Molecular analysis of cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

Cellulose, an abundant, crystalline polysaccharide, is central to plant morphogenesis and to many industries. Chemical and ultrastructural analyses together with map-based cloning indicate that the RSW1 locus of Arabidopsis encodes the catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase. The cloned gene complements the rsw1 mutant whose temperature-sensitive allele is changed in one amino acid. The mutant allele causes a specific reduction in cellulose synthesis, accumulation of noncrystalline beta-1,4-glucan, disassembly of cellulose synthase, and widespread morphological abnormalities. Microfibril crystallization may require proper assembly of the RSW1 gene product into synthase complexes whereas glucan biosynthesis per se does not.     

Comparative severity of respiratory lesions of sialodacryoadenitis virus and Sendai virus infections in LEW and F344 rats

In several chronic diseases, lesions are more severe in LEW rats than in F344 rats. To determine whether or not acute viral diseases also are more severe in LEW rats than in F344 rats, we inoculated 6-7-week-old LEW and F344 rats with 10(7.2) cell culture infective units of sialodacryoadenitis virus or 10(4.7) infective units of Sendai virus. Twenty-four rats of each strain were given each virus. Lesions in nasal passages, tracheas, intrapulmonary airways, and pulmonary alveoli in 6 or 12 rats inoculated with each virus were assessed by scoring 5, 10, and 14 days after inoculation. Both viruses caused typical patchy necrotizing rhinitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, and bronchiolitis, with multifocal pneumonitis, in rats of both strains. Mean lesion indices for LEW rats given sialodacryoadenitis virus were significantly different from those for F344 rats for nasal passages on days 10 (0.999 vs. 0.680) and 14 (0.736 vs. 0.278), bronchi on day 5 (0.479 vs. 0.361), and alveoli on day 5 (0.677 vs. 0.275). Lesion indices for LEW rats given Sendai virus were significantly different from those for F344 rats for nasal passages on days 10 (1.000 vs. 0.611) and 14 (0.778 vs. 0.583); trachea on day 10 (0.625 vs. 0.028); bronchi on days 5 (0.476 vs. 0.331), 10 (0.123 vs. 0.013), and 14 (0.038 vs. 0); and alveoli on days 5 (0.413 vs. 0.114) and 10 (0.185 vs. 0.020). Thus, at the tested doses, both viruses caused more severe respiratory tract lesions in LEW rats than in F344 rats.     

Studies on the corrosion behavior of cerium-implanted zircaloy-4 with GAXRD

In order to study the influence of cerium ion implantation on the aqueous corrosion behavior of zircaloy-4, specimens were implanted by cerium ions with a fluence range from 1×10¹⁶ to 1×10¹⁷ ions/cm² at maximum 150°C, using MEVVA source at an extracted voltage of 40 kV. The valence and elements penetration distribution of the surface layer were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and auger electron spectroscopy (AES) respectively. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD) was employed to examine the phase transformation due to the cerium ion implantation in the oxide films. Three-sweep potentiodynamic polarization measurement was employed to value the aqueous corrosion resistance of zircaloy-4 in a 1 N H₂SO₄ solution. It was found that a significant improvement in the aqueous corrosion behavior of zircaloy-4 implanted with cerium ions compared with that of the as-received zircaloy-4. The improvement effect will declined with raising the implantation fluence. The bigger is the fluence, the less is the improvement. Finally, the mechanism of the corrosion behavior of the cerium-implanted zircaloy-4 is discussed.     

A polymerizable photoredox initiation system for vinyl photopolymerization

A polymerizable photoredox system consisting of 4-methacryl oxbenzophenone (MABP) and N,N-dimethlaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) used for the photopolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) was studied. It was found that the polymerization rate is proportional to the 0.93th power for the AN concentration, the 0.28th power for the MABP concentration, and the 0.25th power for the DMAEMA concentration. The overall activation energy of the polymerization obtained is 30.43 kJ/mol. The recorded ESR spectrum indicates that the excited-state MABP abstraets hydrogen mainly from the methyl group of the dimethylamino moiety. The comparison of the initiation ability of polymeric MABP or polymeric DMAEMA with their monomeric forms has also been done and the results indicate that in good solvents P (MABP) has a much higher initiation ability than that of monomeric MABP, but monomeric DMAEMA and P (DMAEMA) display almost the same initiation ability. In poor solvent, the initiation ability of P (MABP) is not so obviously higher than that in good solvents. The result of UV analysis of P (AN) initiated by the MABP–DMAEMA system indicates that both MABP and DMAEMA not only initiate the photopolymerization of AN, but also enter into P (AN) polymer chains. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

巧点火锅鸳鸯谱

北风起．火锅热。户外寒气逼人，屋内热气腾腾．鲜红的肉片。翠生生的青菜．在或红或白滚烫的锅中上下飞舞，仅是这灵动的姿态就让人禁受不住媚惑，抬手、举箸．一番狼吞虎咽，于是热气从心底缓缓升起，寒冷顿时一扫而空。[编者按]     

微波等离子体化学气相沉积的 a-Si∶H 性能研究

本文着重对微波等离子体化学气相沉积法高速沉积的 a-Si∶H 膜的物理性能进行评价研究.测量了沉积膜的光电性能、暗电导激活能、光禁带宽度、光吸收特性、沉积膜中悬键态密度以及氢含量等,并讨论沉积条件对膜性能的影响.结果表明,在沉积速率高达30～90(?)/s 情况下,膜的光电导(光照强度10~5Lux)与暗电导比值可达10~3～10~5,暗电导率从10~(-3)到10~(-11)((?)cm)~(-1),其激活能在0.23～0.88eV 之间(0～200℃温度范围内),光禁带宽度为1.40～2.20eV,氢含量约为2～20%.     

Nd3+ Doped Silicate Glass Photonic Crystal Fiber with Random Hole Distributions

The fabrication of one kind of large core area Nd3 doped silicate glass photonic crystal fiber, and demonstration of the fiber's waveguidence properties were reported. This fiber owns a random air hole distribution in the cladding. The measured minimum loss of this kind of fiber is 10 dB·m-1 at 660 nm. These fibers can sustain only a single mode at least over wavelength ranging from 660 nm to 980 nm.     

Fuzzy control of nitrogen removal in predenitrification process using ORP.

In order to meet increasingly stringent discharge standards, new applications and control strategies for the sustainable removal of nitrogen from wastewater have to be implemented. In the past years, numerous studies have been carried out dealing with the application of fuzzy logic to improve the control of the activated sludge process. In this paper, fuzzy control strategies of predenitrification systems are presented that could lead to better effluent quality and, in parallel, to a reduction of chemicals consumption. Extensive experimental investigations on lab scale plant studies have shown that there was excellent correlation between nitrate concentration and ORP value at the end of the anoxic zone. Results indicated that ORP could be used as an on-line fuzzy control parameter of nitrate recirculation and external carbon addition. The optimal value of ORP to control nitrate recirculation and external carbon addition was - 86 +/- 2 mV and - 90 +/- 2 mV, respectively. The results obtained with real wastewater also showed the good performance and stability of the fuzzy controllers independently from external disturbances. The integrated control structure of nitrate recirculation and external carbon addition in the predenitrification system is also presented.     

Tolerance space and molecular similarity

Molecular similarity methods were used in selecting K nearest neighbors and in estimating mutagenicity of 95 aromatic amines and boiling points of a large set of over 2,900 compounds. Similarity is analyzed in terms of the concept of tolerance space. Specifically, the role of non-transitivity of the tolerance relation in estimating properties using similarity methods is examined.     

Evaluation of accuracy of measuring intraocular pressure by handheld non-contact applanation tonometer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of measuring intraocular pressure by handheld non-contact applanation tonometer. METHOD: 58 patients' (113 eyes) intraocular pressure were measured by Keeler, non-contact tonometer and R 900 Goldmann applanation tonometer and the results of measurement of intraocular pressure by the two kinds of tonometers were compared. RESULT: The mean intraocular pressure measured by non-contact is 16.31 +/- 5.59 mmHg and 17.49 +/- 6.13 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.1333 kPa) by Goldmann applanation tonometer, respectively. There was no statistical significance to be found (P > 0.05) between the two methods. By linear correlation and regression analysis, a positive correlation was found between the two methods (r = 0.8942, b = 0.8154). CONCLUSION: The handheld non-contact tonometer has the same accuracy and reliability of measurement of intraocular pressure comparing with Goldmann applanation tonometer, and it can be used in glaucoma clinic and screening.