Protective efficacy of a live attenuated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine with an ISCOM-matrix adjuvant in pigs

An attenuated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine that requires intrathoracic administration is commercially available for use against mycoplasmal pneumonia in China. Given the limitations of such a route of administration, this study was undertaken to assess the capacity of an ISCOM-matrix adjuvant to enhance immunogenicity following intramuscular use. Immune responses in pigs following vaccination and subsequent intra-tracheal bacterial inoculation were examined using lymphocyte proliferation, serology and mucosal IgA in both nasal and saliva swabs.Vaccination induced clear lymphocyte proliferation, but only slight serum antibody responses although these were significantly increased following experimental infection. Mucosal IgA was not detected in either nasal or salivary secretions. Following bacterial challenge, animals vaccinated with the adjuvant-containing live vaccine exhibited less severe pulmonary lesions (median score 3.67) than unvaccinated pigs (median score 13.58). The degree of ciliary loss on the respiratory tract surface was reduced in vaccinated pigs compared with experimentally infected controls. The findings indicated that the adjuvant vaccine administered IM provided protection against experimentally induced mycoplasmal pneumonia and could have commercial potential.     

Breaking seasonal limitation: year-round sporogenesis in the brown alga Laminaria saccharina by blocking the transport of putative sporulation inhibitors

Year-round induction of sporogenesis of Laminaria saccharina was performed by mechanically blocking the transport of the putative sporulation inhibitors produced by the blade meristem and culturing the plants in constant short days. Sporogenesis was successfully induced by removal of the blade meristem, either by cultivating distal blade fragments or by performing a transverse cut in the frond. The earliest sorus formation after artificial induction was 10 days. The age of the sporophytes used for induction was 6–11 months or 2 years in tank-grown or field-collected sporophytes, respectively. Zoospores were successfully released in all cases. Thus, by year-round artificial induction of sporogenesis, (1) sporeling production of L. saccharina and thereafter sporophyte cultivation could be achieved without seasonal limitation, and (2) the life cycle of L. saccharina (from spore to spore) could be completed within 8 months under controlled conditions.     

Ochracenoids A and B,Guaiazulene-Based Analogues from Gorgonian Anthogorgia ochracea Collected from the South China Sea

Two new guaiazulene-based analogues, ochracenoids A (1) and B (2), along with four known analogues (3–6), were isolated from the gorgonian Anthogorgia ochracea collected from the South China Sea. The planar structures of the new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined as 3R by the comparison of TDDFT calculated electronic circular dichroism with its experimental spectrum. Compound 1 is a rare guaiazulene-based analogue possessing a unique C₁₆ skeleton. The possible generation process of 1 through an intermolecular one-carbon-transfer reaction was also discussed. Compound 2 was previously described as a presumed intermediate involved in the biogenesis of anthogorgienes A and I. Compound 3 exhibited antiproliferative effects on the embryo development of zebrafish Danio rerio.     

Study on differences of reaction behavior of phenolic hydroxyl groups with vinyl sulfone reactive dyes and monochlorotriazine reactive dyes

Using p-methylphenol as a model compound for phenolic hydroxyl groups on silk fibroin, the reaction kinetics of two typical of reactive dyes including vinyl sulfone reactive dyes and monochlorotriazine reactive dyes with phenolic hydroxyl groups were studied by reverse phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that, the reaction rates of monochlorotriazine reactive dyes with phenolic hydroxyl groups were by far faster than those of vinyl sulfone reactive dyes, attributed to the stability of resultants from the former. The optimum reaction conditions for phenolic hydroxyl groups with vinyl sulfone reactive dyes and monochlorotriazine reactive dyes were at 50–70 °C and pH=8–9 for the former, and at 85–95 °C and pH=8–9 for the latter. The methods and results in this paper would help to deeply study the reaction mechanisms of reactive dyes with silk fibroin.     

Effects of environment parameters on sol-gel transition and dry-spinnability of regenerated silk fibroin aqueous solution

Protein concentration, pH, the types and concentrations of metallic ions, and extensional flow are thought to be important environment parameters affecting the natural spinning process. In this study, we investigate the effects of the types and concentrations of metallic ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺ ions), pH, and silk fibroin concentration on the sol-gel transition and the rheological behavior of a regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) aqueous solution. The results show that with an increase in the silk fibroin concentration, the weak acidic RSF aqueous solutions containing Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺ ions undergo a phase transition to a weak gel state. Moreover, the rheological characterization of RSF aqueous solutions shows a dramatic change, and their apparent viscosities increase by almost three orders of magnitude and approach the apparent viscosity of the native dope in the silkworm gland. By using conventional pressure equipment, we investigate the dry-spinnability of weak gels. Further, we observe that the as-spun fibers exhibit a smooth surface and have inferior mechanical properties. The structure of the as-spun fibers is predominantly in a random coil or Silk I conformation.     

The synthesis of core-shell monodisperse P(St-MAA) microspheres and fabrication of photonic crystals Structure with Tunable Colors on polyester fabrics

The core-shell monodisperse P(St-MAA) microspheres with different diameters ranging from 200 nm to 400 nm were prepared by soap-free emulsion copolymerization, in which styrene (St) and methacrylic acid (MAA) were polymerizable monomers, and ammonium persulfate (APS) acted as initiator. The diameters and monodispersity of P(St-MAA) microspheres could be controlled by adjusting the concentrations of styrene, methacrylic acid and ammonium persulfate. The core-shell structure and chemical component distribution of the P(St-MAA) microspheres were confirmed by TEM and XPS. The photonic crystals on polyester fabrics with three-dimensionally ordered arrangement were fabricated by self-assembly of gravitational sedimentation with P(St-MAA) microspheres and exhibited brilliant structural colors without any chemical dyes and pigments. SEM, TEM and crystallographic analysis were applied to confirm a face centered cubic (fcc) structure of the photonic crystals on polyester fabrics. The versatile structural colors of the photonic crystals were dependent on the photonic band-gap which could be regulated by the spherical size of P(St-MAA) microspheres and viewing angles. This technology may provide a new strategy to color the fabrics and reduce the pollution in the current textile industry.     

Water-Soluble Polysaccharides Extracted from Pueraria lobata Delay Aging of Caenorhabditis elegans under Heat Stress

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Pueraria lobata is a perennial legume, commonly used as a food source in China. The polysaccharides extracted from P. lobata have demonstrated various biological...     

种植密度对春玉米灌浆期光合特性及产量的影响

[目的]揭示玉米（Zea mays L.）光合生理指标和产量间的关系,以期为玉米高产、高效生产及合理密植提供理论依据和技术支持.[方法]研究了3个春玉米品种（紧凑型品种铁研124和郑单958,半紧凑型品种丹玉39）在4.5万、6.0万、7.5万株/hm2种植密度条件下灌浆期光合特性和产量的变化.[结果]种植密度对春玉米灌浆期光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度有负影响;铁研124与郑单958在7.5万株/hm2种植密度下均获得了较高的产量,丹玉39在6.0万株/hm2种植密度下产量最高.相关分析表明,铁研124与郑单958的群体产量与单株光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度均呈负相关;丹玉39的群体产量与单株光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度均呈正相关.[结论]郑单958与铁研124的产量增加得宜于群体数量的增加,适宜密植.丹玉39主要来源于单株产量,不适宜密植.     

芝麻单株产量及其构成因素与主要农艺性状的关系

利用相关性和灰色关联分析方法,对芝麻单株产量及其构成因素与主要农艺性状的关系进行了研究。结果表明:株蒴数是单株产量的最主要决定因素;有效蒴、果轴长、果节数是单株产量及其构成要素联系紧密的农艺性状;现蕾期、成熟期是单株产量及其构成要素联系紧密的生育期因素。因此在新品种选育上应注重现蕾开花早、生育期长、果轴长、果节数多、单株蒴果多特别是有效蒴果多的品系。