Magnetic field effect on picosecond electron transfer

The recombination dynamics of a transition metal redox system monitored by femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy are shown to be sensitive to high magnetic fields at times shorter than 10 picoseconds. The effect, based on coherent population beats of different spin states, is quantitatively accounted for and allows direct access to spin relaxation rates far beyond the time resolution of the fastest electron paramagnetic resonance technique. The presence of this ultrafast magnetic field effect helps in understanding complex reaction schemes in transition metal chemistry, which occur in a wide range of fields, such as bioinorganic chemistry and catalysis.     

耕作方式与秸秆还田对冬小麦–夏玉米轮作系统中干物质生产和水分利用效率的影响

为探讨黄淮海地区一年两熟制下土壤耕作方式与秸秆还田相结合的适宜模式,2010—2012年进行了两年度的田间试验,研究不同处理对冬小麦–夏玉米轮作系统干物质生产和水分利用效率的影响。通过比较常规耕作+秸秆还田、常规耕作+无秸秆还田、深耕+秸秆还田、深耕+无秸秆还田、深松+秸秆还田、深松+无秸秆还田6个处理,发现深松(耕)与秸秆还田可以增加冬小麦和夏玉米的农田耗水量,降低休闲期农田耗水量,提高作物叶片相对含水量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率和茎秆伤流量,促进植株干物质积累,进而提高作物籽粒产量和水分利用效率。耕作方式与秸秆还田对冬小麦和夏玉米的干物质生产和水分利用效率存在显著交互作用。与常规耕作+无秸秆还田相比,深耕+秸秆还田和深松+秸秆还田处理的作物干物质积累量分别提高19.3%和22.9%,周年作物产量分别提高18.0%和19.3%,水分利用效率分别提高15.9%和15.1%,且两处理无显著差异。因此认为,与本试验相似环境条件下,宜在秸秆还田的基础上配合深松或深耕。     

Inadequate dietary intake is not the cause of stunting amongst young children living in an informal settlement in Gauteng and rural Limpopo Province in South Africa: the NutriGro study

OBJECTIVE: To measure dietary intakes of young children aged 12-24 months and to determine the impact of poor diets on stunting. DESIGN: A quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was adapted, tested and standardised. Trained enumerators conducted in-depth interviews with the mothers/caregivers of the children. Forty stunted children in urban informal settlements and 30 stunted children in rural areas were selected and pair-matched with controls. The data were captured on the Food Finder Program of the Medical Research Council. RESULTS: In both urban and rural areas, the diet of stunted and non-stunted groups did differ significantly and all diets were of poor nutritional quality. CONCLUSION: Diets in both areas resembled the recommended prudent diet, i.e. low in fat and high in carbohydrates. Poor quality diets were not the primary cause of stunting.     

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Ki67 in feline oral squamous cell carcinomas (FOSCC)

The aims of this study were to establish expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Ki67 in 67 archived biopsy samples of feline oral squamous cell carcinomas (FOSCCs) and to establish if the expression of either markers was predictive of survival. Samples were immunohistochemically labelled for the two proteins and scored. Statistical analyses of data, including Kaplan-Meier survival curves, were performed. All samples expressed both markers although levels differed between samples. Median overall survival was 46 days and 1-year survival was 5%. There was no correlation between Ki67 and EGFR scores (Pearson's correlation coefficient, P = 0.861). Low cellular proliferation (low Ki67 score) was positively correlated with an overall longer survival (Log Rank, P = 0.02) and a trend towards better survival for the high EGFR group was observed (Log Rank, P = 0.076). Ki67 and EGFR immunostaining in FOSCC may be of value as biochemical markers for screening of biopsies from cases of FOSCC.     

Resistance of Thrips tabaci to pyrethroid and organophosphorus insecticides in Ontario, Canada

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, were collected from commercial onion fields in 2001, 2002 and 2003 to assess resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin and diazinon. In 2001, six of eight adult populations were resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin, with resistance ratios (RR) ranging from 2 to 13.1 and four of these were also resistant to deltamethrin, with RR ranging from 19.3 to 120. Three of four adult populations were resistant to diazinon with RR ranging from 2.5 to 165.8. In 2002, four of seven nymphal populations and three of six adult populations were resistant to deltamethrin, with RR ranging from 4.3 to 72.5 and 9.4 to 839.2, respectively. Only one of six nymphal populations and one of five adult populations were resistant to diazinon, with RR of 5.6 and 2.3, respectively. In 2003 diagnostic dose bioassays, 15 of 16 onion thrips populations were resistant to lambda-cyhalothrin and all were resistant to deltamethrin. Eight of the 16 were resistant to diazinon. These results indicate that insecticide resistance is widespread in onion thrips in commercial onion fields in Ontario.