Electromagnetic behavior of two-dimensional quasi-crystal left-handed materials with dendritic unit

We demonstrated a two-dimensional quasi-crystal dendritic structure model with negative permeability. The microwave transmission and reflection properties of periodic and quasi-crystal dendritic structure mediums with varied angle incidence were measured. The results showed that the resonant peaks of quasi-crystal negative permeability samples and left-handed samples had tiny shift with the altering of incident angle. Because of the influence of coupling between quasi-crystal dendritic cells, the resonance of the entire material was enhanced or weakened. The quasi-crystal dendritic structure model will provide an easy method to design isotropic left-handed materials （LHMs）.     

Soluble Jagged 1/Fc chimera protein induces the differentiation and maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

A soluble Jagged 1/Fc chimera protein （Jagged 1/Fc） was directly used to induce differentiation and maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells （DCs） in mice in vitro. A model of inducing and amplifying DCs in vitrowas established. The effect of Jagged 1/Fc on morphology of DCs induced by both rmGM-CSF and rmlL-4 was observed under a confocal microscope. A fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibody staining combined with flow cytometry was applied to detect the effect of Jagged 1/Fc on the expression of CD11c, MHC-Ⅱ, CD86, CD80 and CD40 molecules on the surface of DCs. The results showed that Jagged 1/Fc did not affect the morphological properties of DC differentiation induced by both rmGM-CSF and rmlL-4. But it could promote the differentiation and maturation of DCs induced by both. The effect of it was strikingly different in the expression profile of co-stimulating molecules and the morphologic properties of DCs from lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. The levels of MHC-Ⅱ and CD40 molecule expression on the surface of DCs stimulated by Jagged 1/Fc were significantly lower than those stimulated by LPS, and the level of CD80 expression on the surface of DCs induced by Jagged 1/Fc was near to that induced by LPS. Jagged 1/Fc had no influence on the expression of CD86 molecule on the surface of DCs. Jagged 1/Fc when used alone could not maintain the growth, differentiation and maturation of DCs. All the findings indicate that Jagged 1/Fc influences the differentiation and maturation of DCs, which is not markedly similar to LPS, providing important evidence for its development and application as a novel immunosuppressant.     

A new chromatographic method for fast separation of active proteins

A new method with only a single chromatographic column to accomplish the separation of intact protein molecules by the combination of ion exchange chromatography and hydrophobic interaction chromatography is firstly presented. By selecting twice a suitable stationary phase, mobile phase, buffer exchange condition, and sample injection, some proteins usually required to separate with two-dimensional chromatography can now be accomplished only using the single column in one hour. In addition, the separated proteins can maintain their original three-or four-dimensional molecular structure. It would be expected that this method can also provide a new thought for sample pre-fractionation in proteomic investigation, especially, for the limitation of sample source.     

Micro-Raman investigations on the structures of the surface and the inner of MgSO<Subscript>4</Subscript> droplets

Spherical MgSO4 droplets were deposited by a syringe on the hydrophobic Teflon substrate. Using micro-Raman technique, the laser beam was highly focused twice on the surface and in the center of spherlcel droplets. The Raman spectra for the surface and the inner of MgSO4 droplets were accordingly obtained, suggesting formation of a thin layer of gels on MgSO4 droplets at low relative humidity. The gel layer covered the surface and exhibited a significant delay in response to the change of amblent relative humidity, resulting in the structural difference between the surface and the inner of MgSO4 droplets.     

Bio-replicated forming of the biomimetic drag-reducing surfaces in large area based on shark skin

On the investigation of biomimetic drag-reducing surface, direct replication of the firm scarfskins on low-resistance creatures to form biomimetic drag-reducing surfaces with relatively vivid morphology relative to the living prototype is a new attempt of the bio-replicated forming technology. Taking shark skin as the bio-replication template, the hot embossing method was applied to the micro-replication of its outward morphology. Furthermore, the skins were jointed together to form the drag-reducing surface in large area. The results of the resistance measurements in a water tunnel according to the flat-plate sample pieces have shown that the biomimetic shark-skin coating fabricated by the bio-replicated forming method has significant drag reduction effect, and that the drag reduction efficiency reached 8.25% in the test conditions.     

Lithium bond structures of HnY （n=2, 3; Y=O,S, N）…LiNH2 and the abnormal blue shift of N-Li bond

The optimized geometries of the complexes between HnY （n=2, 3; Y=O, S, N） and LiNH2 have been calculated at the B3LYP/6-311＋＋G^＊＊ and MP2/6-311＋＋G^＊＊ levels. Three stable complexes were obtained. Frequency analysis showed that the enlarged 2N-4Li presents the abnormal blue shift in three complexes. The calculated binding energy with basis set super-position error （BSSE） and zero-point vibrational energy （ZPE） corrections of complex Ⅰ-Ⅲ is -58.65, -31.66 and -69.59 kJ·mol^-1 （MP2）, respectively. Natural bond orbital theory （NBO） analysis has been performed, and the results revealed that the H2O…LiNH2 （complex I） and H3N…LiNH2 （complex Ⅲ） are formed with coexisting σ-s and n-s type lithium bond interactions, complex Ⅱ is formed with ττ-s type lithium bond interaction between HnY （n=2,3; Y=O, N） and LiNH2, and H2S…LiNH2 （complex Ⅱ） is formed with n-s type lithium bond interaction between H2S and LiNH2. Natural resonance theory （NRT） and atom in molecule （AIM） theory have also been studied to investigate the bond order and topological properties of the lithium bond structures.     

Making continental crust: The sanukitoid connection

The average continental crust possesses intermediate compositions that typify arc magmatism and as a result it is believed to have been created at ancient convergent plate boundaries. One possible mechanism for intermediate continental crust formation is the direct production of andesitic melts in the upper mantle. Sanukitoids, which characterize the Setouchi volcanic belt, SW Japan, include unusually high-Mg andesites （HMA）. They were generated by slab melting and subsequent melt-mantle interactions under unusual tectonic settings such as where warm lithosphere subducts into hot upper mantle. Such conditions would have existed in the Archean. Hydrous HMA magmas are likely to have solidified within the crust to form HMA plutons, which were then remelted to produce differentiated sanukitoids. At present, generation and differentiation of HMA magmas may be taking place in the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc-trench system （IBM）, because （1） HMA magmatism characterizes the initial stages of the IBM evolution and （2） the IBM middle crust exhibits Vp identical to that of the bulk conti- nental crust. Vp estimates for plutonic rocks with HMA compositions support this. However tonalitic composition for middle-crust-forming rocks cannot be ruled out, suggesting an alternative possibility that the continental crust has been created by differentiation of mantle-derived basaltic magmas.     

Complicated phenomena of the Beichuan-Yingxiu surface fracture zone during Wenchuan <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>s8.0 earthquake in Sichuan Province,China

After Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake, the surface fractures have been investigated in Beichuan City and Yingxiu Town. It was found that the Beichuan-Yingxiu earthquake fracture zone trends northeastward, dipping to northwest. The earthquake fracture zone is mainly characterized by thrust faulting with small amounts of strike-slip movement, and demonstrating various complexities for different areas. The phenomena related to dextral strike-slip displacement are found in Beichuan City and those related to left-lateral strike-slip movement in Yingxiu Town. The compressive shortening of the two surface fracture zones in Beichuan City is 2.8-3.9 m and the left-lateral strike-slip displacement of the surface fractures in Yingxiu Town is 0.52 m.     

Development and characterization of interspecific hybrids between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> and <Subscript>O. latifolia</Subscript> by <Subscript>in situ</Subscript> hybridization

Oryza sativa and O. latifolia belong to the AA and CCDD genomes of Oryza, respectively. In this study, interspecific hybrids of these species were obtained using the embryo rescue technique. Hybrid panicle traits, such as long awns, small grain, exoteric large purple stigma, grain shattering and dispersed panicles, resemble that of the paternal parent, O. latifolia, whereas there is obvious heterosis in such respects as plant height, tillering ability and vegetative vigor. Chromosome pairing and the genomic components of the hybrid were subsequently investigated using genomic in situ hybridization （GISH） and fluorescent in situ hybridization （FISH） analysis. Based on the mitotic metaphase chromosome numbers of the root tips investigated, the hybrid is a triploid with 36 chromosomes. The genomic constitution of the hybrid is ACD. In the meiotic metaphase Ⅰ of the hybrid pollen mother cell, poor chromosome pairing was identified and most of the chromosomes were univalent, which resulted in complete male sterility in the hybrid.