Effects of ultrasound on Microcystis aeruginosa cell destruction and release of intracellular organic matter

Harmful algal blooms negatively impact ecosystems and threaten drinking water sources. One potential method to effectively counteract algal blooms is ultrasonication. However, ultrasonication can easily lead to the release of intracellular organic matter (IOM). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the destruction of algal cells and IOM release at different ultrasound frequencies. Microcystis aeruginosa cells were ultrasonicated at 20 kHz with an intensity of 0.038 W/mL, 740 kHz with an intensity of 0.113 W/mL, and 1120 kHz with an intensity of 0.108 W/mL. The IOM release was detected by fluorescence spectroscopy in addition to the more commonly used haemocytometry and optical density. After ultrasonication for 15 min, the removal rate of algal cells reached 10.5% at 20 kHz, 9.46% at 740 kHz, and 35.4% at 1120 kHz. The 20 kHz and 740 kHz ultrasound caused local damage to algal cells and then disrupted them, whereas the 1120 kHz ultrasound directly disrupted most algal cells. The extracellular organic matter (EOM), which was increased by ultrasonication, mainly consisted of protein-like compounds, chlorophyll, and a small amount of humic-like substances. Gas vacuoles had been destructed before the cells were broken, as indicated by the decrease of cell size and the wrinkles on the cell surface. Moreover, the removal of algae cells while upholding integrity is more conducive to the safety of the water environment.     

An improved evaluation of the neutron background in the PandaX-Ⅱ experiment

In dark matter direct detection experiments,neutron is a serious source of background,which can mimic the dark matter-nucleus scattering signals.In this paper,we present an improved evaluation of the neutron background in the PandaX-II dark matter experiment by a novel approach.Instead of fully relying on the Monte Carlo simulation,the overall neutron background is determined from the neutron-induced high energy signals in the data.In addition,the probability of producing a dark-matter-like background per neutron is evaluated with a complete Monte Carlo generator,where the correlated emission of neutron(s)andγ(s)in the(α,n)reactions and spontaneous fissions is taken into consideration.With this method,the neutron backgrounds in the Run 9(26-ton-day)and Run 10(28-ton-day)data sets of PandaX-II are estimated to be(0.66±0.24)and(0.47±0.25)events,respectively.     

The spin-isospin decomposition of the nuclear symmetry energy from low to high density

The energy per particle BA in nuclear matter is calculated up to high baryon density in the whole isospin asymmetry range from symmetric matter to pure neutron matter.The results,obtained in the framework of the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approximation with two-and three-body forces,confirm the well-known parabolic dependence on the asymmetry parameterβ=(N?Z)/A(β^2 law)that is valid in a wide density range.To investigate the extent to which this behavior can be traced back to the properties of the underlying interaction,aside from the mean field approximation,the spin-isospin decomposition of BA is performed.Theoretical indications suggest that theβ^2 law could be violated at higher densities as a consequence of the three-body forces.This raises the problem that the symmetry energy,calculated according to theβ^2 law as a difference between BA in pure neutron matter and symmetric nuclear matter,cannot be applied to neutron stars.One should return to the proper definition of the nuclear symmetry energy as a response of the nuclear system to small isospin imbalance from the Z=N nuclei and pure neutron matter.     

Tail wavelets in merger of binary compact objects

We present a model for tail wavelets, a phenomenon known as "echo" in the literature. The tail wavelet may appear in signal reconnaissances in the merger of binary compact objects, including black holes and neutron stars. We show that the dark matter surrounding the compact objects lead to a speculated tail wavelet following the main gravitational wave(GW). We demonstrate that the radiation pressure of the main wave is fully capable of pushing away the surrounding matter to some altitude, and splashing down of the matter excites the tail wavelet after ringing down of the main wave. We illustrate this concept in a simplified model, where numerical estimations are conducted on the specific distribution of dark matter outside the black hole horizon and the threshold values in accordance with observations. We study the full back reaction of the surrounding dark matter to the metric and find that the effect on to the tail wavelets is insignificant. We reveal the fine difference between the tail wavelets of a dressed and a bare black hole. We demonstrate that the tail wavelet can appear as a natural phenomenon in the frame of general relativity, without invoking modified gravities or quantum effects.     

Identifying the viscoelastic properties of soft matter from the indentation response of a hard film-soft substrate system

The indentation technique is widely used in measuring the mechanical properties of soft matter at the microscale or nanoscale,but still faces challenges by these unique properties as well as the consequent strong surface adhesion, including the strong nonlinear effect, unclear judgment of the contact point, difficulties in estimating the contact area, and the risk of the indenter piercing the sample. Here we propose a two-step method to solve these problems: lay a hard film on a soft matter, and obtain the viscoelastic properties of this soft matter through the indentation response of this composite structure. We first establish a theoretical indentation model of the hard film-soft substrate system based on the theory of plates, elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle and Boltzmann superposition principle. To verify the correctness of this method, we measure the mechanical properties of the methyl vinyl silicone rubber(MVSR) covered by a Cu nanofilm. Finally, we test the effectiveness and error sensitivity of this method with the finite element method(FEM). The results show that our method can accurately measure the mechanical properties of soft matter, while effectively circumventing the problems of the traditional indentation technique.     

中药质量控制的研究策略和色谱技术

综述了色谱技术作为现代高效分离分析技术在中药药效物质基础研究和中药质量控制中的重要作用。提出中药药效物质组学研究策略,以实现中药药效物质基础与作用机理研究的一体化,进而从深层次揭示和全面控制中药的内在质量。论述结果表明,现代色谱及其联用技术是中药质量研究的重要技术平台之一。     

城市污水处理过程中有机污染物三维荧光特性的变化规律

采用三维荧光光谱法研究了城市污水处理过程中溶解性有机物的三维荧光特性变化规律。研究结果表明,生活污水中荧光类溶解性有机物主要以类蛋白有机物、UV腐殖质和可见腐殖质为主;污水生物处理前后特征荧光峰中心位置和强度均发生明显的改变,表明污水中有机物的相对组成和含量随生物处理过程而变化。三维特征荧光参数可以反映污水处理过程中污染物的种类、性质和含量变化等丰富信息。其测定迅速简便、灵敏度高,可用于污水处理效果的定性分析、定量评价,易于实现污水处理过程的实时在线监测,指导污水处理工艺的设计、运行、管理和控制。     

基于社会性科学议题的化学微项目学习*——以“物质的性质与转化”单元复习为例

在化学课堂中开展社会性科学议题的教学能够发展学生的社会参与意识,结合微项目学习模式,从课堂教学角度出发,构建选定项目、启动项目、实施项目、交流成果等4个教学流程,确立实施教学的核心问题,设计了鲁科版高一化学“物质的性质与转化单元复习课”,进行了基于社会性科学议题的化学微项目学习的实践教学,结合实践的基本情况提出4点反思。     

凝聚态化学研究中的动力学振动光谱理论与技术

化学变化的本质是化学键的形成与断裂。凝聚态化学的主要特征是分子内的物理与化学过程与周围环境之间的动态相互作用和动力学耦合,不仅会影响化学键形成与断裂的化学反应平衡与反应速率,还会改变化学反应的走向。动力学振动光谱技术是探测凝聚态体相中与表面上各种微观分子细节最为有力的当代谱学表征技术之一。与脉冲核磁技术类似,科学家们使用一组精心设计的激光脉冲在凝聚态体系中激发复杂的光学响应,所产生的信号中包含了比传统吸收光谱丰富得多的反应机理、分子与溶液结构、分子运动、电荷与能量传递等微观信息。近年来,各种动力学振动光谱被运用于凝聚态化学的各个领域,尤其是在溶液态和表界面态领域,获得了一系列突破性进展,并且处于不断发展的过程之中。在本文中,我们将回顾及展望动力学振动光谱技术的基本概念、实验方法和理论框架,以及它们在凝聚态及表面态化学中的重要应用。