An experiment that shaped the physics of the century

In this article it is pointed out how the different layers of substructure of matter were revealed to us by experiments which were essentially very similar to the famous α-particle scattering experiment performed by Rutherford. This experiment, which revealed the nuclear structure of an atom, paved the way towards our current understanding of the fundamental constituents of matter and shaped the course of physics for the 20th century.

Evaluation of census techniques to estimate the density of slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus) in Southern India

Reliable estimates of species density are fundamental to planning conservation strategies for any species; further, it is equally crucial to identify the most appropriate technique to estimate animal density. Nocturnal, small-sized animal species are notoriously difficult to census accurately and this issue critically affects their conservation status, We carried out a field study in southern India to estimate the density of slender loris, a small-sized nocturnal primate using line and strip transects. Actual counts of study individuals yielded a density estimate of 1.61 ha(-1); density estimate from line transects was 1.08 ha(-1); and density estimates varied from 1.06 ha(-1) to 0.59 ha(-1) in different fixed-width strip transects. We conclude that line and strip transects may typically underestimate densities of cryptic, nocturnal primates.

Resolution of Singularities for a Class of Hilbert Modules

Let M be the completion of the polynomial ring C(z) under bar] with respect to some inner product, and for any ideal I subset of C (z) under bar], let I] be the closure of I in M. For a homogeneous ideal I, the joint kernel of the submodule I] subset of M is shown, after imposing some mild conditions on M, to be the linear span of the set of vectors {p(i)(partial derivative/partial derivative(w) over bar (1),...,partial derivative/partial derivative(w) over bar (m)) K-I] (., w)vertical bar(w=0), 1 <= i <= t}, where K-I] is the reproducing kernel for the submodule 2] and p(1),..., p(t) is some minimal ``canonical set of generators'' for the ideal I. The proof includes an algorithm for constructing this canonical set of generators, which is determined uniquely modulo linear relations, for homogeneous ideals. A short proof of the ``Rigidity Theorem'' using the sheaf model for Hilbert modules over polynomial rings is given. We describe, via the monoidal transformation, the construction of a Hermitian holomorphic line bundle for a large class of Hilbert modules of the form I]. We show that the curvature, or even its restriction to the exceptional set, of this line bundle is an invariant for the unitary equivalence class of I]. Several examples are given to illustrate the explicit computation of these invariants.

Synthetic glutathione peroxidase mimics: effect of nucleophilicity of the aryl thiol cofactor on the antioxidant activity

Catalytic activity of a series of potent amide- and amine-based organoselenium compounds are studied in the presence of various aromatic thiols having electron donating and electron withdrawing substituents on the phenyl ring. This study suggests that the antioxidant activities of the synthetic GPx mimics can be significantly increased by the incorporation of a suitable electron donating group on the phenyl ring of an aromatic thiol.

Identification of local variations within secondary structures of proteins

Secondary-structure elements (SSEs) play an important role in the folding of proteins. Identification of SSEs in proteins is a common problem in structural biology. A new method, ASSP (Assignment of Secondary Structure in Proteins), using only the path traversed by the C atoms has been developed. The algorithm is based on the premise that the protein structure can be divided into continuous or uniform stretches, which can be defined in terms of helical parameters, and depending on their values the stretches can be classified into different SSEs, namely -helices, 3(10)-helices, -helices, extended -strands and polyproline II (PPII) and other left-handed helices. The methodology was validated using an unbiased clustering of these parameters for a protein data set consisting of 1008 protein chains, which suggested that there are seven well defined clusters associated with different SSEs. Apart from -helices and extended -strands, 3(10)-helices and -helices were also found to occur in substantial numbers. ASSP was able to discriminate non--helical segments from flanking -helices, which were often identified as part of -helices by other algorithms. ASSP can also lead to the identification of novel SSEs. It is believed that ASSP could provide a better understanding of the finer nuances of protein secondary structure and could make an important contribution to the better understanding of comparatively less frequently occurring structural motifs. At the same time, it can contribute to the identification of novel SSEs. A standalone version of the program for the Linux as well as the Windows operating systems is freely downloadable and a web-server version is also available at .

Homing abilities of the tropical primitively eusocial paper wasp Ropalidia marginata

Compared to our extensive knowledge about the navigation and homing abilities of ants and bees, we know rather little about these phenomena in social wasps. Here, we report the homing abilities of the tropical primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata and the factors that affect their homing success. To determine from how far these wasps can return to their nests, we transported foragers blindfold and released them at gradually increasing distances from their nests in four cardinal directions. Their homing success was determined by checking their presence on their nests on three consecutive nights. All foragers (56 individuals, 115 releases) returned back from an area of 0.73 +/- A 0.25 km(2) on the day of release (minimal homing area), whereas 83.8 % of the foragers (217 individuals, 420 releases) returned when we enlarged the area of release to 6.22 +/- A 0.66 km(2) around their nests (maximal homing area). Of 66 releases, no wasps returned from beyond the maximal homing area. The minimal homing area might be familiar to the foragers because they probably routinely forage in this area and the maximal homing area represents the maximum distances from which the wasps are capable of returning to their nests, with or without familiarity.

应用光阱技术测量P-selectin/PSGL-1键解离的断裂力

选择素(selectin)与配体相互作用在诸如炎症反应、肿瘤转移等生物学过程中具有重要作用;作用力影响受体-配体键解离.本文发展了基于光阱技术的新实验方法,用于考察P-选择素(P-selectin)与P-选择素糖蛋白配体-1(P-selectin Glycoprotein Ligand 1, PSGL-1)相互作用的解离过程.采用黏滞力法对光阱刚度系数进行标定,并通过分子在玻璃小球表面的功能化表征,研究力作用下P-selectin/PSGL-1键的解离,得到了在较低加载率(<25 pN/s)下键解离的断裂力分布,发现键的最可几断裂力随加载率而增加.实验结果在较低加载率下补充和验证了已有的结论.

激波在带扩容室的变截面管中传播和消波效果的数值分析

在利用实验结果验证程序的基础上，对激波在具有复杂结构管道内的传播特性进行了数值模拟，比较了不同入射激波条件和特征尺寸对扩容室消波效应的影响，并考虑了二维(轴对称、平面)模型和三维模型的影响。计算结果表明，同一尺寸的扩容室对不同马赫数人射激波的消波效果是相近的，扩容室特征尺寸不同则消波效果差别很大。

Ocean currents-induced pipeline lateral stability on sandy seabed

Unlike previous mechanical actuator loading methods, in this study, a hydrodynamic loading method was employed in a flow flume for simulating ocean currents induced submarine pipeline stability on a sandy seabed. It has been observed that, in the process of pipeline losing lateral stability in currents, there usually exist three characteristic times: (1) onset of sand scour; (2) slight lateral displacement of pipeline; and (3) breakout of pipeline. An empirical linear relationship is established between the dimensionless submerged weight of pipeline and Froude number for describing pipeline lateral stability in currents, in which the current-pipe-soil coupling effects are reflected. Scale effects are examined with the method of "modeling of models," and the sand particle size effects on pipeline stability are also discussed. Moreover, the pipeline stability in currents is compared with that in waves, which indicates that the pipeline laid directly upon the sandy seabed is more laterally stable in currents than in waves.

Caracterización de la población de C. atratus en la zona de influencia del Aeropuerto Internacional Augusto. C. Sandino en el municipio de Managua

El presente estudio consistió en la caracterización de la población de Coragyps atratus Bechstein (Zopilote) para diseñar estrategias de manejo y control de la especie que disminuyan los riesgo de peligro aviario en la zona de influencia del Aeropuerto Internacional Augusto C. Sandino en el municipio de Managua en un área de 1086.86 km2. Se emplearon diferentes métodos para la toma de datos que incluyeron conteos y observaciones por medios terrestres y aéreos. Los resultados obtenidos permiten determinar para cada población su comportamiento durante el día e identificación de la existencia de dos colonias principales de zopilotes; una en el sector Oeste del municipio de Managua correspondiente a las lagunas de Asososca y Nejapa, en la cual se estimaron 4384 individuos y otra en el sector Este, colindante con el municipio de Tipitapa con un estimado de 4,201 individuos. El patrón de desplazamiento en el sector Este fue de forma aleatoria contraria al sector Oeste que fue de forma gregaria con una trayectoria de vuelo que incluye el triángulo Nejapa – Chureca – Ciudad Sandino. La altura media a las que fueron observados los zopilotes en el sector Este fue de 261.18 m y 496.33 m en el sector Oeste siendo las horas de la mañana entre las 04:30am a las 12:00md las que reflejan mayor actividad en ambas colonias. Las aerovías más afectadas son las aerovías de salida o de llegada Nor-Este y las aerovías de llegada Nor-Oeste y Sur-Oeste, debido a su intersección con los sitios de alimentación de las aves. La disponibilidad de alimentos en cantidades suficientes parece ser el factor más importante que explica la permanencia de éstas aves en ambos sectores.

星系密度波的维持问题以及Waser机制的进一步数值研究

本文着眼于星系螺旋结构的维持问题,采用一种简化的星系模型,以数值解方法研究了密度波的各种有关的动力学特性。结果还进一步证实了作者用渐近分析方法所得到的Waser开关特性和共转圈势垒上的隧道效应。

Alterações na política de petróleo e gás na Bolívia e seus impactos sobre o Brasil

Consultoria Legislativa - Área XIII - Desenvolvimento Urbano, Trânsito e Transportes.

Femtosecond pulse laser-induced self-organized nanostructures on the surface of ZnO crystal

This paper reports self-organized nanostructures observed on the surface of ZnO crystal after irradiation by a focused beam of a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser with a repetition rate of 250 kHz. For a linearly polarized femtosecond laser, the periodic nanograting structure on the ablation crater surface was promoted. The period of self-organization structures is about 180 nm. The grating orientation is adjusted by the laser polarization direction. A long range Bragg-like grating is formed by moving the sample at a speed of 10 mu m/s. For a circularly polarized laser beam, uniform spherical nanoparticles were formed as a result of Coulomb explosion during the interaction of near-infrared laser with ZnO crystal.

Characterization of a multi-keV x-ray source produced by nanosecond laser irradiation of a solid target: The influence of laser focus spot and target thickness

The influence of focus spot and target thickness on multi-keV x-ray sources generated by 2 ns duration laser heated solid targets are investigated on the Shenguang II laser facility. In the case of thick-foil targets, the experimental data and theoretical analysis show that the emission volume of the x-ray sources is sensitive to the laser focus spot and proportional to the 3 power of the focus spot size. The steady x-ray flux is proportional to the 5/3 power of the focus spot size of the given laser beam in our experimental condition. In the case of thin-foil targets, experimental data show that there is an optimal foil thickness corresponding to the given laser parameters. With the given laser beam, the optimal thin-foil thickness is proportional to the -2/3 power of the focus spot size, and the optimal x-ray energy of thin foil is independent of focus spot size. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.