Cryopreservation of Kunming mouse oocytes using slow cooling, ultrarapid cooling and vitrification protocols

The cryopreservation of oocytes has been only marginally successful with any of the current protocols, including slow cooling, rapid cooling and vitrification. We wished to test the hypothesis that oocytes from a single mouse strain would freeze successfully by 1 of the 3 mentioned protocols. Unfertilized Kunming mouse oocytes obtained 14 h after PMSG/hCG administration were randomly assigned to be cryopreserved after slow cooling, ultra rapid cooling and vitrification. Oocytes were thawed by straws being placed into 37 degrees C water, and their morphological appearance and in vitro fertilization capability were compared with that of oocytes that had not undergone cryopreservation. Survival of oocytes was indicated by the absence of darkened ooplasm or by broken membranes or zona pellucida. Functional integrity was evaluated by the formation of a 2-cell embryo after IVF. Survival rate of slow cooled oocytes did not differ from that seen in vitrified oocytes (55.1 vs 65.9%) but was significantly lower in the rapidly cooled oocytes (24.2%; P<0.01). The results of NF of slow cooled and vitrified oocytes were similar to those of the control group (72 and 73 vs 77%; P>0.05). It appears that Kunming mouse oocytes can be successfully cryopreserved using the slow cooling method with 1,2-propanediol and vitrification, which contains both permeating and nonpermeating cryoprotectants. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.

Kinetic studies on the effects of rare earth elements (REES) on the growth of Microcystis and their accumulation by Microcystis

In the paper the kinetic effects of La3+ and Ce4+ on the growth of Microcystis and the accumulation kinetics of Microcystis in the single and combined systems of La3+ and Ce4+ were studied. The mechanism of the effects of La3+ and Ce4+ on the growth of Microcystis and their accumulation kinetics were also discussed. In the single system, La3+ stimulated the growth of Microcystis at initial concentrations below 2 mg / 1, but inhibited it above 2 mg / 1. Ce4+ accelerated the growth of Microcystis at initial concentrations below 0.2 mg / 1 and inhibited at above 0.2 mg /l. Furthermore, the stimulation weakened with the increase of initial concentrations of La3+ and Ce4+. In the combined system, the growth of Microcystis was accelerated in the over all cases. In the single system, the amount of La3+ and Ce4+ uptake was more at higher initial concentrations than at lower ones. At the same initial concentrations, La3+ and Ce4+ uptake in the combined system was less than that in the single system. The kinetic process of La3+ and Ce4+ adsorpted by Microcystis can be explained with the second order kinetics adsorption model.

Magnetic coupling properties of rare-earth metals (Gd, Nd) doped ZnO: First-principles calculations

The electronic structure and magnetic coupling properties of rare-earth metals (Gd, Nd) doped ZnO have been investigated using first-principles methods. We show that the magnetic coupling between Gd or Nd ions in the nearest neighbor sites is ferromagnetic. The stability of the ferromagnetic coupling between Gd ions can be enhanced by appropriate electron doping into ZnO Gd system and the room-temperature ferromagnetism can be achieved. However, for ZnO Nd system, the ferromagnetism between Nd ions can be enhanced by appropriate holes doping into the sample. The room-temperature ferromagnetism can also be achieved in the n-conducting ZnO Nd sample. Our calculated results are in good agreement with the conclusions of the recent experiments. The effect of native defects (V-Zn, V-O) on the ferromagnetism is also discussed. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI 10.1063/1.3176490]

Comparison of field effect transistor characteristics between space-grown and earth-grown gallium arsenide single crystal substrates

Semi-insulating gallium arsenide single crystal grown in space has been used in fabricating low noise field effect transistors and analog switch integrated circuits by the direct ion-implantation technique. All key electrical properties of these transistors and integrated circuits have surpassed those made from conventional earth-grown gallium arsenide. This result shows that device-grade space-grown semiconducting single crystal has surpassed the best terrestrial counterparts. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.

Experimental and numerical investigations on dissolution and recrystallization processes of GaSb/InSb/GaSb under microgravity and terrestrial conditions

The effects of gravity and crystal orientation on the dissolution of GaSb into InSb melt and the recrystallization of InGaSb were investigated under microgravity condition using a Chinese recoverable satellite and under normal gravity condition on earth. To investigate the effect of gravity on the solid/liquid interface and compositional profiles. a numerical simulation was carried out. The InSb crystal melted at 525 degrees C and then a part of GaSb dissolved into the InSb melt during heating to 706 degrees C and this process led to the formation of InGaSb solution. InGaSb solidified during the cooling process. The experimental and calculation results clearly show that the shape of the solid/liquid interface and compositional profiles in the solution were significantly affected by gravity. Under microgravity, as the Ga compositional profiles were uniform in the radial direction. the interfaces were almost parallel. On the contrary, for normal gravity condition, as large amounts of Ga moved up in the upper region due to buoyancy, the dissolved zone broadened towards gravitational direction. Also. during the cooling process, needle crystals of InGaSb started appearing and the value of x of InxGa1-xSb crystals increased with the decrease of temperature. The GaSb with the (111)B plane dissolved into the InSb melt much more than that of the (111)A plane. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of cooling rates for hot carriers in GaAs AlAs quantum wells based on macroscopic and microscopic phonon models

By using three analytical phonon models in quantum wells-the slab model, the guided-mode model, and the improved version of the Huang-Zhu model [Phys. Rev. B 38, 13 377 (1998)], -and the phonon modes in bulk, the energy-loss rates of hot carriers due to the Frohlich potential scattering in GaAs/AlAs multiple quantum wells (MQW's) are calculated and compared to those obtained based on a microscopic dipole superlattice model. In the study, a special emphasis is put on the effects of the phonon models on the hot-carrier relaxation process when taking the hot-phonon effect into account. Our numerical results show that, the calculated energy-loss rates based on the slab model and on the improved Huang-Zhu model are almost the same when ignoring the hot-phonon effect; however, with the hot phonon effect considered, the calculated cooling rate as well as the hot phonon occupation number do depend upon the phonon models to be adopted. Out of the four analytical phonon models investigated, the improved Huang-Zhu model gives the results most close to the microscopic calculation, while the guided-mode model presents the poorest results. For hot electrons with a sheet density around 10(12)/cm(2), the slab model has been found to overestimate the hot-phonon effect by more than 40% compared to the Huang-Zhu model, and about 75% compared to the microscopic calculation in which the phonon dispersion is fully included. Our calculation also indicates that Nash's improved version [J. Lumin. 44, 315 (1989)] is necessary for evaluating the energy-loss rates in quantum wells of wider well width, because Huang-Zhu's original analytical formulas an only approximately orthogonal for optical phonons associated with small in-plane wave numbers. [S0163-1829(99)08919-5].

Thermoelectric Cooling and Power Generation

In a typical thermoelectric device, a junction is formed from two different conducting materials, one containing positive charge carriers (holes) and the other negative charge carriers (electrons). When an electric current is passed in the appropriate direction through the junction, both types of charge carriers move away from the junction and convey heat away, thus cooling the junction. Similarly, a heat source at the junction causes carriers to flow away from the junction, making an electrical generator. Such devices have the advantage of containing no moving parts, but low efficiencies have limited their use to specialty applications, such as cooling laser diodes. The principles of thermoelectric devices are reviewed and strategies for increasing the efficiency of novel materials are explored. Improved materials would not only help to cool advanced electronics but could also provide energy benefits in refrigeration and when using waste heat to generate electrical power.

Multiple energy transfers in rare earth complex-doped SiO2 spheres

Silica spheres doped with Eu(TTFA)(3) and/or Sm(TTFA)(3) were synthesized by using the modified Stober method. The transmission electron microscope image reveals that the hybrid spheres have smooth surfaces and an average diameter of about 210 nm. Fluorescence spectrometer was used to analyze the fluorescence properties of hybrid spheres. The results show that multiple energy transfer processes are simultaneously achieved in the same samples co-doped with Eu (TTFA)(3) and Sm(TTFA)(3), namely between the ligand and Eu3+ ion, the ligand and Sm3+ ion, and Sm3+ ion and Eu3+, ion. Energy transfer of Sm3+-> Eu3+, in the hybrid spheres leads to fluorescence enhancement of Eu3+ emission by approximately an order of magnitude. The lifetimes of the hybrid spheres were also measured.

高Tc超导体R_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)(R-rare earth)的磁性和超异电性研究

本论文合成了R_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x) (R = La、Nd、Sm、Eu、Gd、Dr、Ho、Er、Tm、Yb)、Y_2Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x) (x = 0.10～1.17)和Y_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(7-x)S_x (x = 0～2)，并对磁性和超导电性进行了较为系统的研究。R_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)的磁化率在T > Tc的很宽的温度范围内服从Curic-Weiss定律，求得的有效磁矩略大于理论值，差值与Y_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)中Cu~(2+)磁矩相近，说明Cu~(2+)的磁矩对体系磁性有额外贡献，这贡献随R~(3+)离子中自旋平行的电子权的增多而增大。其高温下的磁化率CT > 700K)相对Curic-Weiss定律发生较大偏离，这偏离可能的来源有三个：高温下稀土离子发生较大的能级反转效应，高温下结构相变对磁性的影响，高温下氧含量减少造成Cu~(2+)磁矩增大。R_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)磁化率在T < Tc时也服从Curic-Weiss定律，R~(3+)磁矩是定域的，表明超导与磁性相互独立。互不相关，稀土磁矩与传导电子间无相互作用。用Sr取代R_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)中的Ba，没能使体系产生磁有序的变化，但却使有效磁矩增大，并完全破坏了样品的超导电性。Sm~(3+)磁化率不服从Curic-Weiss定律，在Sm_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)中Sm~(3+)显示了典型Van VlccK离子的特性。Y_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)随氧含量减少发生超导体一半导体一绝缘体的转化，当氧含量由6.90减小至6.49时发生由正交到四方的结构相变。当(7-x) = 5.83时有较多杂质相出现，123相开始分解。样品磁化率均服从Curic-Weiss定律，并随氧含量增大磁化率－温度曲线越来越趋于平缓（直线），当(7-x) = 6.90时磁化率基本不随温度变化，这时Pauli顺磁性占主导地位，这说明氧含量增加定域磁矩减少，求得的有效磁矩Peff随氧含量增大总趋势减小。提出了电子“巡游”的观点，较好地解释了上述现象，并推测出Cu(2)的d电子是离域的，对样品磁矩没有贡献，样品Peff来源于部分Cu(1)的定域Cu~(2+)的磁矩，上述推测被EPR结果证实。正交相Y_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)的EPR谱显示了中心对称成准立方晶场中Cu~(2+)(d~9, S = 1/2, I = 3/2)的EPR物性。而四方相样品的EPR谱却出现了明显的各向异性，说明观察到的为Cu(1)的EPR信号，由Cu(1)~(2+)的写域磁矩产生。Y_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)的EPR信号束源于本体相，而非Y_2Cu_2O_5、BaCuO_2、Y_2BaCuO_5等杂质相。各样品EPR信号的自旋浓度远小于1spin/cu，并随氧含量减小而增大，当(7-x) = 6.49、6.40时自旋浓度出现陡增，这时伴随由正交到四方的转化，证明了电子“巡游”观点的正确。用硫部分取代Y_1Ba_2Cu_3O_2g中的氧，当Y_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(2-x)Sx中x = 0.11时Tc = 92.6K，比Y_1Ba_2Cu_3O_(7-x)升高2K，但由于杂质相的存在，ΔTc加宽。其他样品多为半导体和绝缘体。硫取代0，当x = 0.04，0.06，0.11和1.20时磁化率服从Curic-Weiss定律，并且x = 0.87，1.2时分别在230K、240K出现反铁磁有序。其他样品由于Cu被还原为＋1价而变成抗磁性。x = 0.11 (Tc = 92.6K)，EPR谱为正交场中Cu~(2+)的信号。自旋浓度与温度无关。当所有Cu均为Cu~(1+)时，测问的是-s-的EPR信号，而Cu为混合价态(+1和+2时)测问是上述两种信号的叠加。