An experimental semi-active anti-roll system

The use of anti-roll bars to provide additional roll stiffness and therefore to reduce the trade-off between ride and rollover performance has previously been studied. However, little work has been carried out to investigate the benefits of a switchable roll stiffness. Such a semi-active anti-roll system has the ability to have a low roll stiffness during straight-ahead driving for improved ride performance and high roll stiffness during cornering for improved roll performance. Modelling of such a system is conducted and the model is validated against a semi-active anti-roll system fitted to an experimental vehicle. Experimental and theoretical investigations are used to investigate the performance of such a system with several different strategies employed to switch to the high-stiffness state. The use of an air suspension on the vehicle to roll into corners is also investigated, as is the possibility of exploiting the road layout by allowing the vehicle to be in a low-roll-stiffness configuration during a corner, and then to switch to the high-roll-stiffness configuration midcorner, hence 'locking in' a roll angle. The best rollover performance improvement that was achieved was 12.5 per cent. © IMechE 2008.

A philosophical stance on developing industrially relevant strategic technology management toolkits

When considering the potential uptake and utilization of technology management tools by industry, it must be recognized that companies face the difficult challenges of selecting, adopting and integrating individual tools into a toolkit that must be implemented within their current organizational processes and systems. This situation is compounded by the lack of sound advice on integrating well-founded individual tools into a robust toolkit that has the necessary degree of flexibility such that they can be tailored for application to specific problems faced by individual organizations. As an initial stepping stone to offering a toolkit with empirically proven utility, this paper provides a conceptual foundation to the development of toolkits by outlining an underlying philosophical position based on observations from multiple research and commercial collaborations with industry. This stance is underpinned by a set of operationalized principles that can offer guidance to organizations when deciding upon the appropriate form, functions and features that should be embodied by any potential tool/toolkit. For example, a key objective of any tool is to aid decision-making and a core set of powerful, flexible, scaleable and modular tools should be sufficient to allow users to generate, explore, shape and implement possible solutions across a wide array of strategic issues. From our philosophical stance, the preferred mode of engagement is facilitated workshops with a participatory process that enables multiple perspectives and structures the conversation through visual representations in order to manage the cognitive load in the collaborative environment. The generic form of the tools should be configurable for the given context and utilized in a lightweight manner based on the premise of start small and iterate fast. © 2011 IEEE.

A simple bioconjugate attachment protocol for use in single molecule force spectroscopy experiments based on mixed self-assembled monolayers.

Single molecule force spectroscopy is a technique that can be used to probe the interaction force between individual biomolecular species. We focus our attention on the tip and sample coupling chemistry, which is crucial to these experiments. We utilised a novel approach of mixed self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols in conjunction with a heterobifunctional crosslinker. The effectiveness of the protocol is demonstrated by probing the biotin-avidin interaction. We measured unbinding forces comparable to previously reported values measured at similar loading rates. Specificity tests also demonstrated a significant decrease in recognition after blocking with free avidin.

Key principles for developing industrially relevant strategic technology management toolkits

When considering the potential uptake and utilization of technology management tools by industry, it must be recognized that companies face the difficult challenges of selecting, adopting and integrating individual tools into a toolkit that must be implemented within their current organizational processes and systems. This situation is compounded by the lack of sound advice on integrating well-founded individual tools into a robust toolkit that has the necessary degree of flexibility such that they can be tailored for application to specific problems faced by individual organizations. As an initial stepping stone to offering a toolkit with empirically proven utility, this paper provides a conceptual foundation to the development of toolkits by outlining an underlying philosophical position based on observations from multiple research and commercial collaborations with industry. This stance is underpinned by a set of operationalized principles that can offer guidance to organizations when deciding upon the appropriate form, functions and features that should be embodied by any potential tool/toolkit. For example, a key objective of any tool is to aid decision-making and a core set of powerful, flexible, scaleable and modular tools should be sufficient to allow users to generate, explore, shape and implement possible solutions across a wide array of strategic issues. From our philosophical stance, the preferred mode of engagement is facilitated workshops with a participatory process that enables multiple perspectives and structures the conversation through visual representations in order to manage the cognitive load in the collaborative environment. The generic form of the tools should be configurable for the given context and utilized in a lightweight manner based on the premise of 'start small and iterate fast'. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Spatial and seasonal variations in benthic algal assemblages in streams in monsoonal Hong Kong

Samples from stone surfaces were collected in pools within four unpolluted hillstreams (two shaded and two unshaded) in monsoonal Hong Kong (lat. 23 degrees N) to elucidate the extent of spatial (within and among streams) and temporal (seasonal) variations in algal biomass and assemblage composition. Sampling continued for over 12 months, incorporating the dry season when streams were at baseflow, and the wet season when spates were frequent. We anticipated that algal biomass would be lower in shaded streams and during the wet season, with associated seasonal differences in assemblage composition or relative abundance of different growth forms (e. g. erect versus prostrate). Benthic chlorophyll a (a proxy for algal biomass) varied among streams from an annual mean of 11.0-22.3 mg m(-2). Dry-season standing stocks were 18% higher than during the wet season when spate-induced disturbance reduced algal standing stocks. Algal biomass varied significantly at the stream scale, but not at the pool scale, and was lower in unshaded streams, where standing stocks may have been limited by high densities of algivorous balitorid loaches (mainly Pseudogastromyzon myersi). An overriding effect of grazers on algal biomass could also have reduced variations resulting from spate-induced disturbance. Significant differences in assemblage composition among streams, which were dominated by diatoms and cyanobacteria (totally 82 taxa) were not systematically related to shading conditions. Seasonal variations in algal assemblages were statistically significant but rather minor, and did not involve major shifts in composition or growth form caused by spate-induced disturbance. The abundance of filamentous cyanobacteria in all the streams may have been due to 'gardening' by balitorid loaches that removed erect or stalked diatoms and favoured cyanobacteria that persist through basal regeneration of filaments. This explanation requires validation through manipulative experiments.

Controlling electronic structures by irradiation in single-walled SiC nanotubes: a first-principles molecular dynamics study

Using first-principles molecular dynamics simulations, the displacement threshold energy and defect configurations are determined in SiC nanotubes. The simulation results reveal that a rich variety of defect structures (vacancies, Stone-Wales defects and antisite defects) are formed with threshold energies from 11 to 64 eV. The threshold energy shows an anisotropic behavior and exhibits a dramatic decrease with decreasing tube diameter. The electronic structure can be altered by the defects formed by irradiation, which suggests that the electron irradiation may be a way to use defect engineering to tailor electronic properties of SiC nanotubes.

The radio counter-jet of the QSO 3C 48

We present multi- frequency radio observational results of the quasar 3C 48. The observations were carried out with the Very Large Array ( VLA) at five frequencies, 0.33, 1.5, 4.8, 8.4, and 22.5 GHz, and with the Multi- Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network ( MERLIN) at the two frequencies of 1.6 and 5 GHz. The source shows a one- sided jet to the north within 1", which then extends to the northeast and becomes diffuse. Two bright components ( N2 and N3), containing most of the flux density, are present in the northern jet. The spectral index of the two components is alpha(N2) similar to -0.99 +/- 0.12 and alpha(N3) similar to - 0.84 +/- 0.23 ( S proportional to nu(alpha)). Our images show the presence of an extended structure surrounding component N2, suggestive of strong interaction between the jet and the interstellar medium ( ISM) of the host galaxy. A steep- spectrum component, labelled S, located 0.25 " southwest to the flat- spectrum component which could be the core of 3C 48, is detected at a significance of > 15 sigma. Both the location and the steepness of the spectrum of component S suggest the presence of a counter- jet in 3C 48.

Bending of jets in the QSO NRAO 530

We present radio images of NRAO 530 on scales ranging from pc to kpc. The observations include the EVN at 5 GHz, the VLBA at 1.6, 8.6 and 15 GHz, the MERLIN at 1.6 and 5 GHz, and the VLA at 5, 8.4, 15, 22, and 43 GHz. The VLBI images show a core-jet structure with an oscillating trajectory on a scale of about 30 mas north of the strongest compact component (core). Superluminal motions are detected in five of the jet components with apparent velocities in the range of 13.6 to 25.2c. A new component is detected at 15 GHz with the VLBA observations, which appears to be associated with the outburst in 2002. Significant polarized emission is detected around the core with the VLBA observations at 15 GHz. Rapid variations of the polarization intensity and angle are found between the epochs in 2002 and 2004. On the kpc-scale, a distant component (labelled as WL) located 11 aresec west (PA=-86 degrees) of the core is detected beyond the core-jet structure which extended to several hundreds of mas in the north-west direction (-50 degrees). A significant emission between the core-jet structure and the WL is revealed. A clump of diffuse emission (labelled EL, 12 arcsec long) at PA 70 degrees to the core, is also detected in the VLA observations, suggesting the presence of double lobes in the source. The core component shows a flat spectrum, while the distant components WL and EL have steep spectra. The steep spectra of the distant components and the detection of the arched emission suggest that the distant components are lobes or hot-spots powered by the core of NRAO 530. The morphologies from pc- to kpc-scales and the bending of jets are investigated. The observed radio morphology from pc to kcp appears to favor the model in which precession or wobbling of the nuclear disk drives the helical motion of the radio plasma and produces the S-shaped structure on kpc scale.

黄土沟壑区砂石覆盖果园土壤剖面水分分布

以黄土高原沟壑区砂石覆盖苹果园为研究对象,对600 cm范围内土壤剖面水分含量的时间分异和空间分布状况进行了研究。结果表明:600 cm土层范围内,一周年内可划分为冬季增墒期和夏季失墒期两个阶段;土壤剖面水分空间分布随土壤深度的增加呈现波动性变化且稳定性不同,土壤含水量变化幅度随土层深度增加而变小,据此可将600 cm范围内的土壤剖面划分为速变层、相对稳定层、缓变层和稳定层;土壤水分在不同层次上的分布差异,8月土壤剖面不同层次含水量差异最大,11月次之,5月再次之,1月土壤不同层次含水量差异最小。综合看来,除土壤表层因砂石覆盖水分增加外,土壤剖面含水量随土壤深度的增加而减少且趋于稳定,水分下渗能力减弱;冬季土壤含水量多且分布均匀,夏季土壤水分减少且主要集中在上层,此时土壤不同层次水分含量差异大。

我国水土保持监测与发展研究的思考

回顾了水土保持学科及水土保持监测的发展简史,探讨了水土保持监测内容的合理界定,如监测范围、对象、指标等。分析了水土保持基础理论对水土保持监测的支持问题及其相对于水土保持学科的外延性问题。讨论了水土保持监测的过程和成果的深入研究问题,即如何使得监测成果的各类效益更加明显,提出了水土保持监测发展及研究等基本问题。

有限元子域法分析土石混合介质的饱和导水率

在黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错地区,碎石的存在影响着土壤的水力学特性,因此研究土石混合介质的渗流运动对该地区的植被恢复建设具有重要的指导意义。虽然用有限元法分析地下水渗流的工作很多,但对土石混合介质而言,由于有限元法的解题规模迅速增加,其研究甚少。本模型采用子域法矩形单元,假定土石体中石块含量增加不影响土的孔隙率且石块不透水分析了土石混合介质中的渗流过程。结果表明,影响土石混合介质饱和导水率的主要因素是土石介质的含石率;石块的大小基本不影响混合介质饱和导水率;石块分布方式增加水流路径时,会影响混合介质饱和导水率。这一数值分析结论与土石体渗流问题的部分理论结果和试验结果吻合良好。本模型子域法计算效率高,结果较准确,可用于较大规模的土石混合介质渗流分析,还可推广用于土石混合介质的三维分析和多级子域法有限元技术以获得更大规模的解题效果。

泽兰实蝇的生态学特性及对紫茎泽兰的控制作用

紫茎泽兰(Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng)是一种原产于墨西哥的恶性杂草。近年来已严重妨碍了云南省甚至整个西南地区、林、牧业的发展。自1984年8月引进泽兰实蝇(procecidochares utilis Stone)开展了生物防治研究。已在云南境内七个地州（市）定殖扩散。为了解泽兰实蝇的控制作用，本文从研究泽从实蝇生态学特性入手。分析了泽兰实蝇生态学特性与紫茎泽兰生物防治的关系。定量地评价了泽兰实蝇的控制作用。并且应用灰色系统中局势决策方法比较了不同环境条件下的生防效果。其主要结果如下：1、泽兰实蝇雌性与雄性成虫的存活曲线均近于Deevery I型；雌雄一并来看。则成虫存活曲线为Deevery II型；雌性成虫的寿命比雄性长。产卵峰期多在产卵开始后的第二到第四天。2、泽兰实蝇幼虫与成虫均存在密度制约。在平均每雌占有两枝供试产卵枝条时产卵量最大。同时孕育虫的后代也最多。3、泽兰实蝇的净增殖率R. = 24.365。内禀增长率r_m = 0.055。周限增长值λ = 1.057。种群加倍时间t = 12.603天，世代周期T = 58.371天。4、泽兰实蝇幼虫种群的空间分布呈聚集型且接近于负二项分布。一般来说平均拥挤度大的地区，对紫茎泽兰的控制效果也好。5、利用计算机模拟术对泽兰实蝇的控制作用进行拟合。较之以寄生率来评价生防效果更为科学，也更为符合客观实际。6、对不同环境下的控制作用进行局势决策可知，温度较高。湿度偏低的地区。生防效果优于那些温度较低或温、温度均较高的地区。在本文所进行调查的几个样地中，泽兰实蝇控制效果大小的次序依次为：元江＞宜良＞双柏＞思茅。