Enhancement of acetate production by a novel coupled syntrophic acetogenesis with homoacetogenesis process

A novel process was developed and demonstrated that a coupled syntrophic acetogenesis with homoacetogenesis reaction was able to enhance acetate production from high strength synthetic wastewater containing glucose by mixed cultures. A coupling system was constructed with two bioreactors which were connected via a silicon rubber pipe. The first reactor (bioreactor A) was for syntrophic acetogenesis, in which glucose was converted to volatile fatty acids consisting primarily of acetate. The second (bioreactor H) was for homoacetogenesis in which CO₂ and H₂ from bioreactor A were converted to acetate. Acetate yield in the coupling system was 87% higher than that in control 1, in which the homoacetogenesis did not occur. Also, acetate yield in the coupling system was 52% higher than that in control 2, which consisted of only bioreactor A and the gas in the headspace was released manually once a day. Enhancement of acetate production was contributed principally to relieve of the products (H₂ and CO₂) inhibition to syntrophic acetogenesis in bioreactor A, in which the degradation of glucose and the conversion of ethanol were enhanced. This coupling process provides a strategy for increasing acetate production and the degradation rate of the substrate.     

贵州茂兰自然保护区蜻蜓多样性初步研究

2011年7月在贵州茂兰自然保护区的一些比较适合蜻蜓生长的水域附近进行了蜻蜓采集,用静观和网捕法记录采集路线两侧各20m范围内的蜻蜓,鉴定统计后分析其区系成分及多样性.结果表明:1)贵州茂兰地区现有蜻蜓65种,隶属于11科42属;2)东洋界种类较多,有31种,占总数的47.69％;古北界种类相对较少,只有1种,约占总数的1.54％;3)贵州茂兰地区蜻蜓的多样性指数为2.8617,均匀度指数为0.6855,优势度指数为0.1385,优势集中性指数为0.1006;4)5个样点之间的相似性指数均在30％ ～55％之间,且只有捞村与翁昂为53.41％,捞村52.77％大于板王50％,这可能与茂兰地区生境的多样性相对较高,适宜蜻蜓生存的生境多有关.     

Monoclonal antibodies to Escherichia coli F1-ATPase. Correlation of binding site location with interspecies cross-reactivity and effects on enzyme activity

Twenty-one hybridoma cell lines which secret antibodies to the subunits of the Escherichia coli F1-ATPase were produced. Included within the set are four antibodies which are specific for alpha, six for beta, three for gamma, four for delta and four for epsilon. The antibodies were divided into binding competition subgroups. Two such competition subgroups are represented for the alpha, beta, and epsilon subunits, one for delta and three for gamma. The ability to bind intact F1-ATPase was demonstrated for some of the antibodies to alpha and beta, and for all of those to delta, while the antibodies to gamma and epsilon gave unclear results. All of the antibodies to alpha and beta which bound ATPase were found to have effects on the ATPase activity of purified E. coli F1-ATPase. One of those to alpha inhibited activity by about 30%. Another anti-alpha was mildly stimulatory. The four antibodies to beta which bound ATPase inhibited activity by 90%. In contrast, membrane-bound ATPase was hardly affected by the antibodies to alpha, but was inhibited by 40-60% by the antibodies to beta. The other antibodies to alpha and beta bound only free subunits, or partially dissociated ATPase, suggesting that their epitopes are buried between subunits in ATPase. These antibodies had no effects on activity. The ability of the antibodies to recognize ATPase subunits present in crude extracts from mitochondria, chloroplasts, and a variety of bacteria was tested using nitrocellulose blots of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. One anti-beta specifically recognized proteins in the range of 50,000-60,000 daltons in each of the extracts, although the reaction with mitochondrial beta was weak. Some of the other antibodies had limited cross-reaction, but most were specific for the E. coli protein. In some species, those proteins which were recognized by the anti-beta ran with a higher apparent molecular weight than proteins which were recognized by an anti-alpha. All antibodies which exhibited cross-reactivity were found to recognize sites which were not exposed in intact ATPase, implying that the surfaces which lie between subunits are most highly conserved.     

慢性支气管炎患者下呼吸道感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的:研究老年慢性支气管炎患者合并下呼吸道感染病原菌分布以及耐药性。方法:选取2009年1月到2013年12月我院收治的老年慢性支气管炎患者合并下呼吸道感染患者261例,采集所有患者的痰液,然后进行病原菌鉴定和药敏试验。结果:261例患者中,144例革兰阴性杆菌感染(55.2%),51例革兰阳性杆菌感染(19.5%),66例真菌感染(25.3%),其中混合感染者36例(13.8%)。革兰阴性杆菌以肺炎克雷伯菌最多(18.4%),革兰阳性杆菌以金黄色葡萄球菌最多(9.2%)。革兰阴性杆菌对亚胺培南的耐药性最低,其次是头孢哌酮和阿米卡星,对氨苄西林耐药率最高。金黄色葡萄球菌和表皮葡萄球菌对青霉素的耐药率均为100.0%,均对万古霉素敏感,其次是对环丙沙星敏感。结论:老年慢性支气管炎患者合并下呼吸道感染以革兰阴性杆菌感染为主,真菌和混合感染也占一定的比例,应该引起注意。     

Regulation of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase in the submandibular gland of adult rat

Cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase was investigated in the submandibular gland of the adult rat to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of cGMP concentration in this gland. Ca2+ sensitivity was easily demonstrated as in other tissues using EGTA in the buffer for elution from DEAE-cellulose. The presence of inhibitor proteins for basal and calmodulin-activated portions of Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase was suggested. The inhibitor for the basal activity of Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase was deemed to be a heat-labile protein, which decreased Vmax, but had no effect on the Km value for cGMP. The presence of more than one kind of inhibitor for the calmodulin-activated portion of the Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase was also suggested. One of these, which was not absorbed on DEAE-cellulose, was a heat-labile protein which caused an increase of Km for cGMP, but no change of Vmax.     

闽南-台湾浅滩渔场二长棘鲷群体集群行为宏观量化与分析

根据1998年7月到2000年6月闽南-台湾浅滩渔场开展二长棘鲷资源的专项调查资料, 计算出闽南-台湾浅滩渔场二长棘鲷的各月E值, 定量分析其集群行为变化规律。结果表明: 闽南-台湾浅滩二长棘鲷全年月平均E为7.4409108J, 生殖期间12月到翌年3月, 其月平均E 2.4949108J, 是全年月平均E的0.34倍, 鱼群集中; 4-5月, 幼鱼大量出现, 月平均E为4.556108J, 是全年月平均 的0.61倍, 鱼群相对集中; 主要索饵季节6-8月, 月平均E为1.3448109J, 是全年月平均 的1.81倍, 鱼群分散; 9-11月, E分别为1.435109、9.7409108、5.769108J, 分别是全年月平均 的1.93、1.31、0.78倍, 鱼群为适应水温和寻找产卵场, 在外移过程中逐渐集中。可见, 闽南-台湾浅滩二长棘鲷的生殖群体集群性最强, 其次是幼鱼群体、以适应水温和寻找产卵场为目的的群体, 而索饵群体分散。       

Calcium and the assays of human plasma clotting Factor XIII

1. A continuous fluorimetric assay for blood-clotting Factor XIII based on the incorporation of dansylcadaverine into casein was investigated. 2. Hammarsten casein was fractionated to yield the beta-casein, which was dephosphorylated and acetylated to give a substrate which itself did not bind calcium and which was not cross-linked by the activated Factor. 3. The modified beta-casein was used as substrate for a continuous fluorimetric assay and as substrate for the incorporation of radioactive glycine ethylester. 4. A linked fluorimetric assay for the zymogen is described. 5. The K(m) for calcium was redetermined and at 0.2mm was in the physiological range and much lower than the values reported by others using substrates which interact with calcium. 6. The K(m) for casein is about 14mum.     

Efflux of choline and glycine betaine from osmoregulating cells of Escherichia coli

We present evidence that glycine betaine (betaine) which was synthesized from choline was excreted and reaccumulated in osmoregulating cells of Escherichia coli. Choline which was accumulated in bet mutants defective in betaine synthesis was shown to be excreted in response to betaine uptake. Our data suggest that E. coli has efflux systems for betaine and choline which are independent of the uptake systems for these metabolites. The ProU system of E. coli, but not that of Salmonella typhimurium, can mediate low-affinity choline uptake.     

中药内的生物制药——固体发酵工程系列及其真菌药物

概述了我国古今中药内的生物制药工程中唯一的固体发酵生产真菌药物的情况,以神曲、猴头菌及槐耳菌质等为代表说明由"制曲工艺"、"固体培养"到固体发酵的理念与工艺的变化与发展,从"普通型固体发酵"发展到"双向型固体发酵"的范例可推断分析古代制曲工艺在基质中应用中药材的作用,说明其貌似粗糙而可能有潜在深刻的内涵亟待整理发掘。现已存在建立固体发酵系列工程的可能性,更显示了中药宝库的丰富内容和菌物药的价值,对指导研发新真菌药物有一定理论与实际意义。     

Transport of nutrients by a thermophilic bacterium--reconstruction of vesicles from crystalline ATPase or solubilized alanine carrier.

A strain of aerobic thermophilic bacteria was selected in order to purify highly stable membrane proteins and no reconstitute proteoliposomes capable of transporting nutrients from them. These proteins responsible for the transport could be divided into (1) proteins which supply energy to the transporting system, and (2) specific nutrient carriers driven by the energy. The former included a stable ATPase (TF1) and a lipoprotein TF0) which rendered TF1 sensitive to energy transfer inhibitors. The complex of TF0 anlysis of ATP. And one of the latter reported in this paper was alanine carrier protein which was driven by proton movement. TF1 was the first crystallized ATPase in biomembranes, and was reconstituted from its five different polypeptides, two of which were necessary for ATPase activity and four of which, for proton translocation. Purification of alanine carrier and reconstitution of proteoliposomes capable of alanine accumulation were also demonstrated.     

The use of peptide analogs with improved stability and MHC binding capacity to inhibit antigen presentation in vitro and in vivo

The identification of a core region for OVA 323-339, which is critical in determining binding to IAd, has enabled us to generate a series of analog peptides in which this core region was extended at both the N and C termini with different amino acid residues. When assessed for binding capacity, several peptides were shown to have increased affinity for IAd compared with the parent sequence, and in addition, some peptides had acquired binding specificities for class II MHC haplotypes not present for OVA 323-339. These peptides were next examined for their ability to inhibit T cell responses in vitro and in vivo. The correlation between binding and the ability to inhibit T cell activation in vitro was good. However, when assessed in vivo, it was clear that high Ia binding was not sufficient in itself to define the inhibitory capacity of a given peptide. That this discrepancy was due to differences in degradation of the core-extended peptides was suggested by 1) results from an inhibition of Ag presentation assay, in which the pulse period with Ag and inhibitor was extended to 20 h; and 2) direct analysis of peptide stability by using reverse phase HPLC. Finally, by protecting the peptide from degradation with N- and C-terminal substitutions of D-amino acids, the inhibitory capacity of an unstable core-extended peptide in vitro could be greatly enhanced. These data indicate that the core extension approach may be one method by which antagonists for MHC class II molecules may be generated.     

Take percentage and conditions of cultured epithelium were improved when basement membrane of the graft was maintained and anchoring mesh was added

To achieve a higher take rate for epithelial grafts, this study investigated grafting techniques. Seventy-seven nude mice received flap grafting in which cultured human epithelium was grafted inside the flap, and 55 nude rats received transplantation of epithelium to a full-thickness skin defect. In each group, four models were studied, including model 1, in which epithelium was cultured with the conventional method; model 2, in which epithelium was cultured with fibrin gel to avoid sheet damage, then absorptive mesh was incorporated into the epithelium for anchoring to the graft bed; model 3, in which epithelium was cultured with fibrin gel and combined with absorptive mesh and artificial dermis containing fibroblasts; and model 4, in which the model 2 epithelium was grafted after artificial dermis was transplanted. The take for these models was evaluated grossly and histologically. The results show that the take percentage of models 2 and 3 was significantly higher than that of model 1 (conventional epithelium) and that there was no significant difference between model 3 (simultaneous grafting) and model 4 (two-step grafting). The difference in the take percentages of the grafts to the flap and to the full-thickness skin defect was also insignificant. In immunohistochemistry, human keratin appeared in all epidermis layers and diversification of the layer was observed in models 2, 3, and 4. In these three models, type IV collagen appeared in the basal layer and the formation of basal membrane was confirmed. These findings suggest that epithelia cultured on fibrin gel and combined with absorptive mesh could be used in a new technique for better, more stable take.     

Sexual dimorphism in primates: Where are we and where do we go from here?

There are currently several debates taking place in palaeoanthropological circles in which the issue of sexual dimorphism is crucial. During the 60th Jubilee of the discovery of the TaungAustralopithecus skull, the authors concurred that much of the debate was due to differences in perception concerning dimorphism, and it was suggested that a study session dealing principally with sexual dimorphism in Primates should be organised with a view to determining what, if anything, could be observed in extant primates that might be utilised for determining the existence of dimorphism in fossil species. An advertisement was placed in the Journal of Human Evolution, calling for papers. Response was encouraging, suggesting that there was indeed a need for such a meeting, which was organised to take place late in November in Italy. Seventeen scientists sent abstracts, but due to the rather short notice, several were unable to attend the meeting. Nevertheless, papers were received and read at the meeting which form the basis for this issue of the Journal of Human Evolution. What remains to be done now, is for a second meeting to be organised at which the findings of the first meeting can be extended backwards in time into the fossil record.     

Effect of fixation and epitope retrieval on BrdU indices in mammary carcinomas.

Studies in which 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) is used to quantify rates of cell proliferation are conducted prospectively. Therefore, the opportunity exists to select conditions that optimize detection of the BrdU epitope. The objective of this study was to quantify the extent to which the BrdU epitope was masked by formalin vs methacarn fixation in the assessment of cell proliferation. Mammary carcinomas from animals pulse-labeled with BrdU were trisected. A portion was frozen and the remaining two portions were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin or methacarn for 24 hr, processed, embedded in paraffin, and sections stained for incorporated BrdU using a peroxidase immunohistochemical staining technique. Antigen retrieval techniques also were applied to formalin-fixed sections. Fixation in methacarn gave the highest labeling index (16.4%), which was comparable to that observed in unfixed frozen sections (17.5%). Formalin fixation alone dramatically suppressed the labeling index (0.3%), which was only partially recovered using various antigen retrieval techniques (2.1-8.1%). Methacarn fixation is recommended for prospective studies in which BrdU detection is planned because of the quantitative recovery of epitope and the simplicity of the approach.     

A New Design and some Preliminary Results for a Flight Intercept Trap to Sample Forest Canopy Arthropods

With increasing interest in describing the arthropod fauna of rainforest canopies, there is also a need for different trapping techniques which, in combination, will allow a greater proportion of the fauna to be sampled. We describe the design of a flight intercept trap which can be suspended in the rainforest canopy for long periods of time. the flying invertebrate fauna was sampled over 5 months at differing heights in rainforest of northern Queensland using this trap. Invertebrate abundance and higher taxon richness was greatest at the ground level compared to 5 and 10 m above the ground. Similar results were obtained for dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) which were sorted to species. These results contrast with those of other studies using light traps for which insect diversity and abundance was greatest in the rainforest canopy.     

Requirement for double-strand breaks but not for specific DNA sequences in herpes simplex virus type 1 genome isomerization events.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) genome isomerization occurs as a result of DNA replication-mediated homologous recombination between several sets of inverted repeat sequences present in the viral DNA. The frequency with which this recombination occurs has been demonstrated to be dependent upon DNA homology length rather than specific sequences. However, the smallest of the viral inverted repeats, the alpha sequence, has been shown to function as a recombinational hot spot, leading to speculation that this sequence may represent a specific element through which genome isomerization is mediated. To investigate this apparent paradox, a quantitative transient recombination assay system was developed and used to examine the recombinogenic properties of a panel of alpha sequence mutants. This analysis revealed that the presence of both the pac1 and pac2 elements was both necessary and sufficient for the induction of high-frequency recombination events by the alpha sequence. However, it was the double-strand break promoted by pac1 and pac2 during cleavage and packaging at the alpha sequence, and not the DNA sequences of the elements themselves, which appeared to be critical for recombination. This was illustrated (i) by the inability of the same pac1 and pac2 sequences to mediate inversion events in cells infected with an HSV-1 mutant which was competent for DNA replication-dependent recombination but defective for the cleavage and packaging process and (ii) by the ability of double-strand breaks generated in non-HSV-1 DNA by an in vivo-expressed restriction endonuclease to significantly stimulate the initiation of recombination events in virus-infected cells. Thus, the alpha sequence appears to act as a hot spot for homologous recombination simply because it happens to coincide with the site of the double-strand break which is generated during the cleavage and packaging process, not because it contains discrete sequences which are required for this activity. However, it was found that this enhanced recombinogenicity disappeared when the element was flanked by regions of extensive sequence homology, particularly that of the large inverted repeats which flank the alpha sequence at its natural site in the HSV-1 genome. These findings are consistent with a model for HSV-1 genome isomerization in which recombination is initiated primarily by multiple random double-strand breaks which arise during DNA replication across the inverted repeats of the genome, rather than by a single specific break which occurs at the alpha sequence during the cleavage and packaging process.     

Perseverative responding in male and female Wistar rats: effects of gonadal hormones

Response perseveration was investigated in an experimental procedure which has previously been shown to be sensitive to pharmacologically induced behavioral perseveration and response stereotypy. Different groups of intact, gonadectomized, and gonadectomized plus chronically testosterone-treated male and female Wistar rats were exposed to this procedure in which reinforcers were randomly assigned to one of two levers in an operant chamber. One response on the lever to which the reinforcer was assigned was sufficient to produce a food pellet. Response perseveration, defined as the percentage of trials on which more than one response on the lever not selected for reinforcement was made prior to switching to the selected lever was highest in testosterone-treated subjects. Females made more responses on the lever which had been selected for food on the preceding trial, suggesting that females may be more sensitive than males to the consequences of their behavior. This behavioral difference between the sexes may be mediated by the male hormone testosterone.     

A technique for the capture of the warthog, Phacochoerus aethiopicus Pallas

Warthog were captured at holes in which they sleep at night, using a tunnel shaped net which was set at the entrance to occupied holes at dawn. Construction of the net and the manner in which it was set are described. The results of 125 successful captures involving 426 warthog are presented. Percentage of successful capture days was 72%, success per hole attempted was 68% with a mean (± one S.D.) of 3–4±2-0 warthog captured per hole. The largest single catch was of eleven warthog. Mortality due to capture was 1–2%. Times at which holes were blocked, times spent waiting for warthog to emerge and times taken to handle catches are also presented. The method proved to be safe and no injuries were incurred by members of the catching team which usually comprised twelve to fifteen men. The technique was used primarily to mark animals for later identification but was also used successfully as a management tool. No tranquillizing or immobilizing drugs were used on captured animals. Alternative techniques for catching warthog are discussed briefly.     

红火蚁入侵草坪过程中蚂蚁类群变动趋势

观察研究了红火蚁入侵草坪之后蚂蚁群落结构的变动趋势。对各处理区在不同时期的蚂蚁优势种进行了分析,结果表明,与对照区相比红火蚁入侵后各处理区的蚂蚁优势种发生了明显改变,红火蚁替代了原来的优势蚂蚁种类,并在数量上占主导地位,而且各处理区的蚂蚁类群多样性、均匀度降低,优势度明显增大。通过分析红火蚁入侵过程中各处理区的蚂蚁类群相似性,表明轻度发生区与对照区的蚂蚁类群相似性系数q一直处在0.25-0.50之间,为中等不相似;中度发生区与对照区的蚂蚁类群相似性系数q一直处在0.075-0.444之间,为中等不相似或极不相似;重度发生区与对照区的蚂蚁类群相似性系数q一直处在0.0-0.222之间,为极不相似,这也说明了不同的红火蚁危害程度对本地蚂蚁类群结构的影响是不同的,红火蚁种群数量越大,对本地蚂蚁类群的影响也越大,排挤或取代它们所需要的时间也越短。     

Parthenogenetic activation of mouse and rabbit eggs by electric stimulation in vitro

The present study was undertaken to determine conditions for parthenogenetic activation of mouse and rabbit eggs by electric stimulation in vitro. The cumulus-free eggs were submitted to square direct current pulses at output voltage of 1.0 to 2.5 kV/cm for 25 to 200 μsec. The best conditions for the activation of mouse eggs were 1.5 kV/cm for 100 μsec, in which 78% of eggs were activated, 32% of which developed to blastocysts in vitro. When the nonelectric solution (0.3M mannitol) was used for electric stimulation, the activation rate was quite low (16%). Optimal conditions for activation of rabbit eggs were 1.5 kV/cm for 200 μsec, in which 77% of eggs were activated, 25% of which developed to blastocysts. Unlike mouse eggs, rabbit eggs frequently had three pronuclei after electric stimulation. It is clearly shown that electric stimulus can induce parthenogenetic activation of the mouse and rabbit eggs in vitro.