Role of exogenous phytohormones on growth and plumbagin accumulation in Plumbago indica hairy roots and conservation of elite root clones via synthetic seeds

The present study describes the role of different exogenous hormones on morphology and plumbagin production in Plumbago indica hairy roots. It was also aimed to conserve elite root clones via synthetic seed technology. Insertion of rolB gene in transformed roots was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction followed by southern blot analysis. Hairy roots were treated with single or in combination of different phytohormones viz. IAA, IBA, 2, 4-D, NAA, BAP, GA₃ and ABA. Cultures incubated with GA₃ (0.5 mg l⁻¹) yielded highest root growth due to formation of profuse lateral branching while NAA (0.5 mg l⁻¹) treatment caused highest plumbagin accumulation. Cultures incubated with 2, 4-D exhibited highest inhibitory effect in terms of both root growth and plumbagin production. All phytohormones were found to be effective at lower concentration. In combinatorial study, GA₃ + NAA (0.5 mg l⁻¹, each) was found optimum for root biomass and plumbagin production at earlier stage of culture. Different combinations of auxins and BAP induced different morphologies ranging from reduction of lateral branching to rapid disorganization of root matrix. The combinations of ABA and selected auxins were not found promising at any of selected concentration. Based on the effect of exogenous hormones on hairy root culture, elite root clones were selected and encapsulated with sodium alginate matrix. Uniform shaped alginate coated synthetic seeds were conserved up to 6 months exhibited high regeneration potential without disturbing plumbagin content.     

Reducing Peak Pressures Under the Saddle Panel at the Level of the 10th to 13th Thoracic Vertebrae May Be Associated With Improved Gait Features,Even When Saddles Are Fitted to Published Guidelines

Saddle–horse interaction is increasingly linked with back pain, performance, and welfare issues. Saddle fit and work quality influence alterations in back shape with exercise at thoracic vertebra 13 level (T13) with exercise. The objectives of experiments were to: determine a repeatable zone and stride point of peak pressure under saddles fitted to industry guidelines; compare peak pressure in this zone and limb kinematics in collected trot between horses own saddles (S) and a saddle designed to reduce pressure at T10–T13 (F); compare thoracolumbar width change after exercise between S and F and with F after 3 months use. Elite dressage (n = 13) horses/riders with no lameness/performance problem had pressure mat data acquired under S, fitted by four qualified saddle fitters, to determine zones of peak pressure. Pressure mat data at T10–T13, forelimb/hindlimb protraction, and carpal/tarsal flexion acquired using simultaneous high-speed motion capture, and difference in thoracolumbar dimensions (T8, T18 at 3, 15 cm) between before and after exercise was compared between S and F. Peak pressures were consistently detected axially around T10–T13 (sensors A4–A7, H4–H7). Peak pressures were significantly less with F than S for each cell and pooled (55%–68% difference. P = .01 to <.0001). Saddle F was associated with 13% greater forelimb and 22.7% hindlimb protraction, 3.5° greater carpal and 4.3° tarsal flexion (P = .02 to .0001), and greater increase in thoracolumbar dimensions after exercise (P = .01 to <.0001). Saddles fitted to published guidelines may still have a nonideal interface with horses. Reducing peak pressures around T10–T13 was associated with improved limb kinematics in trot and greater thoracolumbar expansion after exercise.     

A Pressure Algometer Is a Useful Tool to Objectively Monitor the Effect of Diagnostic Palpation by a Physiotherapist in Warmblood Horses

There is a lack of scientific evidence for objective evaluation of neck and back musculoskeletal sensitivity in horses, although pressure algometry has been described as an objective tool to quantify musculoskeletal responses by mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) values. This study aimed to evaluate the use of pressure algometry for objectively quantifying the effect of diagnostic palpation applied by physiotherapists on the musculoskeletal function of the equine neck and back. The inter-examiner repeatability of animal physiotherapists was tested, and their subjective clinical scores for the vertebral column area were objectively compared with MNT values measured at the same locations to investigate the potential clinical implementation of the pressure algometer in daily equine rehabilitation practice. Six adult Dutch Warmblood riding school mares were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. The MNT of all horses was measured on 35 predefined sites on the vertebral column in the morning and in the evening of the same day. In the experimental group (n = 3), neck and back surface “temperature”, “pain”, “muscle tone”, and passive “mobility” were scored through palpation by three certified physiotherapists and related to MNT measurements at the same vertebral column locations. Agreement between the physiotherapists was determined from Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (P < .05). These correlation coefficients showed a significant agreement between the scores of individual physiotherapists and with objective MNT measurements. The three physiotherapists agreed best in their subjective gradings of “pain”, but less for “temperature” and “muscle tone”, and least for “mobility”. There was also a significant difference in MNT between individual horses. The physiotherapeutic diagnostic intervention did not significantly alter the MNT of the experimental group compared with the control group. There was a significant difference, however, between morning (7.4 kg/cm²) and evening (6.9 kg/cm²) MNT-measurements within the combined group (n = 6, P < .05). In conclusion, a pressure algometer proved to be a useful tool to objectively monitor the palpation of individual Warmbloods by individual physiotherapists. The correlation of their scores to the objective MNT measurements elucidated that there were differences on which scale (“pain”, “temperature”, “muscle tone”, “mobility”) they merely relied upon in their palpation. Significant effects of physiotherapeutic diagnostic palpation on MNT, however, were not found. The lower MNT of the horses at the second trial in the evening could be a sensitization of the measurement location because of bruising, a learning effect of the horses, or a diurnal fluctuation. The use of pressure algometry has both a potential to quantify clinical neck and back musculoskeletal sensitivity in horses possibly leading to dysfunction, as well as to objectively evaluate treatment results. Repeated measurements on the same day and on the same location along the vertebral column may influence absolute MNT values. The algometer can be used with success provided that the operator has proper and frequent training.     

Effects of ERK1/2 on pressure overload-induced cardiomyopathy and heart failure in mice

AIM: To explore the changes in extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) in the hypertrophic myocardium induced by pressure overload at the different time courses and to determine the molecular mechanism in the myocardium from hypertrophy to heart failure. METHODS: C57/BL mice, aged 12 week old, were subjected to sham-operation (SH) or transversing aortic constriction (TAC) to establish left ventricular hypertrophy. Echocardiographic assessments, hemodynamic determination, organ weight measurement, morphological and histological examination were performed at 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after surgery. Meanwhile mRNA levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC), bcl-2 and bax were measured by RT-PCR, and ERK1/2 levels were detected by Western blotting. The animals in SH group were performed the same tests then sacrificed at 16 weeks. RESULTS: (1) Compared to SH group, LVESd, LVEDd, Awsth, Awdth, Pwsth and Pwdth progressively increased after TAC. Meanwhile, ejection fraction (EF%) significantly decreased at 16th week (P<0.05). LVSP, dp/dtmax and dp/dtmin in TAC group were progressively increased after 4 weeks. From 8-12 weeks these parameters maintained stable and then sharply decreased at 16th week (all P<0.05). However, LVEDP was statistically increased at 8th week. These echocardiographic and hemodynamic changes indicated a development of LVH and eventually progressing towards to heart failure. (2) Histologically, cardiac collagen measured by percentage of Sirius red positive stained area and apoptosis index showed progressive increases from 4 to 16 weeks. (3) Compared to SH group, mRNA levels of ANP was time-dependently increased while α-MHC and Bcl-2 were time-dependently decreased. The ratio of Bcl-2 /Bax was decreased. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was increased at 4th week, then decreased with age of TAC (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Pressure-overload induced by TAC results in a development of LVH from early concentric hypertrophy to late eccentric hypertrophy, and eventually toward cardiac dysfunction or heart failure. Those changes are associated with increase in cell size and cardiac fibrosis. ERK1/2 signaling pathway may involve in the regulation of myocardial cell apoptosis in hypertrophic and failure heart.     

流量可调燃气发生器压力闭环模糊控制算法

为了改进流量可调燃气发生器的调节精度,引入燃气发生器压力闭环控制,针对流量可调燃气发生器压力闭环控制特点,在压力闭环中引入了模糊积分控制,此控制算法响应速度快,超调量较小,不同工况及长时间工作下系统仍然有较好的动态特性。      

含水量和加工压力对紧压茶成型及品质的影响

本文介绍了一种在茶叶加工过程的最后一道干燥工序前，利用茶叶的自有粘性加工紧压茶的方法。并就茶叶的含水量和加工压力对紧压茶的成型及品质影响进行了分析。     

我国农作区资源节约农作压力空间分布研究

资源节约型农作制是进行农业资源节约、高效利用的农作制度, 将成为我国农业生产中突破资源短缺这一发展瓶颈的有效手段。为明确我国主要农作区的资源特点和节约压力, 选择农业水、耕地、化肥3 种资源为主要研究对象, 根据目前各农作区3 种资源的数量、消耗率、粮食产量水平等指标, 初步计算了各区节水压力、节地压力与节肥压力, 并据此初步推导出各区资源节约农作制的综合压力指数, 研究了资源节约农作制压力的空间分布。结果显示: 我国绝大多数农作区资源节约型农作制压力处于中度以下, 东部各农作区大于西部各农作区, 南方各农作区大于北方各农作区; 节水重点区主要是北方的东北区、黄淮海区、西北区和北部低中高原区, 节地重点区主要是东南部的长江中下游地区、江南地区和华南区, 节肥重点区主要是四川盆地、华南区和江南区。     

Pressure correction to the long-term measurement of carbon dioxide flux

Fluctuations in atmospheric CO₂ density can arise from static pressure fluctuations but their effect on the long-term eddy covariance (EC) CO₂ flux measurement is poorly known. In this paper, we report the results of a 1-year direct measurement of the static pressure fluctuations and the velocity-pressure covariance over a mixed forest in Northeast China. The results show that the pressure-vertical velocity covariance was primarily controlled by friction velocity and air stability. Without the pressure correction, the open-path EC measurement of the nighttime ecosystem respiration was biased low and that of the daytime photosynthetic CO₂ uptake was biased high. Over the 1-year measurement period, the cumulative pressure correction was 40 gCm⁻², which was about 20% of the annual net ecosystem production of this forest. Using the friction velocity data found in the literature, we estimated the magnitudes of the pressure correction for the major ecosystem types in the long-term global EC network (FluxNet).     

橡胶木压差法防腐系统设计方案探讨

本文介绍一种简便的木材防腐系数的设计方案。该系统工作可靠，简单实用，造价低，适用于广东，海南等橡胶林场对橡胶木的防腐处理。     

电场对溶液中脂分子膜相变的影响

本文比较了无电场与有电场两种情况下,溶液中脂分子极性头上的静电压力,认为外场有助于脂膜自凝胶相至液晶相的转变。