In this paper, the generation of relativistic electron mirrors (REMs) and the reflection of an ultra-short laser off this mirrors are discussed, applying two-dimensional particle-in-cell (2D-PIC) simulations. REMs with ultra-high acceleration and expanding velocity can be produced from a solid nanofoil illuminated normally by an ultra-intense femtosecond laser pulse with a sharp rising edge. Chirped attosecond pulse can be produced through the reflection of a counter-propagating probe laser off the accelerating REM. In the electron moving frame, the plasma frequency of the REM keeps decreasing due to its rapidly expanding. The laser frequency, on the contrary, keeps increasing due to the acceleration of REM and the relativistic Doppler shift from the lab frame to the electron moving frame. Within an ultra-short time interval, the two frequencies will be equal in the electron moving frame, which leads the resonance between laser and REM. The reflected radiation near this interval and the corresponding spectra will be amplified due to the resonance. Through adjusting the arriving time of the probe laser, certain part of the reflected field could be selectively amplified or depressed, leading to the selectively adjusting of the corresponding spectra.

A one-dimensional steady-state model for stimulated Raman backscatter (SRS) and stimulated Brillouin backscatter (SBS) processes in laser-irradiated plasmas is presented. Based on a novel “predictor-corrector” method, the model is capable to deal with broadband scattered light and inhomogeneous plasmas, exhibiting robustness and high efficiency. Influences of the electron density and temperature on the linear gains of both SRS and SBS are investigated, which indicates that the SRS gain is more sensitive to the electron density and temperature than that of the SBS. For the low-density case, the SBS dominates the scattering process, while the SRS exhibits much higher reflectivity in the high-density case. The nonlinear saturation mechanisms and competition between SRS and SBS are included in our model by a phenomenological method. The typical anti-correlation between SRS and SBS versus electron density is reproduced in the model. Calculations of the reflectivities are qualitatively in agreement with the typical results of experiments and simulations.

Synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) is an abundant and important presynaptic vesicle protein that binds Ca2+ for the regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Our previous study reported its localization and function on spindle assembly in mouse oocyte meiotic maturation. The present study was designed to investigate the function of Syt1 during mouse oocyte activation and subsequent cortical granule exocytosis (CGE) using confocal microscopy, morpholinol-based knockdown and time-lapse live cell imaging. By employing live cell imaging, we first studied the dynamic process of CGE and calculated the time interval between [Ca2+]i rise and CGE after oocyte activation. We further showed that Syt1 was co-localized to cortical granules (CGs) at the oocyte cortex. After oocyte activation with SrCl2, the Syt1 distribution pattern was altered significantly, similar to the changes seen for the CGs. Knockdown of Syt1 inhibited [Ca2+]i oscillations, disrupted the F-actin distribution pattern and delayed the time of cortical reaction. In summary, as a synaptic vesicle protein and calcium sensor for exocytosis, Syt1 acts as an essential regulator in mouse oocyte activation events including the generation of Ca2+ signals and CGE.

Excavation of the Han Dynasty chambered tomb at Laoguanshan in Chengdu, south-west China, has provided the earliest known evidence of pattern loom technology. Four model looms, along with accompanying artefacts and figurines relating to the weaving process, give insight into the technique of jin silk production. The discovery is hugely significant as it provides the first direct evidence of pattern-weave textile production in ancient China. Jin silk, made using this method, was both valuable and widely distributed, and the design of the machine influenced the invention of later looms and the spread of technology throughout Eurasia and Europe, representing great technological accomplishment for the second century BC.

To evaluate the effects of different anthropogenic activities on zooplankton and the pelagic ecosystem, we conducted seasonal cruises in 2010 to assess spatial heterogeneity among the mesozooplankton communities of Xiangshan Bay, a subtropical semi-enclosed bay in China. The evaluation included five different areas: a kelp farm, an oyster farm, a fish farm, the thermal discharge area of a power plant, and an artificial reef, and we aimed to identify whether anthropogenic activities dominated spatial variation in the mesozooplankton communities. The results demonstrated clear spatial heterogeneity among the mesozooplankton communities of the studied areas, dominantly driven by natural hydrographic properties, except in the area near the thermal discharge outlet of the power station. In the outlet area, thermal shock caused by the discharge influenced the mesozooplankton community by decreasing abundance and biomass throughout the four seasons, even causing a shift in the dominant species near the outlet during summer from Acartia pacifica to eurythermal and warm water taxa. Unique features of the mesozooplankton community in the oyster farm may be due to the combined effects of oyster culture and the natural environment in the branch harbour. However, kelp and fish culture, and the construction of an artificial reef did not exert any obvious influence on the mesozooplankton communities up to 2010, probably because of the small scale of the aquaculture and a time lag in the rehabilitation effects of the artificial reef. Thus, our results suggested that the dominant factors influencing spatial variations of mesozooplankton communities in Xiangshan Bay were still the natural hydrographic properties, but the thermal discharge was an anthropogenic activity that changed the pelagic ecosystem, and should be supervised.

The axial shift and the spin Hamiltonian parameters (zero-field splitting D, g factors and hyperfine structure constants) for Cr+ in BeO are theoretically studied in this work. The calculations are carried out by using the perturbation formulas of these parameters for a 3d5 ion under trigonally distorted tetrahedra based on the cluster approach containing both the crystal-field and charge transfer contributions. It is found that the impurity Cr+ may not occupy exactly the host Be2+ site but experience a small outward shift 0.01 Å away from the ligand triangle along the C3 axis. The above impurity axial shift leads to much smaller trigonal distortion than the host Be2+ site in BeO. The theoretical spin Hamiltonian parameters based on the above impurity axial shift are in good agreement with the observed values.

A novel 3-leg 5-DoF parallel manipulator (PM) with a UPU-type composite active constrained leg is proposed and its kinematics and statics are analyzed systematically. First, the formulae are derived for solving the inverse/forward displacements, inverse/forward velocities, and active/constraint forces. Second, the formulae are derived for solving inverse/forward accelerations. Third, a simulation mechanism of this PM is created and its workspace is constructed and analyzed. Finally, the analytic results are verified by its simulation mechanism.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of osteopontin neutralization treatment on schistosome-induced liver injury in BALB/C mice. We randomly divided 100 BALB/C mice into groups A, B, C, D and group E. Mice in all groups except group A were abdominally infected with schistosomal cercariae to induce a schistosomal hepatopathological model. Mice in group C, D and group E were respectively administered with praziquantel, praziquantel plus colchicine and praziquantel plus neutralizing osteopontin antibody. We extracted mouse liver tissues at 3 and 9 weeks after the ‘stool-eggs-positive’ day, observed liver histopathological changes by haematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome staining and detected the expression of osteopontin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1) by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot. We found that praziquantel plus neutralizing osteopontin antibody treatment significantly decreased the granuloma dimension, the percentage of collagen and the expression of osteopontin, α-SMA and TGF-β1 compared to praziquantel plus colchicine treatment in both the acute and chronic stage of schistosomal liver damage (P<0·05). So we believe that the combined regimen of osteopontin immunoneutralization and anti-helminthic treatment can reduce the granulomatous response and liver fibrosis during the schistosomal hepatopathologic course.

An observation approach is proposed for determining the poses of the active/constrained wrench and the unified statics of some limited-DOF parallel manipulators (PMs) are studied systematically. First, a general PM model is constructed, and the unified inverse displacement is analyzed. Second, various types of acceptable legs are synthesized; the poses of the active/constrained wrench exerted on the various acceptable legs are determined by the observation approach. Third, a unified 6 × 6 Jacobina matrix and a unified statics equation are derived for solving active/constrained wrench of many limited-DOF PMs. Finally, two PMs are presented to illustrate this approach.

Based on quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, the gene for porcine uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) was chosen as a candidate gene for pig fat deposition and meat quality traits. In this study, a partial coding region of the UCP3 gene was sequenced and one single nucleotide polymorphism (cSNP) was found at 395 bp. The mutation was G→A and resulted in the amino acid change from glycine to arginine. This site was also recognized by restriction endonuclease SmaI. The UCP3 SmaI polymorphism was analysed among 186 individuals of Large White×Meishan F2 progeny using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The genotypes of the UCP3 SmaI polymorphism were AA, AB and BB. The frequency of A and B alleles was respectively 0.56 and 0.44. Statistical analyses showed that the SmaI polymorphism in the F2 population was significantly associated with back-fat thickness at thorax–waist and buttock, as well as with intramuscular fat, drip-loss rate and water-holding capacity. The additive effect of UCP3 SmaI was clearly shown. The genotype AA reduced back-fat thickness and drip-loss rate, increased water-holding capacity, and decreased the intramuscular fat. The effect of the pig UCP3 SmaI polymorphism needs to be analysed in other populations using larger samples.

Nanorods Bi3Se4 were synthesized directly through the reaction between BiCl3 and elemental selenium in an autoclave with hydrazine hydrate as solvent at 165 °C for 10 h. X-ray powder diffraction patterns, x-ray photoelectron spectra, and transmission electron microscope images show that the products are well-crystallized hexagonal Bi3Se4 nanorods. The solvent hydrazine hydrate played an important role in formation and growth of Bi3Se4 nanorods. The possible reaction mechanism was proposed.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and Raman scattering measurements were applied to study the correlation between the microstructure and physical properties of the GaN films grown by light radiation heating metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (LRH-MOCVD), using GaN buffer layer on sapphire substrates. When the density of the threading dislocation (TD) increases about one order of magnitude, the yellow luminescence (YL) intensity is strengthened from negligible to two orders of magnitude higher than the band edge emission intensity. The full width of half maximum (FWHM) of the GaN (0002) peak of the XRD rocking curve was widened from 11 min to 15 min, and in Raman spectra, the width of E2 mode is broadened from 5 cm−1 to 7 cm−1. A “zippers” structure at the interface of GaN/sapphire was observed by high-resolution electron microscope (HREM). Furthermore the origins of TD and relationship between physical properties and microstructures combining the growth conditions are discussed.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and Raman scattering measurements were applied to study the correlation between the microstructure and physical properties of the GaN films grown by light radiation heating metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (LRH-MOCVD), using GaN buffer layer on sapphire substrates. When the density of the threading dislocation (TD) increases about one order of magnitude, the yellow luminescence (YL) intensity is strengthened from negligible to two orders of magnitude higher than the band edge emission intensity. The full width of half maximum (FWHM) of the GaN (0002) peak of the XRD rocking curve was widened from 11 min to 15 min, and in Raman spectra, the width of E2 mode is broadened from 5 cm-1 to 7 cm-1. A “zippers” structure at the interface of GaN/sapphire was observed by high-resolution electron microscope (HREM). Furthermore the origins of TD and relationship between physical properties and microstructures combining the growth conditions are discussed.