The carboxyterminal processing protease of D1 protein: Herbicidal activity of novel inhibitors of the recombinant and native spinach enzymes

The carboxyterminal processing protease of D1 protein (CtpA) is predicted to be an excellent target for the discovery of a general broad-spectrum herbicide. Directed and random screening of compounds against recombinant spinach CtpA (rCtpA) has led to the discovery of five different chemical classes of inhibitors. Lead compounds from each inhibitor class were investigated for their in vitro effects on the activities of both recombinant and native spinach CtpA. All of the lead compounds have K_i values of less than 50 μM when tested against rCtpA, and all except one showed competitive inhibition. Results from partially purified native CtpA from spinach were similar to those from the recombinant form of the enzyme, thus validating the use of rCtpA in the inhibitor screen. Compounds from three of the classes of CtpA inhibitors show in vivo herbicidal activity against Arabidopsis thaliana when applied either by addition to growth media or by spraying the leaves. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants which over-express CtpA showed greater resistance to the compounds than wild-type plants providing evidence that these inhibitors are directly acting against CtpA.     

Forest School and its impacts on young children: Case studies in Britain

As Forest School has become more widespread throughout Britain an understanding is needed of its impact. This paper outlines a two-phase evaluation project undertaken in Wales and England from 2002 to 2005. The evaluation was undertaken through a partnership between Forest Research and the New Economics Foundation. A methodology was developed to explore the impacts of Forest School on children and this was then used to track changes in 24 children at three case study areas over an 8-month period. The research highlights that children can benefit in a range of ways. Six themes emerged from the data of the positive impacts on children in terms of confidence, social skills, language and communication, motivation and concentration, physical skills and knowledge and understanding. Two further themes highlight the wider impacts of Forest School on teachers, parents, and the extended family. Contact with the natural environment can be limited for children and young people in contemporary society due to concerns about safety outdoors and issues of risk and liability. Forest School provides an important opportunity for children to gain access to and become familiar with woodlands on a regular basis, while learning academic and practical skills. The constructivist theory of learning seems to be particularly suited to the Forest School approach as children make meaning from their direct experiences. The participatory action research approach taken in this study promoted reflective practice amongst the stakeholders involved and provided them with a sense of ownership of the study, as well as an opportunity to learn from each other.     

Is dose‐splitting of graminicides as effective as a single application?

Dose‐splitting or reduced dose repeat application, i.e. the application of a herbicide twice to the same plant, is likely to become a more common scenario in future, if farmers adopt the use of novel techniques for prediction of herbicide efficacy shortly after application. Fourteen pot experiments were conducted to study whether graminicides applied to annual grass weeds as dose‐splitting treatments were as effective as single applications. The influence of time interval between applications and the ratio of the doses of the two applications were studied. Two statistical approaches were applied: comparison of the ED₉₀ of the single treatments and a joint action model. The study revealed that flupyrsulfuron, iodosulfuron, sulfosulfuron, clodinafop and glyphosate could be applied as repeat treatments with up to 14 days’ interval between the two applications without loss of activity. In some experiments, particularly with iodosulfuron, dose‐splitting enhanced herbicide performance. By contrast, prosulfocarb responded adversely, most likely due to the pronounced impact of weed growth stage on the activity of this herbicide. The ratio of the doses and the timing between the two applications had no significant influence on herbicide responses. The results of the present studies showed that even if a reduced dose of a graminicide results in an unsatisfactory control and it is necessary to re‐spray, the overall use of herbicide will not increase, if methods are available that can predict the efficacy of a herbicide application within the first 1–2 weeks after application.     

二甲苯胺噻唑神经药理作用的研究

本实验对二甲苯胺噻唑(静松灵)的镇静、镇痛、肌松、安定和抗惊厥等中枢抑制作用进行了较为系统的研究;观察了该药对大鼠自发性脑电变化的影响;对该药的作用机理作了初步探讨。结果:(1)二甲苯胺噻唑具有良好的镇静、镇痛和松肌作用,较大剂量有一定的安定作用,但安全性差;(2)对戍四氮、士的宁和苦味毒所致惊厥反应无对抗作用;(3)对神经于神经冲动的传导具有阻断效应,(4)可诱导大鼠脑电出现高幅慢波,惊醒反应消失,妥拉苏林和育亨宾对此有拮抗作用;(5)妥拉苏林和育亨宾对二甲苯胺噻唑制动大有催醒作用,且可缓解该药的中毒反应。结果提示,中枢性α_2—肾上腺素能受体参与了二甲苯胺噻唑中枢抑制作用的产生过程。     

生防细菌防治土传病害的研究进展

介绍了土传病害危害程度及生防细菌的种类、作用机制、防治土传病害的研究概况,提出了目前利用生防细菌防治土传病害存在的问题及应用前景。     

基于网络药理学探讨中药复方治疗奶牛子宫内膜炎的作用机制

【目的】 通过网络药理学对丹参、益母草、黄芩、连翘组成的中药复方进行分析,研究其有效成分治疗奶牛子宫内膜炎的潜在作用靶点,并对靶点作用通路的机制进行阐述。【方法】 利用TCMSP数据库筛选药物成分作用靶点,通过NCBI、GeneCard、geneMap、TTD、DrugBank查找奶牛子宫内膜炎的相关靶点,筛选出药物成分靶点与奶牛子宫内膜炎相关靶点的共有基因靶点,作为该中药复方治疗奶牛子宫内膜炎的预测靶点,并上传到STRING数据库建立蛋白互作(PPI)网络,通过Cytoscape 3.8.2软件根据连接度对PPI网络进行筛选,找到其核心靶点。运用Metascape数据库对核心靶点进行GO功能与KEGG通路富集分析。【结果】 从该中药复方中筛出有效活性成分133种,主要包括槲皮素、山奈酚、黄芩素、丹参酮ⅡA等,通过药物成分找到对应靶点蛋白292个,通过数据库找到奶牛子宫内膜炎的相关靶点130个,筛出中药复方治疗奶牛子宫内膜炎的预测靶点24个,其中核心靶点7个,包括肿瘤坏死因子、蛋白激酶、前列腺素内过氧化物合酶2等。GO功能富集分析得到生物过程20个条目、分子功能6个条目及细胞组分6个条目,生物过程包括脂多糖的反应、白细胞-细胞黏附的正向调节、对无机物的反应等;分子功能包括信号受体活性调节、转录辅激活子的结合、血红素结合等;细胞组分包括细胞膜筏、薄膜侧面、颗粒分泌腔等。KEGG通路富集分析涉及20个基因,参与调控的通路有9条,其中涉及基因较多的包括AGE-RAGE信号通路、癌症蛋白聚糖通路、血流剪切应力与动脉粥样硬化通路及Th17细胞分化通路。【结论】 该中药复方可能是通过调控肿瘤坏死因子、蛋白激酶、前列腺素内过氧化物合酶2等靶点,通过参与AGE-RAGE信号通路及Th17细胞的分化对奶牛子宫内膜炎产生治疗作用。     

纳米银体外抗猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒的作用研究

【目的】 研究纳米银（silver nanoparticles,AgNPs）体外抗猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV）的作用,并初步分析其抗病毒作用机制,为PRRSV的防控提供新思路。【方法】 使用0.1875、0.375、0.75、1.5、3、6、12 μg/mL AgNPs处理Marc145细胞,采用CCK-8试剂盒评估AgNPs对Marc145细胞毒性,确定其安全浓度。通过显微观察、间接免疫荧光试验、病毒滴度测定、实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法评估AgNPs体外抗PRRSV感染Marc145细胞的效果。通过间接免疫荧光试验和实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法评估AgNPs对PRRSV的直接灭活效果。通过实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法分析AgNPs对不同感染复数（multiplicity of infection,MOI） PRRSV （0.0001~0.1）黏附和入侵Marc145细胞的影响,以及PRRSV感染Marc145细胞3、6、12、18和24 h后加入AgNPs对Marc145细胞增殖的影响。【结果】 AgNPs对Marc145细胞的最大安全浓度为1.5 μg/mL,0.375、0.75、1.5 μg/mL AgNPs均具有良好的体外抗PRRSV活性,0.375、0.75、1.5 μg/mL AgNPs均对PRRSV起一定灭活作用。AgNPs对不同MOI的毒株黏附和入侵Marc145细胞均有一定抑制作用,且不同时间（3、6、12、18、24 h）加入AgNPs对PRRSV增殖均有一定抑制作用。【结论】 AgNPs具有良好的体外抗PRRSV活性,体外抗PRRSV的作用机制包括直接灭活以及抑制病毒的黏附、入侵和增殖过程。     

四种植物提取物对斜纹夜蛾卵的毒杀效果

以斜纹夜蛾卵为研究对象．对雷公藤Tripter gium wilfordii茎、皂荚Gleditsia sinensis Lam．刺、苦参Sophora flavescens和博落茴Macleya cordata等4种植物材料的正已烷及乙酸乙酯提取物的杀卵活性进行了测定。结果表明：博落茴的乙酸乙酯提取物对斜纹夜蛾卵有较好的杀伤力,校正未孵化率高达95．63%;雷公藤的乙酸乙酯提取物和苦参的正已烷提取物对斜纹夜蛾卵的孵化也有明显的抑制作用。     

竹炭导电率及高导电率竹炭制备工艺研究

通过对竹炭炭化过程的研究，得出炭化温度，炭化时间是影响石墨化和导电性能的重要因素。实验测定了不同炭化时间与炭化温度下的体积电阻率，含水率和产率，提出了以干馏的方法获取普通的竹炭原料，并通过二次加工制备高导电率竹炭的方法及工艺。     

Refugee impact on collective management of forest resources: a case study of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal's Eastern Terai region

This article analyzes the relationship between forest resources, refugees, and the host population. The findings of the research suggest that the host population are heavily dependent on the local forest for their daily needs such as fuelwood, timber, grazing area, fodder for domestic animals, foods, and medicine in addition to cultural and esthetic needs. The forest has also been relied upon for agricultural needs such as manufacture of agricultural tools, maintenance of irrigation water systems, erosion control, and fertilizer needs. The forest was under a sustained demand as any other Terai forest of Nepal. After the arrival of refugees in 1992, the demand for forest resources increased substantially. Initially, the construction of the refugee camps decreased the total forest area and also required some felling of trees. More significantly, the refugees themselves became active users of the forest resource, which generated extra pressure on the forest and created scarcity of forest resources. Before the arrival of the refugees, forest management and monitoring of illegal use of the forest resources were carried out by the government through its local forester office. The local residents were active users of the forest resources, but were passive in managing and maintaining the forest resource. However, competition from the refugees instilled a desire in the local population to safeguard and protect the dwindling resource against the external threat by creating the Humse Dumse Community Forest.