藻体对水环境中N、P及重金属Cu2+、Pb2+、Cd2+、Cr6+的吸附特征研究

随着全球生态环境的恶化，各国日益重视对水体中各种污染物的治理。利用藻类的吸收、富集和降解作用，可以去除污水中的营养物质、重金属离子和有机污染物，与其他物理、化学及工程的方法相比，该技术具有以下优点：成本低、能耗小、治理效果较好，对环境污染小，有利于资源化，有利于整体生态环境的改善，是治理水质污染的新途径。 本文利用几种大型海藻对富营养化海水进行处理，结果发现孔石莼、刚毛藻均有很强的吸收N、P的能力，吸收能力依次为褶曲刚毛藻>束生刚毛藻>孔石莼。水体中褶曲刚毛藻3 g/L含量，在3～5小时之内，可把中等以上富营养化海水中的N、P降低至一类海水水平。利用刚毛藻处理富营养化地下海水和养殖废水，进行海参和大菱鲆养殖试验，探索藻类净化水质和废水循环利用的新模式，使水体保持较低的营养盐状态，减轻养殖废水对环境的影响，实现了海水养殖业与环境的可持续发展。 刚毛藻在我国近海滩涂分布广泛，利用它来处理富营养化水体，并和水产养殖业相结合，既净化水体，使养殖废水能循环利用，满足水产养殖的需求，又改善水产业生态环境。同时，将回收藻体生产优质饲料、食品和药物等，实现藻类资源的高值利用。刚毛藻营养丰富，用其替代鼠尾藻作海参饲料，资源丰富，成本低，效果好，是一种值得加以开发利用的宝贵资源，具有广泛的应用前景。 生物吸附法是一种经济有效的移除废水中有害重金属离子的方法。由于藻类细胞壁中的多聚糖可提供吸附重金属的位点，廉价而蕴藏丰富的海藻对多种重金属表现出很强的吸附能力。所以本文通过分批实验，研究了非活体刚毛藻对水体中重金属Cu2+、Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附影响因子、吸附热力学、吸附动力学及吸附机理，得到了平衡等温线及动力学数据。吸附过程的最佳pH值为5.0，吸附量随温度的升高而增加，水体中常见的Na+、K+、Ca2+、Mg2+阳离子及Cl-、NO3-、SO42-、C2O42-等阴离子的存在对吸附的影响并不显著。EDTA存在时，吸附百分率大大降低。吸附等温线符合Langmuir和Freundlich方程。刚毛藻对重金属Cu2+、Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附容量很高，25℃时，对Cu2+、Pb2+和Cd2+的最大吸附容量分别为1.61 mmol/g、0.96 mmol/g和0.98 mmol/g，且吸附过程为吸热反应。刚毛藻对重金属Cu2+、Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附过程为化学吸附，在吸附过程中藻体表面的官能团可能与金属离子发生了螯合作用。吸附动力学过程符合pseudo-二级动力学模型，在初始的30min内，吸附速率很快，随后速率逐渐降低。解吸试验表明，用EDTA可以对重金属进行回收，刚毛藻可以循环利用。实验结果表明刚毛藻是一种高效、经济实用的生物吸附材料，可用来吸附回收水体中的重金属Cu2+、Pb2+和Cd2+等。 通过非活体刚毛藻对重金属Cr6+的吸附影响因子、吸附动力学、吸附机理的研究发现，刚毛藻对Cr6+具有很强的还原能力，对电镀废水中的Cr6+的还原去除提供了非常好的方法。吸附过程的最佳pH值为2～3，实际电镀废水通常在此pH范围，因此处理实际废水时，首先在原酸性条件下，对Cr6+进行还原去除，然后调废水pH至5.0，继续进行吸附，去除其他二价离子及被还原的三价Cr离子，实现了利用同一材料还原Cr6+为Cr3+，并将Cr3+和其他重金属离子同时去除。通过对机理的讨论，认为刚毛藻对Cr6+的生物吸附过程不是一个简单的“离子交换过程”，而是一个“吸附还原过程”。在海藻量足够的前提下，只要时间足够长，Cr6+可被彻底还原去除。 利用工业废弃物褐藻渣，对水体中重金属离子Cu2+、Pb2+、Cd2+及Cr6+的生物吸附特性分别进行了讨论，结果表明褐藻渣对重金属离子的吸附特性与刚毛藻一致，吸附等温线符合Langmuir和Freundlich方程，在25℃时，pH为5.0时，由Langmuir方程求出褐藻渣对Cu2+、Pb2+和Cd2+的最大吸附容量分别为4.20 mmol/g、3.13 mmol/g和2.97 mmol/g。褐藻渣对低、高浓度的重金属Cr6+都具有很强的吸附能力，且移除效果比较彻底。实际应用结果表明，褐藻渣是一种高效、经济实用的生物吸附材料，可用来吸附回收水体中的重金属离子，具有广泛的应用前景。

红枫湖沉积物中汞的环境地球化学循环

基于冷原子荧光测定方法对红枫湖沉积物及孔隙水中总汞、甲基汞浓度的时空分布特征及控制因素进行了分析.红枫湖沉积物总汞含量为（0.392±0.070）μg/g,高于世界其它背景区汞浓度,也高于处于同一流域的乌江渡水库和东风水库,表明红枫湖受到了一定程度的汞污染.2个采样点总汞无明显的季节变化,但其剖面分布都有在上层富集的趋势.沉积物甲基汞浓度在春季最高,其余季节则没有明显差异,甲基汞峰值出现在表层0-8 cm以内,与红枫湖沉积物中硫酸盐还原菌活动区域一致.沉积物甲基汞浓度的季节变化和剖面最大峰值分布,主要受氧化还原带的季节性迁移所控制.红枫湖孔隙水中总汞的浓度及在固/液之间的分配系数主要和随季节变化的温度或氧化还原条件有关,与沉积物固相中总汞浓度和分布相关性不大,而孔隙水中甲基汞浓度则和沉积物甲基汞浓度存在着极显著的相关性（r=0.70,p〈0.001）.沉积物和孔隙水甲基汞浓度除受到固/液分配系数影响外,主要还受到甲基汞产生过程控制.

陆相热水沉积成因硅质岩与超大型锗矿床的成因—— 以临沧锗矿床为例

临沧锗矿床的硅质岩中存在大量的热水沉积构造和植物化石, 该硅质岩富SiO2 , 低TiO 2和Al2O3, Al/(Al+Fe+Mn)比值平均为0.010, 明显富集Ge, Sb, As, W; 其次Cs, U, Mo和Tl有不同程度的富集, 稀土总量一般小于1 μg/g, 最大2.324 μg/g , 相对富集LREE; δ Eu为0.452 ~ 5.141, δ Ce为 0.997 ~ 1.174; 稀土元素北美页岩标准化模式呈平坦状或向左倾斜; 氧同位素组成与热泉硅华类似. 上述特征表明本区硅质岩属陆相热水沉积成因. 硅质岩作为中寨锗矿体的顶板或夹层, 在空间上与锗矿体紧密接触. 硅质岩中含锗5.6 ~ 360 μg/g, 平均78 μg/g. 靠近硅质岩的煤中锗含量明显升高. 随着煤中锗含量的不断升高, 含矿煤的特征微量元素比值及稀土元素的球粒陨石标准化分配模式与硅质岩越来越相似. 临沧锗矿床煤中锗可能主要由与煤层形成近同时的、以热水成因硅质岩为标志的热水活动带入.

贵州红枫湖汞的生物地球化学循环

上世纪八十年代，科学家们发现在北美和北欧一些远离汞污染源的湖泊中，某些鱼汞含量远远超过了世界卫生组织建议的食用水产品汞含量标准，这一现象引起了人们对水环境系统中汞的生物地球化学循环的极大关注。因此本论文对贵州红枫湖和加拿大安大略省3个小湖中汞的形态与分布特征进行了详细的研究，并对红枫湖整个汞的生物地球化学循环做了较为完整深入的探讨。本论文主要包括以下4方面的研究内容：（1）沉积物甲基汞分析方法的建立；（2）红枫湖水体、沉积物、鱼体中各种汞形态的含量、分布特征以及水体富营养化对其影响的研究；（3）红枫湖汞形态转化、输入输出通量及其质量平衡的估算；（4）红枫湖的对比研究点—加拿大安大略省的Mary、St. George和Philips湖中不同形态汞分布特征的初步研究。通过本论文的研究，得出以下主要结论： 1. 建立了硝酸和硫酸铜溶液浸提，CH2Cl2萃取并结合水相乙基化和GC-CVAFS测定沉积物及土壤中甲基汞的方法。该方法平均回收率为 97.8%，相对标准偏差≤10.2%，方法检出限为0.6pg/g，具有所需试剂少、不用连续萃取、简捷易行、回收率高以及精密度好等特点。 2． 2004年红枫湖湖水总汞浓度在2.5-14 ng/L之间，平均值为6.9 ng/L；溶解态汞浓度范围在1.2-8.0 ng/L之间，平均为3.9 ng/L。不管是红枫湖水体汞浓度的空间分布，还是季节变化都严重受到人为污染源的干扰。湖水汞在颗粒态和溶解态之间的分配，主要受内源有机质以及氧化还原条件的影响。2004年春季后五由于水华现象大量繁殖的藻类，吸附了大量的汞，从而改变了汞在水库中的分配和迁移。这些藻类的生长对水体中溶解气态汞浓度分布也有显著的影响。湖水中活性汞分布特征主要受Hg2+的光致还原过程、Hg2+的甲基化过程以及人为源的输入等过程控制。 3. 红枫湖夏季下层滞水带中，甲基汞含量显著升高，特别是在后五缺氧层，最高值达0.92ng/L。夏季总甲基汞和溶解态甲基汞在水体剖面上的分布表明：在富营养化较严重的后五，水体中升高的甲基汞主要来自水体中汞的甲基化过程；而在富营养化特征不明显的大坝，水体中升高的甲基汞主要来自沉积物甲基汞的释放。红枫湖水体中各种汞形态的分布特征表明，富营养化对汞的迁移转化影响显著，尤其是汞的甲基化过程。水体富营养化为汞的甲基化提供了有利条件，给水生生态环境及人体健康带来了潜在的威胁。 4. 红枫湖沉积物总汞浓度为0.392 ± 0.070 μg/g，高于世界其它背景区汞浓度，也高于处于同一流域的乌江渡水库和东风水库，表明红枫湖受到了一定程度的汞污染。两个采样点总汞无明显的季节变化，但其剖面分布都有在上层富集的趋势。沉积物甲基汞浓度的季节变化和剖面最大峰值分布，主要受氧化还原带的季节性迁移所控制。沉积物甲基汞浓度在春季最高，其余季节则没有明显差异，甲基汞峰值出现在表层0～8cm以内，与红枫湖沉积物中硫酸盐还原菌活动区域一致。 5. 红枫湖总汞在孔隙水中的浓度及在固/液之间的分配系数主要和温度有关，与沉积物中总汞相关性不大，而孔隙水中甲基汞浓度则和沉积物甲基汞浓度存在着极显著的相关性（r=0.70, p<0.001）。沉积物和孔隙水甲基汞浓度除受到固/液分配系数影响外，主要还受到甲基汞产生过程控制。 6. 由于本次研究所采集的鱼类多为红枫湖人工饲养鱼，生长速度快，食物链短，故总汞含量（32ng/g）和甲基汞含量(12ng/g)都远远低于国家食用标准。汞含量在不同鱼种中的分布趋势为：肉食性鱼类>杂食性鱼类>草食性鱼类，这表明鱼体中汞含量主要和鱼的摄食习惯有关。 7． 红枫湖总汞质量平衡模型的估算结果表明，红枫湖水体中汞的总源为30066 g.a-1，总汇为31010g.a-1。水体中总汞最大的源来自于河流输入（82%），而最大的汇是水体颗粒态汞的沉降（78%）。甲基汞质量平衡模型的估算结果表明河流输出是水体甲基汞一个重要的汇，占总汇的45%, 比河流输入占总源的比例高30%，表明水库是下游水体甲基汞的源。 8. 红枫湖汞在水-沉积物界面的迁移通量表明，沉积物是水体中汞和甲基汞一个巨大的汇，而沉积物对上覆水体总汞和甲基汞的贡献却很有限。红枫湖汞在水-气界面的迁移通量表明，大气汞沉降特别是干沉降是红枫湖水体总汞一个重要的污染源，其对红枫湖汞的贡献远大于水体向大气释放的汞，大气沉降每年向红枫湖净贡献汞量为3364 g.a-1。 9. 在对比研究的湖泊中，水体中甲基汞的剖面分布表明，斜温层颗粒态甲基汞的沉降、沉积物甲基汞的释放以及水体汞的甲基化过程都是下层水体高甲基汞的重要来源。在这些湖泊中近代汞的沉积通量为22.1 μg m-2 a-1，远低于红枫湖中汞的沉积通量（714 μg m-2 a-1）。与红枫湖以及一些典型的沉积物甲基汞的垂直剖面分布相比，这些小湖中甲基汞的产生不仅发生在沉积物表层，在较深的沉积物中可能也有汞的甲基化过程，而且这个过程和有机质的含量密切相关。

贵州东风水库中不同形态汞迁移转化规律的初步探讨

北欧和北美的研究发现水库是典型的汞敏感生态系统，新建水库而引起的鱼的甲基汞污染问题已经受到科学家的高度重视，而我国在这方面的研究比较薄弱。本论文以乌江流域上游的东风水库为研究对象，于夏季（2007 年8月）、冬季（2007 年12 月）和春季（2008年4月）分别对水库不同深度分层水体、沉积物间隙水、沉积柱剖面中不同形态汞的含量、分布特征以及迁移转化规律进行了详细的研究。研究结果发现： 1.东风水库水体中各种形态汞浓度均表现出季节性变化。总汞(THg)浓度变化范 围为1.1-2.3ng/L，平均为1.6ng/L；溶解态汞(THg)浓度变化范围为0.3-1.3ng/L，平均为0.6ng/L；颗粒态汞(PHg)浓度范围为0.3-1.5ng/L，平均为0.8ng/L；活性汞(RHg)浓度范围为0.2-0.6ng/L，平均为0.4ng/L；总甲基汞(TMHg)浓度变化范 围为0.04-1.01ng/L，平均为0.27ng/L；溶解态甲基汞(DMHg)浓度变化范围为0.03-0.48ng/L，平均为0.12ng/L；颗粒态甲基汞汞(PMHg)浓度范围为0.01-0.7ng/L，平均为0.16ng/L。 2.东风水库水体颗粒态总汞与总汞呈极显著相关，说明东风水库水体的颗粒态汞强烈影响着总汞迁移和分布。水库水体总甲基汞与溶解态甲基汞汞和颗粒态甲基汞之间存在极显著正线性相关，证明水库水体中的甲基汞的产生和迁移与溶解态甲基汞和颗粒态甲基汞均有着密切的关系。但是，水体甲基汞与总汞之间并不存在相关性。 3.东风水库水体夏季溶解态汞、活性汞、溶解态甲基汞浓度均远高于冬春两季，除了外源异重径流输入的影响外，很大程度与夏季水库底部缺氧环境密不可分。沉积物释放大量吸附的汞进入水体，造成水体溶解态汞、活性汞、溶解态甲基汞的升高。 4.东风水库沉积物间隙水中总汞和甲基汞浓度出现明显的季节性变化，夏季大于冬春两季。沉积物甲基汞的浓度分布与沉积物中有机质含量相关性明显（r=0.219＊,n=133）。东风水库沉积物中甲基汞的含量随沉积物深度增加浓度梯度不明显。 5.东风水库沉积物总汞含量基本没有季节变化，浓度变化范围为97-354ng/g，平均为180ng/g。东风水库沉积物中总汞含量大大高于其他未受污染地区水库沉积物中总汞含量。甲基汞含量变化范围为0.1-5.5ng/g，平均为2.1ng/g 。 6.东风水库沉积物间隙水中总汞、甲基汞浓度均显著高于其上覆水体的总汞和甲基汞的浓度，二者之间存在显著的浓度梯度，沉积物中总汞和甲基汞的释放是水库水体的重要来源。

Formation of the V center on H-type zeolites with thermal treatment

The effect of thermal treatment on H-MCM-22 and H-ZSM-5 zeolites was investigated using the electron spin resonance technique. A six-line signal (denoted as A, g = 2.048, A = 22. 15 G) was detected on H-MCM-22 after He purging at high temperatures, whose intensities increased with the treating temperature. The same signal was also found on H-ZSM-5 zeolites with different crystal sizes. The paramagnetic center was identified as a V center, namely, a hole of an electron trapped on an oxygen atom bonding to a nearby aluminum atom. These signals appeared only on a dealuminated sample or a sample concomitantly with dealumination. The formation of the hole might involve an electron transferring from the lattice oxygen to a nonframework aluminum species, and the hyperfine splitting is caused by the interaction between the electron hole locating on the p orbit of oxygen and the framework aluminum bonding with the oxygen. The signal disappeared after the sample was exposed to air or oxygen at room temperature. However, the process was reversible. A new set of signals (denoted as B, g(1) = 2.008, g(2) = 2.003, g(3) = 1.9985) was observed after oxygen adsorption on the H-MCM-22 pretreated with He at 973 K or He purging at 973 K on the H-MCM-22 pretreated with oxygen at 813 K, which was attributed to the O- species.

智商常态人群的智力个体差异研究

随着智力个体差异研究的深入，人们认识到智力水平正态分布不仅有遗传和环境的原因而且还有智力结构的原因。但就智力水平个体差异的性质和影响因素问题还有争议。从智力结构、认知基础和认知风格三个角度研究智商常态群体的智力个体差异是非常必要的。 本研究以初三年级14-15岁的3个不同智力水平学生群体（智商在70-85之间的中下群体、86-115之间的中中群体，116-130之间的中上群体）为被试，探查智力水平个体差异的性质，认知机能、认知操作、认知风格的群体差异以及它们对智力水平个体差异的影响。 有五个分研究：研究一运用分测验相关和因素分析方法探查了不同智商群体的智力结构分化是否不同，以及是何种性质的不同；研究二运用实验方法探查了速度、工作记忆、控制机能、知觉、语义网络丰富性的智商群体间差异情况和这些认知机能对智力个体差异的影响；研究三探查分析和综合操作、抽象和具体操作的群体间、群体内差异和这些认知操作对智力个体差异的影响；在认知操作基础上，研究四探查分析-综合认知风格、具体-抽象认知风格、准确-速度认知风格上的群体间差异和这些认知风格对智力个体差异的影响；研究五采用路径分析方法探查认知机能和认知操作与智力水平个体差异的层次结构关系。结果如下： 1．智力结构分化群体间差异是相似因素结构的功能差异，而非因素构成差异，但智力结构的局部也有构成因素差异，g因素制约着智力结构分化程度。分测验相关的群体主效应显著，各群体的分测验因素结构相似，中中群体和中上群体的操作分量表因素比中下群体多了一个。不同智商群体的g因素载荷一致，g功能越高，智力结构更加分化，特殊能力是中上群体的智力结构局部分化高于中下群体的重要原因。 2．随着智力水平差距的增大，认知机能效率和认知机能效率稳定性的群体间差异有由部分向全面显著差异的拓展趋势，不同智商群体间的差异内容并不相同，认知机能对智力个体差异影响作用有大小之分。中上群体和中中群体的速度和语义网络效率没有显著差异，两个群体的知觉、计算广度、监控、抑制、语义表征的效率稳定性没有显著差异；中中群体和中下群体的监控和转换效率没有显著差异，两个群体的阅读广度、计算广度、监控、转换的效率稳定性没有显著差异。认知机能效率与智力功能显著相关，工作记忆和控制机能对智力功能的个体差异影响较大。 3．随着智力水平差距的增大，认知操作的群体间差异有由部分向全面显著差异拓展趋势，认知操作的群体间和群体内差异内容不同，认知操作对智力个体差异影响有大小之分。中中群体和中下群体在抽象综合操作上没有差异，中中群体和中下群体在综合操作上没有差异。中上群体的抽象优于具体。中下群体分析低于综合、抽象分析低于抽象综合、抽象分析低于具体分析。中中群体的组内比较没有显著差异。各个认知操作与智力水平相关显著，抽象操作和分析操作对智力个体差异的影响较大。 4．不同智商群体的认知风格类型比例构成不同。中上群体的分析-综合均强、抽象-具体均强、快-准确型占主要地位，分析强-综合弱、抽象强-具体弱、快-不准占次要地位。而中下群体则在分析-综合均弱、抽象-具体均弱、快-不准确型是主要类型，慢-不准确、具体强-抽象弱、综合强-分析弱占了次要地位。中中群体的分析-综合均弱，抽象-具体均弱型虽为主要，但是人数比例要少于中下群体，综合强-分析弱、具体强-抽象弱占了次要地位，并且人数比例都高于中下群体占了主要地位，快-不准型为主，但是快-准确型占了次要地位。各个认知方式与智力功能有相关关系，并且缓和了认知操作和智力水平的相关程度。 5．认知机能以层次形式影响着智力水平。以速度为底层，以工作记忆、控制机能、语义网络、知觉为第二层，分析和综合操作为第三层的层次模型得到了数据的支持，速度决定模型、速度和知觉调节工作记忆和控制模型则没有得到支持。速度、工作记忆、控制机能、分析和综合操作是影响智力水平个体差异的重要关系结构。

Acid catalyzed synthesis of ordered bifunctionalized mesoporous organosilicas with large pore

Thiol-functionalized mesoporous ethane-silicas with large pore were synthesized by co-condensation of 1,2-bis(trimethoxy-sily)ethane (BTME) with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) using nonionic oligomeric polymer C1H (OCH(2)-CH(2))(10)OH (Brij-76) or poly(alkylene oxide) block copolymer (P123) as surfactant in acidic medium. The results of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen gas adsorption, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) show that the resultant materials have well-ordered hexagonal mesoscopic structure with uniform pore size distributions. (29)Si MAS NNR, (13)C CP-MAS NMR. FT-IR, and UV Raman spectroscopies confirm the attachment of thiol functionalities in the mesoporous ethane-sificas. The maximum content of the attached thiol group (-SH) in the mesoporous framework is 2.48mmol/g. The ordered mesoporous materials are efficient Hg(2+) adsorbents with almost every -SH site accessible to Hg(2+). In the presence of various kinds of heavy metal ions such as Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+) and Cr(3+), the materials synthesized using poly(alkylene oxide) block cooollxmier (Pluronic 123) g(2+), as surfactant show almost similar affinity to Hg(2+), Cd(2+), and Cr(3+), while the materials synthesized using ofigomeric polymer C(18)H(37)(OCH(2)CH(2))(10)OH (Brij-76) as surfactant exhibit high selectivity to Hg(2+). (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Diel rhythmicity in amino acid uptake by Prochlorococcus

The marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus, the most abundant phototrophic organism on Earth, numerically dominates the phytoplankton in nitrogen (N)-depleted oceanic gyres. Alongside inorganic N sources such as nitrite and ammonium, natural populations of this genus also acquire organic N, specifically amino acids. Here, we investigated using isotopic tracer and flow cytometric cell sorting techniques whether amino acid uptake by Prochlorococcus is subject to a diel rhythmicity, and if so, whether this was linked to a specific cell cycle stage. We observed, in contrast to diurnally similar methionine uptake rates by Synechococcus cells, obvious diurnal rhythms in methionine uptake by Prochlorococcus cells in the tropical Atlantic. These rhythms were confirmed using reproducible cyclostat experiments with a light-synchronized axenic Prochlorococcus (PCC9511 strain) culture and S-35-methionine and H-3-leucine tracers. Cells acquired the tracers at lower rates around dawn and higher rates around dusk despite > 10(4) times higher concentration of ammonium in the medium, presumably because amino acids can be directly incorporated into protein. Leucine uptake rates by cells in the S+G(2) cell cycle stage were consistently 2.2 times higher than those of cells at the G(1) stage. Furthermore, S+G(2) cells upregulated amino acid uptake 3.5 times from dawn to dusk to boost protein synthesis prior to cell division. Because Prochlorococcus populations can account from 13% at midday to 42% at dusk of total microbial uptake of methionine and probably of other amino acids in N-depleted oceanic waters, this genus exerts diurnally variable, strong competitive pressure on other bacterioplankton populations.

Agelastatin A: a novel inhibitor of osteopontin-mediated adhesion, invasion, and colony formation

Effective inhibitors of osteopontin (OPN)-mediated neoplastic transformation and metastasis are still lacking. (-)-Agelastatin A is a naturally occurring oroidin alkaloid with powerful antitumor effects that, in many cases, are superior to cisplatin in vitro. In this regard, past comparative assaying of the two agents against a range of human tumor cell lines has revealed that typically (-)-agelastatin A is 1.5 to 16 times more potent than cisplatin at inhibiting cell growth, its effects being most pronounced against human bladder, skin, colon, and breast carcinomas. In this study, we have investigated the effects of (-)-agelastatin A on OPN-mediated malignant transformation using mammary epithelial cell lines. Treatment with (-)-agelastatin A inhibited OPN protein expression and enhanced expression of the cellular OPN inhibitor, Tcf-4. (-)-Agelastatin A treatment also reduced beta-catenin protein expression and reduced anchorage-independent growth, adhesion, and invasion in R37 OPN pBK-CMV and C9 cell lines. Similar effects were observed in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435s human breast cancer cell lines exposed to (-)-agelastatin A. Suppression of Tcf-4 by RNA interference (short interfering RNA) induced malignant/invasive transformation in parental benign Rama 37 cells; significantly, these events were reversed by treatment with (-)-agelastatin A. Our study reveals, for the very first time, that (-)-agelastatin A down-regulates beta-catenin expression while simultaneously up-regulating Tcf-4 and that these combined effects cause repression of OPN and inhibition of OPN-mediated malignant cell invasion, adhesion, and colony formation in vitro. We have also shown that (-)-agelastatin A inhibits cancer cell proliferation by causing cells to accumulate in the G(2) phase of cell cycle.

Eigenvalues of the time-delay matrix in overlapping resonances

We discuss the properties of the lifetime or the time-delay matrix Q(E) for multichannel scattering, which is related to the scattering matrix S(E) by Q = i?S(dS†/dE). For two overlapping resonances occurring at energies E with widths G(? = 1, 2), with an energy-independent background, only two eigenvalues of Q(E) are proved to be different from zero and to show typical avoided-crossing behaviour. These eigenvalues are expressible in terms of the four resonance parameters (E , G) and a parameter representing the strength of the interaction of the resonances. An example of the strong and weak interaction in an overlapping double resonance is presented for the positronium negative ion. When more than two resonances overlap (? = 1, ..., N), no simple representation of each eigenvalue has been found. However, the formula for the trace of the Q-matrix leads to the expression d(E) = -?arctan[(G/2)/(E - E)] + d(E) for the eigenphase sum d(E) and the background eigenphase sum d(E), in agreement with the known form of the state density. The formulae presented in this paper are useful in a parameter fitting of overlapping resonances. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Compromised Spindle Assembly Checkpoint due to Altered Expression of Ubch10 and Cdc20 in Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E6 and E7-Expressing Keratinocytes

Cells expressing human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E6 and E7 proteins exhibit deregulation of G(2)/M genes, allowing bypass of DNA damage arrest signals. Normally, cells with DNA damage that override the G(2) damage checkpoint would precociously enter mitosis and ultimately face mitotic catastrophe and apoptotic cell death. However, E6/E7-expressing cells (E6/E7 cells) have the ability to enter and exit mitosis in the presence of DNA damage and continue with the next round of the cell cycle. Little is known about the mechanism that allows these cells to gain entry into and exit from mitosis. Here, we show that in the presence of DNA damage, E6/E7 cells have elevated levels of cyclin B, which would allow entry into mitosis. Also, as required for exit from mitosis, cyclin B is degraded in these cells, permitting initiation of the next round of DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression. Proteasomal degradation of cyclin B by anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is, in part, due to elevated levels of the E2-conjugating enzyme, Ubch10, and the substrate recognition protein, Cdc20, of APC/C. Also, in E6/E7 cells with DNA damage, while Cdc20 is complexed with BubR1, indicating an active checkpoint, it is also present in complexes free of BubR1, presumably allowing APC/C activity and slippage through the checkpoint.

Estrogen Receptor-beta Affects the Prognosis of Human Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an asbestos-related neoplasm with poor prognosis, refractory to current therapies, the incidence of which is expected to increase in the next decades. Female gender was identified as a positive prognostic factor among other clinical and biological prognostic markers for malignant mesothelioma, yet a role of estrogen receptors (ERs) has not been studied. Our goal was to investigate ERs expression in malignant mesothelioma and to assess whether their expression correlates with prognosis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed intense nuclear ER beta staining in normal pleura that was reduced in tumor tissues. Conversely, neither tumors nor normal pleura stained positive for ER alpha. Multivariate analysis of 78 malignant mesothelioma patients with pathologic stage, histologic type, therapy, sex, and age at diagnosis indicated that FRO expression is an independent prognostic factor of better survival. Moreover, studies in vitro confirmed that treatment with 17 beta-estradiol led to an ER beta-mediated inhibition of malignant mesothelioma cell proliferation as well as p21(CIP1) and p27(KIP1) up-regulation. Consistently cell growth was suppressed by ER beta overexpression, causing a G(2)-M-phase cell cycle arrest, paralleled by cyclin B1 and survivin down-regulation. Our data support the notion that ER beta acting as a tumor suppressor is of high potential relevance to prediction of disease progression and to therapeutic response of malignant mesothelioma patients. [Cancer Res 2009;69(11):4598-604]

The relationship between agricultural intensification and biological control: experimental tests across Europe

Agricultural intensification can affect biodiversity and related ecosystem services such as biological control, but large-scale experimental evidence is missing. We examined aphid pest populations in cereal fields under experimentally reduced densities of (1) ground-dwelling predators (-G), (2) vegetation-dwelling predators and parasitoids (-V), (3) a combination of (1) and (2) (-G-V),compared with open-fields (control), in contrasting landscapes with low vs. high levels of agricultural intensification (AI), and in five European regions. Aphid populations were 28%, 97%, and 199% higher in -G, -V, and -G -V treatments, respectively, compared to the open fields, indicating synergistic effects of both natural-enemy groups. Enhanced parasitoid : host and predator : prey ratios were related to reduced aphid population density and population growth. The relative importance of parasitoids and vegetation-dwelling predators greatly differed among European regions, and agricultural intensification affected biological control and aphid density only in some regions. This shows a changing role of species group identity in diverse enemy communities and a need to consider region-specific landscape management.

Ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) and NBS1-dependent phosphorylation of Chk1 on Ser-317 in response to ionizing radiation

In mammals, the ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated) and ATR (ATM and Rad3-related) protein kinases function as critical regulators of the cellular DNA damage response. The checkpoint functions of ATR and ATM are mediated, in part, by a pair of checkpoint effector kinases termed Chk1 and Chk2. In mammalian cells, evidence has been presented that Chk1 is devoted to the ATR signaling pathway and is modified by ATR in response to replication inhibition and UV-induced damage, whereas Chk2 functions primarily through ATM in response to ionizing radiation (IR), suggesting that Chk2 and Chk1 might have evolved to channel the DNA damage signal from ATM and ATR, respectively. We demonstrate here that the ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 pathways are not parallel branches of the DNA damage response pathway but instead show a high degree of cross-talk and connectivity. ATM does in fact signal to Chk1 in response to IR. Phosphorylation of Chk1 on Ser-317 in response to IR is ATM-dependent. We also show that functional NBS1 is required for phosphorylation of Chk1, indicating that NBS1 might facilitate the access of Chk1 to ATM at the sites of DNA damage. Abrogation of Chk1 expression by RNA interference resulted in defects in IR-induced S and G(2)/M phase checkpoints; however, the overexpression of phosphorylation site mutant (S317A, S345A or S317A/S345A double mutant) Chk1 failed to interfere with these checkpoints. Surprisingly, the kinase-dead Chk1 (D130A) also failed to abrogate the S and G(2) checkpoint through any obvious dominant negative effect toward endogenous Chk1. Therefore, further studies will be required to assess the contribution made by phosphorylation events to Chk1 regulation. Overall, the data presented in the study challenge the model in which Chk1 only functions downstream from ATR and indicate that ATM does signal to Chk1. In addition, this study also demonstrates that Chk1 is essential for IR-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis and the G(2)/M checkpoint.