Potential Anti-Cancer Activities and Mechanisms of Costunolide and Dehydrocostuslactone

Costunolide (CE) and dehydrocostuslactone (DE) are derived from many species of medicinal plants, such as Saussurea lappa Decne and Laurus nobilis L. They have been reported for their wide spectrum of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiulcer, and anthelmintic activities. In recent years, they have caused extensive interest in researchers due to their potential anti-cancer activities for various types of cancer, and their anti-cancer mechanisms, including causing cell cycle arrest, inducing apoptosis and differentiation, promoting the aggregation of microtubule protein, inhibiting the activity of telomerase, inhibiting metastasis and invasion, reversing multidrug resistance, restraining angiogenesis has been studied. This review will summarize anti-cancer activities and associated molecular mechanisms of these two compounds for the purpose of promoting their research and application.     

Combined effects of wheat gluten and carboxymethylcellulose on dough rheological behaviours and gluten network of potato–wheat flour-based bread

Incorporating high level of potato flour into wheat flour enhances nutritional values of bread but induces a series of problems that lead to the decline of the bread quality. To overcome the barrier, wheat gluten and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were added into potato–wheat composite flour to improve dough machinability and bread quality. The rheological properties, thermo-mechanical properties and microstructures of dough were investigated. The results showed that the interaction between gluten and CMC mitigated the discontinuity of gluten matrix and gluten protein aggregation caused by the addition of potato flour, which yielded a more branched and compact gluten network. The compact three-dimensional viscoelastic structure induced improvements of gas retention capacity and dough stability, making it mimic the machinability properties of wheat flour dough. Bread qualities were apparently improved with the combined use of 4% gluten and 6% CMC, of which specific volume increased by 42.86%, and simultaneously, hardness reduced by 75.93%.     

陕南山地烟田不同植烟年限土壤养分的变化

为给陕南山地烟草生产布局及有针对性的施肥措施提供依据,分析了陕南山地烟田不同植烟年限(0~15年)与土壤养分含量的关系。结果表明:随着植烟年限延长,有机质线性下降,全氮和速效钾显著上升,有效磷先上升后下降;氯、有效铁、有效锰、有效硼和有效铜无显著变化或变化很小,有效锌则在第1年急剧下降,之后保持稳定,10年后再次显著下降。认为陕南山地烟区烟叶生产中应适当增加有机肥的施用而合理控制氮肥、磷肥和钾肥的施用,并要注意锌肥的补充。     

纳米氧化物对水泥基料化学收缩的影响

采用ASTM化学收缩试验方法,研究纳米SiO2、MgO、Al2O3对水泥基材料化学收缩变化的影响,明确纳米材料种类的差异性。结果表明,各实验组水泥基材料化学收缩均经历三阶段:急速变化区、缓慢变化区、平稳区,7d始水泥基材料化学收缩基本稳定。几种纳米材料的最佳掺量对水泥基材料的化学收缩改善作用大小为:SiO2>Al2O3>MgO。研究发现,纳米材料种类和掺量的不同对化学收缩的影响也较大,在选用时,需综合考虑。