Pectin purified from pomelo (Citrus maxima) peel as a natural hatching agent for fish embryos

Pectin is a biodegradable polysaccharide, and it has been recently applied as a gene delivery, drug delivery, wound healing and tissue engineering agent. In this study, pectin was extracted from pomelo (Citrus maxima) peel and characterized. The extraction recovery of pectin form pomelo peel was 14.5%, and it had 72.56% degree of esterification, 1,245.56 equivalent weight, 7.82% methoxyl and 68.27% anhydrouronic acid contents. Use of pomelo pectin as a hatching enhancing agent for fish embryos and its effect on hatching enzyme 1 (ZHE1) was investigated. The pectin‐exposed zebrafish embryos (100 µg/ml) showed significantly (p < .05) higher hatching rate (96.6%) compared with untreated (control) embryos (66.6%) at 60 hpf. The mRNA expression of ZHE1 was also significantly (p < .05) elevated up to 55.6‐fold in pectin‐exposed embryos at 24 hpf. In situ hybridization results revealed remarkably strong expression of ZHE1 in pectin‐exposed embryos compared with the control group. In addition, considerably larger size of the hatching gland was observed in pectin‐exposed larvae than that of the unexposed larvae group. These results clearly indicate that pectin isolated from pomelo peel has an ability to enhance the hatching process of zebrafish embryos via upregulation of ZHE1.     

Effect of Extraction Temperature on Pressurized Liquid Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Fucus vesiculosus

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of low polarity water (LPW) on the extraction of bioactive compounds from Fucus vesiculosus and to examine the influence of temperature on the extraction yield, total phenolic content, crude alginate, fucoidan content, and antioxidant activity. The extractions were performed at the temperature range of 120–200 °C with 10 °C increments, and the extraction yield increased linearly with the increasing extraction temperature, with the highest yields at 170–200 °C and with the maximum extraction yield (25.99 ± 2.22%) at 190 °C. The total phenolic content also increased with increasing temperature. The extracts showed a high antioxidant activity, measured with DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals scavenging and metal-chelating activities of 0.14 mg/mL and 1.39 mg/mL, respectively. The highest yield of alginate and crude fucoidan were found at 140 °C and 160 °C, respectively. The alginate and crude fucoidan contents of the extract were 2.13% and 22.3%, respectively. This study showed that the extraction of bioactive compounds from seaweed could be selectively maximized by controlling the polarity of an environmentally friendly solvent.     

水稻对稻瘟病抗性的分子生物学研究进展

 介绍了水稻对稻瘟病抗性的分子生物学研究进展,主要包括：用于定位作图的分子标记的种类和特点、稻瘟病抗性基因的分子标记定位、稻瘟病抗性基因的等位性比较研究、稻瘟病菌生理小种无毒基因的克隆以及稻瘟病抗性基因克隆研究进展等。     

Improved method for determination of pectin degree of esterification by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

An improved method for the determination of pectin degree of esterification (DE) by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was developed. Pectin samples with a range of DE as determined by gas chromatography were used for developing a calibration curve by DRIFTS. A linear relationship between the DE of pectin standards and FTIR peak ratio for ester carboxyl peak area to total carboxyl peak area was found (R(2) = 0.97). Pectin DE of various samples was calculated from the linear fit equation developed by DRIFTS. Accuracy of the DRIFTS method was determined by comparing the DE values of four commercial pectins obtained by DRIFTS methods to the values obtained by the gas chromatography method. Greater precision was obtained for the FTIR measurement of test pectin samples when the ester peak ratio was used relative to the ester peak area.     

Current status and future strategy in breeding grasspea (Lathyrus sativus)

Efforts in grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) improvement have increased since the development of lines that are very low in the neurotoxin Beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha-beta-diamino propionic acid (ODAP); also referred to as Beta-N oxalyl-amino-L-alanine (BOAA). Many programs now address several related aspects of improvement simultaneously. These include reduced ODAP concentrations, insect and disease resistance, nitrogen fixation, agronomic practices, fodder and forage production, and components for increased yielding ability. The coordinated, multidisciplinary approach now being applied to the genetic improvement of grasspea should allow the potential of this largely neglected grain legume to be fully realized.     

Soil phosphorus status and turnover in central-European beech forest ecosystems with differing tree species diversity

Problems in phosphorus (P) nutrition of forest trees raise questions concerning the soil P concentrations, pools and turnover in forests. In addition, it is not clear if, and to what extent, tree species diversity has an influence on the soil P status and turnover. The aim of this study was to investigate the P status and turnover in beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) -dominated forest ecosystems on loess over limestone and to elucidate what role heterogeneities in tree species diversity would play. The soils of mixed species stands contained more organically bound P (710–772 kg ha⁻¹) than those of pure beech stands (378 kg ha⁻¹), whereas the inorganic P content differed little between the stand types. A large proportion (44–55%) of the total soil P was organically bound. This fraction was mainly dependent on the clay content of the soils and not on the tree diversity. The P input with leaf litter (1.4–2.1 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) showed a tendency to increase with increasing diversity. The apparent P turnover times in the organic surface layers differed, with shorter turnover times in mixed species stands (2–3 years) than in pure beech stands (10 years). Possible explanations for the different turnover times were differences in the litter quality, interactions in mixed species litters and the soil pH and base saturation. Hence, the tree species mainly influence the apparent P turnover time in the organic surface layer, whereas the P concentrations and pools in the mineral soil are determined by the soil properties, particularly the clay content.     

浅谈三亚酒店景观高差处理的设计方法

酒店景观与其他景观相比有许多自身的特性,如私密性、舒适性、半开放式等。景观中用于处理高差的形式有许多,三亚酒店根据其建筑特色、周边环境、酒店风格等采用了独具特色的形式。良好的景观更容易让旅客获得优质的审美享受,增加旅游体验的愉悦感和深刻性。     

Die Wiederbewaldung der Gebirge in Fransreich

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Preputial fibroma in a gelding

An 11‐year‐old gelding presented with a large mass located in the dermis of his preputium that surrounded the penis completely. This mass was first noted years ago but did not increase in size. Histological examination diagnosed a fibroma. No treatment was initiated since no signs of discomfort were noticed and the gelding was performing at a high level in competitive showjumping. Next to skin tumours, tumours of the penis and preputium are most common. Most frequently, squamous cell carcinomas and sarcomas are diagnosed. Although fibromas can develop anywhere in connective tissue, a preputial location of a fibroma in a gelding is rare. Differential diagnosis and possible treatment options are discussed.     

Haematological analysis of calves with bovine neonatal pancytopenia

Blood was obtained from 61 neonatal Holstein calves originating from a farm in Germany with a high incidence of bovine neonatal pancytopenia (BNP). In order to detect alterations that might be related to BNP, selected haematological analytes were determined. Haematological examinations demonstrated alterations in at least two of the three cell lineages in 10 calves (16.39 per cent). Six animals (9.84 per cent) developed a bleeding disorder indicative of BNP at approximately two weeks of age. None of these animals showed alterations in complete blood cell count at sampling in the first week of life. In weeks when calves with BNP were born, an increase in the number of apparently healthy calves demonstrating decreases in blood cell counts was observed.