植物生理生态学研究中的控制实验和测定仪器新进展

 现代植物生理生态学的发展是和测定仪器的进步同步进行的。小型轻便、智能、性能优良和高自动化程度是植物生理生态学仪器发展的必然趋势。该文以光合生理生态学的仪器为例,概述了该领域测定仪器的发展趋势及对学科发展的重要作用,并讨论了控制实验和实验设计中的假重复问题。     

超声波对感染根管消毒作用的实验研究

目的:通过与氢氧化钙药尖消毒作用的比较,验证超声波对感染根管的消毒作用并判断其消毒作用的临床应用价值。方法:10只3月龄的小型健康实验家兔随机分成二组后,制备成感染根管动物模型。对模型进行术前细菌培养后,分别做超声根管内消毒和氢氧化钙药尖消毒,术后细菌培养。结果:超声波和氢氧化钙对需氧菌和厌氧菌的杀灭作用无菌种之间的差别;但杀菌效果存在显著差异。实验发现超声波消毒的特点是:第一,无抗菌谱的差异。第二,无热效应,根管壁表面升温不明显。第三,作用无方向性,对任何角度方向上的有机物均能使其失活。第四,越是细小根管作用越强。这些正是根管消毒所要求的特殊条件。结论:1)超声波对感染根管的消毒作用明显优于氢氧化钙药尖。2)超声波对感染根管的消毒作用无抗菌谱的差异。3)超声波对感染根管具有较可靠的消毒作用,作为一种根管消毒手段值得进一步研究。     

An enzyme immunoassay for secretin

A sensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay for secretin was developed with the use of enzyme-labeled antigens. Synthetic porcine secretin and its carboxy-terminal fragments (residues 11-27 and 18-27) were conjugated with beta-D-galactosidase for use in the immunoassay, and the assay method with the latter fragment (residues 18-27) linked to beta-D-galactosidase was found to be the most sensitive. The minimum amount of secretin detectable by this method was 1-2.5 pg/assay. Serum levels of secretin after intravenous injection of the peptide in rats were determined by both the enzyme immunoassay and a commercial radioimmunoassay kit. The correlation coefficient between the levels measured by the two methods was 0.984. The enzyme immunoassay could detect immunoreactive secretin levels in normal human sera, giving a value of 16.9 +/- 2.2 pg/ml (mean +/- SE of six human subjects).     

Improvement of the heat pulse method for determining sap flow in trees

Abstract. The heat pulse method for determining sap flux in large woody sterns was modified for easier field operation. It uses the measurement of the time elapsed between heat pulse release by a line heater radially inserted in the stem, and the occurrence of maximum temperature 15 mm downstream of the heater. This spacing between heater and thermometer is critical to the reliability of the measurement. Calculations using uncorrected theory provide estimates of the sap flux density in stems with both uniform and non-uniform cross-sectional distribution of conducting tissues which are about 55% of the actual sap flux density. This factor results from insufficient thermal homogeneity between tissues where sap flow occurs and tissues where sap flow has been interrupted.
Sap flow in trunks of citrus trees was inferred from measurements of the cross-sectional distribution of sap flux density. Variability of sap flux density is specific to each trunk and is time-dependent and imposes multiple radial and angular measurements. The method was checked in a citrus trunk ramified into three branches. Instantaneous determinations of the flow in the trunk and in the branches differed by less than 5.7%. The daily values agreed within 2.8%.     

Kinetic imaging of chlorophyll fluorescence using modulated light

Fluorometers that measure the kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence have become invaluable tools for determining the photosynthetic performance of plants. Many of these instruments use high frequency modulated light to measure the rate, efficiency and regulation of photosynthesis. The technique is non-invasive and is effective under diverse environmental conditions. Recently, imaging fluorometers have been introduced that reveal variability in photosynthesis over the surface of a leaf or between individual plants. Most imaging instruments depend on continuous light or low frequency modulated light for fluorescence excitation, which imposes serious limitations on measurements of the fluorescence parameters, especially the minimum fluorescence (F₀) and variable fluorescence (F_V). Here, we describe a new instrument that combines the advantage of high frequency modulated light with two-dimensional imaging of chlorophyll fluorescence. The fluorometer produces dynamic images of chlorophyll fluorescence from leaves or plants, providing accurate mapping of F₀ and F_V, and non-photochemical quenching. A significant feature of the instrument is that it can record fluorescence images of leaves in daylight under field conditions. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Conformation change of hornet silk proteins in the solid phase in response to external stimulation

Hornet silks adopt a variety of morphology such as fibers, sponge, films, and gels depending on the preparation methods. We have studied the conformation change of hornet silk proteins (Vespa mandarina) as regenerated films, using chiroptical spectrophotometer universal chiroptical spectrophotometer 1, which can measure true circular dichroism spectra without artifact signals that are intrinsic to solid‐state samples. The spectra showed that the proteins in films alter the conformation rapidly from the α‐helix to the coiled coil and then to a β‐sheet structure in response to heat/moisture treatment, but the transformation stopped at the coiled coil state when the sample was soaked in EtOH/water solution. Water is required for the α‐helix to the coiled coil transition, and extra energy is required for the further transition to a β‐sheet structure. This is the first successful circular dichroism study of fibril silk proteins to follow the conformation changes in the solid state. This work shows that proteins can undergo conformational changes easily even in the solid phase in response to external stimuli, and this can be traced by solid‐phase‐feasible chiroptical spectrophotometers. Application of unnatural stress to proteins gives valuable insights into their structure and characteristics.     

Validating the Use of Wrist-Level Light Monitoring for In-Hospital Circadian Studies

This clinical methods comparison study describes the difference between light levels measured at the wrist (Actiwatch-L) and at the eye (Daysimeter) in a postoperative in-patient population. The mean difference between the two devices was less than 10 lux at light levels less than 5000 lux. Agreement between the devices was found to decrease as eye-level light exposure increased. Measurements at eye level of 5000 lux or more corresponded to a difference between the devices of greater than 100 lux. Agreement between the eye- and wrist-level light measurements also appears to be influenced by time of day. During the day, the measurement differences were on average 50 lux higher at eye level, whereas at night they were on average 50 lux lower. Although the wrist-level monitor was found to underestimate light exposure at higher light levels, it was well tolerated by participants in the clinical setting. In contrast, the eye-level monitor was cumbersome and uncomfortable for the patients to wear. This study provides light-exposure data on patients in real conditions in the clinical environment. The results show that wrist-level monitoring provides an adequate estimate of light exposure for in-hospital circadian studies. (Author correspondence: g.warman@auckland.ac.nz)     

DNA SEQUENCING RESEARCH GROUP (DSRG) 2003—A GENERAL SURVEY OF CORE DNA SEQUENCING FACILITIES

DNA sequencing core facilities serve as centralized resources within both academic and commercial institutions, providing expertise in the area of DNA analysis. The composition and configuration of these facilities continue to evolve in response to new developments in instrumentation and methodology. The goal of the 2003 DNA Sequencing Research Group (DSRG) survey was to identify recent changes in staffing, funding, instrumentation, services, and customer relations. Responses to 58 survey questions from 30 participants are presented to offer a look at the current typical DNA core sequencing facility. The results from this study will serve as a resource for institutions to benchmark their shared core laboratories, and to give facility directors an opportunity to compare and contrast their respective services and experiences.     

University Multi-User Facility Survey��2010

Multi-user facilities serve as a resource for many universities. In 2010, a survey was conducted investigating possible changes and successful characteristics of multi-user facilities, as well as identifying problems in facilities. Over 300 surveys were e-mailed to persons identified from university websites as being involved with multi-user facilities. Complete responses were received from 36 facilities with an average of 20 years of operation. Facilities were associated with specific departments (22%), colleges (22%), and university research centers (8.3%) or were not affiliated with any department or college within the university (47%). The five most important factors to succeed as a multi-user facility were: 1) maintaining an experienced, professional staff in an open atmosphere; 2) university-level support providing partial funding; 3) broad client base; 4) instrument training programs; and 5) an effective leader and engaged strategic advisory group. The most significant problems were: 1) inadequate university financial support and commitment; 2) problems recovering full service costs from university subsidies and user fees; 3) availability of funds to repair and upgrade equipment; 4) inability to retain highly qualified staff; and 5) unqualified users dirtying/damaging equipment. Further information related to these issues and to fee structure was solicited. Overall, there appeared to be a decline in university support for facilities and more emphasis on securing income by serving clients outside of the institution and by obtaining grants from entities outside of the university.