Coleoptiles of barley (Hordeum vulgare) were positioned in a high gradient magnetic field (HGMF, dynamic factor gradient of H(2)/2 of 10(9)-10(10) Oe2 cm-1), generated by a ferromagnetic wedge in a uniform magnetic field and rotated on a 1 rpm clinostat. After 4 h 90% of coleoptiles had curved toward the HGMF. The cells affected by HGMF showed clear intracellular displacement of amyloplasts. Co...

In Elliptio complanatus lateral cilia, two distinct patterns of filament termination can be discerned. In one case, all nine filaments are present and all are single; in the second, at least one filament is missing but doublets are still present. These probably represent different configurations within one cilium in different stroke positions; to get from one to the other, some peripheral filam...

In this study, the static stability of the grasp of a single planar object is analyzed using the potential energy method. Inprevious papers, we considered cases in which individual fingers were replaced by a multidimensional translational spring model, inwhich each finger is constructed with prismatic joints. Human hands and the most developed mechanical hands are constructed withre...

The objective of this paper is to present a significant improvement to the approach of Duncan et al. [1, 8] to analyze the deformations of curves in sequences of 2D images. This approach is based on the paradigm that high curvature points usually possess an anatomical meaning, and are therefore good landmarks to guide the matching process, especially in the absence of a reliable physical or def...

Based on Lagrange and Hermite interpolation two novel versions of weak form quadrature element are proposed for a non-classical Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. By extending these concept two new plate elements are formulated using Lagrange-Lagrange and mixed Lagrange-Hermite interpolations for a non-classical Kirchhoff plate theory. The non-classical theories are governed by sixth order partial di...

Dorsal and anal fins are median fins located above and below the centre of mass of fishes, each having a moment arm relative to the longitudinal axis. Understanding the kinematics of dorsal and anal fins may elucidate how these fins are used in concert to maintain and change fish body position and yet little is known about the functions of these fins. Using three synchronized high-speed cameras...

A new indicator called Vehicle Load Difference Curvature Indicator (VLDCI) was proposed in this paper to further study the application of difference curvature to early warning of simply supported beams. Values of VLDCI can be obtained based on the measured vertical displacement data under a novel vehicle load mode (working condition of concentrated load), which can be obtained by apply vehicle ...

Earth's surface archives the combined history of tectonics and erosion, which tend to roughen landscapes, and sediment transport and deposition, which smooth them. We analyzed hillslope morphology in the tectonically active Dragon's Back Pressure Ridge in California, United States, to assess whether tectonic uplift history can be reconstructed using measurable attributes of hillslope features w...

A natural slope undergoing recurrent movements caused by rainfall-induced groundwater table rises is studied using a novel method. The strength and displacement parameters are back-calculated force-equilibrium-based finite method (FFDM) based on the first event of movement recorded in monitoring period. Slope displacements response to subsequent predicted FFDM material parameters. Important fac...

While it has been shown that the Global Optic Flow Rate (GOFR) is used in the control of self-motion speed, this study examined its relevance in the control of interceptive actions while walking. We asked participants to intercept approaching targets by adjusting their walking speed in a virtual environment, and predicted that the influence of the GOFR depended on their interception strategy. I...