Integration of independent component analysis with near infrared spectroscopy for evaluation of rice freshness

The storage time and conditions of rice has an enormous effect on its appearance, flavor, and quality of the nutrients; and the acidity of rice usually increases with prolonged storage. Therefore, evaluation of freshness is an important issue for rice quality. In this study, the NIR (near infrared) spectra combined with independent component analysis (ICA) technique was used to evaluate the rice freshness. A total of 180 white rice samples were collected from 6 crop seasons for the purpose of developing an ICA-NIR based procedure for rice freshness as quantified by pH values. Values of pH were determined by a BTB-MR (bromothymol blue – methyl red) method. The best calibration model of white rice was developed using the smoothed first derivative spectra, five ICs and cross-validation; the results indicated that r² (coefficient of determination) = 0.924, and in units of pH, SEC (standard error of calibration) = 0.145, SEP (standard error of prediction) = 0.146, bias = 0.001, and RPD (residual predictive deviation) = 3.65. Freshness of white rice could be distinguished either visually by a 3-dimensional diagram composed from ICs 2, 3 and 4, or statistically by a calibration model. The results show that ICA with NIR has the potential to be adopted as an effective method for evaluating rice freshness.     

节节麦pbf基因的克隆、序列分析及原核表达

醇溶蛋白盒结合因子(prolamin-box binding factor,PBF)通过调控籽粒蛋白的表达效率进而影响面粉的加工品质。为给深入研究小麦籽粒PBF对籽粒蛋白质表达调控的分子基础提供参考依据,进而为小麦面粉加工品质的改良提供候选基因资源,利用特异引物组合pbfF1/pbf R1分别从两份节节麦(AS90、AS2386)中克隆出pbf基因后进行序列分析,并进一步构建pbf基因的原核表达体系。结果表明,从两份节节麦中克隆得到了2个不同类型的pbf基因(GenBank登录号分别为KJ544771和KJ544772),其中来源于AS2386的KJ544772与来源于普通六倍体小麦的1个pbf基因序列完全相同。推导的氨基酸序列分析表明,KJ544771和KJ544772所编码的蛋白质均为弱碱性的亲水蛋白,具有典型的DOF蛋白结构域。与其他远缘物种来源的PBF比对结果表明,该类蛋白在NLS核心、DOF结构域及Ser铰链区相对保守,而在C-端调控区变异较大,说明PBF蛋白具有种属特异性。同时,系统演化树显示,来源于节节麦AS2386的pbf基因与迄今已知的全部普通小麦的pbf基因具有高度的相似性,因此推测该种类型的节节麦很可能参与了最初的普通六倍体小麦的形成。此外,本研究成功构建了pbf基因的原核表达体系,可为后续功能验证的开展奠定基础。     

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.     

Aaptamine Derivatives with Antifungal and Anti-HIV-1 Activities from the South China Sea Sponge Aaptos aaptos

Five new alkaloids of aaptamine family, compounds (1–5) and three known derivatives (6–8), have been isolated from the South China Sea sponge Aaptos aaptos. The structures of all compounds were unambiguously elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, as well as by comparison with the literature data. Compounds 1–2 are characterized with triazapyrene lactam skeleton, whereas compounds 4–5 share an imidazole-fused aaptamine moiety. These compounds were evaluated in antifungal and anti-HIV-1 assays. Compounds 3, 7, and 8 showed antifungal activity against six fungi, with MIC values in the range of 4 to 64 μg/mL. Compounds 7–8 exhibited anti-HIV-1 activity, with inhibitory rates of 88.0% and 72.3%, respectively, at a concentration of 10 μM.     

Marine Compound Catunaregin Inhibits Angiogenesis through the Modulation of Phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS in vivo and in vitro

Angiogenesis is the formation of blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. Excessive or uncontrolled angiogenesis is a major contributor to many pathological conditions whereas inhibition of aberrant angiogenesis is beneficial to patients with pathological angiogenesis. Catunaregin is a core of novel marine compound isolated from mangrove associate. The potential anti-angiogenesis of catunaregin was investigated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and zebrafish. HUVECs were treated with different concentrations of catunaregin in the presence or absence of VEGF. The angiogenic phenotypes including cell invasion cell migration and tube formation were evaluated following catunaregin treatment in HUVECs. The possible involvement of AKT, eNOS and ERK1/2 in catunaregin-induced anti-angiogenesis was explored using Western blotting. The anti-angiogenesis of catunaregin was further tested in the zebrafish embryo neovascularization and caudal fin regeneration assays. We found that catunaregin dose-dependently inhibited angiogenesis in both HUVECs and zebrafish embryo neovascularization and zebrafish caudal fin regeneration assays. In addition, catunaregin significantly decreased the phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS, but not the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. The present work demonstrates that catunaregin exerts the anti-angiogenic activity at least in part through the regulation of the Akt and eNOS signaling pathways.     

Soil acidification induced by intensive agricultural use depending on climate

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Soil acidification is a major issue in agricultural ecosystems. However, how agricultural land uses shape the soil pH pattern and affect soil acidification on a...     

Soil water content,carbon, and nitrogen determine the abundances of methanogens,methanotrophs, and methane emission in the Zoige alpine wetland

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Alpine wetland ecosystems can contribute large amounts of methane (CH4) to the atmosphere; however, their emissions vary with environmental conditions. Microbial...     

微生物肥料对不同节肥水平下烤烟生长与产质的影响

通过大田随机区组试验研究了10%、20%、30%节肥水平下两种微生物肥料对烤烟生长及产质的影响。结果表明:(1)在团棵期和旺长期,烤烟的农艺性状随着减肥量的增加而降低,在30%节肥水平时,降低较为明显,对烤烟生长的影响较大。到成熟期,金农肥中肥各节肥水平对烤烟的农艺性状均有不同程度的提升,德根贝在10%节肥水平时,烤烟的农艺性状有提升,在20%和30%节肥水平时分别降低10.4%、4.9%。(2)烤烟在3种节肥水平下其经济性状与对照均无显著差异,但不同节肥水平之间存在差异。两种微生物肥料均在20%节肥水平时,烤烟经济性状表现最好。金农肥中肥效果较为明显,显著提高了烤烟上等烟比例、中上等烟比例及均价,且烤烟产值比对照、10%节肥水平、30%节肥水平分别增加12.5%、34.5%、28.2%。     

长沙市建设用地供应与经济社会发展关系定量研究

建设用地供应是一个庞大而又复杂的系统,不仅仅是土地本身的问题,同时还与人口、社会、经济、政治等因素紧密相关。合理的建设用地供应不但能够促进土地集约利用、保护耕地,而且能够改善城乡居民生产生活条件、促进产业结构调整、拉动区域经济发展。基于此认识,根据长沙市1995～2013年统计数据,运用Eviews6.0软件,通过单位根检验、协整检验、Granger因果关系检验探讨建设用地供应与经济社会发展间的相关关系,重点探讨建设用地与GDP、城市化率的关系。结果表明:建设用地供应与GDP之间存在双向因果关系,而与城市化率之间只有单向因果关系。