4D electron diffraction reveals correlated unidirectional behavior in zinc oxide nanowires

The confined electronic structure of nanoscale materials has increasingly been shown to induce behavior quite distinct from that of bulk analogs. Direct atomic-scale visualization of nanowires of zinc oxide was achieved through their unique pancake-type diffraction by using four-dimensional (4D) ultrafast electron crystallography. After electronic excitation of this wide-gap photonic material, the wires were found to exhibit colossal expansions, two orders of magnitude higher than that expected at thermal equilibrium; the expansion is highly anisotropic, a quasi-one-dimensional behavior, and is facilitated by the induced antibonding character. By reducing the density of nanowires, the expansions reach even larger values and occur at shorter times, suggesting a decrease of the structural constraint in transient atomic motions. This unanticipated ultrafast carrier-driven expansion highlights the optoelectronic consequences of nanoscale morphologies.     

Sound velocities in iron to 110 gigapascals

The dispersion of longitudinal acoustic phonons was measured by inelastic x-ray scattering in the hexagonal closed-packed (hcp) structure of iron from 19 to 110 gigapascals. Phonon dispersion curves were recorded on polycrystalline iron compressed in a diamond anvil cell, revealing an increase of the longitudinal wave velocity (VP) from 7000 to 8800 meters per second. We show that hcp iron follows a Birch law for VP, which is used to extrapolate velocities to inner core conditions. Extrapolated longitudinal acoustic wave velocities compared with seismic data suggest an inner core that is 4 to 5% lighter than hcp iron.     

Preparation of a pure molecular quantum gas

An ultracold molecular quantum gas is created by application of a magnetic field sweep across a Feshbach resonance to a Bose-Einstein condensate of cesium atoms. The ability to separate the molecules from the atoms permits direct imaging of the pure molecular sample. Magnetic levitation enables study of the dynamics of the ensemble on extended time scales. We measured ultralow expansion energies in the range of a few nanokelvin for a sample of 3000 molecules. Our observations are consistent with the presence of a macroscopic molecular matter wave.     

Origin of storm footprints on the sea seen by synthetic aperture radar

Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar can detect storm footprints on the sea. Coastal weather radar from Cape Hatteras provides evidence that the echo-free hole at the footprint core is the result of wave damping by rain. The increased radar cross section of the sea surrounding the echo-free hole results from the divergence of the precipitation-forced downdraft impacting the sea. The footprint boundary is the gust front; its oriention is aligned with the direction of the winds aloft, which are transported down with the downdraft, and its length implies downdraft impact 1 hour earlier at a quasi-stationary impact spot. The steady, localized nature of the storm remains a mystery.     

Efficient tandem polymer solar cells fabricated by all-solution processing

Tandem solar cells, in which two solar cells with different absorption characteristics are linked to use a wider range of the solar spectrum, were fabricated with each layer processed from solution with the use of bulk heterojunction materials comprising semiconducting polymers and fullerene derivatives. A transparent titanium oxide (TiO(x)) layer separates and connects the front cell and the back cell. The TiO(x) layer serves as an electron transport and collecting layer for the first cell and as a stable foundation that enables the fabrication of the second cell to complete the tandem cell architecture. We use an inverted structure with the low band-gap polymer-fullerene composite as the charge-separating layer in the front cell and the high band-gap polymer composite as that in the back cell. Power-conversion efficiencies of more than 6% were achieved at illuminations of 200 milliwatts per square centimeter.     

A Laboratory Model for Convection in Earth's Core Driven by a Thermally Heterogeneous Mantle

Thermal convection experiments in a rapidly rotating hemispherical shell suggest a model in which the convection in Earth's liquid outer core is controlled by a thermally heterogeneous mantle. Experiments show that heterogeneous boundary heating induces an eastward flow in the core, which, at a sufficiently large magnitude, develops into a large-scale spiral with a sharp front. The front separates the warm and cold regions in the core and includes a narrow jet flowing from the core-mantle boundary to the inner-core boundary. The existence of this front in the core may explain the Pacific quiet zone in the secular variation of the geomagnetic field and the longitudinally heterogeneous structure of the solid inner core.     

红松活立木内部腐朽程度的定量检测1）

在凉水实验林场（凉水国家级自然保护区）选取了21个红松活立木截面,用Arbotom应力波测试仪和Resistograph阻抗仪进行腐朽程度检测,得到两种检测方法的腐朽程度表征,即应力波传播速度与阻抗仪阻力曲线。用生长锥在各个横截面上分别取2根长度为25 cm的木芯,在实验室测得木芯质量损失率和含水率。然后利用最小二乘法分别建立应力波传播速度和阻抗仪阻力损失值与木材质量损失率的线性方程,进而分析应力波与阻抗仪检测表征与木材腐朽程度的关系。结果表明：应力波传播速度与质量损失率之间有较强的负相关关系（R＝0．698,P＜0．01）,且应力波检测结果需要根据影响因素进行适当修正。阻抗仪阻力损失值与质量损失率之间有显著的正相关关系（R＝0．851,P＜0．01）。两种方法都能有效地检测活立木的腐朽程度。     

Immunity-related genes and gene families in Anopheles gambiae

We have identified 242 Anopheles gambiae genes from 18 gene families implicated in innate immunity and have detected marked diversification relative to Drosophila melanogaster. Immune-related gene families involved in recognition, signal modulation, and effector systems show a marked deficit of orthologs and excessive gene expansions, possibly reflecting selection pressures from different pathogens encountered in these insects' very different life-styles. In contrast, the multifunctional Toll signal transduction pathway is substantially conserved, presumably because of counterselection for developmental stability. Representative expression profiles confirm that sequence diversification is accompanied by specific responses to different immune challenges. Alternative RNA splicing may also contribute to expansion of the immune repertoire.     

广西导线覆冰的特征及其气候成因研究

对多年导线覆冰灾害资料及现场导线覆冰测量调查资料进行分析。结果表明,广西导线覆冰主要是雨凇与雾凇的混合冻结;纬度越高、海拔越高,覆冰越严重;迎风面比背风面严重;靠近水库、河流等水体地区覆冰程度明显加重。中路、东路冷空气南下容易产生导线覆冰现象;寒潮暴发南下,地面静止锋在华南沿海维持,西南暖湿气流不断向华南上空输送,对流层中低层有逆温层,此时导线易出现覆冰。地形对导线覆冰的出现有较重要作用。     

上海崇明东滩外来物种互花米草实生苗扩散格局研究

外来物种互花米草在上海崇明东滩存在互花米草一光滩（S—M）和互花米草一海三棱蔗草一光滩（S—S—M）两种扩散前沿。通过设置固定样带和定位监测,对互花米草实生苗在不同前沿的扩散格局进行研究,结果表明。：互花米草实生苗5月开始在前沿扩散并定居,在S—M前沿定居的密度和距离显著高于S—S—M前沿;定居后的实生苗存活率较高,在S—M前沿实生苗存活率为80．6％-86．7％,S—S—M前沿则为80．0％～84．0％,两者间无显著差异;实生苗能快速分蘖形成扩散斑块,其分蘖数分别为（30±4）～（40±5）彬年（S—M前沿）和（34±6）-（37±11）彬年（S—S—M前沿）。经过1个生长季,互花米草在S—M前沿向光滩扩散距离达（23．4±3．2）m,而在S—S—M前沿仅形成零星斑块,扩散效率显著低于S—M前沿。S—S—M前沿的本地种海三棱蔗草对互花米草实生苗扩散具有较好的抑制作用。     

Myotonic dystrophy type 2 caused by a CCTG expansion in intron 1 of ZNF9

Myotonic dystrophy (DM), the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults, can be caused by a mutation on either chromosome 19q13 (DM1) or 3q21 (DM2/PROMM). DM1 is caused by a CTG expansion in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica-protein kinase gene (DMPK). Several mechanisms have been invoked to explain how this mutation, which does not alter the protein-coding portion of a gene, causes the specific constellation of clinical features characteristic of DM. We now report that DM2 is caused by a CCTG expansion (mean approximately 5000 repeats) located in intron 1 of the zinc finger protein 9 (ZNF9) gene. Parallels between these mutations indicate that microsatellite expansions in RNA can be pathogenic and cause the multisystemic features of DM1 and DM2.     

On the presence of liquid in Earth's inner core

Seismological studies indicate that the inner core of Earth is anisotropic for compressional waves (P waves), and has low shear wave (S wave) velocity, and high seismic attenuation. Using an effective medium theory for composite materials, we show that the presence of a volume fraction of 3 to 10% liquid in the form of oblate spheroidal inclusions aligned in the equatorial plane between iron crystals is sufficient to explain the aforementioned seismic phenomena. Variation of S-wave velocity between the polar axis and equatorial plane is more sensitive to the addition of liquid than that of P waves. The liquid could arise from the presence of dendrites or a mixture of elements other than iron that exist in liquid form under inner-core conditions.     

Dynamic compression of Earth materials

Shock wave techniques have been used to investigate the pressuredensity relations of metals, silicates, and oxides over the entire range of pressures present in the earth (3.7 x 10(6) bars at the center). In many materials of geophysical interest, such as iron, wüstite, calcium oxide, and forsterite, major shock-induced phase changes dominate the compression behavior below pressures of 10(6) bars. The shock wave data for the high-pressure phases of these minerals lead to important inferences about the composition of the lower mantle and outer, liquid core of the earth. The lower mantle of the earth appears to have a slightly higher density than is inferred to correspond to the behavior of an olivine-rich assembiage of the same composition as the upper mantle. The core has a density some 10 percent less than that of pure iron and may have 9 to 12 percent sulfur or about 8 percent oxygen by weight.     

Elastic anisotropy of Earth's inner core

Earth's solid-iron inner core is elastically anisotropic. Sound waves propagate faster along Earth's spin axis than in the equatorial plane. This anisotropy has previously been explained by a preferred orientation of the iron alloy hexagonal crystals. However, hexagonal iron becomes increasingly isotropic on increasing temperature at pressures of the inner core and is therefore unlikely to cause the anisotropy. An alternative explanation, supported by diamond anvil cell experiments, is that iron adopts a body-centered cubic form in the inner core. We show, by molecular dynamics simulations, that the body-centered cubic iron phase is extremely anisotropic to sound waves despite its high symmetry. Direct simulations of seismic wave propagation reveal an anisotropy of 12%, a value adequate to explain the anisotropy of the inner core.     

Seismological constraints on core composition from Fe-O-S liquid immiscibility

Earth's core is composed primarily of iron (Fe) with about 10% by weight of lighter elements. The lighter elements are progressively enriched in the liquid outer core as the core cools and the inner core crystallizes. Thermodynamic modeling of Fe-O-S liquids shows that immiscible liquids can exist at outer-core pressures (136 to 330 gigapascals) at temperatures below 5200 kelvin and lead to layering in the outer core if the concentrations of the lighter elements are high enough. We found no evidence for layering in the outer core in the travel times and wave forms of P4KP seismic waves that reflect internally in the core. The absence of layers therefore constrains outer-core compositions in the Fe-O-S system to be no richer than 6 +/- 1 weight % (wt %) O and 2 to 15 wt % S. A single core liquid composition of 10.5 +/- 3.5 wt % S and 1.5 +/- 1.5 wt % O is compatible with wave speeds and densities throughout the outer core.     

Genetic control of surface curvature

Although curvature of biological surfaces has been considered from mathematical and biophysical perspectives, its molecular and developmental basis is unclear. We have studied the cin mutant of Antirrhinum, which has crinkly rather than flat leaves. Leaves of cin display excess growth in marginal regions, resulting in a gradual introduction of negative curvature during development. This reflects a change in the shape and the progression of a cell-cycle arrest front moving from the leaf tip toward the base. CIN encodes a TCP protein and is expressed downstream of the arrest front. We propose that CIN promotes zero curvature (flatness) by making cells more sensitive to an arrest signal, particularly in marginal regions.     

High-pressure chemistry of hydrogen in metals: in situ study of iron hydride

Optical observations and x-ray diffraction measurements of the reaction between iron and hydrogen at high pressure to form iron hydride are described. The reaction is associated with a sudden pressure-induced expansion at 3.5 gigapascals of iron samples immersed in fluid hydrogen. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements carried out to 62 gigapascals demonstrate that iron hydride has a double hexagonal close-packed structure, a cell volume up to 17% larger than pure iron, and a stoichiometry close to FeH. These results greatly extend the pressure range over which the technologically important iron-hydrogen phase diagram has been characterized and have implications for problems ranging from hydrogen degradation and embrittlement of ferrous metals to the presence of hydrogen in Earth's metallic core.     

乌鲁木齐地区春季第一场暴雪型寒潮天气过程分析

根据常规天气资料、NCEP1°×1°的6h分析资料和数值预报产品,对2008年4月18日～2008年4月20日强寒潮天气发生前后环流及物理因子分析认为,强寒潮天气暴发前期,里黑海脊发展东移与东欧脊同位相叠加后顺转,脊前东北风带加强,使泰米尔半岛冷空气沿脊前偏北气流在横槽中堆积。高压脊部分东南垮,导致强冷空气大举东南下,强寒潮天气暴发;里海到巴尔喀什湖的水汽在北疆上空聚积,为这次寒潮天气提供了水汽条件;ECMWF数值预报产品在这次强寒潮天气过程中准确的预报了高度场的环流场演变趋势,地面冷高压的位置、强度、路径和移速;850hPa格点温度预报值与最低温度实况值具有很好的对应关系。     

Temperature-dependent alterations in host use drive rapid range expansion in a butterfly

Responses of species to climate change are extremely variable, perhaps because of climate-related changes to interactions among species. We show that temperature-related changes in the dependence of the butterfly Aricia agestis on different larval host plants have facilitated rapid range expansion. Historically, the butterfly was largely restricted to a single plant species, Helianthemum nummularium, but recent warmer conditions have enabled the butterfly to increasingly use the more widespread plant species Geranium molle. This has resulted in a substantial increase in available habitat and rapid range expansion by the butterfly (79 kilometers northward in Britain in 20 years). Interactions among species are often seen as constraints on species' responses to climate change, but we show that temperature-dependent changes to interspecific interactions can also facilitate change.     

2010年3月成都一次寒潮天气过程分析

[目的]分析2010年3月成都一次寒潮天气过程。[方法]利用NECP 1°×1°的6 h分析资料和常规观测等资料,应用天气学分析和诊断方法,从前期环流背景、冷空气路径和预报着眼点等方面,对2010年3月21-24日成都地区出现的一次寒潮天气过程进行了分析。[结果]500高空冷槽、700-850 hPa低层切变、地面冷锋是此次寒潮主要影响系统;500 hPa巴尔克什湖至贝加尔湖为一脊区,过程前期受高压脊影响,前期增温明显,日平均气温较高;地面冷高压范围大,中心强度达1 043.0 hPa;冷空气强而深厚,与地面强降温中心相对应;冷空气从新疆经河套到陕甘的西风路径再折向沿东北回流路径进入四川盆地。巴尔克什湖至贝加尔湖强偏北气流、地面冷高压中心强度变化情况、南北海压差和温差、850 hPa温度变化、冷平流移动路径以及强度等可作为预报寒潮强度的参考因子。[结论]该研究为提高对寒潮天气的预报能力提供理论依据。