Tomatidine-stimulated maturation of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes for modeling mitochondrial dysfunction

Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) have been reported to exhibit immature embryonic or fetal cardiomyocyte-like phenotypes. To enhance the maturation of hESC-CMs, we identified a natural steroidal alkaloid, tomatidine, as a new substance that stimulates the maturation of hESC-CMs. Treatment of human embryonic stem cells with tomatidine during cardiomyocyte differentiation stimulated the expression of several cardiomyocyte-specific markers and increased the density of T-tubules. Furthermore, tomatidine treatment augmented the number and size of mitochondria and enhanced the formation of mitochondrial lamellar cristae. Tomatidine treatment stimulated mitochondrial functions, including mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP production, in hESC-CMs. Tomatidine-treated hESC-CMs were more sensitive to doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity than the control cells. In conclusion, the present study suggests that tomatidine promotes the differentiation of stem cells to adult cardiomyocytes by accelerating mitochondrial biogenesis and maturation and that tomatidine-treated mature hESC-CMs can be used for cardiotoxicity screening and cardiac disease modeling.Subject terms: Heart failure, Embryonic stem cells, Stem-cell differentiation     

A Docosahexaenoic Acid Derivative (N-Benzyl Docosahexaenamide) as a Potential Therapeutic Candidate for Treatment of Ovarian Injury in the Mouse Model

Commonly used clinical chemotherapy drugs, such as cyclophosphamide (CTX), may cause injury to the ovaries. Hormone therapies can reduce the ovarian injury risk; however, they do not achieve the desired effect and have obvious side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to find a potential therapeutic candidate for ovarian injury after chemotherapy. N-Benzyl docosahexaenamide (NB-DHA) is a docosahexaenoic acid derivative. It was recently identified as the specific macamide with a high degree of unsaturation in maca (Lepidium meyenii). In this study, the purified NB-DHA was administered intragastrically to the mice with CTX-induced ovarian injury at three dose levels. Blood and tissue samples were collected to assess the regulation of NB-DHA on ovarian function. The results indicated that NB-DHA was effective in improving the disorder of estrous cycle, and the CTX+NB-H group can be recovered to normal levels. NB-DHA also significantly increased the number of primordial follicles, especially in the CTX+NB-M and CTX+NB-H groups. Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels in all treatment groups and estradiol levels in the CTX+NB-H group returned to normal. mRNA expression of ovarian development-related genes was positive regulated. The proportion of granulosa cell apoptosis decreased significantly, especially in the CTX+NB-H group. The expression of anti-Müllerian hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor significantly increased in ovarian tissues after NB-DHA treatment. NB-DHA may be a promising agent for treating ovarian injury.     

深圳城市气溶胶物理光学特性的观测研究

气溶腔是影响气候变化和空气污染的重要因子,在深圳地区展开气溶胶观测实验,可以获得可靠的光学物理特征,进而有助于准确评估气溶胶在新型超极城市区域的气像和环境效应,本文利用2010年12月至2011年8月太阳光度计、黑碳和浊度计等气溶胶观测资料,分析了新型超级城市深圳地区的气溶胶物理光学特性,深圳地区气溶胶呈明显季节变化,冬、春季由于城市污染性气溶胶的影响,气溶胶光学厚度和Angstrom波长指数都较大,夏季受海盐气溶胶的影响,光学厚度较小Angstrom波长指数也较小,光学厚度与Angstrom波长指数对比表明城市综合性污染是引起深圳气溶胶高光学厚度的主要原因,深圳地区气溶胶的散射系数、吸收系数的平均值(标准偏差)分别为178.7×10-6 m-1 (126.6×10-6m-1和32.5×1O-6m 1 (18.1×10-6m1),均低于珠三角腹地多年观测平均值的二分之一和国内其他大型城市观测值,而单次散射反照率为0.81,与珠三角其他地区得到的结果接近.此外,气溶胶吸收、散射和单次散射反照率呈明显日变化,可能主要受大气边界层变化的影响.     

高压静电场促进植物生长技术的研究

高压静电场促进植物生长技术源于自然又高于自然 ,它包括静电种子处理和静电场生长环境等技术 .文章论述了该技术的实施方法 ,并报道了已经取得的初步成果 .     

达旦黄-曲通X-100体系共振光散射法测定蛋白质

基于在Triton X-100存在下,蛋白质与达旦黄作用使得体系的共振光散射增强,在λ＝492 nm处光散射强度最大,增强作用的强弱与蛋白质的含量成正比,据此建立了共振光散射测定蛋白质的新方法。此方法对牛血清白蛋白的检出限达到17.7 ng·mL-1,线性范围为0.03～0.9 μg·mL-1,用于合成样与人血清样品的分析,取得了令人满意的结果。同时也研究了人血清白蛋白、鸡蛋白蛋白、溶菌酶、胰蛋白酶与达旦黄的作用。     

基于一维光子晶体超晶格的多通道平顶透射特性

基于一维光子晶体超晶格理论及耦合腔理论,提出了一种具有多个平顶透射峰的超晶格结构.把传统单一材料的耦合腔换成有限周期的光子晶体结构,形成一种超晶格结构.通过使插入的光子晶体的光场有效耦合,能够产生多个平顶透射峰.运用传输矩阵法,研究了该结构的光谱特性以及结构和材料参量对透射峰的位置和半峰全宽的影响.计算结果表明,该结构具有较宽的带隙,并且多个平顶透射峰对称分布,透射率高,误差容忍度好.详细讨论了透射峰确切位置的计算方法,并给出了严格的解析表达式.     

监管技术巨头：技术力量作为市场支配地位认定因素之再审视

如何有效规制技术巨头已然成为当前《反垄断法》修订的重要任务。技术力量虽然作为传统的市场支配地位认定要素,但长期以来呈现被虚置化的客观状态,致使技术巨头市场支配地位的认定难度增大,技术力量自身的传导效应被显著低估。数字技术对市场竞争的影响异于以往,其通过平台、数据、算法的数字市场三维结构框架影响生产与交易的全过程。技术与三维结构结合所形成的技术力量极为强大,超越了以控制价格为主的传统市场力量,结合社会与资本力量形成了更牢固的市场固化结构。在判断技术巨头的市场支配地位时,亟需发挥技术力量作为非价格型认定要素的重要作用。应当摒弃虚置技术力量作为市场支配地位认定要素的固有症结,提高技术力量在认定市场支配地位时所占权重,回归结构性视角,妥善防范技术巨头无序扩张。     

流动注射-化学发光法定量测定同一水域中的腐殖酸

采用流动注射-化学发光(FI-CL)这一灵敏的检测方法,通过条件实验与参数优化,优选了测定环境中痕量多羟基酚类化合物的发光体系,通过考察天然水体中的腐殖酸对化学发光-多羟基酚测定体系的影响,为来自于水及土壤中的实际样品中腐殖酸的检测提供了参考,建立了同一区域水体中腐殖酸的化学发光定量测定方法。 所得线性回归方程y=70.36x+540.1,相关系数r=0.995 4,线性范围为3～15 mg·L-1,检测限为0.749 mg·L-1,HA浓度为6 mg·L-1时的相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.08%。     

The impact of cellulose structure on binding interactions with hemicellulose and pectin

Four cellulose substrates including highly crystalline cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) from Gluconacetobacter xylinus (cellulose Iα) or cotton (cellulose Iβ) and amorphous cellulose derived from CNWs (phosphoric acid swollen cellulose nanowhiskers, PASCNWs) were used to explore the interaction between cellulose and well-defined xyloglucan, xylan, arabinogalactan and pectin. The binding behavior was characterized by adsorption isotherm and Langmuir models. The maximum adsorption and the binding constant of xyloglucan, xylan and pectin to any CNWs were always higher than to PASCNWs derived from the same source. The binding affinity of xyloglucan, xylan and pectin to G. xylinus cellulose was generally higher than to cotton cellulose, showing that binding interactions depended on the biological origin of cellulose and associated differences in its structure. The surface area, porosity, crystal plane and degree of order of cellulose substrate may all impact the interactions.