Proteomic analysis of the rat ovary following chronic low-dose exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a ubiquitously distributed endocrine-disrupting chemical and reproductive toxicant. In order to elucidate low-dose TCDD-mediated effects on reproductive or endocrine functions, female Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered various concentrations (20, 50, or 125 ng/kg once weekly) TCDD for 29 wk. A proteomic analysis of the ovaries by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) tandem mass spectrometry showed distinct changes in the levels of several proteins that are relevant markers of TCDD toxicity. Serum estradiol (E2) levels of TCDD-treated animals were markedly lower than control. There were no significant differences in bone mineral density (BMD) of femurs. The body weight of the 125-ng/kg TCDD group was significantly decreased relative to control and there was also a significant reduction in absolute and relative ovarian weights. Expressions of selenium binding protein 2, glutathione S-transferase mu type 3, Lrpap1 protein, NADPH, and peptidylprolyl isomerase D were upregulated, while prohibitin and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor expression levels were downregulated. Data provide further insight into the mechanisms by which TCDD disrupts ovarian function by indicating which differential protein expressions following low-dose TCDD exposure

A fabrication history based strain-fatigue model for prediction of crack initiation in a radial loading wheel

A strain-based fatigue model concerning fabrication history is applied to predict the fatigue life of a commercial car wheel under radial loads. As the prior conditions, the strain fatigue testing is performed on standard specimen of DP590 and FB540 steels at various fabrication states, including raw materials, pre-strain and pre-strain + bake. Furthermore, the strain distribution of car wheel during its rotation under radial loads is simulated via ANSYS. The fatigue properties mainly determined by crack initiation of car wheels at various fabrication states are predicted via local stress–strain method, in which the scale and surface factors are also taken into account. The radial fatigue testing is carried out, and the results are used to validate the present model. The fracture mechanism is analysed using FEI Nova 400 field emission gun scanning electron microscope

Evidencia experimental de la abundancia de bacterias del suelo como el principal iniciador del efecto de preparación de la rizosfera

Se piensa que las comunidades microbianas del suelo son responsables del efecto de preparación de la rizósfera (RPE). Sin embargo, desde que las comunidades microbiales están compuestas de diversos componentes, se conoce muy poco acerca de cuál es el componente que tiene el rol principal en dicho efecto. En este estudio, se hicieron crecer soja y algodón en dos lugares a diferentes latitudes con diferentes condiciones de luz y temperatura in situ. Se cuantificó RPE usando un método natural de δC13 y se midió la abundancia, riqueza y composición de las comunidades de hongos y bacterias con métodos moleculares basados en el ADN. Entre todas las variables potenciales, incluyendo los tres índices de comunidades de hongos y bacterias anteriormente mencionados, e índices vegetales y físico-químicos del suelo, se mostró que la abundancia de bacterias explicó una gran proporción de la variación en RPE. Nuestro estudio identificó el mecanismo biológico que subyace este importante proceso ecológico.Soil microbial communities are thougth to be responsible for the rhizosphere priming effect (RPE). However, because soil microbial communities are comprised of diverse components, very little is known about which component plays the critical role. Here, soybean and cottonwood were grown at two latitudinal locations with different temperature and light conditions in-situ. We quantified RPE using a natural 13C method, and measured the abundance, richness and composition of bacteria and fungi communities with DNA-based molecular methods. Among all potential variables, including the three aforementioned indexes of bacteria and fungi communities and soil physiochemical and plant indexes, bacterial abundance was found to explain a large proportion of variation in RPE. Our study identified the biological mechanism underlying this important ecological process.Fil: Ma, Y.P.. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Applied Ecology; China. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture. Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture;; China. University of Chinese Academy of Science; ChinaFil: Zhang, Z.J.. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Applied Ecology; China. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture. Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture;; ChinaFil: Su, T.Q.. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Applied Ecology; ChinaFil: Busso, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaFil: Johnston, E.R.. Georgia Institute of Technology. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Estados UnidosFil: Han, X.G.. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Applied Ecology; China. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Botany. State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change; ChinaFil: Zhang, X.M.. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture. Key Laboratory of Dryland Agriculture;; Chin

Measurements of J/psi Decays into 2(pi+pi-)eta and 3(pi+pi-)eta

Based on a sample of 5.8X 10^7 J/psi events taken with the BESII detector, the branching fractions of J/psi--> 2(pi+pi-)eta and J/psi-->3(pi+pi-)eta are measured for the first time to be (2.26+-0.08+-0.27)X10^{-3} and (7.24+-0.96+-1.11)X10^{-4}, respectively.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

Search for the Rare Decays J/Psi --> Ds- e+ nu_e, J/Psi --> D- e+ nu_e, and J/Psi --> D0bar e+ e-

We report on a search for the decays J/Psi --> Ds- e+ nu_e + c.c., J/Psi --> D- e+ nu_e + c.c., and J/Psi --> D0bar e+ e- + c.c. in a sample of 5.8 * 10^7 J/Psi events collected with the BESII detector at the BEPC. No excess of signal above background is observed, and 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions are set: B(J/Psi --> Ds- e+ nu_e + c.c.)<4.8*10^-5, B(J/Psi --> D- e+ nu_e + c.c.) D0bar e+ e- + c.c.)<1.1*10^-5Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

BESII Detector Simulation

A Monte Carlo program based on Geant3 has been developed for BESII detector simulation. The organization of the program is outlined, and the digitization procedure for simulating the response of various sub-detectors is described. Comparisons with data show that the performance of the program is generally satisfactory.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, uses elsart.cls, to be submitted to NIM

Measurement of branching fractions for the inclusive Cabibbo-favored ~K*0(892) and Cabibbo-suppressed K*0(892) decays of neutral and charged D mesons

The branching fractions for the inclusive Cabibbo-favored ~K*0 and Cabibbo-suppressed K*0 decays of D mesons are measured based on a data sample of 33 pb-1 collected at and around the center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BES-II detector at the BEPC collider. The branching fractions for the decays D+(0) -> ~K*0(892)X and D0 -> K*0(892)X are determined to be BF(D0 -> \~K*0X) = (8.7 +/- 4.0 +/- 1.2)%, BF(D+ -> ~K*0X) = (23.2 +/- 4.5 +/- 3.0)% and BF(D0 -> K*0X) = (2.8 +/- 1.2 +/- 0.4)%. An upper limit on the branching fraction at 90% C.L. for the decay D+ -> K*0(892)X is set to be BF(D+ -> K*0X) < 6.6%