Effects of Mechanized,Deep Application of Slow-Release Fertilizer on Yield and Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Potassium Utilization of Direct-Seeded Rice

Compared with the standard method of manual fertilizer broadcasting (MFB), mechanized hill-drilling direct-seeding with deep application of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (MHDDF) is an efficient method to integrate both fertilization and seeding. However, there are few studies that combine the use of slow-release fertilizer with MHDDF. We sought to explore the combined effect of MHDDF with slow-release fertilizer on rice yield and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium utilization, compared to MFB. We compared three different MHDDF methods (D30: 450 kg ha^?1, D40: 600 kg ha^?1, D50: 750 kg ha^?1), with one MFB method (B50: 750 kg ha^?1), and one control (CK: 0 kg ha^?1). We found that the yield of all MHDDF method was higher than that of both the MFB method. Yield was the highest in the D50 treatment and was 14.14–46.03% higher than that in B50 treatment. Biomass accumulation, nutrient accumulation, and nutrient use efficiency were similarly higher in MHDDF method than both MFB and CK. Compared to B50, the D50 treatment increased nitrogen recovery efficiency by 170.53–231.50%, phosphorus recovery efficiency by 480.00–724.25%, and potassium recovery efficiency by 201.55–169.59%. Overall, we found that combining MHDDF with slow-release fertilizer was an effective method to increase rice yield and nutrient use efficiency compared with MFB.

     

The Ethanol Extract of Syringa oblata Heartwood,a Mongolian Folk Medicine Containing Major Lignans,Exerts Analgesic and Sedative Effects on Mice

The heartwood of Syringa oblata Lindl. (SO) is one of Mongolian folk medicines to treat insomnia and pain, while its pharmacological evaluation and underlying mechanism remain unclear. In this study, the sedative effect of ethanol extract of SO (ESO) was evaluated with the locomotor activity test and the threshold dose of pentobarbital sodium-induced sleep test in mice, and the hot plate test, acetic acid-induced writhing test, and formalin test in mice were used to evaluate its analgesic effect. The underlying mechanism of ESO analgesia was explored by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, which is associated with the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Besides, the main constituents of ESO were characterized by LC/MS data analysis and comparison with isolated pure compounds. The current findings brought evidence for clinical application and further pharmacological and phytochemical studies on SO.     

Picroside III,an Active Ingredient of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora,Ameliorates Experimental Colitis by Protecting Intestinal Barrier Integrity

This study aims to explore the protective effects of Picroside III, an active ingredient of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora, on the intestinal epithelial barrier in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced Caco-2 cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis in mice. Results show that Picroside III significantly alleviated clinical signs of colitis including body weight loss, disease activity index increase, colon shortening, and colon tissue damage. It also increased claudin-3, ZO-1 and occludin expressions and decreased claudin-2 expression in the colon tissues of mice with colitis. In vitro, Picroside III also significantly promoted wound healing, decreased the permeability of cell monolayer, upregulated the expressions of claudin-3, ZO-1 and occludin and downregulated the expression of claudin-2 in TNF-α treated Caco-2 cells. Mechanism studies show that Picroside III significantly promoted AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo, and blockade with AMPK could significantly attenuate the upregulation of Picroside III in ZO-1 and occludin expressions and the downregulation of claudin-2 expression in TNF-α treated Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Picroside III attenuated DSS-induced colitis by promoting colonic mucosal wound healing and epithelial barrier function recovery via the activation of AMPK.     

Effect of larval population density on the adult morphology of two species of Lepidoptera, Plusia gamma L. and Pieris brassicae L.

The morphological effects of population density in locusts in the production of phases is now well established and in recent years somewhat parallel effects have been observed in the larvae of Lepidoptera. Unlike locusts Lepidoptera pass through a quiescent pupal period but nevertheless the adult may be affected. In both P. gamma and P. brassicae adults from crowded larval cultures were smaller in both size and weight although the effect was counteracted to some extent by approaching pupal diapause in P. brassicae. The effect was similar in many cases to that produced by an increase in temperature except that it disturbed the relationships between the lengths of the wing and hind femur with the live weight. The ratio of these lengths (equivalent to E/F ratio in locusts) was significantly increased but was not a satisfactory index of larval population density. No effects were observed in the wing pattern and colouration in either species.

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Zusammenfassung Die Einwirkung der larvalen Populationsdichte auf die Morphologie der jungen Falter wurde bei Plusia gamma und Pieris brassicae durch Vergleich frischgeschlüpfter Falter aus Einzel- und aus Massenzuchten bestimmt.Bei P. gamma wogen Puppen aus Massenkulturen etwas weniger und verloren während des Puppenstadiums mehr an Gewicht. Die entstehenden Falter waren gewichtsmäßig deutlich leichter und hatten etwas kürzere Flügel. Größe und Gewicht der Männchen waren größer als die der Weibchen, und da die Massenzucht die meßbaren Größen bei den Weibchen stärker beeinflußt, verstärkte sie den Unterschied zwischen den Geschlechtern. Jahreszeitliche Unterschiede wurden beobachtet, wobei Gewicht und Größen in der warmen Jahreszeit geringer waren, doch blieb der jahreszeitliche Einfluß geringer als der durch Übervölkerung hervorgerufene.Bei P. brassicae hatte die Massenzucht eine ähnliche Wirkung auf die Puppen- und Erwachsenengewichte und auch auf die Maße, außer daß der Flügel kürzer und schmaler war. Die Unterschiede zwischen den Geschlechtern wurden durch die Massenaufzucht nicht verschärft. Lebendgewicht und Femurlänge waren beim Männchen größer, währen das Weibchen größere Flügel hatte. Bei Herannahen der Diapause wurde die Wirkung der Massenkultur auf Puppen- und Imaginalgewicht kompensiert, aber die Wirkungen auf die Erwachsenenmaße blieben noch erhalten, wenn auch in geringerem Ausmaß als sie bei nichtdiapausierenden Generationen zu beobachten waren. In der wärmeren Jahreszeit wurden Variationen erzielt, die in etwa den durch Übervölkerung bewirkten ähnlich waren, außer daß die Flügel abweichende Form aufwiesen und daß Übervölkerung bei den Männchen die Wirkung stark reduzierte.In Einzelkulturen beider Arten wurden positive, aber nicht stark signifikante Korrelationen in der Beziehung von Costa- und Hinterschenkellänge mit dem Lebendgewicht gefunden. Diese Beziehungen wurden durch Massenkultur gestört.In beiden Arten wurde das Costa-Schenkel-Verhältnis durch Massenkultur signifikant vergrößert (cf. E/F-Rate bei Heuschrecken), ergab aber keinen befriedigenden Index für die larvale Populationsdichte.In der Flügelzeichnung und Färbung beider Arten wurden durch larvale Massenkultur keine Wirkungen beobachtet.

     

NMR and CD studies of triple-helical peptides.

Triple-helix formation of the peptide (Pro-Hyp-Gly)10 was monitored by nmr and CD spectroscopy. The two-dimensional nmr spectra indicated that the Gly C alpha H and Pro C delta H proton resonances shift upfield in going from the nonhelical to helical form, while hydroxy-proline resonances are unchanged. The integrated areas of the helical and nonhelical resonances could be monitored in the one-dimensional nmr spectrum, and indicate that in the (Pro-Hyp-Gly)10 about 90% of the residues are in a defined triple-helical conformation. The introduction of a glycine to alanine substitution or the deletion of a single hydroxyproline residue in the stable triple-helical peptide (Pro-Hyp-Gly)10 still allows trimers to be formed, but the trimers show a substantial loss of triple helix and decreased thermal stability compared with (Pro-Hyp-Gly)10. Two computer models were generated for the Gly----Ala peptide, one with the Ala side chains packed inside the helix and the other with the region containing the alanines forming a beta-bend that loops out from the helix. The nmr data is more consistent with the latter model.     

Screening and analysis of differentially expressed genes from an alien addition line of wheat Thinopyrum intermedium induced by barley yellow dwarf virus infection.

The alien addition line TAI-27 contains a pair of chromosomes of Thinopyrum intermedium that carry resistance against barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). A subtractive library was constructed using the leaves of TAI-27, which were infected by Schizaphis graminum carrying the GAV strain of BYDV, and the control at the three-leaf stage. Nine differentially expressed genes were identified from 100 randomly picked clones and sequenced. Two of the nine clones were highly homologous with known genes. Of the remaining seven cDNA clones, five clones matched with known expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences from wheat and (or) barley whereas the other two clones were unknown. Five of the nine differentially expressed sequences (WTJ9, WTJ11, WTJ15, WTJ19, and WTJ32) were highly homologous (identities >94%) with ESTs from wheat or barley challenged with pathogens. These five sequences and another one (WTJ18) were also highly homologous (identities >86%) with abiotic stress induced ESTs in wheat or barley. Reverse Northern hybridization showed that seven of the nine differentially expressed cDNA sequences hybridized with cDNA of T. intermedium infected by BYDV. Three of these also hybridized with cDNA of line 3B-2 (a parent of TAI-27) infected by BYDV. The alien chromosome in TAI-27 was microdissected. The second round linker adaptor mediated PCR products of the alien chromosomal DNA were labeled with digoxygenin and used as the probe to hybridize with the nine differentially expressed genes. The analysis showed that seven differentially expressed genes were homologous with the alien chromosome of TAI-27. These seven differentially expressed sequences could be used as ESTs of the alien chromosome of TAI-27. This research laid the foundation for screening and cloning of new specific functional genes conferring resistance to BYDV and probably other pathogens.     

红细胞4．1蛋白与血型糖蛋白C／D结合位点研究进展

红细胞膜骨架与脂双层间存在着相互作用,其中带4.1蛋白与血型糖蛋白C/D间的相互作用对维持正常红细胞的形态和机械稳定性起着重要作用,研究表明,带4.1蛋白在血型糖蛋白C、D上的结合位点分别位于血型糖蛋白C的第82～98位氨基酸残基和血型糖蛋白D的第61～77位氨基酸残基．     

盐或低温胁迫对花生幼苗下胚轴ATP酶和质膜中PIP2含量的影响

经６％－１２％Ｄｅｘｔｒａｎ Ｔ７０密度梯度离心,获得了纯度较高的７ｄ龄花生幼苗下胚轴质膜和液泡膜制剂。１５０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ ＮａＣｌ或１０℃低温处理花生幼苗２４ｈ,其下胚轴质膜上的Ｍｇ＾２＋激活的ＡＴＰａｓｅ活性分别提高了３７．６％和１７．２％;Ｃａ＾２＋－ＡＴＰａｓｅ活性分别提高４５．８％和３３．６％。上述盐或低温处理也提高了液泡膜上Ｍｇ＾２＋激活的ＡＴＰａｓｅ活性,分别为对照的１４１．２％和１