A new pterosaur tracksite from the Lower Cretaceous of Wuerho, Junggar Basin, China: inferring the first putative pterosaur trackmaker

We report the discovery of 114 small pterosaur footprints preserved in a greyish-green fine sandstone slab comprising 57 manus imprints and 57 pes imprints. Due to the chaotic distribution of footprints, the trackways are difficult to recognize. The pes imprints are sub-triangular and enlongate, the metatarsal part is roughly subequal to the digital part. The manus imprints are asymmetrical, longer than wide, and the lengths of digits I–III gradually increase. According to the diagnostic features of the Wuerho small pterosaur tracks, the present set was classified as Pteraichnus and is different from the nine reported valid ichnospecies of Pteraichnus. We therefore propose a new ichnospecies, Pteraichnus wuerhoensis isp. nov. The description is based on the anatomical characteristics (lengths of digits I–IV, length of digital part, length of metatarsal part) extracted from the pes imprints and comparisons with the pes bone fossils of Noripterus complicidens. We infer that the footprints were probably left by N. complicidens and the total width of the wings was presumably 2–2.3 m. In addition, the high density (365 per square meter) and varied sizes of the Wuerho small pterosaur tracks suggest that many pterosaurs of different ages lived in Huangyangquan Reservoir tracksite 1 area. Thus the trackmakers may have had gregarious behavior.

Modification of Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry Representational Method in Graphene Nanoplates Dispersion

Graphene nanoplates (GNPs) are carbon nanomaterials with two-dimensional structure which is easy to reunite and their dispersion is necessary before using. The existing methods for dispersion characterization mainly include UV spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). In this research study, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), polyoxyethylene (40) nonylphenyl ether, branched (CO890), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) were used as dispersants, and ultrasonic treatment was employed as dispersion method. Ultraviolet spectrum for GNPs showed that some errors were attained, resulting from dispersant at 274 nm characteristic wavelength of GNPs dispersions with deionized water as controlled sample. The errors could be eliminated if dispersant solution was used as controlled sample. The microstructures of dispersed GNPs observed by SEM, TEM and AFM suggested that the GNPs were dispersed uniformly with 2.5 g/L SDBS, which showed the best dispersion effect. Raman spectrum indicated that more chaotic distribution and edge structures were achieved after dispersion.

Syntax of direct speech particle -wa(r) in Hittite

This paper deals with the syntax of the direct speech particle in Hittite, particularly its inconsistent use within direct speech. It is suggested that a syntactic account of what appears at first sight as an entirely chaotic distribution is possible.

Chaotic Synchronization of Mutually Coupled Lasers with Another Laser and Its Encoding Application in Secret Communication

A chaotic synchronization based on mutually coupled different semiconductor lasers and its coding communications are studied. A route to chaos is illustrated by a bifurcate diagram. Chaotic distribution is presented in two lasers. The synchronization equation is given in theory. A chaotic synchronization is obtained between the emitter and the receiver. Other complex dynamical behavior synchronizations are also obtained, such as period-5 and period-10 synchronizations. Cascade synchronizations are achieved. A novel On/Off coding system is presented while its chaotic phase encoding is successfully implemented. Chaos key is also numerically simulated. We find that synchronization can still be achieved when the parameter of the emitter changes at any time so that the newly generated chaotic carrier can ensure mask the information in each communication. Then the real-time variable parameter results in difficulty for eavesdroppers to decipher. Compared with a single laser emitter, this emitter has many secret keys and high security, which is beneficial to its potential application in secret communication.

Концентрационные флуктуации в киральных ферромагнетиках Fe-=SUB=-x-=/SUB=-Mn-=SUB=-1-x-=/SUB=-Si во внешнем магнитном поле

In the framework of the theory of spin fluctuations, magnetic h-T diagrams of chiral helicoidal ferromagnets FexMn1-xSi with the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction are investigated. A specific analysis of the equations of magnetic state is carried out on the basis of a model of the electronic structure following from the LDA + U + SO DOS calculations in the virtual crystal approximation. It was shown that in the concentration range x <0.12, the Fermi level remains within the local minimum DOS. In this case, a helicoidal long-range order is realized, which undergoes a first-order transition induced by spin fluctuations, accompanied by the formation of intermediate skyrmion phases induced by an external magnetic field. With increasing x arising due to the chaotic distribution of the magnetic moments of manganese and iron over the nodes, the effects of concentration fluctuations suppress zero-point quantum spin fluctuations. In this case, the condition for the appearance of skyrmion phases is violated for x> 0.12, and the region of the helicoidal ferromagnetic order is preserved up to concentrations xc = 0.20. In the interval 0.10 <x <0.20, the transition induced by fluctuations to the paramagnetic state is accompanied by the disappearance of local magnetization and the formation of a paramagnetic state with dynamic spin correlations.

Towards resolving the phosphorus chaos created by food systems

The chaotic distribution and dispersal of phosphorus (P) used in food systems (defined here as disorderly disruptions to the P cycle) is harming our environment beyond acceptable limits. An analysis of P stores and flows across Europe in 2005 showed that high fertiliser P inputs relative to productive outputs was driving low system P efficiency (38 % overall). Regional P imbalance (P surplus) and system P losses were highly correlated to total system P inputs and animal densities, causing unnecessary P accumulation in soils and rivers. Reducing regional P surpluses to zero increased system P efficiency (+ 16 %) and decreased total P losses by 35 %, but required a reduction in system P inputs of ca. 40 %, largely as fertiliser. We discuss transdisciplinary and transformative solutions that tackle the P chaos by collective stakeholder actions across the entire food value chain. Lowering system P demand and better regional governance of P resources appear necessary for more efficient and sustainable food systems.

Contents of Rare-Earth Elements and Heavy Metals in Soils and Snow Samples

The problem related to urban districts’ ecological and geochemical assessment due to the growth of environment’s technogenic pollution is becoming more and more important. The urban population is practically not protected from the constantly increasing exposure to toxic elements coming from solid, liquid and gaseous wastes of the city transport and manufactures located both in Moscow and in Moscow Region. Soils and snow samples on the territory of natural reserve «The Setun River’s Valley» have been analyzed with the aim of determining the contents of rare-earth elements and heavy metals by the method of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Variations in concentrations of rare-earth elements, heavy metals and indicator relationships of elements in soil samples and in snow’s solid fractions have been revealed. Has been established a chaotic distribution of rare-earth elements and heavy metals in soils, as well as a decrease of some elements’ content in snow’s solid fractions at the northeastern direction. The level of seasonal atmospheric pollution for the investigated territory has been estimated, and its possible source has been identified.

STATISTICS OF LOW-FREQUENCY KERNEL (SUBORDINATING) MODELS OF THE VERBAL WORD-GROUPS IN THE TEXT CORPUS “RADIO ELECTRONICS”

The paper deals with one of the most widely used types of verbal word combinations, namely kernel (subordinating) models of the verbal word-groups functioning in the “Radio electronics” text corpus, which refers to the technical and scientific discourse. The text corpus was compiled on the basis of scientific and technical journals “Radio electronics” published in the USA by the method of a continuous sampling. In order to select this kind of models a theoretical approach describing the problems of combinatorics and valance is considered. This permits to take into account both contact and distance elements, which are necessarily connected with the verb by grammatical (subordinating) bond and form a word-group with it. For compilation of the inventory of kernel models of the subordinating verbal word-groups 10698 sentences are subjected to the distributive analysis. The models occurring with the low frequency (below 180) are exclusively chosen. The total amount of low frequency model is 41 units. Except the distributive methods the statistical ones are applied in the research. The quantitative analysis of kernel models used in the text corpus with a low frequency has shown that the number of different models is much bigger as compared to the same units with a high frequency of usage – 77, 4% and 22, 6%, respectively. But the total frequencies comparison goes in the favour of high frequency models – 0, 4% to 99, 6%. Besides quantitative characteristics the simplicity/complexity parameter of the model structures are analysed. In studying the high frequency kernel models the direct dependence of frequency of usage on the model structure was observed – the simpler the structure is the higher the frequency is. But the low frequency kernel models demonstrate more complex and contradictory functioning as regard to this parameter. In most cases the tendency to indirect dependence is seen quite distinctly, i.e. the simpler the structure is the lower the frequency is, and the chaotic distribution of frequencies occurs in the frequently highest among low-frequency models.