A rationale for the appropriate amount of inoculum in ready biodegradability tests

Several screening methods at the so-called ready biodegradability level are suitable to test poorly soluble substances. Typical for these tests is that mineralization is evaluated from monitoring oxygen uptake or carbon dioxide production. Unfortunately, they suffer from a rather low precision in the calculated percentage of mineralization caused by subtracting a too high inoculum control measurement from the response in the test system. Criteria for blank oxygen consumption, due to the metabolic activity of the inoculum, are proposed from which maximum amounts of activated sludge or secondary effluent per litre test medium can be derived to be used as an appropriate inoculum. Both for current and future standardized tests the precision of the method can be kept within acceptable margins. Inoculum material was sampled from 40 communal biological waste water treatment plants. From endogenous respiration rates it was derived that the concentration of secondary effluent in the Closed Bottle Test can be increased up to 50 mL/L but that in respirometry tests inoculated with activated sludge the appropriate concentration is 10 mg/L dry matter or below, depending of the design of the test system.List of abbreviations BOD biological oxygen demand - CBT Closed Bottle Test - C _as inoculum concentration in mg dry solids of activated sludge per litre test medium - C _ef inoculum concentration in ml secondary effluent per litre test medium - C _ss dry weight content of activated sludge (g/L) - CFU colony forming units - DO_7d dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/L) after 7 days - ISO International Organization for Standardization - NEN Dutch Organization for Standardization - O _c oxygen capacity in mg oxygen per litre vessel volume - OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Ox _as oxygen consumption after one week in mg oxygen per mg dry weight activated sludge - Ox _ef oxygen consumption after one week in mg oxygen per mL secondary effluent - Ox _ef [n] oxygen consumption after one week in mg oxygen per n mL secondary effluent - Ox _flask oxygen uptake in mg per litre flask volume - RBT Ready Biodegradability Test - SLR sludge loading rate in kg O₂/kg dry weight·d - ThOD theoretical oxygen demand - TPCBT Two Phase Closed Bottle Test - V _a volumes of air and water per litre vessel - V _w volume, respectively - _a concentration of oxygen in air at 20° C and 101.5 kPa - _s saturation oxygen concentration in te aqueous phase     

Fluctuation of free IAA under inductive and non-inductive photoperiods in Chenopodium rubrum

Fluctuation in levels of endogenous free IAA has been followed in the SD plant Chenopodium rubrum under photoperiodic conditions inductive or not inductive of flowering. Endogenous IAA was measured fluorimetrically as -pyrone. The level of IAA shows little fluctuation under continuous illumination. An endogenous rhythm of IAA fluctuation was found in plants transferred from light to continuous darkness, with a natural period of 30 hrs. The troughs of minimum IAA level within the endogenous rhythm coincided with the peaks in the endogenous rhythm of flowering response, which possessed the same period length. The concentration of IAA in the shoot always decreased at the end of cycles of dark period that induce flowering. The results are discussed in relation to the role of IAA in flowering of SD plants.     

Cellular and subcellular distribution of iron in the lamina propria of rat duodenum

Summary Cellular and subcellular distribution of iron in the lamina propria of rat duodenum was studied after a single i.p. injection of iron dextran, using electron microscopy and peroxidase cytochemistry. X-ray spectrum microanalysis was used for positive identification of iron. Ironcontaining particles (IP) were found in the cytoplasm of three cell types, viz. macrophages, pericytic reticular cells and sheathing fibrocytes. IP-containing organelles in lamina propria cells were more heterogeneous compared to absorptive cells and, in addition, some differences were noted in the subcellular distribution of IP in the 3 cell types. A common denominator in these 3 cell types was the presence of endogenous peroxidase, also shared by Kupffer cells which are known to be involved in iron storage. Peroxidase activity was absent in absorptive epithelial cells. It is hypothesized that the cells of the lamina propria, like Kupffer cells, may be the site of storage of excess iron absorbed, releasing iron upon demand and migrating into the lumen to prevent iron overload. In this fashion they may regulate the exchange of iron with the environment. The presence of peroxidase in these as well as Kupffer cells, and its absence in absorptive cells also raises the possibility that this enzyme may be related to certain aspects of iron storing process.     

Action of red light on indole-3-acetic-acid status and growth in coleoptiles of etiolated maize seedlings

Brief irradiation of intact etiolated seedlings of maize (Zea mays L.) with red light (R; 30 W cm^-2, 10 min) reduces the amounts of diffusible and free (solvent-extractable) indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) obtainable from excised coleoptile tips. The effect is transient, the lowest level (30% of the dark control) occurring at about 3 h after irradiation. The free-IAA content of the whole coleoptile and the diffusible-IAA yield from the base of the same organ are similarly reduced, whereas the conjugated-IAA content of the coleoptile is not affected. These results support the view that R inhibits the production of IAA at the coleoptile tip. It is further shown that R inhibits biosynthesis of [³H]IAA from [³H]tryptophan supplied to the coleoptile tip. The shapes of the fluence-response curves obtained for the reduction of the diffusible-IAA yield by R and far-red light (FR) indicate the participation of two photoreactive systems. One has thresholds at 10^-3 W s cm² of R, five orders of magnitude less than the minimum required for the appearance of spectrophotometrically measurable far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pfr) in vivo, and 10^-1 W s cm^-2 of FR; its response is linear to the logarithm of fluence exceeding five orders of magnitude. The other system is seen above 10² W s cm^-2 as an increase in the slope of the fluenceresponse curve; its response is FR reversible and related to the Pfr level of total photoreversible phytochrome. Both systems inhibit biosynthesis of IAA from tryptophan. Elongation of the coleoptile is stimulated by R; the stimulation is most apparent in the apical region, and is saturated with a fluence at which bo detectable pfr is formed. Farred light can also saturate this response. Since the endogenous IAA concentration in the coleoptile appears not to be in the inhibitory range, it is concluded that the stimulation of coleoptile elongation is not the result of changes in free-IAA levels.Abbreviations FR far-red light - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - Pfr phytochrome in the far-red-absorbing form - Pr phytochrome in the red-absorbing form - R red light     

Change in apparent and true absorption and retention of dietary zinc with age in rats

Two groups of 16 rats each were fed the same diet with 12.9 ppm Zn. Nine days after each animal was injected with⁶⁵Zn for assessing fecal zinc of endogenous origin, zinc intake and excretion were determined for a six-day period at the age of about five (group I) and nine (II) weeks. At mean growth rates of 5.1 and 5.2 g/day, food consumption per gram of gain was 2.01 g in group I vs 2.86 g in II. Overall, zinc retention amounted to 21 vs 25 μg Zn/g of gain. Apparent absorption averaged 92 vs 74% of Zn intake (132 vs 189 μg/day), while true absorption averaged 98 vs 92%. It was concluded that endogenous fecal zinc excretion was limited to the indispensable loss (F _em) in group I (7 μg/day), while it exceeded this minimum loss in group II (33 μg/day). True retention, which reflected total zinc utilization (true absorption times metabolic efficiency), was derived from apparent absorption plusF _em (11 μg/day for group II according to the greater metabolic body size of the rats). It averaged 98% of Zn intake in group I vs 80% in group II. The mean metabolic efficiency was 100% vs 87%. The conclusion was that these marked differences between age groups in utilizing the dietary zinc reflected the efficient homeostatic adjustments in absorption and endogenous excretion of zinc to the respective zinc supply status.     

分枝杆菌LY-1内源性表达元件的筛选及其在降低Cas9蛋白毒性中的应用

【背景】分枝杆菌LY-1因能够将天然植物甾醇代谢转化为重要甾体药物中间体,目前已成为工业上的优势生产菌株。高效的CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术是工业菌株代谢工程改造进行产量性状提升的关键。然而由于Cas9蛋白的高表达毒性问题且分枝杆菌中已公开报道的可用表达元件较少,极大地限制了Cas9蛋白在该菌株中的适度表达。【目的】筛选内源性表达元件,利用合适的表达元件启动Cas9蛋白的表达,降低其对菌株的毒性。【方法】依据文献和前期研究获得的分枝杆菌基因转录组水平数据,并结合启动子在线预测网站BDGP(https://www.fruitfly.org/seq＿tools/promoter.html),筛选内源性表达元件。以增强型绿色荧光蛋白作为报告基因对表达元件的强度进行评估,并采用不同强度的表达元件启动Cas9蛋白的表达。【结果】获得了23个不同表达强度的表达元件,采用中等强度的表达元件及弱表达元件都降低了Cas9蛋白对分枝杆菌LY-1的毒性,实现了Cas9蛋白在该菌株中的适度表达。【结论】建立了分枝杆菌LY-1内源性表达元件库,为后续菌株中高效CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术的构建及关键...     

太子参内生细菌RPB-32的分类鉴定及其代谢物对小鼠肠道微生物群落的影响

【背景】肠道微生物在宿主肠道微环境稳态中起着至关重要的作用。众多因子,如抗生素、饮食和年龄等会干扰这种微平衡,引起菌群平衡发生改变,进而影响到机体健康状况。太子参具有心肌保护、增加免疫、抗氧化、抗糖尿病、抗应激、抗疲劳等药理活性,而太子参内生菌代谢物对肠道微生物的调控作用以及可能对机体健康的影响目前还未见报道。【目的】研究太子参内生菌RPB-32分类地位及其代谢提取物对小鼠肠道微生物的调节作用,以探讨其对机体健康的影响。【方法】对RPB-32进行传统方法和分子鉴定。将120只KM小鼠随机分为溶剂对照组(3%乙醇)及石油醚提取物、正丁醇提取物和乙酸乙酯提取物低、中、高剂量组(n=12)。小鼠灌胃处理14 d后采集粪便,通过选择性培养基培养及宏基因组测序[溶剂对照(S.F.1为3%乙醇溶液)、乙酸乙酯提取物高剂量组(S.F.2)]检测灌胃前后小鼠肠道微生物的变化。【结果】常规传统方法与分子鉴定结果表明RPB-32为芽孢杆菌(Bacillus sp.)。与空白对照组相比,给予内生菌代谢提取物的乙酸乙酯中剂量组、乙酸乙酯高剂量组、正丁醇低剂量组、正丁醇中剂量组及正丁醇高剂量组乳酸菌数量明显增加...     

子宫内膜癌中的lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA网络的整合分析

子宫内膜癌(uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma,UCEC)是危害女性健康的癌症之一,但其发生发展机制尚不完全清楚.基因的异常表达在细胞癌变过程中发挥着重要的作用.本研究利用生物信息学方法对UCEC中异常表达的基因进行网络调控分析,为UCEC的机制研究及预后治疗提供理论依据.首先,利...     

低钾胁迫对不同基因型水稻苗期根系生长和内源激素含量的影响

以2个耐低钾基因型水稻N18、N19和2个低钾敏感基因型水稻N27、N28为材料,采用溶液培养试验,研究低钾胁迫对其苗期根系生长和内源激素含量的影响。结果表明,低钾胁迫下,水稻根长、地上部干重和根干重均降低,但N18和N19显著高于N27和N28。低钾胁迫使4个基因型水稻的根冠比增大,而各基因型之间差异不显著。低钾胁迫下,水稻根中IAA、GA₁和ZR含量均减少,ABA含量增加;N18、N19根中IAA、GA₁和ZR含量都高于N27、N28。此外,低钾胁迫使水稻根中IAA/ABA、ZR/ABA、GA₁/ABA值降低,但N18、N19的上述比值高于N27、N28。     

钼、硼对大豆叶片膜脂过氧化及体内保护系统的影响

The study deals with the changes of membrane peroxidation and endogenous protective system with different supplementation of molybdenum (Mo) and/or boron (B) concentration in soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves at three developmental stages (5-trifoliate stage, initiation of flowering, and peak podsetting stage) in three pot-grown soybean varieties (“Zhechun No.3”, “Zhechun No.2”, “3811”). The control plants under low Mo and low B exhibited an increasing of membrane permeability (MP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) contents, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and ascorbate oxidase (AO) activities and a decrease of ascorbate (AsA) contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (AP) and catalase (CAT) activities. Application of Mo or B alone raised the ability of anti-oxidant of soybean leaves. The results indicated that the anti-oxidant enzymes (including SOD, POD, CAT and AP) related closely to anti-oxidant compounds (including AsA and Pro). There was some difference between the effects of Mo and B on the anti-oxidant, and a synergetic effect was observed between Mo and B. Some genetic variation in the responses to Mo and B was found among the three soybean varieties which was related to the activities of the total anti-oxidant systems.