Stochastic modified Beverton–Holt model with Allee effect II: the Cushing–Henson conjecture

We consider a single-species stochastic modified Beverton–Holt model with Allee effects caused by predator saturation. We prove that, under some conditions on the parameters, there exists a Markov operator that is asymptotically stable. A stochastic version of the Cushing–Henson conjecture on attenuance and resonance is investigated.     

Production and certification of NIST Standard Reference Material 2372 Human DNA Quantitation Standard

Modern highly multiplexed short tandem repeat (STR) assays used by the forensic human-identity community require tight control of the initial amount of sample DNA amplified in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process. This, in turn, requires the ability to reproducibly measure the concentration of human DNA, [DNA], in a sample extract. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) techniques can determine the number of intact stretches of DNA of specified nucleotide sequence in an extremely small sample; however, these assays must be calibrated with DNA extracts of well-characterized and stable composition. By 2004, studies coordinated by or reported to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) indicated that a well-characterized, stable human DNA quantitation certified reference material (CRM) could help the forensic community reduce within- and among-laboratory quantitation variability. To ensure that the stability of such a quantitation standard can be monitored and that, if and when required, equivalent replacement materials can be prepared, a measurement of some stable quantity directly related to [DNA] is required. Using a long-established conventional relationship linking optical density (properly designated as decadic attenuance) at 260 nm with [DNA] in aqueous solution, NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2372 Human DNA Quantitation Standard was issued in October 2007. This SRM consists of three quite different DNA extracts: a single-source male, a multiple-source female, and a mixture of male and female sources. All three SRM components have very similar optical densities, and thus very similar conventional [DNA]. The materials perform very similarly in several widely used gender-neutral assays, demonstrating that the combination of appropriate preparation methods and metrologically sound spectrophotometric measurements enables the preparation and certification of quantitation [DNA] standards that are both maintainable and of practical utility. Figure NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2372 Human Quantitation Standard     

A Comparative Study of the Effect of Exogenous and Endogenous Photostabilizers on Lens Crystallin Photodegradation

The purpose of the present study was to determine in vitro the effect of sodium azide, ethanol, trans--carotene, and the reduced form of glutathione on phototransformations in the lens crystallin. These photostabilizers show a specific affinity for different kinds of free radicals. The water-soluble protein from the cortical part of the eye was irradiated with doses of UV C ranging from 0 to 4.07 J/cm². Changes in the structure of the crystallins have been monitored by steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Irradiation of dialyzed samples of these proteins at a wavelength of 254 nm (1.13 ± 0.02 mW/cm²) caused photooxidation of aromatic residues; the crystallin solutions became opaque and turbid. The samples displayed increasing attenuance at a wavelength of 280 nm as photodamage proceeded. The fluorescence of tryptophan at 333 nm systematically decreased and a new band between 400 and 500 nm appeared during the UV C irradiation. Our results show that the antioxidants can protect proteins from UV C-induced photodegradation and the protective effect is significantly dependent on their concentration in the protein solution. There are no dramatic differences in the rates of exogenous and endogenous scavenging of generated free radicals for all concentrations used, with rate constants varying by a factor no greater than 2. The mechanism and the rate of scavenging or quenching are dependent on the nature of the radical species and the photostabilizer structure. Although this study provides evidence for free radical scavenging and protein protection, extrapolations to possible antioxidant effects in vivo must be made cautiously.     

浑浊散射介质中被测成分线性吸光度提取与模型转换研究

近红外漫反射光谱法可用于物质成分定性、定量分析,具有快速、无损检测等优点,在食品、制药、环境监测、生命科学等领域有广泛应用。采用近红外漫反射光谱对浑浊散射介质进行成分定量分析时,由于光散射作用,介质吸光度随测量距离不再呈线性变化,不同测量距离下测量模型也很难转换。从扩散方程出发,提出了从漫射光谱中提取线性吸光度的方法,获得了与测量距离无关的介质光学参数--有效衰减系数的光谱,该光谱可反映介质吸收变化,并用于物质成分测量。具体采用了双位置差分法,可在线性吸光度的范围内任意选取两个光源-探测器距离测量,通过差分获得与测量位置无关的有效衰减系数光谱,其中测量距离可依据波段灵活地进行选择。另外,经理论推导可知,差分运算的同时还大大削减了光子扩散对测量的影响,有利于不同散射特性的介质间光谱模型的相互借鉴。经理论计算、蒙特卡洛模拟和实验验证,在1 000~1 360 nm波段,该方法适用于强散射的浑浊水溶液。对散射系数处于较大范围（28.53～87.47 cm-1）的intralipid水溶液进行了测试,获得了线性吸光度的光源-探测器距离范围。进一步以葡萄糖为被测成分为例,获得了葡萄糖在intralipid水溶液中的有效衰减系数光谱。采用测量距离连续可调的漫反射光谱测量系统进行了实验,测量范围位于0～0.3 cm,测试了3种典型的介质（3%,5%,10%Intralipid水溶液）。结果可知,3种介质中葡萄糖光谱呈现一致性,它们之间的测量模型可以方便地进行线性转换。研究对象intralipid水溶液常作为生物组织的仿体,其光学参数也覆盖了常见的牛奶、果汁等被测浑浊溶液,因此测量结果具有广泛的适应性。综上,该研究实现了对浑浊水溶液中物质成分线性吸光度的提取,该方法不仅使得测量位置的选择更加灵活方便,还有利于实现不同散射介质间模型的线性转换,特别适用于介质成分复杂多变的场合下的测量应用,如对人体组织、牛奶或食品中的成分测量等。     

Resonance in Beverton–Holt population models with periodic and random coefficients

An increase in the mean population density in a fluctuating environment is known as resonance. Resonance has been observed in laboratory experiments and has been studied in discrete-time population models. We investigate this phenomenon in the Beverton–Holt model with either periodic or random variables for two biologically relevant coefficients: the intrinsic growth rate and the carrying capacity. Three types of resonance are defined: arithmetic, geometric and harmonic. Conditions are derived for each type of resonance in the case of period-2 coefficients and some results for period p>2. For period 2, regions in parameter space where each type of resonance occurs are shown to be subsets of each other. For the case of random coefficients with constant intrinsic growth rate, it is shown that the three types of resonance do not occur. Numerical examples illustrate resonance and attenuance (decrease in the mean population density) in the Beverton–Holt model when the coefficients are discrete random variables.