The metaplastic effects of cordycepin in hippocampal CA1 area of rats.

Metaplasticity is referred to adjustment in the requirements for induction of synaptic plasticity based on the prior history of activity. Synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), has been considered to be the neural processes underlying learning and memory. Previous observations that cordycepin (an adenosine derivative) improved learning and memory seemed to be contradictory to the findings that cordycepin inhibited LTP.

Haplotype-based genome-wide association studies for carcass and growth traits in chicken.

There have been several genome-wide association study (GWAS) reported for carcass, growth, and meat traits in chickens. Most of these studies have been based on single SNPs GWAS. In contrast, haplotype-based GWAS reports have been limited.

Neuroprotection of cordycepin in NMDA-induced excitotoxicity by modulating adenosine A receptors.

Cerebral ischemia impairs physiological form of synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP). Clinical symptoms of cognitive dysfunction resulting from cerebral ischemia are associated with neuron loss and synaptic function impairment in hippocampus. It has been widely reported that cordycepin displays neuroprotective effect on ameliorating cognitive dysfunction induced by cerebral ischemia.

Important candidate genes for abdominal fat content identified by linkage disequilibrium and fixation index information.

Selection for rapid growth in chickens has always been accompanied by increased fat deposition and excessive fat deposition, especially abdominal fat, cannot only decrease feed efficiency but also cause many diseases. Finding the candidate genes associated with abdominal fat deposition is essential for breeding. To identify these candidate genes, we applied linkage disequilibrium and selection signature analysis using chicken 60 k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips in two broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content for 11 generations.

Effects of cordycepin on spontaneous alternation behavior and adenosine receptors expression in hippocampus.

Cordycepin, an adenosine analogue, has been reported to improve cognitive function. Important roles on learning and memory of adenosine and its receptors, such as adenosine A1 and A2A receptors (A1R and A2AR), also have been shown. Therefore, we assume that the improvement of learning and memory induced by cordycepin is likely related to hippocampal adenosine content and adenosine receptor density.

From Microscopy to Genomic Approach in Soil Biodiversity Assessment.

Soil biota represents a major component of the earth's biodiversity and for over 200 years, the microscopy approach was the only way to explore it. In the last decade, the DNA-based technique has been adopted in soil ecology. Due to the rapid development of cutting-edge technology, the field is transitioning from barcoding individuals to metabarcoding communities.

[Microbial Structure of an Enhanced Two-phase High-solid Anaerobic Digestion System Treating Sludge].

High-solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD) of sludge has several advantages like smaller reactor, lower energy consumption and less digestate. However, the understanding about the mechanism especially the microbial mechanism is still limited. In this study, microbial communities of a pilot-scale sludge HSAD system at steady state were investigated with 16S rRNA clone library technology.

Effects of thermal treatment on high solid anaerobic digestion of swine manure: Enhancement assessment and kinetic analysis.

Anaerobic digestion (AD), which is a process for generating biogas, can be applied to the treatment of organic wastes. Owing to its smaller footprint, lower energy consumption, and less digestate, high solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD) has attracted increasing attention. However, its biogas production is poor.

Changes in Plasma Lipid Levels and Antioxidant Activities in Rats after Supplementation of Obtusifolin.

Obtusifolin, an anthraquinone from Cassia obtusifolia seeds, has been reported to reduce blood lipid levels in diabetic rats induced by streptozocin. However, it remains unclear whether obtusifolin possesses a lipid-lowering effect on hyperlipidemia caused by a high-fat diet. Moreover, hyperlipidemia is known to impair the endothelial function by causing oxidative stress.

Size effect of anaerobic granular sludge on biogas production: A micro scale study.

This study investigated the influence of anaerobic granular sludge size on its bioactivity at COD concentration of 1000, 3000 and 6000 mg/L. Based on size, granules were categorized as large (3-3.5 mm), medium (1.

[Impact of Thermal Treatment on Biogas Production by Anaerobic Digestion of High-solid-content Swine Manure].

Livestock manure is a kind of waste with high organic content and sanitation risk. In order to investigate the impact of thermal treatment on the anaerobic digestion of high-solid-content swine manure, 70 degrees C thermal treatment was conducted to treat raw manure (solid content 27.6%) without any dilution.

Schizandrin ameliorates ovariectomy-induced memory impairment, potentiates neurotransmission and exhibits antioxidant properties.

Background And Purpose: Schizandrin (SCH) has been reported to prevent or reduce learning and memory defects. However, it is not known whether SCH ameliorates cognitive impairments induced by oestrogen deficiency. In the present study, we investigated the effect of SCH on memory in ovariectomized (OVX) and non-OVX rats.

[Pilot study of thermal treatment/thermophilic anaerobic digestion process treating waste activated sludge of high solid content].

A pilot-scale experiment about the process of "thermal pretreatment at 70°C/thermophilic anaerobic digestion" of waste activated sludge of high solid content (8% -9% ) was conducted. The process employed thermal treatment of 3 days to accelerate the hydrolysis and thermophilic digestion to enhance anaerobic reaction. Thus it was good at organic removal and stabilization.

[3-D fluorescence properties of river with great flow rate].

In the present study, the three-dimensional fluorescence spectra of River A with great flow rate were investigated. The results showed that there existed three unambiguous peaks in the excitation-emission matrix of River A at lambda(ex)/lambda(em) of around 230/340, 280/320 and 250/450 nm respectively. The fluorescence intensity varied significantly and had sharp fluctuation sometimes.

[Comparison of three-dimensional fluorescence characteristics of two isomers: phenanthrene and anthrancene].

In recent years, three-dimensional fluorescence spectrometry has been widely used to study the transportation and transformation of the environment pollutants. But little understanding about the relationship between fluorescence characteristics and molecular structure restricts its application. In the present paper, the excitation-emission matrix (EEM) of the typical aromatic pollutants and isomers, phenanthrene and anthracene were studied.

[Effects of adding straw carbon source to root knot nematode diseased soil on soil microbial biomass and protozoa abundance].

A field experiment with successive planting of tomato was conducted to study the effects of adding different amounts of winter wheat straw (2.08 g x kg(-1), 1N; 4.16 g x kg(-1), 2N; and 8.

[Fluorescence properties of municipal wastewater with industrial wastewater as major components].

The present paper studied fluorescence fingerprint properties of the municipal wastewater with industrial wastewater as major components. There existed three typical fluorescence peaks in the excitation-emission matrix of the municipal wastewater, locating at about lambda(ex)/lambda(em) of 275/310, 230/340 and 220/310 nm respectively. The wastewater didn't display typical protein-like fluorescence as the municipal wastewater with domestic sewage as major component.

[Fluorescence fingerprint--a novel tool of quality control of chemical reagents].

Product quality control is crucial for industrial production, but there is lack of simple and effective detect methods. In this study, the chromatographically pure N-hexane from different manufacturers and same manufacturers with different batches was detected with fluorescence fingerprint technology. The results showed that the fluorescence fingerprints of all samples were different from each other.

[Fluorescence fingerprint transformation of municipal wastewater caused by aerobic treatment].

The conventional parameters such as COD and BOD only could represent information about total organic content. Fluorescence spectrum can display organic composition and it is unique for each sample, so it is referred as "fluorescence fingerprint". In the present study transformation of excitation-emission matrix of municipal wastewater with sewage as major components after aerobic treatment was investigated and then the zones of biodegradable and non-biodegradable organic matters were figured out: the fluorescence at excitation wavelength/emission wavelength of about 280/340 nm and 225/240 nm derived from biodegradable organics and those of the zone of excitation wavelength above 300 nm and the zone of excitation wavelength below 300 nm and emission wavelength above 400 nm were mainly related with non-biodegradable organics.

[3-D fluorescence properties of petrochemical wastewater].

Petrochemical wastewater is one of major types of industrial wastewater in China. It is of huge quantity and causes serious pollution. Wastewater contains lots of fluorescence matters.

[Soil organic carbon fractionation methods and their applications in farmland ecosystem research: a review].

Soil organic carbon is of heterogeneity in components. The active components are sensitive to agricultural management, while the inert components play an important role in carbon fixation. Soil organic carbon fractionation mainly includes physical, chemical, and biological fractionations.

[Fluorescence properties of urban water bodies of Beijing].

"Fluorescence fingerprint" of water body based on fluorescence excitation-emission matrix has been a novel and valuable method to exhibit the organics details. In the present study, the fluorescence matrixes of urban water bodies of Beijing were investigated. The experimental results showed that these matrixes could be divided into 3 groups: Type I owned two fluorescence centers, locating at lambda(ex)/lambda(em) = 275-280/340 and 225-230/340 nm respectively, and was the predominant group; fluorescence centers of Type II located at lambda(ex)/lambda(em) = 280/345-365 and 245/380 nm; Type II had four fluorescence centers around 275/305, 275/340, 225/305 and 225/340 nm.

[Effects of sand burying on caryopsis germination and seedling growth of Bromus inermis Leyss].

This paper studied the effects of different depth sand burying on the caryopsis germination, seedling emergence and growth of Bromus inermis Leyss., a perennial gramineous grass dominated on Othidag sandy land. The results showed that the maximum burying depth for B.

Agroecosystem functional assessment and its difficulties.

Agroecosystem functional assessment indicators provide a necessary bridge between decision-makers and scientists. The development of acceptable indicators, however, remains a difficult task because the current knowledge and understanding of ecosystems is not sufficient to allow an objective assessment of all ecosystem functions. These difficulties were summarized from three perspectives.