Auxin transport is sufficient to generate a maximum and gradient guiding root growth

The plant growth regulator auxin controls cell identity, cell division and cell expansion. Auxin efflux facilitators (PINs) are associated with auxin maxima in distal regions of both shoots and roots. Here we model diffusion and PIN-facilitated auxin transport in and across cells within a structured root layout. In our model, the stable accumulation of auxin in a distal maximum emerges from the auxin flux pattern. We have experimentally tested model predictions of robustness and self-organization. Our model explains pattern formation and morphogenesis at timescales from seconds to weeks, and can be understood by conceptualizing the root as an 'auxin capacitor'. A robust auxin gradient associated with the maximum, in combination with separable roles of auxin in cell division and cell expansion, is able to explain the formation, maintenance and growth of sharply bounded meristematic and elongation zones. Directional permeability and diffusion can fully account for stable auxin maxima and gradients that can instruct morphogenesis.     

A giant outburst two years before the core-collapse of a massive star

The death of massive stars produces a variety of supernovae, which are linked to the structure of the exploding stars. The detection of several precursor stars of type II supernovae has been reported (see, for example, ref. 3), but we do not yet have direct information on the progenitors of the hydrogen-deficient type Ib and Ic supernovae. Here we report that the peculiar type Ib supernova SN 2006jc is spatially coincident with a bright optical transient that occurred in 2004. Spectroscopic and photometric monitoring of the supernova leads us to suggest that the progenitor was a carbon-oxygen Wolf-Rayet star embedded within a helium-rich circumstellar medium. There are different possible explanations for this pre-explosion transient. It appears similar to the giant outbursts of luminous blue variable stars (LBVs) of 60-100 solar masses, but the progenitor of SN 2006jc was helium- and hydrogen-deficient (unlike LBVs). An LBV-like outburst of a Wolf-Rayet star could be invoked, but this would be the first observational evidence of such a phenomenon. Alternatively, a massive binary system composed of an LBV that erupted in 2004, and a Wolf-Rayet star exploding as SN 2006jc, could explain the observations.     

Fast Reactor Technology Development in China Status and Prospects

China has decided to speedup the nuclear power development. It is programmed that the nuclear power capacity will reach 40 GWe in 2020 and envisaged 60 GWe and 240 GWe in 2030 and 2050 respectively. The basic strategy of PWRFBR matched development with Fast reactor metal fuel closed cycle for a sustainable and quick increasing nuclear energy supply is adopted. Another strategy also decided is that the partitioning and transmutation of MA will be realized using fast burner and ADS.The fast reactor engineering development will be divided into three steps: China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR 65 MWt/20 MWe), China Prototype/Demonstration Fast Reactor (CPFR/CDFR ≥ 1 500 MWt/600 MWe) and China Demonstration Fast Breeder Reactor (CDFBR 1 000～1 500 MWe). The CEFR is under installation and preoperation testing with it’s first criticality planned in 2009. The design study of CPFR is just started in 2006. Recently a discussion for the second step is under way to faster the fast reactor development by a larger than 600 MWe CPFR and as a role of CDFR.     

EEG processing and its application in brain-computer interface

Electroencephalogram (EEG) is an efficient tool in exploring human brains. It plays a very important role in diagnosis of disorders related to epilepsy and development of new interaction techniques between machines and human beings,namely,brain-computer interface (BCI). The purpose of this review is to illustrate the recent researches in EEG processing and EEG-based BCI. First,we outline several methods in removing artifacts from EEGs,and classical algorithms for fatigue detection are discussed. Then,two BCI paradigms including motor imagery and steady-state motion visual evoked potentials (SSMVEP) produced by oscillating Newton’s rings are introduced. Finally,BCI systems including wheelchair controlling and electronic car navigation are elaborated. As a new technique to control equipments,BCI has promising potential in rehabilitation of disorders in central nervous system,such as stroke and spinal cord injury,treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and development of novel games such as brain-controlled auto racings.     

Enrichment of copper and recycling of cyanide from copper–cyanide waste by solvent extraction

The enrichment of copper from copper–cyanide wastewater by solvent extraction was investigated using a quaternary ammonium salt as an extractant. The influences of important parameters, e.g., organic-phase components, aqueous pH values, temperature, inorganic anion impurities, CN/Cu molar ratio, and stripping reagents, were examined systematically, and the optimal conditions were determined. The results indicated that copper was effectively concentrated from low-concentration solutions using Aliquat 336 and that the extraction efficiency increased linearly with increasing temperature. The aqueous pH value and concentrations of inorganic anion impurities only weakly affected the extraction process when varied in appropriate ranges. The CN/Cu molar ratio affected the extraction efficiency by changing the distribution of copper–cyanide complexes. The difference in gold leaching efficiency between using raffinate and fresh water was negligible.     

Chemically robust carbon nanotube – PTFE superhydrophobic thin films with enhanced ability of wear resistance

A chemically robust superhydrophobic nanocomposite thin film with enhanced wear resistance is prepared from a composite comprising polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) and carbon nanotubes.The superhydrophobic thin films with hierarchical structure are fabricated by spraying an environmentally friendly aqueous dispersion containing carbon nanotubes and PTFE resin on silicon wafer.Thin films with a contact angle of 154.1°± 2° and a sliding angle less than 2° remain superhydrophobic after abrading over 500 times under a pressure of 50 g/cm~2.The thin film is also extremely stable even under much stress conditions.To further the understanding of the enhancement of wear resistance,we investigated the formation of microsized structure and their effects.The growth of microbumps is caused by attracting solution droplet to the hydrophilic islands on hydrophobic surface.     

Hydrogen storage properties of (Ti0.85Zr0.15)1.05Mn1.2Cr0.6V0.1M0.1 (M=Ni, Fe, Cu) alloys easily activated at room temperature

The(Ti_(0.85)Zr_(0.15))_(1.05)Mn_(1.2)Cr_(0.6)V_(0.1)M_(0.1)(M=Ni, Fe, Cu) alloys with a single C14-type Laves phase have been fabricated by arc melting. They are able to be easily activated by one hydrogen absorption and desorption cycle under 4 MPa hydrogen pressure and vacuum at room temperature. Partial substitution of M for Mn results in the increase of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation capacities in an order of Ni Fe Cu. M elements increase the absorption and desorption plateau pressure in an order of(Ti_(0.85)Zr_(0.15))_(1.05)Mn_(1.2)Cr_(0.6)V_(0.1)Cu_(0.1)(Ti_(0.85)Zr_(0.15))_(1.05)Mn_(1.2)Cr_(0.6)V_(0.1)Fe_(0.1)(Ti_(0.85)Zr_(0.15))_(1.05)Mn_(1.2)Cr_(0.6)V_(0.1)Ni_(0.1). The(Ti_(0.85)Zr_(0.15))_(1.05)Mn_(1.2)Cr_(0.6)V_(0.1)Cu_(0.1) alloy has reversible hydrogen capacities of 1.81 wt% at 273 K and 1.58 wt% at 318 K with formation enthalpy(ΔH_(ab)) of-20.66 kJ mol~(-1) and decomposition enthalpy(ΔH_(de)) of 27.37 kJ mol~(-1). The differences in the hydrogen storage properties can be attributed to the increase of the interstitial size for hydrogen accommodation caused by the increase of unit cell volumes in the order of(Ti_(0.85)Zr_(0.15))_(1.05)Mn_(1.2)Cr_(0.6)V_(0.1)Ni_(0.1)(Ti_(0.85)Zr_(0.15))_(1.05)Mn_(1.2)Cr_(0.6)V_(0.1)Fe_(0.1)(Ti_(0.85)Zr_(0.15))_(1.05)Mn_(1.2)Cr_(0.6)V_(0.1)Cu_(0.1).     

Influence of cross correlation step length on the surface stress of thin laser cladding Fe314 alloy coatings

To measure the surface stress of thin laser cladding coatings with Rayleigh waves based on the cross correlation function, this paper introduced the influence of cross correlation step length on the stress measurement. Flat-shaped specimens made of laser cladding Fe314 alloy coatings were performed by static tensile tests, and Rayleigh wave signals were collected during the test process with an ultrasonic pulser and receiver instrument combined with two Rayleigh wave transducers. The difference in time of flight between two signals was determined based on the cross correlation function. The microstructure was observed by scanning electronic microscopy. The influence of the stress on the propagation velocity of Rayleigh waves and the relationship between the difference in time of flight and tensile stress under different cross correlation step lengths were analyzed. The inhomogeneous deformation of the coatings affects the relationship between the difference in time of flight and tensile stress; the stress measurement of the coatings is nearly constant with the increase of cross correlation step length when it attains one cycle.     

Effect of welding process on the microstructure and properties of dissimilar weld joints between low alloy steel and duplex stainless steel

To obtain high-quality dissimilar weld joints, the processes of metal inert gas (MIG) welding and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding for duplex stainless steel (DSS) and low alloy steel were compared in this paper. The microstructure and corrosion morphology of dissimilar weld joints were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the chemical compositions in different zones were detected by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS); the mechanical properties were measured by microhardness test, tensile test, and impact test; the corrosion behavior was evaluated by polarization curves. Obvious concentration gradients of Ni and Cr exist between the fusion boundary and the type II boundary, where the hardness is much higher. The impact toughness of weld metal by MIG welding is higher than that by TIG welding. The corrosion current density of TIG weld metal is higher than that of MIG weld metal in a 3.5wt% NaCl solution. Galvanic corrosion happens between low alloy steel and weld metal, revealing the weakness of low alloy steel in industrial service. The quality of joints produced by MIG welding is better than that by TIG welding in mechanical performance and corrosion resistance. MIG welding with the filler metal ER2009 is the suitable welding process for dissimilar metals jointing between UNS S31803 duplex stainless steel and low alloy steel in practical application.     

Grain boundary segregation of minor arsenic and nitrogen at elevated temperatures in a microalloyed steel

Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) was used to investigate the grain boundary segregation of arsenic and nitrogen in a kind of microalloyed steel produced by a compact strip production (CSP) technology at 950 to 1100℃, which are similar to the hot working temperature of the steel on a CSP production line. It was discovered that arsenic segregated on grain boundaries when the steel was annealed at 950℃ for 2 h. When the annealing temperature increased to 1100℃, arsenic was also found to have segregated on grain boundaries in the early annealing stage, for instance, within the first 5 min annealing time. However, if the holding time of the steel at this temperature increased to 2 h, arsenic diffused away from grain boundaries into the matrix again. Nitrogen was not found to have segregated on grain boundaries when the steel was annealed at a relatively low temperature, such as 950℃. But when the annealing temperature increased to 1100℃, nitrogen was detected to have segregated at grain boundaries in the steel.