Influence of Vetiver Root System on Mechanical Performance of Expansive Soil: Experimental Studies

In order to study the influence of the vetiver root system on the swelling characteristics and crack resistance of expansive soil, vetiver grass root growth and its vertical distribution were investigated by the cultivation test and observation. The expansion rate experiment without load and expansive force tests was conducted on planted grass root soil samples, and the effect of the root content on the expansion rate and force of soil mass was analyzed. Finally, the effects of different vetiver contents on the crack resistance of expansive soil were studied by soil cracking experiments in an outdoor natural environment. The results showed that on account of the reinforcement effect of crisscrossing and winding grassroots, the expansion rate and expansive force can be reduced by the grass roots, and the grass roots can significantly increase the anticracking properties of the root-soil composites. From the surface down, the inhibition effect of the vetiver root on the expansive soil appeared from low to high and then decreased; the effect was optimal in the layer of 10∼15 cm. Compared with the pure expansive soil, the swelling force of the cultivated root expansive soil growing for 180 d decreased by more than 80%, and the unloaded expansive soil reduced by more than 70%. Compared with pure expansive soil, the swelling force and the unloaded expansion rate of cultivated root expansive soil growing for 90 d decreased by more than 50%

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers analysis of genetic diversity among Brassica napus inbred lines based on correlation between seed quality traits and seed pigments content

Information regarding diversity and relationships among different quality traits and seed coat characterization of breeding material is necessary for hybrid Brassica napus breeding and seed coat color selecting. Simple-sequence repeat (SSR) analysis of the 62 loci distributed uniformly throughout the Brassica napus genome was carried out for 90 inbred lines which were derived from the black-seeded coat and the yellow-seeded coat parents in order to assess genetic diversity among the inbred lines and correlation to different traits with seed coat and seed pigment. The average-linkage (UPGMA) cluster analysis yellow-seeded coat lines and black-seeded coat lines were divided in two major groups; SSR clustering analysis results is linkage with the traits clustering analysis results. The correlation studies showed that seed coat color, anthocyanidin content, total phenol content, melanin content and flavonoid content in seed coat had significant negative correlation with oil content in different environments. The anthocyanidin content, flavonoid content, total phenol content and melanin content had significant positive correlation in seed coat. The results indicate that SSR analysis is effective for the assessment of genetic diversity among Brassica napus inbred lines and seed coat color is one of the most important traits to breeding of B. napus quality improvement.Keywords: Brassica napus L, quality traits, agronomic traits, correlation analysi

Effects of Traditional Chinese Exercise on Oxidative Stress in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Network Meta-Analysis

Objective: To evaluate the best option among traditional Chinese exercises for reducing oxidative stress in middle-aged and older adults, using a network meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases were used. We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on middle-aged and older adults to influence oxidative stress by any traditional Chinese exercises from the beginning to 20 January 2022. A network meta-analysis of randomized control trials was performed comparing the changes in the concentration of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as primary outcomes, following different therapeutic interventions with traditional Chinese exercises in middle-aged and older adults over 30 years old. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess the correlation between each group of interventions, and surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) was used to rank the best interventions. Results: The meta-analysis comprised 15 trials with a total of 927 participants and six interventions: (Wuqinxi (WQX), Baduanjin (BDJ), Tai Ji Quan (TJQ), Yijinjing (YJJ), Mawangdui Daoyin (MWD), and no exercise intervention (NEI)). Regarding GPX: WQX [SMD = 2.79 (1.75, 3.83)], TJQ [SMD = 0.47 (0.23, 0.70)], YJJ [SMD = 1.78 (1.18, 2.37)], MWD [SMD = 1.89 (1.36, 2.43)] were superior in increasing GPX relative to NEI. Regarding MDA: WQX [SMD = 1.68 (0.94, 2.42)], YJJ [SMD = 0.99 (0.28, 1.69)] were superior in reducing MDA relative to NEI. Regarding SOD: WQX [SMD = 1.05 (0.10, 2.01)] were superior in increasing SOD relative to NEI. WQX topped the SUCRA with GPX: 0.97, MDA: 0.91, and SOD: 0.94. Furthermore, WQX was more effective than TJQ in interfering with GPX [SMD = 2.32 (1.26, 3.39)] and MDA [SMD = 1.47 (0.26, 2.67)], and a significantly better intervention effect on SOD than YJJ [SMD = 1.52 (0.80, 2.24)] and MWD [SMD = 0.89 (0.03, 1.75)]. Conclusion: Traditional Chinese exercise can help middle-aged and older adults reduce oxidative stress. WQX may be the best traditional Chinese exercise of the exercises evaluated for reducing oxidative stress in middle-aged and older adults