Relationship between apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and sporadic Alzheimer's disease

AIM: To evaluate the association between apolipoprotein E(apoE) gene polymorphism and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHOD: A case-control study was undertaken detecting the polymorphism of apoE by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).RESULTS:(1)The frequencies of 3/4 genotype and 4 al ele in AD were significant ly higher than that in age-matched controls(P<0.05).(2)The frequency of G/G genotype for apoE IE1 in AD was significantly higher than that in age-mat ched control(P<0.05).(3)The apoE 4 al ele was associated with a tripling of the risk for AD compared with no 4 allele(odd ratio 2.932, 95%CI 1.379~6.226);Homozygosity of the G allele in IE1 was associated with adoubling of the risk for AD compared with the G/C and C/C genotypes(odd rat io 2.223, 95%CI 1.075~4.599).However, the IE1 G al ele is also closely associated with apoE 4.When the sample was split on the basis of apo Egenotype, the associat ion between IE1 G/G genotype and AD was no longer statistically significant.CONCLUSION: ApoE ε4 was a risk factor of AD, and the apparent association between IE1 G/G and AD is a consequence of the association between the ε4 and IE1 G/G genotype.     

Spatio-temporal distribution of sergestid shrimp Acetes intermedius in the coastal waters of southwestern Taiwan

SUMMARY: Spatio-temporal variation of the sergestid shrimp Acetes intermedius in the coastal waters of southwestern Taiwan was investigated based on 1546 samples collected by 13 commercial fishing vessels from July to October 1996. Adult sergestid shrimp started a down-estuary migration with the increased river discharge associated with heavy summer rainfall. Fishing season for this species was to commence after that. In July, the shrimp stock was found on the shallow continental shelf off Tungkang and Fangshan. They mainly aggregated in Kaoping Canyon off Tungkang during August and September occurring at very high densities. In October, the shrimp returned to the coastal waters off Tungkang and Fangshan at lower densities. The heavy rainfall is a factor that triggers the shrimps to make a down-estuary migration that could reduce competition for food between adults and their offspring during the period of high river discharge. When the northeast monsoon prevailed, the sergestid shrimp moved back to the estuaries and the fishing season was terminated.     

Transnationalism through the life course: Hong Kong immigrants in Canada

Abstract: Transnationalism needs to be understood as a set of practices fashioned through the life course as well as in relation to contextual factors that include state policy and experiences of discrimination that affect entry to the labour force. The paradox of transnationalism is that families make strategic decisions to separate in order to maintain family unity and to advance the welfare of children. Emigrants from Hong Kong to Canada in the latter decades of the twentieth century were motivated by concern for family welfare and the quality of education in Canada. Yet economic livelihood prospects remained greater in Hong Kong than in Canada, prompting many families to become transnational ‘astronaut’ families with one or more members working in Hong Kong. Migration decisions tend to occur around key points of life‐course transition involving entry to and graduation from education, and entry to and exit from the labour force. Transnational practices are complex and multigenerational, involving different patterns for young adults, those in their middle years and the elderly.     

三峡库区土壤元素分布特征及其发生学意义

选取三峡库区万州段具有代表性母岩和土壤作为研究样点,测定了土壤和母岩中Si、Al、Fe、K、Mg、Ca、Na等几种风化成土元素的含量,探讨了土壤元素分布特征及其发生学意义。研究表明:母岩元素平均含量顺序为:Si>Al>Fe>K>Mg>Ca>Na,其中Fe、Ca、Mg、Na、K高于中国和世界元素背景值,而Al介于中国和世界元素背景值之间,Si的平均含量则低于背景值;灰岩区上的土壤中,Ca、Mg、K元素最高,砂岩母质区的土壤风化素含量较低;而碎屑岩类中,泥岩区土壤风化元素相对较高,粉砂岩区土壤风化元素含量介于泥岩与砂岩区之间;母岩的淋失强度为Ca>Mg>Al>Si>K>Fe>Na,Na元素的迁移程度小,是由于母岩中Na元素对土壤的不断补充。因此以土壤中风化元素含量为基础计算的风化指标,难以反映亚热带温暖潮湿地区的成土风化过程,常用的土壤分子硅铝率和硅铁铝率也不能指示所有土壤的风化成土作用程度,只适用于判断风化初期或成土作用早期。     

CO2浓度升高对农作物品质影响的研究进展

农作物品质受农作物遗传发育特征和环境因素的双重影响。在相似的遗传背景条件下，CO2浓度持续升高影响农作物中碳水化合物合成、有益和有害元素吸收的权重逐渐加大，从而引发所谓的“隐形饥饿”和农产品卫生品质下降。本文在回顾国内外有关CO2浓度升高影响农作物中碳水化和物合成、有益和有害成分吸收研究的基础上，结合本团队近年的研究结果，提出：随着产地环境污染由局部向整体扩延，CO2浓度持续升高对农作物卫生品质的潜在影响不断加剧，包括增加或减少农作物对有毒有害物质的吸收；强化农作物对土壤中有益或有害物质的非均衡吸收等。本文还对比了目前国内外CO2浓度升高对农作物品质影响研究的常用手段与方法，并对相关研究结果的差异进行了分析，着重指出这一研究方向今后工作的重点。     

火焰原子吸收光谱法测定湘西莓茶中六种金属元素的含量

运用火焰原子吸收光谱法测定湘西莓茶样品中Fe、Cu、Mg、Ca、Mn、Zn 6种金属元素.采用浓硝酸和双氧水微波消解样品.标准曲线法测定.结果表明,湘西莓茶中含有丰富的人体必需金属元素,方法回收率在98.50%～100.70%之间.本方法简单、准确,测定结果令人满意.     

Artemia enriched with high n-3 HUFA may give a large improvement in performance of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) larvae

Atlantic halibut larvae were fed Artemia enriched with two different oil emulsions (cod liver oil and 2050TG) from first feeding to 70 days after first-feeding (dpff). Larvae fed 2050TG enriched Artemia had better growth, survival and eye migration than larvae fed the cod liver oil enriched Artemia, while pigmentation rate was similar in the two groups. In addition to the difference in fatty acids, the two emulsions differed in lipid class composition, since 2050TG is a synthetic oil and a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-acylglycerol, while cod liver oil is a tri-acylglycerol. Total lipid level, estimated as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was similar in the two Artemia types, but sum of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) were higher in Artemia enriched with 2050TG than in the cod liver oil enriched Artemia. However, the main difference in fatty acid composition in the larvae, was a higher DHA (% of total fatty acids) in 2050TG larvae than in cod liver oil larvae. The lipid level measured as FAME was up to four times higher in the 2050TG larvae than in the cod liver oil larvae, and the reason for this may have been a better bioavailability of the partly digested lipid in the 2050TG emulsion. The correlation between a high level of lipid in the larval tissues (e.g. high energy status) and improved eye migration in larvae fed the 2050TG enriched Artemia supports the hypothesis that energy limitation on the larval stage may be a cause of the impaired eye migration commonly observed in farmed Atlantic halibut juveniles.     

Adfluvial and fluvial life history variations and migratory patterns of a relict charr, Salvelinus confluentus, stock in west-central Idaho, USA

Abstract –  Life history strategies and migratory patterns of 71 adult radio-tagged bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus , were studied in the Secesh River watershed within the South Fork Salmon River (SFSR) sub-basin in west-central Idaho, USA during 2003 and 2004. In both years, upstream migrations occurred during late June and early July, migrations into two spawning tributaries during late July and early August, spawning from mid-August through mid-September, and rapid downstream (postspawning) migrations from late August to mid-September. Primary over-wintering areas were Loon Lake, the lower Secesh River (downstream of Loon Creek), and the lower SFSR (downstream of the confluence with the Secesh River). Loon Lake evidently provides sufficient production to allow the adfluvial life history strategy to persist and predominate in the Secesh River, while the fluvial life history strategy was previously found to predominate in the nearby East Fork SFSR. Adfluvial, nonconsecutive-year migrations were the predominant life history strategy. Only seven fish made consecutive-year migrations to Lake Creek; however, only one of these fish, a female, utilised a spawning tributary in both years and showed spawning tributary fidelity. Three consecutive-year migrants and three in-season migrants showed over-wintering site fidelity by returning to Loon Lake in September, 2004. The life history variations observed for bull trout in the Secesh River watershed are similar to those observed for bull trout throughout their range and to those of other charr species worldwide, yet the development of distinct migration patterns demonstrate the adaptability of the species to a range of available habitats.     

椰子中果皮4种微量元素含量动态规律的研究

对椰子果的中果皮Fe、Cu等4种微量元素的动态变化规律进行研究,并对不同果龄及不同品种间的微量元素含量进行比较和相关性分析。结果表明,椰子果在发育阶段,中果皮Mn、Cu、Zn的含量均呈降低趋势,且与果串发育程度呈显著正相关;所测4种微量元素中Fe含量最高,Cu含量最低。本地高种椰子的中果皮Mn、Cu、Zn含量间均呈极显著的正相关;小黄椰子的中果皮Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn含量间均呈极显著正相关。相同果龄椰子果的中果皮Mn和Zn的含量在2个品种间没有显著差异。     

大气环流指数和地面气象要素对海南省橡胶树白粉病的影响

为探讨大气环流指数和地面气象要素对海南省橡胶树白粉病病情指数的影响,利用1962—2009年逐月大气环流指数和逐日地面气象要素资料,根据橡胶树白粉病病情指数等级,结合因子膨化、相关分析和多元回归等方法,筛选影响橡胶树白粉病病情指数的大气环流指数和地面气象要素,构建等级指标,建立预测模型,并对模型进行检验。结果显示:影响橡胶树白粉病病情指数的大气环流指数依次为北半球副高面积指数、北半球副高强度指数、西太平洋副高西伸脊点、北美区极涡面积指数、亚洲区极涡强度指数和印缅槽,显著影响时段为上年7月至当年4月;地面气象要素有平均最高气温、相对湿度、平均气温≥20℃的日数、小雨日数和平均风速,显著影响时段为上年10月至当年1月;基于大气环流指数、地面气象要素、大气环流与地面气象综合因子的橡胶树白粉病病情指数预测模型准确率分别为74.3%～78.8%、74.7%、94.6%～98.3%,表明基于大气环流和地面气象综合因子的模型准确率较高,可作为海南省橡胶树白粉病的中长期预测模型。