Axial growth of hexactinellid spicules: Formation of cone-like structural units in the giant basal spicules of the hexactinellid Monorhaphis

The glass sponge Monorhaphis chuni (Porifera: Hexactinellida) forms the largest bio-silica structures on Earth; their giant basal spicules reach sizes of up to 3 m and diameters of 8.5 mm. Previously, it had been shown that the thickness growth proceeds by appositional layering of individual lamellae; however, the mechanism for the longitudinal growth remained unstudied. Now we show, that the surface of the spicules have towards the tip serrated relief structures that are consistent in size and form with the protrusions on the surface of the spicules. These protrusions fit into the collagen net that surrounds the spicules. The widths of the individual lamellae do not show a pronounced size tendency. The apical elongation of the spicule proceeds by piling up cone-like structural units formed from silica. As a support of the assumption that in the extracellular space silicatein(-like) molecules exist that associate with the external surface of the respective spicule immunogold electron microscopic analyses were performed. With the primmorph system from Suberites domuncula we show that silicatein(-like) molecules assemble as string- and net-like arrangements around the spicules. At their tips the silicatein(-like) molecules are initially stacked and at a later stay also organized into net-like structures. Silicatein(-like) molecules have been extracted from the giant basal spicule of Monorhaphis. Applying the SDS-PAGE technique it could be shown that silicatein molecules associate to dimers and trimers. Higher complexes (filaments) are formed from silicatein(-like) molecules, as can be visualized by electron microscopy (SEM). In the presence of ortho-silicate these filaments become covered with 30-60 nm long small rod-like/cuboid particles of silica. From these data we conclude that the apical elongation of the spicules of Monorhaphis proceeds by piling up cone-like silica structural units, whose synthesis is mediated by silicatein(-like) molecules. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effective response of nonlinear composite under external AC and DC electric field

A perturbation method is used to study effective response of nonlinear Kerr composites, which are subject to the constitutive relation of electric displacement and electric field, D-alpha = epsilon(alpha)E + chi(alpha)vertical bar E vertical bar(2)E. Under the external AC and DC electric field E-app = E-a (1 + sinwt), the effective nonlinear responses and local potentials are induced by the cubic nonlinearity of Kerr materials at all harmonics. As an example in three dimensions, we have investigated this kind of nonlinear composites with spherical inclusions embedded in a host. At all harmonic frequencies, the potentials in inclusion and host regions are derived. Furthermore, the formulae of the effective linear and nonlinear responses are given in the dilute limit.

Controlling electric field distribution by graded spherical core-shell metamaterials

This paper investigates analytically the electric field distribution of graded spherical core-shell metamaterials, whose permittivity is given by the graded Drude model. Under the illumination of a uniform incident optical field, the obtained results show that the electrical field distribution in the shell region is controllable and the electric field peak's position inside the spherical shell can be confined in a desired position by varying the frequency of the optical field as well as the parameters of the graded dielectric profiles. It has also offered an intuitive explanation for controlling the local electric field by graded metamaterials.

Localization of the electric-field distribution in graded core-shell metamaterials

The local electric-field distribution has been investigated in a core-shell cylindrical metamaterial structure under the illumination of a uniform incident optical field. The structure consists of a homogeneous dielectric core, a shell of graded metal-dielectric metamaterial, embedded in a uniform matrix. In the quasistatic limit, the permittivity of the metamaterial is given by the graded Drude model. The local electric potentials and hence the electric fields have been derived exactly and analytically in terms of hypergeometric functions. Our results showed that the peak of the electric field inside the cylindrical shell can be confined in a desired position by varying the frequency of the optical field and the parameters of the graded profiles. Thus, by fabricating graded metamaterials, it is possible to control electric-field distribution spatially. We offer an intuitive explanation for the gradation-controlled electric-field distribution.

Effective dielectric response of nonlinear composites with external ac and dc electric field

The perturbation method is developed to investigate the effective nonlinear dielectric response of Kerr composites when the external ac and dc electric field is applied. Under the external ac and dc electric field E-app=E-a(1+sin omegat), the effective coupling nonlinear response can be induced by the cubic nonlinearity of Kerr nonlinear materials at the zero frequency, the finite basic frequency omega, the second and the third harmonics, 2omega and 3omega, and so on. As an example, we have investigated the cylindrical inclusions randomly embedded in a host and derived the formulas of the effective nonlinear dielectric response at harmonics in dilute limit. For a higher concentration of inclusions, we have proposed a nonlinear effective-medium approximation by introducing the general effective nonlinear response. With the relationships between the effective nonlinear response at harmonics and the general effective nonlinear response, we have derived a set of formulas of the effective nonlinear dielectric responses at harmonics for a larger volume fraction. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

Higher order response of nonlinear composite in external AC electric field

The fifth-order effective nonlinear responses at fundament frequency and higher-order harmonics are given for nonlinear composites, which obey a current-field relation of the form J = sigmaE + x\E\(2) E, if a sinusoidal alternating current (AC) external field with finite frequency omega is applied. As two examples, we have investigated the cylinder and spherical inclusion embedded in a host and, for larger volume fraction, also derived the formulae of effective nonlinear responses at higher-order harmonics by the aid of the general effective response definition. Furthermore, the relationships between effective nonlinear responses at harmonics are given. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Effective response of a non-linear composite in external AC electric field

A general effective response is proposed for nonlinear composite media, which obey a current field relation of the form J = sigmaE + chi\E\(2) E when an external alternating current (AC) electrical field is applied. For a sinusoidal applied field with finite frequency omega, the effective constitutive relation between the current density and electric field can be defined as, = sigma(e) + chi(e) <\E(x, omega, t)\(2) E(x, omega, t)> + (. . .), where sigma(e) and chi(e) are the general effective linear and nonlinear conductive responses, respectively. The angled brackets <(. . .)> denotes the ensemble average. As two examples, we have investigated the cylindrical and spherical inclusions embedded in a host and also derived the formulae of the general effective linear and nonlinear conductive responses in dilute limit. For higher volume fraction of inclusions, we have proposed a nonlinear effective medium approximation (EMA) method to estimate the general effective response of nonlinear composites in external AC field. Furthermore, the effective nonlinear responses at harmonics are predicted by using the general effective response. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

PASSIM卷接机组新型电控系统的设计与实现

PASSIM卷接机组原控制系统采用电路板进行逻辑控制,抗干扰性能差,故障率高,造成生产效率降低、原材料消耗增大、维修工作繁重等。为此,设计了一套新型卷接机组电气控制系统。该系统采用PLC进行过程控制,以工控机为上位机完成人机通信,采用交流伺服驱动,并通过高速信号处理专用系统完成重量检测控制及烟支质量检测功能;利用PROFIBUS、CAN及MPI多种总线方式完成各单元间的通讯,实现信号和数据间的传递和共享。改进后的PASSIM机组运行稳定可靠,采样速度快,实时性强,且维修方便。机组的有效作业率由85%左右提高到90%以上,降低了卷烟纸和烟丝等原材料的消耗。

云南岩石圈流变学及多震层孕震环境

The Study on rheology of the lithosphere and the environments of the seismogenic layer is currently the basic project of the international earthquake research. Yunnan is the ideal place for studying this project. Through the multi-disciplinary comprehensive study of petrology, geophysics, seismo-geology, rock mechanics, etc., the depth-strength profiles of the lithosphere have been firstly constructed, and the seismogenic layer and its geophysical and tectonic environments in Yunnan have been systematically expounded in this paper. The related results achieved are of the important significances for further understanding the mechanism of strong earthquake generation, dividing the potential foci and exposing recent geodynamical processes in Yunnan. Through the comprehensive contrast of the metamorphic rocks in early and middle Proterozoic outcropping on the surface, DSS data and experimental data of rock seismic velocity under high temperature and high pressure, the petrological structure of the crust and upper mantle has been studied on Yunnan: the upper, middle and lower crust is composed of the metamorphic rocks of greenschist, amphibolite and granulite facies, respectively or granitoids, diorites and gabbros, respectively, and the upper mantle composed of the peridotites. Through the contrast studies of the heat flow and epicenters of the strong earthquakes, the distribution of the geotemperature and the data of focal depth, the relationship of between seismicity and geothermal structure of the lithosphere in Yunnan has been studied: the strong earthquakes with magnitude M ≥ 6.0 mainly take place at the geothermal gradient zone, and the seismic foci densely distribute between 200～500 ℃ isogeotherms. On the basis of studies of the rock properties and constituents of the crust and upper mantle and geothermal structure of the lithosphere, the structure of the rheological stratification of the lithosphere has been studied, and the corresponding depth-strength profiles have been constructed in Yunnan. The lithosphere in majority region of Yunnan has the structure of the rheological stratification, i.e. the brittle regime in the upper crust or upper part of the upper crust, ductile regime in the middle crust or lower part of the upper crust to middle crust, ductile regime in the lower crust and ductile regime in the subcrustal lithosphere. The rheological stratification has the quite marked lateral variations in the various tectonic units. The distributions of the seismogenic layer have been determined by using the high accurate data of focal depth. Through the contrast of the petrological structure, the structure of seismic velocity, electric structure, geotemperature structure, and rheological structure and the study of the focal mechanism in the seismogenic layer, the geophysical environments of the seismogenic layer in Yunnan have been studied. The seismogenic layer in Yunnan is located at the depths of 3 ～ 20 km; the rocks in the seismogenic layer are composed of the metamorphic rocks of greenschist to amphibolite facies (or granites to diorites); the seismogenic layer and its internal focal regions of strong earthquakes have the structure of medium properties with the relatively high seismic velocity, high density and high resistivity; there exists the intracrustal low seismic velocity and high conductivity layer bellow the seismogenic layer, the geotemperature is generally 100～500 ℃ in the depth range in which the seismogenic layer is located. The horizontal stress field predominates in the seismogenic layer, the seismogenic layer corresponds to the brittle regime of the upper crust or brittle regime of the upper crust to semibrittle regime of the middle crust. The formation of the seismogenic layer, preparedness and occurrence of the strong earthquakes is the result of the comprehensive actions of the source fault, rock constituent, structure of the medium properties, distribution of the geotemperature, rheological structure of the seismogenic layer and its external environments. Through the study of the structure, active nature, slip rate, segmentation of the active faults, and seismogenic faults, the tectonic environments of the seismogenic layer in Yunnan have been studied. The source faults of the seismogenic layer in Yunnan are mainly A-type ones and embody mainly the strike slip faults with high dip angle. the source faults are the right-lateral strike slip ones with NW-NNW trend and left-lateral strike slip ones with NE-NEE trend in Southwestern Yunnan, the right-lateral strike slip ones with NNW trend and left-lateral strike slip ones with NNE trend (partially normal ones) in Northwestern Yunnan, the right-lateral strike slip ones with NWW trend in Central Yunnan and left-lateral strike slip ones with NW-NNW trend in Eastern Yunnan. Taking Lijiang earthquake with Ms = 7.0 for example. The generating environments of the strong earthquake and seismogenic mechanical mechanism have been studied: the source region of the strong earthquake has the media structure with the relatively high seismic velocity and high resistivity, there exists the intracrustal low velocity and high conductivity layer bellow it and the strong earthquakes occur near the transitional zone of the crustal brittle to ductile deformation. These characteristics are the generality of the generating environments of strong earthquakes. However, the specific seismogenic tectonic environments and action of the stress field of the seismic source in the various regions, correspondingly constrains the dislocation and rupture mechanical mechanism of source fault of strong earthquake.

Development of process control methodology for tracking the quality and safety of pain, agitation and sedation management in critical care units

Objective: To develop sedation, pain, and agitation quality measures using process control methodology and evaluate their properties in clinical practice. Design: A Sedation Quality Assessment Tool was developed and validated to capture data for 12-hour periods of nursing care. Domains included pain/discomfort and sedation-agitation behaviors; sedative, analgesic, and neuromuscular blocking drug administration; ventilation status; and conditions potentially justifying deep sedation. Predefined sedation-related adverse events were recorded daily. Using an iterative process, algorithms were developed to describe the proportion of care periods with poor limb relaxation, poor ventilator synchronization, unnecessary deep sedation, agitation, and an overall optimum sedation metric. Proportion charts described processes over time (2 monthly intervals) for each ICU. The numbers of patients treated between sedation-related adverse events were described with G charts. Automated algorithms generated charts for 12 months of sequential data. Mean values for each process were calculated, and variation within and between ICUs explored qualitatively. Setting: Eight Scottish ICUs over a 12-month period. Patients: Mechanically ventilated patients. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: The Sedation Quality Assessment Tool agitation-sedation domains correlated with the Richmond Sedation Agitation Scale score (Spearman [rho] = 0.75) and were reliable in clinician-clinician (weighted kappa; [kappa] = 0.66) and clinician-researcher ([kappa] = 0.82) comparisons. The limb movement domain had fair correlation with Behavioral Pain Scale ([rho] = 0.24) and was reliable in clinician-clinician ([kappa] = 0.58) and clinician-researcher ([kappa] = 0.45) comparisons. Ventilator synchronization correlated with Behavioral Pain Scale ([rho] = 0.54), and reliability in clinician-clinician ([kappa] = 0.29) and clinician-researcher ([kappa] = 0.42) comparisons was fair-moderate. Eight hundred twenty-five patients were enrolled (range, 59-235 across ICUs), providing 12,385 care periods for evaluation (range 655-3,481 across ICUs). The mean proportion of care periods with each quality metric varied between ICUs: excessive sedation 12-38%; agitation 4-17%; poor relaxation 13-21%; poor ventilator synchronization 8-17%; and overall optimum sedation 45-70%. Mean adverse event intervals ranged from 1.5 to 10.3 patients treated. The quality measures appeared relatively stable during the observation period. Conclusions: Process control methodology can be used to simultaneously monitor multiple aspects of pain-sedation-agitation management within ICUs. Variation within and between ICUs could be used as triggers to explore practice variation, improve quality, and monitor this over time

Theory of elasticity and electric polarization effects in the group-III nitrides

In this work, the properties of strained tetrahedrally bonded materials are explored theoretically, with special focus on group-III nitrides. In order to do so, a multiscale approach is taken: accurate quantitative calculations of material properties are carried out in a quantum first-principles frame, for small systems. These properties are then extrapolated and empirical methods are employed to make predictions for larger systems, such as alloys or nanostructures. We focus our attention on elasticity and electric polarization in semiconductors. These quantities serve as input for the calculation of the optoelectronic properties of these systems. Regarding the methods employed, our first-principles calculations use highly- accurate density functional theory (DFT) within both standard Kohn-Sham and generalized (hybrid functional) Kohn-Sham approaches. We have developed our own empirical methods, including valence force field (VFF) and a point-dipole model for the calculation of local polarization and local polarization potential. Our local polarization model gives insight for the first time to local fluctuations of the electric polarization at an atomistic level. At the continuum level, we have studied composition-engineering optimization of nitride nanostructures for built-in electrostatic field reduction, and have developed a highly efficient hybrid analytical-numerical staggered-grid computational implementation of continuum elasticity theory, that is used to treat larger systems, such as quantum dots.

permGPU: Using graphics processing units in RNA microarray association studies.

BACKGROUND: Many analyses of microarray association studies involve permutation, bootstrap resampling and cross-validation, that are ideally formulated as embarrassingly parallel computing problems. Given that these analyses are computationally intensive, scalable approaches that can take advantage of multi-core processor systems need to be developed. RESULTS: We have developed a CUDA based implementation, permGPU, that employs graphics processing units in microarray association studies. We illustrate the performance and applicability of permGPU within the context of permutation resampling for a number of test statistics. An extensive simulation study demonstrates a dramatic increase in performance when using permGPU on an NVIDIA GTX 280 card compared to an optimized C/C++ solution running on a conventional Linux server. CONCLUSIONS: permGPU is available as an open-source stand-alone application and as an extension package for the R statistical environment. It provides a dramatic increase in performance for permutation resampling analysis in the context of microarray association studies. The current version offers six test statistics for carrying out permutation resampling analyses for binary, quantitative and censored time-to-event traits.

Excluding mammalian predators from diamondback terrapin nesting beaches with an electric fence

Gemstone Team Saving Testudo