Thermal behavior of luciferase on nanofabricated hydrophilic Si surface

The thermal behavior of luciferase on nanofabricated hydrophilic Si surface was investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. At high temperature, LUC_CHANGES (structural changes in the active site of luciferase) were smaller on the nanofabricated hydrophilic Si surface than on a non-nanofabricated hydrophilic Si surface, although LUC_CHANGES were slightly larger on the nanofabricated hydrophilic Si surface than on a non-nanofabricated hydrophobic Si surface. At room temperature, LUC_CHANGES were smaller on the nanofabricated hydrophilic Si surface than on a non-nanofabricated and wet-treated Si surface. Thus, nanofabricated hydrophilic Si surface would be preferable for practical applications.     

热带次生林林窗不同热力作用面特征分析

利用热带次生林林窗边缘树表温和林窗区域地表温的观测资料,探讨了昼间林窗各热力作用面的热力效应及其变化规律,通过分析林窗边缘树表温和林窗地表温的变化,指出在林窗区域林窗边缘墙面是林冠面,林窗地面,林内地面之外的亲的第4热力作用面;各个热力作用面的热力效应随季节,位置和时刻的不同有着明显差异,在受浓雾影响的上午,林窗地面热力作用较强,在中午和下午林窗东侧林缘壁面,林窗东侧－东北侧地面的热力作用显著,中乖以林窗地面作用较强;而下午则以林窄边缘墙面作用较强,各个较力作用面的热力特征和相互作用将制约林窗的热力变化,影响植物的生长。     

Analogies to demonstrate the effect of roughness on surface wettability

This article presents an analogy to illustrate the effect of surface roughness on surface wettability. I used a water-filled balloon to represent water droplet, a toothpick to represent surface roughness and Styrofoam as the surface. The analogies presented in this article will help visualize how roughness affects the wettability of the surface and therefore can be used to introduce surface wettability to high school students.     

Avoidance of parasitoid attack is associated with the spatial use within a leaf by a lepidopteran leafminer

In prey‐predator systems, top‐down effects can be a powerful determinant for spatial distributions of prey through their search for enemy‐free space. Leafminers live and eat within leaves, making feeding tracks called mines, and mine conspicuousness exposes them to a high risk of parasitism. Those lepidopteran leafminers that use lower leaf surfaces as mining sites show wide evolutionary radiation. We hypothesized that leafminers making mines on the lower surface are less often detected by parasitoids and thus have a selective advantage in avoiding parasitism compared to those on the upper surface. To investigate the adaptiveness of lower‐surface mining, we examined the relationship between parasitism and within‐leaf mine distribution for 3 years using a field population of the leafminer Phyllocnistis spec. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae, Phyllocnistinae), which prefers the lower surface of leaves of the Japanese privet, Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. (Oleaceae). Parasitoid attack was more frequent in the upper‐surface mines than in the lower‐surface mines and on leaves with upper‐surface mines than on leaves with only lower‐surface mines. When both surfaces were mined, leafminers on the lower surface could avoid parasitism. Upper‐surface mines were attacked by more parasitoid species as compared to lower‐surface mines. Although the results demonstrated that mining on the lower surface was advantageous in avoiding parasitism, the vulnerability of lower‐surface mines to parasitism varied depending on their abundance. When many lower‐surface mines were present, lower‐surface mines suffered a higher parasitism rate than upper‐surface mines, probably because parasitoids formed search images for and concentrated on lower‐surface mines. This study suggests that the preferential use of the lower leaf surface by leafminers is in part attributed to interactions with parasitoids.     

Cell Migration and Induction in the Development of the Surface Ectodermal Pattern of the Xenopus laevis Tadpole

The surface of the Xenopus tadpole contains three specialized, transient cell types; the ciliated, hatching gland, and cement gland cells. To distinguish whether the appearance of these cell types on the surface is due to induction of surface cells or due to migration of deep ectodermal cells into the surface, we transplanted labelled surface or deep cells to unlabelled hosts at early to mid-gastrulae. After raising the host to a tadpole (Stage 28), we examined the embryo's surface for ciliated, hatching gland, and cement gland cells, and observed which cells were labelled. We find that all ciliated cells move into the surface from the deep ectodermal layer along with other cells of unknown function. Hatching gland cells arise by induction of surface cells as do the majority of cement gland cells. A few deep cells give rise to cement gland cells. Therefore, migration of deep cells to the surface and localized induction of surface cells contribute to the final surface patterning of the Xenopus tadpole.     

Quantification of Surface Amorphous Content Using Dispersive Surface Energy: the Concept of Effective Amorphous Surface Area

We investigate the use of dispersive surface energy in quantifying surface amorphous content, and the concept of effective amorphous surface area is introduced. An equation is introduced employing the linear combination of surface area normalized square root dispersive surface energy terms. This equation is effective in generating calibration curves when crystalline and amorphous references are used. Inverse gas chromatography is used to generate dispersive surface energy values. Two systems are investigated, and in both cases surface energy data collected for physical mixture samples comprised of amorphous and crystalline references fits the predicted response with good accuracy. Surface amorphous content of processed lactose samples is quantified using the calibration curve, and interpreted within the context of effective amorphous surface area. Data for bulk amorphous content is also utilized to generate a thorough picture of how disorder is distributed throughout the particle. An approach to quantifying surface amorphous content using dispersive surface energy is presented. Quantification is achieved by equating results to an effective amorphous surface area based on reference crystalline, and amorphous materials.     

Trypanosoma brucei: release of variant surface glycoprotein during the parasite life cycle

African trypanosome variant surface antigen, which was released from the Trypanosoma brucei parasite at two stages in its life cycle, has been characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 4 M urea. Variant surface antigen released as exoantigen into the bloodstream of infected rats resembled the soluble form of the surface antigen. Variant surface antigen released from parasites undergoing transformation to the uncoated procyclic stage was detected as two molecular species: soluble variant surface antigen and a cleavage product of variant surface antigen. The data presented are consistent with enzymatic cleavage of the variant surface antigen C-terminal hydrophobic moiety operating to release parasite surface coat from living parasites.     

A蛋白定向固定抗体用于椭偏光学生物传感器免疫检测

椭偏光学生物传感器是在椭偏光学显微成像技术的基础上发展的一项生物传感技术。它能够直接观测固体表面上的生物分子面密度,毋需任何标记辅助,适合发展成为一种无标记免疫检测技术。研究了在硅片表面上通过A蛋白定向固定抗体分子用于椭偏光学生物传感器免疫检测的可能性。实验结果表明,通过A蛋白固定抗体得到的抗体膜层的均一性和固定量的重复性能够保证椭偏光学生物传感器免疫检测结果的质量。通过A蛋白定向固定的抗体的抗原结合位点趋向一致,显著提高了抗体与抗原结合的能力。此外,通过蛋白A固定的免疫球蛋白G分子能够结合更多的多克隆抗体分子说明通过A蛋白固定的蛋白质分子能够较好地保持其空间构象。     

北京市主城区不透水面时空演变及其热环境效应研究

城市不透水面是表征城市化进程的重要指标,开展城市不透水面研究对生态环境监测及城市建设规划具有重要意义.以北京市主城区为研究区,基于Landsat影像采用支持向量机(SVM)和线性光谱混合分解模型(LSMM)相结合的方法提取研究区2002年、2009年和2017年三期不透水面;同时采用辐射传输方程法反演研究区地表温度,分...     

Approximation and visualization of large-scale motion of protein surfaces

We present a method for the approximation and real-time visualization of large-scale motion of protein surfaces. A molecular surface is represented by an expansion of spherical harmonic functions, and the motion of protein atoms around their equilibrium positions is computed by normal mode analysis. The motion of the surface is approximated by projecting the normal mode vectors of the solvent-accessible atoms to the spherical harmonic representation of the molecular surface. These surface motion vectors are represented by a separated spherical harmonic expansion. Representing the surface geometry and the surface motion vectors by spherical harmonic expansions allows variable-resolution analysis and real-time display of the large-scale surface motion. This technique has been applied to interactive visualization, interactive surface manipulation, and animation.     

豆科黄华属植物种子表面特征的研究

在扫描电镜下观察了豆科黄华属Thermopsis 18种植物种子的表面纹饰,发现 T．alpina,T.bar- bata,T．inflata,T．lupinoides,T. licentiana,T.smithiana和T．turkestanica的种子表面为粗网状,T californica,T.divaricarpa,T. macrophylla,T．mollis的种子表面为细网状,T.gracilis,T.montana,T. fabacea的种子表面为相对平滑型纹饰,T．alterniflora的种子表面为不规则条形,T．chinensis的种子表 面为粘膜状,T.rhombifolia的种子表面为条形及 T．viuosa的种子表面为碎屑状纹饰。结果表明黄华属的种子表面特征对属下类群的划分有一定意义,对澄清某些混乱的种有一定价值。     

Surface fractality of proteins from theory and NMR data

Different approaches to study protein surface fractality are considered. An approach based on analysis of surface versus molecular weight dependence is shown to be an informative tool for investigation of protein surface behaviour. An evidence for protein surface fractality, obtained with the use of this analysis from the data of both NMR measurements in protein solutions and computer analysis of protein structures, is presented. Obtained value of fractal dimension of protein surface (ds congruent to 2.2) is in a good agreement with the results of conventional approach (with variation of yardstick length) to protein surface fractality. A conclusion is made that surface enlargement due to the rise of protein molecular weight is accompanied by the increase of maximum scale of irregularities on protein surface. Possible effect of surface fractality on hydrodynamic characteristics of protein molecules in solution is discussed.     

铅在不同基因型稻米中的富集

通过环境扫描电镜结合X射线电子探针显微分析技术,对21种不同基因型水稻颖壳内、外表面以及糙米表面、糊粉层、近糊粉层和米中部Pb含量的测定结果表明,21种不同基因型稻米不同部位Pb含量的变化范围由大到小的顺序为:颖壳内表面>糊粉层>近糊粉层>糙米表面>颖壳外表面>米中部;不同基因型稻米之间对Pb的富集量存在遗传差异,这种差异体现在稻米的同一部位和不同部位之间Pb含量的差异上;不同基因型水稻米中部Pb含量与颖壳内表面、糊粉层、近糊粉层、糙米表面、颖壳外表面之间、水稻糊粉层Pb含量与颖壳内表面、近糊粉层、糙米表面、颖壳外表面、米中部之间以及颖壳内表面Pb含量与颖壳外表面、糊粉层、近糊粉层、糙米表面、米中部之间均存在极显著或显著的非线性关系。一方面反映出不同基因型稻米中部Pb的富集量均通过颖壳和糊粉层调控,即存在相同的调控机制;另一方面揭示了不同基因型稻米不同部位之间对Pb富集的相互调控能力存在差异,并且基因型间的这种差异存在非线性的变化规律。     

The role of bacterial hydrophobicity in infection: bacterial adhesion and phagocytic ingestion

The role that bacterial surface hydrophobicity (surface tension) plays in determining the extent of adhesion of polymer substrates and phagocytic ingestion is reviewed. The early attachment phase in bacterial adhesion is shown to depend critically on the relative surface tensions of the three interacting phases; i.e., bacteria, substrate, and suspending liquid surface tension. When suspended in a liquid with a high surface tension such as Hanks balanced salt solution, the most hydrophobic bacteria adhere to all surfaces to the greatest extent. When the liquid surface tension (gamma LV) is larger than the bacterial surface tension (gamma BV), then for any single bacterial species the extent of adhesion decreases with increasing substrate surface tension (gamma SV). When gamma LV less than gamma BV then adhesion increases with increasing gamma SV. Bacterial surface tension also determines in part the extent of phagocytic ingestion and the degree to which antibodies specifically adsorb onto the bacterium resulting in opsonization. The nonspecific adsorption of antibodies results in a considerable modification in the surface properties of the bacteria. Bacterial surface hydrophobicity can be altered significantly through exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics, surfactants, lectins, etc. The effect of these changes on subsequent phagocytic ingestion is discussed.     

岩溶地区不同规模城市遗存山体表面空气负离子及其影响因素——以贵阳市为例

为探索岩溶地区城市遗存山体(urban remnant mountains, URMs)表面空气负离子浓度(negative air ion concentration, NAIC)特征及其影响因素,以贵阳市建成区内22座城市遗存山体为研究对象,通过样地调查法分析了城市遗存山体表面空气负离子浓度空间格局特征,运用单因素方差分析LSD法、pearson相关性及线性回归分析等方法分析了山体规模大小、山体斑块特征、山体平均植被覆盖度、植物物种多样性、植物群落体积生物量、地表辐射、空气温湿度、人为干扰程度、近红外辐射、短波红外辐射及城市遗存山体周边城市景观格局等因素对城市遗存山体表面空气负离子浓度的影响。结果表明：(1)不同规模城市遗存山体的表面空气负离子浓度表现为中型山体>小型山体>大型山体;空气负离子浓度在城市遗存山体坡向上呈东坡面和北坡面大于西坡面和南坡面的两级格局,同一坡向的不同坡位间无明显差异。(2)空气负离子浓度与山体表面温度极显著负相关,与山体表面空气湿度极显著正相关;植物群落体积生物量对城市遗存山体表面空气负离子浓度影响较大,且小型山体表现最明显;植物物种多样性对山...     

Surface thermodynamics of leukocyte and platelet adhesion to polymer surfaces.

Adhesion of leukocytes and platelets to solid substrates of different surface tensions and hence different wettability is studied from a thermodynamic point of view. A simple thermodynamic model predicts that a cellular adhesion should increase with increasing surface tension of the solid substrate if the surface tension of the medium in which the cells are suspended is lower than the surface tension of the cells. If the surface tension of the suspending medium is higher than that of the cells, the opposite behavior is predicted. These predictions are borne out completely by neutrophil adhesion tests, where the surface tension of the aqueous suspending medium is varied by addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Platelet adhesion experiments also confirm these predictions, the only difference being that surface tensions of the suspending medium above that of the platelets cannot be realized, owing to exudation of surface active solutes from the platelets. Utilization of the thermodynamic prediction that cellular adhesion should become independent of the surface tension of the substrate when the surface tensions of the cells and that of the suspending medium are equal leads to a value of the surface tension of neutrophils of 69.0 erg/cm(2), in excellent agreement with the value obtained from contact angles measured on layers of cells.     

Surface domains in the pathogenic protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus.

The quick-freezing and freeze-etching techniques were used to analyze surface domains of Tritrichomonas foetus. The surface of the protozoan body was not smooth, presenting surface projections, except on the flagellar surface. Images of the actual surface of the anterior flagella revealed the presence of intramembranous particles that form rosettes, as observed on the protoplasmic fracture face. They may represent integral transmembrane proteins exposed at the cell surface. Surface specializations were also observed at the flagella base and where the recurrent flagellum attaches to the cell body.     

The sorption surface of roots,as related to the fibrillar structure of cell walls

The root surface determined microscopically amounts only to ten per cent of the surface assayed with methylene blue. This difference is assumed to correspond to the sorption surface of cell wall interfibrillar capillaries. The volume of these capillaries amounts to 0.1 per cent of the total volume of the organ only, but their surface far exceeds the external root surface. It is suggested that the interfibrillar capillaries of the epidermis cell walls constitute the main elements of the root sorption surface.     

Semiconductor theory of ion transport in thin lipid membranes: II. Surface recombination

Following the theory of surface recombination in semiconductors, we have derived an expression for the rate of ion recombination at the membrane surface. The surface recombination rate is used in the boundary conditions of current flows at the interfaces. Expressions for the ion fluxes are then derived as functions of environmental variables and membrane parameters. Our analysis strongly suggests that the ion flow through a thin lipid membrane consists of two major components: the surface barrier jumping current and the surface recombination current that are controlled decisively by surface barrier height, surface trap density and surface recombination rates. These general formulations are useful not only for the calculation but also for the understanding of ion transport in thin lipid membranes under a variety of experimental conditions. The implications of this theory to biological membranes and its possible extensions are discussed.     

Scanning electron microscopy of the infective eggs of Hydatigera taeniaeformis.

Scanning electron microscopy of the outer surface coat of the infective eggs of Hydatigera taeniaeformis examined at high magnifications revealed the presence of scale-like features. At low magnifications the surface of eggs appeared smooth. Eggs that were fractured showed a thick inner surface layer of ridges and striations. A second layer characterized by a smooth membrane surface presumably the basement membrane was observed beneath the innermost surface layer. When the eggs were treated with 0.02 M of EDTA the outer surface coat became distorted and the emerging hooks of the embryo could be seen. Small, spherical bosses were observed on the surface of some eggs. Other eggs possibly at an earlier stage of development contained pit-like depressions.