Toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway can be triggered by grass carp reovirus and Aeromonas hydrophila infection in rare minnow Gobiocypris rarus

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is critical for LPS recognition and cellular responses. It also recognizes some viral envelope proteins. Detection mostly results in the inflammation rather than specific antiviral responses. However, it's unclear in fish. In this report, a TLR4 gene (named as GrTLR4b) was cloned and characterized from rare minnow Gobiocypris rarus. The full length of GrTLR4b cDNA consists of 2766 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptide of 818 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 94,518 Da and a predicted isoelectric point of 8.41. The predicted amino acid sequence comprises a signal peptide, six leucine-rich repeat (LRR) motifs, one leucine-rich repeat C-terminal (LRRCT) motif, followed by a transmembrane segment of 23 amino acids, and a cytoplasmic region of 167 amino acids containing one Toll - interleukin 1 - receptor (TIR) motif. It's closely similar to the zebrafish (Danio rerio) TLR4b amino acid sequence with an identity of 77%. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed GrTLR4b mRNA was constitutive expression in gill, heart, intestine, kidney, liver, muscle and spleen tissues in healthy animals and up-regulated by viruses and bacteria. After being infected by grass carp reovirus or Aeromonas hydrophila, GrTLR4b expressions were up-regulated from 24 h post-injection and lasted until the fish became moribund (P < 0.05). These data implied that TLR4 signaling pathway could be activated by both viral and bacterial infection in rare minnow. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kinetic study of the 2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid produced by oxidation of microcystin in aqueous solutions

Microcystins (MCs) are a family of related cyclic hepatotoxic heptapeptides, of which more than 70 types have been identified. The chemically unique nature of the C20 beta-amino acid, (2S, 3S, 8S, 9S)-3-amino-9-methoxy-2,6,8-trimethyl-10-phenyldeca4,6-dienoic acid (Adda), portion of the MCs has been exploited to develop a strategy to analyze the entirety. Oxidation of MCs causes the cleavage of MC Adda to form 2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid (MMPB). In the present study, we investigated the kinetics of MMPB produced by oxidation of the most-often-studied MC variant, MC-LR (L = leucine, R = arginine), with permanganate-periodate. This investigation allowed insight regarding the influence of the reaction conditions (concentration of the reactants, temperature, and pH) on the conversion rate. The results indicated that the reaction was second order overall and first order with respect to both permanganate and MC-LR. The second-order rate constant ranged from 0.66 to 1.35 M/s at temperatures from 10 to 30 degrees C, and the activation energy was 24.44 kJ/mol. The rates of MMPB production can be accelerated through increasing reaction temperature and oxidant concentration, and sufficient periodate is necessary for the formation of MMPB. The initial reaction rate under alkaline and neutral conditions is higher than that under acidic conditions, but the former decreases faster than the latter except under weakly acidic conditions. These results provided new insight concerning selection of the permanganate-periodate concentration, pH, and temperature needed for the oxidation of MCs with a high and stable yield of MMPB.

A solid-phase microextraction fiber coated with diglycidyloxycalix[4]arene yields very high extraction selectivity and sensitivity during the analysis of chlorobenzenes in soil

A novel fiber coated with novel sol-gel (5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-dihydroxy-26,28-diglycidyloxycalix[4]arene/hydroxy-terminated silicone oil; diglycidyloxy-C[4]/OH-TSO) was prepared for use with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography (GC) and electron capture detection (ECD), which was applied in order to determine nine chlorobenzenes in soil matrices. Due to the improved fiber preparation, which increases the percentage of calixarene in the coating, the new calixarene fiber exhibits very high extraction selectivity and sensitivity to chlorine-substituted compounds. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were optimized in order to maximize the sensitivity during the chlorobenzene analysis. Interferences from different soil matrices with different characteristics were investigated, and the amount extracted was strongly influenced by the matrix. Therefore, a standard addition protocol was performed on the real soil samples. The linear ranges of detection for the chlorobenzenes tested covered three orders of magnitude, and correlation coefficients > 0.9976 and relative standard deviations (RSD) < 8% were observed. The detection limits were found at sub-ng/g of soil levels, which were about an order of magnitude lower than those given by the commercial poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) coating for most of the compounds. The recoveries ranged from 64 to 109.6% for each analyte in the real kaleyard soil matrix when different concentration levels were determined over the linear range, which confirmed the reliability and feasibility of the HS-SPME/GC-ECD approach using the fiber coated with diglycidyloxy-C[4]/OH-TSO for the ultratrace analysis of chlorobenzenes in complex matrices.

Characterization of two membrane-associated protease genes obtained from screening out-membrane protein genes of Flavobacterium columnare G(4)

In order to identify genes encoding the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of the myxobacter Flavobacterium columnare G(4), the expression library of the bacterium was screened by using rabbit antisera developed against its OMPs. Positive colonies of Escherichia coli M15 containing fragments encoding the bacterial OMPs were selected for cloning the relevant genes by genomic walking methods. Two genes encoding a membrane-associated zinc metalloprotease and prolyl oligopeptidase are reported in this paper. The membrane-associated zinc metalloprotease gene (map) is 1800 bp in length, coding for 449 amino acids (aa). Despite the presence of a conserved motif HEXXH for all metalloproteases, the special HEXXH similar to 32 aa similar to E motif of the F. columnare G(4) Map and its low level of identity with other reported zinc-containing metalloproteases may imply that the membrane-associated zinc metalloprotease of F. columnare G(4) represents a new family of zincins. The gene encoding prolyl oligopeptidase (Pop), a serine proteinase, is 2352 bp in length, coding for 649 aa. Sequence homology analysis revealed that the Pop is also novel as it has <50% identity with other reported prolyl oligopeptidase family proteins. The present study represents the first to employ anti-fish bacterial OMP sera to screen genes of membrane-associated proteases of fish pathogenic bacteria, and to provide necessary information for the examination of the role of the two genes in the infection and pathogenesis of F. columnare.

1 x 4 Ge-on-SOI PIN Photodetector Array for Parallel Optical Interconnects

High-quality Ge film was epitaxially grown on silicon on insulator using the ultrahigh vacuum chemical vapor deposition. In this paper, we demonstrated that the efficient 1 4 germanium-on-silicon p-i-n photodetector arrays with 1.0 mu m Ge film had a responsivity as high as 0.65 A/W at 1.31 mu m and 0.32 A/W at 1.55 mu m, respectively. The dark current density was about 0.75 mA/cm(2) at 0 V and 13.9 mA/cm(2) at 1.0 V reverse bias. The detectors with a diameter of 25 mu m were measured at 1550 nm incident light under 0 V bias, and the result showed that the 3-dB bandwidth is 2.48 GHz. At a reverse bias of 3 V, the bandwidth is about 13.3 GHz. The four devices showed a good consistency.

Strain-Compensated InGaAs/InAlAs Quantum Cascade Detector of 4.5 mu m Operating at Room Temperature

We present a strain-compensated InP-based InGaAs/InAlAs photovoltaic quantum cascade detector grown by solid source molecular beam epitaxy. The detector is based on a vertical intersubband transition and electron transfer on a cascade of quantum levels which is designed to provide longitudinal optical phonon extraction stairs. By careful structure design and growth, the whole epilayer has a residual strain toward InP substrate of only -2.8 x 10(-4). A clear narrow band detection spectrum centered at 4.5 mu m has been observed above room temperature for a device with 200 x 200 mu m(2) square mesa.

杯[4]芳烃配位和超分子化学的研究

本论文依据主客体作用原理，从分子工程出发，主要利用各式杯芳烃主体与不同客体分子和金属离子进行组装，研究这类超分子的合成条件及规律，探讨主客体之间的相互影响及其自组装原理。 在第二章中，首先研究了银氨离子可诱导杯[4]芳烃(L1)形成超分子胶囊，接下来的工作中，我们对杯[4]芳烃进行修饰，合成了两种杯芳烃羧酸配体25, 26, 27, 28-tetrakis(carboxy methoxy)-calix[4]arene (L2) 和25, 26, 27, 28-tetrakis(carboxy methoxy)-p-t-butylcalix[4]arene (L3)；并分别以六次甲基四胺和三苯基膦为中性配体，构筑了一个由胶囊构筑的三维网络结构和一个四核银的簇合物。 在第三章中，用六次甲基四胺作为中性配体与银离子和对磺酸杯[4]芳烃进行组装，得到了一个纳米孔材料，在该结构中，银与六次甲基四胺形成的配位多聚体作为模板，诱导对磺酸杯芳烃排列形成孔道。由于模板的作用，拉大了杯芳烃之间的距离。 在第四章中，用pnno (pyrazine-N,N’-dioxide)作为客体分子，在稀土离子存在的情况下与杯芳烃进行超分子组装。不同的实验方法分别得到了由超分子胶囊构筑的三维网络结构和A-B-A 的双层结构。稀土Nd与 5,11,17,23- tetrasulfonato- 25,26,27,28-tetra- ethoxycarbonylmethoxyl-calix[4]arene (L4)组装时，得到了一个由氢键连接的层状化合物。 在第五章中，在水溶液条件下，[M(bpdo)22H2O]2+ (M=Zn, Cu; bpdo=2, 2’- bipyridine-N, N’-dioxide )诱导对磺酸基杯[4]芳烃形成超分子胶囊；并且该胶囊通过电荷辅助的π•••π作用与[M(bpdo)3]2+组装成纳米孔材料，气体吸附的测试表明该纳米孔对甲醇有一定气体吸附能力。当用稀土离子代替金属离子时，形成了类似的超分子胶囊和孔状结构。结果表明稀土孔材料比过渡金属孔材料具有更好的热稳定性。进一步研究通过改变配体bpdo为tpdo (tpdo=terpyridine-1, 1’, 1’-trisoxide)得到了一个层状化合物。 在第六章中，将新型的有机配体与丙基焦杯芳烃或甲基间苯二酚杯芳烃进行自组装得到新奇的杯芳烃超分子结构。这些新型的有机配体含有N-O或C=O 官能团的有机分子4,4'-dipyridyl N, N'-dioxide (L5), tetra-2-pyridinyl-N, N', N", N"'-tetraoxide- pyrazine (L6) and 1, 10-phenanthroline-5, 6-dione (L7)。它们是具有特殊的氢键受体和空间构型的有机分子，由于氢键等弱相互作用在形成超分子结构中的重要作用，三种不同的有机配体与杯芳烃自组装得到了三种不同的杯芳烃超分子结构。

D2-4放线菌的筛选及其抗生物质研究

利用有益微生物及其代谢产物来防治植物病害，已成为一个十分活跃并具有巨大应用前景的领域。本论文采用土壤预处理等特殊方法，从长白山不同高度的土壤中筛选出1068株放线菌。通过对峙培养法和杯碟法，筛选出D1-1等10株对蔬菜病害菌具有抑制作用的菌株。离体叶片实验中发现D2-4发酵液对黄瓜、辣椒、番茄等蔬菜真菌病害具有一定的防治效果。以水和常用化学农药作为空白和药物对照，对D2-4发酵液进行了盆栽实验，结果对番茄灰霉、辣椒根腐和黄瓜枯萎病的防治效果分别为70.65％、63.27％、65.04％，初步显示出良好的防治效果。通过单因素和均匀设计实验，优化了DZ-4菌发酵培养基的组成，考察了培养时间、接种量、菌龄等对抑菌活性的影响。确定了最佳发酵培养基成分：黄豆饼粉1.10％、葡萄糖2.71％、蔗糖1.00％、NaCl0.10％、酵母膏0.10％、发酵培养基初始pH为6.61。最佳发酵时间为96h左右，培养20～24h的种子液以7％的接种量转接有利于提高抑菌活性。经发酵培养基和发酵条件的优化，发酵液抑菌活性达到了6588 u／ml，比原始发酵培养基（3678 u／ml）活性提高了79.12％。经发酵液的预处理、离子交换层析、吸附柱层析、高效液相色谱纯化等步骤，对D2-4抗生素进行了分离纯化研究。通过纸层析、纸电泳等试验最后确定该农用抗生素为弱碱性水溶性抗生素。对D2-4抗生素纯品进行了红外吸收光谱、紫外吸收光谱等理化性质的研究。

~(27)Al+~(27)Al耗散反应截面涨落的角度关联测量

在2 7Al+ 2 7Al(Elab≈ 1 2 0MeV)耗散反应激发函数涨落的实验研究中 ,首次在较大的角度范围内获得截面涨落的角度关联系数和角度关联函数 .实验结果表明 ,角度关联函数的形状呈现明显的非对称性 ,角度相干宽度至少为 4 0°;截面涨落在前后角区表现出明显不同的角度相关性 .

Cross-correlation of excitation functions for different fragments and different scattering angles in Al-27(F-19, x)y reactions

Excitation functions have been measured for different projectile-like fragments produced in Al-27(F-19,x)y reactions at incident energies from 110.25 to 118.75 MeV in 250 keV steps. Strong cross section fluctuations of the excitation functions are observed. The cross- correlation coefficients of the excitation functions for different atomic number Z and for different scattering angle theta(cm) have been deduced. These coefficients are much larger than the statistical theoretical calculated ones. This indicates that there are strong correlations between different exit channels in the dissipative heavy ion Collision of Al-27(F-19,x)y.

Thiophene-NPN Ligand Supported Rare-Earth Metal Bis(alkyl) Complexes. Synthesis and Catalysis toward Highly trans-1,4 Selective Polymerization of Butadiene

A series of new rare-earth metal bis(alkyl) complexes [L(1-3)Ln(CH2SiMe3)(2)(THF)(n)] (L-1 = MeC4H2SCH2NC6H4(Ph)(2)P=NC6H2Me3-2,4,6: Ln = Sc, n = 1 (1a); Ln = Lu, n = 1 (1b); L-2 = MeC4H2SCH2NC6H4(Ph)(2)P=NC6H3Et2-2,6: Ln = Sc, n = 1 (2a); Ln = Lu, n = 1 (2b); Ln = Y, n = 1 (2c); L-3 = MeC4H2SCH2NC6H4(Ph)(2)P=(NC6H3Pr2)-Pr-i-2,6: Ln = Sc, n = 0 (3a)) and (LSc)-Sc-4(CH2SiMe3)(2()THF) (4a) (L-4 = C6H5CH2NC6H4(Ph)(2)P=NC6H3Et2-2,6) have been prepared by reaction of rare-earth metal tris(alkyl)s with the corresponding HL1-4 ligands via alkane elimination.

New rare earth metal bis(alkyl)s bearing an iminophosphonamido ligand. Synthesis and catalysis toward highly 3,4-selective polymerization of isoprene

Newrareearth metal bis(alkyl) complexes [(NPNPh)Ln(CH2SiMe3)(2)(THF) (NPNPh:N(Ph)PPh2=NC6H2Me3-2,4,6; Ln = Sc (3a), Ln = Y (3b), Ln = Lu (3c)) and [(NPNPy)Sc(CH2SiMe3)(2)(THF)1 (NPNPY = N(Py)PPh2=NC6H2Me3-2,4,6) (3d)) have been prepared via protonolysis reaction between rare earth metal tris(alkyl)s and the corresponding iminophosphonamines. Complexes 3a-d are analogous monomers of THF solvate. Each metal ion coordinates to a eta(2)-chelated NPN ligand and two cis-located alkyl groups, adopting tetrahedron geometry.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-5Y-3Nd-Zr-xGd (x=0, 2 and 4 wt.%) alloys

Mg-5Y-3Nd-0.6Zr-xGd (x = 0, 2 and 4 wt.%) alloys were prepared by metal mould casting technique, the structures and mechanical properties were investigated. The alloys were mainly composed of alpha-Mg solid solution and beta-phase. With increasing Gd content, Mg5RE phase increased and the grain was refined. The Mg-5Y-3Nd-2Gd-0.6Zr alloy exhibited highest ultimate tensile strength and Mg-5Y-3Nd-0.6Zr alloy showed highest yield strength at room temperature. With increasing amount of Gd, the thermal resistance was improved. The Mg-5Y-3Nd-4Gd-0.6Zr alloy exhibited highest UTS and YS at 250 degrees C, they were about 1.27 times higher than those of Gd-free alloy, which was mainly attributed to the increase of the beta-phase and Mg5RE strengthening phase.

Microstructure, thermal stability and mechanical properties of the novel (W1-xAlx)C-Co (x=0.2, 0.33, 0.4, 0.5) cemented carbide

Bulk novel cemented carbides (W1-xAlx)C-10.1 vol% Co (x = 0.2, 0.33, 0.4, 0.5) are prepared by mechanical alloying and hot-pressing sintering. Hot-pressing (HP) is used to fabricate the bulk bodies of the hard alloys. The novel cemented carbides have good mechanical properties compared with WC-Co. The density and operating cost of the novel material is much lower than a WC-Co system. The material is easy to process and the processing leads to nano-scaled, rounded, particles in the bulk material. The hardness of (W1-xAlx)C-10.1 vol% Co (x = 0.2, 0.33, 0.4, 0.5) hard material is 20.37, 21.16, 21.59 and 22.16 GPa, and the bending strength is 1257, 1238, 1211 and 1293 MPa, with the aluminum content varying from 20% to 50%. The relationship between the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the novel hard alloy is also discussed.