Pepsin-solubilised collagen (PSC) from Red Sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) regulates cell cycle and the fibronectin synthesis in HaCaT cell migration

Pepsin-solubilised collagen (PSC) from Red Sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) was studied with respect to its wound-healing effects on a human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell line. Disaggregated collagen fibres were treated with 0.1 M NaOH for 24 h and digested with pepsin for 72 h to reach maximum yield of 26.6%. The results of an in vitro wound-healing test showed that migration of HaCaT cells was 1.5-fold faster on PSC-coated plates than on untreated plates. The migration rate of sea cucumber PSC was similar to that of rat PSC, but five times higher than that of bovine gelatin. HaCaT cells grown on PSC-coated plates revealed increased fibronectin synthesis (6-fold and 3-fold compared to gelatin and rat PSC, respectively). Additionally, sea cucumber PSCs induced HaCaT cell proliferation by decreasing the G1 phase by 5% and maintaining a larger population (8%) of cells in mitosis. Collagen from Red Sea cucumber might be useful as an alternative to mammalian collagen in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.     

Identification,quantification and antioxidant activity of acylated flavonol glycosides from sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. sinensis)

A novel acylated flavonol glycoside: isorhamnetin (3-O-[(6-O-E-sinapoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside) (1), together with two known acylated flavonol glycosides: quercetin (3-O-[(6-O-E-sinapoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside) (2) and kaempferol (3-O-[(6-O-E-sinapoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside) (3) were isolated from the n-butanol fraction of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. sinensis) berries for the first time by chromatographic methods, and their structures were elucidated using UV, MS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and 2D NMR. Compounds 1–3 showed good scavenging activities, with respective IC₅₀ values of 8.91, 4.26 and 30.90 μM toward the 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical; respective Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacities of 2.89, 4.04 and 2.44 μM μM⁻¹ toward 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonate (ABTS) radical. The quantitative analysis of the isolated acylated flavonol glycosides was performed by HPLC–DAD method. The contents of compounds 1–3 were in the range of 12.2–31.4, 4.0–25.3, 7.5–59.7 mg/100 g dried berries and 9.1–34.5, 75.1–182.1, 29.2–113.4 mg/100 g dried leaves, respectively.     

概率神经网络在丽水——椒江凹陷月桂峰组沉积微相识别中的应用

由于海上钻井取芯较少,所以东海陆架盆地丽水—椒江凹陷古新统月桂峰组地层沉积微相识别存在局限.运用概率神经网络对研究区进行沉积微相识别.首先,通过地震相-沉积相响应分析和测井曲线主成分分析,发现研究区地震相和沉积相之间存在耦合对应关系,因此选择地震相作为概率神经网络输入项中的范畴自变量参数,同时提取出能对沉积微相区分较好的自然伽马、自然电位、声波时差、密度测井、补偿中子、井径测井曲线值作为概率神经网络输入项的数值自变量;然后,选用2 199个学习样本对神经网络进行训练,经过65次试验,搜索出变量的最佳平滑因子,建立研究区20种沉积微相类型的判别模式;最后,利用建立的神经网络对研究区沉积微相进行识别.结果表明：跟岩芯分析的结果对比,运用概率神经网络识别的结果准确率达到90％以上,该方法应用于未取芯井区域沉积微相的识别具有可行性.     

东海某气田气藏预测与开发实践

东海某气田气藏主要受构造与岩性控制。分布于地下2200～2800m,发育多套气水系统。其中明月峰组的M1^1与M1^2气藏是常规气藏,也是该气田的主力气藏。钻前通过AVO正演及“亮点”技术预测了M1^1与M1^2气藏的分布范围,发现与构造含气范围不一致;开发井钻后,经新井数据校正,两者匹配较好,从而落实了“亮点”的存在,证实“亮点”技术在该气田进行气藏预测是可靠的。     

聚合物微球水化动态特征及其渗流特性研究

针对渤海油藏调驱技术实际需求,开展了聚合物微球水化动态特征及其渗流特性研究。结果表明,随水化时间延长,聚合物微球吸水膨胀倍数增加,最终膨胀倍数为4.5倍左右。当水化时间低于50 h时,膨胀速度较快,之后膨胀速度减缓,360 h后达到稳定。与聚合物溶液中分子聚集体尺寸分布相比较,2种聚合物微球粒径分布范围都比较集中,其中10^#微球初始粒径中值为4.36 μm,水化240 h后为20.00 μm左右;11^#微球初始粒径中值为8.45 μm,水化360 h后为40.00 μm,膨胀倍数为4.72。在聚合物微球注入岩心过程中,颗粒间黏连和孔隙过滤作用会造成微球在岩心端面滞留和暂堵,进而引起微球注入过程中压力异常升高。在岩石孔隙内,聚合物微球可以进一步水化膨胀,表现出“运移-捕集-再运移-再捕集……”渗流特性。     

A negotiation support system for resolving an international trans-boundary natural resource conflict

Post-Soviet legal governance regime of Caspian Sea – the largest inland body of water on earth – remains a source of conflict among the five coastal states of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. Although different division methods have been suggested for sharing the sea and its valuable resources, the actual gain of the countries is unclear as the proposed methods focus either on the oil and gas or the areal share of the parties. The Caspian Sea Negotiation Support System (Caspian Sea NSS) is developed in this study to delineate optimal boundaries for sharing the sea through simultaneous consideration of the countries' areal and resource shares under different sharing methods. This NSS is a complex optimization model, with a solver engine that provides reliable results with a reasonable computational effort using a heuristic method. The model is run under different division scenarios to evaluate the sensitivity of each party's gain and locations of nautical boundaries to the division rules and the economic values of the resources. Results show a high sensitivity of the optimal nautical boundaries to the division rules and an indirect relationship between the allocated area and resource shares. The findings highlight the necessity for considering utility shares in negotiations as opposed to adopting areal division rules which ignore the utilities and might result in unfair resource allocation. The main policy implication of the study is that clarification of the countries' resource and areal gain under any suggested legal regime for governing the Caspian Sea is essential to the success of the negotiations.     

Protective effect of sea cucumber (Acaudina molpadioides) fucoidan against ethanol-induced gastric damage

Sea cucumber is a nutritional aquatic food that is widely consumed in East Asian countries. Employing a rat model of ethanol-induced gastric ulcer, we examined the protective effect of sea cucumber fucoidan (SC-FUC) extracted from Acaudina molpadioides and explored the related mechanisms. Oral administration with 100 mg/kg body weight SC-FUC for 5 days can significantly prevent the formation of gastric ulcer. Moreover, SC-FUC pretreatment could alleviate ethanol-induced histological damage, reverse changes in tissue oxidation and antioxidase activities, and regulate the signalling pathways of mitogen-activated protein kinases and matrix metalloproteinases. This study investigated the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer protective effect of SC-FUC for the first time, and elucidated that the protective mechanisms included anti-oxidation, gastric matrix hydrolysis suppression, and anti-inflammation.     

Non-dioxin-like PCBs: a survey on fishery and aquaculture from the Mediterranean area

A sampling campaign from 21 sites in Italy was conducted: 15 species from fishery and three species from aquaculture, for a total of 40 determinations, were considered. A careful sample preparation preceded the instrumental analysis that was carried out by means of GC–ECD and GC–MS. Good laboratory practice was achieved by the participation in proficiency tests, by the use of certified reference materials and by applying other directives recommended by international organisations. Concentrations measured in this work were compared with a TDI proposed by some international bodies: for a person weighing 70 kg one-third of the samples from fishery, when consumed, lead to exceed this TDI if the average fish daily consumption per capita is considered. Based on the data obtained here some hypotheses on environmental spreading and influence of PCBs on human health are made. Some suggestions about the preparation of fish for consumption are also given.     

Total mercury levels in crustacean species from Italian fishery

This study investigated mercury contamination levels in eight commercially valuable crustacean species caught off the Central Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts of Italy. Total mercury levels were measured by Thermal Decomposition-Amalgamation-Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Results showed a high variability among species with values ranging from 0.070 to 1.24 (mg kg^?1 wet weight). The lowest mercury levels were detected in caramote prawn (Penaeus kerathurus), warty crab (Eriphia verrucosa) and European spider crab (Maja squinado), decapods living in shallow waters. Levels exceeding the limits established by the European Commission were found in species living in close contact with bottom sediments: deepwater rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris), blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). For shrimps, the inter-individual variability observed was mostly related to the body size, indicating the accumulation of mercury with age. An estimation of the human intake of mercury associated to the consumption of the crustaceans sampled and its comparison with the Tolerable Weekly Intake are provided.