A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF KARYOTYPES OF MUNTJACS BY CHROMOSOME PAINTING

We have used a combination of chromosome sorting, degenerate oligonucleotide-primed polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR), chromosome painting and digital image capturing and processing techniques for comparative chromosome analysis of members of the genus Muntiacus. Chromosome-specific ''paints'' from a female Indian muntjac were hybridised to the metaphase chromosomes of the Gongshan, Black, and Chinese muntjac by both single and three colour chromosome painting. Karyotypes and idiograms for the Indian, Gongshan, Black and Chinese muntjac were constructed, based on enhanced 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) banding patterns. The hybridisation signal for each paint was assigned to specific bands or chromosomes for all of the above muntjac species. The interspecific chromosomal homology was demonstrated by the use of both enhanced DAPI banding and comparative chromosome painting. These results provide direct molecular cytogenetic evidence for the tandem fusion theory of the chromosome evolution of muntjac species.

Nonparametric mixtures of factor analyzers

The mixtures of factor analyzers (MFA) model allows data to be modeled as a mixture of Gaussians with a reduced parametrization. We present the formulation of a nonparametric form of the MFA model, the Dirichlet process MFA (DPMFA). The proposed model can be used for density estimation or clustering of high dimensiona data. We utilize the DPMFA for clustering the action potentials of different neurons from extracellular recordings, a problem known as spike sorting. DPMFA model is compared to Dirichlet process mixtures of Gaussians model (DPGMM) which has a higher computational complexity. We show that DPMFA has similar modeling performance in lower dimensions when compared to DPGMM, and is able to work in higher dimensions. ©2009 IEEE.

Comparison between empirical formulae of intake vortices

The hydrodynamic properties of free surface vortices at hydraulic intakes were investigated. Based on the axisymmetric Navier-Stokes equations and empirical assumptions, two sets of formulations for the velocity distributions and the free surface profiles are proposed and validated against measurements available in the literature. Compared with previous formulae, the modifications based on Mih's formula are found to greatly improve the agreement with the experimental data. Physical model tests were also conducted to study the intake vortex of the Xiluodu hydroelectric project in China. The proposed velocity distribution formula was applied to the solid boundary as considered by the method of images. A good agreement was again observed between the prediction and the measurements. © 2011 International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.

Study on the critical submergence of surface vortices and the design of anti-vortex intakes

Surface vortex behavior in front of the tunnel intake was investigated in this paper. The critical submergence of vortex was discussed based on the concept of 'critical spherical sink surface' (CSSS). The vortex formation and evolution at the tunnel intake were analyzed based on the theory of CSSS considering the effect of circulation. A theory was proposed to explain the surface vortex. The theoretical development was verified by the physical model experiments of Xiluodu hydropower station. The radial velocity and vortex circulation were considered as the main factors that influence the formation and evolution of surface vortex. Finally, an anti-vortex intake configuration was proposed to weaken the air-core vortex in front of the tunnel intakes of the hydraulic structures. © 2011 Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Hydraulics for small fishing trawlers

Fishing vessels where electric power supply from alternator is available to operate various auxiliaries located anywhere in the vessel, the small crafts, which constitute over 95% of the total fishing crafts operating in India, are entirely dependent on one source of power, i. e. the main diesel engine. To utilize this source of motive power to operate the winches and other auxiliaries, mechanical drive involving shafts, bearings and pulleys, is inconvenient. This paper presents basic advantages of hydraulic system over mechanical drive.

Localization of Sry gene on Y chromosome of Muntjac munticus vaginalis

The chromosomes 1, Y-1, Y-2 of Muntjac munticus vaginalis were isolated by fluorescence activated chromosome sorting and amplified by degenerate oligonucleotide primed-polymerase chain reaction ( DOP-PCR). A primer pair within human Sry HMG box was design

Size distribution of heavy mineral grains in some modern Nile Delta coastal sands, Egypt

This study includes determination and discussion of the texture and heavy mineral compositions of some modem Nile Delta coastal sands (river, coastal dune, beach-face, and nearshore marine) in order to delineate the process and factors that regulate the size distribution of heavy mineral grains comprising these coastal sands. Textural analysis of unseparated bulk samples indicate that the examined four types of sands differ in their mean grain sizes and degree of sorting. However, analysis of size distribution curves of 10 heavy mineral species or group of species in the four environments having the same general shape and nearly similar in that general order of arrangement. However, these curves vary both in median sizes and sorting. The size distribution of a heavy mineral in the Nile Delta coastal sands appear to depend on: (1) range of grain size fractions in each sample, (2) relative availability of heavy mineral in each size grade of the sample, (3) specific gravity of minerals comprising these sands, and (4) some other unknown factor or factors. Results of size measurement of heavy minerals indicated that increasing specific gravity is accompanied by increasing fineness of the heavy minerals. This study may be useful in search for marine placers and understanding the processes of grain-sorting on the sea beaches.

Near-complete transuranic waste incineration in a thorium fuelled pressurised water reactor

The production of long-lived transuranic (TRU) waste is a major disadvantage of fission-based nuclear power. Incineration, and virtual elimination, of waste stockpiles is possible in a thorium (Th) fuelled critical or subcritical fast reactor. Fuel cycles producing a net decrease in TRUs are possible in conventional pressurised water reactors (PWRs). However, minor actinides (MAs) have a detrimental effect on reactivity and stability, ultimately limiting the quality and quantity of waste that can be incinerated. In this paper, we propose using a thorium-retained-actinides fuel cycle in PWRs, where the reactor is fuelled with a mixture of thorium and TRU waste, and after discharge all actinides are reprocessed and returned to the reactor. To investigate the feasibility and performance of this fuel cycle an assembly-level analysis for a one-batch reloading strategy was completed over 125 years of operation using WIMS 9. This one-batch analysis was performed for simplicity, but allowed an indicative assessment of the performance of a four-batch fuel management strategy. The build-up of 233U in the reactor allowed continued reactive and stable operation, until all significant actinide populations had reached pseudo-equilibrium in the reactor. It was therefore possible to achieve near-complete transuranic waste incineration, even for fuels with significant MA content. The average incineration rate was initially around 330 kg per GW th year and tended towards 250 kg per GW th year over several decades: a performance comparable to that achieved in a fast reactor. Using multiple batch fuel management, competitive or improved end-of-cycle burn-up appears achievable. The void coefficient (VC), moderator temperature coefficient (MTC) and Doppler coefficient remained negative. The quantity of soluble boron required for a fixed fuel cycle length was comparable to that for enriched uranium fuel, and acceptable amounts can be added without causing a positive VC or MTC. This analysis is limited by the consideration of a single fuel assembly, and it will be necessary to perform a full core coupled neutronic-thermal-hydraulic analysis to determine if the design in its current form is feasible. In particular, the potential for positive VCs if the core is highly or locally voided is a cause for concern. However, these results provide a compelling case for further work on concept feasibility and fuel management, which is in progress. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eliminating discharge imbalances in predicting shallow water flows with shocks

The shallow water equations are widely used in modelling environmental flows. Being a hyperbolic system of differential equations, they admit shocks that represent hydraulic jumps and bores. Although the water surface can be solved satisfactorily with the modern shock-capturing schemes, the predicted flow rate often suffers from imbalances where shocks occur, eg the mass conservation is violated by failing to maintain a constant discharge rate at every cross-section in a steady open channel flow. A total-variation-diminishing Lax-Wendroff scheme is developed, and used to demonstrate how to achieve an exact flux balance. The performance of the proposed methods is inspected through some test cases, which include 1- and 2-dimensional, flat and irregular bed scenarios. The proposed methods are shown to preserve the mass exactly, and can be easily extended to other shock-capturing models.

The performance of closed reactor grade plutonium-thorium fuel cycles in reduced-moderation pressurised water reactors

The production of long-lived transuranic (TRU) waste is a major disadvantage of fission-based nuclear power. Previous work has indicated that TRU waste can be virtually eliminated in a pressurised water reactor (PWR) fuelled with a mixture of thorium and TRU waste, when all actinides are returned to the reactor after reprocessing. However, the optimal configuration for a fuel assembly operating this fuel cycle is likely to differ from the current configuration. In this paper, the differences in performance obtained in a reduced-moderation PWR operating this fuel cycle were investigated using WIMS. The chosen configuration allowed an increase of at least 20% in attainable burn-up for a given TRU enrichment. This will be especially important if the practical limit on TRU enrichment is low. The moderator reactivity coefficients limit the enrichment possible in the reactor, and this limit is particularly severe if a negative void coefficient is required for a fully voided core. Several strategies have been identified to mitigate this. Specifically, the control system should be designed to avoid a detrimental effect on moderator reactivity coefficients. The economic viability of this concept is likely to be dependent on the achievable thermal-hydraulic operating conditions. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improving model quality through computer controlled saturation

In dynamic centrifuge modelling, fluids with enhanced viscosity are often used to correct for the discrepancy in time scaling. However, great care must be taken when using a high viscosity fluid that hydraulic gradients during saturation do not become high enough to cause excessive model disturbance. This paper introduces the CAM-Sat system which aims to improve the saturation process by continually controlling the fluid flow into the model, limiting it to rates low enough to avoid model disturbance. A new method for measuring the fluid flow rate is then described, and its implementation & improvement to the system is discussed. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Long-term performance of cement-bentonite containment wall

The paper presents hydraulic conductivity, unconfined compression strength (UCS) and triaxial test results of an 11 year old slag-cement-bentonite (CB) cut-off wall material and identifies factors affecting their long-term performance. The laboratory tests were performed on three types of CB samples ranging from contaminated block field samples to uncontaminated laboratory cast samples. The results showed that hydraulic conductivity reduces till 3 years and UCS increases till 90 days, but there after it remains constant till 11 years of age. The mean hydraulic conductivity and UCS values of block field samples are inferior and have large variability than laboratory cured samples. Such variations are mainly because of heterogeneity caused by aggressive environment and impurities within the specimen. Consolidated undrained triaxial test found that under an effective confining pressure of less than 200 kPa, tension failure occurred since the minor principal stress dropped to zero value at failure. The research outcome is useful for understanding future liability of CB wall and improving their design. © 2009 IOS Press.

PH-dependent leaching behaviour and other performance properties of cement-treated mixed contaminated soil

Portland cement has been widely used for stabilisation/solidification (S/S) treatment of contaminated soils. However, there is a dearth of literature on pH-dependent leaching of contaminants from cement-treated soils. This study investigates the leachability of Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from a mixed contaminated soil. A sandy soil was spiked with 3000 mg/kg each of Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, and 10,000 mg/kg of diesel, and treated with ordinary Portland cement (CEM I). Four different binder dosages, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% (m/m) and different water contents ranging from 13%-19% dry weight were used in order to find a safe operating envelope for the treatment process. The pH-dependent leaching behaviour of the treated soil was monitored over an 84-day period using a 3-point acid neutralisation capacity (ANC) test. The monolithic leaching test was also conducted. Geotechnical properties such as unconfined compressive strength (UCS), hydraulic conductivity and porosity were assessed over time. The treated soils recorded lower leachate concentrations of Ni and Zn compared to the untreated soil at the same pH depending on binder dosage. The binder had problems with Pb stabilisation and TPH leachability was independent of pH and binder dosage. The hydraulic conductivity of the mixes was generally of the order, 10-8 m/sec, while the porosity ranged from 26%-44%. The results of selected performance properties are compared with regulatory limits and the range of operating variables that lead to acceptable performance described. © 2012 The Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences.