Multivariate statistical analysis for the surface water quality of the Luan River, China

In order to analyze the characteristics of surface water resource quality for the reconstruction of old water treatment plant, multivariate statistical techniques such as cluster analysis and factor analysis were applied to the data of Yuqiao Reservoir-- surface water resource of the Luan River, China. The results of cluster analysis demonstrate that the months of one year were divided into 3 groups and the characteristic of clusters was agreed with the seasonal characteristics in North China. Three factors were derived from the complicated set using factor analysis. Factor 1 included turbidity and chlorophyll, which seemed to be related to the anthropogenic activities; factor 2 included alkaline and hardness, which were related to the natural characteristic of surface water; and factor 3 included Cl and NO2-N affected by mineral and agricultural activities. The sinusoidal shape of the score plots of the three factors shows that the temporal variations caused by natural and human factors are linked to seasonality.     

松散结构砂砾基层的应用技术

根据广西沿海地区钦州、防城、北海历年在沥青路面基层中大量使用砂砾结构的实际情况和使用经验、施工方法等加以总结,合理利用这一结构可有效使用当地材料,降低工程造价,发挥良好的经济效益和社会效益,这种经验应总结提高和继续推广.     

Book reviews

Thigh muscle volume is a useful determinant of functional fitness. However, anthropometric prediction of muscle content is influenced by the variability of adipose tissue accumulation. The aims of this study were to predict thigh muscle and adipose tissue volumes from anthropometry and to assess the validity of the method by examining the various components of the measurements and the assumptions involved. The 19 participants (9 men, 10 women; age 23-49 years) varied in adiposity. They all underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the upper leg and the eight men and two women with the lowest adiposity underwent detailed anthropometry involving girths and skinfolds. Using MRI as the reference method, muscle volume was predicted from anthropometry using a circular concentric model, and the assumptions inherent in the method were tested further using the MRI data alone. Muscle volume was best predicted by anthropometry in the 10 leanest participants using a five-slice truncated cone model that overestimated the mean MRI value by 30% ( R 2 = 0.95; standard error of estimate = 288 cm 3 ; P ? 0.001). A single skinfold plus girth measurement at the mid-thigh almost matched its predictive ability, but with an increased bias. Measurements of leg circumference by means of the two techniques agreed well. The assumption of a circular cross-section was valid. In contrast, the agreement between skinfold thickness measured by caliper and superficial adipose tissue thickness by MRI was poor, contributing to the scatter of fat and lean area comparisons. An anterior skinfold thickness measurement underestimated the area of superficial adipose tissue at that level, particularly at the most proximal and distal sites. Although these limitations increase the uncertainties of muscle volume determination by anthropometry, they do not prevent its valid prediction in leaner individuals. The prediction of superficial adipose tissue was poorer.     

Effect of creatine supplementation on phosphocreatine resynthesis,inorganic phosphate accumulation and pH during intermittent maximal exercise

In this study, we examined the effect of creatine ingestion on muscle power output, muscle phosphocreatine resynthesis, inorganic phosphate and pH during repeated brief bouts of maximal exercise. Nine healthy males performed maximal plantar flexion before and after creatine ingestion (20 g ·day -1 for 6 days). The experimental protocol consisted of five 8 s bouts (bouts 1-5) interspersed with 30 s recovery, followed by bouts 6 (8 s) and 7 (16 s) separated by 1 and 2 min, respectively. Muscle phosphocreatine, inorganic phosphate and pH were estimated every 16 s by 31 P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. After creatine ingestion, muscle power output increased by ~5% ( P ? 0.05) from bouts 3 to 7 and muscle phosphocreatine resynthesis increased ( P ? 0.05) during 10 min recovery. The higher phosphocreatine concentration observed after only 30 s of recovery was accompanied by lower inorganic phosphate accumulation and higher pH. Strong correlations were found between exercise power restoration and the corresponding pre-exercise phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate concentrations and muscle pH after creatine ingestion. The better maintenance of muscle power output observed after creatine ingestion was attributed to a higher rate of phosphocreatine resynthesis, lower accumulation of inorganic phosphate and higher pH.     

Creatine kinase,myosin heavy chains and magnetic resonance imaging after eccentric exercise

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between myosin heavy chain (MHC) release as a specific marker of slow-twitch muscle fibre breakdown and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of skeletal muscle injury after eccentric exercise. The effects of a single series of 70 high-intensity eccentric contractions of the quadriceps femoris muscle group (single leg) on plasma concentrations of creatine kinase and MHC fragments were assessed in 10 young male sport education trainees before and 1 and 4 days after exercise. To visualize muscle injury, MRI of the loaded thigh was performed before and 4 days after the eccentric exercise. All participants recorded an increase ( P ? 0.05) in creatine kinase after exercise. In five participants, T2 signal intensity was unchanged post-exercise compared with pre-exercise and MHC plasma concentration was normal; however, they showed an increase ( P ? 0.05) in creatine kinase after exercise. For the remaining five participants, there was an increase in T2 signal intensity of the loaded vastus intermedius and vastus lateralis. These changes in MRI were accompanied by an increase in MHC plasma concentration ( P ? 0.01) as well as an increase in creatine kinase ( P ? 0.01). We suggest that changes in MRI T2 signal intensity after muscle damage induced by eccentric exercise are closely related to damage to structurally bound contractile filaments of some muscle fibres. Additionally, MHC plasma release indicates that this damage affects not only fast-twitch fibres but also some slow-twitch fibres.     

Hierarchical planning for a surface mounting machine placement

For a surface mounting machine(SMM)in printed circuit board(PCB)assembly line,there are four problems,e.g. CAD data conversion,nozzle selection,feeder assignment and placement sequence determination. A hierarchical planning for them to maximize the throughput rate of an SMM is presented here. To minimize set-up time,a CAD data conversion system was first applied that could automatically generate the data for machine placement from CAD design data files. Then an effective nozzle selection approach was implemented to minimize the time of nozzle changing. And then,to minimize picking time,an algorithm for feeder assignment was used to make picking multiple components simultaneously as much as possible. Finally,in order to shorten pick-and-place time,a heuristic algorithm was used to determine optimal component placement sequence according to the decided feeder positions. Experiments were conducted on a four head SMM.The experimental results were used to analyse the assembly line performance.     

对称性在积分中的妙用

数学的对称美是解决数学难题的关键,同时也为数学研究提供了一种独特的方法.主要归纳总结了对称性在计算不同的积分中的妙用,使一些较复杂的计算变得简化,利用对称性计算积分也是一种非常重要的计算技巧.     

利用2×2纤锥表面等离子共振传感液体折射率

介绍了2×2纤锥等离子共振的工作原理,并用其对液体折射率进行传感。制作的表面等离子共振传感器用于检测甘油水溶液的折射率时,观测到被测液体折射率在(1.448,1.4515)区间变化时,等离子共振波长在(1450,1593)nm区间移动,两者间呈线性对应关系。系统的传感分辨率为2.448×10-5 RIU。     

Improvement of enamel bond strengths for conventional and resin-modified glass ionomers: acid-etching vs. conditioning

Objective:This study deals with the effect of phosphoric acid etching and conditioning on enamel micro-tensile bond strengths(μTBSs)of conventional and resin-modified glass ionomer cements(GICs/RMGICs).Methods:Forty-eight bovine incisors were prepared into rectangular blocks.Highly-polished labial enamel surfaces were either acid-etched,conditioned with liquids of cements,or not further treated(control).Subsequently,two matching pre-treated enamel surfaces were cemented together with one of four cements[two GICs:Fuji I(GC),Ketac Cem Easymix(3M ESPE);two RMGICs:Fuji Plus(GC),RelyX Luting(3M ESPE)]in preparation forμTBS tests.Pre-treated enamel surfaces and cement-enamel interfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Results:Phosphoric acid etching significantly increased the enamelμTBS of GICs/RMGICs.Conditioning with the liquids of the cements produced significantly weaker or equivalent enamelμTBS compared to the control.Regardless of etching,RMGICs yielded stronger enamelμTBS than GICs.A visible hybrid layer was found at certain enamelcement interfaces of the etched enamels.Conclusions:Phosphoric acid etching significantly increased the enamelμTBSs of GICs/RMGICs.Phosphoric acid etching should be recommended to etch the enamel margins before the cementation of the prostheses such as inlays and onlays,using GICs/RMGICs to improve the bond strengths.RMGICs provided stronger enamel bond strength than GICs and conditioning did not increase enamel bond strength.     

Yellowing of Oil-Based Paints

Summary

The cause of yellowing of oil-based paints has been investigated by analysing drying oils simultaneously by iodometry (to determine the degree of oxidation) and by colorimetry. It was found that yellowing of drying oils can be attributed to co-oxidation reactions of contaminants. Yellowing level is closely related to the extent of drying and appears to be unaffected by increase in temperature, the addition of driers, or linolenate content.