Embryology of Swertia (Gentianaceae) relative to taxonomy

The embryological features of three species of Swertia (s.l.) - S. erythrosticta, S. franchetiana, and S. tetraptera were characterized, and the observations were used, together with previously gathered data on other species, to evaluate a recently proposed polyphyly, based on molecular data, of Swertia s.l. Comparisons of species within the genus showed that they have diversified embryologically, and there are significant between-species differences. Notable features that vary between species include the number of cell layers that form the anther locule wall, the construction of the wall of the mature anther, tapetum origin, the cell number in mature pollen grains, the structure of the fused margins of the two carpels, the ovule numbers in placental cross-sections, the shape of the mature embryo sac, the degree of ovule curvature, antipodal variation and the presence of a hypostase, and seed appendages. They share characters that are widely distributed in the tribe Gentianeae, such as a dicotyledonous type of anther wall formation, a glandular tapetum with uninucleate cells, simultaneous cytokinesis following the meiosis of the microsporocytes, tetrahedral microspore tetrads, superior, bicarpellary and unilocular ovaries, unitegmic and tenuinucellar ovules, Polygonum-type megagametophytes, progamous fertilization, nuclear endosperm, and Solanad-type embryogeny. The presence of variation in embryological characters amongst the species of Swertia s.l. strongly supports the view that Swertia s.l. is not a monophyletic group. Frasera is better separated from Swertia s.l. as an independent genus, and is only distantly related to Swertia s. s. judging from the numerous differences in embryology. Swertia tetraptera is very closely related to Halenia, as they show identical embryology. (C) 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 155, 383-400.

柴西南区下干柴沟组下段层序地层格架内沉积相展布及有利储集砂体分布研究

Lower member of the lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southwestern of Qaidam Basin is one of the main targeted exploration zones. With the advancement of exploration, the targets are gradually switching into the lithologic reservoirs and it is urgent to gain the more precise research results in distribution of sedimentary facies and sandstones. Guided by the theory of sequence stratigraphy and sedimentology as well as on the basis of many logging data, drillings, seismic data and chemical tests, the paper comprehensively analyzes the sedimentary facies and sandstones in the lower member of lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southern of Chaixi. According to the identification marks of the key interface in sequence stratigraphy, the key interfaces in lower member of lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southwestern of Qaidam Basin are identified as two third-order sequences SQ1、SQ2. By calibrating the synthetic seismogram, the seismic sequence, well drilling and logging sequences are united. Based on the works above, this paper chooses seven primary cross-sections and builds connecting-well stratigraphic correlation of seven main connecting-well sections. Ultimately, the high-resolution sequence stratigraphic frameworks in the lower member of the lower Ganchaigou Formation, which are uniform to logging and seismic data, are figured out. In terms of study on each sequence features, the main style of the base-level cycle overlay which forms the third-order sequence is confirmed. It contains asymmetric “becoming deep upward” style and symmetry style. Researching on the spreading characters of sequence stratigraphy indicates that SQ1 and SQ2 are rather thicker near northwest well Shashen 20 and Shaxin1 while they are quite thiner near Hongcan 1, Yuejin, Qie 4 and Dong8-Wu3, and the thickness of SQ1 is thicker than SQ2.Based on the deep analysis of the marks for depositional facies, it is proposed that the lake facies and braid river deltas facies mainly occurred in study areas. Besides, the sorts of sub-facies and micro-facies model are divided and described. Under the control of high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework, three source directions from Arlarer Mountain、Qimantage Mountain and Dongchai Mountain are identified by using the features of heavy mineral assemblage and paleogeomorphy. In addition, regularities of distribution sedimentary facies in sequence stratigraphic framework are studied in accordance with research thinking of the "point" (single well) "line" (section) "face" (plane). In the stage of lower member in the lower Ganchaigou Formation in the southwestern of Qaidam Basin, it is at the early phrase of evolution of the lake basin with the gradual outspread and the rise of the lake level. Combined with physical analysis of reservoir sands formed in different sedimentary environment, the paper studies the style of favorable sandstone bodies that are underwater distributary channel of braided rive delta front, coarse sand in mouth bar and the sand body in sand flat of shore-shallow lacustrine facies. Finally, this article comprehensively analyzes the distribution relationship between sedimentary facies and favorable sandstone body and proposes the ideas that sequence SQ1 Yuejin area, well east 8-wu3 area, well qie4-qie1 area and well hongcan2 area are distributed areas of favorable sandstone.

苏里格气田苏6加密井区山1-盒8层段河流沉积体系分析

Sulige gas field is located in Northwest of Yi-Shan Slope of the Ordos Basin. The Shan 1 Member of the Shanxi Formation and He8 Member of the ShiHeZi Formation are not only objective strata of research but also main producing strata of the Sulige Field. From core and wireline log data of 32 wells in well Su6 area of Sulige field, no less than six lithofaice types can be recognised. They are Gm,Sl,Sh,Sm,Sp,Fl,Fm. Box-shaped, bell-shaped, funnel-shaped and line-segment-shaped log are typcial gamma-ray log characters and shapes. The Depositonal system of the Shan1-He8 strata in research area have five bounding-surface hierarchies and was composed of six architectural elements, CH, LS,FF（CH）,SB,LA,GB. The depositional model of Shan 1 was the type of a sandy meandering river with natural levee, abandoned channels and crevasse splay. Channel depth of this model maybe 7-12 m and the fullest-bank flow can reach 14 m high. Based on analysis of depositional causes, a sandy braided river model for the depositional system of He 8 can be erected. It consists of active main channels, active chute channels, sheet-like sand bars, abandoned main channels and abandoned chute channels. Channel depth of this model can be 3-4 m with 9 m of highest flow. Six gamma-ray log cross sections show that the connectivity of sandbodies through Shan 1 Member is lower than He 8. Influenced by occurrence of mudy and silty deposits, vertical connectivity of sandbodies through He 8 is not high.

南海北部大陆边缘盆地热演化史及其与油气关系

This thesis focuses on the present-day thermal field features, evolution and their connections to hydrocarbon generation of the three continental margin basins-the Yinggehai (Yingge Sea), Qiongdongnan(southeast Qiong), and Pear River Mouth basins-in northern South China Sea, based on available data from drillings, loggings, seismic cross-sections, BHTs, thermal indicators (Ro%, inclusion, etc) and geopressure measurements. After studying of present-day distribution of geothermal field and thermal disturbance of fluid in the sedimentary strata, the author discovered that the distribution of gas fields in Yinggehai Basin are closely related to the distribution of anomalously high thermal gradient area, whereas it is not the case for the Pear River Mouse Basin. And detailed processing of the fluid inclusion data indicates that geothermal fluids activated frequently in this area, and they may mainly be derived upward from the overpressure and hydrocarbon-generating beds, 3000-4500 m in depth. Therefore, the abnormal gradients in sedimentary beds were mainly caused by the active geothermal fluids related to hydrocarbon migrating and accumulating in this area. Because of the effect of overpressure retarding on vitrinite reflectance, the thermal indicators for thermal history reconstruction should be assessed before put into use. Although some factors, such as different types of kerogen, heating ratio, activities of thermal fluids and overpressure, may have effects on the vitrinite reflectance, under the circumstance that thermal fluids and overpressure co-exist, overpressure retarding is dominant. And the depth and correction method of overpressure retarding were also determined in this paper. On the basis of reviewing the methods of thermal history studies as well as existing problems, the author believes that the combination of thermal-indicator-inversion and tectono-thermal modeling is an effective method of the thermal history reconstruction for sedimentary basins. Also, a software BaTherMod for modeling thermal history of basins was successfully developed in this work. The Yinggehai Basin has been active since Tertiary, and this was obviously due to its tectonic position-the plate transition zone. Under the background of high thermal flow, long-term quick subsidence and fluid activities were the main reasons that lead to high temperature and overpressure in this basin. The Zhujiangkou Basin, a Tertiary fault-basin within the circum-Pacific tectonic realm, was tectonically controlled by the motion of the Pacific Plate and resembles the other petroliferous basins in eastern China. This basin developed early, and characterized intensive extension in the early stage and weak activity in the later stage of its development. Whereas the Qiongdongnan Basin was in a weak extension early and intensity of extension increased gradually. The relative geographical locations and the extensional histories of three basins ilustrate that the northern continental margin of South China Sea spread from south to north. On the other hand, the Qiongdongnan and Yinggehai Basins may have been controlled by the same tectonic regime since later Tertiary, whereas the Zhujiangkou Basin was not meaningfully influenced. So, the tectono-thermal evolution character of the Qiongdonnan basin should be closely to the other two. It may be concluded that the three basins have been developed within the active continental margin since Tertiary, and the local lithosphere might undergo intensive extension-perhaps two or three times of episodic extension occurred. Extension lead to large tectonoc subsidence and extreme thick Tertiary sediments for hydrocarbon generation in the basins. In response to the periodic extension of the basins, the palaeothermal flow were also periodical. The three basins all have the characteristics of multi-phase thermal evolutions that is good for oil-gas generation. And the overpressure expands the depth range of oil-gas habitat, which is meaningful to petroleum exploration in this region.

准噶尔盆地侏罗系层序格架和油气成藏条件研究

Jurassic is an important hydrocarbon-bearing formation in Junggar Basin. Analyzing in strata sequence stratigraphy and hydrocarbon formation has both theoretical and practical values. First of all, strata sequence stratigraphy of continental facies is a new development and supplement in the theory of stratigraphic geology. Stratum of continental facies, unlike sea facies, has rich sup-plements, rapid facies changes, and was influenced slightly by sea level changes. The structural background and sedimentary environment of the basin in west China are greatly different from those of the basins in east China. So it is important to build the patterns of strata sequence stratigraphy in west China basins. Secondly, it is also of significance to find out all kinds of traps, for the dominant types are structural ones so far. After 50 years exploration, the stratigraphic or litholigic traps have become the main concern. This desertation is mainly focused on establishing the isochronal strtaum frame for Junggar Basin to show the evolvement characters of the basin sediment system and the regionalstuctrue background. By analyzing the conditions and patterns of the regional oil and gas bearing formations with typical cross-sections, we have established the patterns of sedimentary conditions for different reserviors. By authur's study, several fruitful results have been obtained in the following: Strata sequence frame and evolvement characteristics of Jurassic: By studing strata sequence, Jurassic has been divided into 2 second rank strata sequences and 3 third rank strata sequences based on the interface unconformities. Only 2 fourth rank strata sequences were grouped in BaDaoWan group. Also different seismic facies and sediment units have been recognized with the establishment of the of sediment system model. The oil-gas system characteristics in Jurassic: We conclude that hydrocar bon resources have the best oil potential. Potential of coal, carbonaceous and dark mudstone were reduced in turn. In this thesis we have made the evaluation of three hydrocarbon sources and the distribution oil-gas resource, and studied the potentials of hydrocarbon and evolvement for each kind of micro-component of the two main resource rocks. Prediction of paleo-temperature: In Junggar basin the evolvement of paleo-ground temperature can be divided into three stages. From Carboniferous to early Permian grads of ancient ground temperature was 8-5 ℃/100m, 5-3 ℃/100m from later period of Permian to end Trias, 3-2 ℃/100m from Jurassic to early Tertiary. Patterns of Jurassic hydrocarbon-bearing reserviors: There were two kinds of hydrocarbon source of Permian and Jurassic. They form different hydrocarbon - bearing systems. Six fundamental hydrocarbon - bearing trap modeS have been established. Directions for later exploration: There were two kinds of regional belts in Jurassic, One is structural belt caused by Yanshan and Ximalaya process, and the other was the stratum one caused by paleostructural rises.

三维油藏数值模拟正反演算法研究

The dynamic prediction of complex reservoir development is one of the important research contents of dynamic analysis of oil and gas development. With the increase development of time, the permeabilities and porosities of reservoirs and the permeability of block reservoir at its boundaries are dynamically changing. How to track the dynamic change of permeability and porosity and make certain the permeability of block reservoir at its boundary is an important practical problem. To study developing dynamic prediction of complex reservoir, the key problem of research of dynamic prediction of complex reservoir development is realizing inversion of permeability and porosity. To realize the inversion, first of all, the fast forward and inverse method of 3-dimension reservoir simulation must be studied. Although the inversion has been widely applied to exploration and logging, it has not been applied to3-dimension reservoir simulation. Therefore, the study of fast forward and inverse method of 3-dimension reservoir simulation is a cutting-edge problem, takes on important realistic signification and application value. In this dissertation, 2-dimension and 3-dimension fluid equations in porous media are discretized by finite difference, obtaining finite difference equations to meet the inner boundary conditions by Peaceman's equations, giving successive over relaxation iteration of 3-dimension fluid equations in porous media and the dimensional analysis. Several equation-solving methods are compared in common use, analyzing its convergence and convergence rate. The alternating direction implicit procedure of 2-dimension has been turned into successive over relaxation iteration of alternating direction implicit procedure of 3-dimension fluid equations in porous media, which possesses the virtues of fast computing speed, needing small memory of computer, good adaptability for heterogeneous media and fast convergence rate. The geological model of channel-sandy reservoir has been generated with the help of stochastic simulation technique, whose cross sections of channel-sandy reservoir are parabolic shapes. This method makes the hard data commendably meet, very suit for geological modeling of containing complex boundary surface reservoir. To verify reliability of the method, theoretical solution and numerical solution are compared by simplifying model of 3-dimension fluid equations in porous media, whose results show that the only difference of the two pressure curves is that the numerical solution is lower than theoretical at the wellbore in the same space. It proves that using finite difference to solve fluid equations in porous media is reliable. As numerical examples of 3-dimension heterogeneous reservoir of the single-well and multi-well, the pressure distributions have been computed respectively, which show the pressure distributions there are clearly difference as difference of the permeabilities is greater than one order of magnitude, otherwise there are no clearly difference. As application, the pressure distribution of the channel-sandy reservoir have been computed, which indicates that the space distribution of pressure strongly relies on the direction of permeability, and is sensitive for space distributions of permeability. In this dissertation, the Peaceman's equations have been modified into solving vertical well problem and horizontal well problem simultaneously. In porous media, a 3D layer reservoir in which contain vertical wells and horizontal wells has been calculated with iteration. For channel-sandy reservoir in which there are also vertical wells and horizontal wells, a 3D transient heterogeneous fluid equation has been discretized. As an example, the space distribution of pressure has been calculated with iteration. The results of examples are accord with the fact, which shows the modification of Peaceman's equation is correct. The problem has been solved in the space where there are vertical and horizontal wells. In the dissertation, the nonuniform grid permeability integration equation upscaling method, the nonuniform grid 2D flow rate upscaling method and the nonuniform grid 3D flow rate upscaling method have been studied respectively. In those methods, they enhance computing speed greatly, but the computing speed of 3D flow rate upscaling method is faster than that of 2D flow rate upscaling method, and the precision of 3D flow rate upscaling method is better than that of 2D flow rate upscaling method. The results also show that the solutions of upscaling method are very approximating to that of fine grid blocks. In this paper, 4 methods of fast adaptive nonuniform grid upscaling method of 3D fluid equations in porous media have been put forward, and applied to calculate 3D heterogeneous reservoir and channel-sandy reservoir, whose computing results show that the solutions of nonuniform adaptive upscaling method of 3D heterogeneous fluid equations in porous media are very approximating to that of fine grid blocks in the regions the permeability or porosity being abnormity and very approximating to that of coarsen grid blocks in the other region, however, the computing speed of adaptive upscaling method is 100 times faster than that of fine grid block method. The formula of sensitivity coefficients are derived from initial boundary value problems of fluid equations in porous media by Green's reciprocity principle. The sensitivity coefficients of wellbore pressure to permeability parameters are given by Peaceman's equation and calculated by means of numerical calculation method of 3D transient anisotropic fluid equation in porous media and verified by direct method. The computing results are in excellent agreement with those obtained by the direct method, which shows feasibility of the method. In the dissertation, the calculating examples are also given for 3D reservoir, channel-sandy reservoir and 3D multi-well reservoir, whose numerical results indicate: around the well hole, the value of the sensitivity coefficients of permeability is very large, the value of the sensitivity coefficients of porosity is very large too, but the sensitivity coefficients of porosity is much less than the sensitivity coefficients of permeability, so that the effect of the sensitivity coefficients of permeability for inversion of reservoir parameters is much greater than that of the sensitivity coefficients of porosity. Because computing the sensitivity coefficients needs to call twice the program of reservoir simulation in one iteration, realizing inversion of reservoir parameters must be sustained by the fast forward method. Using the sensitivity coefficients of permeability and porosity, conditioned on observed valley erosion thickness in wells (hard data), the inversion of the permeabilities and porosities in the homogeneous reservoir, homogeneous reservoir only along the certain direction and block reservoir are implemented by Gauss-Newton method or conjugate gradient method respectively. The results of our examples are very approximating to the real data of permeability and porosity, but the convergence rate of conjugate gradient method is much faster than that of Gauss-Newton method.

辽河盆地东部凹陷热历史及其与油气关系

This dissertation focuses on the basin geothermal history, tectonothermal evolution and the relationship between geothermal field evolution and hydrocarbon generation. Based on the research of present-day geothermal field, geothermal history of Eastern Subdepression of Liaohe Basin was reconstructed with available data from drillings, loggings, seismic cross-sections, BHTs and thermal indicators. 12 heat flow density values were calculated. Ranging from 45.7 mW/m~2 to 70.0 mW/m~2, the mean value of these determinations exhibits 58.0(±5.83mW/m~22). The heat flow density in the uplift and ramp is greater than that in the sag. The main factors affecting the heat flow density are the morphostructure of basement and thickness of sedimentary cover. The Subdepression experienced a much higher heat flow period from 43 Ma to about 25 Ma. The heat flow increased gradually from Sha3 stage to Dongying stage, and reached the peak at the late of Dongying stage, then cooled down. Structural subsidence analysis shows that the subsidence of Eastern Subdepression can be divided into two phases: earlier (25-43Ma) initial (rift) and late (since 25Ma) thermal subsidence. The lower present-day heat flow and the higher palaeo-heat flow corresponding to structural subsidence stage as well as the typical rift subsidence style in Eastern Subdepression provide with some insights to the tectonic-thermal evolution of the basin. The source rocks of Sha3 member began to generate oil in the Shal stage, and entered oil-window at the late of Dongying stage. The source rocks of Shal began to generate oil at the late of Dongying stage, and being at the stage of lower maturation-maturation now. Most of Dongying source rocks are not mature now. The late of Dongying stage is the critical time for the oil system.

Broadband optical cavity absorption spectroscopy in the near-ultraviolet: applications in atmospheric chemistry

A novel spectroscopic method, incoherent broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy (IBBCEAS), has been modified and extended to measure absorption spectra in the near-ultraviolet with high sensitivity. The near-ultraviolet region extends from 300 to 400 nm and is particularly important in tropospheric photochemistry; absorption of near-UV light can also be exploited for sensitive trace gas measurements of several key atmospheric constituents. In this work, several IBBCEAS instruments were developed to record reference spectra and to measure trace gas concentrations in the laboratory and field. An IBBCEAS instrument was coupled to a flow cell for measuring very weak absorption spectra between 335 and 375 nm. The instrument was validated against the literature absorption spectrum of SO2. Using the instrument, we report new absorption cross-sections of O3, acetone, 2-butanone, and 2-pentanone in this spectral region, where literature data diverge considerably owing to the extremely weak absorption. The instrument was also applied to quantifying low concentrations of the short-lived radical, BrO, in the presence of strong absorption by Br2 and O3. A different IBBCEAS system was adapted to a 4 m3 atmosphere simulation chamber to record the absorption cross-sections of several low vapour pressure compounds, which are otherwise difficult to measure. Absorption cross-sections of benzaldehyde and the more volatile alkyl nitrites agree well with previous spectra; on this basis, the cross-sections of several nitrophenols are reported for the first time. In addition, the instrument was also used to study the optical properties of secondary organic aerosol formed following the photooxidation of isoprene. An extractive IBBCEAS instrument was developed for detecting HONO and NO2 and had a sensitivity of about 10-9 cm-1. This instrument participated in a major international intercomparison of HONO and NO2 measurements held in the EUPHORE simulation chamber in Valencia, Spain, and results from that campaign are also reported here.

Simulation of multigate SOI transistors with silicon, germanium and III-V channels

In this work by employing numerical three-dimensional simulations we study the electrical performance and short channel behavior of several multi-gate transistors based on advanced SOI technology. These include FinFETs, triple-gate and gate-all-around nanowire FETs with different channel material, namely Si, Ge, and III-V compound semiconductors, all most promising candidates for future nanoscale CMOS technologies. Also, a new type of transistor called “junctionless nanowire transistor” is presented and extensive simulations are carried out to study its electrical characteristics and compare with the conventional inversion- and accumulation-mode transistors. We study the influence of device properties such as different channel material and orientation, dimensions, and doping concentration as well as quantum effects on the performance of multi-gate SOI transistors. For the modeled n-channel nanowire devices we found that at very small cross sections the nanowires with silicon channel are more immune to short channel effects. Interestingly, the mobility of the channel material is not as significant in determining the device performance in ultrashort channels as other material properties such as the dielectric constant and the effective mass. Better electrostatic control is achieved in materials with smaller dielectric constant and smaller source-to-drain tunneling currents are observed in channels with higher transport effective mass. This explains our results on Si-based devices. In addition to using the commercial TCAD software (Silvaco and Synopsys TCAD), we have developed a three-dimensional Schrödinger-Poisson solver based on the non-equilibrium Green’s functions formalism and in the framework of effective mass approximation. This allows studying the influence of quantum effects on electrical performance of ultra-scaled devices. We have implemented different mode-space methodologies in our 3D quantum-mechanical simulator and moreover introduced a new method to deal with discontinuities in the device structures which is much faster than the coupled-mode-space approach.

The HITRAN 2008 molecular spectroscopic database

This paper describes the status of the 2008 edition of the HITRAN molecular spectroscopic database. The new edition is the first official public release since the 2004 edition, although a number of crucial updates had been made available online since 2004. The HITRAN compilation consists of several components that serve as input for radiative-transfer calculation codes: individual line parameters for the microwave through visible spectra of molecules in the gas phase; absorption cross-sections for molecules having dense spectral features, i.e. spectra in which the individual lines are not resolved; individual line parameters and absorption cross-sections for bands in the ultraviolet; refractive indices of aerosols, tables and files of general properties associated with the database; and database management software. The line-by-line portion of the database contains spectroscopic parameters for 42 molecules including many of their isotopologues. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd.

The HITRAN molecular spectroscopic database: Edition of 2000 including updates through 2001

This paper describes the status circa 2001, of the HITRAN compilation that comprises the public edition available through 2001. The HITRAN compilation consists of several components useful for radiative transfer calculation codes: high-resolution spectroscopic parameters of molecules in the gas phase, absorption cross-sections for molecules with very dense spectral features, aerosol refractive indices, ultraviolet line-by-line parameters and absorption cross-sections, and associated database management software. The line-by-line portion of the database contains spectroscopic parameters for 38 molecules and their isotopologues and isotopomers suitable for calculating atmospheric transmission and radiance properties. Many more molecular species are presented in the infrared cross-section data than in the previous edition, especially the chlorofluorocarbons and their replacement gases. There is now sufficient representation so that quasi-quantitative simulations can be obtained with the standard radiance codes. In addition to the description and justification of new or modified data that have been incorporated since the last edition of HITRAN (1996), future modifications are indicated for cases considered to have a significant impact on remote-sensing experiments. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phase-accuracy comparisons and improved far-field estimates for 3-D edge elements on tetrahedral meshes

Edge-element methods have proved very effective for 3-D electromagnetic computations and are widely used on unstructured meshes. However, the accuracy of standard edge elements can be criticised because of their low order. This paper analyses discrete dispersion relations together with numerical propagation accuracy to determine the effect of tetrahedral shape on the phase accuracy of standard 3-D edgeelement approximations in comparison to other methods. Scattering computations for the sphere obtained with edge elements are compared with results obtained with vertex elements, and a new formulation of the far-field integral approximations for use with edge elements is shown to give improved cross sections over conventional formulations.

Single and double detachment from H-

Absolute cross sections for single and double detachment from H– following electron impact have been measured over a range of collision energies from the thresholds to 170 eV. The measurements were made using a magnetic storage ring. The ions in the ring were merged with a monoenergetic electron beam and neutral and positively charged fragments were detected. We cover larger energy ranges than in many of the previous experiments, and this is the first time both single and double detachment have been measured simultaneously. This allows us to present accurate ratios between the single and double detachment cross sections. On the basis of these ratio measurements we discuss possible mechanisms leading to double detachment.

Effect of excitation wavelength on the Raman spectroscopy of the porcine photoreceptor layer from the area centralis.

Raman microscopy, based upon the inelastic scattering (Raman) of light by molecular species, has been applied as a specific structural probe in a wide range of biomedical samples. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the potential of the technique for spectral characterization of the porcine outer retina derived from the area centralis, which contains the highest proportion of cone:rod cell ratio in the pig retina. METHODS: Retinal cross-sections, immersion-fixed in 4% (w/v) PFA and cryoprotected, were placed on salinized slides and air-dried prior to direct Raman microscopic analysis at three excitation wavelengths, 785 nm, 633 nm, and 514 nm. RESULTS: Raman spectra of each of the photoreceptor inner and outer segments (PIS, POS) and of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) of the retina acquired at 785 nm were dominated by vibrational features characteristic of proteins and lipids. There was a clear difference between the inner and outer domains in the spectroscopic regions, amide I and III, known to be sensitive to protein conformation. The spectra recorded with 633 nm excitation mirrored those observed at 785 nm excitation for the amide I region, but with an additional pattern of bands in the spectra of the PIS region, attributed to cytochrome c. The same features were even more enhanced in spectra recorded with 514 nm excitation. A significant nucleotide contribution was observed in the spectra recorded for the ONL at all three excitation wavelengths. A Raman map was constructed of the major spectral components found in the retinal outer segments, as predicted by principal component analysis of the data acquired using 633 nm excitation. Comparison of the Raman map with its histological counterpart revealed a strong correlation between the two images. CONCLUSIONS: It has been demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy offers a unique insight into the biochemical composition of the light-sensing cells of the retina following the application of standard histological protocols. The present study points to the considerable promise of Raman microscopy as a component-specific probe of retinal tissue.

Fe XIII emission lines in active region spectra obtained with the Solar Extreme-Ultraviolet Research Telescope and Spectrograph

Recent fully relativistic calculations of radiative rates and electron impact excitation cross-sections for FeXIII are used to generate emission-line ratios involving 3s23p2-3s3p3 and 3s23p2-3s23p3d transitions in the 170-225 and 235-450 Å wavelength ranges covered by the Solar Extreme-Ultraviolet Research Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS). A comparison of these line ratios with SERTS active region observations from rocket flights in 1989 and 1995 reveals generally very good agreement between theory and experiment. Several new FeXIII emission features are identified, at wavelengths of 203.79, 259.94, 288.56 and 290.81 Å. However, major discrepancies between theory and observation remain for several FeXIII transitions, as previously found by Landi and others, which cannot be explained by blending. Errors in the adopted atomic data appear to be the most likely explanation, in particular for transitions which have 3s23p3d1D2 as their upper level. The most useful FeXIII electron-density diagnostics in the SERTS spectral regions are assessed, in terms of the line pairs involved being (i) apparently free of atomic physics problems and blends, (ii) close in wavelength to reduce the effects of possible errors in the instrumental intensity calibration, and (iii) very sensitive to changes in Ne over the range 108-1011cm-3. It is concluded that the ratios which best satisfy these conditions are 200.03/202.04 and 203.17/202.04 for the 170-225 Å wavelength region, and 348.18/320.80, 348.18/368.16, 359.64/348.18 and 359.83/368.16 for 235-450 Å.