中药穿龙薯蓣、黄山药和盾叶薯蓣的分子鉴别研究

为建立对中药穿龙薯蓣、黄山药和盾叶薯蓣分子鉴别的方法，我们首先研究薯蓣叶绿体psbA-trnH片段遗传多样性，探讨该片段用于中药穿龙薯蓣、黄山药和盾叶薯蓣种间分子鉴别和系统学研究中的意义。在对不同类群薯蓣种的叶绿体psbA-trnH基因间区进行ＰＣＲ扩增并测序，获得了该区间的完整序列的基础上，将所得序列用软件MEGA3.0进行相关分析。穿龙薯蓣的psbA-trnH片段全长274bp，黄山药全长279bp，盾叶薯蓣植物个体内的叶绿体DNA则有两种psbA-trnH片段，长度分别为241bp和503bp。MEGA3.0软件分析，三种薯蓣种间psbA-trnH片段序列的遗传距离（p-distance）为0.00350-0.04545，各个薯蓣种内的不同类群该序列无差异。用UPGMA法根据psbA-trnH序列的遗传距离建立系统发生树，每个种不同产地的薯蓣很明确地聚在一起，和形态分类一致。所得结果显示psbA-trnH片段序列在所研究的三种薯蓣种内保守，在种间具有明显的较大差异，而三种薯蓣及薯蓣属的系统发生关系尚须进一步研究。 以穿龙薯蓣、黄山药和盾叶薯蓣的psbA-trnH片段序列分析结果为基础，我们根据三种薯蓣在该片段上的特征序列位点设计了用于识别三种薯蓣的寡核苷酸片段并作为PCR反应的引物，将三种薯蓣的特征标记引物与psbA-trnH片段引物配合使用建立了相互识别三种薯蓣的显性和共显性两种检测方式，辅以NaOH碱法快速提取薯蓣干燥根茎总DNA，为三种薯蓣药材相互间快速准确鉴别创造了条件。 To establish molecular method for identifying Chinese medicine Dioscorea nipponica/panthaica/zingiberensis, we firstly study the Genetic diversity of psbA-trnH of Dioscorea and discuss the value of the fragment to molecular identity and systematology to three Dioscorea species (Dioscorea nipponica/panthaica/zingiberensis). The psbA-trnH fragments of different species of Dioscorea are amplified and sequenced，analyzing by software MEGA3.0. The length of Dioscorea nipponica and panthaica are 274bp and 279bp; two psbA-trnH fragments exist in Dioscorea zingiberensis individual, length of the shorter fragment is 241bp and the longer is 503bp. The interspecific Genetic distance (p-distance) of the three species is 0.00350-0.04545, and no intraspecific diversity exists. According to the Genetic distance, phylogenetic tree is built by UPGMA Method, each species of different place gather obviously, which is same to the shape classification. Results show that the psbA-trnH fragment is highly conservative at intraspecific level and obvious diversity at interspecific level, however, phylogenetic study is necessary for the Dioscorea in the future. Based on analysis to psbA-trnH fragment of Dioscorea panthaica, nipponica and zingiberensis, according to the special point of the three Yam species, primers as marker are designed for distinguishing the three species. Cooperating with primer pair psbAf-trnHr, dominant and codominant way is established for discriminating them. Moreover, assisted with NaOH method to extract total DNA of Dry stenophora of Yam, rapid and correct identity to the three species can be done.

Influence of smectite suspension structure on sheet orientation in dry sediments : XRD and AFM applications

The structure-building phenomena within clay aggregates are governed by forces acting between clay particles. Measurements of such forces are important to understand in order to manipulate the aggregate structure for applications such as dewatering of mineral processing tailings. A parallel particle orientation is required when conducting XRD investigation on the oriented samples and conduct force measurements acting between basal planes of clay mineral platelets using at. force microscopy (AFM). To investigate how smectite clay platelets were oriented on silicon wafer substrate when dried from suspension range of methods like SEM, XRD and AFM were employed. From these investigations, we conclude that high clay concns. and larger particle diams. (up to 5 μm) in suspension result in random orientation of platelets in the substrate. The best possible laminar orientation in the clay dry film, represented in the XRD 0 0 1/0 2 0 intensity ratio of 47 was obtained by drying thin layers from 0.02 wt.% clay suspensions of the natural pH. Conducted AFM investigations show that smectite studied in water based electrolytes show very long-range repulsive forces lower in strength than electrostatic forces from double-layer repulsion. It was suggested that these forces may have structural nature. Smectite surface layers rehydrate in water environment forms surface gel with spongy and cellular texture which cushion approaching AFM probe. This structural effect can be measured in distances larger than 1000 nm from substrate surface and when probe penetrate this gel layer, structural linkages are forming between substrate and clay covered probe. These linkages prevent subsequently smooth detachments of AFM probe on way back when retrieval. This effect of tearing new formed structure apart involves larger adhesion-like forces measured in retrieval. It is also suggested that these effect may be enhanced by the nano-clay particles interaction.

Predicting dry eye using non-invasive techniques of tear film surface assessment

PURPOSE. To measure tear film surface quality in healthy and dry eye subjects using three noninvasive techniques of tear film quality assessment and to establish the ability of these noninvasive techniques to predict dry eye. METHODS. Thirty four subjects participated in the study, and were classified as dry eye or normal, based on standard clinical assessments. Three non-invasive techniques were applied for measurement of tear film surface quality: dynamic-area high-speed videokeratoscopy (HSV), wavefront sensing (DWS) and lateral shearing interferometry (LSI). The measurements were performed in both natural blinking conditions (NBC) and in suppressed blinking conditions (SBC). RESULTS. In order to investigate the capability of each method to discriminate dry eye subjects from normal subjects, the receiver operating curve (ROC) was calculated and then the area under the curve (AUC) was extracted. The best result was obtained for the LSI technique (AUC=0.80 in SBC and AUC=0.73 in NBC), which was followed by HSV (AUC=0.72 in SBC and AUC=0.71 in NBC). The best result for DWS was AUC=0.64 obtained for changes in vertical coma in suppressed blinking conditions, while for normal blinking conditions the results were poorer. CONCLUSIONS. Non-invasive techniques of tear film surface assessment can be used for predicting dry eye and this can be achieved in natural blinking as well as suppressed blinking conditions. In this study, LSI showed the best detection performance, closely followed by the dynamic-area HSV. The wavefront sensing technique was less powerful, particularly in natural blinking conditions.

Effects of dry density and grain size distribution on soil-water characteristic curves of sandy soils

The unsaturated soil mechanics is receiving increasing attention from researchers and as well as from practicing engineers. However, the requirement of sophisticated devices to measure unsaturated soil properties and time consumption have made the geotechnical engineers keep away from implication of the unsaturated soil mechanics for solving practical geotechnical problems. The application of the conventional laboratory devices with some modifications to measure unsaturated soil properties can promote the application of unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice. Therefore, in the present study, a conventional direct shear device was modified to measure unsaturated shear strength parameters at low suction. Specially, for the analysis of rain-induced slope failures, it is important to measure unsaturated shear strength parameters at low suction where slopes become unstable. The modified device was used to measure unsaturated shear strength of two silty soils at low suction values (0 ~ 50 kPa) that were achieved by following drying path and wetting path of soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) of soils. The results revealed that the internal friction angle of soil was not significantly affected by the suction and as well as the drying-wetting SWCCs of soils. The apparent cohesion of soil increased with a decreasing rate as the suction increased. Further, the apparent cohesion obtained from soil in wetting was greater than that obtained from soil in drying. Shear stress-shear displacement curves obtained from soil specimens subjected to the same net normal stress and different suction values showed a higher initial stiffness and a greater peak stress as the suction increased. In addition, it was observed that soil became more dilative with the increase of suction. A soil in wetting exhibited slightly higher peak shear stress and more contractive volume change behaviour than that of in drying at the same net normal stress and the suction.

A Survey of Viruses Affecting Dry Bean and Cowpea in Lebanon

A survey was conducted to identify viruses affecting dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in Lebanon. Three hundred and thirty four samples exhibiting virus-like symptoms were collected from 13 different locations during the fall growing season of 1984. Samples were stored at 20 deg C until they were tested by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (B1CMV), bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). In preliminary tests, the extraction buffer 0.1M phosphate + O.1MEDTA, pH 7.4 was found to be far better than the standard extraction buffer and, accordingly, was used for virus extraction for all field samples. Results obtained indicated that around 50% of the bean samples tested were infected with B1CMV. Incidence of BCMV, BYMV and CMV in the samples tested were 4,4 and 1.7%, respectively. B1CMV was detected in 10 locations, whereas, BYMV, BCMV and CMV were found in 1,4 and 4 locations, respectively. Mixed infections such as BCMV, BICMV, BCMV+CMV, BYMV+CMV and BICMV+BCMV+CMV were detected. In 35% of the samples assayed, the causal virus was not identified

Effects of magnesium stearate on the efficient dispersion of salbutamol sulphate from carrier-based dry powder inhaler formulations

Dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations is one of the most useful aerosol preparations in which drugs may be formulated as carrier-based interactive mixtures with micronised drug particles (<5 μm) adhered onto the surface of large inert carriers (lactose powders). The addition of magnesium stearate (MgSt) (1-3), was found to increase dispersion of various drugs from DPI formulations. Recently, some active compounds coated with 5% (wt/wt) MgSt using the mechanofusion method showed significant improvements in aerosolization behavior due to the reduction in intrinsic cohesion force (4). Application of MgSt in powder formulations is not new; however, no studies demonstrated the minimum threshold level for this excipient in efficient aerosolization of drug powders from the interactive mixtures. Therefore, this study investigated the role of MgSt concentration on the efficient dispersion of salbutamol sulphate (SS) from DPI formulations.

Identifying differences in wet and dry road crashes using data mining

It is commonly accepted that wet roads have higher risk of crash than dry roads; however, providing evidence to support this assumption presents some difficulty. This paper presents a data mining case study in which predictive data mining is applied to model the skid resistance and crash relationship to search for discernable differences in the probability of wet and dry road segments having crashes based on skid resistance. The models identify an increased probability of wet road segments having crashes for mid-range skid resistance values.

Diagnosing dry eye with dynamic-area high-speed videokeratoscopy

Dry eye syndrome is one of the most commonly reported eye health conditions. Dynamic-area highspeed videokeratoscopy (DA-HSV) represents a promising alternative to the most invasive clinical methods for the assessment of the tear film surface quality (TFSQ), particularly as Placido-disk videokeratoscopy is both relatively inexpensive and widely used for corneal topography assessment. Hence, improving this technique to diagnose dry eye is of clinical significance and the aim of this work. First, a novel ray-tracing model is proposed that simulates the formation of a Placido image. This model shows the relationship between tear film topography changes and the obtained Placido image and serves as a benchmark for the assessment of indicators of the ring’s regularity. Further, a novel block-feature TFSQ indicator is proposed for detecting dry eye from a series of DA-HSV measurements. The results of the new indicator evaluated on data from a retrospective clinical study, which contains 22 normal and 12 dry eyes, have shown a substantial improvement of the proposed technique to discriminate dry eye from normal tear film subjects. The best discrimination was obtained under suppressed blinking conditions. In conclusion,this work highlights the potential of the DA-HSV as a clinical tool to diagnose dry eye syndrome.