Seasonal resource selection of free-ranging Zhongwei goats in the semi-arid grassland.

Goats rarely move and forage randomly. They tend to move in ways generally influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, respectively. However, few studies have explored the foraging behaviour of goats in the absence of predation and human disturbance. Based on step selection function modelling framework, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, vegetation surveys, and Global Positioning System tracking of 124 free-ranging domestic adult male Zhongwei goats over one year (2016-2017) were used to assess how biotic and abiotic environmental factors affected their spatiotemporal distribution, and developed a conceptual model to represent the goats' trade-off between forage quantity and preference at different seasons, in the semi-arid grassland of Loess Plateau of 1 178 hectare. The results showed that spatial distributions of goats responded to spatiotemporal variation of biotic factors rather than abiotic factors of elevation, slope and solar radiation, which indicated that biotic factors were of priority to abiotic factors in the foraging process for the goats. According to the season changing, the goats positively used areas with higher forage quantity in the spring and winter, areas of higher forage quantity and preferred species in summer, and areas of abundance of preferred species in autumn. We developed a model to describe the phenomenon that the goats selected areas with higher preferred species only when the forage quantity was plentiful, otherwise they selected areas with higher forage quantity. Better understanding of the patterns and drivers of spatiotemporal distribution of the goats can improve our ability to predict foraging behaviour of livestock in heterogeneous environment and lead to better management practices and policies for the sustainability of these semi-arid landscapes and associated ecosystem services.

[Correlaion between serum Golph2 protein and hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and serum Golph2 protein. METHODS: Golph2 gene was cloned by RT-PCR using RNA from WBF44 cell line as template, the point mutations of the cloned sequence were corrected by PCR, then the gene (1206 bp) was cloned into pET-21 plasmid, and the resulted plasmid was transformed into E.coli DH5a. The expression of 6xHis and Golph2 fusion protein was induced by isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside (IPTG). The expression of fusion protein was detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, and was purified by Ni NTA chelating agarose. The rabbit antibody against Golph2 protein was obtained by immunizing 2 rabbits with the purified Golph2 protein. The specificity and titer of the antibody was determined by Western-blot and ELISA respectively. Sandwich ELISA was used to detect the level of serum Golph2 protein. RESULTS: There were two replacement mutation and 1 deletion mutation in the cloned sequence contrasted to NM177937 in Genbank, including 644(T-->C, L-->P) , 970 (G-->A, V-->I) and 802 G deletion. The sequence was completely reversed by PCR. The sequence of Golph2 gene cloned into expression vector was confirmed by DNA sequencing. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis showed that Golph2 protein was expressed in E.coli DH5a. The antiserum could bind to the 52 kD recombinant protein and serum 73 kD protein specifically. The mean A450 value of ELISA for serum Golph2 protein were significantly higher in HCC and other liver diseases than that in control groups. The sensitivity and specificity for HCC were 44.5% and 82.0%, respectively, at the cut off value is more than or equal to 0.40. CONCLUSION: The polyclonal antibody against Golph2 protein is specific. The level of serum Golph2 is significantly higher in patients with HCC and other liver diseases than that in healthy controls.

[Determination of the contents of trace elements in chinese herbal medicines for treating respiratory system diseases].

There is an intimate connection between trace elements and body healthiness, trace elements and organism depend on each other, and each trace element exists with certain proportion, which preserve physio-function. If the balance is of maladjustment, diseases may occur or develop. The trace elements were determined in 16 kinds of Chinese herbal medicines by atomic absorption spectrometry. The medicines include lilium brownii, herba houttuyniae, licorice root, radices isatidis seu baphicacanthi, Sehizandra sinensis Bail, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Beimu, Polygonum multiflorum Thunb, Lithospermum officinalel, Rhizoma acori gramjnoi, Pinellia ternate Breit, Salisburia adiantifolia, Lonicera japonica, Radices puerarire, Bupleurum falcatum and Ligusticum wallichii, all of which could be bought on the market. Sixteen kinds of Chinese herbal medicines commonly used to treat respiratroy system diseases in clinic were selected, dried and powdered, completely mixed, 1.000 0 g was weighed accurately with analytical balance, and 3 portions were used for each kind of sample. The atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the contents of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr, Ni and Mn), and the content discrepancy of the trace elements in different medicines was observed the results shows that the contents of the trace elements were rich in the 16 kinds of Chinese herbal medicines, there were more contents of Fe, Zn and Mn, but they were different in different medicines. And there were more trace elements in Salisburia adiantifolia, Polygonum multiflorum Thunb, Bupleurum falcatum, Sehizandra sinensis Bail, Pinellia ternate Breit and Lithospermum officinalel, and lower trace elements in Radices puerarire, Rhizoma acori gramjnoi and Radices isatidis seu baphicacanthi. The analytic results provided useful data for using Chinese herbal medicines and provided theoretical basis for studying Chinese herbal medicines theory.

[Analysis and study of total flavone and trace element in carthmus tinctorius L].

The content of total flavone in carthmus tinctorius L in Xinjiang was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry with scan from 200 to 400 nm where the maximum absorption wavelength was 267.00 nm. The contents of ten trace elements and constant elements in carthmus tinctorius L including potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, chromium, nickel, manganese, copper and zinc were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that there were comparatively rich trace elements and high total flavone, among which are comparatively high calcium, magnesium, chromium, copper and zinc in carthmus tinctorius L. It provided useful data for discussing the relationship between the content of total flavone and the trace elements in carthmus tinctorius L, and for studing the relationship between the trace elements in carthmus tinctorius L and the cure for cardio-cerebral vascular disease.

[Determination and analysis of trace element manganese and amino acids content in aloe tea].

The content of trace element manganese in aloe tea was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The contents of 17 kinds of amino acids in aloe tea were determined with amino acids instrumentation. The results showed that there are comparatively rich manganese and amino acids in aloe tea. The content of manganese in red tea is more than in green tea, and the dissolving ratio is more than 50% in boiled water, and first dissolving ratio is more than second dissolving ratio, which is more than third dissolving ratio. There are 7 kinds of amino acids essential to human body, among which are comparatively high aspartic acid, glutamic acid and leucine in aloe tea. It's outstanding characteristic is comparatively high content of manganese in aloe health tea. It has provided useful data for probing into the relationship between trace elements and amino acids in aloe health tea and health care function.

[Analysis of the contents of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Co and Ni in thymopeptide and transfer factor biological injections].

Thymopeptide and transfer factor are two common clinic biological preparations, which are used to cure immunodeficiency, low immunofunction or infectious disease caused by virus or fungi owing to their functions of increasing body immunity. In order to discuss the relationship between trace elements and those related diseases, to coordinate sound clinic use of the preparations and to provide productive data on them, atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to detect the contents of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Co and Ni in thymopeptide and transfer factor biological preparations. Respective contents of detected elements were compared in a statistical way. Results show that Zn and Co contents in thymopeptide were lower than in transfer factor; the contents of Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni, in thymopeptide were higher than in transfer factor. For Zn, Cu, Mn and Co, there was a significant difference between the two biologicam preparations (P<0.01). For Fe and Ni there was a great difference (Q<0.05). The results can provide useful data for sound clinic biological injection to promote immune function, and for increasing or decreasing certain trace elements in preparation.

[Determination of Na, Mn, Mg, Cr and Ni in 10 Chinese traditional medicines by FAAS].

Five metallic elements in 10 Chinese traditional medicines such as Na, Mn, Mg, Cr and Ni were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results show that there are rich metal elements, but the contents are different in 10 Chinese traditional medicines. Among them, the content of Na element is the highest in Naosaitong; the content of milligram is the highest in Zhongfenghuichunpian; the content of Mn is the highest in Qianglitianmaduzhong pill; but in Xiaoshuantongluo capsule, the contents of Cr and Ni are higher. And it provide useful data for discussing between trace elements in Chinese traditional medicines and the cure for cerebrovascular.