The smallest known non-avian theropod dinosaur

Non-avian dinosaurs are mostly medium to large-sized animals, and to date all known mature specimens are larger than the most primitive bird, Archaeopteryx. Here we report on a new dromaeosaurid dinosaur, Microraptor zhaoianus gen. et sp. nov., from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning, China. This is the first mature non-avian dinosaur to be found that is smaller than Archaeopteryx, and it eliminates the size disparity between the earliest birds and their closest non-avian theropod relatives. The more bird-like teeth, the Rahonavis-like ischium and the small number of caudal vertebrae of Microraptor are unique among dromaeosaurids and improve our understanding of the morphological transition to birds. The nearly completely articulated foot shows features, such as distally positioned digit I, slender and recurved pedal claws, and elongated penultimate phalanges, that are comparable to those of arboreal birds. The discovery of these in non-avian theropods provides new insights for studying the palaeoecology of some bird-like theropod dinosaurs.     

Structure of the dimerized hormone-binding domain of a guanylyl-cyclase-coupled receptor

The atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) hormone is secreted by the heart in response to an increase in blood pressure. ANP exhibits several potent anti-hypertensive actions in the kidney, adrenal gland and vascular system. These actions are induced by hormone binding extracellularly to the ANP receptor, thereby activating its intracellular guanylyl cyclase domain for the production of cyclic GMP. Here we present the crystal structure of the glycosylated dimerized hormone-binding domain of the ANP receptor at 2.0-A resolution. The monomer comprises two interconnected subdomains, each encompassing a central beta-sheet flanked by alpha-helices, and exhibits the type I periplasmic binding protein fold. Dimerization is mediated by the juxtaposition of four parallel helices, arranged two by two, which brings the two protruding carboxy termini into close relative proximity. From affinity labelling and mutagenesis studies, the ANP-binding site maps to the side of the dimer crevice and extends to near the dimer interface. A conserved chloride-binding site is located in the membrane distal domain, and we found that hormone binding is chloride dependent. These studies suggest mechanisms for hormone activation and the allostery of the ANP receptor.     

Stability analysis of the simplest Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy control system using circle criterion

A frequency-domain-based sufficient condition is derived to guarantee the globally asymptotic stability of the simplest Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy control system by using the circle criterion. The analysis is performed in the frequency domain, and hence the condition is of great significance when the frequency-response method, which is widely used in the linear control theory and practice, is employed to synthesize the simplest T-S fuzzy controller. Besides, this sufficient condition is featured by a graphical interpretation, which makes the condition straightforward to be used. Comparisons are drawn between the performance of the simplest T-S fuzzy controller and that of the linear compensator. Two numerical examples are presented to demonstrate how this sufficient condition can be applied to both stable and unstable plants.     

中国明代弹道学史料的考辨与述评

对明代火器文献进行分析，认为学术界关于“中国古代弹道知识是由西方传来”之说值得商榷．中国弹道学知识的形成有其自身的特点，初步形成了能在一定程度上反映火器命中技术发展规律的弹道理论，在中国火器弹道科学思想史上占有重要地位．     

Photo Catalytic Oxidation of Alcohols in Water under Natural Weathering Conditions in the Presence of Bromo Source

1 Results The oxidation of alcohols into the corresponding carbonyl compound is one of the most important functional group transformation in organic synthesis[1]. Traditionally,such transformations have been performed with stoichiometric inorganic oxidant or other high valent metal oxidant[2]. Despite a variety of systems for the catalytic oxidation of alcohols have been developed,there is ongoing interest in the search for new efficient and environmental friendly oxidation system.To the best of our kno...     

Functional Materials for Catalytic and Magnetic Applications

1 Introduction Metal, metal oxide and metal compound nanoparticles (NPs) received considerable attention due to their unique properties: catalytic, magnetic, optical, electronic, etc. We believe that for different applications, there are preferable morphologies of NP-stabilizing medium composites. For example, small (1-3 nm) nanoparticles formed in micro/mesoporous hypercrosslinked polystyrene demonstrate excellent catalytic properties in various hydrogenation and oxidation reactions due to high surface...     

多波长光谱法检测乙烯火焰中温度和碳黑生成

提出用光谱仪测量轴对称扩散火焰在800~950 nm波长范围的单色辐射强度,用阿贝尔逆变换从单色辐射强度中求解出源项H,再根据火焰复折射率函数与波长的关系,从源项H中同时计算出火焰温度和碳黑体积分数.光谱仪用黑体炉进行标定,对乙烯扩散火焰中部和上部的进行了检测,给出了火焰温度和碳黑体积份额沿半径的分布,检测结果与光学法相比具有较小误差,表明该方法是可行的.     

浅谈公路旧桥的加固

作者根据近年对超限运输桥梁及大中型桥梁的加固实践经验,介绍了公路旧桥各组成部分的加固方法和施工措施。     

生态观对区域发展规划的方法论研究

概括分析了生态足迹和区域发展规划的概念、理论及发展背景,并对其理论的国内外演变历程加以详细论述,尤其是对生态足迹模型理论做了深入的探析.在此基础上,通过分析生态观对经济发展产生的作用、生态观为区域规划带来的影响以及区域规划为生态经济的发展带来的条件,来完成生态观对区域发展规划的方法论研究,以期为制定区域经济及区域可持续发展政策提供理论支持.