The Relationship between Cerebral Glucose Metabolism and Age: Report of a Large Brain PET Data Set

Cerebral glucose metabolism is a reliable index of neural activity and may provide evidence for brain function in healthy adults. We studied the correlation between cerebral glucose metabolism and age under the resting-state in both sexes with position emission tomography. Statistical test of age effect on cerebral glucose metabolism was performed using the statistical parametric mapping software with a voxel-by-voxel approach ( family wise error corrected, -voxel threshold). The subjects consisted of 108 females (mean S.D. = 4510 years) and 126 males (mean S.D. = 4911 years). We showed here that brain activity in the frontal and temporal lobes in both sexes decreased significantly with normal aging. The glucose metabolism in the caudate bilaterally showed a negative correlation with age in males, but not in females. Few regions in males were shown with an increased glucose metabolism with age. Although the mechanisms of brain aging are still unknown, a map of brain areas susceptible to age was described in this report.     

On the classification of Calligonum juochiangense and C. pumilum (Polygonaceae)

After observing specimens of Calligonum pumilum Losinsk. and C. juochiangense Y. X. Liou in both the field and in herbarium collections, it was found that the morphological characters of these two species are quite different, especially with respect of the twisted direction of fruit ribs, number of bristle rows along each rib, rigidity and degree of interweaving of bristles, as well as their geographic distribution. Therefore, it is concluded that C. pumilum and C. juochiangense should be accepted as two independent species.     

啮小蜂雌蜂接受寄主线索的探讨

啮小蜂Tetrastichussp.是一种群聚性的蛹内寄生蜂,主要寄生茶长卷叶蛾Homona magnanima的蛹,实验室中亦能寄生亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis的蛹。研究了速冻寄主蛹、视觉和嗅觉线索在啮小蜂寄主接受中的作用,实验结果表明,速冻寄主蛹对啮小蜂接受寄主的影响不大,啮小蜂雌蜂主要是通过嗅觉线索接受寄主的,而视觉在寄主接受过程中仅起辅助作用。     

植物绿原酸的研究动态

阐述了近些年来国内外关于植物绿原酸所做的研究工作.植物绿原酸的提取、纯化、鉴定和药理活性及其应用开发所取得成果.揭示了绿原酸具有潜在的、广阔的应用前景.     

亚热带人工湿地中配置植物与迁入植物与迁移动物多样性的季节变化

人工湿地是为了净化污水而建造的一类系统,其环境特征既不同于自然湿地,也不同于一般陆地生境。人工湿地的生物多样性是一个新问题。作者以杭州植物园作为案例研究了亚热带地区人工湿地植物多样性的季节变化。结果表明:秋末人工湿地的物种数为72种,其中自然迁入植物54种;冬春季的物种数为46种,其中自然迁入物种33种。在人工湿地中,人工配置的植物种类仍然是群落结构的主体,迁入植物大部分处于伴生地位。应该在人工配置植物的基础上保留一些有价值的自然迁入植物,使人工湿地具有较高的生物多样性,这样既能充分吸收水中的多种营养成分,又能美化环境。亚热带地区可以有冬春和夏秋两个植物功能群在人工湿地中连续生长,这可以充分利用时间生态位,提高人工湿地在冬季的净化效果,增强人工湿地净化能力的季节间稳定性。     

三七总RNA提取方法的对比研究

比较利用改进的异硫氰酸胍一步法、异硫氰酸胍高盐法、CTAB法和Thomas’RNA提取法等4种方法提取三七根茎2个部位总RNA的可行性。结果表明,改进的异硫氰酸胍一步法和异硫氰酸胍高盐法能有效地抑制酚类物质、多糖及皂苷等次级代谢产物对总RNA的影响,可从三七根茎中获得质量高、完整性好的总RNA。RT—PCR分析显示提取的总RNA具有反转录活性。这2种方法具有快速、简单、有效的特点。     

从米糠中提取降血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂

采用盐析法提取米糠蛋白,分别选用胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、木瓜蛋白酶等单独或联合水解米糠蛋白,以从酶解米糠蛋白中分离获得具有血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）抑制活性的短肽组分。经Sephadex G-15凝胶层析和SP—Sephadex C-25离子交换层析分离各酶解组分,并检测各组分的ACE抑制活性。结果表明,米糠蛋白的酶解分离产物中含有较强ACE抑制活性的组分,其中经胃蛋白酶和胰蛋白酶共同水解时得到的小分子量寡肽组分的抑制活性最强,为后续对其进行结构分析奠定了基础。     

Identification and Kinetic Characteristics of an Indigenous Diesel-degrading Gordonia alkanivorans Strain

Summary An indigenous strain Gordonia alkanivorans CC-JG39 was isolated from oil-contaminated sludge of a local gas station located in central Taiwan. The bacterial isolate was able to grow on diesel-containing Bushnell–Haas medium and also tolerate various chemical additives frequently used in petroleum products (e.g. BETX, methyl-tert-butyl ether, and naphthalene). Kinetics of diesel-limited cell growth and biodegradation of diesel followed a Monod-type model. The kinetic constants for cell growth (μ_max and K_S,G) were 0.158 h⁻¹ and 3196 mg/l, respectively, while those for biodegradation of diesel (v_{max, diesel} and K_S,D) were 3.59 mg/h/mg cell and 2874 mg/l, respectively. G. alkanivorans CC-JG39 produced extracellular surface-active material, leading to a low surface tension of nearly 33 mN/m. The CC-JG39 strain also possessed the ability to float towards the oil/water interface. These features might play some roles in enhancing the mass transfer efficiency between oil substrate and the bacterial cells. Therefore, G. alkanivorans CC-JG39 may have potential applications in bioremediation of oil pollution sites.