The cranial endoskeleton of Tiktaalik roseae

Among the morphological changes that occurred during the 'fish-to-tetrapod' transition was a marked reorganization of the cranial endoskeleton. Details of this transition, including the sequence of character acquisition, have not been evident from the fossil record. Here we describe the braincase, palatoquadrate and branchial skeleton of Tiktaalik roseae, the Late Devonian sarcopterygian fish most closely related to tetrapods. Although retaining a primitive configuration in many respects, the cranial endoskeleton of T. roseae shares derived features with tetrapods such as a large basal articulation and a flat, horizontally oriented entopterygoid. Other features in T. roseae, like the short, straight hyomandibula, show morphology intermediate between the condition observed in more primitive fish and that observed in tetrapods. The combination of characters in T. roseae helps to resolve the relative timing of modifications in the cranial endoskeleton. The sequence of modifications suggests changes in head mobility and intracranial kinesis that have ramifications for the origin of vertebrate terrestriality.     

Environmental effects on Common Snipe winnowing and calling (activity)

Our objective was to clarify the effects of 10 identified variables on snipe activity (winnowing and calling) by demonstrating correlations between the variables and snipe activity. We monitored snipe at 2 study areas in southwestern Montana and northwestern Wyoming at all hours of the day and night during the 1996 and 1997 breeding seasons. We measured 10 variables at established points along transects that were situated through the middle of each study site (8 study sites total). A total of 1200 monitoring periods were conducted throughout the course of this study. Effects of each factor on snipe activity were considered by examining general trends in each factor's graphical representation. Our results identified 6 factors (season, time of day, lunar cycle, solar radiation, wind speed, and temperature) that are associated with snipe activity. Snipe were most active early in the breeding season during 2 twilight periods during the first and last quarters of the lunar cycle. Low solar radiation levels, wind speeds, and temperatures were also most ideal conditions for snipe activity. All 6 factors should be considered when attempting to detect, survey, or estimate snipe populations.     

炭基微生物菌剂促进牛粪好氧堆肥腐熟过程研究

为评估炭基微生物菌剂促进牛粪好氧堆肥的腐熟效果,以牛粪为原料加入自制炭基微生物菌剂进行为期34 d的堆肥试验,并以纯牛粪为空白对照,研究堆肥过程中理化指标和微生物群落的变化。结果表明,添加炭基微生物菌剂后,1 d内可使堆温达到53 ℃,堆体最高温度为71.7 ℃,较对照组最高温度高出4.6 ℃,且高温期延长3 d。至堆肥结束时,处理组和对照组的含水率、E₄/E₆,GI分别为29%和33%,1.5和1.9,145.5%和127.6%。通过相关性分析得出,累计温度、含水率、pH值等理化指标相关性数值增大为67%,与细菌门水平间相关性数值增加了56%。添加0.1%(w/w)的炭基微生物菌剂可加快腐熟过程,提高微生物多样性,加快微生物群落的演替和对物料的分解代谢,促进腐熟进程,为炭基微生物菌剂在好氧堆肥中的应用提供了理论依据。     

热输入对深海X70粗晶区组织和韧性的影响

为解决深海X70管线钢在实际焊接中粗晶区(CGHAZ)的脆化问题,在不同热循环工艺下对X70管线钢进行了热模拟研究。采用Gleeble-3800热模拟机模拟X70管线钢CGHAZ,研究CGHAZ在10～60 kJ/cm不同热输入(HI)条件下组织和韧性的变化规律,并通过光学显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)和夏比冲击试验等手段表征CGHAZ的组织和韧性。结果表明,不同热输入下试验钢的组织主要由粒状贝氏体(GB)、贝氏体铁素体(BF)和马-奥组元(M-A组元)组成;当HI不断增大时,BF比例减少,GB比例增加,M-A组元粗化,冲击吸收能先升高再降低;当HI为20 kJ/cm时,BF和GB可获得优异组合,断口为韧性断裂,冲击吸收能达到173.8 J;当HI大于20 kJ/cm时,断口解离断裂,冲击吸收能下降明显,最低为18.8 J。因此,较低的热输入可提高CGHAZ的韧性,使X70管线钢具有高强度、高韧性和良好的焊接性。研究结果可为优化焊接工艺提供理论依据。     

Chromatin dynamics and the preservation of genetic information

The integrity of the genome is frequently challenged by double-strand breaks in the DNA. Defects in the cellular response to double-strand breaks are a major cause of cancer and other age-related pathologies; therefore, much effort has been directed at understanding the enzymatic mechanisms involved in recognizing, signalling and repairing double-strand breaks. Recent work indicates that chromatin - the fibres into which DNA is packaged with a proteinaceous structural polymer - has an important role in initiating, propagating and terminating this cellular response to DNA damage.     

种植土-碎石绿化带雨水入渗的数值分析

为分析理论解析法求解种植土-碎石绿化带雨水入渗问题的合理性,建立了非饱和种植土-碎石绿化带雨水入渗的有限元模型,模型上边界设置储水表皮,模拟雨水入渗和积蓄,下边界为饱和排水,模型两侧不透水。首先,利用有限元模型模拟了均匀降雨条件下的雨水入渗特征,与理论解析解对比,验证了模型的正确性。然后,利用有限元模型计算石家庄市2年重现期3h设计暴雨雨型条件下种植土的雨水入渗,地表开始积水时间、降雨结束后积水深度、雨量径流系数分别为0.75h,13.6cm和0.24,均匀降雨理论解析解计算结果分别为0.72h,14.4cm和0.17,两种方法计算结果相差不多。再次,利用有限元模型计算了下边界孔压变化、上边界孔压变化条件下的种植土地表开始积水时间,结果表明随着下边界孔压降低,地表开始积水时间延长,随着上边界孔压降低,地表开始积水时间延长,当下边界孔压为0kPa时,初始上边界孔压分别为-6kPa和-12kPa,地表开始积水时间分别为45 min和50 min,地表开始积水时间有一定差异;当初始上边界为-6kPa,下边界分别为0kPa,-1kPa,-2kPa和-3kPa时,地表开始积水时间分别为45min,45min,46min和47min,下边界条件对地表开始积水时间影响较小。地基土渗透系数为6.5×10~(-9) m/s,地基土孔隙水压力分别为0kPa,-4.5kPa,-9kPa,-13.5kPa和-18kPa,利用有限元模型求解获得种植土地表开始积水时间分别为54min,54min,55min,55min和56min,地表积水深度分别为11.9cm,11.7cm,11.5cm,11.4cm和11.3cm,随着地基土孔隙水压力降低,种植土地表开始积水时间略有延长,种植土地表积水深度略有降低,总体上地基土孔隙水压力对种植土地表积水时间和积水深度影响不大。地基土孔隙水压力0kPa,渗透系数分别为6.5×10~(-9) m/s和6.5×10-7 m/s,利用有限元模型计算获得种植土地表开始积水时间均为54 min,积水深度均为11.9cm,地基土渗透系数对种植土地表积水时间和积水深度基本无影响。从上述研究结果可以看出,可以使用平均降雨强度和理论解析法计算地表开始积水时间和积水深度;下边界条件对地表开始积水时间和积水深度影响不大;地基土的饱水渗透系数、地基土的初始含水率对地表积水开始时间和地表积水深度影响不大;使用理论解析解求解种植土-碎石绿化带雨水入渗问题是合理的。     

Increased sedimentation rates and grain sizes 2-4 Myr ago due to the influence of climate change on erosion rates

Around the globe, and in a variety of settings including active and inactive mountain belts, increases in sedimentation rates as well as in grain sizes of sediments were recorded at approximately 2-4 Myr ago, implying increased erosion rates. A change in climate represents the only process that is globally synchronous and can potentially account for the widespread increase in erosion and sedimentation, but no single process-like a lowering of sea levels or expanded glaciation-can explain increases in sedimentation in all environments, encompassing continental margins and interiors, and tropical as well as higher latitudes. We suggest that climate affected erosion mainly by the transition from a period of climate stability, in which landscapes had attained equilibrium configurations, to a time of frequent and abrupt changes in temperature, precipitation and vegetation, which prevented fluvial and glacial systems from establishing equilibrium states.     

大肠杆菌磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶的克隆和表达

为了更好地研究磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶的结构和功能,采用PCR(聚合酶链式反应)、双酶切和细胞转化等基因工程方法对磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶基因进行克隆并使用SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳进行表达分析,扩增出一个新的大肠杆菌磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶基因,将其基因克隆到原核表达载体pET-30a上,并导入到大肠杆菌表达菌株BL21(DE3)中。通过IPTG诱导成功表达出大肠杆菌的磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶。所提出的方法能够高效表达磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶,为进一步大规模表达纯化和应用提供参考。     

基于社区森林模型的分布式重叠社区发现算法

重叠社区发现是复杂网络挖掘中的重要基础工作,可以应用于社交网络、通讯网络、蛋白质相互作用网络、代谢路径网络、交通网络等多种网络的数据分析,从而服务智慧交通、传染病防治、舆情分析、新药研制和人力资源管理等领域.传统的单机运算架构已经难以满足各类大规模复杂网络的分析和计算要求.人工智能领域的研究人员提出将社区发现应用到网络...