Construction of cytoplasmic molecular markers distinguishing Danio rerio from Gobiocypris rarus at high identity domains based on MP-PCR strategy and Sybr Green I detection

To distinguish the cytoplasm of Danio rerio from that of Gobiocypris rarus, we cloned G. rarus COXI and constructed cytoplasmic molecular markers at the high identity domains of COXI by mutated primer PCR (MP-PCR for short). Then Sybr Green I was used to detect the single amplicon. As a result, we succeeded in getting the cytoplasmic molecular markers, G.M COXI and Z.M COXI, by MP-PCR strategy. They were used to detect the sperm-derived mtDNA in the sexual hybrid embryos (D. rerio female x G. rarus male) before the sphere stage. In the present study, all results demonstrate that MP-PCR approach and Sybr Green I detection are feasible to construct the molecular markers to identify genes that shared high identity.

Development of EST-SSRs by an efficient FIASCO-based strategy: A case study in rare minnow (Gobiocyrpis rarus)

Type I markers are useful for comparative mapping and other genetic analyses, but relatively difficult to develop. In the present study a microsatellite (SSR)-enriched cDNA library was constructed for the first time using the fast isolation by AFLP of sequences containing repeats (FIASCO) method in a small fish, Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus). A total of 97.4% of the expressed sequence tags (ESTs) contained targeted CA-repeats, in which 29 unique EST-SSRs were identified. Ten out of the 28 loci for which primer pairs were designed were polymorphic with alleles ranging from three to seven (mean 4.50). Some of these EST-SSRs can be amplified in other species. These results proved that cDNA-FIASCO is an efficient way to isolate novel EST-SSRs in a fish.

Effect of feeding strategy and carbohydrate source on carbohydrate utilization by white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus X O-aureus)

Two 8-week growth trials were conducted to determine the effect of continuous (CF) versus 2 meals day(-1) (MF) feeding and 30% starch versus 30% glucose diets on the carbohydrate utilization of 9.0-g white sturgeon and 0.56-g hybrid tilapia. The two trials were conducted under similar conditions except that sturgeon were kept at 18.5 degrees C in a flow-through system and tilapia were kept at 26 degrees C in a recirculating system. Significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) higher specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), body lipid content and liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) activities were observed in the CF than MF sturgeon. Only SGR, FE and PER were higher in sturgeon fed the starch than the glucose diets. Only higher liver G6PDH and malic enzyme (ME) activities were observed in the CF than MF tilapia but higher SGR, FE, PER and liver G6PDH, 6PGDH and ME activities were observed in tilapia fed the starch diet than those fed the glucose diet. This suggested that carbohydrate utilization by sturgeon was more affected by feeding strategy whereas tilapia was more affected by carbohydrate source. Furthermore, white sturgeon can utilize carbohydrates better than hybrid tilapia regardless of feeding strategy and carbohydrate source.

Photoluminescence from heterogeneous SiGe/Si nanostructures prepared via a two-step approach strategy

A two-step approach of preparation for SiGe/Si heterogeneous nanostructures, which combined with ultra-high vacuum chemical deposition and electrochemical anodization techniques, is demonstrated. Uniformly distributed nanostructures with a quite uniform distribution of size and morphology are obtained. A strong room-temperature photoluminescence from the nanostructures was observed with a narrow full-width at half-maximum of around 110 meV. The possible origins of the two main peaks at around 1.6 and 1.8 eV have been discussed in detail. The two-step approach is proved to be a promising method to fabricate new Si-based optoelectronic materials. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

achieving on-time delivery: a two-stage probabilistic scheduling strategy for software projects

Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISCAS)

Strategy for analysis and screening of bioactive compounds in traditional Chinese medicines

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), due to their long time clinic test and reliable therapeutic efficacy, are attracting increased global attention served as excellent pools of bioactive compounds for the discovery of new drugs. However, hundreds or even thousands of components are usually contained in traditional Chinese medicines and only a few compounds are responsible for the pharmaceutical and/or toxic effects. The large numbers of other components in traditional Chinese medicines make the screening and analysis of the bioactive components extremely difficult. By the way, the combination effect of bioactive components on the pharmacological activity makes it very difficult to clear the therapeutic mechanism of TCMs. Therefore, some strategies have to design for screening of bioactive compounds in traditional Chinese medicines, which further leads to disclose the therapeutic mechanism of TCMs in molecular level. The review will summarize the present state of the art of screening strategy for active compounds in traditional Chinese medicines, and the chromatography methods for screening and analysis of bioactive compounds in traditional Chinese medicines will be emphasized. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.