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MgZnO-based ultraviolet avalanche photodetectors (APDs) have been fabricated from Au/MgO/Mg0.44Zn0.56O/MgO/Au Schottky structures. The carrier avalanche multiplication is realized via an impact ionization process occurring in the MgO layer under relatively large electric field. The APDs exhibit an avalanche gain of 587 at 31 V bias, and the response speed of the APDs is in the order of microseconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precipitation behavior of copper sulfides in strip cast and isothermal heat treated low carbon steel were investigated by SEM and TEM. The copper sulfides were classified as duplex inclusion of oxide and sulfide (OS), plate-like copper sulfide (PS), shell-like copper sulfide (SS), and nano-scale copper sulfide (NS). Based on the experimental results, the formation mechanisms of these copper sulfides, as well as the effects of cooling rate and constituentes of steel on the competitive precipitation between copper sulfide and manganese sulfide were discussed. The effects of coppers sulfides on the mechanical properties as well as the formation of acicular ferrite in steel were also introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments were conducted under controlled environmental conditions to study the effects of temperature, duration of wetness, relative humidity (RH) and light on the discharge and germination of ascospores of Venturia nashicola, the causal agent of pear scab in China. Discharge of ascospores from pseudothecia required free water or 100% RH. A period of soaking in water as short as 10 s was sufficient to initiate the discharge of ascospores. Temperatures from 10 to 30°C did not significantly affect the temporal trend of ascospore discharge. A greater proportion of ascospores was discharged under light than in the dark. However, a period of light as short as 10 min, either during the initial wetting of pseudothecia or interrupting the darkness, was sufficient to reduce the inhibitory effect of darkness on ascospore discharge. Ascospores were discharged within 10 min after pseudothecia were wetted and most ascospores ( c. 80%) were discharged within the first hour. The temporal pattern of ascospore discharge could be well described by a logistic model, which estimated that 50% of ascospores were discharged within half an hour of wetting. Ascospores germinated over a wide range of temperatures from 5 to 30°C, with an optimum at c. 20°C. Temporal dynamics of ascospore germination at six temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C) were satisfactorily described by logistic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesion-count data on fruits/leaves from two regions of China and on leaves from controlled-environment studies were used to investigate incidence-density [incidence of leaves/fruits with lesion(s) and average number of lesions per leaf/fruit] and incidence-incidence [incidences of leaves and shoots with lesion(s)] relationships. Few of the datasets for the number of lesions per fruit/leaf could be fitted satisfactorily by a Poisson distribution. Three two-parameter distributions (negative binominal, Neyman type A and Polya-Aeppli) provided significantly better fit than the Poisson distribution, indicating a degree of aggregation in the number of lesions on a single leaf/fruit. However, many datasets could still not satisfactorily be fitted by these distributions. The dynamics of aggregation of lesions on leaves/fruits was well described by Taylor's power-law model. Regression models provided accurate predictions of the average number of lesions per leaf/fruit from the incidence of leaves or fruits with lesion(s). Nevertheless, the incidence-density relationship varied considerably between regions and between leaf and fruit scab. Field data also indicated that the number of scabbed leaves per shoot showed some degree of aggregation. The incidence of leaves with scab could be predicted accurately from the incidence of shoots with scab. The incidence-density relationships developed in this study could be used in making practical disease-management decisions when incidence of leaves with scab is less than 35%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conidia are believed to be the main source of primary inoculum for pear scab, caused by Venturia nashicola, in northern China. Experiments were conducted to investigate the development and potential role of V. nashicola ascospores in northern China. Leaves with pear scab lesions were collected from commercial orchards in November 2003 and 2004 to monitor pseudothecia formation under various environments. Pseudothecium production was shown to occur readily in northern China. The key requirement for pseudothecium production is the occurrence of rain during the winter and early spring, although the exact timing of these rain events appeared not to affect their development. Excess water may lead to the accelerated leaf decay and hence lead to production of fewer pseudothecia. More than 80% scabbed leaves, placed in a pear orchard, produced pseudothecia. Leaves with only non-sporulating scab lesions in autumn were also able to produce a large number of pseudothecia. Both airborne ascospores and conidia of V. nashicola were caught in a pear orchard. Most ascospores were released by late-May, a month after pear blossom. These results suggest that ascospores may play an important role in the early stage of pear scab epidemics in spring in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments were conducted to determine: (i) the effects of temperature and duration of continuous wet periods on the infection of pear seedlings by conidia ofVenturia nashicola, the causal agent of pear scab; and (ii) the effects of the length and temperature of dry interrupting periods on the mortality of infecting conidia. Average number of scab lesions per leaf increased with increasing duration of wetness. Logistic models adequately described the change in the average number of scab lesions per leaf at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25°C over the wetness duration. At 30°C, only a few lesions developed. Simple polynomial models satisfactorily described the relationship of the three logistic model parameters (maximum number of lesions, rate of appearance and the time to 50% of the maximum number of lesions) with temperature. The optimum temperature for infection was found to be approximately 20°C. The relationship between mortality and the length of a dry period interrupting an infection process can be satisfactorily described by an exponential model. The rate of mortality at 10, 16 and 22°C did not differ significantly, but was significantly less than that at 28°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of the lactose operon upon induction by IPTG was studied with Escherichia coli B/r and K-12 strains as a function of exposure to ultraviolet light. Patterns of expression inactivation were compared in cells with wild-type UvrABC nucleotide excision repair, with transcription-coupled excision repair (TCR) specifically defective because of a defect at mfd, or with excision repair (ER) and TCR eliminated by defects at uvrA or uvrC. Sets of inactivation patterns were also determined for cells expressing the lactose operon via the 'UV5' promoter, an alternative to the wild-type promoter that eliminates dependence of expression on negative DNA supercoiling. The results demonstrated a major contribution by TCR to successful gene expression. Gene expression was more sensitive to u.v. inactivation when TCR was defective and similarly more sensitive when both ER and TCR were defective. Thus, TCR may be the only means of repairing transcription-blocking damage at active genes. Contrasting results with wild-type and UV5 promoters suggested that relaxed supercoiling might accompany repair and reduce expression even though a template lesion is removed. A test of mismatch repair defects on ultraviolet inactivation of gene expression found only limited interference with TCR as it benefits gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Length-weight relationships ( LWRs) were determined for two endemic fish species from the Maquan River, the upper of the Yarlung Zangbo River: ( Ptychobarbus dipogon Regan, 1905 , Schizothorax waltoni Regan, 1905). All the specimens were collected between May and September of 2014. Length-weight relationships for these two fish species were determined for the first time, and new maximum body weights were recorded for these two species. These results will be useful for fishery research, management and conservation of the Yarlung Zangbo River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]