IMPACT OF SELENIUM FERTILIZATION ON GLUCOSINOLATE CONCENTRATION IN ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA AND RAPID CYCLING BRASSICA OLERACEA

Brassica vegetables are a significant source of glucosinolates (GSs), which are sulfur (S)-containing phytonutrients exhibiting, upon hydrolysis by endogenous myrosinase, antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic activity. Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient in mammalian health exhibiting antioxidant activity by inhibiting experimental carcinogenesis in animal models and reducing cancer incidence in human clinical trials. Selenium is readily accumulated in both Brassica species and Arabidopsis thaliana, a model species with similar S-metabolism. The research objectives for this project were to: 1) compare the impact of Se fertilization on GS concentrations between Arabidopsis thaliana and rapid cycling Brassica oleracea; and 2) determine the level of Se fertilization needed to optimize plant tissue Se concentration to maximize potential human health benefits. Both S and Se concentrations increased in A. thaliana and B. oleracea tissues in response to increasing Se treatments. Concentrations of glucoiberin, glucoraphanin, aliphatic, and total GS differed significantly between A. thaliana and B. oleracea. Data demonstrates that anti-carcinogenic GSs can be modified through changes in Se treatment concentrations, yet high levels of anti-carcinogenic GSs can be maintained while increasing Se concentration to 0.8 mg Se L^-1. Thus, it is feasible to increase Se to beneficial dietary levels without compromising GS concentrations.     

Rapid Determination of Mercury in Plant and Soil Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, a Comparative Study

The objectives of this study were to simplify sample preparation and validate mercury detection in soil and plant samples using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). A set of mercury contaminated and mercury free soil and plant samples were digested and analyzed by ICP-AES, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS). Results show that mercury measurements in soil and plant samples using ICP-AES were in agreement with those analyzed using ICP-MS and CVAAS. The concentrations of mercury in soils and plant tissues determined by ICP-AES were 92.2% and 90.5% of those determined by CVAAS and ICP-MS, respectively. Digestion of soil samples with 4 M HNO₃ and direct measurement by ICP-AES without reduction of Hg²⁺ to Hg⁰ gave a reasonable and acceptable recovery (92%) for determining Hg in soils. We conclude that ICP-AES with optimized conditions (addition of gold chloride, extension of washing time, linear working range, and selection of wavelength – 194 nm) resulted in reliable detection of mercury in environmental samples.     

河蟹养殖自动作业船导航控制系统设计与测试

针对河蟹养殖过程中存在的水草清理难度大、喂料投饵不均匀、人力成本高等问题,该文设计了一种基于ARM(advanced RISC machine)和GPS/INS(global positioning system/inertial navigation system)组合导航的多功能全自动河蟹养殖作业船导航控制系统。该系统由明轮驱动船、ARM主控制器、GPS/INS组合导航装置等组成。为降低传统的基于有限目标点航道位置计算方法的复杂度并减小船体偏离航道的误差,该文提出了一种基于实时插点的航道位置计算方法,实时地解算出当前时刻的目标位置,并设计了相应的转弯及航道切换策略。针对明轮船具有非线性、大时滞、欠阻尼的运动特点,设计了基于模糊PID(proportion integration differentiation)的航向、航速双闭环运动控制算法;基于嵌入式Linux操作系统,设计了船载子系统软件,并编写了上位机监控程序对船载子系统的运行状态进行实时监控。利用河蟹养殖作业船试验平台进行了航速及自动导航试验,并对有限目标点和实时插点的航道位置计算方法的控制效果进行了对比。试验结果表明:船体速度响应较快,超调量不超过5%,稳态误差可控制在3%以内;采用有限点的航道位置计算方法时,船体在转弯与直行时偏离航道的最大误差分别为2.12和1.52m;采用实时插点的航道位置计算方法时,船体在转弯与直行时偏离航道的最大误差分别为0.36和0.09m,分别下降了83.02%和94.08%,船体的控制精度得到了全面的改善。该文可以为多功能河蟹养殖作业船的研究提供重要参考。     

Nutrient accumulation in leaf tissue of rapid‐cycling brassuca oleracea responds to increasing sodium selenate concentrations

Brassica oleracea L. are important economic vegetables, and are capable of selenium (Se) enrichment to enhance human nutrition and health. Because Se enrichment may influence the nutrient balance of this crop, a study was done to test the effects of selenate‐Se on plant nutrients. Plants of a rapid‐cycling B. oleracea population were grown in nutrient solutions amended with Na₂SeO₄at 0.0, 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 mg L^‐1. Leaf tissue was then analyzed for nutrient content. Boron (B) (P=0.01), iron (Fe) (P=0.01), and phosphorus (P) (P=0.01) content decreased, while Se (P=0.01), sulfur (S) (P=0.01), and potassium (K) content (P=0.01) increased with increasing selenate‐Se treatments. Significant quadratic responses were found for magnesium (P=0.01) and molybdenum (P=0.01). No significant differences in leaf fresh or dry weight were detected. Changes in plant nutrient content can be expected when Brassicas are enhanced for delivery of beneficial organic Se.     

Flowering time in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): a key factor for global adaptability

Wheat is one of the most widely cultivated crops and, being the staple diet of more than 40 countries, it plays an imperative role in food security. Wheat has remarkable genetic potential to synchronize its flowering time with favourable environmental conditions. This ability to time its flowering is a key factor for its global adaptability and enables wheat plant to produce satisfactory grain yield under very diverse temperature and soil moisture conditions. Vernalization (Vrn), photoperiod (Ppd) and earliness per se (Eps) are the three genetic systems controlling flowering time in wheat. The objective of this review is to provide comprehensive information on the physiological, molecular and biological aspects of the three genetic constituents of flowering and maturity time in wheat. Reviews written in the past have covered either one of the aspects; and generally focused on one of the three genetic constituents of the flowering time. The current review provides (a) a detailed overview of all three gene systems (vernalization, photoperiod and earliness per se) controlling flowering time, (b) details of the primer sequences, their annealing temperatures and expected amplicon sizes for all known markers of detecting vernalization and photoperiod alleles, and (c) an up to date list of QTLs affecting flowering and/or maturity time in wheat.     

水产养殖无人导航明轮船运动仿真与试验

无人导航明轮船依据目前经验公式计算的明轮推力和实际推力偏差较大,不利于控制系统的设计,为此给出明轮驱动力计算方法,建立明轮船水动力仿真模型,并据此进行了正航和回转仿真。为验证模型,在试验艇上安装高精度GPS设备及通信装置,在设定明轮船航速0.4 m/s、左明轮转速60 r/min、右明轮转速40 r/min条件下进行了试验,测量并记录了航行轨迹数据,经GPS设备测量得到的回转直径为3.2 m。仿真和试验结果表明,通过控制明轮可以使明轮船实现正航和回转运动,具有较好的低速机动性和操纵性。     

Oxygen Demand of Aircraft and Airfield Pavement Deicers and Alternative Freezing Point Depressants

Aircraft and pavement deicing formulations and other potential freezing point depressants were tested for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Propylene glycol-based aircraft deicers exhibited greater BOD₅ than ethylene glycol-based aircraft deicers, and ethylene glycol-based products had lower degradation rates than propylene glycol-based products. Sodium formate pavement deicers had lower COD than acetate-based pavement deicers. The BOD and COD results for acetate-based pavement deicers (PDMs) were consistently lower than those for aircraft deicers, but degradation rates were greater in the acetate-based PDM than in aircraft deicers. In a 40-day testing of aircraft and pavement deicers, BOD results at 20°C (standard) were consistently greater than the results from 5°C (low) tests. The degree of difference between standard and low temperature BOD results varied among tested products. Freshwater BOD test results were not substantially different from marine water tests at 20°C, but glycols degraded slower in marine water than in fresh water for low temperature tests. Acetate-based products had greater percentage degradation than glycols at both temperatures. An additive component of the sodium formate pavement deicer exhibited toxicity to the microorganisms, so BOD testing did not work properly for this formulation. BOD testing of alternative freezing point depressants worked well for some, there was little response for some, and for others there was a lag in response while microorganisms acclimated to the freezing point depressant as a food source. Where the traditional BOD₅ test performed adequately, values ranged from 251 to 1,580?g/kg. Where the modified test performed adequately, values of BOD₂₈ ranged from 242 to 1,540?g/kg.     

多喷枪协同式喷涂五轴混联机器人设计

针对大型扁平型立方体工件的喷涂工艺特点,将并联机构应用于喷涂工艺,设计了一种控制解耦性很好的五轴混联喷涂机器人,阐述了这种喷涂机器人的机构设计、工作原理、运动学分析、驱动方式、控制系统硬件组成及其控制方式。该机器人具有结构紧凑、喷涂效率高、涂层厚度均匀和操作简便等特点,具有较好的应用前景。