稀土离子与Ca2+在生物体内的相互作用机制及应用

稀土元素在生物领域内的研究,可以分为两个方面：稀土的生物效应和稀土在其它研究中的应用。稀土元素的生物效应,集中在动物和医学领域。     

稀土抗菌效应及应用的研究进展

稀土元素具有多种生物效应, 除了对农作物的增产作用外, 在医药方面还具有抗菌的作用, 近年来, 不少学者针对稀土元素的抗菌效应展开了相关的研究。本文介绍了稀土在抗菌领域的研究及应用, 包括稀土化合物对微生物生长的Hormesis效应、稀土化合物与抗生素的协同作用、稀土配合物的合成、以及稀土在抗菌材料上的应用等几个方面的内容, 并对稀土化合物及其配合物的抗菌机理进行了探讨, 最后, 展望了稀土化合物及配合物在抗菌领域的应用前景及研究重要性。     

稀土元素在小麦体内分配行为的研究

采用水培,土培试验及中子活化分析技术,在作物生长效应曲线研究的基础上,系统地研究了稀土远征顷作物体内的含量、吸收、分布和转移等行为。所获结果表明,名稀土元素在作物体现人的分配行为受生物的内外因素与稀土来源、自身特征和元素间关系的影响,是作物稀土元素分配行为已有研究成果的重要补充与深化,并为土壤施用稀土元素提供促进一步的科学依据。     

稀土离子与Ca~(2 )在生物体内的相互作用机制及应用

１概述稀土元素能与许多分子形成配合物,其中许多配合物在生物学和医学上具有重要的意义。可与稀土元素形成配合物的生物大分子有蛋白质、核酸,还包括构成它们的结构单元（氨基酸、核苷酸和糖类等）。稀土对生物所具有的生物效应已有许多报道。它能参与或干扰生物体内细胞的物质代谢和生物合成的许多过程。随着科学技术的不断发展,人们对稀土的生物效应的研究也逐渐深入到分子水平。钙在许多生理过程中有决定性作用,如防止膜的损伤和泄漏,增强细胞壁的结构和连接,特别是钙和磷脂的联结,可保护膜的完整性,调节联结膜的功能。钙是细胞…     

稀土元素对生物机体剂量效应的研究

综述了稀土元素对生物机体的剂量效应,包括稀土对生物体生长发育、内分泌系统、体内分布及其引发的疾病、细胞毒性及抗诱变、抗癌等影响,以期为稀土在生物学领域的进一步应用提供参考.     

稀土元素对生物机体剂量效应机理的研究

综述了稀土元素对生物机体剂量效应的机理,从稀土对细胞质膜、细胞周期及细胞凋亡、CaM水平调节的作用到对蛋白质、DNA的影响等不同层次和水平进行了探讨,以期为稀土在生物学领域的进一步广泛应用奠定理论基础.     

稀土元素对植物的生物效应及其作用机理

综述了稀土元素对植物根系发育、生物量、品质和抗逆性的影响.适量稀土浓度可促进植物生长,提高种子萌发能力和根系发育,提高植物生物量,并改善植物果实的品质.施用适量稀土元素还可以增强植物的抗逆性并且对一些植物病害有一定防治作用.介绍了植物对稀土元素的吸收特性和稀土元素在植物体内的含量、分布、存在形式及细胞定位.重点探讨了稀土元素对植物光合作用、叶绿素形成、植物吸收营养元素、稀土元素与钙相关性和稀土元素对细胞膜及酶的作用机理,内容包括稀土元素可提高植物叶绿素含量,增强光合效率,从而增加植物生物量.适量的稀土元素能够促进植物对营养元素的吸收、转化和利用.稀土元素有类似钙的功能,可置换出酶中的钙离子而参与酶的反应.稀土离子可以维持细胞膜的透性和稳定性,提高膜的保护功能,增强植物对不良环境的抵御能力.最后,对稀土元素的研究前景进行了展望.     

稀土元素的生物安全性探讨

采用微核检测、单细胞凝胶电泳、同工酶等技术研究了稀土元素遗传毒理效应的有关结果。大量试验表明,稀土元素断裂DNA的能力,因而在一定浓度范围内,稀土元素确有致突变性。稀土元素在土壤中可专性吸附、不可降解,在动植物和人体皆有累积效应,因此稀土元素的生物安全性值得深入探讨。     

长期喷施稀土对土壤-植物(小麦)系统中稀土元素分布、累积及运移的影响

在我国施用稀土时间最长的黑龙江省花园农场,研究比较了施用稀土12 a和不施稀土的对照处理上小麦和土壤中的稀土元素的分布、累积及运移.结果表明,长期叶面喷施稀土并未造成耕层土壤和下部土层的稀土元素的累积.成熟期小麦植株各部位的稀土元素含量顺序为根>叶>茎、壳;稀土元素主要累积在根部,其次是叶,茎和壳累积较少.喷施处理小麦根部的稀土元素累积量高于对照,叶部也有此趋势,而茎、壳等部位差异不大.根、茎、叶、壳稀土元素分布模式与土壤中相似,与施用的常乐稀土差别较大;长期喷施稀土未曾造成籽粒中稀土元素的明显累积.     

稀土及其配合物在生物医药上的研究进展

稀土属于化学周期表中镧系元素,具有独特生物活性,能与具有特定生理活性的配体形成稀土配合物。简要归纳了稀土配合物的种类及特点,并阐述了稀土及其配合物在细菌,真菌,癌细胞,正常细胞和病毒方面的生物效应,指出稀土及其配合物在生物医药领域方面有很大的应用前景。     

Stoffwechsel von Propylenglykol im Pansen von Kühen

The present study which includes two feeding experiments was performed to investigate a possible performance enhancing effect of rare earth elements (REE) in piglets. This performance enhancing effect has been described in the Chinese literature for a long time, however, it was never tested under “western conditions”;. In the first feeding experiment 72 piglets at a mean BW of 7.3 kg were allotted to a control and to 4 REE groups at different levels of lanthanum chloride or an REE mixture containing mainly chlorides of lanthanum, cerium and praseodymium. The experimental period lasted 5 weeks. Positive effects of REE were found on body weight gain as well as on feed conversion ratio of the piglets. Compared to the control group, the daily weight gain was improved by 2 to 5% and feed conversion was better by up to 7%. These effects were, however, not significant. In the second feeding experiment, piglets (mean BW 17.3 kg) were fed for 8 weeks with a similar REE mixture. Significant positive effects of REE were found on both body weight gain and on feed conversion ratio by 19% and 10%, respectively. This is the first time that a performance enhancing effect of REE in pigs under western feeding conditions has been shown. Since the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed has been restricted in the European Union recently, rare earth elements might be of interest as new, safe and inexpensive alternative performance enhancers.     

Determinants of resting energy expenditure in obese and non-obese children and adolescents

Resting energy expenditure (REE) is the largest component of total daily energy expenditure. Objectives of this study were to examine whether differences in REE exist after obesity develops in a group of children and adolescents, and to determine the effects of body composition, gender, age, pubertal development and parental obesity on REE. In 116 Caucasian children and adolescents (57 obese and 59 non-obese), aged 7.8 to 16.6 years, REE was assessed by open-circuit indirect calorimetry and different anthropometric variables and bioelectrical impedance were obtained (weight, height, skinfold thicknesses, waist and hip circumferences). Anthropometric indices and body compartments were calculated: the body mass index, surface area (SA), fat-free mass (FFM), fat-mass (FM) and percentage of FM. Differences between obese and non-obese subjects were tested and stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed with REE as dependent variable. Results show that REE was significantly higher in obese than in non-obese children and adolescents but REE/FFM ratio was not significantly different between these groups. In the non-obese group, FFM explained 73.1% of the variability in REE and gender, age and SA added 3.8%, 2.6%, and 2.6% to it, respectively. In the obese group, FFM was also the most powerful predictor of REE with 72.3%, followed by waist circumference and age with 2.5% and 2.1%, respectively. These results show that REE differences between obese and lean children do not seem to justify the maintenance of obesity. The main determinant of REE is FFM in both groups. No significant contribution of FM, pubertal development or parental obesity in REE was found in children and adolescents.     

低剂量混合稀土积累对黄褐土微生物主要类群的生态效应

采用田间小区试验和室内低剂量模拟叠加试验相结合的方法,研究低剂量混合稀土在黄褐土中积累对土壤微生物主要类群的生态效应．结果表明,低剂量稀土的持续积累对土壤细菌、放线菌产生刺激、抑制、再刺激的交替作用;对真菌也产生类似的作用,但抑制作用不显著,而刺激作用持续、明显．混合稀土对3类土壤微生物数量抑制程度顺序为：细菌>放线菌>霉菌．稀土积累至150mg·kg^-1时,土壤各类微生物的种群结构均发生显著的改变,耐稀土微生物数量大幅度增加,细菌中的G^-细菌、链霉菌的白孢类群、真菌中青霉分别成为优势种群．对低浓度稀土积累的田问土壤微生物学参数模拟计算结果表明,稀土对土壤细菌、放线菌和真菌的EC50(半抑制浓度)值分别为24．1、41．6～73．8和55．3～150．1mg·kg^-1,30mg·kg^-1值可以初步确定为稀土在黄褐土中积累的安全临界值．     

1,3,5-Trisubstituted aryls as highly selective PPARdelta agonists

A series of highly potent and selective PPARdelta agonists is described using the known non-selective ligand GW2433 as a structural template. Compound 1 is bioavailable, potent (10 nM), and shows no cross-activity with other PPAR subtypes up to 10 microM, making it a useful tool in studying the biological effects of selective PPARdelta activation.     

Visualizations for taxonomic and phylogenetic trees

MOTIVATION: Despite substantial efforts to develop and populate the back-ends of biological databases, front-ends to these systems often rely on taxonomic expertise. This research applies techniques from human-computer interaction research to the biodiversity domain. RESULTS: We developed an interactive node-link tool, TaxonTree, illustrating the value of a carefully designed interaction model, animation, and integrated searching and browsing towards retrieval of biological names and other information. Users tested the tool using a new, large integrated dataset of animal names with phylogenetic-based and classification-based tree structures. These techniques also translated well for a tool, DoubleTree, to allow comparison of trees using coupled interaction. Our approaches will be useful not only for biological data but as general portal interfaces.     

Rare earth element, Al, and Sc partition between soil and Caatinger wood grown in north-east Brazil by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Seven representative wood species constituting Caatinger forest in north-east Brazil were chosen to analyze La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Yb, Sc, and Al by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Soil profiles were prepared where the trees were downed. Then soil and root samples from each horizontal soil layer, as well as the upper part of the wood, ground-level bark, and the bark at 1 m above were collected. In woods, the rare earth element (REE) was found to be mainly accumulated in root, which concentration was in the same order as that of soil. In all samples, concentration of La and Ce were found to be about ten times higher than those of the other REEs. The REE accumulation became higher, in both root and soil, in the order of La, Ce, and Sm. The partition rate of La and Eu was higher from soil to root, whereas Ce tended to be concentrated from root to bark. In the case of bark, there was no tendency of specific REE accumulating from ground level to the upper part. The correlation of La concentration to the other REE was higher in root than that of corresponding soil. Roots also showed higher correlation of REE to Al and Sc than that of soil or bark.     

Diagnosis and follow-up of inborn errors of amino acid metabolism: Use of proton magnetic resonance of biological fluids

Summary Proton magnetic resonance spectra of biological fluids such as urine, plasma and cerebro-spinal fluid can be used for multi-component analysis of highly concentrated species, thus providing information about the general metabolism of the patient. Hydrogen containing analytes in concentration higher than 10µM are indeed often detectable in biological fluid in 15 minutes by means of an unexpensive 200 MHz spectrometer essentially without sample manipulation. Amino acids, keton bodies, organic acids and other metabolites can be easily estimated by this approach; consequently this technique represents a powerful tool particularly in the diagnosis of inborn errors of amino acid metabolism, when improving the prognosis often depends on a very early diagnosis and on an effective method for monitoring the effects of therapy.In the present paper, several cases of inherited diseases related to amino acid impaired metabolism will be presented to illustrate the importance in the diagnosis. Phenylketonuria, tyrosinemia, cystinuria, ornithinemia, argininosuccinic aciduria, maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), alkaptonuria, lysinuria and other genetic pathologies were in fact unambiguously and rapidly diagnosed by means of the identification in the biological fluids of the relevant accumulating amino acids and/or of their metabolites. The proposed technique is suitable to become, in the future, a useful routine tool for a wide neonatal screening.     

Resting Energy Expenditure in Obese African American and Caucasian Women

The prevalence of obesity among African American women approaches 50% and greatly exceeds rates for Caucasian women. In addition, black women lose less weight than white during obesity treatment and gain more weight when untreated. This study assessed resting energy expenditure (REE) and body composition in obese white (n=122) and black (n=44) women to explore the relationship between biological variables and these observed differences. REE and body composition were assessed by indirect calorimetry and densitometry, respectively, before weight loss. REE was significantly lower in black subjects (1637.6 ± 236.9 kcal/d) than in white (1731.4 ± 262.0) (p=0.04). REE remained significantly lower in blacks than whites after adjusting for body weight (p=0.02). REE, adjusted for fat-free mass, was also significantly lower in blacks than whites (p<0.0001), although the overestimation of fat-free mass by densitometry in blacks may have contributed to this finding. There were no differences between the groups in respiratory quotient. These results suggest that a decreased REE may exist in obese black women, and it may be related to the observed differences between black and white women in the prevalence of obesity and in the response to weight loss treatment. These crosssectional findings await confirmation in longitudinal studies.     

Recovery and Separation of Rare Earth Elements Using Salmon Milt

Recycling rare earth elements (REEs) used in advanced materials such as Nd magnets is important for the efficient use of REE resources when the supply of several REEs is limited. In this work, the feasibility of using salmon milt for REE recovery and separation was examined, along with the identification of the binding site of REEs in salmon milt. Results showed that (i) salmon milt has a sufficiently high affinity to adsorb REEs and (ii) the adsorption capacity of the milt is 1.04 mEq/g, which is comparable with that of commercial cation exchange resin. Heavier REEs have higher affinity for milt. A comparison of stability constants and adsorption patterns of REEs discussed in the literature suggests that the phosphate is responsible for the adsorption of REE in milt. The results were supported by dysprosium (Dy) and lutetium (Lu) L_III-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The REE-P shell was identified for the second neighboring atom, which shows the importance of the phosphate site as REE binding sites. The comparison of REE adsorption pattern and EXAFS results between the milt system and other adsorbent systems (cellulose phosphate, Ln-resin, bacteria, and DNA-filter hybrid) revealed that the coordination number of phosphate is correlated with the slope of the REE pattern. The separation column loaded with milt was tested to separate REE for the practical use of salmon milt for the recovery and separation of REE. However, water did not flow through the column possibly because of the hydrophobicity of the milt. Thus, sequential adsorption–desorption approach using a batch-type method was applied for the separation of REE. As an example of the practical applications of REE separation, Nd and Fe(III) were successfully separated from a synthetic solution of Nd magnet waste by a batch-type method using salmon milt.     

Effect of graded levels of rare earth elements in diets of fattening bulls on growing and slaughtering performance, and on nutrient digestibility of wethers

The aim of the present dose response study was to examine the long-term effects of increasing the amounts of rare earth elements (REE) in the diet on growth and slaughtering performance of fattening bulls. A total of 48 bulls of German Holstein with an average initial live weight (LW) of 119 + 13 kg were divided into four dietary treatment groups (n = 12): a control group and three REE-treated groups, which were fed a supplement of 100, 200 and 300 mg REE-citrate per kg dry matter (DM) containing mainly cerium (57.9%), lanthanum (34.0%) and praseodymium (6.5%). The feeding trial was divided into a growing period for 8 weeks and a fattening period for 39 weeks. The growing diet consisted of concentrate, grass silage and grass hay, while the fattening diet consisted of concentrate and maize silage. The animals were slaughtered at approximately 556 kg LW. The intake of grass hay and maize silage (0.55-0.31 kg/d and 6.09-5.44 kg/d, respectively) decreased linearly (p < 0.05) with increasing REE-citrate supplementation, while LW gain showed only a numerical decrease during the growing (2-4%) and the fattening period (4-5%). The feed-to-gain ratio and ME-to-gain ratio were not significantly affected by REE treatment during the whole feeding trial. The most striking effect of REE on carcass characteristics was a significantly higher dressing percentage in Group C (200 mg REE citrate kg/DM) compared to the other groups, while no effects were found on liver, kidneys, heart, thymus, pancreas, spleen and thyroid gland weights. The digestibility trials with wethers indicate that a supplementation of 300 mg REE-citrate per kg DM to a ration consisting of concentrate and straw does not enhance the digestibility of nutrients. These results suggest that, under the conditions of the present study, the supplementation of fattening bull diets with REE cannot be recommended.