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Short-growth-period rapeseed late sowing followed by low germination and seedling temperatures resulted in slow growth. Low temperature is one of the significant factors restricting the production of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) in the Yangtze River basin, thus it is important to select new varieties of rapeseed that are tolerant to late sowing and has the trait of short-growth-period. In this study, 81 varieties of rapeseed were used as materials, and the effects of different low temperatures on seed germination period and seedling growth of oilseed rape were analyzed, with a view to screening late-sowing-tolerant short-growth-period materials. The results showed that low temperatures would lead to reduced seed germination rate, prolonged germination time, slowed down seedling growth, closed or reduced leaf stomata, and a significant decreased in the net photosynthetic rate of rapeseed. There was no significant correlation between traits at germination and seedling stage. Seed germination rate and shoot fresh weight significantly correlated with freezing survival rate at -2 to -6C, and the root system of rapeseed resources was sensitive to low temperatures at different levels. Though principle component analysis of the germination, net photosynthetic rate, freezing survival and total fresh weight occupied a relatively important position in the screening process of resources, which could be used as the main basis for evaluating late sowing tolerant rapeseed resources. 20 short-growth-period rapeseed resources were selected according to the comprehensive performance of each resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactants, that can reduce the interfacial tension between crude oil and formation water to ultra‐low, are needed in tertiary oil recovery. A bio‐based zwitterionic surfactant, N‐phenylpropanaldehyde epoxy acetal octadecanoicamido propyl‐N, N‐dimethyl hydroxy sulfonate (PADS), was derived from methyl oleate. In the process of synthesizing PADS, a new reactive site was introduced by epoxidizing methyl oleate and then the benzene ring was introduced by acetalization, which was a greener new method of introducing benzene ring into hydrophobic chains of surfactants. PADS was identified by ESI‐MS and NMR, and its interfacial activity was measured by interfacial tensiometer. The results showed that PADS possessed excellent interfacial activity and potential for low‐dose application. Under alkali‐free conditions, it could reduce the interfacial tension between crude oil and simulated formation water to ultra‐low in a wide concentration range (0.005–3 g/L). In addition, although the NaCl concentration was 230 g/L in the system, PADS still had good interfacial activity and could maintain ultra‐low oil–water interfacial tension. The protocol of epoxidation and acetalization provides a new feasible path to preparing bio‐based surfactants with high interfacial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzoxepane derivatives were designed and synthesized, and one hit compound emerged as being effective in vitro with low toxicity. In vivo, this hit compound ameliorated both sickness behavior through anti-inflammation in LPS-induced neuroinflammatory mice model and cerebral ischemic injury through anti-neuroinflammation in rats subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Target fishing for the hit compound using photoaffinity probes led to identification of PKM2 as the target protein responsible for anti-inflammatory effect of the hit compound. Furthermore, the hit exhibited an anti-neuroinflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting PKM2-mediated glycolysis and NLRP3 activation, indicating PKM2 as a novel target for neuroinflammation and its related brain disorders. This hit compound has a better safety profile compared to shikonin, a reported PKM2 inhibitor, identifying it as a lead compound in targeting PKM2 for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)