Mass culture of Undaria gametophyte clones and their use in sporeling culture

Undaria pinnatifida (Harv.) Sur. is one of the three main seaweed species under commercial cultivation in China. In the mid-1990s the annual production was about 20000 tons dry. The supply of healthy sporelings is key to the success of commercial cultivation of Undaria. Previous studies demonstrated that instead of the zoospore collection method, sporelings can be cultured through the use of gametophyte clones. This paper reports the experimental results on mass culture of clones and sporeling raising in commercial scale. Light had an obvious effect on growth of gametophyte clones. Under an irradiance of 80 mumol m(-2) s(-1) and favorable temperature of 22-25degreesC, mean daily growth rate may reach as high as 37%. Several celled gametophyte fragments were sprayed onto the palm rope frame. Gametogenesis occurred after 4-6 days. Juvenile sporeling growth experiments showed that nitrate and phosphate concentrations of 2.9 10(-4) mol 1(-1) and 1.7 10(-5) mol 1(-1) were sufficient to enable the sporelings to maintain a high daily growth rate. Sporelings can reach a length of 1 cm in a month. Since 1997, extension of the clone technique has been carried out in Shandong Province. Large-scale production of sporelings for commercial cultivation of 14 and 31 hectares in 1997 and 1998 had been conducted successfully.

Bioorganic/inorganic hybrid composition of sponge spicules: Matrix of the giant spicules and of the comitalia of the deep sea hexactinellid Monorhaphis

The giant basal spicules of the siliceous sponges Monorhaphis chuni and Monorhaphis intermedia (Hexactinellida) represent the largest biosilica structures on earth (up to 3 m long). Here we describe the construction (lamellar organization) of these spicules and of the comitalia and highlight their organic matrix in order to understand their mechanical properties. The spicules display three distinct regions built of biosilica: (i) the outer lamellar zone (radius: >300 mu m), (ii) the bulky axial cylinder (radius: <75 mu m), and (iii) the central axial canal (diameter: <2 mu m) with its organic axial filament. The spicules are loosely covered with a collagen net which is regularly perforated by 7-10 mu m large holes; the net can be silicified. The silica layers forming the lamellar zone are approximate to 5 mu m thick; the central axial cylinder appears to be composed of almost solid silica which becomes porous after etching with hydrofluoric acid (HF). Dissolution of a complete spicule discloses its complex structure with distinct lamellae in the outer zone (lamellar coating) and a more resistant central part (axial barrel). Rapidly after the release of the organic coating from the lamellar zone the protein layers disintegrate to form irregular clumps/aggregates. In contrast, the proteinaceous axial barrel, hidden in the siliceous axial cylinder, is set up by rope-like filaments. Biochemical analysis revealed that the (dominant) molecule of the lamellar coating is a 27-kDa protein which displays catalytic, proteolytic activity. High resolution electron microscopic analysis showed that this protein is arranged within the lamellae and stabilizes these surfaces by palisade-like pillars. The mechanical behavior of the spicules was analyzed by a 3-point bending assay, coupled with scanning electron microscopy. The load-extension curve of the spicule shows a biphasic breakage/cracking pattern. The outer lamellar zone cracks in several distinct steps showing high resistance in concert with comparably low elasticity, while the axial cylinder breaks with high elasticity and lower stiffness. The complex bioorganic/inorganic hybrid composition and structure of the Monorhaphis spicules might provide the blueprint for the synthesis of bio-inspired material, with unusual mechanical properties (strength, stiffness) without losing the exceptional properties of optical transmission. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Growth characters and photosynthetic capacity of Gracilaria lemaneiformis as a biofilter in a shellfish farming area in Sanggou Bay, China

Experiments on growth characters and ecological functions of the macroalgae Gracilaria lemaneiformis, collected from south China, were conducted in polyculture areas of kelp and filter-feeding bivalve in Sanggou Bay in Weihai City, Shandong, in north China from May 2002 to May 2003. The results of 116 days cultivation showed that the average wet weight of alga increased 89 times from 0.1 to 8.9 kg rope(-1), with an average specific growth rate ( based on wet weight) of 3.95% per day. The most favorable water layer for its growth was 1.0 - 1.8 m below the surface in July and August, with an average specific growth rate of 8.2% per day in 30-day experiments. Photosynthetic activity changed seasonally, with an average of 7.3 mg O-2 g dw(-1) h(-1). The maximum rate (14.4 mg O-2 g dw(-1) h(-1)) was recorded in July, or 19.3 mg CO2 g dw(-1) h(-1), while the minimum (0.40 mg CO2 g dw(-1) h(-1)) was in April. This study indicated that the culture of G. lemaneiformis is an effective way to improve water quality where scallops are cultivated intensively.

钢丝绳结构及工艺集成设计系统

针对钢丝绳实际生产需要,提出基于钢丝绳结构理论设计基础的结构与工艺集成设计系统框架,建立钢丝绳结构设计、性能分析及间隙计算的理论模型,并利用相关数据进行理论值与实际值分析,完成钢丝绳性能参数的敏感性分析模型和理论修正模型,为钢丝绳结构设计与工艺设计的并行处理提供了理论上的指导,最终实现钢丝绳的智能设计与制造

基于数据仓库的EIS在CIMS中的研究与实现

随着信息系统在企业应用的不断发展，越来越多的企业高层领导已不满足从ＭＩＳ、ＭＲＰＩＩ中获取的信息．本文结合在企业实际中应用的ＪＳＣＩＭＳ领导信息系统，首先介绍了ＣＩＭＳ环境下企业领导对信息系统的需求，然后给出了ＥＩＳ的概念和ＥＩＳ的ＣＳＦｓ，并在通用数据仓库模型基础上，提出了ＪＳＣＩＭＳ中ＥＩＳ数据仓库的模型及建立过程．

智能钢绳测长仪

本文介绍了一种通过对钢绳励磁再读磁的方法对钢绳的长度进行测量。解决了传统的对钢绳长度测量所产生的测量误差问题。

Broken symmetry and pseudogaps in ropes of carbon nanotubes

Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes, it has been speculated that these materials should behave like nanoscale wires with unusual electronic properties and exceptional strength. Recently, 'ropes' of close-packed single-wall nanotubes have been synthesized in high yield. The tubes in these ropes are mainly of the (10,10) type3, which is predicted to be metallic. Experiments on individual nanotubes and ropes indicate that these systems indeed have transport properties that qualify them to be viewed as nanoscale quantum wires at low temperature. It has been expected that the close-packing of individual nanotubes into ropes does not change their electronic properties significantly. Here, however, we present first-principles calculations which show that a broken symmetry of the (10,10) tube caused by interactions between tubes in a rope induces a pseudogap of about 0.1 eV at the Fermi level. This pseudogap strongly modifies many of the fundamental electronic properties: we predict a semimetal-like temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity and a finite gap in the infrared absorption spectrum. The existence of both electron and hole charge carriers will lead to qualitatively different thermopower and Hall-effect behaviours from those expected for a normal metal.

Broken symmetry and pseudogaps in ropes of carbon nanotubes

We investigate the influence of tube-tube interactions in ropes of (10,10) carbon nanotubes, and find that these effects induce a pseudogap in the density of state (DOS) of the rope of width 0.1 eV at the Fermi level. In an isolated (n,n) carbon nanotube there are two bands that cross in a linear fashion at the Fermi level, making the nanotube metallic with a DOS that is constant in a 1.5 eV wide window around the Fermi energy. The presence of the neighbouring tubes causes these two bands to repel, opening up a band gap that can be as large as 0.3 eV. The small dispersion in the plane perpendicular to the rope smears out this gap for a rope with a large cross-sectional area, and we see a pseudogap at the Fermi energy in the DOS where the DOS falls to one third of its value for the isolated tube. This phenomenon should affect many properties of the behavior of ropes of (n,n) nanotubes, which should display a more semimetallic character than expected in transport and doping experiments, with the existence of both hole and electron carriers leading to qualitatively different thermopower and Hall-effect behaviors from those expected for a normal metal. Band repulsion like this can be expected to occur for any tube perturbed by a sufficiently strong interaction, for example, from contact with a surface or with other tubes.

Factors identifying pigs predisposed to tail biting

Approximately 5% of pigs slaughtered in the UK have been tail-bitten, leading to welfare and production issues. Tail biting is sporadic and not all pigs tail bite. The aim of this study was to identify factors that are common in pigs that perform tail-biting behaviour, and that might be used in a predictive way to identify such animals.

The behaviour of 159 pigs was observed in the post-weaning period. Pigs were weaned at 4 weeks of age. In the week prior to weaning and at 6 weeks of age each pig was individually tested in a tail chew test (tail chew test 1 and 2, respectively). The tail chew test involved recording the pig's behaviour directed towards two ropes, one of which had been soaked in saline solution and the other not. The production performance of the pigs was recorded from birth to 7 weeks of age. Time spent performing tail-biting behaviour correlated positively with time in contact with the rope in tail chew test 2 (r = 0.224, P 1.5% tail biting 8.96 kg, = 1.5% tail biting 15-75 kg, = or = 1.5% tail biting 260 g/day, = 1.5% tail biting 343 g/day, 0.05).

The results suggest that pigs that tail bite have some nutritional deficiency that results in performance of foraging behaviour that is expressed in intensive housing as ear/tail biting.

Head injury from a bungee run

An adaptation of bungee jumping, 'bungee running', involves participants attempting to run as far as they can whilst connected to an elastic rope which is anchored to a fixed point. Usually considered a safe recreational activity, we report a potentially life-threatening head injury following a bungee running accident.

Failed filament eruption inside a coronal mass ejection in active region 11121

Aims. We study the formation and evolution of a failed filament eruption observed in NOAA active region 11121 near the southeast
limb on November 6, 2010.
Methods. We used a time series of SDO/AIA 304, 171, 131, 193, 335, and 94 Å images, SDO/HMI magnetograms, as well as ROSA
and ISOON Hα images to study the erupting active region.
Results. We identify coronal loop arcades associated with a quadrupolar magnetic configuration, and show that the expansion and
cancellation of the central loop arcade system over the filament is followed by the eruption of the filament. The erupting filament
reveals a clear helical twist and develops the same sign of writhe in the form of inverse γ-shape.
Conclusions. The observations support the “magnetic breakout” process in which the eruption is triggered by quadrupolar reconnection
in the corona. We propose that the formation mechanism of the inverse γ-shape flux rope is the magnetohydrodynamic helical
kink instability. The eruption has failed because of the large-scale, closed, overlying magnetic loop arcade that encloses the active
region

Étude numérique des phénomènes transitoires dans une turbine axiale de type hélice durant l’emballement

Ce mémoire présente l’étude numérique d’un emballement de turbine hydraulique axiale à échelle modèle. Cet état transitoire est simulé du point de meilleur rendement jusqu’à l’atteinte de 95% de la vitesse d’emballement. Pour ce faire, une méthodologie numérique est développée à l’aide du logiciel commercial ANSYS CFX en utilisant une approche "Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes" avec modèle de turbulence k-ε. Cette méthodologie numérique a été validée grâce à des mesures expérimentales de pression acquises en situation d’emballement sur les aubes d’une roue de turbine axiale étudiée au Laboratoire de Machines Hydrauliques de l’Université Laval. La validation des simulations numériques a été réalisée grâce à des comparaisons dans les domaines temporel et fréquentiel entre les pressions mesurées expérimentalement et calculées numériquement. Les analyses fréquentielles en transitoire ont été effectuées à l’aide de transformées en ondelettes afin de représenter l’évolution temporelle du spectre de fréquence. Des analyses qualitatives de phénomènes hydrauliques prenant place dans la turbine sont aussi présentées. Les analyses effectuées ont permis de confirmer le développement d’un tourbillon en précession par rapport à la roue dans l’aspirateur provocant les fluctuations de pression dominantes à des fréquences subsynchrones. La comparaison entre les données expérimentales et numériques a permis de valider une stratégie de simulation transitoire et d’en définir les limites en vue de prochaines simulations d’emballement. Des tests supplémentaires sont suggérés pour améliorer la précision ou le niveau de confiance de la méthode.

Nanoporous carbons from sisal residues and their application in hybrid TiO2/carbon photocatalysts for the removal and degradation of phenol in solution

Tese de doutoramento, Química (Química Tecnológica), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2016

Otimização do processo de injeção de ZAMAK

A indústria automóvel necessita aumentar a produtividade de forma sistemática, com vista à redução de custos e incremento da competitividade. A otimização dos produtos e processos é uma constante. O presente trabalho foi solicitado pela empresa FicoCables, do Grupo FICOSA, tendo em vista a otimização do processo de injeção de pequenas peças injetadas em ZAMAK, que constituem o bloqueio na extremidade de cada cabo metálico inserido nos automóveis para abertura da mala, portas, travão de mão, reservatório de combustível, capô, etc. A empresa possui cerca de 52 equipamentos de injeção de ZAMAK, cuja temperatura dos bicos era mantida com base numa chama de gás. Os sucessivos problemas de controlo do sistema ditaram uma mudança estratégica no aquecimento desses bicos, passando a ser usadas resistências elétricas anelares. No entanto, esta mudança veio a apresentar problemas inesperados, os quais se vieram inclusivamente a tornar em problemas de segurança, devido ao desgaste interior prematuro dos bicos, os quais apresentaram esmo problema de rotura. Paralelamente, todos os parâmetros relacionados com este processo de fabrico estavam também estudados de forma algo incipiente, pelo que se tornou necessário compreender e dissecar todas as variáveis relacionadas com o processo e implementar sistemas que impedissem o ajuste não controlado dos parâmetros por parte dos operadores. Também os moldes foram alvo de ações de melhoria, com vista a evitar problemas na zona de contacto do bico com o molde. O processo foi analisado em pormenor, permitindo um controlo muito mais apurado do mesmo. Os resultados fizeram sentir-se de forma imediata, graças ao trabalho desenvolvido neste estudo e à abertura demonstrada pela empresa para implementar todas as soluções propostas. O resultado final traduz-se num incremento significativo da segurança para os operadores, num controlo muito mais apurado de todos os parâmetros envolvidos no processo, numa maior garantia da qualidade nos produtos injetados em ZAMAK e em ganhos financeiros significativos para a empresa.