半干旱区典型植物对气候变化与C02浓度升高的响应与适应

1.羊草对土壤水分的响应与适应 羊草生物量随着土壤水分含量的降低逐渐降低，后期的降低幅度远远大于前期。干旱促进鞘分配增加，增加了在处理初期的根的分配，但到后期则使之减少，表明羊草在经历较长期的持续干旱后通过增加根部的比重来提高抗旱性的能力逐渐降低。轻度(LD)、中度干旱(MD)对羊草叶片相对含水量(RWC)、气孔密度、光合参数、荧光猝灭参数和群体日交换速率无显著影响，但严重土壤干旱使它们显著降低。 羊草叶片的可溶性蛋白质以中度干旱的最高，严重干旱(SD)特别是极严重干旱(VD)使之显著降低，游离氨基酸含量(FAA)的变化与之相似。随着土壤水分含量的降低硝酸还原酶(NR)活性逐渐下降，而谷氨酰胺酶合成酶(GS)的活性变化则是LD和MD使之分别增加了25.75%和12.22%，SD和VD则分别减少了8.21%和28.72%，说明了NR的活性变化对土壤干旱较敏感，而GS的活性则对适度的干旱有一定程度的适应性。LD处理没有增加天冬酰胺酶(AE)和内肽酶(EP)两种酶的活性，但MD、SD和VD使两种水解酶的活性显著增加，说明轻度土壤干旱对蛋白质和氨基酸的分解作用有稍降低作用，但随着土壤干旱程度的加剧，又极大地促进了这个分解过程。严重和极严重土壤干旱显著降低了叶片的总核酸含量和RNA的含量，暗示严重程度的土壤水分胁追限制了核酸的合成代谢，加强了其分解代谢，严重土壤干旱还显著增加了丙二醛(MDA)的含量，说明提高了羊草叶片叶肉细胞的膜质过氧化水平。 2.羊草对土壤干旱和复水的响应与适应 羊草受到适当的干旱驯化可促进生长，但过长时间的干旱处理，复水后未能补偿损失的生物量和叶面积。羊草叶片的气孔密度以中度干旱持续期(Mtd)处理的最高，其次是短期干旱持续期( Std)，二者分别比没有经过土壤干旱的处理（对照）增加了14.90%和3.61%，但长期干旱持续期(Ltd)却使之减少了27.19%，气孔指数亦有类似的趋势。复水增加羊草叶片的光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率，近期复水的激发效应明显大于前期，而对夜晚的呼吸作用影响不显著。水分利用率( WUE)的日变化动态呈“M”字型曲线，以Mtd的WUE值的峰值最大，以三次曲线拟合WUE的24小时日进程最佳。叶绿素荧光动力学的分析结果表明，复水，特别是最近的复水可显著改善羊草叶片的PS II性能，增加叶绿素a，b的含量及其比值，提高碳酸酐酶的活性。 羊草含氮量以叶片的最高(4.40%)，根部的最低(1.99%)，枯叶、茎鞘和根茎的含量差异较小(2.26～4.40%)。所有器官的含氨量对土壤水分处理的响应基本一致，以对照处理的最低，Std的最高。各器官的碳氮比都是以对照的最高，而其它土壤水分处理相差不显著，给于一定时间的土壤干旱处理可使羊草获得较强的氨代谢能力。Std的氮素总拥有量最多，和对照相比，绿叶、枯叶、茎鞘、根茎和根分别提高了35.58、26.88、23.49、31.66、40.75%，而Ltd的含氨总量呈下降趋势，说明短时间的土壤水分干旱处理可明显促进羊草各器官和植株的氮素积累，而较长时间的土壤干旱则不利于氮素的积累。羊草各器官氮素绝对量占整株的百分比从大到小依次为：绿叶(42.42-44.00%)、根茎(20.13—23.69%)、根(15.43～17.18%)、枯叶(10.07～11.30%)和茎鞘(7.27～8.67%)，表明叶片的氮素存量占植株的一半以上。Mtd处理增加了叶片的氮素贡献率，减少了茎鞘和根茎的贡献率，有利于加强叶片的光合性能。 以中度干旱持续期(Mtd)处理的叶片可溶性蛋白质含量、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性、RNA含量为最高，但中长期的土壤干旱处理再复水后则显著降低了羊草叶片内肽酶(EP)的活性和MDA的含量，说明给于一定时间的土壤干旱处理可使羊草叶片保持较高的蛋白质代谢水平，降低膜脂过氧化水平。 3.羊草对昼夜温差与土壤水分交互作用响应与适应 昼夜温差减少使单株羊草的生物量降低21.3%，分蘖和根的生物量减少，而鞘的生物量稍增加，显著降低了严重和极严重条件下的生物量。温差缩小降低了分蘖和根的投资比例，减少植株的地下部分生物量，而增加新叶、鞘和分蘖光合产物的比例，表明温差的减少将抑制光台产物向地下部分的转移。温差减少对充足土壤水分和轻度干旱处理的放射性比强影响较小，但减少了其它3种干旱处理的放射性比强。其原因主要是减少了植株鞘、根和根茎的放射性比强，显著增加了饲喂叶和心叶的放射性比强，表明温差的缩小阻止了“源”的光合产物向“库”的转移，降低对分蘖和根的投资，不利于羊草对干旱逆境的适应。 昼夜温差缩小使羊草叶片的气孔密度降低4.01%，而且减少了土壤干旱对气孔密度的影响。较高的昼夜温差和较低的昼夜温差相比，羊草叶片的光合速率和WUE分别增加了7.37%和20.09%;而气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度和蒸腾速率分别降低了14.03%、2.57%和10.80%。昼夜温差减少降低了土壤干旱的δ13C值，说明可能减少处在干旱条件下的植株WUE，暗示减小昼夜温差不利于增大羊草叶片对土壤水分亏缺的耐性。昼夜温差的缩小主要影响了下午羊草群体的CO2交换速率，增加了对照、LD和MD处理的夜间呼吸速率，降低了尤其是显著降低了在土壤缺水条件下的CO2昼夜净交换量，而在两个昼夜温差条件下都是以LD的最高。 昼夜温差缩小影响氮素含量在羊草各器官中的氮素分配，降低了叶片和茎鞘中的氮素百分比含量，但增加了根茎和根中的氮素含量。在较小的昼夜温差条件下，LD显著增加了叶片的氮素含量，但其它土壤水分处理影响不显著，在较大的昼夜温差条件下，亦是LD显著增加了叶片的氮素含量，但MD也使其显著增加。昼夜温差缩小增加了叶片和茎鞘的碳氮比，降低了根茎和根的碳氮比，使叶片在中度和严重土壤水分胁迫时无变化，降低了响应于土壤水分变化的调节弹性。 昼夜温差缩小使羊草叶片可溶性蛋白质降低了16.14%。LD和MD显著促进叶片可溶性蛋白质含量增加，SD和VD都显著地降低了羊草叶片的可溶性蛋白质含量。昼夜温差缩小有使羊草叶片游离氨基酸降低的趋势，主要是降低土壤干旱条件下的游离氨基酸含量，虽然昼夜温差缩小稍增加了可溶性耱的含量(4.68%)，但使土壤干旱激发效应变得不显著，表明温差的缩小降低了叶片中渗透调节物质的积累，不利于羊草抗旱性的提高。昼夜温差缩小显著降低了羊草叶片的NR、GS和谷氨酸脱氢酶(GDH)的活性，在较小昼夜温差条件下几乎看不出土壤水分降低的激发效应，而在高温差下则明显看出LD的激发效应。昼夜温差减少加强土壤干旱对天冬酰胺酶和内肽酶活性的影响，加强了蛋白质和关键氨基酸的分解作用，提高了叶片的膜脂过氧化水平，不利于羊草对干旱的适应性响应。 在土壤水分充足条件下，昼夜温差缩减对羊草叶片气孔形态的影响不明显，但可以看出温差较大时有较多的星状蜡质覆于气孔表面及其周围，这可能是由于夜间温度升高后植物为了减少水分的散失而采取的一种适应性策略。在本实验条件下，中度和严重土壤水分胁迫使气孔变得更加凹陷，气孔更加坚挺，体现了对土壤干旱的适应性反应。对羊草叶片叶肉细胞超微结构的观察表明，昼夜温差对土壤水分充足时的超微结构影响不显著，但在严重土壤干旱条件下，昼夜温差缩减似乎减少了叶绿体中的淀粉粒，加速了叶绿体和线粒体膜的裂解，表明昼夜温差缩减加大了严重土壤干旱对羊草叶片叶肉细胞超微结构的负面影响。 4.羊草对温度和土壤水分交互作用的响应与适应 温度升高使羊草叶片气孔导度和蒸腾速率增加，使光合速率(A)和水分利用率( WUE)降低。土壤干旱和高温均导致最大光化学效率、量子产额和光化学荧光猝灭系数降低，使非光化学荧光猝灭系数升高。土壤干旱减少了羊草幼苗的生物量，却显著增加了根的贡献率和根冠比，而高温使二者显著地降低。在本实验条件下，直到极端干旱才显著降低了羊草叶片的A和WUE，而其他的水分处理影响不显著。土壤干旱使得叶片中的含氮量显著降低：温度对叶片氮含量无显著影响，但却显著地降低了根中的氮含量，尤其显著增加根与叶片氮含量的比率。高温加强了干旱对光合性能的影响，表明高温降低了羊草对干旱的适应能力。 温度过低或过高都对叶片保持高水平的可溶性蛋白质不利，温度过高还削弱了土壤水分亏缺对叶片中游离氨基酸的激发作用。水分梯度对20℃时的GS活性无显著影响，但LD促使26℃和29'C下的GS活性增加，MD以上强度的土壤干旱都显著降低了23℃以上温度尤其是29℃和32℃时的GS活性，表明高温和干旱的协同效应对谷氨酰胺的合成不利。高温增加了AE和EP的活性，加强了土壤干旱对羊草叶片蛋白质和氨基酸分解的促进作用，在一定的土壤水分条件下，高温对RNA的合成作用增强，认为这是对高温胁迫的一种适应性响应。 随着温度的升高羊草叶片中的可溶性糖含量逐渐增加，土壤干旱亦增加了其可溶性糖的含量，但至极端干旱时则使之降低。在20℃下，土壤水分对羊草叶片的可溶性糖的含量无显著影响，在23—32℃温度条件下则是土壤干旱增加了其值，但至VD时则使之显著降低。不同温度条件下，土壤水分对羊草叶片的MDA影响不同，在20℃下，无显著影响，在23和26℃下，SD和VD使MDA稍升高，但在29和32℃条件下使之显著增加，说明温度升高加强了土壤干旱所引发的增加叶片膜质过氧化水平的负面影响。 5.柠条和杨柴对CO2浓度倍增和土壤水分交互作用的响应与适应 土壤干旱使拧条和杨柴的生物量在倍增CO2浓度条件下比在正常浓度条件下降低幅度更大。CO2浓度倍增较大地促进了充足水分条件下的植物生长，而对干旱条件下的生长促进作用则较小。无论在中度条件下还是在严重干旱条件下，两种优势植物均是在倍增CO2浓度条件下增加的根冠比幅度较大;无论在中度条件下还是在严重干旱条件下，且无论正常CO2浓度条件下还是在倍增CO2浓度条件下均是杨柴增加的幅度大。CO2浓度倍增主要增加了水分充足和MD的单位叶面积质量(LMA)，但反而降低了严重干旱的LMA。 CO2倍增使δ13C降低，但土壤干旱使之增加。用“库”（根）中的δ13C值对“源”（叶片）中的δ13C作图，可以用以评价碳分配以及“库”中新增生物量，两种沙生灌木叶片与根部的δ13C值呈极显著线性关系，杨柴的斜率大于柠条的，表明前者叶片与根部在光合产物分配上具有较高的可塑性，这和干旱条件下杨柴的根冠比增加相关联。杨柴的“源库”调节特性反映了对逆境具有较高的耐性。 CO2倍增使柠条和杨柴叶片含氮量分别降低了10.40%和5.06%，土壤干旱有使柠条叶片含氮量增加的趋势，但中度干旱没有增加羊柴叶片的含氮量。CO2倍增使叶片的碳氮比显著增加，而干旱使之降低。CO2浓度倍增降低叶肉细胞质膜的过氧化产物MDA的含量，干旱亦使叶片的MDA含量增加。叶片含氮量与MDA呈显著正相关，表明CO2倍增有保护叶片免受土壤干旱的作用，但干旱的负面影响是CO2倍增效应所难以弥补的。 CO2倍增降低了柠条叶片的可溶性蛋白质的含量，但在干旱条件下降低幅度较小，说明CO2浓度升高条件下可减轻干旱影响叶片中可溶性蛋白质的强度，体现了CO2浓度倍增对植物的抗旱性有利的一面。CO2浓度倍增使土壤水分充足条件下的柠条叶片中游离氨基酸含量降低17.24%，却使SD条件下增加10.78%，表明土壤干旱导致的叶片游离氨基酸含量的增加平衡了CO2升高造成的降低。在充足土壤水分和MD条件下，CO2浓度倍增对核酸总含量和RNA含量有稀释效应，但严重干旱条件下，CO2倍增提高了核酸总含量和RNA的含量。

Mechanisms of erosion of unfilled elastomers by solid particle impact

The mechanisms of material removal were studied during the erosion of two unfilled elastomers (natural rubber and epoxidised natural rubber). The effects of impact velocity and of lubrication by silicone oil were investigated. The development of surface features due to single impacts and during the early stages of erosion was followed by scanning electron microscopy. The basic material removal mechanism at impact angles of both 30° and 90° involves the formation and growth of fine fatigue cracks under the tensile surface stresses caused by impact. No damage was observed after single impacts; it was found that many successive impacts are necessary for material removal. It was found that the erosion rate has a very strong dependance on impact velocity above about 50 ms-1.

Magnetotunnelling spectroscopy: an experimental tool for studying chaos in quantum transport

Resonant tunnelling spectroscopy is used to investigate the energy level spectrum of a wide potential well in the presence of a large magnetic field oriented at angles θ between 0° and 90° to the normal to the plane of the well. In the tilted field geometry, the current-voltage characteristics exhibit a large number of quasiperiodic resonant peaks even though the classical motion of electrons in the potential well is chaotic. The voltage range and spacing of the resonances both change dramatically with θ. We give a quantitative explanation for this behaviour by considering the classical period of unstable periodic orbits within the chaotic sea of the potential well.

Wear of hardfacing white cast irons by solid particle erosion

The response of three commercial weld-hardfacing alloys to erosive wear has been studied. These were high chromium white cast irons, deposited by an open-arc welding process, widely used in the mineral processing and steelmaking industries for wear protection. Erosion tests were carried out with quartz sand, silicon carbide grit and blast furnace sinter of two different sizes, at a velocity of 40 m s-1 and at impact angles in the range 20° to 90°. A monolithic white cast iron and mild steel were also tested for comparison. Little differences were found in the wear rates when silica sand or silicon carbide grit was used as the erodent. Significant differences were found, however, in the rankings of the materials. Susceptibility to fracture of the carbide particles in the white cast irons played an important role in the behaviour of the white cast irons. Sinter particles were unable to cause gross fracture of the carbides and so those materials with a high volume fraction of carbides showed the greatest resistance to erosive wear. Silica and silicon carbide were capable of causing fracture of the primary carbides. Concentration of plastic strain in the matrix then led to a high wear rate for the matrix. At normal impact with silica or silicon carbide erodents mild steel showed a greater resistance to erosive wear than these alloys. © 1995.

Preparation of tetrahedral amorphous carbon films by filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition

Tetrahedrally bonded amorphous carbon (ta-C) and nitrogen doped (ta-C:N) films were obtained at room temperature in a filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) system incorporating an off-plane double bend (S-bend) magnetic filter. The influence of the negative bias voltage applied to substrates (from -20 to -350 V) and the nitrogen background pressure (up to 10-3 Torr) on film properties was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and X-ray reflectivity (XRR). The ta-C films showed sp3 fractions between 84% and 88%, and mass densities around 3.2 g/cm3 in the wide range of bias voltage studied. In contrast, the compressive stress showed a maximum value of 11 GPa for bias voltages around -90 V, whereas for lower and higher bias voltages the stress decreased to 6 GPa. As for the ta-C:N films grown at bias voltages below -200 V and with N contents up to 7%, it has been found that the N atoms were preferentially sp3 bonded to the carbon network with a reduction in stress below 8 GPa. Further increase in bias voltage or N content increased the sp2 fraction, leading to a reduction in film density to 2.7 g/cm3.

The flexoelectric behaviour of a hypertwisted chiral nematic liquid crystal

The flexoelectric behaviour of a hypertwisted chiral nematic bimesogenic liquid crystal is presented. Through detailed electro-optic measurements, with particular emphasis on the switching properties, we demonstrate remarkably high optical axis tilt angles. The material studied possessed a room temperature nematic phase and aligned easily on cooling under the application of a moderate electric field. Switching times of the order of 500 μs and contrast ratios of 90:1 are readily achieved. The tilt angles, measured using the rotating analyser technique, were found to be practically temperature independent and linear with the applied field. Tilt angles of 22.5° were obtained with moderate applied fields of 9.4 V/μm whilst fields of 25 V/μm yielded tilt angles of 45°. We believe these are the highest tilt angles ever recorded for such fields. © 2001 OPA (Overseas Publishers Association) N.V. Published by license under the Gordon and Breach Science Publishers imprint, a member of the Taylor & Francis Group.

The influence of peel angle on the mechanics of peeling flexible adherends with arbitrary load-extension characteristics

The peel test is commonly used to determine the strength of adhesive joints. In its simplest form, a thin flexible strip which has been bonded to a rigid surface is peeled from the substrate at a constant rate and the peeling force which is applied to the debonding surfaces by the tension in the tape is measured. Peeling can be carried out with the peel angle, i.e. the angle made by the peel force with the substrate surface, from any value above about 10° although peeling tests at 90 and 180° are most common. If the tape is sufficiently thin for its bending resistance to be negligibly small then as well as the debonding or decohesion energy associated with the adhesive in and around the point of separation, the relation between the peeling force and the peeling angle is influenced both by the mechanical properties of the tape and any pre-strain locked into the tape during its application to the substrate. The analytic solution for a tape material which can be idealised as elastic perfectly-plastic is well established. Here, we present a more general form of analysis, applicable in principle to any constitutive relation between tape load and tape extension. Non-linearity between load and extension is of increasing significance as the peel angle is decreased: the model presented is consistent with existing equations describing the failure of a lap joint between non-linear materials. The analysis also allows for energy losses within the adhesive layer which themselves may be influenced by both peel rate and peel angle. We have experimentally examined the application of this new analysis to several specific peeling cases including tapes of cellophane, poly-vinyl chloride and PTFE. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhanced flexoelectric switching behaviour in the chiral nematic phase

In order to develop materials that exhibit enhanced flexoelectric switching in the chiral nematic phase we have identified mesogenic units that display inherently strong flexoelectric coupling capabilities. Here we examine the oxycyanobiphenyl (OCB) moiety: homologues from the nOCB series exhibit significant electro-optic switching effects when doped with a highly chiral additive. Here we have examined lower dielectric anisotropy materials, since they allow the flexoelectric response to be extended to high field amplitudes. We show that dielectric coupling strength can be low in symmetric bimesogenic molecules. The flexoelectric response of such a molecular structure is tested by doping a homologue from the series CBOnOCB with a chiral additive: very significantly we find that the optic axis is rotated through 2φ=45° in <50 μs on reversing the polarity of the field (amplitude E=±6 V μm-1). Subsequently we have synthesized room temperature chiral nematic materials that exhibit 2φ≥90° at E≈10 V μm-1. © 2001 OPA (Overseas Publishers Association) N.V. Published by license under the Gordon and Breach Science Publishers imprint, a member of the Taylor & Francis Group.

90° domain dynamics and relaxation in thin ferroelectric/ferroelastic films

We investigated the dynamics and relaxation of 90° domains in 60-nm-thick lead-zirconium titanate (PbZr0.3 T0.7 O3) films, with enhanced piezoresponse force microscopy. We show that under opposite electric fie ld, ferroelectric domains are reversibly switched while ferroelastic domains reorganize in a nonreversible way. Moreover, we show that the relaxation-time constant of 90° domains is two orders of magnitude shorter than for the previously reported 180° domains relaxation. Furthermore, we demonstrate the influence of geometry and scale on the relaxation process. Finally, we propose a relaxation mechanism for ferroelastic-ferroelectric systems, with implications for devices based on these materials. © 2010 The American Physical Society.

Behaviour of unsteady transonic shock / boundary layer interactions with three-dimensional effects

An experimental investigation into the response of transonic SBLIs to periodic down-stream pressure perturbations in a parallel walled duct has been conducted. Tests have been carried out with a shock strength of M ∞ = 1.5 for pressure perturbation frequencies in the range 16-90 Hz. Analysis of the steady interaction at M∞ = 1.5 has also been made. The principle measurement techniques were high speed schlieren photography and laser Doppler anemometry. The structure of the steady SBLI was found to be highly three-dimensional, with large corner flows and sidewall SBLIs. These aspects are thought to influence the upstream transmission of pressure information through the interaction by affecting the post-shock flow field, including the extent of regions of secondary supersonic flow. At low frequency, the dynamics of shock motion can be predicted using an inviscid analytical model. At increased frequencies, viscous effects become significant and the shock exhibits unexpected dynamic behaviour, due to a phase lag between the upstream transmission of pressure information in the core flow and in the viscous boundary layers. Flow control in the form of micro-vane vortex generators was found to have a small impact on shock dynamics, due to the effect it had on the post-shock flow field outside the viscous boundary layer region. The relationship between inviscid and viscous effects is developed and potential destabilising mechanisms for SBLIs in practical applications are suggested. Copyright © 2009 by Paul Bruce and Holger Babinsky.

Development of low cost feed using local ingredients for culture of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii in ponds

Two experiments were conducted to formulate and evaluate test diets using locally available ingredients to find out suitable diets for mono and polyculture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in ponds. The first experiment was conducted from 1 July 2003 to 29 September 2003 in 12 experimental ponds each measuring 30 square meters behind the Fisheries Faculty Building, BAU campus, Mymensingh. Three experimental diets containing 30% protein were formulated using fish meal, meat and bone meal, mustard oilcake, sesame meal and rice bran and assigned to treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. A special shrimp feed (Starter-II) from Saudi-Bangla Fish Feed Ltd. was assigned to treatment 4 (Control). Each treatment had three replications. Juveniles of M. rosenbergii (2.90±0.81g) were stocked at the rate of 4/square meter. Prawns were fed three times daily at the rate of 15% of their body weight at the beginning, which was gradually reduced to 10% and 5% for the last two months. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference between the weight gains of prawns fed diets 1 and 4 (control), but they were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of diets 2 and 3. The FCR values of diets ranged between 2.61 to 3.36 with diets 1 and 4 showing significantly (P<0.05) lower FCR values. The survival rate of prawns ranged between 68 to 78% with prawns fed diets 1 and 4 showing significantly higher survival rate. The production of prawn ranged from 921 to 1,428 kg/ha/90 days and diet 1 gave the highest production. Treatment 1 gave the highest net profit ofTk. 161,980/ha/90 days. The second experiment was conducted from December, 2003 to April, 2004 to see the growth of over wintered M. rosenbergii juveniles in polyculture with indigenous major carps (catla and rohu) in ponds using formulated diets. Three isoenergetic experimental diets formulated using fish meal, meat and bone meal, mustard oil cake, rice bran, wheat bran and molasses, and a shrimp feed 'Golda special feed' from Saudi-Bangla Fish Feed Ltd. were assigned to treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 (control), respectively, each treatment had two replications. Eight experimental ponds each measuring 80 square meters in the Field Laboratory Complex of the Faculty of Fisheries, BAU campus, Mymensingh were used. The mean initial weights of M. rosenbergii, catla and rohu were 1.60±0.01, 30.0±0.09 and 25.0±0.08 g, respectively. A total of 160 fish and prawn (20,000/ha) were stocked in each pond at the ratio of 2:1:1 (prawn: catla: rohu). Fish were fed at the rate of 3-5% of their body weight. Prawns fed diet 1, 2 and 4 showed higher weight gains compared to diet 3. The weight gain of catla was significantly higher in T1 while in case of rohu was higher in T1 and T4, respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the survival rate of fish as obtained from different treatments. The overall total fish production ranged from 2196 to 2679 kg/ha/5 months. The highest production and the highest profit (Tk. 56,531/ha/5 months) was obtained from T1 and the lowest (Tk. 24,932/ha/5 months) from T4.

The Ic behavior of 2G YBCO tapes under DC/AC magnetic fields at various temperatures

In order to design a High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) machine that is able to operate safely and reliably, studies on the characterization of Second Generation (2G) HTS tapes are of paramount importance. This paper presents an experimental setup to measure critical current of 2G HTS tapes in high DC magnetic fields (up to 5 Tesla) with an AC current ripple superimposed, as well as various temperatures ranging from 25 K to 77 K. The 2G tape measured is the SGS12050 coated conductor made by SuperPower. The critical current is measured by a flux vector with reference to the widest sample face from 0 to 90 degrees in 10 degree steps. Smaller steps are required close to 0 . A Variable Temperature Insert (VTI) is utilized to control temperature change. © 2010 IEEE.

Recovery, growth and carcass composition following periods of restricted ration and full feeding in indian major carp, Rohu (Labeo rohita H.)

A 90-day experiment was conducted to determine the effect of restricted ration and full feeding on the recovery growth and carcass compositions of fingerlings (average weight - 20.74 ± 0.13 g) of rohu, Labeo rohita (H.). Rohu fingerlings procured from a local fish breeder were fed with commercial pelleted feed (27% crude protein) during the two-week acclimatization in the laboratory condition. Experimental pelleted diet (30% crude protein) was prepared and the control group (T sub(CFR)) was fed at 3% of body weight for the 90-day trial period. The experimental group T sub(1FR) was fed for three days at 1% of body weight and the next three days at 3% of body weight, T sub(2FR) was fed for seven days at 1% of body weight and the next seven days at 3% of body weight, T sub(3FR) was fed for 15 days at l% of body weight and the 15 days at 3% of body weight and T sub(4FR) was fed for 25 days at 1% of body weight and the next 25 days at 3% of body weight, alternating between 1 and 3% for the specified period during the 90-day trial period. Daily rations were divided into two equal meals per day at 09.00 and 16.00 hours. Average percent survival rate of rohu during the 90-day trial period was more than 90. Percent live weight gain (98.90 ± 0.34, 113.0 ± 5.93, 125.71 ± 11.01 and 141.90 ± 2.89), specific growth rate (1.53 ± 0.01 1.68 ± 0.06, 1.80 ± 0.10 and 1.96 ± 0.02%/d) and absolute growth rate (1.33 ± 0.13, 1.38 ± 0.07, 1.39 ± 0.04 and 1.44 ± 0.07g/d) of the experimental groups (T sub(1FR), T sub(2FR), T sub(3FR) and T sub(4FR) respectively) increased with the advancement of the experiment in comparison to those in control, T sub(CFR) (90.92 ± 5.81%, 1.44 ± 0.07%/d and 1.34 ± 0.20g/d, respectively) and were proportionately correlated with the degree of deprivation probably through the mechanism of increased feed intake (hyperphagia), feed efficiency ratio or gross growth efficiency, protein efficiency ratio and the superior feed conversion ratio reflecting in better performance index. The body length and muscle composition of fish indicated that recovery growth happened due to protein growth but certainly not due to fat deposition in the gut. Feeding at 1 and 3% of body weight alternating over a period of 25 days might economize the culture operation of rohu.