2,2′,4,4′,5‐Pentabromodiphenyl ether induces lipid accumulation throughout differentiation in 3T3‐L1 and human preadipocytes in vitro

Flame retardants, specifically polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are chemical compounds widely used for industrial purposes and household materials. NHANES data indicate that nearly all Americans have trace amounts of PBDEs in serum, with even higher levels associated with occupational exposure. PBDEs are known to bioaccumulate in the environment due to their lipophilicity and stability, and more importantly, they have been detected in human adipose tissue. The present study examined whether the PBDE congener, BDE‐99 (2,2′,4,4′,5‐pentabromodiphenyl ether; 0.2‐20 μM), enhances the adipogenesis of mouse and human preadipocyte cell models in vitro via induced lipid accumulation. 3T3‐L1 mouse preadipocytes and human visceral preadipocytes demonstrated enhanced hormone‐induced lipid accumulation upon BDE‐99 treatment. In addition, BDE‐99 (20 μM) induced preadipocyte differentiation and lipid development in nondifferentiated human preadipocytes. BDE‐99, the second most abundant congener in human adipose tissue, increased total lipids in differentiating adipocytes and therefore showed a potential role in the regulation of adipogenesis. This warrants more research to further understand the impact of lipophilic persistent pollutants on adipose tissue homeostasis.     

Developmental trap or demographic bonanza? Opposing consequences of earlier phenology in a changing climate for a multivoltine butterfly

A rapidly changing climate has the potential to interfere with the timing of environmental cues that ectothermic organisms rely on to initiate and regulate life history events. Short‐lived ectotherms that exhibit plasticity in their life history could increase the number of generations per year under warming climate. If many individuals successfully complete an additional generation, the population experiences an additional opportunity to grow, and a warming climate could lead to a demographic bonanza. However, these plastic responses could become maladaptive in temperate regions, where a warmer climate could trigger a developmental pathway that cannot be completed within the growing season, referred to as a developmental trap. Here we incorporated detailed demography into commonly used photothermal models to evaluate these demographic consequences of phenological shifts due to a warming climate on the formerly widespread, multivoltine butterfly (Pieris oleracea). Using species‐specific temperature‐ and photoperiod‐sensitive vital rates, we estimated the number of generations per year and population growth rate over the set of climate conditions experienced during the past 38 years. We predicted that populations in the southern portion of its range have added a fourth generation in recent years, resulting in higher annual population growth rates (demographic bonanzas). We predicted that populations in the Northeast United States have experienced developmental traps, where increases in the thermal window initially caused mortality of the final generation and reduced growth rates. These populations may recover if more growing degree days are added to the year. Our framework for incorporating detailed demography into commonly used photothermal models demonstrates the importance of using both demography and phenology to predict consequences of phenological shifts.     

Novel pure Ca2ZnMoO6 composition with white‐light luminescence

Phosphors with composition Ca₂ZnMoO₆ were synthesized at temperatures of 800–1200°C using the solid‐state method. Analysis of X‐ray diffraction patterns of the Ca₂ZnMoO₆ powders did not reveal a double perovskite structure. When the synthesis temperature was equal to or higher than 800°C, the synthesized Ca₂ZnMoO₆ powders revealed a tetragonal structure (CaMoO₄) rather than an orthorhombic structure (Ca₂ZnMoO₆) and the cubic structure (Sr₂ZnMoO₆) of a double perovskite. The ZnO phase was still observed at a synthesis temperature of 1200°C. The compositions of synthesized Ca₂ZnMoO₆ powders differed from the prepared powder, and the Ca₂ZnMoO₆ phosphors exhibited some important novel features. First, synthesized Ca₂ZnMoO₆ compositions could emit light as a phosphor no activators, called Ca₂ZnMoO₆ phosphors. Effect of synthesis temperature on luminescence properties of these Ca₂ZnMoO₆ phosphors was readily observed, and some important novel features and properties were noted. Second, the phosphors presented only one broad characteristic emission peak in the visible light region. Third, measurement of the chromaticity diagram of the Ca₂ZnMoO₆ phosphors revealed a white‐light source. Through analysis, we determined why the synthesized Ca₂ZnMoO₆ phosphors had just one broad characteristic emission peak.     

Genetic risk for Alzheimer disease in children: Evidence from early‐life IQ and brain white‐matter microstructure

It remains unclear whether the genetic risk for late‐onset Alzheimer disease (AD) is linked to premorbid individual differences in general cognitive ability and brain structure. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the genetic risk of late‐onset AD is related to premorbid individual differences in intelligence quotient (IQ) and characteristics of the cerebral white‐matter in children. The study sample included children of the Generation R Study from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. IQ was measured using a well‐validated Dutch nonverbal IQ test (n = 1908) at ages 5 to 9 years. White‐matter microstructure was assessed by measuring fractional anisotropy (FA) of white‐matter tracts using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) (n = 919) at ages 9 to 12 years. Genetic risk was quantified using three biologically defined genetic risk scores (GRSs) hypothesized to be related to the pathophysiology of late‐onset AD: immune response, cholesterol/lipid metabolism and endocytosis. Higher genetic risk for late‐onset AD that included genes associated with immune responsivity had a negative influence on cognition and cerebral white‐matter microstructure. For each unit increase in the immune response GRS, IQ decreased by 0.259 SD (95% CI [?0.500, ?0.017]). For each unit increase in the immune response GRS, global FA decreased by 0.373 SD (95% CI [?0.721, ?0.026]). Neither cholesterol/lipid metabolism nor endocytosis GRSs were associated with IQ or cerebral white‐matter microstructure. Our findings suggest that elevated genetic risk for late‐onset AD may in part be manifest during childhood neurodevelopment through alterations in immune responsivity.     

慢病毒载体系统介导hUC—MSC绿色荧光蛋白和荧光素酶共表达技术体系的建立

目的建立慢病毒载体系统介导的人脐带间充质干细胞（hUC-MSC）绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）和荧光素酶共表达技术体系。方法 GFP和荧光素酶共表达慢病毒载体与相应包装质粒psPAX2和pMD2.G经聚乙烯亚胺介导共转染HEK293T细胞以包装病毒;病毒感染P4代hUC-MSC 12 h后,再行嘌呤霉素筛选24 h,普通光学显微镜观察细胞形态,荧光显微镜下观察GFP的表达情况,IVIS Kinetic成像系统拍照以观察和记录慢病毒感染后hUC-MSC荧光素酶的表达情况;MTS法行细胞生长曲线作图,同时,普通和实时定量RTPCR法检测细胞周期调控相关蛋白Cyclin D1、Cyclin E1和p21WAF1/CIP1的表达。采用方差分析和t检验进行统计学分析。结果慢病毒感染并不会造成体外培养hUC-MSC形态的明显改变,而荧光显微镜和IVIS Kinetic成像系统的观察结果则分别证实,GFP和荧光素酶经慢病毒载体系统的介导可在hUC-MSC中成功地共表达。此外,细胞生长曲线作图结果表明,对照和GFP及荧光素酶共表达慢病毒感染后hUC-MSC的生长增殖速率相仿（P〉0.01）;实时定量RT-PCR法检测结果则显示,与对照慢病毒感染相比,GFP和荧光素酶共表达慢病毒感染后其细胞周期调控相关蛋白Cyclin D1、Cyclin E1和p21WAF1/CIP1mRNA表达水平分别是对照组的1.11倍（P=0.130）、0.54倍（P=0.000）和0.78倍（P=0.005）,表明外源GFP和荧光素酶共表达对体外培养的hUC-MSC生长增殖等表型无显著影响。结论慢病毒载体系统可有效介导外源基因在hUC-MSC中的表达;同时,GFP和荧光素酶在hUC-MSC中的共表达也将极大地方便其体内转归的示踪。     

Crystallization and Physical Characterization of Porcine Myoglobin

Porcine myoglobin was isolated by fractionation with ammonium sulfate and crystallized with 3.8 M phosphate buffer.

Chromatography of the porcine crystalline myoglobin on a molecular-sieve column gave a single elution band, which agreed well with that of horse myoglobin.

By ultracentrifugal analysis, the sedimentation constant (s_20,w), was found to be 1.96 S.

The iron content of the myoglobin was 0.324%. This value corresponds to the minimal molecular weight of 17,200.

Absorption curves and millimolar extinction coefficients of the porcine myoglobin in several derivatives, namely, reduced (RMb), met (MMb), carboxy (MbCO) and cyanment (MMbCN) forms were examined in the visible region. The spectral characteristics of the porcine myoglobin derivatives were in good agreement with those of horse myoglobin,

Three components were detected for the porcine myoglobin by starch gel electrophoresis, and each of them had higher migration velocity than those of horse myoglobin.     

Melatonin Does Not Modulate Testicular Responsiveness to Altered Photoperiods. A Study During Different Phases of the Annual Gonadal Cycle in Roseringed Parakeets (Psittacula krameri)

The roseringed parakeet has been shown to exhibit a variable testicular responsiveness to both altered photoperiodic regimens and to treatment with melatonin during different phases of the annual gonadal cycle. Adult male roseringed parakeets were held under either natural photoperiods (NP), or long photoperiods (LP; 16L 8D), or short photoperiods (SP; 8L 16D) for a total period of 90 days. From day 46 onward, half of the total birds in each group were administered with the vehicle of melatonin, and the other birds were injected daily in the afternoon with melatonin (25 µg/ 100 g body wt.) till the end of the experiment. An identical experimental schedule was followed during the four different (preparatory, progressive, pre-breeding, and breeding) phases of the annual testicular cycle. The testicular activities in various bird groups were evaluated by volumetric, gravimetric, histometric and karyometric measurements, and by quantitative histological studies. The findings revealed that exogenous melatonin may exert either a suppressive influence or none at all on the testicular functions in relation to the photoperiodic schedule as well as to the reproductive phase of the concerned bird, but in no case modulates gonadal responsiveness to artificially altered photoperiods.     

高羊茅FaChit1基因启动子的功能分析

用含有不同长度FaChitl基因启动子区域与GUS基因融合构建植物表达载体pFaChitlP—I、pFaChitlP-Ⅱ以及pFaChitlP-Ⅲ并分别对烟草进行转化,经真菌激发子、干旱、机械损伤以及乙烯等多种胁迫处理后测定GUS活性。启动子缺失分析实验结果显示,真菌激发子对FaChitl基因启动子所介导的GUS诱导表达效果最强,而机械损伤只能微弱地诱导GL靥基因表达;FaChitl基因启动子-651bp以内的序列均能介导GUS基因的诱导表达,同时-935bp与-233bp之间的区域是该启动子响应真菌激发子、乙烯以及机械损伤胁迫所必需的。表明FaChitl启动子是一个多胁迫诱导型启动子。     

肺炎球菌1型荚膜多糖多克隆抗体制备与夹心ELISA法建立及其在多糖浓度测定中的应用

目的：利用肺炎球菌1型全菌体制备多克隆抗体,并且利用该抗体建立肺炎1型荚膜多糖夹心酶联免疫吸附分析法（ Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ,ELISA）,用于检测发酵和纯化过程中的多糖浓度。方法用灭活的1型肺炎链球菌免疫家兔6周,获得高滴度的抗多糖血清,经过亲和层析纯化,获得高纯度的兔抗肺炎1型多糖抗体IgG。以纯化IgG作为包被抗体,加入多糖样品,再以生物素化的抗体作为检测抗体,建立夹心ELISA法检测肺炎1型多糖浓度。确定标准曲线的最佳线性范围,并对该方法进行特异性、准确性和精密度验证。结果兔免疫血清经过双向免疫扩散检测抗体滴度可达1∶32;该方法的线性检测范围为1．56～50 ng/mL;最低检测限为3．13 ng/mL。在标准品中混入其他型别多糖或培养基,回收率分别为102％和108％;该方法批内精密度和批间精密度分别为6．08％和7．01％。结论建立的夹心ELISA方法,其特异性、准确性和精密度均良好,可以特异地检测肺炎球菌1型多糖浓度。