Differences in Thermal Preference and Tolerance among Three Phrynocephalus Lizards (Agamidae) with Different Body Sizes and Habitat Use

We acclimated adults of two viviparous （Phrynocephalus guinanens＆ and P. vlangalii） and one oviparous （P. versicolor） species of toad-headed lizards （Agamidae） to 28 ℃, 33 ℃ and 38 ℃ to examine whether thermal preference （preferred body temperature, Tp） and thermal tolerance （critical thermal minimum, CTMin; critical thermal maximum, CTMax） were affected by acclimation temperature, and correlate with body size and habitat use. Both Tp and CTMax were highest in P. versicolor and lowest in P. vlangalii, with P. guinanensis in between. The two viviparous species did not differ in CTMin and thermal tolerance range, and they both were more resistant to low temperatures and had a wider range of thermal tolerance than the oviparous species. Both CTMin and CTMax shifted upward as acclimation temperature increased in all the three species. Tp was higher in the lizards acclimated to 33 ℃ than in those to 28 ℃ or 38 ℃. The range of thermal tolerance was wider in the lizards acclimated to 28 ℃ than in those to 33 ℃ or 38 ℃. The data showed that： 1） thermal preference and tolerance were affected by acclimation temperature, and differed among the three species of Phrynocephalus lizards with different body sizes and habitat uses; 2） both Tp and CTMax were higher in the species exchanging heat more rapidly with the environment, and CTMin was higher in the species using warmer habitats during the active season; and 3） thermal preference and tolerance might correlat with body size and habitat use in Phrynocephalus lizards.

Assessing sediment connectivity and its spatial response on land use using two flow direction algorithms in the catchment on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Severe soil and water loss have led to widespread land degradation on the Loess Plateau in China.Exploring the relationship between land use and sediment connectivity can be beneficial to control soil erosion.In this study,three catchments in the Yanhe River Basin on the Loess Plateau were selected to analyse the relationship between land use and sediment connectivity using grey correlation method.Index of connectivity(IC)was employed to quantify sediment connectivity,including two flow direction algorithms(D8 and D-infinity)and two final targets of sediment transport(outlet and main channel of catchment).Then,11 landscape metrics were used to evaluate the land use spatial patterns of catchments.By comparing the IC value ranges,histograms and classes,and their relationship with remote sensing images of the two flow direction algorithms,we find that the D8 algorithm is more suitable for this study area.The results showed that the three catchments are characterized by high sediment connectivity in the grassland and forest close to the channel.In addition,the roads and bare land close to the channel also have high or medium sediment connectivity.Grey correlation analysis showed that landscape division index(DIVISION),fractal dimension index(FRACMN),aggregation index(AI),total class area,patch cohesion index(COHESION),and largest patch index(LPI)indices were the main factors that affect sediment connectivity at the class scale.At the landscape scale,the landscape shape index(LSI),Shannon’s diversity index(SHDI),and gully density have an essential effect on sediment connectivity.This condition provides a way to control the sediment connectivity in the watershed by transforming land use type or changing its spatial pattern,but specific adjustment measures have to be further explored.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THE FLOW PAST WING-BODY USING EULER EQUATIONS

AbstractThis paper gives H-O type grid generation and applies finite-volume method forwing-body flow.A 3-D Euler code for wing-body has been developed. We improve in thiscode the distribution of the number of grid points over wing and body surfaces,and keepthe training edge of the wing being one of the grid lines even when the edge has sweepbackor sweep forward.The code developed can provide not only the spanwise pressure distribu-tion as usual ou cross-flow planes,but also the chordwise Pressure distributions.The com-putation for NASA TN D-712 wing-body model with the present code shows that thecomputed pressure distributions are in very good agreement with the experiment.

Application of a Groundwater Classification System and GIS Mapping System for the Lower Ruby Valley Watershed, Southwest Montana

Classification of groundwater conditions at the watershed scale synthesizes landscape hydrology, provides a mapped summary of groundwater resources, and supports water management decisions. The application of a recently developed watershed-scale groundwater classification methodology is applied and evaluated in the 100,000 hectare lower Ruby Valley watershed of southwestern Montana. The geologic setting, groundwater flow direction, aquifer productivity, water quality, anthropogenic impact to water levels, depth to groundwater, and the degree of connection between groundwater and surface water are key components of the classification scheme. This work describes the hydrogeology of the lower Ruby Valley watershed and illustrates how the classification system is applied to assemble, analyze, and summarize groundwater data. The classification process provides information in summary tables and maps of seamless digital overlays prepared using geographical information system (GIS) software. Groundwater conditions in the watershed are classified as low production bedrock aquifers in the mountainous uplands that recharge the moderate productivity basin-fill sediments. Groundwater levels approach the surface near the Ruby River resulting in sufficient groundwater discharge to maintain stream flow during dry, late summer conditions. The resulting classification data sets provide watershed managers with a standardized organizational tool that represents groundwater conditions at the watershed scale.

Analgesic effects of balanced acupuncture versus body acupuncture in low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation, as assessed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging

Balanced acupuncture, a single-acupoint balance therapy, regulates the balance of the cerebral center, and is characterized by exerting quick effects and a short treatment course. A total of 20 low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated with balanced acupuncture or body acupuncture. Central mechanisms of vaded acupunctures were compared using resting-state functional MRI. Patients from both groups received functional MRI before and after acupuncture. Functional connectivity in brain regions that were strongly associated with the bilatera amygdala was analyzed utilizing AFNI software. Visual analogue scale scores were greater in the balanced acupuncture group compared with the body acupuncture group. Function of the endogenous pain regulation network was enhanced in patients in the balanced acupuncture group, but was not changed in the body acupuncture group. This result indicates that the analgesic effects of body acupuncture do not work through the central nervous system. These data suggest that balanced acupuncture exerts analgesic effects on low-back and leg pain patients with lumbar disc herniation by regulating the function of the endogenous pain regulation network.

“Extreme utilization”development of deep shale gas in southern Sichuan Basin,SW China

To efficiently develop deep shale gas in southern Sichuan Basin,under the guidance of“extreme utilization”theory,a basic idea and solutions for deep shale gas development are put forward and applied in practice.In view of multiple influencing factors of shale gas development,low single-well production and marginal profit of wells in this region,the basic idea is to establish“transparent geological body”of the block in concern,evaluate the factors affecting shale gas development through integrated geological-engineering research and optimize the shale gas development of wells in their whole life cycle to balance the relationship between production objectives and development costs.The solutions are as follows:(1)calculate the gold target index and pinpoint the location of horizontal well drilling target,and shale reservoirs are depicted accurately by geophysical and other means to build underground transparent geological body;(2)optimize the drilling and completion process,improve the adaptability of key tools by cooling,reducing density and optimizing the performance of drilling fluid,the“man-made gas reservoir”is built by comprehensively considering the characteristics of in-situ stress and fractures after the development well is drilled;(3)through efficient management,establishment of learning curve and optimization of drainage and production regime,the development quality and efficiency of the well are improved across its whole life cycle,to fulfil“extreme utilization”development of shale gas.The practice shows that the estimated ultimate recovery of single wells in southern Sichuan Basin increase by 10%-20%than last year.

“Extreme utilization”development theory of unconventional natural gas

In the process of unconventional natural gas development practice,the"extreme utilization"concept that focuses on"continuously breaking through the limit of development technology"is gradually formed,and supports the scale benefit exploration of unconventional gas in China.On this basis,the development theory of"extreme utilization"is proposed,its theoretical connotation together with development technologies of unconventional natural gas are clarified.The theoretical connotation is that,aiming at"extreme gas reservoirs","extreme techniques"are utilized to build subsurface connected bodies,expand the discharge area,and enlarge the production range,to obtain the maximum single-well production,extreme recovery,and eventually achieve the"extreme effect"of production.The series of development technologies include micro/nano-scale reservoir evaluation,"sweet spot"prediction,unconventional percolation theory and production capacity evaluation,optimization of grid well pattern,optimal-fast drilling and volume fracturing,and working regulation optimization and"integrated"organizing system.The"extreme utilization"development theory has been successfully applied in the development of unconventional gas reservoirs such as Sulige tight gas,South Sichuan shale gas,and Qinshui coalbed methane.Such practices demonstrate that,the"extreme utilization"development theory has effectively promoted the development of unconventional gas industry in China,and can provide theoretical guidance for effective development of other potential unconventional and difficult-to-recovery resources.

Rolling Over into the Age of Algorithm

This paper is an extract of the prologue to the book: New Paradigm in Physics—Theory of Dynamic Interactions [1], published by Gabriel Barceló. This summary describes the elements that constitute the characteristics of the Theory of Dynamic Interactions, and certain circumstances of it. The author recalls that the Theory of Dynamic Interactions arrives at unheard of conclusions which, even with the level of dissemination reached by this theory over recent years, have not been scientifically refuted.

The Development of Hi-Speed Punching System Using A Couple of Rotating Bodies

Punched steel sheets (metal sheets or foils) as thi n as 0.1mm are quite useful in the field of filters and various precision instrume nts. Thus, we have to develop more accurate and speedy techniques for punching t hin sheets. The traditional punching method uses an up-down pressing motion of a punch or a die on a strip of metal. The efficiency of this method is determine d by the speed of the motion. In the case of punching a sequence of tiny holes w ith a few millimeters’ interval, the speed of feeding a strip of metal to the p unching machine cannot exceed only a couple of meters per minute. We have de veloped a new technique for punching tiny holes with a pair of rotating bodies i n order to increase the feeding speed up to 100 meters per minute. Our proposed technique is shown in Fig.1 where the female tool has a round blade and the male tool has an M-shape boss. In addition, the setting of two tools i s alternating. The interference between them cannot occur because the clearance between the front and the back edge of the male tool and the female tool in the rotating direction becomes infinite in this configuration. An appropriate cleara nce is given for the thickness of the sheet between the side edge of the male to ol and the female tool. The punching itself is done by shearing. The side edge o f the male tool does contact with the female tool, but they cannot be interferin g. Our technique has another advantage to the traditional up-down pressing mach ine where the stamped out chips are hard to be discharged. It is quite easy in o ur proposed technique. Fig.2, 3 show a sample of punched material [TPP116A,+39mm88mm,Y,PZ#]Fig.1 The configuration of the punching parts using the sequential punching system.[TPP116B,+43mm155mm,X,BP#]Fig.2 A sample of punched material using the continuous punch ing lineFig.3 A exterior picture of a piece of punched steel foil(coi l) using the continuous punching For our developed high speed punching system, it is shown for (1) the configurat ion of punching tool and the punching mechanism, (2) the influence of male shape on punched hole quality, (3) the outline of continuous punching system, (4) the relation between punching speed and accuracy of hole pitch and hole dimensi on, (5) the mechanical property of punched metal sheet and (6) capability of hig her punching.

Water Quality and Agricultural Sustainability in the Mantiqueira Ecological Corridor,Brazil

The presence of fecal coliforms is one of the determinants for classification of the quality of water bodies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the water quality and surrounding land use in the area known as the Mantiqueira Ecological Corridor, which straddles the borders of the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, in Brazil. More particularly, we studied ten municipalities in Minas Gerais located in the region surrounding Serra do Papagaio State Park and Ibitipoca State Park. We established a classification of water bodies in the area surrounding the collection points in drainage basins based on the principles of sustainability. Using TM/Landsat 5 images, SPOTMap mosaics and the SRTM digital elevation model, we correlated land use classes with the environmental contamination index and topographic characteristics of the area studied. The presence of agriculture and urban areas heightened the differences in water quality classification in the comparison between the dry and rainy seasons, while in forested areas there was a greater equilibrium, with the same classification between the two seasons.

A non-perturbation approach in temperature Green function theory

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Augmenting the Heat Sink for Better Heat Dissipation

Heat sinks were invented to absorb heat from an electronic circuit conduct, and then to dissipate or radiate this heat to the surrounding supposedly, ventilated space, at a rate equal to or faster than that of its buildup. Ventilation was not initially recognized as an essential factor to thermal dispersion. However, as electronic circuit-boards continued to heat up, circuit failure became a problem, forcing the inclusion of miniaturized high speed fans. Later, heat sinks with fins and quiet fans were incorporated in most manufactured circuits. Now heat sinks come in the form of a fan with fans made to function as fins to disperse heat. Heat sinks absorb and radiate excess heat from circuit-boards in order to prolong the circuit’s life span. The higher the thermal conductivity of the material used the more efficient and effective the heat sink is. This paper is an attempt to theoretically design a heat sink with a temperature gradient lower than that of the circuit board’s excess heat.

Correlative comparison of pedodiversity and land use diversity between case areas from the developed east and less developed central China

Two typical provincial capitals （Nanjing and Zhengzhou） and two counties （Rugao and Yuanyang） in east （Jiangsu Province） and central （Henan Province） China were chosen respectively as the developed and less developed comparative cases for pedodiversity and land use diversity correlative analysis by borrowing the recently better developed pedodiversity methodology. Land use classification was worked out using remote sensing images in three different periods （1986-1988, 2000-2001 and 2004-2006） for these studied case areas before the calculation of the constituent diversity index and spatial distribution diversity index modified after Shannon entropy in 2 kmx2 km grid scale of the soil and land use pattern were conducted and then a connection index was proposed to evaluate the relationship between soil and land use diversity. Results show that during the years from 1986 to 2006, the composition and spatial distribution of regional land use pattern had changed greatly. The agricultural land area of all the studied case areas decreased obviously in which Nanjing has the highest decrement of 895.98 km2 mainly into urban use while the other land use type area changes show the same trend. The connection index of four typical soil family types and typical urban land use types, i.e., urban construction land, transportation land and industrial and mining area all increased in this period. In the studied case areas, there is the highest soil constituent diversity in Zhengzhou at 0.779 while the simplest soil constituent diversity in Rugao at 0.582. Meanwhile we have higher land use diversity in the more urbanized Jiangsu Province than Henan Province, Nanjing is ranking the first that has been getting higher and higher in the three periods at 0.366 in 1986-1988, 0.483 in 2000-2001 and 0.545 in 2004-2006. Finally, the connection index figures to evaluate the relationship between soil and land use diversity of the studied areas were compared to show the similar phenomenon that this figure grows fastest in Nanjing followed by Zhengzhou and other places.

Exploring the spatio-temporal impacts of farmland reforestation on ecological connectivity using circuit theory:A case study in the agro-pastoral ecotone of North China

Farmland reforestation can contribute substantially to ecological restoration.Previous studies have extensively examined the ecological effects of farmland reforestation,but few of them have investigated the spatiotemporal responses of broad-scale landscape connectivity to reforestation.By using a typical agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China as a case study,we addressed this issue based on an innovative integration of circuit theory approach and counterfactual analysis.The forest connectivity through multiple dispersal pathways was measured using the circuit theory approach,and its spatiotemporal changes after reforestation were evaluated by counterfactual analysis.The results showed that from 2000–2015,the reforested farmland occupied 2095 km^2,and 12.5% was on steeply sloped land.Farmland reforestation caused a greater increase in ecological connectivity by adding new ecological corridors and stepping stones in scattered forest areas rather than in areas with dense forest distributions.The newly added corridors and stepping stones were fragmented,short and narrow and thus deserve powerful protection.Future reforestation to improve landscape connectivity should highlight pinch point protection and obstacle removal as well as the tradeoff between farmland loss and farmer survival.Our findings are expected to inform the optimization of the Grain for Green policy from the perspective of broad-scale biodiversity conservation.

Predicting Risk Factors of Heart Disease among Jordanian Patients

Aims and Objectives: This study focused on the predictive effects of physical inactivity, body shape, and tobacco use on heart disease patients. Background: Heart disease is a condition that can be prevented with healthy lifestyle choices such as physical exercise, proper nutrition, and avoiding tobacco use. Design: The current study used a correlational cross-sectional survey design. Methods: Primary healthcare centers were selected randomly from the all practices in the middle region in Jordan. Patients were included if they had a working diagnosis of heart disease which was documented in their case notes, aged 18 years and older, visited out-patient department within the community hospitals or whom attended primary healthcare centers. Results: Factors associated with heart disease, as identified in the univariate regression analysis, were tobacco use, body shape, and employment status. Furthermore, Odds Ratio for patients with heart disease and tobacco was calculated and found that patients who smoked tobacco are more likely to have heart disease compared to non-smokers. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that the behavioural modification should be given top priority to prevent heart disease form occurring. On the other hand, regular physical activity may be useful to prevent the development of heart disease.

Health behavior after intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Background: Pregnancy is an opportunity to adopt favorable health behaviors. We studied whether intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) promotes favorable health behavior in later life. Design: A prospective controlled cohort study. The method was a questionnaire survey in 2010 among 575 women with ICP and 1374 controls, all having delivered between the years 1969 and 1988 in Tampere University Hospital in Finland. Questionnaires were sent to 544 ICP patients and 1235 controls. Responses were received from 1178 (response rate 66.2%). The main outcome measures concerning recent or current health behavior were smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and special diet. Results: Current smoking was less common in the ICP group than among controls (10.5% vs 15.7%, p = 0.017). Assessed by smoking pack years there was a similar difference: in the ICP group 11.7% of women had at least 10 smoking pack years compared to 18.0% of the controls (p = 0.006). Recent alcohol consumption did not separate the two groups. The groups did not differ as to reported physical activity assessed in MET units. Fewer ICP women had had BMIs of 30 or more during pregnancy compared with controls (18.8% vs 25.1%, p = 0.023). In other points of life the BMI differences were not statistically significant. Weight-loss diet and gallbladder diet were more common in the ICP group (6.3% vs 3.6%, p = 0.044, and 3.0% vs 1.3%, p = 0.038). Conclusions: Having developed ICP two to four decades earlier seemed to constitute an effective intervention for smoking habits but not for other aspects of health behavior.

Relationship among Sleep Quality Physical Health Conditions and Lifestyle Habits among Elementary School Students

The purpose of this research was to reveal the relationship among students’ sleep quality, body temperature and lifestyle habits, growth and their physical strength. Subjects were 226 elementary school students from first grade to sixth grade, in four elementary schools at the Chugoku and Shikoku areas in Japan. The study period was from October 2014 to December 2015. Evaluation items used were the PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Japanese version), body temperature, lifestyle habits, and national physical fitness test. Relationships were analyzed using Pearson’s chi square test, Fisher’s exact test, residual analysis, φ-coefficient, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient using SPSS 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05. The number of students with good sleep quality who showed less than six-point score at the PSQI was 218 (96.5%), and with poor sleep quality were eight students (3.5%). Especially, “sometimes do not eat breakfast” and “had difficulty sleeping” were independent risk factors for negative arousal. In the lifestyle habits, it was observed significantly that students who had a good sleep ate breakfast every morning. The significant positive correlation was between sleep quality and the time spent watching television, the age and the time using the internet. The significant negative correlation was observed between length of sleep, time spent watching television, using internet and playing games, body temperature and age. The students with temperature of less than 36°C were 35 (15.5%). Those students did not eat breakfast every morning, or ate school lunch. This study revealed that sleep condition and temperature of elementary school students were related to eating breakfast and using media time. It was considered very important to educate the students and their guardians that eating breakfast is a necessity and adjusting the use of multimedia, so that students can acquire desirable lifestyle habits.

Bodily Subjectivity, Way of Administration and Governance in the Axial Age

The Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period were key eras in which the family-kingdom-state political structure handed down by the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties transformed into the more familiar four-dimensional political structure of body-family-kingdom-world. The most important of the transformations was the independence of the body. The collapse of the feudal politico-religious structure dominated by emperors, lords and the senior officials allowed the social body to become independent of the overall structure of family-kingdom-world and became a structural element itself. As well, the teaching of Confucian ren仁 （humanity） expanded the independence of the body to a moral and spiritual level, thus providing another agent for the politico-religious structure of body-family-kingdom-world. The emergence of this new agent provided another political agent ＂having no right to administer but the right to comment＂ outside the ruling group. As a result, the assumption that to ＂rectify＂ meant to ＂administer＂ was developed in the pre-Qin period. This became the Way of Administration, the ultimate meaning of which is to complete one＇s human nature and to know destiny, which is the purpose of the Way of Governance. Subsequently, the Way of Administration and Way of Governance together formed one of the most significant political ideas in Chinese history.

Doctor Uses the Palm to Unlock the Body's Secrets

THE 1994 trip to Nanjing was of particular significance to Wang Chenxia. In one month, 2,000 patients gathered to receive an ancient form of medical treatment that centers on diagnosis through examination of the palm. Dr. Wang has been called a miracle worker; she has treated m(?)re than 100,000 patients using the palm diagnosis to unlock the secrets of the human body.

基于叠覆朵体模式的厚层三角洲前缘砂体精细刻画——以大庆油田杏六中区PⅠ油层组为例

为了厘清大庆油田杏六中区PⅠ油层组厚层三角洲前缘砂体的内部结构特征,为剩余油开发提供地质支撑,文中针对按照水下分流河道模式无法精细刻画目标砂体的问题,引入叠覆朵体模式,提出六步剖析法,依据密井网资料,对目标砂体的内部结构进行了精细刻画。结果表明:1)按照叠覆朵体模式,能够较清楚地刻画目标砂体的内部结构特征。2)运用六步剖析法(即确定标志层,划分等时地层单元;进行底拉平处理,认识等时地层单元内砂体的内部结构特征;识别较大的沉积界面,区分并追踪复合朵体;在复合朵体内识别单朵体,刻画其分布;分析朵体间接触关系,确定朵体间连通性;结合生产动态资料,验证剖析结果的正确性),对目标砂体的刻画结果打破了三角洲前缘砂体呈层状结构的传统认识。3)目标砂体内部可以以进积、退积特征划分为一系列的沉积复合朵体和单朵体。按照叠覆朵体模式,运用六步剖析法对砂体内部结构的刻画结果,避免了传统的基于相带的砂体结构剖析法中跨沉积时间单元所造成的对砂体内部结构认识的偏差,为剩余油分析提供了可靠的依据。