Effects of leaf properties on the counts of microbes on the leaf surfaces of wheat, rye and triticale.

Currently, our understanding of the effects of glaucousness on the population sizes of microbial communities on leaf surfaces is limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of glaucousness and chemical composition on the colony-forming unit (CFU) counts of microbes on leaf surfaces. Various leaf morphological and physicochemical features, microbial CFU counts and glaucousness on the leaf surfaces of wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Shimai No.1), rye (Secale cereale var. Gannong No.1) and triticale (Triticale wittmack var. Gannong No.2) were assessed. The results showed that larger CFU counts of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts were found on the non-glaucous leaf surfaces in wheat than on the glaucous leaf surfaces in rye and triticale. The CFU counts of LAB and yeasts were negatively correlated with the amount of soluble wax (P < 0.05), and positively correlated with the contents of starch and fructose in leaf tissue (P < 0.05), soluble and reduced sugars, soluble protein and free amino acids on leaf surfaces (P < 0.05). The CFU counts of microbes on leaf surfaces were mainly influenced by the level of available carbon sources and glaucousness of leaf surfaces.

Characterization and Biological Activity of a Novel Exopolysaccharide Produced by Pediococcus pentosaceus SSC-12 from Silage.

In this study, 22 strains of exopolysaccharides-producing lactic acid bacteria were isolated from silage, and the strain SSC-12 with the highest exopolysaccharide (EPS) production was used as the test strain. The SSC-12 was identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus, based upon 16S rDNA gene sequencing and Neighbor Joining (NJ) phylogenetic analysis. The analysis of the kinetic results of EPS generation of SSC-12 showed that the EPS generation reached the maximum value at 20 h of culture. The characterization study showed the EPS produced by SSC-12 was a homogeneous heteropolysaccharide comprising glucose (42.6%), mannose (28.9%), galactose (16.2%), arabinose (9.4%), and rhamnose (2.9%). The EPS had good antioxidant activity, especially the activity of scavenging hydroxyl free radicals. At the same time, the EPS also had strong antibacterial ability and could completely inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The EPS produced by the Pediococcus pentosaceus SSC-12 can be used as a biologically active product with potential application prospects in the feed, food, and pharmaceutical industries.

Effectiveness comparisons of acupuncture treatments for vascular dementia: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vascular dementia (VD) is the second most common form of dementia in the world. Acupuncture therapy has been widely used in clinical treatment. Based on the available evidence, we will rank different acupuncture therapy to determine the most effective acupuncture therapy. METHODS: We will search the following database, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Chinese Scientific Journals Database database, in order to collect randomized controlled trials on acupuncture in the treatment of VD. We will use Stata 14.2 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 software for Bayesian network meta-analysis and finally evaluated the level of evidence of the results. RESULTS: This study will compare and rank the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of vascular dementia. Outcome indicators included Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive section and Mini-mental State Examination, Activity of Daily Living, Blessed dementia scale, Hastgawa Dementia Scale, and adverse events. CONCLUSION: Our study will provide support for clinical practice. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020110088.

Improving the attractiveness and accessibility of campus green space for developing a sustainable university environment.

A growing body of research has investigated the vital effects of urban greening. However, the green space on campus, also recognized as an important element of urban greening and providing many benefits to college students, has gained very limited attention. In developing China, after nearly 20 years of campus construction climax, the speed of expansion has dropped significantly and the focus of a sustainable and optimized green campus has emerged. Improving the accessibility, availability, and attractiveness is a control determining if the green spaces can realize their values. Therefore, this study, taking a case, aims to explore and better understand students' usage conditions, perceptions, and demands about campus green spaces. On Yijin campus in Hangzhou, China, through the questionnaire among 590 students, and accessibility analysis based on Space syntax theory, we have revealed that the negative usage condition of green spaces: most students rarely or occasionally visit the green space, and the visit time is concentrated in the afternoon and after class but rarely in the morning. Besides, students' gender and growth surroundings have little influence on the perception of campus green space, but the plant configuration, seasonal color richness, and facilities required at different spaces will affect. In addition, the ranking of accessibility analyzed by Space syntax theory is similar to campus convenience considered by students. In the conclusions, suggestions are made about how to fulfill students' requirements and improve the attractiveness and accessibility of campus green spaces so that they may inform to the growth of emerging colleges and universities in other cities and countries undergoing campus construction climax.

Adiponectin Participates in Preeclampsia by Regulating the Biological Function of Placental Trophoblasts through P38 MAPK-STAT5 Pathway.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the participation of adiponectin in preeclampsia, and to explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: A total of 52 patients with preeclampsia and 30 normal women with full-term pregnancy were enrolled. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the localization of MAPK and STAT5. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of adiponectin mRNA in placental tissue of patients with preeclampsia and normal pregnant women. Western blot was used to detect the expression of adiponectin protein, MAPK, p-MAPK, STAT5 and p-STAT5 in placental tissue of patients with preeclampsia and normal pregnant women. RESULTS: p-p38 was highly expressed in placental trophoblasts of patients with preeclampsia, while p-STAT5 was less expressed. Expression level of p-p38 and p-STAT5 in patients with preeclampsia were significantly different from those in normal pregnant women (P<0.01). Expression level of adiponectin mRNA was significantly lower in patients with preeclampsia than in normal pregnant women (P<0.05). Level of p-p38 expression was negatively correlated with levels of adiponectin expression (r=-0.413, P<0.05). Expression level of p-STAT5 was positively correlated with expression level of adiponectin (r=0.526, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Adiponectin participates in preeclampsia by regulating the biological function of placental tropho-blasts through p38 MAPK-STAT5 pathway.