Mechanical and fracture properties of cement-based bi-materials after thermal cycling

This study investigates the effect of thermal cycles on the fracture properties of the cement-based bi-materials. Sixty eight cubes were exposed to a varied number of 24-hour thermal cycles ranging from 0 to 90 and subsequently were tested in a wedge splitting configuration. The mechanical and fracture properties of normal strength and high strength concretes are substantially improved after 30 thermal cycles, but less so after 90 thermal cycles both in isolation and when bonded to an ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced cement-based composite. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hexabromocyclododecane-induced developmental toxicity and apoptosis in zebrafish embryos

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is widely used as a brominated flame retardant, and has been detected in the aquatic environment, wild animals, and humans. However, details of the environmental health risk of HBCD are not well known. In this study, zebrafish embryos were used to assess the developmental toxicity of the chemical. Four-hour post-fertilization (hpf) zebrafish embryos were exposed to various concentrations of HBCD (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg L-1) until 96 h. Exposure to 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg L-1 HBCD significantly increased the malformation rate and reduced survival in the 0.5 and 1.0 mg L-1 HBCD exposure groups. Acridine orange (AO) staining showed that HBCD exposure resulted in cell apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly induced at exposures of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg L-1 HBCD. To test the apoptotic pathway, several genes related to cell apoptosis, such as p53, Puma, Apaf-1, caspase-9, and caspase-3, were examined using real-time PCR. The expression patterns of these genes were up-regulated to some extent. Two anti-apoptotic genes, Mdm2 (antagonist of p53) and Bcl-2 (inhibitor of Bax), were down-regulated, and the activity of capspase-9 and caspase-3 was significantly increased. The overall results demonstrate that waterborne HBCD is able to produce oxidative stress and induce apoptosis through the involvement of caspases in zebrafish embryos. The results also indicate that zebrafish embryos can serve as a reliable model for the developmental toxicity of HBCD. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Developmental toxicity and alteration of gene expression in zebrafish embryos exposed to PFOS

Perfluorooetanesulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant, the potential toxicity of which is causing great concern. In the present study, we employed zebrafish embryos to investigate the developmental toxicity of this compound. Four-hour post-fertilization (hpf) zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0.1, 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 mg/L PFOS. Hatching was delayed and hatching rates as well as larval survivorship, were significantly reduced after the embryos were exposed to 1, 3 and 5 mg/L PFOS until 132 hpf. The fry displayed gross developmental malformations, including epiboly deformities, hypopigmentation, yolk sac edema, tail and heart malformations and spinal curvature upon exposure to PFOS concentrations of I mg/L or greater. Growth (body length) was significantly reduced in the 3 and 5 mg/L PFOS-treated groups. To test whether developmental malformation was mediated via apoptosis, flow cytometry analysis of DNA content, acridine orange staining and TUNEL assay was used. These techniques indicated that more apoptotic cells were present in the PFOS-treated embryos than in the control embryos. Certain genes related to cell apoptosis, p53 and Bax, were both significantly up-regulated upon exposure to all the concentrations tested. In addition, we investigated the effects of PFOS on marker genes related to early thyroid development (hhex and pax8) and genes regulating the balance of androgens and estrogens (cyp19a and cyp19b). For thyroid development, the expression of hhex was significantly up-regulated at all concentrations tested, whereas pax8 expression was significantly up-regulated only upon exposure to lower concentrations of PFOS (0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/L). The expression of cyp19a and of cyp19b was significantly down-regulated at all exposure concentrations. The overall results indicated that zebrafish embryos constitute a reliable model for testing the developmental toxicity of PFOS, and the gene expression patterns in the embryos were able to reveal some potential mechanisms of developmental toxicity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vertical mixing within the epilimnion modulates UVR-induced photoinhibition in tropical freshwater phytoplankton from southern China

1. The importance of vertical mixing in modulating the impact of UVR on phytoplankton photosynthesis was assessed in a tropical, shallow lake in southern China from late winter to mid-spring of 2005. 2. Daily cycles of fluorescence measurements (i.e. photosynthetic quantum yield, Y) were performed on both 'static' and in situ samples. Static samples were of surface water incubated at the surface of the lake under three radiation treatments - PAB (PAR + UVR, 280-700 nm), PA (PAR + UV-A, 320-700 nm) and P (PAR, 400-700 nm). In situ samples were collected every hour at three different depths - 0, 0.5 and 1 m. 3. The general daily pattern was of a significant decrease in Y from early morning towards noon, with partial recovery in the afternoon. Samples incubated under static conditions always had lower Y than those under in situ conditions at the same time of the day. 4. Under stratified conditions, no overall impact of UVR impact could be detected in situ when compared with the static samples. Further rapid vertical mixing not only counteracted the impact of UVR but also stimulated photosynthetic efficiency. 5. Based on these measurements of fluorescence, the mixing speed of cells moving within the epilimnion was estimated to range between 0.53 and 6.5 cm min(-1). 6. These data show that mixing is very important in modulating the photosynthetic response of phytoplankton exposed to natural radiation and, hence, strongly conditions the overall impact of UVR on aquatic ecosystems.

Photosynthetic recovery of desiccated intertidal seaweeds after rehydration

Intertidal seaweeds experience periodical desiccation and rehydration to different extents due to the tidal cycles and their vertical distributions. Their photosynthetic recovery process during the rehydration may show different patterns among the seaweeds from different zonations or depths at intertidal zone. In this study 12 species of seaweeds collected from the upper, middle, lower and sublittoral zones were examined. The relationship of the photosynthetic recovery to vertical distribution was assessed by comparing their patterns of photosynthetic and respiratory performances after rehydration following desiccation. Both the photosynthesis and dark respiration declined during emersion, showing certain degrees of recovery after re-immersion into seawater for most species, but the extents were markedly different from one species to the other. The species from upper intertidal zone after being rehydrated for 1 hour, following 2 hours of desiccation, achieved 100 % recovery of their initial physiological activity, while most of the lower or sublittoral species did not achieve full recovery. It is the ability to withstand desiccation stress (fast recovery during rehydration), but not that to avoid desiccation (water retaining ability) that determines the distribution of intertidal seaweeds. Such physiological behavior during rehydration after desiccation reflects the adaptive strategy of intertidal seaweeds against desiccation and their capability of primary production in the process of rehydration.

LABORATORY OBSERVATIONS ON THE CIRCADIAN FEEDING PATTERNS IN THE GRASS CARP (CTENOPHARYNGODON-IDELLA VAL) FED 3 DIFFERENT DIETS

Feeding intensities (number of bites per minute) were recorded each hour over a 24-h diel cycle for young grass carp fed three diets. The grass carp did not show distinct meals. Grass carp receiving plant diets (duckweed or elodea) fed almost continuously throughout the 24 h, while fish fed the animal diet (tubificids) ceased feeding or had very low feeding intensities for about a quarter of the diel cycle. The average feeding intensity in fish fed duckweed was three times higher than that in fish fed elodea and tubificids. Average dry matter intake per bite was much higher in fish fed the animal diet than in those fed the plant diets. In most individuals, there was no significant difference in feeding intensity between daytime and nighttime.

The study of high temperature annealing of a-SiC : H films

A series of amorphous silicon carbide films were prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique on (100) silicon wafers by using methane, silane, and hydrogen as reactive resources. A very thin (around 15 A) gold film was evaporated on the half area of the aSiC:H films to investigate the metal induced crystallization effect. Then the a-SiC:H films were annealed at 1100 degrees C for 1 hour in the nitrogen atmosphere. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to analyze the microstructure, composition and surface morphology of the films. The influences of the high temperature annealing on the microstructure of a-SiC:H film and the metal induced metallization were investigated.

Calculation of the hourly and daily radiation incident on three step tracking planes

Mathematical formulas for estimating the hourly and daily radiation incident on planes of azimuth three step tracking and hour angle three step tracking have been derived in this paper. Based on the hourly solar radiation data of an average day in each month at Er-Lian-Hao-Te city, the hourly and monthly radiation received by planes of these two kinds of tracking have been calculated. The results show that in this district, one axis azimuth three step tracking and hour angle three step tracking could, respectively, obtain 66.5% and 63.3% higher radiation than that on the horizontal surface all year. Moreover, a two axis azimuth three step tracking plane could receive 72% more radiation than the horizontal surface. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The study of high temperature annealing of a-SiC : H films

A series of amorphous silicon carbide films were prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique on (100) silicon wafers by using methane, silane, and hydrogen as reactive resources. A very thin (around 15 A) gold film was evaporated on the half area of the aSiC:H films to investigate the metal induced crystallization effect. Then the a-SiC:H films were annealed at 1100 degrees C for 1 hour in the nitrogen atmosphere. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to analyze the microstructure, composition and surface morphology of the films. The influences of the high temperature annealing on the microstructure of a-SiC:H film and the metal induced metallization were investigated.

EFFECTS OF 1-MEV-ELECTRON IRRADIATION ON A-SI SOLAR-CELLS

In this report we present the effects of 1 MeV-electron irradiation on i a-Si:H films and solar cells. It is observed that in the dose range of 1.4-8.4 x 10(15) cm(-2) the defect creation has not reached its saturation level and the metastable defects caused by the irradiation cannot be completely removed by a two hour annealing at 200 degrees C for i a-Si:H films or at 130 degrees C for a-Si:H solar cells. The results may be understood in terms of a model based on two kinds of metastable defects created by 1 MeV-electron irradiation.

长白山地区近50年气候变化及其预估

收集长白山地区15个气象站1953-2007年气温、降水、蒸发、日照时数和水汽压观测数据和国家气候中心整理的2001-2099年的 气温、降水预估资料，利用数理统计方法，系统分析长白山地区气候现状、变化及其预估，为气候变化对人类生存环境影响研究并制定适应对策提供依据。主要结论如下： 1.长白山地区气温、降水日数、日照时数和不同界限温度（≥0℃、≥5℃、≥10℃和<0℃）积温均有显著趋势。年极端最低、年平均、平均最高/最低气温和气温日/年较差在1984、1992、1995、1985、1972和1979年发生突变。所有最高/最低气温与日照百分率有显著负相关关系，一定程度是温室效应结果；最高、最低气温变化不同步造成气温日较差和年较差的非对称性。 2.长白山地区生长季节合计降水量和降水强度日际变化较大。降水以7月30日为界，呈现前升后降极显著的线性趋势，且发生均值突变。降水强度以6月27日和9月3日为分界点，分为三个阶段。降水集中度、集中期和集中时段时空非均一性分布明显。 3.在SRES A1B、SRES A2和SRES B1三种情景下年平均气温均为上升趋势，年内变化一致为冬季升温最迅速，夏季则相对缓慢；而年降水强度总体增加，年内变化比较一致：冬季增加最为明显，而夏季变化不大。 4.未来长白山地区各站≥0℃、≥5℃和≥10℃的积温均有不同程度增加，持续时间延长。负积温增加，持续时间缩短，开始日期推迟，而结束时间提前。

Characteristic rainfall for warning of debris flows

A characteristic rainfall is introduced to overcome the difficulties encountered in determining a critical rainfall value for triggering debris flow. The characteristic value is defined as the rainfall at which debris-flow occurrence probability shows a rapid increase, and can be used as a warning rainfall threshold for debris flows. Investigation of recorded debris flows and 24-hour rainfall data at Jiangjia basin, Yunnan Province, in southwestern China, demonstrates the existence of such a characteristic rainfall. It was found that the characteristic rainfall corresponds to the daily rainfall of 90% cumulative probability by analyzing the basin's daily rainfall histogram. The result provides a simple and useful method for estimating a debris-flow warning rainfall threshold from the daily rainfall distribution. It was applied to estimate the debris-flow warning rainfall threshold for the Subaohe basin, a watershed in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake zone with many physical characteristics similar to those of the Jiangjia basin.

ACHT操作引起黑麦(Secale cereale)染色体的畸变和重建

用ACHT处理黑麦萌动种子，对修复前后材料的观察和分析结果表明：1. ACHT操作引起染色体数目变化和染色体断裂损失。在一定 条件和范围内，不同处理引起的这种变化具有显著差异，条件越剧烈，染色体数目变化的范围和频率愈大，断片发生的数量和频率 也愈高，同时修复前后染色体数目的变化范围和频率与断片发生的数量和频率以及它们的修复频率均表现明显的相关性。2. ACHT 操作引起染色体畸变的多样性。经ACHT处理后，胚根细胞染色体有4种断裂方式，包括着丝粒断裂、次溢痕断裂、长臂断裂和短臂 断裂等，其中着丝断裂频率最高；产生6种断片类型，包括有着丝粒和端粒的、有着丝粒而无端粒的、有部分着丝粒和端粒的、有 部分着丝粒而无端粒的、只有端粒的、既无着丝粒也无端粒的断片等。3. ACHT操作引起遗传结构重建的多样性。经ACHT处理后， 对修复24-72小时材料进行核型比较(按Stebbins 和 Levan 标准)和随体分析，处理细胞在染色体数目、大小、形态、位置等方面 均发生显著变化，说明ACHT处理使这些细胞的染色体结构和染色体组型发生了深刻变化。进一步通过Giemsa C— 带分析，观察到 多种重建染色体类型，包括易位型染色体、附加型染色体、无着丝粒染色体、化染色体、增加的m染色体以及某些带型特异的染色 体等。4. RAPD 分析从分子水平上验证了ACHT能有效地引起遗传结构的改变。所用10种引物对处理和对照材料基因组DNA的扩增产 物在条带数目、条带位置及带型特征等方面均有明显差异，其中4种引物出现条带减少，6种引物出现条带增加，后者还包括一个带 位移动。这说明两种材料的基因组DNA具有明显的RAPD反应多态性差异。This paper descripes some results draw on the basis of the observation and analysis on the rye before and after repaired through treating its budding seeds by ACHT in contrast to without ACHT: 1. ACHT manipulation caused the number variation and breakage damage of rye chromosome. Within certain conditions and timits, this phenomenon caused by different treats had signifcant difference: the more the treatment condition is drastie, the more the chageable range and frequence of rye chromosomae number, and so is the produced fragments. Meanwhile, there existed striking relationship among the changeable range and frequence of rye chromosome, the produced number and frequence of fragments and repairing frequence. 2. ACHT manipulafion engendered the diversify of rye chromosomal aberration. Four breakage patterns and six sorts of fragment were observed by watching the chromosome of the rye radicle treated by ACHT, including centric breakage (occuring in the highest frequence), secondary constriction breakage, long arm breakage and short arm breakage to the former, Comprising that with both centromere and telomere, that with centromere and without telomere, that with partial centromere and with telomere, that with partfial ceetromere and without telomere, that only with telomere and that neither with centromere nor with telomere, etc. 3. ACHT manipulation engendered the diversify or rye genetic structs reconstruction. Karureotype analysis(according to Stebbins and Levan) and satellite anaeysis were carried out to rye radicle through 24-72-hour-long recoverage after ACHT manipulation, which showed remarkable change happened on the rye chromosomal number、shape、arm ration and pattern, etc. and also on the satellite number、size、shape and location etc. Those indicated that ACHT manipulation engendered violent changes to rye chromatin structure and chromosome type. Further Giemsa C-banding analysis showed many types of reconstructed chromosome, such as translocation、addition、without centromere、st and other chromosome. 4. RAPD analysis checked the validity of ACHT on changing genetic structure of rye on the level of molecular biology. The treated and recovered rye has different amplifying band pattern by using IO valid arbitary primers selected from 40 comparing with the control.

Research on metallic ion beam production at IMP

Since 1998, many experiments for metallic ion production have been done on LECR2 (Lanzhou ECR ion source NO.2), LECR3 (Lanzhou ECR ion source NO.3) and SECRAL (Superconductiong ECR ion source Advanced design in Lanzhou) at Institute of Modern Physics. The very heavy metallic ion beams such as those of uranium were also produced by the plasma sputtering method, and supplied for HIRFL (Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou) accelerators successfully. During the test, 11.5e mu AU(28+), 9e mu AU(24+) were obtained. Some ion beams of the metal having lower melting temperature such as Ni and Mg ion beams were produced by oven method on LECR3 too. The consumption rate was controlled to be lower for Mg-26 ion beams production, and the minimum consumption was about 0.3mg per hour. In this paper, the main experimental results are given. Some discussions are made for some experimental phenomena and results, and some conclusions are drawn.

Radio-resistance induced by nitric oxide to heavy ion irradiation in A172 human glioma cells

To investigate effects of nitric oxide on cellular radio-sensitivity, three human glioma cell lines, i.e. A172, A172 transfected green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene (EA172) and A172 transfected inducible nitric oxide synthesis (iNOS) gene (iA72), were irradiated by C-12(6+) ions to 0, 1 or My. Productions of nitric oxide and glutathione (GSH) in A172, EA172 and iA172 were determined by chemical methods, cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry at the 24th hour after irradiation, and survival fraction of the cells was measured by colorimetric MTT assay at the 5th day after irradiation. The results showed that the concentrations of nitric oxide and GSH in iA172 were significantly higher than in A172 and EA172; the G(2)/M stage arrest induced by the C-12(6+) ion irradiation was observed in A172 and EA172 but not in iA172 at the 24th hour after exposure; and the survival fraction of iA172 was higher than that of EA172 and iA172. Data suggest that the radio-sensitivity of the A172 was reduced after the iNOS gene transfection. The increase of GSH production and the change of cellular signals such as the cell cycle control induced by nitric oxide may be involved in this radio-resistance.