Monitoring carabid indicators could reveal environmental impacts of genetically modified maize

相似文献   

Muscle fiber conduction velocity in different gait phases of early and late-stage diabetic neuropathy

We investigated the muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) during gait phases of the lower limb muscles in individuals with various degrees of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Forty-five patients were classified into severity degrees of DPN by a fuzzy model. The stages were absent (n = 11), mild (n = 14), moderate (n = 11) and severe (n = 9), with 10 matched healthy controls. While walking, all subjects had their sEMG (4 linear electrode arrays) recorded for tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF). MFCV was calculated using a maximum likelihood algorithm with 30 ms standard deviation Gaussian windows. In general, individuals in the earlier stages of DPN showed lower MFCV of TA, GM and BF, whilst individuals with severe DPN presented higher MFCV of the same muscles. We observed that mild patients already showed lower MFCV of TA at early stance and swing, and lower MFCV of BF at swing. All diabetic groups showed a markedly reduction in MFCV of VL, irrespective of DPN. Severe patients presented higher MFCV mainly in distal muscles, TA at early and swing phases and GM at propulsion and midstance. The absent group already showed MFCV of VL and GM reductions at the propulsion phase and of VL at early stance. Although MFCV changes were not as progressive as the DPN was, we clearly distinguished diabetic patients from controls, and severe patients from all others.     

乳丝的加工、性能及其应用

乳丝学名为聚乳酸纤维,是一种可生物降解的新型绿色纤维,目前制备方法主要有熔融纺丝、溶液纺丝和静电纺丝等3种方法。作为一种新型的可降解纤维材料,其环保性、吸湿性、透气性、生物相容性以及优良的力学性能决定了其在生物医用、织物面料、非织造材料(如一次性卫生用品、过滤材料等)等很多方面都将得到广泛应用。     

非肌肉Ⅱ型肌球蛋白在细胞骨架网络中动力学行为的图像分析(已撤稿2016-06-15)

贴壁细胞的形状和弹性(硬度)与细胞骨架网络的形态以及纤维的交联方式密切相关．而细胞骨架网络的形态和组成与细胞中的二型肌球蛋白的活动,尤其是肌球蛋白组装成的肌球蛋白粗丝(minifilament)的活动有关．细胞通过与其外部环境的机械传感(mechanosensing)来调节二型肌球蛋白的活动和肌球蛋白粗丝的相互作用,从而实现对细胞骨架网络重组(remodeling)的控制．当前对活体细胞内二型肌球蛋白的研究从实验测量到理论模型的建立之间还有不小距离,主要是因为直接测量会对细胞结构和生理活动产生影响,而间接测量不能得到肌球蛋白在细胞内活动的准确数据．因此本文提出利用新的免疫荧光显微图像分析技术,例如免疫荧光蛋白图像追踪和局部图像相关函数分析技术,分析HeLa细胞体内肌球蛋白在细胞骨架网络中的动态分布,总结出肌球蛋白主导的细胞骨架和张力纤维组装与分解过程中的基本动力学规律．图像分析结果说明：肌球蛋白纤维在细胞骨架网络构建过程中依次动态处于组装与分解状态,通过其粗丝相对旋转对齐与收缩产生张力以维持纤维束稳定,并形成有不同肌球蛋白和粘着斑数量与分布形态的三类稳定性肌动球蛋白网络,其稳定性和收缩力大小呈正相关、与所结合肌球蛋白数量密度成正比．     

Optimization of low-cost biosurfactant production from agricultural residues through response surface methodology

Biosurfactants are surface-active compounds capable of reducing surface tension and interfacial tension. Biosurfactants are produced by various microorganisms. They are promising replacements for chemical surfactants because of biodegradability, nontoxicity, and their ability to be produced from renewable sources. However, a major obstacle in producing biosurfactants at the industrial level is the lack of cost-effectiveness. In the present study, by using corn steep liquor (CSL) as a low-cost agricultural waste, not only is the production cost reduced but a higher production yield is also achieved. Moreover, a response surface methodology (RSM) approach through the Box–Behnken method was applied to optimize the biosurfactant production level. The results found that biosurfactant production was improved around 2.3 times at optimum condition when the CSL was at a concentration of 1.88 mL/L and yeast extract was reduced to 25 times less than what was used in a basic soybean oil medium (SOM). The predicted and experimental values of responses were in reasonable agreement with each other (Pred-R² = 0.86 and adj-R² = 0.94). Optimization led to a drop in raw material price per unit of biosurfactant from $47 to $12/kg. Moreover, the biosurfactant product at a concentration of 84 mg/L could lower the surface tension of twice-distilled water from 72 mN/m to less than 28 mN/m and emulsify an equal volume of kerosene by an emulsification index of (E24) 68% in a two-phase mixture. These capabilities made these biosurfactants applicable in microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR), hydrocarbon remediation, and all other petroleum industry surfactant applications.     

Recent advances in optical fiber devices for microfluidics integration

This paper examines the recent emergence of miniaturized optical fiber based sensing and actuating devices that have been successfully integrated into fluidic microchannels that are part of microfluidic and lab‐on‐chip systems. Fluidic microsystems possess the advantages of reduced sample volumes, faster and more sensitive biological assays, multi‐sample and parallel analysis, and are seen as the de facto bioanalytical platform of the future. This paper considers the cases where the optical fiber is not merely used as a simple light guide delivering light across a microchannel, but where the fiber itself is engineered to create a new sensor or tool for use within the environment of the fluidic microchannel.

Detection and trapping of molecules can be achieved with optical fibers directly located within the fluidic microchannel.     

Comovements of ethanol‐related prices: evidence from Brazil and the USA

We use the wavelet coherence methodology to investigate the relations between prices of ethanol and its feedstocks. Our continuous wavelet framework allows for discovering price connections and their evolution in both time and frequency domain in the most important ethanol markets – Brazil and the USA. For both of these markets, we show that the long‐run relationship between prices of ethanol and corn (in the USA) or sugar (in Brazil) is positive, strong and stable in time. Importantly, we show that the prices of feedstock lead the prices of ethanol and not the other way around. The price lead of feedstock is documented for both short‐ and long‐run horizons. Our qualitative results hold true even when the influence of crude oil prices is accounted for by utilizing partial wavelet coherence approach.     

Pulsed electromagnetic field: an organic compatible method to promote plant growth and yield in two corn types

Pre-sowing treatment of pulsed electromagnetic fields was used in corn seeds, in both indoor and outdoor conditions, in order to investigate the effect on plant growth and yield. The results of this research showed that pulsed electromagnetic fields can enhance plant characteristics, both under controlled environmental conditions and uncontrolled field conditions. The two varieties responded differently in the duration of magnetic field. Seeds were treated for 0, 15, 30, and 45 min with pulsed electromagnetic field (MF-0, MF-15, MF-30, and MF-45). Common corn variety performed better results in MF-30 treatment, while sweet corn variety performed better in MF-45 treatment. Magnetic field improved germination percentage, vigor, chlorophyll content, leaf area, plant fresh and dry weight, and finally yields. In the very interesting measurement of yield, seeds that have been exposed to magnetic field for 30 and 45 min have been found to perform the best results with no statistical differences among them. Another interesting finding was in root dry weight measurements, where magnetic field has a negative impact in MF-30 treatment in both hybrids, however without affecting other measurements. Enhancements on plant characteristics with economic impact on producer's income could be the future of a modern, organic, and sustainable agriculture.     

Contribution to the lithostratigraphy and history of Lake Ladoga

New geological data from Lake Ladoga are presented and an interpretation of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene history of the lake is given. The deglaciation of the southern part of the lake and an origin of the first ice margin Lake Ladoga took place at ca. 14,000 yr B.P.