Effects of carbon ions on primary cultures of mouse brain cells.

Primary mixed cultures of astrocytes and microglia were obtained from neonatal mice, and were irradiated with high-LET carbon ions. Immunohistochemical staining showed astrocytes survived more prominently than microglia. Tagged with specific antibodies, astrocytes and microglia surviving after irradiation were counted by flow cytometry. Decreases in the number of microglia and astrocytes were detected at a dose as small as 2 Gy when Day 5 cultures were irradiated with 13 keV/micrometer carbon ions. When the cultures were irradiated on Day 10, the dose-dependent decrease of microglia was more prominent for 13 keV/micrometer carbon ions than 70 keV/micrometer carbon ions. Astrocytes showed a marginal decrease at Day 10 and Day 14. We concluded that microglia are more sensitive than astrocytes to carbon ions and X-rays, and that the radiosensitivity of microglia depends on both differentiation/proliferation status and radiation quality.     

Computation and Elicitation of Valleyness

Abstract

Existing methods for land surface form characterisation often focus on relatively simple landform element classifications and do not evaluate results with large scale participant experiments. This piece of research takes a semantics-grounded approach to characterising the landform valley. Based on definitions three algorithms to characterise valleys in a fuzzy way are introduced. Comparison of the results to assessments regarding the degree of being in a valley gained from over 800 participants in a questionnaire survey yields significant amounts of explained variance (R ² = 0.35–0.37). Furthermore, accounting for very ambiguously perceived stimuli showing vast low places leads to markedly improved regressions (R ² = 0.45–0.49), weighting of the data with a measure of uncertainty in judgment even more so (R ² = 0.50–0.55).     

Dynamic tests with a switched reluctance motor drive

Starting and reversing times of less than 40 ms, torque ripple below ten percent and operational speeds over 5000 1/min. (rpm) can be achieved with our 6/4 prototype switched reluctance motor drive. The drive efficiency approaches 80 percent but it is currently limited by high switching frequency. Peak currents of 50 A are needed in the 4.2 kW machine. Experimental results of the prototype switched reluctance machine are shown     

Time-varying autoregressive modeling of HRR radar signatures

A time-varying autoregressive (TVAR) model is used for the modeling and classification of high range resolution (HRR) radar signatures. In this approach, the TVAR coefficients are expanded by a low-order discrete Fourier transform (DFT). A least-squares (LS) estimator of the TVAR model parameters is presented, and the maximum likelihood (ML) approach for determining the model order is also presented. The validity of the TVAR modeling approach is demonstrated by comparing with other approaches in estimating time-varying spectra of synthetic signals. The estimated TVAR model parameters are also used as features in classifying HRR radar signatures with a neural network. In the experiment with two sets of noncooperating target identification (NCTI) data, about 93% of samples are correctly classified     

Numerical simulation of formation of cyclone vortex flows in the intratropical zone of convergence and their early detection

Mechanisms of formation of cyclonic vortices in the tropical atmosphere of the Earth are investigated in the intratropical zone of convergence using numerical simulation made with the complete system of equations of gas dynamics taking into account transport of infrared radiation, phase transitions of water vapor into microdrops of water and ice particles, and sedimentation of these drops and ice particles in the field of gravity force. Observational data on the structure of dominant air streams, which are formed in the intratropical zone of convergence over the North Atlantic in the periods of its highest thermodynamic intensity and instability, are used in the initial and boundary conditions of the model. Formation of cyclonic vortex flows is obtained numerically at sufficiently strong bending of the intratropical zone of convergence. The results of numerical modeling are compared with the data of satellite microwave monitoring: global radio thermal fields of the Earth from the electronic collection GLOBAL-Field allowing one to study the structure of atmospheric motions in a wide range of space-time scales.     

Algebra and statistics of the solar wind

Statistical studies of properties of the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field, based on an extended database for the period 1963–2007 including four solar cycles, show that the Gaussian approximation well suites for some parameters as the probability distribution of their numerical values, while for others the lognormal law is preferred. This paper gives an interpretation of these results as associated with predominance of linear or nonlinear processes in composition and interaction of various disturbances and irregularities propagating and originating in the interior of the Sun and its atmosphere, including the solar corona and the solar wind running away from it. Summation of independent random components of disturbances leads, according to the central limit theorem of the probability theory, to the normal (Gaussian) distributions of quantities proper, while their multiplication leads to the normal distributions of logarithms. Thus, one can discuss the algebra of events and associate observed statistical distinctions with one or another process of formation of irregularities in the solar wind. Among them there are impossible events (having null probability) and reliable events (occurring with 100% probability). For better understanding of the relationship between algebra and statistics of events in the solar wind further investigations are necessary.     

一种授权质量管理的组织文化(英文)

随着东南亚国家的工业化，香港制造业面临的市场竞争日益激烈。香港的厂家若继续过分依赖中国的廉价生产成本优势，已不能维持其竞争力。只有把“全面性质量管理”（ＴＱＭ）作为企业策略，并不断改善产品质量，才能达到增长利润和改善竞争力等目的。在推行ＴＱＭ时，仅依靠质量改善的“硬件”，而忽略了机构品质文化的培养，产品质量的改善会收到一定限制。通过人力管理培养和质量的改善，可以为香港制造业培养出一种良好的机构品质文化，从而使香港制造业更加蓬勃发展。     

Gravisensing in plants and fungi.

The principle of establishing and maintaining a gravitropic set point angle depends on gravisensing and a subsequent cascade of events that result in differential elongation of the responsive structures. Since gravity acts upon masses, the gravisensing mechanisms of all biological systems must follow the same principle, namely the sensing of some force due to differential acceleration of the perceiving entity and a reference structure. This presentation will demonstrate that gravisensing can be accomplished by various means, ranging from cytoskeletal organization, mechano-elastic stress to perturbation of electric signals. However, several arguments indicate that sedimentation of either dense plastids (statoliths), the entire protoplast, or a combination of these represents the primary step in graviperception in plants. In fungi, nuclei and cytoskeletal proteins are believed to form a network capable of gravisensing but sedimenting organelles that may function as statoliths have been identified. Theoretical and practical limitations of gravisensing and detection of acceleration forces necessitate microgravity experiments to identify the primary perceptor, subsequent biochemical mechano-transduction, and biological response processes.     

发挥员工最大潜能 迎接21世纪优质服务的挑战(英文)

每一个机构中，员工的潜能往往被经理们所低估。如何达到公司经营的最高目标及有效地面对剧烈竞争的工商业世界，我们一定要帮助员工在机构内发挥他们最大的潜能，最后使员工及顾客均满意。怎样了解及发挥员工的内在潜能是２１世纪最有效的员工管理策略，要使员工及顾客都满意，一定要知道怎样去激发员工最大潜能，并不断学习新的文化及有效地奖励员工。     

Source and loss processes in the magnetotail

Space Science Reviews -