Differences of Physiological and Biochemical Indexes of Upper Fresh Leaves and Post-growth Roots in Different Quality Stages

In order to explore the physiological and biochemical characteristics of fresh upper leaves and roots of different qualities of tobacco, the malonaldehyde （MDA）, superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity, chlorophyllase activity, amylase activity, medium trace element content, chemical component content, root fresh weight, dry weight and activity in the normal tobacco leaves, tobacco leaves rich in nutrients and premature grey tobacco leaves were studied. The results showed that compared with the normal tobacco leaves, the root fresh weight, dry weight and activity in the premature grey tobacco leaves decreased by 41.22%, 14.44% and 60.29% respectively, while malonaldehyde content increased by 34.82%, and chlorophyllase, α-amylase, β-amylase and SOD activity declined by 89.55%, 65.71%, 71.26% and 37.25% respectively. Chlorophyllase, co-amylase and 13-amylase activity in the tobacco leaves rich in nutrients decreased by 58.76%, 36.19% and 41.93% respectively. The content of medium trace elements in the tobacco leaves rich in nutrients and premature grey tobacco leaves was lower than that of the normal tobacco leaves. Starch, total sugar, reducing sugar and potassium content in the normal tobacco leaves were higher than that of the tobacco leaves rich in nutrients and premature grey tobacco leaves.

Effects of shifting cultivation on biological and biochemical characteristics of soil microorganisms in Khagrachari hill district, Bangladesh

We collected soil samples from two representative sites at Aatmile of Khagarachari hill district in Chittagong Hill Tracts. One of the sites was under shifting cultivation and the other an adjacent 13-year old teak plantation. Both sites were in the same physiographic condition and same aspect with parable soil type, which enabled us to measure the effects of shifting cultivation on soil micro-flora. We studied soil phys-ico-chemical properties and the biochemical and biological properties of soil microbes. Moisture and organic matter content as well as fungi and bacterial populations, both in surface and subsurface soils, were signifi-cantly （p≤0.001） lower in shifting cultivated soils compared to soils not under shifting cultivation, i.e. the teak plantation site. The most abundant bacteria in surface （0-10 cm） and sub-surface （10-20 cm） soils under shifting cultivation were Pseudomonas diminuta and Shigella, respec-tively, while in corresponding soil layers of teak plantation, predominant microbes were Bacillus firmus （0-10 cm） and Xanthomonas （10-20 cm）. The microbial population differences cannot be explained by soil texture differences because of the textural similarity in soils from the two sites but could be related to the significantly lower moisture and organic mat-ter contents in soils under shifting cultivation.

Biochemical properties of norepinephrine as a kind of neurotransmitter secreted by bone marrow-derived neural stem cells induced and differentiated in vitro

BACKGROUND： It has been proved by many experimental studies from the aspects of morphology and immunocytochemistry in recent years that bone marrow stromal cells （BMSCs） can in vitro induce and differentiate into the cells possessing the properties of nerve cells. But the functions of BMSCs-derived neural stem cells（NSCs） and the differentiated neuron-like cells are still unclear. OBJECTIVE： To observe whether bone marrow-derived NSCs can secrete norepinephrine （NE） under the condition of in vitro culture, induce and differentiation, and analyze the biochemical properties of BMSCs-derived NSCs. DESIGN： A non-randomized and controlled experimental observation SETTING ： Institute of Neuromedicine of Chinese PLA, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University MATERIALS： This experiment was carried out in the Institute of Neuromedicine of Chinese PLA, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University. The bone marrow used in the experiment was collected from 1.5- month-old healthy New Zealand white rabbits. METHODS： This experiment was carried out in the Institute of Neuromedicine of Chinese PLA, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University. The bone marrow used in the experiment was collected from 1.5 month-old healthy New Zealand white rabbits. BMSCs of rabbits were isolated and performed in vitro culture, induce and differentiation with culture medium of NSCs and differentiation-inducing factor, then identified with immunocytochemical method. Experimental grouping： ①Negative control group： L-02 hepatic cell and RPMI1640 culture medium were used. ② Background culture group： Only culture medium of NSCs as culture solution was added into BMSCs to perform culture, and 0.1 volume fraction of imported fetal bovine serum was supplemented 72 hours later. ③Differentiation inducing factor group： After culture for 72 hours, retinoic acid and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factors were added in the culture medium of BMSCs and NSCs as corresponding inducing factors. The level of NE in each group was detected on the day of culture and 5, 7, 14 and 20 days after culture with high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）. The procedure was conducted 3 times in each group.Standard working curve was made according to the corresponding relationship of NE concentration and peak area. The concentration of NE every 1×10^7 cells was calculated according to standard curve and cell counting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ： The level of NE of cultured cells was detected with HPLC; immunocytochemistrical identification of Nestin and neuron specific nuclear protein was performed. RESULTS： ① On the 14^th day after cell culture, BMSCs turned into magnus and round cells which presented Nestin-positive antigen, then changed into neuron-like cells with long processus and presented neuron specific nuclear protein -positive antigen at the 20^th day following culture. ② The ratio of NE concentration and peak area has good linear relationship, and regression equation was Y=1.168 36＋0.000 272 8X,r=-0.998 4. Coefficient variation （CV） was 〈 5% and the recovery rate was 92.39%（ Y referred to concentration and X was peak area）.③NE was well detached within 10 minutes under the condition of this experiment. ④ NE was detected in NSCs and their culture mediums, which were cultured for 7, 14 and 20 days respectively, but no NE in BMSCs, NSCs-free culture medium and L-02 hepatic cell which were as negative control under the HPLC examination. Analysis of variance showed that the level of NE gradually increased following the elongation of culture time （P 〈 0.01 ）. No significant difference in the level of NE existed at the same time between differentiation inducing factor group and basic culture group（P 〉 0.05）. CONCLUSION ： BMSCs of rabbits can proliferate in vitro and express Nestin antigen; They can differentiate into neuron-like cells, express specific neucleoprotein of mature neurons, synthesize and secrete NE as a kind of neurotransmitter.

Synthesis and biochemical properties of fluorescent/magnetic bifunctional starch particles

Magnetic starch particles （MSPs） were synthesized in water-in-oil mieroemulsion at room temperature. MSPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry （FTIR）, zeta potential system, thermogravimetric analysis （TGA） and vibrating sample magnetometry （VSM）. The average diameter of the MSPs was 220 nm, dispersed with well-proportioned size and magnetic resonance, the saturation magnetization was 3.64 A.mR/kg. MSP was coated with poly-L-lysine （PLL）, and then the surface of PLL-MSP was combined with fluorescein isothiocynate （FITC）. Results show that fluorescent/magnetic starch particles （FMSPs） are of stable photo-bleaching capability compared with free FITC, with low bio-toxicity and certain function of magnetic separation. It is expected that FMSPs are bifimctional nano-materials including fluorescence labelling and magnetic separation.

The Effects of Different Tillages on Crop Residue Sequestration, Soil Available Nutrients and Some Biochemical Properties in the Chinese Black Soil Region

Three-year field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different tillage operations after harvest on crop residues sequestration and their subsequent effects on soil available nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P）, some soil biochemical properties, and three enzymatic activities during the following growing seasons in a soybean （Glycine max）-soybean- corn （Zea mays） rotation farming system in Northeast China. Two different managements were implemented after crop harvest every year, which were tillage （T） and no tillage （NT）. Results showed that crop residue masses on soil surface and in the 0-20 cm layer after soybean harvest were about 1 450 and 340 kg ha-1, respectively, in October 2006 and 2007. While, soybean residue mass in the 0-20 cm soil layer was about 340 kg ha-1 in NT and about 1 550 kg ha-1 in T before sowing in May 2007 and 2008. The adverse results were found after corn crop plantation, that corn residue mass was about 270 and 860 kg ha-1 on soil surface and in the 0-20 cm soil layer, respectively, after harvest in October 2008, while residue mass in the 0-20 cm soil layer was only 466 kg ha-1 in T but 863 kg ha-1 in NT before planting in May 2009. So T had effectively sequestered soybean residue into soil but not corn. Results also showed that T after harvest helped to improve soil available N, P, soil microbial biomass carbon （MBC）, and nitrogen （MBN） contents and soil enzymes activities （urease, acid phosphatase, and protease） during the 2007 and 2008 seasons, but the positive effects decreased during the 2009 season. T practice had significant positive effects on available N, P, MBC, and MBN contents, protease and urease activities, however, no obvious effects on acid phosphatase activity. In this study, T practice after soybean harvest was proved to be preferable to improve soil microbial and enzyme activities during the following seasons due to an efficient sequestration of soybean residues. However, NT could be considered preferential after corn crop harvest.

Biochemical Characteristics of Saint Mary’s Thistle Varieties (<i>Silybum marianum</i>L. <i>Gaertn.</i>) under Soil-Climate Conditions of the Khorezm Region

This article deals with the biochemical characteristics of varieties of Saint Mary’s Thistle such as Panacea, Debut and Samaryanka. Based on the studies, it was found that the highest oil content was found in the species Debut (26%). The lowest oil content was observed in the variety Samaryanka (19%). The highest protein content and the sum of total amino acids in the seeds of St. Mary’s Thistle varieties were found in the variety Debut (131.1), and the lowest indication was observed in the species Samaryanka (79.2). By the number of replaceable amino acids existing in the seeds of the species of St. Mary’s Thistle, it was found in the Varieties Debut (126.3), and the lowest indication was observed in the variety Samaryanka (112). Based on the results of studies and the noted biochemical characteristics and varietal differences of the St. Mary’s Thistle, the possibility and expediency of expanding the crops of this species in the soil and climatic conditions of the Khorezm region are suggested. The research was conducted 2017-2019 y.

Esterase Activities and Biochemical Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Goat＇s Milk Cheese in Argentina

Twenty-two lactic acid bacteria （LAB） strains isolated from Argentinean goat dairy products were evaluated for its biochemical properties and esterase activities relevant to flavor development. Streptococcus thermophilus （UNSE314）, Lactobacillus （L.） delbrueckii subsp, bulgaricus （UNSE309）, L. rhamnosus （UNSE308）, L. plantarum （UNSE287, UNSE316, UNSE317） and Pediococcus pentosaceus （UNSE315） strains presented high acidifying activity. All strains tested metabolized citrate and produced diacetyl-acetoin in goat milk. Based on these results, 10 strains with the best performance in diverse technological properties were selected to determine esterolytic activity. In all evaluated strains, esterase specific activity （ESA） was detected on ct-naphthyl （ct-NA） acetate and 13-naphthyl （[3-NA） acetate, propionate, eaprylate and ct-NA butyrate. No activity was detected on [3-NA laurate. The highest values were detected when using a-NA instead of fI-NA derivatives as substrate. In Pediocoecus strains, wide variability in ESA were observed, which were species- and strain-specific. These results allow us to select strains with biochemical properties and esterase activities to design starter and adjunct cultures that contribute to flavor development during cheese ripening, thus preserving the typical organoleptic characteristics of Argentinean goat cheeses.

Investigation of Biochemical Properties and Fractional Composition of Amaranth Oil

The aim of the study is to conduct comprehensive experiments and developments of innovative technologies to produce the oil extract of amaranth for their application as food additives in the food industry. To achieve the aim, the following tasks were identified： （I） study the physicochemical, biochemical properties and the composition of amaranth seeds; （2） improving the methods for producing the oil extract of amaranth. This article is devoted to complex research of processes of manufacture of vegetable oils. Authors have developed scientific bases of improvement and an intensification of technological processes for production of oil from amaranth seeds. The authors have developed a new technology for extracting of oil from amaranth seeds using hexane as a solvent. The proposed method provides to obtain oil without great technical effort and keeps it all the nutrients that promote the highest taste of the product and with little labor and time costs.

Effect of desiccation on regeneration frequency of green plantlets and some biochemical properties of calli of wild rice

Wild rice is an important resource of usefulgenes to rice breeders. However, low regener-ation frequency is an obstacle to use the valu-able genes. We used desiccation to improve theregeneration frequency and studied the bio-chemical changes of calli of wild rice after des-iccation.Materials used in this experiment werewild species O. rufipogon, O. meyeriana, O.alta, and O. brachyantha. Young panicles(0.1-0. 5 cm in length of the inflorescence)

Study and Formulation of Composite Flours Based on Gluten Flour and Local Cereal Flours: Fonio, Millet and Sorghum

This study makes it possible to establish baking flours of nutritional quality and technologically acceptable following the increase in their rheological parameters due to the insertion of gluten flour. The composite flours were obtained using the Philips mixer type (model HR2811). The nutritional qualities of the formulated flours were determined by the Kjeldahl, AOAC 985-29, UV-VIS spectrophotometry (DR 5000;HACH and LANGE, France) and Soxhlet gravimetric methods. The compounds obtained are respectively: Protein, carbohydrate, lipid, micronutrient and vitamin contents. Monitoring the analysis of functional properties (water and oil absorption capacity) as well as baking value.

Comparison of corneal biomechanical properties in normal tension glaucoma patients with different visual field progression speed

AIM：To compare the corneal biomechanical properties difference by ocular response analyzer（ORA） in normal tension glaucoma（NTG） patients with different visual field（VF） progression speed. METHODS：NTG patients with well-controlled Goldmann applanation tonometer（GAT） who routinely consulted Kitasato University Hospital Glaucoma Department between January 2010 and February 2014 were enrolled.GAT and ORA parameters including corneal compensated intraocular pressure（lOPcc）,Goldmann estimated intraocular pressure（lOPg）,corneal hysteresis（CH）,corneal resistance factor（CRF） were recorded.VF was tested by Swedish interactive threshold algorithm（SITA）-standard 30-2 fields.All patients underwent VF measurement regularly and GAT did not exceed 15 mm Hg at any time during the 3y follow up.Patients were divided into four groups according to VF change over 3y,and ORA findings were compared between the upper 25th percentile group（slow progression group） and the lower 25th percentile group（rapid progression group）.RESULTS：Eighty-two eyes of 56 patients were studied.There were 21 eyes（21 patients） each in rapid and slow progression groups respectively.GAT,lOPcc,lOPg,CH,CRF were 12.1＋1.4 mm Hg,15.8±1.8 mm Hg,12.8±2.0 mm Hg,8.4±1.1 mm Hg,7.9±1.3 mm Hg respectively in rapid progression group and 11.5±1.3 mm Hg,13.5±2.1 mm Hg,11.2±1.6 mm Hg,9.3±1.1 mm Hg,8.2±0.9 mm Hg respectively in slow progression group（P=0.214,〈0.001,0.007,0.017,0.413,respectively）.In bivariate correlation analysis,lOPcc,lOPcc-GAT and CH were significant correlated with m△MD（r =-0.292,-0.312,0.228 respectively,P =0.008,0.004,0.039 respectively）.CONCLUSION：Relatively rapid VF progression occurred in NTG patients whose lOPcc are rather high,CH are rather low and the difference between lOPcc and GAT are relatively large.Higher lOPcc and lower CH are associated with VF progression in NTG patients.This study suggests that GAT measures might underestimate the IOP in such patients.

Why Blueberries?

Small berry fruits, like blueberries, are popular due to their appearance, are easy to eat and have a unique taste. Blueberries belong to the Cyanococcus section of the Ericaceae family. They are known to be one of the richest sources of natural antioxidants. Blueberries are a flavorful and colorful fruit, known for their health benefits attributed to numerous bioactive compounds with various therapeutic effects. The research aims to understand the metabolic and genetic factors that influence the nutritional and sensory qualities of blueberries. They can be consumed as either fresh or processed such as snacks, desserts, fruit salads, and with ice cream, yogurt or processed products such as frozen berries into conserves, purees and juices, dried fruit. They are rich in organic acids phenolic compounds that protect human against a wide variety of diseases since blueberry has high antioxidant activity. In this review, blueberry worldwide production trend and the effect of blueberry nutrient content on human health will be discussed. And there are also some studies carried out in recent years to determine the chemical composition such as sugars, organic acids and phenolic compounds by advanced methodologies in blueberry fruits. This review could be beneficial for future studies will be conducted on blueberry production and its nutritional content. .

Low-temperature combined with high-humidity thawing improves the water-holding capacity and biochemical properties of Portunus trituberculatus protein

This study compared the effects of conventional thawing methods(water immersion thawing(WIT,(25±1)℃),natural air thawing(AT,(25±1)℃,relative humidity(RH(65±2)per cent),refrigerator thawing(RT,4℃,RH(80±2)per cent)and low-temperature(LT)combined with high-humidity thawing LT,-1℃to 1℃(LT-1-1),2-4℃(LT2-4),5-7℃(LT5-7)and 8-10℃(LT8-10),RH>95 per cent)on the water-holding capacity,lipid oxidation and biochemical properties of Portunus trituberculatus(P.trituberculatus)myofibrillar protein.The results showed that WIT and AT significantly decreased the water-holding capacity while dramatically increasing lipid oxidation,protein oxidation and degeneration,resulting in serious P.trituberculatus quality deterioration.High humidity was beneficial for P.trituberculatus\.ha\A/\ng.The thawing time of P.trituberculatus under the conditions of LT2-4 was only 39.39 per cent of that of conventional air thawing at 4℃(RT),and the LT2-4 samples not only maintained better water-holding capacity but also had an obviously reduced degree of lipid oxidation,protein oxidation and denaturation.Thawed samples LT2-4 and LT5-7 provided better maintenance of P.trituberculatus quality than the LT-1-1 and LT8-10 samples.The best quality was exhibited after thawing at 2-4℃.The levels of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances,carbonyl content and surface hydrophobicity observably decreased in these samples,while the total sulfhydryl contents dramatically increased compared to those of conventionally thawed samples,indicating lower lipid oxidation and protein oxidation.Moreover,the Ca2+-ATPase activity of the sample thawed at 2-4℃(2.06 μmol Pi/mg prot/h)was markedly higher than that of samples subjected to WIT and AT.The product qualities observed after thawing at-1℃to 1℃,5-7℃and 8-10℃under LT were comparable to that observed by RT.Considering its thawing efficiency and product quality,LT is a suitable method for the thawing of P.trituberculatus,and the ideal thawing conditions were LT at 2-4℃.

BioCluster:Tool for Identification and Clustering of Enterobacteriaceae Based on Biochemical Data

Presumptive identifcation of different Enterobaeteriaeeae species is routinely achieved based on biochemical properties. Traditional practice includes manual comparison of each biochem- ical property of the unknown sample with known reference samples and inference of its identity based on the maximum similarity pattern with the known samples. This process is labor- intensive, time-consuming, error-prone, and subjective. Therefore, automation of sorting and sim- ilarity in calculation would be advantageous. Here we present a MATLAB-based graphical user interface （GUI） tool named BioCluster. This tool was designed for automated clustering and iden- tification of Enterobacteriaceae based on biochemical test results. In this tool, we used two types of algorithms, i.e., traditional hierarchical clustering （HC） and the Improved Hierarchical Clustering （IHC）, a modified algorithm that was developed specifically for the clustering and identification of within this species. IHC takes into account the variability in result of 1-47 biochemical tests family. This tool also provides different options to optimize the clus- tering in a user-friendly way. Using computer-generated synthetic data and some real data, we have demonstrated that BioCluster has high accuracy in clustering and identifying enterobacterial species based on biochemical test data. This tool can be freely downloaded at http：//microbialgen.du.ac.bd/ biocluster/.

Changes in biochemical properties of tomato(cv.240)affected by combination of blue/red optical spectra and Calfomyth spray(Ca and P)

The levels of antioxidant activity and vitamins can change with varying ratios of different wavelengths.This study was conducted as a pot experiment under soilless culture conditions in order to investigate the interactive effects of light supplementation and nutrition(calfomyth solution)on some qualitative traits of tomato fruit.The research was carried out as a split-plot experiment based on a completely randomized design with three light treatments including without supplementary light(control),60% red light+40% blue light and 90%red light+10% blue light.There were two nutritional treatments including no spraying with calfomyth as commercial fertilizer and foliar application with a concentration of 2 mg/L in three replicates.According to the results,the amounts of vitamin C(16.1 mg/g FW fruit),soluble solids(12.33 mg/g FW fruit),and lycopene(2.95 mg/g FW fruit)were all uppermost by the effect of a higher percentage of red light treatment.Higher percentage of the blue light resulted in the highest leaf chlorophyll content(38.4 mg/g FW leaf),but supplementary light treatments had no significant effects on the titratable acidity.Nutrition(calfomyth foliar application)showed positive impacts on all treatment traits compared to control.Beta-carotene content was affected by none of the treatments with no significant differences.According to this research,it can be expected that the use of complementary light treatments and calfomyth foliar spray may have positive effects on most of the qualitative traits in tomato fruit(cv.240).

Temporal changes in the characteristics of algae in Dianchi Lake,Yunnan Province,China

Algal blooms have become a worldwide environmental concern due to water eutrophication.Dianchi Lake in Yunnan Province,China is suffering from severe eutrophication and is listed in the Three Important Lakes Restoration Act of China.Hydrothermal liquefaction allows a promising and direct conversion of algal biomass into biocrude oil.In this study,algal samples were collected from Dianchi Lake after a separation procedure including dissolved air flotation with polyaluminum chloride and centrifugation during four months,April,June,August and October.The algal biochemical components varied over the period;lipids from 0.7%to 2.1%ash-free dry weight(afdw),protein from 20.9%to 33.4%afdw and ash from 36.6%to 45.2%dry weight.The algae in June had the highest lipid and protein concentrations,leading to a maximum biocrude oil yield of 24.3%afdw.Biodiversity analysis using pyrosequencing revealed different distributions of microbial communities,specifically Microcystis in April(89.0%),June(63.7%)and August(84.0%),and Synechococcus in April(2.2%),June(12.0%)and August(1.0%).This study demonstrated remarkable temporal changes in the biochemical composition and biodiversity of algae harvested from Dianchi Lake and changes in biocrude oil production potential.

Archaeal chromatin proteins

Archaea, along with Bacteria and Eukarya, are the three domains of life. In all living cells, chromatin proteins serve a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the structure and function of the genome. An array of small, abundant and basic DNA-binding proteins, considered candidates for chromatin proteins, has been isolated from the Euryarchaeota and the Crenarchaeota, the two major phyla in Archaea. While most euryarchaea encode proteins resembling eukaryotic histories, crenarchaea appear to synthesize a number of unique DNA-binding proteins likely involved in chromosomal organization. Several of these proteins （e.g., archaeal histones, Sacl0b homologs, Sul7d, Cren7, CC1, etc.） have been extensively studied. However, whether they are chromatin proteins and how they function in vivo remain to be fully understood. Future investiga- tion of archaeal chromatin proteins will lead to a better understanding of chromosomal organization and gene expression in Archaea and provide valuable information on the evolution of DNA packaging in cellular life.