Physiological and Molecular Analysis of Aluminium-Induced Organic Acid Anion Secretion from Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) Roots

Grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) is abundant in oxalate and can secrete oxalate under aluminium (Al) stress. However, the features of Al-induced secretion of organic acid anions (OA) and potential genes responsible for OA secretion are poorly understood. Here, Al-induced OA secretion in grain amaranth roots was characterized by ion charomatography and enzymology methods, and suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) together with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to identify up-regulated genes that are potentially involved in OA secretion. The results showed that grain amaranth roots secrete both oxalate and citrate in response to Al stress. The secretion pattern, however, differs between oxalate and citrate. Neither lanthanum chloride (La) nor cadmium chloride (Cd) induced OA secretion. A total of 84 genes were identified as up-regulated by Al, in which six genes were considered as being potentially involved in OA secretion. The expression pattern of a gene belonging to multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family, AhMATE1, was in close agreement with that of citrate secretion. The expression of a gene encoding tonoplast dicarboxylate transporter and four genes encoding ATP-binding cassette transporters was differentially regulated by Al stress, but the expression pattern was not correlated well with that of oxalate secretion. Our results not only reveal the secretion pattern of oxalate and citrate from grain amaranth roots under Al stress, but also provide some genetic information that will be useful for further characterization of genes involved in Al toxicity and tolerance mechanisms.     

Identification of Autophagy in the Pine Wood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and the Molecular Characterization and Functional Analysis of Two Novel Autophagy-Related Genes,BxATG1 and BxATG8

The pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, causes huge economic losses in pine forests, has a complex life cycle, and shows the remarkable ability to survive under unfavorable and changing environmental conditions. This ability may be related to autophagy, which is still poorly understood in B. xylophilus and no autophagy-related genes have been previously characterized. In this study, transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm that autophagy exists in B. xylophilus. The full-length cDNAs of BxATG1 and BxATG8 were first cloned from B. xylophilus, and BxATG1 and BxATG8 were characterized using bioinformatics methods. The expression pattern of the autophagy marker BxATG8 was investigated using in situ hybridization (ISH). BxATG8 was expressed in esophageal gland and hypodermal seam cells. We tested the effects of RNA interference (RNAi) on BxATG1 and BxATG8. The results revealed that BxATG1 and BxATG8 were likely associated with propagation of nematodes on fungal mats. This study confirmed the molecular characterization and functions of BxATG1 and BxATG8 in B. xylophilus and provided fundamental information between autophagy and B. xylophilus.     

Feasibility study on optical vortex generation at Shanghai deep ultraviolet free-electron laser

Coherent light with orbital angular momentum （OAM） is of great interest. Recently, OAM light generation by coupling a relativistic electron beam with a Gaussian mode laser pulse at the high harmonics of a helical undulator has been demonstrated experimentally. In this paper, the possibility of delivering coherent OAM light at the 3rd harmonic of the Gaussian mode seed laser is discussed for the Shanghai deep ultraviolet free- electron laser （SDUV-FEL）. Considerations are given on the experiment setup, the expected performance and the possible measurement method.     

Auto-microfluidic thin-film chip for genetically modified maize detection

As a thin-film chip method, reverse dot blot hybridization (RDBH) has been employed to detect hazardous substances, but an automatic RDBH instrument with low workload, high accuracy and stability is still urgently needed. This paper presents our newly-developed auto-microfluidic thin-film chip (AMTC) method for multiplex screening of genetically modified (GM) maize. With specific DNA probes for genetically modified (GM) maize being immobilized on a square nylon thin-film, it was placed into a micro-reaction cell of the AMTC device. Then biotin-labeled PCR products with target DNA fragments for template amplification were added to the micro-reaction cell using a microfluidic system. When the PCR products passed the square nylon thin-film, the target DNA fragments were captured by the complementary action of DNA, where the signal was visualized with streptavidin link-coupled alkaline phosphatase color development kit. The sensitivity of GM maize detection reached 0.1% quality percentage and its stability and consistency could satisfy the requirements for practical applications. Performance advantages of the ATMC are manifold, being embodied in aspects such as easy and straightforward operation, low costs and less workload.     

Raman Studies of Vanadates at Low Temperatures and High Pressures

The spin and orbital ordering have been examined for high-quality SmVO₃ polycrystalline compound using Raman spectroscopy. Measurements were obtained on individual microcrystallites in the approximate y(zz)y and y(xx)y scattering configurations at low temperatures (down to 20 K) and high pressures (up to 2.75 GPa). At room temperature and ambient pressure only the A_g phonons have been observed in both polarizations examined. The decrease of temperature leads to the appearance of extra peaks in the Raman spectra related to the magnetic and structural transitions that occur in the system. We present evidence of a coexistence of the monoclinic and orthorhombic phases accompanied with the coexistence of the G- and C-type OO phases for temperatures below 100 K. However, no sign of any structural transition has been observed in the high pressure Raman spectra (1.87<P<2.75 GPa) at low temperatures T≥80 K, indicating that SmVO₃ remains orthorhombic, at least down to 80 K.     

Investigation of the cold orbital forging process of an AlMgSi alloy bevel gear

Orbital forging is a metal forming process in which one of the dies performs a complex rocking motion. It ensures reduction in required load and allows for the cold forming of a workpiece. One of the mechanical parts formed by means of this technology is a bevel gear. However, a numerical analysis of orbital forging bevel gears is very difficult to perform due to the complex rocking motion of the die, which is confirmed by numerous works investigating the orbital forging process. In the present work, investigation results of the cold orbital forging of aluminum alloy bevel gears are presented. In contrast to other works devoted to the process, this study proposes a new procedure for forming bevel gears and the workpiece used has a shape which is different from the previously applied ones. The obtained results apply to both theoretical and technological aspects of orbital forging. The FEM simulation results have been successfully verified in laboratory conditions using the industrial PXW-100A press.     

城市高密度环境下的建筑学思考

以紧缩城市及城市高密度环境为预设,通过分析一些基于高密度条件的建筑实践,以建筑学的视角尝试从建筑空间、实体、功能,以及因建筑而留下的城市空间、建筑物之间的空间关系等方面探讨应对高密度的城市空间和发展模式的建筑方法和对策。     

Cuticular hydrocarbons of Tetramorium ants from central Europe: analysis of GC-MS data with self-organizing maps (SOM) and implications for systematics

Cuticular hydrocarbons were extracted from workers of 63 different nests of five species of Tetramorium ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Austria, Hungary, and Spain. The GC-MS data were classified (data mining) by self-organizing maps (SOM). SOM neurons derived from primary neuron separation were subjected to hierarchical SOM (HSOM) and were grouped to neuron areas on the basis of vicinity in the hexagonal output grid. While primary neuron separation and HSOM resulted in classifications on a level more sensitive than species differences, neuron areas resulted in chemical phenotypes apparently of the order of species. These chemical phenotypes have implications for systematics: while the chemical phenotypes for T. ferox and T. moravicum correspond to morphological determination, in T. caespitum and T. impurum a total of six chemical phenotypes is found. Three hypotheses are discussed to explain this disparity between morphological and chemical classifications, including in particular the possibility of hybridization and the existence of cryptic species. Overall, the GC-MS profiles classified by SOM prove to be a practical alternative to morphological determination (T. ferox, T. moravicum) and indicate the need to revisit systematics (T. caespitum, T. impurum).     

A method to convert AVHRR Normalized Difference Vegetation Index time series to a standard viewing and illumination geometry

The bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) alters the seasonal and inter-annual variations exhibited in Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data and this hampers the detection and, consequently, the interpretation of temporal variations in land-surface vegetation. The magnitude and sign of bi-directional effects in commonly used AVHRR data sets depend on land-surface properties, atmospheric composition and the type of atmospheric correction that is applied to the data. We develop an approach to estimate BRDF effects in AVHRR NDVI time series using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) BRDF kernels and subsequently adjust NDVI time series to a standard illumination and viewing geometry. The approach is tested on NDVI time series that are simulated for representative AVHRR viewing and illumination geometry. These time series are simulated with a canopy radiative transfer model coupled to an atmospheric radiative transfer model for four different land cover types—tropical forest, boreal forest, temperate forest and grassland - and five different atmospheric conditions - turbid and clear top-of-atmosphere, turbid and clear top-of-atmosphere with a correction for ozone absorption and Rayleigh scattering applied (Pathfinder AVHRR Land data) and ground-observations (fully corrected for atmospheric effects). The simulations indicate that the timing of key phenological stages, such as start and end of growing season and time of maximum greenness, is affected by BRDF effects. Moreover, BRDF effects vary with latitude and season and increase over the time of operation of subsequent NOAA satellites because of orbital drift. Application of the MODIS kernels on simulated NVDI data results in a 50% to 85% reduction of BRDF effects. When applied to the global 18-year global Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Pathfinder data we find BRDF effects similar in magnitude to those in the simulations. Our analysis of the global data shows that BRDF effects are especially large in high latitudes; here we find that in at least 20% of the data BRDF errors are too large for accurate detection of seasonal and interannual variability. These large BRDF errors tend to compensate, however, when averaged over latitude.