岱海岩芯沉积的粒度组成与湖区全新世降水变化历史

Sediment cores DH99a and DH99b recovered in the central part of Daihai Lake in north-central China were analysed at 2- to 4-crn intervals for grain-size distribution. Grain-size distributions of the lake sediments are inferred to be a proxy for past changes in East Asian monsoon precipitation, such that greater silt-size percentage and higher median grain size reflect increased monsoonal precipitation rates. The grain-size record of Daihai Lake sediments spanning the last ca 11,000 yr indicates that the monsoonal precipitation in the lake region can be divided into three stages: the Early, Middle and Late Holocene. During the Early Holocene before ca 7900 cal yr BP, the median grain size (Md) and the silt-fraction content were relatively low and constant, suggesting relatively low precipitation over the lake region. The Middle Holocene between ca 7900 and 3100 cal yr BP was marked by intensified and highly variable monsoonal precipitation, as indicated by high and variable Md values and silt contents of the lake sediments. During this period, average precipitation rate gradually increased from ca 7900 to 6900 cal yr BP, displayed intense oscillations between ca 6900 and 4400 cal yr BP, and exhibited a decreasing trend while fluctuating from ca 4400 to 3100 cal yr BP Although generally high during the Middle Holocene, both the Md and the silt content assumed distinctly low values at the short intervals of ca 6500-6400, 6000-5900, 5700-5600, 4400-4200 cal yr BP, implying that monsoonal precipitation might have been significantly reduced during these intervals. During the Late Holocene since ca 3100 cal yr BP, grain-size values suggest that precipitation decreased. However, during the Late Holocene, relatively higher Md values and silt contents occurring between ca 1700 to 1000 cal yr BP may denote an intensification of hydrological cycles in the lake area. Changes in the East Asian monsoonal precipitation were not only directly linked with the changing seasonality of solar insolation resulting from progressive changes in the Earth's orbital parameters, but also may have been closely related to variations in the temperature and size of the Western Pacific Warm Pool, in the intensity of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, and in the path and strength of the North Equatorial Current in the western Pacific.

安图红松树轮稳定碳同位素记录的低云量信息

分析了安图红松树轮碳同位素和与之临近的敦化市气象站气象记录间的相关关系，发现树轮碳同位素与上年5－7月平均低云量间存在显著的负相关关系，重建了该近200年来5－7月平均低云量变化。功率谱分析表明，δ^13C序列，重建的低云量序列均包含明显的厄尔厄诺－南方涛动周期（ENSO）和准2年振荡周期（QBO），反映了ENSO以及东亚季风对该区气候的影响。分析了安图红松树轮碳同位素和与之临近的敦化市气象站气象记录间的相关关系，发现树轮碳同位素与上年5－7月平均低云量间存在显著的负相关关系，重建了该近200年来5－7月平均低云量变化。功率谱分析表明，δ^13C序列，重建的低云量序列均包含明显的厄尔厄诺－南方涛动周期（ENSO）和准2年振荡周期（QBO），反映了ENSO以及东亚季风对该区气候的影响。

植物稳定同位素多尺度、高分辨率古气候信息综合辨识-以安图红松和红原泥炭为例

植物稳定同位素气候学因其具有坚实的理论基础，在古气候研究中倍受关注。同位素“语言”对气候变化的记录是一种“精确”记录。近30多年来，大量科学家不懈努力，提出并完善了植物C、H、O同位素分馏模型，为全球气候变化提供了理想的研究手段。古气候研究面临空前的机遇和挑战；不论是气候规律的发掘以及气候驱动机制的探讨，均需要大力加强。作者利用植物同位素气候学这一理想的研究“工具”，分别选取树轮和泥炭气候历史档案库作为信息载体，开展了中国全新世以来高分辨率、多时间尺度的气候信息综合辨识。我的工作表明：植物稳定同位素组成是理想的气候代用指标。树轮、泥炭档案库相结合，可以获得多尺度（年际、代际、百年以及千年时间尺度）、高分辨率气候信息，对于认识全球气候变化规律以及深入探讨全球气候动力学机制是十分重要的。1、安图红松树轮同位素气候代用记录研究（1）安图红松树轮同位素组成受多种气象因子的联合作用，因而单一地将某一同位素指标与某一气象因子做回归分析所得结果不甚理想。本论文构建了“温度一湿度”复合气候指标，取得了理想的结果。研究发现，不论是树轮δ13C还是δ18O，均与5-8月温湿复合指标显著相关。重建的气候变化与《安图县志》记录的气候变化事件大多吻合。证明这种新的研究方案是可行的，值得在以后的工作中进一步加强。（2）安图红松树轮δ13C灵敏地记录了该区过去200年来5-7月低云量变化。综合分析各种气象要素之间的相关关系以及气象要素与树轮δ13C之间的相关关系，作者认为，低云量对树轮δ13C的影响是一种间接影响。低云量非常显著地影响日照强度以及降雨量等气象因子，进而借助于日照强度及降雨量等气象因子在树轮δ13C中留下自身的变化“印记”。（3）功率谱分析证明，安图红松树轮δ13C、δ18O序列均包含了显著的准2年周期、准4年周期、准10-8年周期。分别是对东亚夏季风准两年振荡（QBO），ENSO准4年周期，太阳活动准11年周期的响应。（4）作者在传统树轮氢、氧同位素分馏模型基础上，同时引入“交换因子”和“蒸腾因子”两个新参数，改进了树轮氢、氧同位素分馏模型。改进的模型能利用树轮H、O同位素组成较准确模拟大气降水H、O同位素组成。改进的模型采用“自适应”方式，具有很大的灵活性，可望用于“用泥炭同位素组成模拟大气降水同位素组成”这项研究中。2、红原泥炭氧同位素气候代用记录研究（1）过去6000年来，红原温度变化趋势与金川、敦德温度变化趋势有很好的相似性，证明中国大多地区温度变化趋势是一致的。6000～4000aBP平均温度水平较低；4000-1500 aBP平均温度水平较高；1500aBP至今平均温度水平相对较低。4000aBP和1500aBP是近6000年温度变化序列中两个显著的转折点。（2）红原温度变化序列中记录到一系列低温突变，这些突变事件与金川、敦德、格陵兰、北大西洋，等等，广泛区域内温度突变事件具有很好的一致性。特别地，每当一次低温突变事件发生，通常有相应的社会结构重整、社会崩溃、古文明坍塌等重大历史事件与之对应。这进一步证实，气候变化（特别是气候突变）对整个社会经济和文明的冲击是十分明显的。（3）近6000年红原、金川温度变化趋势与大气14C变化趋势非常相似，暗示中国地区温度变化的主要驱动力来自太阳活动。功率谱分析进一步证实了这一结论。功率谱分析中最显著的周期信号是88-yr和123-127-yr年周期，体现了一种典型的世纪尺度温度变化特征。3、综合讨论（1）“红原-金川”平均温度变化趋势显示，近千年中国平均温度变化与经典的太阳活动极小期，如Darton极小、Maunder极小、sp6rer极小、oort极小，等等，表现一致。表明中国气温变化主要驱动力来自太阳活动。大约在1050-1250AD期间，中国温度水平较高。而同期大气14C，南极冰心10Be以及模拟的总太阳辐射等均表明太阳活动处于较高水平。大量树轮记录也表明近百年中国并无异常升温。这些资料表明，最近百年气温变化可能并未超出自然变率。（2）提出了“大洋温盐环流一季风”概念模型。这一模型能很好解释北大西洋温度突变与印度洋夏季风突变的一致性、中国东北和西南长期降雨趋势的反相性、北太平洋（温盐环流上翻区）温度记录与北大西洋温度记录的“跷跷板”效应（seesaw effect），等等。大洋温盐环流可能是主宰印度洋夏季风区、东亚夏季风区长期干湿变迁的主要因素。

Investigation into the rheological properties of PES/NMP/nonsolvent membrane-forming systems

From the perspective of a polymer solution, the rheological properties of the popular polyethersulfone (PES)/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)/nonsolvent (NS) membrane-forming system were investigated thoroughly with a controlled stress rheometer (HAAKE RS75, Germany). The scope of the study included measurements of the controlled-stress flow curve, creep recovery, and dynamic oscillation. H2O, 1-butanol, ethylene glycol, and diethylene glycol were used as NS additives. The effects of the polymer concentration and the quality of the solvent mixture, as characterized by the approaching ratio, on the rheological behavior of the dopes were studied. Up to 38 wt % PES and extremely adjacent to the phase separation (i.e., the approaching ratio of the dope was 0.95), the viscous property dominated all the dopes, which behaved as Newtonian fluids. Moreover, all the membrane-forming dopes investigated were in the crossover regime in the semidilute region, in which the chains were overlapping but unentangled. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Theory of Handwriting

Handwriting production is viewed as a constrained modulation of an underlying oscillatory process. Coupled oscillations in horizontal and vertical directions produce letter forms, and when superimposed on a rightward constant velocity horizontal sweep result in spatially separated letters. Modulation of the vertical oscillation is responsible for control of letter height, either through altering the frequency or altering the acceleration amplitude. Modulation of the horizontal oscillation is responsible for control of corner shape through altering phase or amplitude. The vertical velocity zero crossing in the velocity space diagram is important from the standpoint of control. Changing the horizontal velocity value at this zero crossing controls corner shape, and such changes can be effected through modifying the horizontal oscillation amplitude and phase. Changing the slope at this zero crossing controls writing slant; this slope depends on the horizontal and vertical velocity zero amplitudes and on the relative phase difference. Letter height modulation is also best applied at the vertical velocity zero crossing to preserve an even baseline. The corner shape and slant constraints completely determine the amplitude and phase relations between the two oscillations. Under these constraints interletter separation is not an independent parameter. This theory applies generally to a number of acceleration oscillation patterns such as sinusoidal, rectangular and trapezoidal oscillations. The oscillation theory also provides an explanation for how handwriting might degenerate with speed. An implementation of the theory in the context of the spring muscle model is developed. Here sinusoidal oscillations arise from a purely mechanical sources; orthogonal antagonistic spring pairs generate particular cycloids depending on the initial conditions. Modulating between cycloids can be achieved by changing the spring zero settings at the appropriate times. Frequency can be modulated either by shifting between coactivation and alternating activation of the antagonistic springs or by presuming variable spring constant springs. An acceleration and position measuring apparatus was developed for measurements of human handwriting. Measurements of human writing are consistent with the oscillation theory. It is shown that the minimum energy movement for the spring muscle is bang-coast-bang. For certain parameter values a singular arc solution can be shown to be minimizing. Experimental measurements however indicate that handwriting is not a minimum energy movement.

Real-time investigation of the photodissociation dynamics of p-chlorotoluene and p-dichlorobenzene

De-excited dynamics of p-chlorotoluene and p-dichlorobenzene have been investigated by the femtosecond pump-probe method in a supersonic molecular beam. The yields of the parent ion and daughter ion are examined as a function of the delay time between the pump and probe laser pulses. The lifetime constants of excited p-chlorotoluene and p-dichlorobenzene are determined. Possible de-excitation mechanisms are suggested that the initially excited S-1 state is predissociative via the repulsive triplet state. The substituent effects of additional chlorine atom and methyl group are discussed. Moreover, for the first time, we observe a novel quantum beat oscillation in p-dichlorobenzene. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time-dependent wavepacket approach to the influence of intense fields on the population of molecular excited states

The influence of laser-field parameters, such as intensity and pulse width, on the population of molecular excited state is investigated by using the time-dependent wavepacket method. For a two-state system in intense laser fields, the populations in the upper and lower states are given by the wavefunctions obtained by solving the Schrodinger equation through split-operator scheme. The calculation shows that both the laser intensity and the pulse width have a strong effect on the population in molecular excited state, and that as the common feature of light-matter interaction (LMI), the periodic changing of the population with the evolution time in each state can be interpreted by Rabi oscillation and area-theorem. The results illustrate that by controlling these two parameters, the needed population in excited state of interest can be obtained, which provides the foundation of light manipulation of molecular processes. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Oscillations in the magnetic field of the solar corona in response to flares near the photosphere

Schrijver, C.J. and Brown, D.S., 2000, Oscillations in the magnetic field of the solar corona in response to flares near the photosphere, Astrophysical Journal, 537, L69-L72. Sponsorship: PPARC

Regulation of yeast oscillatory dynamics

Douglas B. Murray, Manfred Beckmann, and Hiroaki Kitano. (2007). Regulation of yeast oscillatory dynamics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 104 (7), 2241-2246 Sponsorship: Solution-Oriented Research for Science and Technology Agency to the Systems Biology Institute /21st Century Center of Excellence Program and Special Coordination Program of the Ministry of Education, Sports, Culture, Science, and Technology to Keio University RAE2008

Abordagem da piezocirurgia na Medicina Dentária

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Medicina Dentária

Neural Control of Interlimb Coordination and Gait Timing in Bipeds and Quadrupeds

1) A large body of behavioral data conceming animal and human gaits and gait transitions is simulated as emergent properties of a central pattern generator (CPG) model. The CPG model incorporates neurons obeying Hodgkin-Huxley type dynamics that interact via an on-center off-surround anatomy whose excitatory signals operate on a faster time scale than their inhibitory signals. A descending cornmand or arousal signal called a GO signal activates the gaits and controL their transitions. The GO signal and the CPG model are compared with neural data from globus pallidus and spinal cord, among other brain structures. 2) Data from human bimanual finger coordination tasks are simulated in which anti-phase oscillations at low frequencies spontaneously switch to in-phase oscillations at high frequencies, in-phase oscillations can be performed both at low and high frequencies, phase fluctuations occur at the anti-phase in-phase transition, and a "seagull effect" of larger errors occurs at intermediate phases. When driven by environmental patterns with intermediate phase relationships, the model's output exhibits a tendency to slip toward purely in-phase and anti-phase relationships as observed in humans subjects. 3) Quadruped vertebrate gaits, including the amble, the walk, all three pairwise gaits (trot, pace, and gallop) and the pronk are simulated. Rapid gait transitions are simulated in the order--walk, trot, pace, and gallop--that occurs in the cat, along with the observed increase in oscillation frequency. 4) Precise control of quadruped gait switching is achieved in the model by using GO-dependent modulation of the model's inhibitory interactions. This generates a different functional connectivity in a single CPG at different arousal levels. Such task-specific modulation of functional connectivity in neural pattern generators has been experimentally reported in invertebrates. Phase-dependent modulation of reflex gain has been observed in cats. A role for state-dependent modulation is herein predicted to occur in vertebrates for precise control of phase transitions from one gait to another. 5) The primary human gaits (the walk and the run) and elephant gaits (the amble and the walk) are sirnulated. Although these two gaits are qualitatively different, they both have the same limb order and may exhibit oscillation frequencies that overlap. The CPG model simulates the walk and the run by generating oscillations which exhibit the same phase relationships. but qualitatively different waveform shapes, at different GO signal levels. The fraction of each cycle that activity is above threshold quantitatively distinguishes the two gaits, much as the duty cycles of the feet are longer in the walk than in the run. 6) A key model properly concerns the ability of a single model CPG, that obeys a fixed set of opponent processing equations to generate both in-phase and anti-phase oscillations at different arousal levels. Phase transitions from either in-phase to anti-phase oscillations, or from anti-phase to in-phase oscillations, can occur in different parameter ranges, as the GO signal increases.

A Neural Pattern Generator that Exhibits Arousal-Dependant Human Gait Transitions

A neural pattern generator based upon a non-linear cooperative-competitive feedback neural network is presented. It can generate the two standard human gaits: the walk and the run. A scalar arousal or GO signal causes a bifurcation from one gait to the next. Although these two gaits are qualitatively different, they both have the same limb order and may exhibit oscillation frequencies that overlap. The model simulates the walk and the run via qualitatively different waveform shapes. The fraction of cycle that activity is above threshold distinguishes the two gaits, much as the duty cycles of the feet are longer in the walk than in the run.

Statistical Properties of Single and Competing Non-Linear Fast-Slow Oscillators in Noise

Statistical properties offast-slow Ellias-Grossberg oscillators are studied in response to deterministic and noisy inputs. Oscillatory responses remain stable in noise due to the slow inhibitory variable, which establishes an adaptation level that centers the oscillatory responses of the fast excitatory variable to deterministic and noisy inputs. Competitive interactions between oscillators improve the stability in noise. Although individual oscillation amplitudes decrease with input amplitude, the average to'tal activity increases with input amplitude, thereby suggesting that oscillator output is evaluated by a slow process at downstream network sites.

A Neural Pattern Generator that Exhibits Frequency-Dependent In-Phase and Anti-Phase Oscillations

This article describes a. neural pattern generator based on a cooperative-competitive feedback neural network. The two-channel version of the generator supports both in-phase and anti-phase oscillations. A scalar arousal level controls both the oscillation phase and frequency. As arousal increases, oscillation frequency increases and bifurcations from in-phase to anti-phase, or anti-phase to in-phase oscillations can occur. Coupled versions of the model exhibit oscillatory patterns which correspond to the gaits used in locomotion and other oscillatory movements by various animals.

Monitoring the vegetation start of season (SOS) across the island of Ireland using the MERIS global vegetation index

The aim of this study was to develop a methodology, based on satellite remote sensing, to estimate the vegetation Start of Season (SOS) across the whole island of Ireland on an annual basis. This growing body of research is known as Land Surface Phenology (LSP) monitoring. The SOS was estimated for each year from a 7-year time series of 10-day composited, 1.2 km reduced resolution MERIS Global Vegetation Index (MGVI) data from 2003 to 2009, using the time series analysis software, TIMESAT. The selection of a 10-day composite period was guided by in-situ observations of leaf unfolding and cloud cover at representative point locations on the island. The MGVI time series was smoothed and the SOS metric extracted at a point corresponding to 20% of the seasonal MGVI amplitude. The SOS metric was extracted on a per pixel basis and gridded for national scale coverage. There were consistent spatial patterns in the SOS grids which were replicated on an annual basis and were qualitatively linked to variation in landcover. Analysis revealed that three statistically separable groups of CORINE Land Cover (CLC) classes could be derived from differences in the SOS, namely agricultural and forest land cover types, peat bogs, and natural and semi-natural vegetation types. These groups demonstrated that managed vegetation, e.g. pastures has a significantly earlier SOS than in unmanaged vegetation e.g. natural grasslands. There was also interannual spatio-temporal variability in the SOS. Such variability was highlighted in a series of anomaly grids showing variation from the 7-year mean SOS. An initial climate analysis indicated that an anomalously cold winter and spring in 2005/2006, linked to a negative North Atlantic Oscillation index value, delayed the 2006 SOS countrywide, while in other years the SOS anomalies showed more complex variation. A correlation study using air temperature as a climate variable revealed the spatial complexity of the air temperature-SOS relationship across the Republic of Ireland as the timing of maximum correlation varied from November to April depending on location. The SOS was found to occur earlier due to warmer winters in the Southeast while it was later with warmer winters in the Northwest. The inverse pattern emerged in the spatial patterns of the spring correlates. This contrasting pattern would appear to be linked to vegetation management as arable cropping is typically practiced in the southeast while there is mixed agriculture and mostly pastures to the west. Therefore, land use as well as air temperature appears to be an important determinant of national scale patterns in the SOS. The TIMESAT tool formed a crucial component of the estimation of SOS across the country in all seven years as it minimised the negative impact of noise and data dropouts in the MGVI time series by applying a smoothing algorithm. The extracted SOS metric was sensitive to temporal and spatial variation in land surface vegetation seasonality while the spatial patterns in the gridded SOS estimates aligned with those in landcover type. The methodology can be extended for a longer time series of FAPAR as MERIS will be replaced by the ESA Sentinel mission in 2013, while the availability of full resolution (300m) MERIS FAPAR and equivalent sensor products holds the possibility of monitoring finer scale seasonality variation. This study has shown the utility of the SOS metric as an indicator of spatiotemporal variability in vegetation phenology, as well as a correlate of other environmental variables such as air temperature. However, the satellite-based method is not seen as a replacement of ground-based observations, but rather as a complementary approach to studying vegetation phenology at the national scale. In future, the method can be extended to extract other metrics of the seasonal cycle in order to gain a more comprehensive view of seasonal vegetation development.