X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic Investigation of Trace Vanadium Sites in Coal

X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to probe the chemical and structural environment of vanadium in coal. It was found that vanadium exists in at least two environments, in both of which it was coordinated to oxygens. There was no evidence of vanadium in nitrogen (porphyrin) or sulfide environments. It was also found that the vanadium environments in the raw coal did not survive unchanged in a liquefaction process. These findings have implications for coal cleaning processes and for trace element release into the liquefaction process stream.     

Tidal vertical migration: an endogenous rhythm in estuarine crab larvae

Field-caught larvae of the estuarine crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii have a tidal rhythm of vertical migration when maintained in constant conditions. Laboratory-reared larvae do not show this rhythm. Endogenous tidal vertical migrations aid the retention of these planktonic larvae in estuaries near the parent populations.     

冀西北坝上旱滩地春油菜高产栽培措施及优化方案的研究

采用四元二次回归正交旋转组合设计,对影响冀西北坝上半干旱区旱滩地春油菜产量形成的密度、磷肥、氮肥、追氮比例四项关键农艺措施进行了定量化的综合研究,建立了高产栽培的数学模型,分析了单因素和二因素产量效应。四项农艺措施对产量作用的大小依次是:氮肥>密度>磷肥>追氮比例。优化农艺措施组合是:每公顷密度24.3～30.1万株,P_2O_5 53～80kg,N 107.8～120.9kg,追N比为总量的73％～93％。     

High Pressure X-ray Diffraction Studies on Barium

Simultaneous x-ray diffraction and electrical resistance measurements on barium establish, with certainty, that Bridgman's 78-kb resistance transition is identical with his 59-kb volumetransition. During this transition, the bodycentered cubic structure changes to hexagonalclose packed. Lattice parameters for the latter structure at 62 kb (volume scale) are: a = 3.90 A, c = 6.15 A, and c/a = 1.58. Compression (AV/Vo) at 62 kb is 0.359 + 0.005 compared to 0.345 previously reported by Bridgman. Below the transition, at 49 kb, compression is 0.300 +/- 0.005 compared to Bridgman's 0.288. Bridgman's 17-kb volume transition was not detected by x-ray diffraction.     

Band gap fluorescence from individual single-walled carbon nanotubes

Fluorescence has been observed directly across the band gap of semiconducting carbon nanotubes. We obtained individual nanotubes, each encased in a cylindrical micelle, by ultrasonically agitating an aqueous dispersion of raw single-walled carbon nanotubes in sodium dodecyl sulfate and then centrifuging to remove tube bundles, ropes, and residual catalyst. Aggregation of nanotubes into bundles otherwise quenches the fluorescence through interactions with metallic tubes and substantially broadens the absorption spectra. At pH less than 5, the absorption and emission spectra of individual nanotubes show evidence of band gap-selective protonation of the side walls of the tube. This protonation is readily reversed by treatment with base or ultraviolet light.     

Spatial patterns in the distribution of tropical tree species

Fully mapped tree census plots of large area, 25 to 52 hectares, have now been completed at six different sites in tropical forests, including dry deciduous to wet evergreen forest on two continents. One of the main goals of these plots has been to evaluate spatial patterns in tropical tree populations. Here the degree of aggregation in the distribution of 1768 tree species is examined based on the average density of conspecific trees in circular neighborhoods around each tree. When all individuals larger than 1 centimeter in stem diameter were included, nearly every species was more aggregated than a random distribution. Considering only larger trees (>/= 10 centimeters in diameter), the pattern persisted, with most species being more aggregated than random. Rare species were more aggregated than common species. All six forests were very similar in all the particulars of these results.     

The chemical genomic portrait of yeast: uncovering a phenotype for all genes

Genetics aims to understand the relation between genotype and phenotype. However, because complete deletion of most yeast genes ( approximately 80%) has no obvious phenotypic consequence in rich medium, it is difficult to study their functions. To uncover phenotypes for this nonessential fraction of the genome, we performed 1144 chemical genomic assays on the yeast whole-genome heterozygous and homozygous deletion collections and quantified the growth fitness of each deletion strain in the presence of chemical or environmental stress conditions. We found that 97% of gene deletions exhibited a measurable growth phenotype, suggesting that nearly all genes are essential for optimal growth in at least one condition.