Identification of a novel C2 domain factor in ovaries of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

Follicle consists of an oocyte and a lot of surrounding follicular cells, and significant interactions exist between the oocyte and the somatic cells. In this study, a novel cDNA has been screened from a subtractive cDNA library between tail bud embryos and blastula embryos in the protogynous hermaphrodite orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Its full-length cDNA is 821 bp, and has an ORF of 414 by for encoding a peptide of 137 aa, which shows 38%, 37%, 33%, and 33% homology with 4 putative proteins screened from zebrafish (Danio rerio). Conserved domain search in NCBI reveals a single C2 domain existing in the C2 domain superfamily proteins, and has only 7 beta strands in comparison with 8 beta strands of C2 domains in other C2 domain superfamily proteins. Artificial sex reversal, RT-PCR analysis and Western blot detection demonstrated ovary-specific expression of the C2 domain factor, and therefore the novel gene was designated as E. coioides ovary-specific C2 domain factor, EcOC2 factor. Moreover, predominant expression of EcOC2 factor was further revealed in grouper mature ovary, and its strong immunofluorescence signals were located between granulosa cells and oocyte zona radiata in grouper mature follicles. The data indicate that the novel EcOC2 factor might be a main component that associates between granulosa cells and the oocyte during oocyte maturation, and might play significant roles in regulating oocyte maturation and ovulation. Further studies on its developmental behaviour and physiological functions will elucidate the interactions between oocyte and the surrounding somatic cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. (C) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Molecular cloning and expression pattern of 14 kDa apolipoprotein in orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides

A novel fish-specific apolipoprotein (apo-14 kDa) has been recently cloned from eel and pufferfish. However, its expression pattern has not been elucidated. in this study, EcApo-14 has been screened from hypothalamic cDNA library of male orange-spotted grouper, which shows 62.9%, 51%, 46.9%, 43.2%, and 31.9% identities to Apo-14 of European flounder, pufferfish, Japanese eel, gibel carp, and grass carp, respectively. RT-PCR analysis reveals that this gene is first transcribed in neurula embryos and maintains a relatively stable expression level during the following embryogenesis. EcApo-14 transcripts are at a very high level during embryonic and early larval development in the yolk syncytial layer (YSL), and decrease in YSL and form intense staining in liver at 3 days after hatching. In adult tissues, EcApo-14 is predominantly expressed in liver and brain. The data suggested that EcApo-14 might play an important role in liver and brain morphogenesis and growth. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determination of 266 pesticide residues in apple juice by matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography-mass selective detection

A macro matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) method was developed to extract 266 pesticides from apple juice samples prior to gas chromatography-mass selective detection (GC-MSD) determination. A 10 g samples was mixed with 20 g diatomaceous earth. The mixture was transferred into a glass column. Pesticide residues were leached with a 160 mL hexane-dichloromethane (1:1) at 5 mL/min. Two hundred and sixty-six pesticides were divided into three groups and detected by GC-MSD under selective ion monitoring. The proposed method takes advantage of both liquid-liquid extraction and conventional MSPD methods. Application was illustrated by the analysis of 236 apple juice samples produced in Shaanxi province China mainland this year. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Temperature behaviour of the orange and blue emissions in ZnS : Mn nanoparticles

The temperature dependences of the orange and blue emissions in 10, 4.5, and 3 nm ZnS:Mn nanoparticles were investigated. The orange emission is from the T-4(1)-(6)A(1) transition of Mn2+ ions and the blue emission is related to the donor-acceptor recombination in the ZnS host. With increasing temperature, the blue emission has a red-shift. On the other hand, the peak energy of the orange emission is only weakly dependent on temperature. The luminescence intensity of the orange emission decreases rapidly from 110 to 300 K for the 10 nm sample but increases obviously for the 3 nm sample, whereas the emission intensity is nearly, independent of temperature for the 4.5 nm sample. A thermally activated carrier-transfer model has been proposed to explain the observed abnormal temperature behaviour of the orange emission in ZnS:Mn nanoparticles.

Reliable concentrated photovoltaic system with compound concentrator

Concentrated photovoltaic systems (CPVSs) draw more and more attention because of high photovoltaic conversion efficiency, low consumption of solar cell, and low cost of power generation. However, the fallibility of the tracker in such systems has hindered their practical application for more than twenty years. The tracker is indispensable for a CPVS since only normal-incident sunlight can be focused on the solar cell chips, even a slight deviation of incident light will result in a significant loss of solar radiation, and hence a distinct decrease in electricity output. Generally, the more accurate the tracker is, the more reliable the system is. However, it is not exactly the case for a CPVS reliability, because the more accurate the tracker is, the better environment it demands. A CPVS is usually has to subjected to harsh environmental conditions, such as strong wind, heavy rain or snow, and huge changes of temperature, which leads to the invalidation of the system's high-accuracy tracker. Hence, the reliability of a CPVS cannot be improved only by enhancing the tracker's accuracy. In this paper, a novel compound concentrator, combination of Fresnel lens and photo-funnel, has been adopted in a prototype CPVS. Test results show that the compound concentrator can relax the angle tolerance from one tenth to five degrees of arc at 400 suns, which can help a CPVS endure serious environment and remain its reliability over long period. The CPVS with compound concentrator is attractive for commercial application.

High brightness AlGaInP orange light emitting diodes

Orange AlGaInP high brightness light emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated by low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition(LP-MOCVD) technology. AlGaInP double heterojunction structure was used as active layer. 15 pairs of Al0.5Ga0.5As/AlAs distributed Bragg reflector and 7 mu m Al0.8Ga0.2As current spreading layer were employed to reduce the absorption of GaAs substrate and upper anode respectively. At 20mA the LEDs emitting wavelength was between 600-610nm with 18.3nm FWHM, 0.45mW radiation power and 1.7% external quantum efficiency. Brightness of the LED chips and LED lamps with 15 degrees viewing angle(2 theta(1/2)) reached 30mcd and 1000mcd respectively.

Small-scale turbulent fluctuations beyond Taylor's frozen-flow hypothesis

The space-time cross-correlation function C-T(r, tau) of local temperature fluctuations in turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection is obtained from simultaneous two-point time series measurements. The obtained C-T(r, tau) is found to have the scaling form C-T(r(E), 0) with r(E)=[(r-U tau)(2)+ V-2 tau(2)](1/2), where U and V are two characteristic velocities associated with the mean and rms velocities of the flow. The experiment verifies the theory and demonstrates its applications to a class of turbulent flows in which the requirement of Taylor's frozen flow hypothesis is not met.

Activated carbons chemically modified by concentrated H2SO4 for the adsorption of the pollutants from wastewater and the dibenzothiophene from fuel oils

The surface properties, porosities, and adsorption capacities of activated carbons (AC) are modified by the oxidation treatment using concentrated H2SO4 at temperatures 150-270 degreesC. The modified AC was characterized by N-2 adsorption, base titration, FTIR, and the adsorption of iodine, chlorophenol, methylene blue, and dibenzothiophene. The treatment of AC with concentrated H2SO4 at 250 degreesC greatly increases the mesoporous volume from 0.243 mL/g to 0.452 mL/g, specific surface areas from 393 m(2)/g to 745 m(2)/g, and acidic surface oxygen complexes from 0.071 meq/g to 1.986 meq/g as compared with the unmodified AC. The base titration results indicate that the amount of acidic surface oxygen groups on the modified AC increases with increasing the treatment temperatures and carboxyls and phenols are the most abundant carbon-oxygen functional groups. The carboxyl groups, COO- species, and hydroxyl groups are detected mainly for the sample treated at 250 degreesC. The mesoporous properties of the AC modified by concentrated H2SO4 were further tested by the adsorption of methylene blue and dibenzothiophene. The AC modified by concentrated H2SO4 at 250 degreesC has much higher adsorption capacities for large molecules (e.g., methylene blue and dibenzothiophene) than the unmodified AC but less adsorption capacities for small molecules (e.g., iodine). The adsorption results from aqueous solutions have been interpreted using Freundlich adsorption models.

A multifunctional iridium carbazolyl orange phosphor for high performance two-element WOLED exploiting exciton-managed fluorescence/phosphorescence

By attaching a bulky, inductively electron-with drawing trifluoromethyl (CF3) group on the pyridyl ring of the rigid 2-[3(N-phenylcarbazolyl)]pyridine cyclometalated ligand, we successfully synthesized a new heteroleptic orange-emitting phosphorescent iridium(III) complex [Ir(L-1)(2)(acac)] 1 (HL1=5-trifluoromethyl-2-[3-(N-phenylcarbazolyl)]pyridine, Hacac = acetylacetone) in good yield.

White Electroluminescence from a Star-Like Polymer with an Orange Emissive Core and Four Blue Emissive Arms

A star-like white light-emitting polymer with an orange emissive core and four blue emissive arms is designed and synthesized. White electroluminescence is observed with simultaneous orange emission from the core and blue emission from the arms. A single-layer device based on this polymer emits white light with CIE coordinates of (0.35, 0.39) and a luminous efficiency of 7.06 cd A(-1).

Determination of concentrated hydrogen peroxide at single-walled carbon nanohorn paste electrode

Single-walled carbon nanohorn (SWCNH) paste electrode was used for amperometric determination of concentrated hydrogen peroxide, and was compared with other carbon electrodes. The calibration plots are linear from 0.5 to 100 mM at activated SWCNH paste electrode and edge plane graphite (EPG) electrode. In contrast, the calibration plots are linear only at concentrations lower than 45 mM at graphite paste electrode, multi-walled carbon nanotube paste electrode, and glassy carbon electrode.

A biofuel cell with enhanced power output by grape juice

Glucose oxidase and laccase immobilized at multiwalled carbon nanotubes-ionic liquid gel modified electrodes are used as the catalysts of anode and cathode of biofuel cells (BFCs), respectively. The BFC based on glucose and air is proposed. When ferrocene monocarboxylic acid is adopted as the mediator of anode, the power output of the BFC is ca. 4.1 mu W (power density ca. 10.0 mu W cm(-2)), which is higher than the value of 2.7 mu W (power density ca. 6.6 mu W cm(-2)) by taking ferrocene dicarboxylic acid as the mediator. This implies that the mediator with formal potential closing to that of the enzyme does improve the power output. Furthermore, the power output of the BFC is greatly improved by taking grape juice as the fuel of anode rather than glucose. This system also indicates that grape juice as a fuel of the BFC not only is feasible and can also enhances the power output of the BFCs. Besides, it greatly lowers the cost and simplifies the preparation procedure of the BFCs, making the BFC towards "green" bioenergy.

Solution-processible multi-component cyclometalated iridium phosphors for high-efficiency orange-emitting OLEDs and their potential use as white light sources

The synthesis and photophysical studies of several multifunctional phosphorescent iridium(III) cyclometalated complexes consisting of the hole-transporting carbazole and fluorene-based 2-phenylpyridine moieties are reported. All of them are isolated as thermally and morphological stable amorphous solids. Extension of the pi-conjugation through incorporation of electron- pushing carbazole units to the fluorene fragment leads to bathochromic shifts in the emission profile, increases the highest oc- cupied molecular orbital levels and improves the charge balance in the resulting complexes because of the propensity of the carbazole unit to facilitate hole transport. These iridium-based triplet emitters give a strong orange phosphorescence light at room temperature with relatively short lifetimes in the solution phase. The photo- and electroluminescence properties of these phosphorescent carbazolylfluorene-functionalized metalated complexes have been studied in terms of the coordinating position of carbazole to the fluorene unit. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using these complexes as the solution-processed emissive layers have been fabricated which show very high efficiencies even without the need for the typical hole-transporting layer.I These orange-emitting devices can produce a maximum current efficiency of similar to 30 cd A(-1) corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of similar to 10 % ph/el (photons per electron) and a power efficiency of similar to 14 Im W-1.

White electroluminescence from a single-polymer system with simultaneous two-color emission: Polyfluorene as blue host and 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivatives as orange dopants on the side chain

Four single polymers with two kinds of attachment of orange chromophore to blue polymer host for white electroluminescence (EL) were designed. The effect of the side-chain attachment and main-chain attachment on the EL efficiencies of the resulting polymers was compared. The side-chain-type single polymers are found to exhibit more efficient white EL than that of the main-chain-type single polymers. Based on the side-chain-type white single polymer with 4-(4-alkyloxy-phenyl)-7-(4-diphenylamino-phenyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles as the orange-dopant unit and polyfluorene as the blue polymer host, white EL with simultaneous orange (lambda(max) = 545 nm) and blue emission (lambda(max) = 432 nm/460 nm) is realised. A single-layer device (indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polymer/Ca/Al) made of these polymers emits white light with the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates of (0.30,0.40), possesses a turn-on voltage of 3.5 V, luminous efficiency of 10.66 cd A(-1), power efficiency of 6.68 lm W-1, and a maximum brightness of 21240 cd m(-2).