TreePlus: interactive exploration of networks with enhanced tree layouts

Despite extensive research, it is still difficult to produce effective interactive layouts for large graphs. Dense layout and occlusion make food Webs, ontologies and social networks difficult to understand and interact with. We propose a new interactive visual analytics component called TreePlus that is based on a tree-style layout. TreePlus reveals the missing graph structure with visualization and interaction while maintaining good readability. To support exploration of the local structure of the graph and gathering of information from the extensive reading of labels, we use a guiding metaphor of "plant a seed and watch it grow." It allows users to start with a node and expand the graph as needed, which complements the classic overview techniques that can be effective at (but often limited to) revealing clusters. We describe our design goals, describe the interface and report on a controlled user study with 28 participants comparing TreePlus with a traditional graph interface for six tasks. In general, the advantage of TreePlus over the traditional interface increased as the density of the displayed data increased. Participants also reported higher levels of confidence in their answers with TreePlus and most of them preferred TreePlus     

Ligands and receptors mediating signal transduction in sea urchin spermatozoa

Sea urchins have long been a model system for the study of fertilization. Much has been learned about how sea urchin sperm locate and fertilize the egg. Sperm and eggs are spawned simultaneously into the surrounding seawater. Sperm signaling pathways lead to downstream events that ensure fertilization. Upon spawning, sperm must acquire motility and then they must swim towards or respond to the egg in some way. Finally, they must undergo a terminal exocytotic event known as the acrosome reaction that allows the sperm to bind to the vitelline layer of the egg and then to fuse with the egg plasma membrane. Motility is stimulated by exposure to seawater, while later events are orchestrated by factors from the egg. The sperm signaling pathways are exquisitely tuned to bring the sperm to the egg, bind, and fuse the two cells as quickly as possible.     

Molecular detection of meat animal species targeting MT 12S rRNA gene

The efficacy of PCR-RFLP analysis of mt 12S rRNA gene in identification of animal species from meat samples of known and unknown origin and adulterated meat samples was evaluated. In PCR, all the samples generated an amplicon of 456 bp. Restriction enzyme digestion of the PCR product with AluI, HhaI, BspTI and ApoI revealed characteristic RFLP patterns. Of the samples of unknown origin few were identified as cattle, few as buffalo and some were admixtures of two, suggesting adulteration. The RFLP pattern of one did not match any of species included in the study, which on sequencing was confirmed as camel meat. Application of this technique on adulterated meat samples could detect both animal species in proportion of 50:50 and 75:25 (except in case of goat+cattle). The technique however could not detect any of the two species when proportion of mixture was 90:10 (except in case of cattle+buffalo).     

国外立井施工专利文献简介

中国专利法已实施两年多了,但是,专利文献在科学技术进步中的作用还远远未被更多的人所认识,特别是矿井井筒方面有关的专利文献在煤炭系统利用得更少。本文目的在于结合专利文献的特点介绍国外立井施工方面的专利技术,以期引起大家的注意。 一、专利文献中反映新技术发展速度快 实践证明,专利文献是广大科研、生产技术人员很感兴趣的一种科技文献,它涉及到各种课题及工业产品的第一手资料,其主要原因就是因为它对新技术的指导要早于其它文献,公布速度也快,能使公众及早获得最新技术信息。一般说来,许多重大发明如电视,雷达等,都是在专利文献上公布数年之后才见诸于其它文献的。     

Natural radionuclides in zircon and related radiological impacts in mineral separation plants

The activity concentration of uranium and thorium present in zircon obtained from mineral sand industries are presented. External gamma radiation levels and inhalation of airborne dust are found to be the significant routes of radiation exposure to occupational workers. The annual average dose attributed to zircon processing is estimated to be 2.3 mSv in the plants under study. This paper presents the results of external gamma measurements, estimation of airborne radioactivity in zircon process locations and radon and thoron in the occupational environment of two mineral separation plants in India. Analyses of the solid wastes and liquid effluent generated and resultant environmental impacts are indicated.     

Microbial growth and the effects of mild acidification and preservatives in refrigerated sweet potato puree

Refrigerated sweet potato puree is a convenient form of sweet potato that can be used as an ingredient in formulated foods. The microbiology of refrigerated sweet potato puree during storage for up to 5 weeks was evaluated. Because the puree was made by comminuting steam-cooked sweet potatoes before refrigeration, no naturally occurring vegetative bacterial cells were detected during a 4-week period of refrigerated storage at 4 degrees C. However, if postprocessing microbial contamination of the puree were to occur, contaminating microorganisms such as Listeria monocytogenes could grow during refrigerated storage. The effects of acidification or the addition of potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate on a population of L. monocytogenes inoculated into refrigerated (4 degrees C) sweet potato puree were determined. Inoculation of the refrigerated puree with L. monocytogenes at 10(6) CFU/ml resulted in a 3-log increase after 3 weeks storage of nonsupplemented puree. Supplementation of the sweet potato puree with 0.06% (wt/vol) sorbic acid or benzoic acid plus mild acidification of the sweet potato puree with citric acid to pH 4.2 prevented growth of L. monocytogenes during storage at 4 degrees C.     

Use of dynamic electronic speckle pattern interferometry with the Hilbert transform method to investigate thermal expansion of a joint material

A dynamic electronic speckle pattern interferometry method is applied to investigate thermal expansion of a joint material (ceramic-stainless steel) as a practical industrial object. The speckle interference signal is considered in the temporal domain and the phase is analyzed by the Hilbert transform method. Errors caused by the bias and modulation variations over the phase values are first examined by numerical simulation. Two experiments are performed with in-plane and out-of-plane sensitive systems to study the 3D deformation field thoroughly. The deformation field showed clearly the difference between the thermal expansions of the stainless steel and ceramic. It was also revealed that the boundary of materials and its vicinity suffer very large thermal strain due to the significantly large difference in the linear coefficient of thermal expansions.