Influence of dioxin and metal-contaminated sediment on phase I and II biotransformation enzymes in silver crucian carp

Several biochemical responses were measured in silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) after exposure to sediments obtained from contaminated Ya-Er Lake, No, 1 pond, and an unpolluted reference site, Honglian Lake. After 1 week of exposure, a significant induction of the phase I biotransformation enzyme (ethoxylresorufin-o-deethylase, EROD) was found (83-fold of control), whereas the phase II biotransformation enzyme (glutathione S-transferase, GST) exhibited a slight, but significant induction (1,4-fold of control) after 4 weeks of exposure. The level of cellular glutathione in the liver was also slightly elevated after 4 weeks of exposure. The delayed response of GST to the contaminants indicates that the phase I and phase II biotransformation enzymes are regulated differently in fish. The results suggest that EROD is a sensitive bioindicator to assess the toxicity of dioxin-contamined sediment in the laboratory, (C) 1998 Academic Press.

Effects of silver carp density on zooplankton and water quality: Implications for eutrophic lakes in China

We examined the responses of zooplankton community, water transparency, chlorophyll a and nutrients to manipulation of density of silver carp (Hypophthyalmichthys molitrix) in an one-way factorial experiment using enclosures placed in Donghu (East Lake, 30 degrees 33' N, 114 degrees 23' E), located in Wuhan, P. R. China. Enclosures (18.75 m(3)) were treated with four silver carp densities, 0, 81, 225, 485 g/m(2). Total zooplankton abundance (excluding nauplii and rotifers except for Asplanchna sp.) and the mean size of dominant cladoceran species were significantly greater in enclosures with 0 and 81 fish densities than those in enclosures with 225 and 485 fish densities. Water transparency also improved significantly when silver carp densities were 0 or 81 g/m(2). We did not find significant effects of silver carp density on chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, or total nitrogen concentrations. We conclude that by reducing planktivorous fish to below the current density (190 g/m(2)), the zooplankton community can be shifted from the dominance of small-bodied Moina sp. to dominance of large-bodied Daphnia sp. Further, the water clarity can be increased.

Planar refractive microlens arrays in indium phosphide and quartz substrates

Large-area concave refractive microlens arrays, or concave template structures, and then the non-refractive-index-gradient type of planar refractive microlens arrays in InP and quartz substrates, are fabricated utilizing the method consisting of conventional UV photolithography, thermal shaping of concave photoresist microlenses, etching with an argon ion beam of large diameter, and filling or growing optical medium structures onto the curved surfaces of preshaped concave templates. Several key conditions for fabricating concave and also planar microlenses are discussed in detail. The concave structures obtained are characterized by scanning electron microscope and surface profile measurements. The far-field optical characteristics of quartz/ZrO2 planar refractive microlens arrays have been acquired experimentally. (c) 2008 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Organic light emitting diodes using magnesium doped organic acceptor as electron injection layer and silver as cathode

Organic light emitting diodes employing magnesium doped electron acceptor 3, 4, 9, 10 perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (Mg: PTCDA) as electron injection layer and silver as cathode were demonstrated. As compared to Mg: Ag cathode, the combination of the Mg: PTCDA layer and silver provided enhanced electron injection into tris (8-quinolinolato) aluminium. The device with 1: 2 Mg: PTCDA and Ag showed an increase of about 12% in the maximum current efficiency, mainly due to the improved hole-electron balance, and an increase of about 28% in the maximum power efficiency, as compared to the control device using Mg: Ag cathode. The properties of Mg: PTCDA composites were studied as well.

Development of solar-blind AlGaN 128x128 ultraviolet focal plane arrays

This paper reports the development of solar-blind aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) 128x128 UV Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs). The back-illuminated hybrid FPA architecture consists of an 128x128 back-illuminated AlGaN PIN detector array that is bump-mounted to a matching 128x128 silicon CMOS readout integrated circuit (ROIC) chip. The 128x128 p-i-n photodiode arrays with cuton and cutoff wavelengths of 233 and 258 nm, with a sharp reduction in response to UVB (280-320 nm) light. Several examples of solar-blind images are provided. This solar-blind band FPA has much better application prospect.

Composition deviation of arrays of FePt nanoparticles starting from poly(styrene)-poly(4-vinylpyridine) micelles

Ordered arrays of FePt nanoparticles were prepared using a diblock polymer micellar method combined with plasma treatment. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy analyses reveal that the molar ratios of Fe to Pt in metal-salt-loaded micelles deviate from those when metal precursors are added, and that the plasma treatment processes have little influence upon the compositions of the resulting FePt nanoparticles. The results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy show that the maximum loadings of FeCl3 and H2PtCl6 inside poly( styrene)-poly(4-vinylpyridine) micelles are different. The composition deviation of FePt nanoparticles is attributed to the fact that one FeCl3 molecule coordinates with a single 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) unit, while two neighboring and uncomplexed 4VP units are required for one H2PtCl6 molecule. Additionally, we demonstrate that the center-to-center distances of the neighboring FePt nanoparticles can also be tuned by varying the drawing velocity.

Quasi-hexagonal ordered arrays of FePt nanoparticles prepared by a micellar method

Hexagonally ordered arrays of magnetic FePt nanoparticles on Si substrates are prepared by a self assembly of diblock copolymer PS-b-P2VP in toluene, a dip coating process and finally plasma treatment. The as-treated FePt nanoparticles are covered by an oxide layer that can be removed by a 40 s Ar+ sputtering. The effects of the sequence of adding salts on the composition distribution are revealed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. No particle agglomeration is observed after 600 degrees C annealing for the present ordered array of FePt nanoparticles, which exhibits advantages in patterning FePt nanoparticles by a micellar method. Moreover, magnetic properties of the annealed FePt nanoparticles at room temperature are investigated by a vibrating sample magnetometer.

Effect of silver growth temperature on the contacts between Ag and ZnO thin films

Highly c-axis oriented ZnO thin films were deposited on Si substrates by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. At different growth temperatures, 200 nm silver films as the contact metal were deposited on the ZnO thin films. The growth temperatures have great influence on the crystal quality of Ag films. Current-voltage characteristics were measured at room temperature. The Schottky contacts between Ag and ZnO thin films were successfully obtained when silver electrodes were deposited at 150A degrees C and 200A degrees C. Ohmic contacts were formed while the growth temperatures were lower than 150A degrees C or higher than 200A degrees C. After analysis, the forming of Ag/ZnO Schottky contacts was shown to be dependent on the appearance of the p-type inversion layer at the interface between Ag and ZnO layers.

Optical properties of highly ordered AlN nanowire arrays grown on sapphire substrate

Highly ordered AlN nanowire arrays were synthesized via a simple physical vapor deposition method on sapphire substrate. The nanowires have an extremely sharp tip < 10 nm, with the average length around 3 mu m. Raman spectroscopy analysis on the AlN nanowire arrays revealed that the lifetime of the phonons is shorter than that in bulk AlN. The transmission spectra of the AlN nanowires showed a blueshift similar to 0.27 eV at the absorption edge with that of the bulk AlN, which is closely related to the small size of the nanowires. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Structural, photoluminescence, and field emission properties of vertically well-aligned ZnO nanorod arrays

The self-assembled growth of vertically well-aligned ZnO nanorod arrays with uniform length and diameter on Si substrate has been demonstrated via thermal evaporation and vapor-phase transport. The structural, photoluminescence (PL), and field emission properties of the as-prepared nanorod arrays were investigated. The PL spectrum at 10 K shows a strong and sharp near-band gap emission (NBE) peak ( full width at half-maximum (FWHM) = 4.7 meV) and a weak neglectable deep-level emission (DL) peak (I-NBE/I-DL= 220), which implies its good crystallinity and high optical quality. The room-temperature NBE peak was deduced to the composition of free exciton and its first-order replicas emissions by temperature-dependent PL spectra. The field emission measurements indicate that, with a vacuum gap of 400 Am, the turn-on field and threshold field is as low as 2.3 and 4.2 V/mu m. The field enhancement factor beta and vacuum gap d follows a universal equation.