Interpretation of the Metabolic Enthalpy Change, ΔHmet,Calculated for Microbial Growth Reactions in Soils

The microcalorimetric method was used to calculate the metabolic enthalpy change per mol of glucose degraded by soil microorganisms, ΔH _met. This parameter has been calculated by microcalorimetry for many organic, inorganic and biochemical reactions, but there is only some information about its quantification for microbial growth reactions in soils. Values of ΔH _met were calculated for different soil samples collected in Galicia (Spain) and Campinas (Săo Paolo, Brazil). Exponential microbial growth was stimulated in all soil samples by the addition of glucose and power-time curves were recorded. Results showed changes in the values of ΔH _met calculated for all the soil samples, suggesting a dependence of this value with the microbial growth rate constant, with the percentage of growth, with the initial number of microorganisms of soil samples, with the quantity of glucose added and with the strain of bacteria growing in soil. The interpretation of variations of ΔH _met provides important qualitative and quantitative information. It reports data that allow to interpret from a qualitative point of view, the increase in biomass as a consequence of the degradation of the organic matter in soil, to understand changes in the percentages of soil organic matter and to know if the microbial population growing in differential soil samples is homogeneous. Therefore, to report that value would be very important in ecological studies, but beforehand, it is necessary to solve some problems that can appear in the experiments done to make the quantification . This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Zs－93硒剂对移植性小鼠S＿（180）肉瘤的抑制作用及其免疫活性

用硒与尿素化合，新生的由杂环有机硒所组成的Ｚｓ－９３硒剂治疗移植性Ｓ１８０肉瘤，有显著的抑瘤作用（Ｐ＜０．０１），其作用表现出一定的剂量效应，以５μｇ／只小鼠为最适，抑瘤率达６０．７６％，治疗组小鼠的Ｔ细胞、ＳＯＤ活性均有增强。     

Expression and Characterization of Catalytic Domain of T Cell Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase（△TC-PTP） —— Immunohistochemical Study of △TC-PTP Expression in Non-small Cell Lung Carcinomas

This study objective was to express and characterize the catalytic domain of the human T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase（△TC-PTP） and to study immunohistochemically the expression of △TC-PTP in human non-small cell lung cancers. △TC-PTP gene was PCR amplified with the cDNA of human TC-PTP as template, and cloned into the pT7 expression vector. The recombinant pT7-△TC-PTP was expressed in E. coli Rosetta （ DE3 ） host cells and puri- fied. The enzymatic characteristics of △TC-PTP including enzyme activity and kinetics assay were measured. The antiserum was prepared by immunizing rabbit with the purified recombinant △TC-PTP. Rabbit polyclonal antibody against △TC-PTP was purified by PVDF immobilized antigen affinity chromatography. Immunohistochemical staining of lung cancer tissues was performed with antibody against △TC-PTP protein. △TC-PTP gene was correctly cloned, expressed, and purified. The recombinant △TC-PTP had a highly catalytic activity of PTPase. Squamous cell lung carcinoma showed a significantly higher expression rate of △TC-PTP （76. 92%, 10/13 ） than adenocarcinoma （57.14%, 4/7） and normal lung tissue（20%, 1/5 ）. This study represents the first demonstration that △TC-PTP is highly expressed in human squamous cell lung carcinomas. In addition, this study provides an important basis for further studying the biological function of TC-PTP and its relationship with lung carcinomas and other diseases.     

Mass transport in gas channels of electrochemical cells with a solid-oxide electrolyte: Allowing for the electrode reaction rates in numerical calculations

The concentration fields, Nusselt number distributions along the electrode, and ratios of concentrations of electrochemically active components at the entrance into and exit out of an electrochemical cell are determined by numerical integration of the convective-diffusion equation for a broad range of rate constants of electrode reactions, Peclet numbers, and geometrical parameters of channels. Three regions of parameter values are revealed. At low reaction rates (K _l < 0.5), mass transfer is completely determined by electrode kinetics; at high rates (K _l > 20), it is completely determined by the diffusion in the gas phase; and in the intermediate region of values of K _l it is necessary to allow for both the diffusion processes and the electrode reactions.Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 317–324.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Ezin, Somov.     

Study on Extraction Process of Root of Henry Wood Betony Polysaccharides and Their Antitumor Activity against S180

We optimized the hot water extraction of polysaccharides from the root of Henry wood betony (RHWPs) using a uniform test and explored their anti-tumor activities in vitro and in vivo. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: 40 min extraction time, liquid/solid ratio 30 mL/g, 100 min soaking time, two extraction cycles, 100% ethanol concentration, and extraction temperature of 80 °C. The molecular weight distribution of RHWPs with MWs was 228,600 g/mol and 5001 g/mol. The IR spectrum further indicated that RHWPs are acidic polysaccharides containing pyranose and furan rings. The main monosaccharides found in RHWPs were mannose, ribose, l-rhamnose monohydrate, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, and fucose. RHWPs inhibited the proliferation of S180 tumor cells and induced apoptosis in vitro. Oral administration of RHWPs to tumor-bearing mice significantly inhibited the growth of the S180 xenografts, accelerated apoptosis in tumor cells, and expanded the necrotic regions. Furthermore, RHWPs also markedly increased the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 in the sera of tumor-bearing mice, and activated immune cells such as lymphocytes, NK cells, and macrophages, thereby inducing tumor cell apoptosis. Taken together, RHWPs are a promising anti-tumor agent that ought to be explored further.     

基于Cz-DPP不对称D-A结构新型有机小分子光伏材料的合成与性质

本文设计合成了一系列以咔唑(CZ)和吡咯并吡咯二酮(DPP)为基本结构单元的D-A结构的新型小分子材料,并对其进行了一系列的性能表征.合成的材料以咔唑作为给电子单元,吡咯并吡咯二酮作为吸电子单元,采用三键作为π桥,并引入4-氟苯基、4-氰基苯基和4-甲氧基苯基作为末端取代基团对材料进行修饰.其中材料CZBTDPPF和CZBTDPPO因分别具有1.85和1.79 eV的较窄带隙而分别获得了相对较高的的光电转化效率(1.97%和1.91%).由此可见,引入4-氟苯基和4-甲氧基苯基作为末端取代基团对于延长材料共轭结构、拓宽材料吸收从而实现材料光伏性能的提升具有重要的作用.     

Composite Electrode SnO2／TiO2 for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Composite nanoporous electrode SnO2/TiO2 was fabricated for the dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with N3 (Cis-Ru). After introducing of TiO2, the open-circuit photovoltage (Voc) was higher than that of the pure SnO2 electrode, while short-circuit photocurrent (Isc) was varied with the ratio of the TiO2. Appropriate content of the TiO2 can be beneficial to the efficiency of the solar cell, and it gives negative impact on the composite electrode when the content of TiO2 is higher.     

Cellulose-precursor synthesis of nanocrystalline Ce<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Gd<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2−δ</Subscript> for SOFC anodes

Developments of intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT SOFCs) require novel anode materials with a high electrochemical activity at 800–1070 K. The polarization of cermet anodes, made of nickel, ceria and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and applied onto a YSZ solid electrolyte, can be significantly reduced by catalytically active ceria additions, the relative role of which increases with decreasing temperature. Further improvement is observed when using Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2– (CGO) having a high oxygen ionic conductivity instead of undoped ceria, owing to enlargement of the electrochemical reaction zone. Nanocrystalline CGO powders with grain sizes of 8–35 nm were thus synthesized via the cellulose-precursor technique and introduced into Ni–CGO–YSZ cermets, and tested in contact with a (La_0.9Sr_0.1)_0.98Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3– (LSGM) electrolyte at 873–1073 K. The results showed that the anode performance can be enhanced by additional surface activation, in particular by impregnation with a Ce-containing solution, and also by incorporation of YSZ, which probably acts as a cermet-stabilizing component. The overpotential of the surface-modified Ni–CGO (25 wt%–75 wt%) anode in a 10% H₂/90% N₂ atmosphere was approximately 110 mV at 1073 K with a current density of 200 mA/cm².Presented at the OSSEP Workshop Ionic and Mixed Conductors: Methods and Processes, Aveiro, Portugal, 10–12 April 2003     

Single cell manipulation, analytics, and label-free protein detection in microfluidic devices for systems nanobiology

Single cell analytics for proteomic analysis is considered a key method in the framework of systems nanobiology which allows a novel proteomics without being subjected to ensemble-averaging, cell-cycle, or cell-population effects. We are currently developing a single cell analytical method for protein fingerprinting combining a structured microfluidic device with latest optical laser technology for single cell manipulation (trapping and steering), free-solution electrophoretical protein separation, and (label-free) protein detection. In this paper we report on first results of this novel analytical device focusing on three main issues. First, single biological cells were trapped, injected, steered, and deposited by means of optical tweezers in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic device and consecutively lysed with SDS at a predefined position. Second, separation and detection of fluorescent dyes, amino acids, and proteins were achieved with LIF detection in the visible (VIS) (488 nm) as well as in the deep UV (266 nm) spectral range for label-free, native protein detection. Minute concentrations of 100 fM injected fluorescein could be detected in the VIS and a first protein separation and label-free detection could be achieved in the UV spectral range. Third, first analytical experiments with single Sf9 insect cells (Spodoptera frugiperda) in a tailored microfluidic device exhibiting distinct electropherograms of a green fluorescent protein-construct proved the validity of the concept. Thus, the presented microfluidic concept allows novel and fascinating single cell experiments for systems nanobiology in the future.     

四氢呋喃-水-乙醇三元溶液体系制备高合金化Pt-Ru/CMK-3催化剂

提出了在四氢呋喃(THF)、H2O和乙醇三元体系中用一般的化学还原法在室温下制备高合金化Pt-Ru/CMK-3催化剂的新方法. 与在纯水中制得的商品化ETEK催化剂相比, 其Pt-Ru粒子的合金化程度高、平均粒径较小且相对结晶度低, 因此, 该催化剂对甲醇氧化的电催化活性远高于在纯水中制得的Pt-Ru催化剂. 高合金化程度的原因是H2PtCl6和RuCl3在THF、H2O和乙醇三元溶液体系中的起始还原电位相近. 此外, CMK-3以其规整的二维有序孔道结构, 为直接甲醇燃烧电池(DMFC)中电子和物质的传输提供了方便的路径, 其巨大的比表面积也为Pt-Ru 纳米粒子的均匀分散提供了良好的载体.