Collaborative non-self recognition system in S-RNase-based self-incompatibility

Self-incompatibility in flowering plants prevents inbreeding and promotes outcrossing to generate genetic diversity. In Solanaceae, a multiallelic gene, S-locus F-box (SLF), was previously shown to encode the pollen determinant in self-incompatibility. It was postulated that an SLF allelic product specifically detoxifies its non-self S-ribonucleases (S-RNases), allelic products of the pistil determinant, inside pollen tubes via the ubiquitin-26S-proteasome system, thereby allowing compatible pollinations. However, it remained puzzling how SLF, with much lower allelic sequence diversity than S-RNase, might have the capacity to recognize a large repertoire of non-self S-RNases. We used in vivo functional assays and protein interaction assays to show that in Petunia, at least three types of divergent SLF proteins function as the pollen determinant, each recognizing a subset of non-self S-RNases. Our findings reveal a collaborative non-self recognition system in plants.     

Self-organizing map network for automatically recognizing color texture fabric nature

The method of recognizing color texture brought forth in the present study is to employ unsupervised learning network to automatically recognize the fabric type and the main texture types. Firstly, the color scanner is adopted to extract fabric image which is afterwards saved as the digital image. Secondly,CIE-Lab color model is taken to obtain the feature value and wavelet transform is utilized to display the texture of the fabric image. Thirdly, co-occurrence matrix is employed to figure out the feature values of the texture structure such as angular second moment, entropy, homogeneity, contrast. Finally, self-organizing map (SOM) network is used as the classifier. The experiment result shows that the study can automatically and accurately classify the fabric types (including shuttle-woven fabric, jersey fabric and non-woven fabric) and main texture type of the fabric (such as plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, single jersey, double jersey and non-woven fabric).     

Purification and characterization of a novel extracellular tripeptidyl peptidase from Rhizopus oligosporus

A novel extracellular tripeptidyl peptidase (TPP) was homogenously purified from the culture supernatant of Rhizopus oligosporus by sequential fast protein liquid chromatography. The purified enzyme was a 136.5 kDa dimer composed of identical subunits. The effects of inhibitors and metal ions indicated that TPP is a metallo- and serine protease. TPP was activated by divalent cations, such as Co(2+) and Mn(2+), and completely inhibited by Cu(2+). Enzyme activity was optimal at pH 7.0 and 45 °C with a specific activity of 281.9 units/mg for the substrate Ala-Ala-Phe-pNA. The purified enzyme catalyzed cleavage of various synthetic tripeptides but not when proline occupied the P1 position. Purified TPP cleaved the pentapeptide Ala-Ala-Phe-Tyr-Tyr and tripeptide Ala-Ala-Phe, confirming the TPP activity of the enzyme.     

Using Seven Types of GM (1, 1) Model to Forecast Hourly Particulate Matter Concentration in Banciao City of Taiwan

In this study, seven types of first-order and one-variable grey differential equation model (abbreviated as GM (1, 1) model) were used to predict hourly particulate matter (PM) including PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations in Banciao City of Taiwan. Their prediction performance was also compared. The results indicated that the minimum mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and maximum correlation coefficient (R) was 14.10%, 25.62, 5.06, and 0.96, respectively, when predicting PM₁₀. When predicting PM_2.5, the minimum MAPE, MSE, RMSE, and maximum R value of 15.24%, 11.57, 3.40, and 0.93, respectively, could be achieved. All statistical values revealed that the predicting performance of GM (1, 1, x ⁽⁰⁾), GM (1, 1, a), and GM (1, 1, b) outperformed other GM (1, 1) models. According to the results, it revealed that GM (1, 1) GM (1, 1) was an efficiently early warning tool for providing PM information to the inhabitants.     

台湾西南部优势竹类箣竹根力之研究

箣竹为台湾西南部泥岩地区早期主要造林树种,约占该地区绿蔽率之80%,形成极优势之植物。近年来因竹材价格低落,竹林之经营管理减少,其更新造林及其对坡面之保育功能之评价渐受重视。因此本研究为针对箣竹其根力特性,特进行根系与根域范围调查、根段拉力与植株引拔试验等,推估其坡面保育功效。研究结果为箣竹之根段拉力强度(Y)与其直径(X)成指数正相关,而箣竹之引拔抗力(F)与其胸高直径(D)成指数正相关。     

人CD14信号肽介导卵清蛋白在HEK293T细胞的高效表达

本试验将人CD14信号肽序列与卵清蛋白（ovalbumin,OVA）基因融合,旨在提高OVA在非输卵管上皮细胞中的表达。提取鸡输卵管上皮细胞总RNA,经反转录合成的cDNA,再利用修饰的特异性引物,通过PCR从cDNA中分别扩增出5’端与人CD14信号肽序列融合和非融合的OVA基因,并将它们分别插入到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1A中,构建成表达载体pcDNA-CD14sp-OVA和pcDNA-OVA。经磷酸钙介导,将质粒转染至HEK293T细胞,使其进行表达,用鼠抗OVA单克隆抗体通过免疫印迹（Western blot）法检测OVA表达水平。结果表明:本试验扩增的OVA基因序列与GenBank中的序列（登录号NM₂05152）一致,构建的人CD14信号肽序列融合OVA基因的表达载体结构正确。经过在HEK293T细胞的表达,融合人CD14信号肽序列的重组蛋白OVA的表达水平明显得到提高。结果提示,融合人CD14信号肽序列后的重组蛋白OVA在非输卵管上皮细胞中的表达水平明显提高,为OVA基因作为DNA疫苗模式抗原的应用提供了必要的条件。     

松苗立枯病的研究Ⅰ、分布损失、征状类型、病原、和栽培影响

松苗立枯病是东北地区针叶树育苗上的重要问题,其中以落叶松、樟子松、和红松等幼苗发病较重,油松和赤松等幼苗发病为轻。幼苗发病征状有土内腐死、猝倒、立枯、地上腐烂、和一、二年生大苗发生枯萎落叶等五个类型。诱致松苗发生侵染性立枯病的病菌,有 Rhizoctonia、Pythium 和 Fusarium等三种菌类,其中 Rhizoctonia 尤为主要。松苗立枯病发生的轻重与育苗措施有密切关系,地势低洼或位于山脚下坡的苗圃或苗床,一般发病较重。种子经雪藏混砂催芽处理后,能提早种子萌芽、出土和齐苗,有降低发病程度的作用。光照多少对幼苗发病有影响。根据苗圃的调查观察,全光育苗发病率低,遮蔭育苗发病率高;但在沈阳试验结果还不能证实这一点,相反的半遮蔭育苗要好些。     

广州地区豌豆黄顶病和武汉地区蚕豆黄顶病的病原病毒初步鉴定

广州地区豌豆黃顶病每年在11月开始发生,发病率一般很低,但个別田块可达50％以上。病株頂部叶片黄化,縮小,皺縮卷曲,叶质脆,植株矮縮,不开花結莢,最后发生丛枝現象,植株很快枯死。武汉地区蚕豆黄頂病每年在苗期(11月)开始发生,发病率約1—5％,翌年4、5月流行,发病率輕的为5—10％,重的达80—100％。症状和广州地区的豌豆黄頂病基本相同。     

Biochemical analysis of uterine fluid for identification of indicators for subclinical endometritis in the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Alterations in biochemical constituents of uterine fluid have been suggested for diagnosis of subclinical uterine infection in the bovine. This study was undertaken to investigate whether uterine fluid biomolecules could act as tool for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in the buffalo. Uterine fluid samples from normal (n = 22) and subclinical endometritis (n = 18; diagnosed based on uterine cytology)‐affected buffaloes were subjected to biochemical analysis. Among the different biochemical constituents estimated, urea, urea N, cholesterol, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in uterine fluid obtained from subclinical endometritis‐affected buffaloes. The extent of difference between normal and subclinical endometritis‐affected buffaloes was highest in ALP (69%) followed by cholesterol (55%), bilirubin (48%), urea (30%) and urea N (30%) concentrations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the likelihood ratio (LR) was 3.63 for urea, indicating that buffaloes having less than the threshold concentration (47.5 mg/dl) of urea in their uterine fluid were at 3.6 times more risk to be affected with SE. The LRs for urea N, cholesterol, ALP and bilirubin were 2.33, 2.54, 2.12 and 1.65, respectively. It was concluded that ALP, urea, urea N and cholesterol concentrations in uterine fluid may serve as an aid for diagnosing subclinical endometritis in the buffalo.     

Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of Zinc Gluconate Associated with Dimethyl Sulphoxide for Sexually Mature Canine Males Chemical Neutering

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of zinc gluconate associated with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) for chemical neutering in canine males. Fifteen sexually mature male dogs were divided in two groups, named control and treated. An injection was administered to both testicles, at a concentration of 26.2 mg zinc gluconate per ml and 0.5% DMSO in the treated group (11 dogs). The control group was given injections of saline solution (four dogs). Clinical examination and blood collection for a haemogram were done both before and after drug injection. There were 12 spermograms performed to analyse sperm motility, sperm vigour, ejaculate volume, testicle size, pathology and sperm concentrations. Libido was also measured. An ultrasound examination and histopathology were performed at the end of the experiment. Dogs’ libido after chemical injection was reduced by over 50%. The spermogram analysis showed final mean results of 14.54% for sperm motility, 0.72 of sperm vigour and 37 150 per million spermatozoa per millilitre, values considered below the necessary levels at which fertilization can occur. Ultrasound and histopathology analyses of testicles for the treated group revealed more intense injuries when compared with the control group, with compromised testicular parenchyma and a decrease of germ cell number leading to total atrophy, indicating that the treatment reduced the fertilizing potential of male dogs, promoting a possible subfertile status.