Active terahertz metamaterial devices

The development of artificially structured electromagnetic materials, termed metamaterials, has led to the realization of phenomena that cannot be obtained with natural materials. This is especially important for the technologically relevant terahertz (1 THz = 10(12) Hz) frequency regime; many materials inherently do not respond to THz radiation, and the tools that are necessary to construct devices operating within this range-sources, lenses, switches, modulators and detectors-largely do not exist. Considerable efforts are underway to fill this 'THz gap' in view of the useful potential applications of THz radiation. Moderate progress has been made in THz generation and detection; THz quantum cascade lasers are a recent example. However, techniques to control and manipulate THz waves are lagging behind. Here we demonstrate an active metamaterial device capable of efficient real-time control and manipulation of THz radiation. The device consists of an array of gold electric resonator elements (the metamaterial) fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. The metamaterial array and substrate together effectively form a Schottky diode, which enables modulation of THz transmission by 50 per cent, an order of magnitude improvement over existing devices.     

Hydroxylation of demethoxy-Q6 constitutes a control point in yeast coenzyme Q6 biosynthesis

Coenzyme Q is a lipid molecule required for respiration and antioxidant protection. Q biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires nine proteins (Coq1p–Coq9p). We demonstrate in this study that Q levels are modulated during growth by its conversion from demethoxy-Q (DMQ), a late intermediate. Similar conversion was produced when cells were subjected to oxidative stress conditions. Changes in Q₆/DMQ₆ ratio were accompanied by changes in COQ7 gene mRNA levels encoding the protein responsible for the DMQ hydroxylation, the penultimate step in Q biosynthesis pathway. Yeast coq null mutant failed to accumulate any Q late biosynthetic intermediate. However, in coq7 mutants the addition of exogenous Q produces the DMQ synthesis. Similar effect was produced by over-expressing ABC1/COQ8. These results support the existence of a biosynthetic complex that allows the DMQ₆ accumulation and suggest that Coq7p is a control point for the Q biosynthesis regulation in yeast. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Received 04 September 2008; received after revision 22 October 2008; accepted 23 October 2008     

Dominant effector genetics in mammalian cells

We have expressed libraries of peptides in mammalian cells to select for trans-dominant effects on intracellular signaling systems. As an example-and to reveal pharmacologically relevant points in pathways that lead to Taxol resistance-we selected for peptide motifs that confer resistance to Taxol-induced cell death. Of several peptides selected, one, termed RGP8.5, was linked to upregulation of expression of the gene ABCB1 (also known as MDR1, for multiple drug resistance) in HeLa cells. Our data indicate that trans-dominant effector peptides can point to potential mechanisms by which signaling systems operate. Such tools may be useful in functional genomic analysis of signaling pathways in mammalian disease processes.     

富营养化水体中的溶源性浮游细菌分布与环境因子的关系

使用非侵害性根吸收硝酸盐检测系统,在较低NO3-浓度下,测定10 m mol/L的蔗糖、葡萄糖、果糖、半乳糖、棉子糖、D-甘露醇、甘露糖、阿拉伯糖、乳糖对水稻品种"汕优63"硝酸盐吸收的影响,以10 min为间隔连续测定4 h,结果表明:加入蔗糖后对水稻硝酸盐的吸收有显著的、立即的、持续的促进作用,与加入蔗糖前相比,硝酸盐净吸收率上升了298%,葡萄糖、半乳糖、果糖、棉子糖对水稻硝酸盐的吸收亦有明显的促进作用,上升幅度140%～223%;乳糖、D-甘露醇、阿拉伯糖无明显影响;甘露糖则有抑制作用.蔗糖可能足作为主要的信号分子参与植物硝酸盐吸收的正反馈调控.