Biomarker indications for microbial contribution to Recent and Late Jurassic carbonate deposits

Summary Biomarker investigations were applied to the hydrocarbon fractions of three Recent (cyanobacterial mat, Lake Van microbialite and Lake Satonda microbialite) and two Late Jurassic carbonate samples obtained from sponge bioherms. The relative concentrations ofn-alkanes, monomethyl alkanes, acyclic isoprenoids, steroids and hopanoids in these samples are studied and their probable biological precursors are discussed. Normal alkanes with carbon chain lengths ranging from C₁₅ to C₃₄ and monomethyl alkanes ranging from C₁₇ to C₂₁ with a varying methyl branching pattern are found. The major hydrocarbons are low molecular weight (LMW)n-alkanes (C₁₅–C₂₁) with a slight to strong predominance ofn-heptadecane (C₁₇). High molecular weight (HMW)n-alkanes occur in low to moderate relative concentrations showing a preference of odd-carbon numbered compounds with a maximum at C₂₉. Within the acyclic isoprenoids, pristane, phytane/phytene, pentamethyl-eicosane, squalane and lycopane could be identified. Polycyclic terpenoids of the sterane and/or hopane type are present in all carbonate samples. The carbon numbers of these components range from 27 to 29 and 27 to 32, respectively. These organic compounds identified can be attributed to various source organisms such as cyanobacteria, archaebacteria, algae and vascular plants. All hydrocarbon fractions of the samples are characterized by moderate to high relative concentrations of compounds derived from cyanobacteria, signifying the role of these organisms as contributors to the Recent as well as to the Late Jurassic carbonate deposits.     

Hydralazine and Organic Nitrates Restore Impaired Excitation-Contraction Coupling by Reducing Calcium Leak Associated with Nitroso-Redox Imbalance

Although the combined use of hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate confers important clinical benefits in patients with heart failure, the underlying mechanism of action is still controversial. We used two models of nitroso-redox imbalance, neuronal NO synthase-deficient (NOS1^−/−) mice and spontaneously hypertensive heart failure rats, to test the hypothesis that hydralazine (HYD) alone or in combination with nitroglycerin (NTG) or isosorbide dinitrate restores Ca²⁺ cycling and contractile performance and controls superoxide production in isolated cardiomyocytes. The response to increased pacing frequency was depressed in NOS1^−/− compared with wild type myocytes. Both sarcomere length shortening and intracellular Ca²⁺ transient (Δ[Ca²⁺]_i) responses in NOS1^−/− cardiomyocytes were augmented by HYD in a dose-dependent manner. NTG alone did not affect myocyte shortening but reduced Δ[Ca²⁺]_i across the range of pacing frequencies and increased myofilament Ca²⁺ sensitivity thereby enhancing contractile efficiency. Similar results were seen in failing myocytes from the heart failure rat model. HYD alone or in combination with NTG reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) leak, improved SR Ca²⁺ reuptake, and restored SR Ca²⁺ content. HYD and NTG at low concentrations (1 μm), scavenged superoxide in isolated cardiomyocytes, whereas in cardiac homogenates, NTG inhibited xanthine oxidoreductase activity and scavenged NADPH oxidase-dependent superoxide more efficiently than HYD. Together, these results revealed that by reducing SR Ca²⁺ leak, HYD improves Ca²⁺ cycling and contractility impaired by nitroso-redox imbalance, and NTG enhanced contractile efficiency, restoring cardiac excitation-contraction coupling.     

Biocatalytic properties of native and immobilized subtilisin 72 in aqueous-organic and low water media

Subtilisin 72 was immobilized on cryogel of poly(vinyl alcohol), the macroporous carrier prepared by the freeze-thaw-treatment of concentrated aqueous solution of the polymer. The obtained biocatalyst was active and stable in aqueous, aqueous-organic, as well as in low water media. The stability of immobilized biocatalyst was substantially higher than that of native enzyme in all mixtures especially in aqueous buffer containing 5–8 M Urea and in acetonitrile/60–90%DMF mixtures. The ability of native and immobilized subtilisin to catalyze peptide bond formation between Z-Ala-Ala-Leu-OMe and Phe-pNA was studied in non-aqueous media. Considerable enzyme stabilization in acetonitrile/90%DMF mixture, induced by the immobilization, resulted in higher product yield (57%) than in case of native subtilisin suspension (32%). Detailed study of synthesis reaction revealed that notable increase in product yield could be reached using increase in both substrate concentrations up to 200 mM.     

土壤中水溶性有机质及其对重金属化学与生物行为的影响

土壤水溶性有机质是陆地生态系统和水生生态系统中一种重要的、很活跃的化学组分,已成为环境科学、土壤学和生态学等学科的研究热点．土壤DOM对重金属化学与生物行为有重要影响。但其机理尚不清楚．文中从土壤性质、环境条件、人为因素等方面阐述了土壤DOM产生及影响因素,总结评述了DOM对重金属化学行为和生物有效性的影响,将DOM对重金属的影响机制归纳为络合机制、竞争吸附机制、酸碱缓冲机制．在此基础上,提出了DOM研究存在的问题及其展望．     

有机物料对土壤镉形态及其生物有效性的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了淹水种稻条件下添加猪粪和泥炭对红壤和潮土中内源和外源Cd形态及其生物有效性的影响。结果表明,土壤中内源Cd在各形态之间的分布比较均匀;添加外源Cd时Cd主要分布于交换态,从分蘖期到成熟期,内源Cd交换态普遍升高,添加外源Cd时交换态普遍降低。有机物料对内源Cd交换态的影响不显著,但当添加外源Cd时则对交换态有显著影响,在不添加外源Cd的条件下,有机物料普遍促进水稻根系对Cd的吸收。在添加外源Cd的条件下,有机物料普遍抑制水稻根系对Cd的吸收,猪粪的抑制效果强于泥炭,水稻根系对Cd与Fe的累积呈显著抑制作用。     

Comparison of Anti-Hyperglycemic Effect of Inorganic Constituents and Organic in Traditional Chinese Medicine,Jinqi Compound Recipe

An attempt has been made to compare the hypoglycemic effect of the organic constituents and the inorganic constituents in traditional Chinese medicine, Jinqi compound recipe. Alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice were used in the study. The body weights, blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin secretion, and glycogen synthesis of the mice were analyzed respectively. After the mice were administered (oral) with organic constituents, the blood glucose and the HbA1c of alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice decreased (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) and the glycogen synthesis of alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice elevated (p < 0.05). Also, the body weight of the alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice was increased gradually. However, the same result did not occur in the inorganic constituent-treated groups. It is noted that neither organic constituents nor inorganic constituents could elevate the level of serum insulin in the alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice significantly. It is implied that the hypoglycemic effect for type 2 diabetes was caused by the organic constituents of Jinqi recipe. The results can be used to set new standards to control the quality of the Jinqi recipe.     

Simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen from municipal-type synthetic wastewater using net-like rotating biological contactor (NRBC)

The treatment of municipal-type synthetic wastewater was carried out using a three stages net-like rotating biological contactor (NRBC). The results indicated that, compared with conventional rotating biological contactor (RBC), NRBC have several advantages, such as quick start-up, high biomass concentration and can handle high organic loading rates. The COD and total nitrogen removal rates achieved were 78.8–89.7% and 40.2–61.4%, respectively, in aerobic treatment of low COD municipal-type wastewater at hydraulic retention times (HRT) from 5 to 9 h. The COD removal rate achieved 80–95% when organic loading varied between 16 and 40 gCOD/m² d. A large amount of nematodes were found in the NRBC system, which made the NRBC system produce relatively low amounts of waste sludge, due to their grazing.     

烷烃溶剂对耐有机溶剂极端微生物地衣芽孢杆菌YP1产胞外蛋白酶的影响

考察了添加5%(V/V)浓度的正庚烷、正辛烷、正癸烷、十二烷、十四烷、十六烷等烷烃溶剂对耐有机溶剂极端微生物地衣芽孢杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis)YP1的生长及产胞外蛋白酶的影响.结果表明5%(V/V)浓度的各种烷烃溶剂对YP1蛋白酶的稳定性及菌体生物量均无显著影响,正庚烷、正辛烷、正癸烷等溶剂显著抑制YP1产蛋白酶,而十二烷、十四烷,十六烷能提高YP1产蛋白酶1倍以上.发酵液中十四烷的浓度(1%-8%,VIV)与蛋白酶的活力呈正相关性,添加十四烷后发酵过程中蛋白酶活力的显著增加出现在菌体生长的对数后期.培养过程中添加十四烷能导致YP1菌体形态显著变小.首次报道了烷烃溶剂对极端微生物产蛋白酶的影响.     

有机铬、炎症与胰岛素抵抗的相关性

目的研究有机铬、炎症、他汀类药物与胰岛素抵抗,及其与心、脑血管疾病方面的关系。方法筛选40岁以上的糖耐量异常(IGT)合并高血压患者60人、糖耐量异常合并高脂血症患者60人、糖耐量异常合并冠心病患者60人和非胰岛素依赖性糖尿病(T2DM)患者60人,进行分组,每一组随机分为3个小组:2个治疗组及对照组。治疗一组在原治疗方案基础上给予唐安一号(有机铬制剂)口服,治疗二组在原治疗方案基础上给予阿乐(阿托伐他汀钙片)口服,对照组维持原治疗方案,治疗4周。结果治疗一组空腹血糖(FBG)、空腹血清胰岛素(FINS)、甘油三酯(TG)、血清总胆固醇(TC)和血清低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)均低于对照组(P0.05),血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)高于对照组(P0.05)。治疗二组FINS、TG、TC、LDL-C和C-反应蛋白(CRP)低于对照组(P0.05),HDL-C高于对照组(P0.05)。4周治疗后,治疗一组、治疗二组HOMA-IR均低于对照组(P0.05)。结论有机铬及他汀类药物能增强胰岛素的生物学效应,调节糖脂代谢,改善胰岛素抵抗。