The present study describes the different color-pattern phenotypes of yellow spots on the black back of Salamandra infraimmaculata in various habitats at the southern border of its distribution in Israel. At Tel Dan, ...The present study describes the different color-pattern phenotypes of yellow spots on the black back of Salamandra infraimmaculata in various habitats at the southern border of its distribution in Israel. At Tel Dan, we photographed 454 salamanders in moist habitats where water flows year round;100 of these were sampled to measure the percentage of yellow and black color on the back, and the number of spots on the head. At Kibbutz Sasa, 201 salamanders were photographed, of which 62 were sampled for the measurements. In Kibbutz Yehiam, 200 salamanders were photographed, and 60 were sampled for the measurements. At all sites, about a third of the salamanders were photographed more than once. For all three populations, yellow spots on the salamander back were found in one row, two rows or scattered. For two indices (proportion of yellow/black and number of spots on the head), the Dan population (under wet, running water all year round conditions) differed from the two other populations of salamanders (under semi-arid mountain conditions). The number of yellow spots on the head of the salamanders in the three populations varied from 1 to 7. In all populations, 4 spots pattern was the most common. In the Dan population, there were significantly more salamanders with 1 to 3 spots on their head than in the Sasa or Yehiam populations. No difference was found in the number of head spots for Sasa vs. Yehiam salamanders. The percentage of yellow on the black back was significantly larger for the Dan salamanders vs. the two other populations. The main question examined was whether there is an effect of the habitat conditions in isolated populations on the spot pattern on the salamander back. The answer is positive and is supported by previous studies.展开更多
The electrode displacement signal of the resistance spot welding process is monitored and mapped into a binary matrix. Some welded spots, from different welding current specifications, are classified into five classes...The electrode displacement signal of the resistance spot welding process is monitored and mapped into a binary matrix. Some welded spots, from different welding current specifications, are classified into five classes according to the prototypes of the pattern matrices. A reliable quality classifier is developed based on Hopfield network when the tensile shear strength of the welded joint is measured as the quality indicator. The cross validation test results show that the method utilizing pattern matrix of the displacement signal to characterize nugget formation process is feasible and it can provide adequate quality information of the welded spot. At the same time, under small sample circumstance, the classifier presents good classification ability and it also can correctly estimate the weld quality in some abnormal welding process according to the pattern feature of the displacement signal.展开更多
This study aimed at determining the spatial patterns of Road Traffic Crash (RTC) black spots, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) zebra points and emergency health care facilities in Federal Capital City (FCC). The ...This study aimed at determining the spatial patterns of Road Traffic Crash (RTC) black spots, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) zebra points and emergency health care facilities in Federal Capital City (FCC). The aim was to provide stakeholders with information that will aid their understanding of accident prone locations and accessible rescue possibilities for accident victims on the roads in FCT. GPS Map 76S Mark (GARMIN) was used to locate and pick coordinates of data in the study area. A total of 16 possible emergency health care facilities, seventy (70) RTC black spots and Five Zebra point locations were obtained from FRSC. ArcGIS 10.0 was used to compute the data by plotting the coordinates to produce maps of the spatial relationship and to carry out Nearest Neighbour Analysis (NNA). The result was further used to determine the spatial patterns of RTC black spots as well as patterns of the emergency facilities. Generally, the result shows that the spatial trend is turning towards dispersion. However, there is less than 1% likelihood that the dispersed patterns could be the result of random chance. It was recommended that, the Federal Road Safety Commission should be staffed with trained professionals that can be responsible for accident data surveillance and analysis using geospatial techniques.展开更多
Background: The success of cuckoo parasitism is thought to depend largely on the extent of egg matching between cuckoo and host eggs, since poor-matching cuckoo egg would lead to more frequent egg rejection by the hos...Background: The success of cuckoo parasitism is thought to depend largely on the extent of egg matching between cuckoo and host eggs, since poor-matching cuckoo egg would lead to more frequent egg rejection by the host. In this study, we investigated how egg-spot matching between the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus) and its host, the Oriental Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis) is affected by the local parasitism rate, nest availability in breeding synchronization and egg rejection.Methods: We used the paired design of parasitized and their nearest non-parasitized nests where breeding occurred simultaneously to compare egg-spot matching. The image analysis was used to compare four eggshell pattern variables, namely spot size, density, coverage on the different areas of egg surface, and the distribution on the whole egg surface. Egg recognition experiments were conducted to test the effect of egg spots on egg rejection by the host.Results: Our results show that much better matching in almost all spot parameters tested on the side of the egg and the spot distribution on the whole egg occurred in parasitized nests than in non-parasitized nests. Matching of spot density between cuckoo and host eggs in parasitized nests increased with the synchronization between temporal availability of nests and the egg-laying period of female cuckoos. Egg recognition experiments in which the warbler eggs were deliberately painted with extra spots led to a significantly higher egg rejection rate(78.3%) than of unpainted eggs.Conclusion: Our data suggest that both the high temporal encounter rate between cuckoo and warbler nests as well as the high egg rejection ability of the host are important factors for egg-spot matching of the cuckoos.展开更多
Under spinning conditions, lubricant on islandic spot patterned M2 steel disc experiences centrifugal and tangential force components. Depending upon the relative position of the spots and the flow of lubricant, accum...Under spinning conditions, lubricant on islandic spot patterned M2 steel disc experiences centrifugal and tangential force components. Depending upon the relative position of the spots and the flow of lubricant, accumulation of lubricant in front of patterned islandic spots creates thrusting to mating part and subsequently reduces contact between the mating couple. Whilst wear debris is likely to be spun off the plateau of the spots to their neighbouring valleys so as to reduce wear. Hence, it gives favorable tribological characteristics. Aiming at verifying such mechanisms, studies were performed on M2 steel disc specimens slid with ASSAB 17 tool steel pin. The M2 steel disc specimens were respectively （i） machined with non-patterned （NP）, （ii） etched to produce in-lined （INE） islandic patterns, and （iii） etched to produce staggered （STE） islandic spot patterns. Results indicated that the INE patterned discs gave most favorable wear characteristics, the NP of the worse characteristics whilst the STE ranged in the middle. However, the actual contact mechanism leads to the descending sequence of favorable friction behaviors nominally as： NP, INE and STE.展开更多
AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy(PDT) with overlapping multiple spots and single spot for treating circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. · METHODS: Twenty-two patients(22 eyes) with s...AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy(PDT) with overlapping multiple spots and single spot for treating circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. · METHODS: Twenty-two patients(22 eyes) with symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma received PDT treatment. Fourteen patients received overlapping spots(two to three spots) PDT,whereas eight patients received single-spot PDT. Laser was used at 50J/cm2for 83s in the overlapping-spot group and 50J/cm2for 166s in the single-spot group. Clinical examination,funduscopy,fluorescein angiography,and ultrasonography were performed at baseline and after treatment. ·RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 28.5 ±8.0 months in the overlapping-spot group and 27.0 ±5.0 months in the single-spot group. Nine patients(64.2%) had their vision improved over two lines on the Snellen chart,and five patients showed stable visual acuity in the overlapping-spot group. The mean thickness of tumor decreased from 2.7 ±0.8mm to 1.2±0.9mm,and the mean greatest tumor linear dimension decreased from 7.4 ± 1.5mm to 4.5 ±3.5mm after treatment. In the single-spot group,two patients(25%) had their vision improved over two lines on the Snellen chart,and six patients had unchanged stable vision. The mean tumor thickness in this group decreased from 2.5±0.7mm to 1.4±1.0mm,and the mean greatest tumor linear dimension decreased from 7.2±1.3mm to 4.7±3.6mm. No significant differences in visual improvement and tumor regression were found between the two groups. ·CONCLUSION:Overlapping-spotPDTunderappropriate treatment parameters and strategies is as effective andsafe as single-spot PDT for treating symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. Improved or stabilized visual acuity was achieved as a result of tumor regression.展开更多
文摘The present study describes the different color-pattern phenotypes of yellow spots on the black back of Salamandra infraimmaculata in various habitats at the southern border of its distribution in Israel. At Tel Dan, we photographed 454 salamanders in moist habitats where water flows year round;100 of these were sampled to measure the percentage of yellow and black color on the back, and the number of spots on the head. At Kibbutz Sasa, 201 salamanders were photographed, of which 62 were sampled for the measurements. In Kibbutz Yehiam, 200 salamanders were photographed, and 60 were sampled for the measurements. At all sites, about a third of the salamanders were photographed more than once. For all three populations, yellow spots on the salamander back were found in one row, two rows or scattered. For two indices (proportion of yellow/black and number of spots on the head), the Dan population (under wet, running water all year round conditions) differed from the two other populations of salamanders (under semi-arid mountain conditions). The number of yellow spots on the head of the salamanders in the three populations varied from 1 to 7. In all populations, 4 spots pattern was the most common. In the Dan population, there were significantly more salamanders with 1 to 3 spots on their head than in the Sasa or Yehiam populations. No difference was found in the number of head spots for Sasa vs. Yehiam salamanders. The percentage of yellow on the black back was significantly larger for the Dan salamanders vs. the two other populations. The main question examined was whether there is an effect of the habitat conditions in isolated populations on the spot pattern on the salamander back. The answer is positive and is supported by previous studies.
文摘The electrode displacement signal of the resistance spot welding process is monitored and mapped into a binary matrix. Some welded spots, from different welding current specifications, are classified into five classes according to the prototypes of the pattern matrices. A reliable quality classifier is developed based on Hopfield network when the tensile shear strength of the welded joint is measured as the quality indicator. The cross validation test results show that the method utilizing pattern matrix of the displacement signal to characterize nugget formation process is feasible and it can provide adequate quality information of the welded spot. At the same time, under small sample circumstance, the classifier presents good classification ability and it also can correctly estimate the weld quality in some abnormal welding process according to the pattern feature of the displacement signal.
文摘This study aimed at determining the spatial patterns of Road Traffic Crash (RTC) black spots, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) zebra points and emergency health care facilities in Federal Capital City (FCC). The aim was to provide stakeholders with information that will aid their understanding of accident prone locations and accessible rescue possibilities for accident victims on the roads in FCT. GPS Map 76S Mark (GARMIN) was used to locate and pick coordinates of data in the study area. A total of 16 possible emergency health care facilities, seventy (70) RTC black spots and Five Zebra point locations were obtained from FRSC. ArcGIS 10.0 was used to compute the data by plotting the coordinates to produce maps of the spatial relationship and to carry out Nearest Neighbour Analysis (NNA). The result was further used to determine the spatial patterns of RTC black spots as well as patterns of the emergency facilities. Generally, the result shows that the spatial trend is turning towards dispersion. However, there is less than 1% likelihood that the dispersed patterns could be the result of random chance. It was recommended that, the Federal Road Safety Commission should be staffed with trained professionals that can be responsible for accident data surveillance and analysis using geospatial techniques.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.31301888 and 31672316 to DL)the General Scientific Research Project of the Education Department of Liaoning Province (L2015196 to DL)the Open Fund of the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University (K1401 to DL)
文摘Background: The success of cuckoo parasitism is thought to depend largely on the extent of egg matching between cuckoo and host eggs, since poor-matching cuckoo egg would lead to more frequent egg rejection by the host. In this study, we investigated how egg-spot matching between the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus) and its host, the Oriental Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis) is affected by the local parasitism rate, nest availability in breeding synchronization and egg rejection.Methods: We used the paired design of parasitized and their nearest non-parasitized nests where breeding occurred simultaneously to compare egg-spot matching. The image analysis was used to compare four eggshell pattern variables, namely spot size, density, coverage on the different areas of egg surface, and the distribution on the whole egg surface. Egg recognition experiments were conducted to test the effect of egg spots on egg rejection by the host.Results: Our results show that much better matching in almost all spot parameters tested on the side of the egg and the spot distribution on the whole egg occurred in parasitized nests than in non-parasitized nests. Matching of spot density between cuckoo and host eggs in parasitized nests increased with the synchronization between temporal availability of nests and the egg-laying period of female cuckoos. Egg recognition experiments in which the warbler eggs were deliberately painted with extra spots led to a significantly higher egg rejection rate(78.3%) than of unpainted eggs.Conclusion: Our data suggest that both the high temporal encounter rate between cuckoo and warbler nests as well as the high egg rejection ability of the host are important factors for egg-spot matching of the cuckoos.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 50575173).
文摘Under spinning conditions, lubricant on islandic spot patterned M2 steel disc experiences centrifugal and tangential force components. Depending upon the relative position of the spots and the flow of lubricant, accumulation of lubricant in front of patterned islandic spots creates thrusting to mating part and subsequently reduces contact between the mating couple. Whilst wear debris is likely to be spun off the plateau of the spots to their neighbouring valleys so as to reduce wear. Hence, it gives favorable tribological characteristics. Aiming at verifying such mechanisms, studies were performed on M2 steel disc specimens slid with ASSAB 17 tool steel pin. The M2 steel disc specimens were respectively （i） machined with non-patterned （NP）, （ii） etched to produce in-lined （INE） islandic patterns, and （iii） etched to produce staggered （STE） islandic spot patterns. Results indicated that the INE patterned discs gave most favorable wear characteristics, the NP of the worse characteristics whilst the STE ranged in the middle. However, the actual contact mechanism leads to the descending sequence of favorable friction behaviors nominally as： NP, INE and STE.
基金Supported by the Zhejiang Medical Science Research Foundation of China(No.2009A108)Zhejiang Key Innovation Team Project of China(No.2011R09039-02)Zhejiang Key Laboratory Fund of China(No.2011E10006)
文摘AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy(PDT) with overlapping multiple spots and single spot for treating circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. · METHODS: Twenty-two patients(22 eyes) with symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma received PDT treatment. Fourteen patients received overlapping spots(two to three spots) PDT,whereas eight patients received single-spot PDT. Laser was used at 50J/cm2for 83s in the overlapping-spot group and 50J/cm2for 166s in the single-spot group. Clinical examination,funduscopy,fluorescein angiography,and ultrasonography were performed at baseline and after treatment. ·RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 28.5 ±8.0 months in the overlapping-spot group and 27.0 ±5.0 months in the single-spot group. Nine patients(64.2%) had their vision improved over two lines on the Snellen chart,and five patients showed stable visual acuity in the overlapping-spot group. The mean thickness of tumor decreased from 2.7 ±0.8mm to 1.2±0.9mm,and the mean greatest tumor linear dimension decreased from 7.4 ± 1.5mm to 4.5 ±3.5mm after treatment. In the single-spot group,two patients(25%) had their vision improved over two lines on the Snellen chart,and six patients had unchanged stable vision. The mean tumor thickness in this group decreased from 2.5±0.7mm to 1.4±1.0mm,and the mean greatest tumor linear dimension decreased from 7.2±1.3mm to 4.7±3.6mm. No significant differences in visual improvement and tumor regression were found between the two groups. ·CONCLUSION:Overlapping-spotPDTunderappropriate treatment parameters and strategies is as effective andsafe as single-spot PDT for treating symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. Improved or stabilized visual acuity was achieved as a result of tumor regression.
