New anomalocardid frontal appendages from the Guanshan biota, eastern Yunnan

Anomalocaridids were large predators of the Cambrian seas at the top of the trophic pyramid. Complete anomalocaridid specimens have been rarely discovered and the rigid isolated frontal appendages and mouthparts are more commonly preserved. Here we study new material of the frontal appendages from the Wulongqing Formation, Cambrian Stage 4, Series 2 near Kunming, eastern Yunnan. Two new forms of anomalocaridid frontal appendages are described, namely Anomalocaris kunmingensis sp. nov. and Paranomalocaris multisegmentalis gen. nov., sp. nov. The frontal appendage of A. kunmingensis sp. nov. probably comprises 15 podomeres of which the first one has a weakened skeletoned, the second one is armed with small spines, and the third one is armed with remarkably robust proximal ventral spines with 6 anisomerous auxiliary spines; paired auxiliary spines are associated with podomeres 4–14; podomeres 12–14 are armed with paired dorsal spines, and the last podomere bears 2 distal spines, one spine distinctly larger than the other. The frontal appendage of P. multisegmentalis tapered backwards, consisting of 22 visible podomeres; the most ventral spine is armed with 5 pairs of auxiliary spines, and podomeres 12–21 bear dorsal spines, the last podomere with 2 small distal spines. The new material provides additional evidence for our understanding of the diversity of anomalocaridids in the Cambrian. The morphology of these new finds may indicate the importance of different feeding strategies of anomalocaridids in the Cambrian ecosystem.     

A new method to calculate monthly CO emissions using MOPITT satellite data

A new method is developed to calculate monthly CO emission data using MOZART modeled and MOPITT observed CO data in 2004. New CO emission data were obtained with budget analysis of the processes controlling CO concentration such as surface emission, transport, chemical transform and dry deposition. MOPITT data were used to constrain the model simulation. New CO emission data agree well with Horowitz’s emissions in the spatial distributions. Horowitz’s emissions are found to underes- timate CO emissions significantly in the industrial areas of Asia and North America, where high CO emissions are mainly due to the anthropogenic activities. New CO emissions can better reflect the more recent CO actual emissions than Horowitz’s.     

Perfluorinated compounds in milk,milk powder and yoghurt purchased from markets in China

The exposure to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) through the diet for humans is of great concern. Among the diet, dairy products are in great demand. This paper reports the study on the levels of 9 perfluorinated acids and 2 fluorotelomer acids in milk, milk powder and yoghurt purchased from Chinese markets from 2008 to 2009. The analytes were quantitated by high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). In milk samples, perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and perf...     

Isolation and characterization of H7N9 viruses from live poultry markets--Implication of the source of current H7N9 infection in humans

On March 31, 2013, the National Health and Family Planning Commission announced that human infections with a previously undescribed influenza A (H7N9) virus had occurred in Shanghai and Anhui Province, China. To investigate the possible origins of the H7N9 viruses causing these human infections, we collected 970 samples, including drinking water, soil, and cloacal and tracheal swabs of poultry from live poultry markets and poultry farms in Shanghai and Anhui Province. Twenty samples were positive for the H7N9 influenza virus. Notably, all 20 viruses were isolated from samples collected from live poultry markets in Shanghai. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the six internal genes of these novel human H7N9 viruses were derived from avian H9N2 viruses, but the ancestor of their HA and NA genes is uncertain. When we examined the phylogenetic relationship between the H7N9 isolates from live poultry markets and the viruses that caused the human infections, we found that they shared high homology across all eight gene segments. We thus identified the direct avian origin of the H7N9 influenza viruses that caused the human infections. Importantly, we observed that the H7N9 viruses isolated from humans had acquired critical mutations that made them more "human-like". It is therefore imperative to take strong measures to control the spread of H7N9 viruses in birds and humans to prevent further threats to human health.     

dr1127： A novel gene of Deinococcus radiodurans responsible for oxidative stress

The functional analysis of dr1127,a novel gene in Deinococcus radiodurans was performed in this pa-per. The dr1127 gene was found occasionally in our microarray and 2-DE gel experiments. Mutation of the dr1127 gene decreased the γ-radiation and H2O2 resistance of D. radiodurans,and weakened the scavenging abilities of cell extracts for free radicals (superoxide anion,hydrogen peroxide,and hy-droxyl radical). Further oxidative damage assays demonstrated that the purified DR1127 protein of D. radiodurans could bind to double stranded DNA in vitro and protect DNA from oxidative damage in this way. These results suggest that the dr1127 gene is an important gene that can maintain γ-radiation and oxidative resistance in D. radiodurans and may take part in the oxidative stress process.     

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and other fluorochemicals in viscera and muscle of farmed pigs and chickens in Beijing,China

Eleven perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were determined in tissue samples from farmed pigs and chickens (n=143) that were purchased in Beijing in March 2009. The total PFCs mean concentration was the highest in pig liver (3.438 ng g^–1 wet weight (ww)), followed by pig kidney (0.508 ng g^–1 (ww)), pig heart (0.167 ng g^–1 (ww)), chicken liver (0.098 ng g^–1 (ww)), chicken heart (0.050 ng g^–1 (ww)), pork loin (0.018 ng g^–1 (ww)), and chicken breast (0.012 ng g^–1 (ww)). Among the PFCs analyzed, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the predominant compound in viscera and muscle of farmed pigs and chickens. In addition, a strong linear correlation (r = 0.932) was observed between the concentrations of PFOS and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) in pig liver. Our preliminary conclusion is that there is little potential risk of exposure to PFCs via the consumption of these products in Beijing.     

Hydrogen bonded foldamer-bridged biscoumarins: A UV-Vis absorption and fluorescent study of the solvent effect

Three arylamide-bridged biscoumarin derivatives 1–3 have been designed and prepared. Compounds 1 and 2 are induced by the intramolecular N—H…O and N—H…F hydrogen bonding to possess a helical conformation, and 3 is induced to have an extended conformation. A comparison of their absorption and fluorescent spectra in a variety of solvents of a wide range of polarity with those of control compound 4 reveals that, for foldamers 1 and 2, the intramolecular hydrogen bonding and the helical conformations exist in most solvents, but do not exist or are very weak in DMF and DMSO.     

碲和镁掺杂的新型GaAs隧道结的MBE生长与器件特性

本文采用分子束外延(MBE)的生长方法,研究了单质碲(Te)和单质镁(Mg)分别作为n型和p型掺杂剂时在III-V族半导体GaAs中的掺杂行为,并且实现了以Te和Mg为掺杂剂的新型GaAs隧道结的生长.通过对生长温度、As4与Ga束流强度V/III比和掺杂剂束流强度的优化调节,获得了载流子迁移率较高且晶体质量良好的重掺杂的GaAs样品;在此基础上生长的新型n-GaAs(Te)/p-GaAs(Mg)隧道结的峰值电流密度高达21 A/cm2.     

The latest Yanshanian magmatic and metallogenic events in the middle-lower Yangtze River belt: Evidence from the Ningzhen region

The Ningzhen region in Jiangsu Province represents the easternmost magmatic region in the middle-lower Yangtze River belt.The formation of the polymetallic deposits has close genetic relationships with Early Cretaceous intermediate-acid intrusions.In this study,LA-ICP-MS zircon geochronology of two Mesozoic intermediate-acid intrusive rocks(including the Shima porphyritic granodiorite and Gaozi quartz diorite porphyry)in the Ningzhen region were systematically investigated.These new geochronological data demonstrate that the intermediate-acid magmatism in the Ningzhen region dates to approximately between 109 and101 Ma.We present new40Ar-39Ar phlogopite ages for the Cishantou skarn iron deposits that constrain the timing of the mineralisation in the Ningzhen region.The phlogopite in the Cishantou skarn deposits yielded a40Ar-39Ar plateau age of 104±1 Ma.This result coincides with the ages of the Anjishan and Tongshan Cu(Mo)deposits in the Ningzhen region.Our high-precision geochronological data together with recent high-precision geochronological studies(such as zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb,zircon SHRIMP U-Pb,molybdenite Re-Os and single-mineral40Ar-39Ar dates)reveal that there were four periods(152-135 Ma,135-127 Ma,127-121 Ma,109-101 Ma)of magmatism and ore formation in the middle-lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.The Mesozoic intermediate-acid magmatism and mineralisation in the Ningzhen region belong to the latest episode in the middle-lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.     

冰纳米晶体热力学参量的尺度和维度效应

虽然冰的熔化是最常见的相变过程,但是对于(预)熔化和准液态表面层仍然存在许多争议,而且关于冰纳米晶体热力学参量与其尺度和维度之间关系的研究也很少.本文拓展建立了可描述氢键结合的冰纳米晶体熔化温度、预熔化温度和熔化焓的尺度和维度效应的理论模型.根据模型,上述热力学参量都随着尺度和维度的增加而增加,同时还发现预熔化温度和熔化温度具有几乎相同的尺度效应.模型对冰纳米粒子和纳米线的上述热力学参量尺度和维度效应的预测与相应的分子动力学模拟和实验结果相吻合,从而可以从理论上确定准液态层厚度.研究表明,准液态层厚度并不是恒定不变而是随着尺度的增加而缓慢增大,这也就是不同的研究报道中会出现不同准液态层厚度的原因.