Rapid Determination of Saponins in the Honey-Fried Processing of Rhizoma Cimicifugae by Near Infrared Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy.

ObjectiveA model of Near Infrared Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIR-DRS) was established for the first time to determine the content of Shengmaxinside I in the honey-fried processing of Rhizoma Cimicifugae.MethodsShengmaxinside I content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the data of the honey-fried processing of Rhizoma Cimicifugae samples from different batches of different origins by NIR-DRS were collected by TQ Analyst 8.0. Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis was used to establish a near-infrared quantitative model.ResultsThe determination coefficient R² was 0.9878. The Cross-Validation Root Mean Square Error (RMSECV) was 0.0193%, validating the model with a validation set. The Root Mean Square Error of Prediction (RMSEP) was 0.1064%. The ratio of the standard deviation for the validation samples to the standard error of prediction (RPD) was 5.5130.ConclusionThis method is convenient and efficient, and the experimentally established model has good prediction ability, and can be used for the rapid determination of Shengmaxinside I content in the honey-fried processing of Rhizoma Cimicifugae

Lhx8 interacts with a novel germ cell-specific nuclear factor containing an Nbl1 domain in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Lhx8 is an important transcription factor that is preferentially expressed in germ cells. Lhx8 null mice are infertile due to lack of oocytes and impairment of the transition from primordial follicles to primary follicles. Lhx8 deficiency also affects the expression of many important oocyte-specific genes. In this study, we report the characterization of rainbow trout lhx8 genes and identification of a novel germ cell-specific nuclear factor that interacts with Lhx8. Two lhx8genes, lhx8a and lhx8b, were identified, encoding proteins of 344 and 361 amino acids, respectively. The two proteins share 83% sequence identity and both transcripts are specifically expressed in the ovary. Quantitative real time PCR analysis demonstrated that both genes are expressed highly in pre-vitellogenic ovaries as well as in early stage embryos. Using a yeast two-hybrid screening system, a novel protein (Borealin-2) interacting with Lhx8 was identified. The interaction between either Lhx8a or Lhx8b and Borealin-2 was further confirmed by a bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay. Borealin-2 is a protein of 255 amino acids containing an Nbl1 domain, and its mRNA expression is restricted to the ovary and testis. A GFP reporter assay revealed that Borealin-2 is a nuclear protein. Collectively, results indicate that both Lhx8a and Lhx8b function through interaction with Borealin-2, which may play an important role during oogenesis and early embryogenesis in rainbow trout

Studies on the soybean aphid, Aphid glycines Matsumura

The soybean aphid is widely distributed among all major soybean growing regions in China. It causes severe damage in Jilin, Liaoning, and Helongjiang Provinces, and part of the inner Mongolian autonomous region, and those areas are often called aphid-stricken areas. Its hosts include wild soybean (Glycine benth forma lanceolate Makino), buckthorn (Rhamnus davuricus) as well as soybean. Results of field investigation and inoculation experiments confirmed that the widely distributed buckthorn in the Northern Provinces is the over-wintering host for soybean aphids. According to the life cycle of aphids and their characteristic damage to soybeans, three different periods of impact can be recognized: 1) starting from seedling stage to blooming stage (mid-July), the aphid population reaches its peak point. About 50-70% of the whole aphid population colonizes on the tender leaves and twigs on top of the soy plants. The soybean damage caused during this period has the worst impact on the plants. 2) During the third ten days of July when the soybean plants cease to grow, aphids then migrate from the top leaves and twigs to the middle or lower ones and feed on the underside of the leaves. At the same time, the young nymphs appear. The aphid population grows slowly, and their damage to soybean plants is at a low tide. 3) From late August -- the late pod bearing period -- to early September -- the yellow maturing period -- aphids start their late multiplying stage. In late Fall, aphids migrate back to buckthorn, their overwintering host, and oviposit overwintering eggs after mating. During Fall, the male aphids and the ovipositional female aphids are living on different hosts. Gynoparae live on buckthorn, and the male aphids live on soybean. Aphids reproduce 15 generations a year on soybean. After analyzing the life cycle of aphids, their growth pattern in the field, as well as the meteorological data in recent years, we came to preliminary results about the growth and decline pattern of aphids and their affecting factors: 1) the more the overwintering eggs and aphids numbers were at the seedling stage, the more severe their impact on seedlings; 2) Average temperatures between 22-25 °C and relative humidity below 78% from late June to early July greatly favored the growth and reproduction of aphids. Even if the original aphid population is small, severe aphid epidemics still could occur during the blooming period in July because aphids reproduced very quickly under those favorable weather conditions; 3) As the growth points ceased growing in late July and the nutrient condition deteriorated, the aphid population declined. In summary, we may make long- or short-term predictions of aphid epidemics based on the number of overwintering eggs, meteorological data, and current and past aphid information. Based on the results of several years’ laboratory and field experiments, the following aphid control measures achieved very good results: 0.5% lindane (benzene hexachloride, or BHC), 1 to 300-400 diluted 6% BHC wettable powder, 1 to 15000 diluted E605 (parathion), 1 to 100 diluted tobacco leaf solution, and seed coating with 20% BHC. Among these methods, 0.5% BHC powder and seed coating with 0.7% of 20% BHC have been widely used in agricultural practice.Originating text in Chinese.Citation: Wang, Cheng Lun, Xiang, Liang Ying, Zhang, Guang Xue, Zhu, Hong Fu. (1962). Studies on the soybean aphid, Aphid glycines Matsumura. Acta Entomologica Sinica, 11, 31-44

Direct fiber vector eigenmode multiplexing transmission seeded by integrated optical vortex emitters

Spatial modes have received substantial attention over the last decades and are used in optical communication applications. In fiber-optic communications, the employed linearly polarized modes and phase vortex modes carrying orbital angular momentum can be synthesized by fiber vector eigenmodes. To improve the transmission capacity and miniaturize the communication system, straightforward fiber vector eigenmode multiplexing and generation of fiber-eigenmode-like polarization vortices (vector vortex modes) using photonic integrated devices are of substantial interest. Here, we propose and demonstrate direct fiber vector eigenmode multiplexing transmission seeded by integrated optical vortex emitters. By exploiting vector vortex modes (radially and azimuthally polarized beams) generated from silicon microring resonators etched with angular gratings, we report data-carrying fiber vector eigenmode multiplexing transmission through a 2-km large-core fiber, showing low-level mode crosstalk and favorable link performance. These demonstrations may open up added capacity scaling opportunities by directly accessing multiple vector eigenmodes in the fiber and provide compact solutions to replace bulky diffractive optical elements for generating various optical vector beams

Cost and Benefit Analysis of Line Arresters for a 69kV Transmission System in Taiwan

This paper presents a systematical evaluation experience on the performance and economic studies of line arresters for a 69 kV transmission system in Taiwan. The transient over-voltage phenomenon in high voltage transmission lines under lightning by using the Electro-Magnetic Transients Program (EMTP) package is well modeled and analyzed. The modeling for the simulated system including lightning, transmission line, transmission tower and line arrester are all considered to have more practical results. The cost and benefit evaluation for line arresters installation  is then conducted to provide a reasonable suggestion for lightning protection.  The performance of line arresters is evaluated by considering different installation schemes and lightning currents. Finally, a Taiwan’s experience is illustrated from both of the cost and benefit points of view