Isothermal crystallization kinetics of PEO in poly(ethylene terephthalate)-poly(ethylene oxide) segmented copolymers. I. Effect of the sofi-block length

The isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block in two poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-PEO segmented copolymers was studied with differential scanning calorimetry. The Avrami equation failed to describe the overall crystallization process, but a modified Avrami equation, the Q equation, did. The crystallizability of the PET block and the different lengths of the PEO block exerted strong influences on the crystallization process, the crystallinity, and time final morphology of the PEO block. The mechanism of nucleation and the growth dimension of the PEG block were different because of the crystallizability of time PET block and the compositional heterogeneity. The crystallization of the PEO block was physically constrained by the microstructure of time PET crystalline phase, which resulted in a lower crystallization rate. However, this influence became weak with the increase in the soft-block length. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Charge transport in a blue-emitting alternating block copolymer with a small spacer to conjugated segment length ratio

We analyze current versus voltage data obtained using single carrier injection in several metal/polymer/metal sandwich structures. The polymer used in each case is a soluble blue-emitting alternating block copolymer. Our experimental results demonstrate that the electron transport is space-charge limited by the high density of traps having an exponential energy distribution (temperature dependent characteristic energy) in the copolymer. The electron mobility of 8x10(-10) cm(2)/V s is directly determined using space-charge-limited current analytical expressions. Hole transport is also space-charge limited, with a mobility of 2x10(-6) cm(2)/V s. A hole trap with energy 0.17 eV is observed. We compare these results with those obtained for related block copolymers with different spacer and conjugated segment lengths and discuss the influence of spacer length and conjugated segment length on the charge transport properties. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)04501-1].

Crystalline behavior and critical crystalline sequence length of propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer

The melting points(T-m), crystalline temperature(T-c) and crystallinity(chi(c)) of propylene/alpha-olefin (pentene-l, octene-1 and decene-1) copolymers have been investigated, The results show that the T-m, T-c and chi(c) of the copolymers are lower than those of propylene homopolymer, indicating that lower alpha-olefin incorporation in copolymer has strongly hampered the crystallization of propylene, From critical crystalline sequence length of several propylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, it can be seen that a long chain alpha-olefin has much stronger effect on crystallization of PP than a short alpha-olefin does.

A study of the dependence of ferrocene diffusion on chain length in polymer electrolytes

The diffusion rates of ferrocene have been estimated in five kinds of poly(ethylene glycol) solution, containing the electrolyte LiClO4, by using non-steady-state chronoamperometry. The D-app of ferrocene increases with increasing temperature, and the dependency of D-app on temperature obeys the Williams-Landel-Ferry equation. The D-app of ferrocene decreases with increasing polymer chain length. Both the chain length and temperature dependence conform to a simple free volume model. A relation between current and polymer chain length is suggested at room and high temperatures.

A NEW SIMPLE LONG-PATH-LENGTH THIN-LAYER SPECTROELECTROCHEMICAL CELL IN VARIOUS USES

This article describes the design of a new type of long-path-length thin-layer cell (LPTLC), which is constructed by inserting two Teflon cell bodies into a standard cuvette. This cuvette holder enables the LPTLC to combine with photometric instrumentation conveniently. Gold, platinum, glassy carbon, and other materials can be used for the working electrode. Since no soluble adhesive material is used, the cell can meet various needs (in situ conventional and derivative W-vis, in situ circular dichroism, etc.) in both aqueous and nonaqueous systems.

INVESTIGATION OF CETYLPYRIDINIUM BROMIDE ADSORPTION AT A GLASSY-CARBON ELECTRODE SURFACE BY SPECTROELECTROCHEMISTRY WITH A LONG OPTICAL-PATH LENGTH THIN-LAYER CELL

The adsorption of cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB) on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface has been studied by spectroelectrochemistry with a long optical path length thin-layer cell (LOPTLC) for the first time. A fine adsorption isotherm of CPB molecules from an aqueous solution containing 0.10 M KBr has been obtained over the range of (1.00-8.00) x 10(-5) M. From theoretical calculation and experimental data, adsorption of CPB on the GC electrode surface shows four distinct orientations and three large orientation transitions. Compared with the ordinary isotherm, the differential isotherm is more characteristic and would be suitable for the study of orientation transitions of organic compounds. With a theoretical treatment of the adsorption isotherm, four orientations of adsorbed CPB on a GC electrode surface coincide with the Frumkin-Langmuir type. From adsorption parameters the Frumkin-Langmuir equations, the adsorption free energy and, therefore, the equilibrium constants of orientation transitions of the CPB molecule can be obtained.

INVESTIGATION OF ELECTRIC DICHROISM OF CETYLPYRIDINIUM BROMIDE BY SPECTROELECTROCHEMISTRY WITH A LONG OPTICAL-PATH LENGTH THIN-LAYER CELL

In this paper, the electric dichroism of cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB) has been found and studied by spectroelectrochemistry with a long optical path length thin-layer cell (LOPTLC) for the first time. The CPB molecule with a long carbon chain and a polar pyridinium ring is anisotropic in molecular configuration or in polarizability. In the electric field of a thin-layer cell, the CPB molecule reorientates along the direction of the electric field and exhibits electric dichroism, which results in the increase of absorbance of CPB in the UV-vis range. By use of in situ measurement of spectroelectrochemistry, the order parameters of long molecular axis (S = 0.845) and short molecular axis (D = 0.155) and the angle between the long axis direction of the CPB molecule and the direction normal to the electrode surface (theta = 18-degrees 44') have been determined. These data were used to describe the state of arrangement of the molecules in the solution. The reorientation of CPB molecules is the result of the interaction between the anisotropic molecules and electric field. The effects of the concentration of CPB and of the applied electric field on the electric dichroism have been investigated.

GENETIC MAPPING OF THE LAMINARIA JAPONICA (LAMINARALES, PHAEOPHYTA) USING AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM MARKERS

To establish a molecular-marker-assisted system of breeding and genetic study for Laminaria japonica Aresch., amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to construct a genetic linkage map of L. japonica featuring 230 progeny of F-2 cross population. Eighteen primer combinations produced 370 polymorphic loci and 215 polymorphic loci segregated in a 3:1 Mendelian segregation ratio (P <= 0.05). Of the 215 segregated loci, 142 were ordered into 27 linkage groups. The length of the linkage groups ranged from 6.7 to 90.3 centimorgans (cM) with an average length of 49.6 cM, and the total length was 1,085.8 cM, which covered 68.4% of the estimated 1,586.9 cM genome. The number of mapped markers on each linkage group ranged from 2 to 12, averaging 5.3 markers per group. The average density of the markers was 1 per 9.4 cM. Based on the marker density and the resolution of the map, the constructed linkage map can satisfy the need for quantitative trait locus (QTL) location and molecular-marker-assisted breeding for Laminaria.

Assessing genetic identity of sporophytic offspring of the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida derived from mono-crossing of gametophyte clones by use of amplified fragment length polymorphism and microsatellite markers

The haploid stage of gametophytes of the subtidal brown alga Undaria pinnatifida can be vegetatively propagated under favorable conditions. This unique characteristic makes it possible to establish independent gametophyte cell lines that are zoospore-derived. Sporophytic offspring can be generated through hybridizing the male and female gametophytes, which are derived from different cell lines. Accumulated experiences in this and other species in Laminariales demonstrated the applicability of this novel way to breed desired strains for open-sea cultivation. Sporophytic offspring originated from mono-crossing of male and female gametophyte clones were shown to have similar morphological characteristics under identical ambient conditions. However, there has been no report to relate this similarity on molecular levels. In this report, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite markers were used to analyze the genetic identity of sporophytic offspring of U. pinnatifida originated from two mono-crossing lines (M1 and M2), two self-breeding lines (S1 and S2) and one wild population (W). Totally 318 AFLP loci were revealed by use of 11 primer sets, of which 4.7%, 0.3%, 17.9%, 16.4% and 36.5% were polymorphic in M1, M2, S1, S2 and W, respectively. The pairwise genetic identity among the individuals of the same line was assessed. It was shown that offspring from mono-crossing lines had a higher degree of identity (95.6-100%) than self-breeding lines (87.7-98.4%) and the wild population (81.5-92.1%). Analysis by use of six microsatellite loci also revealed a higher genetic identity among individuals of the mono-crossing line, further confirming the results of AFLP analysis. Results from this investigation support, on molecular levels, the novel way to produce and maintain strains in U. pinnatifida by use of different gametophyte cell lines.

A transglutaminase from Chinese shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis), full-length cDNA cloning, tissue localization and expression profile after challenge

Transglutaminase can catalyze the cross-linking reaction between soluble clotting protein molecules from the plasma for prevention of excess blood loss from a wound and obstructing micro-organisms from invading the wound in crustaceans. A novel transglutaminase (FcTG) gene was cloned from hemocytes of Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis by 3' and 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The full-length cDNA consists of 2972 bp, encoding 757 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 84.96 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 5.61. FcTG contains a typical transglutaminase-like homologue (TGc domain: E-value = 1.94e-38). Three catalytic sites (Cys-324, His-391 and Asp-414) are present in this domain. The deduced amino acid sequence of FcTG showed high identity with black tiger shrimp TG, kuruma shrimp TG and crayfish TG. Transcripts of FcTG mRNA were mainly detected in gill, lymphoid organ and hemocytes by RT-PCR. RNA in situ hybridization further confirmed that FcTG was constitutively expressed in hemocytes both in the circulatory system and lymphoid organ. The variation of mRNA transcription level in hemocytes and lymphoid organ following injection of killed bacteria or infection with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was quantified by RT-PCR. The up-regulated expression of FcTG in shrimp lymphoid organ following injection of bacteria indicates that it is inducible and might be associated with bacterial challenge. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a thioester-containing protein from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri

Thioester-containing proteins are a family of proteins characterized by the unique intrachain beta-cysteinyl-gamma-glutamyl thioester, which play important roles in innate immune responses. The cDNA of Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri thioester-containing protein (designated as CfTEP) was cloned by expressed sequence tag (EST) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approaches. The full-length cDNA of CfTEP was of 4616 bp, consisting of a 5 '-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 30 bp and a 3 ' UTR of 140 bp with a polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA and a poly(A) tail. The CfTEP cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 1481 amino acids with the theoretical isoelectric point of 5.98 and the predicted molecular weight of 161.4 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of CfTEP contained the canonical thioester motif GCGEQ, nine potential N-glycosylation sites and a C-terminal distinctive cysteine signature. It also contained a presumed catalytic histidine and proteolytic cleavage sites that were similar to C3 molecules. The high similarity of CfTEP with the thioester-containing proteins in other organisms, such as the TEPs from insects, the complement component C3, C4, C5 and the protease inhibitor alpha(2)-macroglobulin indicated that CfTEP should be a member of TEP family. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that CfTEP was closely related to TEPs from mollusc, nematodes and insects, and they formed a separate branch apart from the branches of complements factors and alpha(2)-macroglobulins. The spatial expression of CfTEP transcripts in healthy and bacterial challenged scallops was examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The CfTEP transcripts were mainly detected in the tissues of hepatopancreas and gonad, and remarkably up-regulated by Microbial challenge, which suggested that CfTEP was a constitutive and inducible acute-phase protein involved in immune defense. These results provided new insights into the role of CfTEP in scallop immune responses, as well as the evolutionary origin of this important, widespread and functionally diversified family of proteins. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

QTL Mapping for Frond Length and Width in Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminarales, Phaeophyta) Using AFLP and SSR Markers

In Laminaria japonica Aresch breeding practice, two quantitative traits, frond length (FL) and frond width (FW), are the most important phenotypic selection index. In order to increase the breeding efficiency by integrating phenotypic selection and marker-assisted selection, the first set of QTL controlling the two traits were determined in F-2 family using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Two prominent L. japonicas inbred lines, one with "broad and thin blade" characteristics and another with "long and narrow blade" characteristics, were applied in the hybridization to yield the F-2 mapping population with 92 individuals. A total of 287 AFLP markers and 11 SSR markers were used to construct a L. japonica genetic map. The yielded map was consisted of 28 linkage groups (LG) named LG1 to LG28, spanning 1,811.1 cM with an average interval of 6.7 cM and covering the 82.8% of the estimated genome 2,186.7 cM. While three genome-wide significant QTL were detected on LG1 (two QTL) and LG4 for "FL," explaining in total 42.36% of the phenotypic variance, two QTL were identified on LG3 and LG5 for the trait "FW," accounting for the total of 36.39% of the phenotypic variance. The gene action of these QTL was additive and partially dominant. The yielded linkage map and the detected QTL can provide a tool for further genetic analysis of two traits and be potential for maker-assisted selection in L. japonica breeding.

Genetic mapping of laminaria japonica and l. longissima using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers in a "two-way pseudo-testcross" strategy

With a "two-way pseudo-testcross" mapping strategy, we applied the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to construct two moderate density genetic linkage maps for Laminaria. The linkage maps were generated from the 60 progenies of the F, cross family (Laminaria longissima Aresch. x L. japonica Miyabe) with twenty pairs of primer combinations. Of the 333 polymorphic loci scored in 60 progenies, 173 segregated in a 1:1 ratio, corresponding to DNA polymorphisms heterozygous in a single parent, and the other 58 loci existing in both parents followed a 3:1 Mendelian segregation ratio. Among the loci with 1:1 segregating ratios, 79 loci were ordered in 14 linkage groups (648.6 cM) of the paternal map, and 72 loci were ordered in 14 linkage groups (601.9 cM) of the maternal map. The average density of loci was approximately 1 per 8 cM. To investigate the homologies between two parental maps, we used 58 loci segregated 3:1 for further analysis, and deduced one homologous linkage group. The linkage data developed in these maps will be useful for detecting loci-controlling commercially important traits for Laminaria.

双刺纺锤水蚤（Acartia bifilosa）基础生物学与生态学研究

20世纪90年代以来，为了确保日益增长的人口对蛋白质的需求，海洋鱼类养殖在全球范围内日趋发展。然而，许多养殖鱼类的品质如抗病力、口味等与野生种类相比大为降低。饵料对于鱼类品质的好坏起着至关重要的作用。在海洋的自然环境中，浮游动物，特别是数量庞大、种类繁多的桡足类是野生鱼类的天然活饵料。哪些桡足类适于作养殖饵料，如何获得、从何处获得桡足类，人工培养是否可行，能否通过加入桡足类来改善养殖鱼类的品质是长期以来业内人士一直关注的问题，需要大量的基础性探索研究工作。 开展有潜在开发价值种的生物学特性及室内培养的基础研究，进而开展大量生产技术的研究与应用，不仅是开发利用桡足类的一个重要途径，而且可以获得一些重要的生态学参数。 本论文自2003年10月－2004年9月之间，在胶州湾采集不同的桡足类种类，通过室内比较培养实验，选定双刺纺锤水蚤作为具有开发潜力的研究培养对象，对其展开一系列培养条件及生物学特性研究，在此基础上进行了小水体增殖培养，结合现场调查资料对与其生活策略相关的生态学问题进行了初步研究探索。结果如下： 筛选：2003年10月－2004年9月全年不同季节共采集11 种桡足类，在室内自然温度、自然海水（盐度30－32）下长时间培养，粗略筛选出能够经受实验室人工养殖水体生活的种类有：强额拟哲水蚤（Paracalanus. crassirostris）、汤氏长足水蚤（Calanopia thompson）、太平洋真宽水蚤（Eurytemora pacifica）、双刺纺锤水蚤（Acartia bifilosa）。对上述种类的成体和子代幼体分别测定其对不同盐度、温度的耐受能力。培养结果表明：18℃室温下，强额拟哲水蚤幼体在盐度20以上的环境中，存活时间不超过11天；汤氏长足水蚤雌体在培养温度低于20℃时，只能存活10天；25℃室温下，当盐度低于20时，汤氏长足水蚤雌体存活时间不超过9天，子代的存活时间不超过7天；太平洋真宽水蚤不适宜在温度较高的夏秋季培养，幼体在不同盐度的实验条件下存活时间不超过5天，不适宜长期培养；双刺纺锤水蚤在全年8－24℃的室内培养温度范围内保持了24－85％的存活率，雌体和子代在盐度10－35的范围内都能存活，最终结果表明双刺纺锤水蚤是其中最适宜进行人工培养的种类。 繁殖：对双刺纺锤水蚤雌体的培养条件和繁殖生物学的研究结果表明：在本实验所使用的6种微藻饵料：微绿球藻（Nannochloropsis oculata）、小球藻（Chlorella.sp）、等鞭金藻（Isochrysis galbana）、三角褐指藻(Phaeodactylum tricornutum)、亚心型扁藻(Platymonas subordiformis)、中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)中，亚心型扁藻和中肋骨条藻适宜成体培养，亚心型扁藻对雌体存活有利，排粪率也要比中肋骨条藻低得多，亚心型扁藻在高温条件下的饵料利用效率要高于中肋骨条藻，中肋骨条藻对产卵有利，二者混合优势互补；预饥饿处理的双刺纺锤水蚤恢复到最高产卵率需要较长的时间，并且一直保持较低的产卵率；该种繁殖的最适温度范围15－20℃；在10－25℃温度范围内的平均产卵率差异并不显著。 生长及发育：对双刺纺锤水蚤幼体培养条件及发育生物学研究结果表明：在本实验所使用的6种微藻饵料中，微绿球藻是比较理想的开口饵料；粒径小（ 4 m）的微藻——微绿球藻和小球藻不能保证双刺纺锤水蚤后期无节幼体发育至桡足阶段，22℃以下采用微绿球藻 + 亚心型扁藻 + 中肋骨条藻的食物搭配，22℃以上需加入粒径在4m左右的等鞭金藻。 世代时间：通过一系列的温度梯度实验，证明在相同饵料的情况下，温度对双刺纺锤水蚤的发育具有显著的影响，在15－25℃的范围内，随着温度的升高，生长速度加快、世代周期缩短；在温度条件为15、18、20、22、25℃下的世代时间分别为25.5, 18.5, 13, 11.5, 9.5天。 群体培养：研究了适宜的微藻饵料种类搭配比例以及总饵料浓度对种群日均增值率的影响。结果表明：20℃下培养宜采用亚心型扁藻：中肋骨条藻：微绿球藻按含碳量2:1:1的比例组成混合饵料，达到最高增殖率的混合饵料浓度范围在1.0－4.0 μg C ml-1之间；25℃下培养宜采用亚心型扁藻：中肋骨条藻：微绿球藻：等鞭金藻按含碳量2:1:1:2的比例组成混合饵料，日均增殖率在混合饵料总浓度为1.0 μg C ml-1 时最高，低于和高于此浓度都会降低日增值率。 度夏机制：针对野外大面调查发现双刺纺锤水蚤在高温季节的胶州湾内仍然存在的事实（传统观点认为该种在夏季从水体中消失，通过休眠卵度夏），本论文从基础生态学研究出发，根据胶州湾夏季的温度和叶绿素浓度资料，设计实验研究了高温和饵料浓度对成体繁殖和幼体生长发育的影响。实验发现，饵料浓度对高温下雌体的繁殖有着明显的影响，15g Chla l-1浓度下的雌体在28℃都可以保持产卵状态，而且卵的孵化率也在50％以上；各处理中的卵都很快孵化，并保持了60％以上的孵化率；高浓度组15 g Chla l-1和10 g Chla l-1，无节幼体都能发育至成体，低浓度5 g Chla l-1处理组中，28℃下，不能发育至桡足阶段，而25℃下也只能发育至C4期。在本实验中没有发现双刺纺锤水蚤产生休眠卵。在胶州湾自然环境中发现该种全年存在。胶州湾中的双刺纺锤水蚤在夏季能够在不产生休眠卵的情况下安全度夏。

Effects of different diets on the reproduction and naupliar development of the copepod Acartia bifilosa

The influence of diatoms on the reproduction and naupliar development of Acartia bifilosa was investigated under laboratory conditions, comparing initial in situ values and laboratory-food treatments. Egg production by A. bifilosa was significantly reduced by one diatom diet (Phaeodactylum tricornutum: Pt) and by two non-diatom diets (Platymonas subordiformis: Ps and Nannochloropsis oculata: No). It was less affected by the other diatom diet (Skeletonema costatum: Sc) or by two mixed-food treatments (D-mix and DG-mix), composed of two diatoms (Pt, Sc) and four species (Pt, Sc, Ps and No), respectively. The negative effect of Pt was eliminated when adult copepods were offered mixed-food diets. There were no significant differences between the hatching success values observed in filtered seawater and in algal exudates, indicating that diatoms did not produce active dissolved toxic substances under the different food concentrations tested. The mortality rate of nauplii was higher with Pt than the other diets, suggesting that this diatom species had a negative effect on egg production, hatching success and naupliar survival simultaneously. Compared to other diets, No and Pt were not beneficial food sources for reproduction and for female and larval survival. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.