Study of synchronization for a rotor-pendulum system with Poincare method

A simplified model of the system of unbalanced rotors coupled with pendulum rod is examined. The model consists of two counter-rotating rotors, a rigid pendulum rod and a rigid vibrating body, which is horizontally connected to a fixed support by means of springs. The synchronous state of the system, i.e. synphase and antiphase synchronization of the rotors, is studied by means of the Poincare method. Moreover, the assessment of the synchronous state is converted to find a solution that should satisfy a balanced function and a stability function of the system. However, frequency ratios and installation angular are included in the two functions. It is demonstrated that the spring stiffness and the installation angular have a large influence on the existence and stability of the synchronization state in the coupling system. Finally, computer simulations are preformed to verify the theoretical computations

A new species of Zhangixalus (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Yunnan, China

We described herein Zhangixalus yunnanensis sp. nov., a new treefrog species from central and western Yunnan, China, which had previously been confused with Z. nigropunctatus, based on morphological and molecular evidence. Our phylogenetic analyses revealed that the new species is sister to the clade of Z. nigropunctatus and Z. melanoleucus with strong support (100% and 73% for BI and ML, respectively). Our morphological analysis suggested that Z. yunnanensis sp. nov. is distinctly different from all known congeners by the combination of the following morphological characters: black blotches on body flank and hind-limb, medium body size (SVL31.3–36.0 mm in males and 47.6–48.6 mm in females), head wider than long, iris yellowish-brown, dorsum uniformly green, vocal sac external, throat black, webbing greyish and fingers webbed one third and toes webbed half. Additionally, we revealed that the specimens ROM 38011 (Sa Pa, Vietnam) and VNMN 4099 (Son La, Vietnam) are neither Z. dorsoviridis nor Z. nigropunctatus, but probably represent one or two cryptic species of Zhangixalus pending further morphological and molecular data. Including the new species described herein, the genus Zhangixalus currently comprises 42 species, 30 of which are distributed in China with 11 species known from Yunnan. Amongst different zoogeographic regions in Yunnan, south-eastern Yunnan has the highest diversity of Zhangixalus, followed by western Yunnan and southern Yunnan. More studies are required to clarify the species diversity of this genus based on multiple lines of evidence (e.g. morphological and molecular data)

Outcome and prognostic factors in critically ill patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective study

INTRODUCTION: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an archetypal autoimmune disease, involving multiple organ systems with varying course and prognosis. However, there is a paucity of clinical data regarding prognostic factors in SLE patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: From January 1992 to December 2000, all patients admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of SLE were included. Patients were excluded if the diagnosis of SLE was established at or after ICU admission. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied using Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores and variables that were at least moderately associated (P < 0.2) with survival in the univariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients meeting the criteria were included. The mortality rate was 47%. The most common cause of admission was pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that intracranial haemorrhage occurring while the patient was in the ICU (relative risk = 18.68), complicating gastrointestinal bleeding (relative risk = 6.97) and concurrent septic shock (relative risk = 77.06) were associated with greater risk of dying, whereas causes of ICU admission and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score were not significantly associated with death. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate in critically ill SLE patients was high. Gastrointestinal bleeding, intracranial haemorrhage and septic shock were significant prognostic factors in SLE patients admitted to the ICU

Dissipative preparation of W states in trapped ion systems

We present protocols for dissipative entanglement of three trapped-ion qubits and discuss a scheme that uses sympathetic cooling as the dissipation mechanism. This scheme relies on tailored destructive interference to generate any one of six entangled W states in a three-ion qubit space. Using a beryllium-magnesium ion crystal as an example system, we theoretically investigate the protocol's performance and the effects of likely error sources, including thermal secular motion of the ion crystal, calibration imperfections, and spontaneous photon scattering. We estimate that a fidelity of $\sim$ 98 % may be achieved in typical trapped ion experiments with $\sim$ 1 ms interaction time. These protocols avoid timescale hierarchies for faster preparation of entangled states

Microalgae-derived hydrochar application on rice paddy soil: higher rice yield but increased gaseous nitrogen loss

Hydrothermal carbonization represents a promising technique for transforming microalgae into the hydrochar with abundant phytoavailable nutrients. However, the effects of microalgae-derived hydrochars on the gaseous nitrogen (N) loss from agricultural field are still unclear. Chlorella vulgaris powder (CVP) and two Chlorella vulgaris-derived hydrochars that employ water (CVHW) or citrate acid solution (CVHCA) as the reaction medium were applied to a soil column system grown with rice. The temporal variations of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and ammonia (NH3) volatilization were monitored during the whole rice-growing season. Results showed that CVHW and CVHCA addition significantly increased the grain yield (by 13.5–26.8% and 10.5–23.4%) compared with control and CVP group, while concomitantly increasing the ammonia volatilization (by 53.8% and 72.9%) as well as N2O emissions (by 2.17- and 2.82-fold) from paddy soil compared to control. The microbial functional genes (AOA, AOB, nirk, nirS, nosZ) in soil indicated that CVHW and CVHCA treatment stimulated the nitrification and denitrification, and inhibited the N2O oxidation in soil. Notably, CVHW was recommended in the view of improving yield and controlling NH3 volatilization because no significant difference of the yield-scale NH3 volatilization was detected between control and CVHW treatment. This study for the first time uncovered that Chlorella vulgaris-derived hydrochars have positive effects on rice N utilization and growth but negative effects on the atmospheric environment

Transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis of the early time-course of the response to prostaglandin F2 alpha in the bovine corpus luteum.

RNA expression analysis was performed on the corpus luteum tissue at five time points after prostaglandin F2 alpha treatment of midcycle cows using an Affymetrix Bovine Gene v1 Array. The normalized linear microarray data was uploaded to the NCBI GEO repository (GSE94069). Subsequent statistical analysis determined differentially expressed transcripts ± 1.5-fold change from saline control with P ≤ 0.05. Gene ontology of differentially expressed transcripts was annotated by DAVID and Panther. Physiological characteristics of the study animals are presented in a figure. Bioinformatic analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was curated, compiled, and presented in tables. A dataset comparison with similar microarray analyses was performed and bioinformatics analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, DAVID, Panther, and String of differentially expressed genes from each dataset as well as the differentially expressed genes common to all three datasets were curated, compiled, and presented in tables. Finally, a table comparing four bioinformatics tools\u27 predictions of functions associated with genes common to all three datasets is presented. These data have been further analyzed and interpreted in the companion article Early transcriptome responses of the bovine mid-cycle corpus luteum to prostaglandin F2 alpha includes cytokine signaling [1]