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Cells adapt to cold by increasing levels of unsaturated phospholipids and membrane fluidity through homeostatic mechanisms conserved in nearly all forms of life. As most eukaryotic enzymes for lipid synthesis and desaturation localize on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes, it remains unknown how ER-resident lipids rapidly distribute to plasma membranes (PM). Here we report an exceptionally large and evolutionarily conserved protein LPD-3 in C. elegans that plays critical roles in lipid trafficking and cold resilience. We identified lpd-3 mutants in a mutagenesis screen for genetic suppressors of the lipid desaturase FAT-7, and found that the 452 kDa megaprotein LPD-3 bridges ER and PM, consisting of a structurally predicted hydrophobic tunnel for lipid trafficking. Loss of LPD-3 caused abnormal cellular distribution of phospholipids, diminished FAT-7 abundance, and organismic vulnerability to cold. These phenotypic defects of lpd-3 mutants were rescued by Lecithin comprising unsaturated phospholipids. Importantly, we found that deficient lpd-3 homologues in Zebrafish and mammalian cells led to defects similar to those observed in C. elegans. As mutations in KIAA1109/BLTP1, the human orthologue of lpd-3, cause Alkuraya-Kucinskas syndrome, we propose that the LPD-3 family proteins may serve as evolutionarily conserved “highway bridges” critical for ER-associated non-vesicular trafficking of lipids and resilience to cold stress in eukaryotic cells.

Objective. To explore the value of serum miR-144 and miR-221 in diagnosing atherosclerosis (AS). Methods. The clinical data of 52 AS patients treated in the department of cardiovascular medicine of our hospital from August 2019 to August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, and 53 healthy persons were selected from the physical examination center at the same period as the control group. By measuring the indicators including the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), superoxide dismutase (SOD), miR-144, and miR-221 in patients of both groups, their value of diagnosing AS was analyzed. Results. Compared with the control group, the AS group obtained significantly higher serum miR-221 and miR-144 expression levels ( P < 0.001 ), significantly higher mean serum homocysteine (Hcy) level value ( P < 0.001 ), lower mean serum SOD level ( P < 0.001 ), and significantly higher level values of serum VEGF, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) ( P < 0.001 ), and the area under ROC curve, sensitivity, and specificity of combining miR-221 with miR-144 were significantly higher than those of single diagnosis. Conclusion. Serum miR-221 and miR-144 expression levels are increased in AS patients, and combining the two indicators in diagnosis is more accurate and can provide an accurate basis for diagnosis and condition assessment of AS.

In selective autophagy, cargo selectivity is determined by autophagy receptors. However, it remains scarcely understood how autophagy receptors recognize specific protein cargos. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a selective autophagy pathway termed Nbr1-mediated vacuolar targeting (NVT) employs Nbr1, an autophagy receptor conserved across eukaryotes including humans, to target cytosolic hydrolases into the vacuole. Here, we identify two new NVT cargos, the mannosidase Ams1 and the aminopeptidase Ape4, that bind competitively to the first ZZ domain of Nbr1 (Nbr1-ZZ1). High-resolution cryo-EM analyses reveal how a single ZZ domain recognizes two distinct protein cargos. Nbr1-ZZ1 not only recognizes the N-termini of cargos via a conserved acidic pocket, similar to other characterized ZZ domains, but also engages additional parts of cargos in a cargo-specific manner. Our findings unveil a single-domain bispecific mechanism of autophagy cargo recognition, elucidate its underlying structural basis, and expand the understanding of ZZ domain-mediated protein-protein interactions.

Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge. var. major) is an edible and medicinal fruit that is very common in food and traditional Chinese medicine. Corosolic acid (CA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, which is an active component of hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge. var. major), has been exhibiting various pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, antibacterial, anticancer, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant effects. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of CA on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in mice induced by 60 kcal% high-fat diet (HFD) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl

This paper discusses the effect and evaluation of echocardiography based on lipid nano contrast agent on patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation in cardiology department, providing reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Fifty two patients with diastolic heart failure diagnosed by echocardiography were selected for routine echocardiographic examination after optimizing the drug treatment scheme, and then the patients underwent treadmill exercise test and stress echocardiography evaluation. The results of conventional echocardiography and stress echocardiography after treatment were compared with those before treatment, and the clinical parameters and biochemical indexes before and after treatment were compared. Results after treatment, the clinical symptoms of the patients improved, the level of NT proBNP in the N-terminal forebrain decreased significantly, and the exercise tolerance increased significantly. Compared with the conventional echocardiography before and after treatment, the left ratio and e′ value of stress echocardiography after treatment increased significantly, while E/e′ decreased significantly. There was no significant difference in the indexes of general echocardiography before and after treatment. After treatment, positively correlated with the ratio of peak a to peak E. The results show that the sensitivity of stress echocardiography to evaluate ischemic diastolic heart failure has been improved, and some indexes have clinical significance. Compared with conventional echocardiography, it can effectively evaluate the therapeutic effect of drugs.

The optical, physical and mechanical properties of bulk crystalline materials might be improved by thermal annealing experiments. In this paper, we designed and self-manufactured a thermal annealing equipment for bulk crystalline materials. The temperature, stress distributions as well as airflow vectors in the equipment were carefully studied by the Finite Element Method. By using this equipment, we performed various of the thermal annealing experiments for KDP crystals in air, vacuum, N2 and H2, and we firstly found that its optical homogeneity can be greatly increased by annealing in H2, and whereas no obvious effect in air and N2. In addition, the thermal and stress field distributions in the annealing materials were also investigated, which has a guidance to avoid the local stress production and even break for the annealing materials.

This paper explores the deep cultural meaning of the culture-loaded terms and analyzes their corresponding translation strategies by taking Health and Pleasure (Yi Yang Bu) as the data, a chapter in Li Yu’s Casual Expressions of Idle Feeling (Xian Qing Ou Ji). The research and the practical analysis work is carried out under the guidance of Halliday’s Cultural Context Theory and Appiah’s Thick Translation Theory. The purpose of the research is to find out how to achieve context equivalence in the translation of culture-loaded terms of the Chinese Classics.

In this work, low-toxicity fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) based photoelectrochemical sensors were developed for H2O2 and glucose detection. Herein, the processes used to fabricate the sensors and the photoelectrochemical performances of the sensors under different conditions were presented. Based on the energy band levels of the AuNCs and electron tunneling processes, a detailed photoelectrochemical sensing model was given. The designed sensors were then used for H2O2 and glucose detection without any extra modification of the AuNCs or complex enzyme immobilization. The results demonstrate that the AuNCs allow for H2O2 sensing based on their capacity for both fluorescence and catalysis. Indeed, it was observed that H2O2 was catalyzed by the AuNCs and reduced by photoinduced electrons derived from excited AuNCs. Furthermore, an enhancement in photocurrent amplitude followed the increase in the concentrations of H2O2 and glucose. The effects of the types of ligands surrounding the AuNCs and the applied potential on the output photocurrent were well studied to optimize the measurement conditions. The sensitivity and LOD of MUA-AuNCs at −500 mV were 4.33 nA/mM and 35 μM, respectively. All experimental results indicated that AuNCs could not only serve as a promising photoelectrical material for building the photoelectrochemical biosensors but as catalysts for H2O2 sensing.

The organic nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal OH1 (2-(3-(4-hydroxystyryl)-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-enylidene) malononitrile) was grown by the seeded solution growth method with size up to 11 x 11 x 10 mm(3). The cooling rate would affect the crystal formation and lead to the different shapes of OH1 crystals. The hydrogen-bond interactions between the OH1 molecules played a prominent influence on the molecular alignment and the direction of crystal growth. Furthermore, the OH1 crystals grown horn the seeds on different orientations would form different morphologies. X-ray rocking curve showed good quality of the grown crystals. Continuous stiffness measurement showed that the hardness of the OH1 (100) and (111) plane was about 0.67 GPa and 0.51 GPa, while the Young's modulus was about 9.68 GPa and 11.91 GPa, respectively. The transmission spectra in the range of 0.5-20 mu m was measured and there was a transmission window appearing in the mid-infrared waveband of 4-6 mu m. With the OH1 crystal obtained, continuous THz wave radiation ranging from 0.25 to 3.0 THz was generated by an optical rectification method, which was two times as large as that generated from ZnTe in the low frequency band. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sm 3+ -doped La 2 CaB 10 O 19 (Sm:LCB) crystal with size of 40×25×15 mm 3 has been grown by the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of Sm:LCB were measured at room temperature, and the fundamental spectral parameters, including transition probability A , fluorescence branch ratio β c , radioactive lifetime τ r , emission cross-sections σ em and intensity parameters Ω t (2,4,6) , have been calculated by applying the Judd–Ofelt theory. In Sm:LCB crystal, a strong 599 nm orange fluorescence emitting peak was observed under 410 nm excitation, which may be applied in the medicine and biological detection. Sm:LCB crystal may be a promising orange laser material.

A3 0� 20 � 8m m 3 Na3La2(BO3)3 crystal has been grown by the top-seeded solution growth method (TSSG) using Na2O–B2O3–NaF as flux. The refractive indices at thirteen wavelengths from 0.2537 to 2.325 μm were accurately measured by the minimum deviation method, and the Sellmeier equations were accordingly constructed. The nonlinear optical (NLO) coefficients were measured by the Maker fringe method, which gave results of d31 ¼1.45 pm/V, d32¼0.67 pm/V, and d33 ¼� 1.06 pm/V, respectively. For second-harmonic generation (SHG) of 1064 nm, the effective NLO coefficient (deff) of type I phase-matching reaches the maximum value (1.44 pm/V) at the phase-matching angles θ¼77.01, ϕ¼212.11, which is larger than that of LiB3O5 (LBO). First-principle calculations suggest that Na3La2(BO3)3 possesses two types of NLO-active atom groups, BO3 group with π-orbital system and La-centered polyhedron with large polar displacement, of which the latter could be considered as a new type of NLOactive atom group.

Pure or rare-earth-ion-doped La2CaB10O19(LCB) is a promising optical material for nonlinear frequency conversion, laser and self-frequency doubling applications. In this paper, the thermophysical properties of Nd3+-doped LCB (Nd:LCB) crystals were measured and compared with those of pure and of Yb3+- and Er3+-doped LCB, as well as other borate nonlinear optical crystals. The melting points of rare-earth-doped LCB crystals are lower than that of pure LCB. Thermal expansion coefficients along thea,b,c,c*,a*, 〈110〉 and 〈110〉* directions have been measured, and the principal expansion coefficients were calculated to be 1.85 × 10−6, 4.13 × 10−6and 8.79 × 10−6 K−1. The measured specific heat of Nd:LCB is lower than that of pure LCB, resulting in a larger internal temperature gradient under irradiation by a pulsed laser beam. The measured thermal expansion anisotropy of Nd:LCB is stronger than that of pure LCB. The thermal conductivities of Nd:LCB along thecandc* directions are smaller than those along other crystallographic directions.

Single crystals of NaBa(4)Al(2)B(8)O(18)Cl(3) have been grown with sizes up to 34 × 34 × 16 mm(3) from the NaF-LiCl flux by the top-seeded solution growth method. The compound crystallizes in the tetragonal system, space group P4(2)nm, with a = 12.0480 (16) Å, c = 6.8165 (11) Å, α = β = γ = 90°, and two formula units per cell. The NaBa(4)Al(2)B(8)O(18)Cl(3) compound is built up of infinite anionic groups of [AlB(4)O(12)](9-) formed by two BO(4) tetrahedra, one AlO(4) tetrahedra, and two BO(3) triangles. Optical properties including ultraviolet transmission, IR spectrum, and second-harmonic generation of NaBa(4)Al(2)B(8)O(18)Cl(3) crystals were reported. Refractive indices were measured by the minimum deviation technique and fitted to the Sellmeier equations. Thermal properties such as the DSC and thermal expansion were reported. The mechanical properties including the hardness, density, and chemical stability were also reported.

A series of potassium barium rare earth borates, KBaRE(B3O6)2 (RE = Y, Eu, and Tb), have been synthesized with solid state reaction techniques. Single crystals of the first member of the series, KBaY(B3O6)2, have been grown via spontaneous crystallization. Single crystal X-ray diffraction results show that KBaY(B3O6)2 belongs to the trigonal system, space group R 3 ¯ with cell parameters of a = 7.1677(10) A, c = 17.588(4) A, and Z = 3. The nearly planar B3O6 groups serve as the fundamental building units, which are distributed layer upon layer along the c axis. Regular YO6 octahedra and irregular Ba/KO9 polyhedra alternately locate between the B3O6 layers and form YO6 and Ba/KO9 polyhedra layers, respectively. DSC analysis shows that the melting point of KBaY(B3O6)2 is 989 °C, and the X-ray powder diffraction pattern of melted KBaY(B3O6)2 crystal confirms that it melts incongruently. The photoluminescence properties of KBaEu(B3O6)2 and KBaTb(B3O6)2 under UV excitation have also been investigated.

A single crystal of size 5×5×2 mm3 of the organic nonlinear optical salt DSTMS (4-N,N-dimethylamino-4′-N′-methyl-stilbazolium 2,4,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonate) was grown from solution with seed applied, where growth conditions were optimized. The crystal morphology and growth habit of DSTMS in the presence of seed crystal have been investigated and discussed in the paper. Powder XRD, DSC, TG, FTIR, and transmission and Raman spectroscopies have been applied to characterize the crystallographic structure, and optical and thermal properties of DSTMS. Based on the spectral data, the mechanisms of pronounced nonlinear optical properties of DSTMS are found to be correlated to its bonds in both cation and anion.

La 2 CaB 10 O 19 (LCB) is a new NLO crystal, in which Nd 3+ can be doped with different concentrations to be self-frequency doubling crystals. We obtained seven LCB crystals with different Nd 3+ concentrations grown by flux method. Refractive indices, absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra of the seven LCB crystals with various Nd 3+ doping concentrations have been measured and evaluated. It has been found that the 5 mol% Nd doped LCB crystal is most appropriate to be a laser material, by fitting the absorption spectrum with the Judd-Ofelt theory, radiative lifetime τ r of Nd 3+ in the 5 mol% Nd doped LCB crystal is determined to be 237.8 μs. For the 5 mol% Nd doped LCB crystal, the absorption cross section at 799 nm and the emission cross section at 1050 nm are 4.52 × 10 ―20 and 1.29 x 10 ―19 cm 2 , respectively. The measured fluorescence lifetime τ f of the 5 mol% Nd doped LCB crystal is 85 μs and its quantum efficiency is 35.7%.

Using Na 2 CO 3 –H 3 BO 3 –NaF as fluxes, transparent RE :Na 3 La 9 O 3 (BO 3 ) 8 (abbr. RE :NLBO, RE =Er, Yb) crystals have been grown by the top seed solution growth (TSSG) method. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis shows that the RE :NLBO crystals have the same structure with NLBO. The element contents were determined by molar to be 0.64% Er 3+ in Er:NLBO, 2.70% Yb 3+ in Yb:NLBO, respectively. The polarized absorption spectra of RE :NLBO have been measured at room temperature and show that both Er:NLBO and Yb:NLBO have a strong absorption bands near 980 nm with wide FWHM (Full Wave at Half Maximum) (21 nm for Er:NLBO and 25 nm for Yb:NLBO). Fluorescence spectra have been recorded. Yb:NLBO has the emission peaks at 985 nm, 1028 nm and 1079 nm and the emission peak of Er:NLBO is at 1536 nm. Spectral parameters have been calculated by the Judd–Ofelt theory for Er:NLBO and the reciprocity method for Yb:NLBO, respectively. The calculated values show that Er:NLBO is a candidate of 1.55 μm laser crystals and Yb:NLBO is a candidate for self-frequency doubling crystal.

A series of pure and Nd3+-doped La2CaB10O19 (LCB) crystals have been grown along different crystallographic directions, [001], [010], [100], [101], ∼[±1,−1,0], and ∼[±1,1,0], respectively, by the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. The effect of seed orientations on the morphologies and the key limiting factors for obtaining high-usage LCB crystals were carefully analyzed. Using the improved method, we grew successfully the high-usage pure and Nd3+-doped LCB crystals with high quality and sizes up to 55 × 35 × 20 mm3, which were larger, and their morphologies were much more suitable for optical applications than those of the available literature.

Pr3+ doped La2CaB10O19 crystal were grown by the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. The absorption spectra, emission spectra and lifetime were measured at room temperature. The J-O parameters (Ωt, t=2,4,6), the radiative transition probabilities AJ, J', oscillator strengths PJ, J', radiative lifetime τ, fluorescence branch ratios βJ and the value of integrated emission cross section have also been calculated. Five main absorption bands, 3H4 to 3P1+3P2, 3P0, 1D2, 3F3 +3F4 and 3F2, were observed in the absorption spectra. The 1G4 absorption band was not observed. A very strong emission band at 601 nm (1D2 → 3H4) was observed in the emission spectra. The experimental lifetime for this level was compared with that obtained theoretically by using J-O approach.

A non-centrosymmetric fluoride borate, Ba3Sr4(BO3)3F5, has been synthesized by solid state reaction techniques, and a single crystal was grown by the top-seeded solution growth method using NaF as flux. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows the structure to be hexagonal with space group P63mc (No. 186) and the following cell parameters: a = b = 10.8953(16) A, c = 6.9381(15) A, and Z = 2. It exhibits an intricate 3-dimensional framework of interconnecting Ba(1)O(1)3O(2)4F(2) polyhedra, Sr(1)O(2)4F(1)2F(3) polyhedra, Sr(2)O(2)6F(1)3F(3) polyhedra, and isolated BO3 triangles. The infrared spectrum indicates that the Ba3Sr4(BO3)3F5 crystal contains characteristic BO33− groups as its basic structural units, which is consistent with the crystallographic study. The transparency spectrum shows that the as-grown crystal is transparent in the wavelength range of 270 to 2550 nm, the highest transmittance exceeds 85%, and the UV cutoff wavelength is about 210 nm.The thermal analysis shows that it is chemica...

K2Zn3(P2O7)2was synthesized by solid state reaction and its crystal structure was determined byab initiomethod from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The title compound was determined to be orthorhombic with space groupP212121,Z=4, and lattice parametersa=12.901(8) Å,b=10.102(6) Å, andc=9.958(1) Å. Values of lattice parameters from 303 to 573 K were measured by temperature-dependent XRD. Thermal expansion coefficientsα0, lattice parameters, and cell volume at 0 K were determined to beα0(a)=1.62327×10−4/K,a0=12.855(4) Å,α0(b)=1.17921×10−4/K,b0=10.070(8) Å,α0(c)=2.62364×10−4/K,c0=9.880(4) Å, andα0(V)=6.599×10−2/K,V0=1278.967(0) Å3. The specific heat equation as a function of temperature was determined to beCp=0.77115+0.00231T−1241.60027T−2−1.4133×10−6T2(J/K g), for temperatures from 198 to 710 K. The melting point estimated from theμ-DTA heating curve is 795 °C.

Winter jujube, a species that originated in China, is the most prominent elite variety of jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.). Due to its economic value and its recalcitrance to improvements through traditional plant breeding approaches, genetic transformation techniques may have a great potential in providing the means to transfer one or more selected desirable traits into the plant genome. We reported here an improved protocol for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of shoot tips of winter jujube. We have identified a set of optimum transformation conditions that take into account Agrobacterium inoculum density, Agrobacterium incubation period, co-cultivation conditions, and vacuum (use of a vacuum pump to create a negative-pressure environment). The highest transformation frequency (5.2%) was obtained when the shoot-tip explants were infected for 10 min and co-cultured for 4 days with Agrobacterium at OD600 0.8 under a negative pressure of 0.5 × 105 Pa. PCR and southern blot analyses confirmed the presence of transgenic plants and the stable integration of the target gene into the genome of regenerated plants. A histochemical staining analysis for GUS activity in the transgenic shoot tips also validated the efficiency of the transformation system.

A new compound, Na2Zn5(PO4)(4), was identified in the system ZnO-Na2O-P2O5 and high-quality crystal was obtained by the melt method. The crystal structure of this compound was solved by direct method from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure was then refined anisotropically using a full-matrix least square refinement on F-2 and the refinement converged to R-1 = 0.0233 and wR(2) = 0.0544. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with space group Pbcn, lattice parameters a=10.381(2) angstrom, b=8.507(1) angstrom, c = 16.568(3) angstrom and Z = 4. The structure is made up of 3D [Zn5P4O16](n)(2n-) covalent framework consisting of [Zn4P4O16](n)(4n-) layers. The powder diffraction pattern of Na9Zn21(PO4)(17) is explained by simulating a theoretical pattern with NaZnPO4 and Na2Zn5(PO4)(4) in the molar ratio of 1:4 and then by Rietveld refinement of experimental pattern. Na2Zn5(PO4)(4) melts congruently at 855 degrees C and its conductivity is 5.63 x 10(-9) S/cm. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Single crystals of Yb, Nd: KLu(WO4)2 (Yb, Nd: KLW) of dimensions up to 40mm× 40mm×5mm have been grown by top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. X-ray powder diffraction pattern was measured and compared with that of Nd: KLuW and Yb: KLuW. Absorption and fluorescence spectra were measured at room temperature. The Judd-Ofelt theory was applied to analyze the spectrum of Nd, Yb: KLuW crystal. The intensity parameters Ωt (t=2, 4 and 6) were calculated as Ω2=20.68×10-20cm2, Ω4=11.04×10-20cm2, Ω6=6.74×10-20cm2 respectively, with a root mean square deviation of 0.58×10-20 cm2. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Growth mechanisms on the {1 1 0} and {3 1 0} faces of KLu(WO4)2 crystals for the case of top-seeded solution growth technique have been investigated using ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). Both 2D nuclei and spiral hillocks are imaged simultaneously on the {1 1 0} surfaces. A special dislocation sources structure with the Burgers vectors perpendicular to the {1 1 0} crystal face of b = 8 are discussed. The 2D nuclei with elementary-step height are distributed in the direction of the strong PBC [1 0 1], indicative of anisotropic surface diffusion or step edge energy. Straight step trains are observed on the {3 1 0} surfaces of KLuW and they move towards to [0 0 1] directions. It was confirmed that the growth proceeds by both screw dislocation sources and 2D nucleus on the {1 1 0} surfaces and by simple flow of steps on {3 1 0} surfaces.

The crystals of Sm3+-doped KLu(WO4)2 with large dimensions up to 40 mm × 33 mm × 13 mm have been grown by the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. The spectral and luminescent properties have been investigated. Based on the Judd–Ofelt theory, the following spectral parameters have been obtained: the phenomenological intensity parameters Ωt, Ω2 = 15.728 × 10−20 cm2, Ω4 = 4.223 × 10−20 cm2 and Ω6 = 2.839 × 10−20 cm2, radiative transition probabilities A J , J ′ and oscillator strengths P J , J ′ . The radiative lifetime of levels 4G5/2 is 748 μs. However, the measured emission lifetime is τem = 569 μs. The quantum efficiency is very low because of the excited state absorption. In addition, the values of integrated emission cross-sections are also calculated.

Single crystal of Yb, Tm:KLu(WO4)2 (Yb, Tm:KLuW) with the size of 47×32×15 mm3 has been grown by the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. The absorption spectrum was measured at room temperature. The measured specific heat is lower than that of KGd(WO4)2 (0.502 J/g K) at 100 °C, but it is similar to that of Yb:KLuW (0.365 J/g K) at 90 °C. The measured mean linear coefficients of thermal expansion are αc=16.61×10−6 K−1, αc*=15.04×10−6 K−1, αa=11.91×10−6 K−1, αa*=11.50×10−6 K−1, αb=5.91×10−6 K−1. The thermal conductivity coefficients are 2.71, 2.60, 2.22, 3.32 and 3.14 W/mK at 30 °C along the a, a*, b, c* and c directions, respectively. The results indicate that the crystal has a large anisotropy. The large anisotropy indicated that we should heat or cool the crystal with the temperature changing at a lower speed.

Tungstate crystals including potassium rare earth metal double tungstates KRE(WO 4 ) 2 and barium tungstate BaWO 4 are reliable and efficient Raman active crystals. In this paper, we report on the growth, physical properties and laser performance of these crystals. The pump threshold of Nd: KLu(WO 4 ) 2 pumped by a laser diode (LD) is 24 mW, and up to 188.3 mW of cw output at 1.073 μm is obtained with 746 mW pump power. The optical conversion efficiency is 25.3%, and the slope efficiency of the laser is 26.1%. The cw output for Yb:KLu(WO 4 ) 2 at 1.03 μm is 3.4 W pumped by an LD. Below 0.25 mJ pump energy, we obtained 0.07 mJ Raman laser output in the yellow (the first Stokes line at 559.7 nm) and the orange (the second Stokes line at 590.3 nm) with a 30-mm-long c -axis-oriented BaWO 4 crystal. The conversion efficiency of the Raman laser is about 28%.

KLu(WO4)2 (KLuW) crystals with sizes up to 42×32×12 mm3 have been grown from the K2W2O7 solvent system by the top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) slow-cooling method. The crystal structure of monoclinic KLuW crystals has been refined in space group C2/c at room temperature by using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and the KLuW morphology was studied from the Hartman–Perdok theory. Crystal shapes vary greatly with the seed orientations, whereas {1 1 0}, {1¯ 1 1}, {0 2 0} and {3 1 0} faces are more developed than the others.

La 3 Ga 5 Si 14 (LGS) is a congruently-melt crystal and can be grown with Czochralski method. The growth conditions for LGS crystals are carefully investigated. Optical quality (instead of piezoelectric quality) LGS crystals with the size larger than 50 mm have been grown. And these crystals are suitable for use of EO Q-switch. By X-ray topography, together with optical microscopic observations for LGS samples, the core part of the as-grown crystal was determined as a collection of band of dislocations.

Various kinds of doped KTiOPO4 and its analogue crystals including KTiAsO4(KTA) and RbTiOAsO4(RTA) crystals have been grown with a flux method. The UV cutoff, variation and IR transmission of these crystals are determined. The homogeneity of the crystals is also observed with optical and X-ray topography. Results show that KTA and RTA possess the best IR transmission. The homogeneity of Ce:KTP or KTP is better than the others. The UV cutoff edge of the various kinds of KTP crystals is similar. Conductivity measurements revealed that the value of the conductivity of Rb and Ga doped KTP was 2–3 orders of magnitude lower than that of KTP crystals grown with the flux method. By using a Ga:KTP crystal, a periodic structure was constructed. The negative side of the periodic structure is not as regular as the positive side. The relationship between the reduction of conductivity and the homogeneity of the KTP family crystals is discussed. To meet the needs for low conductivity KTP crystals, more attempts should be made to reduce the conductivity as well as to understand its mechanism.

C-axis preferred oriented ZnO thin films were prepared on quartz substrates by RF sputtering. Photoconductive ultraviolet detector with planar interdigital electrodes was fabricated on ZnO thin film by the lift off technique. Linear I-V characteristic was observed under dark or 365 nm UV light illumination and has obvious difference. The photoresponsivity of 365 nm at 5 V bias is 18 A/W. The response time measure set mainly contains KrF excimer laser with the pulse width of 30 ns and the oscillograph with the bandwidth of 200 MHz. The result shows fast photoresponse with a rise time of 100 ns and fall time of 1.5 mu s. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Large-aperture potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystals are unique candidates for Pockels cells and frequency-doubling devices used in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). However, the low damage threshold of KDP greatly limits the application in all fields. This paper reviews the studies of laser-induced damage mechanisms of KDP in recent years. In addition, our viewpoints about the paths to improve the optical qualities are also discussed.