Candidate chiral doublet bands in the odd-odd nucleus Cs-126

The candidate chiral doublet bands recently observed in Cs-126 have been extended to higher spins, several new linking transitions between the two partner members of the chiral doublet bands are observed, and gamma-intensities related to the chiral doublet bands are presented by analyzing the gamma-gamma coincidence data collected earlier at the NORDBALL through the Cd-116(N-14, 4n)Cs-126 reaction at a beam energy of 65 MeV. The intraband B(M1)/B(E2) and interband B(M1)(in)/B(M1)(out) ratios and the energy staggering parameter, S(I), have been deduced for these doublet bands. The results are found to be consistent with the chiral interpretation for the two structures. Furthermore, the observation of chiral doublet bands in Cs-126 together with those in Cs-124, Cs-128, Cs-130, and Cs-132 also indicates that the chiral conditions do not change rapidly with decreasing neutron number in these odd-odd Cesium isotopes.

Theoretical study of the 4d photoabsorption of the Cs+ ion

Calculations of the 4d absolute photoabsorption cross sections of the Xe-like Cs+ ion covering the energy region from 80 to 190 eV have been performed by using the multi-configuration Dirac-Fock method. The calculated cross sections are compared with the absolute experimental photoabsorption cross-section spectrum (Kjeldsen et al 2002 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 35 2845) and other available theoretical results. In the 80-90 eV region, the discrete structure resulting from photoexcitation of a 4d electron into nf and np orbits are successfully identified. Above the 4d threshold, i.e. in the 90-190 eV energy region, a reasonable agreement between experiment and computations is found for the intense 4d -> epsilon f shape resonance.

Dynamic Measurement System for Dipoles of RCS for CS

A dynamic measurement system was developed by the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) for the dipole prototype of Rapid Cycle Synchrotron (RCS) of China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). The repetition frequency of RCS is 25 Hz. The probe is a moving arc searching-coil, and the data acquisition system is based on the dynamic analysis modular of National Instrument. To get the error of high order harmonics of the field at basic frequency, the hardware integrator is replaced by a high speed ADC with software filter and integrator. A series of harmonic coefficients of field are used to express the varieties of dynamic fields in space and time simultaneously. The measurement system has been tested in Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP), and the property of the dipole prototype of RCS has been measured. Some measurement results and the repeatability of system are illustrated in this paper.

Loss of p15/Ink4b accompanies tumorigenesis triggered by complex DNA double-strand breaks

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most deleterious lesion inflicted by ionizing radiation. Although DSBs are potentially carcinogenic, it is not clear whether complex DSBs that are refractory to repair are more potently tumorigenic compared with simple breaks that can be rapidly repaired, correctly or incorrectly, by mammalian cells. We previously demonstrated that complex DSBs induced by high-linear energy transfer (LET) Fe ions are repaired slowly and incompletely, whereas those induced by low-LET gamma rays are repaired efficiently by mammalian cells. To determine whether Fe-induced DSBs are more potently tumorigenic than gamma ray-induced breaks, we irradiated 'sensitized' murine astrocytes that were deficient in Ink4a and Arf tumor suppressors and injected the surviving cells subcutaneously into nude mice. Using this model system, we find that Fe ions are potently tumorigenic, generating tumors with significantly higher frequency and shorter latency compared with tumors generated by gamma rays. Tumor formation by Fe-irradiated cells is accompanied by rampant genomic instability and multiple genomic changes, the most interesting of which is loss of the p15/Ink4b tumor suppressor due to deletion of a chromosomal region harboring the CDKN2A and CDKN2B loci. The additional loss of p15/Ink4b in tumors derived from cells that are already deficient in p16/Ink4a bolsters the hypothesis that p15 plays an important role in tumor suppression, especially in the absence of p16. Indeed, we find that reexpression of p15 in tumor-derived cells significantly attenuates the tumorigenic potential of these cells, indicating that p15 loss may be a critical event in tumorigenesis triggered by complex DSBs.

Enzymatic reaction of the immobilized enzyme on porous silicon studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry

Desorption/ionization on silicon mass spectrometry (DIOS-MS) is a matrix-free technique that allows for the direct desorption/ionization of low-molecular-weight compounds with little or no fragmentation of analytes. This technique has a relatively high tolerance for contaminants commonly found in biological samples. DIOS-MS has been applied to determine the activity of immobilized enzymes on the porous silicon surface. Enzyme activities were also monitored with the addition of a competitive inhibitor in the substrate solution. It is demonstrated that this method can be applied to the screening of enzyme inhibitors. Furthermore, a method for peptide mapping analysis by in situ digestion of proteins on the porous silicon surface modified by trypsin, combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-MS has been developed.

~(137)Cs示踪研究小流域土壤侵蚀与沉积空间分布特征

通过在0.17 km~2面积的小流域198个点、525个样品表层土壤中~(137)Cs含量的分析、研究,结果表明:不同地貌部位~(137)Cs含量有明显分异,为~(137)Cs法定量研究土壤侵蚀与沉积提供了科学依据;~(137)Cs含量升高的部位多出现在沟缘线附近和沟口附近;小流域土壤侵蚀强度从梁峁顶向沟坡逐渐增大,这是黄土高原广大水土流失区自然状态的或初步治理的小流域侵蚀强度空间变化的基本特征.

蒙古高原北部典型草原区土壤风蚀的~(137)Cs示踪法研究

土壤风蚀是蒙古高原北部典型草原区土地退化的主导因素之一.运用137Cs核素示踪技术对蒙古国巴彦淖尔、哈拉和林的不同牧场和弃耕地土壤风蚀速率进行了研究.巴彦淖尔草原牧场、割草场采样点土壤风蚀速率在64.58~169.07t·km-2·a-1之间,均为微度侵蚀水平.哈拉和林弃耕地年均土壤风蚀厚度4.05mm·a-1,风蚀速率为6723.06t·km-2·a-1,达强度侵蚀水平,自20世纪60年代开垦以来,表层土壤累计风蚀损失17.4cm.牧场和弃耕地风蚀速率的差异表明,在蒙古高原北部典型草原区,人为翻动表土,发展种植业,会导致严重的土壤风蚀发生,而传统牧业生产方式对土壤表层扰动较少,未导致破坏性的土壤风蚀发生,对维持生态系统稳定性有重要作用.

蒙古高原塔里亚特-锡林郭勒样带土壤风蚀速率的~(137)Cs示踪分析

运用137Cs示踪技术,查明了蒙古高原西北-东南向的塔里亚特-锡林郭勒样带区域7个典型景观类型采样点风蚀速率及变化特征,分析了不同区域土壤风蚀速率的主要影响因素.研究表明:各采样点137Cs面积活度介于(265.63±44.91)~(1279.54±166.53)Bq·m-2,差异明显,相应的风蚀速率分别为64.58~419.63t·km-2·a-1.样带上蒙古国境内部分,人类活动较轻微,由北向南,随主要的植被景观和气候指标变化,相应的土壤风蚀速率基本呈逐渐加大趋势,表明该区域土壤风蚀过程主要受自然因素的影响和调节;样带上内蒙古锡林浩特和正镶白旗2个典型草原样点风蚀速率为蒙古国巴彦淖尔典型草原样点风蚀速率的近3倍,除导致风蚀加剧的自然条件差异之外,通过比较两地人口密度和载畜量水平,表明人类扰动是导致内蒙古典型草原样点风蚀加剧的主要因素之一.

风蚀土壤剖面(137)~Cs的分布及侵蚀速率的估算

研究137Cs在土壤剖面上的分布是应用137Cs方法定量评价土壤风力侵蚀的基础.以内蒙古太仆寺旗为研究区,采集了4个样点、共62个土壤样本;使用伽马能谱仪测定了各土壤样本的137Cs活度,计算得到各样点的137Cs总量.研究发现不同土地利用类型/土地覆盖等级的137Cs剖面分布特征差异明显.在低覆盖草地和中覆盖草地土壤剖面中,137Cs活度分布形态为负指数分布;在高覆盖草地土壤剖面中,137Cs活度分布形态在剖面上部为单峰状,单峰后继续为负指数分布;在耕地剖面中,137Cs集中在犁底层以上,且均匀分布.对耕地和草地样点分别使用质量平衡模型和剖面分布模型,可以估算得到农耕地、低覆盖草地、中等覆盖草地等3处样点的侵蚀速率分别为7990,4270和1808Mg/km2·a,分别属于强度侵蚀、中度侵蚀和轻度侵蚀,风力侵蚀强度与地面植被覆盖度呈负相关关系.

Estimation of wind erosion rates by using Cs-137 tracing technique: A case study in Tariat-Xilin Gol transect, Mongolian Plateau

Wind erosion is one of the major environmental problems in semi-arid and arid regions. Here we established the Tariat-Xilin Gol transect from northwest to southeast across the Mongolian Plateau, and selected seven sampling sites along the transect. We then estimated the soil wind erosion rates by using the Cs-137 tracing technique and examined their spatial dynamics. Our results showed that the Cs-137 inventories of sampling sites ranged from 265.63 +/- 44.91 to 1279.54 +/- 166.53 Bq.m(-2), and the wind erosion rates varied from 64.58 to 419.63 t.km(-2).a(-1) accordingly. In the Mongolia section of the transect (from Tariat to Sainshand), the wind erosion rate increased gradually with vegetation type and climatic regimes; the wind erosion process was controlled by physical factors such as annual precipitation and vegetation coverage, etc., and the impact of human activities was negligible. While in the China section of the transect (Inner Mongolia), the wind erosion rates of Xilin Hot and Zhengxiangbai Banner were thrice as much as those of Bayannur of Mongolia, although these three sites were all dominated by typical steppe. Besides the physical factors, higher population density and livestock carrying level should be responsible for the higher wind erosion rates in these two regions of Inner Mongolia.

Distribution characteristics of (CS)-C-137 in wind-eroded soil profile and its use in estimating wind erosion modulus

Due to its inert reaction in soil system and distinctive vertical distribution in soil profile, caesium-137 (Cs-137) has been used as a tracer to assess wind erosion. In this study, 62 soil samples were collected from 4 sampling sites in Taipusi County, Inner Mongolia; Caesium-137 activities for those soil samples were measured using a gamma-ray spectrometry in Sichuan University, Chengdu. Distribution pattern of Cs-137 in vertical soil profile was different for different land use and land cover types. Caesium-137 was distributed homogeneously in plow layer of cropland, and negatively exponential in low to medium cover grassland. Distribution pattern in high covered grassland was represented by a peak at 2-4 cm soil depth followed by a negative exponential curve. Based on those findings, simplified mass balance model was chosen to estimate the rate of wind erosion for cropland, while profile distribution model was used for grassland. Estimated wind erosion rates were 7990, 4270 and 1808 Mg(.)km(-2.)a(-1) for cropland, low cover grassland and medium cover grassland, respectively. Wind erosion intensity correlated negatively with plant cover.

Morphology and crystalline transition of poly (3-butylthiophene) associated with its polymorphic modifications

Poly (3-butylthiophene) (P3BT) is a much less studied conjugated polymer despite its high crystallizability and thus excellent electrical property. In this work, morphology of P3BT at different crystalline polymorphs and solvent/thermal induced phase transition between form I and U modifications have been intensively investigated by using optical microscopy, electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. It is shown that a direct deposition from carbon disulfide (CS2) at fast evaporation results in P3BT crystals in form I modification, giving typical whiskerlike morphology. In contrast, low evaporation rate from CS, leads to formation of form II crystals with spherulitic morphology, which is so far scarcely observed in polythiophene.

Water-Soluble Graphene Covalently Functionalized by Biocompatible Poly-L-lysine

Graphene sheets functionalized covalently with biocompatible poly-L-lysine (PLL) were first synthesized in all alkaline solution. PLL-functionalized graphene is water-soluble and biocompatible, which makes it a novel material promising for biological applications. Graphene sheets played an important role as connectors to assemble these active amino groups Of Poly-L-lysine, which provided a very biocompatible. environment for further functionalization, such as attaching bioactive molecules. As an example, an amplified biosensor toward H2O2 based on linking peroxidase onto PLL-functionalized graphene was investigated.

G-Quadruplex Aptamers with Peroxidase-Like DNAzyme Functions: Which Is the Best and How Does it Work?

Some G-quadruplex DNA aptamers have been found to strongly bind hemin to form DNAzymes with peroxidase-like activity. To help determine the most suitable DNAzymes and to understand how they work, five previously reported G-quadruplex aptamers were compared for their binding affinity and then the potential catalytic mechanism of their corresponding hemin-G-quadruplex DNAzymes was explored. Among these aptamers, a G-quadruplex named AGRO100 was shown to possess the highest hemin-binding affinity and the best DNAzyme function. This means that AGRO100 is the most ideal candidate for DNAzyme-based analysis. Furthermore, we found the peroxidase-like activity of DNAzyme to be primarily dependent on the concentration of H2O2 and independent of that of the peroxidase substrate (that is, 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethytbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)diammonium salt). Accordingly, a reaction mechanism for DNAzyme-catalyzed peroxidation is proposed. This study provides new insights into the G-quadruplex-based DNAzymes and will help us to further extend their applications in the analytical field.