Study of a Bionic Paddy Impeller Inspired by Buffalo Hoof

Based on the particular geometric characteristics of buffalo hoof, which is capable to walk on the soft soil of paddy-field with low resistance, a bionic blade for paddy field impeller was designed. The test results in soil bin show that the traction ability of the bionic blade for paddy wheel is improved. Compared with the conventional plate blade, the maximum pull force of the bionic blade is increased by 37.8% and the maximum impeller efficiency is 38.3% higher. Computational simulation analysis shows that bionic shape can improve the driving force of the impeller by resisting and reducing the impacts resulted from the sharp velocity change of the discontinuous surface water flow, and the driving torque of the bionic blade may increase as well.     

Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Bionic Serrated Structures on the Aerodynamic Noise of a Circular Cylinder

Flow control can effectively reduce the aerodynamic noise radiated from a circular cylinder.As one of the flow control methods,a bionic method,inspired by the serrations at the leading edge of owls' wing,was proposed in this paper.The effects of bionic serrated structures arranged on the upper and lower sides of a cylinder on the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance of the cylinder were numerically investigated.At a free stream speed of 24.5 m·s-1,corresponding to Reynolds number of 1.58 × 104,the simulation results indicate that the bionic serrated structures can decrease the frequency of the vortex shedding and control the fluctuating aerodynamic force acting on the cylinder,thus reduce the aerodynamic noise.A qualitative-view of the vorticity in the wake of the cylinder suggest that the serrated structures reduce aerodynamic sound by suppressing the unsteady motion of vortices.     

The bite force of the largest fossil rodent (Hystricognathi,Caviomorpha, Dinomyidae)

Blanco R.E., Rinderknecht, A. & Lecuona, G. 2011: The bite force of the largest fossil rodent (Hystricognathi, Caviomorpha, Dinomyidae). Lethaia, Vol. 45, pp. 157–163. An exceptionally well‐preserved skull of the largest fossil rodent Josephoartigasia monesi allows the first analysis of the bite mechanics of this group of South American giant rodents. In this study, we reconstructed the main anatomical features of the skull of this Pliocene rodent, relating them to the bite force at incisors. Bite force was estimated using three different techniques. Two methods suggest that bite forces at incisors of around 1000 N were possible for these mammals. However, the incisors seem to be stronger than expected for this bite force implying that the bite forces may have been greater than 3000 N. We consider three hypotheses: allometric effects, teeth digging or defence against predators, to explain our results. □Bite force, Dinomyidae, incisors, largest rodent, Pliocene.     

Pseudobagrus brachyrhabdion, a new catfish (Teleostei: Bagridae) from the middle Yangtze River drainage, South China

Pseudobagrus brachyrhabdion sp. nov., from the Yuan Jiang and Xiang Jiang of the middle Yangtze River drainage in Hunan and Guizhou Provinces, South China, is described herein. It is distinguished from all other Pseudobagrus species with a truncate or slightly emarginated caudal fin by an unique combination of the following characters: supraoccipital plate and nuchal plate broadly interspaced and covered with skin; nasal barbels only at most reaching anterior margin of eye; maxillary barbels reaching slightly beyond posterior margin of eye; outer mandibular barbels extending to posterior margin of eye; dorsal fin with a somewhat convex distal margin, origin nearer to pectoral-fin insertion than to pelvic-fin insertion; dorsal-fin spine shorter than pectoral spine, with a somewhat serrated posterior margin; pectoral-fin spine with a smooth anterior margin; anal fin with 20–23 rays, base length 23.8–32.0% of standard length, posterior end of anal-fin base anterior to posterior end of adipose fin base; no longitudinal black band extending along flank; eyes large, diameter 16.3–23.7% of head length; and number of vertebrae 5 + 43–46.     

Bionic Research on Fish Scales for Drag Reduction

To reduce friction drag with bionic method in a more feasible way,the surface microstructure of fish scales was analyzed attempting to reveal the biologic features responding to skin friction drag reduction.Then comparable bionic surface mimicking fish scales was fabricated through coating technology for drag reduction.The paint mixture was coated on a substrate through a self-developed spray-painting apparatus.The bionic surface with micron-scale caves formed spontaneously due to the interfacial convection and deformation driven by interfacial tension gradient in the presence of solvent evaporation.Comparative experiments between bionic surface and smooth surface were performed in a water tunnel to evaluate the effect of bionic surface on drag reduction,and visible drag reduction efficiency was obtained.Numerical simulation results show that gas phase develops in solid-liquid interface of bionic surface with the effect of surface topography and partially replaces the solid-liquid shear force with gas-liquid shear force,hence reducing the skin friction drag effectively.Therefore,with remarkable drag reduction performance and simple fabrication technology,the proposed drag reduction technique shows the promise for practical applications.     

Bite force and body mass of the fossil rodent Telicomys giganteus (Caviomorpha,Dinomyidae)

An exceptionally well-preserved skull of the Pliocene rodent Telicomys giganteus allowed the first estimation of body mass and analysis of the bite mechanics of this species of South American giant rodent. In this study, we reconstructed the main anatomical features of the skull of this Pliocene rodent and related them to the bite force at the incisors. The average of an estimation body mass gives 100 kg. We also estimated the bite force using three different techniques. Two methods suggest that bite forces at the incisors have a range of 500–1000 N. However, the incisors seem to be stronger than expected for this bite force, implying that the bite forces may have been greater than 2000 N. We consider the hypothesis of defense against predators or other agonistic behavior to explain our results.     

Phytoextraction of nitrogen and phosphorus by crops grown in a heavily manured Dark Brown Chernozem under contrasting soil moisture conditions

Phytoextraction of excess nutrients by crops in soils with a long history of manure application may be a viable option for reducing the nutrient levels. This greenhouse study examined the effectiveness of six growth cycles (40 d each) of barley, canola, corn, oat, pea, soybean, and triticale at extracting nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from a Dark Brown Chernozem that had received 180 Mg ha^?1 (wet wt.) of beef cattle feedlot manure annually for 38 years. Moisture content during the study was maintained at either 100% or 50% soil field capacity (SFC). Repeated cropping resulted in an overall decrease in dry matter yield (DMY). The decrease in N and P uptake relative to Cycle 1 was fastest for the cereal grains and less pronounced for the two legumes. However, cumulative N uptake values were significantly greater for corn than the other crops under both moisture regimes. The reduction in soil N was greater under the 100% than the 50% SFC. These results indicate that repeated cropping can be a useful management practice for reducing N and P levels in a heavily manured soil. The extent of reduction will be greater for crops with high biomass production under adequate moisture supply.     

Hyperplastic polyps and sessile serrated ‘adenomas’ of the colon and rectum display gastric pyloric differentiation

The serrated polyp-neoplasia pathway is a novel concept that has been demonstrated to differ from the conventional adenoma-carcinoma pathway. To characterize the phenotypic patterns of differentiation in colorectal serrated polyps, we examined the immunohistochemical expression profile of gastric (MUC5AC, TFF1, MUC6, GlcNAcα1 → 4Gal → R, and PDX1) and intestinal (MUC2, TFF3, and CDX2) epithelial markers in 15 hyperplastic polyps (HPs), 29 sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs),12 traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs), and 16 conventional adenomas (CAs). MUC5AC and TFF1 were upregulated in the HPs, SSAs, and TSAs. MUC6 was expressed in the HPs and SSAs. GlcNAcα1 → 4Gal → R was expressed only in the SSAs. Although MUC2 expression was preserved, TFF3 was downregulated in the HPs, SSAs, and TSAs. PDX1 was upregulated in the HPs, SSAs, and TSAs. On the other hand, CDX2 was downregulated in the HPs and SSAs. The colorectal serrated polyps showed higher expression of gastric makers than CAs. The HPs and SSAs showed gastric and intestinal mixed phenotype expression with gastric pyloric organoid differentiation and almost identical, but different from the TSAs, marker profile. PDX1 up-regulation and CDX2 down-regulation could be important for the induction of a gastric pyloric pattern of cell differentiation in colorectal serrated polyps.     

15N示踪控释氮肥的氮肥利用率及去向研究

选用¹⁵N同位素标记的新型回收塑料包膜控释肥和大颗粒尿素,采用池栽试验研究夏玉米-冬小麦轮作体系中肥料氮的去向及利用率。结果表明,整个轮作体系中,控释肥处理（PCU）作物吸收的肥料氮为241.03 kg/hm,高于尿素处理（Urea)的211.02 kg/hm。控释肥处理施用的肥料氮主要残留在0~40 cm土层,而尿素处理则残留在0~60 cm土层,控释肥延缓了肥料氮向土壤深层迁移的趋势。在夏玉米和冬小麦轮作体系中,控释肥处理的氮肥利用率（32.86%,32.47%）高于尿素处理（28.23%,30.16%）。在冬小麦季,控释肥处理损失率相比尿素处理从36.07% 降至28.75%,而夏玉米季,控释肥处理损失率相比尿素处理从37.17%降至29.50%。玉米季控释肥处理与尿素处理差异不显著,但在冬小麦季控释肥处理的产量显著高于尿素处理。因此,在玉米和小麦整个生长季,新型回收塑料包膜控释肥的养分释放与作物养分需求吻合,既提高氮肥利用率,也降低了肥料氮的损失。     

Retained Cell�CCell Adhesion in Serrated Neoplastic Pathway as Opposed to Conventional Colorectal Adenomas

The molecular features of serrated polyps of colorectum remain to be elucidated. The expression pattern of adhesive molecules (E-cadherin, α-catenin, and β-catenin) has not been examined in serrated neoplastic pathway. The expression of E-cadherin, α-catenin, and β-catenin were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 32 hyperplastic polyps (HPs), 28 sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs), 37 traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs), 51 traditional adenomas (TAs), and 10 normal colonic tissues (NCs). Retained membranous expression for E-cadherin, α-catenin, and β-catenin was more frequent in HPs, SSAs, and TSAs than that in TAs (p < 0.001). Nuclear labeling of β-catenin was detected in 19.6% of TAs, but in none of HPs, SSAs, and TSAs (p < 0.001). Cytoplasmic accumulation of β-catenin was found in 3.1% of HPs, 3.6% of SSAs, and 21.6% of TSAs, significantly lower than that in TAs (60.8%, p < 0.001). The membranous co-expression of E-cadherin, α-catenin, and β-catenin was more frequent in HPs (68.8%), SSAs (60.7%), and TSAs (37.8%) than that in TAs (7.8%, p < 0.001). Cell adhesion function is retained in serrated neoplastic pathway. Wnt signaling pathway plays a less active role in the development of colorectal serrated polys than in TAs.     

Soil nitrogen availability under grassland and cultivated corn

Summary Adjacent corn and ryegrass plots were fertilized with rates of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg N as ammonium nitrate/ha. Corn growing on this soil did not respond to fertilizer N while ryegrass responded to rates of up to 200 kg N/ha. The differences in N availability was also reflected in the higher profile NO₃–N under corn than under ryegrass. The same general trends occurred on a second soil, where N availability for the hay crop was also less than for corn crop. Compared with corn, hay responded more to N fertilizer and had lower soil NO₃–N levels.Grasslands appear to respond to higher N fertilizer rates than cultivated crops on the same soil.Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article No. 495.     

Effect of upper and lower extremity control strategies on predicted injury risk during simulated forward falls: a study in healthy young adults

Fall-related wrist fractures are common at any age. We used a seven-link, sagittally symmetric, biomechanical model to test the hypothesis that systematically alterations in the configuration of the body during a forward fall from standing height can significantly influence the impact force on the wrists. Movement of each joint was accomplished by a pair of agonist and antagonist joint muscle torque actuators with assigned torque-angle, torque-velocity, and neuromuscular latency properties. Proportional-derivative joint controllers were used to achieve desired target body segment configurations in the pre- andor postground contact phases of the fall. Outcome measures included wrist impact forces and whole-body kinetic energy at impact in the best, and worst, case impact injury risk scenarios. The results showed that peak wrist impact force ranged from less than 1 kN to more than 2.5 kN, reflecting a fourfold difference in whole-body kinetic energy at impact (from less than 40 J to more than 160 J) over the range of precontact hip and knee joint angles used at impact. A reduction in the whole-body kinetic energy at impact was primarily associated with increasing negative work associated with hip flexion. Altering upper extremity configuration prior to impact significantly reduced the peak wrist impact force by up to 58% (from 919 N to 2212 N). Increased peak wrist impact forces associated greater shoulder flexion and less elbow flexion. Increasing postcontact arm retraction can reduce the peak wrist impact force by 28% (from 1491 N to 1078 N), but postcontact hip and knee rotations had a relatively small effect on the peak wrist impact force (8% reduction; from 1411 N to 1303 N). In summary, the choice of the joint control strategy during a forward fall can significantly affect the risk of wrist injury. The most effective strategy was to increase the negative work during hip flexion in order to dissipate kinetic energy thereby reducing the loss in potential energy prior to first impact. Extended hip or elbow configurations should be avoided in order to reduce forearm impact forces.     

Induction of a Sensitive Response to Helminthosporium maydis Race T Toxin in Resistant Mitochondria of Corn (Zea mays L.) by Removal of the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane

Mitochondria isolated from Texas cytoplasmically male sterile (Tms) and normal (N) versions of corn (Zea mays L.) exhibit differential sensitivity to toxin(s) produced by Helminthosporium maydis race T, the causal organism of southern corn leaf blight. Malate dehydrogenase was inhibited by toxin(s) in intact Tms mitochondria but was unaffected in N mitochondria. Removal or rupture of the outer mitochondrial membrane resulted in retention of sensitivity of malate dehy-drogenase in Tms mitochondria to toxin(s), and induction of a sensitive response in normally toxin-insensitive N mitochondria. This suggests that a permeability difference in the respective outer membranes of N and Tms mitochondria may affect the passage of toxin(s) to a mitochondrial site of action. Mitochondrial bioassays indicate that more toxin was bound by Tms mitochondria than by N mitochondria; the greatest toxin binding was associated with the inner membrane of Tms mitochondria.     

Improved Paraffin Sectioning with Etched Microtome Knife Edges

Carbon steel microtome knives etched with 0.1 N HNO₃ for 2 min display a very sharp cutting edge. Over a period of 3 yr no damage to the steel has been detected. The effect on paraffin sectioning was observed by comparing acid-treated knives with nonetched but well-sharpened ones. Sections of whole eyes cut with an etched blade showed approximately 15% less compression of the parffin matrix than those sectioned with an untreated knife. Tissues selected from routine autopsy material presented approximately 9% reduction in compression. As a result, excellent ribbons of sections could be cut from 5-7 μ and floated on water at 42—46 C with a minimum of folds or distortion. Etching improved sectioning when knife edges having bevel angles in a range of 31-39° were used, and also when the bevel was decreased to 20°, but the 20° edge gave impractically short service.     

Temperature measurements during abrasive water jet osteotomy]

Working on bone is a major aspect of orthopaedic surgery. Despite its well-known appreciable thermal effects on the edges of the bone cut, the oscillating bone saw blade the oscillating saw remains the standard instrument both for cutting long bones and creating a bed for an endoprosthesis. The application of abrasive water jets offers the possibility of achieving an extremely precise curved cut in bone with no accompanying thermal effect. The thermographically measured absolute temperature increase at the cut edges seen with the water jet was 13 K maximum. The small process forces permit the application in automated handling systems.     

A Procedure for Preparing Undecalcified and Unembedded Bone Sections for Light Microscopy

We have developed a procedure for light microscopic investigation of undecalcified and unembeddedbone sections. Biopsy samples of human metatarsus and femur and rat femur were fixed in aldehydes and sectioned with a cutting machine equipped with a diamond saw blade. Free sections 100-150 μm thick, stained with toluidine blue and von Kossa, did not show artifacts following the cutting, and the spatial relations of mineralized and nonmineralized components remained intact. Compact and trabecular bone, bone marrow and all cell types appeared well preserved and easily recognizable. Our procedure provides a simple and rapid method for preparing bone sections which undergo no chemical treatment other than fixation. This method is a useful alternative to standard histological protocols for studying bone specimens.     

Scanning electron microscopy of the egg of Cheyletiella yasguri Smiley (Acari : Cheyletiellidae) with a description of the egg burster

The egg and hatching device of Cheyletiella yasguri Smiley (Acari), were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The egg is encased within 2 layers, consisting of an outer chorion and an inner vitelline membrane. The chorion is irregularly tuberculated on the outer surface and relatively smooth on the inner surface. The outer surface of the vitelline membrane is covered with stalked nodular caps. These capped projections are covered in various areas by patchy roughened material. The egg burster consists of a dorsal pair of lancet-shaped blades, side by side and directed cephalad. Each blade exhibits a ventrally directed flange and 2 knob-like projections on each margin of the blade flanks.     

Influence of root zone nitrogen management and a summer catch crop on cucumber yield and soil mineral nitrogen dynamics in intensive production systems

Nutrient and water management is crucially important in shallow-rooted vegetable production systems characterized by high input and high environmental risk. A 2-year field experiment on greenhouse cucumber double-cropping systems examined the effects of root zone nitrogen management and planting of sweet corn as a catch crop in the summer fallow period on cucumber yield and soil N_min dynamics compared to conventional practices. Cucumber fruit yields were not significantly affected by root zone N management and catch crop planting despite a decrease in N fertilizer application of 53% compared to conventional N management. Soil N_min content to a depth of 0.9 m decreased markedly and root zone (0–0.3 m) soil N_min content was maintained at about 200 kg N ha^?1. Root zone N management efficiently and directly reduced apparent N losses by 44% and 45% in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Sweet corn, the summer catch crop, depleted N_min residue in the soil profile of 1.8 m at harvest of winter–spring season cucumber by 304–333 kg N ha^?1, which contributed 19–22% reduction in N loss. Compared to conventional N management, N loss was reduced by 56% under root zone N management and catch crop planting.     

Nitrate Reduction in Roots and Shoots of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Corn (Zea mays L.) Seedlings: I. N Study

Nitrate reduction in roots and shoots of 7-day-old barley seedlings, and 9-day-old corn seedlings was investigated. The N-depleted seedlings were transferred for 24 h or 48 h of continuous light to a mixed nitrogen medium containing both nitrate and ammonium. Total nitrate reduction was determined by ¹⁵N incorporation from ¹⁵NO₃⁻, translocation of reduced ¹⁵N from the roots to the shoots was estimated with reduced ¹⁵N from ¹⁵NH₄⁺ assimilation as tracer, and the translocation from the shoots to the roots was measured on plants grown with a split root system. A model was proposed to calculate the nitrate reduction by roots from these data. For both species, the induction phase was characterized by a high contribution of the roots which accounted for 65% of the whole plant nitrate reduction in barley, and for 70% in corn. However, during the second period of the experiment, once this induction process was finished, roots only accounted for 20% of the whole plant nitrate reduction in barley seedlings, and for 27% in corn. This reversal in nitrate reduction localization was due to both increased shoot reduction and decreased root reduction. The pattern of N exchanges between the organs showed that the cycling of reduced N through the plant was important for both species. In particular, the downward transport of reduced N increased while nitrate assimilation in roots decreased. As a result, when induction was achieved, the N feeding of the roots appeared to be highly dependent on translocation from the leaves.