The role of toll-like receptors in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis

Streptococcus suis is an important agent of swine and human meningitis. Sequence type (ST) 7 emerged in China and was responsible for the human epidemic caused by S. suis in 2005. The virulence of S. suis ST7 is greater than the wild type pathogenic S. suis, ST1; however, the mechanisms for this increased pathogenicity are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of different toll-like receptors (TLRs) involved in regulating the host response to the S. suis infection and to speculate on differing mechanisms used by ST7 strains to induce disease. Here we compared two ST7 strains isolated in the 2005 Sichuan outbreak to two ST1 strains. Our data show TLR2, 6 and 9 are involved in the recognition of heat-killed S. suis independent of the ST type. We found the TLR-dependent cytokine production differed between the two types of strains using whole cell lysate proteins. TLR6 played a greater role in cytokine production induced by the whole cell lysate proteins from the ST7 strain than in that induced by the ST1 strain lysates. The data suggest that mechanisms of inflammation induced by S. suis strains differ where this will be useful in designing efficient strategies in combating streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome caused by the S. suis ST7 strains.     

5HP-25型粮食干燥机设计与试验

为了提高干燥系统的能量利用效率,增强干燥机的通用性、可靠性、作业效率和年利用率,该研究围绕增大干燥动力系数和工艺能力指数,基于粮食的物性特征,从干燥工艺方式、机械结构参数和运动参数间的内在关系入手,把几何因子和运动参数有机结合,揭示了粮食在干燥机内流动特性;按照引风降压,连续闪蒸降温,强化传热传质,自适应排粮的设计思想,研制了一款粮食通用的干燥机,实现了粮食在干燥机内连续流动过程中,自发地改变流态、连续回转换位,强化了传热传质,改善了干燥的均匀性。设计的升角为6°的变截面角状盒,与传统的横流方法相比,可使干燥动力系数增大2～4倍,干燥稻谷时的爆腰增率可控制在1%以内,发芽势提高76%以上,发芽率达到95%;设计往复式差速排粮机构,实现了自适应无损排粮,有效解决了粮食架桥、堵塞问题,避免了粮种的机械损伤。设计的5HP-25型粮食干燥机,实际应用效果显示,在粮食平均干燥强度为1.37～2.70 %/h的条件下,干燥水分单位热耗为2 900～4 300kJ/kg,与国标7 400 kJ/kg相比,降低了单位热耗量。研究结果为实现优质、高效、节能干燥工艺及装备设计提供了参考。     

生物质流化床气化与结渣特性中试试验

为优化生物质流化床气化工艺,该研究在中试规模流化床实验台上进行了成型树皮和成型秸秆的空气气化试验,研究了空气当量比、气化温度与送风温度对成型树皮和成型玉米秸秆气化特性的影响,同时采用电子探针显微分析仪与X射线光谱分析仪对气化过程中结渣的微观结构与成分进行了分析。结果表明：气化效果随着空气当量比增大先升后降,空气当量比较佳值在0.24左右,此工况下树皮与秸秆合成气热值分别为5.66和3.92 MJ/m3,气化效率分别为59.62%与33.92%;气化温度增加促进气化效果提升,气化温度从700 ℃升高至800 ℃,树皮合成气热值与气化效率分别提升了1.01 MJ/m3与14.28%;一次风温度的提升对气化效果无显著影响（P>0.05）,但明显提升了炉膛底部温度,容易导致结渣,不利于设备稳定运行。2种生物质都有明显结渣现象,其表面呈现熔融玻璃状。结渣主要由KAl(SiO3)、K2MgSi5O12等复杂化合物与SiO2组成。导致结渣的原因主要是生物质中K、Mg等碱金属元素在床料中富集,与石英砂床料反应形成低熔点熔融盐;树皮含有较多Ca,气化中形成高熔点的CaSO4进而抑制结渣,而秸秆成灰率高,含有较多的K,导致结渣更为严重。     

Symbiotic N<Subscript>2</Subscript> fixation and nitrate utilisation in irrigated lucerne (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis>) systems

Symbiotic N₂ fixation by lucerne (Medicago sativa) has capacity to provide significant inputs of N to agro-ecosystems, and the species has also been shown to scavenge soil mineral N and thus act as a sink for excess reactive N. The balance between these two N cycle processes was investigated in an extensive irrigated lucerne growing region where nitrate contamination of groundwater has been reported. We sampled 18 permanent pure lucerne stands under irrigation for standing dry matter, total shoot N, and N₂ fixation using ¹⁵N natural abundance along with activity of the inducible enzyme nitrate reductase as indicators of use of soil NO₃⁻ by lucerne. On average 65% of lucerne N was obtained from symbiotic N₂ fixation. Converting standing dry matter estimates to annual N₂ fixation amounts we calculated average N₂ fixation of 311 kg N/ha, including N in roots and nodules. Uptake of N from soil by lucerne was calculated to be 181 kg N/ha/year. We were not able to identify the source of this soil mineral N, although nitrate reductase activity of lucerne was higher than that of non-N₂ fixing species examined.     

广东省海丰县现代林业建设的几点建议

现代林业是当前林业建设的重点,建设现代林业就是要极力构建效益显著的生态体系、充满活力的产业和富有感染力的生态文化体系,不断满足人民群众对林业提供生态产品和物质产品等多样性的需求。就所在地区林业建设实际,立足现代林业建设理念,着眼建设人与自然和谐共处的宜居宜业环境,对现代林业发展模式进行有益的探求。