dietary source of glucosinolates (GLS) that can be degraded in the intestinal tract into isothiocyanates, which have been shown to possess anticarcinogenic properties. The effects of pilot-scale long-term boiling on GLS in white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. capitata f. alba cv. 'Bartolo') was experimentally determined and mathematically modeled. Cabbage was boiled, resulting in a dramatic decrease of 56% in the total GLS levels within the plant matrix during the first 2 min. After 8-12 min of boiling, the decrease progressed to over 70%. Progoitrin had an exceptionally higher decline rate in comparison to all other GLS. As boiling progressed the concentration of all GLS continued to decrease at a lower rate for the remaining cooking period. A mathematical model was used to describe the concentration profile of the GLS in the plant matrix, based on leaching of GLS to the water phase due to cell lysis and thermal degradation of the GLS both in the plant matrix and in the water phase. The model described the concentration profiles very well. Estimated lysis and degradation rate constants for white cabbage differed from those reported in the literature for red cabbage. The degradation rate constants found were significantly higher in the plant matrix when compared to those in the water phase for all GLS. Identification of the kinetics of decline of GLS during cooking can aid in designing processing and preparation methods and determining the conditions for the optimal effects of ingestion of Brassicaceae toward cancer prevention.     

GIS支持下1985-2000年北京林地数量、质量演变与驱动分析

在收集、研究1985年、1995年、2000年北京土地覆盖类型的图像和矢量数据的基础上,提取不同时间段北京林地相关的数据信息,并从多个角度分析研究区内各类林地与其它土地覆盖类型之问相互转化和各类林地之间的演替情况,得出2000年北京各类林地面积总量与1985年相比有少量增加,但林地总体质量水平却有下降趋势;并从经济社会发展以及国家及北京的生态环保政策等方面,对林地演变的驱动因子进行分析.     

Comparison on left ventricular contractility between Tibetan antelope and Tibetan sheep

AIM: To investigate the characteristics of adaptation of the heart to high altitude in Tibetan antelope.METHODS: Both Tibetan antelope and Tibetan sheep were captured at altitude of 4 300 m and then transported to Gurmud (2,800 m), where the study was conducted immediately after arrival. The heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the maximum rate of change in left ventricular pressure (±dp/dt) were measured directly by cardiac catheterization. After the baselines of the parameters were obtained, the animals were inhaled hypoxic gas of 14.6% O₂ or 12.5% O₂, which was simulated to the altitudes of 5,300 m and 6,300 m, and then those measurements were repeated within 15 min. The ratios of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) and right to left ventricular plus septum weights were determined.The Ultra-structural changes of the cardiac muscle were also observed under electron microscope.RESULTS: The HW/BW of Tibetan antelope was significantly greater than that of Tibetan sheep (P<0.01), and no difference of RV/(LV+IVS) was observed between both animals. At baselines, HR and SBP of Tibetan antelope were significantly lower than those of Tibetan sheep . The value of +dp/dt in Tibetan antelope was similar to that of Tibetan sheep . However, after inhaled 14.6% or 12.5% hypoxic-gas for simulating the altitudes of 5,300 m and 6,300 m, the +dp/dt of Tibetan antelope was significantly increased to 145.1% and 148.1% respectively, while the Tibetan sheep was decreased to 68.4% and 70.5% of those in normoxia condition, respectively. Ultra-structural changes of the cardiac muscle indicated that there were more abundant mitochondria in the myocardium of the Tibetan antelope than those in the Tibetan sheep.CONCLUSION: The heart functions of Tibetan antelope are well adapted to hypoxic environment in the high altitude by increasing myocardial weight and mitochondria. On the other hand, the cardiac contractility of Tibetan antelope is normal in the rest, but obviously increases under stress conditions.     

EU-wide maps of growing stock and above-ground biomass in forests based on remote sensing and field measurements

The overall objective of this study was to combine national forest inventory data and remotely sensed data to produce pan-European maps on growing stock and above-ground woody biomass for the two species groups “broadleaves” and “conifers”. An automatic up-scaling approach making use of satellite remote sensing data and field measurement data was applied for EU-wide mapping of growing stock and above-ground biomass in forests. The approach is based on sampling and allows the direct combination of data with different measurement units such as forest inventory plot data and satellite remote sensing data. For the classification, data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were used. Comprehensive field measurement data from national forest inventories for 98,979 locations from 16 countries were used for which tree species and growing stock estimates were available. The classification results were evaluated by comparison with regional estimates derived independently from the classification from national forest inventories. The validation at the regional level shows a high correlation between the classification results and the field based estimates with correlation coefficient r = 0.96 for coniferous, r = 0.94 for broadleaved and r = 0.97 for total growing stock per hectare. The mean absolute error of the estimations is 25 m³/ha for coniferous, 20 m³/ha for broadleaved and 25 m³/ha for total growing stock per hectare. Biomass conversion and expansion factors were applied to convert the growing stock classification results to carbon stock in above-ground biomass. As results of the classification, coniferous and broadleaved growing stock as well as carbon stock of the above-ground biomass is mapped on a wall-to-wall basis with a spatial resolution of 500 m × 500 m per grid cell. The mapped area is 5 million km², of which 2 million km² are forests, and covers the whole European Union, the EFTA countries, the Balkans, Belarus, the Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.