Changes in the glutathione thiol-disulfide status in wheat grain by foliar sulphur fertilization: consequences for the rheological properties of dough

Storage proteins and glutathione in wheat play an important role in gluten network formation and can be modified by supplementation of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) in wheat plants. The glutathione thiol-disulfide status and its relationship to the molecular weight distribution wheat polymeric protein and dough rheological properties have been examined after different foliar S fertilizations (S derived from micronized elemental S and NS, a mixture of N urea and elemental S) applied at the post-anthesis stage. Changes in levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), polymeric protein-glutathione mixed disulfide (PPSSG) were analysed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography, during grain development using the wheat cultivars, Soissons and Trémie. During the grain desiccation phase, S supplementation (i) increased the GSSG/GSH ratio by 23–25% (ii) induced PPSSG accumulation, and (iii) decreased the formation of SDS-unextractable polymeric protein (UPP) and its molecular mass distribution. However, simultaneous N and S supplementation results in: (i) a decrease in PPSSG formation by 20–30% and (ii) an increase of UPP by 7–18% by enhancing both the branching of the aggregated proteins and their molecular weight. The mixograph parameters show that all forms of endogenous glutathione are linked to dough weakening and are negatively correlated with dough mixing tolerance, dough strength and consistency, while UPP is positively correlated with dough strength and consistency. These findings indicate that S nutrition influences dynamics of the glutathione forms in the grain and results in modification the degree of polymerization of storage protein. Thus both the changes in the form of glutathione and protein polymerization influence the rheological properties of dough.     

一种新颖的阳离子非病毒基因载体 Chitosan-g-PEI-g-PEG-OH 的性能研究

研究了新型阳离子聚合物Chitosan-g-PEI-g-PEG-OH的性能，重点考察其粒度，基因转染效率与细胞毒性，探讨了其作为基因载体的可能性.通过动态光散射仪（DSL）、透射电镜（TEM）观察了Chitosan-g-PEI-g-PEG-OH与DNA自组装形成的颗粒形态及粒径，Chitosan-g-PEI-g-PEG-OH可复合DNA形成粒径160～210 nm的纳米复合物，适合进入细胞.使用MTT比色法分析Chitosan-g-PEI-g-PEG-OH的毒性并与PEI，PEI-g-PEG-OH比较.选用增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP) 转染Hela细胞，应用流式细胞术检测转染效率.新型阳离子多聚物Chitosan-g-PEI-g-PEG-OH在提高基因转染效率的同时降低了其细胞毒性，有望成为基因转移的有效载体.     

分子印迹电化学传感器对苯醚菊酯的检测

应用热引发的方法研制了苯醚菊酯的分子印迹电化学传感器.用循环伏安法对影响该传感器制备的因素进行了优化，并对其性能进行了评价.实验表明：该传感器具有比较高的灵敏度和选择性，响应电流与苯醚菊酯的浓度在1.0~100.0 μmol/L成良好的线性关系，线性系数R为0.992 8,检出限为2.0 × 10-7 mol/L.将其应用于湘江水中苯醚菊酯的检测，回收率在95.62%~103.19%之间.     

Genetic potential for residual feed intake and diet fed during early- to mid-gestation influences post-natal DNA methylation of imprinted genes in muscle and liver tissues in beef cattle

Discovery of epigenetic modifications associated with feed efficiency or other economically important traits would increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these traits. In combination with known genetic markers, this would provide opportunity to improve genomic selection accuracy in cattle breeding programs. It would also allow cattle to be managed to improve favorable gene expression. The objective of this study was to identify variation in DNA methylation between beef cattle of differential pre-natal nutrition and divergent genetic potential for residual feed intake (RFI). Purebred Angus offspring with the genetic potential for either high (HRFI) or low (LRFI) RFI were prenatally exposed to either a restricted maternal diet of 0.5 kg/d average daily gain (ADG) or a moderate maternal diet of 0.7 kg/d ADG from 30 to 150 d of gestation. We performed DNA methylation analysis of differentially methylated regions (DMR) of imprinted genes (Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) DMR2, IGF2/H19 imprinting control region (ICR) and IGF2 receptor (IGF2R) DMR2) using post-natal samples of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle taken from male and female calves at birth and weaning, and of LD muscle, semimembranosus (SM) muscle, and liver samples collected from steers at slaughter (17 months of age). Interestingly, for all three DMR investigated in liver, LRFI steers had higher levels of methylation than HRFI steers. In LD muscle, IGF2/H19 ICR methylation differences for heifers at birth were due to pre-natal diet, while for steers at birth they were mostly the result of genetic potential for RFI with LRFI steers again having higher levels of methylation than HRFI steers. While results from repeated measures analysis of DNA methylation in steers grouped by RFI revealed few differences, in steers grouped by diet, we found higher methylation levels of IGF2 DMR2 and IGF2R DMR2 in LD muscle of restricted diet steers at weaning and slaughter than at birth, as well as increased methylation in LD muscle of restricted diet steers compared with moderate diet steers at weaning and/or slaughter. Our results suggest that differential pre-natal nutrition, and divergent genetic potential for RFI, induces tissue- and sex-specific alterations in post-natal IGF2 and IGF2R methylation patterns and that these patterns can vary with age in Angus beef cattle.     

Impact of variation in structure of condensed tannins from sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) on in vitro ruminal methane production and fermentation characteristics

Our study investigated the effects of condensed tannins (CT) on rumen in vitro methane (CH₄) production and fermentation characteristics by incubating lucerne in buffered rumen fluid in combination with different CT extracts at 0 (control), 40, 80 and 120 g CT/kg of substrate DM. Condensed tannins were extracted from four sainfoin accessions: Rees ‘A’, CPI63763, Cotswold Common and CPI63767. Gas production (GP) was measured using a fully automated GP apparatus with CH₄ measured at distinct time points. Condensed tannins differed substantially in terms of polymer size and varied from 13 (Rees ‘A’) to 73 (CPI63767) mean degree of polymerization, but had relatively similar characteristics in terms of CT content, procyanidin: prodelphinidin (PC: PD) and cis:trans ratios. Compared to control, addition of CT from CPI63767 and CPI63763 at 80 and 120 g CT/kg of substrate DM reduced CH₄ by 43% and 65%, and by 23% and 57%, respectively, after 24‐h incubation. Similarly, CT from Rees ‘A’ and Cotswold Common reduced CH₄ by 26% and 46%, and by 28% and 46% respectively. Addition of increasing level of CT linearly reduced the maximum rates of GP and CH₄ production, and the estimated in vitro organic matter digestibility. There was a negative linear and quadratic (p < 0.01) relation between CT concentration and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. Inclusion of 80 and 120 g CT/kg of substrate DM reduced (p < 0.001) branched‐chain VFA production and acetate: propionate ratio and was lowest for CPI63767. A decrease in proteolytic activity as indirectly shown by a change in VFA composition favouring a shift towards propionate and reduction in branched‐chain VFA production varied with type of CT and was highest for CPI63767. In conclusion, these results suggest that tannin polymer size is an important factor affecting in vitro CH₄ production which may be linked to the CT interaction with dietary substrate or microbial cells.     

抗旱保水剂在岗坡旱地甘薯上的应用试验

为提高冀南地区岗坡旱地农作物产量,应用抗旱保水剂在甘薯上进行了试验。结果表明,施用抗旱保水剂可提高甘薯幼苗成活率,促进甘薯生长,增产增收,以45kg/hm2用量效果最好。     

胞外多聚物在污泥颗粒化过程中的作用研究

本文研究了胞外多聚物(ECP)在污泥颗粒化过程中的作用。试验采用小试UASB反应器,以人工葡萄糖配水作为进料。测定结果表明,在颗粒污泥培养过程中,随着颗粒污泥的形成、生长和成熟,污泥ECP含量逐渐下降,从开始的6.36减小到30mg/gVSS。当反应器酸化、污泥性能变差或运行不稳定时,ECP含量则表现为急剧上升,达70mg/gVSS。这些结果说明污泥颗粒化过程中ECP所起的作用不大。对有关ECP的影响及作用机理,以及污泥颗粒化机制,文章进行了分析讨论。     

抗旱保水剂应用特性的实验研究

应用抗旱保水剂是近年来发展较快的一种非工程节水灌溉措施，在实际应用中，土、肥、水等多种因素对保水剂持水能力有很大影响。通过大量试验，对保水剂在各种应用条件下的持水特性进行了定性研究，提出了应用保水剂应注意的问题及若干建议。     

介电型电活性聚合物能量收集方法研究

介电型电活性聚合物(DEAP)作为一种新型智能材料,与风力、水力相结合,可作为一种新的能量收集方法。研究DEAP能量收集的可行性,讨论了DEAP的发电机理和工作过程。根据换能器工作状态的形变过程,利用弹性大变形理论建立了DEAP换能器的数学模型,通过对模型的求解计算出换能器推程、回程的力-位移曲线。据此,得出DEAP换能单元工作过程输入的机械能、发电量和相应能量转换效率。提出了一种多换能器集成使用以提高系统发电效率的方法。理论分析和试验数据表明:初始电压和拉伸位移是影响发电量、能量转换效率的关键因素。随着多换能单元的应用,系统的总效率可提高到28%以上。同时,外界输入扭矩的数值波动越来越小。     

不同保水剂对土壤特性及烤烟生长的影响

为提高秦巴山区黄棕壤烟田的土壤性能,减少季节性干旱对烤烟生长的影响,以不施保水剂为对照,在烟田整地起垄前分别施入聚丙烯酸钾(K-PAM)、聚丙烯酰胺(PAM)和腐殖酸钾(KHm)3种保水剂,测定施用不同保水剂后的土壤容重、土壤水分和烤烟生长状况、常规化学成分及经济性状。结果表明,聚丙烯酸钾和聚丙烯酰胺保水剂均降低0～40cm土层土壤容重,在烤烟旺长期提高0～40cm土层土壤水分。不同保水剂均可提高烤烟常规化学成分含量,其中腐殖酸钾保水剂显著降低烤烟的糖碱比和氮碱比。聚丙烯酸钾保水剂提高烤烟的产量、产值、上等烟比例及净增产值,而聚丙烯酰胺和腐殖酸钾保水剂处理组则降低烤烟的净增产值。因此,建议秦巴山区黄棕壤烟田选用聚丙烯酸钾类保水剂。