WANNIER-STARK LOCALIZATION IN INGAAS/GAAS SUPERLATTICES AND ITS APPLICATION TO ELECTROOPTICAL DEVICES

We have observed Wannier-Stark localization in strained In0.2Ga0.8As/GaAs superlattices by low- and room-temperature photocurrent spectra measurements. The experimental results are well in agreement with the theoretical predictions. A large field-induced modulation response of the absorption edge of the superlattices at room temperature suggests the possibilities of the application to the design of various kinds of electro-optical devices operating at a wavelength of 0.98 mum, based on Wannier-Stark localization effects.

WANNIER LOCALIZATION IN GAAS/GAALAS SUPERLATTICES UNDER ELECTRIC-FIELD

We have studied the Wannier-Stark effect in GaAs/GaAlAs short-period superlattices under applied electric field perpendicular to the layers by room- and low-temperature photocurrent measurements. The changes in the transition intensities with biasing are well fitted to a theoretical calculation based on the finite Kronig-Penney model on which the potential of an applied electric field is superposed. With increasing electric field, the 0h peak grows to a maximum while the -1h and +1h peaks monotonousely decrease. By a comparison of the spectra measured at different temperatures, the two peaks in the room temperature photocurrent spectra at relatively low electric field (1.0 X 10(4) V/cm) are identified to be caused by the Wannier localization effect instead of saddle-point excitons.

Exciton Localization and Delocalization in GaNAs/GaAs Quantum Wells

We have studied exciton localization and delocalization effect in GaNAs/GaAs quantum wells (QWs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) using photoluminescence (PL) and timeresolved PL measurements. Studied results suggest that, at low temperature and under a conventional CW excitation, measured PL spectra were dominated by localized exciton (LE) emission caused by potential fluctuations in GaNAs layer. However, under short pulse laser excitation, it is different. An extra high-energy PL peak comes out from GaNAs/GaAs QWs and dominates the PL spectra under high excitation and/or at high temperature. By investigation, we have attributed the new PL peak to the recombination of delocalized excitons in QWs. This recombination process competes with the localized exciton emission, which, we believe, constitutes the "S-shaped" temperature-dependent emission shift often reported in ternary nitrides of InGaN and AlGaN in the literature.

Study on the localization of the electric dipole sources

The research of dipole source localization has great significance in both clinical research and applications. For example, the EEG recording from the scalp is widely used for the localization of sources of electrical activity in the brain. This paper presents a closed formula that describes the electric field of dipoles at arbitrary position, which is a linear transformer called the transfer matrix. The expression of transfer matrix and its many useful characteristics are given, which can be used for the analysis of the electrical fields of dipoles. This paper also presents the closed formula for determining the location and magnitude of single dipole or multi-dipoles according to its electrical field distribution. A calculation result for a single dipole shows that the dipole will be located at the midpoint of a line segment if there are equivalent fields at its two ends.

Functional gold nanoparticle-peptide complexes as cell-targeting agents

In this paper, we report a novel approach using peptide CALNN and its derivative CALNNGGRRRRRRRR (CALNNR(8)) to functionalize gold nanoparticles for intracellular component targeting. The translocation is effected by the nanoparticle diameter and CALNNR8 surface coverage. The intracellular distributions of the complexes are change from the cellular nucleus to the endoplasmic reticulum by increasing the density of CALNNR8 at a constant nanoparticle diameter. Additionally, increasing the nanoparticle diameter at a constant density of CALNNR8 leads to less cellular internalization.

Localization of Na+-K+ ATPases in Quasi-Native Cell Membranes

Na+-K+ ATPases have been observed and located by in situ AFM and single molecule recognition technique, topography and recognition imaging (TREC) that is a unique technique to specifically identify single protein in complex during AFM imaging. Na+-K+ ATPases were well distributed in the inner leaflet of cell membranes with about 10% aggregations in total recognized proteins. The height of Na+-K+ ATPases measured by AFM is in the range of 12-14 nm, which is very consistent with the cryoelectron microscopy result. The unbinding force between Na+-K+ ATPases in the membrane and anti-ATPases on the AFM tip is about 80 pN with the apparent loading rate at 40 nN/s.

One-Step Synthesis of Folic Acid Protected Gold Nanoparticles and Their Receptor-Mediated Intracellular Uptake

We report here a facile method to obtain folic acid (FA)-protected gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by heating an aqueous solution of HAuCl4/FA in which FA acts as both the reducing and stabilizing agent. The successful formation of FA-protected Au NPs is demonstrated by UV/Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). ne intracellular uptake of these nanoparticles is facilitated by HeLa cells overexpressing the folate reporter, which itself is significantly inhibited by free FA in a competitive assay as quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). This simple one-step approach affords a new perspective for creating functional nanomaterials, and the resulting biocompatible, functional Au NPs may find some prospective applications in various biomedical fields.

Chromosomal localization and molecular marker development of the lipopolysaccharide and beta-1,3-glucan binding protein gene in the Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri (Jones et Preston) (Pectinoida, Pectinidae)

Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri(Jones et Preston) is an economically important species in China. Understanding its immune system would be of great help in controlling diseases. In the present study, an important immunity-related gene, the Lipopolysaccharide and Beta-1,3-glucan Binding Protein (LGBP) gene, was located on C. farreri chromosomes by mapping several lgbp-containing BAC clones through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Through the localization of various BAC clones, it was shown that only one locus of this gene existed in the genome of C. farreri, and that this was located on the long arm of a pair of homologous chromosomes. Molecular markers, consisting of eight single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) markers and one insertion-deletion (indel), were developed from the LGBP gene. Indel marker testing in an F1 family revealed slightly distorted segregation (p = 0.0472). These markers can be used to map the LGBP gene to the linkage map and assign the linkage group to the corresponding chromosome. Segregation distortion of the indel marker indicated genes with deleterious alleles might exist in the surrounding region of the LGBP gene.

A transglutaminase from Chinese shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis), full-length cDNA cloning, tissue localization and expression profile after challenge

Transglutaminase can catalyze the cross-linking reaction between soluble clotting protein molecules from the plasma for prevention of excess blood loss from a wound and obstructing micro-organisms from invading the wound in crustaceans. A novel transglutaminase (FcTG) gene was cloned from hemocytes of Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis by 3' and 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The full-length cDNA consists of 2972 bp, encoding 757 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 84.96 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 5.61. FcTG contains a typical transglutaminase-like homologue (TGc domain: E-value = 1.94e-38). Three catalytic sites (Cys-324, His-391 and Asp-414) are present in this domain. The deduced amino acid sequence of FcTG showed high identity with black tiger shrimp TG, kuruma shrimp TG and crayfish TG. Transcripts of FcTG mRNA were mainly detected in gill, lymphoid organ and hemocytes by RT-PCR. RNA in situ hybridization further confirmed that FcTG was constitutively expressed in hemocytes both in the circulatory system and lymphoid organ. The variation of mRNA transcription level in hemocytes and lymphoid organ following injection of killed bacteria or infection with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was quantified by RT-PCR. The up-regulated expression of FcTG in shrimp lymphoid organ following injection of bacteria indicates that it is inducible and might be associated with bacterial challenge. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.