The organization of biological sequences into constrained and unconstrained parts determines fundamental properties of genotype–phenotype maps

Biological information is stored in DNA, RNA and protein sequences, which can be understood as genotypes that are translated into phenotypes. The properties of genotype–phenotype (GP) maps have been studied in great detail for RNA secondary structure. These include a highly biased distribution of genotypes per phenotype, negative correlation of genotypic robustness and evolvability, positive correlation of phenotypic robustness and evolvability, shape-space covering, and a roughly logarithmic scaling of phenotypic robustness with phenotypic frequency. More recently similar properties have been discovered in other GP maps, suggesting that they may be fundamental to biological GP maps, in general, rather than specific to the RNA secondary structure map. Here we propose that the above properties arise from the fundamental organization of biological information into ‘constrained'' and ‘unconstrained'' sequences, in the broadest possible sense. As ‘constrained'' we describe sequences that affect the phenotype more immediately, and are therefore more sensitive to mutations, such as, e.g. protein-coding DNA or the stems in RNA secondary structure. ‘Unconstrained'' sequences, on the other hand, can mutate more freely without affecting the phenotype, such as, e.g. intronic or intergenic DNA or the loops in RNA secondary structure. To test our hypothesis we consider a highly simplified GP map that has genotypes with ‘coding'' and ‘non-coding'' parts. We term this the Fibonacci GP map, as it is equivalent to the Fibonacci code in information theory. Despite its simplicity the Fibonacci GP map exhibits all the above properties of much more complex and biologically realistic GP maps. These properties are therefore likely to be fundamental to many biological GP maps.     

Liquid phase sintering and characterization of SiC ceramics

The present study focuses on the sintering of silicon carbide-based ceramics (SiC) by liquid phase sintering (LPS) followed by characterization of the produced ceramics. AlN/Re₂O₃ mixtures were used as additives in the LPS process. In the first step, the LPS-SiC materials were produced in a graphite resistance furnace in the form of discs at different temperatures. The conditions with the best results regarding real density and relative density were taken as reference for sintering in the form of prismatic bars. In the second step, these samples were evaluated regarding fracture toughness (K_IC), by the Single Edge V Notch Beam – SEVNB – method, and flexural strength. K_IC behavior was evaluated according to the depth and curvature radius of the notches. Reliable K_IC values were presented when the ceramic displayed a small curvature radius at the notch tip. When the radius was large, it did not maintain the square root singularity of the notch tip. Tests were carried out to determine K_IC values in atmospheric air and water. K_IC results were lower in water than air, with a decrease ranging between 2.56% and 11.26%. The observations indicated a direct grain size correlation between K_IC values and fracture strength of the SiC ceramics.     

PETROLEUM POTENTIAL, THERMAL MATURITY AND THE OIL WINDOW OF OIL SHALES AND COALS IN CENOZOIC RIFT BASINS, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN THAILAND

Oil shales and coals occur in Cenozoic rift basins in central and northern Thailand. Thermally immature outcrops of these rocks may constitute analogues for source rocks which have generated oil in several of these rift basins. A total of 56 oil shale and coal samples were collected from eight different basins and analysed in detail in this study. The samples were analysed for their content of total organic carbon (TOC) and elemental composition. Source rock quality was determined by Rock‐Eval pyrolysis. Reflected light microscopy was used to analyse the organic matter (maceral) composition of the rocks, and the thermal maturity was determined by vitrinite reflectance (VR) measurements. In addition to the 56 samples, VR measurements were carried out in three wells from two oil‐producing basins and VR gradients were constructed. Rock‐Eval screening data from one of the wells is also presented. The oil shales were deposited in freshwater (to brackish) lakes with a high preservation potential (TOC contents up to 44.18 wt%). They contain abundant lamalginite and principally algal‐derived fluorescing amorphous organic matter followed by liptodetrinite and telalginite (Botryococcus‐type). Huminite may be present in subordinate amounts. The coals are completely dominated by huminite and were formed in freshwater mires. VR values from 0.38 to 0.47%R_o show that the exposed coals are thermally immature. VR values from the associated oil shales are suppressed by 0.11 to 0.28%R_o. The oil shales have H/C ratios >1.43, and Hydrogen Index (HI) values are generally >400 mg HC/g TOC and may reach 704 mg HC/ gTOC. In general, the coals have H/C ratios between about 0.80 and 0.90, and the HI values vary considerably from approximately 50 to 300 mg HC/gTOC. The HI_max of the coals, which represent the true source rock potential, range from ～160 to 310 mg HC/g TOC indicating a potential for oil/gas and oil generation. The steep VR curves from the oil‐producing basins reflect high geothermal gradients of ～62°C/km and ～92°C/km. The depth to the top oil window for the oil shales at a VR of ～0.70%R_o is determined to be between ～1100 m and 1800 m depending on the geothermal gradient. The kerogen composition of the oil shales and the high geothermal gradients result in narrow oil windows, possibly spanning only ～300 to 400 m in the warmest basins. The effective oil window of the coals is estimated to start from ～0.82 to 0.98%R_o and burial depths of ～1300 to 1400 m (～92°C/km) and ～2100 to 2300 m (～62°C/km) are necessary for efficient oil expulsion to occur.     

基于加速度计的坐标系匹配方法研究

为了提高加速度计应用中坐标系的匹配精度,提出了基于加速度计的坐标系匹配方法,介绍了其基本原理,并对加速度计的测角方法进行了深入研究.试验结果表明:该方法测量最大误差≤0.3°,满足实际应用要求,有效地解决了加速度计应用中的坐标系匹配问题.     

地统计克立格插值法在工程土方计算中的应用

土方计算是工程中经常碰到的问题。尝试利用地统计学的克立格插值法来计算土方，将其应用于余姚市泗门镇土地整理工程中进行实测试验。介绍了其基本的原理和公式，并与利用数字高程模型计算得到的土方工程量进行了比较，发现地统计插值法可较精确地确定设计标高和土方量，证明该方法的可行性和优越性。     

渤海绥中油田J3井疏水缔合聚合物驱数值模拟研究

为了进一步提高渤海油田J3井区缔合聚合物驱的技术经济效果,在渤海油田室内配方和先导性矿场试验研究基础上,利用化学驱油藏数值模拟软件FAPMS,分析和研究了高浓度缔合聚合物前置段塞、主段塞的大小和浓度以及段塞组合方式对驱油效果的影响,优化设计了渤海绥中油田J3井区块矿场试验的最佳注入程序及段塞大小。结果表明,通过对不同浓度的疏水缔合聚合物注入的前置段塞及主段塞和梯度式后续段塞的优化后,原油采收率比未优化时提高了约10个百分点。研究表明,渤海油田应该高度重视聚合物驱的注入方式和段塞优化设计,进一步提高聚合物的技术经济效果。     

普通稠油油藏启动压力梯度求解方法与应用

利用微观尺度管流模型,结合普通稠油流变特征,提出了在考虑稠油流变性条件下微观启动压力梯度计算方法.对渤海渤中18块不同渗透率岩心进行室内驱替实验,通过对实验数据的回归分析,得到不同粘度普通稠油油藏启动压力梯度与地层平均渗透率关系,并绘制了启动压力梯度的图版.将研究结果应用于普通稠油油藏,给出了利用启动压力梯度确定极限泄油半径及合理井距的理论计算方法.     

浅析FIPS PUB 140-2标准

论文简单分析了FIPSPUB140-2标准及其在密码模块开发过程中的指导意义,可作为密码模块技术开发人员在进行安全性设计时的参考。     

基于主体外部轮廓的照片分割算法

在实际应用中常常需要将人像从照片的背景中有效地分割出来，通常的做法是通过提取照片中人像各部分特征来实现分割，其缺陷是计算复杂度较大，分割效果受各种干扰因素影响很大。现提出了一种基于主体外部轮廓信息的照片分割算法，通过梯度锐化、边缘保护、临近像素点相似度比较来确定图像的边界，该算法对于具有相对均匀背景的照片具有较高的计算效率。