Antioxidant Peptidomics Reveals Novel Skin Antioxidant System

It is generally agreed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to skin aging, skin disorders, and skin diseases. Skin possesses an extremely efficient antioxidant system. This antioxidant activity is conferred by two systems: antioxidant enzymes and

Duplication and functional diversification of pancreatic ribonuclease (RNASE1) gene

Adaptation is one of the most fundamental issues in the studies of organismal evolution. Pancreatic ribonuclease is a very important digestive enzyme and secreted by the pancreas. Numerous studies have suggested that RNASE1 gene duplication is closely related to the functional adaptation of the digestive system in the intestinal fermentation herbivores. RNASE1 gene thus becomes one of the most important candidate genetic markers to study the molecular mechanism of adaptation of organisms to the feeding habit. Interestingly, RNASE1 gene duplication has also been found in some non-intestinal fermentation mammals, suggesting that RNASE1 gene may have produced novel tissue specificity or functions in these species. In this review, RNASE1 gene and its implications in adaptive evolution, especially in association with the feeding habit of organisms, are summarized.

Recombination Yet Inefficient Selection along the Drosophila melanogaster Subgroup's Fourth Chromosome

A central goal of evolutionary genetics is an understanding of the forces responsible for the observed variation, both within and between species. Theoretical and empirical work have demonstrated that genetic recombination contributes to this variation by breaking down linkage between nucleotide sites, thus allowing them to behave independently and for selective forces to act efficiently on them. The Drosophila fourth chromosome, which is believed to experience no-or very low-rates of recombination has been an important model for investigating these effects. Despite previous efforts, central questions regarding the extent of recombination and the predominant modes of selection acting on it remain open. In order to more comprehensively test hypotheses regarding recombination and its potential influence on selection along the fourth chromosome, we have resequenced regions from most of its genes from Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans, and D. yakuba. These data, along with available outgroup sequence, demonstrate that recombination is low but significantly greater than zero for the three species. Despite there being recombination, there is strong evidence that its frequency is low enough to have rendered selection relatively inefficient. The signatures of relaxed constraint can be detected at both the level of polymorphism and divergence.

Dibenzocyclooctadiene Lignans from Schisandra wilsoniana and Their Anti-HIV-1 Activities

Twelve new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, marlignans A-L (1-12), together with 16 known compounds, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra wilsoniana. The structures of 1-12 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. Compounds 1-12 were evaluated for their anti-HIV activities, of which compounds 3, 6, 8, and 12 showed modest activities with therapeutic index values of 13.2, 15.6, 17.6, and 16.4, respectively.

In vivo and in vitro storage of kutum, Rutilus frisii kutum eggs

Effects of post-ovulatory and post-stripping retention time and temperature on egg viability rates were studied in kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum). Eggs were retained inside (in vivo storage) or outside the ovarian cavity with ovarian fluid (in vitro storage) at various temperatures. Two experiments were performed: 1) Partial volumes of eggs were stripped and fertilized at 24- hour intervals for 96 hours post-ovulation (HPO) (at 11 °C) and at 12-hour intervals for 72 HPO (at 14 °C), and 2) stored eggs were fertilized after 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours post-stripping (HPS) at temperatures of 4, 10, 12, and 26 °C. In the first experiment, the highest eyeing and hatching rates (76% and 60% at 11 °C; 81% and 71% at 14 °C) and the lowest eyed-egg mortalities (20% at 11 °C; 12% at 14 °C) occurred in the eggs fertilized immediately (0–24 HPO at 11 °C and 0–12 HPO at 14 °C) after ovulation. Egg viability, as shown by successful eyeing and hatching rates, was completely lost by 72–96 HPO at 11 °C, and 60–72 HPO at 14 °C. In the second experiment, the maximum eyeing (87%) and hatching (75%) rates of eggs took place at 0 HPS followed by 8 HPS (> 80% and > 70%, respectively) at 4 °C. As storage temperature increased, egg viability decreased: 80%, 70%, and 50% viable at 8 HPS at 4, 10, and 12 °C, respectively. The eggs stored at 26 °C lost their viability almost completely after 4 HPS. Eyed-egg mortality increased from 13% at 0 HPS to 48.2% at 4 HPS at 26°C. These results demonstrate that egg stripping should take place within 168 °C-hours after ovulation and that complete loss of viability of the eggs occurs by 672°C-hours after ovulation. The in vivo storage method is more effective compared to in vitro storage. Also successful in vitro storage of eggs can be used atleast within 8 hours at temperatures ranging from 4 to 12ºC.

滇金丝猴下颌的生物力学研究

滇金丝猴雄性比雌性具有相对更长的下颌, 这就导致了整个下颌结构在两性 间的差异。在分析的8个变量中, 4个被选为性别鉴别的重要特征, 判别式为: D=-27.65-0.729 CONM1+0.596MANDL+1.024 MANDSYM-1.778 MANCORPW。与猕猴和 长鼻猴相比, 滇金丝猴具有相对短的下颌骨, 较宽的下颌髁和较高的下颌体。 图4表4参17

Narrow line high power picosecond pulse generation in a multicontact distributed feedback laser using modified Q switching

High power bandwidth-limited picosecond pulses with peak powers in excess of 200 mW have been generated using multi-contact distributed feedback laser diodes for the first time. The pulses have widths typically less than 10 ps, time-bandwidth products of as little as 0·24, and can be generated on demand at generator limited repetition rates of up to 140 MHz.

六六六在水环境中转移、积累和归趋研究——3.六六六在鱼体的积累释放

鳃是六六六进入鱼体的主要通道,鱼体的残留水平决定于水与体脂间的分配平衡。要使背肌六六六残留低于0.5毫克/公斤,则水中六六六含量要低于0.024毫克/升。鱼体六六六残留向水体释放的速度与温度有关,温度低,释放慢;当温度低于10℃时,释放的速度极慢以至难以检出。建议采用清水寄养的方法,让鱼体释放六六六,降低残毒,提高商品质量。这种方法估计也适用于其它脂溶性的与水分配系数不是太大的污染物。

How polluted is the Yangtze River? Water quality downstream from the Three Gorges Dam

The concentrations of major anions and cations, nitrogen and phosphorus, dissolved and particulate trace elements, and organic pollutants were determined for the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (Changjiang) from below the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) to the mouth at Shanghai in November 2006. The concentration of dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) was constant at a low level of 6-8 mu gP/L, but the concentration of nitrate (NO3-) approximately doubled downstream and was closely correlated with K+. This translated to a daily load of well over 1000 It of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) at Datong. The average concentrations of dissolved Pb (0.078 +/- 0.023 mu g/L), Cd (0.024 +/- 0.009 mu g/L), Cr(0.57 +/- 0.09 mu g/L), Cu (1.9 +/- 0.7 mu g/L), and Ni (0.50 +/- 0.49 mu g/L) were comparable with those in other major world rivers, while As (3.3 +/- 1.3 mu g/L) and Zn (1.5 +/- 0.6 mu g/L) were higher by factors of 5.5 and 2.5, respectively. The trace element contents of suspended particles of As (31 +/- 28 mu g/g), Pb (83 +/- 34 mu g/g), and Ni (52 +/- 16 mu g/g) were close to maximum concentrations recommended for rivers by the European Community (EC). The average concentrations of Cd (2.6 +/- 1.6 mu g/g), Cr (185 +/- 102 mu g/g), Cu (115 +/- 106 mu g/g), and Zn (500 +/- 300 mu g/g) exceeded the EC standards by a factor of two, and Hg (4.4 +/- 4.7 mu g/g) by a factor of 4 to 5. Locally occurring peak concentrations exceed these values up to fourfold, among them the notorious elements As, Hg, and Tl. All dissolved and particulate trace element concentrations were higher than estimates made twenty years ago [Zhang, J., Geochemistry of trace metals from Chinese river/estuary systems: an overview. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 1995; 41: 631-658.]. The enormous loads of anthropogenic pollutants disposed to the river were diluted by the large water discharge of the Yangtze even during the lowest flow resulting in the relatively low concentration levels of trace elements and organic pollutants observed. We estimated loads of e.g. As, Pb and Ni to the East China Sea to be about 4600 kg As d(-1), 3000 kg Pb d(-1), and 2000 kg Ni d(-1). About 6000 t d(-1) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was delivered into the sea at the time of our cruise. We tested for 236 organic pollutants, and only the most infamous were found to be barely above detection limits. We estimated that the load of chlorinated compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, and PAHs were between 500 and 3500 kg d(-1). We also detected eight herbicides entering the estuary with loads of 5-350 kg d(-1). The pollutant load, even when at low concentrations, are considerable and pose an increasing threat to the health of the East China Sea ecosystem. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A novel chemiluminescent immunoassay for microcystin (MC) detection based on gold nanoparticles label and its application to MC analysis in aquatic environmental samples

A novel chemiluminescent immunoassay method based on gold nanoparticles was developed for the detection of microcystins (MCs). The immunoassay included three main steps: indirect competitive immunoreaction, oxidative dissolution of gold nanoparticles, and indirect determination for MCs with Au3+-catalysed luminol chemiluminesent system. The method has a wide working range (0.05-10 mu g L-1, r(2) = 0.9914), the limit of detection was determined to be 0.024 mu g L-1, which is much lower than the World Health Organization's proposed guidelines (1 mu g L-1) for drinking-water. The proposed method was applied to MC analysis in natural water and fish tissue samples, and most results in the proposed method were in agreement with the conventional indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, which indicated that the new chemiluminescent immunoassay was sensitive, reliable, and suitable for MC analysis in natural water and fish tissue samples.

Effects of microcystins on the growth and the activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase of rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Microcystins are naturally occurring hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides produced by some toxic freshwater cyanobacterial species. In this study, crude extract of toxic cyanobacterial blooms from Dianchi Lake in southwestern China was used to determine the effects of microcystins on rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). Experiments were carried out on a range of doses of the extract (equivalent to 0, 0.024, 0.12, 0.6 and 3 mug MC-LR/ml). Investigations showed that exposure to microcystins inhibited the growth and development of both rice and rape seedlings, however, microcystins had more powerful inhibition effect on rape than rice in germination percentage of seeds and seedling height. Microcystins significantly inhibited the elongation of primary roots of rape and rice seedlings. Determination of the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase demonstrated that microcystin stress was manifested as an oxidative stress. Using ELISA, microcystins were examined from the extract of exposed rape and rice seedlings, indicating that consumption of edible plants exposed to microcystins via irrigation route may have health risks. Significantly different levels of recovered microcystins between exposed rice and rape seedlings Suggested that there might be different tolerant mechanisms toward microcystins. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

中国急流牙甲族的系统学研究

急流牙甲族Sperchopsini属于鞘翅目Coleoptera牙甲科Hydrophilidae的水牙甲亚科Hydrophilinae，共包括五属，即水龟虫属 Hydrocassis、革牙甲属 Ametor、Sperchopsis、Anticura、Cylomissus，世界共计有25种，我国分布有2属18个种。 本文回顾了水甲虫、牙甲科以及急流牙甲族的研究简史；综述了水甲虫在分类学、保护生物学、形态学、遗传学、分子生物学等方面研究进展，总结了水甲虫与生态因子的关系以及水甲虫作为生态系统健康指示物的可行性。还简要介绍了昆虫分子系统学，以及细胞色素氧化酶亚基I（COI）和rDNA内部转录间隔区（ITS）在昆虫学研究中的应用。 通过对收集到的700余号急流牙甲族的标本观察和分类研究，发现了一新种（内蒙水龟甲Hydrocassis mongolica sp.nov.）。并且对已知全部种类重新作了描述，特别是长茎革牙甲 Ametor elongatus雄性外生殖器部分，首次对7个种类（长茎革牙甲 Ametor elongatus、粗革牙甲 Ametor scabrosus、帝水龟甲 Hydrocassis imperialis、伪舟水龟甲Hydrocassis pesudoscapha、条纹水龟甲Hydrocassis scapulata、舟水龟甲 Hydrocassi scapha、四川水龟甲Hydrocassis sichuana）的雌性个体进行了描述。编制了急流牙甲族的分属、分种检索表。 采用支序分类学的方法对中国急流牙甲族种类的系统发育关系进行探讨。结果显示革牙甲属内的A. latus、A. rudesculptus、A. rugosus 及A. scabrosus 构成单系（不包括A. elongates），支持皱革牙甲A. rugosus和A. latus属于革牙甲属。水龟虫属内H. anhuiensis、H. baoshanensis、H. lacustris、H. pseudoscapha、H. scaphoides、H. scapulata、H. sichuana、H. taiwana、H. uncinata、H. schillhammeri构成一个单系。水龟虫属包括两大类群，一类群包括H. anhuiensis、H. lacustris、H. scapulata、H. sichuana 、H. taiwana，另一类群包括H. baoshanensis、H. scaphoides、 H. schillhammeri 、H. uncinata。两类群的不同之处在于后一类群的阳基侧突上有一齿状凸起。 测序了H. scapulata、H. sichuana和H. mongolica雌雄各一个个体的COI和ITS2序列。全部的COI基因序列为828bp，编码275个氨基酸。H. scapulata的ITS2序列有446bp，H. sichuana的有456bp，H. mongolica的有455bp。用MEGA 3.1计算比对距离（pairwise distances）和构建邻近系统树。结果显示对于COI，种内的比对距离分别是0(H. scapulata)、0.008(H. mongolica)、0.004(H. sichuana)，种间的比对距离在0.024-0.045之间。对于ITS2，种内的比对距离分别为0.005(H. scapulata)、0(H. mongolica)、0.007(H. sichuana)，种间的比对距离在0.028-0.047之间。H. sichuana和新种间的比对距离在0.024-0.037(COI)和0.044(ITS2)。比对距离揭示出种内低于0.008，种间在0.024-1.078之间。因而，它们之间应该是种间关系而不是种内的关系。COI数据集和ITS2数据集所构建的系统树存在一定的差异，前者显示四川水龟甲和条纹水龟甲是姐妹种，后者显示新种和条纹水龟甲是姐妹种。总之，在内蒙古自治区发现的为一新的物种。

黄土高原典型土壤剖面土壤颗粒组成分形特征

采集从北向南依次分布的干润砂质新成土(神木)、黄土正常新成土(延安)和土垫旱耕人为土(杨陵)等典型土壤剖面0～200cm土层土样,通过测定土样颗粒体积分形维数及基本性质,以期阐明黄土高原典型土壤颗粒体积分形特征及其与土壤基本性质间的相关性。结果表明,从南到北,土壤颗粒体积分形维数呈下降趋势,而不同土层土壤颗粒体积分形维数差异不显著。土垫旱耕人为土、黄土正常新成土和干润砂质新成土表层(0～10cm)颗粒体积分形维数分别为2.723±0.024、2.609±0.077和2.589±0.025,表层以下(10～200cm)颗粒平均体积分形维数分别为2.729±0.034、2.584±0.054和2.558±0.034;颗粒体积分形维数与<0.01mm的物理性黏粒及<0.002mm的黏粒体积百分含量呈极显著正相关关系,与0.002～0.05mm的粉粒和>0.05mm的砂粒体积百分含量呈极显著负相关关系,与粉粒的显著性较小,而土壤中物理性黏粒体积百分含量与土壤全氮、有机碳及矿物固定态铵均达到极显著正相关关系,而砂粒体积百分含量与上述土壤基本性质均呈极显著负相关关系。

Multi-armed poly(L-glutamic acid)-graft-oligoethylenimine copolymers as efficient nonviral gene delivery vectors

Background The application of polyethylenimine (PEI) in gene delivery has been severely limited by significant cytotoxicity that results from a nondegradable methylene backbone and high cationic charge density. It is therefore necessary to develop novel biodegradable PEI derivates for low-toxic, highly efficient gene delivery.Methods A series of novel cationic copolymers with various charge density were designed and synthesized by grafting different kinds of oligoethylenimine (OEI) onto a determinate multi-armed poly(L-glutamic acid) backbone. The molecular structures of multi-armed poly(L-glutamic acid)-graft-OEI (MP-g-OEI) copolymers were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance, viscosimetry and gel permeation chromatography. Moreover, the MP-g-OEI/DNA complexes were measured by a gel retardation assay, dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy to determine DNA binding ability, particle size, zeta potential, complex formation and shape, respectively. MP-g-OEI copolymers were also evaluated in Chinese hamster ovary and human embryonic kidney-293 cells for their cytotoxicity and transfection efficiency.