Melaminium sulfate

In the title compound, C3H8N6 2+·SO4 2−, the melaminium cations and sulfate anions are inter­connected by N—H⋯N and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a layer in the (101) plane. The layers are connected through multiple hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions (centroid–centroid distance of about 3.4 Å)

Pollinator attraction in Cornus capitata (Cornaceae): the relative role of visual and olfactory cues

Aims It is generally accepted that visual displays and floral scent play important roles in communication between flowering plants and their pollinators. However, the relative role of visual and olfactory cues in pollinator attraction is largely unknown. In this study, we determined the roles of both types of cue in attracting pollinators to Cornus capitata, a medium sized tree with each capitulum surrounded by four large, white, petaloid bracts. Methods Pollinator observations and pollination experiments were conducted in a natural population; the inflorescences' visual and olfactory signals were characterized by spectral and chemical analyses; the responses of pollinators to visual and olfactory cues were tested using dual-choice behavioural bioassays; the relative roles of visual and olfactory cues in pollinator attraction were tested by comparing the responses of pollinators to inflorescences subjected to three experimental treatments (intact, all bracts removed, and capitulum removed) within the natural population. Important Findings For fruit set, C. capitata is entirely dependent on pollinators, with a bee, Anthophora sp., being the main pollinator. Bracts present high colour distance and green contrast against the leaves. Twelve volatile compounds in the floral scent were detected, most of which have previously been reported to be attractive to a broad spectrum of bee species. Behavioural bioassays showed that both, visual cues alone and olfactory cues alone, are attractive to pollinating bees. However, visual cues alone attracted significantly more approaches than olfactory cues alone, while olfactory cues alone elicited a significantly higher landing percentage than visual cues alone. The finding suggests that, in the C. capitata-Anthophora sp. interaction, visual cues are mainly used for location from long distances, while olfactory cues mainly aid landing from short distances. Our results indicate that different modalities of floral cues should be considered together to understand fully the communication between flowering plant and pollinator

Effect of Alisma plantago-aquatica Linn extract on chronic prostatitis in rats

Purpose: To study the effect of Alisma plantago-aquatica Linn. extract (APLE) on chronic prostatitis in rats.Methods: Experimental chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNP) was induced in rats by injecting carrageenan into prostate. Rats in drug-treated groups were administered APLE or cernilton (positive control, i.e., reference standard) for 3 weeks while rats in normal and negative control groups were treated with saline at the same time. After treatment, prostate index (PI) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of all the rats were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the relative inflammatory factors, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PEG2), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) of the prostate tissues were measured by ELISA.Results: A high dose of APLE (480 mg/kg) significantly decreased PI (0.7 ± 0.2 mg/g) relative to reference group (2.8 ± 0.3 mg/g, p < 0.01), and significantly decreased PSA level (128.6 ± 12.3 pg/mL) relative to reference group (321.3 ± 16.4 pg/mL, p < 0.01). Compared with reference group, TNF-α level (109.7 ± 9.3 pg/mL, p < 0.01), IL-1β level (98.3 ± 12.5 pg/mL, p < 0.01), PEG2 level (81.5 ± 4.2 pg/mL, p < 0.01), COX-2 level (10.5 ± 2.6 pg/mL, p < 0.01), TGF-β1 level (86.8 ± 7.3 pg/mL, p < 0.01) and CTGF level (70.3 ± 4.3 pg/mL, p < 0.01) of prostate tissues of high-dose APLE group rats decreased significantly.Conclusion: APLE shows significant anti-chronic prostatitis activity in rats. Further studies are, however, required to ascertain its therapeutic potentials in humansKeywords: Alisma plantago-aquatica, Chronic prostatitis, Inflammation, Prostate index, Morphometric analysis, Interstitial fibrosi

Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy Resin Reinforced with Magnesium Oxide Coated Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Magnesium oxide coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MgO@MWNT) were fabricated and dispersed into epoxy matrix. The microstructures of MgO@MWNT and epoxy/MgO@MWNT nanocomposites were characterized by TEM and SEM. Electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity of epoxy nanocomposites were investigated with high resistance meter and thermal conductivity meter, respectively. MgO@MWNT has core-shell structure with MgO as shell and nanotube as core, and the thickness of MgO shell is ca. 15 nm. MgO@MWNT has been dispersed well in the epoxy matrix. MgO@MWNT loaded epoxy nanocomposites still retain electrical insulation inspite of the filler content increase. However, thermal conductivity of epoxy was increased with the MgO@MWNT content increasing. When MgO@MWNT content reached 2.0 wt.%, thermal conductivity was increased by 89% compared to neat epoxy, higher than that of unmodified MWNT nanocomposites with the same loading content

Adaptation Mechanism and Tolerance of \u3cem\u3eRhodopseudomonas palustris\u3c/em\u3e PSB-S Under Pyrazosulfuron-Ethyl Stress

Background: Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl is a long lasting herbicide in the agro-ecosystem and its residue is toxic to crops and other non-target organisms. A better understanding of molecular basis in pyrazosulfuron-ethyl tolerant organisms will shed light on the adaptive mechanisms to this herbicide. Results: Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl inhibited biomass production in Rhodopseudomonas palustris PSB-S, altered cell morphology, suppressed flagella formation, and reduced pigment biosynthesis through significant suppression of carotenoids biosynthesis. A total of 1127 protein spots were detected in the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Among them, 72 spots representing 56 different proteins were found to be differently expressed using MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS, including 26 up- and 30 down-regulated proteins in the pyrazosulfuron-ethyl-treated PSB-S cells. The up-regulated proteins were involved predominantly in oxidative stress or energy generation pathways, while most of the down-regulated proteins were involved in the biomass biosynthesis pathway. The protein expression profiles suggested that the elongation factor G, cell division protein FtsZ, and proteins associated with the ABC transporters were crucial for R. palustris PSB-S tolerance against pyrazosulfuron-ethyl. Conclusion: Up-regulated proteins, including elongation factor G, cell division FtsZ, ATP synthase, and superoxide dismutase, and down-regulated proteins, including ALS III and ABC transporters, as well as some unknown proteins might play roles in R. palustris PSB-S adaptation to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl induced stresses. Functional validations of these candidate proteins should help to develope transgenic crops resistant to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl