Selectivity-Enhancement of Hydrolase Reactions

This review pinpoints the strategies which can be employed to improve the enantio- and diasteroselectivity of hydrolytic enzymes, i.e. esterases, proteases, and lipases. The influence of variations of reactants, — enzyme and substrate — and conditions — kinetics, medium, temperature, pH — on the chiral recognition process of the enzyme is discussed with examples from the recent literature.     

城市污泥生物好氧发酵对有机污染物的降解及其影响因素

分析了国内部分城市脱水污泥中几种主要有机污染物浓度,PAHs含量为1.156—34.940mg/kg,PCBs含量为0—115.730mg/kg;PCDD/Fs含量为9.530—22.900 ngTEQ/g干泥,NP含量为177.000mg/kg。提出要实现污泥安全、环保的土地利用,可采用生物好氧发酵技术降解污泥中的有机污染物,降低污泥在土地利用时有机污染物带来的环境风险。同时通过优化污泥生物好氧发酵控制条件:C/N值范围为25∶1—40∶1,温度在30—55℃,氧气浓度5%—15%,强制通风量控制在1.5—2.0m3.min-1.t-1(干泥)左右,pH6—9,混料含水率为50%—65%,经生物好氧发酵后的污泥施用土地,可以大大降低污泥在土地利用时的环境风险,避免污泥资源化利用带来的二次污染问题。     

西藏台错古湖晚第四纪轮藻类及其生态环境、气候变化探讨

西藏台错TT-1剖面厚369 cm,为一套碳酸盐粘土和粘土碳酸盐沉积,地层测年为41.4-4.5 ka,含丰富的轮藻化石,分属于11个轮藻植物群,群落所在地层的碳酸盐和钙质含量分别为80％和33％.从老到新(剖面自下而上):①41.4-26.64 ka(369-319 cm),处于末次冰期间冰阶MIS3a暖期,湖区气候...     

Weights and measures of Ugandan pelicans with some seasonal variations

Samples of White and Pink-backed Pelicans from the Rwenzori National Park, Uganda were weighed and measured. The results are given below as mean values in the order of male and female White Pelicans and male and female Pink-backed Pelicans. Only a few measurements were taken of female White Pelicans. Further details given in the Tables include sample size, standard deviation and range. Linear measurements (cm): total body length:— 177.3, 136.7, 146.9, 134.0; tail length:—18.1, -, 17.2, 16.6; tarsometatarsus:— 14.2, -, 9.6, 8.7: cu1men:— 41.8, 31.4, 35.7, 30.5; lower mandible:— 49.3, -, 40.3, 34.6; wing span:— 285.8, 246.4, 233.9, 224.2; wing length:— 136.5, -, 112.9, 105.8; standard wing length:— 70.2, -, 60.5, 56.0; chord:— 70.8, -, 35.5, 34.3; aspect ratio:— 4.0, -, 6.6, 6.6; weights (gm unless stated otherwise): total weight (kg);— 11.45, 7.59, 5.97, 4.92; adrenal (mg):— 647.2, 531–0, 401.2, 352.4; heart:— 100.1, -, 49.9, 39.5; kidney:— 40.9, -, 23.6, 23.4; liver:—258.2, 176.5, 128.5, 110.4; lung:— 60.3, –, 29.1, 30.0; pancreas:— 15.2, -, 7.1, 5.3; pectoralis major:— 731.9, -, 389.0, 313.9; pectoralis minor:— 51.8, -, 27.6, 24.3; pituitary (mg):— 40.6, 39.1, 37.4, 37.5; spleen:— 12.7, -, 12.3, 10.1. There was no significant difference between the species in the proportional weights of the organs. Seasonal variations were found in the weights of testes, ovaries, oviducts and fat deposits. Changes in weight of the reproductive organs of the Pink-backed Pelican showed a clear correlation with the breeding cycle. The testes of the migratory White Pelican appeared to be inactive while the birds were in the park. The amount of fat laid down could be directly related to seasonal fluctuations in the food supply. The degree of development of the head crest was greatest during the breeding season in the Pink-backed Pelican and during the second quarter of the year in the White Pelican. 58.6% of the White Pelicans showed traces of colouration on the breast.     

Fossil forms of Amentiferae

Review of the procedures used in determining fossil plant organs indicates that the many Cretaceous records of extant genera of “Amentiferae” based on leaves should be rejected as theoretically unreliable. Palynological data, in combination with some valid megafossil data, indicate that most recognizable members of “Amentiferae” are no older than the later part of the Late Cretaceous. Juglandales appear to be derivatives of the ancient Normapolles complex and unrelated to other “Amentiferae.” A preliminary account of some of the comparative foliar morphology of extant “Amentiferae” indicates that some—particularly Betulaceae and Fagaceae—are closely related to Hamamelidales but that other families—notably Rhoipteleaceae, Juglandaceae, Didymelaceae, and Leitneriaceae—are unrelated to this order.     

Distribution of blood antigens A, B, and D, in the population of Bogotá (Analysis of 30,000 samples)

As tested by anti-A and anti-B sera, blood drawn from 30,000 inhabitans of Bogotá, Colombia, showed the following phenotype percentages: A — 26.5, B — 8.0, AB — 1.1, and O — 64.4. The allele frequencies were: A — 0.150, B — 0.048, and O — 0.802. In the same samples anti-D (Rh₀) was used: 94.6% of the individuals carried the D antigen. All bloods were typed with fresh commercial sera. No back-typing was performed. Hemolytic disease of the newborn, caused by Rh-Hr isoimmunization, is more frequent (0.40%) in Bogotá than should be expected for a population having only (5.4%) or less “Rh negative” individuals. This paradoxical fact was observed in the analysis of 12,672 deliveries in an obstetrical hospital of Bogotá. A possible explanation could be the multiparity of Colombian women since the possibility of isoimmunization and hemolytic disease increases with each succeeding pregnancy in a given woman. Also it is well established that when Rh-Hr incompatibility is combined with ABO incompatibility, it is less apt to produce disease than when it occurs alone. AO isoimmunization should therefore be less frequent in Bogotá than in populations that have a higher frequency of A individuals. Thus, the women of Bogotá are less “protected” from Rh-Hr immunization by ABO incompatibility.     

Phosphorus metabolism during ripening ofGlycine max. (L.)Merril

The seeds, seed covers and leaves, taken after 17, 27, 37, and 47 days after tagging of flowers of soybean, were analysed quantitatively for their contents of different phosphorus fractions. Total phosphorus content increased in seed cover and leaves, there was a gradual decrease during ripening. All the phosphorus fractions i.e. acid soluble—P, lipid—P, nucleic acid—P, and protein—P were found to increase with maturity in seeds whereas in case of seed covers the content of acid soluble—P, nucleic acid—P and protein—P decreased but a marked increase was observed in lipid—P. In leaves during ripening, all the phosphorus fractions decreased except protein—P which was found to be almost constant. In lipid—P an increase was observed during later stages of maturity.     

Determination of Quinidine and its major metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography

A specific and precise assay, capable of quantitating in human plasma simultaneously but separately quinidine, dihydroquinidine and the quinidine metabolites 2′-quinidinone, 3-OH-quinidine and a third metabolite found — tentatively identified as the product formed by rearrangement of quinidine-N-oxide — is reported. The assay uses a normal phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) system with a variable-wavelength UV detector at 235 nm and has a limit of sensitivity at approximately 20 ng/ml. The mobile phase consists of hexanes—ethanol—ethanolamine (91.5:8.47:0.03). A 2-ml plasma sample is worked up by adding primaquine base as an internal standard and extracting with ether—dichloromethane—isopropanol (6:4:1). The organic extract is evaporated and the residue reconstituted in 100—600 μl of mobile phase and an aliquot injected onto the column.Comparison of this procedure with the Edgar and Sokolow (dichloroethane) extraction—fluorescence procedure and with the Cramer and Isaksson (benzene) double extraction—fluorescence assay indicates that both fluorescence procedures give quinidine concentrations up to 2.3 times those determined by HPLC. These discrepancies were shown to be due to carry-over of metabolites and some extraneous background fluorescence.     

草鱼种无机盐需要量之研究

应用正交法设计进行了三批草鱼种对钙、磷、镁、铁等无机盐元素需要量饲养试验.在此基础上又设计进行了两批以三池平行为一组的鉴别试验.经数理统计分析,获得了草鱼种饲料适宜混合无机盐含量,草鱼种对钙、磷等13种无机盐元素的适宜需要量,以及适宜比例.取得了比哈尔佛Halver氏鱼类营养盐(美国药典U.S.P.Ⅻ.No.2营养盐加哈尔佛微量元素)更适于草鱼种生长需要的新型混合无机盐.试验表明,对草鱼种生长影响比较大的无机盐元素是钙、磷、铁、硫、镁和钴.适宜的混合无机盐对草鱼种生长具有显著的促进作用,不适宜的混合无机盐或缺乏无机盐则草鱼种食欲差,生长缓慢,蛋白质效率低,出现营养缺乏症状.草鱼种对无机盐的需要表明,它不同于已有报道的大鳞大马哈鱼、斑点叉尾鮰、虹鳟、鲤、红海鲷、日本鳗、溪红点鲑,以及非鲫等.所作鱼体背肌、脊柱和血液的生化成分分析表明,第四、五批试验所养草鱼种与常规用草饲养的草鱼种基本一致.       

Phytoliths of six woody species important in the Carpathians: characteristic phytoliths in Norway spruce needles

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany - Phytoliths—also known as plant opals—are preserved in soils and sediments and have taxonomical relevance, therefore phytoliths can be fingerprints...     

ATP-induced quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in chloroplasts of higher plants. Dependence on structural properties of the membranes

The ATP-induced quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in chloroplasts of higher plants is shown to be inhibited when the mobility of the protein complexes into the thylakoid membranes is reduced. Its occurrence also requires the presence of LHC complexes and the ability of the membranes to unstack. These observations, in addition to a slight increase of charge density of the surface—as indicated by 9-aminoacridine fluorescence and high salt-induced chlorophyll fluorescence studies—and partial unstacking of the membranes—as monitored by digitonin method and 540 nm light scattering changes—after phosphorylation, suggest that the ATP-induced quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence could reflect some lateral redistribution of membrane proteins in the lipid matrix of the thylakoids.     

Detection of lymphotoxin produced in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC): variation in target cell sensitivity

In an attempt to resolve some of the uncertainty as to whether soluble cytotoxin—lymphotoxin (LT)—is produced in mixed leukocyte cultures (MLC), we established one-way MLC between the lymphocytes of normal individuals and two lines of lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL). Cell-free culture fluid harvested after 5 days was tested for LT employing not only the stimulating LCL cells as targets, but also two lines of cells known to be sensitive to LT. The LCL cells—RPMI 8866 and NHDL-2—were found to be completely resistant to LT under the conditions of our assay. By contrast, when the sensitive cells were used in the cytotoxicity assay, LT was readily detected. These results emphasize the importance of intrinsic target cell sensitivity in the study of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxic phenomena and raise questions as to the mechanism whereby cells may be resistant to LT.     

Recurrence of the unfit

Domination among strategies in an evolutionary game implies that the geometric mean of the frequencies of certain strategies—the unfit—approaches zero. However, as we show by example no one strategy need be eliminated in the limit.     

Crystal Structure of 1-(2′,3′,5′-Tri -O-Acetyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-3-acetoxy-2-pyridone: An Antitumour Agent

Abstract

1–C3′, 3′, 5′–Tri—O—acetyl— β—D—ribof uranosyll)—3—acetoxy —2—pyridone,crystallised in space group P2 with z=2 and cell parameters a=12. 446(2), b=10. 415(2), c=7. 600(2) A, β=03. 3O(4). The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full—matrix least—squares to a final R value of 0·251 for 1847 observed reflections. The sugar—pucker is found to be ³ECC3′ endo) with P = 17.7° and x_CN=170. 2(2)° in the range. The C4′-C5′ conformation is gauche minus. Because of the absence of H—bond donor atoms. the crystal structure is stabilised by a network of C-H—-O close contacts. No base stacking is observed.     

Controlling Electric Field and Photoemission at the Tips of Triangular Gold Antennas

Plasmonics - We show that the fields of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs)—excited by infrared ultrafast laser light—can be highly concentrated at the corners of thin, micron-scale gold...     

黄土高原半湿润区气候变化对冬小麦生长发育及产量的影响

利用黄土高原半湿润区西峰农业气象试验站冬小麦生长发育定位观测资料、加密观测和对应平行气象观测资料,分析气候变化对冬小麦生长发育的影响,以及冬小麦穗干重生长与气象条件的关系。结果表明,研究区域降水量年际变化呈波动变化,20世纪90年代降水量最少。降水量存在3、8a的年际周期变化。气温年际变化呈上升趋势,气温变化曲线线性拟合倾向率为0.325℃/10a。作物生长季干燥指数呈显著上升趋势,干燥指数变化曲线线性拟合倾向率为0.069/10a,20世纪90年代至2010年明显趋于暖干化。受气候变暖的影响,冬小麦播种期每10 a推后2—3d,返青期每10a提前4—5 d,开花期和成熟期每10a提前5—6 d。冬小麦越冬期每10a缩短5—6 d、全生育期每10a缩短7—8 d。冬小麦返青后第83天开始,穗干重的生长由缓慢转为迅速生长阶段,从返青后第101天开始,其生长从迅速生长又转为缓慢生长,在返青后的第87天,穗的干物质积累速度最大。由于气候变暖,冬小麦生育期大部分时段热量充足。播种—越冬前和拔节—开花期产量对气温变化的响应十分敏感;降水量的影响函数同温度的影响函数呈反相位分布,除成熟期降水量对产量形成为负效应外,其余时段降水量对产量影响均为正效应,而在冬小麦播种期和返青—拔节期产量对降水量变化的响应也十分敏感。     

Induced pluripotent stem cells and senescence: learning the biology to improve the technology

The discovery that adult somatic cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent cells by expressing a combination of factors associated with pluripotency holds immense promise for a wide range of biotechnological and therapeutic applications. However, some hurdles—such as improving the low reprogramming efficiencies and ensuring the pluripotent potential, genomic integrity and safety of the resulting cells—must be overcome before induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be used for clinical purposes. Several groups have recently shown that key tumour suppressors—such as members of the p53 and p16^INK4a/retinoblastoma networks—control the efficiency of iPSC generation by activating cell‐intrinsic programmes such as senescence. Here, we discuss the implications of these discoveries for improving the safety and efficiency of iPSC generation, and for increasing our understanding of different aspects of basic biology—such as the control of pluripotency or the mechanisms involved in the generation of cancer stem cells.     

REPRODUCTIVE PERIODICITY OF THE SEA URCHIN,TRIPNEUSTES GRATILLA (L.) IN TAIWAN COMPARED WITH OTHER REGIONS

An annual reproductive periodicity of Tripneustes gratilla in northern Taiwan is revealed by both the gonad development stages and the gonad index. The gonads of T. gratilla recovered from spawning in February—March, propagated gametocytes in April—June, came to prematurity in July—August, and matured in September—November. Spawning occurred in October—December. The breeding pattern of T. gratilla over a broad geographical area appears to be related to seasonal changes of sea temperatures.     

Bovine Mycoplasmas: Classification of Groups Related to Mycoplasma Mycoides

Mycoplasmas which had in various ways proved to be related to Mycoplasma mycoides were studied with a view to classification and nomenclature. Representative strains of M. mycoides — subspecies mycoides (PG1) and subspecies capri (PG3) — and of the as yet unclassified bovine serogroups 7 (PG50) and L (B144P) were compared serologically and by DNA-DNA hybridization. The serological methods used (metabolism inhibition, growth inhibition and immunofluorescence) are usually considered to be species-specific. Conclusions drawn on the basis of the premises just mentioned give rise to a dilemma, because three different situations exist. In (1), significant serological differences were disclosed, but the DNA homology was great. In (2), the serogroups 7 and L showed conformity between hybridization and serological findings, whereas, in (3), hybridization showed a distinct separation, but a serological cross-reaction does occur. If the results of hybridization are regarded as decisive, the two subspecies of M. mycoides can be preserved, but this is at variance with the general perception that the serological methods used here are species-specific. If, on the other hand, the serological results are chosen to be decisive, PG1 and PG3 must be regarded as two separate species, and consequently Group L/7 may also be a separate species. As regards the relation between group L/7 and M. bovigenitalium, the results of hybridization clearly show that they are two different species. As a consequence of this, it must be accepted that cross-reactions may occur — also in growth inhibition — between different species which, genetically, are even far removed from each other. On account of the fundamental nature of these problems, the authors prefer to leave the decisions — also as to the nomenclature — to the Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Mycoplasmatales.