Reproductive biology and population studies in two annual shuttle mosses

Observations on clumps of Phascum cuspidatum during the summer and autumn indicated that this species is at least a short-lived perennial, as young shoots develop from old, brown shoots persisting from the previous winter. No young shoots arising by vegetative propagation were recorded in Pottia truncata. Rhizoid tubers were observed in this species, but only in one of the many clumps examined. Spores of both species germinated freely in culture, but when spores were planted in the field young gametophytes developed inconsistently in P. truncata and never in P. cuspidatum. An investigation of spore deposition around an isolated clump of P. truncata suggested that 67% of the spores released were deposited within the clump, and 70% within 2m. Electrophoretic studies indicated limited genetic variation within two populations of each species, with no genotypes in common between the populations. No genetic variation was recorded between gametophytes within individual clumps of either species, nor between sporophytes and their maternal gametophytes, suggesting a high incidence of inbreeding in these monoecious mosses. (author abst.)

Overview of an innovative EU-China collaboration in education and research in sustainable built environment

This paper introduces an international collaboration of EU and Asia in education, training and research in the field of sustainable built environment, which attempts to develop a network of practical and intellectual knowledge and training exchange between Chinese and European Universities in the field of sustainable building design and construction. The projects funded by the European Commission Asia Link program, UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, British Council and the UK Engineering Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC) have been introduced. The projects have significant impacts on promoting sustainable development in built environment in China. The aim of this paper is to share the experiences with those who are interested and searching the ways to collaborate with China in education and research.

Antioxidant and cellular activities of anthocyanins and their corresponding vitisins A - studies in platelets, monocytes, and human endothelial cells

During red wine aging, there is a loss of anthocyanins and the formation of various other pigments, so-called vitisins A, which are formed through the chemical interaction of the original anthocyanins with pyruvic acid. The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activities of the most abundant anthocyanins present in red wine (glycosides of delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin) and their corresponding vitisins A. Anthocyanins exhibited a higher iron reducing as well as 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) and peroxyl radical scavenging activity than their corresponding vitisins A. Delphinidin showed the highest antioxidant effect of the tested compounds in all of the assays used. Furthermore, we studied the effect of anthocyanins and vitisins A on platelet aggregation and monocyte and endothelial function. Anthocyanins and vitisins did not affect nitric oxide production and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion in lipopolysaccharide plus interferon-gamma-activated macrophages. Furthermore, anthocyanins and vitisins did not change collagen-induced platelet aggregation in vitro. However, anthocyanins and to a lesser extent vitisins exhibited protective effects against TNF-alpha-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein production in primary human endothelial cells.

Miscibility studies in poly(methyl vinyl ether)/hydroxypropylcellulose binary system in aqueous solutions and solid state

The phase separation behaviour in aqueous mixtures of poly(methyl vinyl ether) and hydroxypropylcellulose has been studied by cloud points method and viscometric measurements. The miscibility of these blends in solid state has been assessed by infrared spectroscopy; methanol vapours sorption experiments and scanning electron microscopy. The values of Gibbs energy of mixing of the polymers and their blends with methanol as well as between each other were calculated. It was found that in solid state the polymers can interact with methanol very well but the polymer-polymer interactions are unfavourable. Although in aqueous solutions the polymers exhibit some intermolecular interactions their solid blends are not completely miscible. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.