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Selected AbstractsA polymeric master replication technology for mass fabrication of poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic devicesELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 9 2005Hai-Fang Li Abstract A protocol of producing multiple polymeric masters from an original glass master mold has been developed, which enables the production of multiple poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based microfluidic devices in a low-cost and efficient manner. Standard wet-etching techniques were used to fabricate an original glass master with negative features, from which more than 50 polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) positive replica masters were rapidly created using the thermal printing technique. The time to replicate each PMMA master was as short as 20 min. The PMMA replica masters have excellent structural features and could be used to cast PDMS devices for many times. An integration geometry designed for laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection, which contains normal deep microfluidic channels and a much deeper optical fiber channel, was successfully transferred into PDMS devices. The positive relief on seven PMMA replica masters is replicated with regard to the negative original glass master, with a depth average variation of 0.89% for 26 ,m deep microfluidic channels and 1.16% for the 90 ,m deep fiber channel. The imprinted positive relief in PMMA from master-to-master is reproducible with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.06% for the maximum width and 0.46% for depth in terms of the separation channel. The PDMS devices fabricated from the PMMA replica masters were characterized and applied to the separation of a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled epinephrine sample. [source] Feeding methods, visual fields and vigilance in dabbling ducks (Anatidae)FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2002M. Guillemain Summary 1.,Visual fields were determined in two species of dabbling ducks (Anatini): Shoveler Anas clypeata L. (planktivore whose foraging is guided mainly by tactile cues) and Wigeon A. penelope L. (herbivore whose foraging is guided mainly by visual cues). 2.,The binocular fields of Shoveler and Wigeon are of similar maximum width (20°), but they differ in their position and vertical extent. The bill of the Shoveler lies in the very periphery of its frontal binocular field, which extends through 220° thus providing comprehensive visual coverage about the head. In Wigeon the bill is positioned more centrally in the frontal binocular field, which extends through 150° and results in the birds having a narrow blind area behind the head. 3.,The vigilance behaviour of Shoveler and Wigeon when foraging simultaneously was studied using a focal observation procedure at sites where the two species winter in sympatry. Focal Wigeon almost only fed by grazing. Only Shoveler feeding by dabbling (filtering the first centimetres of water) were used in the analyses. Wigeon spent significantly more time in head-up vigilance than Shoveler (F1,75 = 14·70, P = 0·0003). 4.,It is proposed that this interspecific difference in the proportion of time spent in vigilance behaviour may be an adaptive response to differences in the visual field topography of these species, particularly with respect to the presence/absence of a blind area to the rear of the head. 5.,The ability of foragers to combine part of their vigilance behaviour with head-down feeding has recently been recognized as influencing the trade-offs related to vigilance while foraging. This study shows that this ability may vary significantly between species, even within the same genus, and that these variations are likely to be due to contrasted visual fields, themselves related to the type of feeding techniques employed by the different duck species. [source] Effect of Seasonality on Distribution of Macroalgae in a Stream System (Xin'an Spring) in Shanxi Province, North ChinaJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2006Bian-Fang Hu Abstract A survey of the seasonal distribution of macroalgae in a stream system in Shanxi Province, north China, was undertaken from July 2004 to April 2005. The relative abundance and percentage cover of macroalgae, and several environmental factors were monitored along a 20-m stretch at each of four sites, at intervals of approximately three months (one sampling per season). Several stream conditions were relatively constant over the sampling period (pH, maximum width and maximum depth), whereas others exhibited a distinct seasonal pattern (water temperature and specific conductance), and some fluctuated with no discernable seasonal pattern (current velocity and dissolved oxygen). Forty-two species of macroalgae were found, with a predominance of Chlorophyta (26 species, 61.9%). Rhodophyta and Charophyta represented the smallest proportion (1 species each, 2.38%). Six macroalgae species were the most widespread, occurring in all four sampling sites. Twelve species were found at only one site each. In terms of seasonality, eight species occurred throughout the year, whereas 16 species were found in only one season each. The macroalgal community at Xin'an Spring was species rich relative to other streams. Species richness per sampling site was negatively correlated with pH. Principal component analysis revealed that no single variable had much influence on the macroalgal seasonal dynamics. We calculated Sorensen similarity indices to compare our study with other continent-wide surveys of stream macroalgae, but the similarity indices were all very low. This study also shows that macroalgae in different locations have significant reproductive isolation. (Managing editor: Ya-Qin Han) [source] Morphological plasticity of Parrotia persica leaves in eastern Hyrcanian forests (Iran) is related to altitudeNORDIC JOURNAL OF BOTANY, Issue 3 2010Hamed Yosefzadeh Variation in leaf characters of Parrotia persica in relation to their position in the canopy along an altitudinal gradient were studied. Genetic and phenotypic characters make P. persica one of the most noteworthy plants in the five floristic regions of Iran. It is an endemic species of the Hyrcanian forests, and occurs naturally from sea level to over 900 m a.s.l. on the north side of the Mountain Ranges of Alborz, northern Iran. There was a significant effect of altitude only on few leaf features [width of lamina, base angle (internal angle of lamina), number of pair vein (number of principal veins of lamina) of leaf, top and end of leaf figure]. Among different geographical sides of the crown, there was no significant difference in the plasticity of leaf features, but leaf figure (both top of leaf figure and end of leaf figure) showed the lowest plasticity among the different leaf characters. Of all characters measured, the lowest plasticity among the three populations was found for base angle and number of vein pairs. A PCA analysis showed that leaf petiole and maximum width of lamina in 0.9 of its length, together with leaf figure and width of lamina, accounted for the greatest variation in difference of populations. [source] Optimized-geometry ARROW waveguides using TiO2 as anti-resonant layerPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 3-4 2010Daniel O. Carvalho Abstract The simulation, fabrication and characterization of ARROW waveguides using dielectric films deposited by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) and Sputtering techniques, are presented in this work. Amorphous titanium oxide (TiO2) films were used as first cladding layer and silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) films, as core layer. Furthermore, homemade routines based in two computational methods were used, for numerical simulations: Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) for the determination of the optimum thickness values of the Fabry-Perot layers, and the Finite Difference Method (FDM) for 2D design and determination of the maximum width that allows single-mode operation. The utilization of thermally grown silicon oxide as second anti-resonant layer, along with improvements in the Reactive Ion Etching conditions for the definition of sidewalls of the optical waveguides were responsible for diminishing optical attenuations. Optimization of the waveguide rib height was done both through FDM simulations and experimentally. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Jusa and Barsuchi Log Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits from the Southern Urals of Russia: Tectonic Setting, Structure and Mode of FormationRESOURCE GEOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Geoffrey P. Glasby Abstract The Jusa and Barsuchi Log volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits formed along a paleo island arc in the east Magnitogrosk zone of the Southern Urals between ca 398 and 390 Ma. By analogy with the VMS deposits of the west Magnitogrosk zone, they are considered to be Baimak type deposits, which are Zn-Cu-Ba deposits containing Au, Ag and minor Pb. Detailed mapping and textural analysis of the two deposits shows that they formed as submarine hydrothermal mounds which were subsequently destroyed on the sea floor under the influence of ocean bottom currents and slumping. Both deposits display a ratio of the length to the maximum width of the deposit >15 and are characterized by ribbon-like layers composed mainly of bedded ore and consisting principally of altered fine clastic ore facies. The Jusa deposit appears to have formed in two stages: deposition of colloform pyrite followed by deposition of copper,zinc,lead sulfides characterized by the close association of pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, tennantite, arsenopyrite, marcasite, pyrrhotite, bornite, native gold and electrum and high concentrations of gold and silver. The low metamorphic grade of the east Magnitogorsk zone accounts for the exceptional degree of preservation of these deposits. [source] Heritability of human cranial dimensions: comparing the evolvability of different cranial regionsJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 1 2009Neus Martínez-Abadías Abstract Quantitative craniometrical traits have been successfully incorporated into population genetic methods to provide insight into human population structure. However, little is known about the degree of genetic and non-genetic influences on the phenotypic expression of functionally based traits. Many studies have assessed the heritability of craniofacial traits, but complex patterns of correlation among traits have been disregarded. This is a pitfall as the human skull is strongly integrated. Here we reconsider the evolutionary potential of craniometric traits by assessing their heritability values as well as their patterns of genetic and phenotypic correlation using a large pedigree-structured skull series from Hallstatt (Austria). The sample includes 355 complete adult skulls that have been analysed using 3D geometric morphometric techniques. Heritability estimates for 58 cranial linear distances were computed using maximum likelihood methods. These distances were assigned to the main functional and developmental regions of the skull. Results showed that the human skull has substantial amounts of genetic variation, and a t -test showed that there are no statistically significant differences among the heritabilities of facial, neurocranial and basal dimensions. However, skull evolvability is limited by complex patterns of genetic correlation. Phenotypic and genetic patterns of correlation are consistent but do not support traditional hypotheses of integration of the human shape, showing that the classification between brachy- and dolicephalic skulls is not grounded on the genetic level. Here we support previous findings in the mouse cranium and provide empirical evidence that covariation between the maximum widths of the main developmental regions of the skull is the dominant factor of integration in the human skull. [source] |