Some changes in the physical qualities of muscle lipid of the freshwater murrel, Ophicephalus striatus (bloch.) during storage

The present communication reports the changes in the specific gravity, coefficient of viscosity, fluidity and surface tension of the muscle lipid of O. striatus, a common freshwater murrel, when stored at room temp (32 ± 2°C) The specific gravity of muscle lipid was found to rise from 0.894 to 0.912 during the first 25 days of storage but registered the highest (0.925) when stored for 50 days. Surface tension seemed to rise with the duration of storage. This was, presumably, due to an increase in the forces with which the molecules in the surface of the lipid tended to compress the molecules below to the smallest possible volume. During the period of storage marked changes seemed to occur in the direction of an increase in the value of the coefficient of viscosity and a reciprocal decline in the fluidity. Evidently, the observed increase in the viscosity seemed to be the result of increased internal friction between different molecular layers of the lipid, whereas a decline in the fluidity was perhaps the consequence of its inverse correlation with the coefficient of viscosity.

Coupling between elytra of some beetles: Mechanism, forces and effect of surface texture

Lightweight materials, structures and coupling mechanisms are very important for realizing advanced flight vehicles. Here, we obtained the geometric structures and morphologies of the elytra of beetles and ascertained its coupling zone by using the histological section technique and SEM. We set up a three-dimensional motion observing system to monitor the opening and closing behaviour of elytra in beetles and to determine the motion mechanism. We constructed a force measuring system to measure the coupling forces between elytra. The results show that elytra open and close by rotating about a single axle, where the coupling forces may be as high as 160 times its own bodyweight, the elytra coupling with the tenon and mortise mechanism, surface texture and opening angle between elytra heavily influence the coupling forces. These results may provide insights into the design mechanism and structure for future vehicles of flight.

Spatial exploration induces a persistent reversal of long-term potentiation in rat hippocampus

Experience-dependent long-lasting increases in excitatory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus are believed to underlie certain types of memory(1-3). Whereas stimulation of hippocampal pathways in freely moving rats can readily elicit a long-term potentiation (LTP) of transmission that may last for weeks, previous studies have failed to detect persistent increases in synaptic efficacy after hippocampus-mediated learning(4-6). As changes in synaptic efficacy are contingent on the history of plasticity at the synapses(7), we have examined the effect of experience-dependent hippocampal activation on transmission after the induction of LTP, We show that exploration of a new, non-stressful environment rapidly induces a complete and persistent reversal of the expression of high-frequency stimulation-induced early-phase LTP in the CA1 area of the hippocampus, without affecting baseline transmission in a control pathway. LTP expression is not affected by exploration of familiar environments. We found that spatial exploration affected LTP within a defined time window because neither the induction of LTP nor the maintenance of long-established LTP was blocked. The discovery of a novelty-induced reversal of LTP expression provides strong evidence that extensive long-lasting decreases in synaptic efficacy may act in tandem with enhancements at selected synapses to allow the detection and storage of new information by the hippocampus.

The response of piled buildings to deep excavations

This paper explores the influence of the piled foundation on the building response to excavation-induced deformations. The influence of the type of foundation, the position of positive and negative skin friction zones, and the flexibility of the piles is evaluated with respect to both horizontal and vertical soil deformations. Case histories from the Netherlands are included from Amsterdam (North South Line) and Rotterdam (a building adjacent to the Willemspoortunnel). Most of the buildings are founded on timber piles ranging in length from 12-17 m. Conclusions are drawn about the interaction between the piled building and the soil deformation. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group.

清水江的鱼类区系及生态类型

为了系统研究清水江的鱼类区系和生态类型,在2002—2004年对清水江进行了鱼类标本的采集和生态学调查。共采集鱼类标本2500余号,经鉴定为71种(亚种)。其中中华花鳅、拟尖头鲌、长身鳜和长吻鮠等52种(亚种)鱼类为清水江鱼类新记录,而红尾副鳅、长薄鳅、海南拟、福建纹胸鮡和长须黄颡鱼则首次被发现分布于沅江水系。结合文献记录与调查表明:清水江共有鱼类4目13科57属86种(亚种),其中仅胡子鲇为外来种;清水江鱼类区系具有土著鱼类占优势、特有种类和易(濒)危种类较多、区系组成较复杂和与珠江水系之间存在着鱼类

A comparison of methods currently used in inclusive design.

Inclusive design has unique challenges because it aims to improve usability for a wide range of users. This typically includes people with lower levels of ability, as well as mainstream users. This paper examines the effectiveness of two methods that are used in inclusive design: user trials and exclusion calculations (an inclusive design inspection method). A study examined three autoinjectors using both methods (n=30 for the user trials). The usability issues identified by each method are compared and the effectiveness of the methods is discussed. The study found that each method identified different kinds of issues, all of which are important for inclusive design. We therefore conclude that a combination of methods should be used in inclusive design rather than relying on a single method. Recommendations are also given for how the individual methods can be used more effectively in this context.

Detection of the hepatotoxic microcystins in 36 kinds of cyanobacteria Spirulina food products in China

Gel filtration chromatography, ultra-filtration, and solid-phase extraction silica gel clean-up were evaluated for their ability to remove microcystins selectively from extracts of cyanobacteria Spirulina samples after using the reversed-phase octadecylsilyl ODS cartridge for subsequent analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The reversed-phase ODS cartridge/silica gel combination were effective and the optimal wash and elution conditions were: H2O (wash), 20% methanol in water (wash), and 90% methanol in water (elution) for the reversed-phase ODS cartridge, followed by 80% methanol in water elution in the silica gel cartridge. The presence of microcystins in 36 kinds of cyanobacteria Spirulina health food samples obtained from various retail outlets in China were detected by LC-MS/MS, and 34 samples (94%) contained microcystins ranging from 2 to 163 ng g(-1) (mean=1427 ng g(-1)), which were significantly lower than microcystins present in blue green alga products previously reported. MC-RR-which contains two molecules of arginine (R)-(in 94.4% samples) was the predominant microcystin, followed by MC-LR-where L is leucine-(30.6%) and MC-YR-where Y is tyrose-(27.8%). The possible potential health risks from chronic exposure to microcystins from contaminated cyanobacteria Spirulina health food should not be ignored, even if the toxin concentrations were low. The method presented herein is proposed to detect microcystins present in commercial cyanobacteria Spirulina samples.

Nitrite utilization by Chaetoceros muelleri under elevated CO2 concentration

Chaetoceros muelleri (Lemn.) was cultured with nitrite (NO2-) or nitrate (NO3-) as the sole nitrogen source and aerated with air or with CO2-enriched air. Cells of C. muelleri excreted into the medium nitrite produced by reduction of nitrate when grown with 100 mu M NaNO3 as nitrogen source. Accordingly, NO2- concentration reached 10.4 mu M after 95 h at the low CO2 condition (aerated with air); while the maximum NO2- concentration was only around 2.0 mu M at the high CO2 condition (aerated with 5% CO2 in air), furthermore, after 30 h it decreased to no more than 1.0 mu M. NO2- was almost assimilated in 80 h when C. muelleri was cultured at the high CO2 condition with 100 mu M NaNO2 as sole nitrogen source. At the high CO2 condition, after 3 h the activity of nitrite reductase was as much as 50% higher than that at the low CO2 condition. It was indicated that enriched CO2 concentration could inhibit nitrite excretion and enhance nitrite assimilation by cells. Therefore, aeration with enriched CO2 might be an effective way to control nitrite content in aquaculture systems.

Wave dispersion and power flow analysis of an infinite aerofoil-shaped beam

Classic flutter analysis models an aerofoil as a two degree-of-freedom rigid body supported by linear and torsional springs, which represent the bending and torsional stiffness of the aerofoil section. In this classic flutter model, no energy transfer or dissipation can occur in the span-wise direction of the aerofoil section. However, as the aspect ratio of an aerofoil section increases, this span-wise energy transfer - in the form of travelling waves - becomes important to the overall system dynamics. This paper extends the classic flutter model to include travelling waves in the span-wise direction. Namely, wave dispersion and power flow analysis of an infinite, aerofoil-shaped beam, subject to bending, torsion, tension and a constant wind excitation, is used to investigate the overall system stability. Examples of potential applications for these high aspect ratio aerofoil sections include high-altitude balloon tethers, towed cables, offshore risers and mooring lines.

Cancer subtypes recognition and its gene expression profiles analysis based on geometrical learning

The accurate recognition of cancer subtypes is very significant in clinic. Especially, the DNA microarray gene expression technology is applied to diagnosing and recognizing cancer types. This paper proposed a method of that recognized cancer subtypes based on geometrical learning. Firstly, the cancer genes expression profiles data was pretreated and selected feature genes by conventional method; then the expression data of feature genes in the training samples was construed each convex hull in the high-dimensional space using training algorithm of geometrical learning, while the independent test set was tested by the recognition algorithm of geometrical learning. The method was applied to the human acute leukemia gene expression data. The accuracy rate reached to 100%. The experiments have proved its efficiency and feasibility.

基于约束的主动规则终止性分析

终止性是主动规则所需的最重要的一个性质,但规则的终止性检查通常是不可判定的.已有的静态分析方法非常保守,SQL3标准也没有提供保证终止的机制,所以商业数据库限制规则级联触发的最大次数确保终止.由于规则可看成数据库状态转换器,而约束能够表示所有可能的数据库状态,基于约束表示的数据库状态及约束求解,模拟规则处理,可得到更精确的终止性结论.

模拟降雨下初始含水量对砂黄土硝态氮迁移特征的影响

利用室内人工模拟降雨,研究了不同初始含水量砂黄土在降雨条件下入渗-径流、土壤侵蚀,以及NO3--N随径流流失和土壤深层淋溶特征。结果表明,初始含水量对产流时刻的影响在相对含水量为49.4%和76.9%之间存在一个转折点,高初始含水量较低含水量产流提前大约15 min;土壤侵蚀量随着土壤初始含水量的增加而增加,相对含水量为97.1%时,侵蚀泥沙量分别是相对含水量22.9%时的2.8倍,49.4%时的2.3倍,76.9%时的1.5倍。初始含水量高的处理径流初始NO3--N浓度高,随后各处理均衰减很快,10 min左右NO3--N含量趋于雨水本底值;土壤初始含水量越低,NO3--N被淋洗的程度越严重,土壤剖面中NO3--N的浓度峰越深。对于黄土高原坡地砂黄土NO3--N迁移特征来看,按照NO3--N迁移数量,随径流和泥沙流失量比向土壤深层迁移的数量小。说明在降雨条件下,NO3--N主要通过土壤深层淋溶损失,且土壤初始含水量越低其损失越严重。针对黄土高原降水量小、分布集中的特点,采取措施增加入渗,蓄积水分,在一定含水量下施肥,以提高氮肥利用率,降低NO3--N的淋溶。

An Integratable Distributed Bragg Reflector Laser by Low-Energy Ion Implantation Induced Quantum Well Intermixing

An integratable distributed Bragg reflector laser is fabricated by low-energy ion implantation induced quantum well intermixing. A 4.6nm quasi-continuous wavelength tuning range is achieved by controlling phase current and grating current simultaneously,and side mode suppression ratio maintains over 30dB throughout the tuning range except a few mode jump points.