Two classes of metabolites fromTheonella swinhoei are localized in distinct populations of bacterial symbionts

The marine spongeTheonella swinhoei (lithistid Family Theonellidae, Order Astrophorida) has yielded many important, bioactive natural products, most of which share structural features with bacterial natural products. The presence of microbial symbionts inT. swinhoei has been reported, and it was originally suggested that the cytotoxic macrolide swinholide A and many of the bioactive cyclic peptides fromT. swinhoei were all produced by symbiotic cyanobacteria. By transmission electron microscopy, we found four distinct cell populations to be consistently present inT. swinhoei: eukaryotic sponge cells, unicellular heterotrophic bacteria, unicellular cyanobacteria and filamentous heterotrophic bacteria. Purification and chemical analyses of each cell type showed the macrolide swinholide A to be limited to the mixed population of unicellular heterotrophic bacteria, and an anti-fungal cyclic peptide occurred only in the filamentous heterotrophic bacteria. Contrary to prior speculation, no major metabolites were located in the cyanobacteria or sponge cells.     

Effect of various stressors on the levels of lipid peroxide,antioxidants and Na+, K+-ATPase actrivity in rat brain

The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an index of lipid peroxidation, and the antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), as well as the activity of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, were assessed in whole rat brain after immobilization, anemic hypoxia (NaNO₂) and 72 h starvation. The effect of these stressors on plasma glucose and corticosterone levels was also observed. Hypoxia and starvation stimulated the lipidj peroxide formation in braini as indicated by an increase in the level of MDA, being higher after starvation than hypoxia. Brain SOD activity was also increased in response to hypoxia and starvation while GSH content was only diminished ini hypoxia. However, neither MDA nor antioxidants were affected by immobilization. On the other hand, the activity of brain Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was significantly increased by immobilization and hypoxia but decreased in starvation. A similar pattern of change was also observed in plasma glucose and corticosterone levels in response to these stressors. These results elucidate differences in the biochemical response of animals towards various types of stress, with increased lipid peroxide formation in hypoxia and starvation.     

Antioxidant survey to assess antagonism to redox stress using a prokaryotic and an eukaryotic system

Using a prokaryote (Escherichia coli) and a metazoa-resembling eukaryote (Ochromonas danica), we surveyed antioxidants which might overcome redox stress imposed by menadione sodium bisulphite (MD) and buthionine sulphoximine (BSO). BSO oxidant stress was evident only inO. danica; MD oxidant stress was evident in both organisms. Glutathione, its precursors, e.g. cysteine, homocysteine, and 2-oxo-4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid, and red blood cells, emerged as prime antioxidants for relieving BSO and MD oxidant stress. BSO and MD oxidant activity and antioxidant-annulling effect inO. danica were judged comparable to those found in animal cells whereas the resultsE. coli were not entirely equivalent. TheO. danica system emerged as a practical, rapid, and useful system for pinpointing oxidant stressors and antioxidants, and shows promise for studies with mammalian systems.     

(−)-Epigallocatechin gallate,a polyphenolic tea antioxidant,inhibits peroxynitritemediated formation of 8-oxodeoxyguanosine and 3-nitrotyrosine

Reaction with peroxynitrite at pH 7.4 and 37°C was found to increase the 8-oxodeoxyguanosine levels in calf thymus DNA 35-38-fold. This oxidation of deoxyguanosine, as well as the peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of tyrosine to 3-nitrotyrosine, was significantly inhibited by ascorbic acid, glutathione and (–)-epigallocatechin gallate, a polyphenolic antioxidant present in tea. For 50% inhibition of the oxidation of deoxyguanosine to 8-oxodeoxyguanosine, 1.1, 7.6 of 0.25 mM ascorbate, glutathione or (–)-epigallocatechin gallate, respectively, was required. For 50% inhibition of tyrosine nitration, the respective concentrations were 1.4, 4.6 or 0.11 mM. Thus, (–)-epigallocatechin gallate is a significantly better inhibitor of both reactions than either ascorbate or glutathione. Reaction of (–)-epigallocatechin gallate with peroxynitrite alone resulted in the formation of a number of products. Ultraviolet spectra of two of these suggest that the tea polyphenol and/or its oxidation products are nitrated by peroxynitrite.     

论草原生态系统中微气候研究的重要作用

草原生态系统中微气候的研究工作开始于六七十年代，主要是应用微气候学和生态学研究草原生态系统中微气候的变化规律及其与动植物的关系。这些研究工作不但丰富了生态学理论，而且对草地生产有重要的指导意义。中国在这方面的研究起步晚，报道甚少。文章旨在论述微气候学研究在草原生态系统中的重要地位，推动中国在这一领域的发展。     

中医为主治疗重症过敏性紫癜32例

目的：根据本病的特殊性和严重性，探索中西医结合治疗的新途径。方法：中医严格辨证用药。辅以西药治疗。结果：中药为主辅以西药治疗较单纯西医治疗效果明显。结论：认清病因，标本兼治，疗效显著。     

工业化初期墨西哥地方市政府决策之经济人类学研究

向城市贫困人口提供廉价的生活物资和基本服务是发展中国家面临的一个主要问题,尤其是在工业化的早期。从经济角度来讲,向这一群体提供服务是至关重要的,因为大部分的劳动力来自于这一群体,而劳动力是国家工业化的一个要素。从历史角度来看,向这一群体提供服务属于地方市政府的职责。因此,通过对地方政府决定的研究,可以找到与提供生活必需品政策相关的问题的最佳答案。工业化发展初期的墨西哥,是研究此类动态变化的理想之地。     

螺旋压缩机：数学模型和性能计算

本书是施普林格出版社2005年出版的一本关于螺旋压缩机的新著。螺旋式压缩机是一种最常见的用于压缩气体的机器，由于其构造简单、工作效率高而受到人们的关注。本书系统阐述了螺旋压缩机的种类、几何参数转子的设计工作原理和螺旋压缩机的计算。     

智能住宅中消防给水系统设计探讨

根据智能住宅火灾形成的特点，简述了消火栓给水系统与自动喷水灭火系统的设置方式与特点，并结合实例对消防给水方式的选择等问题进行了探讨。     

指纹识别系统的分析与研究

介绍了一种新型的指纹识别装置(晶体传感器的指纹识别装置)，并借此分析和研究了指纹识别系统的识别原理和设计方法，这些原理和方法对指导和优化指纹识别系统的设计提供了依据。