Glutamate-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells is mediated via caspase-dependent and independent mechanisms involving calpain and caspase-3 proteases as well as apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and this process is inhibited by equine estrogens

Background  

Glutamate, a major excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter, causes apoptotic neuronal cell death at high concentrations. Our previous studies have shown that depending on the neuronal cell type, glutamate-induced apoptotic cell death was associated with regulation of genes such as Bcl-2, Bax, and/or caspase-3 and mitochondrial cytochrome c. To further delineate the intracellular mechanisms, we have investigated the role of calpain, an important calcium-dependent protease thought to be involved in apoptosis along with mitochondrial apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) and caspase-3 in primary cortical cells and a mouse hippocampal cell line HT22.     

Domain configurations of the "incommensurate" structures of 2H-TaSe2 and Bi2Sr2(Ca1-xLn(x))Cu2O8+delta studied by HRTEM

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images of the "incommensurate" structures of 2H-TaSe2 and Bi2Sr2Ca1-xLnx Cu2O8+delta (Ln: rare earth metal) are shown. They were taken from a wide specimen area with homogeneous thickness. For the former, a configuration of two domains was found by a scrutiny of HRTEM images. For the latter, many configurations of two domains were extracted from the photometric density distribution in the one-dimensional contrast modulations in HRTEM images. One domain of the two in both configurations is created by a phase slip occurring in the primary atomic displacement longitudinal wave.     

Sr0.6Ba0.2Ca0.2Al2O4 ∶Eu,Dy的制备与长余辉发光性能研究

采用高温固相法制备了Ca,Ba共掺的Sr_0.6Ba_0.2Ca_0.2Al₂O₄ ∶Eu²⁺_0.01, Dy³⁺_0.02和单掺Ba的Sr_0.6Ba_0.4Al₂O₄ ∶Eu²⁺_0.01, 关键词： 长余辉 铝酸锶 稀土掺杂 陷阱能级     

MSO4:Eu2+(M =Mg,Ca, Sr,Ba)的等电子陷阱与热释光特性

在硫酸盐掺入稀土元素的研究中, 得到了几种掺入Eu²⁺的碱土金属硫酸盐磷光体MSO₄:Eu²⁺ (M =Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba), 这组磷光体具有与掺入三价稀土离子(Tm³⁺, Dy³⁺, Eu³⁺)的碱土金属硫酸盐截然不同的热释光特性, 热释光三维发光谱中只呈现一个热释光峰, 对γ和βup辐射的热释光剂量响应为线性-亚线性响应. 结果清楚地显现出Eu²⁺对碱土金属阳离子的等价取代而形成的等电子陷阱对这些磷光体的热释光特性起了关键性的作用, Eu²⁺等电子陷阱与基质中的本征缺陷SO₄^2-形成的缺陷复合体作为热释光多阶段过程的基本作用单元, 基本上产生一次作用热释光事件. SrSO₄:Eu²⁺是一种典型的等电子陷阱发光的磷光体, 它具有相当高的热释光和光释光发光效率.     

Diffusion fronts and gradient percolation: A survey

Twenty years ago, Bernard Sapoval suggested that the solders obtained by inter-diffusion of two metals, could have a fractal structure. He, then, initiated simulation calculations based on a lattice gas model, describing the diffusion of non-interacting particles on a square lattice. These ideas are nowadays a mainstream field of research, developing in various domains including topics as different as fractal etching, imbibition experiments, fractal structures of polymer interfaces, image treatment, fracture surfaces, urban growth, predatory–prey interaction, etc.     

Ca~(2+)掺杂对BaMgSiO_4:Eu~(2+)发光材料发光性能的影响

采用高温固相法于弱还原气氛中制备了Ba1-xCaxMgSiO4:Eu2+(x≤0.15)发光材料,测量其光谱特性,分析Ca2+掺杂对该发光材料光谱的影响。XRD图谱研究表明:Ca2+在BaMgSiO4基质中极限溶解度x=0.075。发光性能研究表明,当Ca2+掺入量从0增加至0.05时,最强发射峰从498nm蓝移至450nm,在掺入量为0.075时,激发和发射强度达到最强,而随着Ca2+掺入量的增加激发光谱的形状也发生变化。从Ca2+取代不同点阵位的Ba2+,并结合晶体场强度的变化讨论了光谱变化的原因。     

残留偶极耦合及其在蛋白质结构研究中的应用

近年来溶液中残留偶极耦合常数被用来获取生物大分子化学键之间相对取向等长程构象约束条件,用于计算或优化蛋白质及其复合物的三维空间结构. 介绍了用异核多维NMR技术测量残留偶极耦合常数的方法,及其在蛋白质结构计算中的一些应用：优化蛋白质溶液结构,评价蛋白质结构质量,确定蛋白质结构域取向,获取有关配体的构象和取向的信息,在缺乏NOE数据时构建蛋白质结构等.      

中国原子能科学研究院的长寿命核素加速器质谱测量及其应用(英文)

加速器质谱是近年来蓬勃发展的一种十分活跃的核分析技术,其应用涉及环境科学、地质学、核物理及天体物理、生物医学等多个领域。中国原子能科学研究院的加速器质谱装置自从1989年建立至今,已经对^36Cl,^10Be,^129I,^26Al,^79Se和^41Ca等多种核素进行了成功测量。介绍了中国原子能科学研究院的加速器质谱计系统、核素的测量原理及几种相关核素的成功应用。The Accelerator Mass Spectrometry facility at the China Institute of Atomic Energy was established in 1989. The measurement methods for interesting nuclides such as ^36Cl, ^10Be, ^129I, ^26Al, ^79Se and ^41Ca etc. have been established and studies on their applications have been carried out. The facility and some interesting applications are briefly introduced.     

Encapsulating MAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ (M = Sr,Ca, Ba) phosphors with triethanolamine to enhance water resistance

Traditional aluminates phosphors with persistent luminescence are chemically unstable to water or moisture. Thus, how to improve the water-resistance of these phosphors is becoming a key issue in their practical applications. In this work, a series of alkaline earth aluminate phosphors including MAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ (M = Sr, Ca, Ba) have been prepared by a co-precipitation synthesis and postannealing approach, using 8-hydroxyquinoline and sodium oxalate as precipitants. The samples before and after encapsulation were well characterized by means of XRPD, FESEM, FT-IR, TGA-DTG and PL techniques as well as water resistance measurements. The precipitants involved can react with Al³⁺ and Sr²⁺ (or Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺) to form complex compounds in aqueous solution, which further convert into porous phosphors by postannealing method under reducing atmosphere. Next, triethanolamine encapsulation at room temperature was conducted onto their surfaces to improve the water resistance. The results reveal that the encapsulation of aluminate phosphors with triethanolamine can effectively enhance the water resistance, and minimally affect on persistent phosphorescence.     

Shedding light onto the spectra of lime: Raman and luminescence bands of CaO,Ca(OH)2 and CaCO3

In microscopy studies of 19^th‐century cement stone, we found free lime in the form of darkened spherical structures, as they were described in the literature already. When trying to determine their phase composition by Raman spectroscopy, we encountered contradictive assignments in literature spectra of the lime phases CaO, Ca(OH)₂ and CaCO₃ and observed strong spectral features that have been ignored or erroneously assigned so far. In this study we present Raman spectra of pure lime phases and of a naturally grown calcite crystal, burnt limestone (quick lime, mainly CaO), aged slaked lime putty (mainly Ca(OH)₂), and carbonated lime putty (mainly CaCO₃). Based on the results, we shed light mainly onto these two questions: (1) Does CaO have a Raman spectrum? (2) Which features in the spectra are luminescence bands that could be (and already have been) misinterpreted as Raman bands? We proof our assignment of luminescence bands in lime phases by using three different laser wavelengths for excitation, and give hypotheses on the origin of the luminescence as well as practical advices on how to identify these misleading features in Raman spectra. This article is mainly addressed to users of Raman spectroscopy in different fields of material analysis who might not be aware of the presence of interfering bands in their spectra. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Astrocyte signaling in the presence of spatial inhomogeneities

Astrocytes, a special type of glial cells, were considered to have just a supporting role in information processing in the brain. However, several recent studies have shown that they can be chemically stimulated by various neurotransmitters, such as ATP, and can generate Ca2+ and ATP waves, which can propagate over many cell lengths before being blocked. Although pathological conditions, such as spreading depression and epilepsy, have been linked to abnormal wave propagation in astrocytic cellular networks, a quantitative understanding of the underlying characteristics is still lacking. Astrocytic cellular networks are inhomogeneous, in the sense that the domain they occupy contains passive regions or gaps, which are unable to support wave propagation. Thus, this work focuses on understanding the complex interplay between single-cell signal transduction, domain inhomogeneity, and the characteristics of wave propagation and blocking in astrocytic cellular networks. The single-cell signal transduction model that was employed accounts for ATP-mediated IP3 production, the subsequent Ca2+ release from the ER, and ATP release into the extracellular space. The model is excitable and thus an infinite range of wave propagation is observed if the domain of propagation is homogeneous. This is not always the case for inhomogeneous domains. To model wave propagation in inhomogeneous astrocytic networks, a reaction-diffusion framework was developed and one-gap as well as multiple-gap cases were simulated using an efficient finite-element algorithm. The minimum gap length that blocks the wave was computed as a function of excitability levels and geometric characteristics of the inhomogeneous network, such as the length of the active regions (cells). Complex transient patterns, such as wave reflection, wave trapping, and generation of echo waves, were also predicted by the model, and their relationship to the geometric characteristics of the network was evaluated. Therefore, the proposed model can help in the formulation of testable hypotheses to explain the observed abnormal wave propagation in pathological situations.     

双连续型乳液凝胶(Bijel)的研究进展

双连续型结构是指同一体系中存在两种连续态,这在刚体中很容易实现,但对于流体却十分困难.要使两种流体同时保持连续态,不仅对它们的相容性、密度、极性等方面要求极高,还需要稳定剂来牢牢稳定住液-液界面.最早的双连续型凝胶是在对高聚物进行研究时发现的,后来英国爱丁堡大学软物质课题组进行了一系列研究,最终在低分子量液体体系中实现了重大突破,制备出本文所要讨论的bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gel(Bijel).这种结构可以被称作"双连续型乳液凝胶",它兼有乳液(emulsion)和凝胶(gel)的物理性质,独特的双连续结构使它拥有更为广阔的应用空间.本文简短地回顾了Bijel的研发过程,总结近年来的研究进展,指出它在工业应用中受到的限制,并对室温下通过直接搅拌制备Bijel的方法做重点介绍.     

Eu2+, Cr3+共掺杂的MAl12O19 (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) 的发光性质及能量传递

三基色荧光粉中, 红色荧光粉性能较差, 为获得性能优良的红色荧光粉, 本文采用高温固相法合成了Eu²⁺, Cr³⁺单掺杂及共掺杂的碱土金属多铝酸盐MAl₁₂O₁₉ (M =Ca, Sr, Ba) 发光体. 实验表明, 在以上三种基质中均存在Eu²⁺→Cr³⁺的能量传递, 利用能量传递可以有效将Eu²⁺的蓝光或绿光转换为红光. 三种碱土金属多铝酸盐基质的晶体结构相似,但Eu²⁺, Cr³⁺发光受晶体场影响,导致在不同的基质中Eu²⁺, Cr³⁺间能量传递效率不同.通过光谱分析及能量传递效率计算发现, 相同掺杂浓度下,CaAl₁₂O₁₉中Eu²⁺→Cr³⁺的能量传递效率最高,SrAl₁₂O₁₉次之, BaAl₁₂O₁₉最低.红光转换率在CaAl₁₂O₁₉中最高.     

Magnetization reversal via bloch points nucleation in nanowires and dots: a micromagnetic study

Micromagnetic studies of the reversal of stripe domains in elements of different geometries are reported. Various 2D and 3D codes are used in order to allow comparison between an infinite slab, nanowires and dots. Starting from a saturated state the establishment of stripe domains through the sample is first studied. Contrary to the thin film case, the nucleation of this pattern is not uniform and is very different to the geometry of a wire or an isolated dot. Special attention is paid to the reversal of the core of the vortex (the remnants of inner walls between up and down domains) which requires the insertion of point singularities called Bloch points (BP) either at surfaces or created in a pair depending on the length allowed for the stripe in the corresponding element. The magnetization distribution around the core of the various BP is described in detail as well as the key characteristics of their motion. Finally, some experiments are suggested predicting the behaviour of stripe domains under an applied field.     

缅甸翡翠化学成分的变化对其红外光谱的影响

缅甸翡翠是以硬玉为主要矿物的多晶集合体,硬玉的晶体化学成分可以用NaAlSi₂O₆来表示,天然产出的硬玉常常存在类质同象替代,Na被Ca替代,Al被Mg,Fe,Cr等元素替代,形成不同的翡翠类型,使得翡翠的化学成分变得更加复杂,而且其物理性质也产生变化,这种变化包括颜色、透明度、折射率、比重、结晶程度以及红外吸收光谱的特征。探索了翡翠的化学成分对其红外光谱的影响及规律,使用傅里叶红外光谱仪(Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, FTIR）对10个含不同化学成分的缅甸翡翠样品进行漫反射法测量,分析结果表明,翡翠的红外吸收峰的位置随着样品的Na/Na+Ca的摩尔比例增加而向高波数发生位移;在低波数区域,在424, 576和658 cm-1附近的吸收峰位的波数与Na/Na+Ca比值存在很好的线性相关,相关系数依次为R2₁=0.944 2,R2₂=0.928 3,R2₃=0.909 7。采用红外光谱测试技术结合所建立的线性模型可以推断未知翡翠样品的Na/Na+Ca的摩尔比例,当翡翠样品的Na/Na+Ca比值等于0.8时,红外吸收峰应该在658.7, 574.5, 422.5 cm-1处;如果翡翠样品的红外吸收峰波数＜658.7,＜574.5 cm-1,＜422.5 cm-1,则翡翠样品的Na/Na+Ca比值小于0.8,为绿辉石质翡翠;如果翡翠样品的红外吸收峰波数＞658.7,＞574.5,＞422.5 cm-1,则翡翠样品的Na/Na+Ca比值大于0.8,为硬玉质翡翠。该工作为红外光谱技术测量翡翠样品,分析翡翠化学成分,确定翡翠矿物种属提供了一种快捷、省时、方便的无损测量分析方法。     

超巨磁电阻薄膜在光探测上的新应用

混合价态钙钛矿锰氧化物在外界温度变化和磁场作用下表现出巨大的磁电阻(colossal magnetoreslstance，简记为CMR)效应，引起了人们的广泛关注．由于CMR材料在传感器、探测器以及硬盘读出磁头等应用器件研发上极具潜力，科学家们对其进行了大量研究．文章在简单介绍CMR材料结构和机理的基础上，着重报道了作者利用CMR薄膜的激光感生热电电势(LITV)制备激光功率／能量探测器和利用电阻在室温附近的巨大变化研制光热辐射探测器(bolometer)方面的新进展．     

Ca3MgSi2O8中Ce3+的光谱及其晶体学格位

本文合成了发射蓝紫色光的镁硅钙石Ｃａ３ＭｇＳｉ２Ｏ８：Ｃｅ＾３＋荧光体。测试了该荧光体的激发和发射光谱。利用这些光谱结果和Ｖａｍ Ｕｉｔｅｒｔ经验公式,结合对Ｃａ３ＭｇＳｉ２Ｏ８晶体的结构研究,确认Ｃａ３ＭｇＳｉ２Ｏ３：Ｃｅ＾３＋中存在两种性质有差异的Ｃｅ＾３＋发光中心,它们分别占据基质中的两种八配位的钙格位。     

Pseudo-billiards

A new class of Hamiltonian dynamical systems with two degrees of freedom and kinetic energy of the form T = c₁|p₁| + c₂|p₂| (called “pseudo-billiards”) is studied. For any kind of interaction, the canonical equations can always be integrated on sequential time intervals; i.e. in principle all the trajectories can be found explicitly.

Depending on the potential, a dynamical system of this class can either be completely integrable or behave just as a usual non-integrable Hamiltonian system with two degrees of freedom: in its phase space there exist invariant tori, stochastic layers, domains of global chaos, etc. Pseudo-billiard models of both the types are considered.

If a potential of a pseudo-billiard system has critical points (equilibria), then trajectories close to these points (“loops”) can exist; they can be treated as images of self-localized objects with finite duration. Such a model (with quartic potential) is also studied.     

甘氨酸在Cu(001)表面的吸附结构

结合低能电子衍射(LEED)及其消失斑点规律和扫描隧道显微镜(STM)手段确定了室温下甘氨酸在Cu(001)表面能形成c(2×4)和两种(2×4)吸附结构((2×4)₁和(2×4)₂),并推断出在两种(2×4)结构单胞中两甘氨酸分子的羧基相对于衬底的吸附取向一致,而它们的氨基则不同.实验中还观察到c(2×4)与(2×4)₂结构能相互转变成窄条相互穿插共存,这说明几种吸附结构能量相近. 关键词：     

On the Road Map of Vogel’s Plane

We define “population” of Vogel’s plane as points for which universal character of adjoint representation is regular in the finite plane of its argument. It is shown that they are given exactly by all solutions of seven Diophantine equations of third order on three variables. We find all their solutions: classical series of simple Lie algebras (including an “odd symplectic” one), \({D_{2,1,\lambda}}\) superalgebra, the line of sl(2) algebras, and a number of isolated solutions, including exceptional simple Lie algebras. One of these Diophantine equations, namely \({knm=4k+4n+2m+12,}\) contains all simple Lie algebras, except so\({(2N+1).}\) Among isolated solutions are, besides exceptional simple Lie algebras, so called \({\mathfrak{e}_{7\frac{1}{2}}}\) algebra and also two other similar unidentified objects with positive dimensions. In addition, there are 47 isolated solutions in “unphysical semiplane” with negative dimensions. Isolated solutions mainly belong to the few lines in Vogel plane, including some rows of Freudenthal magic square. Universal dimension formulae have an integer values on all these solutions at least for first three symmetric powers of adjoint representation.