Improved neutron radiation hardness for Si detectors: Application of low resistivity starting material and or manipulation of N-eff by selective filling of radiation-induced traps at low temperatures

Radiation-induced electrical changes in both space charge region (SCR) of Si detectors and bulk material (BM) have been studied for samples of diodes and resistors made on Si materials with different initial resistivities. The space charge sign inversion fluence (Phi(inv)) has been found to increase linearly with the initial doping concentration (the reciprocal of the resistivity), which gives improved radiation hardness to Si detectors fabricated from low resistivity material. The resistivity of the BM, on the other hand, has been observed to increase with the neutron fluence and approach a saturation value in the order of hundreds k Omega cm at high fluences, independent of the initial resistivity and material type. However, the fluence (Phi(s)), at which the resistivity saturation starts, increases with the initial doping concentrations and the value of Phi(s) is in the same order of that of Phi(inv) for all resistivity samples. Improved radiation hardness can also be achieved by the manipulation of the space charge concentration (N-eff) in SCR, by selective filling and/or freezing at cryogenic temperatures the charge state of radiation-induced traps, to values that will give a much smaller full depletion voltage. Models have been proposed to explain the experimental data.

Solvent extraction study of protactinium(V) with methyl-iso-butyl carbinol and methyl-iso-butyl ketone

In order to study the extraction pattern of protactinium in different types of extracting agents and compare the similarity of patterns of extraction with dubnium and thereby unraveling its chemistry, solvent extraction of protactinium(V) with methyl-iso-butyl carbinol (MIBC) and methyl-iso-butyl ketone (MIBK) was studied using Pa-233 as a radiotracer. The extraction efficiencies of Pa were determined as a function of shaking time, concentrations of mineral acids, and extractant concentrations using the two extractants. The results show that MIBK is more suitable for the extraction of protactinium than MIBC in benzene. Furthermore, the effect of the F anion is also discussed.

The Impact of Environmental Non-Tariff Measures on China's Agricultural Exports

This article assesses the impact of environmental non-tariff measures on China's agricultural exports. It uses two measures to show which countries make most intensive use of environmental non-tariff measures and which agricultural products exported by China are the most affected. Environmental non-tariff measures were most prevalence in Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Mexico, Japan, Russian, USA, Germany, and Netherland. Labor-intensive agricultural products, such as fish, vegetables, and fruit were most seriously affected.

Assembly of the subcellular parts of Bryopsis hypnoides Lamouroux into new protoplasts

The chloroplasts, mitochondria, and protoplasm devoid of mature chloroplasts (PMC) of Bryopsis hypnoides Lamouroux were isolated by low-speed and sucrose density centrifugation. The PMC aggregated in artificial seawater, and then protoplasts without mature chloroplasts (PtMCs) were formed. Transmission electron microscopy and cytochemical studies indicated that there were mitochondria, nuclei, vesicles, and other small cell organelles in the PtMCs. Scanning electron microscopy showed that there were holes on the surface of 1-h PtMCs and then fewer holes on the surface of 24-h PtMCs, suggesting that a healing process occurred. The plasma membrane was formed over the surface of the PtMCs. However, the cell wall was not regenerated, and the newly formed PtMCs were ruptured and died in 3 days. Light intensity during alga maintenance before use influenced significantly (one-way ANOVA, P < 0.0001) on the number of PtMCs formed; the highest number of PtMCs was formed at 20A mu mol/(m(2) s). When isolated chloroplasts were transferred into seawater, there were only two or three chloroplasts aggregated together. However, isolated mitochondria and the mixed six layers of cell organelles (separated by sucrose density centrifugation) could not aggregate in the artificial seawater. This indicates that the conjunction of cell organelles is important for their aggregation.

VEGF gene silencing by cytomegalovirus promoter driven ShRNA expression vector results in vascular development defects in zebrafish

Zebrafish has been generally considered as an excellent model in case of drug screening, disease model establishment, and vertebrate embryonic development study. In this work, the ability of human cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter (CMV promoter)-driven short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vector to induce shRNA against VEGF gene in zebrafish was tested, and its effect on vascular development was assed, too. Using RT-qPCR, blood vessel staining, and in situ hybridization, we confirmed certain transcriptional activity and down regulation of gene expression by the vector. In situ hybridization analysis indicated selective inhibition of NRP1 expression in the VEGF gene loss of function model, which might imply in turn that VEGF could not only activate endothelial cells directly but also could contribute to stimulating angiogenesis in vivo by a mechanism that involved up-regulation of its cognate receptor expression in zebrafish. This contributed to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular development. The system improved the success rate in making inducible knockdown and widened the possibilities for better therapeutic targets in zebrafish.

Interaction between phycobilisomes from Porphyridium cruentum and thylakoid membranes from Gymnodinium sp or spinach

Thylakoid membranes were isolated from Gymnodinium sp. and spinach, whereas the phycobilisomes were isolated and purified from red alga Porphyridium cruentum. The absorption spectra of the purified phycobilisomes (PBS) showed three peaks at 548, 564, and 624 nm, respectively, and the ratio of the fluorescence intensity at the lambda(680)(em) to lambda(80)(em5) that at was about 7.3. All these results demonstrated that the purified PBS remained intact. The thylakoid membranes were incubated with the purified phycobilisomes, and the thylakoid membranes, which harbored the phycobilisomes, were purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Meantime, the conjugates of phycobilisome-thylakoid membranes were constructed using glutaraldehyde and further purified. Their characteristics were studied by measuring the absorption spectra and fluorescence emission spectra. The results showed that the phycobilisomes from Porphyridium cruentum can attach to the thylakoid membranes from Gymnodinium sp. and spinach without covalent cross-linking, but the excited energy transfer did not occur. The conjugate of phycobilisome-thylakoid. membranes with covalent cross-linking exhibits the excited energy transfer between the phycobilisomes and the thylakoid membranes.

Studies on hybridization effects of different geographic populations of Chlamys farreri - II. The medium-term growth and development of Chlamys farreri populations from China and Russia and their reciprocal crosses

Based on the research of juvenile (2, 3, 4 months) growth and survival of three populations of two different geographic areas in Chlamys farreri from Russian and China and their F, hybrids derived from Chinese cultural population (CC) female x Russian population (RW) male, Chinese wild population (CW) female x Russian population (RW) male, Russian population (RW) female x Chinese wild population (CW) the study of the medium-term (6, 8, 10, 12 months) growth and development of Chlamys farreri was carried out. The four determined results indicated that there existed different extent heterosis (3% similar to 52 %) for the growth in three types of F-1 hybrids, and the offspring derived from CC female X Rmale had a stronger heterosis among the crosses at the medium-term; the uptrend among traits are wet weight > shell width > shell length > shell height, Chinese cultural population could be recognized as excellent parent, and seasonal variations influence very much on the daily increment and growth rate of each trait of Chlamys farreri and it is only able to survive and could barely grow in winter (6 similar to 8 months), but grows fast in temperate season (10similar to12 months).

Comparison between compsopogon coeruleus and porphyra yezoensis in their O-2 evolution rates and phycobilisome composition

In order to investigate the possible effects of the ecological environment on photosynthetic activity and the major light harvesting complex, the oxygen evolution rates and composition of phycobilisome from marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis Ueda and freshwater red alga Compsopogon coeruleus (Balbis) Montagne, which could grow and reproduce under salinity up to 35 ppt, were studied. The results showed that the oxygen evolution rate of P. yezoensis in seawater was significantly higher than that of C. coeruleus in freshwater, and P. yezoensis tolerated inorganic ions at a relatively higher concentration than C. coeruleus. Moreover, the phycoerythrin (PE) of P yezoensis was R-phycoerythrin containing alpha, beta, and gamma subunits comprised phycoerythrobilin and phycourobilin. In contrast, the PE from C. coeruleus consisted of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits comprised only phycoerythrobilin but not phycourobilin, suggesting that the PE from C. coeruleus was of a new type.

Isolation and characterization of the oxygen-evolving photosystem II complex from the economical red alga Bangia fusco-purpurea

The highly pure and active photosystem II (PSII) complex was isolated from Bangia fusco-purpurea (Dillw) Lyngb., an important economic red alga in China, through two steps of sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation and characterized by the room absorption and fluorescence emission spectra, DCIP (2,6-dichloroindophenol) reduction, and oxygen evolution rates. The PSII complex from B. fusco-purpurea had the characteristic absorption peaks of chlorophyll (Chl) a (436 and 676 nm) and typical fluorescence emission peak at 685 nm (Ex = 436 nm). Moreover, the acquired PSII complex displayed high oxygen evolution (139 mu mol O-2/(mg Chl h) in the presence of 2.5 mM 2,6-dimethybenzoqinone as an artificial acceptor and was active in photoreduction of DCIP (2,6-dichloroindophenol) by DPC (1,5-diphenylcarbazide) at 163 U/(mg Chl a h). SDS-PAGE also suggested that the purified PSII complex contained four intrinsic proteins (D1, D2, CP43, and CP47) and four extrinsic proteins (33-kD protein, 20-kD protein, cyt c-550, and 14-kD protein).

Characteristics of shallow gas hydrate in Okhotsk Sea

Multidisciplinary field investigations were carried out in Okhotsk Sea by R/V Akademik M.A. Lavrentyev (LV) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in May 2006, supported by funding agencies from Korea, Russia, Japan and China. Geophysical data including echo-sounder, bottom profile, side-scan-sonar, and gravity core sample were obtained aimed to understand the characteristics and formation mechanism of shallow gas hydrates. Based on the geophysical data, we found that the methane flare detected by echo-sounder was the evidence of free gas in the sediment, while the dome structure detected by side-scan sonar and bottom profile was the root of gas venting. Gas hydrate retrieved from core on top of the dome structure which was interbedded as thin lamination or lenses with thickness varying from a few millimeters to 3 cm. Gas hydrate content in hydrate-bearing intervals visually amounted to 5%-30% of the sediment volume. This paper argued that gases in the sediment core were not all from gas hydrate decomposition during the gravity core lifting process, free gases must existed in the gas hydrate stability zone, and tectonic structure like dome structure in this paper was free gas central, gas hydrate formed only when gases over-saturated in this gas central, away from these structures, gas hydrate could not form due to low gas concentration.

Effect of imitated global warming on Delta C-13 values in seven plant species growing in Tibet alpine meadows

Open-top chambers were used to estimate the possible effects of global warming on delta C-13 of seven plant species grown in alpine meadow ecosystem. The delta C-13 values of plant species were lower after long-term growth in open-top chambers. In the course of experiment, temperature significantly increased inside the chambers by 4 degrees C. Plant species grown at a lower elevation above sea level had higher delta C-13 values as compared to those grown at a higher elevation. This was in accordance with the effect of open-top chamber on delta C-13 values in plants. Greater availability of CO2 and lower water vapor as indicated by an increase in discrimination against (CO2)-C-13, probably result in more negative delta C-13 values of plants because higher stomatal conductance increases availability of CO2 and causes greater discrimination against (CO2)-C-13. The plant species studied could be the indicator species for testing global warming by the change in carbon isotope ratios at the two growth temperatures.

Effects of La3+ on the active oxygen-scavenging enzyme activities in cucumber seedling leaves

The effects of La3+ on the antioxidant enzyme activities and the relative indices of cellular damage in cucumber seedling leaves were studied. When cucumber seedlings were treated with low concentrations of LaCl3 (0.002 and 0.02 mM), peroxidase (PO) activity increased, and catalase (CAT) activity was similar to that of control leaves at 0.002 mM La3+ and increased at 0.02 mM La3+, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity did not change significantly. The increase in the contents of chlorophyll (including chlorophylls a and b), carotenoids in parallel with the decrease in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) suggested that low concentration of La3+ promoted plant growth. However, except the increase in SOD activity at 2 mM La3+, CAT and PO activities and the contents of pigments decreased at high concentrations of La3+ (0.2 and 2 mM), leading to the increase of MDA content and the inhibition of plant growth. It is suggested that lanthanum ion is involved in the regulation of active oxygen-scavenging enzyme activities during plant growth.