A Study on Adhesive Properties of Materials Based on Biomimetic Results of Gecko′s Feet

1　IntroductionInthenaturemanyanimals ,suchas geckoes ,flies ,bees ,locustsandspiders ,haveamagicabilitytomoveorholdonvarioussurfaces roughorsmoothfloors ,wallsorceilings.Themechanism ,howtheani malsattachto ,holdonanddetachfromthesurfaces ,mayenlightenusonwall climbingrobotsformthefeetdesign .Therobotsaregreatlyindemandinvacuumcircumstance ,insurvivorsearchinginflown downbuildingandinpipelineinspectingandrepairing .Themechanismsmayalsoshowushowtodesignhighadap tivemanipulators.Thebionicfeetd…     

The structural basis of oscillation damping in plant stems - biomechanics and biomimetics

1 Introduction Dynamic wind loads can excite potentially de-structive oscillations in plants. Without dissipation ofmechanical energy a resonance catastrophe is likely tooccur in dynamic winds with frequency componentsclose to the resonant frequencies of the plant. Four modesof oscillation damping are considered [1] ? Friction with other members of the plant commu-nity as for instance in the dense stand of bamboos. ? Structural damping: other than in the engineeringscien…     

应用蛋白印迹法检测鼻咽癌病人血清中抗Epstein—Barr病毒IgA/EA抗体

曾毅等建立了一系列检测EB病毒IgA/VCA和IgA/EA抗体的鼻咽癌早期诊断方法,取得了满意的结果。为了进一步提高对鼻咽癌诊断更为特异的IgA/EA抗体的检出率,我们建立了检测EB病毒IgA/EA抗体的蛋白印迹法。方法敏感特异,结果令人满意。 本法中所用的两个质粒系由本实验室与西德Pettenkofer研究所Wolf教授的实验室合作构建。pUCARG1140和pUC9MBcE3.2质粒均为表达质粒,前者携带着来源于EB病毒Bam     

An extract from Prospects and Risks of Gene Technology: The Report of the Enquete Commission to the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany

We are pleased to publish an English translation of the crucial section on germ line gene therapy from the Report of the German Enquete Commission. This section of the Report raises basic ethical questions concerning embryo research, as well as more specific questions relating to germ line gene therapy. This form of gene therapy involves genetic modification of the germ cells. Such a modification would be passed on to any descendents of the person whose genes had been altered. The Report had previously dealt with somatic gene therapy, which does not affect the germ line and hence is not passed on to descendents.     

How does size and isolation affect patches of steppe-like vegetation on slumping hills in Transylvania,Romania?

The region of Southern Transylvania in Romania contains large expanses of species-rich grassland and mixed farmland. Within these landscapes, clusters of small, steep-sided slumping hills support mosaics of herbaceous vegetation caused by the heterogeneity in temperature and water supply and maintained by mowing or grazing. These are of conservation interest not only for the high species density, but also the relict steppe-like vegetation types especially found on their south-facing slopes. Usually surrounded by more intensively used mesic grassland, these hills can be considered patches of species-rich grassland vegetation. We therefore surveyed the vascular plants in 10 m² plots on the south- and north-facing slopes of 50 hills in 12 clusters in order to investigate the influence of their size and isolation on the species richness and composition of the vegetation. We found that larger hills had higher plot-scale species richness, a greater proportion of competitive species and a lower proportion of species of steppe-like vegetation, but only on their south-facing slopes where the conditions are more extreme. Both large and small hills should be considered as important habitats and potential sources of propagules for plant communities in the surrounding areas.     

Drivers of understorey biomass: tree species identity is more important than richness in a young forest

林下生物量影响因素：幼龄林树种特性比丰富度更重要 生物多样性与生态系统功能的正相关关系已被广泛报道,其主要来源于对草原生态系统的研究。然而,该结论并不一定适用于更复杂的环境,例如具有不同垂直层次的森林。举例而言,已有研究表明上层乔木树种丰富度与林下生产力降低有关。树种丰富度是否会通过增加(由于生境异质性)或降低(通过增强竞争)资源的可利用性进而影响林下生产力,以及林下生产力是否受树种特性的影响更大,这些影响机制都可能会随着时间的推移而改变。此外,研究还表明,丰富度-生产力关系随着环境背景的变化而改变。本研究利用可以操控树种丰富度的实验林场研究了这些不同垂直层位里的时间和环境动态。在中国亚热带森林生物多样性与生态系统功能(BEF-China)研究计划的框架下,我们在3年时间里沿树种丰富度梯度反复采集林下生物量样本,研究了不同环境处理中树种丰富度、树种特性和时间对林下生物量的影响。尽管我们发现乔木层特性对林下生物量有显著和一致的影响,但是树种丰富度对后者却不具有这种影响。另外,在森林结构层之间,可能并不存在单一的、具有普遍性的上层乔木树种丰富度与林下生产力的相关关系,并且与上层乔木相关的环境因素(如透光率)对林下生产力的贡献程度会随着时间而变化。总体而言,我们的结果表明,在研究森林结构层之间的关系时应将时间动态变化考虑在内。     

Assessment of genotoxicity of herbal medicinal products: a co-ordinated approach

The submission of data on genotoxicity is a precondition for marketing authorisation respectively registration of herbal medicinal products (HMPs) with well established or traditional use in some countries. In European regulatory guidelines prepared by the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) of the European drug regulatory agency EMA, a test strategy is defined giving a pragmatic framework adapted to the assessment of the potential genotoxicity of HMPs. It describes a stepwise approach, including the possibility to reduce the number of extracts of a herbal drug to be tested by the use of a bracketing and matrixing approach. According to this strategy, Kooperation Phytopharmaka, a scientific society in the field of HMPs, has so far coordinated the conduction of genotoxicity tests for 30 herbal drugs within the frame of a joint project of several manufacturers of HMPs. Results are delivered to the cooperation partners for use in regulatory applications.     

Pharmacoproteomics Profile in Response to Acamprosate Treatment of an Alcoholism Animal Model

Acamprosate is an FDA‐approved medication for the treatment of alcoholism that is unfortunately only effective in certain patients. Although acamprosate is known to stabilize the hyper‐glutamatergic state in alcoholism, pharmacological mechanisms of action in brain tissue remains unknown. To investigate the mechanism of acamprosate efficacy, the authors employ a pharmacoproteomics approach using an animal model of alcoholism, type 1 equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT1) null mice. The results demonstrate that acamprosate treatment significantly decreased both ethanol drinking and preference in ENT1 null mice compared to that of wild‐type mice. Then, to elucidate acamprosate efficacy mechanism in ENT1 null mice, the authors utilize label‐free quantification proteomics comparing both genotype and acamprosate treatment effects in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). A total of 1040 protein expression changes are identified in the NAc among 3634 total proteins detected. The proteomics and Western blot result demonstrate that acamprosate treatment decreased EAAT expression implicating stabilization of the hyper‐glutamatergic condition in ENT1 null mice. Pathway analysis suggests that acamprosate treatment in ENT1 null mice seems to rescue glutamate toxicity through restoring of RTN4 and NF‐κB medicated neuroimmune signaling compared to wild‐type mice. Overall, pharmacoproteomics approaches suggest that neuroimmune restoration is a potential efficacy mechanism in the acamprosate treatment of certain sub‐populations of alcohol dependent subjects.     

Influence of adenosine analogs on morphine tolerance and dependence in mice

A number of adenosine agonists were investigated for possible actions on tolerance to morphine withdrawal in mice. The induction of tolerance to a sustained release preparation of morphine was assessed by measuring the analgesic effect induced by a test dose of the drug. The concomitant treatment with L- and D-phenylisopropyl adenosine, (L- and D-PIA), cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) or chloroadenosine (CADO) during the period of morphine absorption did not alter the induction of the process. In contrast cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) significantly decreased the intensity of tolerance. The administration of naloxone 30 hrs, after the priming dose of morphine induced an intense withdrawal reaction. The intensity of the abstinence syndrome was decreased by the administration of L-PIA, CHA or CADO; CPA and D-PIA were ineffective. These results suggest that adenosine analogs may interfere with the known morphine effects on calcium disposition in nerve terminals.