An estimation of genetic parameters of growth traits in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) using parental molecular relatedness

The estimation of genetic parameters has played an important role in animal selective breeding for growth traits.Recently studies show that molecular markers can be incorporated into genetic evaluations. In order to improve the performance of an incomplete pedigree（i.e, only parents are known） in the genetic evaluations, 12 microsatellite markers have been applied in the estimation of the genetic parameters for body weight in a farmed population（n=1 890） of juvenile turbot（Scophthalmus maximus L.）. A new relatedness called parental molecular relatedness（PMR） is estimated based on results of genotyping of 48 parents（31 males, 17 females） with microsatellites markers. The feasibility of PMR in estimation of genetic parameters is verified by comparison with pedigree related（PR） which is obtained from a complete pedigree. The results demonstrate that a high correlation（0.872） between them is found. Heritabilities are estimated using the PMR（0.52±0.13） and PR（0.55±0.22） with the same animal model. A cross-validation shows that the predictive abilities of models using the PMR and the PR are identical（0.81）. From that, a conclusion can be made that PMR and PR predicted genetic values equally well in a population of juvenile turbot. Therefore PMR can be applied as an alternative of the PR when only parents are known. However, for a better performance, more markers and more families should be included in a further study.

QSPR between Physical-Chemical Properties and Molecule Parameters of Alkanes

A set of molecule parameters, namely, N, N′, p, q, n, were used to express the structures of alkanes. A correlative model was established between certain physical-chemical properties and molecular parameters of alkanes by regression method. Eight physical-chemical properties, such as evaporation heat （△vHm^20）, density（D^20 ）, capacity （C^20）, surface tension （δ^20）, boiling point （Tb）, critical temperature（Tc）, critical pressure（Pc） and critical volume（Vc）, of fifty-six C3-C16 alkanes were calculated directly from the model in this paper. The calculated values are in good accordance with the literature ones reported for alkanes, and the correlation coefficients （R） equal or exceed 0.99 . The research results indicate that the principle of the method is simple and clear, the method is practical, the correlativity is excellent, and the predicted data are credible.

Study on Molecular Chain Morphology of Konjac Glucomannan

The long-range structure of konjac glucomannan(KGM)is studied by using laser light scatter(LLS), gel permeation chromatography(GPC)and method of viscosidity. The weight-average molecular weight(Mw), root-mean-square ratio of gyration[(S2)1/2], second viral coefficient(A2)and multi-dispersion coefficient(Mw/Mn)are 1.04×106, 105. 0±0. 9 nm,(-1. 59±0.28)×10-3 mol ml g-2 and 1.015±0.003, respectively. Mark-Houwink equation is established as [η] = 5. 96×10-2Mw0.73 and the molecular chain parameters are as follows: ML=982. 82 nm-1, Lp = 27. 93 nm, d = 0. 74 nm, h = 0. 26 nm, L = l 054.11 nm. Further more molecular chain morphology of KGM is studied by using atom force microscope(AFM)and transmission electronic microscope(TEM), and the result shows that the KGM molecular is an extending semi-flexible linear chain without branch. Therefore, the image of molecular chain morphology confirms the deduction drawn by Mark-Houwink equation and molecular chain parameters.

Investigations on molecular constants of the CD(X^2Π) radical and elastic collisions between ground-state C and D atoms at low temperatures

The potential energy curve of the CD（X2∏） radical is obtained using the coupled-cluster singles-doublesapproximate-triples [CCSD（T）] theory in combination with the correlation-consistent quintuple basis set augmented with diffuse functions, aug-cc-pV5Z. The potential energy curve is fitted to the Murrell-Sorbie function, which is used to determine the spectroscopic parameters. The obtained Do, De, Re, ωe, ωeXe, αe and Be values are 3.4971 eV, 3.6261 eV, 0.11197 nm, 2097.661 cm^-1, 34.6963 cm^-1, 0.2083 cm^-1 and 7.7962 cm^-1, respectively, which conform almost perfectly to the available measurements. With the potential obtained at the UCCSD（T）/aug-cc-pV5Z level of theory, a total of 24 vibrational states have been predicted for the first time when J = 0 by solving the radial Schrodinger equation of nuclear motion. The complete vibrational levels, the classical turning points, the inertial rotation constants and centrifugal distortion constants are reproduced from the CD（X2∏） potential when J = 0, and are in excellent agreement with the available measurements. The total and the various partial-wave cross sections are calculated for the elastic collisions between the ground-state C and D atoms at energies from 1.0×10^-11 to 1.0 × 10^-4 a.u. when the two atoms approach each other along the CD（X2∏） potential energy curve. Only one shape resonance is found in the total elastic cross sections, and the resonant energy is 8.36×10^-6 a.u. The results show that the shape of the total elastic cross section is mainly dominated by the s partial wave at very low temperatures. Because of the weak shape resonances coming from higher partial waves, most of them are passed into oblivion by the strong total elastic cross sections.

Oxidative stress factors in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease(PD) is the second most common cause of neurodegeneration.Over the last two decades, various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the etiology of PD.Among these is the oxidant-antioxidant theory, which asserts that local and systemic oxidative damage triggered by reactive oxygen species and other free radicals may promote dopaminergic neuron degeneration.Excessive reactive oxygen species formation, one of the underlying causes of pathology in the course of PD has been evidenced by various studies showing that oxidized macromolecules including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids accumulate in brain tissues of PD patients.DNA oxidation may produce various lesions in the course of PD.Mutations incurred as a result of DNA oxidation may further enhance reactive oxygen species production in the brains of PD patients, exacerbating neuronal loss due to defects in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, antioxidant depletion, and exposure to toxic oxidized dopamine.The protein products of SNCA, PRKN, PINK1, DJ1, and LRRK2 genes are associated with disrupted oxidoreductive homeostasis in PD.SNCA is the first gene linked with familial PD and is currently known to be affected by six mutations correlated with the disorder: A53T, A30P, E46K, G51D, H50Q and A53E.PRKN encodes Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase which mediates the proteasome degradation of redundant and disordered proteins such as glycosylated α-synuclein.Over 100 mutations have been found among the 12 exons of PRKN.PINK1, a mitochondrial kinase highly expressed in the brain, may undergo loss of function mutations which constitute approximately 1–8% of early onset PD cases.More than 50 PD-promoting mutations have been found in PINK1.Mutations in DJ-1, a neuroprotective protein, are a rare cause of early onset PD and constitute only 1% of cases.Around 20 mutations have been found in DJ1 among PD patients thus far.Mutations in the LRRK2 gene are the most common known cause of familial autosomal dominant PD and sporadic PD.Treatment of PD patients, especially in the advanced stages of the disease, is very difficult.The first step in managing progressive PD is to optimize dopaminergic therapy by increasing the doses of dopamine agonists and L-dopa.The next step is the introduction of advanced therapies, such as deep brain stimulation.Genetic factors may influence the response to L-dopa and deep brain stimulation therapy and the regulation of oxidative stress.Consequently, research into minimally invasive surgical interventions, as well as therapies that target the underlying etiology of PD is warranted.

A novel interfacial thermodynamic model for predicting solubility of nanoparticles coated by stabilizers

To improve the stability of nanoparticles in aqueous solution,polymer or surfactant,etc.are often added in solutions during the preparation process of nanoparticles,which can induce new interfaces that influence the solubility of nanoparticles.In this work,a novel interfacial thermodynamic model for describing the Gibbs energy of the nanoparticles coated by stabilizers was proposed to predict the solubility of nanoparticles.Within the developed model,the activity coefficient of nano metal system was determined by Davies model and that of nano drug system by Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory(PC-SAFT).The Gibbs energy of the interface was established as a function of molecular parameters via the application for nano metal system.Furthermore,the model was further used to predict the solubility of nano drugs itraconazole,fenofibrate,and griseofulvin.It was found that the Gibbs energy of the interface plays an important role especially when the radius of nano metal is less than 40 nm,and the developed model can predict the solubility of nano drug with high accuracy in comparison with the experimental data as well as predict the changing trend of solubility of nano drugs that increases as the particle size decreases.Meanwhile,the stabilization mechanism of stabilizers on nano drugs was studied which provided theoretical guidance for the selection of polymer or surfactant stabilizer.These findings showed that the developed model can provide a reliable prediction of the solubility of nanoparticles and help to comprehend the stabilization mechanism of the stabilizers on nano drugs with different particle sizes,which is expected to provide important information for the design of nano drugs formulations.

Derivation of Martin-Hou Equation of State from Hard-particle Perturbation Theory

In this paper, the Martin-Hou equation of state is derived by using a power series representation of radial distribution function and an analytic representation of multi-section potential based on the Barker-Henderson hard-particle perturbation theory including high-order terms. In the derivation, a theoretical form of Martin-Hou equation was obtained. It had a similar form and the same capability to predict P-V-T properties as the Martin-Hou equation and no additional data were required for evaluating the constants. The characteristic constants of the theoretical expression have certain relationships with the molecular parameters.

Corona Discharge Ion Mobility Spectrometry of Ten Alcohols

Ion mobility spectra for ten alcohols have been studied in an ion mobility spectrometry apparatus equipped with a corona discharge ionization source. Using protonated water cluster ions as the reactant ions and clean air as the drift gas, the alcohols exhibit different product ion characteristic peaks in their ion mobility spectra. The detection limit for these alcohols is at low concentration pmol/L level according to the concentration calibration by exponential dilution method. Based on the measured ion mobilities, several chemical physics parameters of the ion-molecular interaction at atmosphere were obtained, including the ionic collision cross sections, diffusion coefficients, collision rate constants, and the ionic radii under the hard-sphere model approximation.

Interaction of nonionic surfactant AEO_9 with ionic surfactants

The interaction in two mixtures of a nonionic surfactant AEO9 (C12H25O(CH2CH2O)9H) and different ionic surfactants was investigated. The two mixtures were AEO9/sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and AEO9/cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at molar fraction of AEO9, A EO9 α =0.5. The surface properties of the surfactants, critical micelle concentration (CMC), effectiveness of surface tension reduction (γCMC), maximum surface excess concentration (Γmax) and minimum area per molecule at the air/solution interface (Amin) were determined for both individual surfactants and their mixtures. The significant deviations from ideal behavior (attractive interactions) of the nonionic/ionic surfactant mixtures were determined. Mixtures of both AEO9/SDS and AEO9/CTAB exhibited synergism in surface tension reduction efficiency and mixed micelle formation, but neither exhibited synergism in surface tension reduction effectiveness.

Accurate potential energy function and spectroscopic study of the X^2Σ^+,A^2Ⅱ and B^2Σ^+ states of the CP radical

This paper calculates the equilibrium internuclear separations, the harmonic frequencies and the potential energy curves of the X^2∑＋, A^2П and B^2∑＋ states of the CP radical by the highly accurate valence internally contracted multireference configuration interaction method with correlation-consistent basis sets （aug-cc-pV6Z for C atom and aug-cc-pVQZ for P atom）. The potential energy curves are all fitted with the analytic potential energy function by the least-square fitting. Employing the analytic potential energy function, we determine the spectroscopic constants （Be, αe and ωeχe） of these states. For the X2∑＋ state, the obtained values of De, Be, αe, ωeχe, Re and ωe are 5.4831 eV, 0.792119 cm-1, 0.005521 cm-1, 6.89653 cm-1, 0.15683 nm, 12535.11 cm-1, respectively. For the A2H state, the present values of De, Be,αe, ωeχe, Re and We are 4.586 eV, 0.703333 cm-1, 0.005458 cm-1, 6.03398 cm-1, 0.16613 nm, 1057.89 cm-1, respectively. For the B2E＋ state, the present values of De, Be, αe, ωeχe, Re and We are 3.506 eV, 0.677561 cm-1, 0.00603298 cm-1, 5.68809 cm-1, 0.1696 nm, 822.554 cm-1, respectively. For these states, the vibrational states with the rotational quantum number J equals zero （J = 0） are studied by solving the radial nuclear Schr6dinger equation using the Numerov method. For each vibrational state, the vibrational level, the classical turning points, the rotational inertial and the centrifugal distortion constants are calculated. Comparison is made with recent theoretical and experimental results.

Elastic scattering of two ground-state N atoms

An interaction potential for an N2（X^1∑g^＋） molecule is constructed by using the highly accurate valence internally contracted multireference configuration interaction method and the largest basis set, aug-cc-pV6Z, in the valence range. The potential is used to investigate the elastic scattering of two N atoms at energies from 1.0×10^-11 to 1.0 × 10^-4 a.u. The derived total elastic cross sections are very large and almost constant at ultralow temperatures, and the shape of total elastic cross section curve is mainly dominated by the s-partial wave at very low collision energies. Three shape resonances are found in the total elastic cross sections. Concretely, the first one is very sharp and strong. It results from the g-partial-wave contribution and the resonant energy is 3.645 × 10^-6 a.u. The second one is contributed by the h-partial wave and the resonant energy is 1.752 × 10^-5 a.u. This resonance is broadened by those from the d- and f-partial waves. The third one comes from the l = 6 partial wave contribution and the resonant energy is 3.522 × 10^-5 a.u. This resonance is broadened by those from the g- and h-partial waves. The N2（X1∑g＋） molecular parameters, which are determined at the current theoretical level, achieve very high accuracy due to the employment of the largest correlation-consistent basis set in the valence range.

Extracting Structure Parameters of Dimers for Molecular Tunneling Ionization Model

We determine structure parameters of the highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)of 27 dimers for the molecular tunneling ionization(so called MO-ADK)model of Tong et al.[Phys.Rev.A 66(2002)033402].The molecular wave functions with correct asymptotic behavior are obtained by solving the time-independent Schr(o|¨)dinger equation with B-spline functions and molecular potentials which are numerically created using the density functional theory.We examine the alignment-dependent tunneling ionization probabilities from MO-ADK model for several molecules by comparing with the molecular strong-field approximation(MO-SFA)calculations.We show the molecular PerelomovPopov-Terent'ev(MO-PPT)can successfully give the laser wavelength dependence of ionization rates(or probabilities).Based on the MO-PPT model,two diatomic molecules having valence orbital with antibonding systems(i.e.,Cl_2,Ne_2)show strong ionization suppression when compared with their corresponding closest companion atoms.

The correlation between molecular structure parameters of O-ethyl N-isopropyl phosphoro(thioureido)thioates and their retention data in RP-HPLC

A retention prediction system(RPS)of seven O-ethyl N-isopropyl phosphoro(thioureido)- thioates in reversed phase HPLC was investigated.The system is based on the solvent selectivity triangle concept.Three molecular structure parameters(hydrophobicity Ⅱ,substituent length L, and substituent maximum width B_5)were used to describe the quantitative structure-retention relation- ships.With these quantitative relationships,the retention behaviours of other eight homologs for different mobile phase composition were predicted.The predicted values were consistent with the measured values within relative error of 10%,which means that it is possible to apply the reported method to predict retention values for qualitative purposes for different mobile phase compositions.

Accurate Structure Parameters for Tunneling Ionization Rates of Gas-Phase Linear Molecules

In the molecular Ammosov–Delone–Krainov(MO-ADK) model of Tong et al. [Phys. Rev. A 66(2002)033402], the ionization rate depends on the structure parameters of the molecular orbital from which the electron is removed. We determine systematically and tabulate accurate structure parameters of the highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO) for 123 gas-phase linear molecules by solving time-independent Schr¨odinger equation with B-spline functions and molecular potentials which are constructed numerically using the modified Leeuwen–Baerends(LBα)model.

Investigation of Angular Dependence of Strong-Field Tunneling Ionization for Asymmetric Diatomic Molecule HeH^(2+)

We determine the structure parameters for the asymmetric heteronuclear diatomic molecule HeH2＋ at several internuclear distances with the molecular wavefunctions obtained by solving the time-independent Schr6dinger equation with B-spline basis. Then the angular dependence of strong-field ionization rates of HeH2＋ are investigated with the molecular tunneling ionization theory. We show that the shape of several lowly excited states （i.e. 2pσ, 2pπ, 3dσ） for HeH2＋ are reflected in the orientation dependent ionization rates very well, however, the angle-dependent ionization rate fails to follow the angular distribution of the asymptotic electron density for the ground state lsσ. We also show that the internuclear distance dependent ionization probabilities are in a good agreement with the more accurate result obtained from the numerical solution of the time-dependent Schr6dinger equation.