Semiconductor alternating-current motor drives and energy conservation

The concentration of electrical energy usage in alternating-current motor drives presents an opportunity for substantial conservation. Emerging advances in power semiconductor transistor systems will support a major commerical effort to this end. An alternating-current synthesizer for this purpose may soon be available. The synthesizer produces electricial power of variable and programmable frequency, voltage, and wave form so that performance can be optimized. This technology provides the additional opportunity for fundamental improvements in electrical distribution and usage systems in the longer term. Power processing with semiconductor a-c motor controls is expected to become widespread in the near future.     

Electrophysiological identification of site-insensitive mechanisms in knockdown-resistant strains (kdr,super-kdr) of the housefly larva (Musca domestica)

The effects of pyrethroids were studied upon isolated segmental nerves and neuromuscular junctions in both susceptible (Cooper) and knockdown-resistant (kdr; super-kdr) strains of housefly larvae (Musca domestica L.). Isolated segmental nerves contained neither cell bodies nor synaptic contacts; thus, any effects of pyrethroids were attributed solely to their actions upon voltage-dependent Na⁺ channels. Threshold concentrations of the type II pyrethroid, deltamethrin, required to elevate the spontaneous firing rate of these nerves were determined. Both resistant strains were about ten times less sensitive to deltamethrin than the susceptible strain, but insensitivity of super-kdr nerves was no greater than in the less resistant kdr strain. At neuromuscular junctions, the minimum concentrations of pyrethroids needed to trigger massive increases in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (mEPSPs) were determined for deltamethrin and the type I pyrethroid, fenfluthrin. With fenfluthrin there was no detectable difference between the junctions of kdr and super-kdr strains, which were both about ten-fold less sensitive than Cooper junctions. With deltamethrin, kdr junctions were about 30 times less sensitive than those of Cooper; super-kdr junctions were dramatically insensitive to deltamethrin, being some 10000- and 300-fold less sensitive than those of Cooper and kdr respectively. Thus, in the synaptic assay, super-kdr conferred an extension in resistance over kdr only against the type II pyrethroid, it being ineffective against fenfluthrin. We suggest that kdr resistance comprises at least two site-insensitive areas within the nervous system. One involves insensitivity of the Na⁺ channel and has similar efficacy in both kdr and super-kdr strains against type I and II pyrethroids; the other is associated with the presynaptic terminal and is particularly effective in super-kdr resistance against type II pyrethroids. The latter could be associated with Ca²⁺-activated phosphorylation of proteins involved with neurotransmitter release. Such phosphorylation reactions are known to be perturbed by pyrethroids, especially by type II compounds.     

采用根滤去污工艺的污水净化植物补救系统决策支持软件

为了开发利用植物去除因吸收污染水而产生的重金属的商业化根滤系统和植物去污补救工艺,研究开发了微型计算机软件,以便为该系统的设计与运行提供参考。建立了一个基于Michaelis-Menton方程的工艺模型,可以定量确定在根滤系统中的植物积累和去除毒素物质的能力。采用一系列的算法处理信息并编入一个根滤设施的系统模型内。该系统模型将植物补救系统的物理元件——植物苗圃、根过滤系统、水的前处理与后处理、植物生物质的产后处理等与系统设计的工程方面包括工艺、运行、设施和系统集成结合起来。该软件内含的工程经济分析工具可用于分析主要设计变量对系统效率的影响     

Spin-liquid ground state of the S = 1/2 kagome Heisenberg antiferromagnet

We use the density matrix renormalization group to perform accurate calculations of the ground state of the nearest-neighbor quantum spin S = 1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the kagome lattice. We study this model on numerous long cylinders with circumferences up to 12 lattice spacings. Through a combination of very-low-energy and small finite-size effects, our results provide strong evidence that, for the infinite two-dimensional system, the ground state of this model is a fully gapped spin liquid.     

滇西北高山牧场入侵物种土大黄生态学调查

2003年8月,对滇西北贡山县迪麻洛村色娃龙巴夏季高山牧场进行了植被和土大黄空间分布调查.结果表明:45%的样点中出现土大黄,9%的样点中覆盖率>25%;土大黄的出现与‘草地’景观、放牧强度、牧民住所的近远呈正相关,与海拔高度和坡度呈负相关;土大黄的分布和扩张与传统的轮牧体系息息相关.     

Shenzhen in China's Financial Center Networks

Shenzhen, China, aspires to be an international financial center; however, its financial sector occupies an anomalous position in China's networks. The sector is tightly integrated into mainland networks, and Shenzhen's local banks provide access to Hong Kong's networks. Nonetheless, the city's proximity to Hong Kong, the Asia‐Pacific center of financial networks, confers few incremental benefits compared to those received by other mainland centers. The proposed Qianhai financial district, which is to be a laboratory for opening China's capital accounts, does not differentially boost Shenzhen because other financial centers will be allowed to experiment. A network theory of financial centers provides the explanatory framework for interpreting Shenzhen in China's financial center networks. Empirical analyses focus on Shenzhen's network ties with the Mainland and with Hong Kong. Shenzhen's future rests on the capacity of its financial firms to participate in the networks of South China, as well as to operate across the Mainland.     

Detection of QTL for forage yield,lodging resistance and spring vigor traits in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an internationally significant forage crop. Forage yield, lodging resistance and spring vigor are important agronomic traits conditioned by quantitative genetic and environmental effects. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) and molecular markers associated with increased forage yield, resistance to lodging, and spring vigor. A backcross population composed of 128 progeny was developed by crossing the breeding parents DW000577 (lodging susceptible) and NL002724 (lodging-resistant) and back-crossing an individual F₁ plant to the maternal parent (i.e. DW000577). A linkage map of NL002724 was developed based upon the segregation of 236 AFLP, SRAP, and SSR markers among the backcross progeny. The markers were distributed among 14 linkage groups, covering an estimated recombination distance of 1497.6 centiMorgans (cM). Replicated clones of both parents and backcross progeny were evaluated in the field for estimated forage yield, lodging, and spring vigor in Washington and Wisconsin during 2007 and 2008. Significant QTL were found for all three traits. In particular, two QTL for lodging resistance were identified that explained ≥14 % of trait variation, and were significant in all years and locations. Major QTL explaining over 25 % of trait variation for forage yield were detected in multiple environments at two separate locations on chromosome III. Several QTL for spring vigor were located in the same or similar positions as QTL for forage yield, possibly explaining the significant correlation between these traits. Molecular markers associated with the aforementioned QTL were also identified.