On weak spreadability of distributed-parameter systems and its achievement via linear--quadratic control techniques

In this paper, the concept of weak spreadability is introduced.It constitutes an extension of the idea developed by El Jai& Kassara. In the case of linear distributed systems weconsider quadratic control techniques with a conveniently penalizedcriterion which makes the system weakly spreadable. The approachis outlined for a convection—diffusion system, and theresults of a numerical study are also included to illustratethe main features of the considered problem.     

Sensitively probing the cofactor redox species and photo-induced electron transfer of wild-type and pheophytin-replaced photosynthetic proteins reconstituted in self-assembled monolayers

An ultrathin, ordered, and packed protein film, consisting of the 2-mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride (PDDA), and wild-type (WT) photosynthetic reaction center (RC; termed as WT-RC) or its pheophytin (Phe)-replaced counterpart (termed as Phe-RC), was fabricated by self-assembling technique onto gold electrode for facilitating the electron transfer (ET) between RC and the electrode surface. Near-infrared (NIR)-visible (Vis) absorption and fluorescence (FL) emission spectra revealed the influence of pigment substitution on the cofactors arrangement and excitation relaxation of the proteins, respectively. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) and photoelectric tests were employed to systematically address the differences between the WT-RC films and mutant ones on the direct and photo-induced ET. The electrochemical results demonstrated that ET initiated by the oxidation of the primary donor (P) was obviously slowed down, and the formed P⁺ had more population as well as more positive redox potential in the Phe-RC films compared with those in the WT ones. The photoelectrochemical results displayed the dramatically enhanced photoelectric performances of the mutant ones, further suggesting the slow-down formation of final charge-separated state in Phe-RC. The functionalized protein films introduced in this paper provided an efficient approach to sensitively probe the redox cofactors and ET differences resulting from only minor changes in pigment arrangement in the pigment–protein complex. The favored ET process observed for the membrane proteins RC was potentially valuable for a deep understanding of the multi-step biological ET process and development of versatile bioelectronic devices.     

Lipophilicity determination of some photosynthetic pigments by reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography. The effect of support and the organic phase in the eluent

Summary The lipophilicity of some photosynthetic pigments was determined by reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography using silica, alumina, cellulose, polyamid and diatomaceous earth as supports and acetone and ethanol as organic mobile phase. The R_M value of each compound linearly decreased with increasing concentration of the organic modifier. The supports exerted high impact on the separation: no acceptable separation was achieved on cellulose, polyamid, alumina and diatomaceous earth supports while silica supports produced the best separation. The retention of photosynthetic pigments depended on the origin of silica and on the type of organic mobile phase.     

Determination of Cytotoxic Activity of Sanguinaria canadensis Extracts against Human Melanoma Cells and Comparison of Their Cytotoxicity with Cytotoxicity of Some Anticancer Drugs

Melanoma is an enormous global health burden, and should be effectively addressed with better therapeutic strategies. Therefore, new therapeutic agents are needed for the management of this disease. The aim of this study was the investigation of cytotoxic activity of some isoquinoline alkaloid standards and extracts obtained from Sanguinaria canadensis—collected before, during, and after flowering—against three different human melanoma cells (A375, G361, SK-MEL-3). The cytotoxicity of these extracts was not previously tested on these melanoma cell lines. Determination of alkaloid contents was performed by HPLC-DAD using Polar RP column and mobile phase containing acetonitrile, water, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate. The cytotoxicity of alkaloid standards was investigated by determination of cell viability and calculation of IC₅₀ values. Significant differences were observed in the alkaloids content and cytotoxic activity of the extracts, depending on the season of collection of the plant material. In the Sanguinaria canadensis extracts high contents of sanguinarine (from 4.8543 to 9.5899 mg/g of dry plant material) and chelerythrine (from 42.7224 to 6.8722 mg/g of dry plant material) were found. For both of these alkaloids, very high cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines were observed. The IC₅₀ values were in the range of 0.11–0.54 µg/mL for sanguinarine and 0.14 to 0.46 µg/mL for chelerythrine. IC₅₀ values obtained for Sanguinaria canadensis extracts against all tested cell lines were also very low (from 0.88 to 10.96 µg/mL). Cytotoxic activity of alkaloid standards and Sanguinaria canadensis extracts were compared with the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs—etoposide, cisplatin, and hydroxyurea. In all cases except the one obtained for cisplatin against A375, which was similar to that obtained for Sanguinaria canadensis after flowering against the same cell line, IC₅₀ values obtained for anticancer drugs were higher than the IC₅₀ values obtained for sanguinarine, chelerythrine, and Sanguinaria canadensis extracts. Our results showed that Sanguinaria canadensis extracts and isoquinoline alkaloids, especially sanguinarine and chelerythrine, could be recommended for further in vivo experiments in order to confirm the possibility of their application in the treatment of human melanomas.     

植被双向反射分布函数的模型及其发展

介绍了双向反射分布函数(BRDF)的概念和反映植被特性的归一化植被指数(NDVI)、增强植被指数(EVI)、差值植被指数(DVI)等一些重要指数参数。评述了近年发展起来的植被BRDF模型的构建方法,例如统计反演方法,MODIS植被指数合成法和集合卡曼滤波法(EnKF)。分析了目标表面BRDF数据的获取方法和改进的驱动核算法。对BRDF模型的发展趋势进行了展望。     

作物覆盖条件下土壤中水热分布的稳态数值比较

本文应用非饱和多孔介质中传热传质的数学模型,考虑到作物根系和冠层的影响,对稳态情况下圆柱形士壤床中的水热分布进行了数值计算模拟。在不同环境条件下对土壤中的水热分布也进行了模拟计算。同时,在相同环境条件下对有作物覆盖的土壤床和无作物覆盖的土壤床中的水热分布也进行了模拟比较。文中数值模拟的结果较好地反映了实际情况。     

A new procedure for fast soft staining of BN‐PAGEs on photosynthetic complexes

We report a fast and sensitive procedure for blue native PAGE staining, in which the conventional staining step with CBB is avoided. After running, a short exposure to a mix of polar protic solvents (ethanol and acetic acid) leads to a fast and selective removal of the dye from the migration front and a specific binding to the protein bands, while the rest undergo a selective and complete background removal, leading to an intense contrast. This single‐step staining–destaining technique is useful in protein samples that bind colored cofactors such as photosystems, which can be selectively discerned by their characteristic green color. After the staining of such samples, the green color persists, while the other unpigmented protein complexes and the molecular standard remain CBB stained, creating a useful reference system for the assignment of the bands. The advantages and chemical basis of this staining procedure are discussed.     

Interaction between salinity intrusion and vegetation succession: A modeling approach

Predicting potential changes in groundwater salinity in low-lying coastal regions due to climate change is important, where coastal vegetation is abundant, succession competition between halophytes and glycophytes plays a significant role in the salinity budget. Sea level rise enhances salinity intrusion, contributing an additional dimension to vegetation competition. A new simulation model known as mangrove-hardwood hammock model coupled with saturated-unsaturated transport (MANTRA) has recently been developed by the authors to simulate groundwater salinity regimes in the presence of vegetation competition, subject to climate change. MANTRA is based upon linking two existing Unites States geological survey (USGS) simulation models known as mangrove-hardwood hammock model (MANHAM) and saturated-unsaturated transport (SUTRA). MANHAM simulates the evolution of vegetation succession subject to changing groundwater salinity. SUTRA simulates saturated and unsaturated transport of solutes and salinity in groundwater given sea salinity. MANTRA improves the simulation robustness to simultaneously simulate groundwater hydrology, salinity and coastal vegetation succession subject to sea level rise. Some simulation results will be presented to demonstrate the impact of sea level rise on coastal vegetation succession and groundwater salinity.     

高光谱技术分析茶树叶片中叶绿素含量及分布

植物叶片叶绿素含量及分布是植物营养信息表达的一个重要指标.以茶树为研究对象,利用高光谱技术分析茶树叶片中叶绿素含量及其分布.通过采集茶树鲜叶的高光谱图像,利用7种不同的算法从高光谱数据中提取相应的特征参数,并根据特征参数和叶绿素含量的参考测量值分别拟合出相应的预测模型.结果显示,二次土壤调节植被指数算法提取的特征参数最...     

基于环境星CCD数据的环境植被指数及叶面积指数反演研究

利用PROSAIL前向模型模拟的植被冠层光谱,在植被指数构造时,引入修正大气、土壤背景影响的蓝、绿波段,构建了避免过早饱和的环境植被指数(environmental vegetation index,EVI)。基于多个典型冬小麦生育期的地面观测数据,建立基于EVI-LAI长时间序列反演模型,并对模型进行不同品种间的交叉检验。研究表明,EVI建立的叶面积指数(leaf area index,LAI)反演模型精度优于同类植被指数模型,并具有较好的普适性,能应用于冬小麦遥感多时相长势监测及LAI反演。