Effects of CH-19 Sweet,a Non-Pungent Cultivar of Red Pepper,in Decreasing the Body Weight and Suppressing Body Fat Accumulation by Sympathetic Nerve Activation in Humans

‘CH-19 Sweet’ is a non-pungent red pepper and enhances the energy expenditure in humans in like manner to the pungent red pepper. We investigated in this study the effects of a repeated intake of CH-19 Sweet for two weeks on the body weight and body fat in humans. Changes in the autonomic nervous activity after ingesting CH-19 Sweet were also measured by a power spectral analysis. We established a new protocol which allows the precise detection of weight change in humans by using fewer subjects. These methods were used to show that the repeated intake of CH-19 Sweet reduced the body weight and suppressed body fat accumulation. Furthermore, the body weight loss due to the repeated intake of CH-19 Sweet was significantly correlated with the sympathetic nervous response after its ingestion. We propose that the repeated intake of CH-19 Sweet reduced the body weight and suppressed body fat accumulation by sympathetic nervous activation in humans.     

甘薯羽状斑驳病毒分离提纯及血清学特性

从感染有甘薯羽状驳病毒的牵牛（I．Nil）叶片,通过超速离心,Cscl密度梯度离心提纯SPFMV粒子,每千克叶片可得病毒13－15毫克。电镜观察病毒粒子长度范围在820－860nm,也可见到900nm以上的特长粒子。病毒提纯物的紫外吸收曲线呈典型核蛋白吸收曲线,OD260／OD280＝1．21,免疫电镜检查,该病毒与SPFMV抗血清起阳性反应。     

光呼吸对光合过程中磷代谢的影响

与光呼吸受抑制的 2％O_2浓度下相比,在 21％O_2浓度下.离体甘薯叶细胞光合作用最适介质无机磷浓度较低.另外,在21％O_2浓度下,降低甘薯叶细胞介质 NaHCO_3浓度,叶细胞光下吸收介质~(32)Pi的量减少;降低完整菠菜叶绿体介质 NaHCO_3浓度,乙醇酸形成相对加强,而介质~(32)Pi掺入到有机磷化合物的量则相对减少.这些结果表明,有利于光呼吸的条件,可降低光合对外界Pi的需求量.     

光呼吸对光合过程中磷代谢的影响

与光呼吸受抑制的 2％O_2浓度下相比,在 21％O_2浓度下.离体甘薯叶细胞光合作用最适介质无机磷浓度较低.另外,在21％O_2浓度下,降低甘薯叶细胞介质 NaHCO_3浓度,叶细胞光下吸收介质~(32)Pi的量减少;降低完整菠菜叶绿体介质 NaHCO_3浓度,乙醇酸形成相对加强,而介质~(32)Pi掺入到有机磷化合物的量则相对减少.这些结果表明,有利于光呼吸的条件,可降低光合对外界Pi的需求量.     

Neuronal Cell Death of Abdominal Ganglia (A3) and Characterization of Neuron-Killing Factor in Ventral Nerve Cord from Sweet Potato Hornworm, Agrius convolvuli

ABSTRACT The central nervous system of Agrius convolvuli is composed of brain, followed by subesophageal ganglion, three thoracic ganglia, and eight abdominal ganglia in late larval stage. After metamorphic transition from larva to pupa, thoracic (T₁ and T₂) and abdominal ganglia (A₁ and A₂) are moved toward T₃ and fused together to construct composite ganglion, pterothoracic ganglion. The formation of composite ganglion is completed about 90% at 4 day and 100% at 7 day after pupation. Neuronal cell death was occurred significantly around 3 or 4 day after pupation and just after adult ecdysis. Although 170 neurons were detected 3 day before adult ecdysis, 24 cells were counted 5 day after adult ecdysis. Data of scanning and tandem electron microscope showed the symptom of cell death. In order to identify the mechanism of cell death in A. convolvuli , 1,200 ventral nerve cords were homogenized. Extracts were boiled for 3 minutes at 100°C and collected below 30,000 dalton of molecular mass. Each fraction from reverse phase column chromatography by HPLC system was tested in ventral nerve cord culture system, and fractions having killing activity in culture were isolated. By the addition of 20 hydroxyecdysone, actinomycin D, or cycloheximide into the culture medium, cell death was delayed significantly when compared to control group.     

马槟榔甜味蛋白的研究—Ⅲ.在种子中储存的位点和状态

甜蛋白mabinlin是马槟榔(Capparis masaikai Levl.)种子的主要储存蛋白。它位于胚轴细胞的蛋白体中,其含量为蛋白体总蛋白的90％。圆形蛋白体直径约2—10μm,内含许多球粒体(globoid),但无类晶体(crystalloid)。作为一种强碱性清蛋白,甜蛋白与一种强酸性化合物2-羟乙基葡硫甙磺酸(2-hydroxy-ethyl-glucosinolate)结合为可溶性盐,组成蛋白体的衬质(matrix)。衬质中还有酸性磷酸酯酶。球粒体无一定大小,主要含植酸钾盐。当种子或种子脱脂干粉在水中匀浆时,大部分甜蛋白与植酸结合为沉淀而不能被提取。但甜蛋白-植酸复合物溶于大于0.5N的氯化钠溶液。这容易引起以为种子主要储存蛋白是球蛋白的假象。在水浸泡的完整种子中,部分甜蛋白从蛋白体中渗出,部分与植酸结合而后逐步释放,受到进一步降解。     

Feeding and oviposition preferences of the Sweet Potato Weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus, on the outer periderm and exposed inner core of storage roots of selected Sweet Potato cultivars

Cores from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) storage roots, with either the outer periderm or inner core exposed, were presented to female sweet potato weevils, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in cage preference tests. Tests with weevils of different ages showed that feeding was constant 21 to 76 days after emergence, while oviposition showed a slight peak between 21 and 45 days. Differences in the levels of feeding and oviposition were noted for the periderms of four sweet potato cultivars, but these differences were not evident for the inner cores. Oviposition was reduced to low levels on the inner core and, therefore, the oviposition stimulant appears to reside in the root periderm. Feeding did occur on the inner cores, but at a reduced level compared to the root periderm in preference tests where both were available. Inner root cores have a potential use in the elucidation of the oviposition stimulant of the sweet potato weevil.

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Résumé Des coeurs de racines tubéreuses d'I. batatas ont été proposés, soit avec leur périderme externe, soit avec la partie interne du coeur seule, à des femelles du charançon, C. formicarius elegantulus Summers, dans des cages pour expériences sur le choix. Les coeurs étaient prélevés à l'emportepièce pour liège dans des racines stockées et, après tirage au hasard, les expériences ont été distribuées dans des plaques à 24 puits pour cultures de tissus.L'alimentation des charançons de différents âges était constante du 21ème au 47ème jour après l'émergence, tandis que la ponte était maximale entre les 25ème et 45ème jours. Des différences quantitives quant à l'alimentation et à la ponte ont été observées avec les péridermes de 4 cultivars: Centennial, Jewel, Resisto et Regal; ces différences n'étaient pas nettes pour les parties profondes du coeur.La ponte était réduite à un niveau bas avec la partie interne du coeur; il semble ainsi qu'un stimulant de la ponte soit contenu dans de périderme de la racine. L'alimentation s'est effectuée sur la partie centrale du coeur, mais moins que sur le périderme, quand les deux étaient disponibles dans des expériences de choix. La ponte paraît un meilleur critère que l'alimentation, pour comparer les résistance variétales. La partie intérieure du coeur peut être utilisée pour connaître le stimulant le stimulant de la ponte de C. formicarius elegantulus.

     

Pulsed electromagnetic field: an organic compatible method to promote plant growth and yield in two corn types

Pre-sowing treatment of pulsed electromagnetic fields was used in corn seeds, in both indoor and outdoor conditions, in order to investigate the effect on plant growth and yield. The results of this research showed that pulsed electromagnetic fields can enhance plant characteristics, both under controlled environmental conditions and uncontrolled field conditions. The two varieties responded differently in the duration of magnetic field. Seeds were treated for 0, 15, 30, and 45 min with pulsed electromagnetic field (MF-0, MF-15, MF-30, and MF-45). Common corn variety performed better results in MF-30 treatment, while sweet corn variety performed better in MF-45 treatment. Magnetic field improved germination percentage, vigor, chlorophyll content, leaf area, plant fresh and dry weight, and finally yields. In the very interesting measurement of yield, seeds that have been exposed to magnetic field for 30 and 45 min have been found to perform the best results with no statistical differences among them. Another interesting finding was in root dry weight measurements, where magnetic field has a negative impact in MF-30 treatment in both hybrids, however without affecting other measurements. Enhancements on plant characteristics with economic impact on producer's income could be the future of a modern, organic, and sustainable agriculture.     

Sweet cherry cultivar identification by leaf isozyme polymorphism

Isozyme polymorphism can assist in the identification of cherry cultivars. Ten isozymes, each showing variation at only one locus, provide 70 unique genotype profiles from leaf extracts of 78 different sweet cherry cultivars. Polymorphism in 6PGD, G6PD, GPI, IDH, PGM, FDP, SKDH and PER is demonstrated for the first time, while observations are extended for the previously described polymorphisms in MDH and GOT. Some cultivars with identical morphological characters and previously treated as one cultivar can be separated on the basis of isozyme genotype. Irradiated mutants and parent material could also be differentiated.     

Sweet Potato Virus Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence that Neglect of Seedlings in the Traditional Farming System Hinders the Development of Superior Resistant Landraces

Sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) occurs in sweet potato at all localities on the perimeter of Lake Victoria areas surveyed in Uganda and Tanzania, and was particularly common in Kagera District in Tanzania and in Rukungiri District in Uganda. All fields were planted with landraces and the most important control practices, as perceived by farmers, were the planting of cuttings derived from only symptomless parents and destroying diseased plants. Although SPVD-resistant landraces were available, they were perceived by most farmers to have poor and late yields. Most farmers considered that their greatest need was new, more acceptable, SPVD-resistant genotypes. Few farmers had seen either sweet potato seeds (15%) or sweet potato seedlings (11%) and, of those that had, most had ignored them. The lack of seedlings and their neglect by farmers is likely to be hindering the evolution of more acceptable, SPVD-resistant landraces, and is probably responsible for SPVD being a long-term disease problem.