Crystalline Ropes of Metallic Carbon Nanotubes

Fullerene single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs) were produced in yields of more than 70 percent by condensation of a laser-vaporized carbon-nickel-cobalt mixture at 1200degreesC. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy showed that these SWNTs are nearly uniform in diameter and that they self-organize into "ropes," which consist of 100 to 500 SWNTs in a two-dimensional triangular lattice with a lattice constant of 17 angstroms. The x-ray form factor is consistent with that of uniformly charged cylinders 13.8 +/- 0.2 angstroms in diameter. The ropes were metallic, with a single-rope resistivity of <10(-4) ohm-centimeters at 300 kelvin. The uniformity of SWNT diameter is attributed to the efficient annealing of an initial fullerene tubelet kept open by a few metal atoms; the optimum diameter is determined by competition between the strain energy of curvature of the graphene sheet and the dangling-bond energy of the open edge, where growth occurs. These factors strongly favor the metallic (10,10) tube with C5v symmetry and an open edge stabilized by triple bonds.     

Acute myelogenous leukaemia in a mare

SUMMARY: A 5-year-old Thoroughbred mare presented with a 4 week history of weight loss, fever and leukopenia. Rectally, a large active foetus, thickened spleen and an abdominal mass were palpated. Leukopenia, mild anaemia, marked thrombocytopenia and hyperfibrinogenaemia were found. Cytology and cytochemical staining of a bone marrow aspirate supported a diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukaemia. The mare deteriorated despite medical therapy and was humanely euthanased.     

基于决策树和混合像元分解的玉米种植面积提取方法

Landsat 8影像具有较高空间分辨率和时间分辨率,长时间序列Landsat 8-NDVI曲线反映农作物的物候历、种植模式和种植结构信息,是精确提取玉米种植面积的理想数据源。基于时序Landsat 8-NDVI影像提取玉米种植面积的方法中,决策树方法快速、高效,可通过多阈值限定进行分类,但由于混合像元问题,如果阈值设置过宽,提取面积偏大;阈值设置过窄,提取面积偏小;混合像元分解通过计算端元组分丰度可以排除异质地类干扰。因此,以时序NDVI为数据源、耦合使用2种算法是精确提取作物种植面积的有效方法。本研究基于时序Landsat 8-NDVI,提取河北省保定市大田玉米的种植面积。首先,分析典型作物区的NDVI曲线特征,并构建决策树从而初步提取早播夏玉米、小麦夏玉米和春玉米的分布范围。然后,根据端元平均NDVI波谱曲线,进行3种玉米混合度分解,进而根据玉米丰度比例精确提取玉米种植面积。精度评价结果表明:利用本方法提取的玉米种植区总分类精度在98%以上,Kappa系数在0.97以上;所提取的玉米种植类型主要是夏玉米,春玉米种植主要集中在涿州市中部,这与实地调查结果一致。上述定量和定性的评价结果表明该方法可用于快速、精确提取玉米种植面积。     

Magnetic microstructure of magnetotactic bacteria by electron holography

Off-axis electron holography in the transmission electron microscope was used to correlate the physical and magnetic microstructure of magnetite nanocrystals in magnetotactic bacteria. The magnetite crystals were all single magnetic domains, and the magnetization directions of small superparamagnetic crystals were constrained by magnetic interactions with larger crystals in the chains. Shape anisotropy was found to dominate magnetocrystalline anisotropy in elongated crystals. A coercive field between 300 and 450 oersted was determined for one chain.     

Infection with Mycobacterium simiae complex in four captive Micronesian kingfishers

CASE DESCRIPTION: 4 captive adult Micronesian kingfishers (Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina) at 3 zoologic institutions were examined routinely or because of dyspnea or lethargy. CLINICAL FINDINGS: All birds had marked hepatomegaly. Two birds had dyspnea caused by compression of air sacs by the enlarged liver, and 1 bird had generalized weakness and lethargy. Three birds had distended coelomic cavities, and 3 birds were thin or had lost weight. There were no consistent abnormalities in blood analytes. Results of most ancillary diagnostic tests such as acid-fast staining of cloacal or fecal swab specimens and culture of feces for acid-fast bacteria were negative. Results of examination of hepatic biopsy specimens in 2 of 4 birds were suggestive of mycobacteriosis. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: 3 birds died or were euthanized soon after diagnosis. One kingfisher was isolated and monitored for 4 months without treatment and died during anesthesia for disease monitoring. Postmortem histologic examination revealed histiocytic hepatitis and acid-fast bacteria in all 4 birds. Bacteriologic culture of liver specimens yielded Mycobacterium simiae complex in all 4 birds. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Infection with M simiae complex should be considered in ill Micronesian kingfishers, and further monitoring is warranted to determine whether this is an emerging pathogen in this species.     

A survey of neurological diseases in horses

SUMMARY: Case records of 450 horses with signs of neurological disease are reviewed. One hundred and nineteen horses with neurological disease due to trauma were examined, of which 60 were due to spinal cord trauma, 47 to brain or cranial nerve trauma and 12 to peripheral nerve trauma. Cervical vertebral fractures/trauma were the most common injury. Basisphenold/basloccipital bone fractures were the most common form of cranial trauma and facial nerve paralysis the most common cranial nerve injury. Eighty-nine horses with neurological disease due to malformation were examined. Cervical vertebral malformation occurred in 83 horses and congenital defects in 6 foals. Neurological disease due to inflammation or infection occurred in 30 horses. The most common disease of this type was meningitis, which occurred in 11 horses and foals. Neoplasms in the CNS caused neurological disease in 8 horses. The final category was miscellaneous neurological disease, which was diagnosed in 204 horses. Diseases in this category included neonatal (28 cases), toxic/metabolic (27 cases), idiopathic (133 cases), degenerative (3 cases) and other neurological diseases (13 cases). The most common condition was idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia (116 cases).
Where possible, diagnosis relied on a thorough neurological examination with use of ancillary tests in selected cases including rhinolaryngoscopy, radiography, myelography, ophthalmoscopy and cerebrospinal fluid analysis when indicated. In many cases necropsy and histopathological confirmation or diagnosis was necessary.     

水分胁迫下4种冷季型草坪草抗旱性比较研究

采用盆栽育苗法,研究了4种冷季型草坪草在不同水分胁迫下的抗旱性,结果表明:1)随着水分胁迫程度的加深,4种冷季型草坪草的外观质量和叶片相对含水量显著下降,细胞质膜透性、MDA含量和Pro含量上升。2)模糊数学综合评价结果表明,4种冷季型草坪草种抗旱性能由强到弱的顺序为:高羊茅>多年生黑麦草>草地早熟禾>匍匐翦股颖。