Lasing on pyroclastic rocks: A case study of <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar dating on Moshishan Group,eastern Zhejiang Province

It is difficult to date pyroclastic rocks, for almost all the dating methods, due to the multiple sources during their formation. ^40Ar/^39gAr incremental heating results on groundmass selected from the samples show that the age spectra are meaningless geologically. However, singe crystal total fusions of CO2 lasing on the sanidine separates could yield rational 4^40Ar/^39Ar results and distinguish their sources in this study. Timing on three formations of the Moshishan Group, after avoiding the exotic and altered grains by lasing on the single sanidine separate, was reported in this paper. The lowermost portion of the Chawan Formation gives an age of 113.7±0.3 Ma; the lower part of the Xishantou Formation was formed 116.4±0.4 Ma ago and the bottom of the Gaowu Formation took its shape at 118.4±0.4 Ma. These new ages are much younger than the previous ones, suggesting that these thick volcanic formations had been formed in very short durations.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> gas emplacement age in the Songliao Basin: Insight from volcanic quartz <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar-<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar stepwise crushing

Due to a lack of suitable minerals, the gas/oil emplacement ages have never been accurately obtained before. CH₄-CO₂-saline- bearing secondary inclusions are found in quartz from the volcanic rocks of the Yingcheng Formation, the container rocks of the deep CO₂ gas reservoir in the Songliao Basin. The inclusion fluid was trapped into microcracks in quartz during the gas emplacement and accumulation, providing an optimal target for the ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar stepwise crushing technique to determine the CO₂ gas emplacement age. ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar dating results of a quartz sample by stepwise crushing yield a highly linear-regression isochron with an age of 78.4±1.3 Ma, indicating that the accumulation of the deep CO₂ gas reservoir in the Songliao Basin occurred in the late Cretaceous. This is the first time to report an exact isotopic age for a CO₂ gas reservoir, which indicates that the ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar dating can serve as a new technique to date the oil/gas emplacement ages.     

The short C-terminal hydrophilic domain of NhaH Na^＋/H^＋ antiporter from Halobacillus dabanensis with roles in resistance to salt and in pH sensing

The Na^＋/H^＋ antiporter plays key roles in maintaining low cytoplasmic NaNa^＋ level and pH homeostasis, while little is known about the Carboxyl-terminal hydrophilic tails of prokaryotic antiporters. In our previous study, the first Na^＋/H^＋ antiporter gene nhaH from moderate halophiles was cloned from Halobacillus dabanensis D-8 by functional complementation. A topological model suggested that only nine amino acid residues （^395PLIKKLGMI403） existed in the hydrophilic C-terminal domain of NhaH. The C-terminal truncated mutant of NhaH was constructed by PCR strategy and designated as nhaH△C. Salt tolerance experiment demonstrated that the deletion of hydrophilic C-terminal nine amino acid residues significantly inhibited the complementation ability of E. coil KNabc, in which three main Na^＋/H^＋ antiporters nhaA, nhaB and chaA were deleted. Everted membrane vesicles prepared from E. coil KNabc/nhaHAC decreased both Na^＋/H^＋ and Li^＋/H^＋ exchange activities of NhaH, and also resulted in an acidic shift of its pH profile for Na^＋, indicating a critical role of the short C-terminal domain of NhaH antiporter in alkali cation binding/translocation and pH sensing.     

<Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar isochron ages of lawsonite blueschists from Jiuquan in the northern Qilian Mountain,NW China,and their tectonic implications

Using laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating method, we have gotten the metamorphic ages of lawsonite blueschist and epidote blueschist from Jiuquan, northern Qilian Mountain, NW China. The high quality laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of glaucophane from lawsonite blueschist gives an isochron age of 413±5 Ma. The isochron age obtained from phengite in epidote blueschist is 415±7 Ma. These data, combining with peak metamorphic P-T conditions and regional geological setting, allow us to infer that the lower limit of the ages of the prograde subduction metamorphism from lawsonite blueschist facies to epidote blueschist facies occurred at ca. 413–415 Ma, which also suggests that the formation of lawsonite blueschist in the northern Qilian Mountain maybe resulted from the corner flow in the cold subduction zone. This study shows that the final closing time of the northern Qilian remnant oceanic basin is about 413–415 Ma, which also represents the convergent age between the North China Craton and the Qaidam block.     

Characteristics of Pb<Superscript>2+</Superscript> biosorption with aerobic granular biomass

Experimental studies were conducted on the feasibility of aerobic granular biomass as a novel type of biosorbent for Pb^2＋ removal. The results show that the initial pH, Pb^2＋ concentration （Co） and biomass concentration （X0） affected the biosorption process significantly. Both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models describe the biosorption process accurately, with correlation coefficients of 0.932 and 0.959 respectively. The Pb^2＋ biosorpUon kinetics is interpreted as having two stages, with the second stage described reasonably well by a Lagergren pseudo-second order model. Moreover, the surface change of granular biomass after the Pb^2＋ biosorption process appears to be caused by ion exchange and metal chelation according to the analysis results of Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy （ESEM） and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy （EDX）.     

Effects of Yb^3＋ codoping on visible and near infrared emissions of Er^3＋-Yb^3＋ codoped Al2O3 powders by the sol-gel method

The 0.1 mol% Er^3＋ and 0-2 mol% Yb^3＋ codoped Al2O3 powders were prepared by the sol-gel method, and the phase structure, including only two crystalline types of doped Al2O3 phase, γ-（Al,Er, Yb）2O3 and θ-（Al,Er, Yb）2O3, was detected at the sintering temperature of 1000℃. The visible and near infrared emissions properties depended strongly on the Yb^3＋ codoping, and the corresponding maximal peak intensities centered at about 523, 545, 660 and 1533 nm were obtained respectively for the 0.1 mol% Er^3＋ and 0.5 mol% Yb^3＋ codoped Al2O3 powders, which were composed of θ-（Al,Er,Yb）2O3 and a small amount of γ-（Al,Er, Yb）2O3 phases. The two-photon absorption process was responsible for the visible up-conversion emissions, and the one-photon absorption process was involved in the near infrared emissions of the Er^3＋-yb^3＋ codoped Al2O3 powders.     

<Superscript>1</Superscript>H MAS NMR spectra of kaolinite/formamide intercalation compound

The high spinning speed ¹H magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H MAS NMR) technique was employed to distinguish the two groups of surface hydroxyls of kaolinite and investigate the intercalation mechanism of kaolinite/formamide compound. The proton chemical shifts of the inner hydroxyl and inner surface hydroxyl of kaolinte are in the range of δ−1.3–−0.9 and δ 2.4–3.0 respectively. After formamide intercalation three proton peaks were detected. The proton peak of the inner surface hydroxyls of the intercalation compound shifts to high-field with δ 2.3–2.7, which is assigned to the formation of the hydrogen bond between the inner surface hydroxyl and formamide carbonyl group. Whereas, the proton peak of the inner hydroxyl shifts to δ −0.3 toward low-field, that is attributed to van der Waal’s effect between the inner hydroxyl proton and the amino group proton of the formamide which may be keyed into the ditrigonal hole of the kaolinite. The third peak, additional proton peak, is in the range of δ5.4–5.6, that is ascribed to the hydrogen bond formation between the amino group proton of formimide and SiO₄ tetrahedral oxygen of the kaolinite.     

Characteristics of U-pattern distribution of highconcentration <Superscript>210</Superscript>Pb in surface air at central Guizhou,China

A better understanding of the variation of ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in the surface air is the key to trace lake sedimentation and catchment erosion, to establish and validate the global diffusion model of contaminants, and to assess the impact of natural radiation on the ecological system. Basing on the study progresses of the sedimentation, the atmospheric model and the unique environmental background in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and starting from December 20, 2001, we made use of a 500 NE Type aerosol sampler to collect filter samples, once a week in the past consecutive two years, in the surface air at Mt. Guanfeng, Guiyang City, China. Synchronous detailed γ-energy spectrometric observations of ²¹⁰Pb concentrations at both Chinese and U.S. laboratories have shown that the average monthly ²¹⁰Pb concentration displays a regular U-patterns distribution of annual variations, with high values appearing in winter and low values in late spring and summer. The average annual ²¹⁰Pb concentrations are estimated to be 2.77±0.63 mBq/m³, about 4 times the average maximum concentrations reported from quite a number of monitoring stations throughout the world. The possible factors affecting the sources of ²¹⁰Pb in the surface air in the central part of Guizhou Province are: Release of ²²²Rn from the U-Ra series enriched in the soils; chemical weathering of carbonate rocks; the exploitation, processing and utilization of coal and phosphorous resources. The principal factor controlling the high ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in the surface air in the central Guizhou and their annual U-pattern distribution is the release of ²²²Rn. The average monthly ²¹⁰Pb concentrations show a good negative powerfunction relationship with increasing precipitation and also show a good negative linear-function relationship with the rise of air temperature in month grouping. Group No.1 (June to November) reflects a relatively low release of ²²²Rn from soils in relatively high temperature seasons; Group No.2 (December to May) mirrors a relatively high release of ²²²Rn from soils in relatively low temperature seasons. The average monthly ²¹⁰Pb concentrations simulated in terms of the precipitation and air temperature are in good consistency with the measured values, revealing that the regular U-pattern distribution characteristics of ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in the surface air in the central Guizhou are controlled predominantly by regional precipitation and air temperature. Meanwhile, it is also indicated that the magnitude of variation of air temperature and precipitation within the same year also constrains the ratio of high values over low values of average monthly ²¹⁰Pb concentrations. On a month time scale, precipitation and air temperature are a main factor affecting the release of ²²²Rn from soils (rocks). In this aspect strong evidence has been obtained.     

Nitric oxide suppresses stomatal opening by inhibiting inward-rectifying K<Stack><Subscript>in</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack> channels in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> guard cells

We explore nitric oxide （NO） effect on K^＋in, channels in Arabidopsis guard cells. We observed NO inhibited K^＋in, currents when Ca^2＋ chelator EGTA （Ethylene glycol-bis（2-aminoethylether）-N,N,N′,N;tetraacetic acid） was not added in the pipette solution; K^＋in currents were not sensitive to NO when cytosolic Ca^2＋ was chelated by EGTA. NO inhibited the Arabidopsis stomatal opening, but when EGTA was added in the bath solution, inhibition effect of NO on stomatal opening vanished. Thus, it implies that NO elevates cytosolic Ca^2＋ by activating plasma membrane Ca^2＋ channels firstly, then inactivates K^＋in, chartnels, resulting in stomatal opening suppressed subsequently.     

Comparative expression analysis of three genes from the Arabidopsis vacuolar Na^＋/H^＋ antiporter （AtNHX） family in relation to abiotic stresses

Na~ /H~ antiporters (NHX) are ubiquitous transmembrane proteins that play a key role in salt tolerance of plants. In this study, the sequence of 3 Arabidopsis NHX gene (AtNHX2―4) were compared with other AtNHX members. Putative cis-elements analysis identified elements that have been associated with stress responses. The activities of the promoters AtNHX2―4 were studied in transgenic plants carrying corresponding promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusions. The AtNHX2 promoter-GUS analysis indicated that AtNHX2 was expressed in constitutive pattern with high GUS activity in roots and leaves. AtNHX2 promoter activity was not up-regulated by NaCl or abscisic acid (ABA), in contrast to the AtNHX1 promoter which was previously studied. The AtNHX3 and AtNHX4 promoters showed tissue-specific activities. Strong GUS activity was detected in roots and vascular bundles of the stele in plants carry-ing an AtNHX4 promoter-GUS fusion, and GUS activity increased under salt stress suggesting a func-tion related to salt tolerance. Transgenic plants carrying the AtNHX3 promoter-GUS fusion showed strong GUS activity in petals, stamens and tops of siliques, suggesting a possible role of AtNHX3 in flower and seed development. Results of histochemical analysis suggested that AtNHX2―4 are involved in divergent functions and are differentially regulated under abiotic stress. The structure of AtNHX4 was predicted to include 12 transmembrane regions and a NHX domain. Overexpression of AtNHX4 in Arabidopsis transgenic lines confers greater salt tolerance than in wild type plants. These results suggest that AtNHX4 may encode a putative vacuolar NHX that plays an important role in salt tolerance.     

高等植物铁元素的吸收、转位和调控

铁(Fe)是大多数生物体必需的微量营养元素.虽然铁在许多土壤中是丰富的,但铁在土壤中的可溶性非常低,常常限制植物生长.此外,铁自身存在高度的氧化还原特性,对细胞具有潜在的毒性.因此,细胞内铁的动态平衡需要严格调控.植物细胞中形成了一个复杂的信号网络来调节对铁的摄取、分配、运输及其代谢等过程.非禾本科和禾本科植物物种分别通过基于铁还原和铁螯合的两种不同策略从土壤中获得铁.植物对铁的吸收受到局部和全身信号的调控.系统信号通路似乎整合了激素信号、一氧化氮(NO)信号和植物营养需求等多种因素.综述了两种策略所依赖的分子机制和在铁缺乏条件下负责诱导这些策略的因素.     

Cardiac protective role of a novel erythrocyte-derived depressing factor on rats and its Ca^2＋ mechanism

The cardiac protective role of a novel erythro-cyte-derived depressing factor (EDDF) on spontaneous hy-pertensive rats (SHR), calcium overload (CaO) rats and Wistar rats and its mechanism was evaluated. Mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and LVdp/dtmax were measured by physiological recorder. The effect of EDDF on the Ca2+-ATPase activity in myocardial sarcoplasmic reticu-lum (SR) of CaO rats was determined by inorganic phos-phate assay. Calcium transport in myocytes was measured by 45Ca2+ radioactive isotope measurement. The phosphoryla-tion levels of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) in myocardial tissue of SHR and CaO rats were measured by Western blot method. And the ultrastructures of cardiac muscle cells were observed with the transmission electron microscope. The results indicated that EDDF could significantly decrease MAP, HR and LVdp/dtmax in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). It seems that the mechanism might relate with activating the Ca2+-APTase, enhancing the uptake and release of Ca2+ from SR (P < 0.05), decreasing the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 of myocytes (P < 0.01) and lightening the ultrastructural lesion of cardiac muscle cells. In CaO rats, the Ca2+-ATPase activity decreased clearly com-pared to control (64.99 7.16 vs 94.48 7.68 nmol·min-1 ·mg-1 protein, P < 0.01), while EDDF (100 mg/mL) could significantly increase the activity (87.93 ?9.54 vs 64.99 ?7.16, P < 0.05, n = 7). Both uptake and release rate of Ca2+ (祄ol 45Ca2+/g protein/min) from myocardial SR of CaO rats re-markably decreased compared to control (32.40 ?2.70 and 15.46 ?1.49 vs 61.09 ?10.89 and 25.47 ?4.29, P < 0.05); EDDF (100 mg/mL) could significantly stimulate their activi-ties (50.48 6.76 and 21.76 2.75 vs 32.40 2.70 and 15.46 1.49, P < 0.05). EDDF could evidently down-regulate the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in myocardial tissue from SHR and CaO rats (P < 0.01), lighten the ultrastructural lesion of cardiac muscle cells of SHR as well. It is concluded that EDDF seems to play protective roles on both structure and function of heart, which closely related with amelioration of Ca2+ transport and inhibition of Ca2+-MAP kinase pathway.     

Preparation and luminescence characteristics of Sr3SiO5：Eu^2＋ phosphor for white LED

The Sr3SiO5：Eu^2＋ phosphor was synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction. The emission spectrum of Sr3SiO5：Eu^2＋ shows two bands centered at 487 and 575 nm, which well agree with the theoretic values of emission spectrum. The excitation spectrum for 575 nm emission center has several excitation bands at 365, 418, 458 and 473 nm. And the results show that the emission spectrum of Sr3SiO5：Eu^2＋ is influenced by the Eu^2＋ concentration. The relative emission spectra of the white-emitting InGaN-based YAG：Ce^3＋ LED and Sr3SiO5：Eu^2＋ LED were investigated. The results show that the color development of InGaN-based Sr3SiO5：Eu^2＋ is better than that of InGaN-based YAG：Ce^3＋, and the CIE chromaticity of InGaN-based Sr3SiO5：Eu^2＋ is （x=0.348, y=0.326）.     

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy on the B′2Σ+ and B2Π states of NS

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization （REMPI） spectra of N^32S and N^34S have been recorded in the range of 35700-40200 cm^-1. The radical was generated by a pulsed dc discharge of a mixture of SF6 and N2 under a supersonic free jet condition. All the 16 observed bands of N^32S radicals have been assigned, among which 12 bands belong to three transition progressions （v′=0-4, 0）, （v′=1-4, 1） and （v′=2-4, 2） from the X^2П ground state to the B′^2∑^＋ upper state and the rest correspond to （9, 0）, （10, 0）, （11, 0） and （12, 0） bands of B^2П-X^2П transition, respectively. Analysis of the rotationally resolved spectra yields exhaustive spectroscopic constants of both the X^2П ground state and the B′^2∑^＋ excited state. The electronic transition bands of the isotopic molecule N^34S have been rotationally analyzed for the first time and the rotational constants of the ground and upper states have been determined simultaneously.     

Maize yellow stripe1 encodes a membrane protein directly involved in Fe(III) uptake

Frequently, crop plants do not take up adequate amounts of iron from the soil, leading to chlorosis, poor yield and decreased nutritional quality. Extremely limited soil bioavailability of iron has led plants to evolve two distinct uptake strategies: chelation, which is used by the world's principal grain crops; and reduction, which is used by other plant groups. The chelation strategy involves extrusion of low-molecular-mass secondary amino acids (mugineic acids) known as 'phytosiderophores' which chelate sparingly soluble iron. The Fe(III)-phytosiderophore complex is then taken up by an unknown transporter at the root surface. The maize yellow stripe1 (ys1) mutant is deficient in Fe(III)-phytosiderophore uptake, therefore YS1 has been suggested to be the Fe(III)-phytosiderophore transporter. Here we show that ys1 is a membrane protein that mediates iron uptake. Expression of YS1 in a yeast iron uptake mutant restores growth specifically on Fe(III)-phytosiderophore media. Under iron-deficient conditions, ys1 messenger RNA levels increase in both roots and shoots. Cloning of ys1 is an important step in understanding iron uptake in grasses, and has implications for mechanisms controlling iron homeostasis in all plants.     

Different climatic controls of soil δ 13Corg in three mid-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere since the Last Glacial period

Paleoecological records of soil δ^13Corg from three regions in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, including the Chinese Loess Plateau （CLP）, the Great Plains and adjacent areas of North America and northwestern Europe, showed different variations since the Last Glacial period. An attempt was made to evaluate the causes for the difference in δ^13Corg on the basis of the modern climatic data collected in these regions and of the modern C3 and C4 plant distributions. The analysis indicates that temperature, especially the growing season temperature, has a dominant control on the growth of C4 plants. When the mean annual or growing season temperatures are below the ＂threshold value＂, the growth of C4 plants is limited. When the temperature is above the ＂threshold value＂, C4 plants can grow under a wide range of precipitation. However, when the precipitation is high enough to favor the growth of trees, the proportions of C4 plants in local biomass will decline. The implicit control factor recovered by sedimentary records is consistent with the control factor on modern C3/C4 distribution. Pure C3 plants have been dominating the local biomass since the Last Glacial period in European loess region, mainly owing to the low local temperature. The increases in C4 plants from the late Pleistocene to the Holocene in the Chinese Loess Plateau, the Great Plains and adjacent areas, mainly reflect the influence of increasing temperature.     

An unexpected palladium migration from vinylic sp<Superscript>2</Superscript> carbon to allylic sp<Superscript>3</Superscript> carbon

A unique transformation to realize the allylic amination from vinylic bromides was described and an unexpected C–Pd migration was observed from sp² carbon to adjacent allylic sp³ carbon initiated from vinyl bromide. Various 3-aryl-2-bromopropenes and secondary amines were surveyed and the allyl amination products were obtained in moderate isolated yields. The primary amine was not fit for this transformation. Mechanistic studies indicate that this migration went through β-hydride elimination and reverse C=C bond insertion.     

Apoptosis of RKO induced by catechins and GA through Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and LIP

The anti-tumor effects of catechins and gallic acid （GA） in-vitro was investigated in this paper. Fluo-3AM, Calcium-AM （Ca-AM）, 2＇, 7＇ -dichlorofluorescein-diacetate（DCFH-DA）, 4＇ ,6-dia- midino-2- phenylindole （DAPI） and Ca-AM plus colbat were used to characterize intracellular calcium, labile iron pool （LIP）, reac- tive oxygen species （ROS）, nuclei morphology and mitochondrial permeability transition pore （mPTP） opening, respectively. High performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） was used to quanti- tare catechins and GA in the cultural medium. The results indi- cated that each of them showed dose response inhibition of cell growth, provoking nuclei condensation, intracellular calcium ele- vation, mPTP opening, LIP reduction, and cytochrome c （Cyt-C） to release into cytosol. The caspase inhibitors, 2-aminoethox- ydiphenol borate （APB） or Fe3＋ could inhibit lethal effects of GA and （-）-epigallocatechin （EGC）, but failed to affect （-）-epigalloca- techin gallate （EGCG） and （-）-epicatechin gallate （ECG）. Level of ROS presented negative growth while their concentration de- creased in the medium. In conclusion, our findings suggest that viability of RKO decreased because of their good correlation with elevation of calcium and loss of L1P and ROS in cytosol.     

^40Ar／^39Ar geochronological constraints on syn-orogenic strike-slip movement of Tan-Lu fault zone

Two phases of sinistral strike-slip ductile shear belts occur on the eastern margin of the Dabie orogenic belt. A muscovite ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau age of 128 Ma was obtained from mylonite in the later ductile shear zone. Three muscovite samples separated from mylonites of 3 localities in the earlier ductile shear belts yield ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau ages of 192.5±0.7 Ma, 189.7±0.6 Ma and 188.7±0.7 Ma, respectively. They are interpreted as cooling ages of the earlier sinistral strike-slip deformation. It is suggested that left-lateral displacement of the Tan-Lu fault zone started in a late stage of the collision orogeny in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt between the North and South China plates. Therefore, the earlier Tan-Lu fault zone was syn-orogenic strike-slip tectonics. The fault zone was used again for sinistral displacement during tectonic activities of peri-Pacific regime in Early Cretaceous. It is proposed that the fault zone occurred as a transform fault during the orogenic process.