A 16-term error model based on linear equations of voltage and current variables

Formulation of a 16-term error model, based on the four-port ABCD-matrix and voltage and current variables, is outlined. Matrices A, B, C, and D are each 2 x 2 submatrices of the complete 4 x 4 error matrix. The corresponding equations are linear in terms of the error parameters, which simplifies the calibration process. The parallelism with the network analyzer calibration procedures and the requirement of five two-port calibration measurements are stressed. Principles for robust choice of equations are presented. While the formulation is suitable for any network analyzer measurement, it is expected to be a useful alternative for the nonlinear y-parameter approach used in intrinsic semiconductor electrical and noise parameter measurements and parasitics' deembedding.

A microelectrode drive for long term recording of neurons in freely moving and chaired monkeys

An electrode drive is described for recordings of neurons in freely moving and chaired monkeys during the performance of behavioural tasks. The electrode drives are implanted for periods of up to 6 months, and can advance up to 42 electrodes using 14 independent drive mechanisms. The drive samples 288 points within a 12 mm x 12 min region, with 15 min of electrode travel. Major advantages are that recordings are made in freely moving monkeys, and these recordings can be compared with those in chaired experiments; waveforms of single neurons are stable, enabling prolonged recordings of the same neurons across periods of days; recordings can be made throughout the brain, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus; the drive accommodates both sharp microelectrodes and fine wire assemblies such as tetrodes. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V; All rights reserved.

Experimental Investigation of Performance of a Miniature Direct Methanol Fuel Cell in Short-Term Microgravity

Experimental study of a liquid fed direct methanol fuel cell has been conducted in different gravity environments. A small single cell with 5 cm x 5 cm active area has single serpentine channel on the graphite cathode polar plate and 11 parallel straight channels on the graphite anode flow bed. Cell voltage and current have been measured and two-phase flow in anode channels has been in situ visually observed. The experimental results indicate that the effect of gravity on power performance of the direct methanol fuel cell is large when the concentration polarization governs fuel cells operation. Gravitational effect becomes larger at higher current density. Increasing methanol feeding molarity is conducive to weaken the influence of gravity on performance of liquid fed direct methanol fuel cells. Increasing feeding flow rate of methanol solution from 6 to 15 ml/min could reduce the size of carbon dioxide bubbles, while the influence of gravity still exist. Transport phenomena inside direct methanol fuel cells in microgravity is also analyzed and discussed.

Effect of long-term cryopreservation on physiological characteristics, antioxidant activities and lipid peroxidation of red seabream (Pagrus major) sperm

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of long-term cryopreservation on physiological characteristics, the antioxidant activities and lipid peroxidation of red seabream sperm which were respectively cryopreserved with 15% dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO) for 1 month, 13 months, 26 months, 48 months and 73 months. The motility and fertility of post-thaw sperm decreased with the storage time going on. The highest motility (87.67 +/- 2.52%) was obtained in sperm cryopreserved for 1 month and the lowest (50.67 +/- 5.31%) was in sperm for 73 months. There were no significant differences (p < 0.05) in fertilization rates of sperm cryopreserved for 1 month (71.33 +/- 8.84%), 13 months (69.22 +/- 1.02%) and 26 months (60.33 +/- 2.33%); however, the sperm fertility decreased significantly for 48 months (47.22 +/- 3.89%) and 73 months (39.56 +/- 0.69%) storage. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of sperm were at a stable level for less than 26 months storage, then, decreased significantly after 48 months storage. Catalase (CAT) activities of sperm cryopreserved for 13 months, 26 months, 48 months and 73 months were significantly lower than that for 1 month. There were no significant differences in the malondialdehyde (MDA) level of sperm for less than 13 months storage. After 26 months storage, the concentration of MDA increased significantly, and the highest concentration (3.22 +/- 0.05 nmol/mgprot) was obtained in 73 months storage sperm. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Short-term effect of targeted placements of sheep excrement on grassland in inner mongolia on soil and plant parameters

Grazing animal excrement plays an important role in nutrient cycling and redistribution in grazing ecosystems, due to grazing in large areas and return in small areas. To elucidate the changes to the soil and pasture caused by sheep urine, fresh dung, and compost patches, a short- term field experiment using artificially placed pats was set up in the autumn of 2003 in the Inner Mongolian steppe. Urine application significantly increased soil pH during the first 32 days in soil layers at depths of both 0 - 5 cm and 5 - 15 cm. Rapid hydrolysis of urea gave large amounts of urine- nitrogen ( N) as ammonium ( NH4+) in soil extracts and was followed by apparent nitrification from day 2. Higher inorganic N content in the urine- treated soil was found throughout the experiment compared with the control. No significant effects of sheep excrement on soil microbial carbon ( C) and soil microbial N was found, but microbial activities significantly increased compared with the control after application of sheep excrement. Forty- six percent of dung- N and 27% of compost- N were transferred into vegetation after the experiment. The results from this study suggest that large amounts of nutrients have been lost from the returned excrement patches in the degraded grassland of Inner Mongolia, especially from sheep urine- N.

Photosynthesis of Saussurea superba and Gentiana straminea is not reduced after long-term enhancement of UV-B radiation

Experiments were conducted in an alpine Kobresia humilis meadow near Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station (37degrees29'-37degrees45'N, 101degrees12'-101degrees33'E; altitude 3200 m). Effects of enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on photosynthesis of the alpine plants of Saussurea superba and Gentiana straminea were investigated. Both species were exposed to a UV-B-BE density at 15.80 kJ m(-2) per day, simulating nearly 14% ozone (O-3) reduction during the plant growing season. Neither photosynthetic CO2 uptake rate nor photosynthetic O-2 evolution rate were decreased after a long period of enhanced UV-B radiation treatment. On the contrary, there was a tendency to increase of both parameters in both species. The photosynthetic pigments were also increased, when expressed on a leaf area basis. UV-B absorbing compounds, detected by the absorbance values at 300 mm, had a tendency to increase in both species after enhanced UV-B radiation. After long-term exposure of plants to enhanced UV-B radiation, leaf morphology was also affected. Leaf thickness in both S. superba and G. straminea were increased significantly (P < 0.001). This supports our hypothesis that the increase of leaf thickness in both species after long-term exposure of enhanced UV-B radiation could compensate for the photodestruction of photosynthetic pigments when light passes through the leaf. Therefore, photosynthesis is not reduced in either species when expressed on leaf area basis. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Short-term variation of CO2 flux in relation to environmental controls in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

[1] The alpine meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau may play a significant role in the regional carbon cycle. To assess the CO2 flux and its relationship to environmental controls in the ecosystem, eddy covariance of CO2, H2O, and energy fluxes was measured with an open-path system in an alpine meadow on the plateau at an elevation of 3,250 m. Net ecosystem CO2 influx (Fc) averaged 8.8 g m(-2) day(-1) during the period from August 9 to 31, 2001, with a maximum of 15.9 g m(-2) day(-1) and a minimum of 2.3 g m(-2) day(-1). Daytime Fc averaged 16.7 g m(-2) day(-1) and ranged from 10.4 g m(-2) day(-1) to 21.7 g m(-2) day(-1) during the study period. For the same photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), gross CO2 uptake (Gc) was significantly higher on cloudy days than on clear days. However, mean daily Gc was higher on clear days than on cloudy days. With high PPFD, Fc decreased as air temperature increased from 10degreesC to 23degreesC. The greater the difference between daytime and nighttime air temperatures, the more the sink was strengthened. Daytime average water use efficiency of the ecosystem (WUEe) was 8.7 mg (CO2)(g H2O)(-1); WUEe values ranged from 5.8 to 15.3 mg (CO2)(g H2O)(-1). WUEe increased with the decrease in vapor pressure deficit. Daily albedo averaged 0.20, ranging from 0.19 to 0.22 during the study period, and was negatively correlated with daily Fc. Our measurements provided some of the first evidence on CO2 exchange for a temperate alpine meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, which is necessary for assessing the carbon budget and carbon cycle processes for temperate grassland ecosystems.