The effects of washing a collagen sample prior to TEM examination

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an important analysis technique to visualize (bio)macromolecules and their assemblies, including collagen fibers. Many protocols for TEM sample preparation of collagen involve one or more washing steps to remove excess salts from the dispersion that could hamper analysis when dried on a TEM grid. Such protocols are not standardized and washing times as well as washing solvents vary from procedure to procedure, with each research group typically having their own protocol. Here, we investigate the influence of washing with water, ethanol, but also methanol and 2-propanol, for both mineralized and unmineralized collagen samples via a protocol based on centrifugation. Washing with water maintains the hydrated collagen structure and the characteristic banding pattern can be clearly observed. Conversely, washing with ethanol results in dehydration of the fibrils, often leading to aggregation of the fibers and a less obvious banding pattern, already within 1 min of ethanol exposure. As we show, this process is fully reversible. Similar observations were made for methanol and propanol. Based on these results, a standardized washing protocol for collagenous samples is proposed.     

Machine fault diagnosis with small sample based on variational information constrained generative adversarial network

In actual engineering scenarios, limited fault data leads to insufficient model training and over-fitting, which negatively affects the diagnostic performance of intelligent diagnostic models. To solve the problem, this paper proposes a variational information constrained generative adversarial network (VICGAN) for effective machine fault diagnosis. Firstly, by incorporating the encoder into the discriminator to map the deep features, an improved generative adversarial network with stronger data synthesis capability is established. Secondly, to promote the stable training of the model and guarantee better convergence, a variational information constraint technique is utilized, which constrains the input signals and deep features of the discriminator using the information bottleneck method. In addition, a representation matching module is added to impose restrictions on the generator, avoiding the mode collapse problem and boosting the sample diversity. Two rolling bearing datasets are utilized to verify the effectiveness and stability of the presented network, which demonstrates that the presented network has an admirable ability in processing fault diagnosis with few samples, and performs better than state-of-the-art approaches.     

The control of sea lice in Atlantic salmon by selective breeding

Sea lice threaten the welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon and the sustainability of fish farming across the world. Chemical treatments are the major method of control but drug resistance means that alternatives are urgently needed. Selective breeding can be a cheap and effective alternative. Here, we combine experimental trials and diagnostics to provide a practical protocol for quantifying resistance to sea lice. We then combined quantitative genetics with epidemiological modelling to make the first prediction of the response to selection, quantified in terms of reduced need for chemical treatments. We infected over 1400 young fish with Lepeophtheirus salmonis, the most important species in the Northern Hemisphere. Mechanisms of resistance were expressed early in infection. Consequently, the number of lice per fish and the ranking of families were very similar at 7 and 17 days post infection, providing a stable window for assessing susceptibility to infection. The heritability of lice numbers within this time window was moderately high at 0.3, confirming that selective breeding is viable. We combined an epidemiological model of sea lice infection and control on a salmon farm with genetic variation in susceptibility among individuals. We simulated 10 generations of selective breeding and examined the frequency of treatments needed to control infection. Our model predicted that substantially fewer chemical treatments are needed to control lice outbreaks in selected populations and chemical treatment could be unnecessary after 10 generations of selection. Selective breeding for sea lice resistance should reduce the impact of sea lice on fish health and thus substantially improve the sustainability of Atlantic salmon production.     

北斗三星无源定位技术

介绍了北斗双星定位系统的特点、功能、系统组成和工作原理,说明了北斗有源定位方式在应用方面的局限性。针对北斗有源定位方式不能无线电静默,和人们对具有无线电隐蔽性的卫星定位的需求,详细介绍一种北斗三星无源定位技术:包括工作原理、实现方法、定位精度分析和目前达到的定位精度。阐述了北斗三星无源定位技术的优点和应用形势。     

对空监视雷达探测威力检飞的几个问题

以新的观点论证了对空监视雷达探测威力检验飞行中所需的采样点数和飞行架次，讨论了预警机雷达威力检飞的特殊问题，包括地区选择、航线设计和目标机标定等。     

径向基函数神经网络的再学习算法及其应用

为了应用径向基函数神经网络逐步地识别待研究系统,文章针对径向基函数神经网络的再学习算法开展了深入的研究.应用严格的数学推理方法,将径向基函数神经网络的再学习问题转化为矩阵求逆的附加运算.详细给出了径向基函数神经网络再学习算法中增加新训练样本和增加新基函数的数学公式,同时对如何获取新的训练样本进行了研究.     

串行及并行A/D转换器在高速数据采集中的采样差别性分析

串行和并行接口模式是A/D转换器诸多分类中的一种,但却是应用中器件选择的一个重要指标.在同样的转换分辨率及转换速度的前提下,不同的接口方式不但影响了电路结构,更重要的是将在高速数据采集的过程中对采样周期产生较大影响.本文通过12位串行ADC ADS7822和并行ADC ADS774与AT89C51的接口电路,给出二者采样时间的差异性.     

水平井岩屑录井的影响因素及对策

由于岩屑沉积床的形成、井壁坍塌和井眼不规则、岩屑多次破碎、钻时资料失真及混油钻井液污染等因素影响，水平井的岩屑比普通直井更混杂、更细碎，代表性也更差，岩屑中的油气显示真假难辨。通过加密实测迟到时间，参考钻井参数及DC指数可以对岩屑进行较准确地分层、描述，采用多次荧光滴照、四氯化碳浸泡、气测资料分析等方法，能够有效地区分真假油气显示。     

切尔诺贝利事故释放的~(131)I所致牧草、奶类的污染水平及其变化规律

本文报道了苏联切尔诺贝利核电站事故释放的~(131)I对乌鲁木齐地区牧草、奶类的污染水平及动态变化规律。经估算,~(131)I经奶类所致成人(1.2μSv)和婴儿(120μSv)甲状腺最大待积剂量当量远低于我国放射卫生防护基本标准规定的年剂量限值,因此,对居民健康不会产生影响。