Controllable negative and positive group delay in transmission through a single quantum well at finite magnetic fields

We investigate the controllable negative and positive group delay in transmission through a single quantum well at the finite longitudinal magnetic fields. It is shown that the magneto-coupling effect between the longitudinal motion component and the transverse Landau orbits plays an important role in the group delay. The group delay depends not only on the width of potential well and the incident energy, but also on the magnetic-field strengthen and the Landau quantum number. The results show that the group delay can be changed from positive to negative by the modulation of the magnetic field. These interesting phenomena may lead to the tunable quantum mechanical delay line. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recombinant protein of heptad-repeat HR212, a stable fusion inhibitor with potent anti-HIV action in vitro

HR212, a recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli, has been previously reported to inhibit HIV-1 membrane fusion at low nanomolar level. Here we report that HR212 is effective in blocking laboratory strain HIV-1IIIB entry and replication with EC50 values of 3.92±0.62 and 6.59±1.74 nM, respectively, and inhibiting infection by clinic isolate HIV-1KM018 with EC50 values of 44.44±10.20 nM, as well as suppressing HIV-1- induced cytopathic effect with an EC50 value of 3.04±1.20 nM. It also inhibited HIV-2ROD and HIV-2CBL-20 entry and replication in the μM range. Notably, HR212 was highly effective against T20-resistant strains with EC50 values ranging from 5.09 to 7.75 nM. Unlike T20, HR212 showed stability sufficient to inhibit syncytia formation in a time-of-addition assay, and was insensitive to proteinase K digestion. These results suggest that HR212 has great potential to be further developed as novel HIV-1 fusion inhibitor for treatment of HIV/ AIDS patients, particularly for those infected by T20-resistant variants.

花椒的化感作用对凋落物分解的影响及机理研究

花椒（Zanthoxylum bungeanum）是川西干旱河谷地区重要的经济作物，化感作用是花椒连作障碍的重要原因之一。花椒凋落物分解是影响花椒林地土壤肥力及花椒产量的重要因素，因此系统研究花椒化感作用是否对花椒凋落物的分解产生影响可以为解决花椒连作障碍导致的产量下降等问题提供科学的理论依据。本文通过室内模拟实验研究了花椒凋落物的四个分解动态以及分解后凋落物浸提液对花椒林地土壤性质的影响；通过野外盆栽实验研究了花椒凋落物浸提液对花椒幼苗的生长、花椒凋落物的质量及土壤性质的影响。最终从生理生化角度揭示了花椒的化感作用对凋落物分解的影响机理，为深入解决花椒连作障碍问题、对花椒凋落物采取有效的人工措施提供了科学的理论依据。主要的研究结果如下： 1. 室内分解实验证明，花椒凋落物在分解的60 d 内分解速率呈现由大到小的变化趋势，并且凋落物分解呈现明显的毒性动态。凋落物在分解的10 d、30 d 时，分解速率较大，30 d 以后分解速率显著降低。凋落物分解的10 d 左右酚酸释放量最大，此时凋落物的毒性最大，凋落物分解到10 d 以后，酚酸释放量逐渐减少，凋落物的毒性也逐渐减小。 2. 四个分解动态的花椒凋落物浸提液对土壤化学性质产生了显著的影响。花椒凋落物在分解的60 d 内，其浸提液使土壤pH值均显著的增加。分解0 d 的凋落物浸提液显著的降低了土壤铵态氮的含量，抑制了纤维素分解菌的生长；分解60 d 的凋落物浸提液显著的降低了土壤酚酸含量，增加了土壤有效磷的含量；分解30 d 和60 d 的凋落物浸提液均显著的促进了好气性纤维素分解菌的生长。这说明花椒凋落物在分解过程中呈现出明显的毒性动态：凋落物分解的初期毒性作用较大，随着分解的继续进行特别是在分解的30 d 以后，其毒性作用慢慢降低。 3. 花椒凋落物浸提液对花椒幼苗表现出明显的化感作用。不同浓度的浸提液对花椒幼苗地上及地下生物量、叶面积均产生了显著的抑制作用，并且随着浸提液浓度的升高抑制作用加强。凋落物浸提液对叶片厚度的影响较小，只有Y1对叶片厚度的生长抑制作用显著。 4. 花椒的化感作用改变了凋落物的质量，并对凋落物分解产生了显著的影响。对花椒幼苗用不同浓度的凋落物浸提液进行处理，Y1使凋落物有机碳含量、木质素含量、C/N、木质素/氮显著降低，纤维素含量显著升高；Y3使凋落物有机碳含量、木质素含量、C/N、木质素/氮显著升高。花椒凋落物质量的改变显著的影响了凋落物的分解，凋落物的分解速率大小依次为：Y1（10.15 a-1）> Y2（8.71 a-1）> CK（6.41 a-1）> Y3（5.08 a-1）。 5. 花椒的化感作用改变了土壤性质，并对凋落物分解产生了显著的影响。对花椒幼苗用不同浓度的凋落物浸提液处理的同时，也改变了土壤性质。不同浓度的凋落物浸提液显著的升高了土壤pH值、有机碳含量。各种浓度的凋落物浸提液对土壤多酚氧化酶的活性均起到了显著的促进作用。凋落物浸提液Y1对土壤纤维素分解酶的活性、细菌和真菌的生长也具有显著的促进作用。土壤性质的改变显著的影响了凋落物的分解，凋落物的分解速率大小依次为：Y1（10.30 a-1）>Y2（9.60 a-1）>CK（6.41 a-1）>Y3（6.29 a-1）。 6. 不论是凋落物质量发生改变还是土壤性质发生改变，在凋落物分解的整个过程中，C元素始终处于单调净释放的状态，并且C释放量与分解速率成显著的正相关，即凋落物分解越快，凋落物C释放量越大。凋落物分解过程中，均出现了酚酸大量释放的情况，并与凋落物分解速率成显著正相关。凋落物分解后的木质素含量、木质素/氮均增加，并且随着浸提液浓度的升高，凋落物木质素含量、木质素/氮升高。 Zanthoxylum bungeanum is an important economic crop in dry valley of the Minjiang river (Sichuan, Southwest China), but allelopathy is one of the important reasons for its continuous cropping. Zanthoxylum bungeanum litter decomposition affects Zanthoxylum bungeanum soil fertility and its output. So systemically investigate if allelopathy affects litter decomposition could provide the scientific methods to solve the problem of output fall caused by the continuous cropping. In this paper, the releasing dynamics of phenolic acid during Zanthoxylum bungeanum litter decomposition (0, 10, 30 and 60 days) and the effects of its aqueous extract on soil chemical properties were investigated via the laboratory study. Effects of Zanthoxylum bungeanum litter aqueous extract on the growth of young Zanthoxylum bungeanum seedlings, litter qualities and the soil qualities were investigated via the field study. Finally, we open out the action manner of Zanthoxylum bungeanum allelopathic effect on the litter decomposition, and provide the theoretical basis to solve the Zanthoxylum bungeanum continuous cropping. The main results showed that: 1. The laboratory litter decomposition experiment showed a trend of decomposition rate from large to small and an occurrence of phytotoxicity with clear dynamic patterns during Zanthoxylum bungeanum litter decomposition. The litter decomposition rate was larger at the tenth and 30th day during 60-day litter decomposition and gradually decreased after 30 days of litter decompostion. The releasing quantity of the litter phenolic acid was the highest at the tenth day, and here, the litter toxicity was the biggest. The releasing quantity of the litter phenolic acid gradually decreased after 10 days of litter decomposition, so the phytotoxicity of litter was gradually decreased with the litter decomposition. 2. The Zanthoxylum bungeanum litter aqueous extract after four decomposition stages had significantly effect on the soil chemical qualities. The pH value in soil was significantly increased in litter aqueous extract of four decomposition stages. The NH+4-N concentration was significantly decreased in soil amended with litter aqueous extract of 10-day decomposition which inhibited the growth of Aerobic cellulose-decomposer. The growth of soil Aerobic cellulose-decomposer was promoted by the litter aqueous extract of 30-day decomposition. Available phosphorus concentration was significantly increased and phenolic acid content was significantly decreased in soil amended with litter aqueous extract of 60-day decomposition which promoted the growth of Aerobic cellulose-decomposer. The study results showed an occurrence of phytotoxicity with clear dynamic patterns during Zanthoxylum bungeanum litter decomposition. The phytotoxicity of litter was the largest at the initial stage, but the phytotoxicity gradually decreased with the litter decomposition, especially after 30 days of decomposition. 3. The field study indicated that the Zanthoxylum bungeanum litter aqueous extract had significant allelopathic effects on the growth of young seedlings.Different concentration aqueous extract had signinficant inhibiting effects on biomass and leaf area of young seedlings. The inhibiting effect on the biomass strengthened with the litter aqueous extract concentration augment. Litter aqueous extracts had less effect on the leaf thickness, and only Y1 had significant inhibiting effect on the leaf thickness. 4. The Zanthoxylum bungeanum allelopathy had significant effect on the litter qualities and the litter decomposition. Treating the young Zanthoxylum bungeanum seedlings with different concentration of litter aqueous extracts, the leaf litter organic C, lignin, C/N and lignin/N all decreased and the cellulose content increased under Y1 treatment. The leaf litter organic C, lignin, C/N and lignin/N all increased under Y3 treatment. So the litter decomposition was significant affectded by the litter qualities, and the litter decomposition rate was Y1(10.15 a-1)> Y2(8.71 a-1) > CK(6.41 a-1) > Y3(5.08 a-1). 5. The Zanthoxylum bungeanum allelopathy had significant effect on the soil qualities and the litter decomposition. Treating the young Zanthoxylum bungeanum seedlings with different concentration of litter aqueous extracts, also changed the soil qualities. Different concentration of litter aqueous extracts had significant effects on the soil pH and organic C content. Every concentration of litter aqueous extracts accelerated the soil Polyphenol Oxidase activity and Y1 accelerated the soil Cellulase activity, the number of soil bacteria and fungi. So the litter decomposition was significant affected by the soil qualities, and the litter decomposition rate was Y1(10.30 a-1) > Y2 (9.60 a-1) >CK(6.41 a-1)>Y3(6.29 a-1)。 6. Whether the litter or soil qualities changed, the litter C element at the state of release at all times during the litter decomposition, and the release quantity increased with the decomposition rate augment. Litter released plentiful total penolics content during decomposition, and the release quantity had the positive correlation with the litter decomposition rate. The litter lignin content and the lignin/N all increased with the litter aqueous extracts concentration augment after litter decomposition.

Survivin表达在高LET射线诱导细胞凋亡中作用机理的初步研究；A Preliminary Study on Action Mechanisms of Survivin Expression in Cell Apoptosis Induced by High-LET Radiation

先前的研究表明,肿瘤细胞中survivin的高表达与细胞对高传能线密度(LET)射线的辐射抗性相关。研究了survivin表达在高LET射线诱导的细胞凋亡中的作用,发现抑制survivin表达对高LETC离子辐射诱导的Bcl-2和Bax表达没有明显的影响。在高LET射线辐照中,survivin可能通过抑制caspase-3和-9活性的途径,抑制了细胞凋亡。

Positive interactions in communities

Current concepts of the role of interspecific interactions in communities have been shaped by a profusion of experimental studies of interspecific competition over the past few decades. Evidence for the importance of positive interactions — facilitations — in community organization and dynamics has accrued to the point where it warrants formal inclusion into community ecology theory, as it has been in evolutionary biology.

Studies on alkaloids binding to GC-rich human survivin promoter DNA using positive and negative ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to investigate the binding of 13 alkaloids to two GC-rich DNA duplexes which are critical sequences in human survivin promoter. Negative ion ESI-MS was first applied to screen the binding of the alkaloids to the duplexes. Six alkaloids (including berberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, reserpine, berbamine, and tetrandrine) show complexation with the target DNA sequences. Relative binding affinities were estimated from the negative ion ESI data, and the alkaloids show a binding preference to the duplex with higher GC content. Positive ion ESI mass spectra of the complexes were also recorded and compared with those obtained in negative ion mode.

SiO2 nanoparticles as scatterers for random organic laser action in red fluorescent dye 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-tert-butyl-6(1,1,7,7-tetramethyljulolidyl-9-enyl)-4H-pyran doped polystyrene films

Random multimode lasers are achieved in 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-tert-butyl-6(1,1,7,7-tetramethyljulolidyl-9-enyl)-4H-pyran (DCJTB) doped polystyrene thin films by introducing silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles as scatterers. The devices emit a resonance multimode peak at a center wavelength of 640 nm with a mode linewidth less than 0.87 nm. The threshold excitation intensity is as low as 0.25 mJ pulse(-1) cm(-2). It can be seen that the microscopic random resonance cavities can be formed by multiple scattering of SiO2 nanoparticles.

The combined catalytic action of solid acids with nickel for the transformation of polypropylene into carbon nanotubes by pyrolysis

The effects of both organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) and Ni2O3 on the carbonization of polypropylene (PP) during pyrolysis were investigated. The results from TEM and Raman spectroscopy showed that the carbonized products of PP were mainly multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Surprisingly, a combination of OMMT and Ni2O3 led to high-yield formation of MWNTs. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and GC-MS were used to investigate the mechanism of this combination for the high-yield formation of MWNTs from PP. Bronsted acid sites were created in degraded OMMT layers by thermal decomposition of the modifiers. The resultant carbenium ions play an important role in the carbonization of PP and the formation of MWNTs. The degradation of PP was induced by the presence of carbenium ions to form predominantly products with lower carbon numbers that could be easily catalyzed by the nickel catalyst for the growth of MWNTs. Furthermore, carbenium ions are active intermediates that promote the growth of MWNTs from the degradation products with higher carbon numbers through hydride-transfer reactions. The XRD measurements showed that Ni2O3 was reduced into metallic nickel (Ni) in situ to afford the active sites for the growth of MWNTs.

Positive- and negative-ion matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of saccharides

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides has been investigated in detail, It is demonstrated that cationized species of oligosaccharides, [M+Na](+) and [M+K](+), are dominant products under the MALDI condition, and negative ions of oligosaccharides are not formed to any significant extent in this process, The molecular masses of polysaccharides are similarly determined by positive- and negative-ion MALDI-MS with the help of column chromatography. The distinction between positive- and negative-ion MALDI mass spectra of oligo-and polysaccharides indicates that the MALDI processes for saccharides vary with molecular mass. The matrix plays a more important role in the ionization process for oligosaccharides, while in the desorption process for polysaccharides. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Electrochemical behaviour of spinel LiMn2O4 as positive electrode in rechargeable lithium cells

The spinel, lithium intercalation compound LiMn2O4 is prepared and studied using the techniques of a.c. impedance and cyclic voltammetry. The impedance behaviour of the LiMn2O4 electrode varies as lithium ions are intercalated or de-intercalated. The reversible behaviour of lithium ions in the LiMn2O4 electrode is confirmed by the results of cyclic voltammetry.