Effects of chloride substitution on the chemical and physical properties and the crystallization behavior in heavy metal fluoride glasses

Effect of the substitutions of chloride for fluoride on the chemical and physical properties and the crystallization behavior in heavy metal fluoride glasses has been investigated. The characteristic temperature of the glass does not changed obviously when the fluoride was taken place by chloride. Compared with samples of being free of ErF3, the doping samples are more inclined to be surface crystallization. Optical basicity in the glass system increases with increasing the negative charge provided by the chloride atoms and the absorption peak red shifted is observed in absorption spectra. XRD measurements show that not a single crystalline phase appears in the heated glass samples, which indicate the substitutions of chloride for fluoride with a variety of crystalline precipitation trends. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Sleeping sites, sleeping trees, and sleep-related behaviors of black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) at Mt. Wuliang, central Yunnan, China

Data on sleep-related behaviors were collected for a group of central Yunnan black crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis) at Mt. Wuliang, Yunnan, China from March 2005 to April 2006. Members of the group usually formed four sleeping units (adult male and juvenile, adult female with one semi-dependent black infant, adult female with one dependent yellow infant, and subadult male) spread over different sleeping trees. Individuals or units preferred specific areas to sleep; all sleeping sites were situated in primary forest, mostly (77%) between 2,200 and 2,400 m in elevation. They tended to sleep in the tallest and thickest trees with large crowns on steep slopes and near important food patches. Factors influencing sleeping site selection were (1) tree characteristics, (2) accessibility, and (3) easy escape. Few sleeping trees were used repeatedly by the same or other members of the group. The gibbons entered the sleeping trees on average 128 min before sunset and left the sleeping trees on average 33 min after sunrise. The lag between the first and last individual entering the trees was on average 17.8 min. We suggest that sleep-related behaviors are primarily adaptations to minimize the risk of being detected by predators. Sleeping trees may be chosen to make approach and attack difficult for the predator, and to provide an easy escape route in the dark. In response to cold temperatures in a higher habitat, gibbons usually sit and huddle together during the night, and in the cold season they tend to sleep on ferns and/or orchids.

Bibliometric analysis of nicotine research in China during the period of 1991 to 2007

With the widespread exposure of people to nicotine through recreational use of tobacco products, research into nicotine has attracted increasing attention. Tobacco smoking is by far the most important cause of lung cancer. As the world's largest producer and consumer of tobacco products, China bears a large proportion of the global burden of smoking-related disease; therefore, information on nicotine publications should be collected to formulate future research policy. In the present study, we investigated nicotine-related research articles published by Chinese authors that were indexed in the Science Citation Index (SCI) from 1991 to 2007. An indicator "citations per publication" (CPP) was used in the study to evaluate the impact of journals, articles, and institutes. The quantity of publications has increased at a quicker pace than the worldwide trend. Article visibility, measured as the frequency of being cited, also increased during the period. However, the overall quality of articles, based on the impact factor of journals publishing those articles, dropped behind the worldwide average level. There has been an increase in international collaboration, mainly with researchers in the USA. The average CPP of international co-authorship articles was higher than that of single country publications. Besides the USA, nicotine research in China will benefit from more collaboration with Taiwan, England, and Germany. Some 110 of 264 articles were published by a single institute, and the top six institutes were compared from various angles. Seventy-two subject categories were covered, and trends (in terms of both quantity and quality) of nicotine research in China were compared with worldwide trends. In addition, analysis of keywords in both nicotine and lung cancer research fields was applied to indicate research interests. Mutual cooperation among multiple disciplines needs further strengthening.

Biological evaluation of running waters in Korea, with special reference to bioassessment using the PFU system

A total of six stations in the Han River system were selected for establishing polyurethane foam units (PFUs) to collect protozoans, including phytomastigophorans, zoomastigophorans, amoebas and ciliates, in July 1993. In the bioassessment of microbial communities using the PFUs, the number of species decreased as pollution intensity increased. The diversity index values calculated at the main stations generally agreed with the pollution status of the stations. Anyang-Chon (Chon means stream) showed the lowest diversity value (1.89), and all stations, except Masok and Anyang-Chon, showed diversity index values ranging from 3.15 to 3.93. The highest heterotrophic index (HI) value was detected in Anyang-Chon followed by Masok-Chon. The number of species at the main stations reached a maximum on day 11 of being exposed to PFUs. The results of S-eq, G and T-90% all suggest that bioassessments using the PFU system were well matched with pollution status of the water. All microbial variables were significantly correlated with comprehensive chemical pollution indices, P-a and P-b, with correlation coefficients ranging from r=0.87 to r=0.96.

Effects of In surfactant on the crystalline and photoluminescence properties of GaN nanowiires

GaN nanowires have been grown with and without In as an additional source. The effects of In surfactant on the crystal quality and photoluminescence property of GaN nanowires are reported for the first time. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements are employed to analyse the products. The results show that introducing a certain amount of In surfactant during the growth process can improve the crystal quality of the GaN nanowires, and enhance the photolurainescence of them. In addition, the as-prepared GaN nanowires have the advantage of being easy to be separated, which will benefit the subsequent nanodevice fabrication.

Detection of efficient carrier capture in ultrathin InAs/GaAs layers using a degenerate pump-probe technique

By analysing the carrier dynamics based on the rate equations and the change of the refractive index due to the efficient carrier capture, we have calculated the carrier capture process in the InAs/GaAs system detected by a simple degenerate pump-probe technique. The calculated results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental findings. Our results indicate that this simple technique, with the clear advantage of being easy to carry out, can be very useful in studying the carrier dynamics for some specific structures such as InAs ultrathin layers embedded in a GaAs matrix described here.

Reflectance-difference spectroscopy study of the Fermi-level position of low-temperature-grown GaAs

The results of a reflectance-difference spectroscopy study of GaAs grown on (100) GaAs substrates by low-temperature molecular-beam epitaxy (LT-GaAs) are presented. In-plane optical anisotropy resonances which come from the linear electro-optic effect produced by the surface electric field are observed. The RDS line shape of the resonances clearly shows that the depletion region of LT-GaAs is indeed extremely narrow (much less than 200 Angstrom). The surface potential is obtained from the RDS resonance amplitude without the knowledge of space-charge density. The change of the surface potential with post-growth annealing temperatures reflects a complicated movement of the Fermi level in LT-GaAs. The Fermi level still moves for samples annealed at above 600 degrees C, instead of being pinned to the As precipitates. This behavior can be explained by the dynamic properties of defects in the annealing process.

RESEARCH ON ELECTRICAL-PROPERTIES OF AMPHIPHILIC LIPID-MEMBRANES BY MEANS OF INTERDIGITAL ELECTRODES

Lipids are the main component of all cell membranes and also important mimetic materials. Moreover, it was found recently that they can be used as sensitive membranes for olfactory and taste sensors. Hence the understanding of lipid resistance is important both in sensors and in life sciences. Thirteen lipids were examined by means of interdigital electrodes with narrow gaps of 20-50 mu m, made by IC technology. The membrane lateral resistance in air, resisting electrical voltage, the influence of impurities on resistance and the resistance change in acetic acid vapour are presented for the first time. It is shown that the electrical resistivity for self-assembling lipids depends on their duration of being in an electric field and the content of the conductive impurities. The interdigital electrode is a transducer as well as a powerful tool for researching biomaterials and mimicking materials. The conducting mechanism of lipids is discussed. This method is also suitable for some polymer membranes.

Facile synthesis of ginsenoside Ro

Two concise synthetic routes, being different in the glycosylation sequence, toward ginsenoside Ro (1) are developed. These syntheses feature the elaboration of the glucuronide residue at a later stage via the TEMPO-mediated selective oxidation and the installation of AZMB as a benzoylic neighboring participating group capable of being selectively removed afterward.

Synthesis and characterization of electroactive and biodegradable ABA block copolymer of polylactide and aniline pentamer

A triblock copolymer PLA-b-AP-b-PLA (PAP) of polylactide (PLA) and aniline pentamer (AP) with the unique properties of being both electroactive and biodegradable is synthesized by coupling an electroactive carboxyl-capped AP with two biodegradable bihydroxyl-capped PLAs via a condensation reaction. Three different molecule weight PAP copolymers are prepared. The PAP copolymers exhibit excellent electroactivity similar to the AP and polyaniline, which may stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation. The electrical conductivity of the PAP2 copolymer film (similar to 5 x 10(-6) S/cm) is in the semiconducting region. Transmission electron microscopic results suggest that there is microphase separation of the two block segments in the copolymer, which might contribute to the observed conductivity. The biodegradation and biocompatibility experiments in vitro prove the copolymer is biodegradable and biocompatible. Moreover, these new block copolymer shows good solubility in common organic solvents, leading to the system with excellent processibility. These biodegradable PAP copolymers with electroactive function thus possess the properties that would be potentially used as scaffold materials for neuronal or cardiovascular tissue engineering.

Synthesis, electrochemistry, fluorescence and ECL of Ru (phen)(2) (dcbpy) (PF6)(2)

A new ECL-active species, Ru (phen)(2) (dcbpy) (PF6)(2), has been designed and synthesized. Its structure was confirmed by means of IR, ESI-MS and 2D NMR. Also, its properties of electrochemistry, fluorescence and ECL are reported, which have suggested a good hope of being used in electrochemiluminescent immunoassay and nucleic acid hybridization.

Meat characteristics of Qinghai yak and semi-wild yak

Six domestic yaks aged 6 years, comprising three culling male and three culling female yaks, from the Qinghai Lake area and three male semi-wild yaks aged 6 months from Datong Yak Farm were used to detect the levels of amino acids, mineral elements, residual heavy metals and pesticides in yak meat. The results showed that there was little difference in amino acid levels for different types of yak by age and sex. The meat of the adult male yak was 7.35 mg/kg higher in calcium (P < 0.05) and 124 mg/kg higher in phosphorus (P < 0.01) than that of the adult female yak. There was an obvious difference in zinc content, and there was also a significant difference for copper and sulfur between adult male and female yaks (P < 0.01). Iron was 8.85 mg/kg higher in semi-wild yaks than in domestic yaks, but there were no differences for other minerals. The levels of residual heavy metals and residual pesticides were well within those allowed by the National Standard of China. Furthermore, the data showed that introducing wild yak's blood did not result in a quality change in the domestic yak meat. Yak meat from Qinghai Plateau has the characteristics of being non-polluted and rich in amino acids in comparison with local yellow cattle meat.