The Efficiency Droop of InGaN-Based Green LEDs with Different Superlattice Growth Temperatures on Si Substrates via Temperature-Dependent Electroluminescence

InGaN-based green light-emitting diodes （LEDs） with different growth temperatures of superlattice grown on Si （111） substrates are investigated by temperature-dependent electroluminescence between 100 K and 350K. It is observed that with the decrease of the growth temperature of the superlattice from 895℃ to 855℃, the forward voltage decreases, especially at low temperature. We presume that this is due to the existence of the larger average size of V-shaped pits, which is determined by secondary ion mass spectrometer measurements. Meanwhile, the sample with higher growth temperature of superlattice shows a severer efficiency droop at cryogenic temperatures （about 100 K-150 K）. Electron overflow into p-GaN is considered to be the cause of such phenomena, which is relevant to the poorer hole injection into multiple quantum wells and the more reduced effective active volume in the active region.

Growth and corrosion behaviors of thin anodic alumina membrane on AA5083 Al-Mg alloy in incalescent medium

A self-ordered porous film was fabricated on aluminum alloy in a ternary boric-sulfuric-oxalic acid electrolyte system. By means of voltage–time response, the oxidation process as well as the growth efficiency was studied. Field emission scanning electron microscopy（FE-SEM） was adopted to reveal the morphological and microstructural features of as-fabricated oxide layers. The corrosion protection properties of the films were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The results showed that increasing the concentration of the double ionic layer located at the oxide interface could accelerate the film growth rate. The anodic oxidative layer with thickness of 8-9 μm and pore diameter of 10-14 nm maintains the pattern and topography of workpieces, compared with the overall closed film with hierarchical structure. Both samples exhibited much lower corrosion current density after boil water sealing. Meanwhile, a superior stability could be achieved through raising the ambient temperature.

Comparative Studies on Phosphorus Uptake and Growth Kinetics of the Microalga Tetraselmis subcordiformis and the Macroalga Ulva pertusa

Short term uptake experiments and long term semicontinuous culture experiments were performed under the condition of phosphorus (P) limitation to estimate and compare the P uptake and growth kinetics of the microalga Tetraselmis subcordiformis and the macroalga Ulva pertusa. Two new parameters, the maximum specific uptake rate ( V sp m) and the maximal growth efficiency ( β ), are introduced to achieve uniformity for the comparison of nutrient uptake and growth efficiency between microalgae and macroalgae. T. subcordiformis possesses 3 times lower half saturation uptake constant, 4 times higher maximal growth rate and 20 times higher maximum specific uptake rate than U. pertusa, while U. pertusa possesses 4 times higher maximal growth efficiency than T. subcordiformis.

Growth of marine bacteria and ammonium regeneration from substrates in different C:N ratios

Natural assemblages of marine bacteria were chosen in a batch culture experiments. The impact of varying nitrogen substrate concentrations and the substrate C：N ratios （C：Ns） on the bacterial C：N ratio （C：NB）, the bacterial growth efficiency （BGE） and ammonium regeneration was mainly examined. The C：Ns ratios varied from 5：1 （carbon limitation） to 40：1 （nitrogen limitation） with varying combinations of glucose and NO3. The C：NB ratio had positive relationship with the C：Ns ratio （r=0.93, n=8）, whose value was 3.77 when the C：Ns ratio was 5：1 but increased to 6.47 when the C：Ns ratio was 40：1. These results indicate that the C：NB ratio is a potential diagnostic tool for determining the bacterial growth in natural waters controlled by either, carbon or nitrogen. BGE decreased with the declining nitrate concentration and negatively related to C：N8 （r=-0.51, n=8）. The average value of BGE was 0.20. This value was a little lower than other reports, which could be induced by the nitrogen source used in our experiments. Finally, regeneration time of ammonium delayed with the increasing C：Ns ratio, which indicates that there were different metabolism mechanisms when bacterial growth was limited by carbon source and nitrogen source.

Methods of modeling relative growth rate

Background： Analysing and modelling plant growth is an important interdisciplinary field of plant science. The use of relative growth rates, involving the analysis of plant growth relative to plant size, has more or less independently emerged in different research groups and at different times and has provided powerful tools for assessing the growth performance and growth efficiency of plants and plant populations. In this paper, we explore how these isolated methods can be combined to form a consistent methodology for modelling relative growth rates. Methods： We review and combine existing methods of analysing and modelling relative growth rates and apply a combination of methods to Sitka spruce （Piceo sitchensis （Bong.） Carr.） stem-analysis data from North Wales （UK） and British Douglas fir （Pseudotsugd menziesii （Mirb.） Franco） yield table data. Results： The results indicate that, by combining the approaches of different plant-growth analysis laboratories and using them simultaneously, we can advance and standardise the concept of relative plant growth. Particularly the growth multiplier plays an important role in modelling relative growth rates. Another useful technique has been the recent introduction of size-standardised relative growth rates. Conclusions： Modelling relative growth rates mainly serves two purposes, 1） an improved analysis of growth performance and efficiency and 2） the prediction of future or past growth rates. This makes the concept of relative growth ideally suited to growth reconstruction as required in dendrochronology, climate change and forest decline research and for interdisciplinary research projects beyond the realm of plant science.

Examination of the molecular control of ruminal epithelial function in response to dietary restriction and subsequent compensatory growth in cattle

Background： The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary restriction and subsequent compensatory growth on the relative expression of genes involved in volatile fatty acid transport, metabolism and cell proliferation in ruminal epithelial tissue of beef cattle. Sixty Holstein Friesian bulls（mean liveweight 370 ± 35 kg;mean age 479 ± 15 d） were assigned to one of two groups：（i） restricted feed allowance（RES; n = 30） for 125 d（Period 1） followed by ad libitum access to feed for 55 d（Period 2） or（ii） ad libitum access to feed throughout（ADLIB; n = 30）. Target growth rate for RES was 0.6 kg/d during Period 1. At the end of each dietary period, 15 animals from each treatment group were slaughtered and ruminal epithelial tissue and liquid digesta harvested from the ventral sac of the rumen. Real-time q PCR was used to quantify m RNA transcripts of 26 genes associated with ruminal epithelial function. Volatile fatty acid analysis of rumen fluid from individual animals was conducted using gas chromatography.Results： Diet × period interactions were evident for genes involved in ketogenesis（BDH2, P = 0.017）, pyruvate metabolism（LDHa, P = 0.048; PDHA1, P = 0.015） and cellular transport and structure（DSG1, P = 0.019; CACT, P = 0.027）. Ruminal concentrations of propionic acid（P = 0.018） and n-valeric acid（P = 0.029） were lower in RES animals, compared with ADLIB, throughout the experiment. There was also a strong tendency（P = 0.064）toward a diet × period interaction for n-butyric with higher concentrations in RES animals, compared with ADLIB, during Period 1.Conclusions： These data suggest that following nutrient restriction, the structural integrity of the rumen wall is compromised and there is upregulation of genes involved in the production of ketone bodies and breakdown of pyruvate for cellular energy. These results provide an insight into the potential molecular mechanisms regulating ruminal epithelial absorptive metabolism and growth following nutrient restriction and subsequent compensatory growth.

Amphipods fail to suppress the accumulation of Ulva lactuca biomass in eutrophic Yundang Lagoon

The Gross growth efficiency （GGE） is defined as the amount of consumer carbon produced relative to the amount of prey ingested in a given time interval. In population ecology, it can be considered as an index for the ability of a consumer to convert the biomass of food into its population production. In this study, it was firstly applied to estimate the role of amphipods grazing in the biomass dynamics of macroalgae （Ulva lactuca） in Yundang Lagoon （a subtropical eutrophic coastal lagoon, Xiamen City, China）. It was found that amphipods were the dominant group （82.2%-98.7%） in the benthic assemblage, in which five amphipod species （Corophium uenoi, Ampithoe valida, Grandidierella japonica, Grammaropsis laevipalmata andCa-prella panantis） were observed in the lagoon. However, onlyA. valida significantly consumedU. lactuca among these amphipod species. A series of experiments were conducted to estimate the consumption of U. lactuca byA. valida. It was suggested that the monthly secondary production （P） ofA. valida using size frequency method ranged from 2.39 to 13.68 g/m2.GGEofA. valida exponentially reduced with body size and was closely associated with water temperature. Therefore,GGE equation for different months using the temperature recorded during the field investigation was fitted. The monthly consumption ofU. lactuca was figured out to be 86.7-1 549.0 g/m2 by the sum of consumption （P/GGE） byA. valida at different size, ac-counting for 2.0%-37.5% ofU. lactucaproduction. It indicates that the grazing effect ofA. valida did play a role in reducingthe accumulation ofU. lactucabiomass whenA. valida was abundant, but it finally fails to limit the U. lactucagrowth in Yundang Lagoon. Low abundance of A. valida and high nutrient loading may be two major reasons for the outbreak ofU. lactuca bloom in the lagoon.

Elasticity Ratio of Resource Consumption and the Resource Consumption

Today the resources are becoming scarcer, which should not be regarded as unexhausted any more. Correspondingly, the production would be constrained by the scarcity of resources clearly. Then the economic researchers would pay much more attention to reducing the consumption of natural resources in the future. Therefore this paper brings foreword the conception of elasticity ratio of resource consumption based on the concept of elasticity and analyzes the relationship between the parameters. For the certain relationships between the elasticity ratio of resource consumption and resource consumption, this paper will try to reveal, to keep economy growing while resource consumption reducing, what conditions should be met as to the relationships among resource productivity, its growth rate, energy saving efficiency, economic growth rate and elasticity ratio of resource consumption. This paper proves the relationship between the China＇s energy consumption and economy growth using statistic data from 1978 to 2003.

Efficient growth suppression in pancreatic cancer PDX model by fully human anti-mesothelin CAR-T cells

Dear Editor, Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease ranked as the 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and its incidence rate is increasing according to the latest statistics. The overall survival rates for patients with pan- creatic cancer have not significantly improved over the past thirty years （Siegel et al., 2012; Simard et al., 2012）. One of the reasons for the high mortality rates is the high resistance of pancreatic cancer to chemotherapy and radiation. Most patients are diagnosed at late stages of the disease. Approximately 15%-20% of patients diagnosed with pan- creatic cancer are eligible for surgical resection, and 85% of these patients eventually experience relapse and ultimately cancer-related death （Siegel et al., 2012）. In recent years, increasing evidence indicates that the fibro-inflammatory stroma is a source of cellular and molecular components contributing to tumor progression and metastasis （Feig et al., 2012; Waghray et al., 2013）. Importantly, increased levels of stroma are positively related to a poor prognosis （Erkan et al., 2008）. Despite the broader understanding of pancre- atic cancer biology, gemcitabine, a chemotherapeutic approved for pancreatic cancer treatment approximately twenty years ago, still remains the standard of care （Burris et al., 1997）. Thus, the development of novel treatment strategies for this devastating disease is urgently needed.

Nutrient Composition and Distance from Point Placement to the Plant Affect Rice Growth

Point placement of urea is an efficient technology to improve urea use efficiency in transplanted rice(Oryza sativa L.), but it is largely unknown how nutrient composition in the point placement and the distance from placement site to the plant influence rice root distribution and growth, nutrient uptake, and rice grain yield. A controlled greenhouse experiment was conducted using both N-and P-deficient soil with point placement of N only or N and P together(N + P) at a distance close to or far from the plant,in comparison to an N-spilt application and a no-N control. Both nutrient composition and distance significantly affected rice root growth. Compared with the N point placement, the N + P point placement led to smaller root length and mass densities, higher specific root length(SRL) around the placement site, smaller root system, higher straw mass and grain yield, and higher N and P uptake. The difference between the N + P and N point placements was greater when close to the plant than when far from the plant. It is suggested that higher SRL around the placement site is essential for improving nutrient uptake and rice grain yield, and simultaneous point placement of N and P has a synergistic effect on rice growth.

Effect of six kinds of scale inhibitors on calcium carbonate precipitation in high salinity wastewater at high temperatures

Precipitation of calcium carbonate （CaCOs） scale on heat transfer surfaces is a serious and expensive problem widely occurring in numerous industrial processes. In this study, we compared the scale inhibition effect of six kinds of commercial scale inhibitors and screened out the best one （scale inhibitor SQ-1211） to investigate its scale inhibition performance in highly saline conditions at high temperature through static scale inhibition tests. The influences of scale inhibitor dosage, temperature, heating time and pH on the inhibition efficiency of the optimal scale inhibitor were investigated. The morphologies and crystal structures of the precipitates were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Diffraction analysis. Results showed that the scale inhibition efficiency of the optimal scale inhibitor decreased with the increase of the reaction temperature. When the concentration of Ca^2＋ was 1600 mg/L, the scale inhibition rate could reach 90.7% at 80℃ at pH 8. The optimal scale inhibitor could effectively retard scaling at high temperature. In the presence of the optimal scale inhibitor, the main crystal structure of CaCOs changed from calcite to aragonite.

Making comparable measurements of bacterial respiration and production in the subtropical coastal waters

Accurate estimates of bacterial carbon metabolic rates are indispensable for understanding the regulation of carbon fluxes in aquatic environments.Here,changes in bacterial growth,production,and cell volume in both pre-filtered and unfiltered seawater during 24 h incubation were monitored.The methodological artifacts during Winkler bacterial respiration(BR)measurements in subtropical Hong Kong coastal waters were assessed.Bacterial abundance increased by 3-and 1.8-fold in the pre-filtered and unfiltered seawater after incubation,respectively.Bacterial production(BP)and cell volume also showed significant enhancement.Compared with the BR measurements obtained by the Winkler method,the instantaneous free-living BR measurements,after correction,decreased by~70%.The time-integrated free-living BR and BP during 24 h incubation in the pre-filtered sample provided an improved estimate of bacterial growth efficiency,which increased by~52%compared to the common estimations using the noncomparable measurements of integrated free-living BR and instantaneous total BP.The overestimation of BR also exaggerated the contribution of bacteria to community respiration,affecting the understanding on the metabolic state of the marine ecosystems.Furthermore,the BR estimates by the Winkler method may be more biased in environments with a higher bacterial growth rate and tightly coupled grazing mortality,as well as in those with higher nutrient concentrations.These results reveal obvious problems associated with the BR methodology and raise a warning for caution when comparing BP and BR,as well as when making estimations of carbon flow through the complex microbial networks in aquatic ecosystems.