Anisotropic, gradient and metal-like mechanical behaviors of teeth and their implications on tooth functions

The anisotropy and gradient of the elastic modulus and the hardness of teeth were investigated by means of instrumented indentation method. Such properties are attributed to the unique microstructures of teeth based on scanning electron microscopic analysis. By comparing the relationship between the ratio of hardness to the reduced elastic modulus and the ratio of elastic unloading work to the total work of teeth in course of indentation to those of other materials, we found that the material behaviors of teeth display metal-like characteristics rather than ceramics as considered traditionally. These material behaviors and relevant functions are discussed briefly.

Experimental and numerical study on power consumptions in a double-tube-socket pneumatic conveying system

A new methodology is proposed in this paper to predict the lowest power consumption for a double-tube-socket (DTS) pneumatic conveying system. This methodology is established on both experimental work and numerical simulation. After parametric studies by numerical simulation, the desired conveying cases which have the lowest power consumption were obtained. Finally those cases were carried out in our experimental system. The measured power consumption was close to that predicted. In this paper the experimental work is discussed and the numerical simulation introduced. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

CFD analysis of pneumatic conveying in a double-tube-socket (DTS (R)) pipe

A pipeline with a bypass is widely used for the pneumatic conveying of material. The double-tube-socket (DTS (R)) technology, which uses a special inner bypass, represents the current state of the art. Here, a new methodology is proposed based on the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to predict the energy consumption of DTS conveying. The predicted results are in good agreement with those from pilot-scale experiments. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

NEW METHODOLOGY FOR THE ESTIMATION OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN A DOUBLE-TUBE-SOCKET (DTS (R)) PNEUMATIC CONVEYING

A new methodology based on the use of CFD is proposed to estimate the energy consumptions in a DTS (DOUBLE-TUBE-SOCKET) pneumatic conveying. A simple computational program based on this methodology is developed. It can directly give the lowest energy consumption and the compatible gas consumption by only input the distance of conveying and the conveying tonnage. This computational program has been validated through our experimental work.

Effect of dentin tubules on the mechanical properties of dentin - part III: Numerical, analysis

Imitating a real tooth and the periodontal supporting tissues, we have established a 2D finite element model and carried out a numerical analysis based on the inhomogeneous and anisotropic (IA) stress-strain relation and strength model of dentin proposed in the preceding Parts I and II, and the conventional homogeneous and isotropic (III) model, respectively. Quite a few cases of loadings for a non-defected and a defected tooth are considered. The numerical results show that the stress level predicted by the IA model is remarkably higher than that by the III model, revealing that the effect of the dentin tubules should be taken into a serious consideration from the viewpoint of biomechanics.

双套管密相气力输运过程的数值模拟和能耗分析

基于计算流体力学理论,提出一种可用于预测双套管密相气力输送系统能耗的新方法.与以往依靠经验的计算方法不同,本工作将输送管道分为起始段与充分发展段两部分,分别进行详细的计算流体力学模拟后汇总得出整个系统的总能耗.压力梯度为750 Pa/m的情况下,计算所得物料输送速率为10 t/h,耗气量为290 m~3/h,实验所得物料输送速率为8.0 t/h,耗气量240 m~3/h,证明本数模方法是可靠的.

High-efficiency reflective diffraction gratings in fused silica as (de)multiplexers at 1.55 mu m for dense wavelength division multiplexing application

We describe high-efficiency, high-dispersion reflection gratings fabricated in bulk fused Silica illuminated by incident lights in the C + L bands as (de)multiplexers for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) application. Based on the phenomenon of total internal reflection, gratings with optimized profile parameters exhibit diffraction efficiencies of more than 90% under TM- and TE-polarized incident lights for 101-nm spectral bandwidths (1520-1620 nm) and can reach an efficiency of greater than 97% for both polarizations at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Without loss of metal absorption, without coating of dielectric film layers, and independent of tooth shape, this new kind of grating should be of great interest for DWDM application. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Ectopic Six3 expression in the dragon eye goldfish

For goldfish (Carassius auratus), there are many varieties with different eye phenotypes due to artificial selection and adaptive evolution. Dragon eye is a variant eye characterized by a large-size eyeball protruding out of the socket similar to the eye of dragon in Chinese legends. In this study, anatomical structure of the goldfish dragon eye was compared with that of the common eye, and a stretching of the retina was observed in the enlarged dragon eye. Moreover, the homeobox-containing transcription factor Six3 cDNAs were cloned from the two types of goldfish, and the expression patterns were analyzed in both normal eye and dragon eye goldfish. No amino acid sequence differences were observed between the two deduced peptides, and the expression pattern of Six3 protein in dragon eye is quite similar to common eye during embryogenesis, but from 2 days after hatching, ectopic Six3 expression began to occur in the dragon eye, especially in the outer nuclear layer cells. With eye development, more predominant Six3 distribution was detected in the outer nuclear layer cells of dragon eye than that of normal eye, and fewer cell-layers in outer nuclear layer were observed in dragon eye retina than in normal eye retina. The highlight of this study is that higher Six3 expression occurs in dragon eye goldfish than in normal eye goldfish during retinal development of larvae. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Description of a new genus and two new species of labeonine fishes from South China (Teleostei : Cyprinidae)

A new genus and two new species are described from the Pearl River drainage in Guangxi Province, South China. Hongshuia, new genus, can be distinguished from all other Asian genera of the Labeonini by having a lower lip with its median lobe modified into a round, fleshy plate peripherally greatly protruded so as to form a ring-like fold that is posteromedially continuous with the mental region, and centrally sunken so as to form a round, flat, fleshy pad. This genus is distinct from all other Asian labeonine genera of the Garrina except for one newly described species of Parasinilabeo ( P. longibarbus), Pseudocrossocheilus, and Sinocrossocheilus, in the presence of well-developed maxillary barbels. Hongshuia differs from the above three genera in the lower lip morphology, and further from both Pseudocrossocheilus and Qianlabeo in the number of pharyngeal tooth rows and from Sinocrossocheilus in the colour pattern. Two new species, H. banmo and H. paoli, differ in the distribution density and degree of development of papillae on the rostral fold, depth of indentations on the distal edge of the rostral fold, presence or absence of papillae on the lower lip, size and shape of tubercles on the tip of the snout and anterior portion of the lachrymal, length, position and colour pattern of the dorsal fin, and snout length.

Redescription of Nais inflata Liang (Annelida : Oligochaeta) from China

Nais inflata Liang 1963 is redescribed on the basis of fully mature specimens collected from several localities of the Yangtze River and Yellow River. The observations and redescription resulting from the study of mature specimens supports N. inflata as a valid species. This species is characterized by a thickened body, the ventral crotchets all of the same type with distal tooth usually longer than proximal one, a greater number of dorsal chaetae per bundle, stout dorsal needles with equal minute bifid teeth (<1 mu m), presence of penial chaetae, and prostate glands on vasa deferentia instead of atria. The species is most closely related to N. communis Piguet, 1906 and N. variabilis Piguet, 1906. A table comparing allied species is provided.

Linichthys: A new genus of Chinese cyprinid fishes (Teleostei : Cypriniformes)

yLinichthys, new genus, is proposed for Barbodes laticeps Lin and Zhang, 1986. It can be separated from all other genera of Asian Barbinae in having a shallow depression extending along the median portion of the upper lip. Linichthys is superficially very similar to the type species of a monotypic Chinese cyprinid cavefish genus, Typhlobarbus nudiventris, in having an elongate and somewhat compressed body form, a truncate distal margin of the dorsal fin, and a soft and smooth last unbranched dorsal-fin ray, all of them being atypical for most of Asian barbins. The two genera differ in size of the eye and the number of rows of pharyngeal tooth. Although the same body form and/or structure of the dorsal fin are also shared with some species currently placed in other genera of Asian barbins, the recognition of Linichthys is warranted because of their marked differences in other characters. A redescription is also provided for the type species of the monotypic genus, Linichthys laticeps. It is known only from the upper and middle Zhu Jiang basin and the upper Chang Jiang basin in the city of Guiyang, Guizhou Province, South China.

Redescription of Difflugia tuberspinifera Hu, Shen, Gu et Gong, 1997 (Protozoa : Rhizopoda : Arcellinida : Difflugiidae) from China

The freshwater testate amoeba Difflugia tuberspinifera Hu et al. 1997 collected from pond and lake in China, is investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. This little known taxon is redescribed and its morphology, biometry and ecology are supplied. After carefully comparison with other six similar species including Difflugia bartosi Stepanek, D. corona Wallich, D. corona cashi Deflandre, D. corona tuberculata Vucetich, D. muriformis Gauthier-Lievre et Thomas and Netzelia tuberculata (Wallich) Netzal we believe that the sub-spherical to spherical shell, the mulberry-shaped appearance, the 7-10 apertural tooth-like structures, the short collar and the conical spines numbering from 4 to 8 at the upper equatorial region in D. tuberspinifera set it apart from other species. Besides, statistical analysis indicates that D. tuberspinifera is a size-monomorphic species characterized by a main-size class and a small size range and the shell height is significant correlated with other morphometric characters at p < 0.05 excepting the number of aperture tooth-like structures and the number of spines. Moreover, D. tuberspinifera inhabits not only lotic but also lentic environment.

Microorganisms linked to Neoproterozoic microspar carbonate sedimentation in the Jilin-Liaoning area

Molar-tooth carbonate refers to a sort of rock that has ptygmatical folded structure comparable to the ivory. This kind of carbonate exists in a special time range (from Middle to Neoproterozoic). Its origin and the possibility to use it in stratigraphic correlation of the paleocontinent is the key task of the IGCP447, a project on Proterozoic molar tooth carbonates and the evolution of the earth (2001-2005). The importance lies in that the molar-tooth structure is the key to solving problems related to Precambrian biological and global geochemical events. The molar-tooth structure is associated with microorganisms. Development and recession of such carbonates have relations with the evolution process of early lives and abrupt changes in sea carbonate geochemistry. In recent years, based on researches on petrology, geochemistry and Sr isotope of molar-tooth carbonate in the Jilin-Liaoning and Xuzhou-Huaiyang area, the authors hold that it can be used as a marker for stratigraphic sequence and sedimentary facies analyses.