First-principles study on the metallic antiferromagnet Co[PhPO3]·H2O

The electronic structure and the magnetic properties of transition metal phosphonate Co(PhPO₃)·H₂O have been studied by first-principles within the density-functional theory (DFT) and the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. The total energy, the total magnetic moment, the atomic spin magnetic moments and the density of states(DOS) of Co(PhPO₃)·H₂O were all calculated. The calculations reveal that the title compound is a metallic antiferromagnet and has a metallic ferromagnetic metastable state, which are in good agreement with the experiment. The spin magnetic moment of Co(PhPO₃)·H₂O is about 4.93 _μB${\mu }_{\mathrm{B}}$ per molecule, and it is mainly assembled at the cobalt atom, at the same time, with a little contribution from the P, O1, O2, O3.     

Quantitative analysis of asymmetrical cortical activity in motor areas during sequential finger movement

Brain asymmetry is a phenomenon well known for handedness and has been studied in motor cortices. However, few quantitative studies on asymmetrical cortical activity in motor areas have been conducted. In this study, we systematically investigated asymmetrical cortical activity in motor areas during sequential finger movement by quantitatively analyzing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses. The norm of BOLD signal percentage of change was introduced to quantitatively measure the BOLD signal intensity change difference between the left and right motor areas. The results of the data collected from six subjects show that the norm of BOLD signal percentage of change in the right motor area is higher than that in the left motor area for two-hand movement (P=.0059) and single-hand movement (P=.0279) with right-handedness. These results from fMRI show the asymmetry of motor areas and may suggest that the left hemisphere motor area comes into being as an adaptation system that needs few neuron cells only to finish any movement task for right-handedness. The activation intensity in the left motor area is reduced with normal right finger movement. The activation intensity in the right motor area is obviously higher than that in the left motor area.     

Antennal morphology, structure and sensilla distribution in Microplitis pallidipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Microplitis pallidipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an important larval parasitoid of noctuid larval pests. In this study, we describe the morphology, ultrastructure and distribution of sensilla on the antennae of both male and female adults using scanning electron microscopy; complemented with transmission electron microscopy. Observations determined that the antennae of M. pallidipes were threadlike and the flagella were composed of 16 sub-segments. Totally, there were six types of sensilla found on the antennae. They were identified as Sensilla trichodea, Sensilla chaetica, Sensilla basiconica type I, S. basiconica type II, Sensilla coeloconicum, and elongated Sensilla placodea, respectively. The S. trichodea were the most abundant sensilla and distributed over the entire antennae, while S. basiconica I and II, S. coeloconicum, and elongated S. placodea were limited to the flagellum. S. chaetica were found on the scape and pedicle in very low numbers. The S. basiconica II and elongated S. placodea walls were full of pores as evident in transmission electron micrographs. Though the shape and structure of antennae between male and female adults were not basically different, the length and width of the antennae on male wasps were significantly greater than that of females. Also, the number, size and density of S. placodea of the male were significantly greater than those of females. The morphology and structure of these sensilla were compared with that found in other braconid wasps. Their possible functions are discussed in light of previously published literature.     

A second generation human haplotype map of over 3.1 million SNPs

We describe the Phase II HapMap, which characterizes over 3.1 million human single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyped in 270 individuals from four geographically diverse populations and includes 25-35% of common SNP variation in the populations surveyed. The map is estimated to capture untyped common variation with an average maximum r2 of between 0.9 and 0.96 depending on population. We demonstrate that the current generation of commercial genome-wide genotyping products captures common Phase II SNPs with an average maximum r2 of up to 0.8 in African and up to 0.95 in non-African populations, and that potential gains in power in association studies can be obtained through imputation. These data also reveal novel aspects of the structure of linkage disequilibrium. We show that 10-30% of pairs of individuals within a population share at least one region of extended genetic identity arising from recent ancestry and that up to 1% of all common variants are untaggable, primarily because they lie within recombination hotspots. We show that recombination rates vary systematically around genes and between genes of different function. Finally, we demonstrate increased differentiation at non-synonymous, compared to synonymous, SNPs, resulting from systematic differences in the strength or efficacy of natural selection between populations.     

Genome-wide detection and characterization of positive selection in human populations

With the advent of dense maps of human genetic variation, it is now possible to detect positive natural selection across the human genome. Here we report an analysis of over 3 million polymorphisms from the International HapMap Project Phase 2 (HapMap2). We used 'long-range haplotype' methods, which were developed to identify alleles segregating in a population that have undergone recent selection, and we also developed new methods that are based on cross-population comparisons to discover alleles that have swept to near-fixation within a population. The analysis reveals more than 300 strong candidate regions. Focusing on the strongest 22 regions, we develop a heuristic for scrutinizing these regions to identify candidate targets of selection. In a complementary analysis, we identify 26 non-synonymous, coding, single nucleotide polymorphisms showing regional evidence of positive selection. Examination of these candidates highlights three cases in which two genes in a common biological process have apparently undergone positive selection in the same population:LARGE and DMD, both related to infection by the Lassa virus, in West Africa;SLC24A5 and SLC45A2, both involved in skin pigmentation, in Europe; and EDAR and EDA2R, both involved in development of hair follicles, in Asia.     

A New Sesquiterpene from the Roots of Chloranthus multistachys

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - A new sesquiterpene, 1β-hydroxy-4(5),7(8),11(12)-triene-6,9-dione-7,8-furanoeudesmane (1), was isolated from the root extract of Chloranthus multistachys C....     

优化金属磷化物电催化析氢性能的策略

日益严重的能源危机和环境污染问题使得探索清洁的可再生能源载体及减少对传统化石燃料的过度依赖成为人们面临的一项重要任务.因此,各种可持续能源如太阳能、风能、海洋能和生物质能等得到了广泛研究并取得了一定的进展.然而,这些能源因存在间歇性和不稳定性等缺点阻碍了其实际应用.近年,氢气作为一种能源载体,以其高能量密度和无碳排放的优点引起了人们的广泛关注,被认为是缓解日益严重的污染问题的最有前途的环保能源.对比目前采用的天然气热解和煤炭气化等传统制氢策略,电催化水裂解由于催化效率高,制氢纯度高和不产生温室气体,被认为是高效、环保、可持续的制氢策略.电催化水裂解由两个独立的半反应组成,分别是析氢反应和析氧反应.析氢反应作为水裂解的一个半反应,在降低制氢成本及提高产氢催化效率方面起着关键作用.然而,目前的核心问题之一是要开发高效的析氢电催化剂,以加快反应速度.目前,铂和铂基纳米材料被认为是高效的析氢电催化剂,但是其稀缺性和高成本阻碍了大规模实际应用.金属磷化物由于具有较高的本征活性并且在不同的电解质中都具有良好的电催化析氢性能,被证明是一种优良的析氢电催化剂.此外,与普通催化剂相比,金属磷化电催化剂还具有合成简便、效率高、成本低、省时等优点.本文详细介绍了近年人们在金属磷化物用于电催化析氢研究中取得的进展.首先,介绍了电催化析氢反应机理,金属磷化物的结构及作用,并对其优缺点进行了总结;随后,综述了金属磷化物的合成方法,包括后处理、原位生成和电沉积策略,并对不同方法进行了比较和讨论.此外,从元素掺杂、界面工程、空穴工程、修饰特定载体、构建特定纳米结构、设计双或多金属磷化物和其他发展的新方法等七个方面详细总结了促进金属磷化物电催化活性的多种策略,并进行了对比和讨论.最后,归纳了金属磷化物在电催化析氢应用中存在的问题和面临的挑战,并对未来的研究发展提出了展望.     

Green fabrication of thermally-stable oxidized cellulose nanocrystals by evolved Fenton reaction and in-situ nanoreinforced thermoplastic starch

Cellulose - High performance fibers and improved interfacial interaction can enhance the properties of polymer composites. Herein, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was oxidized by H2O2/CuSO4, a new...     

A cost-effective anionic flocculant prepared by grafting carboxymethyl cellulose and lignosulfonate with acrylamide

How to efficiently utilize most abundant biomass of cellulose, lignin and their derivatives has become an emerging challenge as the anticipative oil depletion. In this paper, the ternary anionic copolymer of carboxymethyl cellulose-acrylamide-lignosulfonate (CAL) was successfully prepared by hydrothermal polymerization. Based on the flocculation characteristics of cationic methylene blue, the optimal polymerization process was confirmed as the raw material ratio of 1:1:1, initiator dosage of 0.9 wt %, the reaction time was 5 h and the reaction temperature was 55 °C. The results showed that the decolorization ratio was 87.5% at the CAL dosage of 600 mg/L for the 500 mg/L methylene blue simulated wastewater. The CAL achieved fast flocculation kinetics and super color removal ratios in the wide ranges of environmental pH, temperature and salt concentration. The flocculation mechanism is single charge neutralization. Moreover, the estimated treatment cost of CAL is 68.3% lower than that of commercial anionic PAM. The prepared anionic CAL flocculant has the characteristics of environmental safety, excellent flocculation performance and cost-effectiveness, which shows great potential in the field of dye wastewater treatment, and also provides a feasible way for the effective utilization of biomass resources.

     

Effect of poly(methylhydrogen)siloxane modification on adjusting mechanical properties of bamboo flour‐reinforced HDPE composites

Cellulose - Poly(methylhydrogen)siloxane (PMHS) was applied for hydrophobic modification of bamboo flour (BF) at room temperature based on the dehydrogenation between hydroxyl groups of BF and...