Plastid position in Arabidopsis columella cells is similar in microgravity and on a random-positioning machine

 In order to study gravity effects on plant structure and function, it may become necessary to remove the g-stimulus. On Earth, various instruments such as clinostats have been used by biologists in an attempt to neutralize the effects of gravity. In this study, the position of amyloplasts was assayed in columella cells in the roots of Arabidopsisthaliana (L.) Heynh. seedlings grown in the following conditions: on Earth, on a two-dimensional clinostat at 1 rpm, on a three-dimensional clinostat (also called a random-positioning machine, or an RPM), and in space (true microgravity). In addition, the effects of these gravity treatments on columella cell area and plastid area also were measured. In terms of the parameters measured, only amyloplast position was affected by the gravity treatments. Plastid position was not significantly different between spaceflight and RPM conditions but was significantly different between spaceflight and the classical two-dimensional clinostat treatments. Flanking columella cells showed a greater susceptibility to changes in gravity compared to the central columella cells. In addition, columella cells of seedlings that were grown on the RPM did not exhibit deleterious effects in terms of their ultrastructure as has been reported previously for seedlings grown on a two-dimensional clinostat. This study supports the hypothesis that the RPM provides a useful simulation of weightlessness. Received: 5 January 2000 / Accepted: 22 February 2000     

科研设计性大实验在微生物学实验教学中的应用

探讨了在工科专业的微生物实验教学中结合科研工作开展科研设计性大实验的方法与对师生的影响, 分析了开展科研设计性大实验存在的问题。科研设计性大实验在本科生教学实践中的应用表明该方法可促进本科生的专业学习, 提升本科生的理论应用能力及科研创新能力, 是具有推广意义的教学新模式。     

塔拉多糖的脱色工艺化研究

塔拉多糖是一种半乳甘露聚糖胶,对于我们具有非常重要的应用价值。本实验主要对塔拉提取物中的塔拉多糖进行脱色工艺化研究;在单因素实验的基础上,对活性炭颗粒质量、脱色时间、脱色温度以及脱色次数这四种因素进行正交优化实验,其最佳脱色实验参数为：活性炭颗粒0.6 g,脱色45 min,脱色温度45℃脱色次数3次,脱色率可以达到50.21%,同时多糖类保留率为90.39%。     

酶法降解植物纤维素技术研究

用正交试验法探讨了以麦秸为原料进行纤维素酶降解的工艺条件。正交试验的结果表明,影响麦秸纤维素降解的因素的主次顺序为A（酶添加量）＞B（底物浓度）＞E（时间）＞C（温度）＞D（pH值）,纤维素酶解麦秸纤维素的最佳组合为A3B1E3C3D2,即纤维素酶的添加量为0．2％,底物浓度为5％,反应时间为2h,反应温度50℃,pH5.0时为最佳条件。在比常规酶解法时间缩短12－30倍的条件下,能使纤维素降解葡萄糖的转化率达22．3％。     

REPEATED ASSESSMENT OF THE ENDOGENOUS 24-HOUR PROFILE OF BLOOD PRESSURE UNDER CONSTANT ROUTINE*

The impact of environmental and behavioral factors on the 24-h profile of blood pressure (BP) has been well established. Various attempts have been made to control these exogenous factors, in order to investigate a possible endogenous circadian variation of BP. Recently, we reported the results of the first environmentally and behaviorally controlled laboratory study with 24-h recordings of BP and heart rate (HR) during maintained wakefulness. In this constant-routine study, a pronounced endogenous circadian rhythm of HR was found, but circadian variation of BP was absent. This result suggested that the circadian rhythm of BP observed in earlier controlled studies, with sleep allowed, was evoked by the sleep–wake cycle as opposed to the endogenous circadian pacemaker. In order to verify our previous finding during maintained wakefulness, we repeated the experiment five times with six normotensive, healthy young subjects. Statistical analyses of the hourly measurements of BP and HR confirmed the replicable presence of an endogenous circadian rhythm of HR, as well as the consistent absence of an endogenous circadian variation of BP. Thus, this study provided additional evidence that the 24-h profile of BP—as observed under normal circumstances—is the sole result of environmental and behavioral factors such as the occurrence of sleep, and has no endogenous circadian component. (Chronobiology International, 18(1), 85–98, 2001)     

土壤氮素循环模型及其模拟研究进展

N既是植物必需的营养元素,又是造成环境污染的重要元素.正确模拟土壤中N循环已经成为科学家共同关注的热点问题.简述了土壤N循环的基本过程,重点介绍了13种土壤N循环模型和6个土壤N循环过程的模拟,并讨论了模拟中存在的参数化问题.     

花颜色和花气味的量化研究方法

花颜色和花气味是花部构成的重要内容。在已开展的传粉生态学研究中对二者的报道主要是描述性的,而其量化研究可以为揭示传粉机制提供有力的实验证据。本文主要介绍了花颜色的测量和标定方法,包括比色卡、分光色差仪和便携式光谱仪等;花气味的采集方法,包括动态顶空套袋-吸附采集法、吸附-溶剂洗脱法和固相微萃取法等;花气味的检测和分析方法,包括气相色谱-质谱联用仪分析和电子鼻型超速气相色谱仪分析等;以及昆虫行为学实验方法,包括气相色谱-昆虫触角电位联用技术、Y型嗅觉仪和飞行箱实验等。科研人员可以根据实验材料的特点和实验目的选择适合的量化研究方法。     

Molecular dynamics simulations of a fibrillogenic peptide derived from apolipoprotein C-II

The pathway to amyloid fibril formation in proteins involves specific structural changes leading to the combination of misfolded intermediates into oligomeric assemblies. Recent NMR studies showed the presence of “turns” in amyloid peptides, indicating that turn formation may play an important role in the nucleation of the intramolecular folding and possible assembly of amyloid. Fully solvated all-atom molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the structure and dynamics of the apolipoprotein C-II peptide 56 to 76, associated with the formation of amyloid fibrils. The peptide populated an ensemble of turn structures, stabilized by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions enabling the formation of a strong hydrophobic core which may provide the conditions required to initiate aggregation. Two competing mechanisms discussed in the literature were observed. This has implications in understanding the mechanism of amyloid formation in not only apoC-II and its fragments, but also in other amyloidogenic peptides.