Nanoparticulate-induced toxicity and related mechanism in vitro and in vivo

In urban areas, the quantity of exhaust particles from vehicle emissions is tremendous and has been regarded as the main contributor to particulate matter (PM) pollution. Recently, the nano-sized PM on public health has begun to raise the attention. The increased toxicity of nanoparticulate can be largely explained by their small size, high airborne concentration, extensive surface area and high content of organic carbon and transition metals. We have attempted to address the toxicity of nano sized-particlulate matter by comparing various particulates including micro-SiO₂ (mSiO₂), nano-SiO₂ (nSiO₂), micro-TiO₂ (mTiO₂), and nano-TiO₂ (nTiO₂) in RAW264.7 cells and in vivo. The cell viability of all particulates decreased dose dependently. 24-h incubation with nSiO2 demonstrated apoptosis in RAW264.7 using Annexin-V binding immunofluorescent microscopy, but not in any other particulates. In vivo, cytotoxicity of nanosized was higher than micro-sized particulates. As higher the concentration of particulates, the more pulmonary injury and neutrophilic infiltration were observed in nano-sized than micro-sized particulates, respectively. Particularly, 5.0 mg/kg of mTiO₂ never shows any increase of neutrophile even with high cellularity of total cells and macrophages. From these results, we suggested that particulate-induced respiratory toxicity be influenced by component, size, and dose of particulates including the characteristic nature of the target cells in vitro and in vivo.     

Focusing in solids and application in acoustic imaging

Focusing in solids by surface transducer arrays(STA)and the acousticfield distribution on the focal axis are studied in this paper.The relation betweenthe source element width and the field strength at different order focuses is alsodiscussed.Numerical calculation is used to get the focal field distribution as theelement width is changed.Some practical problems such as the minimumdistinguishable frequency,the transversal and longitudinal resolution are investi-gated when this kind of focusing is used for NDT and acoustic imaging.Someexplorative experiments have been done to demonstrate the theory.     

Φπ production in\bar pp annihilation from S and P states and in J/ψ decaysannihilation from S and P states and in J/ψ decays

Recent experiments at LEAR have found surprisingly large branching ratios for reactions $\bar NN \to \phi \pi $ from S-wave initial states while noφπ production is observed from P states of the $\bar pp$ system. Also, noφπ is seen in radiative J/ψ decays even though the rate forωπ is substantial. We calculate theφπ production rates for these three cases viaKK* intermediate states and $K\bar K$ rescattering using the dispersion relation technique; we find that the largeφπ rate in $\bar pp$ annihilations from S states can be reproduced with a reasonable cut-off for the dispersion integral; for J/ψ decays the calculatedφπ rate is compatible with the observed upper limit. We would, however, expectφπ to be seen from $\bar pp$ P-states, in contrast to experimental findings. Yet the branching ratio for $\bar pp \to K*\bar K$ via isospinI = 1 of $\bar pp$ ,¹ P ₁ state is not known; and therefore no definite conclusion can be drawn. We also compare the Dalitz plots we obtain for directφ production and forφ production via rescattering. Clear differences between the two theoretical distributions are observed; yet very high precision data would be required to establish the origin — direct production or rescattering — of theφ mesons. This observation supports the use of the isobar model in data analyses.     

g-factors in the ground state and in the γ-bands in 160,162,164Dy

The g-factors of some members of the ground state band and of the 2⁺ state in the %-vibrational band have been measured in ^160,162,164Dy using the Coulomb Excitation Transient Field technique, induced by ⁵⁸Ni projectiles at 230, 210 and 217 MeV, respectively. The g-factors in the ground state band are consistent with a constant value, while that of the 2⁺_% states is about 20% larger in average than those in the ground state band. Results are discussed in the frame of the systematics in this nuclear region.     

Effects of creatine and β-guanidinopropionic acid and alterations in creatine transporter and creatine kinases expression in acute seizure and chronic epilepsy models

Background  

In order to confirm the roles of creatine (Cr) in epilepsy, we investigated the anti-convulsive effects of Cr, creatine transporter (CRT) and creatine kinases (CKs) against chemical-induced acute seizure activity and chronic epileptic seizure activity.     

Spin and valley half metal induced by staggered potential and magnetization in siliceneSpin and valley half metal induced by staggered potential and magnetization in siliceneSpin and valley half metal induced by staggered potential and magnetization in silicene

We investigate the electron transport in silicene with both staggered electric potential and magnetization; the latter comes from the magnetic proximity effect by depositing silicene on a magnetic insulator. It is shown that the silicene could be a spin and valley half metal under appropriate parameters when the spin-orbit interaction is considered; further, the filtered spin and valley could be controlled by modulating the staggered potential or magnetization. It is also found that in the spin-valve structure of silicene, not only can the antiparallel magnetization configuration significantly reduce the valve-structure conductance, but the reversing staggered electric potential can cause a high-performance magnetoresistance due to the spin and valley blocking effects. Our findings show that the silicene might be an ideal basis for the spin and valley filter analyzer devices.     

Spin alignment and parity violation effects inρ 0 production in neutrino and antineutrino charged-current interactions

Most of the measured events on hydrogen, deuterium and neon targets from BEBC at CERN and the 15-foot Bubble Chamber at Fermilab are combined to measure spin-density matrix elements for ⁰ production in the current-fragmentation region in neutrino and antineutrino charged-current interactions. The spin-alignment parameter is found to be 0.08±0.11 for neutrino and 0.41±0.11 for antineutrino interactions. The parity-odd density matrix element Im(₁₀+_–10) is consistent with zero in both reactions. In the combined neutrino and antineutrino data an indication of parity violation is observed: Im _1–1=0.38±0.16 atx _B >0.2,Q ²>8 GeV² andz>0.6.     

Piezoelectric relaxations in homopolymers and copolymers of γ-Benzyl-L-glutamate and L-Leueine

The temperature dependence of the piezoelectric stress-constant, the piezoelectric strain-constant, and the Young's elastic constant is simultaneously determined for homopolymers and copolymers of γ-benzyl-L-glutamate [Glu(OBz)] and L-leucine (Leu). With the rise of temperature, the piezoelectric constants first increase due to the elastic relaxation in the Leu side chains (about ?150°C) and the Glu(OBz) side chains (about ?10°C), and then decrease due to the dielectric relaxation in the Glu(OBz) side chains. Higher piezoelectric constants are observed for the copolymers at low temperatures. This suggests that the shear-induced internal strain of the peptide dipoles is enhanced by heterogenity in the structure of side chains.     

Advances in optoelectronics in europe—the RACE and ESPRIT programmes

EditorialSpecial issue

Advances in optoelectronics in europe—the RACE and ESPRIT programmes     

General Decoherence Suppression in Three-Level Atom in V- and Ξ-Configurations

In this paper, we present the decoupling bang-bang （BB） twin-born pulses to suppress the genera/deco- herence, both amplitude and phase decoherence, in a three-level atom in V- and Ξ-configurations. We give the exact sequence of periodic twinborn pulses in such systems.     

Progress in Fusion Technologies and Materials Researches

Fusion technologies and materials researches made progress in the major three aspects in 2006, specially implemented the ITER agreement tasks of first wall （FW） plate fabrication qualification and shield bulk thermal-hydraulic analysis and design, studied on low activation fusion structure materials and High Z plasma facing materials, experimentally investigated on liquid metal blanket magneto-hydrodynamics effects and so on.     

Group-delay Dispersion in Double-prism Pair and Limitation in Broadband Laser Pulses

1　Ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎ　　Ｔｈｅｎｅｇａｔｉｖｅ ｇｒｏｕｐｄｅｌａｙｄｉｓｐｅｒｓｉｏｎ(ＧＤＤ) ｐｒｏｖｉｄｅｄｂｙａｐａｉｒｏｆｐｒｉｓｍｏｒｄｏｕｂｌｅｐｒｉｓｍｓｈａｓｐｌａｙｅｄａｎｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｒｏｌｅｉｎｉｎｔｒａｃａｖｉｔｙ[1] ｏｒｅｘｔｒａｃａｖｉｔｙ[2 ] ｄｉｓｐｅｒｓｉｏｎｃｏｍｐｅｎｓａｔｉｏｎｆｏｒｕｌｔｒａ ｓｈｏｒｔｐｕｌｓｅ ｇｅｎｅｒａｔｉｏｎｄｕｅｔｏｉｔｓａｄｖａｎｔａｇｅｓ,ｓｕｃｈａｓｌｏｗｌｏｓｓ,ｅａｓｙａｌｉｇｎｍｅｎｔａｎｄｃｏｍｐａｃｔｎｅ…     

Level Spacing Distributions and Quantum Chaos in Hermitian and non-Hermitian Systems

The correspondence between quantum level spacing distributions and classical motion of 1-D PT symmetric non-Hermitian systems is investigated using two PT symmetric complex potentials- complex rational power potential V1(x) = (ix)^(2n 1)/m and genera/polynomial potential V2(x) =x^2M ib1x^2M-1 b2x^2M-2 … ib2M-1x. The level spacing distribution of V1 has two forms. When 2n 1-2m is positive, the level spacing distribution of real eigen values assumes a decreasing power function, while it behaves as an increasing power function when 2n 1-2m is negative.The PT symmetry of this system is spontaneously broken as 2n 1 - 2m becomes negative. This change manifests itself in classical mechanics as it is found by Bender et al. However, it was found that the change in the form of level spacing distribution mentioned above is not due to the spontaneous breaking down of PT symmetry. Level spacing distribution of V2 assumes an increasing power function when order of the polynomial is greater than two.     

Information Erasure and Recovery in Quantum Memory

We show that information in quantum memory can be erased and recovered perfectly if it is necessary. The fact that the final states of environment are completely determined by the initial states of the system allows an erasure operation to be realized by a swap operation between the system and an ancilla. Therefore, the erased information can be recovered. When there is an irreversible process, e.g. an irreversible operation or a decoherence process, in the erasure process, the information would be erased perpetually. We present that quantum erasure will also give heat dissipation in the environment. A classical limit of quantum erasure is given to coincide with Landauer‘s erasure principle.     

Progress in Plasma Diagnostics and Physics Experiment

The development of eight new diagnostic systems and the improvement of the laser Thomson scattering system contributed to the experimental campaign on HL-2A in 2006. Besides, the accuracy and flexibility of the molecular beam injection （MBI） system was improved greatly by using the special driver and controller, it is more convenient for studies such as particle transport. In the field of plasma physics experiment, the features of 3-D GAM zonal flows were further studied and some signs of low frequency zonal flows were observed. In the ECRH experiments, the effects of ECRH on sawtooth activities and m/n= 1/1 mode were studied under different plasma discharge conditions. The effect of MBI during ECRH on plasma behavior, such as non-local heat transport, was also studied.     

Progress in Plasma Theory and Simulation Researches

2006＇s research work in the Plasma Theory and Simulation Division was unfolded mainly around the following two aspects. First, the numerical simulations, supporting the modification of HL-2A and the experiments of HL-2A, were carried out. Secondly, some hot theoretical subjects, such as the interaction between electron temperature gradient turbulence and steamer and the formation mechanism of magnetohydrodynamics （MHD） flow and transport barriers were investigated numerically.     

New Directions and Capabilities in Analytical Spectrometry

In this presentation,a number of recent activities in our research group will be highlighted. The Studies represent a broad range inthe general field of spectrochemical analysis, sometimes take entirely new directions, usually employ novel instrumentation, and allprovide important new capabilities in analytical measurements.     

Progress in Titanium-doped sapphire research and development

Titanium-doped sapphire(Ti:Al_2O_3)is the most widely used crystal for wavelength tun-able lasers.In Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics,Academia Sinica(SIOFM),two new techniques have been invented to grow high-quality Ti:Al_2O_3 laser crystals: Induc-tion Field Up-Shift method(IFUS)and Temperature Gradient Technique(TGT),which differ from Czochralski method(CZ)and Heat Exchange(HEM).The merits of Ti:Al_2O_3 crystals grown by IFUS and TGT are as follows:1)High perfection and low defects in