Chemical carcinogenesis — the price for DNA-repair?

This essay examines the possibility of merging the mutation theory of cancer with the hypothesis that cancer is a change in the state of the differentiation of cells. It is suggested that during normal development DNA rearrangements occur, concerning genes which code for differentiation specific cell communication proteins. These proteins are responsible for the proper functioning of growth control in a multicellular organism. DNA-damaging agents — mutagens — induce DNA repair enzymes, some of which may catalyse illegitimate genome rearrangements, thus leading to a change of the balance between growth and differentiation. A cell with a selective advantage may arise and become the origin of a tumor.     

关于资源技术与工程学科建设若干问题的讨论

资源技术与工程是现阶段资源科学学科建设的主要方向之一,是研究资源直接利用、间接利用、循环利用的理论、方法和实践的学科,其研究对象为物质实体。目前国内外资源技术与工程学科建设的进展仍处于纵向分异的阶段,单项资源(水、土、气、生物、矿产、能源等)利用的技术与工程研究仍是其主要特征。资源技术与工程的基本学科定位应为工学,其学科体系可分为3个二级学科和12个三级学科。在开展资源技术与工程学科建设时,理科院校应侧重于新型资源、替代资源的开发利用技术与工程研究,而工科、农科院校则应注重单项资源以及多项资源之间的再生利用、循环利用、保护利用、协同利用和综合利用技术与工程研究。     

Mosaicism or pseudomosaicism: The problem of hypermodal cells in amniotic fluid cell culture

A series of 2029 consecutive amniotic fluid specimens studied for prenatal genetic diagnosis were reviewed and reassessed so as to evaluate the frequency and clinical significance of hypermodal cells in amniotic fluid cell cultures. Hypermodal cells were defined as those with more than 46 chromosomes, and were characterized by an additional structurally normal or structurally abnormal chromosome. Of 2029 specimens, 47 (2.31 per cent) contained a total of 167 hypermodal cells. True fetal mosaicism was detected in three cases (0.14 per cent). All had hypermodal cells in more than one culture flask or colony which contained the same aberrant chromosome complement. In all but one case the babies were normal when only one cell was hypermodal, or when several cells were hypermodal but present in only one colony or one culture vessel. One case had an extra No. 20 chromosome in one cell. Although the child had multiple anomalies, they were not characteristic of trisomy 20, and subsequent chromosomal study on the baby postnatally revealed a 46,XX karyotype. The in situ coverslip technique is recommended as the preferred method for prenatal diagnosis, and it is useful as an aid in differentiating true mosaicism from pseudomosaicism.     

中国20世纪建筑遗产空间分异及形成机理

探索20世纪建筑遗产空间分异特征与形成机理,对于提高建筑遗产的保护水平有重要意义。以396处20世纪建筑遗产为研究对象,通过标准差椭圆、重心分析、Voronoi图等空间分析方法,研究中国20世纪建筑遗产空间分异及演变特征,并运用地理探测器模型深入剖析其形成机理。研究发现：（1）从整体分异格局及演变来看,20世纪建筑遗产空间分布呈凝聚状,省域层面呈高富集区“一枝独秀”、中富集区“东部零星”、一般富集区和低富集区“两带两块”的特征;市域层面呈“断崖式”数量差异、“梯度化”等级差异、“众星捧月”空间分异特征;重心呈“先北后南”移动趋势,东西向移动较微小,集聚程度呈由强变弱趋势,集聚点数量呈递减趋势。（2）从类型分异格局及演变来看,20世纪建筑遗产可分为六大主类和16个亚类。其中,科教文卫体类、商政办公类和纪念性类遗产数量居多,且分别呈“两核分散”“东部三核、中部团状零星”“两核一环多点”空间分布特征;同时,不同类型建筑遗产分布演变特征差异明显。（3）20世纪建筑遗产空间分布格局是由区域地位、文化与教育、社会经济发展水平和对外联系等多种因素共同作用的结果,其中历史文化底蕴因子的影响最大。     

Chromosome mosaicism of the placenta—a cause of developmental failure of the fetus?

Fourteen (2.5 per cent) of 568 chromosome preparations after CVS showed discrepancies between the placental and fetal karyotype, mainly due to placental mosaicism. The presence of a second cell line within the placenta was confirmed in all but one case, in which cytogenetic reinvestigations were carried out. Our clinical data indicate that severe developmental retardation in the newborn is not to be expected if only the placenta carries the chromosomally abnormal cell line.     

Aerobic degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether by a Proteobacteria strain in a closed culture system

The contamination of methyl ten-butyl ether （MTBE） in underground waters has become a widely concerned problem all over the world. In this study, a novel dosed culture system with oxygen supplied by H2O2 was introduced for MTBE aerobic biodegradation. After 7 d, almost all MTBE was degraded by a pure culture, a member of β-Proteobacteria named as PMI, in a closed system with oxygen supply, while only 40% MTBE was degraded in one without oxygen supply. Dissolved oxygen （DO） levels of the broth in closed systems respectively with and without H2O2 were about 5-6 and 4 mg/L. Higher DO may improve the activity of monooxygemase, which is the key enzyme of metabolic pathway from MTBE to tert-butyl alcohol and finally to CO2, and may result in the increase of the degrading activity of PM1 cell. The purge and trap GC-MS result of the broth in closed systems showed that tea-butyl alcohol, isopronol and acetone were the main intermediate products.     

Aphid soldier differentiation: density acts on both embryos and newborn nymphs

The mechanism of caste differentiation in a social aphid Tuberaphis styraci, which has a sterile soldier caste in the 2nd instar, was investigated using an artificial diet rearing system. High aphid density induced soldier production. Combinatorial prenatal and postnatal density treatments revealed that (1) either prenatal high density or postnatal high density is sufficient for soldier induction; (2) thus, embryos in the maternal body and newborn 1st instar nymphs are both responsive to high density; (3) the combination of prenatal high density and postnatal high density enhances soldier differentiation in a synergistic manner; and (4) the final determination of soldier differentiation occurs postnatally, probably at a late 1st instar stage. This study first throws light on the developmental aspects of caste differentiation in a social aphid.     

Cytogenetic results from the U.S. collaborative study on CVS

Cytogenetic data are presented for 11 473 chorionic villus sampling (CVS) procedures from nine centres in the U.S. NICHD collaborative study. A successful cytogenetic diagnosis was obtained in 99.7 per cent of cases, with data obtained from the direct method only (26 per cent), culture method only (42 per cent), or a combination of both (32 per cent). A total of 1.1 per cent of patients had a second CVS or amniocentesis procedure for reasons related to the cytogenetic diagnostic procedure, including laboratory failures (27 cases), maternal cell contamination (4 cases), or mosaic or ambiguous cytogenetic results (98 cases). There were no diagnostic errors involving trisomies for chromosomes 21, 18, and 13. For sex chromosome aneuploidies, one patient terminated her pregnancy on the basis of non-mosaic 47,XXX in the direct method prior to the availability of results from cultured cells. Subsequent analysis of the CVS cultures and fetal tissues showed only normal female cells. Other false-positive predictions involving non-mosaic aneuploidies (n = 13) were observed in the direct or culture method, but these cases involved rare aneuploidies: four cases of tetraploidy, two cases of trisomy 7, and one case each of trisomies 3, 8, 11, 15, 16,20, and 22. This indicates that rare aneuploidies observed in the direct or culture method should be subjected to follow-up by amniocentesis. Two cases of unbalanced structural abnormalities detected in the direct method were not confirmed in cultured CVS or amniotic fluid. In addition, one structural rearrangement was misinterpreted as unbalanced from the direct method, leading to pregnancy termination prior to results from cultured cells showing a balanced, inherited translocation. False-negative results (n = 8) were observed only in the direct method, including one non-mosaic fetal abnormality (trisomy 18) detected by the culture method and seven cases of fetal mosaicism (all detected by the culture method). Mosaicism was observed in 0.8 per cent of all cases, while pseudomosaicism (including single trisomic cells) was observed in 1.6 per cent of cases. Mosaicism was observed with equal frequency in the direct and culture methods, but was confirmed as fetal mosaicism more often in cases from the culture method (24 per cent) than in cases from the direct method (10 per cent). The overall rate of maternal cell contamination was 1.8 per cent for the culture method, but there was only one case of incorrect sex prediction due to complete maternal cell contamination which resulted in the birth of a normal male. The rate of maternal cell contamination was significantly higher in samples obtained by the transcervical sampling method (2. 16 per cent) than in samples obtained by the transabdominal method (0.79 per cent). From these data, it is clear that the culture method has a higher degree of diagnostic accuracy than the direct method, which should not be used as the sole diagnostic technique. The direct method can be a useful adjunct to the culture method, in which maternal cell contamination can lead to incorrect sex prediction and potentially to false-negative diagnostic results.     

Rice in deep water: "How to take heed against a sea of troubles"

 Plants are aerobic organisms for which oxygen shortage poses a severe problem. Waterlogging and flooding are the main causes of anaerobiosis and can lead to damage or even death of the plant. Rice is well adapted to semi-aquatic conditions. It is the only cereal that can be grown in flooded areas such as the great river deltas of Asia. In rice, two major strategies have evolved to cope with conditions of flooding. One is to escape submergence and thereby avoid anaerobiosis as much as possible. This is achieved through elongation growth and through extensive aeration of submerged plant parts by way of internal and external air spaces. The second adaptation is a metabolic one which includes the efficient use of carbohydrate resources and maintenance of energy charge when the cells do become anaerobic. The mainly ethanolic fermentation pathway found in anaerobic rice avoids acidification of the cytoplasm and thereby contributes to the maintenance of cell integrity. Genetic analysis indicates that the submergence tolerance trait, which is based on metabolic changes, is encoded by only one or a few as yet unidentified gene(s). Identifying these genes is a major goal in anaerobic stress research.     

Maternal cell contamination in chorionic villus samples assessed by direct preparations and three different culture methods

Presumptive maternal cell contamination (MCC) was monitored in identified male cases during cytogenetic comparison of direct techniques and three different culture regimes from 140 thoroughly dissected chorionic villus samples. Of the 66 identified male cases, 11(16·7 per cent) showed MCC, the mean number of cells examined per case being 8·2 (direct) and 14·5 (cultures); in the direct preparations only one of a total of 457 cells examined was female, while preparations from cultures revealed MCC in 11 cases. Four of these had MCC in more than one culture regime and four had only a single female cell. The results showed that (1) dependence on the culture system alone would have given a diagnosis based on maternal cells in one (1·5 per cent) male case, thus underlining the danger of this approach (a similar undetected rate of misdiagnosis being expected in the female cases) and (2) MCC was significantly lower in cultures grown in Chang medium as compared with the other two regimes, McCoy's 5A + 15 per cent fetal calf serum and 1 per cent Ultroser G, and McCoy's 5A + 25 per cent fetal calf serum, the latter expressing the highest level of MCC.     

Prenatal diagnosis by in situ hybridization on uncultured amniocytes: Reduced sensitivity and potential risk of misdiagnosis in blood-stained samples

Maternal cell contamination was assessed in 18 macroscopically blood-stained amniotic fluid samples from male fetuses. The samples were analysed by double-target fluorescent in situ hybridization (ISH) with Y and X chromosome-specific probes. The only sample with an aberrant karyotype (47, XY, +18) was also analysed by hybridization with a chromosome 18-specific probe. An interpretation of extensive maternal cell contamination was made in two samples, one of which was the sample with trisomy 18. ISH with the chromosome 18-specific probe on this latter sample showed that the sensitivity of the ISH method for chromosome enumeration of uncultured amniotic fluid samples may be reduced in bloodstained samples. It was calculated that by using ISH for chromosome enumeration of the two extensively contaminated samples, a case of trisomy 21 might have been overlooked in both samples, while a case of trisomy 18 might only have been overlooked in one of the samples. It is concluded that ISH should not be used for chromosome enumeration of uncultured amniotic fluid samples that are macroscopically blood-stained without further technical developments.     

Combustion aerosol scavenging

As an aerosol ages, the larger particles may scavenge smaller particles in the system. Here we study the scavenging of combustion aerosols by larger particles with a relatively high critical supersaturation. Combustion particles are not composed of pure elemental carbon particles which would be hydrophobic, but rather are composed of mixed soluble and insoluble materials. In this experiment the aerosol's soluble fraction was enhanced through the addition of a small amount of ethyl disulfide to the original fuel. Measurements are made of scavenging rates for the combustion aerosols by the larger particles using the changes which the combustion particles induce in the scavengers when deposition occurs. The presence of the small combustion particle dramatically lowers the critical supersaturation of the composite particle, and this allows the differentiation between the large pure particles and those which have collected a small one. The scavenging is found to occur at faster rates than those predicted by Brownian scavenging theory. The mixed particles resulting from scavenging behave as large inert particles with point activation sites on their surfaces.     

Model microgravity enhances endothelium differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of differentiation into multilineage cell types under certain induction conditions. Previous studies have demonstrated that physical environments and mechanical force can influence MSC fate, indicating that these factors may be favorable inducers for clinical treatment. Our previous study found that MSCs are spread with a spindle shape when cultured in normal gravity (NG), and under modeled microgravity (MMG) for 72 h, they become unspread and round and their cytoskeleton fibers are reorganized. These morphological changes affected the function of MSCs through the activity of RhoA. We examined the responses of MSCs under MMG stimulation, followed with VEGF differentiation. We found that MSCs under MMG for 72 h were differentiated into endothelial-like cells by detecting the expression of endothelial-specific molecules (Flk-1 and vWF), which were also able to form a capillary network. Their endothelial differentiation potential was improved under MMG compared with that under NG. We believe that this method is a novel choice of MMG stimulation for neovascularization. This phenomenon may increase the potential of MSC differentiation, which might be a new strategy for the treatment of various vascular diseases and improve vascularization in tissue engineering.     

Neural stem cell-based in vitro bioassay for the assessment of neurotoxic potential of water samples

Intensive agriculture activities, industrialization and growing numbers of wastewater treatment plants along river banks collectively contribute to the elevated levels of neurotoxic pollutants in natural water reservoirs across Europe. We established an in vitro bioassay based upon neural stem cells isolated from the subventricular zone of the postnatal mouse to evaluate the neurotoxic potential of raw wastewater, treated sewage effluent, groundwater and drinking water. The toxic potential of water samples was evaluated employing viability, proliferation, differentiation and migration assays. We found that raw wastewater could reduce the viability and proliferation of neural stem cells, and decreased the neuronal and astrocyte differentiation, neuronal neurite growth, astrocyte growth and cell migration. Treated sewage water also showed inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and migration. Our results indicated that relatively high concentrations of nitrogenous substances, pesticides, mercuric compounds, bisphenol-A, and phthalates, along with some other pollutants in raw wastewater and treated sewage water, might be the reason for the neuroinhibitory effects of these water samples. Our model successfully predicted the neurotoxicity of water samples collected from different sources and also revealed that the incomplete removal of contaminants from wastewater can be problematic for the developing nervous system. The presented data also provides strong evidence that more effective treatments should be used to minimize the contamination of water before release into major water bodies which may be considered as water reservoirs for human usage in the future.     

土地利用回归模型在大气污染时空分异研究中的应用

随着城市化、工业化、机动化进程的加快,大气污染已成为我国最严重的环境问题之一,对公众健康和生态环境造成了诸多负面影响.土地利用回归,即Land-use Regression(LUR)模型是目前模拟城市尺度大气污染时空分异的常用方法之一,其在欧洲和北美得到广泛的应用,而在国内,相关研究却不多.本文在整理国内外文献的基础上,从构建LUR模型的主要步骤入手,包括监测数据获取、模型自变量生成、模型构建、模型检验和回归映射等方面,对LUR模型在大气污染时空分异研究中的进展进行归纳总结,进而展望了未来的研究重点与方向,即突出时空分异、扩展模型变量类别和改进模型构建方法.本文旨在普及LUR模型在我国的应用,为人口暴露、流行病学研究和健康风险评价等提供方法论基础.     

Prenatal diagnosis,fetal pathology,and cytogenetic analysis of mosaic trisomy 14

While true mosaicism occurs in only 0–25 per cent of genetic amniocenteses, nearly 2–5 per cent of amniotic fluid cell cultures contain a second cell line. In the common practice of prenatal diagnosis, an aberrant cell line confined to a single colony is usually disregarded. We present a case of mosaic trisomy 14 which was not detected on initial chromosome analysis. At birth, multiple malformations were apparent. Newborn cytogenetic studies revealed mosaicism [46,XX/46,XX,-14,+i(14q)] with an isochromosome 14 in 37 per cent of lymphocytes. Additional cells from the initial amniotic fluid culture were analysed post-delivery and the isochromosome 14 identified in only one of 12 total colonies. This case illustrates two important lessons in prenatal diagnosis. First, amniotic fluid cell cultures may not accurately reflect the relative distribution of the normal and abnormal cell lines within a mosaic fetus. Second, while it is generally reasonable to disregard mosaicism confined to a single colony, this policy will, on rare occasion, result in diagnostic error. This should be taken into consideration, particularly when dealing with autosomal trisomies potentially compatible with livebirth.     

基因芯片筛选氯化汞对大鼠脑神经毒性差异表达基因

为了筛选汞神经毒性差异表达基因和探讨汞神经毒性分子机制,采用基因芯片技术,研究了大鼠皮下注射0.5mg/kg的HgCl₂ 1h后脑中基因表达的变化.结果表明,基因表达谱中差异表达基因共有742条,上调基因562条,下调基因180条.生物信息学分析表明,差异表达基因中有免疫应答及解毒作用相关基因、遗传信息传递与表达相关基因、细胞信号传导基因、神经传导基因、细胞增殖与分化基因、细胞调亡等多种基因.分析结果提示这些基因的差异表达可能与汞神经毒性有关.利用基因芯片技术筛选相关基因,为深入阐明汞神经毒性的作用机制提供了新思路.     

The immunoglobulin-like genetic predetermination of the brain: the protocadherins, blueprint of the neuronal network

The morphogenesis of the brain is governed by synaptogenesis. Synaptogenesis in turn is determined by cell adhesion molecules, which bridge the synaptic cleft and, by homophilic contact, decide which neurons are connected and which are not. Because of their enormous diversification in specificities, protocadherins (pcdh!, pcdh#, pcdh%), a new class of cadherins, play a decisive role. Surprisingly, the genetic control of the protocadherins is very similar to that of the immunoglobulins. There are three sets of variable (V) genes followed by a corresponding constant (C) gene. Applying the rules of the immunoglobulin genes to the protocadherin genes leads, despite of this similarity, to quite different results in the central nervous system. The lymphocyte expresses one single receptor molecule specifically directed against an outside stimulus. In contrast, there are three specific recognition sites in each neuron, each expressing a different protocadherin. In this way, 4,950 different neurons arising from one stem cell form a neuronal network, in which homophilic contacts can be formed in 52 layers, permitting an enormous number of different connections and restraints between neurons. This network is one module of the central computer of the brain. Since the V-genes are generated during evolution and V-gene translocation during embryogenesis, outside stimuli have no influence on this network. The network is an inborn property of the protocadherin genes. Every circuit produced, as well as learning and memory, has to be based on this genetically predetermined network. This network is so universal that it can cope with everything, even the unexpected. In this respect the neuronal network resembles the recognition sites of the immunoglobulins.     

中国传统民居建筑风貌地域分异特征与形成机理

保护传统村镇是新型城镇化的重要任务之一,而作为物质文化遗产和文化基因的民居建筑是传统村镇传统风貌的主体,缺失传统民居建筑的传统村镇就失去了文化遗产传承的载体。以全国代表性建筑景观特色型村镇为案例,分析传统村落建筑风貌地域分异特征,进而探究其地域分异的影响机理。研究发现：首先,中国传统民居建筑风貌主要分为12种类型,由此形成的建筑风貌区在空间分布上南北差异明显,北方建筑风貌区呈大小两个片区分布,而南方呈两条带状分布。其次,从聚落环境、空间布局、造型风格、建筑材料和细部装饰等五方面反映出中国传统民居建筑风貌的地域分异明显。第三,自然环境因素（包括地貌/水系、气候、植材/土石等）是形成传统民居建筑风貌地域分异的基石;宗法伦理、风水观念及民族文化等人文因素是地域分异的内动力;而人口迁移、战争防御和商贸经济等人文因素是地域分异的外推力。     

重庆市乡村生产空间系统风险评价及其空间分异格局

科学评价乡村生产空间系统风险水平并揭示其空间格局特征,差异化设计风险管控措施,对引导和调控乡村生产空间系统多元主体行为选择、实施健康可持续乡村振兴战略具有重要意义。在理清乡村生产空间系统风险机理的基础上,从风险源压力、风险载体状态、风险控制机制响应三个方面构建了乡村生产空间系统风险综合评价指标体系,以重庆市37个区县为研究单元,2016年为研究时点,评价了乡村生产空间系统风险水平并揭示其空间分异特征,据此提出了乡村生产空间系统风险管控的差异化措施。研究表明：（1）乡村生产空间系统风险的产生是风险源压力、风险载体状态、风险控制机制响应三者相互联系、共同作用的结果。（2）重庆市乡村生产空间系统风险总体上属于中等水平,呈现出“东高西低”的空间格局,系统压力、状态、响应水平空间分异特征明显,并从空间管制、土地利用模式、防灾减灾救灾体系等维度提出了差异化风险管控措施。