Simultaneous determination of60Co,131I and137Cs in model radioactive waste water by reverse radiometric flow injection analysis with the aid of a multichannel analyzer

Reverse radiometric flow injection analysis was used for the simultaneous determination of⁶⁰Co,¹³¹I and¹³⁷Cs in model radioactive waste water. A NaI (Tl) scintillation detector coupled to a Canberra MCA was used for measuring the activity of¹³⁷Cs at 662 keV,⁶⁰Co at 1173 keV and 1332 keV, and¹³¹I at 364 keV.     

乌江流域沉积岩风化过程中稀土元素的富集与释放

以乌江流域石灰岩、白云质灰岩、白云岩、硅质岩、页岩和砂岩等沉积岩的13条风化剖面为对象，运用R型分层聚类分析和质量平衡计算方法，研究了这些岩石风化过程中稀土元素（REE）的富集与释放及其对植物生长和河水REE分布的影响，目的是为河水物质来源研究和为农业生产提供依据。结果表明：（1）乌江流域石灰土中REE的富集程度显著高于各自母岩、黄壤、上陆壳（UCC）、中国土壤（CS）和世界土壤（WS）；（2）沉积岩风化过程中REE的富集特征和机制可能与母岩中REE分布特征以及风化剖面中有机质、铁（氢）氧化物和粘土矿物的吸附有关；（3）沉积岩风化过程中释放的REE可为植物吸收利用；（4）石灰岩等沉积岩风化过程中REE和F。等元素的释放对河水溶解态REE的分布有重要影响。     

环戊二烯热聚产物及二聚环戊二烯加氢产物的质谱

本实验用色谱－质谱－计算机联用仪测定了环戊二烯热聚产物及双环戊二烯加氢产物的质谱，讨论了环状化合物的开裂规律，有开环断裂反应及骨架重排等问题。     

微波消解-氢化物发生原子荧光法测定塑料原料及其制品中的砷、汞

采用微波消解进行样品前处理，以硫脲为预还原剂，用氢化物发生原子荧光法测定塑料原料及其制品中的砷、汞。测定砷和汞的线性范围均为0～8μg／L，砷、汞的检出限分别为0．005、0．076μg／L，测定结果的相对标准偏差分别为4.96％～7．38％、2．94％～7．20％(n=6)，回收率分别为92．0％～103．2％、92．0％～98.0％。     

Acetylcholinesterase complexed with bivalent ligands related to huperzine a: experimental evidence for species-dependent protein-ligand complementarity

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors improve the cognitive abilities of Alzheimer patients. (-)-Huperzine A [(-)-HupA], an alkaloid isolated from the club moss, Huperzia serrata, is one such inhibitor, but the search for more potent and selective drugs continues. Recently, alkylene-linked dimers of 5-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolinone (hupyridone, 1a), a fragment of HupA, were shown to serve as more potent inhibitors of AChE than (-)-HupA and monomeric 1a. We soaked two such dimers, (S,S)-(-)-bis(10)-hupyridone [(S,S)-(-)-2a] and (S,S)-(-)-bis(12)-hupyridone [(S,S)-(-)-2b] containing, respectively, 10 and 12 methylenes in the spacer, into trigonal TcAChE crystals, and solved the X-ray structures of the resulting complexes using the difference Fourier technique, both to 2.15 A resolution. The structures revealed one HupA-like 1a unit bound to the "anionic" subsite of the active-site, near the bottom of the active-site gorge, adjacent to Trp84, as seen for the TcAChE/(-)-HupA complex, and the second 1a unit near Trp279 in the "peripheral" anionic site at the top of the gorge, both bivalent molecules thus spanning the active-site gorge. The results confirm that the increased affinity of the dimeric HupA analogues for AChE is conferred by binding to the two "anionic" sites of the enzyme. Inhibition data show that (-)-2a binds to TcAChE approximately 6-7- and > 170-fold more tightly than (-)-2b and (-)-HupA, respectively. In contrast, previous data for rat AChE show that (-)-2b binds approximately 3- and approximately 2-fold more tightly than (-)-2a and (-)-HupA, respectively. Structural comparison of TcAChE with rat AChE, as represented by the closely related mouse AChE structure (1maa.pdb), reveals a narrower gorge for rat AChE, a perpendicular alignment of the Tyr337 ring to the gorge axis, and its conformational rigidity, as a result of hydrogen bonding between its hydroxyl group and that of Tyr341, relative to TcAChE Phe330. These structural differences in the active-site gorge explain the switch in inhibitory potency of (-)-2a and 2b and the larger dimer/(-)-HupA potency ratios observed for TcAChE relative to rat AChE. The results offer new insights into factors affecting protein-ligand complementarity within the gorge and should assist the further development of improved AChE inhibitors.     

Recombinant cell bioassay systems for the detection and relative quantitation of halogenated dioxins and related chemicals

Proper epidemiological, risk assessment and exposure analysis of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) and related halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) requires accurate measurements of these chemicals both in the species of interest and in various exposure matrices (i.e. biological, environmental, food and feed). High-resolution instrumental analysis techniques are established for these chemicals, however, these procedures are very costly and time-consuming and as such, they are impractical for large scale sampling studies (i.e. for epidemiological studies and assessment of areas with widespread contamination). Accordingly, numerous bioanalytical methods have been developed for the detection of these chemicals in extracts from a variety of matrices, the majority of which take advantage of the ability of these chemicals to activate the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the AhR signal transduction pathway. Here we review the currently available in vitro AhR-based cell bioassay systems with a focus on recent recombinant reporter gene cell lines that have been developed for detection and relative quantitation of TCDD and related HAHs. Comparison of the relative sensitivities of the various cell bioassays and examples of their use in screening and analysis of environmental, biological, and food and feed samples are presented. Currently available experimental results and validation studies demonstrate the utility of these cell bioassay systems to provide a relatively rapid, accurate, and cost effective screening approach for the detection of TCDD and related HAHs in a variety of environmental, biological, food and feed samples. The availability of these cell bioassay systems will not only facilitate the large scale sampling studies needed for accurate assessment of contamination and exposure to these environmental chemicals, but they provide avenues for the identification of novel classes of TCDD-like chemicals.     

Binding Aedes aegypti densonucleosis virus to ion exchange membranes

Experimental and numerical results for binding Aedes aegypti densonucleosis virus (AeDNV) using anion and cation exchange membranes are presented. AeDNV particles are adsorbed by anion and cation exchange membranes providing the virus particles and membranes are oppositely charged. Q membranes which are strongly basic anion exchangers were the most effective. Dynamic and static capacities for Q membranes were found to be similar. A numerical model is proposed which assumes a log normal pore size distribution. By estimating the required parameters from static binding experiments, the model may be used to calculate the breakthrough curve for virus adsorption.     

Differential effects of Fas cross-linking on phospholipase D activation and related lipid metabolism in Fas-resistant A20 cells

A20 murine lymphoma cells undergoing Fas-mediated apoptosis showed increase in the activity of phospholipase D (PLD), which is involved in proliferative or mitogenic cellular responses. Using A20 cell lines that were resistant to Fas-induced apoptosis, we investigated the differential effects of Fas cross-linking on PLD activity and sphingolipid metabolism. The basal PLD activities in all of the selected three Fas-resistant clones (#5, #8, and #11) were about 2~4 folds higher than that of wild type A20 cells. Among the PLD isoforms, PLD2 expression was increased in all of the selected Fas-resistant clones. The Fas downstream signaling events triggered by Fas cross-linking, including the activations of PLD, phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), sphingomyelinase (SMase), the increase in diacylglycerol (DAG) and protein phosphorylation levels, and the translocation of protein kinase C to membrane were not changed in both of Fas-resistant clone #5 and #8. In contrast, Fas cross-linking stimulated the activity of PLD, PC-PLC, and SMase, translocation of PKC, and protein phosphorylation in Fas-resistant clone #11, similar to that of wild type cells. We also found that clone #11 had a different Fas sequence encoding Fas B which has been known to inhibit Fas-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that increased PLD2 expression resulting in increased basal PLD activity and the blockade of Fas downstream signaling cascades may be involved to limit apoptosis induced by Fas cross-linking.     

Roles of TNF-alpha and IgE in the late phase of contact hypersensitivity induced by trimellitic anhydride

Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is widely used industrially to make epoxy and alkyd resins, plasticizers and surfactants. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is induced by repeated TMA challenge and the role of TNF-alpha and IgE in the TMA-induced CHS. The repetition of the challenge enlarged the extent of an early and a late phase of CHS in TNF-alpha+/+ (B6129SF2/J) and Balb/c mice. In the late phase of TMA-induced CHS, the peak of ear swelling responses by single challenge showed at 24 h after challenge, but the peak was observed at 8 h after repeated challenge. In the TNF-alpha knockout TNF-alpha-/- (B6;129S-Tnftm1Gk1) mice, the repetition of the TMA challenges enlarged the extent of the late phase of CHS, but less than those in TNF-alpha+/+ mice. Injection of anti-TNF-alpha antibody into the peritoneal cavity of Balb/c mice significantly decreased the extent of the late phase of CHS. Subcutaneous injection of anti-IgE antibody into Balb/c mice also decreased the extent of the late phase of CHS in dose-dependent manner. Histologically, infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and eosinophils was more pronounced in repeatedly TMA-challenged TNF-alpha+/+ and Balb/c mice than in the TNF-alpha-/- mice and anti-TNF-alpha or anti-IgE antibodies treated Balb/c mice. These results indicate that mice sensitized by TMA could possibly offer a useful model to study the mechanism of CHS, and TNF-alpha and IgE may act as potential modulators in the late phase of TMA-induced CHS. Neutralization of TNF-alpha and IgE by anti-TNF-alpha or anti-IgE antibodies may provide therapeutic tools for the treatment of TMA-induced CHS.