Intraspecific floral colour variation in three Pedicularis species

Flower constancy describes the phenomenon that pollinators tend to successively visit flowers of a single species during foraging,reducing reproductive interference in natural communities.The extent of flower constancy is largely determined by the floral traits of co-flowering species.Both higher inter-specific and lower intraspecific differences of floral traits should contribute to a higher level of flower constancy.However,previous studies mainly focused on interspecific difference,and the intraspecific variation(consistency)of floral traits received much less attention.We hypothesise that selection may favour lower intraspecific floral trait variation in communities composed of multiple co-flowering congeners.We investigated the floral colour variation of three focal Pedicularis species that share pollinators in 19communities composed of either single or multiple Pedicularis species.Colour was quantified using image-based colour analysis as perceived by pollinators.We found that most of the intrapopulation floral colour variation was below the colour discrimination threshold of bumblebees,implying strongly constrained by the visual selection by pollinators.Contrary to the hypothesis,there is no significant difference in intraspecific floral colour variation between different community contexts.It may be due to the relatively large interspecific floral colour differences of most co-flowering species.The influence of community context on intraspecific variation may be reflected in floral traits other than colours.

Time dependence of entropy flux and entropy production for a dynamical system driven by noises with coloured cross-correlation

This paper shows the Fokker-Planck equation of a dynamical system driven by coloured cross-correlated white noises in the absence and presence of a small external force. Based on the Fokker-Planck equation and the definition of Shannon＇s information entropy, the time dependence of entropy flux and entropy production can be calculated. The present results can be used to explain the extremal behaviour of time dependence of entropy flux and entropy production in view of the dissipative parameter γ of the system, coloured cross-correlation time τ and coloured cross-correlation strength λ.

Upper bound for the time derivative of entropy for a dynamical system driven by coloured cross-correlated white noises

It is shown how the cross-correlation time and strength of coloured cross-correlated white noises can set an upper bound for the time derivative of entropy in a nonequilibrium system. The value of upper bound can be calculated directly based on the Schwartz inequality principle and the Fokker-Planck equation of the dynamical system driven by coloured cross-correlated white noises. The present calculations can be used to interpret the interplay of the dissipative constant and cross-correlation time and strength of coloured cross-correlated white noises on the upper bound.

Stochastic resonance driven by time-modulated correlated coloured noise sources in a single-mode laser

This paper investigates the phenomenon of stochastic resonance in a single-mode laser driven by time-modulated correlated coloured noise sources. The power spectrum and signal-to-noise ratio R of the laser intensity are calculated by the linear approximation. The effects caused by noise self-correlation time τ1, τ2 and cross-correlated time τ3 for stochastic resonance are analysed in two ways： τ1, τ2 and τ3 are taken to be the independent variables and the parameters respectively. The effects of the gain coefficient F and loss coefficient K on the stochastic resonance are also discussed. It is found that besides the presence of the standard form and the broad sense of stochastic resonance, the number of extrema in the curve of R versus K is reduced with the increase of the gain coefficient Г.

Stochastic resonance in a single-mode laser driven by frequency modulated signal and coloured noises

By adding frequency modulated signals to the intensity equation of gain noise model of the single-mode laser driven by two coloured noises which are correlated, this paper uses the linear approximation method to calculate the power spectrum and signal-to-noise ratio （SNR） of the laser intensity. The results show that the SNR appears typical stochastic resonance with the variation of intensity of the pump noise and quantum noise. As the amplitude of a modulated signal has effects on the SNR, it shows suppression, monotone increasing, stochastic resonance, and multiple stochastic resonance with the variation of the frequency of a carrier signal and modulated signal.

Stochastic resonance in an asymmetric bistable system driven by coloured noises

The phenomenon of stochastic resonance is investigated in an asymmetric bistable system with coloured noises. The approximate Fokker Planck equation is derived based on the Novikov theorem and the Fox approach. By applying the two-state theory, the expression of the signal-to-noise ratio is obtained in the adiabatic limit. The effects of the noise parameters on signal-to-ratio are discussed. It is found that the stochastic resonance phenomena appear in most cases and disappear in some special cases.

Formation and instability of spiral wave induced by Gaussian coloured noise

In this paper, we studied the effect of Gaussian coloured noise on the formation and instability of spiral waves described by one class of modified FitzHugh Nagumo equation. It was found that Gaussian coloured noise plays a constructive role in the formation, transition and instability of spiral wave. Too weak or too strong noise may act against the formation of spiral waves. At a certain noise level, spiral wave is maintained in a medium, in which spiral wave cannot be observed in the absence of the noise. It is difficult to make a stable spiral wave into unstable state by Gaussian coloured noise, unless the noise level is very high. The parameter regions of Gaussian coloured noise for spiral forming and spiral instability were given and discussed with numerical simulations.

Modeling and Analyzing Web Application with Aspect-Oriented Hierarchical Coloured Petri Nets

Aspect-oriented modeling can uncover potential design faults, yet most existing work fails to achieve both separation and composition in a natural and succinct way. This study presents an aspect-oriented modeling and analysis approach with hierarchical Coloured Petri Nets(HCPN). HCPN has sub-models and well-defined semantics combining a set of submodels. These two characteristics of HCPN are nicely integrated into aspect oriented modeling. Submodels are used to model aspects while the combination mechanism contributes to aspects weaving. Furthermore, the woven aspect oriented HCPN model can be simulated and analyzed by the CPN Tools. A systematic web application case study is conducted. The results show the system original properties are satisfied after weaving aspects and all design flaws are revealed. As such, the approach can support web application design and analysis in an aspect-oriented fashion concisely and effectively.

Provenance of Coloured Gemstones-Availability,Testing Methods,Future Trends

Gemstones have fascinated mankind forever,and people traveled far to find them.The Silk Road is one of the most traditional trade routes in the middle ages that was used to bring the precious stones to the European market.Later,emeralds from Colombia were shipped via the ocean to the Old World.

Effects of signal modulation and coloured cross-correlation of coloured noises on the diffusion of a harmonic oscillator

The diffusion in a harmonic oscillator driven by coloured noises ξ（t） and η（t） with coloured cross-correlation in which one of the noises is modulated by a biased periodic signal is investigated. The exact expression of diffusion coefficient d as a function of noise parameter, signal parameter, and oscillator frequency is derived. The findings in this paper are as follows. 1） The curves of d versus noise intensity D and d versus noises cross-correlation time z3 exist as two different phases. The transition between the two phases arises from the change of the cross-correlation coefficient A of the two Ornstein-Uhlenbeck （O-U） noises. 2） Changing the value of T3, the curves of d versus Q, the intensity of colored noise that is modulated by the signal, can transform from a phase having a minimum to a monotonic phase. 3） Changing the value of signal amplitude A, d versus Q curves can transform from a phase having a minimum to a monotonic phase. The above-mentioned results demonstrate that a like noise-induced transition appears in the model.

Research on the Properties of the Naturally Coloured Cottons

Structures and characteristics of naturally coloured cottons grown in China were analyzed. Breaking strength of yarns made of pure coloured cotton and coloured cotton fibres blended with other fibres were investigated. Colour fastness of the coloured cotton goods was tested. Suggestions for using the coloured cotton practically and effectively were also included.

Transitions in a genotype selection model driven by coloured noises

This paper investigates a genotype selection model subjected to both a multiplicative coloured noise and an additive coloured noise with different correlation time τ1 and τ2 by means of the numerical technique. By directly simulating the Langevin Equation, the following results are obtained. （1） The multiplicative coloured noise dominates, however, the effect of the additive coloured noise is not neglected in the practical gene selection process. The selection rate μ decides that the selection is propitious to gene A haploid or gene B haploid. （2） The additive coloured noise intensity and the correlation time τ2 play opposite roles. It is noted that α and τ2 can not separate the single peak, while can make the peak disappear and ^-2 can make the peak be sharp. （3） The multiplicative coloured noise intensity D and the correlation time τ1 can induce phase transition, at the same time they play opposite roles and the reentrance phenomenon appears. In this case, it is easy to select one type haploid from the group with increasing D and decreasing τ1.

AN EQUIVALENCE METHOD FOR COLOURED PETRI NETS AND PLACE/TRANSITION NETS

Coloured Petri net(CPN)is a high-level net while place/transition net(PTN)is a low-level net.It is very important to establish the relationship betweenthe two nets both in theoretical analysis and practical application.In this paper,wegive a formal method of translating a CPN into a behaviourally equivalent PTN.APTN and its behaviour are formally constructed,a PTN equivalence definition is giv-en,and the same properties of the two nets are proved.

ECOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON COLOURED LAYER OF COASTAL FAST ICE IN GREAT WALL BAY, KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA

Marine biological and environmental investigations were carried out on the coastatl waters off Great Wall Station (62°13's, 58°58'W) on King George Island, Antarctica, from November 17, 1988, to March 3,1989. Coastal fast ice covered inner part of Great Wall Bay until mid-December 1988, which allowed us to take ice core sampling and observations from mid-November to early December 1988. During this period, ice thickness ranged from 90 to 70cm with baout 20cm of snow cover. About 5cm brown layer occured in the middle part of fast ice core collected on November 20, 1988 at site 2, and two brown layers occured in the interior of ice core collected on November 17,20 and 26, 1988 at site 5.In comparison to the water column, chlorophyll-a concentration in fast ice was higher, which ranged from 2.55 to 56.84mg/m8, and most of them were concentracted in the interior layers of sea ice rather than in the bottom layer often observed in other sea ice areas, such as in Syowa, Davis, Casey Station and McMurdo Sound areas, etc. This might be a result of the difference in structure and formation procese of sea ice.Meanwhile, temperature, transparency, nutrients and chlorophyll-a in water column were measured. Microalgal assemblages both in fast ice and water column of Great Wall Bay were reported.

Coloured materials in surface water in the sub Arctic Zone: An overview of its formation, properties and environmental changes

Natural organic matter (NOM) is present in most all surface water. This material is governing all chemical and all biological processes in the aquatic environment, and play a practical role in the drinking water industry From an increasing number of international reports, it is clear that the amount of this coloured matter is increasing in areas of the northern hemisphere. We is asked why and we suggest a combination of the following four reasons: 1) Climate (temperature, humidity, nature and frequency of precipitation);2) Quality and quantity of precipitation;3) Nature of catchment (topography and geology), and due to changes in local climate and 4) Quality and intensity of global radiation. In the early 1960s, there were reports from Scandinavia about the decline of coloured matter in lakes. The present increase in colour in our lakes and rivers is partly due to the fact that there are less mineral acids in precipitation. However, change in climate, most probably, plays an even more important role in many regions. As a consequence of the temperature increase, there will also be a change in the amount of precipitation and change in its regional and local distribution. As NOM is “produced” in soil and as the development is based on chemical and microbiological decomposition of plant residues, an increased temperature and more rain will extend the “production-area”. The “global dimming will also have a significant impact on an increased colour in surface water, as less photo-degradation and less bio-available organic matter is resulting. The positive correlation between the colour increase in surface water and the amount of precipitation, may indicate, that there might be a limited amount of water-extractable coloured material in the catchment. It is argued that that the “production” of the coloured matter will increase and that natural losses, such as “bleaching” etc. will be reduced down flow. Most probably a number of different environmental “elements” “mechanisms” are acting simultaneously and/or separately and differently.

BDS/GPS deformation analysis of a long-span cable-stayed bridge based on colored noise filtering

Combining GPS and BDS technology to monitor the deformation of long-span railway bridges with stricter deformation control requirements is of significance to the safety and control of the bridge and the safety of railway traffic.Previous studies have ignored the influence of coloured noise in the deformation time series.This is not conducive to accurate deformation analysis of long-span railway bridges.Therefore,GPS,BDS and GPS/BDS monitoring data of Ganjiang Bridge located in Ganzhou city,Jiangxi Province,China are adopted in this paper to filter the coloured noise in the deformation time series by principal component analysis(PCA),and the influence of coloured noise on the deformation analysis results of railway bridge is analysed.The experimental results show that the diurnal temperature difference causes the mid-span and the tower of the railway cable-stayed bridge to deform with a period of about one day in the vertical and longitudinal directions,respectively.Ignoring colored noise will make the uncertainty of the deformation parameter estimation overly optimistic.PCA can significantly reduce the coloured noise,and thus reduce the uncertainty of deformation parameter estimation by about 73%.Moreover,the average difference between the daily periodic motion amplitudes of the monitoring points obtained by using GPS and BDS deformation time series is 1.65 mm.The use of GPS/BDS deformation time series is not only helpful to reduce the influence of coloured noise,but also can reduce the difference between amplitude analysis results obtained from GPS and BDS deformation time series.

Multiple chemical warfare agent simulant decontamination by self-driven microplasma

Low-temperature plasma is a green and high-efficiency technology for chemical warfare agent(CWA)decontamination.However,traditional plasma devices suffer from the problems of highpower composition and large power-supply size,which limit their practical applications.In this paper,a self-driven microplasma decontamination system,induced by a dielectric-dielectric rotary triboelectric nanogenerator(dd-r TENG),was innovatively proposed for the decontamination of CWA simulants.The microplasma was characterized via electrical measurements,optical emission spectra and ozone concentration detection.With an output voltage of-3460 V,the dd-r TENG can successfully excite microplasma in air.Reactive species,such as OH,O(1D),Hαand O3were detected.With input average power of 0.116 W,the decontamination rate of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide reached 100%within 3 min of plasma treatment,while the decontamination rates of malathion and dimethyl methylphosphonate reached(65.92±1.65)%and(60.88±1.92)%after 7 min of plasma treatment,respectively.In addition,the decontamination rates gradually decreased with the increase in the simulant concentrations.Typical products were identified and analyzed.This study demonstrates the broad spectrum and feasibility of the dd-r TENG-microplasma for CWA elimination,which provides significant guidance for their practical applications in the future.

Why is the beautyberry so colourful? Evolution,biogeography,and diversification of fruit colours in Callicarpa(Lamiaceae)

Fruit colour is essential to seed dispersal,speciation,and biological diversity in global ecosystems.The relationship between fruit-colour variation and species diversification has long been of interest in evolutionary biology,but remains poorly understood at the genus level.Here,we used Callicarpa,a typical representative of pantropical angiosperm,to analyse whether fruit colours are correlated with biogeographic distribution,dispersal events,and diversification rate.We estimated a time-calibrated phylogeny for Callicarpa and reconstructed ancestral fruit colour.Utilizing phylogenetic methods,we estimated the major dispersal events across the phylogenetic tree and the most likely fruit colours related to each dispersal event,and tested whether the dispersal frequencies and distances of the four fruit colours between major biogeographical areas were equal.We then tested whether fruit colours are correlated with latitude,elevation,and diversification rate.Biogeographical reconstructions showed that Callicarpa originated in the East Asia and Southeast Asia during the Eocene(-35.53 Ma) and diverse species diverged mainly in the Miocene and lasted into the Pleistocene.Large-scale dispersal events were significantly associated with violet-fruited lineages.Furthermore,different fruit colours were markedly correlated with different latitudes and elevations(e.g.,violet fruits were correlated with higher latitudes and elevations;red fruits and black fruits with lower latitudes;white fruits with higher elevations).Notably,violet fruits were statistically associated with highest diversification rates,driving fruit colour variation among different regions globally.Our results contribute to further understanding why fruit colour is so variable at the genus level of angiosperms in different areas around the world.

Bare-throated spurfowl(Pternistis spp.)males across Africa impress females with bright throat colours during courtship

The role of bare body parts in sexual signalling in birds has received relatively little attention.I describe how the bare-throated spurfowl males saturate the colours of their throats to attract females.Of the 23 Afrotropical spurfowl species,the bare-throated subgroup includes Yellow-necked Spurfowl(Pternistis leucosceptus),Rednecked Spurfowl(P.afer),Grey-breasted Spurfowl(P.rufopictus) and Swainson’s Spurfowl(P.swainsonii).The rest of the species include fully feathered throated spurfowls.Throat colour intensity of bare throats was scored using an extensive online digital photographic archive encompassing the four species across the year’s seasons.Each throat(n=836) was assigned to one of four colour-intensity categories to explore the relationship between colour intensities,breeding cycles,and environmental variation.Except for Swainson’s Spurfowl male saturation of throat colours correlated with monthly rainfall,which peaks one or two months before egg laying.Swainson’s Spurfowl peaks during egg laying.Yellow-necked Spurfowl has the largest bare throat.Bare-throated spurfowl males perform an elevated courtship display posture above the female to feature their throat colour.No such displays occur in feather-throated spurfowl.Males with low throat colour saturation harbour more ectoparasites on their bare throats than birds with saturated throats.Male Red-necked Spurfowls have significantly larger bare throats than females.The primary function of bare throats probably assists in thermoregulation,particularly in arid regions.The bare throat may have evolved a secondary role in mating.Yellow-necked,Red-necked,and Greybreasted Spurfowls use their saturated throat colours as ornaments to court females during the breeding season.Unobtrusive female throat colours(unsaturated) may discourage male interlopers and predation during egg laying.Saturation appears to be carotenoid-food based.The different colours among the bare-throated species may serve as prezygotic mechanisms that inhibit cross-breeding and explain why females also have coloured throats.

Preparation of highly efficient antibacterial non-woven by facile plasma-induced graft polymerizing of DADMAC

The development of surface modification technology for temperature sensitive fibers has been a huge challenge.In this work,a novel technique based on cold plasma treatment was developed for the preparation of anti-bacterial polypropylene(PP)fibers.The results showed that plasma treatment introduced a rough surface and polar groups,which acted as the anchor point and initiators for diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride(DADMAC)graft-polymerization.The fabricated PP membranes presented a high bacterial sterilization rate,as well as excellent adhesion force and washing durability.After ultrasonic treatment for 30 min,the physical coating sample had lost anti-bacterial effect,while the plasma grafted sample still showed a sterilization rate of 91.67%.This work provided a clean and novel DADMAC grafting method and it is also applicable for anti-bacterial material fabrication.