EER studies of the single quantum well GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs electrode/nonaqueous solution interface

The interfacial behavior of the single quantum well (SQW) GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs electrode in HQ/BQ and Fc/Fc(+) electrolytes was characterized respectively by studying the quantum confined Stark effect and Franz-Keldysh oscillation with electrolyte electroreflectance spectroscopy. The interaction of the surface state of the SQW electrode with redox species and its effects on the distribution of external bias at the interface of the SQW electrode are discussed.

青杨组(Populus Section Tacamahaca Spach)不同种对非生物胁迫的响应差异

土壤是人类赖以生存的自然环境和农业生产的重要资源，目前土壤受到干旱和盐胁迫的危害越来越严重。杨树具有适应性强、生长快和丰产等特性，本论文以青杨组杨树为模式植物，研究杨树对土壤干旱和盐胁迫的生态生理及蛋白质组学反应，研究成果可为我国干旱半干旱地区营造人工林、防止沙漠化提供理论依据，也为恢复与重建盐污染地区退化生态系统提供科学指导。主要研究结果如下： 1 青杨不同种对逐步干旱胁迫的响应差异 将来自喜马拉雅山东缘高海拔的康定杨和低海拔的青杨枝条扦插在温室中，用来检测它们对逐步干旱胁迫的响应。研究结果表明来自不同海拔的杨树对逐步干旱胁迫的适应性反应是不一样的。株高、叶片发育、叶片相对含水量、丙二醛、过氧化氢等指标的显著性变化在青杨中比在康定杨中来得早些，而且随着干旱胁迫程度的增加，这些参数的变化越来越明显，尤其是当青杨受到严重干旱胁迫的时候；而可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、游离脯氨酸、抗氧化酶活力变化在康定杨中来得早一些。与青杨相比，在干旱胁迫下，康定杨仍能保持较好的植株生长和叶片发育；康定杨也能在逐步干旱条件下积累更多的可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖、游离脯氨酸及抗氧化酶活力，但是在丙二醛和过氧化氢含量方面增加的更少些。而且，我们的研究结果表明高海拔的康定杨有更强的耐干旱能力，杨树对干旱胁迫的适应能力与干旱发生的速度、强度、持续时间及两种杨树的海拔有关。 2 干旱胁迫下青杨不同种的蛋白质组学分析 来自青杨和康定杨雌株的枝条扦插在温室中，用来研究它们对干旱胁迫的蛋白质组学反应。采用TCA-丙酮/酚提取法提取总蛋白，并进行双向电泳分析。在每个处理的重复图像中都能检测到1,000 个以上的蛋白点。在青杨中有58 个蛋白在干旱处理后发生显著变化，其中22 个蛋白通过肽指纹图谱成功鉴定。康定杨中有69 个蛋白的表达量发生了显著变化，其中有25 个蛋白通过肽指纹图谱成功鉴定。这些被鉴定的蛋白主要参与了光合作用、氧化还原平衡、信号传导、能量代谢、蛋白质合成等过程。尽管被鉴定的蛋白只占叶片总蛋白的很少一部分，但这些被鉴定的干旱响应蛋白可能对维持植株内部平衡方面有重要作用。 3 青杨的盐胁迫响应 青杨植株分别用 0、50 和100 mM NaCl 溶液进行处理。叶片相对含水量、叶绿素a、b 含量、CO2 同化速率和气孔导度的降低表明叶绿体受到了盐胁迫的影响。过氧化氢、丙二醛含量及电导率的升高表明细胞受到了伤害。可溶性糖、游离脯氨酸含量及抗氧化酶含量的上升增加了植株耐盐胁迫的能力。在每个处理的重复图像中都能检测到1,000 个以上的蛋白点。其中有38 个盐响应蛋白被成功鉴定，有16 个蛋白(点4、10、11、14、15、21、24、26、27、28、33、34、35、36、37 和38)出现在盐胁迫的植株中；3 个蛋白(点10、11 和35)只出现在重度盐胁迫处理中；而1 个蛋白(点1)只出现在对照处理中。2 个蛋白(点1 和2)表达量下降，其余蛋白点表达量都增加。被鉴定的蛋白一部分参与了生理生化反应，而另一部分则在信号传导、蛋白质合成等方面有重要作用。盐胁迫下的生理生化变化及蛋白质组学的联合研究有利于青杨对盐胁迫的适应性分析。 Soil is the indispensable environment for human survival and important resource for agriculture development. Nowadays soil is threatened by drought stress and salt stress. Poplars (Populus spp.) possess some characters such as strong acclimilation, fast growth and great production of biomass. In this study, different species of Populus section Tacamahaca spach were used as model plants to investigate the ecophysiological and proteomic responses to drought stress and salt stress. Our results can provide theoretical evidence for the afforestation and prevention of desertification in the arid and semi-arid areas, and also can supply scientific direction for the reconstruction and rehalibitation of ecosystems contaminated by salinity. The results are as follows: 1 Adaptive responses to progressive drought stress in two contrasting poplar species originating from different altitudes Cuttings of Populus kangdingensis C. Wang et Tung and Populus cathayana Rehd., originating from high and low altitudes in the eastern Himalaya, respectively, were examined during one growing season in a greenhouse to determine the effects of progressive drought stress. The results manifested that the adaptive responses to progressive drought stress were different in these two species from different altitudes. Significant changes in height increment, leaf development, relative water content (RWC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) appeared earlier in P. cathayana than in P. kangdingensis, whereas changes in soluble protein, soluble sugar, free proline and antioxidant enzymes appeared earlier in P. kangdingensis. In addition, changes in these parameters became more and more significant when the drought stress progressed, especially under severe drought stress in P. cathayana. Compared with P. cathayana, P. kangdingensis was able to maintain a superior height increase and leaf development under drought stress. Also, P. kangdingensis possessed greater increments in soluble protein, soluble sugar, free proline and antioxidant enzymes, but lower increments in MDA and H2O2 than did P. cathayana when the cuttings were exposed to progressive drought stress. Our results suggest that P. kangdingensis originating from the high altitude has a better drought tolerance than does P. cathayana originating from the low altitude. Furthermore, this study manifested that acclimation to drought stress are related the rapidity, severity, duration of the drought event and the altitude of two contrasting species. 2 Proteomic responses to drought stress in two contrasting poplar species originating from different altitudes The cuttings from a female clone of P. kangdingensis and P. cathayana were used to determine proteomic response to drought stress, respectively. Total proteins of the leaves were extracted by a combination of TCA-acetone and phenol, and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. More than 1,000 protein spots were reproducibly detected on each gel. 58 differentially expressed spots were detected under drought stress in P. cathayana and 22 drought-responsive proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprint. 69 differentially expressed spots were detected under drought stress in P. kangdingensiss and 25 drought-responsive proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprint. The identified proteins are involved in several processes, i.e., signal transduction, protein processing, redox homeostasis, CO2 fixation and energy metabolism. Although the proteins identified in this investigation represent only a very small part of the poplar leaf proteins, some of the novel drought-responsive proteins identified here may be involved in the establishment of homeostasis in response to drought stress in the woody plants. 3 Responses to salt stress in P. cathayana Cuttings from a female clone of P. cathayana were treated by Hoagland’s solution: 0, 50, 100 mM NaCl, respectively. Salinity significantly decreased the relative water content of leaves, the contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, CO2 assimilation rate (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) in both salt stress treatments，which suggested the chloroplast was affected by salt stress. The observed increases of H2O2 and malondialdehyde contents and electrolyte leakage suggested that salinity caused cellular damage, whereas the increases in compatible solutes and in the activities of antioxidant enzymes enhanced the salt tolerance. More than 1,000 protein spots were reproducibly detected on each gel, and 38 salt-responsive proteins were successfully identified by peptide mass fingerprint (PMF). 16 spots (spot 4, 10, 11, 14, 15, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38) absent in the control sample were induced by the salt treatment, and three spots (spot 10，11 and 35) were present only in the severely salt-stressed treatment. The %vol of the differentially expressed proteins generally increased with progressing salt stress, except for the decreased %vol of two proteins (spot 1 and 2) under salt stress and the presence of spot 1 only in the control sample. Some of the novel salt-responsive proteins identified here may be involved in physiological, biochemical response to salt stress in P. cathayana, the other identified proteins play a role in numerous cellular functions, including signal transduction and protein processing. An integrated physiological, biochemical and proteomic approach was used here to systematically investigate salt acclimation in poplar.

青杨(Populus cathayana Rehd)雌雄植株对锈病和干旱胁迫的生理响应及差异蛋白质组比较

雌雄异株植物对环境的不同响应一直是一个有趣而新颖的研究领域，由于雌雄个体不同的繁殖成本及不同的生存策略，使得雌雄植株在生长、存活、生殖格局、空间分布、资源配置等方面已经表现出明显的不同，在生理和分子水平上也表现出明显的性别间差异。干旱是制约农林业发展的环境因子之一，叶锈病是对杨树危害最严重的病害之一，由于长期进化的结果，不同性别的植物必然对生物和非生物胁迫有着不同的响应。本文以雌雄异株的青杨为模式植物，研究雌雄间在生理、生化、亚细胞结构和蛋白质水平上对生物和非生物胁迫的差异响应。主要研究结果如下： （1） 青杨雌雄植株对锈病胁迫的生理生化差异响应 在正常的对照组中，雄株叶片比雌株叶片有着较高的活性氧自由基产生速率、较高的SOD、POD、PPO 和较低的CAT 活性；在锈病感染的早期阶段， SOD、POD、CAT 活性、活性氧自由基产生速率、H2O2 含量、膜脂过氧化程度和细胞膜的电渗率在雌雄株中都增加，而PPO 仅在雄株中增加明显，APX 仅在雌株中增加明显，并且雌株比雄株有着更严重的锈病感染程度、细胞膜的伤害程度和光合系统II 的破坏程度，雌株有更多的净光合速率、气孔导度和叶绿素a 含量的降低，在同工酶变化上，雌雄间对锈病也显示出不同的表达模式。结果显示，雄株比雌株对锈病有着更好的抗性和更有效的ROS 清除系统。 （2） 青杨雌雄植株对干旱胁迫的生理生化及亚细胞结构的差异响应 与较好水分条件相比，干旱下雄株比雌株有着更高的A-Ci 响应参数，如Rubisco 最大羧化速率、光呼吸速率、暗呼吸速率和最大电子传递速率等。干旱显著地增加了膜脂过氧化程度和游离脯氨酸含量，并且雄株比雌株表现出较低的膜脂过氧化程度，较高的总蛋白和游离脯氨酸含量。无论是中度干旱还是极度干旱，除了CAT 外，雄株比雌株表现为较强的抗氧化酶活性，在同工酶谱带上，雌雄间表现出不同的变化模式，并且有些条带是干旱影响应的，而有些条带是性别特异性的，这些性别特异性条带能够作为鉴定性别快速而准确的标记。干旱显著地影响了线粒体、叶绿体和细胞壁的结构，尤其在中度干旱胁迫下，雄株线粒体和叶绿体比雌株呈现出较好的完整性，并且雄株细胞壁要比雌株更厚。因此， 雄株比雌株表现出更强的干旱忍耐性和更高效的抗氧化酶系统。 （3） 青杨雌雄植株对干旱胁迫的蛋白质组差异响应 用双相电泳检测到雌雄间近1000 个蛋白点，通过对比发现对照组雌雄间有54 个差异蛋白点，干旱下雌雄间有108 个差异点，其中102 个被质谱成功鉴定。对照组雌雄间的差异蛋白主要集中在与光合作用相关蛋白、抗氧化酶、胁迫防御蛋白和一些调节基因表达的蛋白；干旱胁迫下雌雄间差异蛋白明显增多，主要有参与信号转导、调节基因表达、蛋白质加工、转录产物的转录翻译后修饰的调节性蛋白蛋白和参与氧化还原平衡、抗胁迫、细胞壁合成、光合作用、能量代谢、氨基酸代谢和脂肪酸代谢等的功能性蛋白。干旱下这些蛋白的表达量在雌雄中有的表现出相同的表达模式，如干旱下雌雄株中Rubisco 激活酶、小热激蛋白等表达都增加，而有的表现出相反的表达模式，如Rubisco 大亚基的降解片段、羰酸酯酶等在雄株中表达量上调而在雌株中却是下调。因此，雌雄间在蛋白质水平上对干旱胁迫响应的差异是显著的，也是复杂的。 It is an interesting and novel topic that dioecious plants possess different responses to environmental stress. As for the different productive cost and different survive strategy, different sexual plants have shown obviously morphological, physiological and molecular differences. Drought is one of the most worldwidely important environmental stress factors that limit plant growth and ecosystem productivity. Rust disease is one of the economically important diseases in many trees. As a result of the long evolutionary process, male and female plants should show different responses to abiotic and biotic stress. In this paper, using a dioeious tree of Populus cathayana Rehd as a model, we study the sexual differences to drought and rust disease stress in physiological, biochemical, sub-cellular and proteomics levels. The main results are follows: (1) The sexual differences in physiology and biochemistry of poplar to rust disease In controls, males showed higher production of superoxide radicals, higher activities of SOD, POD, PPO and lower CAT activity. Under rust disease, the activities of antioxidant, the content of ROS and the degree of cellular member destroyed were increased in both sexes, except for PPO in diseased males and APX in diseased females. However, females showed more seriously disease severity and cellular member and PS II destroyed degrees. Net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and chlorophyll a content were decreased more in diseased females than in males. There were also some different changes inantioxidant isozymes under rust disease. The results suggested that male poplar possessed a more effectively antioxidant system and were more resistant to rut disease than females. (2) The sexual differences in physiology and biochemistry of poplar to drought stress Under drought stress, there were higher rates of RuBP-saturated CO2 assimilation, dark respiration, photorespiratory release of oxygen, the max electron transportrate in CO2-saturated and carboxylation efficiency in males than in females. And males showed lower TBARS and higher proline content. Except for CAT, the activities of other antioxidants were higher in males than in females. Meanwhile, there were obviously differences in isozyme changes between teo sexes. Drought stress obviously destroyed the integralities of chloroplasts and mitochondria and the sexual differences in sub-cellular level were obviously under the moderate water stress. Male cell walls were more sensitive to drought stress than did female. The results suggested males were more resistant to drought stress. (3) The sexual differences in proteomics of poplar to drought stress By 2-D and MS analysis, we identified 102 different protein spots between males and females. Under control conditions, the different proteins were mainly in photosynthesis related proteins, antioxidants, stress response proteins and some gene expression related proteins. Under drought stress, the different proteins were focused on (i) regulated proteins such as signaling conduction, kinase, HSP, gene expressional regulation and protein modification, (ii) functional proteins such as photosynthesis, energy metabolism, antioxidant, redox, stress response, lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Some protein showed the same expressional pattern, while some showed contrary expressional pattern. Thus, the results suggested that sexual differences in proteomics were significant and complex.

Characterization of metal-containing molecular sieves and their catalytic properties in the selective oxidation of cyclohexane

Three types of metal-containing molecular sieves with AFI, AEL and CHA structures (Me = Co, Mn, Cr and V) were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by XRD, XRF, TG, TPR, NH3-TPD and FT-IR. It was revealed that metals were incorporated into the framework of molecular sieves and induced the presence of charge centers. Both cobalt and manganese in the framework of AIPO-5, AlPO-11 and SAPO-34 were not reducible before the structure collapse. The redox behaviours of these catalysts in cyclohexane oxidation at 403 K using O-2 as oxidant were examined. CoAPO-11 exhibited best activity and good selectivities for the monofunctional oxidation products (88.5%). Cyclohexanol was the major product over most catalysts, whereas for Cr-containing molecular sieves, high selectivity of cyclohexanone was observed. Investigation of reaction mechanism based on CoAPO-11 and CrAPO-5 catalysts indicated that the decomposition of cyclohexyl hydroperoxide (CHHP), the intermediate in cyclohexane oxidation, followed the pathway: cyclohexanone <-- CHHP --> cyclohexanol -->cyclohexanone. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Kinetic study on the photo-catalytic degradation of pyridine in TiO2 suspension systems

It has been generally agreed that pyridine can be effectively mineralized in aerated TiO2 slurries using near-UV irradiation. The knowledge on the kinetics of the system possesses both practical and theoretical values. The present study, on the base of Langmuir-Hinshewood mechanism, illustrates a pseudo first-order kinetic model of the degradation with the limiting rate constant of 3.004 mg l(-1) min(-1) and equilibrium adsorption constant 2.763 x 10(-2) l mg(-1), respectively. The degradation efficiency in alkali is a little higher than that in acid with a minimum at about pH = 5, which is explained by the formation of acid-pyridine in acidic surrounding together with the amphoteric nature of the TiO2 surface. The promotion of H2O2 on the photo-degradation ties in its supplying proper amount of (OH)-O-. radicals for the inducement stage before surface redox reactions. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preparation of highly active Pt/C cathode electrocatalysts for DMFCs by an improved aqueous impregnation method

An improved aqueous impregnation method was used to prepare 40 wt% Pt/C electrocatalysts. TEM analysis of the samples showed that the Pt particles impregnated for a short time have a very narrow size distribution in the range of 1-4 nm with an average size of 2.6 nm. UV-vis spectroscopy measurements verified that the redox reaction between PtCl62- and formaldehyde took place with a slow rate at ambient temperature via a two-step reaction path, where PtCl42- serves as an intermediate. The use of the short-time-impregnated 40 wt% Pt/C as cathode electrocatalysts in direct methanol fuel cells yields better performance than that of commercial 40 wt% Pt/C electrocatalyst. Experimental evidence provides clues for the fundamental understanding of elementary steps of the redox reactions, which helps in guiding the design and preparation of highly dispersed Pt catalyst for fuel cells.

Iron and inorganic carbon in Liaodong Gulf sediments of Bohai Sea in China

Iron in seawater is an essential trace metal for phytoplankton that plays an important role in the marine carbon cycle. But most studies focused on oceanic iron fertilization in high nutrient low chlorophyll (HNLC) seawaters. A study of inorganic carbon (IC) forms and its influencing factors was presented in Liaodong Gulf sediments, and especially the influence of iron was discussed in detail. Inorganic carbon in Liaodong Gulf sediments was divided into five forms: NaCl, NH3·H2O, NaOH, NH2OH·HCl and HCl. The concentration of NaCl and NaOH forms were similar and they only occupied the minority of total inorganic carbon (TIC). However, NH3·H2O, NH2OH·HCl and HCl forms were the principal forms of TIC and accounted for more than 80% of TIC. Especially, the percentage of NH3·H2O form was much higher than that in the Changjiang River Estuary and Jiaozhou Bay sediments. All forms of inorganic carbon were influenced by organic carbon,pore water, iron, pH, redox potential(Eh) and sulfur potential(Es) in sediments, moreover, the influences had different characteristics for different IC forms. However, the redox reactions of iron affected mainly active IC forms. Iron had little effect on NH2OH·HCl and HCl forms of IC which were influenced mainly by pH. Iron had a stronger influence on NaCl, NaOH and NH3·H2O forms of IC; the influence of Fe2+ was higher than Fe3+ and its effect on NH3·H2O form was stronger than on NaCl and NaOH forms.

Tetrahydrothiophenium-based ionic liquids for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells

Binary melts of S-ethyltetrahydrothiophenium iodide and dicyanoamide (or tricyanomethide) have been employed for dye-sensitized solar cells with high power conversion efficiencies up to 6.9% under the illumination of AM 1.5G full sunlight. We have further shown that the transport of triiodide in ionic liquids with high iodide concentration is viscosity-dependent in terms of a physical diffusion coupled bond exchange mechanism apart from the simple physical diffusion.

Dye-sensitized solar cells with solvent-free ionic liquid electrolytes

We systematically studied the temperature-dependent physicochemical properties, such as density, conductivity, and fluidity, of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium iodides. In combination with the amphiphilic Z907Na sensitizer, we have found that it is important to use low-viscosity iodide melts with small cations to achieve high-efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells. By employing high-fluidity eutectic-based melts the device efficiencies considerably increased compared to those for cells with the corresponding state of the art ionic liquid electrolytes.

Electrochemical surface plasmon resonance detection of enzymatic reaction in bilayer lipid

In this paper, electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method was first used to detect enzymatic reaction in bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) based on immobilizing horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the BLMs supported by the redox polyaniline (PAn) film. By SPR kinetic curve in situ monitoring the redox transformation of PAn film resulted from the reaction between HRP and PAn, the enzymatic reaction of HRP with H2O2, was successfully analyzed by electrochemical SPR spectroscopy.

Electrochemical characteristics of mediated laccase-catalysis and electrochemical detection of environmental pollutants

Laccase has been immobilized on the carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode surface by adsorption. As-prepared laccase retains good electrocatalytic activity to oxygen reduction by using 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as the mediator. It can be used as a biosensor for the determination of catechol with broad linear range.

Bis(2,2 '-bipyridine)(5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-[1,10] phenanthroline)ruthenium: Synthesis and electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence characterization

In this work, an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) reagent bis(2,2'-bipyridine)(5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-[1,10]phenanthroline)ruthenium complex (Ru-1) was synthesized, and its electrochemical and ECL properties were characterized. The synthesis of Ru-1 was confirmed by IR spectra, element analysis, and H-1 NMR spectra. For further study, its UV-vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra were investigated. Ru-1 also exhibited quasi-reversible Ru-II/Ru-III redox waves in acetonitrile solution. The aqueous ECL behaviors of Ru-1 were also studied in the absence and in the presence of tripropylamine.

Effects of divalent metal ions on electrochemiluminescence sensor with Ru(bPY)(3)(2+) immobilized in Eastman-AQ membrane

Different effects of divalent metal ions on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor with Ru(bPY)(3)(2+) immobilized in Eastman-AQ membrane were investigated. Mg2+,Ca2+ and Fe2+ can elevate the ECL of Ru(bpY)(3)(2+)/proline; while metal ions that underwent redox reactions on the electrode such as Mn2+ and Co2+ presented intensive quenching effects on Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL. Also, the quenching effect of Mn2+ on the ECL sensor with Ru(bpY)(3)(2+) immobilized in Eastman-AQ membrane enhanced to about 30-folds compared with the case that Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) was dissolved in phosphate buffer, and the enhanced quenching effects of Mn2+ were studied.

Direct electrochemistry of horseradish peroxidase immobilized in calcium carbonate microsphere doped with phospholipids

Protein electrochemistry affords a direct method to study the biological electron transfer processes. However, supplying a biocompatible environment to maintain the native state of protein is all-important and challengeable. Here, we chose vaterite, one of the crystalline polymorphs of calcium carbonate, with highly porous nature and large specific surface area, which was doped with phospholipids, as the matrix to immobilize horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The integrity of HRP was kept during the simple immobilization procedure. By virtue of this organic/inorganic complex matrix, the direct electrochemistry of HRP was realized, and the activity of HRP for catalyzing reduction of O-2 and H2O2 was preserved.