Mode-locked lasers: measurements of very fast radiative decay in fluorescent systems

A mnode-locked laser was used to measure fluorescence decay down to 80 picoseconds. Measurements on the fluorescence of methylene blue quenchled with potassium iodide demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. Fluorescence decay times of chlorophyll b (3.87 +/- 0.05 nianoseconds) and c-phycocyanin (1.14 +/- 0.01 nanoseconds) in vitro and chlorophyll a in the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa (1.14 to 1.6 nanoseconds) compare well with some of the existing data.     

Excited singlet absorption in 1,2-benzanthracene by the use of nanosecond laser photolysis and spectroscopy

Using the technique of laser photolysis and spectroscopy, we have observed excited singlet state absorption bands in 1,2-benzanthracene at 560 and 520 nanometers. The bands decay in less than 50 nanoseconds and are replaced by the known absorption spectrum of the lowest triplet state.     

不同气体成分处理对丰香草莓采后品质、SOD及CAT活性的影响

以采后"丰香"草莓为材料,研究了不同气体成分处理(11%O2+10%CO2,3%O2+5%CO2)及冷藏对照对果实采后品质参数(失重率、腐烂指数、pH值和可溶性固形物含量)、SOD和CAT活性的影响,旨在寻求适宜"丰香"草莓贮藏的气体成分。结果表明:较对照相比,3%O2+5%CO2处理可降低果实的腐烂指数和失重率,维持可溶性固形物含量,抑制SOD活性的升高,增强CAT活性和pH值,11%O2+10%CO2处理亦可降低果实的失重率、腐烂指数,维持可溶性固形物含量,但导致贮藏后期果实SOD活性的升高,同时降低了CAT活性。可见,3%O2+5%CO2处理对"丰香"草莓的保鲜效果较理想。     

Around-the-World Atomic Clocks: Observed Relativistic Time Gains

Four cesium beam clocks flown around the world on commercial jet flights during October 1971, once eastward and once westward, recorded directionally dependent time differences which are in good agreement with predictions of conventional relativity theory. Relative to the atomic time scale of the U.S. Naval Observatory, the flying clocks lost 59 +/- 10 nanoseconds during the eastward trip and gained 273 +/- 7 nanoseconds during the westward trip, where the errors are the corresponding standard deviations. These results provide an unambiguous empirical resolution of the famous clock "paradox" with macroscopic clocks.     

Flash X-ray Microscopy

Soft x-ray contact microscopy, utilizing single-shot exposures of approximately 60 nanoseconds duration in polymethyl methacrylate, has been realized with a resolution of 300 angstroms. The radiation spectrum is intense in the "window" between 23 and 44 angstroms where water is transparent compared to biological materials, and therefore permits viewing of wet samples.     

Reaction of hydrated electrons with ferricytochrome C

The reaction of ferricytochrome c with hydrated electrons produced at pH 6.8 by radiolysis with electron pulses lasting 50 to 1000 nanoseconds has a specific rate constant of 5.5 x 10(10) liter mole(-1) sec(-1) for the formation of the primary adduct. By using appropriate wavelengths, another fast, consecutive process was demonstrated, with the pure first order rate constant 1.0 x 10(5) sec(-1). Its characteristics agree with it being an intramolecular process within the enzyme. Approximately 50 percent of all electrons which add to ferricytochrome c end in forming ferrocytochrome c.     

A68: a major subunit of paired helical filaments and derivatized forms of normal Tau

Putative Alzheimer disease (AD)-specific proteins (A68) were purified to homogeneity and shown to be major subunits of one form of paired helical filaments (PHFs). The amino acid sequence and immunological data indicate that the backbone of A68 is indistinguishable from that of the protein tau (tau), but A68 could be distinguished from normal human tau by the degree to which A68 was phosphorylated and by the specific residues in A68 that served as phosphate acceptors. The larger apparent relative molecular mass (Mr) of A68, compared to normal human tau, was attributed to abnormal phosphorylation of A68 because enzymatic dephosphorylation of A68 reduced its Mr to close to that of normal tau. Moreover, the LysSerProVal motif in normal human tau appeared to be an abnormal phosphorylation site in A68 because the Ser in this motif was a phosphate acceptor site in A68, but not in normal human tau. Thus, the major subunits of a class of PHFs are A68 proteins and the excessive or inappropriate phosphorylation of normal tau may change its apparent Mr, thus transforming tau into A68.     

Inactivation and block of calcium channels by photo-released Ca2+ in dorsal root ganglion neurons

Calcium channels are inactivated by voltage and intracellular calcium. To study the kinetics and the mechanism of calcium-induced inactivation of calcium channels, a "caged" calcium compound, dimethoxy-nitrophen was used to photo-release about 50 microM calcium ion within 0.2 millisecond in dorsal root ganglion neurons. When divalent cations were the charge carriers, intracellular photo-release of calcium inactivated the calcium channel with an invariant rate [time constant (tau) approximately equal to 7 milliseconds]. When the monovalent cation sodium was the charge carrier, photorelease of calcium inside or outside of the cell blocked the channel rapidly (tau approximately equal to 0.4 millisecond), but the block was greater from the external side. Thus the kinetics of calcium-induced calcium channel inactivation depends on the valency of the permeant cation. The data imply that calcium channels exist in either of two conformational states, the calcium- and sodium-permeant forms, or, alternatively, calcium-induced inactivation occurs at a site closely associated with the internal permeating site.     

Coherent quantum dynamics of a superconducting flux qubit

We have observed coherent time evolution between two quantum states of a superconducting flux qubit comprising three Josephson junctions in a loop. The superposition of the two states carrying opposite macroscopic persistent currents is manipulated by resonant microwave pulses. Readout by means of switching-event measurement with an attached superconducting quantum interference device revealed quantum-state oscillations with high fidelity. Under strong microwave driving, it was possible to induce hundreds of coherent oscillations. Pulsed operations on this first sample yielded a relaxation time of 900 nanoseconds and a free-induction dephasing time of 20 nanoseconds. These results are promising for future solid-state quantum computing.     

PARTICLE PHYSICS: Elusive Particle Leaves Telltale Trace

Nearly massless and incredibly rare, the tau neutrino seldom interacts with more common matter, making it difficult to detect. Now, an international team of physicists has laid claim to the first "direct" detection of the tau neutrino.     

C60 rotation in the solid state: dynamics of a faceted spherical top

The rotational dynamics of C(60) in the solid state have been investigated with carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance ((13)C NMR). The relaxation rate due to chemical shift anisotropy (1/9T1(CSA)(1)) was precisely measured from the magnetic field dependence of T(1), allowing the molecular reorientational correlation time, tau, to be determined. At 283 kelvin, tau = 9.1 picoseconds; with the assumption of diffusional reorientation this implies a rotational diffusion constant D = 1.8 x 10(10) per second. This reorientation time is only three times as long as the calculated tau for free rotation and is shorter than the value measured for C(60) in solution (15.5 picoseconds). Below 260 kelvin a second phase with a much longer reorientation time was observed, consistent with recent reports of an orientational phase transition in solid C(60). In both phases tau showed Arrhenius behavior, with apparent activation energies of 1.4 and 4.2 kilocalories per mole for the high-temperature (rotator) and low-temperature (ratchet) phases, respectively. The results parallel those found for adamantane.     

褐腐杨木微观结构、力学性能与化学成分的关系研究

为了探究褐腐对阔叶材主要材性的影响规律,对杨木边材试件进行室内褐腐培养,为期12周,每周抽样分别测试健康和腐朽木材的微观结构、力学性能及化学成分,并分析其随褐腐程度的变化情况,研究力学性能和化学成分之间的关系。结果表明:随褐腐程度的加深,木材细胞腔内的菌丝越来越多,纹孔膜和纹孔边缘的细胞壁分别于质量损失率为10%、16%时出现开裂;质量损失率为24%时,细胞壁严重溃烂。褐腐培养时间和质量损失率都对力学性能影响极显著;冲击韧性和抗弯强度的损失率随褐腐程度呈对数函数变化趋势,抗弯弹性模量和顺纹抗压强度的损失率呈线性变化趋势。各力学指标对褐腐的响应速度以及受褐腐影响的程度均呈如下规律:冲击韧性抗弯强度抗弯弹性模量顺纹抗压强度。不同褐腐程度试样中的综纤维素、半纤维素以及抽出物含量差异极显著,纤维素和木质素差异不显著。腐朽过程中褐腐菌最先主要降解半纤维素,质量损失率为20%左右时,转为以分解纤维素为主。冲击韧性的快速显著降低与半纤维素的降解有关,抗弯强度的变化与综纤维素含量有关,抗弯弹性模量和顺纹抗压强度的线性降低是由纤维素的缓慢降解决定的。总之,在褐腐过程中,木材微观水平上化学成分的降解和细胞壁结构的破坏从根本上导致了宏观力学性能的降低。      

Optical Studies of Pulsar NP 0532

The period of optical pulsations from NP 0532 has been determined to within 3 nanoseconds on three different nights. The time rate of change of the period (dP/dt)(p) was 36.17 x 10(-9) second per day. The pulse shape was highly asymmetrical with strong indications of structure. The ratio of the amplitude of the main pulse to that of the interpulse varied with time. No evidence was found for photon coincidences in the pulse on a time scale shorter than 2 microseconds.     

Optical response of high-dielectric-constant perovskite-related oxide

Optical conductivity measurements on the perovskite-related oxide CaCu3Ti4O12 provide a hint of the physics underlying the observed giant dielectric effect in this material. A low-frequency vibration displays anomalous behavior, implying that there is a redistribution of charge within the unit cell at low temperature. At infrared frequencies (terahertz), the value for the dielectric constant is approximately 80 at room temperature, which is far smaller than the value of approximately 10(5) obtained at lower radio frequencies (kilohertz). This discrepancy implies the presence of a strong absorption at very low frequencies due to dipole relaxation. At room temperature, the characteristic relaxation times are fast (less than or approximately 500 nanoseconds) but increase dramatically at low temperature, suggesting that the large change in dielectric constant may be due to a relaxor-like dynamical slowing down of dipolar fluctuations in nanosize domains.     

Differential regulation of dynein and kinesin motor proteins by tau

Dynein and kinesin motor proteins transport cellular cargoes toward opposite ends of microtubule tracks. In neurons, microtubules are abundantly decorated with microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) such as tau. Motor proteins thus encounter MAPs frequently along their path. To determine the effects of tau on dynein and kinesin motility, we conducted single-molecule studies of motor proteins moving along tau-decorated microtubules. Dynein tended to reverse direction, whereas kinesin tended to detach at patches of bound tau. Kinesin was inhibited at about a tenth of the tau concentration that inhibited dynein, and the microtubule-binding domain of tau was sufficient to inhibit motor activity. The differential modulation of dynein and kinesin motility suggests that MAPs can spatially regulate the balance of microtubule-dependent axonal transport.     

不同耕作栽培环境对秸秆腐解剂腐解效果的影响

[目的]解决保护性耕作下大量秸秆覆盖地表对机械播种、种子出苗的影响,筛选出适宜的秸秆腐解剂,提供保护性耕作技术大面积推广的技术支撑。[方法]设置了温室、大田2种环境,研究了麦玉两熟区保护性耕作条件下不同腐解剂对秸秆腐解速度的影响。[结果]温室条件下秸秆腐解速度快于大田环境,这与温室所创造的高温、高湿条件有关。试验最初的5 d时间内,采用腐解剂处理的秸秆腐解速度高于对照处理的1倍以上,随时间的延长差距变小。同时,试验所用4种腐解剂对秸秆的腐解速度不同。[结论]通过筛选适宜的腐解剂,可以实现保护性耕作下秸秆的快速腐解,为机械播种及种苗发育创造条件。     

Precision Geodesy via Radio Interferometry

Very-long-baseline interferometry experiments, involving observations of extragalactic radio sources, were performed in 1969 to determine the vector separations between antenna sites in Massachusetts and West Virginia. The 845.130-kilometer baseline was estimated from two separate experiments. The results agreed with each other to within 2 meters in all three components and with a special geodetic survey to within 2 meters in length; the differences in baseline direction as determined by the survey and by interferometry corresponded to discrepancies of about 5 meters. The experiments also yielded positions for nine extragalactic radio sources, most to within 1 arc second, and allowed the hydrogen maser clocks at the two sites to be synchronized a posteriori with an uncertainty of only a few nanoseconds.     

Pressure dependence of the radioactive decay constant of beryllium-7

Diamond anvil presses of a new design were used to compress samples of beryllium-7 oxide to 120, 210, and 270 kilobars. The decay constant for the conversion of beryllium-7 to lithium-7 by electron capture was measured for compressed and uncompressed samples. A least-squares fit of the equation (lambda(c)-lambda)/lambda = KpP to the experimental data, where lambda(C) and lambda are the decay constants of the compressed sample and an uncompressed sample, respectively, and P is pressure, yields a value of (2.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(-5) kbar(-1) for the constant K(p).     

广东省实蝇类害虫调查初报

实蝇是危害水果和蔬菜的一类重要害虫,进行种类调查对于其检疫和防治具有重要意义。用多种诱剂、粘板在广东省的湛江、惠州、韶关、梅州4个市的10个调查点定点调查;将诱捕的实蝇带回实验室进行形态学鉴定,并统计每种实蝇的数量。4个地区共诱捕到实蝇11种,发生数量较多的有橘小实蝇[Bactrocera dorsalis(hendel)]、瓜实蝇[Bactrocera(Zeugodacus)cucurbitae(Coquillellett)]、南瓜实蝇[Bactrocera(Zeugodacus)tau(Walker)]、具条实蝇[Bactrocera(Zeugodacus)scutellata(Hendel)]、辣椒实蝇[Bactrocera(Bactrocera)latifrons(Hendel)]。在韶关、惠州共捕获到4头合腹寡毛实蝇属(Dacus)实蝇,初步鉴定为三点棍腹实蝇[Dacus(Callantra)trimacula(Wang)],为广东省首次报道,调查结果显示:从发生区域和数量上看,橘小实蝇均是广东省实蝇的优势种,其次是瓜实蝇;南瓜实蝇在调查区域均有发生,具条实蝇主要分布在广东北部的韶关、梅州地区。此调查有助于对广东实蝇害虫发生情况的了解。