Size-dependent electrical transport properties in Co nanocluster-assembled granular films.

A series of Co nanocluster-assembled films with cluster sizes ranging from 4.5 nm to 14.7 nm were prepared by the plasma-gas-condensation method. The size-dependent electrical transport properties were systematically investigated. Both of the longitudinal resistivity ([Formula: see text]) and saturated anomalous Hall resistivity ([Formula: see text]) continuously increased with the decrease of the cluster sizes (d). The [Formula: see text] firstly increased and then decreased with increasing the temperature for all samples, which could be well described by involving the thermally fluctuation-induced tunneling (FIT) process and scattering. The tunneling effect was verified to result in the invalidation of classical anomalous Hall effect (AHE) scaling relation. After deducting the contribution from tunneling effect to [Formula: see text], the AHE scaling relation between [Formula: see text] and the scattering resistivity ([Formula: see text]) by varying the temperature was reconstructed. The value of scaling exponent γ increased with increasing Co cluster sizes. The size dependence of γ might be qualitatively interpreted by the interface and surface-induced spin flip scattering. We also determined the scaling relation between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at 5 K by changing the Co cluster sizes, and a large value of γ = 3.6 was obtained which might be ascribed to the surface and interfacial scattering.

Cryphodera sinensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Heteroderidae), a non-cyst-forming parasitic nematode from the root of ramie Boehmeria nivea in China.

Cryphodera sinensis n. sp. is described from ramie (Boehmeria nivea) based on the morphology and molecular analyses of rRNA small subunit (SSU), D2D3 expansion domains of large subunit (LSU D2D3) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS). This new species is characterized by oval females with a distinct subcrystalline layer and pronounced and protruding vulval lip, distinctly concave vulva-anus profile and a vulva-anus distance of 29.5-35.8 µm. Males possess two annuli in the lip region, a stylet 27-32.5 µm in length with round knobs sloping slightly posteriorly, lateral fields with three lines, spicules 20-28 µm long and the presence of a short cloacal tube. Second-stage juveniles possess three lip annuli, a stylet 28-31 µm in length with well-developed knobs projected anteriorly and three lines along the lateral field. The pointed tail, 52-65 µm long, possesses a mucro-like tip and a hyaline region, 24.5-35 µm long. Large phasmids with a lens-like structure are located 2-6 annuli posterior to the anus. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the species has unique SSU, LSU D2D3 and ITS rRNA sequences. Phylogenetic relationships of the three rDNA sequences of C. sinensis n. sp. and other cystoid/cyst nematodes are analysed together with a comparison of other species within the genus Cryphodera.

First Report of Aphelenchoides besseyi Causing White Tip Disease of Rice in Jilin Province, China.

White tip disease of rice caused by the plant-parasitic nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi is an important domestic quarantine issue causing heavy yield losses of rice. During a survey for rice diseases in 2013, suspect white tip disease of rice was observed in the cities of Changchun and Gongzhuling, Jinlin Province, China. Leaf tips of susceptible rice varieties were white or yellow, becoming brown or black as necrosis set in. Tips of developing leaves were twisted and wrinkled. The flag leaf became twisted above the panicle until development was inhibited. General stunting of the plant accompanied leaf injury. Panicles were severely reduced and produced small deformed kernels while spikelets were reduced in number. Maturity of panicles was delayed, and secondary panicles arising from the lower nodes of the panicle were sterile. Nematodes were isolated from rice grains of diseased panicles. Key morphological features were determined for females and males. Measurements of females (n = 15) were: body length 612.50 to 735.00 µm (mean 673.75 µm), body width 17.37 to 22.21 µm (mean 19.79 µm), esophagus to gland 64.44 to 68.07 µm (mean 66.26 µm), and tail 34.41 to 41.29 µm (mean 37.85 µm). Females had a relatively short ovary with oocytes arranged in several lines; posterior uterine branch two to four times as long as body width; and tail tapering, conoid, with terminus bearing a mucro with four processes arranged in a shape somewhat that of a star. Measurements of males (n = 22) were: body length 483.39 to 580.00 µm (mean 531.70 µm), body width 14.46 to 17.12 µm (mean 15.79 µm), esophagus to gland 63.97 to 66.42 µm (mean 65.20 µm), and tail 30.38 to 36.45 µm (mean 33.41 µm). Males had a curved tail about 180° when relaxed, three pairs of ventrosubmedian papillae with the first one adanal, spicula curved with a slight basal process, and terminus bearing four mucrones arranged variably. Both males and females had lateral field occupying one fourth of the body width, marked by four incisures; delicate cephalic framework; small spear with moderate-size basal knobs; excretory pore was anterior to nerve ring; and intestine joined to esophagus immediately behind median bulb (3). All morphological data and characters were consistent with A. besseyi. Molecular diagnosis as A. besseyi was confirmed after DNA was extracted from nematodes (n = 16) and the templates were used in PCR analysis. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of rDNA was amplified with primers TW81 and AB28 (2). The size of PCR product was 842 bp, and this sequence (KJ009342) was submitted to GenBank and was 98% similar with that of A. besseyi isolates from India (JF826519, JF93390, JF826517, JF826518) and Russia (EU186069). Molecular identification was further confirmed by amplifying part of the ITS region and part of the 5.8 gene of rDNA using the A. besseyi-specific primers BSF and BSR (1). The amplification yielded a 312-bp product specific to A. besseyi. Morphological and molecular data confirmed that the pathogen responsible for white tip disease in Changchun and Gongzhuling was A. besseyi. While this nematode has been reported from many rice-producing areas in China, this is the first detection of A. besseyi in Jilin Province, China. References: (1) R. Q. Cui et al. Plant Quarantine (Chinese) 24:10-12, 2010. (2) S. A. Subbotin et al. Nematology 2:153, 2000. (3) G. Thorne. Principles of Nematology. McGraw-Hill, New York, 1972.

An n-body potential for a Zr-Nb system based on the embedded-atom method.

A novel n-body potential for an Zr-Nb system was developed in the framework of the embedded-atom method. All the parameters of the constructed potential have been systematically evaluated by fitting to the ground state properties obtained from experimental measurements and first-principles calculations for pure elements and some alloys. It is shown that most of the static thermodynamics properties for Zr and Nb can be well reproduced by using the present potential. Some calculation results based on the present model are even closer to the experimental data than those based on previous potential models. The ground state properties of hypothetical Zr-Nb alloys were also calculated and found to be in agreement with first-principles calculations. Furthermore, the formation energies of random solid solutions of Zr-Nb with lattices of body centered cubic (bcc) and hexagonal close packed (hcp) type were calculated by fitting the energy-volume relations to Rose's equation of state. These values were compared with those obtained by first-principles calculations based on special quasirandom structure models and the Miedema-ZSL-07 model (the improved Miedema model proposed by Zhang, Sheng and Liu in 2007). It is indicated that our n-body constructed potential for a Zr-Nb alloy provides an effective description for the interaction between the dissimilar ion interactions for hcp-bcc systems.

First Report of Pratylenchus neglectus on Winter Wheat in China.

Root-lesion nematodes are major pathogens of wheat and have been reported in the United States, Mexico, India, Australia, Egypt, Canary Islands, South Africa, Iran, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and Yugoslavia (1). They can also cause injury in a large number of crops, including grasses, cereal grains, and vegetables. In 2009 and 2010, a survey was conducted for nematodes in winter wheat fields near Taian city, Shandong, northern China. Root tissues were stained via the acid fuchsin tissue stain technique, and nematode numbers were recorded under a stereo microscope. Sixty-eight root samples were collected during the winter wheat growing season, and root lesion nematode was found in all samples. The highest average lesion nematode populations in fresh roots were 154.3 nematodes/g in 2009 and 236.7 nematodes/g in 2010. Nematodes were collected from infested wheat roots by a modified Baermann funnel method. Dimensions of the nematodes were: length, 0.42 to 0.54 mm; a, 18.8 to 24.2; b, 4.4 to 5.7; c, 19.8 to 25.4; V, 80.4 to 84.8; and spear, 17.1 to 18.9 µm. DNA was extracted from individual nematodes using liquid nitrogen. Amplification of rDNA-internal transcribed spacer region using the forward primers 5'-CGTAACAAGGTAGCTGTAG-3' and the reverse primer 5'-TTTCACTCGCCGTTACTAAGG-3' yielded a PCR fragment of approximately 900 bp. PCR products were purified using Universal Plant DNA Purification Kit (Tiangen, China) and ligated to the pMD18-T vector system (TaKaRa Bio, Japan) and transformed to E. coli strain DH5α. Plasmid DNA carrying the insert was extracted and used as the template for DNA sequencing. DNA sequencing was carried out in an ABI 3730, compared and aligned using MEGA 5.0. Sequences showed 96% sequence identity with those of Pratylenchus neglectus (GenBank Accession No. FR692291.1). The sequence was submitted to the GenBank database (JX228136). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. neglectus infesting winter wheat in China. P. neglectus has been reported as causing economically significant damage to wheat production of up to 70% yield loss in the Pacific Northwest. Damage from lesion nematode may therefore be potentially significant to wheat production in Shandong Province, and further information should be obtained on its prevalence. References: (1) P. A. A. Loof. The family Pratylenchidae Thorne, 1949. W. R. Nickle, ed., Manual of Agricultural Nematol. Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, 1991. (2) R. W. Smiley et al. J. Nematol. 37:45, 2005.

First Report of the Cyst Nematode (Heterodera elachista) on Rice in Hunan Province, China.

During a survey for the cyst nematodes (Heterodera elachista) from May to June of 2011, cyst nematodes were detected in hilly rice fields in five counties (Changsha, Pingjiang, Hengdong, Shaoyang, and Xiangxiang) of Hunan Province, China. Cyst nematodes obtained from soil samples and harvested rice root samples at these five locations had uniform morphological and molecular characteristics. Cysts (n = 20) had the following characteristics: spherical to lemon shaped, vulval cone ambifenestrate, vulval bridge narrow, medium sized underbridge, with a few dark brown bullae, body length (not including the neck) ranging from 354 to 586 µm (mean = 438.9 µm, st. dev. = 63.7); body width ranged from 283 to 495 µm (354.5, 60.1); fenestrate length of 30 to 50 µm (37.4, 5.0) and width of 25 to 47.5 µm (35.1, 7.1); underbridge length from 70 to 95 µm (83.4, 8.2); and vulval slit length from 30.3 to 55.5 µm (40.3, 9.1). J2 (n = 20) had the following characteristics: body length ranging from 404 to 525 µm (mean of 461.6 µm, st. dev. = 34.5); stylet length from 20 to 25 µm (22.5, 1.1) with rounded knob; tail length of 60 to 87.5 µm (67.3, 6.9); and hyaline terminal tail ranged from 30 to 50 µm (37.5, 6.4); lateral field with three lines. The mean and range of J2 were longer than those reported for H. elachista by Nobbs et al. (1) and Tanha et al. (4), but other morphological character values were within the range of those reported (4). DNA from a single cyst was extracted, the rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D2/D3 fragments of the 28S RNA were amplified with universal primers TW81 and AB28, D2A and D3B, respectively. Five ITS sequences (JN202913, JN202914, JN202915, JN202916, and JN202917) and five D2/D3 sequences (JN202918, JN202919, JN202920, JN202921, and JN202922) from nematode samples collected in Changsha, Hengdong, Shaoyang, Pingjiang, and Xiangxiang, respectively, were submitted to GenBank. These ITS sequences were remarkably similar to each other and exhibited 98.6 to 99.3% similarity with that of H. elachista isolate from Iran (AF498391), and 98.8 to 99.4% similarity with that of H. elachista isolates from Ningxia Province, China (HM560778 and HM560779). The D2/D3 sequences exhibited 99.7 to 100% similarity with that of H. elachista isolates from Ningxia Province, China (HM560842 and HM560843). These characteristics indicated that the five populations were H. elachista belonging to the 'cyperi' group (1,2). In glasshouse evaluations of the pathogenicity of these isolates, 500 second-stage juveniles were inoculated onto five 20-day-old seedlings of rice (Weiyou No.227) in 4.5-cm diameter 30-cm high tubes with six replicates. After 8 weeks, stunting and reduction of leaf length were observed and cysts were extracted from dried soil of each tube using sieves. Brown cysts (92 to 204) and white females (14 to 40) were obtained from inoculated rice from each tube. H. elachista can decrease yield by 7 to 19% and has the most severe impact during the later stages of plant growth (3). H. elachista has been previously identified from rice fields in Japan and Iran (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of H. elachista on rice in Hunan Province, China. References: (1) J. M. Nobbs et al. Fundam. Appl. Nematol. 15:551, 1992. (2) S. A. Subbotin et al. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 21:1, 2001. (3) S. A. Subbotin et al. Systematics of Cyst Nematodes (Nematoda: Heteroderinae). Volume 8 Part B. Brill, Leiden, the Netherlands, 2010. (4) M. Z. Tanha et al. Nematology 5:99, 2003.

First Report of the Cyst Nematode (Heterodera filipjevi) on Wheat in Henan Province, China.

During a survey for cereal cyst nematodes from May to June of 2009, cyst nematodes were detected in four wheat-growing areas (Liying, Xuchang, Weihui, and Yanjing) of Henan Province, China. The main wheat cultivar affected was Wenmai No.4. Almost 5.3 million ha of winter wheat are grown in Henan Province and 73% of the fields surveyed were found to be infested with Heterodera avenae (2). The affected wheat fields had stunted patches. Stunted seedlings had chlorotic or necrotic lower leaves, few or no tillers, and bushy, light brown roots leading to typical witches'-broom symptoms resulting from increased rootlet emergence at the nematode invasion sites. Individual roots had a knotted appearance. Cyst nematodes obtained from soil samples and plant samples at these four locations differed from those of H. avenae and had uniform morphological and molecular characteristics. Cysts were lemon shaped and bifenestrate, with an underbridge and strongly developed bullae. The lateral field of second-stage juveniles (J2) consisted of four incisures. These characteristics indicated that the four populations were H. filipjevi, a member of the 'H. avenae Group' of cereal cyst nematodes (1). Key morphological features were determined for cysts and J2. Cysts (n = 15) had the following characteristics, in addition to those described above: light brown color; bifenestrate vulval cone with horseshoe-shaped fenestrate; body length (not including the neck) ranged from 690 to 790 µm (mean of 750 µm); body width ranged from 410 to 640 µm (mean of 540 µm); neck length ranged from 86 to 100 µm (mean of 96 µm); fenestrate length of 59 to 70 µm (mean of 67.7 µm) and width of 31.3 to 36.7 µm (mean of 35.2 µm); underbridge length from 59 to 71 µm (mean of 68 µm); and vulval slit from 6.9 to 8.6 µm (mean of 7.9 µm). J2 (n = 10) had the following characteristics: body length ranged from 540 to 580 µm (mean of 550 µm); stylet length from 22.5 to 24.5 µm (mean of 23.5 µm) with anchor-shaped basal knobs; tail length of 52.5 to 62.5 µm (mean of 57.7 µm); and hyaline terminal tail ranged from 32 to 39 µm (mean of 33.8 µm). The tail had a sharp terminus. Amplification of the rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region with primers TW81 and AB28 yielded a PCR fragment of 1,054 bp (3). Amplification of the D2/D3 fragments of the 28S RNA with universal primers D2A (5'-ACA AGT ACC GTG AGG GAA AGT TG-3') and D3B (5'-TCG GAA GGA ACC AGC TAC TA-3') yielded a PCR fragment of 782 bp. Digestion patterns of the ITS PCR fragments with AluI, CfoI, HifI, SatI, PstI, RsaI, TaqI, and Tru9I showed restriction profiles identical to that of H. filipjevi (3,4). Four ITS sequences (GU083595, GU083596, HM147944, and HM147945) and four D2D3 sequences (GU083592, GU083593, GU083594, and GU083597) from nematode samples collected in Liying, Xuchang, Weihui, and Yanjing, respectively, were submitted to GenBank. These sequences exhibited 99.4% similarity with that of H. filipjevi isolates from Germany (AY148400), Italy (AY347922), Russia (AY148401), Spain (AY148399), Tadzhikistan (AY148402), Turkey (AY148398 and AY148397), the United Kingdom (AY148403 and AF274399), and the United States (GU079654). To our knowledge, this is the first report of H. filipjevi in China. References: (1) Z. A. Handoo. J. Nematol. 34:250. 2002. (2) D. L. Peng et al. Proc. 1st Workshop Internat. Cereal Cyst Nemat. Initiative, Antalya Turkey, p. 29, 2009. (3) S. A. Subbotin et al. Nematology 1:195, 1999. (4) G. Yan and R. W. Smiley. Phytopathology 100:216, 2010.

Characterization and Optical Properties of the Single Crystalline SnS Nanowire Arrays.

The SnS nanowire arrays have been successfully synthesized by the template-assisted pulsed electrochemical deposition in the porous anodized aluminum oxide template. The investigation results showed that the as-synthesized nanowires are single crystalline structures and they have a highly preferential orientation. The ordered SnS nanowire arrays are uniform with a diameter of 50 nm and a length up to several tens of micrometers. The synthesized SnS nanowires exhibit strong absorption in visible and near-infrared spectral region and the direct energy gap E(g) of SnS nanowires is 1.59 eV.

Finite-size effect on magnetic properties in iron sulfide nanowire arrays.

We report the size effect on the magnetic properties in Fe(7)S(8) nanowire arrays. Samples with diameters in the range of 50-200 nm have been prepared by electrodeposition with AAO films. The Mössbauer measurement results show that four parameters (hyperfine fields, isomer shift, quadrupole splitting, full width at half-maximum) increased with decreasing the diameter of the nanowires. The magnetic properties were investigated. The hysteresis loop shape and the magnetization are dependent on the diameter of the nanowires. The thermomagnetic measurements on the as-synthesized nanowire samples and the corresponding bulk display a mixed-type curve and a Weiss-type curve, respectively.

The hemispheric difference of semantic processing of Chinese characters in two dimensions as revealed by ERPs.

An experiment was conducted to examine the hemispheric dominance in semantic processing of Chinese characters. Results showed that N1 is the earliest component that reflects the semantic processing of Chinese characters. Although N1 of the left hemisphere is larger in amplitude, that of the right hemisphere is shorter in latency. Based on these findings, the authors propose that the left hemisphere does not start processing until the necessary information has been transferred from the right hemisphere. Once the left hemisphere starts processing, its intensity is stronger. Thus, it is more appropriate to differentiate hemispheric processing dominance into two dimensions: speed and intensity. Moreover, the semantic cognition onset of Chinese characters occurs from 100 ms to 160 ms in the posterior perceptual processing area of brain.

[Inheritance of resistance to Heterodera glycines race 14 in Huibuzhi black bean].

Heterodera glycines is the most serious disease in the world soybean (Glycine max) production. Huibuzhi black bean from Xing County in Shanxi Province, China is one of the most important resistant resources. Using a set of host differentials for soybean cyst nematode and criterion of race classification as well as method of manual inoculation, race 14 was identified as a prevalent one in the soil population of the Experiment Station, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing. A sensitive variety #7 Jidou as a female donor crossed with Huibuzhi black bean. Their offsprings were investigated for resistance to race 14. Two of F1 seedlings demonstrated their resistant. Two populations in F2 including 116 seedlings and 78 seedlings in each one appeared their own separate ratio that was in common: 43R:21S. A genetic hypothesis was proposed that resistance to SCN race 14 in Huibuzhi black bean was controlled by three gene pairs arose. Gene reciprocity existed among them: one recessive epistasis gene pair and two dominant complementary gene pairs. Random 30 families in F3 including 10-15 tested seedlings in each family were screened for resistance to SCN race 14. The segregate ratio, 19R:38Seg.:7S, among F3 families confirmed that the presented genetic hypothesis was correct.

Evaluation of eye movement variables of Chinese and American readers. Information abstraction by Chinese and American readers.

Eye movements were recorded while competent readers of English and Chinese read in their respective languages. There were no important differences in oculometric patterns of fixation pause durations for Chinese and American readers, suggesting that cognitive aspects of reading are more important than perceptual ones in determining eye movement patterns and fixation pauses of competent readers. An analysis of undershoot saccades associated with return of the eyes from the end of one line to the beginning of the next line suggests that these occur more frequently during reading than during the performance of similar eye movements that are more perceptually determined, however, the amount of undershoot does not discriminate between readers of alphabetic and logographic texts.