Estimating whale density from their whistling activity: Example with St. Lawrence beluga

A passive acoustic method is developed to estimate whale density from their calling activity in a monitored area. The algorithm is applied to a loquacious species, the white whale (Delphinapterus leucas), in Saguenay fjord mouth near Tadoussac, Canada, which is severely affected by shipping noise. Beluga calls were recorded from cabled coastal hydrophones deployed in the basin while the animal density was estimated visually from systematic observations from a fixed-point on the shore. Beluga calling activity was estimated from an algorithm extracting the call events in time-frequency space, while simultaneously tracking the masking intensity resulting from local shipping noise. The activity index was summarized in 15- and 30-min bins using four different metrics. For bins containing more than 40% of valid data, the metrics were compared to the corresponding visual observations. The estimated mean acoustic detection range generally exceeded the fjord width, and extended to the whole ∼3-km long monitored area under low-noise conditions. The significant linear relations of the visual estimates with the calling activity metrics allowed assessing expected number of visually detected belugas in the basin from a weighted regression model, with a mean standard error of 7.1%.     

O-vacancy and surface on CeO2: A first-principles study

Atomic and electronic structures of CeO₂ (1 1 1), (1 1 0) and (1 0 0) surfaces are investigated using the first-principles density functional theory taking into account the on-site Coulomb interaction. Both the stoichiometric and O-deficient surfaces are examined in order to clarify the overall features. The CeO₂ (1 1 1) is found to be the most stable surface, followed by the (1 1 0) and (1 0 0) surfaces, consistent with experimental observations. Three surfaces exhibit different features of relaxation. Large relaxations are found at the (1 1 0) and (1 0 0) surfaces, while very small changes are observed at the (1 1 1) surface. It is found that the O-vacancy occurs more readily at the (1 1 0) surface as compared with the (1 1 1) surface. Furthermore, the formation energies of the O-vacancy in the surfaces are lower than that in the bulk. The energetically favorable O-vacancy locates in the second O-atomic layer for the (1 1 1) while at the surface layer for the (1 1 0). The excess electrons left with the removal of the O atom are distributed in the first two layers with certain (a considerable) fraction filling the Ce-4f states.     

Thermo-optically tunable silicon photonic crystal light modulator

We designed, fabricated, and characterized a thermo-optically tunable compact (10 μm × 10 μm) silicon photonic crystal (PhC) light modulator that operates at around 1.55 μm for TE polarization. The operational principle of the device is the modulation of the cutoff frequency in a silicon-based line defect PhC. The cutoff frequency is shifted because of the thermo-optic tuning of the silicon refractive index, which is realized by localized heating on the PhC. The modulator is formed by a triangular lattice array of cylindrical air holes on a silicon-on-insulator wafer. Optical characterization was carried out, and the result clearly showed thermo-optic tuning of the cutoff frequency at around 1.55 μm.     

Characteristics of Raman spectra of natural clinochlore at 200 degrees C and 0.95-7.70 GPa

Variation of crystal structure of natural clinochlore with pressure was investigated by the approach of diamond anvil cell (DAC) and in situ micro-Raman spectroscopic measurement at 200 degrees C and up to 7.7 GPa. The 481 and 786 cm(-1) peaks shift towards high-frequency linearly with increasing pressure at 200 degrees C. The linear relations between Raman shift (N, cm(-1)) and pressure (P, GPa) for the two peaks are: N = 11.136P+482.6 (R2 = 0.987 4) and N = 5.055P+785.7 (R2 = 0.983 7), respectively. The 865 cm(-1) peak arising from the stretching mode of the Si-O(nb) shifts slightly because of the strong repulsion between T cations at the tetrahedral sites and M cations at the octahedral sites in the TOT layer. Raman shift of 481 cm(-1) and 786 means the shortening of the length of M-O(br) and Si-CO(br) bonds since the peaks are contributed by the stretching mode of the M-O(br) and Si-O(br) respectively. No phase transition of clinochlore under the experimental condition was found. The results indicate that chlorite minerals may be stable at least at a depth of 80-90 km in the cold subduction zones, and the fluid derived from chlorite dehydration may be an important fact for earthquake occurrence in the subduction zones.     

Precise nuclear moments of extremely proton-rich nuclus 23 Al

Electric quadrupole coupling constant eqQ/h of the extremely proton-rich ²³Al (I ^π ?=?5/2^?+?, T _1/2?=?0.47 s) nucleus implanted into an Al₂O₃ single crystal has been measured for the first time, using the β-ray detecting nuclear quadrupole resonance method (β-NQR) in a high magnetic field. As a preliminary result, the quadrupole coupling constant was determined as |eqQ/h(²³Al) |?=?2.66±0.77 MHz. Using the quadrupole coupling constant of ²⁷Al in Al₂O₃ as a reference, the Q moment of the ground state of ²³Al was extracted as |Q(²³Al)|?~?160 mb, which is well explained by the shell model calculation in the sd-shell model space with the USD interaction.     

Growth and characterization of type-II ZnO/ZnTe core-shell nanowire arrays for solar cell applications

Large area, well-aligned type-II ZnO/ZnTe core-shell nanowire arrays have been fabricated on an a-plane sapphire substrate. The ZnO nanowires were grown in a furnace by chemical vapor deposition with gold as catalyst and then were coated with a ZnTe shell on the ZnO nanowires surface by a metal-organic chemical deposition chamber. The morphology and size distribution of the ZnO/ZnTe core-shell nanowire arrays were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the crystal structure was examined by x-ray diffraction (XRD). Transmission measurement was used to study the optical properties of the core-shell nanowires. The results indicated that the ZnO/ZnTe core-shell nanowire arrays have good crystalline quality. In addition, it was found that the nanowire arrays have good light absorption characteristics and these properties make it suitable for making photovoltaic devices.     

大鼠肾脏糖胺聚糖的种类及二糖组成分析

采用两步酶解和离子交换色谱从Wistar大鼠肾脏中提取糖胺聚糖,以醋酸纤维素薄膜电泳分析糖胺聚糖种类,以弱阴离子交换色谱分离各种糖胺聚糖.纯化后的糖胺聚糖分别经特定糖胺聚糖酶裂解,采用强阴离子交换高效液相色谱(SAX-HPLC)紫外检测分析其二糖组成.结果表明,Wistar大鼠肾脏糖胺聚糖主要由硫酸乙酰肝素和少量硫酸皮肤素组成.硫酸乙酰肝素含有8种二糖,其中含有乙酰基二糖总含量高达77.6%,非硫酸化二糖(Ⅳ-A)含量为59.7%;硫酸皮肤素含有6种二糖,其中单硫酸化二糖总含量为54.8%,非硫酸化二糖含量为32.9%.     

草地退化的高光谱遥感监测方法

我国草地分布面积广,退化情况严重,实时、准确地监测草地的生态状况,对于区域气候、碳循环研究以及经济发展具有重要意义。利用地面实测光谱数据进行了高光谱草地退化监测研究。选择内蒙古呼伦贝尔市的温性草甸草原为研究对象,测量了草甸草原的羊草、克氏针茅、冷蒿等多种植物的叶片、冠层以及多种植物混合的群落反射率光谱数据。通过有效的光谱特征参量化方法,提取叶片和冠层光谱的光谱特征,准确区分了草甸草原的几种建群和退化指示草本植物,验证结果表明光谱识别的精度高于95%。以此为基础,利用线性光谱混合模型对群落植被的混合光谱数据进行混合光谱分解,得到各组分的覆盖度,误差在5%以内。该文的研究结果为高光谱遥感草地监测提供了有力依据。     

GaN-nanowire-based dye-sensitized solar cells

GaN nanowires typically exhibit high electron mobility and excellent chemical stability. However, stability of GaN is detrimental for successful attachment of dye molecules and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Here we demonstrate DSSCs based on GaN/gallium oxide and GaN/TiO _x core–shell structures, and we show that coating of GaN nanowires with a TiO _x shell significantly increases dye adsorption and consequently photovoltaic performance. The best cells exhibited short circuit current density of 1.83 mA/cm² and power conversion efficiency of 0.44% under AM 1.5 simulated solar illumination.