Transfection using hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in the inner ear via an intact round window membrane in chinchilla

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAT) are known to have excellent biocompatibility, and have attracted increasing attention as new candidates of non-viral vectors for gene therapy. In our previous studies, nHAT carrying a therapeutic gene and a reporter gene were successfully transfected into the spiral ganglion neurons in the inner ear of guinea pigs in vivo as well as in the cultured cell lines, although the transfection efficiencies were never higher than 30%. In this study, the surface modification of nHAT with polyethylenimine (PEI) was made (PEI–nHAT, diameter = 73.09 ± 27.32 nm) and a recombinant plasmid carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) gene was constructed as pEGFPC2–NT3. The PEI modified nHAT and the recombinant plasmid was then connected to form the nHAT-based vector–gene complex (PEI–nHAT–pEGFPC2–NT3). This complex was then placed onto the intact round window membranes of the chinchillas for inner ear transfection. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was tested to evaluate auditory function. Green fluorescence of EGFP was observed using confocal microscopy 48 h after administering vector–gene complexes. There was no significant threshold shift in tone burst-evoked ABR at any tested frequency. Abundant, condensed green fluorescence was found in dark cells on both sides of the crista and around the macula of the utricle. Scattered EGFP signals were also detected in vestibular hair cells, some Schwann cells in the cochlear spiral ganglion region, some outer pillar cells in the organ of Corti, and a few cells in the stria vascularis. The density of green fluorescence-marked cells was obviously higher in the vestibular dark cell area than in other areas of the inner ear, suggesting that vestibular dark cells may have the ability to actively engulf the nHAT-based vector–gene complexes. Considering the high transfection efficiency in the vestibular system, PEI–nHAT may be a potential vector for gene therapy of inner ear diseases, especially vestibular disorders, and deserves further study.     

Electron conductance and mode stability in multi-gap coupled cavity m

根据空间电荷波小信号基础理论,建立了多间隙耦合腔中单个间隙电子电导的计算模型与模式稳定性分析模型.以3间隙耦合腔为例,推导出了各个间隙电子电导的计算公式.通过理论计算与仿真模拟,研究了3间隙耦合腔中各个模式的电子电导特性,并进行了间隙中注波互作用研究与模式稳定性分析.模型计算发现:各个间隙不同模式的电子电导不同,第3间隙内电子电导受注电压及间隙距离影响最大,对整个间隙内的注波互作用及电路稳定性的影响也最大.该模型还可以用于分布作用速调管注波互作用的计算模拟.     

Controlling the motion of solitons in BEC by a weakly periodic potential

By developing multiple-scale method combined with Wentzel--Kramer--Brillouin expansion, this paper analytically studies the modulating effect of weakly periodic potential on the dynamical properties of the Bose--Einstein condensates (BEC) trapped in harmonic magnetic traps. A black--grey soliton transition is observed in the BEC trapped in harmonic magnetic potential, due to the weakly periodic potential modulating effect. Meanwhile, it finds that with the slight increase of the weakly periodic potential strength, the velocity of the soliton decreases, while its width firstly decreases then increases, a minimum exists there. These results show that the amplitude, velocity, and width of matter solitons can be effectively managed by means of a weakly periodic potential.     

Co掺杂MgF2电子结构和光学特性的第一性原理研究

基于密度泛函理论（DFT）的第一性原理平面波超软赝势方法,计算了Co掺杂MgF₂晶体的几何结构、电子结构和光学性质.结果表明,Co掺杂导致MgF₂晶体结构畸变,可能发生一种类四方和斜方型结构相变.由于Co原子的加入,体系的禁带宽度减小,可观察到半导体—金属性转变.计算也表明,Co掺杂对静态介电常数和光吸收系数有重要调制作用,所得结果与最近实验测量很好相符,揭示了Co:MgF₂体系在光学元器件方面的潜在应用. 关键词： 密度泛函理论（DFT） 第一性原理 超软赝势 2')" href="#">Co掺杂MgF₂     

Convergence of Galerkin truncation for dynamic response of finite beams on nonlinear foundations under a moving load

The present paper investigates the convergence of the Galerkin method for the dynamic response of an elastic beam resting on a nonlinear foundation with viscous damping subjected to a moving concentrated load. It also studies the effect of different boundary conditions and span length on the convergence and dynamic response. A train–track or vehicle–pavement system is modeled as a force moving along a finite length Euler–Bernoulli beam on a nonlinear foundation. Nonlinear foundation is assumed to be cubic. The Galerkin method is utilized in order to discretize the nonlinear partial differential governing equation of the forced vibration. The dynamic response of the beam is obtained via the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. Three types of the conventional boundary conditions are investigated. The railway tracks on stiff soil foundation running the train and the asphalt pavement on soft soil foundation moving the vehicle are treated as examples. The dependence of the convergence of the Galerkin method on boundary conditions, span length and other system parameters are studied.     

Temperature dependence of the Raman spectra of Bi2Te3 and Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 thermoelectric films

The temperature dependence of the Raman spectra of Bi₂Te₃ and Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ thermoelectric films was investigated. The temperature coefficients of the E_g(2) peak positions were determined as –0.0137 cm^–1/°C and –0.0156 cm^–1/°C, respectively. The thermal expansion of the crystal caused a linear shift of the Raman peak induced by the temperature change. Based on the linear relation, a reliable and noninvasive micro‐Raman scattering method was shown to measure the thermal conductivity of the thermoelectric films. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and vibrational properties of MnOx thin films on Rh(111)

The growth, structures, and vibrational properties of ultrathin manganese oxide films on Rh(111) had been investigated using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEIS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). MnO_x grew in a layer-by-layer fashion on the Rh(111) surface. HREELS phonon features and XPS binding energies showed that an OMnO like tri-layer formed initially. Which was stable on the Rh(111) surface with MnO_x coverage less than one monolayer. At above one monolayer, Mn₃O₄ was preferred as indicated from a four-phonon feature peaked at 13.3, 39, 68 and 83 meV in HREELS. Higher temperature oxidation and annealing were found to improve the long-range order of the MnO_x films.     

双色光晶格势阱中玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体的Landau-Zener隧穿行为

考虑玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体局限于周期性的双色光晶格势阱中,研究其中的Bloch能带结构、第一能隙和第二能隙的Landau-Zener隧穿行为.结果表明,随着双色光晶格势阱的主、次晶格相位差从0增加到π,Bloch能带中第一能隙宽度逐渐增加,而第二能隙宽度逐渐减小.同时发现,双色光晶格势阱的主、次晶格深度及其相位差对第一能隙和第二能隙的Landau-Zener隧穿性质有重要的影响.     

关于闭合及偏置PCM结构约束带状电子注可行性的研究

通过理论分析和数值计算证明了闭合PCM结构可以在窄边和宽边两个横方向上对接近真实情形的带状注束流进行有效约束,实现电子注的长距离稳定传输.提出了匹配电子注宽边方向横向磁聚焦力与带状注内空间电荷力的方法,这可用于确定闭合PCM聚焦结构的纵向周期长度以及截面尺寸.所做计算还显示出闭合PCM结构横截面的宽边方向尺度可以独立调节以达到最优的匹配.此外,进一步证明了偏置PCM结构不能有效约束带状电子注.本工作表明闭合PCM结构用于限制带状注束流具有很大潜力并且有助于指导实际的工程实践.     

A scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscope for room temperature samples

We have constructed a scanning low-T_c superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscope, in which the SQUID is mounted on the lower end of a copper rod and cooled to liquid helium temperature. There is a 65μm thick sapphire window under the SQUID. The sample at room temperature underneath the window can be scanned to produce magnetic images. The microscope has a spatial resolution of 100－150μm and a magnetic field sensitivity of 3－60pT/$\sqrt{Hz}$ in a magnetically unshielded environment. We have used this scanning SQUID microscope to measure various room temperature samples.