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Members of WRKY gene family encode transcription factors involved in plant developmental processes and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. In order to understand the function of the TaWRKY71 gene, a homologue gene was isolated and characterised in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotype TAM107. Tissue-specific gene expression profiles indicated that TaWRKY71 was constitutively expressed in roots, stems, leaves, stamen and pistil. The relative expression of TaWRKY71 was elucidated under ABA treatment and other abiotic stresses. In agreement with this, several putative cis-acting elements involved in ABA-response, drought-inducibility, low-temperature and heat response were detected in the promoter region of TaWRKY71. The function of TaWRKY71 was further determined by transforming Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic plants over-expressing TaWRKY71 displayed enhanced seed germination under ABA treatment and were tolerant to salt and drought stresses. These results indicate that TaWRKY71 gene might play important roles in seed germination and abiotic stress response.

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The objective of this work was to research the antibacterial effects of orange pigment, which was separated from Monascus pigments, against Staphylococcus aureus. The increase of the diameter of inhibition zone treated with orange pigment indicated that orange pigment had remarkable antibacterial activities against S. aureus. Orange pigment (10 mg ml−1) had a strong destructive effect on the membrane and structure of S. aureus by the analysis of scanning electron microscopy as well as transmission electron microscopy. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) further demonstrated that the cell membrane was seriously damaged by orange pigment, which resulted in the leakage of protein from S. aureus cells. A significant decrease in the synthesis of DNA was also seen in S. aureus cells exposed to 10 mg ml−1 orange pigment. All in all, orange pigment showed excellent antibacterial effects against S. aureus.

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Temperature uniformity and heating rate subjected to radio frequency (RF) heating have major impact on the quality of treated low moisture foods. The objective of this paper was to analyse the influence of electrode distance on the heating behaviour of RF on condition that the sample shape, size, and location between the electrodes were defined. Considering peanut butter (PB) and wheat flour (WF) as sample food, a 3D computer simulation model was developed using COMSOL, which was experimentally validated by a RF machine (27.12 MHz, 6 kW). Specifically, the electrode distances were selected as 84, 89, 93, 99 and 89, 93, 98, 103 (mm) for RF heating of PB and WF, respectively. Results showed that the simulated results and experimental data agreed well; the temperature-time histories of the RF heating of PB and WF were approximate straight lines; both the temperature uniformity index and the heating rate decreased with the increase of the electrode distance; the heating rate had a negative logarithmic linear relationship with the electrode distance, which was independent of the types, geometry shapes and sizes of low moisture foods.

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Optimization of extraction ratio (ER) of tree peony seed protein (TPSP) was investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). The second-degree equation for ER of TPSP had high coeffi cient (0.9625) of determination. The probability (P) value of regression model signifi cance was less than 0.001 by analysis of central composite rotatable design. Relationships of ER to pH, liquid/solid ratio, squares of all factors, and cross-product factors (x2x3, x2x4, x3x4) were signifi cant (P<0.05). Whereas, extraction time, temperature, and cross-product terms (x1x2, x1x3, x1x4) were not signifi cant factors (P>0.05). Optimum extraction conditions were 3.42 h, pH 9.50, 50.80 ºC, and 9.54 ml g–1 of liquid/solid ratio with the maximum ER (43.60%) . SDS-PAGE indicated TPSP had mainly four proteins (180, 100, 60, and 35 kDa) with four subunits of 60, 48, 38, and 23 kDa. TPSP had a good amino acid composition with abundant essential amino acids (39.76%) determined by amino acid analysis.

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Abstract

In this study, a water-soluble novel polysaccharide called TPS was successfully prepared and isolated from Liubao tea. The optimal extraction conditions resulted in a yield of 10.70% for the crude TPS. The purified TPS exhibited unique physicochemical properties and structural characteristics. It was identified as an acidic polysaccharide with trace binding proteins, with a →4)-α-D-Galp-(1→) residue. The purified TPS had a dense and uneven appearance, potential crystallisation characteristics, and structural stability. Importantly, it demonstrated the ability to inhibit glucose transport in Caco-2 cells by down-regulating the expression of sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), leading to a hypoglycemic effect. These findings highlight the potential of TPS from Liubao tea as a functional food or additive with hypoglycaemic properties.

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The dynamic adsorption of Kr and Xe in activated charcoal were measured. The temperature dependence of breakthrough curves for individual isotopes of85mKr,87Kr,88Kr and135Xe have been determined from the -spectra at temperatures from 78 K to 291 K. The effective hold up and dynamic adsorption coefficient have been deduced. We find that adsorption is very sensitive to temperature and also depends on the size rather than on the mass of the adsorbed atom. Form total growth radioactivity, the time dependent brakthrough curves at the temperatures of 113, 195 and 220 K have been constructed. The curves were analyzed and compared with the model calculations. Fick's law describing the mass transfer of gas into porous solid was employed to obtain the adsorption coefficient from fitting the experimental data. The results show fairly good agreement between model predictions and the experiments.

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Abstract  

Polyimide BTDA-ODA sample was prepared by polycondensation or step-growth polymerization method. Its low temperature heat capacities were measured by an adiabatic calorimeter in the temperature range between 80 and 400 K. No thermal anomaly was found in this temperature range. A DSC experiment was conducted in the temperature region from 373 to 673 K. There was not phase change or decomposition phenomena in this temperature range. However two glass transitions were found at 420.16 and 564.38 K. Corresponding heat capacity increments were 0.068 and 0.824 J g–1 K–1, respectively. To study the decomposition characteristics of BTDA-ODA, a TG experiment was carried out and it was found that this polyimide started to decompose at ca 673 K.

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Abstract  

The heat capacities of 2-benzoylpyridine were measured with an automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 80 to 340 K. The melting point, molar enthalpy, Δfus H m, and entropy, Δfus S m, of fusion of this compound were determined to be 316.49±0.04 K, 20.91±0.03 kJ mol–1 and 66.07±0.05 J mol–1 K–1, respectively. The purity of the compound was calculated to be 99.60 mol% by using the fractional melting technique. The thermodynamic functions (H TH 298.15) and (S TS 298.15) were calculated based on the heat capacity measurements in the temperature range of 80–340 K with an interval of 5 K. The thermal properties of the compound were further investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). From the DSC curve, the temperature corresponding to the maximum evaporation rate, the molar enthalpy and entropy of evaporation were determined to be 556.3±0.1 K, 51.3±0.2 kJ mol–1 and 92.2±0.4 J K–1 mol–1, respectively, under the experimental conditions.

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Abstract  

Polyaniline/γ-Al2O3 (PANI/γ-Al2O3) composites were synthesized by in-situ polymerization at the presence of HCl as dopant by adding γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles into aniline solution. The composites were characterized by FTIR and XRD. The thermogravimetry (TG) and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) were used to study the thermal stability and glass transition temperature (T g) of the composites, respectively. The results of FTIR showed that γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles connected with the PANI chains and affected the absorption characteristics of the composite through the interaction between PANI and nano-sized γ-Al2O3. And the results of XRD indicated that the peaks intensity of the PANI/γ-Al2O3 composite were weaker than that of the pure PANI. From TG and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) curves, it was found that the pure PANI and the PANI/γ-Al2O3 composites were all one step degradation. And the PANI/γ-Al2O3 composites were more thermal stable than the pure PANI. The MDSC curves showed that the nano-sized γ-Al2O3 heightened the glass transition temperature (T g) of PANI.

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Summary  

Exploratory experiments have been carried out to investigate the effects of gamma-radiation on iodine aerosols under various chemical conditions. The results indicate that iodide ions (I-) in aerosol can be readily oxidized to I2 and HIO, and some iodide ions may be converted to organic iodine when organic additives are present in the KI solution from which the aerosol is generated. The results also suggest that the chemical transformation of irradiated iodine aerosol depends on the chemical environment both carrier gas and iodide solution.

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