A comparison between petrous bone and tooth,femur and tibia DNA analysis from degraded skeletal remains

Skeletal remains are the only biological material that remains after long periods; however, environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and pH affect DNA preservation, turning skeletal remains into a challenging sample for DNA laboratories. Sample selection is a key factor, and femur and tooth have been traditionally recommended as the best substrate of genetic material. Recently, petrous bone (cochlear area) has been suggested as a better option due to its DNA yield. This research aims to evaluate the efficiency of petrous bone compared to other cranium samples (tooth) and postcranial long bones (femur and tibia). A total amount of 88 samples were selected from 38 different individuals. The samples were extracted by using an organic extraction protocol, DNA quantification by Quantifiler Trio kit and amplified with GlobalFiler kit. Results show that petrous bone outperforms other bone remains in quantification data, yielding 15–30 times more DNA than the others. DNA profile data presented likeness between petrous bone and tooth regarding detected alleles; however, the amount of DNA extracted in petrous bones allowed us to obtain more informative DNA profiles with superior quality. In conclusion, petrous bone or teeth sampling is recommended if DNA typing is going to be performed with environmentally degraded skeletal remains.     

Mitochondrial DNA control region typing from highly degraded skeletal remains by single-multiplex next-generation sequencing

Poor nuclear DNA preservation from highly degraded skeletal remains is the most limiting factor for the genetic identification of individuals. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) typing, and especially of the control region (CR), using next-generation sequencing (NGS), enables retrieval of valuable genetic information in forensic contexts where highly degraded human skeletal remains are the only source of genetic material. Currently, NGS commercial kits can type all mtDNA-CR in fewer steps than the conventional Sanger technique. The PowerSeq CRM Nested System kit (Promega Corporation) employs a nested multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) strategy to amplify and index all mtDNA-CR in a single reaction. Our study analyzes the success of mtDNA-CR typing of highly degraded human skeletons using the PowerSeq CRM Nested System kit. We used samples from 41 individuals from different time periods to test three protocols (M1, M2, and M3) based on modifications of PCR conditions. To analyze the detected variants, two bioinformatic procedures were compared: an in-house pipeline and the GeneMarker HTS software. The results showed that many samples were not analyzed when the standard protocol (M1) was used. In contrast, the M3 protocol, which includes 35 PCR cycles and longer denaturation and extension steps, successfully recovered the mtDNA-CR from highly degraded skeletal samples. Mixed base profiles and the percentage of damaged reads were both indicators of possible contamination and can provide better results if used together. Furthermore, our freely available in-house pipeline can provide variants concordant with the forensic software.     

分级骨架和多层的Pt-Ni纳米晶体用于高效氧还原和甲醇氧化反应

燃料电池是电动汽车和电子设备最有前途的清洁能源之一.Pt催化剂在氧还原反应(ORR)和甲醇氧化反应(MOR)中的电催化性能对电池系统的能源效率和电池的价格起着至关重要的作用,因此设计高效的电催化剂以最大限度地提高铂的利用率,从而增强电催化效果、降低成本,已经成为燃料电池发展的一个重要方向.早期的研究表明,铂基催化剂可以有效地提高电催化性能,并且它们的组成和形貌被认为是影响催化剂活性的两个关键因素.至今,已合成出各种各样的Pt基催化剂,如Pt-Pb/Pt核壳纳米盘、Pt3Co凹面立方体、Pt-Cu-Rh纳米笼、Pt-Pd纳米枝晶等,其中纳米枝晶结构的催化剂表现出很好的氧还原性能,其高效的催化活性被认为是暴露出的较高的比表面积促进了电子转移以及拥有较多的Pt活性位点.本文采用简单的溶剂热法合成了具有大比表面积的Pt-Ni分层骨架结构(Pt-Ni HSNs)催化剂,为了验证反应物所起的作用,通过收集不同反应时间下的产物和控制单一变量,我们发现在合成配方中加入H2SO4是此类Pt-Ni纳米晶体成功生长的关键触发因素.在H2SO4的诱导下,Pt和Ni原子倾向于沉积在(111)面,促使Pt-Ni合金沿晶面方向生长为八面体结构,在此过程中发生了粒子自组装成长以及相分离过程,最后我们用酸蚀法制造了Pt-Ni HSNs,并通过TEM,XRD和XPS表征其微观结构及组成,证实了Pt-Ni HSNs已经形成合金结构.在酸性条件下,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中展示出比商业Pt/C更好的活性.在0.9 V时的质量活性为1.25 A mgpt–1,是商业Pt/C质量活性的8.9倍,并且在10000圈的耐久性测试中,Pt-Ni HSNs的质量活性仅仅损失了21.6％,远低于Pt/C损失的活性比例.Tafel曲线和旋转环盘测试结果表明,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中发生的是4电子过程,证实了它的高活性.另外,在酸性溶液中,Pt-Ni HSNs表现出了比商业Pt/C更好的MOR催化活性,且抗CO中毒能力更强.这可归因于两点:(1)Pt-Ni HSNs是由多个小颗粒组装而成,大大提高了与电解液的接触面积;(2)它独特的骨架结构减少了颗粒间团聚的可能性,有利于质子的转移.本文为设计先进的铂基电催化剂提供了一种新的自组装方法.     

分级骨架和多层的Pt-Ni纳米晶体用于高效氧还原和甲醇氧化反应

燃料电池是电动汽车和电子设备最有前途的清洁能源之一.Pt催化剂在氧还原反应(ORR)和甲醇氧化反应(MOR)中的电催化性能对电池系统的能源效率和电池的价格起着至关重要的作用,因此设计高效的电催化剂以最大限度地提高铂的利用率,从而增强电催化效果、降低成本,已经成为燃料电池发展的一个重要方向.早期的研究表明,铂基催化剂可以有效地提高电催化性能,并且它们的组成和形貌被认为是影响催化剂活性的两个关键因素.至今,已合成出各种各样的Pt基催化剂,如Pt-Pb/Pt核壳纳米盘、Pt3Co凹面立方体、Pt-Cu-Rh纳米笼、Pt-Pd纳米枝晶等,其中纳米枝晶结构的催化剂表现出很好的氧还原性能,其高效的催化活性被认为是暴露出的较高的比表面积促进了电子转移以及拥有较多的Pt活性位点.本文采用简单的溶剂热法合成了具有大比表面积的Pt-Ni分层骨架结构(Pt-Ni HSNs)催化剂,为了验证反应物所起的作用,通过收集不同反应时间下的产物和控制单一变量,我们发现在合成配方中加入H2SO4是此类Pt-Ni纳米晶体成功生长的关键触发因素.在H2SO4的诱导下,Pt和Ni原子倾向于沉积在(111)面,促使Pt-Ni合金沿晶面方向生长为八面体结构,在此过程中发生了粒子自组装成长以及相分离过程,最后我们用酸蚀法制造了Pt-Ni HSNs,并通过TEM,XRD和XPS表征其微观结构及组成,证实了Pt-Ni HSNs已经形成合金结构.在酸性条件下,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中展示出比商业Pt/C更好的活性.在0.9 V时的质量活性为1.25 A mgpt–1,是商业Pt/C质量活性的8.9倍,并且在10000圈的耐久性测试中,Pt-Ni HSNs的质量活性仅仅损失了21.6％,远低于Pt/C损失的活性比例.Tafel曲线和旋转环盘测试结果表明,Pt-Ni HSNs在ORR反应中发生的是4电子过程,证实了它的高活性.另外,在酸性溶液中,Pt-Ni HSNs表现出了比商业Pt/C更好的MOR催化活性,且抗CO中毒能力更强.这可归因于两点:(1)Pt-Ni HSNs是由多个小颗粒组装而成,大大提高了与电解液的接触面积;(2)它独特的骨架结构减少了颗粒间团聚的可能性,有利于质子的转移.本文为设计先进的铂基电催化剂提供了一种新的自组装方法.     

Risks of Muscle Atrophy in Patients with Malignant Lymphoma after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Objective: Muscle atrophy is associated with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT)-related outcomes in patients with malignant lymphoma (ML). However, the impact of ASCT on muscle mass remains unclear in patients with ML. The aims of this study were to investigate changes in muscle mass and risk profiles for muscle atrophy after ASCT. Method: We enrolled 40 patients with refractory ML (age 58 [20-74] years, female/male 16/24, body mass index (BMI) 21.1 kg/m² [17.1-29.6]). Psoas muscle mass was assessed using the psoas muscle index (PMI) before and after ASCT. Statistical analysis used: Independent factors associated with a severe decrease rate of change in PMI were evaluated by decision-tree analysis, respectively. Results: PMI was significantly decreased after ASCT (4.61 vs. 4.55 cm²/m²; P=0.0425). According to the decision-tree analysis, the regimen was selected as the initial split. The rates of change in PMI were −5.57% and −3.97% for patients administered MCEC and LEED, respectively. In patients who were administered LEED, the second branching factor was BMI. In patients with BMI < 20.3 kg/m², the rate of change in PMI was −7.16%. On the other hand, the rate of change in PMI was 4.05% for patients with BMI ≥ 20.3 kg/m². Conclusion: We demonstrated that muscle mass decreased after ASCT in patients with ML. Patients who received MCEC and patients with low BMI were at risk for a decrease in muscle mass.     

RP-3航空煤油高温骨架机理构建及验证

依据RP-3航空煤油的成分,考虑平均分子量及碳氢摩尔比等性质,本文提出其三组分替代燃料模型,其中正癸烷74.24%、1,3,5-三甲基环己烷14.11%和正丙基苯11.65%(质量分数)。采用机理生成程序ReaxGen得到详细化学反应机理;采用机理简化程序ReaxRed,运用直接关系图法与主成分分析法获得高温骨架机理(79物种,311反应)。该机理针对多个工况进行了点火延迟时间与层流火焰速度的验证,能较好地预测实验结果。路径分析结果表明高温下替代燃料通过氢提取反应、单分子裂解反应及β-断键反应消耗。敏感性分析表明高温点火过程由多种小分子自由基(H、CHO、C2H3等)的氧化及分解反应和大分子燃料的氢提取反应控制;影响火焰传播过程的关键反应来源于C0-C3的小分子核心机理。本文所提出的这个尺寸较小但精度较高的骨架机理可用于发动机燃烧过程的高保真数值模拟。     

三角帆蚌肌肉凝集素及其活性

将三角帆蚌的肌肉凝集素粗提液与动物(草鱼、兔、老鼠、家鸡)及人的A、B、O、AB型共8种血红细胞悬液和部分细菌(枯草芽孢杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠杆菌)菌体进行凝集反应以检测其凝集活性,同时进行糖抑制、热稳定性及pH影响试验.结果表明:三角帆蚌肌肉凝集素能凝集实验用的8种红细胞,其中对兔红细胞凝集活力最强,为25;不能和供试的3种微生物发生凝集反应;三角帆蚌凝集索粗提物在pH 6.O-8.0之间有凝集活性,在pH 7.4时凝集活性最强;温度4-50℃,三角帆蚌凝集素都具有活性,处于20℃和30℃左右温度时的凝集素活力最强,60℃的水浴加热后凝集素完全失活;三角帆蚌凝集素凝集活性可被2.5 mg/mL的麦芽糖所抑制,而D-葡萄糖、D-果糖、蔗糖、乳糖则无影响.     

大鼠骨骼肌细胞介电谱的测量

在100Hz-100MHz频率范围内,应用Agilent4294A阻抗分析仪测量了骨骼肌纤维走行与电场呈垂直方向的大鼠离体骨骼肌细胞介电谱,利用Cole—Cole图、介电损耗因子频谱、介电损耗角正切频谱等分析,建立了大鼠骨骼肌细胞介电特性数据特征．     

Aromatizational rhodiation of 1-cyciopentadienylidene4-methyl-4-trichloromethylcyclohexa-2,5-diene under the action of (Ph3P)3Rh(CO)H and (C2H4)2Rh(acac) as a novel route top-tolylcyclopentadienyl complexes of transition metals

Condensation of 4-methyl-4-trichloromethylcyclohexa-2,5-dienone with cyclopentadiene gave the first representative of cross-conjugated pentafulvenes of the para-semiquinoid series: 1-cyclopentadienylidene-4-methyl-4-trichloromethylcyclohexa-2,5-diene. This fulvene undergoes a novel redox aromatizational skeletal rearrangement under the action of (Ph₃P)₃Rh(CO)H and (C₂H₄)₂Rh(acac) to give triphenylphosphinetn5-(p-tolylcyclopentadienyl)jdichlororhodium and bis[(⁵-p-tolylcyclopentadienyl)(w-chloro)chlororhodium], respectively.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 2098–2100, August, 1996.