Study of energy transfer in KMgF3 : Eu-X (X = Gd, Cr, Ce) by the decay model of P-6(7/2) exited state of Eu2+

Energy transfer processes between Eu2+ and Gd3+, Cr3+, Ce3+ ions in KMgF3, which are difficult to study spectroscopically, have been investigated by using the proposed four-level decay model of the P-6(7/2) excited state of the Eu2+ ion. Gd3+ and Ce3+ transfer its energy to the vibronic transition of the P-6(7/2) --> S-8(7/2) transition of Eu2+, whereas Cr3+ receive energy from Eu2+ via the d-d interaction. The energy transfer from the Eu2+ 4f(6)5d level to the Ce3+ 4f5d state is observed spectroscopically, and the energy transfer mechanism is discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of the effect of hydrogen bonding on the phase behaviour of p-nitro azobenzene derivatives with hydrophilic tails

The infrared spect ra of N-n-(4-nitrophenyl)azophenyloxyalkyldiethanolamines (Cn) are examined in the range of 4000-400 cm(-1) at different temperatures and the assignment of the fundamental vibrations given. Based on (1) the localization of the broad absorption band at 3456 cm(-1), and (2) attribution of the associated OH bands centred at 1410-1390, 1100, and 650-634 cm(-1) to, respectively delta OH deformation, nu C-O stretching and gamma OH out-of-plane bending, intermolecular hydrogen bonding between OH groups in the crystalline, liquid crystalline and isotropic states is proposed. By considering the results of FTIR, WAXD and DSC measurements, the molecular arrangement of C10 in its smectic A phase as consisting of hydrogen bonding and strong interaction between dipolar groups (NO,) is proposed. This may explain the high stability and high orientational ordering property of Cn compounds in the liquid crystalline state compared with that of n-bromo-1-[4-(4-nitrophenyl)azophenyl]oxyalkanes (Bn).

Miscibility and crystallization of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(p-vinylphenol) blends

The miscibility and crystallization behavior of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(p-vinylphenol) (PVPh) blends were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy (OM). The blends exhibit a single composition-dependent glass transition temperature, characteristic of miscible systems, A depression of the equilibrium melting temperature of PHB is observed. The interaction parameter values obtained from analysis of the melting point depression are of large negative values, which suggests that PHB and PVPh blends are thermodynamically miscible in the melt. Isothermal crystallization kinetics in the miscible blend system PHB/PVPh was examined by OM. The presence of the amorphous PVPh component results in a reduction in the rate of spherulite growth of PHB. The spherulite growth rate is analyzed using the Lauritzen-Hoffman model, The isothermally crystallized blends of PHB/PVPh were examined by wide-angle X-ray diffraction and smell-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The long period obtained from SAXS increases with the increase in PVPh component, which implies that the amorphous PVPh is squeezed into the interlamallar region of PHB.

Comparative study on the doping effect of 3d elements in Bi(1.5)Pb(0.2)Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(2.8)M(0.2)O(y) (M=Sc,Ti,V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni, or Zn)

With XRD, R-T, and ac chi measurements a comparative study on the doping effects of 3d elements in Bi(1.5)Pb(0.2)Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(2.8)M(0.2)O(y) (M = Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, or Zn) has been carried out. The effects of the former five members are significantly different, both on phase formed and on T-c, from the latter four. It seems that the effect on phase stabilization correlates with the valency of the doped cation. In connection with the instability of the 2223 phase, the correlation has been discussed.

A NMR-STUDY OF THE INTERACTION OF SILICA WITH DIPALMITOYLPHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE LIPOSOMES

The interaction of silica with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes has been studied by detecting H-1 and 2D NOESY NMR spectra and measuring proton spin-lattice relaxation time (T-1). The antagonistic effect of aluminium citrate on silica has also been studied by measuring the proton T-1 values, The results show that silica particles mainly bind to the phosphate moiety of the polar headgroup of DPPC bilayers through hydrogen bonds between Si-OH and O-P groups, but they have no significant effect on the conformation of the choline group of the polar headgroup, The addition of silica particles decreases the mobilities of the hydrocarbon chains slightly, Proton T-1 data also indicate that aluminium citrate reduces the effect of silica, A possible mechanism for the toxicity of silica and the antagonistic effect of aluminium titrate on silica is suggested. (C) 1995 Academic Press Inc.

10种外眼病泪液中Ca,Mg,Zn,Fe元素测定

检测10种外眼病141例、178眼泪液中的Ca、Mg、Zn、Fe含量。结果显示,翼状胬肉和泡性角结膜炎泪液中的Ca,复发单疱病毒性角膜炎(HSK)泪液中的Ca、Mg、Zn、Fe,慢性结膜炎泪液中的Ca、Fe含量均明显低于对照组(P<0.001～0.05)。提示这4种外眼病的病因可能与泪液Ca、Mg、Zn、Fe含量不足有关。

Identification and characterization of a virulence-associated protease from a pathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens strain

Pseudomonas fluorescens is an aquaculture pathogen that can infect a number of fish species. The virulence mechanisms of aquatic P. fluorescens remain largely unknown. Many P. fluorescens strains are able to secrete an extracellular protease called AprX, yet no AprX-like proteins have been identified in pathogenic P. fluorescens associated with aquaculture. In this study, a gene encoding an AprX homologue was cloned from TSS, a pathogenic A fluorescens strain isolated from diseased fish. In TSS, AprX is secreted into the extracellular milieu, and the production of AprX is controlled by growth phase and calcium. Mutation of aprX has multiple effects, which include impaired abilities in interaction with cultured host cells, adherence to host mucus, modulation of host immune response, and dissemination and survival in host tissues and blood. Purified recombinant AprX exhibits apparent proteolytic activity, which is optimal at pH 8.0 and 50 degrees C. The protease activity of recombinant AprX is enhanced by Ca2+ and Zn2+ and reduced by Co2+. Cytotoxicity analyses showed that purified recombinant AprX has profound toxic effect on cultured fish cells. These results demonstrate that AprX is an extracellular metalloprotease that is involved in bacterial virulence. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Numerical modeling of water wave interaction with a soft mud bed

A vertical 2-D numerical model is presented for simulating the interaction between water waves and a soft mud bed. Taking into account nonlinear rheology, a semi-empirical rheological model is applied to this water-mud model, reflecting the combined visco-elasto-plastic properties of soft mud under such oscillatory external forces as water waves. In order to increase the resolution of the flow in the neighborhood of both sides of the inter-surface, a logarithmic grid in the vertical direction is employed for numerical treatment. Model verifications are given through comparisons between the calculated and the measured mud mass transport velocities as well as wave height changes.

高原湖泊微藻和微量金属元素的相互作用过程及实验模拟研究

微量金属元素的微藻生物地球化学主要通过研究微藻与微量金属元素的各种相互作用，在时空上了解微藻在微量金属元素的分布、迁移和富集等过程中所起的作用，以及由此引起的微藻本身的成分、结构、形态和功能在不同地球化学环境中的变异等。地球化学环境变化及由此产生的生态环境效应是目前研究的科学热点之一。工业革命以来，人为活动强烈地改变了地球表层的局部乃至全球的微量金属元素含量，对生物的正常生长乃至人类的健康构成了潜在的威胁。作为初级生产力，浮游藻类在水生生态系统中占有重要地位；它通过生物积累、光合作用及生物矿化，驱动着C、N、Si、P、O、，S、Fe等元素在水体内部的生物地球化学循环；微藻对环境变化敏感，能够很好的响应微量金属元素生物地球化学行为的变化。目前有关湖泊微量金属元素地球化学及浮游植物生态学的研究较多，但浮游植物和微量金属元素相互作用规律的系统研究较少，对湖泊微量金属元素复杂的生物地球化学行为的解释仍缺乏实验依据。本论文研究了高原湖泊阿哈湖、百花湖和红枫湖的微量金属元素和微藻的时空分布特征，探讨了两者之间的相互关系；研究了小球藻和衣藻对微量金属元素的生物吸收和生物吸附特征：研究了微量金属元素对微藻生理生化因子（生长速度和碳酸醉酶胞外酶）的影响；分析了微藻和微量金属元素的相互作用规律，为湖泊微量金属元素生物地球化学行为的解释提供科学依据。通过上述研究，获得了以下几点认识：1．阿哈湖、百花湖和红枫湖的微藻生物量在2002年出现了两个高峰，一个在春季，一个在秋季；这是水温、光照、营养源和捕食等多种因素综合作用的结果。百花湖和红枫湖的微藻以蓝藻和绿藻为主；阿哈湖的微藻春季以蓝藻和绿藻为主，秋季以硅藻为主。阿哈湖和红枫湖的叶绿素a含量在垂直方向随深度增加呈下降趋势，表层浮游藻类较多。2．阿哈湖、百花湖和红枫湖2002年过滤水中微量金属Co、Ni、Cu、zn、M。含量的月变化各不相同；其变化是微藻和降水等多种因素综合作用的结果。降水（酸雨）腐蚀湖泊流域的碳酸盐岩，其中的微量金属元素被溶解，随河流输入湖泊，影响了微量金属元素在湖水中的含量（如三个湖中的cu，阿哈湖中的Mo）。百花湖和红枫湖的蓝藻和绿藻的生物量变化与微量金属元素C。、Cu、zn、M。的含量变化正相关，可能是因为这些微量金属元素在某些程度上限制了蓝藻和绿藻的生长；阿哈湖的硅藻的生物量变化与微量金属元素的含量变化负相关，可能是由于硅藻对它们的富集造成了两者之间的负相关关系。浮游藻类通过吸附、吸收和富集溶解态微量金属元素，影响其在垂直方向的分布。溶解态微量金属元素在垂直方向的分布趋势并不完全相同，其垂直分布特征是本身的浓度大小、浮游藻类和湖底微生物等诸多因素共同作用的结果。3．微藻对微量金属元素生物吸附的平衡时间因对微藻处理方式的不同而不同。单离子体系和多离子体系中衣藻对同一微量金属的吸附情况不同，多离子体系中微量金属元素对吸附作用位点的相互竞争造成了这种差异。多离子体系中，死藻细胞对Cd、zn、cu、Co、Mn的吸附量的大小顺序与它们的原子量的大小顺序一致，这可能是在各种微量金属元素的相互竞争中，死的藻细胞优先选择原子量大的金属；活藻细胞对Cd、Fe、C。、Zn（Ni）的吸附量的大小顺序与它们的离子密度的大小顺序正好相反，这可能是由于活的藻细胞的生物调节作用使其优先选择离子密度小的金属。4．在单离子体系和多离子体系中，不论是活的藻细胞还是死的藻细胞，小球藻对各种微量金属的吸附量大于或相当于衣藻的吸附量；小球藻和衣藻对各种微量金属的吸附量一般随金属浓度的升高而增大。在单离子体系中，衣藻和小球藻对每种微量金属的生物吸收速度随浓度的变化趋势相似，一般是随金属浓度升高吸收速度先增加后减小，但增加和减小分界线处吸收速度对应的金属浓度大小各不相同；小球藻和衣藻对Mn、Fe、C。、Cu、zn（藻必需的微量金属营养元素）的吸收速度大于对Ni、Cd的吸收速度；这主要是因为同一藻类维持新陈代谢所需各种金属的量不同，对不同微量金属毒害的承受程度（生物调节能力）也不同；不同藻类对同一微量金属的需求量和毒害的承受程度也不相同。在单离子体系小球藻和衣藻对各种微量金属的吸附和吸收中，随着浓度的增加，吸收过程比吸附过程更快的达到饱和状态。5．各种微量金属对小球藻和衣藻生长的影响情况因金属种类和藻的种类的不同而不同。Cd·Cu、Ni、zn对小球藻和衣藻生长的毒害较大，而且对衣藻的影响比小球藻的影响大·随各种微量金属浓度的增加，小球藻和衣藻生长速度的变化趋势一般表现为先增大后减小，和它们对各种微量金属的吸收速度的变化趋势一致：可见吸收到藻细胞体内的微量金属的量和它们对细胞生长的影响有密切．的关系，藻细胞的生物调节在这个变化趋势中起了重要的作用。6．阿哈湖和红枫湖微藻碳酸醉酶胞外酶活性明显高于衣藻的CA。活性，主要是因为c入的活性与环境中HcO3一的浓度有关。cd、zn、cu和Pb对微藻c人的活性的抑制效应因金属浓度的不同而不同，而且抑制作用因微藻种类的不同而不同。微量金属元素对CA活性的影响主要通过三个途径：①．直接与CA这一含zn蛋白酶作用；②．间接影响藻细胞内CAe的新陈代谢：③．直接改变cA。的生物活性（例如Pb）。低浓度的Fe、Mn、Co 、Ni和cd刺激了衣藻碳酸配酶胞外酶（cAe）的活性，高浓度的各种金属抑制cAe的活性；cu和zn对衣藻cAe的抑制作用比其它金属离子的强。衣藻对Fe和Mn影响CAe的生物调节作用明显，其次是Co和Ni。7．微藻是影响高原湖泊微量金属元素地球化学行为的重要因素，影响情况因微藻种类而有所差异。微藻能强烈地改变环境中微量金属元素的含量，微量金属元素含量的变化也影响了微藻的生理生化功能。微藻和微量金属的相互作用因微藻和金属种类的不同而不同；这种种类差异性是造成微量金属元素生物地球化学行为复杂性的主要原因之一。

Base pairing interaction between 5′- and 3′-UTRs controls icaR mRNA translation in Staphylococcus aureus

UPNa. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología. Laboratorio de Biofilms Microbianos.

Quantum Monte Carlo in the Interaction Representation --- Application to a Spin-Peierls Model

A quantum Monte Carlo algorithm is constructed starting from the standard perturbation expansion in the interaction representation. The resulting configuration space is strongly related to that of the Stochastic Series Expansion (SSE) method, which is based on a direct power series expansion of exp(-beta*H). Sampling procedures previously developed for the SSE method can therefore be used also in the interaction representation formulation. The new method is first tested on the S=1/2 Heisenberg chain. Then, as an application to a model of great current interest, a Heisenberg chain including phonon degrees of freedom is studied. Einstein phonons are coupled to the spins via a linear modulation of the nearest-neighbor exchange. The simulation algorithm is implemented in the phonon occupation number basis, without Hilbert space truncations, and is exact. Results are presented for the magnetic properties of the system in a wide temperature regime, including the T-->0 limit where the chain undergoes a spin-Peierls transition. Some aspects of the phonon dynamics are also discussed. The results suggest that the effects of dynamic phonons in spin-Peierls compounds such as GeCuO3 and NaV2O5 must be included in order to obtain a correct quantitative description of their magnetic properties, both above and below the dimerization temperature.

Plasmid biology of natural Lactococcus lactis strains and molecular mechanisms of bacteriophage-host interaction

Lacticin 3147, enterocin AS-48, lacticin 481, variacin, and sakacin P are bacteriocins offering promising perspectives in terms of preservation and shelf-life extension of food products and should find commercial application in the near future. The studies detailing their characterization and bio-preservative applications are reviewed. Transcriptomic analyses showed a cell wall-targeted response of Lactococcus lactis IL1403 during the early stages of infection with the lytic bacteriophage c2, which is probably orchestrated by a number of membrane stress proteins and involves D-alanylation of membrane lipoteichoic acids, restoration of the physiological proton motive force disrupted following bacteriophage infection, and energy conservation. Sequencing of the eight plasmids of L. lactis subsp. cremoris DPC3758 from raw milk cheese revealed three anti-phage restriction/modification (R/M) systems, immunity/resistance to nisin, lacticin 481, cadmium and copper, and six conjugative/mobilization regions. A food-grade derivative strain with enhanced bacteriophage resistance was generated via stacking of R/M plasmids. Sequencing and functional analysis of the four plasmids of L. lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis DPC3901 from raw milk cheese revealed genes novel to Lactococcus and typical of bacteria associated with plants, in addition to genes associated with plant-derived lactococcal strains. The functionality of a novel high-affinity regulated system for cobalt uptake was demonstrated. The bacteriophage resistant and bacteriocin-producing plasmid pMRC01 places a metabolic burden on lactococcal hosts resulting in lowered growth rates and increased cell permeability and autolysis. The magnitude of these effects is strain dependent but not related to bacteriocin production. Starters’ acidification capacity is not significantly affected. Transcriptomic analyses showed that pMRC01 abortive infection (Abi) system is probably subjected to a complex regulatory control by Rgg-like ORF51 and CopG-like ORF58 proteins. These regulators are suggested to modulate the activity of the putative Abi effectors ORF50 and ORF49 exhibiting topology and functional similarities to the Rex system aborting bacteriophage λ lytic growth.

Mycobacteriosis in Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis): The Interaction of Nutrition and Disease

Field and laboratory studies were conducted from 1998 - 2005 to examine the relationship between nutritional status and mycobacteriosis in Chesapeake Bay striped bass (Morone saxatilis). A review of DNA from archived tissue blocks indicated that the disease has been present since at least 1984. Field surveys and feeding trials were conducted from 1998-1999 to determine the nutritional condition of striped bass and the association with disease state. Proximate composition revealed elevated moisture (~ 80%) and low storage lipids (< 0.5% ww), characteristic of a poorly nourished population. These findings were not consistent with data collected in 1990-1991, or with experimentally fed fish. Mycobacteriosis explained little of the variance in chemical composition (p > 0.2); however elevated moisture and low lipid concentration were associated with fish with ulcerative lesions (p < 0.05). This suggests that age 3 and 4 striped bass were in poor nutritional health in 1998-1999, which may be independent from the disease process. Challenge studies were performed to address the hypothesis that disease progression and severity may be altered by nutritional status of the host. Intraperitoneal inoculation of 104 CFU M. marinum resulted in high mortality, elevated bacterial density, and poor granuloma formation in low ration (0.15% bw/d) groups while adequately fed fish (1% bw/d) followed a normal course of granulomatous inflammation with low mortality to a steady, equilibrium state. Further, we demonstrated that an active inflammatory state could be reactivated in fish through reductions in total diet. The energetic demand of mycobacteriosis, was insignificant in comparison to sham inoculated controls in adequately fed fish (p > 0.05). Declines in total body energy were only apparent during active, inflammatory stages of disease. Overall, these findings suggest that: 1) mycobacteriosis is not a new disease of Chesapeake Bay striped bass, 2) the disease has little energetic demand in the normal, chronic progression, and 3) poor nutritional health can greatly enhance the progression and severity, and reactivation of disease. The implications of this research are that management strategies focused on enhancing the nutritional state of striped bass could potentially alter the disease dynamics in Chesapeake Bay.

Yeast screens identify the RNA polymerase II CTD and SPT5 as relevant targets of BRCA1 interaction.

BRCA1 has been implicated in numerous DNA repair pathways that maintain genome integrity, however the function responsible for its tumor suppressor activity in breast cancer remains obscure. To identify the most highly conserved of the many BRCA1 functions, we screened the evolutionarily distant eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae for mutants that suppressed the G1 checkpoint arrest and lethality induced following heterologous BRCA1 expression. A genome-wide screen in the diploid deletion collection combined with a screen of ionizing radiation sensitive gene deletions identified mutants that permit growth in the presence of BRCA1. These genes delineate a metabolic mRNA pathway that temporally links transcription elongation (SPT4, SPT5, CTK1, DEF1) to nucleopore-mediated mRNA export (ASM4, MLP1, MLP2, NUP2, NUP53, NUP120, NUP133, NUP170, NUP188, POM34) and cytoplasmic mRNA decay at P-bodies (CCR4, DHH1). Strikingly, BRCA1 interacted with the phosphorylated RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) carboxy terminal domain (P-CTD), phosphorylated in the pattern specified by the CTDK-I kinase, to induce DEF1-dependent cleavage and accumulation of a RNAPII fragment containing the P-CTD. Significantly, breast cancer associated BRCT domain defects in BRCA1 that suppressed P-CTD cleavage and lethality in yeast also suppressed the physical interaction of BRCA1 with human SPT5 in breast epithelial cells, thus confirming SPT5 as a relevant target of BRCA1 interaction. Furthermore, enhanced P-CTD cleavage was observed in both yeast and human breast cells following UV-irradiation indicating a conserved eukaryotic damage response. Moreover, P-CTD cleavage in breast epithelial cells was BRCA1-dependent since damage-induced P-CTD cleavage was only observed in the mutant BRCA1 cell line HCC1937 following ectopic expression of wild type BRCA1. Finally, BRCA1, SPT5 and hyperphosphorylated RPB1 form a complex that was rapidly degraded following MMS treatment in wild type but not BRCA1 mutant breast cells. These results extend the mechanistic links between BRCA1 and transcriptional consequences in response to DNA damage and suggest an important role for RNAPII P-CTD cleavage in BRCA1-mediated cancer suppression.