YBa 2Cu 3O 7-δ thick films on Ag prepared by the Electrophoretic Deposition technique

YBa 2Cu 3O 7-δ thick films have been deposited onto Ag substrates by the Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) technique. Different microstructures and electrical behaviours were observed depending on the starting powder. Coatings prepared from commercial powder displayed significant porosity and the superconducting transition width was found to be magnetic-field dependent. Films produced from home-made coprecipitated powder are denser but contain some secondary phases. No dependence of the resistive transition as a function of magnetic field (H 20 Oe) was observed in that case. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Spin-cluster effect and lattice-deformation-induced Kondo effect, spin-glass freezing, and strong phonon scattering in La 0.7 Ca 0.3Mn 1-xCr xO 3

Besides the Kondo effect observed in dilute magnetic alloys, the Cr-doped perovskite manganate compounds La0.7 Ca0.3 Mn1-x Crx O3 also exhibit Kondo effect and spin-glass freezing in a certain composition range. An extensive investigation for the La0.7 Ca0.3 Mn1-x Crx O3 (x=0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.0) system on the magnetization and ac susceptibility, the resistivity and magnetoresistance, as well as the thermal conductivity is done at low temperature. The spin-glass behavior has been confirmed for these compounds with x=0.05, 0.1, and 0.3. For temperatures above Tf (the spin-glass freezing temperature) a Curie-Weiss law is obeyed. The paramagnetic Curie temperature θ is dependent on Cr doping. Below Tf there exists a Kondo minimum in the resistivity. Colossal magnetoresistance has been observed in this system with Cr concentration up to x=0.6. We suppose that the substitution of Mn with Cr dilutes Mn ions and changes the long-range ferromagnetic order of La0.7 Ca0.3 MnO3. These behaviors demonstrate that short-range ferromagnetic correlation and fluctuation exist among Mn spins far above Tf. Furthermore, these interactions are a precursor of the cooperative freezing at Tf. The "double bumps" feature in the resistivity-temperature curve is observed in compounds with x=0.05 and 0.1. The phonon scattering is enhanced at low temperatures, where the second peak of double bumps comes out. The results indicate that the spin-cluster effect and lattice deformation induce Kondo effect, spin-glass freezing, and strong phonon scattering in mixed perovskite La0.7 Ca0.3 Mn1-x Crx O3. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.

7种鲟形目鱼类亲缘关系的随机扩增多态性DNA研究

为阐明鲟形目鱼类的系统发育关系,采用随机扩增多态性DNA(RAPD)技术对中华鲟、达氏鲟、史氏鲟、意大利鲟、短吻鲟、长江白鲟和匙吻鲟的基因组进行了研究。13个引物在每个种共产生127个信息座位。按UPGMA聚类法构建这7种鲟形目鱼类的分子系统树。分子系统树首先分成两大支,即长江白鲟和匙吻鲟为一支,其他5种鲟科鱼类为对应的另一支。在5种鲟科鱼类中,我国3种鲟科鱼类中华鲟、达氏鲟和史氏鲟聚在一起,与意大利鲟和短吻鲟分开。我国3种鲟科鱼类又可分成两小支,中华鲟和达氏鲟为一支与史氏鲟相对应。由分子系统树得到的各个

2,3,7,8-TCDD对稀有鮈鲫幼体超微结构影响的观察

国家自然科学基金29607004

Determinations of MC-LR and [Dha(7)] MC-LR Concentrations and Physicochemical Properties by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS) method working in multiple reactions monitoring mode for the determination of trace amounts of microcystin variants (MC-LR and [Dha(7)] MC-LR) in waters was developed. The limit of quantification was 0.05 mu g/L and the limit of detection was 0.015 mu g/L for MC-LR and [Dha(7)] MC-LR, respectively. Recoveries for MCs were in the range of 68%-81%. MC-LR and [Dha(7)] MC-LR were chemically stable with similar physiochemical behavior.

Manufacturing dish shaped rings on radial-axial ring rolling mills

Ring rolling is an established method to produce seamless rings of different cross-sectional geometries. For dish shaped rings, there are applications in different areas such as offshore, aeronautics or the energy sector. At the moment, dish shaped rings are produced by machining of rings with rectangular shaped cross section, by (open die) hollow forging on a conical mandrel or by using shaped ring rolling tools. These ways of manufacturing have the disadvantage of high material waste, additional costs for special tools, long process time and limited or inflexible geometries. Therefore, the manufacturing of dish shaped rings on conventional radial-axial ring rolling mills would expand the range of products for ring producers. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of an alternative to the current manufacturing processes, without requiring additional tooling and material costs. Therefore, the intended formation of dish shaped rings-previously regarded as a form error-is investigated. Based on an analysis of geometrical requirements and metal flow mechanisms, a rolling strategy is presented, causing dishing and ring climbing by a large height reduction of the ring. Using this rolling strategy dish shaped rings with dishing angles up to 18° were achieved. In addition to the experiments finite element method (FEM)-simulations of the process have been successfully conducted, in order to analyze the local strain evolution. However, when the contact between ring and main roll is lost in the process the ring starts to oscillate around the mandrel and neither dishing nor ring climbing is observed. © 2013 German Academic Society for Production Engineering (WGP).

Measurement of residual stresses in ferroelectric Pb(Zr 0.3Ti0.7)O3 thin films by X-ray diffraction

The residual stresses in Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 thin films were measured by the sin2 Ψ method using the normal X-ray incidence. The spacing of different planes (hkl) parallel to the film surface were converted to the spacing of a set of inclined planes (100). The angles between (100) and (hkl) were equivalent to the tilting angles of (100) from the normal of film surface. The residual stresses were extracted from the linear slope of the strain difference between the equivalent inclined direction and normal direction with respect to the sin2 Ψ. The results were in consistency with that derived from the conventional sin2 Ψ method. © 2013 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.

Gene structures and promoter characteristics of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), IRF-2 and IRF-7 from snakehead Channa argus

Three interferon regulatory factor (IRF) genes, CaIRF-1, CaIRF-2 and CaIRF-7, and their promoters of snakehead (Channa argus) were cloned and characterized. The CaIRF-1 gene consists of ten exons, spans 4.3 kb and encodes a putative peptide of 299 aa. The CaIRF-2 gene consists of nine exons, spans 8 kb and encodes a putative peptide of 328 aa. The gene organizations of CaIRF-1 and CaIRF-2 are very similar to that of human IRF-1 and IRF-2 except more compact. Comparison of exon-intron organization of the two genes indicated a common evolutionary structure, notably within the exons encoding the DNA binding domain (DBD) of the two factors. The CaIRF-7 gene spans 4.1 kb and encodes a putative peptide of 437 aa. However, the gene organization of CaIRF-7 consisting of ten exons is different to human IRF-7a gene which has an intron in 5' UTR. Three CaIRFs share homology in N-terminal encompassing the DBD that contains a characteristic repeat of tryptophan residues. The promoters of CaIRF-1 and CaIRF-2 genes contain the conserved sites for NF-kappa B and Sp1. The gamma-IFN activation sites (GAS) were found in the promoters of CaIRF-1 and CaIRF-7. The promoter of CaIRF-7 contains conserved interferon stimulating response element (ISRE) which is characteristic of IFN-induced gene promoter, and suggests that there also exist intracellular amplifier circuit in fish IFN signal pathway. Moreover, the element GAAANN oriented in both directions is repeated in CaIRF promoter regions, which confers to further inducibility by IFN. The constitutive expression of CaIRF genes were found to increase obviously in response to induction by the known IFN-inducer poly I:C. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Gene structure and transcription of IRF-1 and IRF-7 in the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi

The genes of IRF-1 and IRF-7 have been cloned from the mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). The IRF-1 gene has 4919 nucleotides (nt) and contains 10exons and 9introns, with an open reading frame (ORF) of 903 ntencoding301 aa. The IRF-7 gene has 6057 nt and also contains 10exons and 9introns, with an ORF of 1308 nt encoding 436 aa. The IRF-1 and IRF-7 genes have only one copy each in the genome. The transcription of IRF-1 and IRF-7 in different organs was analyzed by real-time PCR, and both molecules were constitutively expressed. The IRF-I and IRF-7 mRNAs were abundant in gill, spleen, kidney and pronephros. The temporal transcriptional changes for IRF-1, IRF-7 and Mx were investigated within 48 h after poly I: C stimulation in liver, gill, spleen and pronephros. An increased transcription was detected for IRF-1 and IRF-7 12 h post-stimulation, being earlier than the transcription of Mx protein; however, IRF-1 and IRF-7 transcription decreased while the Mx protein was stable at 48 h post-stimulation. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effects of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and benzo[a]pyrene on modulating vitellogenin expression in primary culture of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) hepatocytes

Vitellogenin (Vtg) is the precursor of yolk protein. Its expression and secretion are estrogen-regulated and are crucial for oocyte maturation. An in vitro xenoestrogen screening model was established by measuring Vtg induction in cultured primary hepatocytes from crucian carp. Vtg production was detected by biotin-avidin sandwich ELISA method while Vtg and cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) mRNA induction were measured by semi- quantitative PCR-primer dropping technique. Vtg and Vtg mRNA were dose-dependently induced by diethylstilbestrol (DES, 0.2-200 ng/mL) in hepatocytes of crucian carp. Co-treatment of the DES-induced hepatocytes with either 2,3,7,8-TCDD (TCDD, 0.1-4 pg/mL) or benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P, 5-1000 ng/mL) resulted in a reduction of Vtg production and an increment of CYP1A1 mRNA expression both in a dose dependent manner, indicating the anti-estrogenic effects of the compounds. However, at lower tested concentrations, TCDD (0.1, 0.2 pg/mL), B[a]P (5 ng/mL) seemed to have a potentiating effect on Vtg expression and secretion, although by their own these compounds had no observable estrogenic effect on Vtg induction. Tamoxifen (a selective estrogen receptor modulators, 1 nmol/L-1 mumol/L), and P-naphtho-flavone (beta-NF, an aryl hydrocarbon receptor inducing compounds, 2.5-1000 ng/mL) also were employed to study the possible interactions in DES-induced Vtg expression. In co-treatment of the DES-induced hepatocytes with beta-NF or tamoxifen, the decrease in Vtg production did parallel induction of CYP1A1 for beta-NF, but tamoxifen inhibited Vtg induction did not parallel induced CYP1A1 expression in all test concentrations. On the contrary, it was found that in co-treatment of the TCDD-induced hepatocytes with DES, TCDD induced CYP1A1 mRNA production was inhibited by DES also. These results implicated a possible cross talk between estrogen receptor- and aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated pathways in the hepatocytes.

Evaluation of Clonorchis sinensis recombinant 7-kilodalton antigen for serodiagnosis of clonorchiasis

The diagnostic applicability of the Clonorchis sinensis recombinant 7-kDa protein was evaluated. In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblots, the protein showed high sensitivities (81.3 and 71.9%, respectively) and specificities (92.6 and 89.7%, respectively) for sera obtained from various helminthic infections. Some paragonimiasis sera showed cross-reactions. The antigen might be valuable in the serodiagnosis of human clonorchiasis.

Molecular cloning and characterization of crucian carp (Carassius auratus L.) interferon regulatory factor 7

Interferon (IFN) can induce an antiviral state via interferon-regulatory transcription factors (IRFs), which bind to and control genes directed by the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE). Here we describe a fish IRF, termed CaIRF7, cloned from a subtractive cDNA library which is constructed with mRNAs obtained from crucian carp (Carassius auratus L.) blastulae embryonic (CAB) cells infected by UV-inactivated GCHV and mock-infected cells. CaIRF7 cDNA was found to be 1816 bp in length, with a 42 bp 5' UTR and a 508 bp 3' UTR. The open reading frame translates into 421 amino acids in which a DNA-binding domain (DBD) containing the repeated tryptophan motif and IRFs association domain have been identified. Like chicken GgIRF3, CaIRF7 was most similar to mammalian IRF7 with 27 to 30% identity overall and some 37% identity in their DBDs. A single transcript of 1.9 kb was detected in virally induced CAB cells by virtual Northern blotting. RT-PCR analysis revealed a wide tissue distribution of CaIRF7 constitutive expression, with detectable transcript in non-infected CAB cells and various tissues of healthy crucian carp. In addition, CaIRF7 expression was differentially increased by stimulation of the CAB cells with active GCHV, UV-inactivated GCHV or CAB IFN, indicating that the activation of CaIRF7 was directly regulated by IFN. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Long-term toxic impact of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on the reproduction, sexual differentiation, and development of different life stages of Gobiocypris rarus and Daphnia magna

The sexual ratio of Gobiocypris rarus exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 17 beta -estradiol from embryo to sexually mature revealed feminization and overdevelopment of connective tissue in male fish gonad in 2-30 pg/L TCDD concentration range. Daphnia magna was not sensitive to the high dose of TCDD (0.1-1000 ng/ml), but the reproduction of D. magna treated with TCDD decreased after the 8th day. 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities in newly fertilized eggs of G. rarus exposed to TCDD dosage groups (1000-100,000 pg/L) were significantly induced and increased with TCDD concentrations at the early life stage, while no difference was found between low TCDD dosage groups (<100 pg/L), but a good relationship between the EROD activity and the TCDD concentration was observed during a long-term developmental stage. There was a pericardial edema formed in a 2-week yolk-sac at the concentration of 1000 pg/L TCDD. But in the exposure group (2 pg/L TCDD for 120 days), the cell nuclei of hepatocytes was far from the center and packed toward the cell membrane; the cristae of most mitochondria in the cell dropped and collapsed; the rough endoplasmic reticulum broke into fragments; and numerous lipid droplets formed in the cell. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

InAs0.3Sb0.7 films grown on (100) GaSb substrates with a buffer layer by liquid-phase epitaxy

The growth of InAsxSb1-x films on (100) GaSb substrates by liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE) has been investigated and epitaxial InAs0.3Sb0.7 films with InAs0.9Sb0.09 buffer layers have been successfully obtained. The low X-ray rocking curve FHWM values of InAs0.3Sb0.7 layer shows the high quality of crystal-orientation structure. Hall measurements show that the highest electron mobility in the samples obtained is 2.9 x 10(4) cm(2) V-1 s(-1) and the carrier density is 2.78 x 10(16)cm(-3) at room temperature (RT). The In As0.3Sb0.7 films grown on (10 0) GaSb substrates exhibit excellent optical performance with a cut-off wavelength of 12 mu m. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Low-threshold high-temperature operation of lambda similar to 7.4 mu m quantum cascade lasers

We report low-threshold high-temperature operation of 7.4 mu m strain-compensated InGaAs/InAlAs quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). For an uncoated 22-mu m-wide and 2-mm-long laser, the low-threshold current densities, i.e. 0.33 kA/cm(2) at 81 K in pulsed mode and 0.64 kA/cm(2) at 84 K in cw mode, are realized. High-temperature operation of uncoated devices, with a high value of 223 K, is achieved in cw mode.