Structures and Functions of Cuticular Wax in Postharvest Fruit and Its Regulation:A Comprehensive Review with Future Perspectives

Cuticular wax plays a major role in the growth and storage of plant fruits.The cuticular wax coating,which covers the outermost layer of a fruit’s epidermal cells,is insoluble in water.Cuticular wax is mainly composed of very long-chain fatty acids(VLCFAs);their derivatives,including esters,primary alcohols,secondary alcohols,aldehydes,and ketones;and triterpenoids.This complex mixture of lipids is probably biosynthesized in the epidermal cells of most plants and exuded onto the surface.Cuticular wax not only makes the fruit less susceptible to microbial infection but also reduces mechanical damage to the fruit,thereby maintaining the fruit’s commodity value.To date,research has mostly focused on the changes,function,and regulation of fruit wax before harvest,while ignoring the changes and functions of wax in fruit storage.This paper reviews on the composition,structure,and metabolic regulation of cuticular wax in fruits.It also focuses on postharvest factors affecting wax composition,such as storage temperature,relative humidity(RH),gas atmosphere,and as exogenous hormones;and the effects of wax on fruit postharvest quality,including water dispersion,fruit softening,physiological disorders,and disease resistance.These summaries may be of assistance in better understanding the changes in cuticular wax in postharvest fruit and the resulting effects on fruit quality.

Microbial Community Composition and Function in Sediments from the Pearl River Mouth Basin

This study was conducted to characterize the diversity and function of microbial communities in marine sediments of the Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)in the South China Sea.The results showed that the bacterial and archaeal communities varied greatly with depth.Proteobacteria in bacterial communities and Nitrososphaeria and Woesearchaeota in archaeal communities were dominant in the shallow sediments(1-40 cm),while Chloroflexi in bacterial communities and Bathyarchaeia in archaeal communities were dominant in the deep sediments(50-200 cm).Regarding ecological functions based on the metatranscriptomic data,genes involved in various pathways of nitrogen metabolism and sulfur metabolism were observed in the tested sediment samples.Metagenomic analysis revealed that Proteobacteria contribute the most to nearly all genes involved in nitrogen and sulfur metabolism.Moreover,Thaumarchaeota contribute the most to certain genes involved in nitrification,denitrification and assimilatory sulfate reduction pathways.The most abundant bacterial genus,Candidatus Scalindua,is crucial for nitrification,dissimilatory nitrate reduction,denitrification and assimilatory sulfate reduction pathways.

The Role and Function of British NGOs in International Cultural Exchanges

As the world’s first country to launch industrial revolution,the UK had once been at the peak of global power for a long term and exerted great inf luence on the shaping of modern

Effect of Amino Acid Cardioplegia on Myocardial Metabolism and Function of Ischemic Canine Heart

To evaluate the effect of amino acid cardioplegia on myocardial metabolism and function of ischemic canine heart, canine cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) model was established and the dog heart was subjected to a 120 min ischemic arrest. Animals were divided into 3 groups, group 1:warm blood cardioplegia induction and terminal perfusion plus 4 C ST. Thomas hospital solution (STS)during ischemia;group 2: warm blood cardioplegia enriched with amino acid (L-asparte and L-glutamate 13 mmol/L each) and STS without amino acid (A.G.) and group 3:both warm blood cardioplegic solution and STS enriched with A. G..The result demonstrated that the cardiac function of animals in group 2 and 3 had a significantly better recovery after ischemic-re-perfusion. By the end of ischemia the content of myocardial ATP in group 3 was distinctly higher than that in group 1(P<0. 05), with the release of cardiac enzyme being the least. Myocardial ultra-structure almost remained intact before and after ischemia. Our experiment suggests that the cardioplegia arrest with warm blood and cold crystalloid solution enriched with amino acids could diminish the ischemia-re-perfusion injuries of the heart and enhance the effect of myocardial protection.

Effects of Aluminum Trichloride on Structure and Function of Kidney in Chickens

To investigate the effects of aluminum trichloride （AlCl3） on renal structure and function in chickens, the chickens were injected continuously with different gradient AlCl3 for 60 days to establish sub-chronic aluminum （Al） intoxication model. The AI concentration in serum and kidney, contents of creatinine （Cr） and blood urea nitrogen （BUN） in serum were detected, and the renal structure was also observed by optical microscope. The results showed that the A1 concentration in serum and kidney, the contents of Cr and BUN in serum were significantly higher in Al-treated chickens than those in the control group （P〈0.05; P〈0.01） and there was an AlCl3 dose-depended manner. Histopathologically, in the low dose group, acinus renis swelled mildly and there were no apparent pathological changes in nephric tubule and proximal convoluted tubule. In the middle and high dose group, acinus renis swelled, glomerular cells increased, nephric tubule cloudy swelled, and epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubule swelled. The results indicated that sub-chronic Al exposure impaired the renal structure and function in chickens.

Effect of ultraviolet blood irradiation and oxygenation on nerve function and function of the red blood cell membrane pump in patients with acute cerebral infarction

BACKGROUND： Ultraviolet blood irradiation and oxygenation （UBIO） has obtained better clinical effect in treating acute cerebral infarction, but the mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of UBIO on the nerve function and activities of K^＋-Na^＋-ATPase and Ca2^＋-Mg2^＋-ATPase activities on the red blood cell （RBC） membrane of patients with acute cerebral infarction. DESIGN： A randomized and controlled study.SETTING： Department of Neurology, Xiangfan Central Hospital.PARTICIPANTS： From January 2000 to December 2001, excluding those above 70 years old, 58 cases of 700 patients with acute cerebral infarction admitted in the Department of Neurology, Xiangfan Central Hospital, were recruited and divided into two groups according to the random number table： UBIO treated group （n=28）, including 17 males and 11 females, aged 40-68 years; and control group （n=30）, including 20 males and 10 females, aged 44-69 years. All the patients agreed to participate in the therapeutic program and detected items. The general informations were comparable without obvious differences between the two groups （P 〉 0.05）.METHODS： ① The patients in both groups received routine treatments, besides, those in the UBIO treated group were given UBIO treatment by using the XL-200 type therapeutic apparatus produced in Shijiazhuang, whose ultraviolet wave was set at 253.7 nm with the energy density of 0.568 J/m^2 per second, UBIO treatment started from the second day after admission, once every other day, with a single course consisting of 5-7 treatments. ② In the UBIO treated group, the venous blood was sampled before and after the first, third and the completion of the treatment course respectively, the venous blood was taken at each corresponding time point in the control group. After centrifugation of the blood at 10 000 rounds per minute, the RBC membrane was separated and then the activities of K^＋-Na^＋-ATPase and Ca2^＋-Mg2^＋-ATPase were detected by means of phosphorus determination.③ The nerve function was scored before and after treatment in both groups with European stroke scale, which included 13 items, the total score was 0-100 points, the higher the score, the better the nerve function. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ：①Score of European stroke scale before and after treatment in both groups.② Comparison of the activities of K^＋-Na^＋-ATPase and Ca2^＋-Mg2^＋-ATPase on RBC membrane between the two groups before treatment and after the first, third and the completion of the treatment. RESULTS： All the 58 patients with cerebral infarction were involved in the analysis of results.① The score of European stroke scale had no obvious difference between the two groups [（49.31±11.48）, （50.58±12.63）, P 〉 0.05], and it was obviously higher in the UBIO treated group than in the control group after treatment [84.66±13.75）, （77.05±11.17）, P 〈 0.05].②The activity of K^＋-Na^＋-ATPase on RBC membrane in the UBIO treated group was significantly increased after the first and third treatment as compared with before treatment [（31.56±19.25）, （27.64±15.83）, （17.67±13.83）, P 〈 0.01], it was still higher after the completion of the treatment than before treatment without obvious difference [（20.86±14.53）, P 〉 0.05]. After the first and third treatment, it was obviously higher in the UBIO treated group than in the control group [19.31±11.88）, （17.44±10.42）, P 〈 0.01]. ③ In the UBIO treated group, Ca2^＋-Mg2^＋-ATPase activity on RBC membrane significantly increased after the first treatment and remained higher than the pre-treatment level throughout the treatment [（27.49±14.72）, （17.41±4.82）, P 〈 0.01]. The activity of Ca2^＋-Mg2^＋-ATPase on RBC membrane was markedly higher in the UBIO treated group than in the control group after after the first, third and the completion of treatment respectively [（24.83±12.88）, （17.70±5.69）; （28.08±13.44）, （16.32±5.29）; （17.42±6.04）, P〈 0.05-0.01]. CONCLUSION： The effect of UBIO treatment against acute cerebral infarction may be mediated by the increased K^＋-Na^＋ ATPase and Ca2^＋-Mg2^＋-ATPase activities on RBC membrane, which enhances the RBC transformation ability so as to lower RBC aggregation and correct high blood viscosity.

Application of resistant starch in swine and poultry diets with particular reference to gut health and function

The immediate post-weaning period poses a major challenge on the survival of piglets. Similarly, newly hatched chicks face life threatening challenges due to enteric infections. In the past several years, in-feed antibiotics have been used to reduce these production problems and improve growth. However, in-feed antibiotics have been banned in many jurisdictions and therefore the most effective alternatives to infeed antibiotics must be developed. To date, several studies have been conducted to develop alternatives to antibiotics. One of the potential candidates as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics is resistant starch(RS). Resistance starch is a type of starch that resists enzymatic digestion in the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract and therefore passes to hindgut where it can be fermented by resident microorganisms. Microbial fermentation of RS in the hindgut results in the production of short chain fatty acids(SCFA). Production of SCFA in turn results in growth and proliferation of colonic and cecal cells, increased expression of genes involved in gut development, and creation of an acidic environment. The acidic environment suppresses the growth of pathogenic microorganisms while selectively promoting the growth of beneficial microbes. Thus, RS has the potential to improve gut health and function by modifying and stabilising gut microbial community and by improving the immunological status of the host. In this review, we discussed the roles of RS in modifying and stabilising gut microbiota, gut health and function, carcass quality, and energy metabolism and growth performance in pigs and poultry.

Both structure and function of human monoclonal antibodies contribute to enhancement of Zika virus infectivity in vitro

Dear Editor,Antibody-dependent enhancement（ADE）has long been recognized for dengue virus（DENV）in vitro and in vivo.It is now clear that antibodies to DENV can also enhance Zika virus（ZIKV）infection in vitro,and vice versa（Dejnirattisai et al.,2016;Stettler et al.,2016）.The characteristics of enhancing antibodies,however,remain elusive.

Emerging approaches to probing ion channel structure and function

Ion channels,as membrane proteins,are the sensors of the cell.They act as the first line of communication with the world beyond the plasma membrane and transduce changes in the external and internal environments into unique electrical signals to shape the responses of excitable cells.Because of their importance in cellular communication,ion channels have been intensively studied at the structural and functional levels.Here,we summarize the diverse approaches,including molecular and cellular,chemical,optical,biophysical,and computational,used to probe the structural and functional rearrangements that occur during channel activation（or sensitization）,inactivation（or desensitization）,and various forms of modulation.The emerging insights into the structure and function of ion channels by multidisciplinary approaches allow the development of new pharmacotherapies as well as new tools useful in controlling cellular activity.

Impacts of methamidophos,copper,and their combinations on bacterial community structure and function in black soil

The potential ecotoxicologial risks of methamidophos,copper,and their combinations on microbial community of black soil ecosystem in the Northeast China were assessed in species richness and structures by using 16S rDNA-PCR-DGGE analysis approach,and functional characteristics at community levels by using BIOLOG^(GN) system analysis method as well as two conventional methods(DHA and SIR).All results of DGGE banding fingerprint patterns(amplified by bacterial specific 16S rDNA V_(3) high variable region universal primer)indicated that the species richness of bacterial community in tested soil was significantly decreased to different extents by using different concentrations of single methamidophos,copper,especially some of their combinations had worse effects than their corresponding single factors.In addition,the structures of soil bacterial community had been disturbed under all stresses applied in this study because of the enrichment of some species and the disappearance of other species from the bacterial community.The effects of the single factors with lower concentrations on the communiy structure were weaker than those with higher concentrations.Moreover,the bacterial community structures under the combined stresses of methamidophos and copper were significantly different from those of control and their corresponding single factors.The change of DHA and carbon source substrate utilizing fingerprint patterns based on BIOLOG^(GN)system were two relatively sensitive directors corresponding to the stress presented in this study.Between methamodophos and copper,there happened the significant joint-toxic actions when they were used in combination on DHA and carbon source substrate utilizing fingerprint patterns of soil bacterial communities.The DHA of soil under the combined stresses was lower than that of the control and that under the single factors,and the BIOLOG^(GN) substrate utilizing patterns of soil treated by combinations were distinctively differentiated from the control and their corresponding single factors.From all of above,the methamidophos,copper,especially their combinations had the clearly potential ecotoxicological risks to influence the natural soil microbial ecological system by changing the structure,richness,and the functional characteristics of microbial community.

EFFECTS OF PARATHYROID HORMONE AND ESTRADIOL ON PROLIFERATION AND FUNCTION OF HUMAN OSTEOBLASTS FROM FETAL LONG BONE AN IN VITRO STUDY

The effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) (0.01 nM-10 nM) and 17 -estradiol (E2, 1 nmol-10 nM) alone or in combination on 3H thymidine incorporation, alkaline phosphatase and adenylate cyclase activities were investigated in human fetal osteoblasts using serum-free monolayer primary cultures. The results showed that PTH inhibited cell proliferation while E, promoted it. On alkaline phosphatase activity, PTH showed a complex results while E, were slightly inhibitory. PHT-E2 combination suggested that E2 could alter the effect of PTH alone, also potentiated the anabolic and antagonize the catabolic effects of PTH on bone formation.

Ephrin-B1-mediated regulation of germinal center T-cell territoriality and function

Subject Code:C08With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,a study by the research group led by Prof.Qi Hai(祁海)from the School of Medicine,Tsinghua University revealed a novel mechanism that regulates the germinal center reaction,aphysiological process that underlies high-quality

Solution structure and function of proteins relevant to pre-mRNA splicing

Pre-mRNA splicing is a dynamic process. It is catalyzed by the spliceosome which is a large machine formed by an ordered interactions of several small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, U1,

Facilitating Change: The Role and Function of Private Foundations in Innovation Management

1. The focus is on private foundations, which are engaged in advancing science, technology, and the humanities. In this context the Volkswagen Foundationis a prominent example for Germany. 2. Accordingly, the paper does not look at the management within firms , but at the systemic level of innovation management. Though innovation has a broadermeaning, including also economic, social, and political aspects. research and higher education are central arenas and factors of change. 3. Contemporary research and higher education are confronted with new challenges, which require new responses and new forms of innovation management: science and technology has become an integral part of the knowledge- based society; the boundaries between basic and applied research are vanishing, problem --oriented research is increasing, as a consequence the demand for inter

Scale,Site Selection and Function of Economic and Technological Development Zones

This article analyses different characteristics of scale,site selection and function of the current economic andtehnological development zones in our country.It further proposes that it is inappropriate for the economic andtechnological development zones to follow the“pattern of the special zones”,but a new pattern of“small scale,unitaryfunction and closeness to old city”should be adopted to fit in with the practical conditions in our country.The scale,landuse structure and the relations between the development zone and the old city are the basic issues in planning forthe development zones.These three essential elements constitute the pattern of planning which determines to a certainextent the success or failure of the development zones.

Quantities and function of NK cells in patients with positive BMMNC-Coombs test and cytopenia

Objective To test NK cell quantities and function in patients with positive BMMNC-Coombs test(CBCPC)and cytopenia and to explore how NK cell participate in the progress of this disease.Methods The percentage of CD3-CD56+NK cell in peripheral blood lymphocytes,the expression of activating receptor(NKG2D,NKp46,NKp44),inhibitory receptor(CD158a,CD158b),per-

Eco-economic Background of Hilly-Gullied Loess Region and Optimized Eco-productive Paradigm of Small Watersheds

A thorough analysis on its natural environment as well as social economic status of the hilly-gullied loess region is presented. A small watershed, the dominant landscape unit of the region, has been singled out for further and specific study on landscape pattern and function, its social and economic distinctions. The authors proposed several principles based on its eco-economic background study, which includes water balance and efficient use principle, co-development of grass and agro-forestry principle, location optimization principle. Integrated with detailed analysis of a small watershed, an eco-productive paradigm for the loess land's development based on a small watershed scale was worked out. It consists of circle pattern with villages at core for high efficient agriculture production, hierarchical pattern along the slope for eco-economic development, point-axis pattern for commodity production and circulation in small watersheds and core-margin pattern for exchanges among watersheds.

Co-regulator NCOA5 and cancer

NCOA5 encodes a co-regulator for estrogen receptors(ERαand ERβ),orphan nuclear receptors(REV-ERBαand REV-ERBβ)and liver X receptor.It can influence many cellular processes by either promoting or inhibiting gene expression through its two important functional motifs:LxxLL(co-activator)andΦxxΦΦ(co-repressor).Many reports have revealed the important roles of NCOA5 in diseases,such as diabetes,reproductive defects and autoimmune disease.In this review,we focus on its function in cancers and summary the current research progresses regarding its different roles in various cancers.