The preservation of some East African freshwater fish

Quality changes during storage were investigated for several commercially important East African freshwater fish. Lates, Bagrus, Protopterus, Tilapia esculenta and T. nilotica were examined during storage in ice and at ambient temperature (250•C). After 24 hours at ambient temperature Lates and Bagrus were completely spoilt but Protopterus was still edible. In iced storage most fish were acceptable for at least 20 days. Organoleptic examination showed that T. nilotica was acceptable after 22 days storage in ice and that gutting was only marginally beneficial. Changes in physical appearance, which could form the basis of a fish inspection system, were recorded during storage. Possible chemical quality control indices were also investigated. It was found that total volatile bases and hypoxanthine are unlikely to be useful quality indices for the species studied with the possible exception of Lates. The bacterial counts of the flesh and skin of T. esculenta and T. niloticus were found to be low (a maximum of 10 organisms per sq cm of skin or per g of flesh) after 22 days storage in ice.

High-speed switchable lens enables the development of a volumetric stereoscopic display

Stereoscopic displays present different images to the two eyes and thereby create a compelling three-dimensional (3D) sensation. They are being developed for numerous applications including cinema, television, virtual prototyping, and medical imaging. However, stereoscopic displays cause perceptual distortions, performance decrements, and visual fatigue. These problems occur because some of the presented depth cues (i.e., perspective and binocular disparity) specify the intended 3D scene while focus cues (blur and accommodation) specify the fixed distance of the display itself. We have developed a stereoscopic display that circumvents these problems. It consists of a fast switchable lens synchronized to the display such that focus cues are nearly correct. The system has great potential for both basic vision research and display applications. © 2009 Optical Society of America.

Stereo display with time-multiplexed focal adjustment

In stereo displays, binocular disparity creates a striking impression of depth. However, such displays present focus cues - blur and accommodation - that specify a different depth than disparity, thereby causing a conflict. This conflict causes several problems including misperception of the 3D layout, difficulty fusing binocular images, and visual fatigue. To address these problems, we developed a display that preserves the advantages of conventional stereo displays, while presenting correct or nearly correct focus cues. In our new stereo display each eye views a display through a lens that switches between four focal distances at very high rate. The switches are synchronized to the display, so focal distance and the distance being simulated on the display are consistent or nearly consistent with one another. Focus cues for points in-between the four focal planes are simulated by using a depth-weighted blending technique. We will describe the design of the new display, discuss the retinal images it forms under various conditions, and describe an experiment that illustrates the effectiveness of the display in maximizing visual performance while minimizing visual fatigue. © 2009 SPIE-IS&T.

Predictive entropy search for efficient global optimization of black-box functions

We propose a novel information-theoretic approach for Bayesian optimization called Predictive Entropy Search (PES). At each iteration, PES selects the next evaluation point that maximizes the expected information gained with respect to the global maximum. PES codifies this intractable acquisition function in terms of the expected reduction in the differential entropy of the predictive distribution. This reformulation allows PES to obtain approximations that are both more accurate and efficient than other alternatives such as Entropy Search (ES). Furthermore, PES can easily perform a fully Bayesian treatment of the model hyperparameters while ES cannot. We evaluate PES in both synthetic and real-world applications, including optimization problems in machine learning, finance, biotechnology, and robotics. We show that the increased accuracy of PES leads to significant gains in optimization performance.

紫花苜蓿不同根系分布模式的土壤水分模拟和验证

根系分布影响着土壤水分养分吸收,实测根系分布费时费力,经验根系分布函数参数简单,应用方便。该研究在田间采用苜蓿栽培土柱试验,测定根系分布,并将其和不同经验根系分布函数分别应用于Hydrus-1D对土壤水分进行动态模拟,通过土壤水分实测值和模拟值比较,验证分析了经验根系分布函数的适用性以及对土壤水分动态变化的影响。结果表明:拟合的根系分布、Prasad分布、Hoffman和van Genuchten分布3种根系分布函数的根长密度模拟值与36cm以下的根长密度实测值较为吻合,Raats根系分布模拟值与实测值及其他分布函数则差别较大。不同根系分布下土壤水分模拟差别不大,平均相对均方根误差在3.5%以下。非胁迫生长条件下,Prasad根系分布、Hoffman和vanGenuchten根系分布都可描述紫花苜蓿实际根系分布状况。

辐射交联共混体系性能和形态控制

控制聚合物的形态，就可以合理地控制聚合物的性能。形态控制这种方法在非辐射界中应用的例子很多，最有代表性的是动态硫化和反应增容技术。在此基础上，辐射加工领域的研究者迅速发展了辐射相态固化和辐射反应增容技术，并且也取得很好的结果。但是，我们发现对于结晶型聚合物共混体系的辐射交联，特别是连续相交联的控制，这些方法都存在一定的不足之处。所以，我们提出“辐射交联”的方法来控制共混体系连续相和分散相的形态。利用这种方法，通过控制辐射条件，可以得到共混体系中连续相交联，分散相几乎不交联的形态；同时得到比较好的力学性能和结晶性能。这种形态控制的方法不但补充了形态控制理论，而且会对今后的共混体系辐射加工提供理论依据和指导。由于尼龙类聚合物的辐射交联是下个世纪辐射行业的发展主要方向，所以我们选择的体系是连续相为辐射交联型聚合物PAl010，分散相为辐射稳定型聚合物HIPS。而尼龙共混体系的辐射交联，尤其是PAlOlO共混体系，至今鲜有报导。本文通过研究共混体系聚合物的力学性能、凝胶动力学、热学性能和不同方法得到的形态来阐述聚合物共混体系的形态、辐射交联、结晶和性能之间的关系。得到的结果如下：(1)HIPS是一种辐射交联型聚合物。由于体系比较复杂，所以利用Charlesby-Pinner公式处理HIPS的凝胶含量和辐射剂量的关系并不符合线性，但是利用张-孙-钱公式进行处理，得到了比较好的线性关系。随着辐射剂量的增加，体系的凝胶含量出现先增加，略有降低的趋势。随着辐射剂量的增加，弹性模量保持增加的趋势；断裂能和断裂伸长率下降；而拉伸强度出现先增加、后降低的趋势，当辐射剂量为0.80Mgy的时侯，拉伸强度达到最大值。从液氮断裂SEM电镜分析，基质上的圆形鼓包是具有增韧能力橡胶或HIPS中的接枝共聚物。随着辐射剂量的增加，这种鼓包逐渐减少，体系失去了增韧的能力。拉伸断面SEM照片表现为，随着辐射剂量的增加，断裂面上出现了未辐照HIPS基质中没有出现的圆形鼓包，我们认为是橡胶相交联所致。随着辐射剂量的进一步加大，交联密度的增加，体系的圆形鼓包消失。(2)PAlOlO和HIPS的共混体系辐射交联后，随着辐射剂量的增加，拉伸强度、断裂伸长率和断裂能同时出现了最大值，但是进一步增加辐射剂量，迅速下降。另外共混体系辐射交联后，随辐射剂量的增加，弹性模量出现先增加、后出现平台、然后继续增加的现象。(3)利用DSC非等温结晶现象分析，发现随着辐射剂量的增加，共混体系的结晶温度有下降的趋势，说明辐射对结晶能力的限制。而且我们发现辐射诱导结晶现象的出现，而且辐射诱导结晶达到最大的时候的辐射剂量为0.34MGy，此时恰好是力学性能最优的时候。(4)聚合物各种性能的体现和聚合物的形态是密不可分的。我们先后利用TEM，脆断样品SEM和拉伸样品SEM来对PAl010／HIPS共混体系进行了形态学上的研究。脆断形态发现，随着辐射剂量的增加，凝胶反应在共混体系的基质PAl010相和两相界面处比较明显。进一步增加辐射剂量发现，在分散相表面上的凝胶物质增加；利用TEM发现共混体系中分散相HIPS中橡胶粒子随着辐射增加，出现粒子尺寸减小的趋势，而且在0.34MGy时候，橡胶粒子尺寸比较小，而且分布很好，此时体系的力学性能也比较好；拉伸形态分析发现随着辐射剂量的增加，断面出现了明显的韧脆转变。(5)共混体系非等温结晶现象和纯PA1O1O的有些相似。随着辐射的增加，结晶温度和熔融温度都随之下降。讨论半晶型聚合物的熔融双峰现象很多，本实验得到的现象比较符合熔融重组(The melting recrystallization)的观点。辐射诱导结晶现象的出现，促进了力学性能的提高。辐射对于结晶表面的损伤，通过WAXD可以看出，而且我们发现在010面的衍射峰的强度在辐射剂量为0.34MGy的时候要比未辐照体系的衍射峰强，但是在辐射剂量为0.85MGy的时候，衍射峰的强度比未辐照的时候低。等温结晶的现象，说明利用Avrami公式可以处理共混体系的辐射交联。在在相同温度下，辐射剂量大的体系的结晶速率比辐射剂量小的低，说明结晶困难。相同辐射剂量下，不同结晶温度得到的n值不同，变化幅度从2.4～2.9。通过Hoffman-Weeks公式我们得到未辐照体系的平衡熔点是202.21 ℃。辐射剂量为0.34MGy的时候，平衡熔点为193.3 ℃。当辐射剂量为0.85MGy的时候，平衡熔点为185.79 ℃。

二氧化碳共聚物结构和性质的研究

二氧化碳共聚反应制备的聚亚丙基碳酸酷（PPC）可完全生物降解并且无污染。该产物玻璃化温度较低，非结晶性，耐热性稍差，从而限制了它的应用。本文制备了乙基纤维素（EC），纤维素（Cell），聚乙烯醇（PVA）和聚对乙烯基苯酚（PVPh）与PPC的共混物，利用DSC，TGA，WAXD，皿，SEM和XPS研究它们的结构和性质。对于马来酸配封端的PPC（MAPPC）／EC共混物，富EC组分显示热致液晶性。向MAPPC混入EC后，提高了MAPPC的热分解温度。IR结果显示MAPPC的拨基氧和EC的经基氢之间存在弱的相互作用。WAXD表明用胆街型液晶EC稀释MAPPC，链间距和非晶相尺寸增加。DSC指出全部组成范围内PPC与纤维素，PPC与PVPh相容。FTIR证明PPC的氧官能团和纤维素的轻基以及PPC的氧官能团和PVPh的轻基之间存在氢键作用。XPS阐明PPC碳酸醋基的碳氧单键和碳氧双键的氧原子分别与纤维素的经基、PVPh轻基之间产生相互作用。用Dsc研究了聚乙烯醇（PVA）与苯磺酞氯封端的PPC（BsPPc）共混物熔融结晶行为。根据平衡熔点和组分间相互作用参数x12，表明熔融态共混物的相容性和组分间的氢键作用。使用修正Lauritzen-Hoffman表达式讨论了初始阶段结晶速率常数与温度的依赖性。首次获得纯PVA及其PVA／BSPPC共混物的折叠表面和侧向表面自由能以及链折叠功。

尼龙1010的平衡热力学参数及其γ-辐照产物的结晶过程

尼龙1010是我国特有的工程塑料。但对它的结构与性能的基础研究并不多见。迄今为止，许多聚酰胺的晶胞参数已被测定，并比较准确地计算出它们的结晶密度ρ_c。可是，尚未见到过有关尼龙1010的ρ_c的报道。此外，结晶高聚物的平衡熔融温度T°_m和平衡熔融热ΔH°_m是非常重要的热力学参数，尤其是后者更是用量热法计算结晶度的基准。早在50年代，Flory等对它的T°_m和ΔH°_m进行了许多研究，由于受当时历史条件限制，这些数值的准确性不高，不能当作平衡状态的数值。尼龙1010经γ-射线辐照后，有可能提高它的使用温度，扩大它的应用范围和领域。但至今未见到过大剂量下γ-辐照尼龙1010及其添加强化交联剂BMI的γ辐照产物的热学性能和结晶过程的研究。随着科学技术的发展，目前迫切需要准确的尼龙1010的ρ_c、T°_m、ΔH°_m的数值，以及大剂量下γ-辐照产物的热学性能和结晶过程的详细研究，以便更合理地开发和利用这一材料为四化建设服务。本文用DSC差示扫描量热仪、红外光谱仪、广角X-射线衍射仪以及TMS热机械仪等研究手段，准确地测定了尼龙1010的平衡热力学参数，并对尼龙1010及其添加强化交联剂BMI的γ-辐照产物的热学性能和结晶过程进行了详细的研究。用红外吸光度-密度外推法求得尼龙1010的ρ_a（非晶密度）= 1.003 ρ_c = 1.098g/cm~3。1.098g/cm~3与用X-射线衍射法求得的1.135g/cm~3比较，认为后者更为合理。用介稳态结晶试样的ΔH_m-(V-bar)_(sp)的线性关系，求得尼龙1010的平衡熔融热。ΔH°_m = 244.0J/g。企图用常用的Hoffman Tm-Tc外推法来确定尼龙1010的平衡熔融温度T°_m，但未能成功，并指出其升温过程中重结晶异常迅速是此法行不通的主要原因。用Kamide提出的双重外推法成功地求得尼龙1010的平衡熔融温度：T°_m = 487 K = 214 ℃通过详细地研究尼龙1010及其添加强化并联剂BMI的γ辐照产物的热学性能，发现强化交联剂BMI的加入，使尼龙1010大分子的交联更容易，但也使得空间网络较松散；同时γ辐照尼龙1010在再次等速升温过程中出现冷结晶峰是辐照产物中存在可结晶部分、交联网络阻碍可结晶部分结晶两者共同作用的结果。交联网络使可结晶部分在降温过程中来不及结晶，当再次升温到玻璃化转变温度以上时，链段冻结被解除，可结晶的分子链段进行有序排列而结晶，导致冷结晶峰的出现。冷结晶峰的强度和位置与辐照产物中可结晶部分的多少、交联网络的大小即相邻交联点之间的分子量Mc的大小、交联网络的松散程度以及试样的热历史都有关。选择适当的等温结晶温度，用DSC-2C型差示扫描量热仪研究了尼龙1010及其γ-辐照产物和添加强化交联剂BMI的γ-辐照产物的等温结晶过程。用DSC-2C 3600 TADS计算机自带的部分面积程序进行动力学数据处理。通过仔细的等温结晶动力学研究，发现γ辐照尼龙10104 Avrami指数n几乎不受辐照剂量R和强化交联剂BMI的影响，且一般为3.75，这说明尼龙1010及其γ辐照产物的结晶过程接近于均相三维成核。随着辐照剂量R和强化交联剂BMI含量的增大，折迭链表面自由能σe值增大，σe值的分布可能变宽，σe值的这种变化可以归因于辐照剂量R和强化交联剂BMI的含量增大时，交联网络增多，交联密度增大，Mc值的分布变宽，链尾和小链圈的数目增多，活动性减小，同时链尾也增长，结果导致σe（链尾、链圈）增大，从而σe值变大，σe值的分布可能变宽。σe值的这种变化也正是过冷度增大、拖尾现象严重、总的动力学速率常数Kn和结晶速率t_(0.5)~(-1)变小的总根源。由此可见，对于分子量不同或分子结构有差别的同一种结晶高聚物来说，σe值可以作为衡量结晶能力大小的定量标准。

间同立构聚丙烯的结晶行为和形态结构的研究

通过在不同温度下等温结晶,我们得到了sPP (ttgg)_2 螺旋构象的三种晶型(晶型I、晶型II和晶型III）。 晶型I和晶型II结构的晶体是亚稳态结构的晶体，在提高退火温度的条件下，能转变成稳定的晶型III结构的晶体。在室温下进行单轴拉伸时，无论是从玻璃态还是从螺旋构象的晶体，当拉伸比超过100%时，我们可以清楚地观察到(ttt)全反式构象晶体的生成。以上的实验结果在熔体取向薄膜的再拉伸中得到了证实。当由拉伸制得的(ttt)全反式构象晶体在不同温度下进行退火时，当退火温度超过46℃时，这种全反式构象的晶体能转变成(ttgg)_2螺旋构象的晶体。如果固定样品的长度进行退火时，这种转变直到退火温度超过100℃时才发生。提高退火温度有利于(ttgg)_2螺旋构象晶体的生成，而张力则有利于全反式构象的保持。根据已有的实验结果，我们提出了合理的转变机理。在不同温度下等温结晶，无论从玻璃态还是从熔体，我们都得到了不同形态结构的晶体，从球晶，孪晶到单层规则的长方形单晶，以及一种较少见球晶的生成过程，并分析了它的结晶机理。另外还研究了结晶温度对电子衍射中h10衍射条纹强度变化的影响。对比熔体结晶和玻璃态结晶，发现二者没有本质的差别，只是从玻璃态结晶所需的时间较长、结晶不够完善。这是由于处于玻璃态中的分子链活动能力较差的缘故。本文利用DSC等手段系统地研究了两种间同立构聚丙烯的结晶行为。利用Avrami方程作图求得 Avrami指数 n、结晶速率常数k;作图求得整体熔体结晶活化能ΔE；通过Hoffman-Weeks 和Thomson-Gibbs方程，作图求得平衡熔点T_m~o; 利用Hoffman和 Lauritzen的球晶生长速率方程作图求得成核常数K_g,发现 sPP1的结晶生长过程分成两个阶段，阶段III和阶段II，其K_g(III)/ K_g(II) = 1.9, 与理率基本吻合。同时也计算出折叠表面自由能σ_e和侧表面自由能σ以及链折叠功q。最后本文利用DSC分析了熔融双峰现象，研究了结晶速度，结晶温度和升温速率对熔融双峰的影响，提出了可能的解释。

System size dependence of associated yields in hadron-triggered jets STAR Collaboration

We present results on the system size dependence of high transverse momentum di-hadron correlations at root s(NN) = 200 GeV as measured by STAR at RHIC. Measurements in d + Au, Cu + Cu and Au + Au collisions reveal similar jet-like near-side correlation yields (correlations at small angular separation Delta phi similar to 0, Delta eta similar to 0) for all systems and centralities. Previous measurements have shown Chat the away-side (Delta phi similar to pi) yield is suppressed in heavy-ion collisions. We present measurements of the away-side Suppression as a function of transverse momentum and centrality in Cu + Cu and Au + Au collisions. The suppression is found to be similar in Cu + Cu and An + An collisions at a similar number of participants. The results are compared to theoretical calculations based on the patron quenching model and the modified fragmentation model. The observed differences between data and theory indicate that the correlated yields presented here will further constrain dynamic energy loss models and provide information about the dynamic density profile in heavy-ion collisions. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurement of the Bottom Quark Contribution to Nonphotonic Electron Production in p plus p Collisions at root s=200 GeV

The contribution of B meson decays to nonphotonic electrons, which are mainly produced by the semileptonic decays of heavy-flavor mesons, in p + p collisions at root s = 200 GeV has been measured using azimuthal correlations between nonphotonic electrons and hadrons. The extracted B decay contribution is approximately 50% at a transverse momentum of p(T) >= 5 GeV/c. These measurements constrain the nuclear modification factor for electrons from B and D meson decays. The result indicates that B meson production in heavy ion collisions is also suppressed at high p(T).

Higher Moments of Net Proton Multiplicity Distributions at RHIC

200 GeV corresponding to baryon chemical potentials (mu(B)) between 200 and 20 MeV. Our measurements of the products kappa sigma(2) and S sigma, which can be related to theoretical calculations sensitive to baryon number susceptibilities and long-range correlations, are constant as functions of collision centrality. We compare these products with results from lattice QCD and various models without a critical point and study the root s(NN) dependence of kappa sigma(2). From the measurements at the three beam energies, we find no evidence for a critical point in the QCD phase diagram for mu(B) below 200 MeV.

Three-Particle Coincidence of the Long Range Pseudorapidity Correlation in High Energy Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions

We report the first three-particle coincidence measurement in pseudorapidity (Delta eta) between a high transverse momentum (p(perpendicular to)) trigger particle and two lower p(perpendicular to) associated particles within azimuth |Delta phi| < 0.7 in root s(NN) = 200 GeV d + Au and Au + Au collisions. Charge ordering properties are exploited to separate the jetlike component and the ridge (long range Delta eta correlation). The results indicate that the correlation of ridge particles are uniform not only with respect to the trigger particle but also between themselves event by event in our measured Delta eta. In addition, the production of the ridge appears to be uncorrelated to the presence of the narrow jetlike component.

gamma cross section in p plus p collisions at root s=200 GeV

We report on a measurement of the gamma(1S + 2S + 3S) -> e(+)e(-) cross section at midrapidity in p + p collisions at root s = 200 GeV. We find the cross section to be 114 +/- 38(stat + fit)(-24)(+23)(syst) pb. Perturbative QCD calculations at next-to-leading order in the color evaporation model are in agreement with our measurement, while calculations in the color singlet model underestimate it by 2 sigma. Our result is consistent with the trend seen in world data as a function of the center-of-mass energy of the collision and extends the availability of gamma data to RHIC energies. The dielectron continuum in the invariant-mass range near the gamma is also studied to obtain a combined yield of e(+)e(-) pairs from the sum of the Drell-Yan process and b-(b) over bar production.