SNaPshot minisequencing to resolve mitochondrial macro‐haplogroups found in Africa

African mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups are divided into seven macro‐haplogroups (L0′1′2′3′4′5′6), while the rest of the world's lineages are classified as subgroups of macro‐haplogroups M, N and R. The most common approach to characterizing mtDNA variation is the sequencing of hypervariable segments I and II of the non‐coding control region of the molecule. Given the higher mutation rate within the control region compared with the coding regions of the molecule, recurrent mutations in the former can sometimes hide possible phylogenetic structure. The incorporation of haplogroup‐defining coding region mutations has helped in overcoming this limitation. By judiciously selecting 14 coding region SNPs and incorporating them into a multiplex minisequencing assay we were able to resolve mtDNA sequences from some sub‐Saharan African populations into ten macro‐haplogroups (L0–L6, M, N and R). We tested the efficacy of the panel by screening 699 individuals, consisting mostly of Khoe‐San, Bantu speakers and individuals with mixed ancestries (Coloreds) and found no inconsistencies compared with hypervariable segment sequencing results. The panel provided a fast and efficient means of classifying mtDNA into the ten mitochondrial macro‐haplogroups and provided a reliable screening to distinguish African from non‐African‐derived mtDNA lineages.     

透析-高效液相色谱法在当归补血汤药效物质基础研究中的应用

将脂质体作为模拟生物膜,采用平衡透析与液相色谱联用技术,建立了一种研究中药成分与模拟生物具有相互作用的新方法。应用该方法对当归补血汤进行了分析,同时考察了模拟生物膜的浓度、pH值、缓冲系统和胆固醇的加入等因素对当归补血汤与模拟生物膜相互作用的影响。结果表明:当归补血汤中有7个组分与模拟生物膜相互作用明显;模拟生物膜的浓度影响最大,pH值对酸性组分阿魏酸的作用影响较大,其它因素的影响较小。该方法可用于预测药物在体内的吸收情况,进而研究中草药及复方的药效物质基础。     

基于近红外光谱与误差反向传播神经网络技术的三种人工林木材识别研究

利用近红外光谱结合误差反向传播神经网络(BP)对三种人工林木材(尾叶桉、马尾松、南方无性系I-72杨)进行识别,探讨隐含层神经元个数、光谱预处理方法、光谱范围对BP网络模型的影响,并与SIMCA法所建模型做比较。结果表明：(1)BP网络结合全波段(780～2 500 nm)近红外光谱数据建模,识别正确率达到97.78%,并确定隐含层神经元数为13;(2)全波段光谱建模比短波段(780～1 100 nm)和长波段(1 100～2 500 nm)光谱建模识别效果好,其识别正确率分别为97.78%, 95.56%和96.67%,用一阶导数和二阶导数对全波段光谱进行预处理后,BP网络模型识别正确率分别为93.33%和71.11%;用多元散射校正(MSC)对全波段光谱进行预处理后,BP网络模型识别正确率为98.89%,(3)在三种波段(780～2 500,780～1 100和1 100～2 500 nm)光谱建模的情况下,BP网络建模识别正确率分别为95.56%, 96.67%和97.78%,SIMCA模型识别正确率分别为76.67%, 81.11%和82.22%,BP网络建模比SIMCA法建模对三种人工林木材的识别正确率高。     

The Near-Appointment of Linus Pauling at the University of California, Santa Barbara

Linus Pauling, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, should have been a prize for any university. Yet, he was denied a position at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1964. His liberal activism apparently was too much for university officials to stomach; the McCarthy period still cast a dismal shadow. Lawrence Badash is Professor Emeritus of History of Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara.     

Si Miao San relieves hyperuricemia by regulating intestinal flora

This study seeks to investigate the therapeutic effects of Si Miao San (SMS) on hyperuricemia and its underlying mechanisms, particularly focusing on the role of intestinal flora. The key components of SMS were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To establish a rat model of hyperuricemia, an intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate was performed, followed by oral administration of various concentrations of SMS. The study evaluated the status of hyperuricemia, renal pathology, xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, and intestinal flora. Utilizing HPLC, we identified five active components of SMS. Following SMS intervention, there was a significant reduction in serum levels of uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine, accompanied by an increase in urine UA levels in rats with hyperuricemia. Distinct pathological injuries were evident in the renal tissues of hyperuricemic rats, and these were partially alleviated following SMS intervention. Moreover, SMS exhibited a dose-dependent reduction in XO activity both in the serum and hepatic tissues. Notably, SMS contributed to an enhancement in the diversity of intestinal flora in hyperuricemic rats. The intervention of SMS resulted in a reduction in the abundance of certain bacterial species, including Parabacteroides johnsonii, Corynebacterium urealyticum, and Burkholderiales bacterium. This suggests that SMS may exert anti-hyperuricemia effects, potentially by modulating the composition of intestinal flora.     

The first in situ Raman spectroscopic study of San rock art in South Africa: procedures and preliminary results

Southern Africa has a rich heritage of hunter‐gatherer, herder and farmer rock art traditions made by using both painted and engraved techniques. Until now, there have been only a handful of studies on the chemical analysis of the paint, as all previous types of analysis required the removal of pigment samples from the sites a practice which has been avoided. Raman spectroscopy is an ideal techniques to analyse the paint non‐destructively and also offers the possibility of in situ work with portable instruments. This article describes the procedures and reports the preliminary results of the first in situ Raman spectroscopic study of rock art in South Africa (also a first worldwide), where we, first, evaluate the capability of a Raman portable instrument in very difficult conditions, second, analyse the paints in order to contribute to a better knowledge of the technology used and, third, evaluate the possible contribution of in situ analyses in conservation studies. The paintings from two different rock art sites were studied. The instrument proved to be highly suitable for in situ analyses in physically very challenging conditions. Most of the pigments and alteration products previously detected under laboratory conditions were identified, thereby giving information on both the pigments and conservation state of the paintings. A layered structure of alteration products and pigment was identified in situ for the first time by controlling the laser power, thereby obtaining the same results as in mapping experiments of cross sections of paint. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

经典名方当归四逆汤物质基准的关键质量属性研究

该文建立了当归四逆汤物质基准的高效液相色谱(HPLC)特征图谱及多指标含量测定方法,阐明了当归四逆汤物质基准的关键质量属性,完善了其质量控制体系.使用的色谱柱为PomenexLuna?C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm),流动相为乙腈-0.05％磷酸水溶液,体积流量为1.0 mL·min-1,梯度洗脱,进样量...     

Simultaneous determination of bioactive constituents in Danggui Buxue Tang for quality control by HPLC coupled with a diode array detector,an evaporative light scattering detector and mass spectrometry

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a classical traditional Chinese formula comprising Radix Angelicae Sinensis (RAS) and Radix Astragali (RA), has been widely used to treat menopausal irregularity in Chinese women for nearly 800 years. In this study, a comprehensive analytical method of simultaneously determining the main types of bioactive constituents, eighteen in all from the formula, involving flavonoids, saponins, organic acid and some volatile compounds, was developed. This method was based on HPLC coupled to a diode array and evaporative light scattering detectors (HPLC-DAD-ELSD) on a common reverse-phase C(18) column. Liquid chromatography coupled with on-line electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) was also used to further validate and analyze the constituents. It was found that 0.3% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile was the optimum mobile phase for gradient elution. This method, which showed good precision and accuracy, was successfully used to quantify the bioactive constituents in six products. As a result, the validated HPLC method, together with the LC-ESI-MS analysis, provided a new basis for assessing the quality of traditional Chinese medicinal compound preparations (TCMCPs) consisting of many bioactive components.