The ionic basis of frequency selectivity in hair cells of the bullfrog's sacculus

Hair cells from the bull frog's sacculus, a vestibular organ responding to substrate-borne vibration, possess electrically resonant membrane properties which maximize the sensitivity of each cell to a particular frequency of mechanical input. The electrical resonance of these cells and its underlying ionic basis were studied by applying gigohm-seal recording techniques to solitary hair cells enzymatically dissociated from the sacculus. The contribution of electrical resonance to frequency selectivity was assessed from microelectrode recordings from hair cells in an excised preparation of the sacculus.

Electrical resonance in the hair cell is demonstrated by damped membrane-potential oscillations in response to extrinsic current pulses applied through the recording pipette. This response is analyzed as that of a damped harmonic oscillator. Oscillation frequency rises with membrane depolarization, from 80-160 Hz at resting potential to asymptotic values of 200-250 Hz. The sharpness of electrical tuning, denoted by the electrical quality factor, Q_e, is a bell-shaped function of membrane voltage, reaching a maximum value around eight at a membrane potential slightly positive to the resting potential.

In whole cells, three time-variant ionic currents are activated at voltages more positive than -60 to -50 mV; these are identified as a voltage-dependent, non-inactivating Ca current (I_ca), a voltage-dependent, transient K current (Ia</sub>), and a Ca-dependent K current (Ic</sub>). The C channel is identified in excised, inside-out membrane patches on the basis of its large conductance (130-200 pS), its selective permeability to Kover Na or Cl, and its activation by internal Ca ions and membrane depolarization. Analysis of open- and closed-lifetime distributions suggests that the C channel can assume at least two open and three closed kinetic states.</sub>

Exposing hair cells to external solutions that inhibit the Ca or C conductances degrades the electrical resonance properties measured under current-clamp conditions, while blocking the A conductance has no significant effect, providing evidence that only the Ca and C conductances participate in the resonance mechanism. To test the sufficiency of these two conductances to account for electrical resonance, a mathematical model is developed that describes I_ca, Ic</sub>, and intracellular Ca concentration during voltage-clamp steps. Ica</sub> activation is approximated by a third-order Hodgkin-Huxley kinetic scheme. Ca entering the cell is assumed to be confined to a small submembrane compartment which contains an excess of Ca buffer; Ca leaves this space with first-order kinetics. The Ca- and voltage-dependent activation of C channels is described by a five-state kinetic scheme suggested by the results of single-channel observations. Parameter values in the model are adjusted to fit the waveforms of Ica</sub> and Ic</sub> evoked by a series of voltage-clamp steps in a single cell. Having been thus constrained, the model correctly predicts the character of voltage oscillations produced by current-clamp steps, including the dependencies of oscillation frequency and Qe on membrane voltage. The model shows quantitatively how the Ca and C conductances interact, via changes in intracellular Ca concentration, to produce electrical resonance in a vertebrate hair cell.</sub>

增强UV-B辐射对暖温带落叶阔叶林下土庄绣线菊水分生理和氮素利用及形态特性的影响

在中国北方大部分地区，水分始终是影响植物生长和分布的最主要限制性因子之一，植物在其生长期经常遭受水分胁迫。不仅如此，随着大气同温层中臭氧浓度的减少，过量的有害紫外辐射（主要是UV-B，280nm-320nm）将穿透大气层达到地球表面。随着全球变化的加剧，这些地区的植物将不可避免地受UV-B和水分胁迫的共同作用。 本实验是在北京东灵山暖温带森林生态系统中，选择常见灌丛土庄绣线菊(Spiraea pubescens)，建立UV-B控制实验。连续三个生长季每天增补9.4kJ•m-2的辐射剂量，模拟臭氧衰减17%时近地表面UV-B辐射的增强。本实验的目的是观测在野外环境下，长时间人工增强UV-B辐射对土庄绣线菊水分生理、氮素利用以及形态特征的影响。具体对以下指标进行测定：叶片的气孔导度、碳同位素比率（δ13 C���、叶含水量、叶面积、水分利用效率（WUE）、叶全氮含量、叶氮素再吸收率。 实验结果表明，增强UV-B辐射显著减少了土庄绣线菊的叶面积（50.1%），提高了叶片全氮含量(102%)，处理植株的氮素再吸收率比对照植株高出50.9%。同时，UV-B辐射还在一定程度上（尽管统计显示不显著）降低了气孔导度(16.1%)、胞间CO2浓度与大气CO2浓度之比(Ci/Ca) (4.0%)、提高了碳同位素比率（δ13 C���(20.5‰)、叶含水量(3.1%)及比叶重（SLW）(5.2%)，从而导致水分利用效率（WUE）的增加(4.1%)，植物的抗旱能力增强。值得注意的是，深层土壤（30-40cm）含水量变化会影响气孔导度、δ13 C���WUE对紫外辐射的响应程度：在土壤干旱的季节（6月和9月），气孔导度、δ13 C���WUE这些指标处理和对照的差异很小，但是当土壤水分充足时（7月和8月），处理和对照的差异就较为显著。另外，随着实验处理时间的延长UV-B的效应变得不显著。相关分析表明，UV-B辐射降低了土壤含水量（30-40cm）与土庄绣线菊叶含水量、δ13 C���Ci/Ca���气孔导度的相关系数，增强了WUE与土壤含水量的相关性，这也许是由于UV-B辐射增强了WUE对土壤水分变化的敏感性。本研究的结果表明UV-B辐射对土庄绣线菊的形态和生长有显著的影响，但对主要水分生理指标影响不显著。

全同1，2－聚丁二烯的合成及用~(13)C-NMR方法研究1，2－聚丁二烯的序列结构

采用Cr／Al催化体系，成功地合成了全同1，2－聚丁二烯（PBD），并用DSC���法、X－射线衍射、红外光谱及~(13)C���NMR的方法进行结构与物性测定，得如下结果：全同1，2－PBD的熔点为124.3℃；三角晶系中，分子链成了螺旋，晶胞参数为a���17.3A���c��� 6.5A���在红外光谱中，其特征谱带出现在694.4 cm~(-1)处；在~(13)C���NMR谱中仅出现四条谱峰，其化学位移分别为142.51、111.56、39.26、37.43 ppm。全同1，2－PBD的~(13)C���NMR谱提供的实验数据表明，在~(13)C���NMR谱中1，2－PBD－CH二碳十个五元组谱峰的归属是有别于Elgert、Kumar已有的归属。它属于一种新的归属，与半经验方法所推演的结果相符。它恰巧同聚丙烯侧甲基五元组谱峰的归属一致。采用半经验方法研究了1，2－PBD的~(13)C���NMR增中CH二碳五元组、CH_2－碳四元组及六元组共振谱峰，同时讨论了模型链的链长、温度以及立构序列的排列对各立构序列键概率的影响，求得了相应的r值。同时采用经验方法对1，2－PBD的~(13)C���NMR谱中CH_2=碳、CH－碳五元组及CH_2－碳四元组谱峰做了归属。两种方法对CH_2－碳谱峰的归属得到了一致的结果。

取代环戊二烯基稀土有机氯化物的合成及其反应

本文通过无水LnCl_3(Ln = Pr.Nd.Gd)与两倍摩尔的叔丁基环戊二烯基碱金属盐在THF中60－80℃反应，分离到一类新的二（叔丁基环戊二烯基）稀土氯化物（T-DuCp）_2 2net.nTHF (Ln = Pr,Nd,n = 2 Ln = Gd,n = 1)，对它们进行了元素分析。红外光谱及水鲜色质谱的表征。对于配合物（t-BuCp）_2PrCl·2THF的单晶，测定了它的晶体结构，晶体层单斜晶系P21/C���间群，晶胞参数为：a = 15.080 b = 8.855 c = 21.196A, β = 110.34°V = 2653.9A~3 δ = 4，结构分析表明此配合物是一中性的单分子配合物。最后的R = Rw = 0.058平均Pr-C.2.81 Pr-Cent 2.53A, Pr-Cl及Rr-O键长分别为2.72与2.62A���本文通过Lnel_3(Ln = Nd.Pr.Ga)与等摩尔的叔丁基环戊二烯基碱金属盐在THF中60－80℃反应，分离到一类中性的单(叔丁基环戊二烯基)稀土二氯化物，并对它们进行了元素分析，红外光谱及水鲜色质谱的表征。本文通过轻稀土元素La,Pr的三氯化物与带基钠以1:2摩尔比在THF中70－80℃反应，分离到了二带基轻稀土氯化物（CaH_7）_2LaCl.2THF及[(CqH_7)_2PrCl.THF]_2。并且对此二配合物进行了元素分析。红外光谱及水鲜色质谱的表征。对于[(CuH_7)_2PrCl.TH]_2配合物，测定了它的晶体结构，这是第一个得到结构表征的茚基稀土氯化物，晶体层于单斜晶系，P_(21)/C���间群，晶胞参数为a = 7.808 b = 17.796 c = 14.070A β = 93.97°v = 1950.31A. E = 2最后的R = 0.045. Rw = 0.039结构分析表明此配合物以中性的二聚体形式存在。平均的Pr-C.2.81 Pr-Cent 2.53. Pr-Cl.2.84H Pr-O钻长2.54A���为了进一步研究不同配体对配合物结构的影响，我们还研究了Gael_3与Nae_5Mes以1:1摩尔比在THF中的反应，分离到了两种配合物[(NaTHF)(C_5MesGd.THF)_2Cl_5]_2.6THF(I)及L_5Me_5GdCl2.3THF(II)并且对配合物（I），测定了它的晶体结构，晶体层于三斜晶系。Pi空间群。晶胞参数a = 12.183 b = 13.638 c = 17.883A, α = 110.38 β = 94.04 γ = 99.44°, V = 2721.20A, E = 1。结构分析表明，此配合物是一种以两个Na���子通过THF中的O原子而桥联的金层有机配合物，在结构上有十分新颖的特点。在此配合物分子中含有四个Gd原子及二个Na���子，Na���Gd间以Cl桥键相联结，Gd-Gd_2 = 4.033 Gdll-Na = 2.818A���最后的R = 0.04M Rw = 0.042。本文还对（t-BuCp）_2P_2Cl.2THF与NaH及LiAlH4的反应进行了初步的研究，分离到（t-Bucp）_2PrH.2THF及(t-Bucp)_2P_2RIH_4.3THF两种新的氢化物，并且对它们进行了元素分析，红外光谱的表征，对于它们水鲜产物的气相分中的H_2，用气相色谱法进行了定性表征。

The properties of halo structure for B-17

The total reaction cross section (1724 +/- 93 mb) of B-17 at the energy of 43.7 A MeV on C target has been measured by using the transmission method at the Radioactive Ion Beam Line in Lanzhou (RIBLL). Assuming B-17 consists of a core B-15 plus two halo neutrons, the total cross section of B-17 on C target was calculated with the zero-range Glauber model, where double Gaussian density distributions and Gaussian plus HO density distributions were used. It can fit the experimental data very well. The characteristic of halo structure for B-17 was found with a large diffusion of the neutrons density distribution.

Configuration of the valence neutrons of B-17

The reaction cross section of B-17 on C-12 target at (43.7 +/- 2.4) MeV/u has been measured at the Radioactive Ion Beam Line in Lanzhou (RIBLL). The root-mean-square matter radius (R-rms) was deduced to be (2.92 +/- 0.10) fm, while the R-rms of the core and the valence neutron distribution are 2.28 fm and 5.98 fm respectively. Assuming a "core plus 2n" structure in B-17, the mixed configuration of (2s(1/2)) and (1d(5/2)) of the valence neutrons is studied and the s-wave spectroscopic factor is found to be (80 +/- 21)%.

Medium effect of nucleon-nucleon cross section on the isoscaling parameter alpha

The medium effect of in-medium nucleon-nucleon cross section sigma(med)(NN) (alpha(m)) on the isoscaling parameter a is investigated for two couples of central nuclear reactions Ca-40 + Ca-48 and Ca-60 + Ca-48; Sn-112 + Sn-112 and Sn-124 + Sn-124 at beam energy region from 40 to 60 MeV/nucleon with isospin dependent quantum molecular dynamics. It is found that there is the obvious medium effect of sigma(med)(NN) (alpha(m)) on the isoscaling parameters alpha. The mechanism for the medium effect of sigma(med)(NN) (alpha(m)) on a is investigated.

Influences of the isospin-dependence of in-medium nucleon nucleon cross-section and momentum dependent interaction on isoscaling parameter

Influences of the isospin-dependent in-medium nucleon nucleon cross-section (sigma(iso)(NN) and momentum-dependent interaction (MDI) on the isoscaling parameter a are investigated for two central collisions Ca-40 +Ca-40 and Ca-60+ Ca-60. These collisions are with isospin dependent quantum molecular dynamics in the beam energy region from 40 to 60 MeV/nucleon. The isotope yield ratio R-21 (N, Z) for the above two central collisions depends exponentially on the neutron number N and proton number Z of isotopes, with an isoscaling. In particular, the isospin-dependent (sigma(iso)(NN) and MDI induce an obvious de crease of the isoscaling parameter a. The mechanism of the decreases of a by both sigma(iso)(NN) and MDI are studied respectively.

A new hydrometallurgical process for extracting rare earths from apatite using solvent extraction with P-350

In this paper, a new process is proposed to recover rare earths from nitric acid leaching of apatite without interfering with the normal route for fertilizer production using solvent extraction with dimethyl heptyl methyl phosphonate CH3P(O)(OC8H17)(2) (P-350, B). In the present work, the leaching conditions are studied. In selected condition, apatite was dissolved in 20% (v/v) nitric acid solution at 60-70 degrees C while agitating. The most suitable acidity for extraction is 0.4 M HNO3. More than 98% of rare earths in apatite can be recovered using countercurrent extraction process with six stages when phase ratio = 0.5, and defluorination is unnecessary. The influences of phase ratio, stage number, acidity and salting-out agent on extractabilities Of P-350 are studied. The results show that rare earths can be separated with P-350 from Ca, P, Fe and other impurities. Mixed rare earth oxides (REO) of which purity is more than 95% with yield over 98% can be obtained.

High efficient extraction of M@C-2n (M = La, Ce) by a high pressure and high temperature method

A high pressure and high temperature method was used to efficiently extract on a large scale metallofullerenes M@C-2n (M=La,Ce) in a closed vessel under argon gas protection. With pyridine as the HPHT solvent, about 60-80% M@C-2n and 30-55% M@C-82 can be enriched, M@C-82 is dissolved selectively; With toluene as the HPHT solvent, M@C-2n can also be efficiently extracted, especially M@C-74, which is a new member of M@C-2n soluble species. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Immune responses of the scallop Chlamys farreri after air exposure to different temperatures

The present study examined the influence of air exposure at different temperatures: a common perturbation associated with aquaculture handling practices, on immune responses in zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri. Scallops were exposed to air for 2 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h at 5 degrees C, 17 degrees C and 25 degrees C respectively. Thereafter, a recovery period of 24 h at 17 degrees C was applied. Haemocyte mortality, phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of haemocytes, acid phosphatase (ACP) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in haemocyte lysates were chosen as immumomarkers of anoxic stress. The results showed that an increase of haemocyte mortality and a decrease of phagocytosis and ACP activity were observed after 2 h of air exposure for all temperatures tested. Moreover, a significant increase of ROS production occurred following 2 h of air exposure at 25 degrees C and 24 h of air exposure at 17 degrees C. Significant differences were also observed in haemocyte mortality, percentage of phagocytic cells and ACP and SOD activity depending on the temperature of air exposure. Finally, after 24 h of recovery at 17 degrees C, percentage of phagocytic haemocytes and ACP activity did not return to initial values. ROS production was significantly higher than before the recovery period and initial values for scallops subjected to air exposure at 5 degrees C. In our study, scallops showed a relative low anoxia tolerance under a high temperature. All the scallops air exposed to 25 degrees C died after the 6 h sampling. In conclusion, air exposure associated to aquaculture practices was demonstrated to strongly affect functional immune activities of scallop haemocytes, and high temperature air exposure caused reduced survival of scallops. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Variation in the type and frequency of postoperative invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections according to type of surgical procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiological characteristics of postoperative invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection following 4 types of major surgical procedures.design. Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Eleven hospitals (9 community hospitals and 2 tertiary care hospitals) in North Carolina and Virginia. PATIENTS: Adults undergoing orthopedic, neurosurgical, cardiothoracic, and plastic surgical procedures. METHODS: We used previously validated, prospectively collected surgical surveillance data for surgical site infection and microbiological data for bloodstream infection. The study period was 2003 through 2006. We defined invasive S. aureus infection as either nonsuperficial incisional surgical site infection or bloodstream infection. Nonparametric bootstrapping was used to generate 95% confidence intervals (CIs). P values were generated using the Pearson chi2 test, Student t test, or Wilcoxon rank-sum test, as appropriate. RESULTS: In total, 81,267 patients underwent 96,455 procedures during the study period. The overall incidence of invasive S. aureus infection was 0.47 infections per 100 procedures (95% CI, 0.43-0.52); 227 (51%) of 446 infections were due to methicillin-resistant S.aureus. Invasive S. aureus infection was more common after cardiothoracic procedures (incidence, 0.79 infections per 100 procedures [95%CI, 0.62-0.97]) than after orthopedic procedures (0.37 infections per 100 procedures [95% CI, 0.32-0.42]), neurosurgical procedures (0.62 infections per 100 procedures [95% CI, 0.53-0.72]), or plastic surgical procedures (0.32 infections per 100 procedures [95% CI, 0.17-0.47]) (P < .001). Similarly, S. aureus bloodstream infection was most common after cardiothoracic procedures (incidence, 0.57 infections per 100 procedures [95% CI, 0.43-0.72]; P < .001, compared with other procedure types), comprising almost three-quarters of the invasive S. aureus infections after these procedures. The highest rate of surgical site infection was observed after neurosurgical procedures (incidence, 0.50 infections per 100 procedures [95% CI, 0.42-0.59]; P < .001, compared with other procedure types), comprising 80% of invasive S.aureus infections after these procedures. CONCLUSION: The frequency and type of postoperative invasive S. aureus infection varied significantly across procedure types. The highest risk procedures, such as cardiothoracic procedures, should be targeted for ongoing preventative interventions.

Characterization of the chlorosome antenna of the filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium Chloronema sp strain UdG9001

The absorption and fluorescence properties of chlorosomes of the filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium Chloronema sp. strain UdG9001 were analyzed. The chlorosome antenna of Chloronema consists of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) d and BChl c together with γ-carotene as the main carotenoid. HPLC analysis combined with APCI LC-MS/MS showed that the chlorosomal BChls comprise a highly diverse array of homologues that differ in both the degree of alkylation of the macrocycle at C-8 and/or C-12 and the alcohol moiety esterified to the propionic acid group at C-17. BChl c and BChl d from Chloronema were mainly esterified with geranylgeraniol (33% of the total), heptadecanol (24%), octadecenol (19%), octadecanol (14%), and hexadecenol (9%). Despite this pigment heterogeneity, fluorescence emission of the chlorosomes showed a single peak centered at 765 nm upon excitation at wavelengths ranging from 710 to 740 nm. This single emission, assigned to BChl c, indicates an energy transfer from BChl d to BChl c within the same chlorosome. Likewise, incubation of chlorosomes under reducing conditions caused a weak increase in fluorescence emission, which indicates a small redox-dependent fluorescence. Finally, protein analysis of Chloronema chlorosomes using SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF-MS revealed the presence of a chlorosomal polypeptide with a molecular mass of 5.7 kDa, resembling the CsmA protein found in Chloroflexus aurantiacus and Chlorobium tepidum chlorosomes. Several minor polypeptides were also detected but not identified. These results indicate that, compared with other members of filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria and green sulfur bacteria, Chloronema possesses an antenna system with novel features that may be of interest for further investigations.

The electrochemical oxidation and reduction of nitrate ions in the room temperature ionic liquid [C(2)mim][NTf2]; the latter behaves as a 'melt' rather than an 'organic solvent'

The electrochemical oxidation of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate [C(4)mim][NO3] was studied by cyclic voltammetry in the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide [C(2)mim][NTf2]. A sharp peak was observed on a Pt microelectrode (d = 10 mu m), and a diffusion coefficient at infinite dilution of ca. 2.0 x 10(-11) m(2) s(-1) was obtained. Next, the cyclic voltammetry of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) was studied, by dissolving small amounts of solid into the RTIL [ C2mim][ NTf2]. Similar oxidation peaks were observed, revealing diffusion coefficients of ca. 8.8 and 9.0 x 10(-12) m(2) s(-1) and solubilities of 11.9 and 10.8 mM for NaNO3 and KNO3, respectively. The smaller diffusion coefficients for NaNO3 and KNO3 (compared to [C(4)mim][NO3]) may indicate that NO3- is ion-paired with Na+ or K+. This work may have applications in the electroanalytical determination of nitrate in RTIL solutions. Furthermore, a reduction feature was observed for both NaNO3 and KNO3, with additional anodic peaks indicating the formation of oxides, peroxides, superoxides and nitrites. This behaviour is surprisingly similar to that obtained from melts of NaNO3 and KNO3 at high temperatures ( ca. 350 - 500 degrees C), and this observation could significantly simplify experimental conditions required to investigate these compounds. We then used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to suggest that disodium( I) oxide (Na2O), which has found use as a storage compound for hydrogen, was deposited on a Pt electrode surface following the reduction of NaNO3.