[Responses of ground-active arthropod community in Caragana shrub plantations to grazing management in desertified region.].

We investigated the community structure of ground-active arthropods as well as vegetation and soil properties in Caragana shrub plantations under grazing and exclosure management across spring, summer and autumn in Yanchi County of Ningxia in northern China. The aim of this study was to uncover the responses of ground-active arthropods in shrub plantations to grazing management in desertified regions. The results showed that: 1) plant height, soil fine sand content, and soil electrical conductivity were significantly lower, whereas soil bulk density and coarse sand were significantly higher in shrub plantations under grazing than exclosure.

Extraordinary Room-Temperature Tensile Ductility of Pure Magnesium.

Room-temperature tensile behavior and associated deformation mechanisms of multiple-axial forged (MAFed) pure Mg has been investigated. The as-MAFed Mg, with a coarsely recrystallized structure, exhibited a balanced strain-hardening behavior with strain, resulting in extraordinary mechanical properties with high ultimate stress (~200 MPa) and extensive true strain (~0.30).

Improving the Classification Accuracy for Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Chinese Using Local Variable Selection.

In order to improve the classification accuracy of Chinese using near-infrared spectroscopy, a novel local variable selection strategy is thus proposed. Combining the strengths of the local algorithm and interval partial least squares, the spectra data have firstly been divided into several pairs of classes in sample direction and equidistant subintervals in variable direction. Then, a local classification model has been built, and the most proper spectral region has been selected based on the new evaluation criterion considering both classification error rate and best predictive ability under the leave-one-out cross validation scheme for each pair of classes.

A New Local Modelling Approach Based on Predicted Errors for Near-Infrared Spectral Analysis.

Over the last decade, near-infrared spectroscopy, together with the use of chemometrics models, has been widely employed as an analytical tool in several industries. However, most chemical processes or analytes are multivariate and nonlinear in nature. To solve this problem, local errors regression method is presented in order to build an accurate calibration model in this paper, where a calibration subset is selected by a new similarity criterion which takes the full information of spectra, chemical property, and predicted errors.

Local Strategy Combined with a Wavelength Selection Method for Multivariate Calibration.

One of the essential factors influencing the prediction accuracy of multivariate calibration models is the quality of the calibration data. A local regression strategy, together with a wavelength selection approach, is proposed to build the multivariate calibration models based on partial least squares regression. The local algorithm is applied to create a calibration set of spectra similar to the spectrum of an unknown sample; the synthetic degree of grey relation coefficient is used to evaluate the similarity.

The CodY regulator is essential for virulence in Streptococcus suis serotype 2.

The main role of CodY, a global regulatory protein in most low G + C gram-positive bacteria, is in transcriptional repression. To study the functions of CodY in Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2), a mutant codY clone named ∆codY was constructed to explore the phenotypic variation between ∆codY and the wild-type strain.

Wheat TaNPSN SNARE homologues are involved in vesicle-mediated resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici).

Subcellular localisation of SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) and their ability to form SNARE complexes are critical for determining the specificity of vesicle fusion. NPSN11, a Novel Plant SNARE (NPSN) gene, has been reported to be involved in the delivery of cell wall precursors to the newly formed cell plate during cytokinesis. However, functions of NPSN genes in plant-pathogen interactions are largely unknown.

Evaluation of recombinant proteins of Haemophilus parasuis strain SH0165 as vaccine candidates in a mouse model.

The recently completed genome sequence of Haemophilus parasuis strain SH0165 allowed us to screen putative OMPs for the development of recombinant vaccines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of three OMPs of H. parasuis.

Trigger factor of Streptococcus suis is involved in stress tolerance and virulence.

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes serious diseases such as meningitis, septicemia, endocarditis, arthritis and septic shock in pigs and humans. Little is known about the regulation of virulence gene expression in S. suis serotype 2.

Isolation, structure determination and antibacterial activities of succinamide conjugate diacid from Acinetobacter sp. BJ-L.

Strain BJ-L was isolated from the a water sample taken from Xiao Yue River in Beijing and identified as Acinetobacter sp. BJ-L based on the study of its morphology, physiology, biochemistry and 16S rRNA gene sequence. A new antimicrobial substance was produced after the strain was incubated in potato extract medium at 15°C for 72 h.

Identification of a novel angiogenin inhibitor 1 and its association with hyaluronidase of Streptococcus suis serotype 2.

To characterize the role of hyaluronidase (Hyl) of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2), the hylA gene that encodes Hyl was cloned, expressed and purified. A murine brain cDNA library was used to screen for interacting proteins of Hyl.

Dimeric guaianolides and sesquiterpenoids from Artemisia anomala.

A new dimeric guaianolide (8) and a new glaucolide (3), a seco-guaiaretic acid (4), two guaianolides (6 and 7), and five known sesquiterpene lactones (1, 2, 5, 9, and 10) were isolated from the aerial part of Artemisia anomala. Their structures were determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic analysis. In addition, their cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines and anti-COX-2 effects in vitro were evaluated.

Contribution of glutamine synthetase to the virulence of Streptococcus suis serotype 2.

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2) is an important pathogen, responsible for diverse diseases in swine and human. In this study, we investigated the role of the glutamine synthetase (GlnA) in the pathogenesis of S.

The orphan response regulator RevSC21 controls the attachment of Streptococcus suis serotype-2 to human laryngeal epithelial cells and the expression of virulence genes.

Streptococcus suis-2 is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes serious diseases such as meningitis, septicemia, endocarditis, arthritis and septic shock in pigs and humans. Little is known about the regulation of virulence gene expression in S. suis-2.

Two new coumarin glycosides from Peucedanum praeruptorum.

Two new coumarin glycosides, praerosides VI (1) and VII (2), were isolated from the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn. Their structures were elucidated by chemical reaction and NMR spectroscopic methods.

[Studies on xanthones from herbs of Polygala telephioides].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the whole plants of Polygala telephioides.

Method: Compounds were isolated by repeated silica gel and Sephadex LH -20 column chromatography, and their structures were determined by spectral analysis and physicochemical properties.

Result: Six xanthones were isolated from P.

1H and 13C NMR assignments for two new angular furanocoumarin glycosides from Peucedanum praeruptorum.

Two novel angular-type furanocoumarin glycosides, peucedanoside A (1) and peucedanoside B (2), along with a known compound apterin (3), were isolated from the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn. Their chemical structures were determined by MS, NMR spectroscopy and chemical analysis. Complete assignments of the 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data were achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments including DEPT, HSQC, HMBC and ROESY.

New diterpenoids from Semiaquilegia adoxoides.

Two new ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids, E-semiaquilegin (1) and Z-semiaquilegin (2), together with eight known compounds (3-10) were isolated from the dried roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated mainly by 2D NMR techniques including 1H-1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY as 16alpha-hydroxy-ent-kaurane-17,20-di-(3,4-dihydroxy-E-cinnamoyl) ester and its (Z)-isomer.

Complete assignments of 1H and 13C NMR spectral data for a novel diterpenoid from Semiaquilegia adoxoides.

Semiaquilegoside A (1), a new diterpenoid, was isolated from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides. Its chemical structure was established as 3beta, 11- dihydroxy-12-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-8,11,13-abietatrien-6-one through spectroscopic techniques and chemical analysis.

Triterpene saponins from the leaves of Ilex kudingcha.

Nine new triterpene saponins, ilekudinosides K-S (1-9), and eight known triterpene saponins were isolated from the 70% ethanol extract of the leaves of Ilex kudingcha. The new saponins were characterized as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-alpha-kudinlactone (1), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-beta-kudinlactone (2), 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-gamma-kudinlactone (3), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-alpha-kudinlactone (4), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-alpha-kudinlactone (5), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-alpha-kudinlactone (6), 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-beta-kudinlactone (7), 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-beta-kudinlactone (8), and 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-gamma-kudinlactone (9), respectively. The structures and stereochemistry of compounds 1-9 were elucidated by spectroscopic data interpretation and chemical degradation.

[Chemical and pharmacological advances of study on Lysimachia].

The progress in the research of the chemical components and pharmacological activities of Lysimachia was reviewed. Lysimachia mainly contain flavonoids, saponins and phenolic acids, and some of the plants have been used in the treatment of fever, ulcers, diarrhea and as analgesic or anti-inflammatory agents. The plants of genus Lysimachia are widespread in China, so it is a singificants work to study their chemical ingredients and pharmacological activities.