不同基因型小麦（Triticum aestivum）京411与小偃54抗光氧化特性及其机理的比较研究

对两种不同基因型小麦京411（北京地区高产小麦品种）和小偃54（在生产上已应用二十年的优良品种）幼苗及旗叶光抑制特性进行了比较研究，着重探讨了它们抗光氧化的差异及其机理，主要结果如下： 1. 强光条件下，同京411相比小偃54能保持较高的光合色素含量和放氧速率。其DCPIP光还原活性也较高。 2. 光谱特性分析表明，强光胁迫下小偃54在红区及蓝区的特征性吸收峰及F683荧光发射峰下降的幅度明显小于京411相应峰位的下降。 3. 色素蛋白复合物分析表明，强光条件下，京411色素蛋白复合物中LHCII聚合体大量的解聚，而小偃54在强光条件下仍能保持较高比例的LHCII聚合体。这可能在一定的程度上有利于小偃54在强光下维持较强的激发能耗散的能力。 4. 多肽SDS-PAGE分析表明，强光对不同基因型小麦中同PSII光抑制敏感性有关的两个外周蛋白23kD和17kD的影响不同。光抑制明显地降低了京411的23kD和17kD的含量，而对于小偃54中这两个外周蛋白23kD和17kD的影响不大。强光条件下小偃54旗叶PSII颗粒中捕光色素蛋白27kD含量提高，而京411捕光色素蛋白27kD含量明显的下降。 5. 上述结果表明，西北地区的优良小麦品种小偃54同北京地区的高产品种京411相比更耐强光的胁迫，其抗光氧化的能力较强。 6. 进一步分析表明，同京411相比，小偃54抗光氧化的主要原因是其不仅含有较大的叶黄素循环的色素库，而且在强光下能维持高的VDE酶活性及高水平的叶黄素循环的脱环化水平。 7. 叶黄素循环色素在两个小麦品种类囊体膜色素蛋白复合体中的分布存在差异，抗光氧化的小偃54大部分的VAZ分布在PSII上，其中绝大部分集中在LHCII聚合体上。LHCII上VAZ的集中分布可能有利于在强光下对过多光能的耗散，减少过多激发能对PSII的损伤。 8. 类囊体膜流动性分析表明，叶黄素循环参与了对类囊体膜流动性的调整，对维持强光下抗光氧化品种小偃54的类囊体膜相对稳定起重要作用。 9. 依赖于叶黄素循环的热耗散是抗光氧化品种小偃54的一个主要的光保护途径。

Graphene-covered perovskites: An effective strategy to enhance light absorption and resist moisture degradation

The long-term stability of methylammonium lead triiodide (MAPbI3) perovskite in moist environments is a paramount challenge to realise the commercialization of perovskite solar cells. In an attempt to address this concern, we have carried out systematic first-principles studies on the MAPbI3 perovskite with a hydrophobic graphene layer interfaced as a water barrier. We find there is a charge transfer at the graphene/MAPbI3 interface and electrons can be excited from graphene into the perovskite surface, leading to well separated electron–hole pairs, i.e. reduced recombination. By studying the optical properties, we find the hybrid graphene/MAPbI3 nanocomposite displays enhanced light absorption compared with the pristine MAPbI3. Furthermore, from an ab initio molecular dynamics simulation, the graphene/MAPbI3 nanocomposite is confirmed to be able to resist the reaction with water molecules, highlighting a great advantage of this nanocomposite in promoting long-term photovoltaic performance.

DAQ566 Genetic approaches to resist to Fusarium and Bipolaris in wheat/barley

Genetic approaches to resistance of bread wheat to crown rot and common root rot.

Influence of laser preconditioning on the capacity of optical films to resist laser-induced damage

As a technique to improve the ability of optical films to resist laser-induced damage (ARLID), laser preconditioning has been investigated broadly. In this paper, the laser preconditioning effect has been analyzed based on the defect-initialized damage mechanism that the author had put forward previously. Theoretical results show that an energy density scope (PEDS) exists in which the preconditioning laser can effectively improve the ARLID of optical films. In addition, when the energy density of the testing laser pulse is altered, the boundary of PEDS will change accordingly. Experimental results have verified these theoretical assumptions. PEDS will also become wider if the critical energy density of the preconditioning laser that can induce films' micro-damage increases, or the critical energy density of the preconditioning laser that can cause laser annealing decreases. In these cases, it is relatively easy to improve the ARLID of optical films. Results of the current work show great significance in enhancing the ARLID of optical films through the laser preconditioning technique. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ni-resist iron for propellers

Ni-Resist is the name applied to a group of alloy irons to which a sufficient amount of alloying element (mainly nickel) has been added to produce an austenitic matrix. Because of the alloy content and the austenitic matrix, Ni-Resist irons exhibit much better corrosion resistance and toughness than do ordinary cast irons.

Fabrication of a Low-Loss SSC Using High-Dose Electron Beam Lithography Exposure With Negative PMMA Resist

A silicon-on-insulator optical fiber-to-waveguide spot-size converter (SSC) using Poly-MethylMethAcrylate (PMMA) is presented for integrated optical circuits. Unlike the conventional use of PMMA as a positive resist, it has been successfully used as a negative resist with high-dose electron exposure for the fabrication of ultrafine silicon wire waveguides. Additionally, this process is able to reduce the side-wall roughness, and substantially depresses the unwanted propagation loss. Exploiting this technology, the authors demonstrated that the SSC can improve coupling efficiency by as much as over 2.5 dB per coupling facet, compared with that of SSC fabricated with PMMA as a positive resist with the same dimension.

Higher brain neurons succumb to acute stroke-like insult while lower brain neurons strongly resist

Pyramidal neurons (PyNs) in ‘higher’ brain are highly susceptible to acute stroke injury yet ‘lower’ brain regions better survive global ischemia, presumably because of better residual blood flow. Here we show that projection neurons in ‘lower’ brain regions of hypothalamus and brainstem intrinsically resist acute stroke-like injury independent of blood flow in the brain slice. In contrast `higher` projection neurons in neocortex, hippocampus, striatum and thalamus are highly susceptible. In live brain slices from rat deprived of oxygen and glucose (OGD), we imaged anoxic depolarization (AD) as it propagates through these regions. AD, the initial electrophysiological event of stroke, is a depolarizing front that drains residual energy in compromised gray matter. The extent of AD reliably determines ensuing damage in higher brain, but using whole-cell recordings we found that all CNS neurons do not generate a robust AD. Higher neurons generate strong AD and show no functional recovery in contrast to neurons in hypothalamus and brainstem that generate a weak and gradual AD. Most dramatically, lower neurons recover their membrane potential, input resistance and spike amplitude when oxygen and glucose is restored, while higher neurons do not. Following OGD, new recordings could be acquired in all lower (but not higher) brain regions, with some neurons even withstanding multiple OGD exposure. Two-photon laser scanning microscopy confirmed neuroprotection in lower, but not higher gray matter. Specifically pyramidal neurons swell and lose their dendritic spines post-OGD, whereas neurons in hypothalamus and brainstem display no such injury. Exposure to the Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor ouabain (100 μM), induces depolarization similar to OGD in all cell types tested. Moreover, elevated [K+]o evokes spreading depression (SD), a milder version of AD, in higher brain but not hypothalamus or brainstem so weak AD correlates with the inability to generate SD. In summary, overriding the Na+/K+ pump using OGD, ouabain or elevated [K+]o evokes steep and robust depolarization of higher gray matter. We show that this important regional difference can be largely accounted for by the intrinsic properties of the resident neurons and that Na+/K+ ATPase pump efficiency is a major determining factor generating strong or weak spreading depolarizations.

Internal mammary artery smooth muscle cells resist migration and possess high antioxidant capacity

Objective: This study investigated whether differences exist in atherogen-induced migratory behaviors and basal antioxidant enzyme capacity of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from human coronary (CA) and internal mammary (IMA) arteries. Methods: Migration experiments were performed using the Dunn chemotaxis chamber. The prooxidant [NAD(P)H oxidase] and antioxidant [NOS, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase] enzyme activities were determined by specific assays. Results: Chemotaxis experiments revealed that while both sets of VSMC migrated towards platelet-derived growth factor-BB (1-50 ng/ml) and angiotensin II (1-50 nM), neither oxidized-LDL (ox-LDL, 25-100 ng/ml) nor native LDL (100 ng/ml) affected chemotaxis in IMA VSMC. However, high dose ox-LDL produced significant chemotaxis in CAVSMC that was inhibited by pravastatin (100 nM), mevastatin (10 nM), losartan (10 nM), enalapril (1 micro.M), and MnTBAP (a free radical scavenger, 50 micro.M). Microinjection experiments with isoprenoids i.e. geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP) and farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) showed distinct involvement of small GTPases in atherogeninduced VSMC migration. Significant increases in antioxidant enzyme activities and nitrite production along with marked decreases in NAD(P)H oxidase activity and superoxide levels were determined in IMA versus CA VSMC. Conclusions: Enhanced intrinsic antioxidant capacity may confer on IMAVSMC resistance to migration against atherogenic agents. Drugs that regulate ox-LDL or angiotensin II levels also exert antimigratory effects.