Calorific values and ash contents of different organs of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) in southern China

Calorific values of plants are important indices for evaluating and reflecting material cycle and energy conversion in forest ecosystems. Based on the data of Masson Pine (Pinus massoniana) in southern China, the calorific values (CVs) and ash contents (ACs) of different plant organs were analyzed systematically using hypothesis test and regression analysis in this paper. The results show: (i) the CVs and ACs of different plant organs are almost significantly different, and the order by AFCV (ash-free calorific value) from the largest to the smallest is foliage (23.55 kJ/g), branches (22.25 kJ/g), stem bark (21.71 kJ/g), root (21.52 kJ/g) and stem wood (21.35 kJ/g); and the order by AC is foliage (2.35%), stem bark (1.44%), root (1.42%), branches (1.08%) and stem wood (0.33%); (ii) the CVs and ACs of stem woods on top, middle and lower sections are significantly different, and the CVs are increasing from top to lower sections of trunk while the ACs are decreasing; (iii) the mean GCV (gross calorific value) and AFCV of aboveground part are larger than those of belowground part (roots), and the differences are also statistically significant; (iv) the CVs and ACs of different organs are related, to some extent, to diameter, height and origin of the tree, but the influence degrees of the factors on CVs and ACs are not the same

Two-dimensional to three-dimensional structural transition of gold cluster Au 10 during soft landing on TiO 2 surface and its effect on CO oxidation

We investigate the possible structural transition of a planar Au10 cluster during its soft landing on a TiO2 (110) surface with or with no oxygen defects. The collision between the gold cluster and the oxide surface is simulated using the Car–Parrinello quantum molecular dynamics method. Both high-speed and low-speed conditions typically implemented in soft-landing experiments are simulated. It is found that under a high-speed condition, the gold cluster Au10 can undergo a sequence of structural transitions after colliding with a defect-free TiO2 (110) surface. When the TiO2 (110) surface possesses oxygen vacancies, however, chemical bonds can form between gold and Ti atoms if gold atoms contact directly with the vacancies. As a consequence, one oxygen vacancy is capable of trapping one Au atom, and thus can split the Au10 into two parts while bouncing back from the surface. In addition, we study reaction pathways for the CO oxidation based on three isomer structures of Au10 observed in the soft-landing simulation: (1) the precollision two-dimensional structure, (2) a postcollision three-dimensional (3D) structure, and (3) an intermediate (transient) 3D structure that appeared in the midst of the collision. This study allows us to examine the structure-activity relationship using the Au10 as a prototype model catalyst

Two-dimensional to three-dimensional structural transition of gold cluster Au 10 during soft landing on TiO 2 surface and its effect on CO oxidation

We investigate the possible structural transition of a planar Au10 cluster during its soft landing on a TiO2 (110) surface with or with no oxygen defects. The collision between the gold cluster and the oxide surface is simulated using the Car–Parrinello quantum molecular dynamics method. Both high-speed and low-speed conditions typically implemented in soft-landing experiments are simulated. It is found that under a high-speed condition, the gold cluster Au10 can undergo a sequence of structural transitions after colliding with a defect-free TiO2 (110) surface. When the TiO2 (110) surface possesses oxygen vacancies, however, chemical bonds can form between gold and Ti atoms if gold atoms contact directly with the vacancies. As a consequence, one oxygen vacancy is capable of trapping one Au atom, and thus can split the Au10 into two parts while bouncing back from the surface. In addition, we study reaction pathways for the CO oxidation based on three isomer structures of Au10 observed in the soft-landing simulation: (1) the precollision two-dimensional structure, (2) a postcollision three-dimensional (3D) structure, and (3) an intermediate (transient) 3D structure that appeared in the midst of the collision. This study allows us to examine the structure-activity relationship using the Au10 as a prototype model catalyst

Miniaturization of Branch-Line Coupler Using Composite Right/Left-Handed Transmission Lines with Novel Meander-shaped-slots CSSRR

A novel compact-size branch-line coupler using composite right/left-handed transmission lines is proposed in this paper. In order to obtain miniaturization, composite right/left-handed transmission lines with novel complementary split single ring resonators which are realized by loading a pair of meander-shaped-slots in the split of the ring are designed. This novel coupler occupies only 22.8% of the area of the conventional approach at 0.7 GHz. The proposed coupler can be implemented by using the standard printed-circuit-board etching processes without any implementation of lumped elements and via-holes, making it very useful for wireless communication systems. The agreement between measured and stimulated results validates the feasible configuration of the proposed coupler

Deterministic and Efficient Quantum Cryptography Based on Bell's Theorem

We propose a novel double-entanglement-based quantum cryptography protocol that is both efficient and deterministic. The proposal uses photon pairs with entanglement both in polarization and in time degrees of freedom; each measurement in which both of the two communicating parties register a photon can establish one and only one perfect correlation and thus deterministically create a key bit. Eavesdropping can be detected by violation of local realism. A variation of the protocol shows a higher security, similarly to the six-state protocol, under individual attacks. Our scheme allows a robust implementation under current technology.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; published version with a note adde

Life fingerprints of nuclear reactions in the body of animals

Nuclear reactions are a very important natural phenomenon in the universe. On the earth, cosmic rays constantly cause nuclear reactions. High energy beams created by medical devices also induce nuclear reactions in the human body. The biological role of these nuclear reactions is unknown. Here we show that the in vivo biological systems are exquisite and sophisticated by nature in influence on nuclear reactions and in resistance to radical damage in the body of live animals. In this study, photonuclear reactions in the body of live or dead animals were induced with 50-MeV irradiation. Tissue nuclear reactions were detected by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the induced beta+ activity. We found the unique tissue "fingerprints" of beta+ (the tremendous difference in beta+ activities and tissue distribution patterns among the individuals) are imprinted in all live animals. Within any individual, the tissue "fingerprints" of 15O and 11C are also very different. When the animal dies, the tissue "fingerprints" are lost. The biochemical, rather than physical, mechanisms could play a critical role in the phenomenon of tissue "fingerprints". Radiolytic radical attack caused millions-fold increases in 15O and 11C activities via different biochemical mechanisms, i.e. radical-mediated hydroxylation and peroxidation respectively, and more importantly the bio-molecular functions (such as the chemical reactivity and the solvent accessibility to radicals). In practice biologically for example, radical attack can therefore be imaged in vivo in live animals and humans using PET for life science research, disease prevention, and personalized radiation therapy based on an individual's bio-molecular response to ionizing radiation

Divalent Cation Sensitivity of BK Channel Activation Supports the Existence of Three Distinct Binding Sites

Mutational analyses have suggested that BK channels are regulated by three distinct divalent cation-dependent regulatory mechanisms arising from the cytosolic COOH terminus of the pore-forming α subunit. Two mechanisms account for physiological regulation of BK channels by μM Ca2+. The third may mediate physiological regulation by mM Mg2+. Mutation of five aspartate residues (5D5N) within the so-called Ca2+ bowl removes a portion of a higher affinity Ca2+ dependence, while mutation of D362A/D367A in the first RCK domain also removes some higher affinity Ca2+ dependence. Together, 5D5N and D362A/D367A remove all effects of Ca2+ up through 1 mM while E399A removes a portion of low affinity regulation by Ca2+/Mg2+. If each proposed regulatory effect involves a distinct divalent cation binding site, the divalent cation selectivity of the actual site that defines each mechanism might differ. By examination of the ability of various divalent cations to activate currents in constructs with mutationally altered regulatory mechanisms, here we show that each putative regulatory mechanism exhibits a unique sensitivity to divalent cations. Regulation mediated by the Ca2+ bowl can be activated by Ca2+ and Sr2+, while regulation defined by D362/D367 can be activated by Ca2+, Sr2+, and Cd2+. Mn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ produce little observable effect through the high affinity regulatory mechanisms, while all six divalent cations enhance activation through the low affinity mechanism defined by residue E399. Furthermore, each type of mutation affects kinetic properties of BK channels in distinct ways. The Ca2+ bowl mainly accelerates activation of BK channels at low [Ca2+], while the D362/D367-related high affinity site influences both activation and deactivation over the range of 10–300 μM Ca2+. The major kinetic effect of the E399-related low affinity mechanism is to slow deactivation at mM Mg2+ or Ca2+. The results support the view that three distinct divalent-cation binding sites mediate regulation of BK channels

Generation of Narrow-Band Polarization-Entangled Photon Pairs for Atomic Quantum Memories

We report an experimental realization of a narrow-band polarization-entangled photon source with a linewidth of 9.6 MHz through cavity-enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion. This linewidth is comparable to the typical linewidth of atomic ensemble based quantum memories. Single-mode output is realized by setting a reasonable cavity length difference between different polarizations, using of temperature controlled etalons and actively stabilizing the cavity. The entangled property is characterized with quantum state tomography, giving a fidelity of 94% between our state and a maximally entangled state. The coherence length is directly measured to be 32 m through two-photon interference.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Design and analysis of driving motor system for hybrid electric vehicle

In order to improve the reliability and stability of hybrid electric vehicle driving motor system, according to the performance parameters of the hybrid electric vehicle, the driving motor system is designed and analyzed for the hybrid electric vehicle. Based on the performance parameters of the hybrid electric vehicle, the power parameters of the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) are calculated and determined, then the parameters of the stator core, the permanent magnet and the rotor core are designed and calculated, as well as other main characteristic parameters of the driving motor system are calculated. The model of a PMSM is established and simulated by ANSOFT Maxwell according to the obtained motor parameters, and then the steady state and transient state of the driving motor are simulated in different working points, and the electromagnetic and performance curves are combined to determine the overall performance requirements of the driving motor, which can be used to match the hybrid electric vehicle. The simulation results show that the designed PMSM can be used to match the hybrid electric vehicle and meet the performance requirements of the vehicle. The final simulation analysis results are in good agreement with the theoretical calculation results, which indicates that this method can be used to afford a theoretical basis to reduce the cogging torque and optimize the in-wheel motor of electric vehicle in the future

Poly[diaqua­bis[μ2-2,4-(dichloro­phenoxy)­acetato-κ2 O:O′]iron(II)]

In the title compound, [Fe(C8H5Cl2O3)2(H2O)2]n, the FeII atom is located on an inversion center. It is coordinated by four O atoms from four 2,4-dichloro­phenoxy­acetate ligands and two water mol­ecules, displaying a distorted octa­hedral geometry. The carboxyl­ate groups of the 2,4-dichloro­phenoxy­acetate ligands link the Fe atoms, forming a polymeric layered network in the bc plane. Intra­layer O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds enhance the stability of the two-dimensional network