Factors affecting detection of a bimodal sour-savory mixture and inter-individual umami taste perception

While basic taste interactions have been the subject of many research studies, there is one combination where data is limited in the literature: sour and umami. This combination is universal in culinary preparations and of key interest to the food industry. Therefore, the primary goal of the present study is to assess how increasing concentrations of acidity (citric acid) affect, if at all, the intensity of a constant concentration of umami (monosodium glutamate, MSG). The secondary goal is to investigate other possible factors in umami taste perception. Here, a crowdsourced cohort of 734 individuals (age range 8–81) tasted and rated the intensity of 50 mM MSG alone, and in combination with citric acid at varying concentrations (1.25 mM, 6.25 mM, 31.25 mM). Participants were also genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphism rs34160967 in the TAS1R1 gene. The results show a significant decrease in the intensity perception of umami as sour concentration increases (low: p = 0.005, medium: p < 0.001, high: p < 0.001). Situational factors such as participant hunger level and time since last eating also have a significant effect on umami intensity perception. Neither the biological factors of sex, age, and ancestry appear to play a role in umami perception, nor does variation in gene TAS1R1 at rs34160967. These new data contribute to the growing field of taste and sensory interaction by giving evidence that sour suppresses umami taste perception in bi-model samples.     

Ecological patterns of fish distribution in the Slave River Delta region,Northwest Territories,Canada, as relayed by traditional knowledge and Western science

Indigenous community members along the Slave River in Canada have voiced their concerns for the health of ecosystems under pressure from resource extraction, hydroelectric development and global climate change. We present a test case of traditional knowledge and scientific results about the spawning and migration patterns of fish in the Slave River and Delta. This dual knowledge system approach elucidates the broader connectivity of local study regions and can improve monitoring programmes by extending beyond the usual context/confines of the present or recent past, increasing the spatial and temporal range of system information.     

多因素耦合作用下地下厂房施工进度风险分析及其应用

为深入分析地下厂房施工进度风险因素之间的耦合作用及耦合效应,采用WBS-RBS法识别了影响施工进度的人、物、环境、管理4类风险因素,基于系统动力学方法揭示了同质单因素和异质双-多因素耦合关系,在此基础上建立了同质单因素耦合度模型和异质双-多因素N-K模型,运用蒙特卡罗法模拟了各风险因素对进度影响的概率分布,分析耦合强度。工程实例应用表明,各类风险子系统中存在较大的同质单因素耦合风险,应加强针对性预防和控制;异质双-多因素耦合中,有管理因素参与耦合的风险较大,实际施工中应尽可能减少多因素参与耦合。     

深部大采高工作面煤柱留设优化数值模拟研究

为缓解高产高效矿井采掘接续紧张局面，鄂尔多斯地区综采工作面多采用“两进一回”的巷道布置形式，辅运巷在回采结束后用作下一工作面的回风巷，两进风巷之间采用大煤柱护巷。但随着该地区采深600 m以上的深部矿井增多，冲击地压灾害问题逐渐显现，双巷大煤柱留设的弊端也暴露出来。针对此问题，以鄂尔多斯红庆河煤矿3^-1101大采高综采工作面为例，对不同宽度煤柱留设的应力分布规律进行建模研究，提出了合理的煤柱留设宽度，为鄂尔多斯地区类似条件矿井的安全高效开采提供参考依据。     

爆破作用下预制共线裂纹的扩展机理研究

为了研究爆破作用下裂纹的扩展规律,从而进一步指导裂隙发育岩体爆破设计。试验运用深部岩石三轴动静载荷实验系统对含有预制裂纹的混凝土试件逐一加载,得到混凝土试件抗压强度;并采用高速摄像机对试件中裂纹起裂拓展过程进行全程拍摄,与加载曲线对照,得到裂纹起裂时垂向初始压力。研究表明:在一定范围内,试件所受围压越大,其裂纹起裂时所需压力越大;次裂纹的存在会使得主裂纹端部更容易在外力作用下起裂,且主裂纹内侧端部所受影响要大于外侧端部,这种影响程度的大小与次裂纹长度、裂纹间距等因素有关;围压越小、裂纹夹角越大、次裂纹长度越大、裂纹间距越小,主裂纹端部越容易起裂。     

深埋矿体移动带三维圈定方法及应用

针对深埋矿山开采移动带二维圈定方法工作量大、精度低且难以满足日益增长的经济效益需求的问题，提出了一种深埋复杂矿体移动范围三维确定方法。结合沙岭金矿千米深井工程实例，在移动范围确定过程中，借助先进的3D建模技术获得三维矿山模型。该模型可以实现各类地质体的可视化，直观地展示其形态与产状，清晰地反映各构成因素间的相互关系。在3D模型中截取的特征剖面与经典移动带圈定岩移参数获取方法相结合，能轻松获得各特征剖面上的岩移参数值。通过给定的岩移参数值进而确定各特征剖面上的地表移动边界点，将各移动边界点连接即可实现矿山移动范围的圈定。研究结果表明，基于三维地质建模技术的移动带圈定方法合理可行，确定的纱岭金矿地表移动带能够兼顾安全生产与经济效益，为矿山生产开发奠定了有益基础，为类似矿山提供了有益借鉴。     

The Lise Meitner-Minerva Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry: 18 Years of Israeli-German Collaboration

We tell the story of the Lise Meitner-Minerva Center, its establishment and activities, its members and their scientific activity, and its instrumental role in weaving intense relationships with the theoretical community in Germany, and in amalgamating the Israeli community of computational quantum chemistry into a national center that enjoys a high international reputation.     

向家坝二纵围堰柔性结构段基础施工技术初探

向家坝水电站二期纵向围堰上游段座落于厚达45～62 m的覆盖层上，为提高接头段深厚覆盖层地基承载力，且保证导流期不同江水位时的堰体稳定，优化调整方案为，将接头段和导水段改为柔性结构。详细介绍了柔性结构段基础处理中所涉及的施工程序、施工技术和异常情况处理等。二纵围堰经过了2009年和2010年两个汛期的考验，安全监测显示与实际运行表明，柔性结构体结构稳定。将导水结构堰体改为柔性结构体，不仅节约了投资，而且保证了二期截流工程按施工总进度计划实施。