Effective dielectric response of composites witli graded material

The effective dielectric response of linear composites containing graded material is investigated under an applied electric field Eo. For the cylindrical inclusion with gradient dielectric function, epsilon(i)(r) = b + cr, randomly embedded in a host with dielectric constant epsilon(m), we have obtained the exact solution of local electric potential of the composite media regions, which obeys a linear constitutive relation D = epsilonE, using hypergeometric function. In dilute limit, we have derived the effective dielectric response of the linear composite media. Furthermore, for larger volume fraction, the formulas of effective dielectric response of the graded composite media, are given.

Organic geochemical studies of sinking particulate material in China sea area(I) - Organic matter fluxes and distributional features of hydrocarbon compounds and fatty acids

Sinking particulate material collected from Nansha Yongshu reef lagoon and the continental shelf of the East China Sea by sediment traps has been analyzed and studied for the first time using organic geochemical method. The results show that about half of the sinking particulate organic matter in the two study areas are consumed before reaching the depth of 5 m to the sea floor and the degree of this consumption in Yongshu reef lagoon is larger than that in the continental shelf of the East China Sea. The distributions of hydrocarbons and fatty acids indicate that the minor difference of biological sources of sinking particulate organic matter exists between Yongshu reel lagoon and the continental shelf of the East China Sea, but they mainly come from marine plankton. Stronger biological and biochemical transformations of sinking particulate organic matter are also observed and the intensity of this transformation in Yongshu reef lagoon is greater than that in the continental shelf of the East China Sea. It is found that the occurrence of C-25 highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) diene may be related to the composition of diatom species.

Identification of a silicatein(-related) protease in the giant spicules of the deep-sea hexactinellid Monorhaphis chuni

Silicateins, members of the cathepsin L family, are enzymes that have been shown to be involved in the biosynthesis/condensation of biosilica in spicules from Demospongiae (phylum Porifera), e. g. Tethya aurantium and Suberites domuncula. The class Hexactinellida also forms spicules from this inorganic material. This class of sponges includes species that form the largest biogenic silica structures on earth. The giant basal spicules from the hexactinellids Monorhaphis chuni and Monorhaphis intermedia can reach lengths of up to 3 m and diameters of 10 mm. The giant spicules as well as the tauactines consist of a biosilica shell that surrounds the axial canal, which harbours the axial filament, in regular concentric, lamellar layers, suggesting an appositional growth of the spicules. The lamellae contain 27 kDa proteins, which undergo post-translational modification (phosphorylation), while total spicule extracts contain additional 70 kDa proteins. The 27 kDa proteins cross-reacted with anti-silicatein antibodies. The extracts of spicules from the hexactinellid Monorhaphis displayed proteolytic activity like the silicateins from the demosponge S. domuncula. Since the proteolytic activity in spicule extracts from both classes of sponge could be sensitively inhibited by E-64 (a specific cysteine proteinase inhibitor), we used a labelled E-64 sample as a probe to identify the protein that bound to this inhibitor on a blot. The experiments revealed that the labelled E-64 selectively recognized the 27 kDa protein. Our data strongly suggest that silicatein(-related) molecules are also present in Hexactinellida. These new results are considered to also be of impact for applied biotechnological studies.

中国东部上第三系硬粘土的工程地质特性及边坡开挖工程环境效应研究

The engineering geological properties of Neogene hard clays and related engineering problems are frontiers in the fields of Engineering Geology, Soil Mechanics and Rock Mechanics. Recently, it has been recognized that Neogene hard clay is the intermediate type of material between the soil and the rock. Many aspects of them, such as sampling, testing, calculating and engineering process, are special, which could not be researched by means of theories and methods of traditional Soil Mechanics of Rock Mechanics. In order to get real knowledge and instruct the engineering practice, intersect studying of multiple disciplines, including Engineering Geology, Soil Mechanics and Rock Mechanics, etc., is necessary. Neogene hard clay is one of the important study objects of regional problem rocks & soils in our country, which extensively distributed in China, especially in Eastern China. Taking the related areas along the middle line of the Project of Transferring Water from the South to the North (e.g. Nanyang basin, Fangcheng-Baofeng area and Handan-Yongnian area), South-west of Shandong, Xu-Huai area and Beijing area, etc. as main study areas, the paper divided Neogene hard clays into reduction environment dominated origin and oxidation environment dominated origin, which distributed on areas western and eastern to Mount Taihangshan respectively. Intermediate types are also existed in some areas, which mainly distribute near the edges of depositional basins; they are usually of transitions between diluvial and lacustrine deposits. As to Neogene hard clays from Eastern China, the clay particle content is high, and montmorillonite or illite/montmorillonite turbostratic mineral is the dominating clay mineral. The content of effective montmorillonite is very high in each area, which is the basis for the undesirable engineering properties of Neogene hard clays. For hard clays from the same area, the content of effective montmorillonite in gray-greenish hard clay is much higher than that in purple-brownish or brown-yellowish hard clay, which is the reason why the gray-greenish hard clay usually has outstanding expansive property. On the other hand, purple-brownish or brown-yellowish hard clay has relatively less montmorillonite, so its property is better. All of these prove that the composition (clay mineral) of Neogene hard clay is the control factor for the engineering properties. Neogene hard clays have obvious properties such as fissured, overconsolidated and expansive, which are the main reasons that many engineering problems and geological harzards usually occur in Neogene hard clays. The paper systematically elaborates the engineering properties of Neogene hard clays from Eastern China, analyses the relationships between engineering properties and basic indexes. The author introduces the ANN method into the prediction of engineering property indexes of hard clays, which provides a new way for quantitatively assessment and prediction of engineering property indexes. During investigation in the field, the author found that there exists obvious seam-sheared zone between different hard clays in Miocene Xiacaowan formation in Xu-Huai area. Similar phenomenon also exists near the borderline between Neogene hard clays and underlying coal measures in the Southwest of Shandong province, which could be observed in the cores. The discovery of seam-sheard zone has important theoretical and practical significance for engineering stability analysis and revealing the origin of fissures in Neogene hard clays. The macrostructure, medium structure and microstructure together control the engineering properties of hard clays. The author analyses and summarizes the structural effects on hard clays in detail. The complex of the strength property of hard clays is mostly related to the characteristics of fissures, which is one of the main factors that affect the choice of shear strength parameters. So structure-control theory must be inseparably combined with composition-control theory during the engineering geological and rock/soil mechanics research of hard clays. The engineering properties, such as fissured, overconsolidated and expansive, control the instability of engineering behaviors of Neogene hard clays under the condition of excavation, i.e. very sensitive to the change of existence environment. Based on test data analysis, the author elaborates the effects of engineering environment change on the engineering properties. Taking Nanyang basin as example, the author utilizes FEM to study the effects of various factors on stability of cutting canal slopes, than sets forth the characteristics, development laws and formation mechanism of the deformation and failure of hard clay canal slopes, summarizes the protection and reinforcement principles, as well as the protection and remedy steps. On the basis of comparison of engineering properties of domestic and foreign Neogene muddy deposits, in the view of whole globe and associated with the geological characteristics of China, the paper demonstrates that the intermediate type of the material between the soil and the rock, named "hard clay/soft rock", which can not be separated abruptly, really exists in China. The author has given a preliminary classification based on its geological origin and distribution law, which is very significant for promoting the mixture of Engineering Geology, Soil Mechanics and Rock Mechanics. In the course of large scales engineering construction in China, many engineering experiences and testing data are gained, summarizing these testing results and automatically managing them with computer technology are very necessary. The author develops a software named "Hard Clay-Soft Rock Engineering Geological Information Management and Analysis System (HRGIMS)", realizes the automatic and visual management of geo-engineering information, on the basis of information management, the functions of test data analysis and engineering property prediction are strengthened. This system has well merits for practice and popularization.

A novel zirconium-based perovskite-type membrane material for oxygen permeation

A novel zirconium-based membrane material of BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.2O3-6 with cubic perovskite structure was synthesized for the first time through a method of citric and EDTA acid combined complexes. The structural stability was characterized by XRD, O-2-TPD and H-2-TPR techniques respectively. The high oxygen permeation flux of 0.873 mL/cm(2) min at 950 degreesC was obtained under He/Air gradient. Meanwhile, the single activation energy for oxygen permeation and the long-term steady operation of 200 h at 800 degreesC were achieved.

Manual de prática de coleta e herborização de material botânico.

2008

Avaliação do sistema radicular e de rizomas de um campo natural diferido em Bagé, RS.

A utilização do Campo Sulino natural na pecuária de forma cada vez mais intensa e constante tem provocado a diminuição da sua condição produtiva. A excessiva remoção da parte aérea afeta o desenvolvimento das raízes. Um sistema radicular bem desenvolvido permite às plantas forrageiras explorar maior volume de solo, melhorando a absorção de água e nutrientes. As raízes também funcionam como órgão de reserva, assegurando rápida rebrota e produtividade das plantas forrageiras. O diferimento é uma prática de manejo de pastagens que pode ajudar a recuperar o campo por meio de descanso programado durante um tempo determinado. Este trabalho avaliou o efeito do tratamento de diferimento sobre o sistema radicular de campo natural após três anos de aplicação (agosto de 2000 a julho de 2003) na Embrapa Pecuária Sul (Bagé, RS). As avaliações foram realizadas no campo com presença animal durante todo o ano e sob diferimento de verão/outono (sem animais na área de março a junho). Foram coletadas 18 amostras de solo em cada tratamento, nas profundidades de 0?10 cm e 10?20 cm. As raízes e os rizomas foram separados do solo e entre si, secos e pesados. Houve diferença (p<0,05) para a porcentagem de raízes e a massa da matéria seca de rizomas. A testemunha apresentou 83,98% das raízes na camada de 0?10 cm e o diferimento, 77,5%. Na camada de 10?20 cm, sob diferimento houve aumento de 35% de raízes em relação à testemunha. A maior massa de matéria seca de rizomas foi obtida em pastagem sob diferimento, com 106% a mais em comparação à testemunha. Os resultados indicam vantagem do descanso da pastagem dos Campos Sulinos, tanto no acúmulo de reservas (maior quantidade de rizomas) voltado à propagação de gramíneas rizomatosas de interesse, quanto também no desenvolvimento de raízes na camada de 10?20 cm.

Multiplicação rápida, método simples e de baixo custo na produção de material propagativo de mandioca.

A baixa taxa de multiplicação de mandioca é um dos obstáculos à sua propagação em larga escala. De cada planta de mandioca obtém-se de 5 a 10 manivas de 20 cm de comprimento, num período médio de 12 meses, o que equivale a dizer que a taxa de propagação de mandioca varia de 1:5 a 1:10. Embora produza sementes, comercialmente a mandioca é propagada vegetativamente por meio de pedaços de caule. A propagação vegetativa tem a desvantagem de permitir a transmissão de pragas e patógenos entre as gerações sucessivas de cultivo, caso não sejam tomados cuidados com relação à qualidade do material de propagação. Essa duas características, a baixa taxa de multiplicação e a degenerescência causada pelo acúmulo de pragas, contribuem para escassez de manivas de boa qualidade à disposição de agricultores. Um método simples e barato para aumento da taxa de multiplicação, da mandioca é a multiplicação rápida a qual consiste em cortar hastes da planta de mandioca em pedaços com duas ou três gemas, e plantá-los em canteiro cobertos com plásticos transparente, para reter o calor do sol. Esses canteiros são regados frequentemente, e assim, a umidade e a temperatura elevadas induzem as manivas a brotar. Ao atingir o tamanho de 10 a 15 cm, os brotos são cortados e posto em água, para enraizar. Por sua vez, as manivas de duas ou três gemas voltam a brotar, e nisso consiste a capacidade que essa técnica tem de aumentar a taxa de multiplicação da mandioca. As taxas de multiplicação obtidas nesse trabalho variaram entre 1:140 a 1:170, isto é, um aumento de 14 a 17 vezes em relação a taxa de multiplicação convencional da mandioca (1:10). Embora esses índices estejam abaixo do potencial máximo de multiplicação apresentado na literatura ( aumento de 60 vezes), demonstram o potencial da técnica da multiplicação rápida no aumento da taxa de multiplicação da mandioca, em razão da sua simplicidade e baixo custo.

Ciclos de seleção e modificações na anatomia radicular do milho Saracura sob alagamento.

O alagamento é um problema encontrado em diversas áreas com potencial agrícola, afetando principalmente os produtores mais pobres. O milho ?Saracura? BRS 4154 foi desenvolvido no intuito de possibilitar o seu plantio em regiões sujeitas ao alagamento, estando atualmente no seu 18° ciclo de seleção. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos verificar as modificações nas características anatômicas radiculares relacionadas com o alagamento e o seu incremento ou não ao longo dos 18 ciclos de seleção em comparação com 2 variedades controle (BR 107 e BRS 1010) submetidas ao alagamento intermitente de 2 dias. As amostras radiculares foram preparadas pelas microtécnicas apropriadas e analisadas em microscopia óptica. Foram observados em relação ao grupo controle e aos ciclos anteriores: aumentos na capacidade de formação de aerênquima; diminuição no córtex; diminuição no diâmetro dos vasos; diminuição da camada subepidérmica; aumento na espessura do floema; e epiderme. Dessa forma, os sucessivos ciclos de seleção foram capazes de melhorar as características do milho Saracura e a sua adaptabilidade a ambientes alagados.