Simulation of adaptive optics for the Vacuum Tower Telescope

A simulation model of the adaptive optics of the German Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT), Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, is presented. The model uses modules from the integrated model of the Euro50 extremely large telescope, and includes submodels of a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor, a de-formable mirror, a tip-tilt mirror, high-voltage amplifier low-pass filters, a reconstructor and a controller. We investigate the impact on the closed loop bandwidth of changes in controller configuration and certain system parameters, such as low pass filter bandwidth and camera integration and readout time. Control strategies were tested on simple models before implementation on the full VTT model. Using the models, different control strategies are compared.     

基于专家系统决策的多模式控制及其应用

将专家系统技术与常规控制、模糊控制、超前控制、仿人智能操作控制以及计算机控制技术相结合,设计了一种新的基于专家系统决策的多模式控制(MCDBES)。经试验和实际运行结果表明,MCDBES系统对未知数学模型的被控对象,具有良好的控制性能。本文提出的MCDBES已成功地应用于燃油陶瓷窑炉计算机控制系统。     

Properties of star formation in the spiral arms of barred galaxies

It is assumed that the two-fold disc-wide symmetry of spirals is caused by density waves, but also the potential of a bar component may have a significant influence on structural properties. The strength of the bar component appears to be anti-correlated with the degree of symmetry of star-forming regions in the spiral arms (Rozas et al., 1998). We present new results of R and Hα surface photometry of a sample of bright barred spirals. A photometric decompositon of the galaxy components is carried out in order to make a more accurate measurement of the strength of the bar and its interrelation to gas and stars in the disc. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Microphysical modeling of ethane ice clouds in titan’s atmosphere

A time-dependent microphysical model is used to study the evolution of ethane ice clouds in Titan’s atmosphere. The model simulates nucleation, condensational growth, evaporation, coagulation, and transport of particles. For a critical saturation of 1.15 (a lower limit, determined by laboratory experiments), we find that ethane clouds can be sustained between altitudes of 8 and 50 km. Growth due to coalescence is inefficient, limiting the peak in the size distribution (by number) to 10 μm. These clouds vary with a period of about 20 days. This periodicity disappears for higher critical saturation values where clouds remain subvisible. Rainout of ethane due to methane cloud formation raises the altitude of the ethane cloud bottom to near the tropopause and may eliminate ethane clouds entirely if methane cloud formation occurs up to 30 km. However, clouds formed above the troposphere from other gases in Titan’s atmosphere could be sustained even with rainout up to 30 km. Although the optical depth of ethane clouds above 20 km is typically low, short-lived clouds with optical depths of order 0.1-1 can be created sporadically by dynamically driven atmospheric cooling. Ethane cloud particles larger than 25 μm can fall to the surface before total evaporation. However, ethane clouds remain only a small sink for tholin particles. At the peak of their cycle, the optical depth of ethane clouds could be comparable to that of tholin in the near-infrared, resulting in a 5% increase in Titan’s albedo for wavelengths between 1 and 2 μm. A number of factors limit our ablility to predict the ethane cloud properties. These factors include the mixing time in the troposphere, the critical saturation ratio for ethane ice, the existence of a surface reservoir of ethane, the magnitude and timing of dynamically driven temperature perturbations, and the abundance and life cycle of methane clouds.     

Extensional Late Paleozoic deformation on the western margin of Pangea, Patlanoaya area, Acatlán Complex, southern Mexico

New mapping in the northern part of the Paleozoic Acatlán Complex (Patlanoaya area) records several ductile shear zones and brittle faults with normal kinematics (previously thought to be thrusts). These movement zones separate a variety of units that pass structurally upwards from: (i) blueschist-eclogitic metamorphic rocks (Piaxtla Suite) and mylonitic megacrystic granites (Columpio del Diablo granite ≡ Ordovician granites elsewhere in the complex); (ii) a gently E-dipping, listric, normal shear zone with top to the east kinematic indicators that formed under upper greenschist to lower amphibolite conditions; (iii) the Middle–Late Ordovician Las Minas quartzite (upper greenschist facies psammites with minor interbedded pelites intruded by mafic dikes and a leucogranite dike from the Columpio del Diablo granite) unconformably overlain by the Otate meta-arenite (lower greenschist facies psammites and pelites): roughly temporal equivalents are the Middle–Late Ordovician Mal Paso and Ojo de Agua units (interbedded metasandstone and slate, and metapelite and mafic minor intrusions, respectively) — some of these units are intruded by the massive, 461 ± 2 Ma, Palo Liso megacrystic granite: decussate, contact metamorphic muscovite yielded a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 440 ± 4 Ma; (iv) a steeply-moderately, E-dipping normal fault; (v) latest Devonian–Middle Permian sedimentary rocks (Patlanoaya Group: here elevated from formation status). The upward decrease in metamorphic grade is paralleled by a decrease in the number of penetrative fabrics, which varies from (i) three in the Piaxtla Suite, through (ii) two in the Las Minas unit (E-trending sheath folds deformed by NE-trending, subhorizontal folds with top to the southeast asymmetry, both associated with a solution cleavage), (iii) one in the Otate, Mal Paso, and Ojo de Agua units (steeply SE-dipping, NE–SW plunging, open-close folds), to (iv) none in the Patlanoaya Group. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analyses of muscovite from the earliest cleavage in the Las Minas unit yielded a plateau age of 347 ± 3 Ma and show low temperature ages of  260 Ma. Post-dating all of these structures and the Patlanoaya Group are NE-plunging, subvertical folds and kink bands. An E–W, vertical normal fault juxtaposes the low-grade rocks against the Anacahuite amphibolite that is cut by megacrystic granite sheets, both of which were deformed by two penetrative fabrics. Amphibole from this unit has yielded a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 299 ± 6 Ma, which records cooling through  490 °C and is probably related to a Permo-Carboniferous reheating event during exhumation. The extensional deformation is inferred to have started in the latest Devonian ( 360 Ma) during deposition of the basal Patlanoaya Group, lasting through the rapid exhumation of the Piaxtla Suite at  350–340 Ma synchronous with cleavage development in the Las Minas unit, deposition of the Patlanoaya Group with active fault-related exhumation suggested by Mississippian and Early Permian conglomerates ( 340 and 300 Ma, respectively), and continuing at least into the Middle Permian (≡ 260 Ma muscovite ages). The continuity of Mid-Continent Mississippian fauna from the USA to southern Mexico suggests that this extensional deformation occurred on the western margin of Pangea after closure of the Rheic Ocean.     

Models in geography revisited

Agent based models (ABMs) have many applications, and illustrate a rapidly developing field of enquiry, spanning both the physical-mathematical and human-social sciences. ABMs are seen as most appropriate in situations where decisions or actions are distributed around particular locations, and in which structure is viewed as emergent from the interaction between individuals. ABMs may be used either as representational devices, to reproduce the patterns observed or desired in the system of interest, or as foundational tools contributing to the development of social or economic theory. The role and status of models and modelling is itself an instantiation of a wider debate concerning representation and explanation. Today, a case can be made that the nature of explanation and the use of scientific interpretation reflect much less definite and exclusive positions and permit more diverse approaches than hitherto. The underlying proposition of this commentary is, therefore, that the time is right for a positive application of ABMs within the discipline of geography, and for a rediscovery and reappraisal of the richness and depth of insight in the model-building enterprise more generally. First, the context for ABM development and application is set with reference to the agency-structure debate. Second, some aspects of the heritage of models in geography is presented, based upon reviews of two benchmark publications bearing that title. Next, some of the most significant characteristics, uses, potentials and limitations of ABMs, are reviewed. Finally, some constructive ways forward are suggested, as informed by theory and method from the interpretative social sciences.     

西藏搭格架热泉型铯矿床矿物学与矿石组构特征及地质意义

在查明搭格架铯矿床产出的地质背景、成矿阶段及其年龄、地球化学与同位素组成的基础上,本文较为系统地研究了硅华的矿物学与组构特征,加深了对硅华形成演化过程的认识.研究表明成矿早期,矿石中存在大量的石英,晚期全为蛋白石.粒状蛋白石自早到晚均有出现,胶状蛋白石主要出现于晚期.早期矿石出现脱水造成的菜花状、粗粒块状与粗大孔隙状构造及溶蚀结构.晚期出现细粒块状与细小孔隙状构造.在第3阶段存在硅藻Denticula属,体现出低温阶段的特征.由早到晚,矿石的SiO2呈降低趋势,而(Na2O Al2O3 K2O CaO)与Cs2O呈升高趋势,是随着矿石中SiO2有序度的降低而其它成分被保留在晶格中所致.     

病毒膜蛋白及其表达和纯化技术的研究进展

病毒囊膜是包膜病毒除核衣壳外的另一主要成分。它主要由多种蛋白质构成，称为膜蛋白，膜蛋白以单聚体，二聚体，三聚体，甚至更多的聚合体的形式存在，具有中和抗体，与靶细胞受体结合，凝集红细胞，诱导细胞融合等多种功能，膜蛋白可采用将其基因整合入载体，并在昆虫细胞，哺乳细胞或细菌中获得体外表达，膜蛋白可在去污剂的作用下形成蛋白质－脂－去污剂的复合物而被溶解，其中去污剂的临界微团浓度，亲水物－亲脂物平衡值，荷电、紫外穿透性等是选择合适去污剂的主要参考因子，溶解后的膜蛋白多利用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳、凝胶过滤层析，离子交换层析，亲和层析，高效液相层析等技术并结合梯度离心；分级沉淀等进行分离、纯化。     

Speed bumps and barricades in the carbon cycle: substrate structural effects on carbon cycling

The observation that a fraction of organic matter produced in marine systems evades the concerted efforts of microbial communities and is buried in sediments suggests that there are ‘speed bumps’ in carbon degradation pathways that impede microbially driven remineralization processes. The initial step in degradation of macromolecules, extracellular enzymatic hydrolysis, is often stated to be ‘the’ rate-limiting step in carbon remineralization. Experimental investigations described here, however, demonstrate that at least in certain cases, microbes produce extracellular enzymes on time scales of hours to tens of hours in response to substrate addition, and hydrolysis is extremely rapid. If enzymatic hydrolysis can be rapid, what factors slow or stop organic matter degradation? A lack of the correct inducer to initiate enzyme production, and/or a lack of the correct organism to produce the required enzyme, may result in a complete lack of hydrolysis in certain environments—a barricade, rather than a speed bump. Preliminary evidence supporting this hypothesis includes a comparison of polysaccharide hydrolysis in seawater and sediments, which demonstrates that the spectrum of enzymes active in seawater and sediments are fundamentally different. Furthermore, a survey of enzyme activities in surface waters from a range of locations suggests that pelagic microbial communities also differ widely in their abilities to express specific extracellular enzymes. Trans-membrane transport through porins is yet another potential location of structure-related selectivity.Our efforts to identify speed bumps and barricades are hampered by our inability to structurally characterize in sufficient detail the macromolecular structures present in marine systems. Furthermore, assessments of organic matter ‘quality’ from a chemical perspective do not necessarily accurately reflect the availability of organic carbon to microbial communities. For these communities, in fact, ‘quality’ may be a variable, which depends on the enzymatic and uptake capabilities of community members. To begin to assess substrate structure and quality from a microbial perspective, we will have to combine specific knowledge of macromolecular structures with detailed investigations of the enzymatic and transport capabilities of heterotrophic marine microbes.     

三疣梭子蟹肝脏的结构研究

于１９８９年９月－１９９０年８月，用电镜研究浙江舟山出产的三疣梭子蟹肝脏的结构。结果表明，三疣梭子蟹的肝脏主要由４种细胞构成；Ｂ细胞，大，长柱状，胞质中有许多液泡，粗面内质网发达；Ｒ细胞和Ｆ细胞，两者相似，均含丰富的粗面内质网，核糖体、脂滴、线粒体等结构，但Ｒ细胞脂滴数量多，体积大，Ｆ细胞的核糖体数量超过Ｒ细胞２；Ｅ细胞，多边形，核大而圆，粗面内质网少，线粒体小而狭长。