The comparison of different gold nanoparticles/graphene nanosheets hybrid nanocomposites in electrochemical performance and the construction of a sensitive uric acid electrochemical sensor with novel hybrid nanocomposites

In this paper, water soluble poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-graphene nanosheets (PDDA-GNs) were synthesized and characterized by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). On the basis of PDDA-GNs, three different types of gold nanoparticles/graphene nanosheets (AuNPs/GNs) hybrid nanocomposites were obtained by one-pot synthesis, in situ reduction and adsorption methods, respectively. These nanocomposites were used as electrode materials for electrochemical determination of uric acid (UA). The results indicated adsorption to be the best method to synthesize hybrid nanocomposites from the electrochemical point of view. Given the fact positively charged PDDA-AuNPs could interact with negatively charged UA molecules, we then synthesized PDDA-protected gold nanoparticles/graphene nanosheets (PDDA-AuNPs/GNs) hybrid nanocomposites by adsorption method, for the first time. As were expected, PDDA-AuNPs/GNs gave better performance for UA than AuNPs/GNs obtained by adsorption, and the anodic peak current of UA obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV) increased 102.1-fold in comparison to bare GCE under optimizing conditions. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to quantitatively determine UA. The linear range of UA was from 0.5μM to 20μM and the detection limit was 0.1μM (S/N=3) with a high sensitivity of 103.08μAμM(-1)cm(-2). The assay results of urine sample provided satisfying recoveries by standard addition method. In addition, the anodic peaks of adrenaline (AD) and UA were well resolved at PDDA-AuNPs/GNs modified electrode, while they were too overlapped to separate at bare electrode, as a result of that UA was successfully detected in the presence of AD. In conclusion, rapid synthesis of PDDA-AuNPs/GNs were realized and applied as an advanced hybrid electrode material for UA determination.     

Colorimetric sensing of clenbuterol using gold nanoparticles in the presence of melamine

A highly sensitive method for the detection of trace amount of clenbuterol based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the presence of melamine was described in this paper. Hydrogen-bonding interaction between clenbuterol and melamine resulted in the aggregation of AuNPs and a consequent color change of AuNPs from wine red to blue. The concentration of clenbuterol could be determined with naked eye or a UV-vis spectrometer. Results showed that the absorption ratio (A(670)/A(520)) was liner with the logarithm of clenbuterol concentration in the range of 2.8×10(-10) to 2.8×10(-7)M and 2.8×10(-7) to 1.4×10(-6)M with linear coefficients of 0.996 and 0.993, respectively. The detection limit was 2.8×10(-11)M (S/N=3), which was much lower than most existing methods. The coexisting substances including dl-epinephrine, phenylalamine, tryptohan, alamine, uric acid, glycine, glycerol, glucose, MgCl(2), CaCl(2) and NaCl did not affect the determination of clenbuterol. The proposed method could be successfully applied to the determination of clenbuterol in human urine.     

地高辛配基标记探针在流行性出血热尸检组织中原位分子杂交技术的应用和探讨

将地高辛配基(Dig)标记的探针应用于流行性出血热(EHF)尸检组织的石蜡切片中,进行原位分子杂交四例。方法要点:(1)采用Dig标记的探针及碱性磷酸酶系统、提高其敏感性;(2)为达到被检核酸的暴露彻底、准确,选择合适的消化酶;(3)选择适当的杂交温度和时间,防止了非特异性背景,并避免了组织脱片。结果表明此方法操作简便、安全、快速、敏感。     

Electrochemical immunosensor for casein based on gold nanoparticles and poly(L-Arginine)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composite film functionalized interface

In this paper, a novel electrochemical immunosensor for the determination of casein based on gold nanoparticles and poly(L-Arginine)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (P-L-Arg/MWCNTs) composite film was proposed. The P-L-Arg/MWCNTs composite film was used to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to fabricate P-L-Arg/MWCNTs/GCE through electropolymerization of L-Arginine on MWCNTs/GCE. Gold nanoparticles were adsorbed on the modified electrode to immobilize the casein antibody and to construct the immunosensor. The stepwise assembly process of the immunosensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Results demonstrated that the peak currents of [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) redox pair decreased due to the formation of antibody-antigen complex on the modified electrode. The optimization of the adsorption time of gold nanoparticles, the pH of supporting electrolyte and the incubation time were investigated in details. Under optimal conditions, the peak currents obtained by DPV decreased linearly with the increasing casein concentrations in the range from 1 × 10(-7) to 1 × 10(-5) g mL(-1) with a linear coefficiency of 0.993. This electrochemical immunoassay has a low detection limit of 5 × 10(-8) g mL(-1) and was successfully applied to the determination of casein in cheese samples.     

云南省越桔属植物资源研究

云南省的越橘属植物资源遗传多样性十分丰富,具有较好的利用价值。通过野外调查以及标本和查阅文献,越橘属在云南省有45种,12变种,其中9种和7变种系云南特有,主要分布在海拔400~4300 m范围内。本文较为系统地总结了其地理分布、植物学特征和遗传多样性,并且介绍了其中8个具有药用价值和育种潜力的种,同时对越橘属植物的收集、保存及利用情况进行了初步的探讨,提出目前存在的问题和建议。本文旨在为深入越橘属种质资源的研究和开发提供基础数据和信息。     

半干旱黄土小流域不同恢复方式对生态系统多功能性的影响

在黄土高原大规模退耕还林（草）背景下,植被恢复对生态系统功能会产生极大影响。以往研究多为比较不同恢复方式或植被类型的单一生态系统功能,对生态系统多功能性的研究亟待加强。因此,基于甘肃定西龙滩流域3种恢复方式（天然荒草、自然恢复、人工恢复）6种植被类型（长芒草草地、赖草草地、苜蓿草地、柠条灌丛、油松林、山杏林）38个样地调查数据,选取与土壤养分储存与循环、水源涵养、初级生产力、多样性维持等相关的23个功能指标利用平均值法量化生态系统多功能性。研究结果显示,（1）除营养物转化与循环功能外,其余土壤相关的生态系统功能在不同恢复方式与植被类型间均具有显著性差异（P<0.05）。人工恢复植被的土壤肥力显著高于自然恢复植被;人工恢复植被中土壤肥力从高到低依次为柠条灌丛、苜蓿草地、山杏林、油松林。自然恢复植被的水源涵养功能显著高于人工恢复植被。（2）除植物生长策略外,其余植物相关的生态系统功能在不同恢复方式与植被类型间均具有显著性差异（P<0.05）。人工恢复植被中地上初级生产力从高到低依次为山杏林、油松林、柠条灌丛、苜蓿草地,并显著高于自然恢复植被。人工恢复植被中植物养分吸收能力从高到低依次为苜蓿草地、柠条灌丛、油松林、山杏林,并显著高于自然恢复植被。自然恢复植被的物种多样性显著高于人工恢复植被。（3）生态系统多功能性在不同恢复方式与植被类型间均具有显著性差异（P<0.05）。生态系统多功能性表现为人工恢复植被高于自然恢复植被,但人工恢复植被的水源涵养功能与物种多样性均低于自然恢复植被,不利于生态系统的可持续发展。研究认为,在植被恢复具体实践中,应针对不同的恢复目标,根据各植被类型的功能特征,制定因地制宜的植被恢复战略。     

东江下游流域突发性重金属复合污染生态风险评价

流域突发性重金属污染事件发生不确定性较高,难以预测和防控,严重威胁流域生态安全、人群健康乃至社会稳定。本研究以东江下游流域为研究区开展生态风险评价,基于“多风险源(危险性)-多胁迫因子(联合暴露)-多风险受体(脆弱性)-生态风险”的风险传递框架,运用贝叶斯网络,计算东江下游流域突发性Cr⁶⁺-Hg²⁺复合污染生态风险,概率化表征风险不确定性,进而提出流域风险防控与管理措施。结果表明：(1)东江下游深莞惠地区67家涉重金属风险源均会对其子流域造成生态风险,惠州市的生态风险明显高于深圳市和东莞市;(2)东江下游西枝江子流域的生态风险最为显著,其次是东江下游干流子流域和东江下游河网区子流域;(3)基于敏感性分析,“河流水体脆弱性”是造成东江下游流域生态风险的主导因子。研究结果可为东江下游流域生态风险防控与管理提供理论支持。     

半干旱黄土小流域不同植被类型植物与土壤生态化学计量特征

生态化学计量学是研究生态系统元素平衡与能量流动的有效方法,明确不同植被恢复类型下植物与土壤化学计量特征对揭示黄土高原植被恢复中生态系统养分循环具重要意义,可为黄土高原植被恢复类型的选择提供可行性依据。以典型半干旱黄土小流域3种植被恢复方式下（天然荒草、自然恢复、人工恢复）的5种植被类型（长芒草草地、赖草草地、苜蓿草地、柠条灌丛、山杏林）为研究对象,分析不同植被类型下叶、茎、根及土壤碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）含量及化学计量特征。结果表明：1）植物不同器官和植被类型对植物生态化学计量特征都具有显著影响,C、N、P含量在5种典型植被中均表现为叶>茎>根。人工恢复植被各器官C、N含量及N ∶ P均显著高于天然荒草地,与自然恢复植被无显著差异;其中,在人工恢复植被中山杏各器官C含量最高,柠条各器官N含量最高。叶、茎、根的C ∶ N则表现为自然恢复植被显著高于人工恢复植被与天然荒草地。P含量、C ∶ P则在不同植被恢复类型间无显著差异。2）不同植被恢复类型下土壤C、N、P含量及化学计量特征具一定差异。人工恢复植被土壤C、N、P含量及C ∶ P、N ∶ P均为最高,显著高于自然恢复植被土壤;人工恢复植被中柠条土壤C、N含量及C ∶ P、N ∶ P均显著高于其他植被土壤。土壤C ∶ N在各植被类型间无显著差异。3）不同植被恢复类型下C、N、P含量在植物叶片与土壤间的相关性存在差异,说明植物自身生长特性影响着养分在植物与土壤间转化与传递。以5种典型植被整体来看,植物叶、茎、根的生态化学计量特征在彼此间均呈显著正相关。在植物与土壤间,植物各器官N含量与土壤C、N、P含量呈显著正相关,植物各器官N ∶ P与土壤N ∶ P呈显著正相关,表明该黄土小流域生态系统中植物与土壤生态化学计量特征的变化是相互制约,相互影响的。     

MicroRNA-302/367 cluster功能的研究进展

MircroRNA (miRNA)是一段长度约为22个nt的小型非编码RNA,广泛存在于真核生物中,具有调节基因表达的作用。对miRNA的鉴定、功能分析和调控机理研究已成为当今生物领域的热点。miR-302/367cluster属于胚胎干细胞特异性细胞周期调控miRNAs家族成员(embryonic stem cell-specific cell cycle-regulating family of microRNAs,ESCC miRNAs),通常由5个成员miR-302a、miR-302b、miR-302c、miR-302d及miR-367组成,大多分布在脊椎动物中。研究表明,该miRNAs簇对细胞多种生理过程起重要调控作用,如人胚胎干细胞(hESCs)多能性的维持、自我更新等。本研究概述了miRNA的合成及作用机理,ESCC miRNAs促进体细胞再程序化,并总结了miR-302/367 cluster在细胞周期调控、表观遗传修饰及一些细胞信号转导途径中的作用,为采用该类miRNAs诱导体细胞再程序化为iPS细胞(Induced pluripotent stem cells)提供一定的理论基础。     

Tumor necrosis factor alpha − 308G>A, − 863C>A, − 857C>T gene polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility: A meta-analysis

Background/aims

A large number of studies have shown that polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α, TNFA) gene are implicated in susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). However, the results are inconsistent. We performed this meta-analysis to estimate the association between polymorphisms in the TNFA gene and TB susceptibility.

Methods

Relevant studies published before March 2012 were identified by searching PubMed, ISI web of knowledge, EBSCO and CNKI. The strength of relationship between the TNFA gene and TB susceptibility was assessed using odds ratios (ORs).

Results

A total number of twenty-three case–control studies including 3630 cases and 4055 controls were identified referring to three previously chosen single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): − 308G>A, − 863C>A and − 857C>T. No association was found between − 308G>A, − 863C>A and TB susceptibility: − 308G>A (GG + GA vs. AA): OR 0.85, 95%CI: 0.55–1.30, P = 0.44; − 863C>A (CC + CA vs. AA): OR 0.93, 95%CI: 0.84–1.81, P = 0.83. Increased risk of TB was associated with − 857C>T in the dominant genetic model (CC + CT vs. TT: OR 2.13, 95%CI: 1.25–3.63, P = 0.01), the heterozygote comparison (CT vs. TT: OR 2.69, 95%CI: 1.44–5.02, P = 0.00) and the homozygote comparison (CC vs. TT: OR 2.08, 95%CI: 1.22–3.53, P = 0.01) in Asian subjects.

Conclusion

There is an increased association between TNFA − 857C>T polymorphism and TB risk among Asian subjects. No association was found between − 308G>A and − 863C>A with TB risk. Due to several limitations in the present study, well-designed epidemiological studies with large sample size among different ethnicities should be performed in the future.