Response of chlorophyll fluorescence to dynamic light in three alpine species differing in plant architecture

A study was carried out to examine the effect of dynamic photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD) on photoinhibition and energy use in three herbaceous species, prostrate Saussurea superba, erect-leaved S. katochaete, and half-erect-leaved Gentiana straminea, from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Chlorophyll fluorescence response was measured under each of three sets of high-low PPFD combinations: 1700-0, 1400-300, and 1200-500 mu mol m(-2) s(-1), illuminating in four dynamic frequencies: 1, 5, 15, and 60 cycles per 2 h. The total light exposure time was 2h and the integrated PPFD was the same in all treatments. The highest frequency of PPFD fluctuation resulted in the lowest photochemical activity, the highest level of non-photochemical quenching, and the greatest decrease of F-v/F-m (maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII). The 5 and 15 cycles per 2h treatments resulted in higher photochemical activity than the 1 cycle per 2h treatment. The 1700-0 PPFD combination led to the lowest photochemical activity and more serious photoinhibition in all species. S. superba usually exhibited the highest photochemical activity and CO2 uptake rate, the lowest reduction of F-v/F-m,F- and the smallest fraction of energy in thermal dissipation. With similar fractions of thermal dissipation, S. katochaete had relatively less photoinhibition than G. straminea owing to effective F-o quenching. The results suggest that high frequency of fluctuating PPFD generally results in photoinhibition, which is more serious under periods of irradiation with high light intensity. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

基于人工神经网络的PC钢棒力学性能预报模型

提出一种PC钢棒抗拉强度的人工神经网络模型方法,采用4×9×1的三层前向BP网络结构,模型主要因素为淬火温度、回火温度、含碳量和单位长度质量。经1500余次训练后,误差平方和

高温高压下水热体系中黄铁矿-金原电池的腐蚀电化学原位测量研究

水流体-导电性矿物相互作用是自然界中水流体-固体相互作用的重要组成部分，是许多矿床形成和演化的核心过程。迄今为止，绝大多数地质和地球化学家们对导电性矿物在水流体中的溶解机制普遍存在模糊的认识，认为水流体中导电性矿物的溶解和定位是一种简单的化学溶解和沉淀或简单的氧化溶解和还原定位过程，而实质上导电性矿物（组合）在水流体中的溶解是一种由电极电位差驱使下的类似于金属腐蚀的复杂电化学过程。当具有不同电极电位的矿物在溶液中相互接触，就会形成短路原电池发生电化学腐蚀。其中，电极电位低的矿物作为原电池的阳极，其溶解会加剧，而电极电位高的矿物作为原电池的阴极，其溶解会受到抑制。鉴于前人对水流体-导电性矿物相互作用的腐蚀原电池反应机理的模糊认识，本论文工作基于腐蚀原电池观点对高温高压条件下NaCl水流体体系中黄铁矿与金之间的原电池反应进行了研究。 在本工作中，作者与所在的研究小组一道，首先自行研制了一套可用于高温高压水热体系中导电性矿物腐蚀电化学原位测量的高压釜反应装置。该装置主体部件选用在高温高压下具有高强度、抗腐蚀等优良性能的工业纯钛制成。在该装置中，通过将热电偶直接插入高压釜釜腔内，成功地实现了釜内流体温度的准确测量和精确控制。对高压釜不同部位的测温结果表明，沿高压釜的径向与轴向均存在显著的温度梯度，其中釜塞保护锥体处的温度比釜内流体的温度低约8℃，釜外壁中心处与釜内的温度差约10℃；对400℃保温条件下釜内流体温度的直接测量表明，釜内温度波动小于0.5℃。在该装置中，通过将脆性导电性矿物制作成锥形电极，采用耐高温无机绝缘材料制作密封部件，利用锥体自紧式密封技术，成功地解决了脆性电极和电极引线的高压密封与高温绝缘问题；通过引入另一根辅助性的矿物电极引线，成功地解决了原位监测实验过程中矿物电极与引线接触处是否进水的难题，确保了实验的可信度。可行性试验结果表明，该方法不仅可用于高温高压下水流体-导电性矿物，而且可广泛用于水流体-金属间相互作用的腐蚀电化学原位测量研究。 利用上述自行研制的腐蚀电化学实验装置，本工作对高温高压（250-400℃；10-35 MPa）NaCl水流体体系中黄铁矿-自然金原电池的热力学和动力学进行了实验研究。原位测量结果表明： （1）黄铁矿-金原电池的腐蚀电流变化与其开路电压的变化一致； （2）汽-液平衡条件下，黄铁矿-金原电池的开路电压和腐蚀电流在液相中比在汽相中要大； （3）在温度为400 C、压力远离临界点的过热蒸气和超临界区域，压力在实验研究的范围内（10-35 MPa）对黄铁矿-金原电池的开路电压和腐蚀电流均无显著的影响，随压力的增加两者仅略有增大，但当温度压力跨越临界点时，包括温压从汽-液平衡曲线同时进入超临界区以及温度恒定在400 C、压力跨越临界点时，黄铁矿-金原电池的开路电压和腐蚀电流在临界点附近均发生突变。 （4）在本工作中实验的温度、压力和水流体体系条件下，由黄铁矿与金构成的原电池在大多数情况下黄铁矿为阳极，因此在原电池短路时黄铁矿在水流体中发生氧化溶解，而金则为阴极，在原电池短路时金的溶解受到保护，仅在个别狭窄的温度压力范围内情况才相反。 上述原位测量结果与电极表面水流体的性质以及黄铁矿和金的能带结构密切相关，运用混合电位理论、Butler-Volmer方程以及半导体电化学的波动能级模型对实验结果能进行很好的解释。

硫化物矿物原电池腐蚀实验研究与应用启示

作为自然界最常见、可开发的矿物之一，硫化物矿物通常具有半导体性质，在溶液的作用下，必然发生原电池腐蚀。硫化物矿物原电池效应广泛存在并影响湿法冶金(如磨矿、浮选和浸出)、次生硫化物矿物过程、地电化学勘探、重金属离子污染和酸性矿山排水污染和治理等方面。 以前对硫化物矿物腐蚀研究多见于静止的溶液体系，少见于流动溶液体系，而实际情况是硫化物矿物经常处于流动溶液体系中。以矿山环境为例，硫化物矿物经常处于流动的地表水，地下水和雨水淋漓的环境体系中。因此，在流动体系中进行硫化物矿物原电池腐蚀实验研究，无疑对矿山环境治理有着直接的指导作用。另一方面，以前对于硫化物矿物原电池腐蚀的研究多是在无应力作用的条件下进行的，而事实上，无论是人类在开采利用硫化物矿物资源上，还是硫化物矿物本身在自然界的演化进程中，应力作用无时不在，无处不有。硫化物矿物应力原电池也无时不在，无处不有。应力作用下，应变能转化为电化学能，从而改变硫化物矿物的电极电位，必将进一步对硫化物矿物的原电池腐蚀产生重要影响。考察应力作用下的硫化物矿物原电池腐蚀，一方面可以为硫化物矿物的湿法冶金提供实验依据；另一方面，它将为硫化物矿物的元素活化、迁移、浓集和定位等各种地球化学作用解释提供理论指导。 鉴于硫化物矿物原电池腐蚀实验研究的重要意义以及前人对硫化物矿物原电池腐蚀研究在流动体系和应力作用等领域的研究空白，本论文展开了对上述领域的原电池腐蚀实验研究。 在本工作中，我们设计了一套用于溶液静止和溶液流动条件下的硫化物矿物原电池腐蚀实验装置。在流动条件下，对处在不同溶液组分(Na+、Cu2+、Fe3+)、浓度和流速的黄铁矿-黄铜矿、黄铁矿-方铅矿及应力残余黄铁矿-方铅矿原电池腐蚀进行了实验研究；设计了一套用于溶液静止条件下的硫化物矿物应力原电池腐蚀实验装置。展开了在不同溶液组分(Na+、Fe3+)及弹性轴压应力条件黄铁矿和黄铜矿腐蚀电位下的Tafel曲线及交流阻抗谱实验；在不同溶液组分(Na+、Fe3+)及差应力条件下黄铁矿-黄铜矿原电池混合电位下的Tafel曲线及交流阻抗谱实验。 实验结果表明： (1) 溶液中惰性离子(Na+)浓度的改变对原电池腐蚀电流密度和混合电位无明显影响；溶液中氧化性离子(Cu2+、Fe3+)浓度增大，原电池的腐蚀电流密度和混合电位增大。但是，当黄铁矿-黄铜矿原电池中氧化性离子为Cu2+时，增大Cu2+浓度，腐蚀电流密度先增大后减小，最后增大。 (2) 本实验条件下，溶液流速越大，腐蚀电流密度越大，混合电位增大。 (3) 应力残余黄铁矿由于残余应变能的缘故，其电极电位比处在相同条件的溶液下的方铅矿电极电位更低，应力残余黄铁矿-方铅矿原电池腐蚀情况与无应力的黄铁矿-方铅矿原电池腐蚀情况不同。 (4) 弹性轴压应力下，黄铁矿、黄铜矿电极电位和弹性轴压应力呈较好的负线性关系；黄铁矿、黄铜矿弹性轴压应力越大，腐蚀电位越小，腐蚀电流密度越大；电化学阻抗谱测试等效电路拟合的电极电荷传递电阻越小，极化电阻越小，双电层的离子迁移电阻越小，弥散效应越严重。 (5) 差应力作用下的黄铁矿-黄铜矿原电池腐蚀： 黄铜矿阳极弹性轴压应力越大，腐蚀电位越小，腐蚀电流密度越大；电化学阻抗谱测试等效电路拟合的电极电荷传递电阻越小，极化电阻越小，双电层的离子迁移电阻越小，弥散效应越严重。 黄铁矿阴极弹性轴压应力越大，腐蚀电位越大，腐蚀电流密度越小；电化学阻抗谱测试等效电路拟合的反应电阻越大，极化电阻越大，双电层的离子迁移电阻越大，弥散效应越轻微。 上述流动体系下的硫化物矿物原电池腐蚀结果可用Butler-Volmer方程结合原电池模型和双电层结构很好地解释；应力原电池腐蚀结果可用硫化物矿物半导体的热力学势、电化学势、力学应变能、结合原电池模型和双电层结构很好地解释。

Comparative X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study on the desulfurization of thiophene by Raney Nickel and rapidly quenched skeletal nickel

The desulfurization of thiophene on Raney Ni and rapidly quenched skeletal Ni (RQ Ni) has been studied in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Raney Ni or RQ Ni can be approximated as a hydrogen-preadsorbed polycrystalline Ni-alumina composite. It is found that thiophene molecularly adsorbs on Raney Ni or RQ Ni at 103 K. At 173 K, thiophene on alumina is desorbed, while thiophene in direct contact with the metallic Ni in Raney Ni undergoes C-S bond scission, leading to carbonaceous species most probably in the metallocycle-like configuration and atomic sulfur. On RQ Ni, the temperature for thiophene dissociation is about 100 K higher than that on Raney Ni. The lower reactivity of RQ Ni toward thiophene is tentatively attributed to lattice expansion of Ni crystallites in RQ Ni due to rapid quenching. The existence of alumina and hydrogen may block the further cracking of the metallocycle-like species on Raney Ni and RQ Ni at higher temperatures, which has been the dominant reaction pathway on Ni single crystals. By 473 K, the C Is peak has disappeared, leaving nickel sulfide on the surface.

Tracing the reactive melting of glass-forming silicate batches by in situ Na-23 NMR

Winter, Rudolf; Jones, A.R.; Florian, P.; Massiot, D., (2005) 'Tracing the reactive melting of glass-forming silicate batches by in situ Na-23 NMR', Journal of Physical Chemistry B 109(10) pp.4324-4332 RAE2008

Bactérias e as suas redes sociais

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas

Synthesis, characterisation and applications of group IV nanocrystals

Group IV materials such as silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have received great attention as new functional materials with unique physical/chemical properties that are not found in the bulk material. This thesis reports the synthesis and characterisation of both types of nanocrystal and their application as fluorescence probes for the detection of metal ions. In chapter 2, a simple method is described for the size controlled synthesis of Si NCs within inverse micelles having well defined core diameters ranging from 2 to 6 nm using inert atmospheric synthetic methods. In addition, ligands with different molecular structures were utilised to reduce inter-nanocrystal attraction forces and improve the stability of the NC dispersions in water and a variety of organic solvents. Regulation of the Si NCs size is achieved by variation of the surfactants and addition rates, resulting high quality NCs with standard deviations (σ = Δd/d) of less than 10 %. Large scale production of highly mondisperse Si NC was also successfully demonstrated. In chapter 3, a simple solution phase synthesis of size monodisperse carbon quantum dots (CQDs) using a room temperature microemulsion strategy is demonstrated. The CQDs are synthesized in reverse micelles via the reduction of carbon tetrachloride using a hydride reducing agent. CQDs may be functionalised with covalently attached alkyl or amine monolayers, rendering the CQDs dispersible in wide range of polar or non-polar solvents. Regulation of the CQDs size was achieved by utilizing hydride reducing agents of different strengths. The CQDs possess a high photoluminescence quantum yield in the visible region and exhibit excellent photostability. In chapter 4, a simple and rapid assay for detection of Fe3+ ions was developed, based on quenching of the strong blue-green Si NC photoluminescence. The detection method showed a high selectivity, with only Fe3+ resulting in strong quenching of the fluorescence signal. No quenching of the fluorescence signal was induced by Fe2+ ions, allowing for solution phase discrimination between the same ion in different charge states. The optimised sensor system showed a sensitive detection range from 25- 900 μM and a limit of detection of 20.8 μM

Synthesis, functionalisation and characterisation of germanium nanocrystals & their applications

In the last two decades, semiconductor nanocrystals have been the focus of intense research due to their size dependant optical and electrical properties. Much is now known about how to control their size, shape, composition and surface chemistry, allowing fine control of their photophysical and electronic properties. However, genuine concerns have been raised regarding the heavy metal content of these materials, which is toxic even at relatively low concentrations and may limit their wide scale use. These concerns have driven the development of heavy metal free alternatives. In recent years, germanium nanocrystals (Ge NCs) have emerged as environmentally friendlier alternatives to II-VI and IV-VI semiconductor materials as they are nontoxic, biocompatible and electrochemically stable. This thesis reports the synthesis and characterisation of Ge NCs and their application as fluorescence probes for the detection of metal ions. A room-temperature method for the synthesis of size monodisperse Ge NCs within inverse micelles is reported, with well-defined core diameters that may be tuned from 3.5 to 4.5 nm. The Ge NCs are chemically passivated with amine ligands, minimising surface oxidation while rendering the NCs dispersible in a range of polar solvents. Regulation of the Ge NCs size is achieved by variation of the ammonium salts used to form the micelles. A maximum quantum yield of 20% is shown for the nanocrystals, and a transition from primarily blue to green emission is observed as the NC diameter increases from 3.5 to 4.5 nm. A polydisperse sample with a mixed emission profile is prepared and separated by centrifugation into individual sized NCs which each showed blue and green emission only, with total suppression of other emission colours. A new, efficient one step synthesis of Ge NCs with in situ passivation and straightforward purification steps is also reported. Ge NCs are formed by co-reduction of a mixture of GeCl4 and n-butyltrichlorogermane; the latter is used both as a capping ligand and a germanium source. The surface-bound layer of butyl chains both chemically passivates and stabilises the Ge NCs. Optical spectroscopy confirmed that these NCs are in the strong quantum confinement regime, with significant involvement of surface species in exciton recombination processes. The PL QY is determined to be 37 %, one of the highest values reported for organically terminated Ge NCs. A synthetic method is developed to produce size monodisperse Ge NCs with modified surface chemistries bearing carboxylic acid, acetate, amine and epoxy functional groups. The effect of these different surface terminations on the optical properties of the NCs is also studied. Comparison of the emission properties of these Ge NCs showed that the wavelength position of the PL maxima could be moved from the UV to the blue/green by choice of the appropriate surface group. We also report the application of water-soluble Ge NCs as a fluorescent sensing platform for the fast, highly selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+ ions. The luminescence quenching mechanism is confirmed by lifetime and absorbance spectroscopies, while the applicability of this assay for detection of Fe3+ in real water samples is investigated and found to satisfy the US Environmental Protection Agency requirements for Fe3+ levels in drinkable water supplies.

Comparative evaluation of serologic tests for celiac disease: a European initiative toward standardization.

BACKGROUND: Serologic methods have been used widely to test for celiac disease and have gained importance in diagnostic definition and in new epidemiologic findings. However, there is no standardization, and there are no reference protocols and materials. METHODS: The European working group on Serological Screening for Celiac Disease has defined robust noncommercial test protocols for immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA gliadin antibodies and for IgA autoantibodies against endomysium and tissue transglutaminase. Standard curves were linear in the decisive range, and intra-assay variation coefficients were less than 5% to 10%. Calibration was performed with a group reference serum. Joint cutoff limits were used. Seven laboratories took part in the final collaborative study on 252 randomized sera classified by histology (103 pediatric and adult patients with active celiac disease, 89 disease control subjects, and 60 blood donors). RESULTS: IgA autoantibodies against endomysium and tissue transglutaminase rendered superior sensitivity (90% and 93%, respectively) and specificity (99% and 95%, respectively) over IgA and IgG gliadin antibodies. Tissue transglutaminase antibody testing showed superior receiver operating characteristic performance compared with gliadin antibodies. The K values for interlaboratory reproducibility showed superiority for IgA endomysium (0.93) in comparison with tissue transglutaminase antibodies (0.83) and gliadin antibodies (0.82 for IgG, 0.62 for IgA). CONCLUSIONS: Basic criteria of standardization and quality assessment must be fulfilled by any given test protocol proposed for serologic investigation of celiac disease. The working group has produced robust test protocols and reference materials available for standardization to further improve reliability of serologic testing for celiac disease.

A new bifunctional para-toluenesulfonamidophenanthroline-aminoquinoline ligand. Synthesis and characterisation of the corresponding Ru(II) complex

The synthesis and characterisation of a new bifunctional Ru(II) complex are presented. This compound contains a metallic unit, photo-reactive versus the guanines of DNA, and a new bifunctional ligand. An intramolecular luminescence quenching makes this complex an attractive candidate for photoprobing DNA where the intramolecular quenching process is inhibited with restoration of luminescence. © 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

TRADITION AND INNOVATION: ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED COMPOSITIONS FOR VIOLONCELLO BY HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS

Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) began his musical career as a cellist. When he was only twelve years old, it became imperativeupon the sudden and untimely death of his fatherthat the young Villa-Lobos earn money as a cellist to provide financial support for his mother and sisters. Villa-Lobos's intimate relationship with the cello eventually inspired him to compose great music for this instrument. This dissertation explores both the diversity of compositional technique and the evolution of style found in the music for cello written by Villa-Lobos. The project consists of two recorded recital performances and a written document exploring and analyzing those pieces. In the study of the music of Villa-Lobos, it is of great interest to consider the music's traditional European elements in combination (or even juxtaposition) with its imaginative and sometimes wildly innovative Brazilian character. His early works were greatly influenced by European Romantic composers such as Robert Schumann, Frédéric Chopin, and the virtuoso cellist/composer David Popper (whom Villa-Lobos idolized). Later, Villa-Lobos flourished in a newfound compositional independence and moved away from Euro-romanticism and toward the folk music of his Brazilian homeland. It is intriguing to experience this transition through an exploration of his cello compositions. The works examined and performed in this dissertation project are chosen from among the extensive number of Villa-Lobos's cello compositions and are his most important works for cello with piano, cello with another instrument, and cello with orchestra. The chosen works demonstrate the evolving range and combination of characteristic elements found in Villa-Lobos's compositional repertoire.

Mechanosensitive neurons on the internal reproductive tract contribute to egg-laying-induced acetic acid attraction in Drosophila.

Selecting a suitable site to deposit their eggs is an important reproductive need of Drosophila females. Although their choosiness toward egg-laying sites is well documented, the specific neural mechanism that activates females' search for attractive egg-laying sites is not known. Here, we show that distention and contraction of females' internal reproductive tract triggered by egg delivery through the tract plays a critical role in activating such search. We found that females start to exhibit acetic acid (AA) attraction prior to depositing each egg but no attraction when they are not laying eggs. Artificially distending the reproductive tract triggers AA attraction in non-egg-laying females, whereas silencing the mechanosensitive neurons we identified that can sense the contractile status of the tract eliminates such attraction. Our work uncovers the circuit basis of an important reproductive need of Drosophila females and provides a simple model for dissecting the neural mechanism that underlies a reproductive need-induced behavioral modification.

EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY VIOLA MUSIC FROM ENGLAND AND GERMANY: FROM POST-ROMANTICISM TO MODERNISM

In the early twentieth century, the viola began to gain status as a solo instrument with the appearance in England of the virtuosic violist Lionel Tertis. Because of a lack of music for viola at that time, such English composers as York Bowen, Arnold Bax, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Arthur Bliss and William Walton began to write viola music for Tertis. Meanwhile, in Germany, the well-known composer and virtuosic violinist and violist Paul Hindemith wrote and premiered several viola sonatas and concertos. Viola music became even more developed later with William Primrose, the legendary Scottish violist, and all the works written in the early twentieth century have remained significant in the viola literature. Although this new viola music appeared in both countries during same period, it developed along different lines in each country. Because they were under the influence of earlier periods and traditions, the English composers who associated with Tertis wrote their music in a Romantic style, with expanded harmony, various colors of sound and timbre, and lyrical melodies. Hindemith, as a composer himself, employed a more Modernist style, using atonality and angular melodies, which represented German trends at that time. I have given three recitals, of which the first two were divided between selected English music and German music. Although I originally intended to focus solely on music by Hindemith and music written for Terts, I decided that in order to give a more complete view of the national trends of those two countries, I included Rebecca Clarke's Sonata, Lachrymae by Benjamin Britten (dedicated to William Primrose), and Max Reger's Suite for Viola. Rebecca Clarke was herself a fine violist, and her sonata's Romantic style is also representative of the English trends of viola music. Lachrymae was written with a different concept and shows more modernity than had ever before occurred in England, though it still differs from the modernity of other countries. Max Reger's Suite is in a truly Romantic style, yet it is old fashioned in ways that differ not only from Wagner or Strauss, but also from English music of the period. In my last recital I wished to pay homage to Tertis, with a program consisting entirely of music written for him. For the finale, Arthur Bliss's Viola Sonata was especially chosen because it provides interesting similarities and contrasts with earlier English music in the Romantic style.