Study on the concentration and seasonal variation of inorganic elements in 35 species of marine algae

The concentrations of five major and 28 trace elements in 35 marine algae collected along the coast of China were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The concentrations of halogens, rare earth elements and many transition metal elements in marine algae are remarkably higher than those in terrestrial plants. The concentration factors for 31 elements in all collected algae were calculated, those for tri- and tetra-valent elements were higher than those of the mono- and di-valent elements in marine algae. The biogeochemical characteristics of inorganic elements in marine algae were investigated. In addition, the seasonal variation of inorganic elements in Sargassum kjellmanianum was also studied. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

两种海藻提取物的化学成分和生物活性的研究及其应用

本论文的研究工作由两部分组成，第一部分研究了海带（Laminaria japonica）水提取物中的活性物质，并研究了提取物对蔬菜促生长的影响及其作用机制。第二部分对三列凹顶藻(Laurencia tristicha)乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯相进行了活性筛选和化学成分研究，并对其中分离得到的单体化合物进行了生物活性筛选。 第一部分主要以中国人工养殖的海带为原料，使用与海藻多糖生产相结合的提取技术并浓缩其中的有效成分。对浓缩提取物进行了蔬菜的农田效果实验，并对作物抗旱性能的增加、作物硝酸盐积累的减少、作物品质的改善、以及作物抵抗病毒病的能力等影响进行了作用机制方面的研究。海藻浓缩提取物进行的农田效果实验表明：作物抗旱型相对含水量RWC值在92%~94%之间；病毒病的防治效果最高可达到91%；作物的品质有明显的改善，最重要的是首次发现海藻提取物有降低蔬菜中硝酸盐的含量（硝酸盐的含量是与有机蔬菜区别的重要指标之一）的作用。该部分研究工作的创新性主要体现在：（1）首次在国内外提出和采用与海藻多糖生产相结合的提取技术。该技术的应用不但减少了提取成本，使工业化生产成为可能,更重要的是使我国的海藻工业生产可能实现高值化和开辟综合利用的新途径。（2）首次发现海藻中的小分子海藻多糖具有和细胞激动素、甜菜碱、植物生长素等活性物质同样的生物活性。 第二部分的研究是在查阅了大量的近20年来国内外有关红藻凹顶藻中化学成分研究的相关文献的基础上，对凹顶藻中的次生代谢产物进行了综述。该论文主要是通过对红藻三列凹顶藻的95%乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯相进行化学成分分析和生物活性筛选以期能够发现具有药用前景的活性先导化合物。 为了寻找具有生物活性的化合物，我们对采自我国南海硇洲岛海域的红藻三列凹顶藻的95%乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯相进行了活性筛选。采用MTT法对其在KB细胞株、Bel-7402细胞株、PC-3M细胞株、MCF-7细胞株、Ketr-3细胞株模型上进行了细胞毒活性测试；采用酶模型对其进行了Na+,K+-ATPase的抑制活性测试；采用MTT法对其在犬主动脉血管模型上进行了血管平滑肌细胞增殖抑制活性测试；结果表明，三列凹顶藻的95%乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯相对Na+,K+-ATPase和犬血管平滑肌细胞增殖具有一定的抑制活性。 利用正相和反相色谱、Sephadex LH-20色谱以及反相HPLC等手段进行分离纯化，从我国南海海域的红藻三列凹顶藻中分离得到33种化学成分，通过波谱学方法（IR、MS、NMR）以及X-ray单晶衍射试验对其化学结构进行了确证，其中化合物L1~L8为新结构化合物，化合物L5为具有新骨架的全新结构化合物，化合物L9~L13为新天然产物，化合物L18和L22系首次从海洋生物中获得，所有化合物均为首次从该属海藻中得到。新化合物L1~L8均为倍半萜类化合物，命名分别为：(1R,3R)-(-)-3-(3-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)- 1,3-dimethyl–2-methylidene cyclopentanol (L1), (1R,3R)-(-)-3-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-2-methylidenecyclopentanol (L2)， (1R, 3R)-(-)-3-(2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)-1,3-dimethyl–2–methylidenecyclopentanol (L3)，(+)-(1S,2R)–2-(3–hydroxy–4–methylphenyl)-1,2-[3.1.0]bicy-clohexane (L4)，()-(1S,2R) -5-hydroxy–6–methyl-spiro-dihydrobenzofuran-2(3H),2-{1-methyl-[3.1.0]bicyclohexane} (L5), (+)-6-methyl-2-(p-tolyl)hept-4-en-2,6-diol (L6)，(3R,3aS,8bS)-(-)-2,3,3a,8b–tetrahydro–7-bromo – 3 a– hydroxymethyl - 3, 6, 8b - trimethyl-1H- cyclopenta[b] benzofuran (L7 )，(3R, 3aS, 8bS) - (-) - 2,3,3a,8b–tetrahydro–3 a–hydroxymethyl-3,6,8b -trimethyl -1H – cyclopenta [b] benzofuran (L8)。25个已知结构化合物确定为：(+)-(1R,2R)-4-bromo-1,5, 9–trimethyl–12– methylidene–8–oxa-tricyclo[7.2.1.02]dodeca-2,4,6-triene (L9)，(3S,3aR,8bS)-(-)-2,3,3a, 8b– tetra -hydro–7-bromo–3–hydroxy-3,3a,6,8b-tetramethyl-1H-cyclopenta[b]benzofu- ran (L10 )，(3R, 3aR, 8bS) - (-) - 2, 3, 3a, 8b – tetrahydro – 7 - bromo – 3 – hydroxy - 3,3a,6,8b - tetramethyl - 1H - cyclopenta [b] benzofuran (L11 )，(3S,3aR,8bS) - (-) - 2, 3, 3a, 8b – tetrahydro –3–hydroxy -3, 3a, 6, 8b - tetramethyl-1H-cyclopenta[b]benzofuran (L12 )， ( 3aR, 8bS) - (-) - 3a,8b –dihydro–7 - bromo – 3, 3a, 6, 8b - tetramethyl - 1H - cyclopenta[b]benzofuran (L13 )，aplysinol (L14 ) ，aplysin (L15)，laurebiphenyl (L16)，johnstonol (L17)，gossonorol (L18)，7,10-epoxy-ar- bisabol-11-ol (L19)，10-epi-7,10-epoxyarbisabol-11-ol (L20) 3β-hydroxy- 5α, 6α-epoxy- β- ionone (L21 )，3β-hydroxy-5β,6β-epoxy-β-ionone (L22 )，胆甾醇 (L23 )，胆甾-5-烯-3β,7α二醇胆甾-5-烯-3β,7α二醇 (L24)，β-谷甾醇 (L25)，叶绿醇 (L26 )，玉米黄素 (L27 )，对羟基苯甲醛 (L28 )，3-吲哚甲醛 (L29 )，1-O-十六烷酰基-3-O-β-D-吡喃半乳糖基-丙三醇(L30 )，1-O-十八烷酰基-3-O-β-D-吡喃半乳糖基-丙三醇 (L31 )，丙三醇-1-软脂酸单酯 (L32 )，正十六碳酸 (L33 )。 采用MTT法对其中23个单体化合物在Bel-7402细胞株、BGC-823细胞株、A549细胞株、A2780细胞株、HCT-8细胞株和HELL细胞株模型上进行了细胞毒活性测试；采用MTT法对其中13个单体化合物在犬主动脉血管模型上进行了血管平滑肌细胞增殖抑制活性测试；结果表明，部分单体化合物显示出一定的生物活性。

Mining expressed sequences for single nucleotide polymorphisms in Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai

Although single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are important resources for population genetics, pedigree analysis and genomic mapping, such loci have not been reported in Pacific abalone so far. In this study, a bioinformatics strategy was adopted to discover SNPs within the expressed sequences (ESTs) of Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, and furthermore, polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing (PCR-DS) and allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) were used for SNPs detection and genotype scoring respectively. A total of 5893 ESTs were assembled and 302 putative SNPs were identified. The average density of SNPs in ESTs was 1%. Fifty-two sets of sequencing primers were designed from SNPs flanking ESTs to amplify the genomic DNA, and 13 could generate products of expected size. Polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing of the amplification products from pooled DNA samples revealed 40 polymorphic SNP loci. Using a modified tetra-primer AS-PCR, seven mitochondrial and six nuclear SNPs were typed and characterized among 37 wild abalones. In conclusion, it is feasible to discover SNPs from number limited ESTs and the AS-PCR as a simple, robust and reliable assay could be a primary method for small- and medium-scale SNPs detection in abalones as well as other non-model organisms.

Inhibition of bromophenols against PTP1B and anti-hyperglycemic effect of Rhodomela confervoides extract in diabetic rats

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) plays an important role as a negative regulator in insulin signaling pathways. PTP1B is an effective target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Four bromophenol derivatives from red algae Rhodomela confervoides, 2,2',3,3'-tetrabromo-4,4',5,5'-tetra-hydroxydiphenyl methane (1), 3-bormo-4,5-bis(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) pyrocatechol (2), bis(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) ether (3) and 2,2',3-tribromo-3',4,4',5-tetrahydroxy-6'-ethyloxy-methyldiphenylmethane (4) showed significant inhibitory activity against PTP1B (IC50 were 2.4, 1.7, 1.5 and 0.84 mu mol/L, respectively) as potential therapeutical agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The anti-hyperglycemic effects of the ethanol extracts from R. confervoides on streptozotocin-induced diabetes (STZ-diabetes) in male Wistar rats fed with high fat diet were investigated. The STZ-diabetic rats treated with medium-dose and high-dose alga extracts showed remarkable reductions in fasting blood glucose (FBG) as compared with the STZ-diabetic control. The results indicate that the in vivo anti-hyperglycemic activity of the R. confervoides extracts can be partially attributed to the inhibitory actions against PTP1B of the bromophenol derivatives and that may be of clinical importance in improving the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Preparation and characteristic of a new class of silica/polyimide nanocomposites

A new class of silica/polyimide nanocomposites was successfully prepared by the sol-gel reaction, tetraethoxysilane, (TEOS), was hydrolyzed by the water released from imidization at low and high temperature. Silica particles with diameter of around 30-50 nm were observed in the hybrid films by scanning electron microscopy. The flame retardance, decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature of the film increased with increasing silica content. The tensile strength increased slightly while the elongation at break of the films decreased with increasing silica content. (C) 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Column switching-back flushing technique for the analysis of aromatic compounds in gasoline

A simple method, based on the technique of capillary column switching-back flushing, has been developed for the detailed analysis of aromatic compounds in gasoline. The sample was first separated on a 30-m long OV-2330 polar precolumn and then backflushed onto a nonpolar analytical column. The early eluting components from the precolumn and the components of interest (aromatic compounds plus heavier compounds) eluting from the analytical column are all directed to the same flame ionization detection system through a T piece, which permits the quantitative analysis of aromatic hydrocarbons in gasoline by a normalization method using correcting factors. The switching time window of the method is +/-5 s, resulting in easier operation and higher reliability. The reproducibility of the quantitative analysis was less than or equal to3% RSD for real gasoline samples. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the analysis of tobacco essential oils

A sample of tobacco essential oil was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GUMS)and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC/TOFMS), respectively. In the GUMS analysis, serially coupled columns were used. By comparing the GUMS results with GC x GC/TOFMS result,,, many more components in the essential oil could be found within the two-dimensional separation space of GC x GC. The quantitative determination of components in the essential oil was performed by GC x GC with flame ionization detection (FID), using a method of multiple internal standards calibration, (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantitative determination of compounds in tobacco essential oils by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A quantitative analysis of the individual compounds in tobacco essential oils is performed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) combined with flame ionization detector (FID). A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF/MS) was coupled to GC x GC for the identification of the resolved peaks. The response of a flame ionization detector to different compound classes was calibrated using multiple internal standards. In total, 172 compounds were identified with good match and 61 compounds with high probability value were reliably quantified. For comparative purposes, the essential oil sample was also quantified by one-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with multiple internal standards method. The results showed that there was close agreement between the two analysis methods when the peak purity and match quality in one-dimensional GC/MS are high enough. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Combining Functional and Structural Reasoning for Safety Analysis of Electrical Designs

C.J.Price, D.R.Pugh, N.A.Snooke, J.E.Hunt, M.S.Wilson, Combining Functional and Structural Reasoning for Safety Analysis of Electrical Designs, Knowledge Engineering Review, vol 12:3, pp.271-287, 1997.

A Qualidade dos Serviços Desportivos e a Satisfação do Consumidor

Dissertação apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Empresariais

Efeitos provocados pelos irrigantes endodônticos na estrutura do canal radicular

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Medicina Dentária

Optical micro- and nanofibres: Higher mode generation and particle manipulation studies

This thesis is centred on two experimental fields of optical micro- and nanofibre research; higher mode generation/excitation and evanescent field optical manipulation. Standard, commercial, single-mode silica fibre is used throughout most of the experiments; this generally produces high-quality, single-mode, micro- or nanofibres when tapered in a flame-heated, pulling rig in the laboratory. Single mode fibre can also support higher transverse modes, when transmitting wavelengths below that of their defined single-mode regime cut-off. To investigate this, a first-order Laguerre-Gaussian beam, LG01 of 1064 nm wavelength and doughnut-shaped intensity profile is generated free space via spatial light modulation. This technique facilitates coupling to the LP11 fibre mode in two-mode fibre, and convenient, fast switching to the fundamental mode via computer-generated hologram modulation. Following LP11 mode loss when exponentially tapering 125μm diameter fibre, two mode fibre with a cladding diameter of 80μm is selected fir testing since it is more suitable for satisfying the adiabatic criteria for fibre tapering. Proving a fruitful endeavour, experiments show a transmission of 55% of the original LP11 mode set (comprising TE01, TM01, HE21e,o true modes) in submicron fibres. Furthermore, by observing pulling dynamics and progressive mode-lass behaviour, it is possible to produce a nanofibre which supports only the TE01 and TM01 modes, while suppressing the HE21e,o elements of the LP11 group. This result provides a basis for experimental studies of atom trapping via mode-interference, and offers a new set of evanescent field geometries for sensing and particle manipulation applications. The thesis highlights the experimental results of the research unit’s Cold Atom subgroup, who successfully integrated one such higher-mode nanofibre into a cloud of cold Rubidium atoms. This led to the detection of stronger signals of resonance fluorescence coupling into the nanofibre and for light absorption by the atoms due to the presence of higher guided modes within the fibre. Theoretical work on the impact of the curved nanofibre surface on the atomic-surface van der Waals interaction is also presented, showing a clear deviation of the potential from the commonly-used flat-surface approximation. Optical micro- and nanofibres are also useful tools for evanescent-field mediated optical manipulation – this includes propulsion, defect-induced trapping, mass migration and size-sorting of micron-scale particles in dispersion. Similar early trapping experiments are described in this thesis, and resulting motivations for developing a targeted, site-specific particle induction method are given. The integration of optical nanofibres into an optical tweezers is presented, facilitating individual and group isolation of selected particles, and their controlled positioning and conveyance in the evanescent field. The effects of particle size and nanofibre diameter on pronounced scattering is experimentally investigated in this systems, as are optical binding effects between adjacent particles in the evanescent field. Such inter-particle interactions lead to regulated self-positioning and particle-chain speed enhancements.

Estudio del sistema de agronegocios lechero de la Región Sierra del Ecuador : identificación de restricciones y oportunidades para mejorar su competitividad

La creciente ola de prosperidad y urbanización en Asia, África y América Latina fomenta el aumento en la demanda de productos lácteos. Una investigación realizada por Tetra PakDairyIndex en el 2011, proyecta un aumento de cerca de 25 por ciento en el consumo global de leche entre 2010 y 2020. América Latina reúne condiciones insuperables para aumentar sus producciones de leche y ser proveedor de la demanda del propio continente En Ecuador, se ha incrementado la producción de leche y productos lácteos, aunque sólo exporta el 1 por ciento de su producción, mientras que la población ecuatoriana todavía mantiene un bajo nivel de consumo de lácteos. Este hecho mantiene latentes las oportunidades para el desarrollo de la industria láctea y la ganadería nacional. El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo realizar un estudio del Sistema de Agronegocios lechero de la Región Sierra de Ecuador, el cuál permita conocer su desarrollo y limitaciones, y a partir de las mismas proponer alternativas de mejora competitiva. Se utiliza el método EPESA el cual establece los lineamientos para el estudio de sistemas de agronegocios desde una óptica sistémica y utilizando como marco teórico de la nueva economía institucional. Se realizó un análisis de fuentes de información secundaria así como también se realizaron entrevistas con informantes calificados dada la escasez de información a nivel nacional. El SAG lechero de la Región Sierra cuenta con dos subsistemas: el subsistema formal y el informal, surgen a partir del bajo enforcement institucional y una demanda local que prefiere lácteos no pasteurizados y "directo del campo". Es por ello que se observan mayores niveles de tecnificación, productividad, inocuidad, sanidad y calidad en el subsistema formal, lo que lleva a competencia desleal entre ambos subsistemas. Otro aspecto se refiere a las transacciones, las cuales en general todas las transacciones del sistema (y en ambos subsistemas) son de altos niveles de incertidumbre y costos de transacción, a pesar que en el subsistema formal se observan contratos. Del análisis competitivo se observa en comparación con el SAG lechero del Uruguay, el SAG lechero cuenta desventajas competitivas en factores tecnológicos avanzados (status sanitario, genética, disponibilidad y uso de maquinaria), también en la demanda (dado el bajo consumo per cápita y una demanda de baja exigencia en calidad, y bajas exportaciones), la baja presencia en el sistema de organismos de investigación y organizaciones gremiales, y la ausencia de cooperativas sumado a una alta atomización de los productores. Este estudio ha sido clave para proponer una alternativa de mejora competitiva del sistema, el cual se resume en la creación de un organismo público-privado (CONALECH) que coordine y dictamine las estrategias que el sistema debe seguir.

Estudio del sistema de agronegocios lechero de la Región Sierra del Ecuador : identificación de restricciones y oportunidades para mejorar su competitividad

La creciente ola de prosperidad y urbanización en Asia, África y América Latina fomenta el aumento en la demanda de productos lácteos. Una investigación realizada por Tetra PakDairyIndex en el 2011, proyecta un aumento de cerca de 25 por ciento en el consumo global de leche entre 2010 y 2020. América Latina reúne condiciones insuperables para aumentar sus producciones de leche y ser proveedor de la demanda del propio continente En Ecuador, se ha incrementado la producción de leche y productos lácteos, aunque sólo exporta el 1 por ciento de su producción, mientras que la población ecuatoriana todavía mantiene un bajo nivel de consumo de lácteos. Este hecho mantiene latentes las oportunidades para el desarrollo de la industria láctea y la ganadería nacional. El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo realizar un estudio del Sistema de Agronegocios lechero de la Región Sierra de Ecuador, el cuál permita conocer su desarrollo y limitaciones, y a partir de las mismas proponer alternativas de mejora competitiva. Se utiliza el método EPESA el cual establece los lineamientos para el estudio de sistemas de agronegocios desde una óptica sistémica y utilizando como marco teórico de la nueva economía institucional. Se realizó un análisis de fuentes de información secundaria así como también se realizaron entrevistas con informantes calificados dada la escasez de información a nivel nacional. El SAG lechero de la Región Sierra cuenta con dos subsistemas: el subsistema formal y el informal, surgen a partir del bajo enforcement institucional y una demanda local que prefiere lácteos no pasteurizados y "directo del campo". Es por ello que se observan mayores niveles de tecnificación, productividad, inocuidad, sanidad y calidad en el subsistema formal, lo que lleva a competencia desleal entre ambos subsistemas. Otro aspecto se refiere a las transacciones, las cuales en general todas las transacciones del sistema (y en ambos subsistemas)son de altos niveles de incertidumbre y costos de transacción, a pesar que en el subsistema formal se observan contratos. Del análisis competitivo se observa en comparación con el SAG lechero del Uruguay, el SAG lechero cuenta desventajas competitivas en factores tecnológicos avanzados (status sanitario, genética, disponibilidad y uso de maquinaria), también en la demanda (dado el bajo consumo per cápita y una demanda de baja exigencia en calidad, y bajas exportaciones), la baja presencia en el sistema de organismos de investigación y organizaciones gremiales, y la ausencia de cooperativas sumado a una alta atomización de los productores. Este estudio ha sido clave para proponer una alternativa de mejora competitiva del sistema, el cual se resume en la creación de un organismo público-privado (CONALECH)que coordine y dictamine las estrategias que el sistema debe seguir.