Although Serkowski used a single value K=1.15 in representing all the observed interstellar linear polarization curves by his empirical relation p ( λ ) / P m a x =exp (-K 1 n 2 ( λ m a x / λ ) ), where p m a x is the maximum polarization at wavelength λ m a x , we have noticed a meaningful variation in K from observations of 72 stars. By comparing K's with P m a x / E B − V a n d w i t h λ m a x , we have examined how the shape of the polarization curve is related with the degree of grain alignment on one hand, and with grain sizes on the other. We have shown that correlations between K, P m a x / E B − V a n d w i t h λ m a x , are consistent with the idea of Davis-Greenstein mechanism for grain alignment.

This paper describes an alignment algorithm that estimates the initial heading angle of AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) for starting navigation in a sea area. In the basic dead reckoning system, the initial orientation of the vehicle is very important. In particular, the initial heading value is an essential factor in determining the performance of the entire navigation system. However, the heading angle of AUVs cannot be measured accurately because the DCS (Digital Compass) corrupted by surrounding magnetic field in pointing true north direction of the absolute global coordinate system (not the same to magnetic north direction). Therefore, we constructed an experimental constraint and designed an algorithm based on extended Kalman filter using only inertial navigation sensors and a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver basically. The value of sensor covariance was selected by comparing the navigation results with the reference data. The proposed filter estimates the initial heading angle of AUVs for navigation in a sea area and reflects sampling characteristics of each sensor. Finally, we verify the performance of the filter through experiments.

The Amon-Ra instrument is the main optical payload of the proposed EARTHSHINE satellite. It consists of a visible wavelength instrument and an IR energy channel instrument to measure a global Earth albedo. We report a new sensitivity technique for efficient alignment of the visible channel instrument. Whilst the sensitivity table method has been widely used in the alignment process, the straightforward application of the method tends to produce slow process convergence because of shop floor alignment practice uncertainties. We investigated the error sources commonly associated with alignment practices and used them when estimating the Zernike polynomial coefficients. Aided with single center field wavefront error (WFE) measurements and their corresponding Zernike polynomial coefficients, the method involves the construction and use of an experimental, instead of simulated, sensitivity table to be used for alignment state estimations. A trial alignment experiment for the Amon Ra optical system was performed and the results show that 71.28 nm in rms WFE was achieved only after two alignment iterations. This tends to demonstrate its superior performance to the conventional method.

The objective of this study was to elucidate the dynamics of microtubules in post-ovulatory aging in vivo and in vitro of mouse oocytes. The fresh ovulated oocytes were obtained from oviducts of superovulated female ICR mice at 16 hours after hCG injection. The post-ovulatory aged oocytes were collected at 24 and 48 hours after hCG injection from in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Immunocytochemistry was performed on -tubulin and acetylated -tubulin. The microtubules were localized in the spindle assembly, which was barrel-shaped or slightly pointed at its poles and located peripherally in the fresh ovulated oocytes. The frequency of misaligned metaphase chromosomes were significantly increased in post-ovulatory aged oocytes after 48 hours of hCG injection. The spindle length and width of post-ovulatory aged oocytes were significantly different from those of fresh ovulated oocytes, respectively. The staining intensity of acetylated -tubulin showed stronger in post-ovulatory aged oocytes than that in the fresh ovulated oocytes. In the aged oocytes, the spindles had moved towards the center of the oocytes from their original peripheral position and elongated, compared with the fresh ovulated oocytes. Microtubule organizing centers were formed and observed in the cytoplasm of the aged oocytes. On the contrary, it was not observed in the fresh ovulated oocytes. The alteration of spindle formation and chromosomes alignment substantiates the poor development and the increase of disorders from the post-ovulatory aged oocytes. It might be important to fertilize on time in ovulated oocytes for the developmental competence of embryos with normal karyotypes.

Genomes of clusters of related eukaryotes are now being sequenced at an increasing rate. In this paper, we developed an accurate, low-cost method for annotation of gene prediction and exon-intron structure. The gene prediction was adapted for delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate-synthetase (p5cs) gene from China wild-type of the halophytic Leymus chinensis (Trin.), naturally adapted to highly-alkali soils. Due to complex adaptive mechanisms in halophytes, more attentions are being paid on the regulatory elements of stress adaptation in halophytes. P5CS encodes delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate-synthetase, a key regulatory enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of proline, that has direct correlation with proline accumulation in vivo and positive relationship with stress tolerance. Using analysis of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and PCR, and direct sequencing, 1076 base pairs (bp) of cDNA in length and 2396 bp of genomic DNA in length were obtained from direct sequencing results. Through gene prediction and exon-intron structure verification, the full-length of cDNA sequence was divided into eight parts, with seven parts of intron insertion. The average lengths of determinated coding regions and non-coding regions were 154.17 bp and 188.57 bp, respectively. Nearly all splice sites displayed GT as the donor sites at the 5' end of intron region, and 71.43% displayed AG as the acceptor sites at the 3' end of intron region. We conclude that this method is a cost-effective way for obtaining an experimentally verified genome annotation.

Spc25 is a component of the Ndc80 complex which consists of Ndc80, Nuf2, Spc24, and Spc25. Previous work has shown that Spc25 is involved in regulation of kinetochore microtubule attachment, localization of Ndc80, and the spindle assembly checkpoint in mitosis. The role of Spc25 in meiosis remains unknown. Here, we report its expression, localization and functions in mouse oocyte meiosis. The Spc25 mRNA level gradually increased from the GV to MI stage, but decreased by MII during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation. Immunofluorescent staining showed that Spc25 was restricted to the germinal vesicle, and associated with chromosomes during all stages after GVBD. Overexpression of Spc25 resulted in oocyte meiotic arrest, chromosome misalignment and spindle disruption. Conversely, Spc25 RNAi resulted in precocious polar body extrusion and caused severe chromosome misalignment and aberrant spindle formation. Spc25 RNAi affected Ndc80 localization, but Ndc80 RNAi did not affect Spc25 localization.Survivin MO caused Ndc80 dispersion but did not affect localization of Spc25. Our data suggest that Spc25 is required for chromosome alignment, spindle formation, and spindle checkpoint activity through the regulation of Ndc80, but that Spc25 function is independent of survivin during meiosis.

This study discusses developing ecological trails and route alignment in mountainous rural area. Through a process of ecological resources survey, ecological trails and route alignment has been established. Mainly, by focusing on ecological resources in rural areas, it was indifferent to their own ecological resource and charm to make it unique strengths. Based on survey the results, Natural ecology resources, there were the climate factor, surface, geological, terrain analysis. Furthermore, ecological resources were researched and analyzed the elements of it, distribution of resources, types, location, semantic analysis. The results are expressed on the map and recorded by taking pictures. Plant ecosystem, there were actual vegetation, land use, flora analysis. Wild animal ecosystem, it was checked and recorded on 1/1,000 map partition the emergence of wild birds, the number of species distributed by foraging guild, the emergence of amphibians, reptile, mammals and insect species. The site is chosen as rural theme village in 2007, base on their own rich ecological and landscape resources. Therefore, we carried out ecological trails and route alignment plan in accordance with analyzed the natural ecological resource and after setting up the basic goal, ecological trail has been composed and planting has done and direction.

본 연구에서는 수리실험을 통해 단일 돌출수제 설치에 따른 흐름중심선과 수제 하류부의 흐름분리영역의 특성을 파악하였다. 흐름중심선은 최대유속이 발생되는 유선을 의미하며, 수제 설치로 인한 수제 선단부 흐름분리현상은 흐름중심선의 형태를 변화시킨다. 본 연구에서는 수리실험을 통해 단일 돌출수제의 길이 및 투과율 변화에 따른 수제주변의 흐름장을 LSPIV(Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry)를 이용하여 측정하고, 수제길이 및