Spot Groups Research Articles

Investigating cathode spot behavior in argon alternating current tungsten inert gas welding of aluminum through experimental observation

The behavior of cathode spots in stationary argon alternating current tungsten inert gas welding of aluminum was clarified in this study. The temporal variation in cathode spot distribution during electrode positive (EP) polarity was, for the first time, revealed quantitatively based on high-speed video camera observation with a frame rate of 500 000 fps. In addition, the weld pool surface temperature at the start and end of EP polarity was also measured using the two-wavelength temperature measurement method to clarify the relationship with the cathode spot behavior. As a result, the general tendency of the life cycle of the cathode spot was clarified. The first cathode spot appeared and divided outside the weld pool. Following this, they moved rapidly toward the weld pool center within 100 µs. After that, the cathode spot group became an uneven and ring-shaped distribution, which expanded outward with time with a velocity of approximately 1 m s−1. The cathode spots have a random movement with the average velocities of each cathode spot on the liquid and solid surface being about 142 ± 59 m s−1 and 87 ± 44 m s−1, respectively. The ratio of the number of cathode spots located in the weld pool to the total number of cathode spots decreased from 100% to 37.4% with elapsed time, except right at the beginning. Furthermore, the temperature of the center surface of the weld pool was 1400 K, and this gradually increased to a slightly higher temperature than the melting point of aluminum around the weld pool boundary at the start of EP polarity. The maximum temperature at the center is considered to be linked with absence of a cathode spot. The temperature at the center decreased by 150 K at the end of EP polarity due to the temporal expansion in the ring-shaped distribution of the cathode spot group leading to a decrease in heat input around the center.

StraboSpot data system for structural geology

AbstractStraboSpot is a geologic data system that allows researchers to digitally collect, store, and share both field and laboratory data. StraboSpot is based on how geologists actually work to collect field data; although initially developed for the structural geology research community, the approach is easily extensible to other disciplines. The data system uses two main concepts to organize data: spots and tags. A spot is any observation that characterizes a specific area, a concept applicable at any spatial scale from regional to microscopic. Spots are related in a purely spatial manner, and consequently, one spot can enclose multiple other spots that themselves contain other spots. In contrast, tags provide conceptual grouping of spots, allowing linkages between spots that are independent of their spatial position.The StraboSpot data system uses a graph database, rather than a relational database approach, to increase flexibility and to track geologically complex relationships. StraboSpot operates on two different platform types: (1) a field-based application that runs on iOS and Android mobile devices, which can function in either Internet-connected or disconnected environments; and (2) a web application that runs only in Internet-connected settings. We are presently engaged in incorporating microstructural data into StraboSpot, as well as expanding to include additional field-based (sedimentology, petrology) and lab-based (experimental rock deformation) data. The StraboSpot database will be linked to other existing and future databases in order to provide integration with other digital efforts in the geological sciences and allow researchers to do types of science that were not possible without easy access to digital data.

An unusual cause of postmenopausal vaginal haemorrhage: a case report

BackgroundPost-menopause vaginal haemorrhage is typically related to gynaecological malignancies. Bleeding from vaginal varices rarely occurs, especially in nonpregnant women. Moreover, nonpregnancy-related causes of vaginal varicosities include portal hypertension, especially that caused by liver cirrhosis, pelvic congestion syndrome and Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome or Parkes-Weber syndrome. Here, we report an unusual cause of nonpregnancy-associated vaginal variceal bleeding.Case presentationA 55-year-old postmenopausal woman presented in our outpatient department with complaints of recurrent bloody vaginal discharge. A group of varicose veins and several haemorrhagic spots were found on her vaginal wall during a vaginal speculum examination. Genital cancers were excluded by colposcopy and transvaginal ultrasonography; furthermore, a pelvic arteriovenous fistula was not found on a pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan. However, congenital varicosities and deep arteriovenous shunts were observed in her left leg on arterial angiography. Moreover, vaginal bleeding was improved after resolution of the underlying deep arteriovenous shunts in her left leg. Therefore, congenital arteriovenous shunts and elevated inferior vena cava pressure might be responsible for her recurrent vaginal varicose bleeding.ConclusionHaemorrhage due to vaginal varices is easily detected with a vaginal speculum examination. However, diagnosis and treatment of the original disease are important after bleeding is controlled.

Asking Images: Hybrid Recommendation System for Tourist Spots by Hierarchical Sampling Statistics and Multimodal Visual Bayesian Personalized Ranking

“Data sparseness” is a key issue in current research works on recommendation systems. However, additional information, such as texts, images, knowledge graph, and audios, that is correlated to items helps alleviate the problem to some extent. We focus our research on designing a novel hybrid recommendation system for tourist spots. Tourist spot images are utilized to suppress the “data sparseness” problem in the recommendation procedure. First, a novel multimodal visual bayesian personalized ranking algorithm is proposed to fully utilize the cross-modal semantic correlations among different image features. Then, a new recommendation list called $L_{\mathrm {A}}$ is generated accordingly from the multimodal perspective. Second, user preference is acquired using the hierarchical sampling statistics model. A new recommendation list called $L_{\mathrm {H}}$ is generated in turn from the statistical perspective. Finally, hybrid recommendation results are obtained on the basis of $L_{\mathrm {H}}$ and $L_{\mathrm {A}}$ . Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid recommendation system for tourist spots is effective and robust. It is superior to other competitive baselines. More importantly, the proposed hybrid recommendation system is good at recommending a group of tourist spots and more stable than baselines, indicating its high practical value.

Vertical Electric Currents in Active Regions: Calculation Methods and Relation to the Flare Index

In the scope of the performed work, two problems are solved. The first is the analysis of two existing methods for calculating vertical electric currents, differential and integral. The integral method has some advantages compared to the differential method. Among them, one can mention there is no need to differentiate the magnetic field and a good smoothing of noises without losing significant information about the current structures. The integral method of calculating vertical currents has been tested for the NOAA AR 11158 using the data of two instruments, the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (HMI/SDO) spacecraft and the Solar Optical Telescope of the Hinode satellite (SOT/Hinode). There was a good correlation between the calculated data (the coefficient of correlation k = 0.77). This result indicates a sufficient reliability of data on currents calculated by the integral method, regardless of the observation instrument. In the second part of the work, we analyze the data on the relation between the flare activity of groups of spots and the magnitude of the vertical current in them. A direct dependence between these quantities has been established: the greater the mean squared vertical current density, the higher the flare activity of the region (the coefficient of correlation k1 = 0.91).

Parameters of a Microstructure of Erosion Regions during the Action of a Spark Discharge on a Copper Electrode Surface in Air

The parameters of a microstructure of regions of action of a spark discharge on a copper plane electrode surface in air at atmospheric pressure in the spike–plane gap both for positive and negative polarity of a spike have been studied using scanning electron microscopy. It has been found that regions of action have the appearance of rounded spots or groups of spots with an internal structure in the form of agglomeration of a large number of microcraters. It has been shown that the statistical distributions of microcrater diameters and intermicrocrater distances are characterized by several local maximums that determine the presence of several predominant values of these parameters in a spot. It has been revealed that the microstructure of a spot is characterized by the fractal behavior and the fractal dimensionalities of the microstructure have been determined.

МНОЖЕСТВЕННЫЕ КОРРЕЛЯЦИОННЫЕ МОДЕЛИ ЗАВИСИМОСТИ ПОТОКОВ ИЗЛУЧЕНИЯ КОСМИЧЕСКИХ РАДИОИСТОЧНИКОВ В ДЕКАМЕТРОВОМ ДИАПАЗОНЕ ОТ ЭКСТРЕМАЛЬНЫХ ПРОЯВЛЕНИЙ КОСМИЧЕСКОЙ ПОГОДЫ

PACS numbers: 95.55.Jz, 95.85.Bh, 96.50.Wx Purpose: Investigation of the effects of the influence of solar and geomagnetic activity on the condition of the Earth’s upper atmosphere by the method of “transmission through” it with the radiation of cosmic radio sources. Design/methodology/approach: Monitoring of the fluxes of powerful galactic and extragalactic radio sources is carried out at the URAN-4 radio telescope of the Odesa Observatory of the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the NAS of Ukraine since 1987 till now. The monitoring program includes radio galaxies 3C274, 3C405 and supernova remnants 3C144, 3C461. Changes of fluxes of radiation sources at decameter waves are determined by the condition of an ionosphere resulted due to space weather variation. Findings: The models of multiple correlation dependence of fluxes of radio sources on the factors forming space weather for the periods of extreme conditions of the solar and geomagnetic activity are considered. The explanatory variables are divided into three groups: indices of solar activity, flows of particles, magnetic field components. Over 60 models of the multiple correlation dependence were calculated. Values of a multiple coefficient of correlation within 0.86 to 0.99 were obtained. The greatest contribution to the quantity of a multiple coefficient of correlation give: solar radio emission at the wave of 10.7 cm (F10.7), the total area of groups of spots (Sp), flows of electrons (E) and protons (P). Conclusions: Monitoring of fluxes of space radio sources made at the “URAN-4” radio telescope makes it possible to “transmit through” the Earth ionosphere above the radio telescope and determines the integral effect of the solar and geomagnetic activity influence on it. The great amount of the data observed with using the “URAN-4” radio telescope allows more detailed study of the influence of space weather effects in the ionosphere to be made in our next works. Key words: upper atmosphere, solar activity, geomagnetic activity, space weather Manuscript submitted 26.06.2018 Radio phys. radio astron. 2018, 23(3): 189-202 REFERENCES 1. RYABOV, M. I., PANISHKO, S. K. and GUGLYA, L. I., 2011. Space weather impacts on the Earth’s upper atmosphere according to the monitoring of powerful radio sources fluxes at the URAN-4 radio telescope (Institute of Radio Astronomy, NAS of Ukraine). Odessa Astronomical Publications . vol. 24, pp. 159–161. (in Russian). 2. SOBITNIAK, L. I., RYABOV, M. I., SUKHAREV, A. L. and PANISHKO, S. K., 2017. Structure of variability indexes of cosmic weather as applied to data monitoring of fluxes of radio sources at the “URAN-4” radio telescope. Radio Phys. Radio Astron . vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 294–303 (in Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/rpra22.04.294 3. BOROVIKOV, V. A., 2001. STATISTICA: The art of data analysis on a computer . St. Petersburg: Piter Publ. (in Russian). 4. BRUZEK, A. and DURRANT, C. J., eds., 1977. Illustrated glossary for solar and solar-terrestrial physics . Dordrecht, Boston: D. Reidel Pub. Co. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1245-4 5. IVANOV-KHOLODNYI, G. S. and NIKOLSKY, G. M., 1969. The Sun and Ionosphere. Short wave solar radiation and its effect on the ionosphere . Moscow, Russia: Nauka Publ. (in Russian). 6. RUSSELL, C. T. and MCPHERRON, R. L., 1973. Semiannual Variation of Geomagnetic Activity. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys . vol. 78, is. 1, pp. 92–108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/JA078i001p00092 7. ZELENYI, L. M. and VESELOVSKIY, I. S., eds., 2008. Plasma heliogeophysics . Moscow, Russia: Fizmatlit Publ. vol. 1-2. (in Russian). 8. MIROSHNICHENKO, L. I., 2011. Physics of the Sun and solar-terrestrial connections . Moscow, Russia: Universitetskaya Kniga Publ. (in Russian). 9. OBRIDKO, V. N. and NAGOVITSYN, YU. A., 2017. Solar activity, cyclicity and prediction methods . St. Petersburg: VVM Publ. (in Russian).

Investigation of cathode spot characteristics in vacuum under transverse magnetic field (TMF) contacts

With the continuous improvement of current levels in power systems, the demands on the breaking capacity requirements of vacuum circuit breakers are getting higher and higher. The breaking capacity of vacuum breakers is determined by cathode spots, which provide electrons and metal vapor to maintain the arc. In this paper, experiments were carried out on two kinds of transverse magnetic field (TMF) contacts in a demountable vacuum chamber, the behavior of the cathode spots was recorded by a high-speed charge-coupled device (CCD) video camera, and the characteristics of the cathode spots were analyzed through the image processing method. The phenomenon of cathode spot groups and the star-shaped pattern of the spots were both discovered in the experiment. The experimental results show that with the condition of TMF contacts the initial expansion speed of cathode spots is influenced by some parameters, such as the tested current, contact gap, the structure of the contact, the contact diameter, the number of slots, etc. In addition, the influence of the magnetic field on the formation of the cathode spot groups, the distribution, and the dynamic characteristics of the cathode spots were analyzed. It is concluded that the characteristics of the cathode spots are due to the effect of the magnetic field on the near-cathode plasma. The study of the characteristics of cathode spots in this paper would be helpful in the exploration of the physical process of vacuum arcs, and would be of guiding significance in optimizing the design of vacuum circuit breakers.

Pedasa Athena Kutsal Alanı Arkaik Dönem Fayans Adak Sunuları

The archaeological and epigraphical evidence obtained from surveys and excavations conducted in Pedasa, one of the Lelegian settlements located in the Halicarnassian Peninsula, revealed that the only sanctuary of the city was dedicated to the goddess Athena for the time being. The faience objects which form one of the remarkable groups among the imported votive offerings and ritual equipment belonging to 7th and 6th centuries BC shed light on the interregional and overseas connections of the sanctuary. The artefacts consisting of certain vases, amulets and beads are among the so-called “East Greek production” or “Greco Egyptian” and were produced by the middle of the 7th century and throughout the 6th century BC under the strong impacts of the Egyptian art. The double vases with kneeling figure within the Leopard Spot Group, Egyptianising style pyxis, New Year flasks, amulets and disc shaped beads were votive offerings, whose similar examples were documented in the contemporary sanctuaries and grave contexts in the Aegean and Mediterranean world. The shallow bowls with spool lug, most probably were one of the ritual tablewares used for certain ceremonies, are noteworthy by their form and distribution pattern. Apart from the example published from Timpone della Motta in Italy, these bowls have been documented in Athena Sanctuary in Pedasa, Aphrodite Temple in Miletus and Artemis Temple in Ephesus. Their paste and glaze features, different from the other Archaic Greek faience, imply unknow faience production center in Ionia, which has already been affirmed and has not been localized yet. Due to the distribution pattern, Ephesus was mentioned as a possible production center, but Miletus should be considered among the strongest candidates. The amulets, commonly believed to protect woman and child, represent the personal religious beliefs of the owners. The worshippers who dedicated these amulets were most likely the Carians who lived in the Nile Delta and were influenced by the Egyptian religious practices or their Egyptian originated wiwes or attendants. As it is well known, Carians together with Ionians served in the Psammetichus I’s (664-610 BC) troops in Nile Delta and the grave stelai, Carian inscriptions and masonry markings attested the Carian descending community in Egypt from the second half of the 7th century BC until the late 6th century BC.

CORRELATION BETWEEN PREOPERATIVE EN FACE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY OF PHOTORECEPTOR LAYER AND VISUAL PROGNOSIS AFTER MACULAR HOLE SURGERY.

To investigate the correlation between preoperative en face spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings of the photoreceptor layer with restoration of foveal microstructure and visual acuity in repaired macular holes. Medical records of 106 patients with surgically closed macular holes were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative OCT slabs of the external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) were generated using embedded tools. All patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of preoperative retinal pigment epithelium protrusion seen as hyperreflective spots in EZ slab. Visual acuity, homogenous reflectivity, and glial proliferation in the ELM and EZ slabs were followed for 12 months. Baseline hyperreflective spots in the EZ slab was observed in 51 (48.1%) eyes. Postoperative homogenous reflectivity and glial proliferation were related to the presence of baseline hyperreflective spots. Vision improvement was significantly greater in the absence of hyperreflective spots group from 9 months after the operation. In logistic regression analysis, the area of hyperreflective spots was significantly associated with foveal homogenous reflectivity at 12 months (P = 0.004). Preoperative hyperreflective spots in en face EZ slab might be indicative of functional and anatomical restoration after macular hole surgery.

The origin of two X-class flares in active region NOAA 12673

Flare-prolific active region NOAA 12673 produced consecutive X2.2 and X9.3 flares on the 6 September 2017. To scrutinize the morphological, magnetic, and horizontal flow properties associated with these flares, a seven-hour time series was used consisting of continuum images, line-of-sight and vector magnetograms, and 1600 Å UV images. These data were acquired with the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA). The white-light flare emission differed for both flares, while the X2.2 flare displayed localized, confined flare kernels, the X9.3 flare exhibited a two-ribbon structure. In contrast, the excess UV emission exhibited a similar structure for both flares, but with larger areal extent for the X9.3 flare. These two flares represented a scenario in which the first confined flare acted as precursor, setting up the stage for the more extended flare. Difference maps for continuum and magnetograms revealed locations of significant changes, that is, penumbral decay and umbral strengthening. The curved magnetic polarity inversion line in the δ-spot was the fulcrum of most changes. Horizontal proper motions were computed using the differential affine velocity estimator for vector magnetograms (DAVE4VM). Persistent flow features included (1) strong shear flows along the polarity inversion line, where the negative, parasitic polarity tried to bypass the majority, positive-polarity part of the δ-spot in the north, (2) a group of positive-polarity spots, which moved around the δ-spot in the south, moving away from the δ-spot with significant horizontal flow speeds, and (3) intense moat flows partially surrounding the penumbra of several sunspots, which became weaker in regions with penumbral decay. The enhanced flare activity has its origin in the head-on collision of newly emerging flux with an already existing regular, α-spot. Umbral cores of emerging bipoles were incorporated in its penumbra, creating a δ-configuration with an extended polarity inversion line, as the parasitic umbral cores were stretched while circumventing the majority polarity.

Large Starspot Groups on HAT-P-11 in Activity Cycle 1

HAT-P-11 is a planet-hosting K4V star in the Kepler field, with an activity cycle that bear similarities to the Sun's. The chromospheric activity of HAT-P-11 indicates that a new activity cycle is beginning. We report ground-based observations with holographic diffuser photometry to measure the starspots of HAT-P-11 in its second observed magnetic activity cycle (Cycle 1). We find the area coverage of starspots within the transit chord for UTC 2017-10-30 is 14% --- which makes this transit the most spotted HAT-P-11 transit observed to date. We suggest that we are likely observing occultations of large spot groups appearing at the beginning of Cycle 1.

Hyperpigmented spots after treatment for submacular hemorrhage secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

To investigate the characteristics and clinical course of hyperpigmented spots after submacular hemorrhage secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). This retrospective, observational study included 87 eyes initially treated with three anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections for submacular hemorrhage secondary to PCV. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of multiple small, dark-gray or black, pigmented lesions after initial treatment: the hyperpigmented spots group and no-hyperpigmented spots group. Baseline characteristics and re-activation of the lesion were compared between the two groups. The mean follow-up period was 30.6 ± 12.9months, and 41 eyes (47.1%) were included in the hyperpigmented spots group. The hyperpigmented spots group exhibited greater extent of hemorrhage (P< 0.001) and greater central foveal thickness (P= 0.045) than did the no-hyperpigmented spots group. In the hyperpigmented spots group, re-activation of the lesion was noted in 17 eyes (41.5%) at a mean duration of 15.4 ± 12.7months after the third anti-VEGF injection. In the no-hyperpigmented spots group, re-activation was noted in 28 eyes (60.9%) at a mean duration of 6.4 ± 4.0months after the third injection. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test revealed a significant difference in the re-activation of the lesion between the two groups (P= 0.006). Hyperpigmented spots were associated with a large amount of submacular hemorrhage in PCV. The low incidence of re-activation and late re-activation of the lesion in eyes with hyperpigmented spots suggest that a novel follow-up and treatment strategy is required for this condition.

A Model to Measure Tourist Preference toward Scenic Spots Based on Social Media Data: A Case of Dapeng in China

Research on tourist preference toward different tourism destinations has been a hot topic for decades in the field of tourism development. Tourist preference is mostly measured with small group opinion-based methods through introducing indicator systems in previous studies. In the digital age, e-tourism makes it possible to collect huge volumes of social data produced by tourists from the internet, to establish a new way of measuring tourist preference toward a close group of tourism destinations. This paper introduces a new model using social media data to quantitatively measure the market trend of a group of scenic spots from the angle of tourists’ demand, using three attributes: tourist sentiment orientation, present tourist market shares, and potential tourist awareness. Through data mining, cleaning, and analyzing with the framework of Machine Learning, the relative tourist preference toward 34 scenic spots closely located in the Dapeng Peninsula is calculated. The results not only provide a reliable “A-rating” system to gauge the popularity of different scenic spots, but also contribute an innovative measuring model to support scenic spots planning and policy making in the regional context.

Comparison of Magnetic Properties and Shadow Area of Leading and Trailing Spots with Different Asymmetries

The magnetic properties of the shadow of magnetic-related leading and trailing spots (those connected by forces lines of magnetic field, which are calculated from a field in potential approximation) are studied in this work. The correlations are established between individual characteristics of the field in the spot shadow and these characteristics from the shadow area S for spot pairs, for which the minimum angle between the measured vector of magnetic induction B in the shadow of the leading (L) spot and positive normal to the solar surface is lower than in the trailing (F) spot (αmin-L αmin-F. It is shown that the αmin-L(SL), αmin-F(SF), Bmax-L(SL) and Bmax-F(SF) correlations are similar behaviorally and quantitatively for two groups of spots with different asymmetries of a magnetically connected field (Bmax-L, F is the maximum of magnetic induction in the shadow of leading and trailing spots). The correlation between the average angles within the spot shadow 〈αL, F〉 and the area of the spot shadow SL, F and between the average value of magnetic induction in the spot shadow 〈BL, F〉 differ in two cases. In most studied spot pairs, the leading spot is closer to the dividing line of polarity between the spots rather than the trailing one.

Microstructure of the regions on a plane copper electrode surface affected by a spark discharge in air in the point–plane gap

The microstructure of the regions affected by spark discharge on the surface of a plane copper electrode in atmospheric air in the point–plane gap has been studied using a scanning electron microscope for both the positive and negative polarity of the point electrode. It has been found that the affected regions have the shape of round spots or groups of spots with diameters of individual spots varying in the range of 20–200 μm. It has been revealed that the spots have an internal spatial structure in the form of an aggregate of concentric rings. These rings are aggregates of a large number of microscopic craters with diameters of 0.1–1.0 μm.

Bounds on geologically current rates of motion of groups of hot spots

AbstractIt is widely believed that groups of hot spots in different regions of the world are in relative motion at rates of 10 to 30 mm a−1 or more. Here we present a new method for analyzing geologically current motion between groups of hot spots beneath different plates. In an inversion of 56 globally distributed, equally weighted trends of hot spot tracks, the dispersion is dominated by differences in trend between different plates rather than differences within plates. Nonetheless the rate of hot spot motion perpendicular to the direction of absolute plate motion, vperp, differs significantly from zero for only 3 of 10 plates and then by merely 0.3 to 1.4 mm a−1. The global mean upper bound on |vperp| is 3.2 ± 2.7 mm a−1. Therefore, hot spots move slowly and can be used to define a global reference frame for plate motions.

Solar type III bursts with high‐frequency cut‐off

BackgroundSolar activity often manifests in type III bursts. Some of them can have high‐frequency cut‐off. The origin of this phenomenon is unclear until now.Materials and MethodsNew results in the study of solar bursts with high‐frequency cut‐off observed with the UTR‐2 radio telescope are presented. The bursts were associated with the emergency of a new group of solar spots behind the solar limb relative to an observer on the Earth.ResultsWe have identified the radio events with type III by analyzing its frequency drift rate, duration and flux depending on frequency. The cut‐off feature is considered in the context of specific effects of radio wave propagation between the burst sources moving behind the solar limb and the ground‐based radio instruments.ConclusionsThe role of tunnel‐like cavities with low density in the solar corona can be crucial for the emergence of solar decameter bursts with high‐frequency cut‐off.

2-DE Separation and Identification of Oat (Avena sativa L.) Proteins and Their Prolamin Fractions.

At present two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) is the most widely used proteomic tool, which enables simultaneous separation of even thousands of proteins with a high degree of resolution. The quality of 2-DE separation depends on the type of biological material used as a protein source. The presence of interfering compounds (e.g., phenols, as it is the fact in plant material including oat seeds) impedes 2-DE run. With the use of this technique it is possible to analyze the complex protein mixtures, characteristic protein fractions, as well as individual proteins.The purpose of this chapter is to describe the 2-DE technique (the separate stages of the first and the second dimension) for determining the oat protein composition (oat seed proteome), separation and preliminary identification of oat prolamin fractions. Electrophoretically separated proteins are identified on the basis of pI markers (identifying the location of both ends of an IPG strip) and on 2D SDS-PAGE standards. The gel images of oat proteins are analyzed with the help of ImageMaster 2D Platinum 6.0 program (Amersham Bioscience, part of GE Healthcare, Uppsala, Sweden). It allows finding unique spot identifiers for the occurrence of oat prolamin fractions in oat total proteins. The characteristic spots of similar shape and intensity (anchoring spots) and characteristic groups of spots can be searched for the purpose of identification.

Taxonomy and molecular systematics of three oligotrich (s.l.) ciliates including descriptions of two new species, Strombidium guangdongense sp. nov. and Strombidinopsis sinicum sp. nov. (Protozoa, Ciliophora)

In this study we investigated the morphology of three oligotrich (s.l.) ciliates, Strombidium guangdongense sp. nov., Cyrtostrombidium paralongisomum Tsai et al., 2015 and Strombidinopsis sinicum sp. nov. Strombidium guangdongense sp. nov. is characterized by its elongate obconical to obovoidal body shape and widely spaced dikinetids in the girdle and ventral kineties. Another new species, Strombidinopsis sinicum sp. nov. is diagnosed by its small size and semi-globular body shape without mineral envelopes. Some additional morphological data of the recently described species Cyrtostrombidium paralongisomum Tsai et al., 2015, such as the endoral membrane, are supplied based on our population. We also analysed the molecular phylogeny of each species based on small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequence data. The monophyly of Cyrtostrombidium is supported by our phylogenetic analyses, but the monophyly of Strombidinopsis and of the family Strombidinopsidae are both rejected by AU tests. In addition, Strombidium species have a tail branch separately from one another in phylogenetic trees, whereas strombidiids with a pigment spot group together, suggesting the latter character is a synapomorphy for this group of strombidiids.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:35FE2AFD-A582-4885-BD01-48901E4C76C4http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E9D4A497-DAD6-4AA0-A044-A5A1D2C1A057