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.     

Up-conversion luminescence of Er^3＋ doped and Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ co-doped YTaO4

The synthesis and up-conversion luminescent properties of YTaO4：Er^3＋ and YTaO4：Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ are reported for the first time. According to the measurement results of up-conversion spectra, Yb^3＋ co-doping can remarkably enhance the green （^2H11/2/^4S3/2→^4I15/2） and red （^4F9/2→^4I15/2） emissions, but depress the infrared emission （^4I9/2→^4I15/2）. With the increase of the Yb^3＋ concentration, the intensity of green emission increases, after that, when the Yb^3＋ concentration increases continuously, the intensity of green emission decreases, while those of the red and infrared emissions increase and decrease alternately. In addition, the up-conversion mechanisms of Er^3＋ doped and Er^3＋/Yb^3＋ co-doped YTaO4 are also discussed. It is found that the transform of up-conversion mechanism from two-step energy transfer to cooperating sensitization takes place when Yb^3＋ concentration is increased up to 12 mol%. With the further increase of Yb^3＋ concentration, the energy-back-transfer gradually becomes the dominant up-conversion mechanism, which results in the quenching of the green emission and slight increasing of the red and infrared emissions.     

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.     

Effects of lithium chloride on outward potassium currents in acutely isolated hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

Lithium is best known for its therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of manic-depressive illness. Its clinical profile includes the antimanic and antidepressant ac- tions as well as prophylaxis of both mania and depres- sion. Despite its efficacy, the mole…     

Preparation and upconversion luminescence of YVO<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Er<Subscript>3+</Subscript>, Yb<Subscript>3+</Subscript>

YVO₄:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ with varying Yb³⁺ concentrations were prepared by a precipitation method. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) show that all the samples have a tetragonal zircon structure; the calculated average crystallite sizes are in the range of 14–22 nm. The lattice constants and cell volume of the samples decrease slightly with the increase in Yb³⁺ concentration. The upconversion luminescence spectra of all the samples were studied under 980 nm laser excitation. The strong green emission is observed, which is attributed to the ²H_11/2 → ⁴I_15/2 and ⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2 transitions of Er³⁺, and the red emission peaks in 650–675 nm can be ignored. The emission intensity for the sample depends on the Yb³⁺ concentration. These results reveal that the upconversion processes of YVO₄:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ are related to the structure and the doping Yb³⁺ concentration of the sample.     

Sodium current of neurosecretory cells in the eyestalk from the shrimp Penaeus japonicus

The properties of the inward current of medulla terminalis-X-organ (MTXO) cells isolated from the Penaeus japonicus eyestalk were studied with the whole-cell clamp technique in the presence of Ca²⁺ and K⁺ channel blockers. The inward currents had a threshold at about −50 mV and peaked at −10 mV. The reversed potential (V_rev) was very close to V_Na, the theoretical Nernst equilibrium potential for Na⁺. V_rev followed V_Na when the external Na⁺ concentration was varied and the currents were entirely suppressed by 30 nM tetrodotoxin (TTX), indicating that it was carried by Na⁺. The smooth line of concentration-dependent inhibition of sodium currents by TTX represented the best fit with the Hill equation, yielding an IC₅₀ of 2.1 ± 0.1 nM. The values of the half-maximal activation voltage V_h were −20.6 ± 0.5 and −19.3 ± 0.5 mV, respectively, in the absence and presence of 2 nM TTX. TTX had no significant effect on the voltage dependence of steady-state activation and inactivation of I_Na. Taken together, the results suggest that the inward current recorded under our experimental conditions was carried by sodium ions flowing through fast voltage-dependent Na⁺ channels.     

Research at channel level on the effect of LaCl3 on Radish (Raphanus satirus L.) vacuolar membrane

We recorded slow vacuolar (SV-type) channel currents of Radish vacuoles successfully for the first time by using the whole-vacuolar patch-clamp recording mode. SV- type currents would increase and threshold potentials of activation would shift towards more negative values with the increase of concentrations of cytosolic Ca²⁺. When 2.5 mmol/ L LaCl₃ and 4 mmol/L EGTA were added to bath solutions, SV-type currents were suppressed remarkably. Then adding LaCl₃ with different concentrations to pipette solutions, we found that LaCl₃ with higher concentrations (＞4 ´ 10^-7 mol/L) had a strong inhibitory effect on SV-type currents, while LaCl₃ with lower concentrations (≤4 ´ 10^-7 mol/L) promoted channel currents. This promoting effect provides an important basis at channel level for researching further the effects of rare earth on physiological activities of plants and the production-increase effects of rare earth fertilizers on crops.     

Effects of La3+ and Gd3+ on Ca2+ influx in rat hepatoma H-35 cells

Effects of La³⁺ and Gd³⁺ on Ca²⁺ influx were investigated in rat hepatoma H-35 cells by measuring the initial rate of⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake. It was found that the maximum initial rate of Ca²⁺ uptake was increased six-to ten-fold at low concentrations of La³⁺ and Gd³⁺. Kinetic analyses by measuring the initial rate of Ca²⁺ influx at different external Ca²⁺ concentrations indicated the existence of two intracellular exchangeable components in the basal Ca²⁺ system, with low and high affinities for Ca²⁺, and only one class of Ca²⁺ binding sites was observed in the La³⁺-or Gd³⁺-treated cells. For high affinity, La³⁺ and Gd³⁺ increased both kinetic parametersK _m andV _max of basai Ca²⁺ influx. La³⁺ and Gd³⁺ compete directly with Ca²⁺ for Ca²⁺ binding site for low affinity. The kinetics is competitive.     

广西伊岭岩岩石(CaCO3)晶体结构、德拜温度以及硬度研究

本文从微观角度研究碳酸钙矿石的晶体结构与物理性能,为碳酸钙矿石的应用提供理论依据。利用X射线衍射(XRD)技术分析广西伊岭岩岩石2个样品(A_1、A_2)的相组成及其晶体结构,并利用带能谱仪的电子显微镜(SEM/EDS)测试这2个样品的各相成分。结果表明:广西伊岭岩岩石的主要成分为CaCO_3,其中A_1样品含有少量的K~+,A_2样品含有少量Na~+。通过Rietveld全谱图拟合晶体结构精修可知,K~+替代样品A_1主要物相CaCO_3中的Ca~(2+),使其点阵参数变大,单胞体积变大。同样A_2样品中的Na~+替代了样品中CaCO_3的Ca~(2+)位置,造成A_2中的CaCO_3点阵参数变小,单胞体积变小。德拜温度近似模型计算出2个样品的德拜温度分别为318.86K、324.82K。维氏硬度测试法测试出2个样品的硬度大小分别为132.6HV、148.9HV。     

新型LED红色荧光材料Ca_xSr_(1-x-y-z)MoO_4:yEu~(3+);zNa~+的制备和表征

利用Na+为电荷补偿剂制备CaxSr1-x-y-zMoO4:yEu3+,zNa+红色LED荧光粉体.研究了电荷补偿剂的用量、基质材料中Ca2+的含量、合成温度、反应时间及发光中心Eu3+摩尔分数对荧光材料晶体结构和发光性能的影响.结果表明:最佳工艺条件为电荷补偿剂摩尔分数为6%,Eu3+摩尔分数为8%,Ca2+摩尔分数为60%,反应温度900℃和反应时间2 h.光谱测试结果表明,该荧光材料可被311,395或465 nm有效激发,发射峰在616 nm.     

Laser cooling using anti-stokes fluorescence in Yb3+-doped fluorozirconate glasses

The fluorozirconate glasses ZBLANP (ZrF₄−BaF₂−LaF₃−NaF−PbF₂) doped with different Yb³⁺ concentration were prepared. The Raman spectra and absorption spectra are measured to substantiate the existence of phonon-assisted emission. After analyzing the normalized absorption spectra of samples with different Yb³⁺-doped concentration, we calculated the maximum cooling effect in the 3 wt% Yb³⁺-doped sample pumped at 1 012.5 nm. The corresponding cooling capability is about −4.09 °C/W and the cooling efficiency reaches 1.76%. Foundation item: Supported by the Key Science Foundation of Wuhan (9601P0223) Biography: Xu Tian-ming (1978-), female, Master candidate, research direction: information optics and nonlinear optics.     

Study the effects of metallic ions on the combination of DNA and histones with molecular combing technique

The effects of monovalent (Na^ , K^ ) and divalent (Mg^2 , Ca^2 , Mn^2 ) ions on the interaction between DNA and histone are studied using the molecular combing technique. λ-DNA molecules and DNA-histone complexes incubated with metal cations (Na^ , K^ , Mg^2 , Ca^2 , Mn^2 ) are stretched on hydrophobic surfaces, and directly observed by fluorescence microscopy. The results indicate that when these cations are added into the DNA solution, the fluorescence intensities of the stained DNA are reduced differently. The monovalent cations (Na^ , K^ ) inhibit binding of histone to DNA. The divalent cations (Mg^2 , Ca^2 , Mn^2 ) enhance significantly the binding of histone to DNA and the binding of the DNA-histone complex to the hydrophobic surface. Mn^2 also induces condensation and aggregation of the DNA- histone complex.     

Bi~(3+)/Yb~(3+)共掺GdVO_4近红外发光性能研究

使用高温固相法制备了一种新的Bi3+,Yb3+共掺杂GdVO4量子裁剪近红外发光材料,该材料在波长为250~400nm的紫外光激发下发射出很强的近红外光(900~1100nm).由于体系中Bi3+离子的引入,相对于Gd0.9Yb0.1VO4,Gd0.87Yb0.1Bi0.03VO4在989nm处的近红外发光强度提高近120%,且其激发峰也从323nm红移至341nm,整个激发谱带更宽,更有利于实际应用.由于Yb3+离子既可以利用基质中的VO3-4电荷迁移态跃迁的能量,也可以同时利用Bi3+的1S0-3P1能级跃迁传递能量,相对于目前报道的理论量子裁剪效率最高的YVO4:Bi3+,Yb3+,GdVO4:Bi3+,Yb3+无论其近红外发光强度还是可见光发光强度强度皆有提升,是一种很有希望的紫外宽带激发近红外发光材料.     

Effects of Nd<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and Sm<Superscript>3+</Superscript> on the proliferation,differentiation and mineralization function of primary osteoblasts <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

A series of experimental methods including 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity measurement, Oil Red O stain and measurement, mineralized function expression and quantitive real time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) were employed to assess the effect of Nd³⁺ and Sm³⁺ on the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization function of primary osteoblasts (OBs) in vitro at cell and molecular levels. The experimental results suggest that concentration, culture time and ion species are pivotal factors for switching the biological effects of rare earth ions from toxicity to activity, from damage to protection, or from down-regulation to up-regulation.     

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）.     

Near-infrared to visible up-conversion emissions of Er^3＋ doped Al2O3 powders derived from the sol-gel method

The Er3 doped Al2O3 powders were prepared by the sol-gel method using the aluminium isopropoxide [Al(OC3H7)3]-derived Al2O3 sols with addition of the erbium nitrate [Er(NO3)3.5H2O]. The different phase structure, including three crystalline types of (Al,Er)2O3 phases, γ, θ, α, and two Er-Al-O phases, ErAlO3 and Al10Er6O24, was obtained with the 1 mol% Er3 doped Al2O3 powders at the different sintering temperatures of 600―1200℃. The green and red up-conversion emissions centered at about 523, 545 and 660 nm, corresponding respectively to the 2H11/2, 4S3/2→4I15/2 and 4F9/2→4I15/2 transitions of Er3 , were detected by a 978 nm semiconductor laser diodes excitation. The phase structure and OH content had evident influence on the up-conversion emissions intensity. The maximum intensities of both the green and red emissions were obtained respectively for the Er3 doped Al2O3 powders sintered at 1200 ℃, which was composed mainly of α-(Al,Er)2O3, less of ErAlO3 and Al10Er6O24 phases, and with the least OH content. The two-photon absorption up-conversion process was involved in the green and red up-conversion emissions of the Er3 doped Al2O3 powders.     

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.     

Structural investigation and luminescent properties of BaZr(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)2:Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> phosphors containing Si

Si⁴⁺-doped BaZr(BO₃)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphors are prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction. The influence of Si⁴⁺ addition on the charge transfer state of Eu³⁺-O^2– and photoluminescence (PL) properties of BaZr(BO₃)₂:Eu³⁺ are discussed. Room temperature PL spectra indicated that efficient emission is obtained by Si doping. Increased values for the peak-peak ratio (PPR) of BaZr(BO₃)₂:Eu³⁺ at higher Si doping concentrations implied that the Eu³⁺ ion is located in a more asymmetric environment in BaZr_0.8Si_0.2(BO₃)₂:Eu³⁺ than in the undoped samples. The Judd-Ofelt parameters Ω_λ (λ=2,4) were calculated from the PL data, giving results that were consistent with those from the PPR. The maximum radiative quantum efficiency was achieved at a Si doping concentration of 20 mol%.     

Effect of La^3＋ on myocardiac potassium channels revealed by patch-clamp technique

The effect of La^3 on potassium channels in rat ventricular myocytes was investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp recording mode. The Ca^2 -independent voltage-activated outward K~ current was activated by the depolar-izing pulse in enzymatically isolated rat ventricular myocytes. After addition of different concentrations La^3 to the bath solution, the outward K^ current was depressed gradually. The inhibition effect was in a concentration-dependent manner. The phenomena of the outward K^ current, being themain repolarizing current suppressed by La^3 , suggest that the effect of lanthanides on myocardial function should be exploited further.     

Effect of Aβ1-40 on membrane permeability and intracellular free Ca2+ of nerve cells

The effects of soluble and fibrillar Aβ1-40 on membrane permeability and intracellular free Ca^2 of nerve cells were investigated by the laser confocal microscopy. Results indicate that: i) Effects of soluble and fibrillar Aβ1-40 on cell membrane permeability are both concentration-dependent. Soluble Aβ1-40 increases membrane permeability only at concentration of 3μmol/L, while the toxic effect of fibrillar Aβ1-40 is much stronger, its evident effect begins from 1μmol/L. When its concentration rose to 3μmol/L, not only the membrane permeability increased, but also the nuclear membrane broke seriously, ii) Both soluble and fibrillar Aβ1-40 at high concentrations increased the intracellular free Ca^2 , and the increased amplitudes are concentration-dependent. However, the fibrillar one induces the increase of intracellular Ca^2 much quicker and synchronously.These results indicate that some correlation exists between the neurotoxicity of high concentration soluble and fibrillar Aβ1-40 and the change of physico-chemical properties and intracellular Ca ion imbalance.