细胞因子—协调免疫应答的“语言”和治疗疾病的生物技术型药物

简述细胞因子在免疫应答中的作用和生物学意义 ,对本期细胞因子研究专题中研究者们的工作进行评述。我国细胞因子的研究在应用领域相对活跃，并且有产业化成果的产出，体现了与国际生物医学发展潮流相适应的趋势。近年来国内在细胞因子的基础研究方面亦有一些创新性的探索。这些研究成果对免疫应答理论和应用的发展必将起到积极的推动作用。

生物技术型现代农业的创建探讨

随着科技的进步和经济的发展,农业生产逐渐向现代化发展。为了保证高效化的农业生产,需采取新型的农业发展模式,比如有机农业、都市农业、精准农业、绿色农业等。但是还未统筹考虑好生物技术型现代农业,未能充分提高农业劳动生产率和土地利用率。农业生产中存在环境安全、粮食安全、经济安全和能源安全等问题,利用生物技术能够有效解决这类问题。本文就此对生物技术型现代农业的创建进行探讨。

Research Progress of Biomass Fuel Composite Molding Technology

At present, the technology of biomass fuel composite molding technique is relatively lagging in China, which brings several negative influences, such as high energy consumption, short service life of the equipment. The current situation of the biomass pellet fuel molding technology at home and abroad was introduced, and the development direction in China was put forward, which was of great significance for enhancing the level of pellet fuel molding technology in China.

Gastrointestinal tract modelling in health and disease

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the system of organs within multi-cellular animals that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste. The various patterns of GI tract function are generated by the integrated behaviour of multiple tissues and cell types. A thorough study of the GI tract requires understanding of the interactions between cells, tissues and gastrointestinal organs in health and disease. This depends on knowledge, not only of numerous cellular ionic current mechanisms and signal transduction pathways, but also of large scale GI tissue structures and the special distribution of the nervous network. A unique way of coping with this explosion in complexity is mathematical and computational modelling; providing a computational framework for the multilevel modelling and simulation of the human gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology. The aim of this review is to describe the current status of biomechanical modelling work of the GI tract in humans and animals, which can be further used to integrate the physiological, anatomical and medical knowledge of the GI system. Such modelling will aid research and ensure that medical professionals benefit, through the provision of relevant and precise information about the patient's condition and GI remodelling in animal disease models. It will also improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical procedures, which could result in reduced cost for diagnosis and treatment.

Impacts of Coagulation Pretreatment on MF Filtration and a Comparative Study of Different Membrane Module Types

Changes in the regulatory requirements and the forthcoming Disinfectant/Disinfection By-Products （D/DBP） Rule will require that drinking water treatment facilities be operated to achieve maximum removals of particles and disinfectant tolerant microorganisms as well as natural organic matter （NOM）. For drinking water production, the use of membrane filtration processes such as microfiltration and ultrafiltration （MF/UF） alone to satisfy the turbidity, particle and microorganism removal a requirement of the surface water treatment regulation （SWTR） is not enough. MF/UF treatment processes can achieve only nominal （10 percent） removal of disinfection by-products （DBP） precursors （James, et al., 1995）. On the other hand, too fast fouling can make the filtration processes more difficult to carry on. To solve these problems, many authors have been interested in installing coagulation pretreatment before membrane filtration to improve membrane performance. However, previous studies reported conflicting results. Some supported the effectiveness of coagulation pretreatment, while others contended that coagulation aggravated membrane performance. This research aims to identify the effects of coagulation pretreatment on membrane filtration through a pilot study using PVDF membrane in combination with analyzing the rationale of coagulation. Another objective of this research was to evaluate the different impacts on membrane performance of using different membrane modules （the submerged module and pressured module）. The results showed that coagulation pretreatment greatly improved the membrane performance, extending the filtration time as well as reducing the permeated organic level, and that the submerged module is much more efficient than the pressured module.

Cytogenetic Diagnosis and Analysis of the Clinical Profile of Individuals with Non-down Syndrome Intellectual Disability

Chromosomal alterations are the main causes of genetic diseases. One of the characteristics of certain genetic syndromes is ID （intellectual disability） presented by the individual in varying degrees. The study of the ID, its etiology, association or not with chromosomal abnormalities and a clinical diagnosis associated with the examination of karyotype are important aspects to consider when providing genetic counseling for families. Due to the lack of similar studies and of easy access to cytogenetic services for the Amazonian population, this study aimed to contribute to the advancement of this line of study in the state, analyzing the karyotype of individuals with ID, not Down Syndrome treated at the APAE-Manaus and identifying the main types of chromosomal alterations in the individuals analyzed. Analyzes were performed of the clinical diagnosis through investigation of the data from the interview and medical records as well as analysis of the karyotype of 31 patients with non-Down syndrome ID, attended in the APAE-Manaus. Of these subjects, 20 were female and 11 male. The results showed only 2 cases of chromosome abnormalities are detectable by classical cytogenetics, one of mosaic Turner syndrome and one a heterochromatic variant. It is therefore necessary to complement the study with the addition of molecular techniques for the investigation of microdeletions and/or other alterations not detectable through the banding technique, mainly for individuals whose dysmorphisms indicate a suspected syndrome.

Production of Biochar for Soil Application:A Comparative Study of Three Kiln Models

Biochar has potentials for soil fertility improvement, climate change mitigation and environmental reclamation, and charred biomass can be deliberately incorporated into soil for long-term carbon stabilization and soil amendment. Many different methods have been used for biochar production ranging from laboratory to industrial scales. However, in countryside of developing countries, biomass is generally used for cooking but not charred. Biochar production techniques at farmer scale have remained poorly developed. We developed and tested biochar production kilns for farmers with a dimension of 50.8 cm × 38.1 cm （height × diameter）, using three different setups for optimizing oxygen （02） limitation and syngas circulation： airtight with no syngas circulation （Model I）, semi-airtight with external syngas circulation （Model II） and semi-airtight with internal syngas circulation （Model III）. A comparative assessment of these biochar production kiln models was made considering biochar pyrolysis time, fuel to biomass ratio, biochar to feedstock ratio and thermogravimetric index （TGI）. Among the models, the best quality biochar （TGI ---- 0.15） was obtained from Model I kiln taking the longest time for pyrolysis （12.5 h） and the highest amount of fuel wood （1.22 kg kg-1 biomass）. Model III kiln produced comparatively good quality biochar （TGI = 0.11）, but with less fuel wood requirement （0.33 kg kg-1 biomass） and shorter pyrolysis time （8.5 h）. We also tested Model III kiln in a three times larger size under two situations （steel kiln and pit kiln）. The biochar to feedstock ratio （0.38） and quality （TGI =0.14） increased slightly for the larger kilns. Quality of biochar was found to be mainly related to pyrolysis time. The costs for the biochar stove and pit kiln were US$ 65-77, while it was US$ 154 for the large size steel kiln. Model III kiln can potentially be used for both cooking and biochar production at farmer scale.

Preface

Complex networks are ubiquitous in our lives. Representative examples are the Internet, social networks, biological networks, E-commerce networks, electrical power grids, and larger-scale engineering systems. It is well known that the Internet has been a powerful engine for our societal evolution and technological innovation. Nowadays, network science and engineering faces fundamental challenges, such as understanding the complexity of various large-scale networks, developing new architectures and exploiting new substrates, and enabling new applications and new economics. To a better future, the complex networks in our lives will need to be better： more accessible, more reliable, more predictable, and more secure.