Sinapate dehydrodimers and sinapate-ferulate heterodimers in cereal dietary fiber

Two 8-8-coupled sinapic acid dehydrodimers and at least three sinapate-ferulate heterodimers have been identified as saponification products from different insoluble and soluble cereal grain dietary fibers. The two 8-8-disinapates were authenticated by comparison of their GC retention times and mass spectra with authentic dehydrodimers synthesized from methyl or ethyl sinapate using two different single-electron metal oxidant systems. The highest amounts (481 microg/g) were found in wild rice insoluble dietary fiber. Model reactions showed that it is unlikely that the dehydrodisinapates detected are artifacts formed from free sinapic acid during the saponification procedure. The dehydrodisinapates presumably derive from radical coupling of sinapate-polymer esters in the cell wall; the radical coupling origin is further confirmed by finding 8-8 and 8-5 (and possibly 8-O-4) sinapate-ferulate cross-products. Sinapates therefore appear to have an analogous role to ferulates in cross-linking polysaccharides in cereal grains and presumably grass cell walls in general.     

Vulnerability of Community-Based Forest Management to Climate Variability and Extremes: Emerging Insights on the Contribution of REDD+

Climate change spurs havoc on social-ecological system. People and places vulnerable to climate change have been the focus of many discussions. However, in the forestry sector, limited studies have been conducted that link human vulnerability to recent initiatives, such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation or REDD+, especially in highly vulnerable countries. Using case studies from the Philippines, this paper focuses on the vulnerability of two community-based forest management (CBFM) organizations, with and without REDD+ readiness intervention, to show the impacts of climate variability and extremes. Two balance-weighted approaches, the livelihood vulnerability index and the IPCC-framework, were used in the vulnerability assessments. Results revealed high vulnerability of both CBFM organizations, although Malitbog Upland Developers for Sustainable Association (MUDSA) livelihood vulnerability is largely aggravated by its exposure to disaster, climate variability and extremes, accessibility to health facilities and water supply. The long history of CBFM implementation in both organizations have minimal contribution in enhancing the adaptive capacity of members to cope with and adapt to climate change impacts. REDD+ (readiness), does not insure reduced vulnerability to climate change, unless sustainable livelihood is achieved. As the State controls forest resources, the rights of CBFM-organizations to commercially benefit from these resources are limited, a disincentive to the development of new and viable development programs in CBFM areas, such as REDD+. This also constrains the achievement of climate resiliency.     

Protection vs. commercial management: Spatial and temporal analysis of land cover changes in the tropical forests of Central India

Tropical forests worldwide are undergoing rapid changes due to increasing human populations and varied land use practices. In an effort to protect these forests and their species, the number of protected areas has increased exponentially in recent decades. Clearly protected areas play a crucial role in conservation efforts and this strategy has been found to be successful in several studies. However, protected areas are often embedded within a matrix of other land cover types, including non-protected forests, agricultural fields, or urban areas. It is therefore critical for park management to think beyond the borders of their protected areas and work to maintain ecological integrity of the surrounding matrix and the connectivity between protected areas. This study integrates remote sensing, GIS and field observations to examine the effects of different management strategies on land cover changes. As a case study we examine a tiger reserve in Central India which is surrounded by commercially managed forests, representative of many protected areas throughout India. Findings of this study show that while protected areas play an important role in conservation, alternative approaches including favorable management policies could also be effective to extend conservation over larger areas.     

A phenetic analysis and lateral key of the genus Lolium (Gramineae)

88 herbarium specimens of the genus Lolium were scored for 22 characters, comprising 7 vegetative, 8 inflorescence and 7 seed characters. The aim was to review the species relationship and to produce a lateral key to the genus. The data were analysed using principal components analysis, discriminant function analysis and cluster analysis. All analyses separated L. perenne, L. multiflorum and L. temulentum from each other. The 2 varieties of L. rigidum showed varying degrees of separation from each other and from L. multiflorum. Their distinction as a species and as 2 varieties is discussed. L. perenne and L. rigidum were shown to contain the greatest similarity between species and L. temulentum was found to be the most distinct. A lateral key is proposed that separates the species on the basis of 11 morphological characters that are easily scored in the field.     

Chemical Characterization and Release of Polyphenols from Pecan Nut Shell [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carya illinoinensis</Emphasis> (Wangenh) C. Koch] in Zein Microparticles for Bioactive Applications

The pecan nut [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh) C. Koch] is a natural source of polyphenols with antioxidant properties. In this study, the encapsulation of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of pecan nut shell were evaluated for the release of bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential in order to explore food applications using zein as encapsulating agent. The extracts showed high contents of total phenolics, condensed tannins and high antioxidant activity. Concentrations of proanthocyanidins were 9-fold higher in hydroalcoholic extracts. The LC-DAD analysis showed that catechins were the major phenolic compounds in samples, with epigallocatechin levels up to 138.62 mg mL^?1. Zein microparticles loaded with aqueous extract released 2.3 times more phenolic compounds than the hydroalcoholic extracts and the DSC thermograms showed that extracts of pecan nut shell remained thermally stable up to 240 °C. The zein microcapsules obtained in this study were efficiently encapsulated and represent an interesting additive due its high antioxidant capacity, physicochemical characteristics and morphology. The use of zein microparticles combined with natural extracts constitute a step forward in the improvement of current technology for delivering phenolic compounds with applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals.     

Spread of HTLV-I between lymphocytes by virus-induced polarization of the cytoskeleton

Cell contact is required for efficient transmission of human T cell leukemia virus- type 1 (HTLV-I) between cells and between individuals, because naturally infected lymphocytes produce virtually no cell-free infectious HTLV-I particles. However, the mechanism of cell-to-cell spread of HTLV-I is not understood. We show here that cell contact rapidly induces polarization of the cytoskeleton of the infected cell to the cell-cell junction. HTLV-I core (Gag protein) complexes and the HTLV-I genome accumulate at the cell-cell junction and are then transferred to the uninfected cell. Other lymphotropic viruses, such as HIV-1, may similarly subvert normal T cell physiology to allow efficient propagation between cells.     

植保无人机低空低量施药雾滴沉积飘移分布立体测试方法

随着植保无人机在中国的广泛使用,植保无人机的沉积分布均匀性与雾滴飘移流失也引起各方面的重视。目前,针对植保无人机施药雾滴沉积飘移的测试方法较少,且着重于从沉积或飘移中某一方面分析植保无人机雾滴沉积飘移规律,未对作业中全方位的雾滴的沉积飘失规律进行系统测试。该文基于国际标准ISO22866和ISO24253建了1套针对低空低量植保无人机的立体测试方法,分别在地面布置沉积和飘移收集器,在空中架设立体沉积和空中飘移收集器,结合航拍影像所获取的植保无人机准确作业参数,对4个型号植保无人机分别搭载德国Lechler公司的IDK120-015和TR80-0067喷头进行了测试,系统分析了无人机周边的总沉积以验证方法准确性,计算了总地面沉降以表征可利用部分和空中耗散以评估环境风险。结果表明,各植保无人机地面沉积率在53.6%~76.6%,地面飘移率最高17.4%,空中飘移率可高达14.7%;该测试系统可收集62.4%~101.7%无人机喷洒出的雾滴。测试的4种植保无人机在搭载IDK喷头后均明显降低了雾滴飘移,但也同时降低地面沉积率;各植保无人机在搭载2种喷头时沉积规律不同,不同植保无人机设计需要选择不同喷头。该测试方法能够有效的收集并分析植保无人机在作业区域的雾滴立体分布状态,可为植保无人机综合评估提供新的参考依据。     

Stallion Sperm Selection: Past,Present, and Future Trends

Although several selection techniques are available for processing spermatozoa, only colloid centrifugation has been used to any extent in this field, starting with density gradient centrifugation and progressing more recently to single-layer centrifugation (SLC). SLC through a species-specific colloid has been shown to be effective in selecting spermatozoa with good motility and normal morphology from stallion semen. The method is easier to use and less time-consuming than density gradient centrifugation, and has been scaled-up to allow whole ejaculates to be processed in a practical manner. The potential applications of SLC in equine breeding are as follows: to improve sperm quality in artificial insemination doses for “problem” ejaculates, to increase the shelf life of normal sperm doses, to remove pathogens (viruses, bacteria), to improve cryosurvival by removing dead and dying spermatozoa before freezing or after thawing, to select spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and to aid conservation breeding.