Digging with ‘hands’: observations of food capture in the flying gurnard Dactylopterus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)

ABSTRACT

Videofilms of a foraging flying gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans) were collected at Itaipu, Niterói, RJ, Brazil. Analysis revealed details of the use of anterior parts of the pectoral fins which act as digging ‘hands’ to access infaunal prey items that are subsequently captured by oral suction feeding. Each pectoral fin has two distinct sections articulated separately on the pectoral girdle. The digging ‘anterior pectoral fin’ mainly consists of segmented and flexible fin rays but has an anterior robust unsegmented ray that provides an edge to the ‘hand’, allowing penetration of the substratum. The huge ‘posterior pectoral fins’ are supported by unsegmented rays. Most digging episodes involved one ‘hand’ and consisted of 1–7 cycles of movement with frequencies 1.15–3.74 cycles s^?1. During a cycle, the ‘hand’ is moved forwards and medially above the substratum, then is twisted medially and simultaneously depressed so that the anterior unsegmented ray impacts and enters the substratum. The hand is then drawn backwards and laterally to disturb the substratum. To prevent upward pitching of the head during digging, the ‘posterior pectoral fins’ are both moved anteriorly and laterally to shift the centre of gravity forwards while the caudal and ?second dorsal fins continue to provide propulsive force.     

基于一维数据逐段均匀条件下的参考分布研究

聚类分析中一个重要的问题是估计聚类数,GS方法通过参考分布对聚类数进行合理的估计,解决了其他聚类方法无法对应分为一类的数据进行分类的问题,具有更好的分类效果;目前已通过理论证明得出,在分布为对数凹且一维情况下,GS方法的参考分布为均匀分布,而有关其在其他条件下的参考分布研究较少;针对这一情况,提出解决一维且逐段均匀条件下GS方法的参考分布问题,以类内平方和为评价标准,通过拉格朗日乘数法求解与问题等价的优化问题,理论证出条件下总体均匀分布是类内平方和最大的情况,进而得出对于一维数据,逐段均匀条件下的参考分布仍为均匀分布的结论。     

项目引入法——可普遍采用的研究性学习模式

研究性学习是实施素质教育和创新教育的一种新型教学方式。在工科类课程的教学中 可采用引入一个工程项目,通过项目设计来学习研究新知识,完成教学计划。     

IMPLICITIZATION OF PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL RATIONAL PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

In this paper, we propose algorithms for the following problems in the implicitization of a set of partial differential rational parametric equations P. （1）To find a characteristic set for the implicit prime ideal of P; （2） To find a canonical representation for the image of P; （3）To decide whether the parameters of P are independent, and if not, to re-parameterize P so that the new parametric equations have independent parameters; （4） To compute the inversion maps of P, and as a consequence, to decide whether P is proper.     

Supercritical Fluid Carbon Dioxide in the Extraction of Lanolin and Its Alcohol

The use of supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SF-CO_2) in extraction of lanolin and its alcohol issuperior to the conventional solvent extractionmethod. Its distinctive advantages include highextractive ratio, nontoxic and nonflammablesolvents, and minimal by-product pollution. The     

PXI在测控系统中的应用

随着有关PXI总线的规范和产品的推出，由于优良的性能指标和适宜的价格，使其受到各相关行业的广泛关注。对风洞测控系统的结构和系统配置作了具体的阐述，并对PXI总线在具体使用中的效果和特点作了较详细的介绍。     

R ＆ D STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN AN ASYMMETRICAL CASE

This article analyzes R ＆ D investment decisions in an asymmetrical case. The investment decisions share three important characteristics. First, the investment is completely irreversible. Second, there are two kinds of uncertainties over the future returns from the investment and over technology in R ＆ D process, respectively. Third, there is strategic competition in the asymmetrical case. This article presents the optimal investment threshold values and the optimal investment rule of high-efficient firm （leader）, and shows that the investment threshold values are reduced by competition of two firms. Finally, the mixed investment strategies for two firms, the probability that each firm separately exercises the option to invest, and the probability that two firms simultaneously exercise the option are given in the paper.     

Abrupt climate change：Debate or action

Global abrupt climate changes have been documented by various climate records, including ice cores, ocean sediment cores, lake sediment cores, cave deposits, loess deposits and pollen records. The climate system prefers to be in one of two stable states, i.e. interstadial or stadial conditions, but not in between. The transition between two states has an abrupt character. Abrupt climate changes are, in general, synchronous in the northern hemisphere and tropical regions. The timescale for abrupt climate changes can be as short as a decade. As the impacts may be potentially serious, we need to take actions such as reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.