Abstract The improvement effects of enzymatic polypeptide of Paeonia ostii seed meal (APHP) on model mice of protein-energy malnutrition were evaluated by body weight changes, organ indices, levels of SOD, CAT, MDA, total protein and albumin in serum, staining images of major organs and macrophages phagocytosis. The results indicated the mice body weight recovery was dose-dependent with APHP and the body weight change of model mice fed with high-dose APHP (5.0 g/kg) and normal diet showed a same recovery effect. The model mice had higher thymus and spleen indexes than other groups. And the values of SOD, CAT, MDA, total protein and albumin in serum returned to normal level after 30, 60, 45, 30 and 45 days respectively, which was better than those of normal diet. Our research will provide basic data support for new potential applications of APHP and increase the added value of Paeonia ostii processing enterprises.

Abstract Tricholoma Matsutake is an important edible mushroom that has been artificially cultivated and used as a food and medicinal ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. In the past decades, many researchers have reported that Tricholoma Matsutake Polysaccharides (TMP) possess various bioactivities, including anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-oxidation and anti-aging. The structural characteristics of TMP were studied by GC-MS, LC-MS, NMR, and FT-IR, and the structure-activity relationship of TMP biomolecular was analyzed. This paper reviews the progress of TMP extraction, purification, structure characterization and application.

The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19 is involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis by modulating the proliferation and invasion of ectopic endometrial cells in vitro, but related in vivo studies are rare. This study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA H19 in a nude mouse model of endometriosis. Ectopic endometrial stromal cells (ecESCs) were isolated from ectopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis and infected with lentiviruses expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) negative control (LV-NC-shRNA) or lncRNA-H19 shRNA (LV-H19-shRNA). The ecESCs infected with LV-NC-shRNA and LV-H19-shRNA were subcutaneously implanted into forty 6- to 8-week-old female nude mice. The size and weight of the endometriotic implants were measured at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after implantation and compared, and lncRNA H19 levels in endometriotic implants were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). All nude mice survived the experimental period, and no significant differences in body weight were observed between the experimental group and the control group. All nude mice developed histologically confirmed subcutaneous endometriotic lesions with glandular structures and stroma after 1 week of implantation. The subcutaneous lesions in the LV-NC-shRNA group after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of implantation were larger than those in the LV-H19-shRNA group, and lncRNA H19 levels in subcutaneous lesions in the LV-NC-shRNA group were significantly higher than those in the LV-H19-shRNA group. Knockdown of lncRNA H19 suppresses endometriosis in vivo. Further study is required to explore the underlying mechanism in the future.

The predicted changes in precipitation patterns because of global change have profound effects on terrestrial ecosystems. In the present study, the principle and design details of a rainfall enrichment system (RAINES) for open field experiments in semi-arid and arid ecosystems are presented. The rainfall intensity, validity and uniformity of this experimental facility were also tested. During the period from 2008 to 2010, our data showed that the RAINES was able to simulate rainfall events with different rainfall sizes, frequencies and timing. The greatest advantage of the RAINES was its high uniformity in rainfall distribution over a relatively large experimental surface area (>65 m2), which was important for experimental studies of semi-arid and arid ecosystems where vegetation distribution is sparse. The rainfall validity of RAINES was steadily at 66% or higher as long as the hydraulic pressure exceeded 1.4 KPa and the wind speed was below 2.5 m s-1. Since the RAINES is light-weight, inexpensive and versatile enough to be used to simulate various rainfall events with needed properties in remote fields, it is able to provide reliable simulated rainfall in the field for studying possible responses of soil and vegetation processes to rainfall change in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The application of the RAINES will improve our understanding on the relationship between water availability and ecosystem processes in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, which will provide useful knowledge for the protection, restoration and sustainable management of semi-arid and arid desert ecosystems worldwide.

Los cambios predichos en los modelos de precipitación como resultado del cambio global tienen efectos profundos en los ecosistemas terrestres. Un equipo que simule la lluvia es una herramienta de investigación efectiva para explorar los efectos de los cambios en los modelos de lluvia sin varias restricciones naturales. En el presente estudio, se presentan los principios y detalles de diseño de un equipo simulador de lluvia (RAINES) para estudios a campo en ecosistemas áridos y semiaridos. También se determinaron la intensidad de lluvia, validez y uniformidad del RAINES. Durante el perÃodo 2008 al 2010, nuestros datos mostraron que el RAINES fue capaz de simular eventos de lluvia con diferentes cantidades, frecuencias y momentos de lluvia. La mayor ventaja del RAINES fue su gran uniformidad en la distribución de la lluvia sobre una superficie experimental relativamente grande (>65 m2). Esto es importante para estudios experimentales en ecosistemas áridos y semiáridos donde la distribución de la vegetación es dispersa. La validez de la lluvia provista por el RAINES fue al menos de 66% siempre y cuando la presión hidráulica excedió los 1.4 KPa y la velocidad del viento fue menor que 2.5 m s-1. El RAINES es de bajo peso, no costoso y lo suficientemente versátil como para ser usado para simular varios eventos de lluvia bajo condiciones de campo distantes. Es capaz de proveer lluvia simulada en forma confiable en el campo para estudiar la respuesta de procesos en el suelo y la vegetación a cambios en la cantidad de lluvia en ecosistemas áridos y semiáridos. El uso del RAINES mejorará nuestro entendimiento en la relación entre la disponibilidad de agua y los procesos en ecosistemas áridos y semiáridos. También proveerá conocimiento útil para la protección, restauración y menejo sustentable de ecosistemas de desierto áridos y semiáridos a escala mundial.