The Empirical Mass-Luminosity Relation for Low Mass Stars

This work is devoted to improving empirical mass-luminosity relations and mass-metallicity-luminosity relation for low mass stars. For these stars, observational data in the mass-luminosity plane or the mass-metallicity-luminosity space subject to non-negligible errors in all coordinates with different dimensions. Thus a reasonable weight assigning scheme is needed for obtaining more reliable results. Such a scheme is developed, with which each data point can have its own due contribution. Previous studies have shown that there exists a plateau feature in the mass-luminosity relation. Taking into account the constraints from the observational luminosity function, we find by fitting the observational data using our weight assigning scheme that the plateau spans from 0.28 to 0.50 solar mass. Three-piecewise continuous improved mass-luminosity relations in K, J, H and V bands, respectively, are obtained. The visual mass-metallicity-luminosity relation is also improved based on our K band mass-luminosity relation and the available observational metallicity data.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

Identification and modulation of electronic band structures of single-phase B-(AlxGa1-x)2O3 alloys grown by laser molecular beam epitaxy

Understanding the band structure evolution of (AlxGa1x)2O3 alloys is of fundamental importance for developing Ga2O3-based power electronic devices and vacuum ultraviolet super-radiation hard detectors. Here, we report on the bandgap engineering of b-(AlxGa1x)2O3 thin films and the identification of compositionally dependent electronic band structures by a combination of absorption spectra analyses and density functional theory calculations. Single-monoclinic b-phase (AlxGa1x)2O3 (0 x 0.54) films with a preferred (201) orientation were grown by laser molecular beam epitaxy with tunable bandgap ranging from 4.5 to 5.5 eV. The excellent fitting of absorption spectra by the relation of (ah) 1/2 / (h-E) unambiguously identifies that b-(AlxGa1x)2O3 alloys are indirect bandgap semiconductors. Theoretical calculations predict that the indirect nature of b-(AlxGa1x)2O3 becomes more pronounced with increased Al composition due to the increased eigenvalue energy gap between M and U points in the valence band. The experimentally determined indirect bandgap exhibits almost a linear relationship with Al composition, which is consistent with the theoretical calculation and indicates a small bowing effect and a good miscibility. The identification and modulation of (AlxGa1x)2O3 band structures allows rational design of ultra-wide bandgap oxide heterostructures for the applications in power electronics and solar-blind or X-ray detection.This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Project (Grant No. 2017YFB0403003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61774081, 61322403, and 11227904), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Grant Nos. BK20130013 and BK20161401), the Six Talent Peaks Project in Jiangsu Province (2014XXRJ001), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (021014380093 and 021014380085) and the Australian Research Council. The computational part of this research was undertaken with the assistance of resources from the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI), which is supported by the Australian Government under the NCRIS program

Distinct enhancement of sub-bandgap photoresponse through intermediate band in high dose implanted ZnTe:O alloys

The demand for high efficiency intermediate band (IB) solar cells is driving efforts in producing high quality IB photovoltaic materials. Here, we demonstrate ZnTe:O highly mismatched alloys synthesized by high dose ion implantation and pulsed laser melting exhibiting optically active IB states and efficient sub-gap photoresponse, as well as investigate the effect of pulsed laser melting on the structural and optical recovery in detail. The structural evolution and vibrational dynamics indicates a significant structural recovery of ZnTe:O alloys by liquid phase epitaxy during pulsed laser melting process, but laser irradiation also aggravates the segregation of Te in ZnTe:O alloys. A distinct intermediate band located at 1.8 eV above valence band is optically activated as evidenced by photoluminescence, absorption and photoresponse characteristics. The carrier dynamics indicates that carriers in the IB electronic states have a relatively long lifetime, which is beneficial for the fast separation of carriers excited by photons with sub-gap energy and thus the improved overall conversion efficiency. The reproducible capability of implantation and laser annealing at selective area enable the realization of high efficient lateral junction solar cells, which can ensure extreme light trapping and efficient charge separationThis research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos 61274058, 61271077, 61504057, 61574075 and 61322403), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Nos BK2011437 and BK20130013), the Six Talent Peaks Project in Jiangsu Province (2014XXRJ001), the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, and the Australian Research Council

BGI-RIS: An integrated information resource and comparative analysis workbench for rice genomics

Rice is a major food staple for the world's population and serves as a model species in cereal genome research. The Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) has long been devoting itself to sequencing, information analysis and biological research of the rice and other crop genomes. In order to facilitate the application of the rice genomic information and to provide a foundation for functional and evolutionary studies of other important cereal crops, we implemented our Rice Information System (BGI-RIS), the most up-to-date integrated information resource as well as a workbench for comparative genomic analysis. In addition to comprehensive data from Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica sequenced by BGI, BGI-RIS also hosts carefully curated genome information from Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica and EST sequences available from other cereal crops. In this resource, sequence contigs of indica (93-11) have been further assembled into Mbp-sized scaffolds and anchored onto the rice chromosomes referenced to physical/genetic markers, cDNAs and BAC-end sequences. We have annotated the rice genomes for gene content, repetitive elements, gene duplications (tandem and segmental) and single nucleotide polymorphisms between rice subspecies. Designed as a basic platform, BGI-RIS presents the sequenced genomes and related information in systematic and graphical ways for the convenience of in-depth comparative studie

Comparative Proteomic Analysis Provides New Insights Into Low Nitrogen-Promoted Primary Root Growth in Hexaploid Wheat

Nitrogen deficient environments can promote wheat primary root growth (PRG) that allows for nitrogen uptake in deep soil. However, the mechanisms of low nitrogen-promoted root growth remain largely unknown. Here, an integrated comparative proteome study using iTRAQ analysis on the roots of two wheat varieties and their descendants with contrasting response to low nitrogen (LN) stress was performed under control (CK) and LN conditions. In total, 84 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) specifically involved in the process of LN-promoted PRG were identified and 11 pathways were significantly enriched. The Glutathione metabolism, endocytosis, lipid metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways may play crucial roles in the regulation of LN-promoted PRG. We also identified 59 DAPs involved in the common response to LN stress in different genetic backgrounds. The common responsive DAPs to LN stress were mainly involved in nitrogen uptake, transportation and remobilization, and LN stress tolerance. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the metabolic and molecular changes taking place in contrasting varieties under LN conditions, which provide useful information for the genetic improvement of root traits and nitrogen use efficiency in wheat

Tailored Emission Properties of ZnTe/ZnTe:O/ZnO Core-Shell Nanowires Coupled with an Al Plasmonic Bowtie Antenna Array

The ability to manipulate light–matter interaction in semiconducting nanostructures is fascinating for implementing functionalities in advanced optoelectronic devices. Here, we report the tailoring of radiative emissions in a ZnTe/ZnTe:O/ZnO core–shell single nanowire coupled with a one-dimensional aluminum bowtie antenna array. The plasmonic antenna enables changes in the excitation and emission processes, leading to an obvious enhancement of near band edge emission (2.2 eV) and subgap excitonic emission (1.7 eV) bound to intermediate band states in a ZnTe/ZnTe:O/ZnO core–shell nanowire as well as surface-enhanced Raman scattering at room temperature. The increase of emission decay rate in the nanowire/antenna system, probed by time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, yields an observable enhancement of quantum efficiency induced by local surface plasmon resonance. Electromagnetic simulations agree well with the experimental observations, revealing a combined effect of enhanced electric near-field intensity and the improvement of quantum efficiency in the ZnTe/ZnTe:O/ZnO nanowire/antenna system. The capability of tailoring light–matter interaction in low-efficient emitters may provide an alternative platform for designing advanced optoelectronic and sensing devices with precisely controlled response.This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFB0403003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61274058, 61774081, 61322403, and 11227904), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Nos. BK20130013 and BK20161401), the Six Talent Peaks Project in Jiangsu Province (2014XXRJ001), the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (021014380093 and 021014380085), and the Australian Research Counci

A Novel Compound C12 Inhibits Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Protects from Inflammatory Injury In Vivo

Inflammation is a hallmark of many diseases. Although steroids and cyclooxygenase inhibitors are main anti-inflammatory therapeutical agents, they may cause serious side effects. Therefore, developing non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents is urgently needed. A novel hydrosoluble compound, C12 (2,6-bis(4-(3-(dimethylamino)-propoxy)benzylidene)cyclohexanone), has been designed and synthesized as an anti-inflammatory agent in our previous study. In the present study, we investigated whether C12 can affect inflammatory processes in vitro and in vivo. In mouse primary peritoneal macrophages, C12 potently inhibited the production of the proinflammatory gene expression including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2 and PGE synthase. The activity of C12 was partly dependent on inhibition of ERK/JNK (but p38) phosphorylation and NF-κB activation. In vivo, C12 suppressed proinflammatory cytokine production in plasma and liver, attenuated lung histopathology, and significantly reduced mortality in endotoxemic mice. In addition, the pre-treatment with C12 reduced the inflammatory pain in the acetic acid and formalin models and reduced the carrageenan-induced paw oedema and acetic acid-increased vascular permeability. Taken together, C12 has multiple anti-inflammatory effects. These findings, coupled with the low toxicity and hydrosolubility of C12, suggests that this agent may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases

The Genomes of Oryza sativa: A History of Duplications

We report improved whole-genome shotgun sequences for the genomes of indica and japonica rice, both with multimegabase contiguity, or almost 1,000-fold improvement over the drafts of 2002. Tested against a nonredundant collection of 19,079 full-length cDNAs, 97.7% of the genes are aligned, without fragmentation, to the mapped super-scaffolds of one or the other genome. We introduce a gene identification procedure for plants that does not rely on similarity to known genes to remove erroneous predictions resulting from transposable elements. Using the available EST data to adjust for residual errors in the predictions, the estimated gene count is at least 38,000–40,000. Only 2%–3% of the genes are unique to any one subspecies, comparable to the amount of sequence that might still be missing. Despite this lack of variation in gene content, there is enormous variation in the intergenic regions. At least a quarter of the two sequences could not be aligned, and where they could be aligned, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rates varied from as little as 3.0 SNP/kb in the coding regions to 27.6 SNP/kb in the transposable elements. A more inclusive new approach for analyzing duplication history is introduced here. It reveals an ancient whole-genome duplication, a recent segmental duplication on Chromosomes 11 and 12, and massive ongoing individual gene duplications. We find 18 distinct pairs of duplicated segments that cover 65.7% of the genome; 17 of these pairs date back to a common time before the divergence of the grasses. More important, ongoing individual gene duplications provide a never-ending source of raw material for gene genesis and are major contributors to the differences between members of the grass family

Potential of Core-Collapse Supernova Neutrino Detection at JUNO

JUNO is an underground neutrino observatory under construction in Jiangmen, China. It uses 20kton liquid scintillator as target, which enables it to detect supernova burst neutrinos of a large statistics for the next galactic core-collapse supernova (CCSN) and also pre-supernova neutrinos from the nearby CCSN progenitors. All flavors of supernova burst neutrinos can be detected by JUNO via several interaction channels, including inverse beta decay, elastic scattering on electron and proton, interactions on C12 nuclei, etc. This retains the possibility for JUNO to reconstruct the energy spectra of supernova burst neutrinos of all flavors. The real time monitoring systems based on FPGA and DAQ are under development in JUNO, which allow prompt alert and trigger-less data acquisition of CCSN events. The alert performances of both monitoring systems have been thoroughly studied using simulations. Moreover, once a CCSN is tagged, the system can give fast characterizations, such as directionality and light curve