Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Cembranoids from a South China Sea Soft Coral,Lobophytum sp

Chemical examination of a South China Sea soft coral Lobophytum sp. led to the isolation of three new α-methylene-γ-lactone-containing cembranoids, (1R*,3R*,4R*,14R*,7E,11E)-3,4-epoxycembra-7,11,15(17)-trien-16,14-olide (1), (1R*,7S*,14S*,3E,11E)-7-hydroperoxycembra-3,8(19),11,15(17)-tetraen-16,14-olide (2), and (1R*,7S*,14S*,3E,11E)-18-acetoxy-7-hydroperoxycembra-3,8(19),11,15(17)-tetraen-16,14-olide (3), along with eleven known analogues 4–14. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR data. Compounds 1–3 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against the selected tumor cell lines. Moreover, 2 and 3 were found to be moderate inhibitors against the bacteria S. aureus and S. pneumoniae.     

No Promoting Effect of Ethyl Tertiary-butyl Ether (ETBE) on Rat Urinary Bladder Carcinogenesis Initiated with N-Butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine

The effects of ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) on two-stage urinary bladder carcinogenesis in male F344 rats initiated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) were investigated at various dose levels with regard to possible promoting activity. Groups of 30 rats were given drinking water containing 500 ppm BBN, as an initiator, for 4 weeks and starting one week thereafter received ETBE by gavage (daily, 7 days/week) at dose levels of 0 (control), 100, 300, 500 or 1000 mg/kg/day until experimental week 36. No statistically significant differences in incidences of preneoplastic lesions, papillomas, and carcinomas of the urinary bladder were evident in rats treated with 100–1000 mg/kg/day ETBE as compared with control values. Furthermore, the average numbers of preneoplastic or neoplastic lesions per unit length of basement membrane in rats given 100–1000 mg/kg/day ETBE were also comparable to control values. However, papillomatosis of the urinary bladder was found in 4 out of 30 rats (13%) in the group given 1000 mg/kg/day ETBE, and soft stones in the urinary bladder were found in 3 out of these 4 rats. The results thus demonstrated that ETBE did not exert promotional activity on urinary bladder carcinogenesis. However, papillomatosis of the urinary bladder developed in small numbers of the rats given ETBE at 1000 mg/kg/day but not in rats given 500 mg/kg/day or lower doses.     

Experiments on triaxial mechanical properties of soft coal containing gas

Taking briquette specimens composed by soft coal with outbursting trends as research object, systematic research of the influence on triaxial mechanical properties of soft coal containing gas caused by confining pressure and gas pressure is done. The results show that confining pressure can significantly affect mechanical properties of soft coal containing gas, the compression phase of soft coal containing gas is obvious and the triaxial strength is increased gradually as confining pressure is increased; the influence on elastic modulus and shape of stress-strain curve is not obvious. The triaxial strength of soft coal containing gas shows decrease trend as gas pressure is increased; the influence on strength of soft coal containing gas caused by gas pressure is obvious when the confining pressure is smaller, but it is not obvious when the confining pressure is bigger. the influence caused by gas pressure on elastic modulus and deformation of yield step is not obvious; gas pressure has not only obvious mechanical effects,but also have chemical action on soft coal containing gas; stress-strain curve of soft coal containing gas can be expressed by conic, the influence caused by gas pressure can be considered as equivalent confining pressure effects.     

不同树龄油茶林分中土壤养分的变化特征及对细根生物量的影响

以岑溪软枝油茶(Cenxi soft branch Camellia oleifera)无性系林分为研究对象,分析幼龄期(2年生)、结果初期(5年生)和盛产期(8年生) 3种林分中土壤养分的变化特征及对细根生物量的影响。结果表明:3种油茶林分中土壤养分总量差异显著,2年生油茶林分中有机质和水解性氮含量最高,5年油茶林分中有效磷含量最高,8年生油茶林分中速效钾含量最高。水平方向上,4种土壤养分在不同林地中分布较为均匀;垂直方向上,4种养分主要分布在土壤中上层0～30 cm处,整体上元素含量随着土层深度的加深而减少。偏相关分析表明:水解性氮对细根生物量的作用主要表现在40～60 cm土层;有效磷细根生物量的影响主要体现在10～40 cm土层,表现为不同程度的正相关性;速效钾对细根生物量的影响主要体现在10～20 cm土层中,表现为显著的负相关。有机质和有效磷与细根生物量呈极显著相关。     

文心兰miR168分子进化特性及其对软腐病侵染的响应模式

【目的】探究文心兰miR168的分子进化特性,揭示文心兰miR168a及其候选靶基因响应软腐病菌侵染的表达模式。【方法】以文心兰miRNA文库、转录组数据库及miRbase数据库获取的植物miR168前体和成熟体序列为研究对象,利用生物信息学方法对其进行系统进化树构建、保守性分析、前体二级结构分析及靶基因预测;通过PCR技术克隆文心兰miR168a前体,采用qRT-PCR技术分析miR168a及其候选靶基因在文心兰不同组织（根、叶、假鳞茎）和感染软腐病（0,12,24,36和48 h）不同时间的表达模式。【结果】植物miR168序列保守性较高,来源于miR168前体的5p臂保守性高于3p臂,miR168前体分歧较大,茎序列的保守性高于环序列;从文心兰中克隆得到93 bp miR168a前体序列,包含21 nt miR168a成熟体序列。进化分析表明,物种亲缘关系对其前体和成熟体序列的形成影响较小;二级结构显示,文心兰miR168a前体能形成典型的发卡结构,其成熟体位于前体的5p臂;随着软腐病侵染时间延长,文心兰miR168a与其候选靶标RNA剪切复合体核心蛋白（AGO1）、RPM1互作蛋白（RIN4）、羧酸酯酶（CXE8）的表达趋势基本呈负相关,而与其候选靶标RNA解旋酶（PRH47A）、泛素羧基末端水解酶（UCH）的表达趋势呈正相关,说明可能存在其他miR168家族成员或miRNAs同时调控。【结论】文心兰miR168与其他植物miR168进化上兼具保守性和特异性,miR168a上调表达可能会增强文心兰的抗病性。     

针叶樱桃软糖的研制

以针叶樱桃粉为主要原料,通过正交试验确定软糖的最佳配方。结果表明,针叶樱桃软糖的最佳配方为针叶樱桃粉用量5 g,白砂糖用量35 g,麦芽糖浆用量50 g,柠檬酸用量0.6 g,明胶用量9 g,果胶用量0.5 g。在最佳工艺配方条件下,得到的产品糖体饱满、表面光滑细腻、软硬适中,具有针叶樱桃特有的风味。     

ZD制剂对马肢蹄软组织损伤部位肌组织形态及VEGF和bFGF表达的影响

ZD制剂为治疗马非开放性软组织损伤的经典验方,为探索其作用机制,通过建立马前肢急性软组织损伤模型,对其进行组织形态学观察,评价ZD制剂对马急性软组织损伤的作用效果,采用免疫组织化学方法检测ZD制剂对VEGF、bFGF在肌肉中表达的影响。用20匹蒙古马随机分为4组,选取左前肢肩部臂部肌肉,制造急性软组织损伤模型。于造模前、后用取样器进行组织取样,制作成石蜡切片,观察其形态学变化,用免疫组织化学方法对阳性细胞分析VEGF、bFGF的表达。结果表明,试验药物组在损伤后的修复能力优于阳性药物组和阴性对照组。表明ZD制剂可通过促进成纤维细胞、毛细血管新生和肌细胞的生成来进行组织的修复再生,试验药物组在损伤后VEGF、bFGF的表达优于阴性对照组和阳性药物组,ZD制剂可能通过提高VEGF、bFGF的表达进行损伤的修复。     

Effects of particle size on the quality attributes of reconstituted whole-wheat flour and tortillas made from it

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of whole-wheat flour (WWF) particle size on the quality attributes of WWF tortillas. WWF samples of different particle size distributions from commercial U.S. hard white (median diameters: 175.7, 128.6, 120.0, 108.5 and 102.4 μm), hard red winter (median diameters: 173.7, 133.6, 124.3, 110.8 and 104.2 μm) and hard red spring (median diameters: 173.7, 132.1, 124.7, 112.9, 106.3 μm) wheat classes were obtained by fine grinding of bran and shorts and re-combining with the rest of fractions. For all three wheat classes, as WWF median particle size decreased, the L* (lightness) value decreased but the adjusted damaged starch, polyphenol oxidase activity, and a* and b* values increased. Mixolab data showed that development time decreased as WWF particle size was reduced, while stability time and starch retrogradation increased. As for WWF tortilla quality, the breaking force and extensibility increased with decreasing particle size from ∼175 to 129–134 μm, but diameter and thickness were not significantly affected. The results indicated that reducing the median particle sizes of WWFs from ∼175 μm to ∼130 μm would significantly improve the WWF tortilla quality.     

Soft tissue sarcomas in the pharyngeal region of a 5‐year‐old Quarter Horse mare

This case report describes the identification of multiple soft tissue sarcomas in the pharyngeal region of a 5‐year‐old Quarter Horse mare. Diagnostic work‐up included physical examination, radiography, ultrasonography, endoscopic examination of upper airways and guttural pouch, and post mortem examination with histopathology. Humane euthanasia was indicated due to the chronicity of the condition, prognosis and financial constraints.     

Case series: Persistent dorsal displacement of the soft palate in eight horses

Persistent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (pDDSP) is a relatively rare equine disorder. This case series reports histories and clinical findings in 8 cases of pDDSP, and outcome after treatment of concurrent epiglottic entrapment (n = 3), laryngeal tie‐forward (n = 6) ± laser staphylectomy (n = 2), and/or sectioning of mucosa ventral to the epiglottis and the hyoepiglotticus muscles (n = 2). Four of 6 horses that underwent tie‐forward ± laser staphylectomy had complete resolution of pDDSP and returned to their previous level of work, as did one horse that had a subepiglottic releasing incision. Correction of concurrent epiglottic entrapment in 3 horses with pDDSP did not result in resolution of pDDSP in any case. Previous laryngeal surgery including laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy appear to be risk factors for the development of pDDSP.