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Maize (Zea mays L.) is considered one of the most popular grain crops in China. Among various agricultural technologies, soil mulching is the one that is used more and more in recent years. Mulches influence the soil temperature, retard the loss of soil water, and limit the growth of weeds; and these are important factors in the production of maize. A two-year field experiment was carried out at Shanghai, in southeast of China, in order to evaluate the effects of water hyacinth residues as mulch on soil water content, soil temperature and grain yield of a maize crop. Compared to no mulching, higher moisture content was always observed in the 0-90 cm soil layer of the mulched plots, and mean soil temperature were higher by 0.7-1.1°C at 5 cm depth and by 0.4-0.7°C at 10 cm depth with mulching in both years. The maize grown in soil mulched with water hyacinth residues produced greater grain yields than the one grown under no-mulch condition (on average 19.6 % and 17.4 % in 2008 and 2009, respectively). For stover, the mulched has 131.9 % and 110.3 % as much dry weight as the non-mulched in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The results showed that the application of water hyacinth mulch is an effective way to improve soil water conditions, temperature and maize yield. Mulching with water hyacinth residue may therefore be an important technique for not only maize production in south-east area of China, but also for safe disposal of such residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters constitute a large superfamily of integral membrane proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, there are 28 genes encoding ABC transporters and many of them have not been characterized so far. The orf19.4531 (also known as IPF7530) encodes a putative ABC transporter. In this study, we have demonstrated that disruption of orf19.4531 causes C. albicans cells to become tolerant to azoles, but not to polyene antifungals and terbinafine. Therefore, the protein encoded by orf19.4531 is involved in azole sensitivity and we name it as ROA1, the regulator of azole sensitivity 1 gene. Consistently, we show that the expression of ROA1 is responsive to treatment of either fluconazole or ketoconazole in C. albicans. In addition, through a GFP tagging approach, Roa1 is localized in a small punctuate compartment adjacent to the vacuolar membrane. However, ROA1 is not essential for the in vitro filamentation of C. albicans cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Golgi-localized Saccharomyces cerevisiae ScGdt1 is a member of the cation/Ca2+ exchanger superfamily. We show here that Candida albicans CaGdt1 is the functional homolog of ScGdt1 in calcium sensitivity, and shows genetic interactions with CaCch1 or CaMid1 in response to ER stresses. In addition, similar to ScCCH1 and ScMID1, deletion of either CaCCH1 or CaMID1 leads to a growth sensitivity of cells to cold stress, which can be suppressed by deletion of CaGDT1. Furthermore, deletion of CaCCH1 leads to a severe delay in filamentation of C. albicans cells, and this defect is abolished by deletion of CaGDT1. In contrast, CaGDT1 does not show genetic interaction with CaMID1 in filamentation. Interestingly, C. albicans cells lacking both CaMID1 and CaGDT1 exhibit an intermediate virulence between C. albicans cells lacking CaCCH1 (non-virulent) and C. albicans cells lacking CaGDT1 (partially virulent), while C. albicans cells lacking both CaCCH1 and CaGDT1 are not virulent in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. Therefore, CaGdt1 genetically interacts with the plasma membrane calcium channel, CaCch1/CaMid1, in the response of C. albicans cells to cold and ER stresses and antifungal drug challenge as well as in filamentation and virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese species of the genus Timandra Duponchel, 1829 are reviewed: 12 known species are reported. Seven new species are described from China, increasing the total number of Timandra species to 28: T. distorta sp. n., T. adunca sp. n., T. quadrata sp. n., T. accumulata sp. n., T. viminea sp. n., T. robusta sp. n. and T. stueningi sp. n. Diagnoses for all 19 Chinese species are provided, with illustrations of external features and genitalia.

Based on the field test of a 600 MW supercritical circulating-fluidized bed boiler, this paper optimizes the secondary air pipe layout scheme of a 660 MW ultra-supercritical circulating fluidized bed boiler with a similar furnace structure and carried out a numerical simulation on its air distribution uniformity. The secondary air box of the 660 MW ultra-supercritical circulating-fluidized bed boiler adopts a variable section design, and the secondary air branch pipe adopts a separate air inlet mode. The experimental results showed that the oxygen concentration was uniform near the rear wall, but all exhibited a “decrease–increase–decrease” profile along the horizontal line, which indicated that the trajectory of the secondary air jet was first in the shape of bending downward and then upward. To achieve a more uniform secondary air distribution for supercritical CFB boilers, further optimization of the layout of the bellows and branch pipes should be considered. Numerical results showed that the deviation rate of the internal and lower secondary air reached 17%, and there was optimization space for the secondary air branch pipe layout of the boiler. Its uniformity can be increased by adding valves and other measures. The velocity deviation of the secondary air of the 660 MW ultra-supercritical circulating-fluidized bed boiler can be within 3% by means of separate air supply and pipe diameter change, and better uniform air supply can be achieved to reduce the speed deviation by adding valves and adjusting the combustion.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of most common neurological disorders, mainly affecting women. The central nervous system (CNS) of this autoimmune disease is characterized by intermittent or chronic damage to the myelin sheaths (demyelination), local inflammation and axonal degeneration. During the early relapsing/remitting stages of MS, myelin can regenerate. However, as the disease progresses, both amount and activity of regenerated axons becomes insufficient, leading to impaired axon conduction, neurodegeneration and the worsening symptoms. Epidemiological study found that distinct symptom alleviation of diseases at a certain periods would be shown in women during pregnancy. The following basic researches indicated that sex hormones especially progesterone can significantly reduce the disease severity, moreover, the protective effect of sex hormone on the nervous system has become the research focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency of an innovative constructed wetland system planted with Phragmites australis in dewatering and treatment of sewage sludge. Six months of laboratory-scale experimental results indicated that the system in this study promotes sludge dewatering, as well as sludge water purification. The sludge water content and VS tend to decrease with increasing sludge retention time. The final product is sludge with a water content of around 40%; and the VS average removal rate was 48.2%. Approximately 392 L of fresh sludge was introduced totally and 10.3 L dewatered sludge accumulated during the experimental period, corresponding to sludge volume reduction of 97.4%. The sludge depth was 5.23 cm at the end with an increasing rate about 0.87 cm per month. Based on the sludge loading rate of 20.0 L/m2 d and an intermittently loaded model, the system could achieve a constant nutrient removal rate, with average percentages of removal being 75.2%, 97.3% and 78.4% for TN, TP and COD, respectively. The results showed that on-site treatment of sewage sludge with this uncomplicated, low-maintenance ecology technology can offer an alternative to conventional sludge treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid and porous chitosan/gelatin (CG) composite microcarriers were prepared by a water-in-oil emulsion process with additional freezing and lyophilization. Adult rat hepatocytes (106 cells ml-1) attached on CG microcarriers maintained at least 15 d of viability and differentiated functions. Over 15 d, unimmobilized hepatocytes released 1.34-fold less lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and retained 1.63-, 1.51- and 1.28-fold higher albumin secretion, urea synthesis and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylation activities, respectively, than those on collagen-coated microcarriers. The CG matrix is therefore a promising microcarrier for hepatocyte culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Ninodes Warren, N. quadratus sp. n., is described from China and compared with related species, based on numerous museum specimens. N. albarius Beljaev & Park, 1998, described from Korea, is newly recorded for China. Illustrations of external features and genitalia for each species of Ninodes are presented.

The genus Biston Leach, 1815 is reviewed for China. Seventeen species are recognized, of which B. mediolata sp. n. is described. B. pustulata (Warren, 1896) and B. panterinaria exanthemata (Moore, 1888) are newly recorded for China. The following new synonyms are established: B. suppressaria suppressaria (Guenée, 1858) (= B. suppressaria benescripta (Prout, 1915), syn. n. = B. luculentus Inoue, 1992 syn. n.); B. falcata (Warren, 1893) (= Amphidasis erilda Oberthür, 1910, syn. n. = Amphidasis clorinda Oberthür, 1910, syn. n. = B. emarginaria Leech, 1897, syn. n.); B. panterinaria panterinaria (Bremer & Grey, 1853) (= B. panterinaria abraxata (Leech, 1889), syn. n. = B. panterinaria lienpingensis (Wehrli, 1939), syn. n. = B. panterinaria szechuanensis (Wehrli, 1939), syn. n.). B. falcata satura (Wehrli,1941), comb. n. is proposed. A key to Chinese Biston and diagnoses for Chinese species are provided. Illustrations of external features and genitalia are presented.

Bacteriocins have attracted increasing interest because of their potential as natural preservatives. Recent studies showed that the Bacillus cereus group is a prominent producer of bacteriocins. Using a laboratory-based screening strategy, we identified a strain in the B. cereus group, Bacillus toyonensis XIN-YC13, with antimicrobial activity against B. cereus. A novel, 70-amino-acid-long leaderless bacteriocin, toyoncin, was purified from the culture supernatant of strain XIN-YC13, and its molecular mass was found to be 7,817.1012 Da. Toyoncin shares no similarity with any other known bacteriocins, and its N-terminal amino acid is formylmethionine rather than methionine. Toyoncin shows good pH and heat stability and exhibits specific antimicrobial activity against two important foodborne pathogens, B. cereus and Listeria monocytogenes. Additionally, toyoncin exerts bactericidal activity and induces cell membrane damage. Toyoncin can also inhibit the outgrowth of B. cereus spores. Preservation assays showed that toyoncin effectively suppressed or eradicated B. cereus and L. monocytogenes in pasteurized skim milk. These results suggest that toyoncin can be used as a new biopreservative against B. cereus and L. monocytogenes in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bzip transcription factors can modulate the transcriptional expressions of target genes by binding specifically to cis-regulatory elements in the promoter region of stress-related genes, hence regulating plant stress resistance. Here, we investigated a stress-responsive transcription factor Osbzip20 under abiotic stresses. The OsbZIP20-GFP fusion protein predominantly aggregated in the nucleus, in accordance with our subcellular localization. OsbZIP20 transcript was observed in all vegetative tissues with highest levels being detected in the seed. Transcription of Osbzip20 was induced by salinity, exsiccation, and abscisic acid. Overexpression of OsbZIP20 in transgenic rice considerably improved tolerance to salt and drought stresses, as well as increased sensitivity to ABA. Furthermore, abiotic stress responsive genes transcript were found to be remarkably elevated in transgenic rice overexpressing OsbZIP20 than in wild-type plants. SAPK10 was discovered to directly interact with and phosphorylate OsbZIP20. Yeast one-hybrid and luciferase assay revealed that OsbZIP20 acted as a transcriptional stimulator. Interestingly, gel shift assay showed that phosphorylated bZIP20 augmented its DNA-binding affinity to the ABRE element of the NHX1 promoter and induced its transcription. In sum, our findings establish a novel signaling pathway associated with the SAPK10-bZIP20-NHX1 synergistic interaction, as well as a new strategy for enhancing rice drought and salt tolerance. • A Novel mechanisms of signaling cascade associated with the SAPK10-bZIP20-NHX1. • OsbZIP20-GFP fusion protein predominantly aggregated in the nucleus. • Transcription of Osbzip20 was induced by salinity, exsiccation, and abscisic acid. • OsbZIP20 Overexpression considerably improved tolerance to salt and drought stresses. • Phosphorylated bZIP20 augmented its DNA-binding affinity to ABRE element. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]