Cloud analysis by modeling the integration of heterogeneous satellite data and imaging

This paper presents a computer-aided cloud-analysis approach by effectively modeling the integration of heterogeneous satellite-observed data and remote sensing images. First, automatic cloud detection and tracking methods are proposed to identify the georeferenced cloud objects in satellite remote sensing images. Then, a data integration modeling mechanism is designed to collect meaningful properties of those detected clouds by integrating the heterogeneous satellite-observed data and imaging into a unified cloud database. Finally, based on the integrated global data schema, a two-phase data mining method employing the decision tree algorithm is implemented to analyze and forecast the meteorological activities of all the cloud objects. Experimental results have shown that the proposed data integration model can effectively extract and synthesize all the useful information from heterogeneous data sources to generate a unified view of knowledge, on the basis of which the evolvement trends of clouds can be analyzed properly.     

Combined shape and sizing optimization of truss structures

 In this paper, an evolutionary optimization method is presented for weight minimum problem of a 3-dimensional truss structure in terms of nodal coordinates and element cross-sectional areas. The structure is subject to stress, local buckling and displacement constraints. Two types of design variables with different natures are optimized separately: (1) a fully stressed design (FSD) and scaling techniques are applied to sizing variables and (2) the evolutionary node shift method is applied to shape variables. Alternating procedure is utilized to couple the two types of variables and to combine the results. The optimum solution is achieved gradually from the initial configuration design. Two typical truss structures are examined to illustrate the validity of the method. Received: 22 October 2001 / Accepted: 04 June 2002 This research work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under the guarantees no. 10072050 and 10172072, respectively.     

地热、温泉水利用中氡的防护

地热作为一种比较经济、方便的新能源的同时,也给公众和环境带来辐射影响。本文介绍了地热和温泉水中~(222)Rn 的放射性水平及其对人体健康的影响,对地热、温泉水利用中氡的防护措施提出了一些建议。     

Association between cigarette smoking and lipid peroxidation in a controlled feeding study

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoke may promote atherogenesis by producing oxygen-derived free radicals that damage lipids. However, evidence in support of this hypothesis is inconsistent because most studies did not control for aspects of diet (antioxidants and lipid substrate) that may confound the association between smoking and measures of lipid peroxidation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The relationships between cigarette smoking and two measures of lipid peroxidation, breath ethane (an in vivo assay) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS, an in vitro assay), were examined in 123 adults (11% of whom were smokers) participating in a controlled feeding study. After 3 weeks of controlled feeding on a common diet (36% total fat, 14% saturated fats, 6% polyunsaturated fats, and 12% monounsaturated fats), breath and fasting serum samples were collected for measurement of ethane and TBARS, respectively. Baseline characteristics of smokers and nonsmokers were similar, including several indices related to diet and nutritional status (albumin, cholesterol, body mass index, and oxygen radical-absorbing capacity). Cigarette smokers had significantly higher breath ethane (8.88 versus 1.71 pmol/L; P<.0001) and TBARS (24.0 versus 20.7 micromol/mL; P=.008) than nonsmokers. The interval between breath collection and the time the last cigarette was smoked was significantly and inversely correlated with breath ethane. Neither measure of lipid peroxidation was associated with measures of serum cholesterol or albumin, body mass index, or serum oxygen radical-absorbing capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smokers have higher rates of in vivo and in vitro lipid peroxidation. These results support the hypothesis that the atherogenic effects of smoking are mediated in part by free radical damage to lipids.     

土壤γ辐射剂量率间接测量中的^222Rn析出和含水量修正

本文针对Ｂｅｃｋ公式的局限性，对土壤的含水量和＾２２２Ｒｎ析出引起的γ辐射剂量率变化进行了修正。通过浙江省５７６组测量数据的实验拟合，给出了剂量率计算的修正公式。该公式应用到浙江省自身的测量数据上，使计算的总体均值与实测均值仅相差０．８％；每一点位的计算值与实测值相比，平均仅相差３．４％，其比值离散性与实验误差相一致。而Ｂｅｃｋ公式的计算结果与实测剂量率相比较，以上两项分别偏离＋１０％和１５．２％     

Cu－Zn－Al合金中贝氏体的有序性

本文用Ｘ射线研究了Ｃｕ－２０Ｚｎ－６Ａｌ（ｗｔ％）合金中贝氏体结构的有序性，并与马氏体结构进行了比较，实验表明，从高温Ｂ２母相和低温Ｌ２１母相生成的贝氏体中（１１５）和（２０５）衍射峰或（１２１０）和（２０１０）衍射峰是重叠的，对生成的贝氏体进行一段时间的保温或缓慢冷却处理，其衍射峰的特征并不改变，这与马氏体（１１５）和（２０５）衍射峰或（１２１０）和（２０１０）衍射峰的分离特性不相符合。说明贝氏体结构有序度与马氏体明显不同，它的形成不可能继承母相的有序度。     

A new family of yeast genes implicated in ergosterol synthesis is related to the human oxysterol binding protein

We have identified three yeast genes, KES1, HES1 and OSH1, whose products show homology to the human oxysterol binding protein (OSBP). Mutations in these genes resulted in pleiotropic sterol-related phenotypes. These include tryptophan-transport defects and nystatin resistance, shown by double and triple mutants. In addition, mutant combinations showed small but apparently cumulative reductions in membrane ergosterol levels. The three yeast genes are also functionally related as overexpression of HES1 or KES1 alleviated the tryptophan-transport defect in kes1Δ or osh1Δ mutants, respectively. Our study implicates this new yeast gene family in ergosterol synthesis and provides comparative evidence of a role for human OSBP in cholesterol synthesis.