Adjuvant and immunostimulatory effects of LPS and ß-glucan on immune response in Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus.

In order to investigate the adjuvant and immunostimulatory effects of LPS and ß-glucan, a highly effective vaccine candidate for Edwardsiella tarda known as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli, which was intramuscularly injected into Japanese flounder alone or containing LPS or ß-glucan. ELISA analysis of sera showed that the fish immunized with rGAPDH containing LPS or ß-glucan had significant higher antibody titers than rGAPDH immunization group at day 14 and 30 (P<0.05). Flow cytometric analysis showed that the surface immunoglobulin positive (sIg+) lymphocytes percentages in head kidney of the immunized fish exhibited significant higher than the fish of control group at day 14 and 30, and immunization with rGAPDH containing LPS or ß-glucan could induce significant higher sIg+ percentages than immunization with rGAPDH alone. Simultaneously, the expressions of genes coding for immunoregulatory molecules involved in innate and acquired responses, including IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, TCRα, IgM, C-type lysozyme and MHC-IIα were analyzed by quantitative PCR. The transcription levels of all selected genes except TNF-α displayed up-regulation after immunization, and immunization with rGAPDH containing LPS or ß-glucan could induce significant higher levels than that induced only by rGAPDH. Moreover, to investigate the protection against infection, challenge with E. tarda was performed at day 30 after immunization. Fish immunized with rGAPDH containing ß-glucan exhibited the highest relative percentage survival (RPS) of 63% compared to the other groups. These results indicated that LPS and ß-glucan employed as co-immunostimulatory molecules could significantly trigger the innate and acquired immune responses in Japanese flounder.

[Validation and analysis of water column correction algorithm at Sanya Bay].

Water column correction has been a substantial challenge for remote sensing. In order to improve the accuracy of coastal ocean monitoring where optical properties are complex, optical property of shallow water at Sanya Bay and the suitable water column correction algorithms were studies in the present paper. The authors extracted the bottom reflectance without water column effects by using a water column correction algorithm which is based on the simulation of the underwater light field in idealized water. And we compared the results which were calculated by the model and Christian's model respectively. Based on a detailed analysis, we concluded that: Because the optical properties of Sanya Bay are complex and vary greatly with location, Christian's model lost its advantage in the area. Conversely, the bottom reflectance calculating by the algorithm based on the simulation of the underwater light field in idealized water agreed well with in situ measured bottom reflectance, although the reflectance was lower than in situ measured reflectance value between 400 and 500 nm. So, it is reasonable to extract bottom information by using the water column correction algorithm in local bay area where optical properties are complex.

[The analyses on dust pollution of one underground iron mine from 1991 to 2010].

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this work was to give the evidence of reasonable and feasible dust control measures which will be taken in the future by analyzing the trend of dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 and identifying working faces with the severe dust contamination in one underground iron mine. METHODS: The data was from routine monitoring between the years 1991 and 2010, which enclosed the total dust concentrations and silica contents. China National Standard of Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace used to judge whether the dust concentration exceeded the National Standard. RESULTS: The general trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, especially maximum and average levels. The highest exceeding rate was 43.16% in 1993 and the best years were 2009 and 2010, but the exceeding rates were still over 30%. The dust exposure levels varied with different work faces. The mining and supporting were the most severe dust pollution faces which the highest ultra exceeding rates were 51.61% and 51.48% and the maximum exceeding times were 64.6 and 16.4 respectively. The next was constructing face with 40.23% exceeding rate and 24.6 times more than standard. CONCLUSION: The trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, but the dust exceeding rate was still high. The strong measures should be taken to control the dust pollution in this iron mine, especially mining and supporting faces.

[Progress in Teflon AF LWCC/LCW applications].

Teflon AF is chemically very inert, quite physically and optically stable, a highly vapor-permeable polymer with optical transparency through much of the UV-Vis region and with an RI lower than that of water, so Teflon AF LWCC/LCW (Long path-length liquid waveguide capillary cell/liquid core waveguides) has been used with a range of different detection techniques, including absorbance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and gas sensor. The present article describes the properties and the aspects of Teflon AF LWCC/LCW instrumentation and applications. And finally,the future prospect and outlook of Teflon AF LWCC/LCW is also discussed.