Sperm metabolism is altered during storage by female insects: evidence from two-photon autofluorescence lifetime measurements in bedbugs

We explore the possibility of characterizing sperm cells without the need to stain them using spectral and fluorescence lifetime analyses after multi-photon excitation in an insect model. The autofluorescence emission spectrum of sperm of the common bedbug, Cimex lectularius, was consistent with the presence of flavins and NAD(P)H. The mean fluorescence lifetimes showed smaller variation in sperm extracted from the male (tau m, τ_m = 1.54–1.84 ns) than in that extracted from the female sperm storage organ (tau m, τ_m = 1.26–2.00 ns). The fluorescence lifetime histograms revealed four peaks. These peaks (0.18, 0.92, 2.50 and 3.80 ns) suggest the presence of NAD(P)H and flavins and show that sperm metabolism can be characterized using fluorescence lifetime imaging. The difference in fluorescence lifetime variation between the sexes is consistent with the notion that female animals alter the metabolism of sperm cells during storage. It is not consistent, however, with the idea that sperm metabolism represents a sexually selected character that provides females with information about the male genotype.     

Controlled Secure Direct Communication Protocol via the Three-Qubit Partially Entangled Set of States

In this paper, we first re-examine the previous protocol of controlled quantum secure direct communication of Zhang et al.’s scheme, which was found insecure under two kinds of attacks, fake entangled particles attack and disentanglement attack. Then, by changing the party of the preparation of cluster states and using unitary operations, we present an improved protocol which can avoid these two kinds of attacks. Moreover, the protocol is proposed using the three-qubit partially entangled set of states. It is more efficient by only using three particles rather than four or even more to transmit one bit secret information. Given our using state is much easier to prepare for multiqubit states and our protocol needs less measurement resource, it makes this protocol more convenient from an applied point of view.     

Role of Co in formation of Ni-Ti clusters in maraging stainless steel

The effect of Co addition on the formation of Ni-Ti clusters in maraging stainless steel was studied by three dimensional atom probe (3DAP) and first-principles calculation. The cluster analysis based on the maximum separation approach showed an increase in size but a decrease in density of Ni-Ti clusters with increasing the Co content. The first-principles calculation indicated weaker Co-Ni (Co-Ti) interactions than Co-Ti (Fe-Ti) interactions, which should be the essential reason for the change of distribution characteristics of Ni-Ti clusters in bcc Fe caused by Co addition.     

气动贯通式潜孔锤反循环连续取心取样钻进新技术在河南钼矿中应用

三道庄钼矿勘探生产中钻遇的地层非常复杂，采用其他方法均无法实现钻进，经过分析比较，决定采用贯通式潜孔锤反循环连续取心（样）钻进新技术来解决该地层钻进难、成孔难、取样难等三大问题。文章从钻进技术特点、工作原理等方面对该技术进行详细分析，得出其具有钻进效率高、岩心（样）采取率高、成孔质量好等突出优点。并介绍了钻进主要设备机具的配套、施工工序、操作要点、遇到问题的解决方法等。在河南钼矿露天采石场应用该项技术，有效避免了塌孔和卡钻事故，工程进展顺利、质量好、岩心（样）采取率在98％以上，取得了良好的效果。针对在生产试验中遇到的某些问题，作者提出了一些改进建议。     

运动饮料配方设计概论

运动中，人体生理发生一系列的变化，包括水分损失、血糖／糖原消耗、电解质损失等，导致运动中／后的疲劳和运动能力下降。以运动中人体生理特点为基础，通过讨论运动前／中／后补充水、碳水化合物及电解质的问题，论证了运动饮料配方设计的原理依据。     

Flammenpyrolytische Silikatbeschichtung bei Normaldruck als Alternative zu Vakuumverfahren. Combustion CVD of silica as an alternative method to vakuum treatment

In advancement of Pyrosil®‐technology a new kind of precursor delivery was developed, build and tested on real substrates. A Lab‐demonstrator was build to demonstrate the resources of the technology.