Acid sensing by the Drosophila olfactory system

The odour of acids has a distinct quality that is perceived as sharp, pungent and often irritating. How acidity is sensed and translated into an appropriate behavioural response is poorly understood. Here we describe a functionally segregated population of olfactory sensory neurons in the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster, that are highly selective for acidity. These olfactory sensory neurons express IR64a, a member of the recently identified ionotropic receptor (IR) family of putative olfactory receptors. In vivo calcium imaging showed that IR64a+ neurons projecting to the DC4 glomerulus in the antennal lobe are specifically activated by acids. Flies in which the function of IR64a+ neurons or the IR64a gene is disrupted had defects in acid-evoked physiological and behavioural responses, but their responses to non-acidic odorants remained unaffected. Furthermore, artificial stimulation of IR64a+ neurons elicited avoidance responses. Taken together, these results identify cellular and molecular substrates for acid detection in the Drosophila olfactory system and support a labelled-line mode of acidity coding at the periphery.     

Uniformity evaluation and optimization of fluid flow characteristics in a seven-strand tundish

The effect of flow control devices (FCDs) on the uniformity of flow characteristics in a seven-strand symmetrical trapezoidal tundish was studied using both an experimental 1:2.5 hydraulic model and a numerical simulation of a 1:1 geometric model. The variation coefficient (CV) was defined to evaluate the flow uniformity of the seven-strand tundish. An optimized FCD configuration was proposed on the basis of the evaluation of experimental results. It is concluded that a turbulence inhibitor (TI) and U-type dam are essential to improve the uniformity of fluid flow in the seven-strand tundish. In addition, the configuration of inclination T-type dams with a height of 200 mm between the second and third strands and with a height of 300 mm between the third and fourth strands can minimize the proportion of dead zone. After optimizing the configuration of FCDs, the variation coefficient reduces below 20% of the mean value, and the average proportion of dead zone is just 14.6%; in addition, the temperature fluctuation between the strands could be controlled within 0.6 K. In summary, the uniformity of flow and temperature in the seven-strand tundish is greatly improved.     

Effect of the microstructure of Al 7050-T7451 on anodic oxide formation in sulfuric acid

The effect of the microstructure of an Al 7050-T7451 substrate on the anodic oxide formation in sulfuric acid was studied in this article. The microstructure of the substrate was assessed by optical microscope (OM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The surface and cross-section morphologies of the oxide films were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The chemical composition of intermetallic particles in the alloys and films was investigated using energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS). The roles of intermetallic phases and grain or subgrain boundaries on the oxide film formation were researched using the potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization technique in sulfuric acid solution. The results show that the transition of coarse intermetallic particles or grain (subgrain) boundaries at the surface of Al alloys can be characterized by potentiodynamic polarization curves. The surface and cross-section micrographs of the anodic layer seem to preserve the microstructure of the substrate. Large cavities in the anodic films are caused by the preferential dissolution of coarse AItCuMg particles and the entrance of Cu-rich remnants into the electrolyte during anodizing. The Al₇Cu₂Fe particles tend to be occluded in the oxide layer or lose from the oxide surface because of peripheral trenching. Small pores in the films are induced by the dissolution of precipitates in grain or subgrain boundaries. The film surface of recrystallized grain bodies is smooth and homogeneous.     

Near-infrared to visible up-conversion emissions of Er^3＋ doped Al2O3 powders derived from the sol-gel method

The Er3 doped Al2O3 powders were prepared by the sol-gel method using the aluminium isopropoxide [Al(OC3H7)3]-derived Al2O3 sols with addition of the erbium nitrate [Er(NO3)3.5H2O]. The different phase structure, including three crystalline types of (Al,Er)2O3 phases, γ, θ, α, and two Er-Al-O phases, ErAlO3 and Al10Er6O24, was obtained with the 1 mol% Er3 doped Al2O3 powders at the different sintering temperatures of 600―1200℃. The green and red up-conversion emissions centered at about 523, 545 and 660 nm, corresponding respectively to the 2H11/2, 4S3/2→4I15/2 and 4F9/2→4I15/2 transitions of Er3 , were detected by a 978 nm semiconductor laser diodes excitation. The phase structure and OH content had evident influence on the up-conversion emissions intensity. The maximum intensities of both the green and red emissions were obtained respectively for the Er3 doped Al2O3 powders sintered at 1200 ℃, which was composed mainly of α-(Al,Er)2O3, less of ErAlO3 and Al10Er6O24 phases, and with the least OH content. The two-photon absorption up-conversion process was involved in the green and red up-conversion emissions of the Er3 doped Al2O3 powders.     

Variation and optimization of acid-dissolved aluminum content in stainless steel

As a key step in secondary refining, the deoxidation process in clean stainless steel production is widely researched by many scholars. In this study, vacuum oxygen decarburization (VOD) deoxidation refining in a 40-t electric arc furnace + VOD + ingot casting process was analyzed and optimized on the basis of Al deoxidation of stainless steel and thermodynamic equilibrium reactions between the slag and steel. Under good stirring conditions in VOD, the deoxidation reaction reaches equilibrium rapidly, and the oxygen activity in the bulk steel is controlled by the slag composition and Al content. A basicity of 3–5 and an Al content greater than 0.015wt% in the melt resulted in an oxygen content less than 0.0006wt%. In addition, the dissolved oxygen content decreased slightly when the Al content in the steel was greater than 0.02wt%. Because of the equilibrium of the Si–O reaction between the slag and steel, the activity of SiO₂ will increase while the Si content increases; thus, the Si content should be lowered to enable the formation of a high-basicity slag. A high-basicity, low-Al₂O₃ slag and an increased Si content will reduce the Al consumption caused by SiO₂ reduction.     

δ^13C and water-use efficiency indicated by δ^13C of different plant functional groups on Changbai Mountains,Northeast China

Leaf δ^13C of different plant functional groups （trees, shrubs and forbs; evergreen and deciduous; annual, biennial and perennial） were examined on the Changbai Mountains, China. Life form has a significant influence on plant δ^13C, suggesting that leaf δ^13C is also ideal for distinguishing functional groups species in temperate and frigid zones with high humidity. Additionally, the difference of water-use efficiency （WUE） is significant among different plant functional groups. δ^13C and WUE are in the following order of forbs 〈 shrubs 〈 trees. Within shrubs, δ^13C and WUE are higher for evergreen shrubs than deciduous shrubs. Differences in δ^13C and WUE are significant among different lifespan herbs, and δ^13C and WUE follow the order of annual herbs 〉 biennial herbs 〉 perennial herbs, not in accordance with the pattern obtained by previous studies in deserts, suggesting that the ranking of δ^13C and WUE among annual, biennial and perennial herbs may be dependent on local water availability.     

Analysis of regulatory architectures in BST

Based on the data envelopment analysis (DEA) theory, the optimal pathway of metabolic reaction networks in biochemical systems is studied. After calculating the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model given by Bailey et al. twice, the decision making units (DMU) and the prediction model of DEA are constructed, where the inputs are levels of manipulated parameters (enzyme) and outputs are concentrations of metabolites. When the metabolic networks are reconstructed, the data are obtained by calculating MILP framework twice and the optimal levels of the manipulated parameter at different regular loops are predicted, thus simplifying the calculations of Bailey's.     

National 2000’ GPS control network of China

An accurately unified national GPS network with more than 2500 stations, named “National 2000’ GPS Control Network”, signed the epoch 2000.0, has been established by integrating the existing six nationwide GPS networks of China set up by different departments with different objectives. This paper presents the characteristics of the existing GPS networks, summarizes the strategies in the integrated adjustment of the GPS network, including functional model, stochastic model as well as the adjustment principle modification. By modifying the adjustment strategies according to the characteristics of the existing GPS networks and under the support of the IGS stations, the accuracy of the integrated national GPS network is greatly improved. The datum differences among the sub networks disappear, the systematic error influences are weakened, and the effects of the outliers on the estimated coordinates and their variances are controlled. It is shown that the average standard deviation for the horizontal component is smaller than 1.0 cm, the vertical component is smaller than 2.0 cm, and the three-dimensional (3-D) position of geocenter coordinates is smaller than 3.0 cm. The exterior checking accuracy for the 3-D position is averagely better than 1.0 cm.     

纤维素短纤维填充弹性体的流变特性

本文报道了对纤维素短纤维填充丁苯橡胶的剪切流动(用孟山都加工性能试验仪MPT、多速加压门尼粘度计MPMV和夹心式流变仪)和拉伸流动(用恒拉伸速度的孟山都拉力机)的研究结果。     

Adsorption of Fluoride Ion by Inorganic Cerium Based Adsorbent

Excess of fluoride in drinking water is harmful to human health, the concentration of F^- ions must be maintained in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 mg/L. An inorganic cerium based adsorbent (CTA) is developed on the basis of research of adsorption of fluoride on cerium oxide hydrate. Some adsorption of fluoride by CTA adsorbent experiments were carried out, and results showed that CTA adsorbent has a quick adsorption speed and a large adsorption capacity. Adsorption follows Freundlich isotherm, and low pH value helps fluoride removal. Some physical-chemical characteristics of CTA adsorbent were experimented, fluoride removal mechanism was explored, and results showed that hydroxyl group of CTA adsorbent played an important role in the fluoride removal.