Research on the Production Process of Apple Clear Juice Beverage

[Objective] The study aimed to determine the formula and production process of apple clear juice beverage. [Method] Concentrated apple juice was used as the raw material in this experiment, apple clear juice beverage was produced through dilution, blending, color protection, sterilization and other key processes. By using orthogonal test, the best formula of the apple clear juice beverage was determined, and then the color protection effects of three color protection agents Cys, NaHSO3 and VC on the apple clear juice beverage were compared. [Result] The best formula of the apple clear juice beverage was composed of 0.15% citric acid, 0.20% sodium citrate, 0.06% tannic acid, 6% white sugar and 16% concentrated apple juice. Besides, there was a big difference among the three kinds of color protection agents (Cys, NaHSO3 and VC) in the color protection effects on the apple clear juice beverage. Considering the quality safety of the product, 0.60% VC was chosen as the best color protection agent. [Conclusion] The research could provide theoretical references for using concentrated apple juice to produce apple clear juice beverage.

Study on Pharmacological Effects of Calycosin in Astragali Radix

Calycosin is an important isoflavone compound in traditional Chinese medicine Astragali Radix.It not only has remarkable anti-oxidation,anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor functions,but also has the characteristics of small adverse reactions and low toxicity,so it has attracted wide attention of scholars and researchers.This paper reviewed the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of calycosin in recent years,in the hope of providing a theoretical basis for its clinical application.

Molecular Mechanism of Induction on Apoptosis of Human Esophageal Cancer HCE-4 Cells by Active Components from Astragalus membranaceus

[Objectives] To investigate the pharmacologic effects of active components from A. membranaceus on human esophageal cancer HCE-4 cells and its apoptosis mechanism. [Methods] The viabilities of HCE-4 cells were measured by MTT assay. The induction of active components from A. membranaceus on apoptosis of HCE-4 cells was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The apoptotic-related protein expression levels were determined by Western blotting. [Results] Formononetin and astragaloside IV suppressed the proliferation of HCE-4 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining results showed that formononetin and astragaloside IV could induce HCE-4 cells apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. The Western blotting results showed that formononetin and astragaloside IV could significantly down-regulate p-AKT,pro-caspase-3,and increase cle-caspase-3 protein expression in HCE-4 cells. [Conclusions]Active components from A. membranaceus such as formononetin and astragaloside IV significantly inhibited the proliferation of human esophageal cancer HCE-4 cells by inducing mitochondrial dependent apoptosis via AKT signaling pathway.

Lipase-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of palmitolyglucose ester in ionic liquids

Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) was used as a catalyst in the synthesis of palmitolyglucose ester in the ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium triflu- oromethanesulfonate ([Bmim][TfO]), with glucose as a substrates and palmitic acid vinyl ester as the acyl donor. The effect of substrate ratio, lipase content, and temperature on the activity and stability of lipase was studied. The reaction conditions in [Bmim][TfO] re- sulting in the highest yield of the sugar ester were a temperature of 50?C, enzyme concentration of 50 mg/ mL, and a molar ratio of glucose/vinyl palmitate of 1:3. The major reaction product was purified and char- acterized by FT-IR, HPLC, MS and NMR, as being 6-O-palmitolyglucose ester. The advantages of ionic liquid vs. organic solvent were noted.

EFFECT OF BUNGARUS MULTICINCTUS CRUDE VENOM AND ITS COMPONENTS ON TUMOR CELLS

Objective: To confirm whetherBungarus multicinctus crude venom induces the apoptosis of K562 tumor cells and to find out the components inducing apoptosis of K562 cells from the crude venom. Methods: the crude venom separated and purified by cation exchange chromatography, and the effect of venoms on K562 was studied by MTT method and flow cytometry. Results: The crude venom began to kill K562 cells at than 8×l03ng/ml (the survival rate was 82.5%) concentration and the effect was more significant in 24 h when administrating 8×l05ng/ml (the survival rate was 29.4%) crude venom. Apoptotic bodies were observed in the K562 tumor cells by fluorescent microscopy after administration of 5 μg/ml cycloheximide (CHX) or the peak VI solution at about 8×105 ng/ml. The same results were detected by the flow cytometry. A sub-Gi peak appeared after administration of CHX or the sixth peak solution. Conclusion: The authors found that the venom can kill K562 tumor cells in time- and dose-dependent manner. However, the killing effect of the venom is not apoptosis. What’s more, the peak VI solution, a component of the crude venom can induce the apoptosis of K562 tumor cells.

Apoptotic Effect of Cryptotanshinone on Human Melanoma A375 Cells

[Objectives] The aim was to investigate the effect of cryptotanshinone on apoptosis of human melanoma A375 cells and its related mechanism of mitochondrial pathway.[Methods]The cytotoxic effect of cryptotanshinone on apoptosis of human melanoma A375 cells was detected by MTT colorimetry.The apoptosis of melanoma A375 cells was detected with Annexin V-FITC/PI and observed by fluorescence inverted microscope.The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blotting.[Results]The viability of the A375 cells decreased with the increase of drug concentration.The fluorescence intensity of the cells increased with the treatment time.The expression of pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3 gradually increased,while the expression of apoptosis-inhibiting proteins p-AKT and Bcl-2 gradually reduced.[Conclusions]Cryptotanshinone induces apoptosis of human melanoma A375 cells via AKT signaling pathway,thus exerting a good cytotoxic effect on A375 cells.

Pro-apoptotic Effects of OSNQ on Human Colon Cancer SW480 Cells

[Objectives] The aim was to elucidate the pro-apoptosis mechanism of naphthoquinone derivative 2-octyl sulfoxide-1,4-naphthoquinone(OSNQ) on human colon cancer SW480 cells.[Methods]The cytotoxic effect of OSNQ on colon cancer SW480 cells was detected by MTT colorimetry.The pro-apoptotic effect of OSNQ on human colon cancer SW480 cells was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining.The changes in expression of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blot.[Results]The results of MTT assay showed that OSNQ had a significant cytotoxic effect on colon cancer SW480 cells.The results of Western blot showed that OSNQ induced the apoptosis in colon cancer SW480 cells through promoting the expression of pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and inhibiting the expression of apoptosis-inhibiting protein Bcl-2.[Conclusions] OSNQ has a significant cytotoxic effect on colon cancer SW480 cells,and it induces the apoptosis of colon cancer SW480 cells by AKT signaling pathway.

Research on Influence Factors of Pig Farmers' Ecological Farming Behavior: Based on the TPB and SEM

China's extensive development model of pig industry gives rise to serious resource and environment bottleneck restriction,it is urgent to transform the existing development model into ecological farming model. In this process,farmers' behavior will play a key role. On the basis of summarizing development connotation and characteristics of ecological agriculture,using survey data of 323 pig farmers in 6 provinces,based on the Theory of Planned Behavior( TPB) it introduced individual characteristics and external environment constraint variables,and made an empirical analysis on factors influencing intention and behavior of pig farmers' ecological farming using the Structural Equation Model( SEM). Results indicate:( i) ecological farming intention of pig farmers has the largest direct effect on their ecological farming behavior;( ii)ecological farming cognition of pig farmers has significant positive effect on their ecological farming behavior;( iii) external environment has the largest indirect effect on their ecological farming behavior,followed by the overall effect,and external environment has significant positive effect on ecological farming attitude and cognition of pig farmers;( iv) individual characteristics( educational level and income level) of pig farmers influence ecological farming behavior of pig farmers through their ecological farming attitude and intention,but the degree of influence is limited.

Advance in Research on Anti-tumor Pharmacological Mechanism of Cryptotanshinone

Cryptotanshinone is a natural active ingredient extracted from traditional Chinese medicine Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae.It has a variety of pharmacological effects,in addition to preventing and treating ischemic diseases,coronary artery disease Alzheimer's disease and fighting tumors.The anti-tumor effects are exerted through inhibiting tumor cell proliferation,inducing tumor cell apoptosis,inhibiting tumor metastasis and invasion,inhibiting angiogenesis and regulating reactive oxygen species levels.The studies on the anti-tumor activity and action mechanism of cryptotanshinone in recent years are reviewed in this article.

Research Progress on Biological Activity of Sciadopitysin

Sciadopitysin(SP)belongs to flavonoids.Recent studies showed that sciadopitysin has anti-tumor,anti-oxidation,treatment of osteoporosis,diabetic osteopathy,Alzheimer's disease and other effects.This study will review the biological activity and related action mechanism of the sciadopitysin in recent years,in order to provide theoretical basis and reference for the future research and drug development of the sciadopitysin.

Investigation and Analysis on the Causes Affecting the Production of One Pig Farm in Southwest Region

To analyze the causes affecting production situation of one pig farm in southwest region,group leader,assistant and related staffs in the pig farm were queried,mating and delivery situation of sow and dead-culling situation ofpigletwere investigated.The results showed that(1) mating situation: mating 691 pigs,returning to love 42 pigs,abortion 4 pigs,mismatching rate was 7.59%.(2) Delivery situation: delivering 175 nests,total birth 2538,total piglet per fetus 14.5,average healthy piglet per fetus 10.12,invalid piglet rate was30.21%.Among them,mummy fetus,dead fetus,weak piglet and deformity accounted for 47.78%,35.64%,10.71% and 5.87% of invalid piglet.(3) Dead-culling situation: dead-culling rate in breeding process was 12.37%.Among them,diarrhea death wasthemain cause,accounting for 44.47%,followed by pressing,falling to the ground,disease,joint swelling,weakness and other causes,and they respectively accounted for 18.58%,13.36%,13.36%,8.56%,5.85% and 0.62%.

Escherichia coli Expression of Lactate Dehydrogenase C Gene of Black-Lipped Pika in Western Sichuan Plateau

[ Objective] To express lactate dehydrogenase C （LDH-C） gene in prokaryotic system and then purify the recombinant protein. E Meth- od] The LDI-I-C gene was amplified from black-lipped pika（ Ochotona curzoniae） by RT-PCR and ligated to the expression vector pET-32a. The E. coli BL21 （DE3） carrying the LDI-I-C gene was obtained and induced by IPTG （isopropy-beta-D-thiogalactoside）. The expression products were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and purified by affinity chromatography. L Result] An approximately 1.0 kbp band appeared in the RT-PCR products as the- oretically expected. As evidenced by PCR and double enzyme digestion, an approximately 1.0 kbp fragment appeared, which indicated successful construction of expression vector. As analyzed by SDS-PAGE, a fusion protein with molecular weight slightly larger than 45 kDa was expressed in form of inclusion body. And very pure fusion protein was obtained by nickel ions-charged affinity chromatography. [ Coaclusion] The LDH-C gene of black-lipped pika has been cloned and expressed in E. coil

Properties of Magnetite Nanoparticles Produced by Magnetotactic Bacteria

The magnetic nanoparticles（magnetite） were prepared through the fermentation of the Magnetospirillum strain WM-1 newly isolated by our group. The samples were characterized by TEM, SAED, XRD, rock magnetic analysis, and Mossbauer spectroscopy. TEM and SAED measurements showed that the magnetosomes formed by strain WM-1 were single crystallites of high perfection with a cubic spinel structure of magnetite. X-ray measurements also fitted very well with standard Fe3O4 reflections with an inverse spinel structure of the magnetite core. The size of crystal as calculated by the Debye-Scherrer’s equation was approximately 55 nm. Rock magnetic analysis showed WM-1 synthesized single-domain magnetite magnetosomes, which were arranged in the form of linear chain. The high delta ratio（（δFC / δZFC = 4） supported the criteria of Moskowitz test that there were intact magnetosomes chains in cells. The Verwey transition occurred at 105 K that closed to stoochiometric magnetite in composition. These observations provided useful insights into the biomineralization of magnetosomes and properties of M. WM-1 and potential application of biogenic magnetite in biomaterials and biomagnetism.

Comparative study of carbonic anhydrase activity in waters among different geological eco-environments of Yangtze River basin and its ecological significance

This study provides the presence of carbonic anhydrase（CA） activity in waters of the Yangtze River basin, China, as well as the correlation of CA activity with HCO-3 concentration and CO2 sink flux. Different degrees of CA activity could be detected in almost all of the water samples from different geological eco-environments in all four seasons. The CA activity of water samples from karst areas was significantly higher than from non-karst areas（PP3-concentration（r = 0.672, P2 sink flux（r = 0.602, P = 0.076） in karst areas. This suggests that CA in waters might have a promoting effect on carbon sinks for atmospheric CO2 in karst river basins. In conditions of similar geological type, higher CA activity was generally detected in water samples taken from areas that exhibited better eco-environments, implying that the CA activity index of waters could be used as an indicator for monitoring ecological environments and protection of river basins. These findings suggest that the role of CA in waters in the karst carbon sink potential of river basins is worthy of further in-depth studies.

Csy4-based vector system enables conditional chimeric gene editing in zebrafish without interrupting embryogenesis

Dear Editor,Despite diverse transfection approaches, zygote micro-injection remains the most widely used method to deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 system into most model organisms,including zebrafish and non-human primates Oao et aL,2013;Niu et aL,2014).