Modelling slow wave activity in the small intestine

We have developed an anatomically based model to simulate slow wave activity in the small intestine. Geometric data for the human small intestine were obtained from the Visible Human project. These data were used to create a one-dimensional finite element mesh of the entire small intestine using an iterative fitting procedure. The electrically active components of the intestinal walls were modelled using a modified Fitzhugh-Nagumo cell model embedded within a longitudinal smooth muscle layer and a layer containing Interstitial Cells of Cajal. Within these layers, the monodomain equation was used to describe slow wave propagation. To solve the monodomain equation, a high-resolution finite difference grid, with an average spatial resolution of 0.95 mm, was embedded within each finite element. The resulting simulations of intestinal activity agree with the experimental observation that slow wave frequency gradually declines from 12 cycles per minute (cpm) in the duodenum to 8 cpm at the terminal ileum. Furthermore, the simulations demonstrated a decrease in conduction velocity with distance along the small intestine (10.7 cm/s in the duodenum, 5.1cm/s in the jejunum and 1.4 cm/s in the ileum), matching experimental recordings from the canine small intestine. We conclude that the framework presented here is capable of qualitatively simulating normal slow wave activity in an anatomical model of the small intestine.     

Novel C2-purine position analogs of nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside as human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 inhibitors

Nucleoside transporter inhibitors have potential therapeutic applications as anticancer, antiviral, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective agents. S⁶-(4-nitrobenzyl)mercaptopurine riboside (NBMPR) is a prototype inhibitor of the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter (hENT1), and is a high affinity ligand with a K_d of 0.1–1.0 nM. We have synthesized and flow cytometrically evaluated the binding affinity of a series of novel C²-purine position substituted analogs of NBMPR at the hENT1. The aim of this research was to understand the substituent requirements at the C²-purine position of NBMPR. Structure–activity relationships (SAR) indicate that increasing the steric bulk at the C²-purine position of NBMPR led to a decrease in binding affinity of these ligands at the hENT1. New high affinity inhibitors were identified, with the best compound, 2-fluoro-4-nitrobenzyl mercaptopurine riboside (7), exhibiting a K_i of 2.1 nM. This information, when coupled with the information obtained from other structure–activity relationship studies should prove useful in efforts aimed at modeling the NMBPR and analogs pharmacophore of hENT1 inhibitors.     

紫茉莉开花过程中花色和花色素的变化规律

紫茉莉是我国广泛分布的庭院花卉之一,具有丰富的花色。但不同花色紫茉莉在开花过程中的花色变化规律及其呈色机制还不清楚。以紫红色、黄色和白色紫茉莉为研究对象,分别通过色差仪测定法和紫外-可见分光光度法测定了不同开花时期不同花色紫茉莉花色表型及各类色素含量,探讨了其花色和色素变化规律,揭示其呈色机制。结果表明,从花蕾期到盛开期,紫红色紫茉莉花冠由淡绿色转变为紫红色,明度L^*值和色相b^*值减小,而色相a^*值、色度C^*值和色度角h值增大,叶绿素含量逐渐下降,类胡萝卜素、花色素苷和总黄酮含量逐渐升高;黄色紫茉莉花冠由淡绿色转变为黄色,盛开期具有最高的色度C^*值、色相a^*值和b^*值,整个开花过程具有较稳定的叶绿素和总黄酮含量,同时具有较高的类胡萝卜素含量;白色紫茉莉花冠由淡绿色转变为白色,过渡期具有最高的明度L^*值、色度C^*值、色相a^*值和b^*值,整个开花过程花色素苷和总黄酮含量较低,但随着开花进程逐渐升高,而类胡萝卜素含量稳定,过渡期总叶绿素含量显著低于其他2个时期。可见,不同花色紫茉莉开花过程中花色变化规律存在差异,而其差异性与其相应的色素成分变化密切相关。     

以松毛虫为基质培养的冬虫夏草菌丝体中多糖的提取研究

研究了不同方法对冬虫夏草发酵菌丝体（以枯叶蛾科昆虫马尾松毛虫为基质发酵所得）中多糖提取的影响。结果表明,采用微波辅助水提法所得多糖的产率最高,影响提取的关键因素为液料比、微波提取时间、微波功率;采用Box-Behnken设计及响应面分析法对这3个因素进行优化,并通过回归拟合,建立了预测虫草多糖提取的多项式模型Y=6.87+0.058A+0.085B+0.075C+0.032AB+0.046AC+0.069BC-0.16A²-0.37B²-0.11C²。经响应面最优化分析,获得冬虫夏草发酵菌丝体中多糖的最优提取工艺参数为：液料比（mL/g）6.3:1、微波功率520W、微波提取时间326s,此工艺提取验证后的提取率达到6.76%。     

Bis(η-allyl) (η-pentalene) zirconium: preparation, structure and structural dynamics

The preparation of a novel mononuclear complex of zirconium having an η⁸-bonded pentalene ligand and two η³-allyl groups is described. Its structure has been determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. At room temperature some of the NMR signals are broadened, revealing that the compound is structurally dynamic. It is shown that the compound has C₂ symmetry with the enantiomeric forms undergoing racemisation.     

亚热带地区常绿阔叶林SPAC系统水分的氢氧稳定同位素特征

森林的土壤-植物-大气连续体(SPAC)是陆地重要的水循环连续界面过程。本研究通过分析亚热带常绿阔叶林的降水、大气水汽、土壤水、叶片水的同位素组成,探讨森林SPAC系统水分的氢氧同位素组成特征以及植物蒸腾与叶片性状和环境因子的关系。结果表明: 研究区大气降水、土壤水、竹柏枝条水、竹柏叶片水和大气水汽的δD-δ¹⁸O线性回归方程分别为: δD_P=7.97δ¹⁸O_P+12.68(R²=0.97)、δD_S=4.29δ¹⁸O_S-18.62(R²=0.81)、δD_B=3.31δ¹⁸O_B-29.73(R²=0.49)、δD_L=1.49δ¹⁸O_L-10.09(R²=0.81)、δD_V=3.89δ¹⁸O_V-51.29(R²=0.46)。在降水→土壤水→植物水的界面水输送过程中,氢氧同位素逐渐富集,而从土壤蒸发和从植物蒸腾的水汽同位素贫化。在降水和蒸发作用的影响下,土壤水同位素随深度增加有贫化的趋势,而且整体上旱季土壤水同位素比雨季富集。观测期间,枝条水同位素比土壤水略微富集,说明水分在植物体内运输过程中存在受到蒸腾富集作用的可能性。旱季,乔木的枝条水同位素比灌木贫化,说明根系分布更深的乔木植物更倾向于利用深层土壤水。由于在叶片性状、蒸腾速率以及对环境因子的响应程度等方面存在差异,不同植物的叶片水同位素组成随叶龄增长的变化特征有所不同。雨季的环境条件更有利于叶片蒸腾,使雨季的叶片水同位素比旱季富集。叶片水同位素组成与植物叶片含水量呈正相关关系,与相对湿度呈负相关关系,综合反映了植物应对环境变化的水分调控功能。     

楸树不同单株花性状变异分析

楸树是我国中部地区重要的珍贵阔叶用材和著名的园林观赏树种,已有2 600多年的栽培历史。研究其花性状多样性与变异性旨在揭示花表型性状在楸树种内存在的巨大变异,为新花色育种和优良观花新品种的选育及新品种的鉴定和保护提供理论依据。以1985~1990年收集的优良单株和杂种F1共27株为材料,测定了花性状中的2个质量性状和7个数量性状,并采用方差分析、聚类分析等方法进行统计分析。①27株的开花物候期差异可达5 d,花大小、花序长短和单株花量均有较大差异,并且由于叶柄长度和花枝长度的差异导致不同单株表现出显花和隐花特征。②楸树为二强雄蕊,分为雄性可育和败育,调查的27株中有12株为雄性可育,且花粉量差异较大。③花冠檐部5裂,上唇3瓣,下唇2瓣,上唇瓣长度大于下唇瓣。27株的花枝长度、花序长度、单花枝花数、花上唇瓣长度、花下唇瓣长度和花冠直径均存在极显著差异,单株间的变幅分别为10.7~16.4 cm、5.6~9.6cm、2~13朵、3.8~5.2 cm、3.0~4.3 cm、3.9~5.4 cm,表型变异系数分别为12.8%、12.5%、36.7%、7.5%、9.1%和9.2%。④16株间花色L^*值(亮度值)、a^*值(红绿值)、b^*值(黄蓝值)、C^*值(彩度)和h值(色相)均存在极显著差异,a^*值、b^*值以及彩度C^*值的表型变异系数分别为35.1%、52.5%和29.8%;以L^*、a^*和b^*值度量花色,通过聚类分析将16株聚为3类,红色系、粉红色系和白色系。楸树27株的花枝长度、花序长度、花大小差异极显著,16株的花色也具有明显的差别,依据L^*、a^*和b^*值进行聚类分析,当欧氏距离为15时可将16株聚为3类:红色系、粉红色系和白色系。     

Material properties of the human calcaneal fat pad in compression: experiment and theory

The structural behaviour of the human heel pad has been studied extensively due to its ability to absorb shock, protect against excessive local stress, and reduce plantar pressures. However, the material properties of the tissue have not been adequately measured. These must be known in order to perform a finite element analysis of the effect of factors such as foot geometry and shoe/surface construction on heel pad function. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to (a) measure the viscoelastic behaviour of the fat pad in compression, and (b) to determine an appropriate constitutive equation to model the tissue. A series of unconfined compression tests were performed on 8 mm diameter cylinders of fat pad tissue, consisting of quasi-static, 175, 350 mm/s and stress-relaxation tests to 50% deformation. The tissue exhibited nonlinear, viscoelastic behaviour. No significant difference was found in the quasi-static behaviour between samples from different locations and orientations in the heel. The stress-relaxation tests were used to determine the time constant (τ₁=0.5 s), the 175 mm/s test to determine the relaxation coefficient (g₁=28), and the 350 mm/s compression test to determine the material constants (C₁₀₀=C₀₁₀=0.01, C₂₀₀=C₀₂₀=0.1 Pa) of a single-phase, hyperelastic, linear viscoelastic strain energy function (r²=0.98).     

胃多导电刺激及胃液体排空犬动物模型的建立

目的建立胃浆膜多导联电刺激和胃排空动物模型。方法在12条英国比格犬的胃大弯浆膜层包埋四对心内起搏电极,距幽门40cm空肠近端行一造瘘口。结果①造瘘管收集食糜的方法简单易行,通过其排空量,能了解不同的电刺激和不同的电刺激参数对胃动力的作用。②胃浆膜多导联电极记录的胃体、胃窦慢波电信号清晰、稳定,能准确地记录不同时间和不同实验的胃慢波变化。③单导联和多导长脉冲电刺激均能控制胃慢波。结论胃浆膜多导联电极是研究胃电生理、胃电起搏及胃电起搏对胃排空的影响较理想的方法。英国比格犬是此模型的理想材料。     

大鼠蓝斑核对迷走-迷走抑胃反射的加强作用

本文研究了蓝斑核对迷走-迷走抑胃反射的影响。实验结果表明,单独刺激迷走神经中枢端抑制胃电和胃运动,胃电慢波的振幅和胃内压分别下降到对照值的60.9％和45.7％,与对照值相比有明显的统计学意义(P<0.05)。刺激迷走神经中枢端的同时,以弱刺激刺激蓝斑核时,胃电慢渡的振幅和胃内压分别下降到对照值的42.1％和34.1％,与单独刺激迷走神经的效果相比较有非常显著的差异(P<0.01)。本文结果提示:蓝斑核的兴奋加强迷走-迷走抑胃反射。     

Pitfalls in limiting studies of reactivity to a family of compounds

Case studies of the oxidation potentials for MeCpMn(CO)₂B where B represents nitrogen and phosphorus donors, as well as the CO stretching frequencies of η-CpFe(CO)(COCH₃)PX₃ adducts are used to illustrate potential errors in data interpretation than can arise when studies are restricted to one family of compounds. These systems show that the uncertainty in the parameters from the data fit exceeds that indicated by R² or the standard deviations in the fit when the C_B/E_B ratios of the donors employed do not vary significantly. When an improper scale is used in data analyses, the R² for data fits is improved by limiting the correlation to a single family of compounds at the expense of meaningful interpretations. By definition, substituent constant correlations are limited to a single family, so care must be exercised in interpreting the parameters from these data fits.     

13C and 15N isotopic signatures of plant-soil continuum along a successional gradient in Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve

Aims The optimal patterns of plant community for water use and nutrient utilization, the responses of soil carbon and nitrogen turnover processes to forest succession, and the mechanisms of soil organic carbon accumulation, are three critical issues in forest ecosystem study. It is difficult to accurately detect these ecological processes with conventional methodologies in the short term, yet the application of ¹³C and ¹⁵N natural abundance technique may yield important information about these processes.Methods This study was conducted in Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve. We investigated the natural isotopic abundance of both ¹³C and ¹⁵N of plant-soil continuum along a successional gradient from Pinus massoniana forest (PF) to coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest (MF), and monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest (BF). We also analyzed the correlations of foliar stable carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C) and stable nitrogen isotope ratio (δ¹⁵N) with foliar elemental contents and the variations of soil δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N along soil profiles at different successional stages.Important findings A significant positive correlation between foliar δ¹³C and foliar C:N was observed. In both litter and soil, the δ¹³C values tended to decrease along the forest succession, with the order as PF > MF > BF. Foliar δ¹⁵N was positively correlated with foliar N content. The δ¹⁵N values of litter and upper soil (0-10 cm) increased with successional status. Both soil δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values increased with increasing soil depth at all three forests. Our results imply that 1) trade-off between water use efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency did not necessarily exist in subtropical forests of China; 2) the application of isotopic technique could assist understanding of the mechanisms of soil carbon accumulation in subtropical forests, especially in old-grow forests; 3) the ¹⁵N natural abundance of plant-soil continuum could be a potential indicator of soil nitrogen availability and ecosystem nitrogen saturation status.     

鼎湖山森林演替序列植物-土壤碳氮同位素特征

植物群落对水分利用和养分利用的优化策略, 土壤碳周转和氮循环过程对演替变化如何响应, 森林土壤有机碳积累机制等都是森林生态学需要解决的关键问题。然而, 这些生态学过程的变化在短时间内通过传统的研究手段难以被精确观测, 碳氮同位素(¹³C、¹⁵N)技术的应用或许能提供更多有价值的信息。该文通过对鼎湖山森林演替序列代表性群落——马尾松(Pinus massoniana)针叶林(PF)、针阔叶混交林(MF)和季风常绿阔叶林(BF)植物-土壤碳氮同位素自然丰度的测定, 分析了叶片稳定碳同位素比率(δ¹³C)和稳定氮同位素比率(δ¹⁵N)与其叶片元素含量的关系, 以及叶片-凋落物-土壤δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N在演替水平和垂直方向上的变化特征。结果显示: 1)主要优势树种叶片δ¹³C与其C:N极显著正相关(p < 0.01), 凋落物和各层土壤δ¹³C均表现为PF > MF > BF, 沿演替方向逐渐降低; 2)叶片δ¹⁵N与叶片N含量正相关(p = 0.05), 凋落物和表层土壤(0-10 cm) δ¹⁵N沿演替方向逐渐增大; 3)不同演替阶段土壤δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N均沿垂直剖面呈现增大的趋势。结果表明: 南亚热带地区植物群落的发展并不一定受水分利用和氮素利用的补偿制约; δ¹³C自然丰度法的应用有助于森林土壤有机碳积累机制, 尤其有助于成熟森林土壤“碳汇”机制的阐释; 植物-土壤δ¹⁵N值可作为评估土壤氮素有效性和生态系统“氮饱和”状态的潜在指标。     

The pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal and gastric electrical activity

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are the pacemaker cells in the gut. They have special properties that make them unique in their ability to generate and propagate slow waves in gastrointestinal muscles. The electrical slow wave activity determines the characteristic frequency of phasic contractions of the stomach, intestine and colon. Slow waves also determine the direction and velocity of propagation of peristaltic activity, in concert with the enteric nervous system. Characterization of receptors and ion channels in the ICC membrane is under way, and manipulation of slow wave activity markedly alters the movement of contents through the gut. Gastric myoelectrical slow wave activity produced by pacemaker cells (ICC) can be reflected by electrogastrography (EGG). Electrogastrography is a perspective non-invasive method that can detect gastric dysrhythmias associated with symptoms of nausea or delayed gastric emptying.     

黑河中游春玉米叶片水δD和δ18O的富集过程和影响因素

植物水的稳定同位素分馏过程是水在土壤-植物-大气连续体中循环的重要环节。以往研究由于叶片水¹⁸O同位素比值(δ¹⁸O _l,b)和氘(D)同位素比值(δD_l,b)(合称δ_l,b)实测数量少只能作为模型验证数据, 导致δ_l,b富集机制研究多集中于模型研究, 缺乏基于野外试验条件的δ_l,b富集的控制机制研究。叶片水δD_l,b和δ¹⁸O _l,b的富集程度(ΔD_l,b和Δ¹⁸O _l,b, 合称Δ_l,b)通常表示为δ_l,b与茎秆水D同位素比值(δD_x)和¹⁸O同位素比值(δ¹⁸O_x) (合称δ_x)之差, 即Δ_l,b = δ_l,b - δ_x。该研究以黑河中游沙漠绿洲春玉米(Zea mays)生态系统为研究对象, 重点采集和分析了季节和日尺度δ_l,b和δ_x数据, 配套开展了大气水汽δ¹⁸O和δD (合称δ_v)等辅助变量的原位连续观测, 探讨了季节和日尺度上的δ_l,b富集特征及其影响因素。结果表明: 叶片水δ_l,b和Δ_l,b的季节变化趋势不明显, 而受蒸腾作用影响表现出白天富集夜间贫化的单峰日变化特征。对于D来说, 无论季节尺度上还是日尺度上, 大气水汽δ_v和相对湿度是δD_l,b和ΔD_l,b的主要环境控制因素; 而对于¹⁸O来说, 无论季节尺度上还是日尺度上, 相对湿度是δ¹⁸O _l,b和Δ¹⁸O _l,b的主要环境控制因素。由于D和¹⁸O在热力学平衡分馏上有约8倍差异, 直接分析叶片水ΔD_l,b和Δ¹⁸O_l,b与影响因素的差异性, 有助于理解叶片水δD和δ¹⁸O富集过程以及对模型发展有一定的指导意义。     

Soft Tissue Modelling of Cardiac Fibres for Use in Coupled Mechano-Electric Simulations

The numerical solution of the coupled system of partial differential and ordinary differential equations that model the whole heart in three dimensions is a considerable computational challenge. As a consequence, it is not computationally practical—either in terms of memory or time—to repeat simulations on a finer computational mesh to ensure that convergence of the solution has been attained. In an attempt to avoid this problem while retaining mathematical rigour, we derive a one dimensional model of a cardiac fibre that takes account of elasticity properties in three structurally defined axes within the myocardial tissue. This model of a cardiac fibre is then coupled with an electrophysiological cell model and a model of cellular electromechanics to allow us to simulate the coupling of the electrical and mechanical activity of the heart. We demonstrate that currently used numerical methods for coupling electrical and mechanical activity do not work in this case, and identify appropriate numerical techniques that may be used when solving the governing equations. This allows us to perform a series of simulations that: (i) investigate the effect of some of the assumptions inherent in other models; and (ii) reproduce qualitatively some experimental observations.     

3D-QSAR studies on natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitors of Sarcococca saligna by comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA)

We have derived a comprehensive structure–activity relationship (SAR) picture for a new series of natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitors isolated from Sarcococca saligna. A set of 32 previously isolated and tested pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids inhibitors were investigated with respect to their IC₅₀ values (pIC₅₀) against the AChE enzyme in order to derive CoMFA models using atom-based alignment. A highly significant CoMFA model was obtained with r² value of 0.974. The q² (cross validation r²) value also confirms the statistical significance of our model.