黄土高原北部人工灌草植被土壤干燥化过程研究

黄土高原北部水蚀风蚀交错区是典型的生态脆弱区,人工灌草植被土壤干燥化发生频繁。土壤干化层的形成影响生物小循环并削弱水文大循环,严重制约植被建设成效和区域生态稳定。为阐明人工灌草植被土壤干燥化过程,并确定适宜的种植年限,选择该区典型人工灌草植被—柠条和苜蓿为研究对象,分析两种植被土壤水分和地上生物量随生长年限的变化特征。结果表明:2—8年生柠条和1—7年生苜蓿对剖面土壤水分消耗强烈,并随生长年限呈快速下降趋势,9—12年生柠条和8—11年生苜蓿1.0—4.0 m剖面含水量分别降低至8.2%—9.0%和8.5%—10.5%之间,并处于相对稳定状态。4—5年生柠条地1—1.4 m开始产生干层,6年生柠条地干层深度达2.4 m,干层厚度为1.4 m;9—12年生柠条地干层深度超过4.0 m。2—4年生苜蓿地无干燥化;5年生苜蓿生长季末土壤干层深度达3.6 m,干层厚度为2.6 m,且7年生以后土壤干层的深度超过4.0 m。因此,为调控土壤干层,减少深层土壤干化的发生,建议柠条和苜蓿的生长年限分别不要超过6年和5年,其对应的地上最大干生物量分别为5050 kg/hm~2和1980 kg/hm~2。研究结果可为黄土高原北部生态脆弱区人工灌草植被管理与土壤干层调控提供科学依据。     

Simplified process for preparation of schizophyllan solutions for biomaterial applications

Schizophyllan is a biopolymer commercially produced for pharmaceutical and cosmetics uses. However, schizophyllan also has potential biomaterial applications. Schizophyllan is conventionally produced from glucose and recovered by diafiltration and ultrafiltration to produce a highly purified product. Here we demonstrate a simplified process for preparation of schizophyllan solutions for biomaterial applications. Schizophyllan was produced in 1.5-L bioreactors from distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), an abundant coproduct of dry grind fuel ethanol production. Downstream processing eliminated filtration and concentration steps, providing solutions containing 4.2 ± 0.3 g schizophyllan/L. Solutions contained high-molecular-weight schizophyllan and exhibited viscosity properties similar to those of commercial schizophyllan. Schizophyllan solutions showed promise as a component of biolubricants in friction and wear tests and by dynamic surface and interfacial tension measurements.     

Investigation of specific European Brown Hare Syndrome antibodies in wild hares using blood samples dried on blotting paper

European Brown Hare Syndrome (EBHS) is a viral pathology described in Sweden in the early 1980s and which has spread to other European countries. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, we have tested blood samples dried on blotters versus sera to evaluate the utility of this sampling procedure for field research about EBHS. The samples were obtained from 20 captive hares and 43 wild hares. We conclude that the advantage of easiness of blotter sampling and transporting counterbalances the slight underestimation of titres and that the method can thus be recommended in field studies.     

Fungicidal activity of Ranunculus asiaticus and other weeds against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici

The effects of aqueous extracts of some common weed species against Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht f.sp. lycopersici (the causal agent of tomato wilt disease) were investigated under laboratory conditions. Anagallis foemina L., Cerastium dicotomum L., Falcaria vulgaris L., Ranunculus asiaticus L., Scorpiurus mur-icatus L. and Solanum nigrum L. extracts were the most toxic to the fungus. Further studies on buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus L.) showed that fresh shoot extract of this species prevented growth of F. oxysporum when incorporated into agar medium. Extracts of different parts of the plant inhibited fungus growth and sporulation, but the fungitoxicity decreased with incubation period with only slight changes in the toxicity of fresh shoot extract. The shoot and fresh parts extracts were more toxic than root and dried tissue extracts. Addition of 0.5 ml fresh shoot or 1 ml fresh root extract to the growing medium significantly reduced fungal colony growth, and the effect was extract concentration dependent. Fresh shoot extract of R. asiaticus added to a liquid medium significantly reduced mycelial dry weight compared with the control, and incorporation of 0.1 g dried shoot or 0.2 g dried roots in the media strongly inhibited fungus growth. Results of a pot experiment showed no harmful effects of R. asiaticus extracts on tomato growth.     

Feasibility of neonatal haemoglobin A1C as a biomarker for retinopathy of prematurity

Abstract

Introduction

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially serious eye disorder affecting very preterm infants. Non-proliferative ROP (NP-ROP), also known as Early Stage ROP, is characterized by deficient retinal angiogenesis. Proliferative ROP (P-ROP), also known as Late Stage ROP, is characterized by pathologic angiogenesis. The use of neonatal haemoglobin A1C as a biomarker for ROP has not yet been evaluated.     

The contribution of aromatic components in Katsuobushi to preference formation and reinforcement effect

Katsuodashi, a dried bonito broth, is very basic and indispensable in Japanese cuisine and contains taste-exhibiting components and unique aroma. We previously reported that its unique aroma contributes to the preference and reinforcement effect associated with dried bonito. This study aims to elucidate the contribution of aromatic components in Katsuobushi to preference formation and reinforcement effect. Volatile components obtained from dried bonito were fractionated and the fractions were subjected to two-bottle choice test. The fractionation test suggested that the component responsible for the preference is not one but comprises multiple components. In the GC–MS analysis/reconstruction test, solution with aromatic flavor narrowed down to 125 compounds had preference, and also had reinforcement effect. Moreover, GC–MS–olfactometry analysis narrowed down the candidate components to 28 out of 125. Mice showed preference for the test solution with aromatic flavor reconstructed with 28 components but did not show reinforcement behavior.