Transformation and Expression of Choline Monooxygenase(CMO) Gene in Embryogenic Tissue of White Pine(Pinus strobus)

Many plants can accumulate glycine betaine(GlyBet, N, N, N-trimethylglycine), an non-toxic or osmo-protectant in response to salinity anddrought stress. Numerous experiments in vitrohave indicated that betaine acts as an osmoprotec-tant by stabilizing both the quaternary structure ofproteins and the highly ordered structure of mem-branes against the adverse effects of high salinityand extreme temperatures. Exogenous applicationof betaine to leaves or roots has been shown to in-crease the tol…     

Study of the seasonal cycle of the biogeochemical processes in the Ligurian Sea using a 1D interdisciplinary model

A one-dimensional coupled physical–biogeochemical model has been built to study the pelagic food web of the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean Sea). The physical model is the turbulent closure model (version 1D) developed at the GeoHydrodynamics and Environmental Laboratory (GHER) of the University of Liège. The ecosystem model contains 19 state variables describing the carbon and nitrogen cycles of the pelagic food web. Phytoplankton and zooplankton are both divided in three size-based compartments and the model includes an explicit representation of the microbial loop including bacteria, dissolved organic matter, nano-, and microzooplankton. The internal carbon/nitrogen ratio is assumed variable for phytoplankton and detritus, and constant for zooplankton and bacteria. Silicate is considered as a potential limiting nutrient of phytoplankton's growth. The aggregation model described by Kriest and Evans in (Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci., Earth Planet. Sci. 109 (4) (2000) 453) is used to evaluate the sinking rate of particulate detritus. The model is forced at the air–sea interface by meteorological data coming from the “Côte d'Azur” Meteorological Buoy. The dynamics of atmospheric fluxes in the Mediterranean Sea (DYFAMED) time-series data obtained during the year 2000 are used to calibrate and validate the biological model. The comparison of model results within in situ DYFAMED data shows that although some processes are not represented by the model, such as horizontal and vertical advections, model results are overall in agreement with observations and differences observed can be explained with environmental conditions.     

Sliding mode observers for vehicle mode detection

This paper explores the use of sliding mode observers to detect the onset of potentially dangerous vehicle modes such as oversteer, understeer or split-μ braking. Provided these modes can be detected quickly enough, existing stability controllers can be engaged to ensure safe performance of the vehicle. It is shown that the equivalent output error injection signals associated with the sliding mode observer have distinctive signatures depending on the particular mode encountered. Appropriate thresholds on these signals can be set so the scheme ignores variations which arise during normal driving, but can detect and isolate different undesirable vehicle modes within 0.3 seconds of their onset.     

感应电动机无速度传感器矢量控制在铁道机车车辆传动方面的应用

铁道机车车辆牵引领域中的转矩控制是利用脉冲发生器(PG)来检测牵引感应电动机的转子频率.从提高牵引系统可靠性、降低成本和维修费用以及减小感应电动机尺寸的观点出发,最好不使用PG.为此,一直在研究把无速度传感器控制方法应用于牵引感应电动机的控制,提出了应用无速度传感器的控制策略.文章叙述了铁道机车车辆牵引的新控制方法并出示一些研究试验的结果.     

用于城市交通的直线电机推进系统

现代城市交通系统必须提供连发列车间隔时间短的高水平服务.线路的设计必须灵活并且允许存在局部陡峭路际,从而最大程度地降低交通系统成本.不管气候如何,交通系统都务必要保证列车准点到站.直线感应电机(LIM)推进系统在理论上能满足运行要求,而且其加速度和制动力都不依赖于轮轨粘着,其拓扑结构是短一次侧在车上而长二次侧在地面.为了设计可行的交通系统,必须要考虑LIM拓扑的影响.设计时需考虑气隙问题、反应轨结构改变问题、法向力及直接驱动的操作问题.LIM推进系统已经开发出两代,并在5个先进的交通系统中成功应用.     

The anachronism in maritime law that is general average

The concept of general average is of great antiquity. It has fruitfully served the maritime community of the last two millennia, but the justification for its continued existence in the 21^st century is questionable. This article examines the proposition that general average is an anachronism and should be abolished — a cry that has been heard for well over a hundred years but has failed to materialise. In the article, the arguments for retaining general average are marshalled alongside the demands for its demise. Current developments in the revision of the York-Antwerp Rules are discussed. In conclusion, the resilience of general average as an age-old equitable maritime principle is recognized. But the author points to the sophistication in the modern regime of marine insurance in support of discarding general average and allowing maritime losses to lie where they fall; to be indemnified independently by the insurer of each interest in a maritime adventure without contribution from co-adventurers or their insurers.     

Customer loads of two-wheeled vehicles

Customer usage profiles are the most unknown influences in vehicle design targets and they play an important role in durability analysis. This publication presents a customer load acquisition system for two-wheeled vehicles that utilises the vehicle's onboard signals. A road slope estimator was developed to reveal the unknown slope resistance force with the help of a linear Kalman filter. Furthermore, an automated mass estimator was developed to consider the correct vehicle loading. The mass estimation is performed by an extended Kalman filter. Finally, a model-based wheel force calculation was derived, which is based on the superposition of forces calculated from measured onboard signals. The calculated wheel forces were validated by measurements with wheel–load transducers through the comparison of rainflow matrices. The calculated wheel forces correspond with the measured wheel forces in terms of both quality and quantity. The proposed methods can be used to gather field data for improved vehicle design loads.     

Revisiting the application of simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation towards signal timing optimization

Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation (SPSA) has gained favor as an efficient optimization method for calibrating computationally intensive, “black box” traffic flow simulations. Few recent studies have investigated the efficiency of SPSA for traffic signal timing optimization. It is important for this to be investigated, because significant room for improvement exists in the area of signal optimization. Some signal timing methods and products perform optimization very quickly, but deliver mediocre solutions. Other methods and products deliver high-quality solutions, but at a very slow rate. When using commercialized desktop signal timing products, engineers are often forced to choose between speed and solution quality. Real-time adaptive control products, which must optimize timings within seconds on a cycle-by-cycle basis, have limited time to reach a high-quality solution. The existing literature indicates that SPSA provides the potential for upgrading both off-line and on-line solutions alike, by delivering high-quality solutions within seconds. This article describes an extensive set of optimization tests involving SPSA and genetic algorithms (GAs). The final results suggest that GA was slightly more efficient than SPSA. Moreover, the results suggest today's signal timing solutions could be improved significantly by incorporating GA, SPSA, and “playbooks” of preoptimized starting points. However, it may take another 5–10 years before our computers become fast enough to simultaneously optimize coordination settings (i.e., cycle length, phasing sequence, and offsets) at numerous intersections, using the most powerful heuristic methods, at speeds that are compatible with real-time adaptive solutions.     

Measurement of soot oxidation with No<Subscript>2</Subscript>-O<Subscript>2</Subscript>-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O in a flow reactor simulating diesel engine DPF

Understanding the mechanism of carbon oxidation is important for the successful modeling of diesel particulate filter regeneration. Characteristics of soot oxidation were investigated with carbon black (Printex-U). A flow reactor system that could simulate the condition of a diesel particulate filter and diesel exhaust gas was designed. Kinetic constants were derived and the reaction mechanisms were proposed using the experimental results and a simple reaction scheme, which approximated the overall oxidation process in TPO as well as CTO. From the experiments, the apparent activation energy for carbon oxidation with NO₂-O₂-H₂O was determined to be 40±2 kJ/mol, with the first order of carbon in the range of 10∼90% oxidation and a temperature range of 250∼500°C. This value was exceedingly lower than the activation energy of NO₂-O₂ oxidation, which was 60±3 kJ/mol. When NO₂ exists with O₂ and H₂O, the reaction rate increases in proportion to NO₂. It increases nonlinearly with O₂ or H₂O concentration when the other two oxidants are fixed.