Effect of solar ultraviolet radiation on growth in the marine macroalga Dictyota dichotoma (Phaeophyceae) at Helgoland and its ecological consequences

At Helgoland, in the North Sea, growth of the high sublittoral brown macroalga Dictyota dichotoma (Hudson) Lamoroux was examined in October (the time of tetraspore release) in an outdoor tank by exposing 2-day-old germlings to four solar radiation treatments achieved with different filter materials or an additional artificial light source: photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 395–700 nm), PAR plus ultraviolet (UV)-A (320–700 nm), full solar spectrum, or solar spectrum plus artificial UV radiation (UVR). Based on length measurements over a period of 3 weeks, the growth rate in germlings strongly decreased in conditions with UVR compared to PAR: by 14% under PAR+UV-A, by 31% under the full solar spectrum and by 65% with additional UVR. Although growth rates of germlings under UVR were reduced mainly in the first week, the plants did not regain the size of the untreated plants even after 9 weeks. Regardless of the exposure, no defects in morphology or anatomy including the exposed apical meristem were detected, except for a reduction in cell division rates perhaps due to additional cost for photoprotective or repair mechanisms. Depending on the actual position of D. dichotoma plants in the natural habitat, individuals in high positions receive substantial amounts of the more harmful UV-B while those lower down might only receive UV-A during part of the day, thus the effect of UV-B on the growth of D. dichotoma will depend on its position in the field. The effects of tidal variation of the light climate and the implications of our results for the zonation of D. dichotoma are discussed. Received in revised form: 6 July 2000 Electronic Publication     

Controlling the Morphology and Efficiency of Hybrid ZnO:Polythiophene Solar Cells Via Side Chain Functionalization

The efficiency of polymer – metal oxide hybrid solar cells depends critically on the intimacy of mixing of the two semiconductors. The effect of side chain functionalization on the morphology and performance of conjugated polymer:ZnO solar cells is investigated. Using an ester‐functionalized side chain poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) derivative (P3HT‐E), the nanoscale morphology of ZnO:polymer solar cells is significantly more intimately mixed compared to ZnO:poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (ZnO:P3HT), as evidenced experimentally from a 3D reconstruction of the phase separation using electron tomography. Photoinduced absorption reveals nearly quantitative charge generation for the ZnO:P3HT‐E blend but not for ZnO:P3HT, consistent with the results obtained from solving the 3D diffusion equation for excitons formed in the polymer within the two experimental ZnO morphologies. For thin ZnO:P3HT‐E active layers (～50 nm) this yields a significant improvement of the solar cell performance. For thicker cells, however, the reduced hole mobility and a reduced percolation of ZnO pathways hinders charge carrier collection, limiting the power conversion efficiency.     

Keratinocytes Control the Proliferation and Differentiation of Cultured Epidermal Melanocytes from Ultraviolet Radiation B‐Induced Pigmented Spots in the Dorsal Skin of Hairless Mice

Long‐term exposure of ultraviolet radiation B (UVB)‐induced pigmented spots in the dorsal skin of hairless mice of Hos:(HR‐1 X HR//De) F₁. Previous study showed that the proliferative and differentiative activities of cultured epidermal melanoblasts//melanocytes from UVB‐induced pigmented spots increased with the development of the pigmented spots. To determine whether the increase in the proliferative and differentiative activities of epidermal melanoblasts//melanocytes was brought about by direct changes in melanocytes, or by indirect changes in surrounding keratinocytes, pure cultured melanoblasts//melanocytes and keratinocytes were prepared and co‐cultured in combination with control and irradiated mice in a serum‐free culture medium. Keratinocytes from irradiated mice stimulated the proliferation and differentiation of both neonatal and adult non‐irradiated melanoblasts//melanocytes more greatly than those from non‐irradiated mice. In contrast, both non‐irradiated and irradiated adultmelanocytes proliferated and differentiated similarly when they were co‐cultured with irradiated adult keratinocytes. These results suggest that the increased proliferative and differentiative activities of mouse epidermal melanocytes from UVB‐induced pigmented spots are regulated by keratinocytes, rather than melanocytes.     

Surface Plasmon Enhancement of Optical Absorption in Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells

Strong electromagnetic field enhancement that occurs under conditions of the surface plasmon excitation in metallic nanoparticles deposited on a semiconductor surface is a very efficient and promising tool for increasing the optical absorption within semiconductor solar cells and, hence, their photocurrent response. The enhancement of the optical absorption in thin-film silicon solar cells via the excitation of localized surface plasmons in spherical silver nanoparticles is investigated. Using the effective medium model, the effect of the nanoparticle size and the surface coverage on that enhancement is analyzed. The optimum configuration and the nanoparticle parameters leading to the maximum enhancement in the optical absorption and the photocurrent response in a single p-n junction silicon cell are obtained. The effect of coupling between the silicon layer and the surface plasmon fields on the efficiency of the above enhancement is quantified as well.     

T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) phosphorylation of MKP1 protein prevents solar ultraviolet light-induced inflammation through inhibition of the p38 protein signaling pathway

Solar UV radiation is a major environmental factor that causes DNA damage, inflammation, and even skin cancer. T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) is expressed widely in both normal and cancer cells and functions to inhibit apoptosis and promote carcinogenesis. However, its function in inflammation is not known. The p38 MAPK signaling pathway plays an important role in solar UV light-induced inflammation. In this study, we found that TOPK negatively regulated the activity of p38α by phosphorylating the p38α-specific phosphatase MKP1 and enhancing the stability of MKP1. Notably, the absence of TOPK in mice resulted in a striking increase in skin inflammation. Therefore, we conclude that TOPK has a protective function in solar UV light-induced inflammation.     

日光温室地面覆盖对嫁接与未嫁接黄瓜生长发育、产量及土壤环境的影响

研究了秸秆、地膜和秸秆+地膜覆盖对日光温室嫁接与未嫁接黄瓜生长发育、产量及土壤环境的影响.结果表明,地面覆盖不仅能促进雌花分化、缩短成瓜时间、增加单瓜重、提高黄瓜产量,而且能降低畸形瓜比例,提高产品的商品性.其中以覆盖秸秆+地膜作用最明显、增产幅度最大,覆盖秸秆和覆盖地膜次之;嫁接黄瓜的处理效果优于未嫁接黄瓜.此外,地面覆盖对土壤环境也具有重要影响,但不同处理之间差异较大.地温日变化呈单峰曲线, 5cm、10 cm地温的波峰出现在14:30,随着土层的加深而波峰推迟出现,峰值也逐渐减小.秸秆覆盖具有降低最高地温和提高最低地温的作用,使土壤温度保持相对稳定;地膜覆盖对最高地温的增幅最大、对最低地温的增幅最小,从而使地温变幅最大;秸秆+地膜覆盖既增温又保温.地面覆盖的土壤呼吸速率均显著高于对照(P＜0.01),并以秸秆+地膜覆盖的土壤呼吸速率最高,地膜覆盖与秸秆覆盖次之,土壤呼吸速率日变化也呈单峰曲线,与 5cm、10 cm地温日变化趋势一致,峰值出现在14:30左右,土壤呼吸速率与 5cm、10 cm地温达显著或极显著相关.秸秆覆盖与秸秆+地膜覆盖的0～20 cm土层土壤容重显著小于地膜覆盖与对照(P＜0.01),地膜覆盖的土壤容重略小于对照,随着土层的加深,各处理间土壤容重差异渐小.     

美国黑核桃实生苗生态生理过程对环境因素响应的数值模拟(Ⅱ):气象要素日变化进程的数理模型

在建立植物生态生理模型（如光合作用、蒸腾作用数理模型）的过程中,气温、太阳辐射、相对湿度等气象要素的日变化及瞬时资料是必不可少的．本文根据常规台站的日常观测资料,建立了气温、太阳辐射、风速、相对湿度等气象要素日变化的数理模型．并应用实测资料对所建模型进行了验证．实践表明：（1）描述气温日变化的正弦一指数模型通常其模拟结果不甚理想,但通过引用最高温度的时间延迟参数及惯性系数,可增加模拟结果的准确性．（2）根据测量的太阳辐射日总量值以及太阳高度的日变化值等,可准确地模拟太阳辐射的日变化;（3）根据实际水汽压的日均值和气温常规资料可准确模拟相对湿度的日变化．如果区域参数已知或被正确估计。上述方法可得到较为理想的气象要素日变化的模拟结果．     

地表覆盖对温室黄瓜生长及生理特性的影响

研究了地表覆盖秸秆、地膜和秸秆加膜对日光温室嫁接和非嫁接黄瓜生长与生理特性的影响.结果表明,地表覆盖可有效促进植株生长,嫁接黄瓜覆盖秸秆加膜、地膜与秸秆的株高和茎粗依次比对照增加91、71、57 cm和0127、0.086、0.111 cm,非嫁接黄瓜增幅较小;地表覆盖可增强光合作用,嫁接黄瓜覆盖秸秆加膜、地膜、秸秆的净光合速率分别比对照增加2.63、2.08与1.36 μmol·m^-2·s^-1,非嫁接黄瓜增幅较小;嫁接黄瓜覆盖秸秆加膜和秸秆的叶绿素含量比对照增加1.8%和3.15%,而覆盖地膜的叶绿素含量降低了3.8%,非嫁接黄瓜的叶绿素含量变幅较小;嫁接黄瓜覆盖秸秆加膜、地膜、秸秆的根系活力比对照提高0.98、0.48和0.8 mg TTC·g^-1FW,同一处理的非嫁接黄瓜根系活力增幅较小;地表覆盖可增加单株干物重,提高早期产量和总产量,嫁接黄瓜覆盖秸秆加膜、地膜与秸秆的单株产量比非嫁接黄瓜分别增加16%、5.3%和3.4%.