Artificial neural network based maximum power point tracking controller for photovoltaic standalone system

This article presents a two-stage maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller using artificial neural network (ANN) for photovoltaic (PV) standalone system, under varying weather conditions of solar irradiation and module temperature. At the first-stage, the ANN algorithm locates the maximum power point (MPP) associated to solar irradiation and module temperature. Then, a simple controller at the second-step, by changing the duty cycle of a DC–DC boost converter, tracks the MPP. In this method, in addition to experimental data collection for training the ANN, a circuit is designed in MATLAB-Simulink to acquire data for whole ranges of weather condition. The whole system is simulated in Simulink. Simulation results show small transient response time, and low power oscillation in steady-state. Furthermore, dynamic response verifies that this method is very fast and precise at tracking the MPP under rapidly changing irradiation, and has very low power oscillation under slowly changing irradiation. Experimental results are provided to verify the simulation results as well.     

PCR技术检测故黄河TB和HP菌污染

ＰＣＲ技术能使极微量的致病细菌的致病基因或病源微生物基因在体外快速、特异扩增百万倍,从而极易判断。我们用此技术检测故黄河（徐州市区段）ＴＢ菌和ＨＰ菌的污染情况,具有特异、灵敏、快速的特点。     

Repeated batch and continuous degradation of chlorpyrifos by Pseudomonas putida

The present study was undertaken with the objective of studying repeated batch and continuous degradation of chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl phosphorothioate) using Ca-alginate immobilized cells of Pseudomonas putida isolated from an agricultural soil, and to study the genes and enzymes involved in degradation. The study was carried out to reduce the toxicity of chlorpyrifos by degrading it to less toxic metabolites. Long-term stability of pesticide degradation was studied during repeated batch degradation of chlorpyrifos, which was carried out over a period of 50 days. Immobilized cells were able to show 65% degradation of chlorpyrifos at the end of the 50th cycle with a cell leakage of 112 × 10³ cfu mL^?1. During continuous treatment, 100% degradation was observed at 100 mL h^?1 flow rate with 2% chlorpyrifos, and with 10% concentration of chlorpyrifos 98% and 80% degradation was recorded at 20 mL h^?1 and 100 mL h^?1 flow rate respectively. The products of degradation detected by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis were 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and chlorpyrifos oxon. Plasmid curing experiments with ethidium bromide indicated that genes responsible for the degradation of chlorpyrifos are present on the chromosome and not on the plasmid. The results of Polymerase chain reaction indicate that a ~890-bp product expected for mpd gene was present in Ps. putida. Enzymatic degradation studies indicated that the enzymes involved in the degradation of chlorpyrifos are membrane-bound. The study indicates that immobilized cells of Ps. putida have the potential to be used in bioremediation of water contaminated with chlorpyrifos.     

The effect of thiacloprid formulation on DNA/chromosome damage and changes in GST activity in bovine peripheral lymphocytes

The potential genotoxic effect of thiacloprid formulation on bovine peripheral lymphocytes was evaluated using the comet assay and the cytogenetic endpoints: chromosome aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei (MNi). Whole blood cultures were treated with the insecticide at concentrations of 30, 60, 120, 240 and 480 μg mL^?1 for 24, 48 h and/or 2 h of incubation. A statistically significant increase in the frequency of DNA damage, as well as in unstable chromosome aberrations (% breaks) were found after exposure to the insecticide at concentrations ranging from 120 to 480 μg mL^?1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001). For the detection of stable structural chromosome aberrations (e.g., translocations) and numerical aberrations by the FISH method, three whole chromosome painting probes for bovine chromosomes 1, 5 and 7 (BTA1, BTA5 and BTA7) were used in our experiments. We observed numerical aberrations, but without any statistical significance. Regarding the sister chromatid exchanges, no significant elevation in the SCE frequencies was found after 24-h exposure to the insecticide. A dose-related response in the SCE induction was obtained in bovine cultures after the prolonged time of exposure (48 h) to thiacloprid formulation at concentrations ranging from 120 to 480 μg mL^?1 in each donor (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), which was associated with a reduction of the PI (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The insecticide failed to produce MNi; however, a significant reduction of CBPI was observed. Using real-time PCR, a decrease in the expression of bovine glutathione S-transferase M3 (GSTM3) was detected at the lowest dose. The higher concentrations of thiacloprid formulation caused an increase in the mRNA expression.     

Enhancement of conservation knowledge through increased access to botanical information

Herbarium specimens are increasingly recognized as an important resource for conservation science and virtual herbaria are making specimens freely available to a wider range of users than ever before. Few virtual herbaria are designed with conservation use as a primary driver. Exceptionally, Brazil's Reflora Virtual Herbarium (RVH) was created to increase knowledge and conservation of the Brazilian flora. The RVH is closely integrated with the Flora of Brazil 2020 platform on which Brazil's new national Flora is under construction. Both resources are accessible via the Reflora home page and thousands of users move seamlessly between these Reflora resources. To understand how the Reflora resources are currently used and their impact on conservation science, we conducted a literature review and an online survey. We searched for publications of studies in which Reflora resources were used and publications resulting from Brazilian researchers who were part of Reflora's research and mobility program. The survey contained multiple choice questions and questions that required a written response. We targeted Reflora webpage visitors with the survey to capture a wider range of Reflora users than the literature review. Reflora resources were used for a variety of conservation-relevant purposes. Half the 806 scientific publications in which Reflora was cited and 81% of the 1069 survey respondents accessing Reflora resources mentioned conservation-relevant research outputs. Most conservation-relevant uses of the Reflora resources in scientific publications were research rather than implementation focused. The survey of Reflora users showed conservation uses and impacts of virtual herbaria were more numerous and diverse than the uses captured in the literature review. Virtual herbaria are vital resources for conservation science, but they must document use and impacts more comprehensively to ensure sustainability.     

Information presentation compatibility in a simple digital control panel design: eye-tracking study

Various designs of typical digital control panels were analyzed experimentally from both the effectiveness and efficiency points of view. Subjects performed information comparison tasks aimed at keeping vehicle velocity at the same level. The experiment involved two versions of speedometers for displaying current and target velocities (clock-face and digital). The stimuli were also differentiated by the target velocity value (20, 50 and 80?km/h) and the correct response type (increase or decrease). Subjects’ performance results along with the eye-tracking data were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for all 24 experimental conditions.     

高温后砂岩抗拉强度及应变场演化实验研究

为研究高温后砂岩的抗拉力学特性及变形破坏规律,对不同温度作用后的砂岩进行巴西劈裂实验,同时采用数字散斑相关方法对砂岩变形破坏进行监测。研究表明:高温作用后砂岩质量损失率增加,波速整体呈降低趋势,砂岩物理特性出现一定劣化;高温作用使砂岩抗拉强度呈先增加后减小的趋势,25~400℃增大了16.08%,400~1 000℃减小了69.30%,砂岩表现为脆性破坏特征;砂岩劈裂过程中,水平应变场演化过程为:局部小变形产生、扩展→小变形区域聚集、合并、连接→应变局部化带产生→应变局部化带扩展并贯穿→宏观劈裂破坏;随着温度升高,应变局部化启动水平先增加后降低,400℃为转折点。该研究方法可为煤矿火灾安全等领域提供借鉴。     

长春地震台数字地震仪近震速报震级偏差研究

本次研究选用了长春地震台2000年至2004年近震速报资料,重新测算了数字地震仪近震震级,并以《吉林省地震目录》给出的震级为标准震级,进行了震级偏差统计分析。研究结果表明,随着震中距的变化长春地震台震级偏差变化较大,为使校正值精度提高,我们分段给出了长春台数字化地震仪水平向记录近震震级台站校正值。     

Diversity of methanotrophs in Zoige wetland soils under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions

Zoige wetland is one of the most important methane emission centers in China. The oxidation of methane in the wetland a ects global warming, soil ecology and atmospheric chemistry. Despite their global significance, microorganisms that consume methane in Zoige wetland remain poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated methanotrophs diversity in soil samples from both anaerobic site and aerobic site in Zoige wetland using pmoA gene as a molecular marker. The cloning library was constructed according to the pmoA sequences detected. Four clusters of methanotrophs were detected. The phylogenetic tree showed that all four clusters detected were a liated to type I methanotrophs. Two novel clusters (cluster 1, cluster 2) were found to relate to none of the recognized genera of methanotrophs. These clusters have no cultured representatives and reveal an ecological adaptation of particular uncultured methanotrophs in Zoige wetland. Two clusters were belonging to Methylobacter and Methylococcus separately. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis gel bands pattern retrieved from these two samples revealed that the community compositions of anaerobic soil and aerobic soil were di erent from each other while anaerobic soil showed a higher metanotrophs diversity. Real-time PCR assays of the two samples demonstrated that aerobic soil sample in Zoige wetland was 1.5 times as much copy numbers as anaerobic soil. These data illustrated that methanotrophs are a group of microorganisms influence the methane consumption in Zoige wetland.     

荒漠绿洲土壤抗生素抗性基因分布特征及驱动机制

荒漠绿洲农田生态系统是干旱区环境下人类活动显著的复合生态系统.土壤微生物抗生素抗性与人类健康和生态平衡关系密切.研究荒漠绿洲环境不同土地利用类型模式下土壤抗生素抗性基因的多样性、分布特征和影响因素,对于评估干旱区土壤环境健康风险,促进绿洲农业生态的发展具有重要意义.采用高通量测序和高通量定量PCR技术对荒漠绿洲土壤微生物的群落结构和抗生素抗性基因多样性开展了研究,旨在探究干旱区土壤抗性基因的分布特征及其驱动机制.结果表明,从沙漠边缘到绿洲,荒漠沙生植物土壤、棉花地土壤、玉米地土壤、芦苇地土壤和湖泊沉积物中抗生素抗性的种类和丰度显著增加,与土地利用变化关系密切,农田土壤是抗性基因的重要存储库;荒漠绿洲土壤微生物群落与抗生素抗性基因显著相关,硫杆菌属(Thiobacillus)、沙漠细菌属(Pontibacter)、诺卡氏菌属(Nocardioides)、耐盐微杆菌属(Salinimicrobium)、土壤红杆菌属(Solirubrobacter)和链霉菌属(Streptomyces)等是各类抗性基因重要的潜在携带者;干旱区土壤中重(类)金属元素和可移动基因元件,与微生物群落共同塑造了抗生...