This paper presents a dispersion movement design for a multi-agent team inspired by the behavior of creatures. The goal of the dispersion algorithm is to maintain the communication network between agents and to enlarge the coverage area as widely as possible. The communication density, or the number of communication links, is the only information needed. A dispatch rule for releasing agents at a base station is also designed based on the dispersion algorithm. The proposed algorithms have been extensively tested by software simulation. Statistics concerning the coverage area, network partition rate, and spending time are analyzed to verify the feasibility and advantages of the algorithms. Potential applications of the proposed algorithms include rescue in a damaged area, planetary exploration, military reconnaissance, and geophysical mapping.

The quality characteristics of velvet antlers obtained from Formosan sambar deer (Cervus unicolor Swinhoi) (SDVA), harvested from 63 to 81 d during the velvet antler growth period, were evaluated by investigating the relationships between antioxidant levels; including content, activity, and content/activity ratios, and physical properties; including shear force values, color, and Ca content. The hardness of samples from base velvet antler sections increased, and that the color of these samples tended to become reddish-yellow (redder and more yellow), suggesting that the Ca content in the base section of the sample was not ossified yet. Samples from the upper sections of velvet antler showed higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) content (3.91 to 1.50 mg/mL, 2.53 to 0.90 mg/mL, and 3.95 to 1.58 mg/mL, respectively) than did samples from the middle and base sections (p<0.05). The activity and content/activity ratios of GPX measured in the upper section were also found to be significantly greater than in the middle and base sections (p<0.05). We further observed that the content and activity of GPX was significantly and negatively correlated with Ca content, shear force values, and the content/activity ratio of this antioxidant (p<0.01). The study findings may serve as a reference index for quality evaluations of velvet antlers of Formosan sambar deer in future.

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