Pitfalls in the analysis of ancient human mtDNA

The retrieval of DNA from ancient human specimens is not always successful owing to DNA deterioration and contamination although it is vital to provide new insights into the genetic structure of ancient people and to reconstruct the past history. Normally, only short DNA fragments can be retrieved from the ancient specimens. How to identify the authenticity of DNA obtained and to uncover the information it contained are difficult. We employed the ancient mtDNAs reported from Central Asia (including Xinjiang, China) as an example to discern potentially extraneous DNA contamination based on the updated mtDNA phylogeny derived from mtDNA control region, coding region, as well as complete sequence information. Our results demonstrated that many mtDNAs reported are more or less problematic.Startim, from a reliable mtDNA phylogeney and combining the available modern data into analysis, one can ascertain the authenticity of the ancient DNA, distinguish the potential errors in a data set, and efficiently decipher the meager information it harbored. The reappraisal of the mtDNAs with the age of more than 2000 years from Central Asia gave support to the suggestion of extensively (pre)historical gene admixture in this region.     

Graft Modification of N,N''''-methylene- bisacrylamide onto Silk in the Presence of Air

The graft modification of N, N'-methylene-bisacrylamide (NNMBAA) onto silk using eerie ammonium sulfate, potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate and 2, 2-azobis (isobutyronitrile) as the initiators has been studied in the presence of air. To establish reaction conditions for the graft modification of NNMBAA onto silk, the effect of different variables such as the initiator concentration, monomer concentration, acetic acid concentration, time of polymerization, reaction temperature and liquor ratio (fabric: liq.) have been studied. The optimum grafting conditions were found. As evidence of grafting, analyses of amino acid composition and alkali solubility have been carried out. Grafting caused changes in amino acid composition and alkali solubility of silk. The observation has been explained in relation to structural changes in the grafted silk.     

Ultrasound regulated flexible protein materials: Fabrication,structure and physical-biological properties

Ultrasound can be used in the biomaterial field due to its high efficiency, easy operation, no chemical treatment, repeatability and high level of control. In this work, we demonstrated that ultrasound is able to quickly regulate protein structure at the solution assembly stage to obtain the designed properties of protein-based materials. Silk fibroin proteins dissolved in a formic acid-CaCl₂ solution system were treated in an ultrasound with varying times and powers. By altering these variables, the silks physical properties and structures can be fine-tuned and the results were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), gas permeability and water contact angle measurements. Ultrasonic treatment aids the interactions between the calcium ions and silk molecular chains which leads to increased amounts of intermolecular β-sheets and α-helix. This unique structural change caused the silk film to be highly insoluble in water while also inducing a hydrophilic swelling property. The ultrasound-regulated silk materials also showed higher thermal stability, better biocompatibility and breathability, and favorable mechanical strength and flexibility. It was also possible to tune the enzymatic degradation rate and biological response (cell growth and proliferation) of protein materials by changing ultrasound parameters. This study provides a unique physical and non-contact material processing method for the wide applications of protein-based biomaterials.     

Relationships of Aegilops tauschii revealed by DNA fingerprints: The evidence for agriculture exchange between China and the West

Genetic diversity and relationships of wild goat grass (Aegilops tauschii Cosson) from Iran and Xinjiang,west China,as well as its weedy type from the Yellow River region of Shaanxi and Henan provinces in China were analyzed by simple sequence repeat (SSR) fingerprints.A high level of genetic diversity in Aegilops tauschii accessions from Iran was observed,and the richness of genetic diversity was followed by accessions from Shaanxi,Henan,and Xinjiang.The weedy type of Aegilops tauschii showed a close genetic relationship with the wild type from different regions in Iran.The results indicated that the weedy Aegilops tauschii found in the Yellow River region was most likely introduced from lran-the diversity center of Aegilops tauschii.The weedy Aegilops tauschii populations found in the Yellow River region may be brought into the central part of China as a weed species together with common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from the West during various periods of time in history.This finding has provided strong evidence for the introduction of common wheat from the West into China via the Silk Road,and also demonstrated the important role of the Silk Road in the exchange of agri-culture and other relevant technologies between China and the West.     

Modification of one side of mulberry silk fabric by monochromatic VUV excimer lamp

One side of mulberry silk fabric surface was irradiated with monochromatic VUV excimer lamp (172 nm). Change in surface morphology due to one side (I) and two side (II) irradiation was analyzed using high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The irradiated samples were further characterized through measurement of wetting time, vertical and horizontal wicking. Surface nanopores of 100 nm × 10 nm were formed on the irradiated side, however, on back side change in morphology was not observed. Upon one side irradiation the wettability and wickability improved significantly. One side irradiated silk surface (I) showed average wetting time of 14.7 s and 7.2 s while the two side irradiated silk surface (II) showed a wetting time of 9.3 s and 3.1 s for irradiation period of 1 min and 5 min, respectively. Beyond 5 min of irradiation the wettability of both the surfaces stabilized. Mechanism responsible for wetting behaviour of one side irradiated sample has been proposed. The influence of lamp geometry on irradiation effect was found to be noticeable for irradiation timings <5 min.     

Nanoscale control of silks for regular hydroxyapatite formation

The control of nanoparticle shape is still a challenge for different hydroxyapatite (HA) preparation ways.In the present study,silk fibroin with regular nanostructures was firstly prepared and then emp...     

产业转移下的海上丝绸之路沿线集装箱港口的投资决策研究

在产业转移背景下,考虑港口服务货运需求与刺激货运需求的双重功效,研究海上丝绸之路沿线产业承接地的港口投资建设问题。首先,在现实交通运输网络中加入虚拟链接构建超级网络,用以刻画制造业的转移、生产和运输过程。其次,建立制造业承接地港口投资决策优化模型,用运输阻抗、地价和工资三个内生变量描述港口投资、产业转移与区域经济之间均衡关系。模型以产业承接地港口收益最大为目标,确定承接地港口的投资规模及费率水平。最后,以斯里兰卡的科伦坡口为例进行数值分析,计算海上丝绸之路沿线港口需求与供给间正向反馈的数量关系及上确界,为优化沿线港口投资实现投资利益最大化提供依据。     

Preparation and in vitro degradation of porous three-dimensional silk fibroin/chitosan scaffold

Degradation behaviors of porous scaffolds play an important role in the engineering process of a new tissue. In this study, three-dimensional porous silk fibroin/chitosan (SFCS) scaffolds were successfully prepared by freeze-drying method. In vitro degradation behaviors of SFCS scaffolds have been systematically investigated up to 8 weeks in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution at 37 °C. The following properties of the scaffolds were measured as a function of degradation time: pore morphology, structure, weight loss, and wet/dry weight value. The pH value of the PBS solution during degradation was also detected. SFCS scaffolds maintained its porous structure till 6 weeks of degradation. During the first 2 weeks, the pH value fluctuated in a narrow range from 6.53 to 6.93. SFCS scaffolds degraded much more quickly during the first 2 weeks, and the weight loss reached 19.28 wt% after 8 weeks of degradation. The degradation process affects little SFCS scaffolds' swelling properties.     

红外光谱探究常见污染气体对丝织品结构的影响

丝织品是由丝蛋白质组成,高温、高湿及污染物等因素会使其结构发生变化。为了科学地评估博物馆中污染气体对丝织品结构的影响,采取人工模拟实验制备二氧化氮、二氧化硫、乙酸和氨气常见博物馆污染气体环境,利用傅里叶红外光谱（FTIR）从丝蛋白质肽链结构、二级结构等方面探讨4种污染气体对丝织品蛋白质结构的影响。实验结果表明,二氧化氮老化30 h后样品的红外光谱在1 382 cm-1波数附近出现甲基对称变角振动吸收峰,而其他气体老化50 d的丝织品仍未产生甲基对称变角振动,说明二氧化氮对丝织品破坏最严重。所有污染气体老化后,样品的红外光谱在975和999 cm-1丝蛋白-Gly-Ala-和-Gly-Gly-肽链（一级）结构特征吸收峰处均有不同程度减弱,但碱性气体氨气较酸性气体减弱更明显。傅里叶红外光谱技术结合酰胺Ⅲ带（1 330～1 200 cm-1）去卷积和高斯拟合法研究表明,50 d氨老化后仅引起丝蛋白质非结晶区的轻微变化,α-螺旋、无规卷曲、β-折叠含量变化幅度较小,丝蛋白二级结构变化较小。相比而言,酸性气体对丝蛋白二级结构影响更加显著,出现β-折叠相对含量大幅降低、无规卷曲相对含量明显增加,其结晶区遭受严重破坏。在4种气体中,二氧化氮对丝织品二级结构影响最显著,老化30 h后β-折叠相对含量由原始值30.36%降低至18.12%,约降低40%。相应的二氧化氮对丝织品强度破坏最严重,在β-折叠含量降低的同时,材料的力学强度出现了显著降低。利用波数在1 700和1 640 cm-1红外光谱吸收峰的比值（A_{1 700/1 640}）和波数在1 620和1 514 cm-1红外光谱吸收峰的比值（A_{1 620/1 514}）判断样品的老化方式,实验结果表明二氧化氮、二氧化硫、氨气老化样品的方式主要为氧化老化,而乙酸老化的样品则发生氧化老化和水解老化两种老化方式。随着老化时间的延长,4种气体中二氧化氮老化样品的A_{1 620/1 514}比值增加最多、氧化最严重。推断与二氧化氮的强氧化性有关,也与二氧化氮使丝织品产生显著的甲基对称变角振动有关。建议博物馆应严格监测和控制二氧化氮气体浓度。该研究为制定合理的丝织品文物存放环境提供科学依据,对丝织品文物的保护具有重要意义。