Adsorption of human serum albumin onto gold: a combined electrochemical and ellipsometric study

Human serum albumin adsorption onto gold surfaces was investigated by electrochemical and ellipsometric methods. Albumin adsorption onto gold was confirmed by the change of the open circuit potential of gold and by the ellipsometric parameter variation during albumin immobilization. In both experiments the parameters reached stable values within 10-15 min. The albumin adsorption layer thickness measured with the ellipsometer was about 1.5 nm. The adsorption of albumin Under applied potential was also investigated and it was found that both positive and negative applied potential promote albumin adsorption. Changes in the optical parameters of bare gold and albumin adsorbed onto gold surface under applied potential were investigated with in Situ ellipsometry. The similarity and reversibility of the optical changes showed that adsorbed albumin was stable on the gold surface Under the applied potential range (-200-600 mV). The cyclic voltammograms of K3Fe(CN)(6) on the modified gold surface showed that albumin Could partly block the oxidation and reduction reaction. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Phase mapping of domain kinetics in lithium niobate by digital holographic interferometry

The phase mapping of domain kinetics under the uniform steady-state electric field is achieved and investigated in the LiNbO3 crystals by digital holographic interferometry. We obtained the sequences of reconstructed three-dimensional and two-dimensional wave-field phase distributions during the electric poling in the congruent and near stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystals. The phase mapping of individual domain nucleation and growth in the two crystals are obtained. It is found that both longitudinal and lateral domain growths are not linear during the electric poling. The phase mapping of domain wall motions in the two crystals is also obtained. Both the phase relaxation and the pinning-depinning mechanism are observed during the domain wall motion. The residual phase distribution is observed after the high-speed domain wall motion. The corresponding analyses and discussions are proposed to explain the phenomena.

The Homology and Relationship of Human (Homo sapiens) Chromosomes 1, 19 and Dusky Langur (Trachypithacus obscurus) Chromosomes 6, 8 Demonstrated with Chromosome Painting

http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/

MicroRNA regulation and the variability of human cortical gene expression

Understanding the driving forces of gene expression variation within human populations will provide important insights into the molecular basis of human phenotypic variation. In the genome, the gene expression variability differs among genes, and at prese

Genetic studies of human diversity in East Asia

East Asia is one of the most important regions for studying evolution and genetic diversity of human populations. Recognizing the relevance of characterizing the genetic diversity and structure of East Asian populations for understanding their genetic his

Structural analysis of human CCR2b and primate CCR2b by molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation

CCR2b, a chemokine receptor for MCP-1, -2, -3, -4, plays an important role in a variety of diseases involving infection, inflammation, and/or injury, as well as being a coreceptor for HIV-1 infection. Two models of human CCR2b (hCCR2b) were generated by h

Fish Fauna Status in the Lugu Lake with PreliminaryAnalysis on Cause and Effect of Human Impacts

泸沽湖是位于滇西北的一个断陷湖泊，为滇川两省共有。文献记录泸沽湖原始的鱼类区系由4种鱼 类组成，隶属于裂腹鱼属和泥鳅属。于2001，2002和2004年3次考察泸沽湖，进行标本采集和鱼类区系现状调 查。查看了采自泸沽湖的鱼类标本518号，结合历史上的采集记录和大量相关文献，确定泸沽湖记录有鱼类12 种，隶属于3目4科10属；过度捕捞和毁林造成的泥石流是泸沽湖鱼类区系变化的主要原因。

Effects of human activities on migratory waterbirds at Lashihai Lake, China

Surveys on migratory waterbirds and their habitats at Lashihai Lake, China, were conducted from October 1999 to April 2000. Five fixed points, representing different degrees of habitat disturbance and quality, were selected around the lake. We used counts (n = 30) to compare diversity and abundance of waterbirds at each point and evaluate the effects of habitat disturbance. The distribution of waterbirds was affected by disturbance, with snore than one-third of the total species and nearly half of the total individuals occurring at the least disturbed point. Species richness was weakly and abundance was strongly correlated to habitat disturbance, but not to habitat quality. Habitat destruction and use of canoes were prominent at the lake. Naxi ethnic fishermen (n = 37) were interviewed. They caught 570 waterbirds between October 1999 and March 2000 in fishing nets. An estimation of the total number of waterbirds been trapped on the lake is 6164. Diving species were most susceptible. Conservation measures that should implement immediately include the cessation of habitat destruction, better plan for the development of tourism, a reduction in the number of canoes and zoning of the non-fishing area. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The brave new era of human genetic testing

The commercialization of 'big science' is in full swing, leading to situations in which the ethical principles of academia are beginning to be compromised. This is exemplified by the profitable business of genetic ancestry testing. The goals of this sort

Identification and characterization of a new class of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 recombinants comprised of two circulating recombinant forms, CRF07_BC and CRF08_BC, in China

We identified a new class of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) recombinants (00CN-HH069 and 00CN-HH086) in which further recombination occurred between two established circulating recombinant forms (CRFs). These two isolates were found among 57 HIV-1 samples from a cohort of injecting drug users in eastern Yunnan Province of China. Informative-site analysis in conjunction with bootscanning plots and exploratory tree analysis revealed that these two strains were closely related mosaics comprised of CRF07_BC and CRF08_BC, which are found in China. The genotype screening based on gag-reverse transcriptase sequences if 57 samples from eastern Yunnan identified 47 CRF08_BC specimens (82.5%), 5 CRF07_BC specimens (8.8%), and 3 additional specimens with the novel recombinant structure. These new "second-generation" recombinants thus constitute a substantial proportion (5 of 57; 8.8%) of HIV-1 strains in this population and may belong to a new but yet-undefined class of CRF. This might be the first example of CRFs recombining with each other, leading to the evolution of second-generation inter-CRF recombinants.

Stable RNA hairpins in 88 coding regions of human mRNA

RNA hairpins containing UNCG, GNRA, CUUG (N = A, U, C or G, R = G or A) loops are unusually thermodynamic stable and conserved structures. The structural features of these hairpin loops are very special, and they play very important roles in vivo. They are prevalent in rRNA, catalytic RNA and non-coding mRNA. However, the 5' C(UUCG)G 3' hairpin is not found in the folding structure of 88 human mRNA coding regions. It is also different from rRNA in that there is no preference for certain sequences among tetraloops in these 88 mRNA folding structures.