Cyperus rotundus L. is a globally distributed noxious weed that poses a significant challenge for control due to its fast and efficient propagation through the tuber, which is the primary reproductive organ. Gibberellic acid (GA3) has proved to be crucial for tuberization in tuberous plants. Therefore, understanding the relationship between GA3 and tuber development and propagation of C.roundus will provide valuable information for controlling this weed. This study shows that the content of GA3 decreases with tuber development, which corresponds to lower expression of bioactive GA3 synthesis genes (CrGA20ox, two CrGA3oxs) and two up-regulated GA3 catabolism genes (CrGA2oxs), indicating that GA3 is involved in tuber development. Simultaneously, the expressions of CrDELLAs and CrGID1 decline with tuber growth and GA3 decreasing, and Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assays confirm that the GA3 signaling is DELLA-dependent. Furthermore, exogenous application of GA3 markedly reduces the number and the width of tuber, and represses the growth of tuber chain, further confirming the negative impact that GA3 has on tuber development and propagation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that GA3 is involved in tuber development and regulated by the DELLA-dependent pathway in C. rotundus, and plays a negative role in tuber development and propagation.

In this paper, effects of discharge parameters and modulation frequency on the signal of laser-induced fluorescence measurements of ion velocity distribution functions are investigated in the LIF Test Source. A maximum modulation frequency is found for each given set of parameters, beyond which the signal gradually declines. Meanwhile, this maximum modulation frequency occurred consistently at ~1/10 of the theoretical frequency limit and photon counts received by a photomultiplier tube, which indicates that as modulation frequency and the associated per-pulse-excitation-event count decrease, the transition from the macroscopic statistical signal to the microscopic probabilistic signal is a gradual process.

Ink jet technology is applied to the industry application of CPU cooling in this study. The PZT actuated micro-cooling device which generating the micro-scale liquid droplet is used in the CPU cooling of desktop and laptop PCs. It consists the advantages of long lifetime of operation, simple and easily manufactured of the structure with PZT actuator. Since the high latent heat transfer rate, 2260 J/g, of water droplet for the liquid-vapor phase change cooling system, it removes heat from the CPU surface effectively for over 100 W. In order to design an efficient cooling device, it is important to study the PZT material property varies after the laser cutting process and the dimensional effects of PZT actuator on the nozzle plate vibration mode. The frequency and amplitude of the voltage used to energize the PZT transducer are also important parameters that should be properly controlled in order to achieve the optimal liquid breakup conditions. It also reveals the low noise and power consumption in the CPU cooling system with some appropriate operational conditions.

The manipulator with a large degree of redundancy is useful for realizing multiple tasks such as maneuvering the robotic arms in the constrained workspace, e.g. the task of maneuvering the end-effector of the manipulator along a pre-specified path into a window. This paper presents an on-line technique based on a posture generation rule to compute a null-space joint velocity vector in a singularity-robust redundancy resolution method. This rule suggests that the end of each link has to track an implicit trajectory that is indirectly resulted from the constraint imposed on tracking motion of the end-effector. A proper posture can be determined by sequentially optimizing an objective function integrating multiple criteria of the orientation of each link from the end-effector toward the base link as the secondary task for redundancy resolution, by assuming one end of the link is clamped. The criteria flexibly incorporate obstacle avoidance, joint limits, preference of posture in tracking, and connection of posture to realize a compromise between the primary and secondary tasks. Furthermore, computational demanding of the posture is reduced due to the sequential link-by-link computation feature. Simulations show the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed method in generating proper postures for the collision avoidance and the joint limits as a singularity-robust null-space projection vector in maneuvering redundant robots within constrained workspaces.

This paper addresses the vibratory mechanics associated with frequency discrimination of basilar membrane within the cochlear of the inner ear. Periodic excitation is provided to the oval window, which results in generation of waves within the fluid-filled cochlear traveling towards the apex. These waves interact with the compliant basilar membrane structure causing its vibratory motion. Solution procedure of the fluid/structure model consists of a two-step process. First, a finite element calculation (ANSYS) solves for the membrane vibration with an initial harmonic pressure distribution. Second, a control volume analysis links the resultant vibratory motion with the fluid pressure acting on the basilar membrane, thus a pressure feedback loop is accomplished. Results show that dominant factors affecting vibratory characteristics of the basilar membrane are its structural geometry and attenuation of pressure wave as it travels away from the oval window. Calculations clearly capture the designed function of the basilar membrane, principally its frequency discrimination behavior.