Multiple subunits in human ferritins: Evidence for hybrid molecules

The subunit composition of human heart and liver ferritins was examined by both sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and acetic acidurea gel electrophoresis. These analyses indicated that both tissues contained two subunit types of similar size but different surface charge. One subunit was common to both tissues. The implications of these findings in relation to the known heterogeneity of isoferritins are discussed, and a new model of ferritin structure is proposed.     

Incidence of thyroid diseases in Zhejiang Province,China, after 15 years of salt iodization

Thyroid diseases(TD) can be induced by either deficient or excessive iodine intake. Universal Salt Iodization(USI) program has been implemented in China since 1995, to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). To evaluate the current conditions of TD and the role of USI, a multi-stage stratified random sampling scheme was used to perform a cross-sectional survey on the incidence of TD among participants in 6600 households in Zhejiang Province, a coastal area in China. Iodine nutrition status of the population was assessed by dietary iodine intake recall and urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of the participants, and TD were diagnosed by thyroid ultrasonography for 15122 participants and for 5873 participants by serum criteria for thyroid function(fT3, fT4, TSH, TRAb, TgAb, TPOAb; see Introduction for abbreviations). The median UIC of the surveyed population was 163 μg iodine/L. From the participants 23.2% had UIC < 100 μg/L which is moderately iodine-deficient according to WHO classification. Diffuse goiter was present in 2.3% of the population and thyroid nodule in 20.9%. The incidence of hyperthyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, Graves’ disease and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis was 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.6%, 7.8%, 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. The proportion of several TD for participants with non-iodized salt intake was higher than that for participants with iodized salt intake.     

QTL identification of grain protein concentration and its genetic correlation with starch concentration and grain weight using two populations in maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.)

Protein is one of the three main storage chemical components in maize grains, and is negatively correlated with starch concentration (SC). Our objective was to analyse the influence of genetic backgrounds on QTL detection for protein concentration (PC) and to reveal the molecular genetic associations between PC and both SC and grain weight (GWP). Two hundred and eighty-four (Pop1) and 265 (Pop2) F_2:3 families were developed from two crosses between one high-oil maize inbred GY220 and two normal maize inbreds 8984 and 8622 respectively, and were genotyped with 185 and 173 pairs of SSR markers. PC, SC and GWP were evaluated under two environments. Composite interval mapping (CIM) and multiple interval mapping (MIM) methods were used to detect single-trait QTL for PC, and multiple-trait QTL for PC with both SC and GWP. No common QTL were shared between the two populations for their four and one PC QTL. Common QTL with opposite signs of effects for PC and SC/GWP were detected on three marker intervals at bins 6.07–6.08, 8.03 and 8.03–8.04. Multiple-traits QTL mapping showed that tightly-linked QTL, pleiotropic QTL and QTL having effects with opposite directions for PC and SC/GWP were all observed in Pop1, while all QTL reflected opposite effects in Pop2.     

The Structure of a Free-living Nematode Community in Wrangel Bay of the Sea of Japan

The qualitative composition and distribution of the meiobenthos in Wrangel Bay (Nakhodka Bay of the Sea of Japan) depend on the bottom sediment grain composition and on the concentration of heavy metals in the ground. It was established that the meiobenthos in the bay was represented by 13 groups of animals (class, order) and was relatively evenly distributed. The nematodes dominated (50–80%), and their settlement density was slightly higher in silty ground than in silty–sandy ground. Forty-eight species of nematodes were found; Dorylaimopsis peculiaris, Viscosia stenostoma, Axonolaimus seticaudatus, Metasphaerolaimus japonicus, and Pseudosteineria inaequispiclata dominated in the silty–sandy sediments; Sabatieria pulchra, S. palmaris, Metalaimus pumilus, Sphaerolaimus limosus, and Oncholaimium ramosum dominated in the silty ground. A slightly expressed correlation of the settlement density with the ground type and lead concentration in the bottom sediments emerged for two species (S. pulchra and S. palmaris).     

液体培养条件下细菌浓度两种测定方法比较

液体培养细菌后,分别测定培养液、培养液沉淀 无菌盐水的吸光度,结果存在明显差异。采用稀释平板法和显微计数法测定了培养液中细菌数量,并推导出嗜水气单胞菌活菌数与吸光度的关系为logI0/I=6.848×10-25·C。     

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。     

Purification processes, ecological functions, planning and design of riparian buffer zones in agricultural watersheds

Two international meetings on ecological engineering, with a focus on riparian buffer zones, served as the source for selected papers in this special issue: (1) an International Workshop on Efficiency of Purification Processes in Riparian Buffer Zones: Their Design and Planning in Agricultural Watersheds, jointly organised by Hokkaido University, Japan, the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region, Japan, Civil Engineering Research Institute of Hokkaido, Japan, and the Institute of Geography, University of Tartu, Estonia, and held from 5 to 9 November 2001 in Kushiro City, Hokkaido, Japan; and (2) an International Conference on Ecological Engineering for Landscape Services and Products, jointly organised by the International Ecological Engineering Society (IEES) and Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand, and held from 25 to 29 November 2001 in Christchurch, New Zealand. At these two meetings, altogether 94 oral presentations (17 from invited speakers) and 15 posters by representatives from 21 countries were presented. The editorial paper highlights trends in investigation of the purification processes in riparian buffer zones as well as planning, design and management aspects of riparian buffers regarding the wide spectrum of their ecological functions; it characterises the two international meetings which served as sources for the selected papers and briefly explains the main aspects of these papers.     

高氧对果蔬采后生理影响研究进展

高氧（21%-100%O2）贮藏是近几年发展起来的果蔬采后处理技术之一.概述了高氧对果蔬采后生理如呼吸作用、乙烯合成、组织褐变、活性氧代谢及抗氧化能力、风味等方面的影响,还介绍了高氧对病原微生物生长和采后果蔬腐烂控制的作用.     

有毒赤潮甲藻塔玛亚历山大藻（香港株Ⅱ）的生长特性研究

在室内条件下研究温度、N和P、维生素、抗生素对有毒赤潮甲藻塔玛亚历山大藻(香港株Ⅱ生长的影响。结果表明,塔玛亚历山大藻的适宜生长温度和N、P浓度分别为21-25℃,882-1765μmol／L和18-72μmol／L。复合维生素B的加入有利于塔玛亚历山大藻的生长,而50Uml^-1以上的抗生素则对其有明显的抑制作用。     

超滤膜技术在多糖提取方面的应用

超滤膜技术广泛应用于各类多糖的分离、浓缩、纯化等研究中,包括中药药源多糖如灵芝多糖、大黄多糖、六味地黄汤多糖、黄芪多糖、紫芝多糖、人参多糖,海洋活性多糖如鲨鱼软骨粘多糖、褶纹冠蚌多糖、紫菜多糖、褐藻糖胶、卡拉胶,发酵多糖如蜜环菌菌索多糖、PS-9415发酵液多糖、冬虫夏草多糖,食用植物多糖如茶多糖、香菇多糖、金针菇多糖、芦荟多糖、枸杞多糖等.采用超滤膜技术处理多糖具有收率高、不易破坏多糖的生物活性、能耗低等特点,适于工业化生产.