Prospects for using genetic transformation for improved SIT and new biocontrol methods

The genetic manipulation of non-drosophilid insect species is possible by the creation of recombinant DNA constructs that can be integrated into host genomes by several transposon-based vector systems. This technology will allow the development and testing of a variety of systems that can improve existing biological control methods, and the development of new highly efficient methods. For programs such as sterile insect technique (SIT), transgenic strains may include fluorescent protein marker genes for detection of released insects, and conditional gene expression systems that will result in male sterility and female lethality for genetic sexing. Conditional expression systems include the yeast GAL4 system and the bacterial Tet-off and Tet-on systems that can, respectively, negatively or positively regulate expression of genes for lethality or sterility depending on a dietary source of tetracycline. Importantly, strains for male sterility must also incorporate an effective system for genetic sexing, since typically, surviving females would remain fertile. Models for the use of these expression systems and associated genetic material come from studies in Drosophila and, while many of these systems should be transferable to other insects, continued research will be necessary in insects of interest to clone genes, optimize germ-line transformation, and perform vector stability studies and risk assessment for their release as transgenic strains.     

Extra thin alginate film: an efficient technique for protoplast culture

Summary. This paper reports an efficient protoplast culture technique, the “extra thin alginate film” technique. The development of this improved method of protoplast culture was an outcome of an assessment of the efficiency and shortcomings of various protoplast culture techniques. The efficiency of this technique was evaluated with two model plant systems, viz., Nicotiana tabacum and Lotus corniculatus, and a comparison was made with the “thin alginate layer” technique, another efficient protoplast culture system. Results indicate that the culture technique with extra thin alginate film is as efficient as the technique with thin alginate layer, with many additional advantages. The present innovation overcomes most of the limitations of protoplast culture techniques described so far and can now be applied to a wide variety of crops to check its general applicability. Correspondence and reprints: Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143 005, India.     

Ageing Effect Evaluation on HD-sEMG Signals Using CCA Approach

ObjectivesThe objective of the proposed study is to exploit the technology of high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG), in order to evaluate the muscle activation in young and elderly subjects during a daily life gesture, namely, Sit To Stand (STS), using wireless connected ambulatory equipment (TMSi©) and Blind Source Separation (BSS) approach with Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA).Materials and methodsSixteen subjects participated (50% females) divided into two categories (‘H1’: young (30.62 yrs ±5.92, 23.95 kg/m² ±3.08), versus ‘H2’: old (61.87 yrs ±7.98, 23.4 kg/m² ±3.38)), in the recording of HD-sEMG signals, using 32-electrodes square grids (4×8), during Sit To Stand (STS) motion, three times at spontaneous speed. The studied muscle is the Rectus Femoris (RF) muscle. The recorded HD-sEMG signals were analyzed with CCA approach to extract correlation coefficient sets according to two age categories (young versus old), in order to evaluate its discriminating power with ageing. Statistical tests (t-test) were used to evaluate the discrimination for these two categories.ResultsThe calculation of CCA correlation coefficients showed a significant difference between young and old category concerning the mean CCA correlation coefficient (P<0.001***) and also the standard deviation of the CCA correlation coefficients (P<0.0001****).ConclusionThe obtained results are promising and indicate a clear difference between the obtained source variability using CCA method between the young and the old tested subjects during daily life motion. Furthermore, these estimated sources seem to be impacted by both anatomical and functional modifications with ageing.     

NO调控下丘脑钙激活钾通道的机制研究

目的 :研究NO对下丘脑神经元钙激活钾通道 (KCa)的作用及其机制。方法 :采用膜片钳技术内面向外式及细胞贴附式。结果 :NO可直接或通过升高cGMP来提高KCa通道的开放概率 (Po) ,这种增强作用是因为通道开放时间延长及开放频率增加。结论 :下丘脑神经元中NO可通过不同机制激活KCa。     

多发性骨髓瘤恶性相关基因快速表达克隆法的建立

为从多发性骨髓瘤细胞中克隆与鉴定恶性相关基因并试图阐明其发病分子机制,建立了一种改进的快速表达克隆法,简单、快捷、直接从多发性骨髓瘤细胞株ARH-77 cDNA文库中克隆恶性相关基因。其特点是常用的表达克隆法与经典的DNA介导的NIH／3T3转染实验相结合,直接从cDNA表达文库中克隆恶性相关基因。首先建立高质量的cDNA表达文库,将cDNA表达文库分成几个基因池,转染NIH／3T3细胞;将转化活性最强的基因池再分成几个亚基因池,转染NIH／3T3细胞;将转化活性最强的亚基因池再分成次级亚基因池,直到获得有明显转化活性的单个cDNA克隆。该技术亦可用于从其他肿瘤细胞中克隆恶性相关基因。     

粉末包衣技术在药物制剂领域的应用研究进展

粉末包衣技术是薄膜包衣技术发展至今的一个重要分支,其在药物制剂领域的应用优势突出,近年来受到药剂学研究者的广泛关注。分类综述目前应用于药物制剂的几种主要粉末包衣技术,包括属于物理化学法中的凝聚法、溶剂蒸发法和熔融分散法以及物理机械法中的喷雾干燥法、喷雾冷凝法、干法包衣技术和气流悬浮包衣技术,并探讨粉末包衣技术的主要功用,如用于制备缓控释制剂、药物粉末表面改性、改善口服制剂感官效果和提高药物及制剂稳定性等。     

土壤镉污染对大蒜幼苗生长及根系抗氧化系统的影响

通过土培实验研究了镉污染胁迫对大蒜幼苗生长及根系抗氧化系统的影响.结果表明:与对照组比较,土壤低浓度镉对大蒜幼苗生长略有促进作用,单株鲜质量、干质量、根长及地上部分高度略有增加,而根系活力、可溶性蛋白含量、超氧化物坡化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性显著升高,抗氧化防御酶系统仍保持平衡,表现在膜脂质过氧化产物(MDA)含量与对照组无明显差异;但随着土壤镉浓度的进一步增加,大蒜平均单株鲜质量、干质量、平均最大根长及地上部分高度均显著降低,同时,根系活力和可溶性蛋白含量增幅逐渐减弱,抗氧化防御酶系统平衡受到破坏,根系MDA含量显著上升.大蒜对镉吸收积累主要在根部,而向地上部分转运较少.