Ionic liquids Supported Growth of Highly Ordered Microdroplets Induced by Fluidic Leakage at Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Interfaces

"Fluidic leakage" caused by vacuum force at the reversible sealing poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) interfaces was converted to one useable avenue, which led to formation of highly ordered surfactant microdroplets functionalized with ionic liquids (ILs). Vacuum force is the prerequisite to lead constant microsolutions to diffuse to the PDMS interfaces. Imidazolium ions of ILs rendered structural rearrangement of the surfactant aggregates and the ordered droplets formation.

Multi-pipe string electromagnetic detection tool and its applications

The MID-K, a new kind of multi-pipe string detection tool is introduced. This tool provides a means of evaluating the condition of in-place pipe string, such as tubing and casino. It is capable of discriminating the defects of the inside and outside, and estimating the thickness of tubing and casing. It is accomplished by means of a low frequency eddy current to detect flaws on the inner surface and a magnetic flux leakage to inspect the full thickness. The measurement principle, the technology and applications are presented in this paper.

Direct visualization of the dynamics of membrane-anchor proteins in living cells

Dynamic properties of proteins have crucial roles in understanding protein function and molecular mechanism within cells. In this paper, we combined total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy with oblique illumination fluorescence microscopy to observe directly the movement and localization of membrane-anchored green fluorescence proteins in living cells. Total internal reflect illumination allowed the observation of proteins in the cell membrane of living cells since the penetrate depth could be adjusted to about 80 nm, and oblique illumination allowed the observation of proteins both in the cytoplasm and apical membrane, which made this combination a promising tool to investigate the dynamics of proteins through the whole cell. Not only individual protein molecule tracks have been analyzed quantitatively but also cumulative probability distribution function analysis of ensemble trajectories has been done to reveal the mobility of proteins. Finally, single particle tracking has acted as a compensation for single molecule tracking. All the results exhibited green fluorescence protein dynamics within cytoplasm, on the membrane and from cytoplasm to plasma membrane.

频谱泄漏对正弦相位调制干涉测量精度的影响何

在正弦相位调制(SPM)干涉仪中,若调制频率或者采样频率发生变化将使干涉信号出现频谱泄漏,减小了谐波分量的幅值,在测量结果中引入了误差。对频谱泄漏的产生及其对测量精度的影响进行了理论分析,获得了频谱泄漏引入测量误差的计算方法。实验测得频率漂移量在-0.3～0.3 Hz内,得到的频谱泄漏引入的误差为0.3～7.9 nm,当超出这个范围时,频谱泄漏误差将迅速增长。实验结果与模拟分析结果一致。

A high accuracy image sensor for sinusoidal phase-modulating interferometry

We proposed a high accuracy image sensor technique for sinusoidal phase-modulating interferometer in the field of the surface profile measurements. It solved the problem of the CCD's pixel offset of the same column under two adjacent rows, eliminated the spectral leakage, and reduced the influence of external interference to the measurement accuracy. We measured the surface profile of a glass plate, and its repeatability precision was less than 8 nm and its relative error was 1.15 %. The results show that it can be used to measure surface profile with high accuracy and strong anti-interference ability. (C) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

锥形光纤的功率分布特性

从波动理论出发,对锥形光纤的纵向传播常数进行泰勒(Taylor)级数展开,经近似得到了锥形光纤功率分布的解。基于此理论,对锥形光纤的功率分布特性进行了讨论,并分析了锥形光纤的长度、锥度和光纤折射率等参数对锥形光纤不同模式功率分布的影响。为了减小功率泄漏,当光从锥形光纤大端入射时,应当减小锥长,减小锥度,增大纤芯包层折射率差;当光从锥形光纤小端入射时,应当增加锥长,增加锥度,增大纤芯包层折射率差。在长锥长、大锥度情况下,光纤折射率分布的影响相对较小。

基于光时域反射计的全分布式光纤漏油传感器

报道了一种基于光时域反射计的全分布式光纤漏油传感器,该传感器能实现分布式实时监测长输油管道,及时发现小型的漏油事件.传感器沿管道铺设,利用光时域反射计实时测量光纤在长度上的损耗变化特点,及时发现并定位管道上的每一处泄漏事件.模拟实验证明了其实际操作的可行性,长期使用的稳定性和各种抗干扰性,能在15min内发现并定位漏油事件,且定位准确度为3m.

德国鸢尾快速分株繁殖的研究

本实验用喷施6-BA和茎切生根的方法建立了一套德国鸢尾快速分株繁殖的体系。用3 000 mg/L 或5 000 mg/L 的6-BA 对德国鸢尾（Iris germanica）‘lovely again’进行单次喷施可以促进根茎芽的萌发和根状茎的形成。在喷施后的30 天到90 天内，BA的促进作用在具有2个或4个起始根状茎的植株上表现得很显著，但对于只有一个起始根状茎的植株不显著。在喷施后的150 天以及第二年，具有2个或4个起始根状茎的母株总体上比只具有1个起始根状茎的母株产生了更多的根状茎。而6-BA的喷施对母株的叶面积和叶片数变化没有显著影响。在早春时，把处于不同发育阶段的侧芽或小根茎从母株上取下，并且用不同浓度的IBA处理。总体上，处于较高发育阶段的茎切（芽切）在生根率、初级根和次级根的数目，总根长、根干重以及植株高度等测量指标方面的表现较好。IBA对德国鸢尾的茎切（芽切）的生根作用不显著。多次喷施6-BA 对德国鸢尾根茎芽的生出的促进作用显著，并且使生物量重新分配。连续喷施6-BA后，对内源生长素和细胞分裂素的连续测定结果表明，6-BA的作用主要是解除了顶端优势对侧芽的萌发和生长的抑制，从而形成新的根茎。

牛耳草光合作用的脱水保护和复苏机理

本文以复苏植物牛耳草成熟植株的离体叶片为实验材料，以光合作用、蔗糖、抗氧化剂系统和离子渗漏等在脱水复苏过程中的变化为切入点，从生理生化水平上探讨其耐脱水复苏的机制;同时应用mRNA差异显示技术，从分子水平上探讨其耐脱水复苏的机制。 牛耳草叶片光系统II光化学活性参数和叶黄素循环色素在脱水复苏过程中的变化结果表明，极微弱光强（3μmol.m-2.s-1）下，脱水8天的牛耳草叶片诱导了叶黄素循环，叶黄素循环可能介导了牛耳草叶片脱水过程中的光保护作用。 利用不同浓度的磷酸盐溶液处理牛耳草叶片的结果表明，0.1mol/L以上的磷酸盐溶液对牛耳草叶片具有损伤作用，极大的影响了其光系统II的光化学活性，使得牛耳草叶片在脱水后不能很好的复苏。 牛耳草叶片在脱水复苏过程中，抗坏血酸（AsA）、还原型谷胱甘肽（GSH）和蔗糖含量在脱水时很快增加，复苏时又迅速恢复到原来水平，表明它们可能对脱水的牛耳草叶片具有保护作用，但对复苏的牛耳草叶片可能不重要;其离子渗漏情况表明质膜结构的完整性和稳定性在脱水复苏过程中能得到很好的保持，这可能是其耐脱水复苏的重要机制之一。 利用mRNA差异显示技术分离到牛耳草叶片脱水过程中一些脱水和磷酸盐特异诱导表达的cDNA。对其中5个脱水特异诱导表达和3个磷酸盐特异诱导表达的cDNA进行克隆测序、同源性探测和Northern 杂交检测表明，牛耳草脱水过程中诱导表达的基因可能涉及到脱水胁迫的信号转导、调节基因的级联和结构基因产物调节细胞结构在脱水胁迫中的稳定性等。

克隆植物对异质性生境的适应对策研究

植物的生境在时间和空间上都是异质性的，即使在很小的尺度上这种异质性也是存在的。克隆生长使得克隆植物在理论上更适应利用异质性环境，本文以几种克隆植物为对象，采用实验生态学方法，着重从生理生态特性、信号物质传导方面探讨克隆植物对异质性环境的适应对策。 以匍匐茎克隆植物野草莓(Fragaria vesca)为对象，研究了不同海拔梯度种群(1800m和3900m)对光照和养分资源斑块性分布生境的响应。研究结果显示：与资源的空间同质性处理(I) 和(II) 相比, 资源的空间异质性处理(III) 和(IV) 两个种群野草莓的近端、远端和整个克隆片段的生物量和分株数均获得显著增加。经历低光高养近端分株与经历高光低养的远段分株相连时，相比与低光高养的同质生境，来自两个海拔的种群分配更多的生物量到根；经历高光低养近端分株与经历低光高养远端分株相连时，相比于高光低养的同质生境，来自两个海拔的种群分配更少的生物量到根，类似的生物量分配格局在远端分株也被观察到。相比于高光低养同质性生境，当与低光高养远端分株相连时经历高光低养近端分株有更大的叶面积；相比于高光低养同质性生境，当与低光高养近端分株相连时经历高光低养远端分株有更大叶面积。实验结果表明, 资源交互斑块性生境中野草莓发生了克隆内分工。通过克隆内分工, 克隆植物能有效的利用异质性分布的资源, 缓解资源交互斑块性分布对克隆植物生长的不利影响。 以匍匐茎克隆植物蛇莓(Duchesnea indica)为对象, 研究其在高光照低水分斑块和低光照高水分斑块组成的资源交互斑块性生境中的克隆内分工。结果显示，当生长于高光照低水分(HL)条件下近端分株(basal ramets)与生长于低光照高水分(LH)条件下的远端分株(apical ramets)之间的匍匐茎连接时，近端分株根冠比显著下降，而远端分株根冠比显著增加，近端分株叶面积和远端分株总根长显著增加；当与低光照高水分条件下的远端分株相连时，近端分株叶片光合速率和叶绿素含量也相应增加。此外，克隆分株间资源交互传输显著提高蛇莓的生长表现（生物量和分株数）。因此，在光、水资源交互斑块性环境中克隆植物蛇莓分株在生物量分配、资源获取器官形态和生理特性方面发生了环境诱导的功能特化。这种对局部丰富资源的趋富特化在一定的程度上增强了克隆分株对资源的吸收利用能力，克隆内资源共享有助于缓解资源交互性斑块生境对克隆植物生长的不利影响，有效地提高克隆植物在其生境中存活与定居能力。 一个盆栽实验被采用以便调查克隆整合对经受局部沙埋的根状茎克隆植物沙生苔草(Carex praeclara)的影响，结果显示随着沙埋深度的增加，切断分株间的根状茎连接将显著降低经受沙埋处理分株的存活。当克隆植物经历局部沙埋时，切断分株间根状茎连接对其克隆生长（生物量、分株数和叶片数量）有显著负影响。耗-益(cost-benefit)分析显示，当与经历沙埋处理的远端分株相连时，近端分株的生长表现没有遭受任何负面影响。与经历沙埋处理远端分株相连时，近端分株的光合能力随沙埋深度的增加而增加。分株间的源-汇反馈调节机制所导致的补偿性反应减缓了局部沙埋对克隆植物生长的负效应。因此，克隆整合有助于提高经历局部沙埋克隆植物的存活，克隆植物在沙化地区植被恢复与重建方面具有重要意义。 克隆植物分株间的匍匐茎或根状茎连接不仅可以传输水分、矿质养分、光合产物，而且还可以传输信号物质。以根状茎克隆植物黑褐苔草(Carex alrofusca)为对象，采用盆栽实验研究外源茉莉酸诱导克隆片段相连分株间信号物质传导。结果显示，相比中龄和老龄分株，幼年分株对1mM茉莉酸诱导有显著反应。茉莉酸引起幼年分株叶片浓缩单宁含量显著增加，同时其叶片可溶性碳水化合物和氮含量降低。茉莉酸诱导后，幼年分株被昆虫咬食叶面积比率显著下降。因此匍匐茎或根状茎传也是克隆植物分株间信号物质传导重要通道，克隆植物通过分株间的风险扩散策略增强了对幼嫩植物组织器官的保护，这对克隆植物的存活或生长具有重要意义。

Effects of arsenate on the growth and microcystin production of Microcystis aeruginosa isolated from Taiwan as influenced by extracellular phosphate

Arsenic pollution and eutrophication are both prominent issues in the aquaculture ponds of Taiwan. It is important to study the effects of arsenic on algal growth and toxin production in order to assess the ecological risk of arsenic pollution, or at least to understand naturally occurring ponds. The sensitivity of algae to arsenate has often been linked to the structural similarities between arsenate and phosphate. Thus, in this study we examined the effects of arsenate (10(-8) to 10(-4) M) on Microcystis aeruginosa TY-1 isolated from Taiwan, under two phosphate regimes. The present study showed that M. aeruginosa TY-1 was arsenate tolerant up to 10(-4) M, and that this tolerance was not affected by extracellular phosphate. However, it seems that extracellular phosphate contributed to microcystin production and leakage by M. aeruginosa in response to arsenate. Under normal phosphate conditions, total toxin yields after arsenate treatment followed a typical inverted U-shape hormesis, with a peak value of 2.25 +/- 0.06 mg L-1 in the presence of 10(-7) M arsenate, whereas 10(-8) to 10(-6) M arsenate increased leakage of similar to 75% microcystin. Under phosphate starvation, total toxin yields were not affected by arsenate, while 10(-6) and 10(-5) M arsenate stimulated microcystin leakage. It is suggested that arsenate may play a role in the process of microcystin biosynthesis and excretion. Given the arsenic concentrations in aquaculture ponds in Taiwan, arsenate favors survival of toxic M. aeruginosa in such ponds, and arsenate-stimulated microcystin production and leakage may have an impact on the food chain.

Predominant expression and cellular distribution of fish Agr2 in renal collecting system

Anterior gradient 2 (Agr2) genes encode secretory proteins, and play significant roles in anterior-posterior patterning and tumor metastasis. Agr2 transcripts were shown to display quite diverse tissue distribution in different species, and little was known about the cellular localization of Agr2 proteins. In this study, we identified an Agr2 homologue from gibe[ carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), and revealed the expression patterns and cellular localization during embryogenesis and in adult tissues. The full-length cDNA of CagAgr2 is 803 nucleotides (nt) with an open reading frame of 510 nt encoding 169 amino acids. The Agr2 C-terminus matches to the class I PDZ-interacting motif, suggesting that it might be a PDZ-binding protein. During embryogenesis, CagAgr2 was found to be transcribed in the mucus-secreting hatching gland from tailbud stage and later in the pharynx region, swim bladder and pronephric duct as revealed by RT-PCR and whole mount in situ hybridization. In the adult fish, its transcription was predominantly confined to the kidney, and lower transcription levels were also found in the intestine, ovary and gills. To further localize the Agr2 protein, the anti-CagAgr2 polyclonal antibody was produced and used for immunofluorescence observation. In agreement with mRNA expression data, the Agr2 protein was localized in the pronephric duct of 3dph larvae. In adult fish, Agr2 protein expression is confined to the renal collecting system with asymmetric distribution along the apical-basolateral axis. The data provided suggestive evidence that fish Agr2 might be involved in differentiation and secretory functions of kidney epithelium. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DE-71-induced apoptosis involving intracellular calcium and the Bax-mitochondria-caspase protease pathway in human neuroblastoma cells In vitro

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used extensively as flame-retardants and are ubiquitous in the environment and in wildlife and human tissue. Recent studies have shown that PBDEs induce neurotoxic effects in vivo and apoptosis in vitro. However, the signaling mechanisms responsible for these events are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the action of a commercial mixture of PBDEs (pentabrominated diphenyl ether, DE-71) on a human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH. A cell viability test showed a dose-dependent increase in lactate dehydrogenase leakage and 3-(4,5-dimethylthia-zol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide reduction. Cell apoptosis was observed through morphological examination, and DNA degradation in the cell cycle and cell apoptosis were demonstrated using flow cytometry and DNA laddering. The formation of reactive oxygen species was not observed, but DE-71 was found to significantly induce caspase-3, -8, and -9 activity, which suggests that apoptosis is not induced by oxidative stress but via a caspase-dependent pathway. We further investigated the intracellular calcium ([Ca2+](i)) levels using flow cytometry and observed an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration with a time-dependent trend. We also found that the N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK801 (3 mu M) significantly reduced DE-71-induced cell apoptosis. The results of a Western blotting test demonstrated that DE-71 treatment increases the level of Bax translocation to the mitochondria in a dose-dependent fashion and stimulates the release of cytochrome c (Cyt c) from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Overall, our results indicate that DE-71 induces the apoptosis of ([Ca2+](i)) in SK-N-SH cells via Bax insertion, Cyt c release in the mitochondria, and the caspase activation pathway.

Primary cultured cells as sensitive in vitro model for assessment of toxicants-comparison to hepatocytes and gill epithelia

In an effort to develop cultured cell models for toxicity screening and environmental biomonitoring, we compared primary cultured gill epithelia and hepatocytes from freshwater tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to assess their sensitivity to AhR agonist toxicants. Epithelia were cultured on permeable supports (terephthalate membranes, "filters") and bathed on the apical with waterborne toxicants (pseudo in vivo asymmetrical culture conditions). Hepatocytes were cultured in multi-well plates and exposed to toxicants in culture medium. Cytochrome P4501A (measured as 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, EROD) was selected as a biomarker. For cultured gill epithelia, the integrity of the epithelia remained unchanged on exposure to model toxicants, such as 1,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), benzo(a)pyrene B[a]P, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture (Aroclor 1254), and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) mixture (DE71). A good concentration-dependent response of EROD activity was clearly observed in both cultured gill epithelia and hepatocytes. The time-course response of EROD was measured as early as 3 h, and was maximal after 6 h of exposure to TCDD, B [alp and Aroclor 1254. The estimated 6 h EC50 for TCDD, B [a]P, and Aroclor 1254 was 1.2x10(-9), 5.7x10(-8) and 6.6x10(-6) M. For the cultured hepatocytes, time-course study showed that a significant induction of EROD took place at 18 h, and the maximal induction of EROD was observed at 24 h after exposure. The estimated 24 It EC50 for TCDD, B[a]P, and Aroclor 1254 was 1.4x10(-9), 8.1x10(-8) and 7.3x10(-6) M. There was no induction or inhibition of EROD in DE71 exposure to both gill epithelia and hepatocytes. The results show that cultured gill epithelia more rapidly induce EROD and are slightly more sensitive than cultured hepatocytes, and could be used as a rapid and sensitive tool for screening chemicals and monitoring environmental AhR agonist toxicants. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.