Chalcedony (a crystalline variety of silica): biogenic origin in electric organs from living Psammobatis extenta (family Rajidae)

The electric organs of electric fish have been used extensively for the study of peripheral cholinergic synapses. Aluminum and silicon have been observed in the electrocytes of Psammobatis extenta, a fish belonging to the family Rajidae, using a combination of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectrometry. Based on this evidence, the presence of silica minerals has been documented by means of mineralogical techniques. Electric organ cryostat sections and subcellular fractions were observed using a Leica DMLP mineralogical microscope. The shape, size and color, among other properties, were analyzed in plane-polarized light, while birefringence and the extinction angle, which allow for mineral identification, were observed through crossed-polarized illumination. The distribution of chalcedony, an oxide silicon mineral, in the sections and all the fractions of the electric organ was recorded. X-ray diffraction analysis of the electric organ segments showed a similar result, with a low-quartz variety. Chalcedony precipitation occurred at a specific pH (7-8) and oxidation potential (Eh; 0.0 to -0.2). This observation supports the important role played by pH and Eh conditions in silica precipitation in electrocytes, as has been reported in geological environments. It is possible that silica formation and silica degradation in electric organs are also related to the enzymes, silicatein and silicase, that direct the polymerization and depolymerization of amorphous silica in sponges. Carbonic anhydrases (silicase) are involved in physiological pH regulation. Crystallization of chalcedony via spiral growth from a partially polymerized fluid is consistent with processes known to occur in organic systems. This is the first time that a biogenically produced crystalline mineral phase (i.e., chalcedony) has been observed in the electrocytes and cholinergic nerves from living electric fish.     

基于颜色计算和原位成分分析对紫色玉髓颜色成因的探究

产于印度尼西亚的紫色葡萄状玉髓,具有特殊的球粒状外观和浓郁的紫罗兰体色,其双面抛光片在反射光照射下为紫色,透射光下则为棕黄色,且颜色浓集于球粒中心。为探究其颜色成因,进行了偏光显微镜和扫描电子显微镜结构观察,显微紫外-可见光谱,热处理以及LA-ICP-MS原位成分分析。玉髓具有纤维状核心--粗粒石英外壳的特殊结构,粗粒石英外壳粒度500 μm左右,隐晶质部分则主要由粒度小于1 μm的形状不规则的SiO₂颗粒组成。紫外-可见光谱显示紫色主要来源于540 nm左右的吸收峰,而黄色则由于谱线“左倾”产生的近紫外区及蓝光区强烈吸收所致。紫外-可见光谱使用塞尔迈耶尔方程修正表面反射误差、减去无吸收波段强度矫正仪器误差,并用最小二乘平滑扣除基线得到540 nm吸收峰的强度信息。计算玉髓在反射光下的紫色调及透射光下的黄色调的L*a*b*值和E*值定量表征颜色。热处理实验中,玉髓的紫色调在350 ℃左右开始褪去,紫外-可见光谱390和540 nm吸收峰消失,反射光和透射光下颜色差异减小,都呈现黄色调。随温度升高至400 ℃后,棕色调加深,出现478 nm左右的吸收峰。热处理过程中谱线吸收强度升高,“左倾”加剧,峰位“红移”。该现象与铁/二氧化硅纳米粒子（Fe/SiO₂ NPs）生长过程中的谱形变化相似,有可能与玉髓内部与Fe有关的微细结构或包裹体在热处理过程中的变化有关。颜色参数结合原位成分分析,将数据采用标准分数（Z-score）归一化处理,比对紫色调的E*值与540 nm吸收峰强度及元素含量之间的关系,发现540 nm吸收峰强度可很好的反映紫色的浓集程度,但紫色调与过渡金属元素含量的线性相关性却并不显著,黄色调的E*值则与Fe元素含量具有近似的负相关性。Fe并不以杂质矿物的形式存在,元素含量这一因素也并不能完全决定玉髓的颜色,可能还受到Fe在玉髓中的存在形式,内部微细结构或包裹体等因素的影响。     

Femtosecond laser-assisted three-dimensional microfabrication in silica

We demonstrate direct three-dimensional (3-D) microfabrication inside a volume of silica glass. The whole fabrication process was carried out in two steps:(i) writing of the preprogrammed 3-D pattern inside silica glass by focused femtosecond (fs) laser pulses and (ii) etching of the written structure in a 5% aqueous solution of HF acid. This technique allows fabrication of 3-D channels as small as 10mum in diameter inside the volume with any angle of interconnection and a high aspect ratio (10mum -diameter channels in a 100mum -thick silica slab).     

类氦离子1,3P激发态Schrodinger方程的直接解

利用相关函数（ＣＦ）－超球谐（ＨＨ）－广义Ｌａｇｕｅｒｒｅ（ＧＬＦ）方法直接求解类氦离子ｎ＾１,３Ｐ（ｎ＝１,２,３）低躺激发态的Ｓｃｈｒ¨／ｏｄｉｎｇｅｒ方程,得氦原子的本征能量分别为－２．１３３１７Ｅｈ（１＾３Ｐ）,－２．１２３８３Ｅｈ（１＾１Ｐ）,－２．０５８１０Ｅｈ（２＾３Ｐ）,－２．０５５１６Ｅｈ（２＾１Ｐ）,－２．０３２３５Ｅｈ（３＾３Ｐ）和－２．０３１０９Ｅｈ（３＾１Ｐ）,它们与文献     

台湾蓝玉髓的振动光谱表征

蓝玉髓是中国台湾所产的名贵宝石之一,素有"台湾蓝宝"的美誉.文章通过红外吸收光谱和激光拉曼光谱,对不同颜色及质地的台湾蓝玉髓的振动光谱特征进行了研究.结果表明,台湾蓝玉髓均显示典型的石英质玉石的振动光谱特征.其红外吸收光谱主要表现为:1 250～1 110 cm-1为最强吸收区,属Si-O非对称伸缩振动,800～600 cm-1间中等强度的吸收窄带,由Si-O-Si对称伸缩振动致,Si-O弯曲振动位于600～300 cm-1内.台湾蓝玉髓样品的激光拉曼光谱散射峰主要分布在499 cm-1,464 cm-1和214～208cm-1处,分别归属为"Moganite"石英中的Si-O对称弯曲振动、Si-O弯曲振动和[SiO4]的旋转振动或平移振动.     

Measurement of the complex refractive index and complex dielectric permittivity of T.P.S. space shuttle tile materials at millimeter wavelengths

Complex Refractive Index and Dielectric Permittivity studies of presently used space shuttle tile materials at millimeter wavelength region reveal these tiles to exhibit similar absorption characteristics as fused silica materials. This absorption is mainly related to the water content in the specimen. A strong bire-fringence is observed at least in one of these fibrous refractory composite materials.This research work was supported by a grant from NASA Langley Research Center (Number NAG-1-930)     

Depth-resolved monitoring of glucose diffusion in tissues by using optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate the capability of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) technique for depth-resolved monitoring and quantifying of glucose diffusion in fibrous tissues (sclera). The depth-resolved and average permeability coefficients of glucose were calculated. We found that the glucose diffusion rate is not uniform throughout the tissue and is increased from approximately 2.39+/-0.73 x 10(-6) cm/s at the epithelial side to 8.63+/-0.27 x 10(-6) cm/s close to the endothelial side of the sclera. Results demonstrated that the OCT technique is capable of depth-resolved monitoring and quantification of glucose diffusion in sclera with a resolution of approximately 40 mum.     

Raman effects in a highly nonlinear holey fiber: amplification and modulation

We experimentally demonstrate that a short length of highly nonlinear holey fiber (HF) can be used for strong L(+) -band (1610-1640-nm) Raman amplification and ultrafast signal modulation. We use a pure silica HF with an effective area of just 2.85mum(2) at 1550 nm, which yields an effective nonlinearity ~15 times higher than in conventional silica dispersion-shifted fiber. Using a 75-m length of this fiber, we obtained internal Raman gains of more than 42 dB and a noise figure of ~6 dB under a forward single-pump scheme, and the Raman gain coefficient was experimentally estimated to be 7.6 chi 10(-14)m/W . Also, an 11-dB signal extinction ratio in a Raman-induced all-optical modulation experiment was achieved with the same fiber.     

A neurochemical map of the developing amphioxus nervous system

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Amphioxus, representing the most basal group of living chordates, is the best available proxy for the last invertebrate ancestor of the chordates. Although the central nervous system (CNS) of amphioxus comprises only about 20,000 neurons (as compared to billions in vertebrates), the developmental genetics and neuroanatomy of amphioxus are strikingly vertebrate-like. In the present study, we mapped the distribution of amphioxus CNS cells producing distinctive neurochemicals. To this end, we cloned genes encoding biosynthetic enzymes and/or transporters of the most common neurotransmitters and assayed their developmental expression in the embryo and early larva. RESULTS: By single and double in situ hybridization experiments, we identified glutamatergic, GABAergic/glycinergic, serotonergic and cholinergic neurons in developing amphioxus. In addition to characterizing the distribution of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the developing amphioxus CNS, we observed that cholinergic and GABAergic/glycinergic neurons are segmentally arranged in the hindbrain, whereas serotonergic, glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurons are restricted to specific regions of the cerebral vesicle and the hindbrain. We were further able to identify a discrete group of GABAergic and glutamatergic interneurons and cholinergic motoneurons at level of the primary motor center (PMC), the major integrative center of sensory and motor stimuli of the amphioxus nerve cord. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we assessed neuronal differentiation in the developing amphioxus nervous system and compiled the first neurochemical map of the amphioxus CNS. This map is a first step towards a full characterization of the neurotransmitter signature of previously described nerve cell types in the amphioxus CNS, such as motoneurons and interneurons. The most striking discovery was that sub-populations of neurons become differentiated for producing distinctive neurochemicals well before the outgrowth of neurites establishes the definite neurocircuitry.     

In situ observation of photoinduced refractive-index changes in filaments formed in glasses by femtosecond laser pulses

We investigated the relationship between the formation of filaments and local refractive-index changes induced by femtosecond laser pulses in silica glass. In situ observation revealed that the location of a filament coincided with that of the refractive-index change. Observation also showed that the region of refractive-index change was elongated toward the upstream direction of the laser pulses with increasing exposure time. The region of refractive-index change was several hundred micrometers long, and its diameter was smaller than 2 mum. The refractive-index change was confirmed by two of three different methods to be as large as 0.8 x 10(-2).     

A world of sphingolipids and glycolipids in the brain--novel functions of simple lipids modified with glucose

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are present on cell surface membranes and are particularly abundant in the brain. Since over 300-400 GSLs are synthesized from glucosylceramide (GlcCer), GlcCer is believed to only serve as the source of most GSLs, including sialic acid-containing GSLs or gangliosides, in the brain. Recent studies, however, suggest that GlcCer itself plays a role in the heat stress response, as it functions as a glucose donor for the synthesis of cholesterylglucoside, a lipid mediator in heat stress responses in animals. GlcCer in adipose tissues is also thought to be involved in mechanisms that regulate energy (sugar and lipid) metabolism. Our extensive structural study revealed an additional novel glucosylated membrane lipid, called phosphatidylglucoside, in developing rodent brains and human neutrophils. These lipids, all modified with glucose, are enriched in lipid rafts and play important roles in basic cellular processes. Here, I summarize the recent progress regarding these glucosylated lipids and their biosynthesis and regulation in the central nervous system (CNS).     

Phosphorus-31 MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) of normal and pathological human brains.

The goals of this study were to evaluate 31P MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) for clinical studies and to survey potentially significant spatial variations of 31P metabolite signals in normal and pathological human brains. In normal brains, chemical shifts and metabolite ratios corrected for saturation were similar to previous studies using single-volume localization techniques (n = 10; pH = 7.01 +/- 0.02; PCr/Pi = 2.0 +/- 0.4; PCr/ATP = 1.4 +/- 0.2; ATP/Pi = 1.6 +/- 0.2; PCr/PDE = 0.52 +/- 0.06; PCr/PME = 1.3 +/- 0.2; [Mg2+]free = 0.26 +/- 0.02 mM.) In 17 pathological case studies, ratios of 31P metabolite signals between the pathological regions and normal-appearing (usually homologous contralateral) regions were obtained. First, in subacute and chronic infarctions (n = 9) decreased Pi (65 +/- 12%), PCr (38 +/- 6%), ATP (55 +/- 6%), PDE (47 +/- 9%), and total 31P metabolite signals (50 +/- 8%) were observed. Second, regions of decreased total 31P metabolite signals were observed in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH, n = 2), glioblastoma (n = 2), temporal lobe epilepsy (n = 2), and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs, n = 2). Third, alkalosis was detected in the NPH periventricular tissue, glioblastoma, epilepsy ipsilateral ictal foci, and chronic infarction regions; acidosis was detected in subacute infarction regions. Fourth, in TIAs with no MRI-detected infarction, regions consistent with transient neurological deficits were detected with decreased Pi, ATP, and total 31P metabolite signals. These results demonstrate an advantage of 31P MRSI over single-volume 31P MRS techniques in that metabolite information is derived simultaneously from multiple regions of brain, including those outside the primary pathological region of interest. These preliminary findings also suggest that abnormal metabolite distributions may be detected in regions that appear normal on MR images.     

Size tunable three-dimensional annular laser trap based on axicons

A three-dimensional (3D) ring-shaped laser trap has been built using axicons. The diameter of this laser trap ranges from 70 to 140 mum and is adjusted by simply changing the position of one axicon in the optical path. Parallel 3D trapping of 5 mum silica microspheres and 3D confinement of cells along the ring are demonstrated. In this system the special optical properties of axicons are used to create a continuous annular trap with high power efficiency and a constant numerical aperture. This new approach, without any mechanical scanning, offers significant potential for applications in cell motility analysis and biotropism studies.     

Linear and nonlinear optical properties of hydrated and dehydrated silica micro-spheres under an electric bias

The linear refractive indices and nonlinear second-order susceptibility of hydrated and dehydrated silica micro-spheres are studied using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and the second harmonic generation (SHG) method in direct transmission, respectively. A dramatic change of the effective dielectric constant of silica suspension under an electric bias was observed, which is attributed to particle redistribution in the fluid. Dielectric constants of dehydrated silica spheres change slightly under an electric field due to Pockels effect, for which we measure a linear electro-optical coefficient of r₃₃ ∼3.4±0.7 pm/V. The transmission second harmonic generation comes from the third-order susceptibility χ⁽³⁾, which is a coupling of two photons and the electrostatic field induced by the surface –OH charges as characterized by the Gouy-Chapman model. The SH signal from the dehydrated silica vanishes because of the loss of –OH groups on the particle surfaces. Dehydration of silica beads is irreversible. The optical properties of dried silica spheres do not recover their original hydrated state when distilled water is added.     

Low-threshold supercontinuum generation in highly nonlinear chalcogenide nanowires

We demonstrate low-threshold supercontinuum generated in a highly nonlinear arsenic selenide chalcogenide nanowire with tailored dispersion. The tapered submicrometer chalcogenide fiber exhibits an ultrahigh nonlinearity, n(2) approximately 1.1x10(-17) m(2)/W and an effective mode area of 0.48 mum(2), yielding an effective nonlinearity of gamma approximately 93.4 W/m, which is over 80,000 times larger than standard silica single-mode fiber at a wavelength of approximately 1550 nm. This high nonlinearity, in conjunction with the engineered anomalous dispersion, enables low-threshold soliton fission leading to large spectral broadening at a dramatically reduced peak power of several watts, corresponding to picojoule energy.     

Hafnium binding to comparison: comparison between lactoferrin and other transferrins

The TDPAC method was used to study the electric field gradients at the metal sites of human and bovine lactoferrin. Two specific binding configurations were observed. The distribution between these configurations depends on the phosphate content, the pH, and the temperature of the samples. The electric field gradients are compared with the results of previous studies for human and rat serum transferrin, and hen ovotransferrin.     

Applied electric field to fabricate colloidal crystals with the photonic band-gap in communication waveband

The macropore silica colloidal crystal templates were assembled orderly in a capillary glass tube by an applied electric field method to control silica deposition. In order to achieve the photonic band gap (PBG) of colloidal crystal in optical communication waveband, the diameter of silica microspheres is selected by Bragg diffraction formula. An experiment was designed to test the bandgap of the silica crystal templates. This paper discusses the formation process and the close-packed fashion of the silica colloidal crystal templates was discussed. The surface morphology of the templates was also analyzed. The results showed that the close-packed fashion of silica array templates was face-centered cubic (FCC) structure. The agreement is very good between the experimental data and the theoretical calculation.     

Evidence for a biogenic, microorganismal origin of rock varnish from the Gangdese Belt of Tibet

In the present study we examined material from the Ashikule Basin of Tibet. Chemical analyses were performed by use of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron probe microanalysis to clarify whether the varnish layers that had developed on the surface of the rhyolite are indeed composed of varnish bodies and silica glaze. Electron microscopic analyses revealed that the surface of the varnish is covered both by filamentous hyphae bacterial and cocci-shaped forms. Within the varnish mineral layer in those samples two forms of bacteria-like microorganisms exist; cocci as tightly packed bacterial aggregates [within varnish bodies], and bacillus-like microorganisms [within the varnish matrix, that surrounds the varnish bodies]. The bacillus-like forms are embedded in a network of filaments that have diameters between 35 and 45 nm. These bacilli with the surrounding filaments are assumed to have been involved in biofilm formation (synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances) prior to their live burial. We concluded that the formation of the varnish layers was for the most part biogenically driven by microorganisms.     

Operating characteristics of near-infrared self-assembled polymer microlasers

We report near-infrared laser emission from self-assembled luminescent polymer microcavities. The microrings are formed around silica optical fibers of varying diameters (80, 125, and 200 microm) and are shown to exhibit photopumped lasing at approximately 820 nm. The microrings with 200 mum inner diameter have an overall quality factor of approximately 2 x 10(3), which is limited by surface roughness and scattering. We illustrate how the laser threshold varies inversely with both the quality factor and the diameter of the microrings. The free spectral range and the intensity variation of the laser output are also presented.     

Moganite in the Chalcedony Varieties of Continental Cherts (Miocene,Madrid Basin,Spain)

Varieties of chalcedony (calcedonite, quartzine, and lutecite) and other optical micro- and cryptocrystalline textures of quartz and opal from Miocene silcretes of the Madrid Basin were studied using a Thermo Fisher DXR Raman microscope. The microscope has a point-and-shoot Raman capability of 1 µm spatial resolution and was coupled with a standard optical microscope. Our results show that all the varieties of chalcedony can have a composite Raman spectrum of both quartz and moganite. The spectra are independent of the chalcedony origin by ageing, direct replacement, and cementation processes. Moganite was absent only in some calcedonite cements. The presence of moganite is independent of the surface sedimentary setting of the host rocks in which the silcretes are formed.