Smooth thin film C/diamond membranes with controllable optical band gaps

Mixed phase carbon-diamond films which consist of small grain diamond in an a:C matrix were deposited on polished Si using a radio frequency CH4 Ar plasma CVD deposition process. Ellipsometry, surface profilometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectrophotometry were used to analyse these films. Film thicknesses were typically 50-100 nm with a surface roughness of ± 30 A ̊ over centimetre length scans. SEM analysis showed the films were smooth and pinhole free. The Si substrate was etched using backside masking and a directional etch to give taut carbon-diamond membranes on a Si grid. Spectrophotometry was used to analyse the optical properties of these membranes. Band gap control was achieved by varying the dc bias of the deposition process. Band gaps of 1.2 eV to 4.0 eV were achieved in these membranes. A technique for controlling the compressive stress in the films, which can range from 0.02 to 7.5 GPa has been employed. This has allowed the fabrication of thin, low stress, high band gap membranes that are extremely tough and chemically inert. Such carbon-diamond membranes seem promising for applications as windows in analytical instruments. © 1992.

Analysis and simulation of combustion oscillations in a laboratory spray combustor

The unstable combustion that can occur in combustion chambers is a major problem for aeroengines and ground-based industrial gas turbines. Nowadays, CFD provides a flexible, low cost tool to supplement direct measurement. This paper presents simulations of combustion oscillations in a liquid-fuelled experimental rig at the University of Cambridge. Linear acoustic theory was used to describe the acoustic waves propagating upstream and downstream of the combustion zone and to develop inlet and outlet boundary conditions just upstream and downstream of the combustion region enabling the CFD calculation to be efficiently concentrated on the combustion zone. A combustion oscillation was found to occur with its predicted frequency in good agreement with experimental measurements. More details about the unstable combustion can be obtained from the simulation results. The approach developed here is expected to provide a powerful tool for the design and operation of stable combustion systems. Copyright © 2009 by ASME.

谷子体细胞无性系变异和抗除草剂基因转化研究

谷子是我国北方具有区域重要性的禾谷类粮食作物。谷子的体细胞无性系变异和外源基因转化相对其它作物研究较少。本研究利用谷子生产的育种中应用的多个优良品种为材料，分析了谷子体细无性系变异发生的影响因素、变异性和频率、DNA分子水平变异和育种应用等问题;采用基因枪法和花粉管通道法，进行了谷子抗除草剂基因转化研究。 主要结果包括： 1. 通过几种外植体的愈伤组织诱导分析,找到了小花分化期前后的谷子幼穗是愈伤组织诱导的最好外植体.提出谷子愈伤组织可按生长状态和结构划分为质密型、松软型和松散型三种基本类型的观点。前两种为胚性愈伤组织并可相互转换，松软型愈伤组织生长状态稳定，可塑性好，是继代培养和因基化的首选类型。供试品种中豫谷1号、高39、郑407和矮宁黄为易培养品种，矮88、豫谷2号、系238、冀14号、C445和青丰谷为相对难培养品种。这些结果为谷子组织培养和生物技术操作提供了基础资料。 2. 首次对多个谷子品种较大群体的无性系变异进行了分析。结果表明，以R_2株系为单位的谷子体细胞无性系表现型变异频率平均为13.0%，不同基因型的变幅为4.3～32.9%;变异涉及株高、抽穗期、穗粒重、出谷率、叶鞘色、育性、抗病性、米色、穗型等多个性状，多数变异为株高和抽穗期等数量性状，少数为矮秆等质量性状：变异的性状多数能在R_3稳定并遗传给后代。从谷子体细胞无性系变异中选出了一批农艺性状得到改良的新品系，其中系103已进入省区域试验，并提供给多家育种单位作为亲本应用。 3. 将RAPD分析技术引入谷子体细胞无性系变异研究。豫谷2号无性系的RAPD多态性变化既有亲本带的缺失，也有新带的产生。用RAPD多态性变化的SMC值度量无性系同亲本相比DNA水平变异的大小，表现型发生变异的无性系,其SMC值分别为0.905～1.0;表现型未发生变异的无性系，RAPD多态性也可能发生变化，其SMC值分布为0.953～1.0。 4. 通过Gus基因瞬时表达单位数的比较，优化了JQ－700基因枪转化谷子松型愈伤组织的操作参数：质粒DNA用量3μg/mg钨粉，CaCl_2农度1.5M，亚精胺浓度40mM，样品室高度7cm，粗弹头为微弹载体，每皿愈伤组织用量1～2g，每次轰击钨粉用量50μg，轰击前4小时和轰击后16～20小时，用含蔗糖150g/l的高渗培养基处理。利用该技术体系，以bar基因为目的基因转化豫谷2号愈伤组织。经选择培养和植株再生，首次获得了抗0.1% bialaphos的正常可育植株，经PCR和Southern blot分析，bar基因已整合到转化体的基因组中，为创造抗除草剂的谷子新种质提供了材料和技术基础。 5. 研究了花粉管通道法转化和花粉介导的基因枪转化谷子的可行性。花粉管通道法转化后代中，获得了抗0.1% bialaphos的抗性植株，经X-gluc组织化学检测，抗性植株叶片的Gus反应为阳性。初步说明该植株可能为转化体，在谷子上为花粉管通道法转化的可行性提供了佐证。花粉介导的基因枪转化未获得转化体。 本文对体细胞无性系变异形成的原因和应用、无性系变异的分子生物学分析、以及谷子的外源基因转化方法等问题进行了讨论。

Status of the coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico: Florida, Flower Garden Banks, Puerto Rico, Navassa and USVI

This chapter covers coral reef areas under the jurisdiction of the USA in the Wider Caribbean: Florida; Flower Garden Banks; Puerto Rico; U.S. Virgin Islands; and Navassa. The following information is condensed from six chapters of The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008. Access to the full text of this comprehensive report is available at: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/stateofthereefs.