Total phenolic, condensed tannin and antioxidant activity of four Carya species from China

Different species of functional agricultural crops may vary in antioxidant capacities. In this study, the antioxidant activities of methanol extracts from four species of Carya genus were compared by various antioxidant assays, including the reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and the superoxide anion scavenging activity. The reducing power of extracts from Carya dabieshanensis, Carya cathayensis, Carya hunanensis and Carya illinoensis were 0.246, 0.237, 0.22 and 0.073 at the concentration of 0.50 mg/ml, respectively. The scavenging effect on the DPPH radical (IC50) were 1.140, 1.364, 1.437 and 3.682 mg/ml, respectively, while the scavenging effect on superoxide anion radical were 27.44, 22.80, 26.15, 1.99 mg AE/g, respectively. Among the four species, C. dabieshanensis possessed the highest antioxidant activity, while C. illinoensis was the lowest. The total phenolic (TP) contents and condensed tannins (CT) were determined in all samples spectrophotometrically. For all species, C. dabieshanensis possessed the highest TP content (80.54 mg GE/g defatted kernel) and C. hunanensis possessed the highest CT content (59.62 mg CE/g defatted kernel). In addition, strong correlations of total phenolic contents and condensed tannins contents with reducing powers, DPPH radical and superoxide anion scavenging activities were also found in this work.Key words: Carya, antioxidant, phenolic compounds, condensed tannins

An estimation model on electricity consumption of new metro stations

Electricity consumption of metro stations increases sharply with expansion of a metro network and this has been a growing cause for concern. Based on relevant historical data from existing metro stations, this paper proposes a support vector regression (SVR) model to estimate daily electricity consumption of a newly constructed metro station. The model considers some major factors influencing the electricity consumption of metro station in terms of both the interior design scheme of a station (e.g., layout of the station and allocation of facilities) and external factors (e.g., passenger volume, air temperature and relative humidity). A genetic algorithm with five-fold cross-validation is used to optimize the hyper-parameters of the SVR model in order to improve its accuracy in estimating the electricity consumption of a metro station (ECMS). With the optimized hyper-parameters, results from case studies on the Beijing Subway showed that the estimating accuracy of the proposed SVR model could reach up to 95% and the correlation coefficient was 0.89. It was demonstrated that the proposed model could outperform the traditional methods which use a back-propagation neural network or multivariate linear regression. The method presented in this paper can be an adequate tool for estimating the ECMS and should further assist in the delivery of new, energy-efficient metro stations

Klp10A, a Microtubule-Depolymerizing Kinesin-13, Cooperates with CP110 to Control Drosophila Centriole Length

Klp10A is a kinesin-13 of Drosophila melanogaster that depolymerizes cytoplasmic microtubules [1]. In interphase, it promotes microtubule catastrophe [2, 3, 4]; in mitosis, it contributes to anaphase chromosome movement by enabling tubulin flux [1, 5]. Here we show that Klp10A also acts as a microtubule depolymerase on centriolar microtubules to regulate centriole length. Thus, in both cultured cell lines and the testes, absence of Klp10A leads to longer centrioles that show incomplete 9-fold symmetry at their ends. These structures and associated pericentriolar material undergo fragmentation. We also show that in contrast to mammalian cells where depletion of CP110 leads to centriole elongation [6], in Drosophila cells it results in centriole length diminution that is overcome by codepletion of Klp10A to give longer centrioles than usual. We discuss how loss of centriole capping by CP110 might have different consequences for centriole length in mammalian [6, 7, 8] and insect cells and also relate these findings to the functional interactions between mammalian CP110 and another kinesin-13, Kif24, that in mammalian cells regulates cilium formation

Self-replication and evolution of DNA crystals

Is it possible to create a simple physical system that is capable of replicating itself? Can such a system evolve interesting behaviors, thus allowing it to adapt to a wide range of environments? This paper presents a design for such a replicator constructed exclusively from synthetic DNA. The basis for the replicator is crystal growth: information is stored in the spatial arrangement of monomers and copied from layer to layer by templating. Replication is achieved by fragmentation of crystals, which produces new crystals that carry the same information. Crystal replication avoids intrinsic problems associated with template-directed mechanisms for replication of one-dimensional polymers. A key innovation of our work is that by using programmable DNA tiles as the crystal monomers, we can design crystal growth processes that apply interesting selective pressures to the evolving sequences. While evolution requires that copying occur with high accuracy, we show how to adapt error-correction techniques from algorithmic self-assembly to lower the replication error rate as much as is required

The impact of international codes of conduct on employment conditions and gender issues in Chinese flower companies

The study examined how international codes of conduct address employment conditions and gender issues in the Chinese flower industry. A sample of 20 companies was purposively selected and 200 workers from these companies were interviewed. The adoption of international codes did not improve workers conditions and gender issues and codes were poorly enforced. There was evidence of discrimination based on workers’ status of employment and gender. A permanent worker mean daily wage was RMB14.1 higher than a casual worker. Although welfare benefits were provided to permanent workers, males and females beneficiaries differed significantly by 32.4 and 24.1%, respectively. This paper provided the basis for the need to gender audit, mainstream flower companies and adopts participatory auditing for flower companies’ compliance to the use of codes of conduct.Key words: Codes of conduct, Chinese flower industry, mainstream, gender, permanent worker, casual worker, employment conditions

The common genetic influence over processing speed and white matter microstructure: Evidence from the Old Order Amish and Human Connectome Projects

Speed with which brain performs information processing influences overall cognition and is dependent on the white matter fibers. To understand genetic influences on processing speed and white matter FA, we assessed processing speed and diffusion imaging fractional anisotropy (FA) in related individuals from two populations. Discovery analyses were performed in 146 individuals from large Old Order Amish (OOA) families and findings were replicated in 485 twins and siblings of the Human Connectome Project (HCP). The heritability of processing speed was h(2)=43% and 49% (both p\u3c0.005), while the heritability of whole brain FA was h(2)=87% and 88% (both p\u3c0.001), in the OOA and HCP, respectively. Whole brain FA was significantly correlated with processing speed in the two cohorts. Quantitative genetic analysis demonstrated a significant degree to which common genes influenced joint variation in FA and brain processing speed. These estimates suggested common sets of genes influencing variation in both phenotypes, consistent with the idea that common genetic variations contributing to white matter may also support their associated cognitive behavior

Characteristics of atmospheric mercury deposition and size-fractionated particulate mercury in urban Nanjing, China

A comprehensive measurement study of mercury wet deposition and size-fractionated particulate mercury (Hg^P) concurrent with meteorological variables was conducted from June 2011 to February 2012 to evaluate the characteristics of mercury deposition and particulate mercury in urban Nanjing, China. The volume-weighted mean (VWM) concentration of mercury in rainwater was 52.9 ng L⁻¹ with a range of 46.3–63.6 ng L⁻¹. The wet deposition per unit area was averaged 56.5 μg m⁻² over 9 months, which was lower than that in most Chinese cities, but much higher than annual deposition in urban North America and Japan. The wet deposition flux exhibited obvious seasonal variation strongly linked with the amount of precipitation. Wet deposition in summer contributed more than 80% to the total amount. A part of contribution to wet deposition of mercury from anthropogenic sources was evidenced by the association between wet deposition and sulfates, as well as nitrates in rainwater. The ions correlated most significantly with mercury were formate, calcium, and potassium, which suggested that natural sources including vegetation and resuspended soil should be considered as an important factor to affect the wet deposition of mercury in Nanjing. The average Hg^P concentration was 1.10 ± 0.57 ng m⁻³. A distinct seasonal distribution of Hg^P concentrations was found to be higher in winter as a result of an increase in the PM₁₀ concentration. Overall, more than half of the Hg^P existed in the particle size range less than 2.1 μm. The highest concentration of Hg^P in coarse particles was observed in summer, while Hg^P in fine particles dominated in fall and winter. The size distribution of averaged mercury content in particulates was bimodal, with two peaks in the bins of < 0.7 μm and 4.7–5.8 μm. Dry deposition per unit area of Hg^P was estimated to be 47.2 μg m⁻² using meteorological conditions and a size-resolved particle dry deposition model. This was 16.5% less than mercury wet deposition. Compared to Hg^P in fine particles, Hg^P in coarse particles contributed more to the total dry deposition due to higher deposition velocities. Negative correlation between precipitation and the Hg^P concentration reflected the effect of scavenging of Hg^P by precipitation

Fatty tissue within the maxillary sinus: a rare finding.

BACKGROUND: We report a rare case of fatty tissue within the maxillary sinus in a 21-years-old woman, with a history of several previous punctures of the maxillary sinus. CASE PRESENTATION: Clinical data of the patient was analysed retrospectively. The patient presented with symptoms of left-sided chronic maxillary sinusitis and had undergone several punctures of the left maxillary sinus 18 months earlier. Subsequent to one of the procedures an acute pain in the left orbit lasting a couple of days was noted. Left endoscopic transnasal antrotomy was performed. The maxillary sinus was filled with polypous, chronically inflamed mucous membrane. Upon its removal, the maxillary roof was identified as drawn downwards and covered with normal mucous membrane. Upon dissection of the membrane, adipose tissue filling the zygomatic recess of the sinus was identified and subsequently removed. The maxillary roof was unchanged. Histopatologic examination confirmed the material to be adipose tissue. No short or long term sequelae occurred. CONCLUSION: Adipose tissue can be found in the maxillary sinus most commonly when penetrating from surrounding locations. It is our hypothesis that in the reported patient it penetrated from the orbit to the maxillary sinus following puncture. It seems that a hole in the maxillary sinus roof, about 1 mm in diameter, caused by the needle, may have been a portal of entry for the adipose tissue into the maxillary sinus. The discussed case suggests particular care be taken in performing puncture of the maxillary sinus

Particle-hole state densities with non-equidistant single-particle levels

The correct use of energy-dependent single-particle level (s.p.l.) densities within particle-hole state densities based on the equidistant spacing model (ESM) is analysed. First, an analytical expression is obtained following the convolution of energy-dependent excited-particle and hole densities. Next, a comparison is made with results of the ESM formula using average s.p.l. densities for the excited particles and holes, respectively. The Fermi-gas model (FGM) s.p.l. densities calculated at the corresponding average excitation energies are used in both cases. The analysis concerns also the density of particle-hole bound states. The pairing correlations are taken into account while the comparison of various effects includes the exact correction for the Pauli exclusion principle. Quantum-mechanical s.p.l. densities and the continuum effect can also match a corresponding FGM formula, suitable for use within the average energy-dependent partial state density in multistep reaction models.Comment: 29 pages, ReVTeX, 11 postscript figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.

FAM-MDR: A Flexible Family-Based Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction Technique to Detect Epistasis Using Related Individuals

We propose a novel multifactor dimensionality reduction method for epistasis detection in small or extended pedigrees, FAM-MDR. It combines features of the Genome-wide Rapid Association using Mixed Model And Regression approach (GRAMMAR) with Model-Based MDR (MB-MDR). We focus on continuous traits, although the method is general and can be used for outcomes of any type, including binary and censored traits. When comparing FAM-MDR with Pedigree-based Generalized MDR (PGMDR), which is a generalization of Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (MDR) to continuous traits and related individuals, FAM-MDR was found to outperform PGMDR in terms of power, in most of the considered simulated scenarios. Additional simulations revealed that PGMDR does not appropriately deal with multiple testing and consequently gives rise to overly optimistic results. FAM-MDR adequately deals with multiple testing in epistasis screens and is in contrast rather conservative, by construction. Furthermore, simulations show that correcting for lower order (main) effects is of utmost importance when claiming epistasis. As Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a complex phenotype likely influenced by gene-gene interactions, we applied FAM-MDR to examine data on glucose area-under-the-curve (GAUC), an endophenotype of T2DM for which multiple independent genetic associations have been observed, in the Amish Family Diabetes Study (AFDS). This application reveals that FAM-MDR makes more efficient use of the available data than PGMDR and can deal with multi-generational pedigrees more easily. In conclusion, we have validated FAM-MDR and compared it to PGMDR, the current state-of-the-art MDR method for family data, using both simulations and a practical dataset. FAM-MDR is found to outperform PGMDR in that it handles the multiple testing issue more correctly, has increased power, and efficiently uses all available information