Skull size and shape variation in Psammomys spp. (Rodentia,Gerbillinae) from Tunisia,with emphasis on the impact of allometric variation on species recognition

In Tunisia both Psammomys obesus and P. vexillaris are found. These taxa have been the subject of taxonomic controversy for some time, due to variability in the classical morphological characters used for taxonomic recognition. In this study we investigated skull size and shape variation in the genus Psammomys by using geometric morphometrics to evaluate the extent of intra- and interspecific shape variation and explicitly tested for the impact of allometric shape variation on species discrimination. Eleven populations of the two species from 10 localities in Tunisia were studied. Statistical analyses of size and shape showed large size variation within P. obesus, but no shape differences were revealed among populations of this species. Interspecific analysis revealed that P. vexillaris had the smallest skull. Principal component analysis and Procrustes distances showed good discrimination between the two species after removal of the allometric component of shape variation. The results obtained show that allometric-related shape variation could mask discrimination between the two Psammomys species. This finding might explain the uncertainty in classification of these species in the past. The interspecific allometric-free phenotypic differences observed may be associated with adaptive processes linked to the different environmental and trophic preferences of the two species.     

Unraveling the morphological patterns of a subantarctic eelpout: a geometric morphometric approach

Phenotypic variation in organisms depends on the genotype and the environmental constraints of the habitat that they exploit. Therefore, for marine species inhabiting contrasting aquatic conditions, it is expected to find covariation between the shape and its spatial distribution. We studied the morphology of the head and cephalic sensory canals of the eelpout Austrolycus depressiceps (4.5–22.5 cm TL) across its latitudinal distribution in South Pacific (45°S–55°S). Geometric morphometric analyses show that the shape varied from individuals with larger snout and an extended suborbital canal to individuals with shorter snouts and frontally compressed suborbital canal. There was size variation across the sampled populations, but that size does not have a clear latitudinal gradient. Only 8% of the shape variation relates to this size variation (allometry), represented by a decrease in the relative size of the eye, and a depression of the posterior margin of the head. There were spatial differences in the shape of the head, but these differences were probably caused by allometric effects. Additionally, 2 of the canals of the cephalic lateralis pores and the head shape showed modularity in its development. This study shows that the morphology of marine fish with a shallow distribution varies across distances of hundreds of kilometers (i.e., phenotypic modulation).     

New Progression about Gravity Quantization in General Relativity Theory in Real Space-time

Professor Venzo de Sabbata,working at World Laboratory,Lausanne,Switzerland,and Department of Physics,University of Bologna and Ferrara,Italy,is a famous Italy Physicist in the world.He is engaged with a series of creating research works about gravity quantization of General Relativity Theory in the real space-time which attract the attentions of the world.This paper pays the attention to introduce the works of this field,containing mainly:1.quantizing the general relativity theory in the sense of Einstem-Cartan theory,i.e., general relativity adds the torsion,which means introducing spin into the theory of gravity.2. building a compact mathematical tool for research of gravity quantization,the geometric algebra in the real space-time--multivector algebra,i.e.,developing a spinor manifold in the real space-time.     

信息网络系统可靠性问题的探讨

探讨了网络安全受到主动威胁时的网络可靠性,通过信息网络可靠性定义的确定,建立了信息网络的一般可靠性模型以及受有无主动攻击时信息网络的受损情况,得到了信息网络系统的可靠性评估方法,为信息网络的免遭破坏提供预防措施。     

自动采棉机表面几何特性与数控加工技术分析

为进一步提高自动采棉机各部件加工与装配精度,实现采棉机作业效率与作业寿命的提升,以自动采棉机的组成结构及作业原理为基础,针对表面几何特性与数控加工技术进行分析.依据自动采摘机实际作业过程中出现的摘锭磨损等故障,给出自动采棉机零部件的数控加工工序模型,运用UG软件三维建模同时进行层次化的加工工艺流程设计及走刀算法优化.以...     

Characterizing Spatial Variability of Soil Textural Fractions and Fractal Parameters Derived from Particle Size Distributions

Soil particle size distribution (PSD) is a fundamental physical property affecting other soil properties. Characterizing spatial variability of soil texture is very important in environmental research. The objectives of this work were: 1) to partition PSD of 75 soil samples, collected from a flat field in the University of Guilan, Iran, into two scaling domains using a piecewise fractal model to evaluate the relationships between fractal dimensions of scaling domains and soil clay, silt, and sand fractions and 2) to assess the potential of fractal parameters as an index used in a geostatistical approach reflecting the spatial variability of soil texture. Features of PSD of soil samples were studied using fractal geometry, and geostatistical techniques were used to characterize the spatial variability of fractal and soil textural parameters. There were two scaling domains for the PSD of soil samples. The fractal dimensions of these two scaling domains (D₁ and D₂) were then used to characterize different ranges of soil particle sizes and their relationships to the soil textural parameters. There was a positive correlation between D₁ and clay content (R² = 0.924), a negative correlation between D₁ and silt content (R² = 0.801), and a negative correlation between D₂ and sand content (R² = 0.913). The geometric mean diameter of soil particles had a negative correlation with D₁ (R² = 0.569) and D₂ (R² = 0.682). Semivariograms of fractal dimensions and soil textural parameters were calculated and the maps of spatial variation of D₁ and D₂ and soil PSD parameters were provided using ordinary kriging. The results showed that there were also spatial correlations between D₁ and D₂ and particle size fractions. According to the semivariogram models and validation parameters, the fractal parameters had powerful spatial structure and could better describe the spatial variability of soil texture.     

山地丘陵区不同土地利用方式对空心村整治还田土壤团聚体特征的影响

以探明不同土地利用方式对土壤团聚体的影响为目的,为提高山地丘陵区空心村整治还田土壤稳定性及生产性能提供科学依据。在陕西澄县山地丘陵区空心村整治还田后,设置5种不同的土地利用方式,开展为期1年的种植试验,分别为玉米(C处理)、小麦(W处理)、蔬菜(V处理)、药材(M处理)及对照(未种:CK处理)。测定分析干筛法和湿筛法0—40cm土层土壤团聚体分布、平均质量直径(WMD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、团聚体破坏率(PAD)、不稳定团粒数(ELT)和分形维数(D)。结果表明:(1)各处理在0—40cm各土层土壤团聚体数量及大小均显著优于CK处理,各处理干筛下0—40cm土层0.25mm团聚体含量(DR0.25)和湿筛下该含量(WR0.25)随着土壤土层深度的增加呈现相反的趋势;(2)干筛法和湿筛法0—40cm土层各处理土壤平均重量直径(MWD)平均值和几何平均直径(GMD)平均值大小顺序均呈现W处理C处理M处理V处理CK处理,C处理有助于增加表层土壤大团聚体含量,W处理则有助于增加下层土壤大团聚体含量;(3)湿筛法分析表明,各处理土壤团聚体破坏率(PAD)和不稳定团粒指数(ELT)在0—40cm土层内均表现出近似"Z"字形趋势,各处理显著低于CK;(4)各处理的分形维数(D)在0—40cm土层平均值大小顺序为C处理W处理M处理V处理CK处理。土壤分形维数(D)与干筛法和湿筛法下0—40cm土层0.25mm团聚体含量之间存在良好的线性关系,分别为R2=0.74和R2=0.67。空心村整治还田后种植玉米和小麦有利于提高0—40cm土层大团聚体含量,增加土层稳定性,改善土壤结构。     

基于微分几何与EDEM的船型开畦沟装置触土曲面优化

针对长江中下游地区油菜种植时土壤黏重板结、含水率波动大、播种作业需开畦沟避免渍害的农艺要求,考虑开沟犁体的触土曲面复杂、难以通过高速数字化土槽及田间试验方法寻求其减阻设计方法和理论依据的问题,采用微分几何理论并结合EDEM仿真方法,开展了驱动圆盘犁对置组合式耕整机开畦沟装置主要触土曲面结构优化研究。通过对主要触土曲面(开畦沟前犁犁体曲面、船式开沟犁整形曲面)牵引阻力分析和曲面参数分析,确定了触土曲面主要结构参数范围。根据微分几何理论,分别建立了能量化描述不同导曲线类型(直线、抛物线、指数曲线)犁体曲面形状变化差异的微分内蕴几何量E、L、M表达式。阻力特性仿真试验结果表明:在作业速度为0. 9～1. 5 m/s、曲面结构参数一定时,导曲线为抛物线型的开畦沟前犁和船式开沟犁具有较好的减阻特性,其平均牵引阻力相比直线型犁体分别低15. 09%、16. 92%,相比指数线型犁体分别低32. 59%、31. 58%。触土曲面的内蕴几何量E、L、M可分别反映犁体阻力随速度的增长速率、犁体牵引阻力大小、犁体阻力随速度的波动程度。当设计犁体的导曲线形状使曲面内蕴几何量E的变化率较小、L为单调减函数、M的波动较小时,犁体具有较好的减阻性能。参数优化仿真试验表明:在作业速度为1. 2 m/s、抛物线型开畦沟前犁宽度为92 mm、船式开沟犁整形曲面最大元线角为66°时,开畦沟装置牵引阻力最小,为1 042. 52 N。田间试验表明:经参数优化的组合式船型开畦沟装置在作业速度为0. 9、1. 2、1. 5 m/s时测试的平均牵引阻力分别为956. 77、1 101. 33、1 564. 85 N,与仿真试验结果误差在7%以内,作业效果满足油菜播种开畦沟的农艺要求。