An Ecteola-cellulose chromatography assay for 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate: Phenol sulfotransferase

A new assay procedure for phenol sulfotransferase which employs [35S]-3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate as a sulfate donor and a variety of phenols as sulfate acceptors was developed. The appearance of the 35S-sulfated products or the disappearance of the [35S]-3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate are determined simultaneously by chromatography of the assay incubation mixtures on Ecteola-cellulose columns, eluting with an NH4HCO3 step gradient. Various acidic, neutral, and basic phenols can be employed as substrates for phenol sulfotransferase using this procedure.     

Induction and amplification of T-lymphocyte proliferative responses to periodate and soybean agglutinin by human adult vascular endothelial cells

Human mononuclear phagocyte (M phi) populations were compared to adult human endothelial cells (HEC) for their respective abilities to influence the proliferative responses of purified human T lymphocytes to the mitogenic agents Na-m-periodate (IO-4), soybean agglutinin (SBA), or allogeneic cells. HEC and M phi were both capable of inducing proliferative responses of allogeneic T lymphocytes in mixed-lymphocyte culture. Under low cell density culture conditions, purified T-lymphocyte proliferative responses to IO-4 or SBA could be restored by addition of syngeneic M phi or HEC. At higher cell density culture conditions, proliferation of T cells to IO-4 could be amplified more by HEC than M phi. T-lymphocyte proliferative responses to SBA were amplified by addition of HEC but were suppressed by addition of M phi. These findings indicate that human adult HEC are unique and potent accessory cells for T lymphocytes. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate that accessory cell functions of HEC can be discriminated from those of M phi.     

Progesterone antagonism of androgen-dependent marking in gerbils

The role of progesterone (P) as an androgen antagonist in Mongolian gerbil territorial marking was assessed in the present investigation. Twenty-seven mature males were observed for two consecutive weeks in a marking apparatus. On the basis of the average of the two sessions, subjects were matched and assigned to one of three groups. All animals were orchidectomized and tested three weeks after surgery. Three days after a single postoperative session a schedule of hormonal replacement was initiated. Group 1 was administered 640 μg testosterone propionate (TP). Group 2 received 640 μg TP followed immediately by 3 mg P. A third group received 640 μg TP followed by a 1 mg injection of P. Subjects were tested for marking 24 hr after the injection for a cumulative period of 6 wk.Results indicated that (a) castration drastically reduced marking; (b) TP alone and TP + 1 mg P restored the behavior; (c) TP + 3 mg P inhibited its restoration; and (d) a significant interaction was present between hormonal therapy and the 6-wk testing interval. However, all three hormonal treatments restored sebaceous gland dimensions. Results are discussed in terms of a model of hormone-gene action.     

Proton nmr spectroscopy of high-spin ferrous cytochrome P-450 models

Alkyl mercaptide complexes of both synthetic and natural-derivative iron(II) porphyrins have been characterized in DMSO solution by proton nmr spectroscopy. A single mercaptide ligand binds to form a high-spin iron(II) complex as determined by solution magnetic measurements and the nmr isotropic shift pattern. Ligand exchange is slow on the nmr time scale unlike corresponding 2-methyl imidazole exchange rates which are very rapid. Further comparison of mercaptide and 2-methyl imidazole adducts reveals a downfield bias in isotropic shift values for the mercaptide species, which may be explained by different signs in the dipolar shift term for the two complexes. This apparent magnetic anisotropy of the mercaptide complex is in the same direction, although smaller, than that observed for bacterial cytochrome P-450. Isotropic shift values of at least 250 ppm for methylene resonances of the coordinated mercaptide support a very efficient unpaired spin delocalization for this axial ligand.     

基于多尺度协同的长沙市生态网络构建与层级优化

城市化背景下人类与自然环境的矛盾呈现出多尺度、层级化特征，而传统生态网络的构建方式较少考虑不同尺度下生态要素的关系，无法从区域落实到中心城区，难以形成系统性的解决方案。研究在综合梳理各尺度生态网络构建方法的基础上，以长沙市为例，基于形态学空间格局分析（Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis，MSPA）、景观连通性原理和生态斑块重要性评价识别生态源地，并通过多层级生态阻力面的确定，综合运用最小费用路径（Least-cost path method，LCP）、电路理论、层级传导理论、尺度嵌套等方法对市域、都市区、中心城区的生态网络进行了协同构建和层级优化，最后基于不同尺度生态网络的特点应用并落实到多层级的国土空间规划体系中。研究结果表明：（1）长沙市域生态网络和都市区生态网络具有较好的层级嵌套特征；共识别两尺度生态叠合源地14个、生态叠合廊道15条，主要通过中心城区内的湘江、浏阳河和捞刀河部分河段与外围生态绿圈相衔接，形成"外环内楔"的空间格局。（2）确定市域重要廊道、市域潜在廊道、生态叠合廊道、都市区重要廊道、都市区潜在廊道的核心保护面积共501.14 km²，并提取位于生态廊道核心保护区范围内的生态夹点和生态障碍点，以进一步落实生态保护修复策略。（3）得到具有重要生态连通功能的中心城区生态绿道长度441.2 km，生态修复单元56个，并结合生态阻力值划分为5级进行针对性修复。（4）基于不同尺度生态网络的衔接、嵌套，最终构建"市域总体生态安全格局-都市区城市生态空间发展格局-以城市绿道为基础的中心城区生态修复单元"，并与不同层级的国土空间规划体系相对应。研究结果将为以大城市为中心的跨尺度生态系统修复和生态安全格局构建提供科学参考。     

城市扩张过程中建设用地景观格局演变特征及其驱动力

剖析城市扩张过程中建设用地景观格局演变特征及其驱动力,不仅有助于城市生态环境问题的解决,而且为城市用地结构优化、城市景观规划等工作提供科学依据。以快速城市化的中型城市—扬州市为例,利用多期(1995、2000、2005、2010年和2015年)Landsat卫星影像、乡镇水平的扬州统计年鉴等数据,运用景观格局分析、增强回归树(Boosted regression trees)等方法,研究建设用地的扩张模式、形态及景观格局,定量探究地理、社会和经济因子对景观格局的影响机制,从而明晰景观格局演变特征及其驱动力。结果表明,1995—2015年,建设用地面积持续增加,填充式(Infilling)、边缘式(Edge-expansion)和跳跃式(Leapfrog)3种扩张模式在各时段均有出现,但其优势度随着城市发展而改变。建设用地的形态在城市扩张的过程中经历着"集聚"和"扩散"的交替变化过程,景观格局则出现了同质化倾向,景观破碎化下降、聚合度增加。地理因子(海拔和到县市中心的距离)对景观格局的综合影响虽然高于社会经济,但它的影响力却随着城市发展呈现出下降趋势,社会经济的作用则逐渐增强。海拔和人口密度的增加会促进景观的破碎化、抑制景观的集聚;人口数量的增加会促进景观的集聚、降低景观的破碎化;其余因子(到县市中心的距离、人均GDP和第二产业占比)的作用则随城市的发展而发生转变,如人均GDP对景观破碎化的作用表现为"促进→抑制"的转变、第二产业则为"抑制→促进"。     

Focus: Personalized Medicine: The Sociology of the Deceased Harvard Medical Unit at Boston City Hospital

Many graduates of the Harvard Medical Unit (HMU) at Boston City Hospital, in either the clinical training/residency program or the research program at the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory, contributed in major ways to the HMU and constantly relived their HMU experiences. The HMU staff physicians, descending from founder and mentor physicians Francis W. Peabody, Soma Weiss, and George R. Minot, were dedicated to the teaching, development, and leadership of its clinical and research trainees, whose confidence and dedication to patient care as a result of their mentorship led many to lifelong achievements as clinicians, teachers, and mentors. Their experience also led to a lifelong love of the HMU (despite its loss), camaraderie, happiness, and intense friendships with their associates.     

Antibody formation by one or both lymphoid populations present in chimeric marmosets

Development of an isoimmune serum capable of identifying a specific leukocyte antigen in the marmoset, Saguinus fuscicollis illigeri, permitted detection of lymphoid cell chimerism in this species by the cytotoxic test. This reagent was then used to identify the cell population in the chimera responsible for antibody production against a test antigen, sheep red blood cells. Primary in vitro antibody formation as measured by plaque-forming cells with blood leukocytes or splenic lymphocytes of six animals chimeric for the leukocyte antigen, MLA-1, revealed an immune response by both cell types of the chimeric population from three animals and a response by only one cell type in the other three.     

南昌市城镇空间扩展与景观生态风险的耦合关系

为探究城镇用地空间扩展对景观生态风险的影响,以南昌市为例,运用遥感、GIS及数理统计的方法,借助城镇扩展强度指数研究了南昌市2000—2017年城镇空间扩展的时空变化特征,构建了景观生态风险指数,以3 km×3 km的单元网格进行系统采样,探究城镇扩展下南昌市景观格局的动态变化和景观生态风险,最后基于地理加权回归(GWR)模型,定量分析2000—2017年南昌市城镇空间扩展与景观生态风险之间的耦合关系。结果表明:(1)2000—2017年,南昌市城镇用地增加了247.56 km~2,年均扩展速率达17.75 km~2,其中2000—2005年扩展最快,呈现出剧烈扩展的态势,扩展强度达到0.55。城镇扩展主要沿正北和西北方向扩展,分布在青山湖区、南昌县、新建区等,总体上呈快速扩展趋势;(2)南昌市景观格局以耕地为主,建设用地快速扩张,耕地、林地、草地面积持续减少,土地利用的景观格局指数反映此期间人类活动的干扰程度加剧,景观斑块数量增加,整体破碎度提高。借助地统计分析方法,计算得到南昌市景观生态风险由2000年的0.1354上升至2017年的0.1420,景观生态风险呈逐渐升高的趋势;(3)2000—2017年,城镇用地面积与景观生态风险、城镇空间扩展强度指数和景观生态险变化值之间,都呈现负相关影响,后者相关性在减弱。回归系数的空间分布上,由中部向外逐渐升高,低值位于城镇扩展较快的南昌市区,城镇的快速扩展使城镇用面积大幅增加,景观破碎度、损失度降低,景观生态风险随之降低;高值出现在进贤县、安义县等经济发展缓慢的地区,城镇用地扩展幅度小,扩展边界斑块破碎度大,分离度上升,景观生态风险增加。研究结果为促进城市建设与生态环境保护的相互协调,正确评价人类活动对城市生态系统的影响,以及南昌市的可持续发展和科学管理提供借鉴。