Factors influencing hemolytic activity of venom from the jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye

In this study, hemolytic activity of venom from the jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye and some factors affecting it were assayed. The HU50 of R. esculentum full venom (RFV) against chicken erythrocytes was 3.40 mu g/ml and a Hill coefficient value was 1.73 suggesting at least two molecules participated in hemolytic activity. The hemolytic activity of RFV was affected by some chemical and physical factors such as divalent cations, EDTA, (NH4)(2)SO4, pH and temperature. In the presence of Mg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Ca2+ ( >= 2 mM), Mn2+ (>= 1 mM), EDTA (>= 2 mM) and (NH4)(2)SO4, the hemolytic activity of RFV was reduced. RFV had strong hemolytic activity at the pH 6-10 and the hemolytic ratios were 0.95-1.19. Hemolytic activity was temperature-sensitive and when RFV was pre-incubated at temperatures over 40 degrees C, it was sharply reduced. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

青海油菜蜂花粉酶解破壁前后营养成分的比较

对青海油菜蜂花粉及生物酶解破壁花粉的营养成分进行了分析和比较。结果表明，花粉经酶解破壁后，粗蛋白、粗脂肪、还原糖、核酸、总黄酮、灰份、多数氨基酸、维生素（A、B、C和K）及黄酮类化合物（原青花素、芦丁、槲皮素、异鼠李索）的含量得到了明显提高，而K、Na、Ca���Mg、Fe、Zn、Cu、Cr、Cd、Ni、Mn等矿质元素的含量无明显变化。青海油菜花粉经破壁后更有利于营养成分和活性成分的释放。

影响C4草本植物C／N比值变化的因素与土壤有机C积累的关系

文章对采自贵州从低海拔的东部到高海拔的西部且大致平行的石灰岩和砂岩两地带均生长的3种C4草本植物，即巴茅(Miscanthus floridulus)、白茅(Imperata cylindrica)和类芦(Neyraudia reynaudiana)，以及相对应的土壤表层样品，进行了营养元素和C同位素组成分析；研究营养元素含量随着海拔的不同而出现的变化趋势，以及这些元素之间的相互协变作用，尤其是Ca���N之间的相互协变作用对植物的N含量、C／N比值和δ^13C值的影响，以了解植物的C／N比值(指示植物残留物质量的一种标志)与土壤有机C积累的关系。研究结果表明，植物的N含量和δ^13C值具有随海拔的上升而显著增大趋势，而植物的C／N比值在砂岩地区虽有减小的趋势，在石灰岩地带则没有。对所研究的C4草本植物来说，在土壤pH值为5．8的中性条件下显示出Ca���最大吸收，因此，Ca���其他营养元素之间的协变模式在两种土壤类型中表现出相反的倾向，并存在土壤交换性Ca���边界浓度：当土壤可交换性Ca���含量为2．24mg／g，相应土壤的pH值在5．8以下时，随着土壤可交换性Ca���度的增大，植物的N含量上升，而植物的C／N比值会显著降低；当Ca���边界浓度以上时，随着土壤可交换性Ca���度的增大，植物的N含量下降，而植物的C／N比值有增加的趋势。由此可见，植物残留物的N含量和C／N比值受Ca���素含量的相互协变作用的影响。在砂岩地区，随着植物C／N比值的增高，土壤有机质的含量却随之下降，而在石灰岩地区则没有这种倾向。因此得出结论：植物的C／N比值的增大对土壤有机碳积累的影响主要取决于土壤的性质，尤其是取决于土壤可交换性Ca���含量。

贵州红枫湖汇水区黄壤化学风化动力学及其生态环境效应

在地球的环境界面上，发生着重要的物理、化学和生物学反应，进行着频繁的物质交换和输送，研究和认识环境界面的地球化学过程对揭示环境演化，评价环境质量，认识成矿机理具有重要意义[万国江，1988]化学风化是元素表生地球化学循环的重要环节，是地表碉石（浮土）-水界面间的物质交换过程，其中大气成份和植物微生物代谢产物作为活化剂。化学风化的研究历史大致分为三个阶段：定性描述阶段、化学风化速度定量测定阶段、化学风化的环境生态效应研究阶段。化学风化的动力学理论经过了扩散作用理论、表面反应理论、表面络合反应理论三个发展阶段。化学同化动力学理论及其生态效应方面的研究存在的主工问题是：矿物溶解速度是由表面反应控制的，土壤具有特殊的表面性质，但目前还没有土壤化学同化动力学的实验数据。溶解铝主要来自土壤活性铝，但土壤铝的溶解机理还不清楚；仅根据化学平衡计算就认为Al~(3+)浓度是由矿物溶解平衡控制的，这很不可靠；因为土壤孔隙水的酸度控制矿物的溶解平衡，而土壤中Al~(3+)的水解制约着土壤孔隙水的酸度。孤立地研究养分的释放和流失是不完深善的，需要建立养分循环的动力学模型。黄壤是贵州分布最广的一种土壤。贵州存在着环境酸化、土壤缺钾和“石山”化等一系列生态环境问题。黔中是一个较强的酸雨区，区内降水pH值位于3.5-4.2之间；黄壤酸度高，缓冲能力弱。黄壤中活性铝浓度高，但国内没有进行黄壤中铝的淋溶和毒性的研究。黄壤是中国最贫钾的土壤之一，但缺钾的原因和发展趋势还不清楚。本文的目的是完善土壤化学风化动力学理论、阐明环境中铝的转化机理、建立钾素循环的动力学模型。同时，预测环境酸化趋势、评价土壤钾素供给状况和铝的毒性，讨论关于贵州环境酸化、土壤缺钾和“石山”化等环境生态问题的对策。作者在红枫湖汇水区采集土壤、土壤孔隙水和河水样品。土壤孔隙水用经改进的离心法提取；用化学浸提法测定土壤中铝的形态；完成了河水、土壤孔隙水的水化学全分析、土壤化学性质的测定、土壤的化学全分析和X射线衍射分析，湖水水化学全分析数据由导师提供。作者完成了土壤淋溶实验的研究，测定了淋溶前土壤样品的化学质和化学组成，测定了淋溶液的pH、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、K~+、Na~+溶解硅和单体铝。通过土壤、土壤孔隙水、湖水的化学年组成，研究土壤的化学风化动力学；通过土壤、土壤孔隙水中铝的形态分布，研究环境中铝的迁移转化机理；根据河水中钾的含量，研究土壤钾素的地球化学循环；通过土壤淋溶实验研究土壤化学风化、土壤铝淋溶、钾素循环的动力学过程。综合现场取样和淋溶实验两方面的研究成果，获得以下几点认识：1、红枫湖汇水区黄壤的化学风化处于高岭石化阶段，酸沉降增大化学风化速度，土壤化学风化符合硅酸盐矿物溶解的表面反应理论。2、实验证实了Johnson (1981)提出的土壤缓冲机制，同时发现弱酸性和中性土壤在淋溶过程中吸附H~+。3、黄壤中铝的移动性与土壤酸度和有机质含量有关，溶解铝在土壤A-B、B-C���面发生沉淀。4、实验证实铝的溶解由三水铝石溶解反应控制，同时发现溶解铝浓度由H~+供给量和盐基离子释放量控制。5、建立钾素循环的动力学模型：EXCH. K=Fw-Fd-Fa利用河水中K~+浓度计算土壤钾素的化学侵蚀速率，可以预测土壤缺钾的趋势。6、实验发现土壤钾素的化学侵蚀过程由离子交换反应控制，钾素侵蚀速率与径流强度、土壤酸度和酸沉降有关。7、酸沉降加剧黄壤酸化和缺钾的趋势，加重黄壤中铝的毒性，需要控制酸沉降通量，使雨水pH值大于4.5。

Ecofisiología de la generación del rendimiento y la calidad en genotipos de trigo y su comparación con cebada

La creciente demanda de materias primas de alta calidad por parte de la industria alimenticia plantea la necesidad de obtener aumentos en el rendimiento y en la calidad de los granos de trigo pan y cebada cervecera. El entendimiento de los diferentes procesos ecofisiológicos involucrados en la determinación del contenido final de nitrógeno (N) del grano cosechado constituye una herramienta indispensable para incrementar la calidad de estos productos, ya que a nivel productivo, altos contenidos de N en grano se relacionan en forma negativa con el rendimiento. Actualmente son escasos los trabajos que hayan analizado en forma conjunta la generación del rendimiento y su calidad en cultivos de trigo y cebada. El objetivo general de la presente tesis fue estudiar la economía del carbono y del N en trigo y cebada cervecera considerando tanto variables asociadas a la generación del rendimiento como de calidad del grano, mediante una aproximación desde la ecofisiología de los cultivos (nivel canopeo), nivel de órganos (granos) y nivel bioquímico (tipo de proteína). En este contexto, se evaluó el comportamiento de los cultivos de trigo y cebada bajo disponibilidades contrastantes de N y S durante el ciclo de cultivo. Si bien ambos cultivos mostraron niveles de rendimiento similares (ca. 470 g m-2), presentaron diferencias en como generan su rendimiento. Las principales diferencias se observaron durante post floración, en efecto, trigo alcazó niveles de biomasa superiores que cebada (ca. 40 por ciento), mientras que ésta mostró mayor partición de biomasa hacia los granos (ca. 0,39 para trigo vs. 0,47 para cebada). En cuanto a los parámetros relacionados a la economía del N, trigo presentó respecto a cebada menores eficiencias en el uso de N para generar rendimiento (ca. 10 por ciento) y relación entre la partición de carbono y N a los granos (ca. 0,55 para trigo vs. 0,67 para cebada), principales variables que explicaron, negativamente, las diferencias finales entre ambos cultivos en el porcentaje de N en los granos. La calidad de ambos cultivos respondió diferencialmente a las fertilizaciones y existió una notable diferencia entre cultivares de trigo en cuanto a su respuesta (cultivares de trigo indentificados a priori como de calidad panadera intermedia presentaron mayor variabilidad en su calidad que cultivares de calidades extremos y que cebada). La información presentada en esta tesis puede ser base importante tanto en el campo del manejo de la fertilización de cultivos como en el campo de la modelización y mejora genética de ambos cultivos.

Synthesis of a neodymium-quinolate complex for near-infrared electroluminescence applications

A structurally pure, near-infrared emissive Nd-(5,7-dichloro-8-hydroxyquinoline)4 tetrakis complex has been synthesized. When incorporated as a dopant in the blue emissive, hole conducting polymer poly(N-vinylcarbazole), PVK, sensitized neodymium ion emission was observed following photo-excitation of the polymer host. OLED devices were fabricated by spin-casting layers of the doped polymer onto glass/indium tin oxide (ITO)/3,4-polyethylene-dioxythiophene-polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT) substrates. An external quantum efficiency of 1 x 10(-3)% and a near-infrared irradiance of 2.0 nW/mm(2) at 25 mA/mm(2) and 20 V was achieved using glass/ITO/PEDOT/ PVK:Nd-(5,7-dichloro-8-hydroxyquinoline)(4)/Ca/Al devices. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Near infrared electroluminescence from neodymium complex-doped polymer light emitting diodes

Organic light emitting diode devices employing organometallic Nd(9-hydroxyphenalen-1-one)(3) complexes as near infrared emissive dopants dispersed within poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) host matrices have been fabricated by spin-casting layers of the doped polymer onto glass/indium tin oxide (ITO)/3,4-polyethylene-dioxythiophene-polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT) substrates. Room temperature electroluminescence, centered at similar to 1065 nm. was observed from devices top contacted by evaporated aluminum or calcium metal cathodes and was assigned to transitions between the F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) levels of the Nd3+ ions. In particular, a near infrared irradiance of 8.5 nW/mm(2) and an external quantum efficiency of 0.007% was achieved using glass/ITO/PEDOT/PVK:Nd(9-hydroxyphenalen-1-one)(3)/Ca/Al devices. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rapid climate change did not cause population collapse at the end of the European Bronze Age

The impact of rapid climate change on contemporary human populations is of global concern. To contextualize our understanding of human responses to rapid climate change it is necessary to examine the archeological record during past climate transitions. One episode of abrupt climate change has been correlated with societal collapse at the end of the northwestern European Bronze Age. We apply new methods to interrogate archeological and paleoclimate data for this transition in Ireland at a higher level of precision than has previously been possible. We analyze archeological 14C dates to demonstrate dramatic population collapse and present high-precision proxy climate data, analyzed through Bayesian methods, to provide evidence for a rapid climatic transition at ca. 750 calibrated years B.C. Our results demonstrate that this climatic downturn did not initiate population collapse and highlight the nondeterministic nature of human responses to past climate change.

Chaotropicity: a key factor in product tolerance of biofuel-producing microorganisms

Fermentation products can chaotropically disorder macromolecular systems and induce oxidative stress, thus inhibiting biofuel production. Recently, the chaotropic activities of ethanol, butanol and vanillin have been quantified (5.93, 37.4, 174kJkg(-1)m(-1) respectively). Use of low temperatures and/or stabilizing (kosmotropic) substances, and other approaches, can reduce, neutralize or circumvent product-chaotropicity. However, there may be limits to the alcohol concentrations that cells can tolerate; e.g. for ethanol tolerance in the most robust Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, these are close to both the solubility limit (<25%, w/v ethanol) and the water-activity limit of the most xerotolerant strains (0.880). Nevertheless, knowledge-based strategies to mitigate or neutralize chaotropicity could lead to major improvements in rates of product formation and yields, and also therefore in the economics of biofuel production.

Metais em águas e sedimentos da plataforma dos Açores

A presente tese tem por objetivo principal contribuir para o conhecimento da geoquímica sedimentar da zona oceânica da crista da Terceira e montanhas submarinas a sul (região entre 29-39ºN e 27-32ºW), integrando também a caraterização dos metais e nutrientes na coluna de água e propondo concentrações para servirem de referência nesta região do Atlântico Central. Para o efeito foram realizadas amostragens na coluna de água em sete locais e de sedimento em cinco locais, durante a campanha oceanográfica designada por EMEPC/AÇORES/G3/2007 a bordo do navio SV Kommandor Jack, no âmbito do projeto da Estrutura de Missão para a Extensão da Plataforma Continental (EMEPC). Os perfis de CTD da coluna de água na região estudada revelam a presença de massas de água distintas: a Western North Atlantic Central Water (WNACW), a Eastern North Atlantic Central Water tropical (ENACWt), a Eastern North Atlantic Central Water polar (ENACWp), a Mediterranean Overflow Water (MOW), a Deep Mediterranean Water (DMW) e a North Eastern Atlantic Deep Water (NEADW). Observou-se nos perfis de temperatura e salinidade, referentes aos primeiros 200 m da coluna de água, um gradiente meridional negativo entre as estações localizadas na crista da Terceira e as estações localizadas mais a sul. Observou-se nas águas superficiais valores de oxigénio dissolvido de 93% e de pH de 8,1, assim como que as concentrações dos nutrientes NOx, PO4 e SiO2 variam de acordo com a atividade biológica, tendo-se registado concentrações medianas mais baixas, respetivamente de 6,5, 0,23 e 1,3 mol L-1, que aumentam com a profundidade devido à ausência de produção primária (respetivamente 31, 1,4 e 22 mol L-1). As concentrações de NH4 e de SO4 não variam significativamente nas massas de água, sendo os valores medianos mínimos e máximos de 0,69 a 0,79 mol L-1 para o NH4 e de 30 a 32 mol L-1 para o SO4. São propostas concentrações de referência para as massas de água, para os elementos cobre, cádmio, chumbo e arsénio. Os perfis de sedimento analisados permitem distinguir os sedimentos na crista da Terceira (core A) dos restantes (cores B a E). A grande variabilidade textural encontrada no core A, que contrasta com os outros cores analisados, deve-se a importantes contribuições terrígenas, originadas pela erosão sub-aérea e pela atividade vulcânica das ilhas próximas. iv resumo (continuação) A análise mineralógica, efetuada à fração areia e à fração fina (< 63 μm), confirma que os sedimentos do core A derivam de rochas vulcânicas formadas maioritariamente por piroxenas, olivinas, anfíbolas, biotite, alterites e ainda calcite, plagióclase e magnetite, tendo-se identificado ao microscópio a glauconite e o vidro vulcânico. De acordo com a composição química destes minerais o core A apresenta valores mais elevados de Al, Fe, K, P, Mg, Si, Na, Zn, V, Cr e Mn relativamente aos cores B a E. Os cores B a E apresentam grandes quantidades de calcite (>80%) formada maioritariamente por foraminíferos e nanoplâncton calcário (cocolitóforos). A fração areia confirma a composição maioritariamente carbonatada com grande abundância de material biogénico formado por oozes de foraminíferos (planctónicos e bentónicos) com raras espículas de espongiários e restos de conchas. Os cores B a E apresentam valores muito mais elevados que o core A para os elementos Ca e Sr. Os resultados para o Al, Fe, K, P, Si, Na, As, Cu, Ni, Zn, V, Cr, Li, Pb, Cd e Co presentes nos locais B, C, D e E sugerem que estes cores são comparáveis aos sedimentos de fundo carbonatados. Propõe-se concentrações de referência para a região do Atlântico compreendida entre 29-39ºN e 27-32ºW considerando a primeira camada colhida em cada core. Para o core A as concentrações são normalizadas a 5% de Al e CaCO3, enquanto que para os cores B a E são normalizadas a 2% de Al e CaCO3. Assim as concentrações de referência para o core A são: As – 18 mg kg-1, Cr – 91 mg kg-1, Cu – 127 mg kg-1, Ni – 84 mg kg-1, Pb – 41 mg kg-1, Hg – 41 ng g-1 e Zn – 482 mg kg-1. Para os cores B a E as concentrações de referência são: As – 3 mg kg-1, Cr – 10 mg kg-1, Cu – 36 mg kg-1 Ni – 12 mg kg -1, Hg – 3 ng g-1 e Zn – 20 mg kg-1. Para os restantes metais as concentrações de referência para o core A são: Al – 9%, Si – 25%, Fe – 6%, Ca – 13%, K – 2%, Mg – 2%, Na – 3%, P – 0,4%, Sr – 900 mg kg-1, Li – 10 mg kg-1, Mn – 1200 mg kg-1, Ba – 700 mg kg-1 e V – 140 mg kg-1. Para os cores B a E as concentrações de referência são: Al – 0,9%, Si – 2%, Fe – 0,2%, Ca – 95%, K – 0,3%, Mg – 0,4%, Na – 0,3%, P – 0,04%, Sr – 2600 mg kg-1, Li – 5 mg kg-1, Mn – 240 mg kg-1, Ba – 345 mg kg-1, Co – 2 mg kg-1 e V – 6 mg kg-1. Os resultados da presente tese constituem um contributo para a caraterização geoquímica da região e podem servir de referência à monitorização futura do mar dos Açores e montes submarinos a sul.

Zooarqueologia e tafonomia de Castanheiro do Vento

Dissertação mest., Arqueologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2007

Common variants near MC4R are associated with fat mass, weight and risk of obesity.

To identify common variants influencing body mass index (BMI), we analyzed genome-wide association data from 16,876 individuals of European descent. After previously reported variants in FTO, the strongest association signal (rs17782313, P = 2.9 x 10(-6)) mapped 188 kb downstream of MC4R (melanocortin-4 receptor), mutations of which are the leading cause of monogenic severe childhood-onset obesity. We confirmed the BMI association in 60,352 adults (per-allele effect = 0.05 Z-score units; P = 2.8 x 10(-15)) and 5,988 children aged 7-11 (0.13 Z-score units; P = 1.5 x 10(-8)). In case-control analyses (n = 10,583), the odds for severe childhood obesity reached 1.30 (P = 8.0 x 10(-11)). Furthermore, we observed overtransmission of the risk allele to obese offspring in 660 families (P (pedigree disequilibrium test average; PDT-avg) = 2.4 x 10(-4)). The SNP location and patterns of phenotypic associations are consistent with effects mediated through altered MC4R function. Our findings establish that common variants near MC4R influence fat mass, weight and obesity risk at the population level and reinforce the need for large-scale data integration to identify variants influencing continuous biomedical traits.

RECUEIL DES ŒUVRES POÉTIQUES de Jehan Molinet. Ms. in-fol. sur papier de 201 f., demi-rel. v. f, tr. r. (Rel. du XVIIIe siècle.)

Complainte (La) de Grece

Untersuchungen zum thermisch induzierten Luftwechselpotential von Kippfenstern

Die sogenannte natürliche Lüftung - Lüftung infolge Temperatur- und Windeinfluss - über geöffnete Fenster und Türen ist im Wohnbereich noch immer die häufigste Form des Lüftens. Die Wirkung des Lüftens wird einerseits von den baulichen Gegebenheiten, z.B. der Fenstergröße, Öffnungsfläche und Laibungstiefe sowie andererseits durch den Nutzer, der z.B. eine Gardine oder Rollos anbringt, beeinflusst. Über den genauen Einfluss von verschiedenen Faktoren auf den Luftwechsel existieren zur Zeit noch keine gesicherten Erkenntnisse. Die Kenntnis des Luftwechsels ist jedoch für die Planung und Ausführung von Gebäuden in Hinblick auf das energiesparende Bauen sowie unter bauphysikalischen und hygienischen Aspekten wichtig. Der Einsatz von Dreh-Kippfenstern sowie das Lüften über die Kippstellung ist in Deutschland üblich, so dass die Bestimmung des Luftwechsels über Kippfenster von großem Interesse ist. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, den thermisch induzierten Luftwechsel über ein Kippfenster unter Berücksichtigung verschiedener Randbedingungen zu beschreiben. Hierbei werden Variationen der Kippweite, Laibungs- und Heizungsanordnung berücksichtigt. Die Arbeit gliedert sich in drei Teile: im ersten Teil werden messtechnische Untersuchungen durchgeführt, im zweiten Teil exemplarisch einige messtechnisch untersuchten Varianten mit CFD simuliert und im dritten Teil ein verbesserter Modellansatz zur Beschreibung des Luftwechsels aus den Messwerten abgeleitet. Die messtechnischen Untersuchungen bei einer Kippweite von 10 cm zeigen, dass bei dem Vorhandensein einer raumseitigen Laibung oder einem unterhalb des Fensters angeordneten Heizkörpers mit einer Reduktion des Volumenstroms von rund 20 Prozent gegenüber einem Fenster ohne Laibung bzw. ohne Heizkörper gerechnet werden muss. Die Kombination von raumseitiger Laibung und Heizung vermindert das Luftwechselpotential um ca. 40 Prozent. Simuliert wird die Variante ohne Laibung und ohne Heizung für die Kippweiten 6 cm und 10 cm. Die Ergebnisse der mit CFD simulierten Tracergas-Messung weisen für beide Kippweiten im Mittel rund 13 Prozent höhere Zuluftvolumenströme im Vergleich zu den Messwerten auf. Die eigenen Messdaten bilden die Grundlage für die Anpassung eines Rechenmodells. Werden vor Ort die lichte Fensterhöhe und -breite, die Kippweite, die Rahmen- und Laibungstiefe sowie die Abstände der Laibung zum Flügelrahmen gemessen, kann die Öffnungsfläche in Abhängigkeit von der Einbausituation bestimmt werden. Der Einfluss der Heizung - bei einer Anordnung unterhalb des Fensters - wird über den entsprechenden Cd-Wert berücksichtigt.

Mobilitzant-se cap a la cooperació

L’estiu del 2006 va ser el punt de partida per iniciar un projecte de cooperació amb Nicaragua; 15 alumnes han pogut fer diferents estades en aquest país, cooperant amb el programa ¨Yo si puedo¨ d’entrada i continuant desprès amb la col·laboració amb (la UNAN) per a realitzar el pràcticum d´infermeria. Actualment s’està treballant amb la redacció i signació del conveni amb el ¨Colectivo de Mujeres de Matagalpa¨