Why the Afshar experiment does not refute complementarity

A modified version of Young's experiment by Shahriar Afshar demonstrates that, prior to what appears to be a “which-way” measurement, an interference pattern exists. Afshar has claimed that this result constitutes a violation of the Principle of Complementarity. This paper discusses the implications of this experiment and considers how Cramer's Transactional Interpretation easily accommodates the result. It is also shown that the Afshar experiment is analogous in key respects to a spin one-half particle prepared as “spin up along x”, subjected to a nondestructive confirmation of that preparation, and post-selected in a specific state of spin along z. The terminology “which-way” or “which-slit” is critiqued; it is argued that this usage by both Afshar and his critics is misleading and has contributed to confusion surrounding the interpretation of the experiment. Nevertheless, it is concluded that Bohr would have had no more problem accounting for the Afshar result than he would in accounting for the aforementioned pre- and post-selection spin experiment, in which the particle's preparation state is confirmed by a nondestructive measurement prior to post-selection. In addition, some new inferences about the interpretation of delayed choice experiments are drawn from the analysis.     

Compensatory caspase activation in MPP+-induced cell death in dopaminergic neurons

Many have hypothesized that cell death in Parkinsons disease is via apoptosis and, specifically, by the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway. We tested this hypothesis using a mouse dopaminergic cell line of mesencephalic origin, MN9D, challenged with the Parkinsonism-causing neurotoxin MPP⁺ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion). Apoptosis was the main mode of cell death when the cells were subjected to MPP⁺ treatment under serum-free conditions for 24 h. Caspase-3 and caspase-9, however, were not activated, thus indicating the existence of alternate or compensatory cell death pathway(s) in dopaminergic neuronal cells. Using caspase inhibitors, we demonstrated that these pathways involve caspase-2, –8, –6 and –7. A time-course study indicated that activation of caspase-2 and –8 occurred upstream of caspase-6 and caspase-7. Upon MPP⁺ challenge, the apoptosis-inducing factor was translocated from the mitochondria into the MN9D cytosol and nucleus. These results suggest the existence of alternative apoptotic pathways in dopaminergic neurons.Received 20 September 2004; received after revision 5 November 2004; accepted 22 November 2004     

振动环境下直升机座舱显示器周边键的工效学实验

直升机座舱显示器周边键的工效学设计对于改善直升机操控性能有重要作用,在振动环境下其工效学特性的研究是该领域研究的薄弱环节.本研究在研制的直升机座舱实验平台上,设计了振动环境下直升机座舱显示器周边键的工效学实验.通过分析实验数据发现:按键反应时受按键方位和大小影响,无振动时,按键大小为10 mm即可;主振为23 Hz,振幅为人体稍感振动时,按键大小应增加25%以上,即13 mm,按键间隔以10 mm为宜;振动造成错误率上升和反应时延长,应控制在适当范围.     

混沌特性时间序列线性变换理论方法及其应用

通过对时间序列的相空间的重构,用G-算法、Wolf算法证明了混沌时间序列经过线性变换后其关联维数、Lyapunov指数以及Kolmogorov熵大小不变,从而得出了线性变换后混沌时间序列的混沌特性保持不变的结论.同时将这一理论和热力学中的相似实验相结合,验证了实验模型系统进入混沌则实际系统必也能够在相应时刻进入混沌状态.该结论被成功应用到对汽包水位晃荡幅值的测量当中,验证了汽包水位的晃荡幅值具有混沌特性,并成功地对该时间序列进行了预测.     

用喂线法控制加钛生产含钛汽车齿轮钢技术

针对含钛汽车齿轮钢生产过程中加钛处理时经常出现的钛吸收率不稳定问题,开展了喂钛铁合金芯线法加钛的试验.结果表明:该工艺能提高钛的吸收率,平均吸收率达87.9%,而且钛吸收率稳定,工艺简便,处理时间短,仅3 m in左右,大大降低微调加钛的工艺时间,电耗和材料消耗大大降低,现场环境改善,污染降低.     

Construction and expression of retroviruses encoding dual drug resistance genes in human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells

A series of retro viral vectors encoding humanmdr1 gene alone as wetl as in combination with either humanmgmt gene or human mutantSer ³¹-dhfr gene are engineered. The resultant retroviruses are used to transduce human umbilical cord blood CD34⁺ cetls. It has been shown that expression of dual drug resistance genes in transduced cetls confers a broad range of resistance to both kinds of corresponding drugs. These data suggest a rationale for the use of such double chemoresistance gene constructs in anin vivo model in which transduced hematopoietic cetls will acquire multiple protection against the cytotoxic side effects of combination chemotherapy and may have future application in chemoprotection of normal tissues, thus killing tumor cetls more effectivety.     

高原高寒露天煤矿区土壤重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

高原高寒露天煤矿区周边土壤重金属的含量及污染状况,与生态环境修复治理方案的制定密切相关。以青海省木里露天煤矿区周边土壤为研究对象,采集矿坑周边土壤和矿坑外围未受人为扰动和污染的草甸土壤样品共计54个,分析各土壤中重金属的含量及分布特征,运用单因子污染指数法、内梅罗综合污染指数法、地质累积指数法及潜在生态风险指数法对矿坑周边土壤重金属的污染程度和潜在生态风险进行综合评价。研究结果表明,各矿坑周边土壤重金属含量与背景值差异并不明显,仅Zn、Cd、Pb、Cr和Hg的平均含量高于背景值。矿区土壤重金属单因子污染指数总体表现为P_Pb>P_Hg=P_Cr>P_Cd>P_Zn>P_Cu>P_Ni>P_As,在清洁安全范围内。内梅罗综合污染指数在0.55-2.52,平均值为1.39,属于轻度污染,局部处于清洁、警戒线和中度状态。所有重金属地质累积指数平均值均为负值,污染级别为0级。重金属单项潜在生态风险程度从高到低依次表现为Hg>Cd>As>Pb>Cu>Ni>Cr>Zn,综合潜在风险生态指数平均值为110.38,以轻微风险为主。矿区周边土壤中Cu与Cr、Pb、Cd、Zn,Cr与Zn、Cd、Pb、Ni,Zn与Cd之间相关性显著,在空间分布上相互依存,具有相对专一的来源。总体来看,除了局部有轻度污染的迹象,矿区周边土壤并未受到重金属污染,但是Hg和As对露天开采、矸石堆积等人类活动表现敏感,在后期生态环境监测与修复治理过程中应予以重点关注。     

Programmable and autonomous computing machine made of biomolecules.

Devices that convert information from one form into another according to a definite procedure are known as automata. One such hypothetical device is the universal Turing machine, which stimulated work leading to the development of modern computers. The Turing machine and its special cases, including finite automata, operate by scanning a data tape, whose striking analogy to information-encoding biopolymers inspired several designs for molecular DNA computers. Laboratory-scale computing using DNA and human-assisted protocols has been demonstrated, but the realization of computing devices operating autonomously on the molecular scale remains rare. Here we describe a programmable finite automaton comprising DNA and DNA-manipulating enzymes that solves computational problems autonomously. The automaton's hardware consists of a restriction nuclease and ligase, the software and input are encoded by double-stranded DNA, and programming amounts to choosing appropriate software molecules. Upon mixing solutions containing these components, the automaton processes the input molecule via a cascade of restriction, hybridization and ligation cycles, producing a detectable output molecule that encodes the automaton's final state, and thus the computational result. In our implementation 1012 automata sharing the same software run independently and in parallel on inputs (which could, in principle, be distinct) in 120 microl solution at room temperature at a combined rate of 109 transitions per second with a transition fidelity greater than 99.8%, consuming less than 10-10 W.     

Superconductivity in CaCuO2 as a result of field-effect doping.

Understanding the doping mechanisms in the simplest superconducting copper oxide-the infinite-layer compound ACuO2 (where A is an alkaline earth metal)-is an excellent way of investigating the pairing mechanism in high-transition-temperature (high-Tc) superconductors more generally. Gate-induced modulation of the carrier concentration to obtain superconductivity is a powerful means of achieving such understanding: it minimizes the effects of potential scattering by impurities, and of structural modifications arising from chemical dopants. Here we report the transport properties of thin films of the infinite-layer compound CaCuO2 using field-effect doping. At high hole- and electron-doping levels, superconductivity is induced in the nominally insulating material. Maximum values of Tc of 89 K and 34 K are observed respectively for hole- and electron-type doping of around 0.15 charge carriers per CuO2. We can explore the whole doping diagram of the CuO2 plane while changing only a single electric parameter, the gate voltage.     

Invertebrate communities,sediment parameters and food availability of intertidal soft-sediment ecosystems on the north coast of British Columbia,Canada

ABSTRACT

The Skeena River estuary supports commercial and culturally important salmon fisheries. However, considerable development has occurred in the area, and more has been proposed. If anthropogenic development degrades this critical habitat, the Skeena salmon run, that every year contributes $110 million to local economies, may be negatively impacted. Benthic invertebrates are common indicator species, as they often respond to disturbances before commercial species, warning of potential impacts. Unfortunately, invertebrates in the Skeena estuary have not been extensively studied, and we lack the detailed understanding of their community structure and dynamics for them to serve as indicator species in this region. Therefore, present conditions of the Skeena estuary are established here (invertebrate community, sediment conditions and food availability), in order to provide the data required both to anticipate changes associated with potential anthropogenic disturbances and to detect changes in this system if development occurs.