Spontaneous activity was unaffected by ration size in Nile tilapia and gibel carp

Two growth trials using a range of ration sizes from starvation to maximum feeding suggested that linear relationships existed between specific growth rate and ration size for Nile tilapia and givel carp, Continuous measurement of activity showed that activity level, in terms of distance swum per day, was not affected significantly by ration size in both Nile tilapia and gibel carp. (C) 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

STUDIES ON MIXED MASS CULTIVATION OF ANABAENA SPP (NITROGEN-FIXING BLUE-GREEN-ALGAE, CYANOBACTERIA) ON A LARGE-SCALE

Studies on mixed mass cultivation of Anabaena spp. on a large scale (5170 m2) were conducted continuously for 3 years. Under the continental monsoon climate in northern subtropics (30-degrees-N, 115-degrees-E), 7-11 g dry weight m-2 day-1 of microalgal biomass on average was harvested in simple plastic greenhouses in the effective growth days during the warmer seasons. The maximum productivity was 22 g m-2 day-1 in the middle of summer. Observations on the productive properties of strains of Anabaena spp. indicated that they were different from and could compensate for each other in their productivities and adaptations to the seasonal changes. With different lining materials (PVC sheets, concrete, sand and soil) in the culture ponds, no significant variation of productivity was found, but bubbling with biogas in the middle of the day and the application of some growth regulating substances (2,4-D, NaHSO3 and extracts of oyster mushroom spawn) was able to improve the production. The cost of microalgal biomass in this way was around 0.75-1.0 US dollar(s) per kilogram.

Electro-mass multi odor sensor

For an olfactory sensor or electronic nose the task is not only to detect the object concentration, but also to recognize it. It is well known that all the elements can be identified by their charge to mass ratio e+/m. We tried to use this principle for molecular recognition. Two kinds of sensors are used simultaneously in testing. One is Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) for detecting the change in mass, the other is Interdigital Electrode (IE) for detecting the change in conduction. In this paper the principle and the feasibility of this method are reported. The preliminary results on the recognition of alcohols are presented. The multisensor can be used as an instrument for research on material properties and kinetic process as well.

CO2浓度升高对红桦幼苗生理与生长的影响

大气CO2浓度的增加已经成为不可争议的事实。预计本世纪末大气CO2浓度将增加到约700µmol mol-1。森林年光合产量约占陆地生态系统年光合产量的70%。森林树木是一个巨大的生物碳库，约占全球陆地生物碳库的85%。森林树木对CO2的固定潜力是缓解由大气CO2浓度升高引起的未来全球气候变化问题的决定性因子之一。红桦（Betula albosinensis Burk.）是川西亚高山采伐迹地自然或人工恢复的重要树种。本研究以1a红桦幼苗为模式植物，采用人工模拟的方法，研究CO2浓度升高对不同种内竞争强度（种群水平）下红桦幼苗的生理特征、生长、干物质积累及其分配的影响，探讨在种内竞争生长条件下红桦幼苗的“光合适应机理”与生长特征，为西南亚高山森林生产力对未来全球变化的预测提供重要参考。 本研究的主要结果如下： 1）在种内竞争生长条件下红桦幼苗经过CO2浓度升高熏蒸4个月后，叶片出现“光合适应”现象。与对照相比，低种植密度（28株m-2）和高种植密度（84株m-2）条件下的红桦幼苗净光合速率（A）、气孔导度（gs）、蒸腾速率（E）、表观量子产量（AQY）和羧化速率（CE）显著降低，而水分利用效率（WUE）则显著提高。CO2浓度升高处理的红桦幼苗叶片Rubisco活性、单位叶面积N浓度、叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素浓度都显著降低。但CO2浓度对红桦幼苗的叶绿素a与叶绿素b的比值没有显著影响。CO2浓度升高显著增加红桦幼苗单位叶面积的非结构性碳水化合物（TNC）浓度，结果是红桦幼苗的比叶面积（SLA，cm2 g-1）显著降低。 2）与对照相比，CO2浓度升高处理的红桦幼苗高、基径、单叶面积和侧枝的相对生长速率（R GR）显著提高，尤其在试验处理的早期。CO2浓度升高既增加单株红桦幼苗总叶片数量又增加单叶面积，结果是单株红桦幼苗的总叶面积比对照显著增加。 3）CO2浓度升高处理显著增加红桦幼苗干物质积累（尤其是细根生物量），改变了红桦幼苗生物量的分配格局。与对照相比，CO2浓度升高处理的红桦幼苗叶重比（LWR）、叶面积比（LAR）、叶根重比（Wl/Wr）和源汇重比（leaf weight to non-leaf weight ratio, Wsource/Wsink）显著下降（高种植密度的LWR除外），而根冠比（R/S）则显著增加。在两种种植密度条件下，CO2浓度升高显著增加红桦幼苗根生物量的分配比率，显著降低叶片的生物量分配比率，对主茎、侧枝以及地上生物量的分配比率不变或约有下降。 总之，长期生长在CO2浓度升高条件下的红桦幼苗光合能力下降，并伴随Rubisco活性、叶N浓度、光合色素浓度的显著降低以及TNC浓度的显著增加。支持树木光合速率下降与Rubisco活性、叶N浓度下降以及TNC浓度增加紧密相关的假设。CO2浓度升高处理红桦幼苗的早期相对生长速率大大高于对照，而后期迅速下降，说明红桦幼苗生物量的显著增加主要归功于CO2浓度升高的早期促进作用和叶面积的显著增加。CO2浓度升高显著增加红桦幼苗根系生物量和根冠比，表明红桦幼苗“额外”固定的C向根系转移。 The steady increae of atmospheric CO2 concentration（[CO2]）has been inevitable fact. Models predict that the atmospheric [CO2] will increase to about 700µmol mol-1 at the end of the twenty-first century. As trees constitute a majoor carbon reservoir–85% of total plant carbon is found in forest, and their ability to sequester carbon is a key determinant of future global change problems caused by increases in atmospheric CO2. In addition to the role of forests in the global carbon cycle, inceased growth could be of economic benefit, for example, offsetting deleterious effects of climatic changes. Betula albosinensis (Burk.) usually emerges as the pioneer species in initial stage and as constructive species in later stages of forest community succession of mountain forest area, and also is one of important tree species for afforestation in logged area, in southwesten China. In this experinment, Betula albosinensis seedling (one-year-old) was used as the model plant. B. albosinensis seedlings were grown under two all-day [CO2], ambient (about 350 µmol·mol-1) and elevated [CO2] (about 700 µmol·mol-1), and two planting densities of 28 plants per m2 and 84 plants per m2. The objectives were to characterize birch mature leaf photosynthesis, growth, mass accumulation and allocation responses to long-tern elevated growth [CO2] under the influences of neighbouring plants, and to assess whether elevated [CO2] regulated birch mature leaf photosynthetic capacity, in terms of leaf nitrogen concentration (leaf [N]), activity of ribulose bisphosphate carboxygenase (Rubisco), Rubisco photosynthetic efficiency, and total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) concentration, and also to provide a strong reference to predict the productivity of subalpine forests under the future global changes. The results are as follows: 1) B.albosinensis seedlings exposed to elevated [CO2] for 120 days, photosynthetic acclimation phenomena occurred. At two planting densities, leaves of birch seedlings grown under elevated [CO2] had lower net photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (E), apparent quantum yield (AQY) and carboxylated efficiency (CE) and higher water use efficiency (WUE), compared to those of B.albosinensis seedlings grown under ambient [CO2]. Based on the leaf area, leaf [N], Rubisco activity and photosynthetic pigments concentrations of B. albosinensis seedlings grown under elevated [CO2] were significantly lower than those grown under ambient [CO2]. The ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b concentration was not affected by elevated [CO2]. Under elevated [CO2], the TNC concentration per unit leaf area significantly increased, resulting in significant decrease in specific leaf area. Thus leaf photosynthetic capacity of B. albosinensis seedlings would perform worse under rising atmospheric [CO2] and the influences of neighbouring plants. 2) Under elevated [CO2], the relative growth rate (RGR) of B. albosinensis seedlings height, basal diameter, a leaf area and branch length significantly increased, especially at the initial stage of exposure to elevated [CO2], and a leaf area and leaf numbers per B. albosinensis seedling also significantly increased. Thus the total leaf area per B. albosinensis seedling was significantly increased under elevated [CO2]. 3) As the increase of RGR and total leaf area, biomass of B. albosinensis seedling grown elevated [CO2] was higher, compared to that of B.albosinensis seedlings grown at ambient [CO2]. Elevated [CO2] changed the biomass allocation pattern of B. albosinensis seedling. At two planting densities, B. albosinensis seedlings grown elevated [CO2] had lower leaf weight to total weight ratio (LWR), leaf area to total weight ratio (LAR) and leaf weight to non-leaf weight ratio (Wsource/Wsink), but higher root weight to shoot weight ratio (R/S), compared to those of B.albosinensis seedlings grown at ambient [CO2]. Under elevated [CO2], roots biomass to total biomass ratio was signigicantly increased, leaves biomass to total biomass ratio was significantly decreased. The main stem and branch biomass to total biomass ratio were not affected by elevated [CO2]. In conclusion, our results supported the hypothesis that the decline in photosynthetic capacity of C3 plants will appear after long-term exposure to elevated [CO2], accompanying with the significant decrease in Rubisco activity, leaf N concentration, photosynthetic pigments concentration, and significant increase in total non-structural carbohydrates concentration. Our results also have shown that the increase of biomass of B. albosinensis seedlings should be attributed to initial stimulation on RGR and total leaf area resulted from elevated [CO2]. Under elevated [CO2], the extra carbon sequestered by B.albosinensis seedlings transferred into under-ground part because of increase in root biomass and R/S.

Penning trap mass measurements on nobelium isotopes

The Penning trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP at GSI Darmstadt allows accurate mass measurements of radionuclides, produced in fusion-evaporation reactions and separated by the velocity filter SHIP from the primary beam. Recently, the masses of the three nobelium isotopes No252-254 were determined. These are the first direct mass measurements of transuranium elements, which provide new anchor points in this region. The heavy nuclides were produced in cold-fusion reactions by irradiating a PbS target with a Ca-48 beam, resulting in production rates of the nuclei of interest of about one atom per second. In combination with data from decay spectroscopy our results are used to perform a new atomic-mass evaluation in this region.

Center of mass energy and system-size dependence of photon production at forward rapidity at RHIC

We present the multiplicity and pseudorapidity distributions of photons produced in Au + Au and Cu + Cu collisions at root(NN)-N-s = 62.4 and 200 GeV. The photons are measured in the region -3.7 < eta < -2.3 using the photon Multiplicity detector in the STAR experiment at RHIC. The number of photons produced per average number of participating nucleon pairs increases with the beam energy and is independent of (lie collision centrality. For collisions with similar average numbers of participating nucleons the photon multiplicities are observed to be similar for An + Au and Cu + Cu collisions at a given beam energy. The ratios of the number of charged particles to photons in the measured pseudorapidity range are found to be 1.4 +/- 0.1 and 1.2 +/- 0.1 for root(NN)-N-s = 62.4 and 200 GeV, respectively. The energy dependence of this ratio could reflect varying contributions from baryons to charged particles, while mesons are the dominant contributors to photon production in the given kinematic region. The photon pseudorapidity distributions normalized by average number of participating nucleon pairs, when plotted as a function of eta-Y-beam, are found to follow a longitudinal scaling independent of centrality and colliding ion species at both beam energies. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enzymatic reaction of the immobilized enzyme on porous silicon studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry

Desorption/ionization on silicon mass spectrometry (DIOS-MS) is a matrix-free technique that allows for the direct desorption/ionization of low-molecular-weight compounds with little or no fragmentation of analytes. This technique has a relatively high tolerance for contaminants commonly found in biological samples. DIOS-MS has been applied to determine the activity of immobilized enzymes on the porous silicon surface. Enzyme activities were also monitored with the addition of a competitive inhibitor in the substrate solution. It is demonstrated that this method can be applied to the screening of enzyme inhibitors. Furthermore, a method for peptide mapping analysis by in situ digestion of proteins on the porous silicon surface modified by trypsin, combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-MS has been developed.

Perovskite-Like Mixed Oxides (LaSrMn1-x Ni (x) O4+delta, 0 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 1) as Catalyst for Catalytic NO Decomposition: TPD and TPR Studies

Catalytic NO decomposition on LaSrMn1-x Ni (x) O4+delta (0 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 1) is investigated. The activity of NO decomposition increases dramatically after the substitution of Ni for Mn, but decreases when Mn is completely replaced by Ni (x = 1.0). The optimum value is at x = 0.8. These indicate that the catalytic performance of the samples is contributed by the synergistic effect of Mn and Ni. O-2-TPD and H-2-TPR experiments are carried out to explain the change of activity. The former indicates that only when oxygen vacancy is created, could the catalyst show enhanced activity for NO decomposition; the latter suggests that the best activity is obtained from catalyst with the most matched redox potentials (in this work, the biggest Delta T and Delta E values).

A New Method for Analysis of Disulfide-Containing Proteins by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) Mass Spectrometry

A simple and high-throughput method for the identification of disulfide-containing peptides utilizing peptide-matrix adducts is described. Some commonly used matrices in MALDI mass spectrometry were found to specifically react with sulfhydryl groups within peptide, thus allowing the observation of the peptide-matrix adduct ion [M + n + n' matrix + H](+) or [M + n + n' matrix + Na](+) (n = the number of cysteine residues, n' = 1, 2, ..., n) in MALDI mass spectra after chemical reduction of disulfide-linked peptides. Among several matrices tested, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA, molecular mass 189 Da) and alpha-cyano-3-hydroxycinnamic acid (3-HCCA) were found to be more effective for MALDI analysis of disulfide-containing peptides/proteins. Two reduced cysteines involved in a disulfide bridge resulted in a mass shift of 189 Da per cysteine, so the number of disulfide bonds could then be determined, while for the other matrices (sinapinic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid), a similar addition reaction could not occur unless the reaction was carried out under alkaline conditions. The underlying mechanism of the reaction of the matrix addition at sulfhydryl groups is proposed, and several factors that might affect the formation of the peptide-matrix adducts were investigated.

Mass transfer kinetics of yttrium(III) using a constant interfacial cell with laminar flow. Part II. Extraction with Cyanex 272

The yttrium(III) extraction kinetics and mechanism with bis-(2,4,4-trimethyl-pentyl) phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272, HA) dissolved in heptane have been investigated by constant interfacial cell with laminar flow. The data has been analyzed in terms of pseudo-first order constants. Studies on the effects of stirring rate, temperature, acidity in aqueous phase, and extractant concentration on the extraction rate show that the extraction regime is dependent on the extraction conditions. The plot of interfacial area on the rate has shown a linear relationship. This fact together with the strong surface activity of Cyanex 272 at heptane-water interfaces has made the interface the most probable location for the chemical reactions. The forward, reverse rate equations and extraction rate constant for the yttrium extraction with Cyanex 272 have been obtained under the experimental conditions. The rate-determining step has been also predicted from interfacial reaction models. The predictions have been found to be in good agreement with the rate equations obtained from experimental data, confirming the basic assumption that the chemical reaction is located at the liquid-liquid interface.

Mass transfer kinetics of yttriium(III) using a constant interfacial cell with laminar flow. Part I. Extraction with Cyanex 302

The interfacial tension is measured for Cyanex 302 in heptane and adsorption parameters are calculated according to Gibbs equation and Szyskowski isotherm. The results indicate that Cyanex 302 has a high interfacial activity, allowing easy extraction reaction to take place at the liquid-liquid interface. The extraction kinetics of yttrium(III) with Cyanex 302 in heptane are investigated by a constant interfacial cell with laminar flow. The effects of stirring rate, temperature and specific interfacial area on the extraction rate are discussed. The results suggest that the extraction kinetics is a mixed regime with film diffusion and an aqueous one-step chemical reaction proposed to be the rate-controlling step. Assuming the mass transfer process can be formally treated as a pseudo-first-order reversible reaction with respect to the metal cation, the rate equation for the extraction reaction of yttrium(III) with Cyanex 302 at pH <5 is obtained as follows:R-f = 10(-7.85)[Y(OH)(2)(+)]((a))[H(2)A(2)]((o))(1.00)[H+]((a))(-1.00)Diffusion parameters and rate constants are calculated through approximate solutions of the flux equation.

Mass-transfer kinetics of ytterbium extraction with sec-nonylphenoxy acetic acid

The extraction kinetics of ytterbium with sec-nonylphenoxy acetic acid (CA-100) in heptane have been investigated using a constant interfacial area cell with laminar flow. The influence of stirring speed and temperature on the rate indicated that the extraction rate was controlled by the experiment conditions. The plot of interfacial area on the rate showed a linear relationship. This fact together with the low solubility in water and strong surface activity of CA-100 at heptane-water interfaces made the interface the most probable locale for the chemical reactions. The influences of extractant concentration and hydrogen ion concentration on the extraction rate were investigated, and the forward and reverse rate equations for the ytterbium extraction with CA-100 were also obtained. Based on the experimental data, the apparent forward extraction rate constant was calculated. Interfacial reaction models were proposed that agree well with the rate equations obtained from experimental data.

Real-time immunoassay of antibody activity in serum by surface plasmon resonance biosensor

A surface plasmon resonance biosensor has been used to determine antibody activity in serum. As a model system, the interaction of mouse IgG and sheep anti-mouse IgG polyclonal antibody was investigated in real time. The factors, including pH value, ionic strength, protein concentration, influencing electrostatic adsorption of mouse IgG protein onto carboxylated dextran-coated sensor chip surface, were studied. The procedures of mouse IgG protein immobilization and immune reaction were monitored in real time. The regeneration effect using the different elution reagents was also investigated. The same mouse IgG immobilized surface can be used for 100 cycles of binding and elution with only 0.38% loss per regeneration in reactivity. The results show that the surface plasmon resonance biosensor is a rapid, simple, sensitive, accurate and reliable detection technique for real-time immunoassay of antibody activity. The assay allows antibodies to be detected and studied in their native form without any purification. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Enzymatic and kinetic properties of selenium-containing catalytic antibody with cGPX activity

Three selenium-containing catalytic antibodies mHB4, mHB5 and mHB7 which acted as mimics of cytosolic glutathione peroxidase(cGPX), were prepared by chemically introducing selenium into monoclonal antibodies HB4, HB5 and HB7. HB4. HB5 and HB7 were raised against a GSH derivative GSH-S-DNP dibenzyl ester, The cGPX activity of mHB4, mHB5, mHB7 were 170, 1 867, 32 U/mu mol, respectively. The cGPX activity of mHB5 was 0, 32 fold of natural rabbit liver cGPX and 1. 51 fold of m4A4. About two atoms of selenium existed in each of mHB5 molecule determined by inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), The optimal activity of mHB5 was at between pH 8. 4 and 8, 8, The reaction catalyzed by mHB5 involved a Ping-Pong mechanism. At pH 7. 0 and 37 degreesC, the apparent second-order rate constants for reaction of mHB5 with H2O2 and t-ROOH were as followed: k(+1) (H2O2) = 9. 71 x 10(6) L/(mol min), k(+1)(t-ROOH) = 5. 99 x 10(5) L/(mol.min). Rate accelerations (k(cat)/K-m/k(uncat)) 9. 8 x 10(6) and 3.7 x 10(5) fold those of the uncatalytic reaction were observed.