Virus-induced gene silencing of TaERECTA increases stomatal density in bread wheat

Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-based virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an effective strategy for rapid determination of functional genes in wheat plants. ERECTA genes are reported to regulate stomatal pattern of plants, and manipulation of TaERECTA (a homologue of ERECTA in bread wheat) is a potential route for investigating stomatal development. Here, the leucine-rich repeat domains (LRRs) and transmembrane domains of TaERECTA were selected to gain BSMV:ER-LR and BSMV:ER-TM constructs, respectively, targeting TaERECTA for silencing in wheat cultivars ‘Bobwhite’ and ‘Cadenza’, to identify the function of TaERECTA on stomatal patterns. The results showed that reduced expression of TaERECTA caused an increased stomatal and epidermal cell density by average 13.5% and 3.3%, respectively, due to the significantly reduced size of leaf epidermal and stomatal cells, and this led to an increase in stomatal conductance. These suggest that modulation of TaERECTA offers further opportunities in stomatal engineering for the adaptation of photosynthesis in wheat

Finite Element Analysis of the Temperature Field of an Emergency Brake and Study of its Thermal Properties

For simulation of typical operating conditions of an emergency brake, analyze the theoretical heat energy of single emergency braking. The formula of the maximum temperature of a contact point was derived from the theory of friction heat conduction during braking. The finite element model of the disc brake temperature field was constructed with ANSYS/LS-DYNA software. The effect of brake safety factor and different thermal properties on the temperature field is analyzed, indicating that the temperature distribution of ductile iron brake friction pairs is superior to the steel brake ones. The results and analysis provide certain indications of the design and applicability of an emergency brake.Для моделирования типичных условий эксплуатации аварийного тормоза проанализирована теоретическая тепловая энергия одного аварийного торможения. Выведена формула максимальной температуры контактной точки на основании теории теплопроводности трения при торможении. Конечноэлементная модель температурного поля дискового тормоза была построена с использованием программного пакета ANSYS/LS-DYNA. Проанализировано влияние запаса прочности тормaза и различных тепловых свойств на температурное поле. Результаты показали, что распределение температур в парах трения тормоза из чугуна с шаровидным графитом более равномерно, чем в парах трения стального тормоза. Полученные результаты и выполненный анализ позволяют дать некоторые рекомендации относительно конструкции и применения аварийного тормоза

Numerical simulation of fully nonlinear interaction between steep waves and 2D floating bodies using the QALE-FEM method

This paper extends the QALE-FEM (quasi arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian finite element method) based on a fully nonlinear potential theory, which was recently developed by the authors [Q.W. Ma, S. Yan, Quasi ALE finite element method for nonlinear water waves, J. Comput. Phys, 212 (2006) 52–72; S. Yan, Q.W. Ma, Application of QALE-FEM to the interaction between nonlinear water waves and periodic bars on the bottom, in: 20th International Workshop on Water Waves and Floating Bodies, Norway, 2005], to deal with the fully nonlinear interaction between steep waves and 2D floating bodies. In the QALE-FEM method, complex unstructured mesh is generated only once at the beginning of calculation and is moved to conform to the motion of boundaries at other time steps, avoiding the necessity of high cost remeshing. In order to tackle challenges associated with floating bodies, several new numerical techniques are developed in this paper. These include the technique for moving mesh near and on body surfaces, the scheme for estimating the velocities and accelerations of bodies as well as the forces on them, the method for evaluating the fluid velocity on the surface of bodies and the technique for shortening the transient period. Using the developed techniques and methods, various cases associated with the nonlinear interaction between waves and floating bodies are numerically simulated. For some cases, the numerical results are compared with experimental data available in the public domain and good agreement is achieved

Quasi ALE finite element method for nonlinear water waves

This paper presents a newly developed quasi arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian finite element method (QALE-FEM) for simulating water waves based on fully nonlinear potential theory. The main difference of this method from the conventional finite element method developed by one of authors of this paper and others (see, e.g., [11] and [22]) is that the complex mesh is generated only once at the beginning and is moved at all other time steps in order to conform to the motion of the free surface and structures. This feature allows one to use an unstructured mesh with any degree of complexity without the need of regenerating it every time step, which is generally inevitable and very costly. Due to this feature, the QALE-FEM has high potential in enhancing computational efficiency when applied to problems associated with the complex interaction between large steep waves and structures since the use of an unstructured mesh in such a case is likely to be necessary. To achieve overall high efficiency, the numerical techniques involved in the QALE-FEM are developed, including the method to move interior nodes, technique to re-distribute the nodes on the free surface, scheme to calculate velocities and so on. The model is validated by water waves generated by a wavemaker in a tank and the interaction between water waves and periodic bars on the bed of tank. Satisfactory agreement is achieved with analytical solutions, experimental data and numerical results from other methods

Complete fuzzy scheduling and fuzzy earned value management in construction projects

Complete fuzzy scheduling and fuzzy earned value management in construction projects Por: Luis Ponz-Tienda, Jose; Pellicer, Eugenio; Yepes, Victor JOURNAL OF ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY-SCIENCE A Volumen: 13 Número: 1 Páginas: 56-68 Fecha de publicación: JAN 2012 Search For Full Text Cerrar abstractCerrar abstract This paper aims to present a comprehensive proposal for project scheduling and control by applying fuzzy earned value. It goes a step further than the existing literature: in the formulation of the fuzzy earned value we consider not only its duration, but also cost and production, and alternatives in the scheduling between the earliest and latest times. The mathematical model is implemented in a prototypical construction project with all the estimated values taken as fuzzy numbers. Our findings suggest that different possible schedules and the fuzzy arithmetic provide more objective results in uncertain environments than the traditional methodology. The proposed model allows for controlling the vagueness of the environment through the adjustment of the alpha-cut, adapting it to the specific circumstances of the project. © Zhejiang University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.The authors want to thank Ms. Doria GIL-SENABRE, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain, for the support provided.Ponz Tienda, JL.; Pellicer Armiñana, E.; Yepes Piqueras, V. (2012). Complete fuzzy scheduling and fuzzy earned value management in construction projects. Journal of Zhejiang University Science A. 13(1):56-68. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1100160S566813

A hybrid model for simulating rogue waves in random seas on a large temporal and spatial scale

A hybrid model for simulating rogue waves in random seas on a large temporal and spatial scale is proposed in this paper. It is formed by combining the derived fifth order Enhanced Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation based on Fourier transform, the Enhanced Spectral Boundary Integral (ESBI) method and its simplified version. The numerical techniques and algorithm for coupling three models on time scale are suggested. Using the algorithm, the switch between the three models during the computation is triggered automatically according to wave nonlinearities. Numerical tests are carried out and the results indicate that this hybrid model could simulate rogue waves both accurately and efficiently. In some cases discussed, the hybrid model is more than 10 times faster than just using the ESBI method, and it is also much faster than other methods reported in the literature