Knock down of gfp and no tail expression in zebrafish embryo by in vivo-transcribed short hairpin RNA with T7 plasmid system

A short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression system, based on T7 RNA polymerase (T7RP) directed transcription machinery, has been developed and used to generate a knock down effect in zebrafish embryos by targeting green fluorescent protein (gfp) and no tail (ntl) mRNA. The vector pCMVT7R harboring T7RP driven by CMV promoter was introduced into zebrafish embryos and the germline transmitted transgenic individuals were screened out for subsequent RNAi application. The shRNA transcription vectors pT7shRNA were constructed and validated by in vivo transcription assay. When pT7shGFP vector was injected into the transgenic embryos stably expressing T7RP, gfp relative expression level showed a decrease of 68% by analysis of fluorescence real time RT-PCR. As a control, injection of chemical synthesized siRNA resulted in expression level of 40% lower than the control when the injection dose was as high as 2 mu g/mu l. More importantly, injection of pT7shNTL vector in zebrafish embryos expressing T7RP led to partial absence of endogenous ntl transcripts in 30% of the injected embryos when detected by whole mount in situ hybridization. Herein, the T7 transcription system could be used to drive the expression of shRNA in zebrafish embryos and result in gene knock down effect, suggesting a potential role for its application in RNAi studies in zebrafish embryos.

Fish ES cells and applications to biotechnology

ES cells provide a promising tool for the generation of transgenic animals with site-directed mutations. When ES cells colonize germ cells in chimeras, transgenic animals with modified phenotypes are generated and used either for functional genomics studies or for improving productivity in commercial settings. Althought the ES cell approach has been limited to, mice, there is strong interest for developing the technology in fish.. We describe the step-by-step procedure for developing ES cells in fish. Key aspects include avoiding cell differentiation, specific in vitro traits of pluripotency, and, most importantly, testing for production of chimeric animals as the main evidence of pluripotency. The entire process focuses on two model species, zebrafish and medaka, in which most work has been done. The achievements attained in these species, as well as their applicability to other commercial fish, are discussed. Because of the difficulties relating to germ line competence, mostly of long-term fish ES cells, alternative cell-based approaches such as primordial germ cells and nuclear transfer need to be considered. Although progress to date has been slow, there are promising achievements in homologous recombination and alternative avenues yet to be explored that can bring ES technology in fish to fruition.

The co-evolutionary relationship between bitterling fishes and freshwater mussels: insights from interspecific comparisons

Hypothesis: In parasites that use hosts for offspring development, adults may base oviposition decisions on a range of host traits related either to host quality or the co-evolutionary relationship between parasite and host. We examined whether host quality or co-evolutionary dynamics drive the use of hosts in the bitterling-mussel relationship. Organisms: Six species of bitterling fish (Acheilognathinae) and eight species of freshwater mussels (Unionidae, Corbiculidae) that are used by bitterling for oviposition. Site of experiments: Experimental tanks in Wuhan, China, at the site of the natural distribution of the studied species. Methods: Three experiments that controlled for host accessibility and interspecific interactions were conducted to identify host preferences among bitterling fishes and their mussel hosts. We started with a broad interspecific comparison. We then tested bitterling behavioural choices, their temporal stability, and mussel host ejection behaviour of the eggs of generalist and specialist bitterling species. Finally, we measured host mussel quality based on respiration rate and used published studies on mussel gill structure to infer mussel suitability as hosts for bitterling eggs. Results: We found significant interspecific differences among bitterling species in their use of mussel hosts. Bitterling species varied in their level of host specificity and identity of preferred hosts. Host preferences were flexible even among apparently specialized species and fishes switched their preferences adaptively when the quality of individuals of preferred host species declined. Mussels varied considerably in their response to oviposition through egg ejections. Host preference by a generalist bitterling species correlated positively with host quality measured as the efficiency of the mussel gills to extract oxygen from inhaled water. Host ability to eject bitterling eggs correlated positively with their relative respiration rate, probably due to a higher velocity of water circulating in the mussel gill chamber.

Isolation and characterization of a rhabdovirus from co-infection of two viruses in mandarin fish

Co-infection of two viruses has been observed in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), but the two viruses have not been characterized. In this study, a rhabdovirus has been isolated from the co-infected two viruses extracted from the diseased mandarin fish, and its morphological structure and partial biochemical and biophysical characteristics have been observed and analyzed. The isolated rhabdovirus has a typical bullet shape, and is therefore called S. chttatsi rhabdovirus (SCRV). And, the isolated rhabdovirus produced a higher titer (10(8.5) TCID50 ml(-1)) than did the co-infecting viruses (10(6.5) TCID50 ml(-1)). Subsequently, the viral genome RNA was extracted, and used as template to clone the complete nucleoprotein (N) gene by RT-PCR amplification. Cloning and sequencing of the SCRV N protein revealed 42%-31% amino acid identities to that of trout rhabdovirus 903/87 and the rhabdoviruses in genus Vesiculovirus. SDS-PAGE separation of the isolated SCRV and other two rhabdoviruses also revealed obvious polypeptide profile difference. Moreover, the anti-SCRV N protein antibody was prepared, and the anti-SCRV N protein antibody only could recognize the SCRV N protein, whereas no antigenicity was detected in other two rhabdoviruses. The data suggested that the SCRV should be a rhabdovirus member related to the genus Vesiculovirus in the Rhabdoviridae. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Masonry response to tunnelling: a sensitivity study on the effect of cracking and building weight

Predicting damage to masonry structures due to tunnelling-induced ground movements remains a challenge for practising design engineers. Useful simplified procedures exist, but more detailed analysis has the potential to improve these procedures. This paper considers the use of finite element modelling, including non-linear constitutive laws for the soil and the structure, to simulate damage to a simple masonry structure subjected to tunnelling in sand. The numerical model is validated through comparison with the results of a series of centrifuge tests and used to perform a sensitivity study on the effect of building weight and masonry damage on the structural response. Results show a direct correlation between the weight of the structure, normalised to the relative stiffness between the structure and the soil, and the modification of the settlement profile. By including a cracking model for the masonry, the reduction in structural stiffness caused by progressive masonry damage is also proven to affect the building deflection.

Dopant compensation in HfO2 and other high K oxides

The theory of doping limits in semiconductors and insulators is applied to the case of wide gap oxides, crystalline, or amorphous, and used to explain that impurities do not in general give rise to gap states or a doping response. Instead, the system tends to form defect complexes or undergo symmetry-lowering reconstructions to expel gap states out of the band gap. The model is applied to impurities, such as trivalent metals, carbon, N, P, and B, in HfO2, the main gate dielectric used in field effect transistors. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Modelling of turbulent lifted jet flames using flamelets: A priori assessment and a posteriori validation

This study focuses on the modelling of turbulent lifted jet flames using flamelets and a presumed Probability Density Function (PDF) approach with interest in both flame lift-off height and flame brush structure. First, flamelet models used to capture contributions from premixed and non-premixed modes of the partially premixed combustion in the lifted jet flame are assessed using a Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) data for a turbulent lifted hydrogen jet flame. The joint PDFs of mixture fraction Z and progress variable c, including their statistical correlation, are obtained using a copula method, which is also validated using the DNS data. The statistically independent PDFs are found to be generally inadequate to represent the joint PDFs from the DNS data. The effects of Z-c correlation and the contribution from the non-premixed combustion mode on the flame lift-off height are studied systematically by including one effect at a time in the simulations used for a posteriori validation. A simple model including the effects of chemical kinetics and scalar dissipation rate is suggested and used for non-premixed combustion contributions. The results clearly show that both Z-c correlation and non-premixed combustion effects are required in the premixed flamelets approach to get good agreement with the measured flame lift-off heights as a function of jet velocity. The flame brush structure reported in earlier experimental studies is also captured reasonably well for various axial positions. It seems that flame stabilisation is influenced by both premixed and non-premixed combustion modes, and their mutual influences. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Towards soft self-reconfigurable robots

Modular self-reconfigurable robots have previously demonstrated that automatic control of their own body shapes enriches their behavioural functions. However, having predefined rigid modules technically limits real-world systems from being hyper-redundant and compliant. Encouraged by recent progress using elastically deformable material for robots, we propose the concept of soft self-reconfigurable robots which may become hyper-flexible during interaction with the environment. As the first attempt towards this goal, the paper proposes a novel approach using viscoelastic material Hot-Melt Adhesives (HMAs): for physical connection and disconnection control between bodies that are not necessarily predefined rigid modules. We present a model that characterizes the temperature dependency of the strength of HMA bonds, which is then validated and used in a feedback controller for automatic connection and disconnection. Using a minimalistic robot platform that is equipped with two devices handling HMAs, the performance of this method is evaluated in a pick-and-place experiment with aluminium and wooden parts. © 2012 IEEE.

cDNA cloning and characterization of a novel SNX gene differentially expressed in previtellogenic oocytes of gibel carp

To understand the molecular events governing fish oogenesis, a multiple technique was used to identify the genes differentially expressed at different phases during fish oogenesis. This technique is a combination of suppression subtractive hybridization, SMART cDNA synthesis and RACE-PCR. Here we report the cDNA cloning and expression characterization of a novel SNX gene based on its differential transcription between previtellogenic and fully mature oocytes in naturally gynogenetic gibel carp. First, a cDNA fragment selectively expressed in previtellogenic oocytes was identified and used to screen a SMART cDNA library prepared from the same mRNA sample by RACE-PCR for cloning fully length cDNA. The full length cDNA was 1392-bp long and coded for a novel SNX protein with 225 amino acids. The 5' UTR had 72 bp and 3' UTR had 642 bp. Unlike most of maternal genes that are transcribed after vitellogenesis and stored in oocytes, this gene is expressed at a higher level in the previtellogenic oocytes and at a much lower level in fully matured oocytes. However, RT-PCR analysis of tissues showed it was ubiquitous transcription. The novel gene is named fish sorting nexin (fSNX), because it contains a conserved PX domain. The fact which major expression of the gene occurs in the previtellogenic oocytes suggests that it might have an important function in the oogenesis. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Molecular systematics of Xenocyprinae (Teleostei : Cyprinidae): Taxonomy, biogeography, and coevolution of a special group restricted in east Asia

We surveyed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation in the subfamily Xenocyprinae from China and used these data to estimate intraspecific, interspecific, and intergeneric phylogeny and assess biogeographic scenarios underlying the geographic structure of lineages. We sequenced 1140 bp of cytochrome b from 30 individuals of Xenocyprinae and one putative outgroup (Myxocypris asiaticus) and also sequenced 297 bp of ND4L, 1380 bp of ND4, 68 bp of tRNA(His), and 69 bp of tRNA(Ser) from 17 individuals of Xenocyprinae and the outgroup (M. asiaticus). We detected high levels of nucleotide variation among populations, species, and genera. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that Distoechodon hupeinensis might be transferred to the genus Xenocypris, the taxonomic status of the genus Plagiognathops might be preserved, and species of Xenocypris and Plagiognathops form a monophyletic group that is sister to the genus Distoechodon and Pseudobrama. The introgressive hybridization might occur among the populations of X. argentea and X. davidi, causing the two species to not be separated by mtDNA patterns according to their species identification, and the process and direction of hybridization are discussed. The spatial distributions of mtDNA lineages among populations of Xenocypris were compatible with the major geographic region, which indicated that the relationship between Hubei + Hunan and Fujian is closer than that between Hubei + Hunan and Sichuan, From a perspective of parasite investigation, our data suggested that the fauna of Hexamita in Xenocyprinae could be used to infer the phylogeny of their hosts. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SILICA-SCALED CHRYSOPHYTES IN ZHEJIANG, JIANGSU, HUBEI, YUNNAN AND SHANDONG PROVINCES, CHINA

Fifty-one phytoplankton samples were collected from different ecological environments in five provinces located in the central, eastern and southwestern parts of China. 41 taxa of silica-scaled chrysophytes, 8 of them belonging to the Chrysophyceae and 33 to the Synurophyceae, have been identified by means of electron microscopy. Among them, Mallomonas parvula, M. calceolus, M. cyathellata (?), M. costata, M. crassisquama, and Synura echinulata are new to China. The silica-scaled chrysophyte flora and its geographical distribution in this region are analysed and discussed.

Dynamics of quantum dissipation systems interacting with fermion and boson grand canonical bath ensembles: Hierarchical equations of motion approach

A hierarchical equations of motion formalism for a quantum dissipation system in a grand canonical bath ensemble surrounding is constructed on the basis of the calculus-on-path-integral algorithm, together with the parametrization of arbitrary non-Markovian bath that satisfies fluctuation-dissipation theorem. The influence functionals for both the fermion or boson bath interaction are found to be of the same path integral expression as the canonical bath, assuming they all satisfy the Gaussian statistics. However, the equation of motion formalism is different due to the fluctuation-dissipation theories that are distinct and used explicitly. The implications of the present work to quantum transport through molecular wires and electron transfer in complex molecular systems are discussed. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Harmonic Millimeter Wave Generation and Frequency Up-Conversion Using Optical Injection Locking and Brillouin Selective Sideband Amplification

Harmonic millimeter wave (mm-wave) generation and frequency up-conversion are experimentally demonstrated using optical injection locking and Brillouin selective sideband amplification (BSSA) induced by stimulated Brillouin scattering in a 10-km single-mode fiber. By using this method, we successfully generate third-harmonic mm-wave at 27 GHz (f(LO) - 9 GHz) with single sideband (SSB) modulation and up-convert the 2GHz intermediate frequency signal into the mm-wave band with single mode modulation of the SSB modes. In addition, the mm-wave carrier obtains more than 23 dB power gain due to the BSSA. The transmission experiments show that the generated mm-wave and up-converted signals indicate strong immunity against the chromatic dispersion of the fibers.

A transition layer model and its application to resonant tunneling in heterostructures

A transition layer model is proposed and used to calculate resonant tunneling in a double-barrier quantum well system. Compared with the ideal step of the potential at the interface, the studied system has transition layers that are composed by many thin rectangular barriers with a random height. It is found that these transition layers can improve the peak-to-valley ratio of the tunneling current and change the negative differential conductance.

西藏胡黄连和鸡矢藤的化学成分及黄芪多糖的提取工艺研究

本论文由四部分组成，前三部分为实验论文，第四部分为文献综述。第一、二部分分别报道了中药西藏胡黄连和鸡矢藤的化学成分研究结果。从两种药用植物中共分离和鉴定了32个化学成分，其中3个为新化合物。第三部分为黄芪多糖的提取工艺研究。第四部分概述了近年来植物多糖的研究进展。 第一章为西藏胡黄连化学成分研究。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离方法从药用植物西藏胡黄连（Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell）的根茎中共分离纯化出7个化合物。运用MS、1H-NMR、13C-NMR、DEPT、HSQC和HMBC等现代谱学方法，结合理化分析对这些化合物的结构进行了分析鉴定。7个化合物中有两个是酚性的葡萄糖苷类成分：西藏胡黄连酚苷D (1)、4-O-β-D-(6-O-vanilloyl glucopyranosyl) vanillic acid (6)；四个苯乙基苷类化合物：plantamajoside (2)、plantainoside D (3)、西藏胡黄连苷A (4) 和西藏胡黄连苷F (5)；一个苯基小分子化合物：香豆酸甲酯 (7)。其中化合物1和5未见文献报道，确定为新化合物；化合物3为首次从该种植物中分到。 第二章为鸡矢藤化学成分研究。从鸡矢藤（Paederia scandense (Lour) Merrill）全草中分离出25个化合物，通过理化常数和波谱数据鉴定了它们的结构。25个化合物中包括一个蒽醌类成分：茜根定-1-甲醚 (1)；两个香豆素：异东莨菪香豆素 (2)和5-羟基-8-甲氧基吡喃香豆素 (3)；两个香豆素-木脂素化合物：臭矢菜素 B (4)和臭矢菜素 D (5)；一个木脂素：异落叶松树脂醇 (6)；两个黄酮：diadzein (7)和蒙花苷 (8)；三个三萜类化合物：齐墩果酸 (9)、乌苏酸 (10)和 3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基乌苏烷 (11)；三个甾体及其糖苷：b-谷甾醇 (12)、胡萝卜苷 (13)和(24R)-豆甾-4-烯-3-酮 (14)；六个小分子化合物：对羟基苯甲酸 (15)，咖啡酸 (16)，香豆酸 (17)，丁烯二酸 (18)，3,5-二甲氧基-4-羟基苯甲酸(19)，咖啡酸-4-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(20)；五个环烯醚萜类化合物：鸡矢藤苷 (21)，鸡矢藤酸 (22)，鸡矢藤酸甲酯 (23)，saprosmoside E (24)和paederoside B (25)。其中化合物25未见文献报道，为新化合物。化合物1～8、11、14、15～20为首次从该化合物中分离得到。同时对鸡矢藤中环烯醚萜类化合物做了高效液相-串联质谱(HPLC-MSn)分析，探讨了这类化合物的质谱裂解规律。 第三章为黄芪多糖的提取工艺研究。首先确定了黄芪多糖含量的测定方法，并进行了方法学验证；其次探讨了黄芪中黄芪多糖的提取工艺，确定以酶法-Sevag法联用来去除黄芪多糖中的蛋白质，可使其提取物中黄芪多糖总含量达到70％以上。 第四章为近年来植物多糖的研究进展。主要包括植物多糖的提取纯化、多糖的定性定量检测方法、多糖的结构分析和多糖的药理活性。 This dissertation consists of four parts. The first and second parts reports the studies on the chemical constituents of medicinal plants of Picrorhiza Scrophulariiflora and Paederia scandens. The third part is about the extract technique of Astragalan Polysaccharide (APS). The last part reviews the progress of the studies on plant polysaccharides. 　 The first chapter is about the chemical constituents of P. Scrophulariiflora which is widely used as an important medicine to treat various immune-related diseases. A new phenyl glycoside, scrophenoside D (1) and a new phenylethyl glycoside, scroside F (5), together with five known compounds, plantamajoside (2), plantainoside D (3), scroside A (4), 4-O-β-D-(6-O-vanilloylglucopyranosyl) vanillic acid (6); and methyl-p-coumarate (7) were isolated from the stems of P. scrophulariiflora. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The second chapter is about the chemical constituents of medicinal herb of P. scandens. Twenty-five compounds were isolated and purified by normal and reversed phase silica gel column chromatography. By physicochemical properties and spectral analysis, their structures were identified as rubiadin-1-methylether (1), isoscopoletin (2), 5-hydroxyl-8-methoxyl-coumarin (3), cleomiscosin B (4), cleomiscosin D (5), isolariciresinol (6), diadzein (7), linarin (8), oleanolic acid (9), ursolic acid (10), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyl-ursane (11), b-sitosterol (12), b-daucosterol (13), (24R)-stigmast-4-ene-3-one (14), p-hydroxyl-benzoic acid (15), caffic acid (16), coumaric acid (17), trans-butenedioic acid (18), 3,5-dimethoxyl-4-hydroxylbenzoic acid (19), caffeic acid 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (20), paederoside (21), paederosidic acid (22), paederosidic acid methyl ester (23), saprosmoside E (24), paederoside B (25). Among them, compound 25 is a new compound. Compounds 1～8、11、14、15～20 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Futhermore, we studied the HPLC-MSn analysis and investigation of fragmentation behavior of the sulfur-containing iridoid glucosides. The third chapter is about the extracting process of Astragalan Polysaccharide (APS). The method of the content determination is built. The optimum condition of extraction of polysaccharides from Radix Astragali is defined and the more effective way to remove protein is combined enzyme method with Sevag method, by which the content of polysaccharides extract can be up to 70%. The last part is a review of the research progress of the plant polysaccharides, which includes its extraction, isolation, purification, determination, structure analysis, and pharmacology.