Visualization and Transport of Positron Emission from Proton Activation in vivo

Heavy charged particle beams can be widely used for cancer therapy if control in heterogeneous tissue is proved practical. A beam of protons at 200 million electron volts has been visualized in plastic and in a living animal by using an on-line positron camera. The fraction of the activity retained in the radiation site was found to be at least 70 percent of that produced in a dead animal. The sensitivity of the technique was established for a typical geometry.     

Adsorption of Chloride, Nitrate and Perchlorate by Variable Charge Soils

Two cells consisting of a chloride-selective electrode and a nitrate-selective electrode or of a chloride-selective electrode and a perchlorate-selective electrode were directly put in the soil suspension to determine the concentration ratios Cl-/ NO3- or Cl-/ ClO4- for studying the adsorption of the three anions by variable charge soils. It was found that all the concentration ratios CCl- / CNO3- and CCl- / CClO4- in suspension were smaller than unity when soil samples were in equilibrium with mixed KCl and KNO3 or KCl and KClO4 solutions of equal concentration. The order of the amount of chloride, nitrate and perchlorate adsorbed by variable charge soils was Cl-> NO3-> ClO4- when the soils adsorbed these anions from the solution containing equal concentrations of Cl-, NO3- and ClO4-. Such factors as the pH of the suspension, the iron oxide content of the soil etc. could affect the amounts and the ratios of anions adsorbed.     

Adsorption of Potassium and Calcium Ions by Variable Charge Soils

Interactions of potassium and calcium ions with four typical variable charge soils in South China were examined by measuring pK-0.5pCa value with a potassium ion-selective electrode and a calcium ion-selective electrode,and pK value with a potassium ion-selective electrode.The results showed that adsorption of potassium and calcium ions increased with soil suspension pH,and the tendency of the pK-0.5pCa value changing with pH differed with respect to pH range and potassium to calcium ratio.Adsorption of equal amount of calcium and potassium ions led to release of an identical number of protons,suggesting similar adsorption characteristics of these two ions when adsorbed by variable charge soils.Compared with red soil,latosol and lateritic red soil had higher adsorption selectivities for calcium ion.The red soil had a greater affinity for potassium ion than that for calcium ion at low concentration,which seems to result from its possession of 2:1 type minerals,such as vermiculite and mica with a high affinity for potassium ion.The results indicated that adsorption of potassium and calcium ions by the variable charge soils was chiefly caused by the electrostatic attraction between the cations and the soil surfaces.Moreover,it was found that sulfate could affect the adsorption by changing soil surface properties and by forming ion-pair.     

Seismic Performance Analysis and Optimum Design of RC Frame Structure Retrofitted by Viscidity Dampers

For a reinforce concrete frame structures which is not satisfied the standard for seismic appraiser of building, viscidity dampers are used to retrofit the structure. Four reinforce schemes are selected in which six same viscidity dampers are located at different position of the structure. Compared seismic performance of the retrofited structure with unretrofited one, an optimum scheme where viscidity dampers should better set is obtained. Then the number and technical parameter of viscidity dampers are adjusted, and seismic performance of the structure are calculated. The results are compared and a more economic scheme is obtained because the cost is lowest and the displacement of the structure under earthquakes is satisfied the standard for seismic appraiser of building. Several rules and advices are gotten about how to use the viscidity dampers to retrofit reinforce concrete frame structures. The conclusion about viscidity dampers are useful for similar actual engineering.     

Tree size and light availability increase photochemical instead of non-photochemical capacities of Nothofagus nitida trees growing in an evergreen temperate rain forest

Nothofagus nitida (Phil.) Krasser (Nothofagaceae) regenerates under the canopy in microsites protected from high light. Nonetheless, it is common to find older saplings in clear areas and adults as emergent trees of the Chilean evergreen forest. We hypothesized that this shade to sun transition in N. nitida is supported by an increase in photochemical and non-photochemical energy dissipation capacities of both photosystems in parallel with the increase in plant size and light availability. To dissect the relative contribution of light environment and plant developmental stage to these physiological responses, the photosynthetic performance of both photosystems was studied from the morpho-anatomical to the biochemical level in current-year leaves of N. nitida plants of different heights (ranging from 0.1 to 7 m) growing under contrasting light environments (integrated quantum flux (IQF) 5-40 mol m(-2). Tree height (TH) and light environment (IQF) independently increased the saturated electron transport rates of both photosystems, as well as leaf and palisade thickness, but non-photochemical energy flux, photoinhibition susceptibility, state transition capacity, and the contents of D1 and PsbS proteins were not affected by IQF and TH. Spongy mesophyll thickness and palisade cell diameter decreased with IQF and TH. A(max), light compensation and saturation points, Rubisco and nitrogen content (area basis) only increased with light environment (IQF), whereas dark respiration (R(d)) decreased slightly and relative chlorophyll content was higher in taller trees. Overall, the independent effects of more illuminated environment and tree height mainly increased the photochemical instead of the non-photochemical energy flux. Regardless of the photochemical increase with TH, carbon assimilation only significantly improved with higher IQF. Therefore it seems that mainly acclimation to the light environment supports the phenotypic transition of N. nitida from shade to sun.     

高岭石和氧化土悬液中铝的水解行为及有机酸对铝水解反应的影响

To evaluate the role of kaolinite and variable charge soils on the hydrolytic reaction of Al, the hydrolysis of Al ions in suspensions of a kaolinite and an Oxisol influenced by organic anions was investigated using changes of pH, Al adsorption, and desorption of pre-adsorbed Al. Kaolinite and the Oxisol promoted the hydrolytic reaction of Al above a certain initial Al concentration (0.1 mmol L^-1 for kaolinite and 0.3 mmol L^-1 for the Oxisol). The Al hydrolysis accelerated by kaolinite and the Oxisol increased with an increase in initial concentration of Al and was observed in the range of pH from 3.7 to 4.7 for kaolinite and 3.9 to 4.9 for the Oxisol. The acceleration of Al hydrolysis also increased with the increase of solution pH, reached a maximum value at pH 4.5, and then decreased sharply. Al hydrolysis was promoted mainly through selective adsorption for hydroxy-Al. Soil free iron oxides compensated a portion of the soil negative charge or masked some soil surface negative sites leading to a decrease in Al adsorption, which retarded acceleration to some extent. For the Oxisol organic anions increased the proportion of adsorbed Al³⁺ in total adsorbed Al with the increase in soil negative surface charge and eliminated or reduced the acceleration of Al hydrolysis. Different organic anions inhibited the hydrolysis of Al in the order: citrate > oxalate > acetate (under initial pH of 4.5). The formation of Al-organic complexes in solution also inhibited the hydrolysis of Al.     

Production of soy protein concentrates using a combination of electroacidification and ultrafiltration

Soy protein concentrates produced by combining electroacidification and dead-end ultrafiltration with a membrane of 100 kDa (pH 7 and 6) were compared with concentrates produced by ultrafiltration (pH 9) and a traditional acid precipitation procedure at pH 4.5. Mineral removal during ultrafiltration (mainly potassium, phosphorus, and calcium) was enhanced for the pH 6 electroacidified extract, compared to the extract at pH 9. This yielded a concentrate with improved solubility characteristics. The solubility for the concentrate prepared at pH 6 was enhanced by as high as 45% when compared to the concentrate at pH 9. The concentrate produced according to the traditional acid precipitation process showed mineral contents and solubility profile similar to those of the pH 6 concentrate, but required twice as much water during the process. The effect of electroacidification treatments on ultrafiltration permeate flux was quantified through the measurement of the different hydraulic resistances. Cake resistance was the main resistance to the permeate flux, and it was minimum at pH 9, maximum at pH 7, and intermediate at pH 6.     

Thermogenesis, blood metabolites and hormones, and growth of lambs born to ewes supplemented with algae-derived docosahexaenoic acid

Neonatal lamb mortality is a major factor affecting profitability in the sheep industry, and lamb thermogenesis is a key element in neonatal lamb survival. Increased lamb vigor has been reported when ewes were supplemented during late gestation with algae-derived docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); however, the effects of DHA on lamb thermogenesis and immunocompetence have not been investigated. Eighty twin-bearing Targhee ewes (ages 2 to 5 yr; 68.5 ± 3 kg) were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 supplement treatments to determine the effects of feeding DHA to ewes during late gestation and early lactation on lamb thermogenesis, serum metabolites and hormones, and lamb growth. Supplement treatments were 12 g·ewe(-1)·d(-1) of algae-derived DHA (DHA Gold Advanced Bionutrition Corp., Columbia, MD; algae-derived DHA); and no algae-derived DHA (control). Supplements were individually fed daily during the last 30 d (±7 d) of gestation and pen fed (6 pens/treatment with 6 or 7 ewes/pen) during the first 38 d (±7 d) of lactation. One hour after lambing and before nursing, twin-born lambs were weighed, blood sampled via jugular puncture, and placed in a dry cold chamber for 30 min (0°C), and rectal temperatures were recorded every minute for 30 min. Lambs were removed from the cold chamber, blood sampled, warmed for 15 min, and returned to their dam. Ewes were blood sampled, and colostrum samples were collected 1 h postpartum. Ewe and lamb sera were assayed for glucose, NEFA, cortisol, and leptin. Lamb rectal temperature, glucose, NEFA, cortisol, leptin, and birth weights did not differ between treatments. The BW at 38 d was greater (P = 0.03) for lambs born to control ewes than for lambs born to algae-derived DHA-supplemented ewes; however, the colostrum of algae-derived DHA-supplemented ewes had a greater specific gravity (P = 0.05) than for control ewes. Overall, despite a potentially positive effect on ewe colostral IgG concentrations, supplementation of algae-derived DHA during late gestation and early lactation had a negative effect on lamb BW and did not affect indices of lamb thermogenesis.     

Molecular detection of Torque teno sus virus in lymphoid tissues in concomitant infections with other porcine viral pathogens

In this study, 40 pigs with respiratory and wasting disorders from Cuban swine herds were screened by PCR for the presence of TTSuV1, TTSuV2, PCV-2, PPV and CSFV in spleen samples. The variability of the porcine TTSuV sequences obtained was investigated by phylogenetic analysis. This study showed for the first time that TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 were present in Cuban swine herds. The investigation revealed the following infection rates: TTSuV1 40%, TTSuV2 37.5%, PCV-2 70%, PPV 37.5% and CSFV in 52.5%. The presence of two or more of these viruses at different rates in the same spleen samples was revealed. Also, a higher genetic diversity of TTSuV2 sequences was observed regarding TTSuV1 sequences.