Radial velocity searches for other planetary systems:Current status and future prospects

Measurement of variations in the radial velocities of stars due to the reflex orbital motion of the star around the planetary-system barycenter constitutes a powerful method of searching for substellar or planetary mass companions. After several years of patient data acquisition, radial-velocity searches for planetary systems around other stars are now beginning to bear fruit. In late 1995 and early 1996, three candidate systems were announced with Jovian-mass planets around solar-type stars. The current paradigm for low-mass star formation suggests that planetary systems should be able to form in the circumstellar disks surrounding young stellar objects. These newly discovered systems, and other discoveries which will soon follow them, will test critically our understanding of the processes of star- and planet-formation. We review the techniques used in these radial-velocity searches and their results to date. We then discuss planned improvements in the surveys, and the prospects for the next 20 years.     

Raman microspectrometry, FT-IR and inclusion characteristics of gem garnets from Tanzania and Madagascar

Chemical composition, Raman microspectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-1R) and SEM-CL (Cathodluminescence) analyses are carried out for Tanzania and Madagascar garnets for locality identification. Inclusion study was sustained after electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Needle-like illmenites, apatites and zircons were the most common solid inclusions in Tanzania garnets. Madagascar garnets revealed rutile needles and apatites were also observed, but differences in size, shape and distribution patterns were noticed compared to Tanzania garnets. Tanzania garnets exhibited all types of observable fluid inclusions such as ““ fingerprint““ pattern, called Type Ⅰ-A, liquid-only (L) single phase fluid inclusion, called Type Ⅰ-B and Type Ⅱ-A ( L S), Type Ⅱ-B ( L V) and Type Ⅲ-A (L Sylvite even if all examined garnets from three localities retained ““fingerprint““ features, so called, partially healed fractures, in common. Chemical composition, Raman microspectrometry and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis taken turned out to be useful methods for the purpose of this study. Using consequences of SEM-CL and inclusion study, accordingly, the locality identification of gem-quality garnets is capable of being available in further application for other kinds of gemstones.     

Damage identification method using harmonic excitation force considering both modelling and measurement errors

A method of structural damage identification using harmonic excitation force is presented. It considers the effects of both measurement and modelling errors in the baseline finite element model. Damage that accompanies changes in structural parameters can be estimated for a damaged structure from the change between measured vibration responses and ones calculated from the analytical model of the intact structure. In practice, modelling errors exist in the analytical model due to material and geometric uncertainties and a reduction in the degrees of freedom as well as measurement errors, making identification difficult. To surmount these problems, bootstrap hypothesis testing, which enables statistical judgment without information about these errors, was introduced. The method was validated by numerical simulation using a three‐dimensional frame structure and real vibration data for a three‐storey steel frame structure. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal Compensation and Implementation for Adaptive Optics Systems

This paper develops a compensation algorithm based on Linear–Quadratic–Gaussian (LQG) control system design whose parameters are determined (in part) by a model of the atmosphere. The model for the atmosphere is based on the open-loop statistics of the atmosphere as observed by the wavefront sensor, and is identified from these using an auto-regressive, moving average (ARMA) model. The (LQG) control design is compared with an existing compensation algorithm for a simulation developed at ESO that represents the operation of MACAO adaptive optics system on the 8.2 m telescopes at Paranal, Chile. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Assessing the Germplasm of Laminaria （Phaeophyceae） with Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA （RAPD） Method

Eighteen gametophytes including L.japonica ,L.ochotensis and L.longissima,were verified with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique.Eighteen ten-base primers were chosen from 100 primers selected for final amplification test.Among the total of 205 bands amplified ,181(88.3%) were polymorphic ,The genetic distance among different strains ranged from 0.072 to 0.391,The dendrogram constructed by unweighted pair -group method with arithmetic(UPGMA) method showed that the female and male gamtophytes of the same cell lines could be grouped in pairs respectively,It indicated that RAPD analysis could be used not only to distin-gusih different strains of Laminariz ,but also to distinguish male and female gametophyte within the same cell lines,There is ambiguous systematic relationship if judged mereely by the present data It seems that the use of RAPD marker is limited to elucidstion of the phylogenetic relationship among the species of Laminaria.     

Modelling the April 15 spectrum of Supernova 1993 J

We present the modeling of the ultraviolet and optical spectra obtained simultaneously on 1993 April 15 with the HST and at Lick Observatory. A Monte Carlo code is employed in the modeling and a comparison is made between models reported by different groups. With an atmosphere similar to the Sun in chemical composition, the observed spectral lines are well reproduced by a power law density structure of index around 20 except the strong H and HeI λ5876 lines which have peculiar absorption profiles. The photospheric velocity is found to be 9500 km/s and the blackbody temperature of the spectrum is 7990 K. For H and HeI λ5876, we suggest a two-component density structure which has a smoother layer located immediately outside the steeply decreasing inner envelope. The power law indices are most probably 20 and 3, respectively, with the transition point at about 13 000 km/s. In addition, this outer smooth layer serves to flatten the far UV spectrum as observed.     

超新星光谱研究的进展：观测

介绍了超新星完整样品的分类概况，依次转述了各类超新星光谱观测的新进展。两颗特殊Ｉａ型超新星－ＳＮ１９９１Ｔ和ＳＮ１９９１ｂｇ一的发现对原先认为Ｉａ型超新星是均质的观点提出了挑战，对Ｉｂ／Ｉｃ型超新星应加以特别关注，ＩＩ型超新星ＳＮ１９９３Ｊ和ＳＮ１９８７Ｋ由光极大时的ＩＩ型演化星云类似于Ｉｂ／Ｉｃ的光谱，对传统的超新星Ｉ型和ＩＩ型的区分提出了质疑，对某些特殊ＩＩ型超新星也许列为“ＩＩｎ”型，其Ｈα     

Drought and institutional adaptation in the Great Plains of Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1914–1939

Agriculture in the southern Great Plains of Canada has been particularly vulnerable to prolonged episodes of drought. Using climate data and a precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration index, the extent of the region’s exposure to drought is examined. Between 1914 and 1917, the Dry Belt was particularly vulnerable to drought, whereas after 1928, a much larger region known as the Palliser Triangle covering most of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan was much more exposed to drought. These droughts provoked major institutional adaptation, in particular the establishment of the Special Areas Board by the Government of Alberta, and the creation of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration by the Government of Canada. Both organizations have proved to be relatively permanent public adaptations to the natural hazard of drought in the region. Moreover, these earlier experiences with prolonged drought as well as institution-building may be of value in helping the residents of the Palliser Triangle adapt to predicted climate changes in the future as well as anticipate some of the barriers to effective institutional adaptation.     

大菱鲆幼鱼视网膜结构及不同光谱下视蛋白基因表达特征的研究

大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)是中国重要的养殖鱼类之一, 其生活史经历不同的栖息地和光环境, 视觉器官结构及视觉功能也具有适应性发育特征和可塑性。本研究以不同发育阶段的大菱鲆幼鱼为对象, 探究了其视网膜结构变化、视蛋白基因的表达特征及其与光谱之间的关系。结果表明, 随着大菱鲆幼鱼的生长发育, 其视网膜的外核层逐渐变厚; 视锥视杆层的厚度变化不明显; 而内核层与神经节细胞层逐渐变薄。视紫红质基因rh1与视蛋白基因总表达量的比例上升, 由2月龄的57.35%上升到9月龄77.19%; 视锥蛋白基因与视蛋白基因总表达量的比例下降; 其中红视蛋白基因lws 由2月龄的4.49%下降至9月龄的0.13%。将7月龄的大菱鲆幼鱼用不同光谱处理75 d后, 其视蛋白基因的表达会随光谱环境的变化而发生改变。与全光谱相比, rh2b1、sws2、sws1在红、黄光下的表达量显著下降, 而rh2b1在蓝、绿光下表达显著上升、sws2在绿光下表达显著上升, 其他则变化不显著(P<0.05)。黄、绿、蓝及全光谱下rh2基因家族与视蛋白基因总表达量的比例最高, 而红光下基因rh1的表达量占比最高。大菱鲆幼鱼在不同阶段以及不同光谱处理下表现出了视蛋白基因表达的可塑性以适应不同水层的光谱环境。本研究为探究大菱鲆对光环境的适应机制及工厂化养殖光照调控技术的建立提供理论参考。