Experimental evidence of flutter and divergence instabilities induced by dry friction

Flutter and divergence instabilities have been advocated to be possible in elastic structures with Coulomb friction, but no direct experimental evidence has ever been provided. Moreover, the same types of instability can be induced by tangential follower forces, but these are commonly thought to be of extremely difficult, if not impossible, practical realization. Therefore, a clear experimental basis for flutter and divergence induced by friction or follower-loading is still lacking. This is provided for the first time in the present article, showing how a follower force of tangential type can be realized via Coulomb friction and how this, in full agreement with the theory, can induce a blowing-up vibrational motion of increasing amplitude (flutter) or an exponentially growing motion (divergence). In addition, our results show the limits of a treatment based on the linearized equations, so that nonlinearities yield the initial blowing-up vibration of flutter to reach eventually a steady state. The presented results give full evidence to potential problems in the design of mechanical systems subject to friction, open a new perspective in the realization of follower-loading systems and of innovative structures exhibiting 'unusual' dynamical behaviors. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Digital watermarking with complex wavelets

In this paper, we propose a watermarking algorithm in the complex wavelet domain. We then model watermarking as a communication process and show that the complex wavelet domain has relatively high capacity and is a potentially good domain for watermarking. Finally, a technique for registering geometrically distorted images, which is based on motion estimation in the wavelet domain, is described. The registration process can assist watermark detection in a watermarked image attacked by Stirmark, for example.

The effect of pile installation method on dynamic pile response

The widespread use of piled foundations in areas prone to liquefaction has led to significant research being carried out to understand their behaviour during earthquakes. A key challenge inmodelling this problemin a centrifuge is the installation procedure, and in most dynamic centrifuge experiments piles are installed before the test commences, either pushing the piles at 1g, or fixing the piles in the model and the sand poured around them. In this paper, a series of dynamic centrifuge experiments are described in which a 2 × 2 pile group is pushed into the model before the test begins and also once the centrifuge has reached the test acceleration. The paper focuses on the key differences which were observed in the pile group's response to the earthquake motion, and in particular, the very different settlement responses of the pile groups.

Xenobiotics removal from polluted water by a multifunctional constructed wetland

Removal efficiencies on xenobiotics from polluted water in a twin-shaped constructed wetland consisting of a vertical flow chamber with the crop plant Colocasia esculenta L. Schott and a reverse vertical flow one with Ischaemum aristatum var. glaucum Honda, were assessed by chemical analysis and bioassays. After a four-month period of application, removal efficiencies of the applied pesticides parathion and omethoate were 100%, with no detectable parathion and omethoate in the effluent. For the applied herbicides, the decontamination was less efficient with removal efficiencies of 36% and 0% for 4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxyacetic acid and dicamba, respectively. As shown by toxicity assay with duckweed Lemna minor L., growth retardation may occur if the water treated for herbicide removal is used in irrigation of sensitive cultivars in agriculture or horticulture. In contrast to I. aristatum var. glaucum Honda, the crop C esculenta L. Schott has a high yield in biomass production as a valuable source of renewable energy. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Isolation and Characterization of a Methomyl-Degrading Paracoccus sp mdw-1

Methomyl, an extremely toxic pesticide, is widely used in agriculture. A strain named mdw-1 capable of degrading methomyl rapidly was successfully isolated from activated sludge in this study. It could utilize methomyl as the sole carbon or nitrogen source. The optimal temperature and medium pH for its growth and methomyl biodegradation were 30 degrees C and 7.0, respectively. It was identified as a Paracoccus sp. according to its morphological features, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis based on the sequence of 16S rDNA. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that methomyl could be completely transformed to S-methyl-N-hydroxythioacetamidate in 10 h of incubation with the isolate mdw-1.

论高粱的抗旱性及在旱区农业中的地位

本文以笔者研究组多年研究结果为基础,以玉米为主要参比作物,就干旱逆境下高粱的产量表现、水分利用及抗旱特性进行了论述。认为高粱是一种综合抗旱能力很强的作物,尤其具有低耗水、高水分利用效率特性,其耐旱性显著高于玉米,也高于谷子和苜蓿,属于一种典型的模式抗旱作物,具有重要的生产和研究价值。指出高粱作为抗逆性很强的粮饲酿兼用作物,特别是作为一种能源植物,仍具良好的发展前景。建议今后在降水量低于450mm、热量可满足生长的地区扩大高粱种植面积,同时加强对其整体抗旱性机理及抗旱基因组的研究。

根系分泌物生态学研究

The study of root exudates enriches the theories and methods of rhizospheric soil ecology, and offers theory warranty that it can be used in agriculture and forest. This paper discusses the types and components of root exudates, mechanism of exudation, and the relationship between root exudates and the biotic and environmental factors. The development tendency and study aspect of root exudates in the future was evaluated as well.

农业经济用水量与我国农业战略节水潜力

在分析我国农业水资源利用现状基础上,从保障粮食安全和最大用水综合效益出发,提出了"农业经济用水量"的概念,分析了其内涵,提出了基于宏观水资源合理配置的"农业经济用水量"研究的理论基础及其相应技术基础,并从战略层面对我国未来可实现的农业经济用水量及其节水潜力进行了初步分析,为缓解我国农业用水与工业用水、生态用水之间的矛盾提供了有益的探索。