小鼠小梁细胞与肌成纤维细胞的同步辐射红外显微光谱

原发性开角型青光眼是常见的致盲性眼部疾病。眼压升高是原发性开角型青光眼发生和发展最主要的危险因素,是由小梁网途径的房水外流排出系统发生病变、房水流出阻力增加所致。研究表明,房水中存在的转化生长因子-β能够使小梁细胞纤维化,诱导小梁细胞过度增殖,从而阻碍房水外流,导致原发性开角型青光眼的发生。原发性开角型青光眼发病隐蔽,病程进展缓慢,早期没有任何症状,往往到晚期视力视野有显著损害时,才会被发现,因此原发性开角型青光眼的早期诊断尤为重要。同步辐射红外显微成像结合高亮度、高分辨率的同步辐射源,同时配备傅里叶变换红外光谱仪与红外显微镜,可以实现细胞的检测。这对从分子层面获取细胞的变化信息,深入理解疾病的发病机制以及疾病的早期诊断具有非常重要的意义。虽然有很多红外光谱在生物医学领域的研究报道,但是应用红外光谱显微成像技术研究细胞等生物医学体系仍然是亟待发展的领域,并且目前未找到关于红外光谱用于小梁网细胞的检测报道。在体外用转化生长因子-β对老鼠小梁网细胞进行诱导,使其转化为肌成纤维细胞,模拟小梁细胞纤维化过程。对小梁网细胞以及经转化生长因子-β诱导形成的肌成纤维细胞进行同步辐射红外显微成像及光谱分析,并进一步探讨同步辐射用于早期诊断原发性开角型青光眼的可行性。研究表明肌成纤维细胞内的弹性蛋白明显高于小梁网细胞,而弹性蛋白中95%为非极性氨基酸,即氨基酸的侧链基团R基只有C和H两种元素。对比两种细胞的红外谱图,发现在2 934,2 900和2 845 cm-1,肌成纤维细胞的 CH₃,CH₂和CH的伸缩振动明显强于小梁网细胞,推测可能是由于转化生长因子-β诱导后细胞内弹性蛋白增加所致。在细胞层面检测了小梁网细胞的过度增殖,为将来可以直接获取细胞的红外光谱从而检测小梁网细胞的增殖程度,进而检测原发性开角型青光眼等疾病奠定了基础。得出同步辐射红外谱学与显微成像有望成为检测原发性开角型青光眼新手段的结论,也为将来便携式红外显微光谱仪临床实时检测青光眼等疾病提供了依据。     

Anionic sites in articular cartilage revealed by polyethyleneimine staining

Articular cartilage is a unique tissue that contains neither blood vessels nor nerves, and that performs mechanical loading during joint movement. These properties are endowed by abundant glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are capable of retaining water-soluble substances. The GAGs attach to core proteins and form proteoglycans. Although many studies have focused on proteoglycans and collagen fibrils in cartilage, little is known about the nature of the negative charge of GAGs. Recently, we investigated this subject using a cationic dye, polyethyleneimine (PEI), with several different techniques such as pre-embedding, post-embedding, and quick-freezing and deep-etching methods. In addition, we investigated whether the anionic charge is altered at low pH, using PEI and cationic colloidal gold (CCG) labeling. The shapes of PEI-positive structures revealed by the pre-embedding method varied at different pHs. Three-dimensional analysis using the quick-freezing and deep-etching method demonstrated that meshwork structures composed of fine filaments were decorated with tiny PEI granules. Additionally, the meshwork structure was broken down after chondroitinase ABC digestion. These data indicate that the large PEI deposits observed in pre-embedding preparations are, at least in part, artificial images, and that the meshwork structure consists of chondroitin sulfate-retaining anionic sites. Low pH conditions changed PEI or CCG labeling patterns, showing that negative charges of GAGs in articular cartilage are altered under environmental pH conditions. These findings demonstrate that binding capacities of anionic sites to water-soluble or ionic substances are greatly affected by pH alterations without actually decreasing the number of anionic sites. Therefore, to understand cartilage dynamics and the pathogenesis of joint diseases in greater detail, alterations of anionic charge during mechanical loading or under pathological conditions should be examined in future studies.     

LIGHT SCATTERING AND INFRARED RADIATION OF SPATIAL OBJECTS

In this paper, the characteristic of light scattering and infrared radiation of spatial objects are discussed. The spectral distribution of solar, sky and earth background radiation is given. Based on theories of heat transfer, background radiation and the law of energy conservation, the thermal balance equation for spatial objects can be obtained. With the equation solved and thermal meshwork method, the variation of the thermal equilibrium temperature and radiation power with height is discussed under the conditions of different time zone and altitude.     

Phase Transition of Meshwork Models for Spherical Membranes

We have studied two types of meshwork models by using the canonical Monte Carlo simulation technique. The first meshwork model has elastic junctions, which are composed of vertices, bonds, and triangles, while the second model has rigid junctions, which are hexagonal (or pentagonal) rigid plates. Two-dimensional elasticity is assumed only at the elastic junctions in the first model, and no two-dimensional bending elasticity is assumed in the second model. Both of the meshworks are of spherical topology. We find that both models undergo a first-order collapsing transition between the smooth spherical phase and the collapsed phase. The Hausdorff dimension of the smooth phase is H≃2 in both models as expected. It is also found that H≃2 in the collapsed phase of the second model, and that H is relatively larger than 2 in the collapsed phase of the first model, but it remains in the physical bound, i.e., H<3. Moreover, the first model undergoes a discontinuous surface fluctuations transition at the same transition point as that of the collapsing transition, while the second model undergoes a continuous transition of surface fluctuation. This indicates that the phase structure of the meshwork model is weakly dependent on the elasticity at the junctions. This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

Fluctuation spectrum of fluid membranes coupled to an elastic meshwork: jump of the effective surface tension at the mesh size

We identify a class of composite membranes: fluid bilayers coupled to an elastic meshwork that are such that the meshwork's energy is a function F(el)[A(xi)] not of the real microscopic membrane area A, but of a smoothed membrane's area A(xi), which corresponds to the area of the membrane coarse grained at the mesh size xi. We show that the meshwork modifies the membrane tension sigma both below and above the scale xi, inducing a steep crossover of amplitude deltasigma=dF(el)/dA(xi). The predictions of our model account for the fluctuation spectrum of red blood cell membranes coupled to their cytoskeleton. Our results indicate that the cytoskeleton might be under extensional stress, which would provide a means to regulate available membrane areas. We also predict an observable tension jump for membranes decorated with polymer "brushes."     

Shape transformation transitions of a tethered surface model

A surface model of Nambu and Goto is studied statistical mechanically by using the canonical Monte Carlo simulation technique on a spherical meshwork. The model is defined by the area energy term and a one-dimensional bending energy term in the Hamiltonian. We find that the model has a large variety of phases; the spherical phase, the planar phase, the long linear phase, the short linear phase, the wormlike phase, and the collapsed phase. Almost all two neighboring phases are separated by discontinuous transitions. It is also remarkable that no surface fluctuation can be seen in the surfaces both in the spherical phase and in the planar phase.     

Reduced osteoblastic population and defective mineralization in osteopetrotic (op/op) mice

Osteopetrotic (op/op) mice fail to exhibit bone remodeling because of a defective osteoclast formation due to a lack of macrophage colony-stimulating factor. In this study, we investigated the femora of op/op mice to clarify whether the osteoblastic population and bone mineralization are involved in osteoclasts or their bone resorption. The op/op mice extended the meshwork of trabecular bones from the chondro-osseous junction to the diaphyseal region. In the femoral metaphyses of op/op mice, intense alkaline phosphatase (ALPase)-positive osteoblasts were observed on the metaphyseal bone in close proximity to the erosion zone of the growth plates. Von Kossa's staining revealed scattered mineralized nodules and a fine meshwork of mineralized bone matrices while the wild-type littermates developed well-mineralized trabeculae parallel to the longitudinal axis. In contrast to the metaphysis, some op/op diaphyses showed flattened osteoblasts with weak ALPase-positivity, and the other diaphyses displayed bone surfaces without a covering by osteoblasts. It is likely, therefore, that the osteoblastic population and activity were lessened in the op/op diaphyses. Despite the osteopetrotic model, von Kossa's staining demonstrated patchy unmineralized areas in the op/op diaphyses, indicating that a lower population and/or the activity of osteoblasts resulted in defective mineralization in the bone. Transmission electron microscopy disclosed few osteoblasts on the diaphyseal bones, and instead, bone marrow cells and vascular endothelial cells were often attached to the unmineralized bone. Osteocytes were embedded in the unmineralized bone matrix. Thus, osteoclasts appear to be involved in the osteoblastic population and activity as well as subsequent bone mineralization.     

聚磷硫酸铁的形貌结构与絮凝机理

采用红外(FTIR)、X射线衍射(XRD),确定了聚磷硫酸铁(PPFS)的结构组成,PPFS是一种高电荷的多羟基多核络合物,电镜扫描(SEM)表征分析,PPFS具有簇状类珊瑚礁立体网状的形貌结构;混凝烧杯试验说明,PPFS在絮凝时不是以电中和机理为主,吸附架桥和网捕卷扫作用才是它具有优异混凝效果的主要原因,zeta电位值证实了该推测.PPFS的絮凝机理可能是:电中和作用能有效地降低水中胶体的ζ电位致使胶体脱稳,之后PPFS发挥吸附架桥作用、网捕及卷扫作用最终有效地去除污水中的各种物质,所以PPFS是电中和、吸附架桥和网捕卷扫几种作用的综合体现.     

Lightning protection with the mesh method: Some models for the effectiveness analysis

Lightning protection of structures using the Mesh Method is based on long-term experience but does not involve any theoretical background. This paper proposes to prove the effectiveness of the Mesh Method using modified electro-geometrical theory. A roof constructed from insulating or low-conductivity material has been treated as permeable for the ‘rolling sphere’.The analysis confirms the high efficiency of low-suspended or roof mounted horizontal air terminals. In particular, when any conducting elements in the object interior are not closer to the meshwork surface than half the length of the square mesh side, the mean value of the protection unreliability coefficient falls in the range 5×10⁻⁵ to about 10⁻⁷ (depending on the protection level). When conducting elements are placed directly below the roof surface, the protection effectiveness falls considerably. The calculated protection unreliability is strongly influenced by mean lightning parameters. Considerable discrepancy between the data in references makes it impossible to obtain unambiguous, quantitative evaluation of the efficiency of the low-suspended terminals.     

Organization of chromatin in the interphase mammalian cell

The use of imaging techniques has become an essential tool in cell biology. In particular, advances in fluorescence microscopy and conventional transmission electron microscopy have had a major impact on our understanding of chromatin structure and function. In this review we attempt to chart the conceptual evolution of models describing the organization and function of chromatin in higher eukaryotic cells, in parallel with the advances in light and electron microscopy over the past 50 years. In the last decade alone, the application of energy filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM), also referred to as electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI), has provided many new insights into the organization of chromatin in the interphase nucleus. Based on ESI imaging of chromatin in situ, we propose a 'lattice' model for the organization of chromatin in interphase cells. In this model, the chromatin fibers of 10 and 30nm diameter observed by ESI, produce a meshwork that accommodates an extensive and distributed interchromosomal (IC) space devoid of chromatin. The functional implications of this model for nuclear activity are discussed.     

Collagen fibril organisation in mammalian vitreous by freeze etch/rotary shadowing electron microscopy

Mammalian vitreous gel contains two major network-forming polymeric systems: long, thin fibrils comprising predominantly type II collagen and a meshwork of hyaluronan. The gel structure is maintained primarily by the collagen component, but little is known about the mechanisms of spacing of the collagen fibrils and of interactions between fibrils to form a stable network. In this study we have applied the technique of freeze etching/rotary shadowing electron microscopy in order to reveal the fibrillar network in central, cortical and basal vitreous and to understand the structural relationship between the collagen fibrils. The fibrils were arranged side by side in narrow bundles that frequently branched to link one bundle to another. Only a minor part of the fibrillar network consisted of segments that had a diameter of a single fibril (16.4nm mean diameter). In addition, three morphologically distinct filamentous structures were observed that appeared to form links within the collagen fibrillar network: short, single interlinking filaments of 7.0nm mean diameter, network-forming filaments of 6.7nm mean diameter, and longer filaments of 8.2nm mean diameter. All three types of filamentous structure were removed by digestion of the vitreous gels with Streptomyces hyaluronan lyase prior to freeze etching, indicating that these structures contain or are stabilised by hyaluronan. These filamentous structures may contribute to the structural stability of the vitreous gel.     

Insights into the structure and composition of the peritubular dentin organic matrix and the lamina limitans

Dentin is a mineralized dental tissue underlying the outer enamel that has a peculiar micro morphology. It is composed of micrometer sized tubules that are surrounded by a highly mineralized structure, called peritubular dentin (PTD), and embedded in a collagen-rich matrix, named intertubular dentin. The PTD has been thought to be composed of a highly mineralized collagen-free organic matrix with unknown composition. Here we tested the hypothesis that proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans, two important organic structural features found in dentin, are key participants in the microstructure and composition of the PTD. To test this hypothesis dentin blocks were demineralized with 10 vol% citric acid for 2 min and either digested with 1mg/ml TPCK-treated trypsin with 0.2 ammonium bicarbonate at pH 7.9 (TRY) or 0.1 U/mL C-ABC with 50mM Tris, 60mM sodium acetate and 0.02% bovine serum albumin at pH 8.0 (C-ABC). TRY is known to cleave the protein core of dentin proteoglycans, whereas C-ABC is expected to selectively remove glycosaminoglycans. All specimens were digested for 48 h in 37°C, dehydrated in ascending grades of acetone, immersed in HMDS, platinum coated and imaged using an FE-SEM. Images of demineralized dentin revealed a meshwork of noncollagenous fibrils protruding towards the tubule lumen following removal of the peritubular mineral and confirmed the lack of collagen in the peritubular matrix. Further, images revealed that the peritubular organic network originates from a sheet-like membrane covering the entire visible length of tubule, called lamina limitans. Confirming our initial hypothesis, after the digestion with C-ABC the organic network appeared to vanish, while the lamina limitans was preserved. This suggests that glycosaminoglycans are the main component of the PTD organic network. Following digestion with TRY, both the organic network and the lamina limitans disappeared, thus suggesting that the lamina limitans may be primarily composed of proteoglycan protein cores. In summary, our results provide novel evidence that (1) PTD lacks collagen fibrils, (2) PTD contains an organic scaffold embedded with mineral and (3) the PTD organic matrix is manly composed of glycosaminoglycans, whereas the lamina limitans is primarily made of proteoglycans protein cores.     

Analysing Cytochrome c Aggregation and Fibrillation upon Interaction with Acetonitrile: an in Vitro Study

The propensity of native state to form aggregated and fibrillar assemblies is a hallmark of amyloidosis. Our study was focused at analyzing the aggregation and fibrillation tendency of cytochrome c in presence of an organic solvent i.e. acetonitrile. In vitro analysis revealed that the interaction of cytochrome c with acetonitrile facilitated the oligomerization of cytochrome c via the passage through an intermediate state which was obtained at 20 % v/v concentration of acetonitrile featured by a sharp hike in the ANS fluorescence intensity with a blue shift of 20 nm compared to the native state. Oligomers and fibrils were formed at 40 and 50 % v/v concentration respectively as indicated by a significant hike in the ThT fluorescence intensity, red shift of 55 nm in congo red binding assay and an increase in absorbance at 350 nm. They possess β-sheet structure as evident from appearance of peak at 217 nm. Finally, authenticity of oligomeric and fibrillar species was confirmed by TEM imaging which revealed bead like aggregates and a meshwork of thread like fibrils respectively. It could be suggested that the fibrillation of bovine cytchrome c could serve as a model protein to unravel the general aggregation and fibrillation pattern of heme proteins.

Open image in new window

Graphical abstract ?

     

“0.618”法、Fibonacci法、抛物线法搜寻复摆周期极值点

在实验室条件下,用"0.618"法、Fibonacci法和抛物线法来搜寻钟摆复摆周期极值点位置.通过实验发现,Fibonacci法在搜索精度上比"0.618"法高,但在搜寻速度上不占优势,而抛物线法在搜寻速度和精度上比"0.618"法和Fibonacci法都好.     

FAAS法对三种制备样品方法的研究

在FAAS法分析中，样品预处理始终占有极为重要的位置。本文比较了三种样品消化方式，即传统酸消化法，灰化法及微波消化法。传统的消化方式过程长、速度慢、效率低、而且被测元素易受到损失及易污染等不足，而微波是一种非常快捷、省时、省试剂和无污染的消化方式。通过对校准物质贻贝中的铜、锌、铁的测定结果证明微波消化方式比传统的消化方式优点多。     

用松弛法解薛定谔方程

求解定态薛定谔方程常常会涉及到常微分方程的本征值问题.目前解常微分方程本征值用的比较多的方法是以龙格-库塔方法为基础的打靶方法.打靶方法常用,但是计算时间长.当边界条件比较复杂或比较敏感的时候,用松弛法会有更好的效果.本文用松弛法解薛定谔方程,并和理论解进行比较.发现松弛法得到的数值解和理论解符合度很高,而且使用松弛法...     

能量色散X射线荧光分析中改进型基本参数法研究

能量色散X射线荧光分析方法是目前常用的一种多元素分析方法,但该方法检出限和分析精度,受到分析基体的影响。基本参数法是目前一种常用的分析方法,但在使用过程必须获取净峰面积和基体所有成分,而在实际使用时,尤其在分析低含量样品时,净峰面积计算、基体中“暗物质”影响了测量精度,制约了基本参数法的应用。针对基本参数法的不足,将谱线解析方法与基本参数法融合,将重叠峰剥离过程嵌入基本参数法迭代过程中。在含量计算过程中,采用分析样品特征X射线分支比的理论系数,对重叠峰进行剥离,解决能量色散X射线荧光测量中净峰面积计算和定量分析问题;在计算过程中,对“暗物质”进行均一化处理。通过对标准物质测量分析,结果表明对于Ni,Cu,Zn三个元素改进型基本参数法(改进型FP)测量结果准确度高于影响系数法。     

定向耦合法测量非标准接口元件驻波系数

 利用网络分析仪,根据需要在设定的频率范围进行扫频测量,网络分析仪的端口1输出的微波信号经过微波传输转换器进入与待测非标准元件匹配连接的连接段（如波导）;网络分析仪的端口2连接定向耦合器,用于监测传输段内的反射微波信号。首先,在非标准接口端面连接短路面,通过网络分析仪测量反射信号在设定频点的相对幅度值;然后去掉短路面,在非标准接口端面连接待测元件,再次测量反射信号在特定频点的相对幅度值;最后根据本文推导的公式得出驻波系数。该方法的测量误差与定向耦合器的方向性（方向性系数越大越好）和待测元件驻波系数有关。将该方法运用在非标准接口匹配负载驻波系数的测量中,定向耦合器方向性系数取为40 dB,测得其驻波系数小于1.2,误差小于20%。该方法简便可行,可以用于测量常用的非标准接口元件尤其是非标准低驻波系数元件的驻波系数。     

复化辛普森法和傅里叶法在衍射计算上的比较

通过快速傅里叶变换(FFT)法和复化辛普森法对衍射的数值进行计算,可以看出快速傅里叶变换法是一种积分变换法,而复化辛普森法则是迭代相加的方法.通过计算得出了FFT法的计算速度高于复化辛普森法,计算精度则远低于复化辛普森法;复化辛普森法适合近距离菲涅尔衍射和近场衍射,而FFT法不适合.