Feedback mechanisms for global oscillations in Lure systems

The paper presents two mechanisms for global oscillations in feedback systems, based on bifurcations in absolutely stable systems. The external characterization of the oscillators provides the basis for a (energy-based) dissipativity theory for oscillators, thereby opening new possibilities for rigorous stability analysis of high-dimensional systems and interconnected oscillators. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Plankton Community Succession in Artificial Systems Subjected to Cyanobacterial Blooms Removal using Chitosan-Modified Soils

Using artificial systems to simulate natural lake environments with cyanobacterial blooms, we investigated plankton community succession by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) fingerprinting and morphological method. With this approach, we explored potential ecological effects of a newly developed cyanobacterial blooms removal method using chitosan-modified soils. Results of PCR-DGGE and morphological identification showed that plankton communities in the four test systems were nearly identical at the beginning of the experiment. After applying the newly developed and standard removal methods, there was a shift in community composition, but neither chemical conditions nor plankton succession were significantly affected by the cyanobacteria removal process. The planted Vallisneria natans successfully recovered after cyanobacteria removal, whereas that in the box without removal process did not. Additionally, canonical correspondence analysis indicated that other than for zooplankton abundance, total phosphorus was the most important environmental predictor of planktonic composition. The present study and others suggest that dealing with cyanobacteria removal using chitosan-modified soils can play an important role in controlling cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophicated freshwater systems.

Maximal Heat Generation in Nanoscale Systems

National Basic Research Programme of China G2009CB929300 National Natural Science Foundation of China 10404010 6052100160776061Supported by the National Basic Research Programme of China under Grant No G2009CB929300, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 10404010, 60521001 and 60776061.

Application of the compatibility relationship(1) in seeking a functional relationship among species' equilibrium quantities in complex systems

A new algorithm, representing an important advance in determination of the functional relationship, is first reported here. The algorithm is very useful and convenient for analyzing the incorporation of impurities. To show how the algorithm works, two early and well-known vapor phase epitaxy (VPE) experiments-Ashen's (Ashen, D. J.; Dean, P. J.; Hurle, D. T. J.; Mullin, J. B.; Royle, A.; White, A. M. Gallium Arsenide and Related Compounds, Institute of Physics Conference Series 24, 1974; Institute of Physics: London, 1975; p 229.), involving the doping of silicon and DiLorenzo's (DiLorenzo, J. V. J. Cryst. Growth 1972, 17, 189.), involving the mole fraction effect-are calculated to find the functional relationship between the Si contamination and the partial pressure of HCl. The calculated curves agree with the experimental results. A conclusion that the calculated values are greater than the true values has been drawn.

A colorimetric assay for screening microcystin class compounds in aquatic systems

Secondary metabolites produced by water-blooming cyanobacteria in eutrophic waters include some potent hepatotoxins, These compounds also have tumour-promoting properties, attributable to their inhibition and activation of protein phosphatases and kinases respectively. The inhibitory effect of these toxins on protein phosphatases have been employed in a commonly used radiometric assay, involving the use of a P-32-labeled substrate, for the detection and quantitation of these compounds. This paper investigates and describes a colorimetric method in which the activity of protein phosphatase 2A is determined by measuring the rate of colour production from the release of yellow p-nitrophenol using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as the substrate. Results of this study suggest that the colorimetric protein phosphatase inhibition assay is a simple, inexpensive tool for screening substances that may have tumour-promoting characteristics in aquatic systems. The detection limit of the colorimetric method is comparable to the radiometric assay. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG OXYGEN-CONTENT, DEFECT DISTRIBUTION AND SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN BISRCACUO SYSTEMS

The effect of oxygen content on superconductivity of the 2212 and 2223 phase has been studied. By comparing the excess oxygen, the modulation vector, the XRD patterns, and the electric resistivity of 2212 and 2223 phase samples obtained with different post-annealing conditions, i.e., annealing at 600-degrees-C or quenching from 860-degrees-C, it was found that the superconductivity is markedly influenced by both the defect distribution in non-Bi layers and the interstitial oxygens incorporated in the Bi-O layers. A tentative explanation for this is given.