Unexpected structural chromosome rearrangements in prenatal diagnosis

Among 5315 prenatal diagnoses performed for various indications (maternal age, neural tube defect, metabolic diseases, X-linked diseases, pathologic pregnancies) 29 unexpected structural chromosome rearrangements were found in fetal cells. Fourteen were de novo chromosome rearrangements, six unbalanced, and eight balanced. Fifteen were inherited and balanced rearrangements. This high frequency of structural anomalies is discussed.     

Rare cell isolation using antibodies covalently linked to slides: application to fetal cells in maternal blood

We describe here a new type of method for isolation of rare cell populations in biological fluids. The method is based on the anthraquinone technology for covalent binding of molecules to a polymer surface. An anthraquinone molecule conjugated via a linker to an electrophilic group (AQ Immobilizer™ reagent, Exiqon A/S) is covalently bound to a polymer surface by UV irradiation. The electrophilic group of this AQ reagent can covalently bind a specific antibody directed against a specific cell marker. Applying a cell sample to the functional surface, the cells having the specific cell marker on the cell surface will bind to the antibody on the functional surface. Using this technique, even extremely small cell populations may be isolated. We succeeded in isolating fetal cells from maternal blood samples in the first trimester for chromosome defects genetic diagnosis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Promotion of hexadecyltrimethyleamine bromide to the damage of Alexandrium sp. LC3 by cupric glutamate

The effect of hexadecyltrimethyleamine bromide （HDTMAB） on the removal of A lexandrium sp. LC3 under cupric glutamate stress was investigated. Toxic effect of cupric glutamate on A lexandrium sp. LC3 was significantly promoted in the presence of HDTMAB, especially at 3.0 cmc of HDTMAB. It was found that the sulfhydryl group content of the cell decreased, while the malonaldehyde content and membrane permeability increased when A lexandrium sp. LC3 was treated with HDTMAB and cupric glutamate complex, compared with cupric glutamate alone. The data suggest that HDTMAB might stimulate the damage of A lexandrium sp. LC3 by enhancing the membrane permeability.     

电极构型对空气阴极生物燃料电池发电性能的影响

在空气阴极生物燃料电池(ACMFC)中,从阴极扩散进入阳极的氧气能够被兼性微生物作为电子受体还原,进而导致电子损失严重.本研究利用葡萄糖作底物,对2种不同电极构型的空气阴极生物燃料电池ACMFC1和ACMFC2的功率输出和电子回收进行了比较研究.结果表明,ACMFC1的内阻为302.14Ω,阳极电位为-323mV,最大功率密度为3 070 mW/m³;ACMFC2的内阻为107.79Ω,阳极电位为-442mV,最大功率密度达到9 800 mW/m³.在间歇条件下,ACMFC2可以连续运行220h,电子回收率为30.1%;而ACMFC1只能运行不到50h,电子回收率为9.78%.因此,合理的设计空气阴极生物燃料电池电极构型可以减小内阻,增大电池电动势进而增大功率输出,提高电子回收率.     

恶臭假单胞菌Pseudomonas putida 5-x细胞壁膜系统的Cu2+吸附性能

对1株从电镀废水中分离出的革兰氏阴性菌恶臭假单胞菌P.putida 5-x的细胞表面组分对Cu²⁺的吸附性能进行了分析研究.结果表明,分离的P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜的Cu²⁺吸附容量是完整细胞的5倍之多.细胞表面组分如肽聚糖层、细胞外膜和细胞内膜在P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜的Cu²⁺吸附过程中都发挥了作用.肽聚糖层、细胞外膜和内膜在P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜中的含量依次为细胞内膜>外膜>肽聚糖层,而它们的Cu²⁺吸附容量的大小依次为肽聚糖层>外膜>内膜.在P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜对Cu²⁺的吸附过程中,肽聚糖层贡献了不到15%的吸附容量,而细胞外膜和内膜分别贡献了30%～35%和25%～30%.P.putida 5-x细胞外膜中的磷脂含量明显比其它报道的革兰氏阴性细菌的细胞外膜高,这可能是P.putida 5-x细胞外膜具有较高Cu²⁺吸附容量的主要原因,并由此导致P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜的高Cu2+吸附容量.     

加速溶剂萃取-在线净化-液相色谱串联质谱法检测污泥堆肥样品中三氯生和三氯卡班

污泥堆肥样品基质复杂,其中三氯生（TCS）和三氯卡班（TCC）的提取和净化过程操作烦琐、回收率低。通过对净化条件进行优化,建立了加速溶剂萃取-在线净化-液相色谱串联质谱法检测污泥堆肥样品中TCS和TCC的分析方法,并对上海某污水厂实际污泥堆肥样品中的TCS和TCC进行定量分析。结果表明,TCS和TCC的检出限分别为0.003和0.0002μg/g,加标回收率为90.3%~99.8%,相对标准偏差（RSD）为1.2%~8.5%（n=6）。该方法样品前处理时间短、回收率高、试剂使用量少,能够满足实际污泥堆肥样品中TCS和TCC的检测要求。     

磷酸三苯酯(TPP)和磷酸三(2-氯异丙基)酯(TCPP)诱导人胚肾细胞HEK293凋亡的机制研究

磷系阻燃剂对人体的潜在毒性作用引起了国内外研究者的广泛关注。肾脏是机体重要的排毒器官,若肾脏细胞受损,可能影响肾脏功能的正常发挥。本研究以人胚肾细胞HEK293为研究对象,结合传统毒理学实验,筛选出磷酸三苯酯(TPP)及磷酸三(2-氯异丙基)酯(TCPP)诱导人胚肾细胞HEK293凋亡的关键靶标基因p53。在此基础上采用分子对接模拟和光谱法分析发现,TPP和TCPP分别以嵌插方式和沟槽方式结合p53-DNA,改变基因片段的框架结构,启动分子起始事件,通过影响相关基因(Bax、Hrk、Bcl-2和Bad)的表达量,导致线粒体途径释放cyt c,最终激活Caspase 7实现细胞凋亡。研究结果阐明了此类污染物诱导凋亡的作用机制,为毒害化学品的污染防控提供理论依据。     

Using mRNA to investigate the effect of low-pressure ultraviolet disinfection on the viability of E. coli

UV can induce damages on mRNA consistently among different genes. SOS response was more active after UV treatment. Programmed cell death was not found to be more active after UV treatment. The efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection has been analyzed and validated by numerous studies using culture-based methods, yet the discovery of the viable but nonculturable state necessitates the investigation of UV disinfection based on viability parameters. Paired regulators of the SOS response system, recA-lexA, and the programmed cell death system, mazEF, in Escherichia coli were chosen as the target genes, and the effect of UV irradiation on the mRNAs of the four genes was studied. This research showed that, after UV irradiation, the responses of the mRNAs were highly consistent, with reduction percentages of approximately 60% at 20 mJ/cm², 70% at 40 mJ/cm², and 90% at 80 mJ/cm², and these reductions were believed to be the result of direct UV damage to nucleic acids. After 24 h of dark incubation, recA and lexA were both upregulated but to a lesser extent for repressor lexA; and mazE and mazF were both downregulated. This result implies that UV irradiation induces the dark repair system more actively, and the cells will proceed to death at a rate similar to that associated with natural decay.     

Higher-efficiency for combined photovoltaic-thermoelectric solar power generation

Solar energy application in a large spectrum has the potential for high-efficiency energy conversion. Though, solar cells can only absorb photon energy of the solar spectrum near their band-gap energy, and the remaining energy will be converted into thermal energy. The use of the thermoelectric generator becomes a necessity for convert this thermal energy dissipated so as to increase efficiency conversion.

This paper analyses the feasibility of photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system and reviews their performance in order to optimize harvested energy. Regarding the thermoelectric effect, a new method of the ambient energy harvesting is presented. This method combines thermoelectric generators and the effects of heat sensitive materials associated to photovoltaic cells in phase change for generating both energy day and night. Experimental measures have been conducted primarily in laboratory conditions for a greater understanding of hybridization phenomena under real conditions and to test the actual performance of devices made. Results show that the hybrid system can generate more power than the simple PV and TEG in environmental conditions. This hybrid technology will highlight the use of renewable energies in the service of the energy production.     

水稻精细胞差异表达基因RSG6的克隆和抗体制备

选用在水稻精细胞和二细胞花粉的差减文库中获得的在精细胞中表达量显著增强且可能代表新基因的EST之一 (BF4 75 2 0 7)为探针 ,筛选水稻精细胞cDNA文库 ,得到一全长为 1176bp的序列 ,其开放读码框编码 2 81个氨基酸 ,与已知蛋白质无明显同源性 ,属于一新发现的基因 ,GenBank登录号为AF4 4 2 4 90 .这是第 1次从高等植物精细胞中分离到的全长基因 .RT PCR结果证明该基因在根、叶、二细胞花粉、成熟花粉、授粉子房和精细胞中均有表达 ,但在精细胞中的表达量要高得多 ,是精细胞差异表达基因 .将此基因命名为RSG6 (ricespermgene6 ) .将RSG6的编码区克隆到表达载体pQE30上 ,构建重组质粒 .经IPTG诱导后 ,在E .coliM15 (pREP4 )中表达出了N端融合了 6×His的融合蛋白 .用纯化的融合蛋白免疫家兔 ,制得高效价、高特异性的抗体